Chronicles of the Stars 1: Reach for the Stars

by Deliverer

Mario and Luigi were oblivious to Peach's kidnapping until they were drawn into space to Rosalina's Court with Wario and Waluigi. Their cousins jump ship to join Bowser, Starship Mario is captured, and Rosalina goes willingly to the Koopa King in exchange for her lumas' safety. Suddenly Waluigi is singing a different tune. Now it's war, Mario and Wario Bros vs the Koopa Clan.

3. Morton's Galaxy

Super Mario Galaxy: Reach For The Stars

Morton's Galaxy

Swirling Moon Star

Luigi was pleased to note that the first location he tackled wasn't all that hard. There were a lot of big jumps that needed to be made, and he couldn't help but boast to himself that Mario, had he been here, wouldn't have had a hope in a hot place of making them. It was all in all pretty easy. He was surprised at how easy, actually. Occasional enemy spitting things at him notwithstanding. The first star in the location was simple, but it wasn't the only location. Luigi was probably being pretty naïve to hope he'd be this lucky with every star located here. Sure enough, he was right...

He wasted no time with words at the observatory. There was no one for them to be said to, now that Mario was laid up. Instead he instantly launched himself back to the planet. He landed in a different part of the world. From that position he saw a path of asteroids he would have to jump across one by one. His eyes took in the pull stars, the seeming dead ends, the star chips. He then set off collecting star shards as he went. Grabbing the last one, the launch star appeared. He built up his momentum to reach it and got into its gravity field. It launched him through the glass on a certain large asteroid. He landed on narrow beams situated above a fall to certain death. He regretted immediately telling himself this was going to be too easy. Luigi began shivering in fear as he looked down. Suddenly he caught sight of something and looked over. His face brightened hopefully. Yoshi's egg! The plumber rushed to it, breaking Yoshi out.

"Yoshi!" Yoshi cheered.

"I'm-a glad to see you, Yoshi," Luigi said in relief.

"Yoshi," Yoshi agreed, gesturing to his back. Luigi grinned and climbed on, and the two started off.

SMB

For a time everything was fine, Yoshi eating every bad guy coming at them. He spit out bullet bills and bob-ombs he caught to break glass prisons, but soon enough things began to get a bit tougher. Luigi and Yoshi entered a door and reached an area that opened wide up. If Luigi had thought the first room's beams were narrow and too few, it had nothing on this room. There were two times fewer beams here and every one of them was twice as narrow. Luigi gawked in disbelief and seriously considered calling it quits then and there. Was getting this star really that necessary, he wondered? "Yoshi," Yoshi reassured. Yoshi jumped across the first few beams easily enough, Luigi clinging to his friend for dear life with teeth chattering as he looked down with wide eyes. When they reached the middle of the room, things went very, very wrong. Suddenly they heard the unmistakable laugh of Wario! Luigi gasped, looking up at his big cousin, and paled.

"Uh oh," he said.

"Yosh," Yoshi agreed grimly, eyes fixed on Wario as well.

"Hey Luigi, let's-a see you keep your balance on Yoshi now!" Wario called down. He jumped up then ground pounded the glass above them, shaking the whole asteroid. The beams began to quiver and in some cases collapse. Luigi clung to Yoshi for dear life. Yoshi wore a grim determined look then started forward at a run.

"Go, go, go, go!" Luigi desperately insisted to Yoshi.

"Yoshi!" Yoshi replied, going as fast as he could without a hot pepper. More than once the two nearly fell with a beam or were hit by falling debris. They were so close to the end now though.

"Yoshi, we're-a going to make it!" Luigi excitedly exclaimed, daring to hope finally. Mistake. Of course. It seemed he could never not make a mistake. No sooner had the words left the green-clad plumber's mouth when Wario ground pounded right above them!

"Yoshi!" Yoshi cried out in alarm and fear.

"Help!" Luigi exclaimed at the same time. The beam was falling and they weren't even all the way across! Yoshi set his jaw then leapt towards safety. "Yoshi, we won't make it!" the plumber cried.

