Chapter 2- Hatred (The Luigi Arc)

Fourteen thousand years had passed since the curse was placed on the universe. The Earth had divided itself into several countries. This story takes place on an island called the Mushroom Kingdom. However, due to the infinite curse, this version was much more dangerous than it previously known.

In an old shack just outside of the kingdom's walls, a man in a green attire stood and sharpened a stone knife. The knife had two sets of initials carved into them, "M.M." on one side and "L.M." on the other. Initially, it served as a gift to symbolize the two brother's bond for each other but now served as a terrible reminder for Mario's presence. Luigi threw the knife on the ground and left the shack. Directly in front of him, he could see his brother's face all over the Kingdom. It was Mario's 24th birthday, so the entire Kingdom was celebrating, and they weren't being quiet about it either. This not only sparked anger within Luigi because it reminded him of his brother, but it also created a deep sense of sadness. A feeling of forgottenness because not only was today Mario's birthday, it was also Luigi's. But not one poster of Luigi was to be found. Not one banner, letter, cake, anything that told anyone that today was also his birthday. Everything was centered around Mario. The better brother. Luigi inhaled deeply and headed back into his shack. The stone knife had landed in between two planks of wood on the floor, wedged perfectly so the knife didn't fall. He bent down and pulled the knife out, placing it into a satchel on his side. Luigi walked over to his cabinet and grabbed a glass. He placed it down and poured water into it. While looking into it he saw a reflection of himself, and in that reflection of himself, he saw his brother. Instinctively he smacked the glass, causing it to fly across the room, shattering as it hit the wall.

"Dammit, dammit, dammit, dammit!" Luigi screamed as he fell to his knees, tears flowing down his face. He began punching the floor, bruising his fists with each impact.

"Gods… why… just why…" It was only dawn and he had already fallen into the yearly breakdown. Every year on this day, the kingdom celebrated Mario and his heroic deeds, and every year they neglected to acknowledge the forgotten brother, even though he had made just as important sacrifices.

They hate me. He thought to himself. Everyone hates me. The princess hates me. The Gods hate me. I hate me. I hate myself. I hate everything I've done. I hate everything in my life. I hate you, Mario. I hate you, Peach. I hate you, Gods. He slowly brought himself back to his feet. The floor had cracked and broken where he had punched it. His fists were bloodied and stung with pain. His face was covered in tears.

I'm going to do it. Today.

I'm going to do it now.

Luigi looked below his feet. The cliff was several hundred feet tall, soaring far past any civilization. From this height, he could see the mainland and all the surrounding islands. It was known as Suicide Peak, and it was usually heavily guarded, but now everyone was at Mario's birthday party. Luigi had come to this spot several times in the past years but always ended up turning back. This time it's different. Daisy is dead, I have no one to remember me. He thought of the past. Every time he turned away for one reason or another, but now he had no reason to turn around. He placed his right foot over the edge and gripped his eyes closed. The winds blew against his face, rustling his mustache and knocking his hat off his head. He shifted his weight outward and allowed his body to fall forward. Nothing was holding onto him but the air. For the first time in his miserable life, Luigi felt free. Free from this cursed land, free from despair and pain. Free from suffering. Free from life.

Luigi felt something grab his hand. The world was suddenly brought back to him, the pain of this Earth was no longer gone. Someone had pulled Luigi back up.

"Ma-Mario?" he called out to his savior. The hand grabbed Luigi up and placed him back on the cliff. He laid on his back, struggling to open his eyes once more. But when he did the man he saw was not his brother. No, the man he saw didn't have a face at all but instead wore a black cloak with his hood pulled over his face.

"Who are you?" Luigi asked the figure. The man pulled him up to his feet. He was obviously not from the Mushroom Kingdom.

"Who I was is no importance to you. Nor to me." The cloaked man said. His voice was withered and showed signs of significant illness. "The most important thing to you is who I will be." He turned his back on Luigi and faced the Kingdom. Luigi was confused.

"Why did you save me? And what's your name?"

"I already told you, my name does not matter." He said. "All you need to know is that I have a purpose for you, therefore I cannot let you die." After each sentence he coughed violently, it was clear he wasn't in good health.

"Quit speaking so vaguely, what do you want?" Luigi's anger rose as he became more confused.

"Come with me." The cloaked man summoned a dark portal and stepped through it. Luigi hesitated but entered after a few seconds. They were suddenly in a desert, surrounded by several tall pillars of rock.

"Do you know what this place is, Luigi?"

"This looks like the Land of Earth…" Luigi looked around. "But how did we get here so quickly?"

"Such is the power of darkness." The man faced Luigi and reached his hand out. An odd-looking blade appeared in his hand. "I assume you'd like your own share of this power?"

"Darkness?" Luigi stepped back and raised his hands in battle position. "We were taught to never use the power of darkness!"

"Do you know why that is?" The blade disappeared and he put his hands behind his back. "Oh-oh, of course you don't. It's because darkness can easily overpower light, my child."

Luigi almost wanted to talk back, but soon realized that the man was probably telling the truth. He dropped his guard and looked down.
"You must be right. These people have lied to me long enough."

"After all, why would people that hate you want to allow you to become stronger?"

Of course, how could I not see that? Luigi thought to himself. "Show me how to use this power." He immediately knew what he wanted to use it for; to kill Mario.

The cloaked man summoned his blade once more.

"This power comes with a price, however."

"I'll pay whatever price is necessary." Luigi said these words with confidence. The hooded man laughed.
"I'll connect part of my heart to yours, therefore proxying the darkness into you."

"I already told you to do it. What are you waiting for?"

"Fine." The cloaked man raised his blade and struck it into Luigi's chest. The dark power surged through his body and reached his heart. His eyes turned to a bright yellow. The cloaked man released his blade and the ritual was complete.

"Now go forward, my pawn, and do what your heart desires!" The man laughed, then coughed violently. Luigi grinned menacingly and reached his hand out. A blade appeared.

"This is a keyblade, isn't it?" He asked.

"Yes, you were granted one by my heart."

"Thank you… Xehanort." The man gasped at hearing his name. It seemed he had put too much of himself into Luigi. He feared his power, but at the same time looked forward to his plan finally blossoming. Luigi summoned a dark portal and stepped through.

"Kingdom Hearts will soon belong to me." Xehanort laughed.