A/N: Oh jeez…sorry for the delay…had some writers block issues…onward we go!

Chapter 25: Visitor in the Night

"Thanks for the breakfast, Ms. Mucavele," Luigi said as he put his plate in the sink the next morning. Mario did the same. The brothers had eaten breakfast at Hammer and Breaker's house before they would set out to find adequate suits for the upcoming ball.

"Anytime, dear," said the female Hammer bro. Marius took the rest of the dishes and aided by Luigi, proceeded to clean them up. Ms. Mucavele fussed over Breaker; the young man trying to dodge his mother as she tried to wipe his face with a wet washcloth. "Oh, do sit still, Breaker. My Goodness, I can't have you running off to town looking like you slept in your food all night."

Breaker finally gave in with a sigh of protest as Marius gave him a shake of his head, which to him meant, 'don't try and fight it, you'll never win.'

Hammer jumped up and switched on the computer that sat in the living room. "Hey Weege. Before we go into town, I gotta show you something!" Luigi smiled as he sat down on the couch. He liked their home. It was small, but very comfy, and it suited the small family of four just fine. While Ms. Mucavele bustled about, trying to clean up the kitchen, Marius took a seat next to Luigi.

"So, what's up with Hammer?" Luigi asked, stretching a bit before putting his hands behind his head to allow his food to digest.

Marius shook his head. "Something…I think you're going to find quite shocking…"

"Here, got it!...no, wait…Marius, can you come help me? You're the computer whiz," Hammer said, hopping up from the chair. Marius took a seat and typed at the keyboard before double clicking on one of the links that had appeared onscreen. "Come here, guys."

Everyone crowded around the computer as a site showcasing an unfinished building along with a few long articles appeared. Luigi raised his eyebrow, "What is it?" Marius clicked the link that said 'Upcoming Cup News.' It was a site dedicated to the upcoming soccer tourney.

"The super…Bowser cup?" Mario asked in disbelief.

"Yeah…let me give you the details." Marius typed away for a moment before reading aloud. "…This year's upcoming soccer cup is sporting quite a few new changes to the old familiar regime. Teams are still comprised of a goalie, three sidekicks and a captain and items of any kind are available for usage. Despite these traditions, a new style is being formatted to create a new type of 'Charged' soccer. Instead of a regular soccer ball, the ball is made of iron that can split in up to six different balls when a captain performs a super strike. On top of that, the ball becomes charged with energy the longer it is held in one team's possession…"

"That sounds intense…" Breaker trailed off.

"…Now to the average soccer fan, this would seem a bit on the wild side, but another upgrade being made to the rules is the element of body armor to protect the legs, arms and torso of the players. Aside from that, the electric fence is still there; ready to snare any unfortunate team member who happens to slide too close. This is still the game the fans of the Mushroom World have come to know and love, but with major alterations. This has become not only a game of competition for the gold, but a fight for survival. This is reporter Mike E. signing off…yadda, yadda, yadda…" Marius finished reading the snippet of the news column.

Luigi whistled, "That's pretty crazy."

"That ain't half of it…" Hammer said, taking the mouse and clicking on the link back to the homepage before clicking on a few other things. "Take a gander at this; they're building a new stadium outside of Mushroom City."

Luigi took a look at the building plans in front of him.

"It's called 'The Vice,'" Marius said, glancing over at Luigi's face. "Guess its projected capacity."

Luigi shrugged. "Uh…Um, shoot I dunno… 'hundred-thousand?"

"Uh-uh, bigger…" Hammer said.

"'Hundred-fifty thousand?"

"Bigger," Breaker chimed in.

"Two fifty K?" Luigi asked in a last-ditch effort.

"Three-hundred eighty-five thousand people," Marius said slowly. Luigi and Mario's mouths dropped.

"What?! Bowser's stadium was the biggest in the League and that only topped off at one hundred thousand," Mario stated.

"Well, it ain't the biggest anymore," Marius sighed. "They've got it half done; it's already bigger than Konga Coliseum. It's only half done!" Marius said.