"Yoshi," Yoshi answered seriously.

Luigi paled. "What? Yoshi no!" he began, but Yoshi bucked without warning, sending Luigi flying off his back towards solid ground. Luigi made a desperate grab for the ledge and managed to catch it. He turned around quickly with a gasp, eyes big with fear and concern. "Yoshi!" Luigi cried out as Yoshi leapt, reaching for him. He tried to catch his friend. Their fingers brushed, but Yoshi fell short and plummeted down into the seemingly bottomless abyss! "Yoshi!" Luigi all but screamed. He saw the dinosaur flutter jump then turn into an egg before disappearing into the darkness.

SMB

Luigi watched in disbelief, heart pounding as he tried to fully comprehend what he's just seen. He looked up in time to see Wario bounding away laughing, and his heart cracked. He grimaced, pulling himself up onto solid ground, and peered back into the darkness hoping to see Yoshi there but knowing he wouldn't be. Sure enough, nothing. Tears threatened the plumber's eyes and he stood up numbly. Yoshi wasn't gone. He couldn't be! Luigi wasn't going to believe it until he knew for sure! The plumber turned and ran into the final room. He saw the star but felt no excitement. Meekly he went to it and back flipped in order to reach it. Taking hold of it, it shot off back towards its home.

Glumly Luigi returned to the Observatory, grief threatening to creep up on him. What if one of his closest friends was really gone...? No, no, Yoshi couldn't be gone. He couldn't! Jaw set determinedly, Luigi took off at a run searching for a sign of the egg. "Yoshi? Yoshi!" he called out frantically. "Yoshi, where are you?! Please make it back, please!"

Just then a voice cried, "Yoshi!"

"Yeah, Yoshi," Luigi replied before looking up in shock. "Yoshi! You're alive!" he exclaimed, instantly hugging him.

"Yoshi!" Yoshi affectionately answered, squeezing his tail around Luigi and nuzzling.

"I was afraid you were gone, Luigi said, voice breaking.

"Yosh," Yoshi reassured, nuzzlign again. The dinosaur then pointed to the launch star and smiled knowingly at Luigi, nudging him towards it.

Luigi smiled happily. "Okay," he agreed. Quickly he went to it and cried out as it launched him to the second planet on his list.

SMB

The next planet offered little to no challenge. Becoming a boulder and rolling over pins wasn't that hard. Nerve wracking when the holes showed up, but still not hard. Landing at the Observatory, Luigi checked in on Mario. He was still sleeping. Sighing, Luigi returned to the launch star. The third planet also was uneventful. He was beginning to hope again! Mistake. He decided he should probably stop being optimistic and stick with good old realism. A robot maid had met him on this planet, shaking. Worriedly he went to it. "Hey you..." he began, about to ask what was wrong.

It interrupted him saying, "Oh dear, something big is up there."

Luigi looked upwards, inwardly sighed, then went towards a launch star. Passing the obstacles and enemies in his way, he reached it then blasted up. He landed and began to look around. Hmm, it just looked like a common arena to him. He thought a moment then cautiously took a step. It was then that he heard the nasally cackle. Oh no. Luigi scowled at the nearing figure standing in his airship. "Luigi, there you are! I missed you the first time! Sorry I can't stay to fight this round, but be prepared, cuz. Until then, though, I have a backup plan!" the voice called. Waluigi!

Luigi watched his cousin open a book. He tensed, prepared for anything. Waluigi began reading, his eyes glowing. "From flesh to stone to earth, from earth to stone once more, arise Bouldergeist and take your revenge!" Luigi grew pale and gasped as dark shadows converged in the centre of the arena. He backed away shaking, as up through the ground rose a ghostly monster made of rock! It spotted Luigi and growled. Surrounding itself with crystal it roared viciously then caused its hands to form outside the protective wall. "Heh, heh, heh, good luck Luigi!" Waluigi called. Luigi remained shaking as the airship floated off.

