Hello all again and welcome to part two of the finale! Yup, this is going to be a three-parter. I was pondering in bed last night and I came up with two endings - one that ends on this chapter, and another that has another chapter coming along after it - if that made any sense XD.

Anyway, let's roll on with the second part!

Luigi was feeling happier than nomal.

Starlow was coming back from Bowser's Castle by the end of this week and Luigi was looking forward to it. He had been missing her like crazy, and Mario and Peach were looking forward to it too. Part of the reason was because they wanted to see their friend again, but the main reason was that they wanted Luigi to be happy again. They didn't like the Luigi they had had over the past two weeks. They wanted a return to the other Luigi - the happy go-lucky Luigi.

He and Mario were having a competition to see who could get to the top of the castle the fastest. It reality, it was no competition - Luigi was faster and could jump higher, but Mario had more experience and thus had the courage to take more risks. Like flinging himself over an impossible gap and grasping the ledge by his fingertips. Luigi though, after seeing his brother do it, decided to do it himself and usually ended up straight over to the other side, without having to haul himself up from the edge. So he was beating Mario leading up to the final corner when it happened.

A low rumble shook the castle.

Mario and Luigi both skidded to a stop. They looked at each other, confused.

"What was that?" Mario asked. Luigi just shrugged. Another rumble, this one stronger than the last. The Mario Brothers tottered a bit, then recovered their footing. Mario looked seriously worried.

"Peach..." he muttered and sprinted off back downstairs, leaving Luigi by himself. Luigi stayed there awhile, thinking. This seemed oddly familiar...

As if to confirm his thoughts, he heard the low whine of an engine. Luigi's eyes widened and he sprinted after his brother.

Luigi skidded outside the castle, where Mario was. He was crouched low, ready, and a snarl was on his face. Luigi looked up - and groaned in annoyance.

Bowser had brought his airships again. Didn't he know he could kidnap the princess, but Mario and Luigi would always be there to take her back? He watched them get closer. As soon as they are close enough, I'll try and jump onto one of the chains that are hanging down from them, Luigi thought. But, to his shock, they landed in the middle of Toad Square, scattering toads every which way. The plank from each was lowered, and hundreds of Goomba's, Koopa Troopa's and all sorts of enemies flooded from the airships. Mario stared at them with as much shock as Luigi. What is Bowser playing at? he thought anxiously. The minions all rushed forward, only to stop at the start of the path leading up to Peach's Castle. Bowser walked forward, a lazy grin on his face. He stood in front of his army.

"Mario! Green 'Stache!" he called, a smirk on his lips. "As you can see, I am doing things differently this time,".

"We sorta noticed," Luigi called. Bowser's smirk grew only wider.

"Oh...Luigi, is it? I'm sure you'll love what people you'll face this battle..." he chuckled, retreating back behind his lines. Luigi was flabbergasted. What does he mean...oh, no... Luigi realised, scanning the army. He saw her straight away, and they locked eyes as she looked up from the female Dry Bones she was talking to. Starlow's eyes widened, and she mouthed some words. Luigi caught them straight away and paled.

"I'm sorry," were the words she had mouthed. Sorry for what? What was going to happen? Luigi felt his mouth go dry. Bowser stood on the fountain in the middle of Toad Town.

"What is your choice, then?" he called. "Surrender your kingdom to me...or we take it from you by force..." Mario growled low at the word 'surrender'.

"Like we really would surrender the Mushroom Kingdom to you! Right, bro?" Mario asked, turning to Luigi. Luigi was still staring at Starlow, who had now dipped her head and was staring at the ground.

"Luigi?" He snapped out of his reverie and looked across to Mario. Concern was on his brothers face. He cleared his throat.

"Y...yeah. We would never surrender the Mushroom Kingdom!" he called out. Bowser smirked evilly.

"Well...I guess force is the only option. CHARGE!" he roared, taking Mario and Luigi by surprise. He was attacking immediately! They had got to get some help! No way could they take on all of these minions and live.

"MARIO!" someone shouted behind them. The Mario Brothers turned round - and Mario's pupils dilated in shock.

Peach, of all the people, was running to them. She had a thin rapier by her side. Toadsworth was desperately trying to keep up.

"Princess!" he shouted. "I seriously cannot allow you to participate in this fight! We'll send in the guards to aid Masters Mario and Luigi!" He stopped for breath, placing his hands on his knees and taking in great gulps of it. Peach reached Mario's side.

"Heya, Mario!" she greeted enthusiastically. Mario was mouthing furiously at her, then he found his voice.

"PEACH!" he shouted. "You...you can't fight!"

