6 years earlier…

Luigi treaded slowly. "Is this a good idea? No, no it isn't."

The captain laughed over the comms. "Well, this guy's our new member. We could either hire him and have higher chances of living in a battle, or we could drop this and never see the light of day again because we were lacking in members."

"Ok, ok, I get it, but I'm kinda wandering through a forest. There's nothing to-"

Luigi shut his trap when he saw a trail. "Which way, cap?"

"Right is always right."

"That's not true." Luigi spitefully went left.

30 minutes of Luigi walking finally ended up with him going somewhere. A sole house lay in a clearing.
"Cap…I think I found it, and more importantly, because right was wrong."

"Shut up, my father said that, and he was very wise."

Luigi snickered. "Wise. Yeah right. Or, should I say, left."

"He's passed away."

Luigi shut up. After getting over the guilt of making fun of a dead person, Luigi regained composure and did the task. The house was like a weird, wooden cabin. It was sturdy, hadn't creaked yet.. One of the windows were lit up, but then it happened. Luigi stepped on a stair and it released the sound of dread. A long, winding, creak. The light, almost as if it itself had heard the creak, cut off.

"Oh mamma mia."

Luigi slowly tried avoiding any more creaks, single handedly creaking every stair he stepped on because he was terrified.

Luigi slowly pushed open the nearest window and climbed through. The house was silent. Luigi, yet again, was treading slowly. "Cap, I don't think anyone's here. Maybe we should just give up? This place is creepy."

"Luigi, I know he's here. Don't forget that I can hear everything you've done up to this point, I heard everything. I heard you creak all of the stairs, I heard the floor creak behind you, I even heard-"

"You heard WHAT?!"

Luigi threw up his hood and mask and whirled around. Nothing awaited him back there.

The captain was laughing through the comms. "Oh man, I didn't think you'd fall for that!"

Luigi mocked the captain but turned back around, took another step, and THEN he heard the floor creak behind him.

He whirled around and was pinned to the wall by a man with a knife. "Who are you?!"

Luigi started hyperventilating as he slowly raised his hands.

The man raised the knife to Luigi's face. "I said, who are you?"

"Simon, what's going on?" A voice called from down the hall.

"If you don't answer in the next five seconds, I will free your shoulders of that extra weight you call a head."

Luigi stopped panting rapidly. "I will answer, but please, for all that is holy, put the knife down!"

The man(or, for those who haven't gotten it quite together yet, non-MVP Simon,) slowly lowered the knife. "Tell me who you are or leave my house."

"Ok, listen, Mr…"

"Simon. Simon Shallows."

"Mr. Simon, can we keep the tone at a whisper, I'd hate to say something weird and, without context, creepy, near your… sister. Is that your sister back there?"

"Get to the point."

"Yes, yes, anyway, I have a… job opportunity for you. It's a bit dangerous."

"You're speaking to the guy who's killed a bear with a hunting knife before. What is it?"

"Well… if you're a cultured New Donk citizen, you'd have heard of the rumors of the MVPs, right?"

"I've heard fairly enough, what does that have to do with you breaking into my house?"

Luigi sighed and tried to explain it the best he could. "Ok, I am an agent of the MultiVerse Patrol, or MVP. We work to protect the universe and are running low on members."

"What's in it for me?"

"Also, you keep what you steal or earn and we add whatever spoils you get to your pay. The pay is…"

Luigi tried to remember the pay he had when he first started. "...raise the one… 200. Per hour and that's for beginners. Also it's not exactly counted in hours, but that's to be explained. You in?"

Simon's mouth was hanging open. "2… 200 per hour…? F-for what? What do we do as MVPs?"

"Oh, you know, hang out with creatures from all over the universe, until something shows up. In which you flaunt your combat skills as you crack some nuts."

"Is this legit? You aren't playing some sick joke? If that were the case, I'd kill you anyway."

Luigi undid his mask and hood. "Only one way to find out…"

Simon stared in awe, his jaw hanging wide open.