The monster made its move, slamming its hands down. Luigi scoured the ground for an item. Any item. He spotted a rock mushroom nearby and pounced on it, barely avoiding a row of spikes. Oh Boldergeist had it in for him. Luigi instantly transformed and rolled into the crystal. Twice he did this, the second time so fast that the creature hadn't even pulled off a move. It shrieked then summoned boulders to fly at the young plumber. One broke, revealing a black boo! Luigi remembered Mario's mentioning to him once, when he was recounting one of his adventures to his little brother, that they could be spun around and used to hit anything in the way. Luigi swallowed his terror and raced forward, catching four at once then slamming them into the monster! Luigi was moe surprised that he'd actually touched a boo, multiple boos, and not panicked. Mario would be proud. Three times he did this, still desperately trying to avoid attacks, until finally the creature succumbed and moaned back into the ground. In the centre of the arena appeared a star. He grabbed it then headed back to the observatory, brushing his hands off a little cockily.

Bowser Junior's Rocky World

When Luigi reached the observatory, he saw Pink Toad calling out that there was mail. Luigi walked up to him, taking the message. Reading who it was addressed to, he started. "Rosalina?" he asked out loud. Hmm... Quickly he brought it to her.

Rosalina took it curiously. "For me?" she asked. She began to open it then gasped. As she'd gone to pull out the letter, a rose had fallen from the envelope. She stooped slowly, picking it up, then turned to the letter. Luigi read said letter over her shoulder. She seemed to hardly notice he was there. She gripped the paper tightly. It read:

Dearest Rosetta,

I have enclosed a rose in this little letter so that you'll think of me. Fresh off a thorn bush. Well Rosa, the green bean ruined my monster. I'm sure you're happy about that. Nobody cares about what happens to me or my plans, but there are more than incantations written here in this book, I've found. The author was an amateur poet too it would seem. Here's one I didn't half mind, though:

Light as day, dark as night, these two souls a wondrous sight.

Difference divides, opposition abides, still together they dance high up in the skies.

The cosmos, the skies, the universe surrounds,

And in its expanse their desirous song sounds.

Isn't that nice, Rosalina? I believe it was intended to be about the sun and moon, but I see something else in it. A poetry in that two such opposite things could, when together, make up something so eternal, so lovely and powerful. It's like magic. Tell Luigi I say hello. Next time he and Mario won't be so lucky.

Yours,

Waluigi

SMB

Luigi watched Rosalina with vague interest. She appeared flustered, blushing. "Luigi, what is this? A plea for sympathy or a threat?" she asked, normally monotonous voice sounding slightly shaken.

"It's Waluigi," he replied. She looked at him coldly. Luigi blushed, deciding he'd better explain himself. "He's-a pitying himself, he's always been like that, but writing you must make him feel stronger. He might not know whether you read them or not, but he hopes you do because he wishes someone would sympathize with his failures. He maybe imagines you will."

"Next time tell him I don't want his roses," she said while turning it in her fingers. With that she walked towards her bedroom.

Why didn't she throw it away then, Luigi wondered? Silently he followed her. Peeking into her bedroom he saw Rosalina place it in a vase with two others, humming a tune. Surprised, Luigi backed away sensing he'd gone too far.

Quickly he ran for the portal, but Polari pulled him over. "Luigi, I sense a strong enemy coming up. Better watch it out there," the Luma warned. Luigi nodded.

SMB

The green plumber took the warning to heart. He saw a new planet light up, swallowed, then selected it. The launch star shot him towards the destination. Luigi landed hard then looked up, shocked, seeing the form of a giant robotic toy soldier! Visions of his mansion briefly crossed Luigi's mind as he gazed at it. Suddenly he noticed that the area was littered with toys, floating in the sky or resting on the ground. Bowser Junior's laugh rang out, startling Luigi. He looked beyond the soldier only to see a clown car coming over its head.

"Bwahaha! Luigi, I heard Mario was put out of commission by Larry. Now I can crush you and rub it in to my brother. Too bad for you that even you can't reach the top of my soldier's head! Soldier, attack!" Bowser Junior ordered.

