A/N: Well, one more chapter to go until this story ends.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE: CRASHING THE PLANS

"Nervous?"

Luigi was beyond nervous. He swallowed hard as he allowed Mario to adjust his tie. "You look amazing, Luigi." Mario said as he stepped back to observe his brother's cleanliness in his 3000-coin tux. "You know, I always pictured your wedding differently..."

"How so?" Luigi asked as he ate yet another breath mint- he wanted everything to be perfect, but perhaps after his twelth mint, his breath would smell too fresh?

"I always pictured you walking down the isle wearing your old overalls all stained and nasty!" Mario chuckled. He was wearing a tux as well, though it wasn't as nice as Luigi's.

Luigi didn't have his hat, so he took extra care when he fixed his hair- slicking it back, yet allowing his bangs to hang in front of his eyes. He took a deep breath. "I just... wonder how Peach did in picking her out a dress... I wonder how beautiful she'll look..."

"Well, we better hurry up and get ready to walk out those doors." Mario said. "Because the time's almost here and-"

Suddenly, there was a scream for Luigi from the main room where the wedding room was. Luigi and Mario gasped and exchanged glances. Then, they charged out the door and was greeted to an extremely unpleasant picture.

Princess Peach stood in the room, her hair tangled, her dress dirty. The crowd of people in chairs around the room were about to panic- they saw her run inside the room like this, out of breath, nervous. Mario ran to her. "Peach! Baby! What happened!?"

"Oh, its... horrible! Mario, Luigi... you... you won't believe this... Ironclaw and Malice came back... to the Mushroom Kingdom, they followed us here... and they've captured Jennie! They're holding her hostage in my own castle, and they've taken down Symphony and Opus! They're demanding Luigi... they want to do something with him but I don't know what!"

Mario and Luigi felt as though their blood had been drained from their body. A terrible feeling washed over Luigi, a deep fear and anguish.

"...how... why!? WHY is this happening!?" He cried, gripping his hair nervously.

"We have to hurry and save her!" Mario yelled. "Tux or not, we've got to go! Everyone, you can go back to your homes. We can handle this."

The guests watched nervously as Mario and Luigi ran out of the room, fearfully hoping that Jennie wasn't hurt.

000000000000

"So, you decided to come." Ironclaw grinned devilishly as he stood in the middle of the foyer in Peach's castle. Jennie was being held by Malice, her arms behind her back, her wedding veil over her face.

"Please... I'll do anything, just let her go..." Luigi pleaded. "Don't hurt her... just... return her to me..."

"Yes. Well, unfortunately for YOU, Luigi, we need something of you. And the only way you can do what we need you to do is if we make you do it, by holding your bride here hostage!"

"what is it?" Luigi asked, falling to his knees as Mario stared at him like he was crazy.

"Luigi, we can do this! Attack them!"

"Attack and I'll break her neck." Malice grumbled.

"No, Mario! Don't attack them!" Luigi screamed. "Ironclaw... what is it you want!? I'll do anything just don't hurt her!"

"We would like the throne. When Growle lost his power he Mindchatted to me one thing- for I am his son." Malice spoke with a smirk. "He told me to continue his reign by stretching it to your world- and this is just what I am going to do. Now, hand us over your world, and your bride will be spared. I'll even be nice and let you marry her before the doom of your land right now, how does that sound?"

Luigi felt boiling rage crawling through his body. "NO!" He screamed. He dropped to the ground, still screaming. "NO!" He threw his hands over his head and curled up, resting his head on his knees, with his hands still on his head.

Mario's eyes narrowed. "You're asking the wrong person!" He screamed. "I'm the king of the Mushroom Kingdom, not Luigi!"

"What?" Ironclaw gasped.

"You heard me right! Now if you're asking for the throne I"m gonna say no!"

Luigi looked up at Mario, dumbstruck. "Mario! They'll kill Jennie!"

Mario took a step forth. "In fact I'm just going to go ahead and tell you two to buzz off!"

Malidor's grip tightened around Jennie's neck, and Luigi cringed, shutting his eyes, waiting for the sound.

But the only sound that came therafter- was the sound of Malice collapsing, and Jennie gasping for breath. There was another sound, as if something had been hit with a blunt weapon, and another collapse. Luigi opened his eyes and saw that both Malidor and Ironclaw were down, and in their place stood Symphony and Opus, both holding a chair from the castle.

"We better lock these two up somewhere before they cause any more trouble..." Symphony growled. "We're so sorry about that, guys, we tried to help but they knocked us out... lucky we got ourselves together, huh?"

"That was odd... why did they want the throne...?" Mario mused as he stared angrily at Malice. "And what did they mean by the prophecy? Not sure about you, but I think there's more to that story..."

Luigi ran to Jennie, picked her up and hugged her tightly. "Oh, Jennie! I'm so sorry... this happened... and I know the groom isn't supposed to see the bride before the actual wedding, but... I guess this makes an exception, right?"

Jennie began laughing, and at the same time, crying, as she hugged her finance tightly, not ever wanting to let go.