Luigi felt a sense of pride. "Surprising, isn't it?"

"Man, your head is so disproportionate, like an upside-down pear."

Luigi sighed and put his hood back on. "Are you in or not?"

"It seems legit. Count me in."

Luigi stuck out his hand. "Welcome to the team, Mr. Shallows."

Simon ignored Luigi's handshake prompt and ran to the back room. "Sorry, I have to deal with my sister real quick…"

Luigi went outside and heard the captain clapping. "Nicely done, Luigi. The use of the 200 pay was cool, but did you tell him about the oaths and secrecy?"

"Oh… oops."

"It should be fine, he shouldn't tell anyone. Unless there's somebody else in the house, in which we should probably mind-wipe them."

Luigi looked over at Simon, who was getting his coat on.

"I think he's fine. We'll be there soon."

Luigi switched off the comms and looked at Simon. "Ok, follow me. The ship's a good distance away and we have to walk."

Simon nodded and they began walking.

During the walk, Simon asked various questions, like, "how does it feel to have a head so disproportionate?" "how big is your brain?" and even, "do you use your head to break the blocks or your fist, because that head looks like it's taken some hits."

And then, 2 years later…

Luigi turned and saw a line of recruits walk past. He looked at each individual one. The captain was watching too.

"Do you think one of those's ours?"

Luigi shrugged. "Out of all of them, we only brought in one."

The captain sighed. "Yeah… I think we're not getting anything today, but-"

Alpha stepped in front of the line of recruits and turned on a wireless mic. "Hello, MVPs! Today, becoming an annual thing, is Recruits day! It's almost self-explanatory, where we gather the recruits, but I assign them. Unfortunately, this is about two thirds of the recruits we originally had, because some were taken in through…" He paused and slowly tapped his fingers together. "Harmful measures, but I assure you, it's not that much of a loss…"

He turned around and tried to hide his nagging disappointment in the numbers.. "Ok, maybe it is, but we still have new members and that's what counts. Anyway, the first recruit is…"

Luigi turned and saw that the captain was at the salad bar over in the corner, speaking to some other captains.

The recruits would be picked, and sent to their teams. It was cool, until Luigi zoned out, came back and saw the captain up there with Alpha.

"My friend, you brought this one in close to the last second, but it's all good, because he's got the highest sword and blade score out there. With a blades score of 169% out of 175, this is Simon Shallows!"

Simon walked in from the line and to the captain's side. Alpha announced several other names, clapping ensued, blah blah blah.

After the announcements, the captain and Simon came from the stage and the captain had left to the salad bar again.

Luigi nearly jumped out of his skin as he noticed Simon beside him.

"Nice party, isn't it?"

"Y-yeah, congrats, by the way, I didn't think you were so good with blades…"

"Meh. Wasn't that hard. I was trained at a young age. Didn't work until I saw the fun of hacking away at random wooden things. Many people called it an obsession, I call it a hobby…"

Luigi sat there in an awkward silence. Simon left to speak with the other recruits.

The Mushroom Kingdom, 1 year earlier…

A lone green toad ran through the streets. No one actually knew his name, but everyone knew the name he wanted. That would be Billy.

Billy, who was 17 at this point, darted down the streets of the kingdom as fast as he could. He had heard of a commotion with the princess, and wanted to see his share of the event. He reached the plaza to see Mario in the center. "Ok, listen! I am going to save the princess again!"

Billy rolled his eyes and jumped to see the hero from over the heads of toads. Mario was leaving. Billy brainstormed and an idea was formed. Billy decided to go to bed that night, but wrote what he could down.

The next day, Billy ran to the castle and requested a visit with the one in Peach's place. That would be Toadsworth. Him, and the counsel that helps Peach make her decisions.

They looked over the plan again. "Child, what have you done? This is the work of a genius… I'm for it!"

The rest of the counsel and Toadsworth looked at the plan.