Instantly the soldier's smile changed to a frown. It spun around then shot a bullet bill at Luigi, continuing to do so until it wound down. Luigi frantically searched for something. Then he saw it, a floating spring power-up! He seized it then leapt up as spring Luigi to the top of the soldier. There he ground pounded, making the toy's head spin but at the same time sending him flying. As quickly as he could in spring form, he avoided the attacks of bob-ombs and bullet bills until finally he managed to defeat the toy after two more hits.

The moment the toy soldier fell, Bowser Junior showed up, furious at the plumber. "What!? You wrecked my toy! Now daddy has to get me a new one! Fine, go on, but you'll never beat dad! Good luck with Morton, you'll need it, hah!" Junior said. With that the little Koopa took off. Luigi returned to the observatory.

SMB

After Luigi brought back the star, he went to check on his brother. Mario was sitting up eating pasta. "Hey Luigi, how's it been? I feel really bad leaving you to do this all." Mario then noticed the battle bruises and scratches on his brother. Alarmed, he said, "Weegee what happened?! Tell me everything!"

"Can I later, bro? I'm in a rush to get through this," Luigi said.

"Well let me go with you. I feel better now," Mario said as he leapt up. He wavered, however, and fell back.

"Later bro," Luigi said, shaking his head.

"Watch yourself baby brother," Mario helplessly added as Luigi headed off.

Rocky Lake Trails

Luigi landed on a new planet only to find himself standing on a high peak overlooking a lake. At the bottom of the lake he saw a creature. Squinting, he managed to make it out. On realizing what it was, he gasped. "Guppy!" he exclaimed. Instantly he dove into the water. He kept swimming down, once grabbing an air bubble, until he caught up to the fish.

Seeing him, Guppy said, "Hey you, tall green man, want to race? If you beat me I'll give you a star."

"Okay!" Luigi replied, grinning and pumping his fist in the air.

Next thing Luigi knew he was at a starting line being counted down. As soon as the squid gave the go, he took off. Guppy got ahead, but Luigi saw a green shell. Smirking, he grabbed it. After that Guppy stood no chance. "Argh, you beat me! You're one of the best swimmers I've seen! Here's your prize, enjoy," Guppy said.

Luigi seized the star victoriously. "Yippee!" he cheered.

He soon found himself on the same ledge again. Across the hole there was now another ledge with a launch star. "Over here, Luigi!" Toad yelled, jumping up and down.

Luigi sighed and obeyed. "What?" he asked.

"I found a power star up in that mountain cave, but Kamek is there. It's not that I couldn't beat him, it's just..." In a tiny voice, he finished, "I don't want to."

"Oh, okay," Luigi replied vigorously nodding. Instantly he jumped in, blasting towards the cave. Sure enough the first thing he heard was Kamek's cackle at the mouth. He ran towards the forming figure who shot out a fire ball. Luigi dodged and before Kamek even had time to move, Luigi had attacked him. Angered, Kamek summoned some more magikoopas then left. It was weird how passive a lot of the enemies and rivals were being here. Maybe they were just feeling things out? Luigi made quick work of the Magikoopas Kamek had called up, then fearfully entered the cavern. He came upon an underground lake leading into blackness. Shaking, Luigi swallowed and entered, terrified. He went into the blackness only to cry out in terror as he saw something glowing! Swiftly he left the pond, hiding behind a rock. Just then that he noticed a Yoshi egg and grinned.

SMB

It turned out the glowing thing had been a glow fruit. Which was handy because the path to the star had been pitch black. They'd gotten it with little difficulty an now Luigi was back again by himself, landing at the top of one of the waterfalls he'd seen. That seemed... odd. It was kind of an out-there place to land, but then he guessed he didn't have a lot of control over where the launch stars sent him. It was really pretty here anyway. "Go on, jump in," a luma insisted excitedly. "It's a water slide!"

Vigorously Luigi shook his head. "Uh uh, no way," he replied. He'd find a better way down thank you very much.

