Finally, it is finished! Thank you so so much to everyone who has read this and especially to the reviewers! You really helped me to keep going with this! I know I've updated insanely slowly and took forever, but I really hope you've enjoyed it! BTW, I have a half finished one-shot that is sort of a sequel to this that I will post sometime within the next month, so look out for that, because I'd be sooo happy if you'd read it when I post it! So anyway, hope you enjoyed the story! Keep writing, reading, and reviewing!
Mario and Luigi made their way closer and closer to Bowser's castle. Mario continued ranting, as he had been doing the whole time they had been walking. "We can't let-a Bowser get away with what he did! We gotta show him he can't take-a the princess again!"
Luigi sighed. "Is this really necessary? It's not like this is anything new."
"Yeah, but this-a time it ended too quickly. Bowser was so distracted I hardly had to-a fight him! He left without a scratch. I can't let him off easy like-a that!"
Luigi shook his head. "If you say so, bro."
The brothers continued walking until they reached the castle grounds. They were surprised to see the entire Koopa family standing outside near a pit of lava.
"What are they doing?" Luigi wondered aloud.
"Who knows? Nothing a-good, I'ma sure." Mario started to move toward the group of Koopas.
"Mario, wait!"Luigi instructed his older brother, grabbing his shoulder. "Look at them."
"Yes, yes, I know, there are a lot of them, but we have the element of surprise, and-"
Luigi cut him off. "No. Look at them. Really look at them."
Mario didn't understand what Luigi was going on about, but he complied.
The first thing he noticed was that the Koopas were each throwing a piece of crumpled paper into the lava pit. What's with that? They evidently don't enjoy literature much. Such a shame.
But then he noticed other things. The way the Koopa with sunglasses was looking at the one with the turnip hair out of the corner of his eyes. He was biting his lip. What was that look? Guilt? Regret? Am I seeing what I think I'ma seeing?
Mario's eyes moved to the smaller blue-haired Koopa. He put a reassuring arm around the turnip-haired one. That struck a chord. Mario's mind flashed back to the many times he'd reassured his younger brother when things looked bleak. And...yes, times when Luigi would reassure him.
Mario continued to let his eyes wander from Koopa to Koopa. What he saw surprised him. Doubt. Longing. Understanding. Worry. Relief. He saw all these emotions and more in the faces of the Koopas. It surprised him because he had never realized how complex the Koopas were, how similar they were to him and the people he knew. I guess I just assumed that because they were different and caused trouble, they didn't have feelings.
The biggest surprise was Bowser. He face was filled with absolute sorrow. A few tears slid down his face, though he was obviously trying hard to hold them in. Mario had never imagined he would see Bowser cry. Big, tough Bowser. What was it that could make him so sad?
All nine Koopas stared as the papers burned in the pit. Mario still couldn't comprehend what was going on, but he understood why Luigi had stopped him. The Koopas weren't...the most harmonious family. This was probably a rare occurrence, this moment the family was having, this moment where Mario could sense such respect and understanding between the Koopalings. The fragility of it was overwhelming.
Mario turned to Luigi, understanding now why Luigi had stopped him. He didn't want to shatter a precious moment like that.
"So, do you think you can let him off the hook, just this once?"
"I suppose so."
So the two brothers walked away, leaving the family to themselves.