The joyful sounds of the banquet eventually faded into oblivion, and Luigi's world fell into a silent darkness.
Luigi opened his eyes into morning sunlight. The brightness hurt his eyes and irritated him, so he tried to roll over to avoid it-
-and fell right off the bed.
Luigi gave a shrill yelp as he landed on the floor. Rubbing his sore back, he managed to get up and looked around him.
He was in his room in the brothers' home.
How did he get here? Luigi had no memory of ever walking up here to his room. He didn't even remember getting up from the table at the banquet or putting his pajamas on.
Groaning slightly, Luigi hauled himself up. His headache hadn't lessened, and he could still feel a constant pounding, though he tried his best to ignore it. Putting on his slippers and his bathrobe, he started to head out, and that's when he saw it.
A note was taped to the door. Whoever wrote it had done it in such a rush. It was barely legible.
One look at the handwriting told Luigi it was from Mario. He quickly tore off the note and read it.
"Bro - Sorry. You fell asleep, and I could not wake you. I will talk later. Take care."
That would explain everything. Mario must have taken him to bed and pajama'd him as well. Alright. No big mystery there.
Luigi had to admit, however: he did like reading his brother's writing. There was something about its formality that was enticing. Mario hardly ever wrote contractions, even though he spoke them all the time. He was always so unusually polite in his writing. Grammar wasn't always the best, but then again, English wasn't their first language.
Luigi folded the note twice and put it on the dresser. He dressed himself, then headed downstairs and out of the house, locking the door as he left. He didn't really giving its contents a second thought.
Even though the Toads had thrown such a large, bubbly-induced celebration last night, there was a tense, nervous feeling in the atmosphere this morning. Toads bustled by in the village, doing their errands as usual, but they all had this uncomfortable look on their faces. It didn't appear normal, especially not at this hour, when things were so cheerful.
It was also noted that no one spoke. This was unheard of, since these Toads were usually chatty. They always whistled and sang, too, but today it was quieter than a library.
Luigi stepped out and stopped one green-capped Toad who was carrying a few boxes out of his shop. "Hey, what's going on with everyone? They're all so quiet and nervous."
The Toad looked at Luigi strangely, as if he had grown an extra head. "Didn't you see it?" he asked incredulously, though he did so in a whisper. "Princess Peach and Bowser had a falling out. They started to argue about a wedding or something, and then it all went bad."
Luigi had no memory of this. This event must have happened after he fell asleep. "What else happened?"
"Everything, I guess. The banquet had to be cancelled. At one point things got so edgy that both Mario and Toadsworth had to step in. They argued and debated all night, and as far as I know, they're still arguing right now."
"Wedding..." Luigi repeated. Then it clicked in his mind. "The wedding! I get it now! Where are they?"
"In the castle library, I think."
Luigi burst into the castle and ran around the hallways, still wincing as the windows bombarded him with bright sunlight periodically. But he did not let that stop him. He remembered exactly what had happened at the wedding, and he felt compelled to tell his side of the story. Maybe he could help resolve the arguing!
He skidded to a halt when he reached the large mahogany doors that was the entrance. He opened the doors slowly and slipped inside, hoping not to attract too much attention at first.
Thankfully, most of the library's drapes were still drawn, blocking the annoying sunlight. Luigi looked around and saw the four in the back, near the clearing.
Mario, Peach, Bowser and Toadsworth all looked terrible. Not one of them looked as though they had gotten any sleep at all, for they all had dark circles under their eyes. Their hair (and Toadsworth's mustache) were all bedraggled and their clothes were disheveled. Mario was missing his hat and both his shoes; Peach didn't have her crown, her gloves, and her jewelry; Toadsworth's tie was gone and his vest was undone; and even though Bowser technically didn't have clothes, he still looked as disgruntled as the others. Their voices were hoarse and raspy, which meant the Toad was right - they had been arguing all night. Though they were tired beyond belief, nothing could blot out the anger in their eyes.