"Yes way!" a voice yelled from behind him. He felt hands shove him and cried out in terror as he fell. Turning, he saw Wario jumping after him!

Splash! Luigi landed then felt the current tearing him along.

Ker-splash! A louder splash quickly followed.

Luigi didn't have to look back to realize it was his older cousin who'd jumped in after him. The river dropped into a tube-like tunnel, plunging them down! Luigi desperately tried to go faster by paddling. A loose rock was coming up. The green plumber swam to it then kicked it back hard! It struck Wario, who cried out in pain. Wario then lunged towards Luigi using a branch as a push off. Luigi dodged then kicked another rock. Wario got angry. He started swimming side to side, continuously trying to hit Luigi. Finally Luigi saw the star and the last rock. With a kick he knocked it back. Wario tumbled out of control down the fall towards a black hole. Oh crap! Luigi desperately, powerfully, swam for the the safety of the ledge the star was on, finally managing to break from the tubule fall's current. Wario, however, plummeted on!

Luigi rushed to the edge holding out his hand. "Wario, grab on!" he called. He'd wanted Wario off his tail, not dead! Wario was too far away. The yellow-clad man reached for Luigi's hand but could only brush his finger tips! Wario continued to plunge down crying out in terror. Luigi watched helplessly in horror as his cousin was falling to his doom.

Suddenly Waluigi cried from lower down, "Wario! Come here, bro!" Luigi watched Waluigi swim on what seemed to be a wave of nothing but air and grab his big brother's hand. The two landed on Wario's airship. Relieved, Wario patted his body making sure he was alive. He then cried out gleefully, wrapping his little brother in a bone crushing hug. "Wario!" Waluigi gasped. Wario dropped him on the ground sheepishly. Sighing in relief, Luigi quickly grabbed the power star before they came back up for him. Which they would, if only to get back at him for this. It was best he got off this planet ASAP.

SMB

Landing back on the observatory, Luigi went to Green Bank Toad and deposited a few hundred of his star bits and coins, keeping an even number of both for himself just in case. He then went to check on Mario. Mario looked up as his sibling entered. "What happened? Why are you so wet?" he asked.

Luigi grimaced then answered, "Well, I was on this wet planet and the last star was in a waterfall Wario pushed me into, and I-a went down and he jumped in after me and I tried to get-a him off my back by kicking rocks at him, but one hit too hard and he lost control and I managed to get out, but Wario didn't and almost died, but Waluigi came in a wind wave and saved him!" He was panting to catch his breath by the end of the narrative. In which he hadn't breathed once. Mario listened in shock. Without a word the older plumber lay back down. "Mario?" Luigi asked.

"So, I almost lost my arch rival, but yours saved him?" Mario whimpered.

"Well, he's your cousin bro. I even tried to save him," Luigi guiltily replied.

"Next time don't," Mario bluntly said.

"Good to see you're almost back to normal," Luigi sarcastically said. "Besides, you'd have missed him."

"Get out, Weegee," Mario ordered, pointing at the door.

"Humph," Luigi grumbled. Nonetheless, he left.

Sky High Mountain

The first planet was uneventful, as was the second. Climb a mountain, avoid thwomps and whomps, get a star. Race a rockslide, don't get crushed, grab a star before you end up a pancake. It was tame otherwise. Then the third planet came up, and everything was ruined. For the last time he went back, whistling happily. It was almost over. This star would probably be simple, right? Oh yeah, he's promised himself not to be optimistic. He remembered why about a minute later. He looked around and found himself on the peak. Looking down he just made out the faint glitter of a star on the edge of a small plateau... But it looked too easy... There wasn't even an obstacle in sight. Something was going to happen, he felt it. He had wandered down only a little ways when suddenly a huge bang made him whirl around. A cruel and slightly crazy laugh rang out as Luigi saw Waluigi, glowing purple eyes and all! "Hey small fry, remember me!" he asked.

Luigi scowled and replied, "How could I forget, small bones? Oh yeah, Rosalina told-a me to tell you to stop giving her roses."