Luigi stared dumbfounded, "My god, when did they break ground on this?"

"While we were in Tortuga," Hammer said, "They have been hauling major booty since they started. They already had the site done months ago, but actual construction started while we were gone."

"You're kidding me," the brothers said in utter disbelief.

"It also says on here 'Captains who signed up their teams would be advised to contact their local sports office for more information because new rules are being set.' I'm thinking we can probably do that while we're out…what do you think, Weege?"

Luigi shrugged, "That's fine…" He was still staring at the building model.

"Well, you guys better get going if you're gonna beat the crowds," Ms. Mucavele appeared behind them, holding a few backpacks. "I've packed lunches inside these; you all have fun now and stay together. We don't want any more escapades, do we boys?" She said with a stern look at her sons.

"No ma'am," they said quickly before being hugged tightly. There were three backpacks, each of which were taken by all three Hammer bros. "And thanks, you fine young men, for going with them," She said, planting a quick kiss on Mario and Luigi's cheeks. "Just be careful, you two and make sure Hammer and Breaker don't run off again."

"Leslie, you can rest assured that they will be triple guarded," Luigi said with a little bow. Ms. Mucavele blushed a bit, "Y-yes, I know. Oh, Luigi, you know I just worry about them…"

"It's okay," He leaned closer to her, "With sons like them, I'd worry too." She laughed heartily and gave him a playful slap on the shoulder. "Alright, get going, you guys. Have fun!" She waved them off as they headed down the road into Toad Town.

"Your Ma's cool," Mario said with a laugh.

"Yeah, she can be a bit annoying, but…yeah, I guess she is a cool mom," Breaker said proudly.

"Alright, first thing's first. I know a really good place we can look at suits in town. If we can't find anything there, we'll hop a warp pipe to Mushroom city since we need to go there to check the sports department," Luigi said.

"Aye aye, sir!" Breaker and Hammer shouted before dashing off down the road.

"Hey, don't you two go running off!" Marius shouted going after them. Mario and Luigi shrugged before following. With the lot of them running, it didn't take long for them to reach Toad Town. They walked into a suit store where the party proceeded to split up. Luigi wandered the aisles, looking at the various suits and tuxedoes modeled on the mannequins before heading up to the front desk.

"Luigi! Haven't seen your mug around here for a while!" The clerk at the counter greeted.

"Been out and about," he replied. "How's business, Sean?" He asked the nicely dressed toad with the green-spotted cap.

"Business is booming. Especially with the ball coming up? I've had stuff just fly out of here. You're lucky you came now, whoa…just wait 'till after lunch."

"I can imagine."

"So, what can I get for ya?" Sean asked, tucking the pencil in his hand behind his ear. "You looking for something…Classic? Uh…Jazzy, what? I got Armanis…I've also got that style of Tux you like."

"I'm not looking for an Armani and I've been thinking of trying something different," Luigi said. Sean grinned, "What'cha got on your mind?" Luigi took out his cell phone and flipped through a few pictures before finding a copy of the photo of his parents that he kept in his room. He zoomed in on his father and showed him the picture. "Kind of like a Napoleon Jacket, eh?" Sean asked, looking at the picture on the phone. "This fella looks a lot like you." Sean paused for a moment. "Good news though, I got this exact brand in the back, come on." He gave Luigi back his phone and walked to the back room. Luigi followed him. There was something about this toad that Luigi liked. He and his Brother had grown up in Brooklyn before finding their way through a pipe that led to the Mushroom Kingdom- their true homeland. The rest was history, but Sean was a middle-aged Toad who had grown up in the big city, so he had reminded Luigi of the people he used to know. That whole incident had been just over eight years ago.

Once in the back room, Sean started taking his measurements. He mumbled something to himself before hopping down off the stool he was on to get his roster. He opened the book and scribbled a few things down before checking the numbers in the front. "You lose a few pounds?"