Even though he was still a small distance away, Luigi's headache intensified when he heard the arguing. It was frightfully loud and it made his ears ring. As he walked up to them slowly, no one even noticed him.
"For the last time, Bowser, I am not coming with you!" Peach snapped. She was holding up a hand to her temple, rubbing it softly. "Why can't you understand that?"
"After all this mess we've had with the Chaos Heart, you still want to be a shallow, inconsiderate jerk?" Mario growled, never leaving Peach's side.
"You can't deny me, I told you!" Bowser looked ready to spew flames. "You said 'I do' at the wedding! Therefore, we are husband and wife! And that means you need to come with me!"
"No, she does not! Even if she was your wife, she has the right to remain here!" Toadsworth piped up, though his short stature didn't faze the King of Koopas.
"Peach is too my wife!" Bowser contradicted.
"I am not!" Peach shouted.
"She will never be your wife!" Mario yelled, his face reddened with anger and potential jealousy.
Bowser laughed mockingly. "As if Peach ever wanted to be with a lowlife piece of trash like you!" He puffed out his chest. "I am a great king, whereas you are just a short little plumber whose ego is unfortunately too big for your size!"
Luigi knew Bowser had struck a huge nerve. Mario's red face turned scarlet and he opened his mouth, but no words came out. His fists shook, as if he was fighting the urge to jump up and knock Bowser's teeth out.
"We exchanged vows. We had our rings. We had all the minions present as witnesses. It's all legal, and nothing you can say can revoke that!" Bowser roared.
"It is not legal!" Luigi yelled, his headache becoming too much to bear. He just wanted the arguing to stop.
Everyone stopped fighting and looked at him, obviously confused. They had not even noticed him.
Mario did notice, however, that Luigi was rubbing both his temples and he was wincing. "Bro, are you okay? You don't look well," he said worriedly, coming over to him and hugging him gently.
Luigi wanted to laugh at that, considering how terrible Mario looked in comparison, but the headache prevented him. "I-I'm okay, Bro," he said shakily.
"Jeez, why don't you two kiss while you're at it?" Bowser rolled his eyes.
Mario's face turned red again and he growled at Bowser, but Luigi stepped forward. Yes, he was terrified of Bowser, but now he felt this newfound courage deep within and he didn't want to let that go. "The wedding is not valid," he said again.
"How dare you say that! We did everything right!" Bowser shouted. "Peach is my wife!"
"No, no," Luigi said, wishing Bowser would stop shouting. "Peach was hypnotized by...by Count Bleck's minion...the one with the glasses." He realized he couldn't remember her name.
"Nastasia," Mario said instantly.
Luigi nodded. "Yes, her. Nastasia. Peach never wanted to marry you willingly, Bowser. She was...she was forced to do so in order to awaken the Chaos Heart. And...a-according to the Mushroom Kingdom Nuptial Law, both parties must consent to marriage. Peach didn't give her full consent, because she was being mind-controlled. Therefore...it's not valid."
Everyone was stunned into shock.
"How- Where did- How do you know this?!" Bowser roared.
"I was there. I was a witness," Luigi said plainly. I saw how Count Bleck told Nastasia to hypnotize the princess. I saw the Chaos Heart rise because of the fake marriage."
"I'm not married to Bowser?" Peach asked in a breathless voice, full of hope.
Luigi shook his head, smiling. "Nope."
The princess smiled and laughed in delight. Toadsworth looked so awashed with relief that he swooned and nearly fainted. Mario had glistening eyes as he started to cheer. "Attaboy, Weegee!"
Unfortunately, Bowser was not so happy. His face turned scarlet just as Mario's had a few minutes ago. "No!" he roared, his nostrils smoking. "You ruined everything!"
His large scaly hands suddenly reached out and grabbed Luigi, ensnarling him in his grip. Said green-clad man gasped for air.
Before anyone else could react, Bowser leaned back and launched him across the library, using all his strength.
"Luigi!" Mario screamed.
The last thing Luigi remembered was his head hitting a large bookshelf and then he blacked out.