"A brilliant plan indeed… It prevents the princess from getting captured and presents measures for a war… but, young sir, I must ask… where is Master Mario included in this?"

Billy tapped his fingers together. "That's… being thought through…"

"You know her majesty enjoys Mario's protection… it'd be a shame for everyone but her to want this. We will do a community vote, after a few days of announcing and getting responses, of course."

Billy beamed. A spark of pride gleamed within him.

"...well then, we appreciate the thought of such a… vibrant, unique plan of government and protection… it's going to do wonders for us, that's for sure. No more Bowser attacks!"

Billy waved and left the castle, a wide smile on his face. Finally, my work pays off! The on;y flaw is Mario. Literally, that pasta-chugging idiot doesn't deserve my work. I like his sandwich-needing brother more than him.

Billy did some errands and went home. As he sat down, he thought about everything. How he would be in the history books, how even Mario, the spitting image of cow manure, would appreciate him. Bowser wouldn't stand a chance against the well-placed troops and awesome safehouse he had said about in his plan.

A week passed. He had heard that Mario was to return, and wanted to be there ahead of time. As he arrived, Toadsworth pulled him aside. "Boy, have you roped in Mario yet?"

"Oh, it's in the works…" Billy lied. " I just have to run it by Princess Peach before everything passes."

Toadsworth smiled. "Such a smart child, you are. I think that Mario and the princess would both enjoy-"

"The princess is home! Mario's returning!"

Billy sat and watched as Mario paraded Peach through town and into the castle.

Toadsworth grabbed Billy's arm. "I'm going to tell them about the plan. The new age of the Mushroom Kingdom has begun!"

3 days later…

Billy sat anxiously, as he waited to see the princess. He was terrified. He had never directly spoken about business before, so it was an honor to be there.

Toadsworth came in. "The princess wants to see you now, son."

Billy shook as he walked toward the throne room. "Do- do I have anything on me? Do I look good?"

"No worries, boy, she seems interested! Master Mario is here too!"

Billy entered the room and instantly felt the gaze of journalists and groups alike, staring down at him.

"Good evening, your m-majesty… I assume your colleague has filled you in on the government plan I had made?" You're doing good, just stay calm and collected and maybe-

"Yes, I know what you mean… but-" Billy panicked internally. "Where does Mario come in?"

Mario, who was sitting nearby, stood up. "Yeah, aren't I included?"

"I'm not sure where he will go, but he's like... " Think, use that head for good! "A backup plan."

Peach and Mario both seemed offended. "A backup plan?"

Mario's countenance turned mean. "I am no backup plan! I'm the hero! I should be leading!"

Peach just said things like, "Yeah!" "I agree!" and, "ooh…"

Billy squinted. "Is the plan going into action or not?"

Peach stood and silenced the crowds and Billy as well. "I think that your plan is a great plan, includes great aspects, but I don't trust it without Mario."

Mario stood up again. "Yeah, and what if Bowser's got freaky powers again? Would attacking from behind and around do anything?"

Billy shook off something pulling, prodding at him. "Yes, if we cooperated and-"

Peach silenced him again. "Listen. You're a nice kid, but… well… I- uhh-"

"I HATE your plan! I'm the hero, not you, with the big head! Go home, kid!" Mario yelled.

"Mario, stop-" Peach tried to calm Mario, but no one noticed Billy. Billy looked around. There went my plan. My brilliance, my chance to go down in history as the guy who saved the toads and the princess. There it went, replaced by…

"An idiot."

Mario and Peach turned to Billy. "A what?"

"Why…" Billy felt something. It was his patience. His way of staying calm. It snapped. "Why… it's all of you! All of you thick headed toads know nothing of greatness, all we do is sit in the background and be useless! Like our princess, useless! All we ever do is let Mario do everything! We're putting our hopes, our safety, our MONARCHY! We're dumping it into the hands of what? A man whose hands are already deep in crap water?!"