"Yeah, traveling does that to you." He kept himself from playfully rolling his eyes. It seemed like everyone was making that comment. Had he really changed that much?

"Alrighty…just a minute." He disappeared for a moment before emerging with a stack of black clothing. He climbed back up on the stool so he was facing Luigi eye to eye and unfolded the jacket. "Try it on." Luigi did as he was bid. After he had the final buttons done up, he stepped back. "Very nice, very nice. You look like your old man." Luigi looked at him. "Excuse me?"

Sean smiled, "Your dad came in here once, a long time ago, and bought that same type of jacket from me. Apollo, right? Hey, don't look so surprised, I keep a book of my customer's names and a mental note of what they look like. Never did come back though."

"Y-yeah…" Luigi winced slightly.

"Oh, hey, I'm sorry, didn't mean to strike a nerve," Sean said sympathetically. Luigi smiled, "It's fine…Really."

"Well, getting' back on track. You wear a nice green shirt under that, it'll look very suave. Here, go try on the pants." Along with the pants, he handed Luigi a dark-green silk shirt. Luigi shrugged and went into one of the changing rooms. A few minutes later, he came out fully decked in the pants, shirt and jacket. Sean nodded with approval. "Very nice. Take a look for yourself." Luigi turned and faced a mirror and was surprised by what he saw. The jacket fit him perfectly, the thick material feeling snug and secure against his chest and shoulders.

"Just lose the mustache, you'll look like your dad," Sean joked. Luigi looked at him, "I'm not losing the 'stache, what's wrong with you?" He laughed. "It's great, I'll take it."

He returned to the front in his normal clothes to see his brother and teammates had already picked out their outfits and had just finished purchasing them from another clerk at the counter. "Great, so we're ready then?" He paid Sean and thanked him before exiting the store. "Alright, so you guys'll have to show me what you picked out later."

"Let's go to the Stadium!" Breaker said, hopping up and down excitedly. The brothers nodded and the five set off for the nearest warp pipe. They found it and were off to Mushroom city in a heartbeat. "Come on, come on, come on!" Breaker said, urging them on. "It's this way!!"

Sure enough, after several minutes of walking, the group came upon a monstrous structure. They stood behind the rope barrier that marked the edge of the site and stared straight up at the unfinished face of the stadium. "That…That's not real…someone pinch me OW! I meant metaphorically, Hammer," Luigi said in a slight daze.

"The office is this way," Marius said, ushering the group along. Breaker grinned as he stared up, "This…is gonna be the superdome of stadiums." The quintet walked into the small building in front of them and were greeted by the lady at the desk. "Hiya! Are you guys Luigi and Mario?"

They nodded and she thumbed through several files on the desk. "Aha, says here you guys signed up yesterday. Actually I'm glad you're here today, I'd like to talk to you about the Bowser cup."

"Oh, uhm…good," Luigi said. There was an advantage to being easily recognized around the town; it saved them the trouble of reintroducing themselves.

"Okay, first thing…is that your team?" asked the pretty girl toad, pointing at the three Hammer Bros.

"Yes."

"I don't have my team with me today so could I just come in later?" Mario asked. The toad girl smiled and said, "Of course."

"In that case, I'd better go," He tapped Luigi on the shoulder, "call me about the details."

"'Kay, see you later, bro," Luigi said as he turned his attention back to the clerk.

"Bye, Mario!" Breaker hollered as the other Mario brother left.

"Okay, so… It's a good thing you brought your team in, um, 'cuz one thing I forgot to have you guys do is fill out these health forms and this survey, if you don't mind…Oh wait, you are interested in playing in the Bowser cup, right?" She asked as she handed him a few packets of papers.

"Yes, that's right," He took the papers and set his new suit down neatly in a chair near him. "Here guys, fill these out." He gave one of each to his three sidekicks.

"Oh, boy oh boy oh boy," Breaker and Hammer said as they sat down and began.

Are you planning on completing the anointment with Marius? Kalliel asked him through his mind.