"Can't I? Oops, too late. They're upon us!" Peach said sweetly before unsheathing her rapier and neatly slicing into the nearest Koopa. He howled and dropped to the ground, clutching his face. Peach drew out two Fire Flowers from her pockets.

"You'll need help," was all she said before flinging them at the brothers. Mario caught them and passed one to Luigi; they absorbed them, turning them into Fire Mario and Fire Luigi (can't be bothered to do that lengthy description again - check out the chappy Let The Training Begin! for a description if you really want one). They both smirked at the oncoming horde.

"This fight just became a lot easier," Mario chuckled, grinning. He let off a stream of fireballs at the horde, running into battle as he did so. Luigi followed suit, with Peach close behind. Together they started to burn, hack, punch and kick their way thorugh the army, heading towards Bowser. Bowser, meanwhile, had set up his Goomba Storm. He set alight each and every one and they jumped high into the air, aiming for the trio. They plummeted, two headed for Peach, two for Luigi and four for Mario. Luigi looked up.

"GOOMBA'S AHOY!" he yelled, pointing up. Mario and Peach followed his finger and, when they saw what was heading their way, smirked. Mario looked at Luigi, who nodded. Mario ran at Luigi, who crouched low. Mario jumped onto his back and Luigi straightened up, giving Mario a boost as he leapt off his brother. Mario immediately took out his hammer and started spinning wildly. He collided off the first Goomba, rebounding him into the second. He continued to do this, but one managed to sneak by him. It plummeted straight for Peach. Peach calmly raised her sword and pointed it at the flaming Goomba, point first. The Goomba's eyes opened in shock as it saw the rapier. It couldn't stop or change direction as it was going too fast. It closed its eyes...

"Eww!" Peach squealed, wiping her sword on the grass. "Goomba guts!" Luigi shook his head in amusement and amazement. Peach was constantly amazing him these days...Mario landed and flung his hammer at a burly Hammer Bro. It pinged off his head and returned to Mario's hand like a boomerang. The Hammer Bro keeled over, knocked out. The other Hammer Bro's glared at the trio, before flinging several hammers in their direction. Peach squealed and flailed her sword about, managing to amzingly knock away every single hammer that came her way. Mario and Luigi knocked some back and grabbed some, before spinning round and delivering them back with double power. Some managed to knock into them, though, knocking them back a few steps.

"CHARGE!" they heard behind them. The trio turned round and cheered at the sight that graced their eyes.

A huge number of toads had come rushing out of the castle and were now rushing straight for Bowser's army. Most people on Bowser's side opened their eyes wide in shock before a fungus head barreled its way between them, closing them for good. About half the toads had swords, and Luigi, with some amusement, saw Toader and his chefs flailing any kitchen utensils they had managed to get their hands on. Most of the chefs had chosen a big, heavy saucepan but Toader and a few others had plumped for the cleavers. Luigi chuckled and turned round, frying a Goomba who had tried to rush him. Suddenly, a fireball vaulted over Bowser's army and plummeted towards Luigi. Luigi yelped and jumped out of the way. It landed, frying several Goomba's and a couple of Koopa's. Bowser grinned at him, and vaulted another fireball over the army. Luigi took off, running for Bowser. He leapt onto a Koopa, thus forcing it into its shell. He rode it along the grass, knocking out Goomba's along the way. He was getting closer, jinking left and right to avoid the onslaught of fireballs. Suddenly, something barged into him from the side. Him and his attacker rolled down the hill, punching and kicking each other, trying to get a firm grip on each other. They slammed painfully into the gates of Toad Town and stopped, writhing slightly in pain. His attacker got up first, but Luigi followed shortly after. He gasped when he saw her.

"Starlow!" he gasped, reaching out a hand for her. She smacked it away, her face blank. She then proceeded to lunge at him, feet first. Luigi's eyes widened and he leapt out of the way. Starlow planted her feet on the wall and kicked off of it, twisting gracefully through the air before landing in a crouch.

"Starlow, why are you doing this?" Luigi asked, reaching out for her again. Her response was to smash her foot into his knee, thereby bringing him down on it. He hissed in pain, and he glanced up to see Starlow absorbing a Fire Flower.

"Fight me," she said emotionlessly. Luigi shook his head; she flung a fireball at his head, blasting him off his knees so he landed painfully on his back. He struggled up, grimacing in pain.

"I said fight me!" she cried, flinging several more fireballs in his direction. Luigi ducked and dodged out of the way, then sent a few quick fireballs her way before running at her. He went for a punch, which Starlow blocked with her forearm. He punched with his other fist, which Starlow blocked with her other forearm. They both stared at each other.

"You know..." Luigi said, grinning. He twirled away and lashed out with his foot, aiming at her shin. She leapt over it, countering with a kick of her own, but aiming for his head. Luigi caught it with both hands. "...I've always wondered who would win a fight between me and you," A faint smile crossed Starlow's face.