"Billy, that is quite enough from you-"

"NO! I refuse to let my plan die like YOU will when Mario can't save you from Bowser! No one here is my level! Mario, look me in the eye and say you can amount to me. Because you can't. Your head contains Peach rule 34 and a savage desire to fu-"

Toadsworth ran in and silenced Billy himself. "Boy, please, she only means well-"

"All she means is harm for the kingdom! How many times must it happen, before we get it through our heads that MARIO, the idiotic piece of red-stained garbage, who knows nothing of uselessness, all he ever does is make us cheer! AND FOR WHOM?! Himself!"

Mario was ready to strangle Billy. "Hey, kid! Nobody wanted your plan, get over it!"

"Not anymore. And who's fault is that? YOURS. I'm leaving this kingdom. I'm dropping the plan, letting it burn…"

Mario shrugged, but Peach felt a tad sorry. "Hey, wait!"

"Wait? I had to wait. Wait for you to ruin my life."

Peach watched as Billy left. "...he's a smart toad… maybe we could use him?"

The next day…

Billy walked through town, but nothing felt the same. Everywhere he went, they stared with bitter enmity. He tried to go into shops, but they didn't let him in. After being rejected, Billy went and, after getting all of his gadgets and unfinished inventions, he heard a knock on the door. Two toad guards were there. "Ah, there you are! The princess requests your presence, please come with us!"

Billy slowly backed up. "What's she trying to get from me? All she cares about is Mario, but you don't see it, because you're all the same stupid toad."

The guards looked behind Billy.

"That may be true," Billy whirled around, Peach and Mario were there. "But your ideas can help us."

Billy quickly stepped to Peach's side, where he wasn't trapped between Peach and the guards.

"What do you want? Haven't you cursed me enough?"

"I didn't curse you, but maybe we could help each other?"

Mario stepped forward. "Yeah, maybe you could use your skills to make the castle glamorous, or something."

Billy felt offended. "I hate waste. Your second castle, yeah, I know about that, was a waste of time and space. You, Mario, are a waste of air! The whole toad world would be so happy without either of you!"

"Please, we only want to help you-"

"You only want ME to help you! If you don't care about any of your citizens, except for the special ones, maybe we need a new form of leadership!"

Mario was slowly advancing. "Kid, we don't want to have to take desperate measures, just come with us, or else."

Billy looked around. Nothing I can do except run.

Mario lunged to grab Billy, but he dodged and ran. Peach motioned for the guards to give chase.

Billy ran until he was cornered. He couldn't go anywhere else, so he dug into his bag and grabbed what he intended to be a teleporting watch.

"Kid, you have nowhere else to go, you have no choice."

Billy turned on the watch, which barely ever worked right, and tapped the button.

Mario watched as Billy vanished into thin air.

"Where did he go?!" Peach said, as she finally caught up.

"We don't know… he just vanished."

"You lost him?!"

A messenger toad ran up, panting and tired.

"Bowser's attacking again! HELP!"

Peach and Mario exchanged glances and nodded at each other.

They returned to the town.

Meanwhile, Billy felt himself speeding through some sort of spacelike environment, finally landing on… tile flooring?

He looked up and saw a fluorescent light. He was in a hallway.

"Where am I…?"

Billy started cautiously walking, before bumping into a human, way taller than him.

"Well then, what do we have here? Aren't you the toad who pointed out the kingdom's biggest governmental flaw?"

"Y-yes, that would be m-me…"

"No need to be scared, you're a smart kid! Say… how would you like to follow us?" The man said, a small smile forming.

"What's in it for me?"

"The ashes of the mushroom kingdom."

Billy smirked. "The end of those good-for-nothing idiots…! Count me IN!"

Ah, yes, giving in to the urge to write backstory. Billy has a passionate hate for everything Mario and Mushroom Kingdom related. And maybe why he doesn't like being a toad?

Simon and Luigi have been bros since Simon was hired. Have a happy new year, and see you in (probably) 2 weeks or so.