"Oh geez, I had completely forgotten…If there's time later tonight, I suppose it wouldn't hurt. The games in this thing don't start for several months," Luigi replied.

"Hey, I've got a question on my survey that says, 'Is Breaker a poophead?' Strongly agree," Hammer giggled as he pretend to bubble the imaginary question in on his sheet.

"Nu-uh, it doesn't say that!" Breaker whined, looking at his brother's answer sheet.

Luigi flipped through his health form to make sure everything looked good before handing his to the lady at the desk. "Thanks," she said. "We'll give you guys a call when it's time to come in and get fitted for your armor pieces. Won't be for a few months though."

Hammer and Breaker hurriedly bubbled in the last few things on their survey and handed their forms to her. Marius sighed. He had to help them fill theirs out because they couldn't write very legibly.

"Hey, Marius," Luigi said as they exited the building. "Can I talk to you in private for a minute?"

Marius looked over at Breaker and Hammer. "Uh, sure. You guys go on ahead. You can go look at the stadium, it's okay with me...Just don't run off…"

The two brothers' faces widened with a grin as they ran off to see it.

"What's up, Chief?" Marius asked with a smile.

"Well, you wanted to know about the order right?" He asked quietly.

"Yeah, but…why are you acting so strange?"

"I gotta watch who I say it around. Listen. I trust you. A lot more than most other people and…I was wondering if you would like to help out our cause. Would you, Marius Slater, be interested in becoming a Disciple of the Eidolon order?" Luigi asked, with a small smile and an air of regality. Marius' face remained set for a few seconds before a huge grin plastered his face. He bowed his most formal bow, "Sir Luigi Mario, I would indeed be honored."

"Good. We'll do all of the fancy stuff when we get back to the house," He muttered quietly as Breaker and Hammer came up.

"You guys ready?" They beamed.

After returning to their house later that afternoon and making sure that Hammer and Breaker stayed there, Marius and Luigi returned to the mansion. It had begun to cloud up on the way back.

"Marius, go on in and make yourself comfortable. I've got to make sure Chompy gets somewhere safe before it starts storming."

Marius nodded and hurried through the door that Shivers was holding open. After a few minutes, Luigi came back in to find Marius sitting on the couch sipping at a cup of tea that Shivers had offered him.

"Little scamp wanted to play…heh, not in weather like this…" Luigi said, closing the door. Kalliel appeared before him, holding the familiar leather-bound book. He took it and sat down in a large armchair before cracking the book open. He let it sit on his lap for a second before it flipped on its own to the section about choosing disciples. Marius watched wide-eyed. "How did it do that?"

Luigi smiled. "It turns to the section you want it to. It saves a lot of time…and patience. Hard to explain."

"I understand."

Luigi gave him a quick smile before snapping his fingers, causing a small plume of green fire to appear above his index finger. With a quick swipe of his arm, he pointed at the fire place and the fire leapt into the dark grate. Within seconds, the few logs lying there were set ablaze.

Marius politely remained silent as Luigi looked through the book, trying to make sure he didn't leave out any details. One slip and he could cause great injury to his friend…or worse. Luigi laid the book down on a small coffee table in front of him and stood. Marius just continued to calmly sit with his hands folded on his lap.

I'll walk you through it should you forget anything…Kalliel said. Luigi gave a quick nod and extended his hand. Luigi grinned as he dropped it and shook his head. "You're so calm…"

"Because I trust you, Weege." Marius offered him a smile.

Luigi clenched his fists. That was it then. That gave him the boost of confidence and assurance that he needed. He extended his hand once again and with a quick glance at the book, he began.

"Thank the Stars for Kalliel…" Luigi thought as he repeated the mantra that Kalliel gave him through his mind. The words were foreign to him. The Star-speak language had fallen on his ears only a few times in the past, and he had never thought he'd speak it himself. The words seem to flow from within him, slightly stinging his mouth as they left his throat. He continued to speak, concentrating on pronouncing the words right. When the evil Beanbean witch Cackletta stole the Princess's voice, it had been replaced by star glyphs. Ones of the extremely explosive kind, so to speak. Though Luigi was fully focused on the task at hand. A small part of him in the back of his mind feared for his friend's safety. He most certainly didn't want to blow him up.

