Mario sighed as he cleared the breakfast table. Luigi had gone out for a walk around the garden but there was no delaying the inevitable. He swept the last crumbs off the table and placed the slim envelope in the middle of the table.

It wasn't too bad, thought Mario. It means that a month from now I will need to report to the Crown Court in Mushroom City where I and other witnesses will be taken to an undisclosed location to ensure we are under a media blackout. Then we shall be summoned to Court to give evidence for as long as it takes to judge whether the evidence against the surviving perpetrators of what was known as the Void crisis, is sufficient to warrant prosecution and sentencing. The mood in the Mushroom Kingdom and the surrounding Kingdoms was ugly, and people were demanding justice. Others though were using this as a means to find scapegoats and to settle old scores. It was hoped that this trial at the World Court would bring the closure to the many that sought it.

His part, and that of Bowser and Peach was well understood but there was much confusion as to how the Void was created and how it was stopped. But that of Luigi? There had been much speculation, particularly in some gossip magazines as to why he alone of the four was in such a terrible state. He shuddered when he remembered the gossip accusing Daisy of being a beard for Luigi, and him likewise being her frock. That had been awkward, explaining those concepts to his younger brother.
The door went. Luigi walked into the kitchen.

"You've cleared up bro, thanks. Bro?"

Mario glanced at Luigi and at the letter.

"We haven't had any mail today, I've checked. Uh, This is stamped more than a week ago-oh."

Luigi caught Mario's eye.

"Peach and I received this and I guess Bowser's got one too. I haven't opened it I promise."

"Then why have you kept it from me for so long?"

Mario sat in silence while Luigi opened the envelope and slowly read the letter.

Luigi held the paper with tense hands as he read. Then a sharp intake of breath and the blood drained from his face. Mario saw his lips move and a tear appear in his eyes as he re-read the final parts of the Summons. With a trembling hand, he placed the letter back on the table.

"Bro!"

Luigi gave Mario a thousand yard stare, his eyes awash with a word he swept out of the house and down the path.

"Luigi!"

Mario started to move out, but stalled as he remembered that Luigi hated being followed when he was like this. Then he saw the letter. Why would he react like that? Troubled by the invasion of privacy he read the letter:

This letter is a Summons to the Crown Court of the Mushroom Kingdom as part of the ongoing investigation of the origin and the conclusion of what is officially referred to as the Void Crisis.
There is compelling evidence linking you to the instigation of the Void crisis. Therefore this communication is a warrant for your arrest effective from six weeks after the date of issue. Until then, you will be barred from leaving the Mushroom Kingdom.
Any attempt to leave the Mushroom Kingdom will result in your immediate detention.
This provision also applies to the following:
Attempts to contact co-conspirators.
Attempts to contact the media to influence your position out of court.
Any civil disobedience.

Mario put down the letter. This was bad. His letter had the same pompous legal tone with strange phrases, which seemed were chosen to confuse but his letter had not that implicit tone of menace that Luigi's had. There was still another paragraph but he'd seen enough. Now to find his brother.

He looked into the small hallway. He had just walked out of the door, not stopping even to put his shoes on. Damn! how far could he had gone? -he'd only just stopped using his stick.

Trying not to panic, Mario walked along the well trodden pathway into the woods. His brother had a fast pace when well and as time ticked on he felt a rising tide of dread. Where could he be? Has he fallen out of sight? is he injured? How far have we gone? He turned and found his brother slumped unconscious against a tree, his slippers long gone, his feet a mess.

"Luigi! There you are!"

He did not stir. Mario moved closer.

"Luigi, little bro?" Mario said softly, bending over his head.

Luigi's eyes flicked open staring without recognition, his face contorted into a rictus of fear.

"Bro, it's ok. I'm here-"

Mario did not finish the sentence as a fist smashed into his face. He gasped as a flurry of blows struck him, becoming more erratic and hysterical as his face became slippery with blood.
Mario, too stunned at defending himself at first, slapped Luigi as hard as he could before slumping semi-consciously to the ground.

Luigi blinked at the pain and spat out blood. Then the pain from his bloody knuckles and feet. He looked around and saw Mario, his face a mess of blood, one eye swollen shut.

"Oh no! Mio frattello no!"

He started to cry, holding Mario's head.

Mario coughed and spat out blood.

"I think my nose is broken. Ow! What happened! What'd do that for bro?" Mario blinked and winced.

"I...I don't know! I walked out here, fell asleep then I next remember you slapping me upside the head! Oh mio fratello!"

"Luigi! Stop that! It was the letter wasn't it?"

"Yes, you've read it now I bet?"

Despite himself, Mario looked embarrassed.

"Yeah, but I had to know. It'd have to be bad to make you freak out like that!"

"Did you read all of it?"

"Why'd you ask?"

"The last bit said the charges against me. They include high treason and crimes against lifekind! I'm a criminal, Mario! This is beyond any jokes about me being a cross-dressing faggot!"

Mario turned pale, despite the bruises which where staring to blossom. Luigi started to sob.

"Oh Weege! I hadn't. I only saw the first part. But you aren't guilty and they will find that out at the trial!"

"But that's the point! Someone HAS got evidence against me! There wouldn't be a trial otherwise!"
They both held each other and sobbed.

Luigi was the first to stop.

They went down to a nearby stream where Luigi bathes his sore feet and Mario cleaned up his swollwn face the best he could.

"Uh Mario, how are going to get home? I can't walk and you don't look too good. Seems I'd better go straight to the dungeons."

"Wait! We're not that far from Mario Circuit 4 and I've got my mobile. I'll get Toadsworth to send Toadiko there to pick us up. She doesn't gossip and the Circuit's not in use today."

"Phew! I know I can count on you, amo tuo fratello!"

"Tio amo trappo, fratello."

Later they sat in the car.

"Luigi?"

"Yeah?"

"One things certain, the treatment plan that Toadsworth has isn't working now."

"I know. But what can we do?

"There is someone, but I don't think you're going to like it. Princess Peach knows about this too."

"It's not like we have much of a choice. Or time."