Looking surprised at the sudden mention of the Queen of Cosmos, Waluigi replied, "Oh really?" Gaining back his demeanour he grinned, sneering. "Too bad! Run cuz, run for your life!" He immediately summoned thorns to come up from the ground, blocking off access to anywhere but the path Waluigi laid out. Without batting an eyelid, Waluigi started rolling the giant boulder he was on, using it like a ball. Luigi's eyes widened in terror. He instantly charged down the hill, screaming in fear.

The boulder began its decent, Waluigi balancing on it perfectly. Once in a while he would laugh as he summoned thorns to slow Luigi down. All the while his eyes glowed. Sometimes the thorns would stretch across the path, though not reaching high and therefore prompting Luigi to triple jump or back flip over them, losing time. Frantically Luigi searched for a fire flower, but none appeared. He was on his own. The star was nearing, his lungs bursting. Waluigi had stopped laughing, eyes calm. He was choosing instead to focus on the task at hand. Suddenly a whole section of the plateau broke off, moving away from the mountain with the power star on it!

Alarmed, both he and Waluigi exclaimed, "Wah?!" Luigi was barely able to slide to a stop before the impossible jump, almost falling off the edge. He waved his arms frantically in circles to catch his balance again. He turned to see the boulder bearing down on him. Desperately he leapt out of the way with a cry of fear. The boulder rolled right off the edge. Waluigi just managed to jump from it in time, rolling as he landed. Both cousins watched in shock as it toppled into the black hole below.

For a moment there was quiet. Waluigi and Luigi met each others eyes, stunned. All at once they snapped out of it. Waluigi leapt up as Luigi gasped. Luigi got into a fighting stance, prepared for Waluigi's attack. It came swiftly. Waluigi was almost instantly on top of his cousin. The two rolled on the ground fighting, Waluigi not bothering with his abilities. They would manage to stand once in a while only to fight on their feet before collapsing again to the ground, ripping at each other. Suddenly they both ceased their yelling and blows at the sound of a dull roar.

Slowly they both looked up the mountain only to see a gigantic rock slide tearing towards them! Both gasped. In seconds it was almost on top of them! Luigi jerked free from Waluigi's grip, diving to the side. He turned, calling, "Waluigi, move!" Waluigi tried, for sure, but unfortunately things didn't always go as planed...

SMB

It happened as if in slow motion. As Waluigi was diving to the side, the boulders struck him! "Help!" Luigi heard his cousin cry, but before anything could be done Waluigi quickly disappeared from sight beneath the mountain of rock! Luigi watched in horror, unable to do anything but gape. The slide went on for what Luigi thought seemed to be forever until finally the roaring subsided, half the rocks falling into the black hole, the other half remaining on the plateau over the place where Luigi could swear Waluigi was buried.

The silence was deafening before Luigi finally leapt into action, diving at the pile. "Waluigi! Oh this looks bad. Where are you?! Answer me if you're alive!" he called fearfully. The pumber desperately dug through the rocks, but after a moment he stopped, panting, shock in his eyes. Luigi soon closed them, looking down at the ground. Oh no...

"Help me!" a voice suddenly called from afar.

Luigi lifted his head in surprise. "Waluigi?!" he called.

"Luigi, down here!" Waluigi's voice replied. Luigi gasped and raced to the edge. He looked down. His eyes widened in fear at what he saw. Waluigi was clinging to a ledge!

Luigi lay down, stretching as far as it was safe for him to do. "Grab on!" he called. Waluigi reached up, but his finger tips only barely touched Luigi's. Luigi gritted his teeth, leaning farther down. Suddenly the two heard crumbling. Both gasped. Luigi fearfully looked back only to see a loose boulder falling from the pile! He cried out then rolled to the side, just barely avoiding it. However, he heard the sickening sound of rock hitting body, and then Waluigi's cry of pain... Paling, he lunged for the edge reaching out for a man he knew was no longer there. Heart leaping into his throat, he watched as his cousin fell towards the black hole, the boulder right above him. This time Luigi saw no saviour. He watched the fall, watched the man being sucked into the darkest depths of who knew where, and then it was quiet... And he could do and say nothing...