Finally, Luigi turned his hand palm-side-down before clenching it into a fist and opening it face-up. In his hand now sat a small glowing golden light. The same one Kalliel had at his own anointment.

"Okay, what do I do?" Luigi muttered out of the corner of his mouth. His hand was trembling slightly. The worst was over. Luigi licked his lips; his mouth felt slightly blistered from the use of the Star-speak. He glanced over at the book.

"M-Marius…Marius Slater…state your vow…" Luigi said in a shaky voice. Beads of sweat were gathering on his brow.

Marius thought for a moment and swallowed. Luigi inwardly sighed with relief. Marius was just as nervous as he. The Hammer Bro. cleared his voice and hopped off of the couch so that he was standing. "I…Marius Slater do hereby pledge, from this moment forth, t-to support the Eidolon order and the knight at its lead." He closed his eyes and winced slightly.

"Release it…" Kalliel urged. At once the light flew out of Luigi's palm straight at Marius.

"NO!" Luigi said as it hit Marius between the eyes. He hadn't meant to let it go that quickly. He covered his eyes as Marius was thrown backwards against the sofa. It overturned and sent the Hammer Bro. back with it. "Oh Eldestar, Lazarus…" Luigi murmured fearfully as he peeked through his open fingers.

"Marius!" He leapt over the upturned couch and knelt by his fallen friend. Marius lay on his stomach, his face to the floor. "Oh my God!... I killed my best friend!!" Luigi gasped.

He got up and began to pace, babbling to himself in a panic.

"Well now, what's all the ruckus, boys?" Professor Gadd asked as he climbed the stairs from his basement laboratory. Maverick followed him, warbling quizzically while rubbing at a spot between his eyes. "Oh my…" the professor paused at the sight of Luigi in a panic, the couch upturned, and Kalliel kneeling beside an unconscious Marius.

"Luigi…calm down…He's alright. This is exactly what you did when it happened to you," Kalliel said, trying to coax the panicked young man into calming down.

Luigi's eyes flicked nervously from Kalliel to the tiny professor at his side. "A-Alright…" He swallowed as he bent over and picked Marius up.

"Just go put him in one of the guest rooms and let him get some rest. Shivers and I will bring up a medical kit," Gadd said calmly as he adjusted his glasses. Luigi nodded and carefully went up the stairs with his friend's limp body.

"Come on, Mav, what'cha itchin' at?" Gadd asked, gently lifting the boo's arms from his face. Maverick looked at him with his big rosy eyes before scratching at his forehead again. Gadd shook his head as the doorbell rang. The professor stood in silence, listening to the falling rain that beat against the windows.

"I'll get it, Master Gadd," Shivers said formally, checking his tuxedo before opening the door as Gadd headed up the stairs with a small first aid kit in his hand. Who could it be at this hour? The ghostly butler wondered as he peered out into the rainy night.

"Master Luigi?" Shivers called as the master of the mansion came down the staircase.

"Who is it Shivers?"

"The Regent of the Pipe Zone is here," Shivers stated, opening the door a little wider. Luigi stopped in his tracks and hesitantly made his way across the living room. The glow from the fire sent strange shadows across the room and in the flickering light that spilled out of the doorway; Luigi could easily recognize the tremendous bulk of a fully grown Koopa. Two dark eyes peered out from under heavy dark eyebrows at the young man as the icy rain ran down his scaly face and outrageous hairdo, only to run down into the dark cloak that draped from his broad shoulders. A dark blue goatee sat on his chin and in the dim light, a single sharp fang protruded from beneath his upper lip.

Luigi cleared his throat and gave a respectable nod of his head.

"Ludwig."