"Yeah..." she said, wrenching her foot from his grasp and kneeing him in the stomach, causing him to double up as she winded him. "Me too!" Luigi grinned at her; straightening up, he lashed out with his fist. Starlow went to block with her forearm, but at the last minute he cloaked it in fire, burning her. Starlow cried out, but kept her arm there. She gritted her teeth against the pain, and saw Luigi weakening. He doesn't want to hurt me, she realised. Luigi pulled his fist back, immediately lashing out with a kick. They exchanged blows, blocking and weaving around each other in a deadly dance. Fireballs were exchanged now and then, but they never reached their targets as the participants were always too fast. Deciding to forgo fireballs they concetrated on pure fighting. Luigi leapt up high and wall kicked off the sign proclaiming 'TOAD TOWN' in big, colourful letters. Starlow leapt up too, and grabbed his legs. He floundered in mid air, kicking violently to free himself, and they tumbled back to earth. Starlow clawed her way up him, and lashed out at his face. Luigi ducked his head, dodging the blow and headbutted her in the chest. She gasped as the wind left her, and they hit the grassy knoll. Luigi leapt up and jumped back a few feet, crouching slightly.

"I don't want to seriously hurt you, Starlow!" he called out to her. Starlow grinned, placing her hands flat on the floor to hoist herself up. She grinned widey at him.

"Prove to me that you actually can," she taunted, settling down into a crouch and beckoning him with her left hand. Luigi withdrew his hammer; Starlow, her rapier. They ran at each other and swung at the exact same time, sword and hammer meeting in the middle. They pushed against each other, glaring into the others eyes. They broke apart, leaping back a pace. THen they rushed each other again, ducking and weaving as they tried to get a clean hit on each other. Starlow glanced back up to the battle to see what had transpired since their fight had begun, blocking Luigi's hammer as it smashed downwards. Mario and Bowser were fighting in the middle of the clearing, and Peach was knocked out on the floor. Bowser was grinning as Mario roared at him, lashing out with a flurry of blows. They entered the deadly dance Starlow and Luigi had completed mere moments ago. Starlow looked back at Luigi just to see a hammer flying her way. She caught it and flung it back. Luigi caught it and rushed her, swinging his hammer in an upward arc. They danced about each other, each trying to breack the other's defense. Starlow suddenly sliced his right arm, and Luigi howled with pain, dropping his hammer. Starlow immediately went on the offensive, slicing him up. Luigi stumbled back a few paces and dropped to both knees. He felt the cold steel press against his heart and knew it was over. He stared up into his lover's face as a last act of defiance. Starlow was staring at him, and there was a mixture of emotions on his face. He could see hurt there, and regret. But, underlying it all...rage. Luigi could assume what she was angry about. Rage at this situation, rage at what fate had prepared for them...and for beating him. He knew that she knew her life was on the line if she didn't end it. The hand holding the sword trembled, then steadied. He turned his head slowly in the direction of the hill. Bowser was standing on Mario, and was grasping his collar, hauling him upright. He pressed a claw against his throat. Peach had woken up, but seemed to weak to do anything but watch.

"Any final words, Mario?" he grinned. Mario opened his eyes and spat a globule of blood into the Koopa King's face.

"Go...to...hell..."was all the older Mario brother wheezed. Bowser smirked.

"I'll be the one sending you to hell," the Koopa King hissed - and sliced his throat, sending about two litres of blood into his face. Mario choked and Bowser flung the plumber away from him, turning away in contempt. Mario smashed into the ground, twitching violently. He thrashed, getting weaker and weaker with each spasm. Finally, he lay still.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" Peach screamed, curling up into a living pile of tears. Bowser grinned at her, then turned to Luigi and Starlow. He stared at her, the grin widening. Starlow gulped and turned back to Luigi, who looked like his mind had shut down. He turned back to Starlow.

"He...actually beat Mario..." he gasped unbelievingly. Starlow just stared at him. She drew in a deep breath, exhaling it slowly. She placed both hands on the hilt of the sword.

"Forgive me...for this..." she whispered.

And she pierced his heart.

DUN DUN DUN! Weren't expecting that, were you? It seems that the Mushroom Kingdom finally fell...oh dear. Don't worry, the story doesn't end here. Although the story has now got to be changed to M because of CHARACTER DEATH. I've been rewriting this fight FOREVER. I sincerely hope you like the one I ended on.

But...wow...Mario actually was defeated. If you don't like things like that, then find a different story. And yes, with this ending comes a sequel - after the epilogue:)

Anyway, please review and I hope this doesn't alienate too many people...