Silence reigned once more. For a long moment Luigi stared blankly down the crevice in shock, mouth agape in disbelief. Suddenly a thorny purple vine shot out of the ground, making Luigi jump back. On its tip was a rose and a note stuck to a thorn. The full impact of what had just occurred hit the plumber, then. "Wa-Waluigi," he muttered. He swallowed, closing his eyes and shaking his head. After a moment he opened his eyes again, willing back threatening tears, and reached out, gingerly taking the note. On it were the words: For Rosa.

Luigi looked down towards the black hole again, shuddered, then took the object. He saw the half of the plateau moving back, the star nearing. Soon it closed together again. After pausing a moment at the very edge to honour his cousin's memory, as seemed proper, Luigi took the star, a depressed look on his face... And yet strangely there was a feeling of relief too... That should have disturbed him more than it did...

Morton's Planet

Landing, Luigi was greeted by Mario. "Hey little bro, I'm-a feeling way better now! What happened out there? Tell me everything," Mario said. Luigi looked solemnly at his brother. Worry creased Mario's expression. "Bro?" he asked.

Luigi opened his mouth to speak, but before he could get out a word Polari and Rosalina came up. Nervously Polari exclaimed, "Oh my, we are picking up strange readings again. I think it may be another of Bowser's koopalings. Best check it out, Luigi."

Instead of answering, Luigi pulled out the rose, holding it to Rosalina. "Again? I told him to stop. How dare he," Rosalina said in her monotonous slightly put out voice while taking it. "When you see Waluigi again, tell him to take back his roses."

Luigi looked down. "Weegee? What's-a going on?" Mario worriedly asked, placing a hand on his brother's shoulder.

Luigi looked back at him, saying, "We won't see him again... Remember when I told you Wario had almost died...?"

"Si. Waluigi saved him," Mario replied, cautious about where this was going.

Luigi let out a shaky breath. "Waluigi wasn't that lucky." He saw the startled and confused looks of the others, Rosalina's slightly paler complexion. Turning to face her directly, he continued, "Half of the plateau moved away from us before I could get the star. Waluigi managed to jump off the boulder he used to chase me just in time, then we began to fight... But when the rock slide came, he wasn't quick enough..."

SMB

Rosalina covered her mouth. "No way..." Mario numbly said.

"Oh dear. He wasn't..." Polari began.

"No, he wasn't crushed," Luigi said. "I thought he'd been crushed, but after I dug a bit I heard him call me. He had gone off the cliff and was holding onto a ledge. I tried to save him, but we couldn't reach each other. Then a huge boulder came. I dove out of the way. It hit Waluigi and took him with it over the edge into the black hole."

"Wally..." Mario murmured shaking his head, a look of sadness in his eyes.

Rosalina appeared too stunned to do anything but stare. After a moment she shook her head as if just visualizing the scene. "Waluigi..." she murmured.

Taking a deep breath then letting it out, Luigi continued. "After I lost sight of him, a vine he must have been able to send up shot out of the ground. It had that rose on it, and this note pinned to one of the thorns." He handed the note to Rosalina. She took it from his outstretched hand, silently reading the two words.

After a moment that was too long for her to have read the two words just once over, she crumpled it, muttering, "For Rosa indeed." Without saying anything more, she took the crumpled note and rose then walked towards her bedroom.

"Oh no," Polari said. "Poor Mama."

"She didn't even like him," Mario said.

"Maybe not, but she hasn't seen roses like those for a long time, not even in the garden. Not that pretty, not given to her by an actual, determined, human man wanting her affection as badly as he did," Polari replied.

Mario looked curiously after her. "I'm... I'm-a going to go see her," he soon declared.

"Go ahead. I'm sorry for your loss," Polari answered.

"He was an estranged and evil cousin, nothing more..." Mario quietly replied.

"He was family, no?" Polari asked.

After a moment, Mario replied, "Yes..."

"Then you and Luigi must feel something," Polari said, confused.

Mario and Luigi looked at each other. Finally Mario answered for them both. "Melancholy and pity, not misery."

"She's-a probably putting the rose with the other three in a vase," Luigi said. "I don't think she wants anyone to know, but I spied on her. Hey bro, you notice how he writes... wrote, her a letter or note after or before each time he showed up except once?"

"Yes," Mario mused, looking ponderous. He then set off after Rosalina.

"I'll-a go after Morton," Luigi declared.

"How do you a know it's-a Morton?" Mario asked, pausing.

"Bowser Junior mentioned him," Luigi answered.

"You're not going anywhere before you tell me everything that's-a happened," Mario said.

"Okay, okay," Luigi replied sulkily.

SMB

Mario reached the bedroom door and knocked lightly on it. "Rosalina?" he cautiously called as he opened it. He saw her sitting on her bed gazing at the roses, letters, and note.

After a moment she asked, "Mario, was your cousin all bad?"

Mario looked at the roses. After a moment, he replied, "Yes."

With a weak smile she said, "Looking at his roses, reading his letters, you could almost forget..."

He sighed deeply and seriously answered, "No your highness, you couldn't... Not if you knew him..."

"I sensed his aura," she replied.

"You said it was wicked," he answered.

She remained silent for a moment. Soon she mused, half to herself, "Then where did he learn to get them so perfect?"

Mario frowned in confusion. After a pause he replied, "You know, I'm-a not sure. I never thought of it like that." She said no more. Mario sighed then gently said, "His magic or powers or whatever it was he used, were something he kept guarded and secret... No one knew but him..." Quietly he left.

SMB

Luigi told them all about his adventures. By the end Mario seemed to be in a shock. "Hey bro, you okay? It wasn't that bad," Luigi said.

Shaking his head, Mario firmly replied, "I'm-a going to go with you to face Morton. Even if only to watch."

"Bro, you don't have to! Don't be so protective! I can do it myself!" Luigi replied.

"You're all I've got, Luigi. I'm being protective. I won't get in your way. I'll-a just watch in case you need help like I did," Mario replied. Luigi sighed, knowing Mario wouldn't change his mind.

SMB

Soon enough the two brothers reached Morton's planet. Luigi grabbed an extra health mushroom then charged ahead. Mario followed slower and stood to the side. Sure enough, seconds after Luigi reached the top Morton jumped from his air ship, laughing. "So, Luigi, you came. I heard how you beat Larry and saved Mario's life. Well this is where your streak ends! Now I'll destroy you both!"

No sooner had the words left Morton's mouth when he slammed the ground, causing the planet to shake and rocks to fall! Instantly he fired his magic wand then spun towards Luigi in his shell. The shaking was throwing the plumber's coordination off, but he was able to dodge both the wand's projectile and the falling stones. He just managed to avoid Morton, and as a result got in an early hit.

Morton, however, wasn't thrown. He jumped back into his shell then struck Luigi before he could react. Luigi leapt up, as Morton did. Morton fired two projectiles from the wand one by one. Luigi dodged the first and hit Morton again, but the second projectile caught him by surprise having returned to him like a heat seeker. Luigi cried out in pain, yelling, "Yow, hot, hot, hot, hot, hot!" The burning stopped in time for a falling rock to hit him, putting him at three lives. Mario cringed and began biting his nails. Angrily Luigi lunged at Morton as he was about to jump in the shell.

"Weegee, no!" Mario warned. However, things went Luigi's way for once, and he delivered the third kick!

A Grand Star floated out of the fallen koopaling's wand. Morton jumped up, furious, and yelled, "Argh, you'll never beat us! Daddy's, I mean dad's, plan is moving along too quickly! See you, Mario brothers!" With that the koopaling bounded to his air ship. Luigi grabbed the star victoriously. Mario smiled proudly and the two were teleported back to the observatory.