Eternally Never Yours

by EchoEternal

Slash-fic, M/M. A hopeless romantic wonders if he'll ever have what it takes to end a tedious charade. Tired of the lies and secrets, he writes to his beloved about what they can never have. From there, the rest spirals out of his control. Rated T, just in case.

50. A Respite

Gosh, it's been another minute. But, we are back!

I did make an effort to include the full cast in a single chapter, but that did not work out in a balanced manner. (Someone would have been shortchanged with their perspective portion to fit everyone in.) Rather than do that, I decided to split the chapter, so that way it's easier to focus on the content for each section.

Also debuting for this chapter is a new type of formating for this website, since the horizontal line breaks no longer function correctly when I'm typing up the word documents on here. They sometimes appear, but sometimes will disappear either when I work in the document with them, or when I update the story itself. To keep it clean, I'll be adding in a new quintet of elipses to indicate the start of a perspective (or the end of a letter, as will be demonstrated below). It's not my favorite change, but it's better to have it rather than pretend my lines will still exist when the story's updated, and then the section changes get confusing for readers.

The single elipsis on one line, however, will still indicate the start and end of the story, after and prior to the author notes. So, "..." is for where it starts and ends, when they are alone. When you see "... ... ... ... ..." together, that indicates a perspective shift from one character to the next.

Bah, that's all the boring stuff. This chapter may not feature all characters, but it will be including 3 character perspectives, so, be prepared! (It's long.)

Enjoy reading!

...

---

Kamek,

If you're reading this, then come home. I understand that you think you're doing something that we need fulfilled, but I can't live without you.

No matter what, you're part of my family. If we have to struggle under Peach's reign, even if it gets worse, then so be it. You've been with me since I was a kid, we've been through a lot of hell since then, and we can see that much through.

But I need you back here, with me, with everyone. Whatever it takes; if I have to drag myself up there to pick up your battered butt, then I will. Don't make me.

If you do, fine. I'm not going to stop trying to get you back home though.

Please. Don't leave me. I still need my father helping me run the kingdom.

Come home.

Love,

Bowser

... ... ... ... ...

[Bowser]

Stars above, I can't believe I actually wrote something to Kamek and used 'love' at the bottom. But it's true, and I have to get him back here. If that doesn't pull at his heartstrings, then I don't know what else will. He's lucky that I didn't have enough space, or I'd be writing a lot more down.

But it's a small note, and I folded it over to close it. I turned back around and handed it to Koopornis, who tucked it within his armor. He nodded to me and bowed his head.

"Will you need anything else of me, your highness?"

"Just bring Kamek back. Please."

"Rest assured, I will have him back for you." He lifted his head back up and tilted it at me. "Sire, what if he refuses?"

"Contact me immediately and I'll warp myself up there if I have to," I decided. "Doesn't matter what I'm doing. I'll bring you both back home if I need to."

"Master Kamek is very lucky to have you consider so highly of him," determined Koopornis. "I will make sure he understands that as well."

"He already does."

"Hearing a reminder could do the trick, either from you or I." He rested his fist against his chest and bowed. "No matter what, I won't let you down sir. Whatever it takes."

"Thanks." I bit my lip and stared down as the Koopatrol lifted his head. "Uh. Don't die either. You're probably going to be needed for additional assignments after this."

"Really?"

"Directly under my command, yeah." I rested my hand on my hip. "So…find Kamek and bring both him and you back."

"Consider it done."

Spinning a shuriken around his finger, he waved to me and hurried out from the throne room. Maybe he's not the best choice, but I know that he's a talented infiltrator and moves faster than most Koopatrol…most Koopas even. If anyone can get to Kamek quick enough, he's the best chance.

Dropping back on my throne, my claws dig into the arms and I wait there alone for a moment. It's late…or early. Hell if I know which at this point. All that matters is that it's darker than usual out the window, which is enough to tell me that I should go crawling up to bed by now.

But I don't, not yet. I can't.

Leaning back, I'm trying to think about the countless times that I've sent Kamek off to fight against my enemies before. He's dealt with Mario and the others on so many instances, and yet this one damn time has me twisted up inside worse than possibly ever. I don't trust Peach to stop at incapacitating Kamek, especially not recently. Back at Seaside, Kamek even lost his battle against her, with Ludwig's assistance. And since she's gone to Star Hill and powered up her magic even more…

Stop. Kamek's no slouch. He won't go down easy.

But…he isn't part of every mission that we go on, every attempt to take control of the Mushroom Kingdom. Sometimes he's working on other plots, but sometimes I don't want him in harm's way. We've only gotten older over the years, and the older we get…I can tell he's slower sometimes. His casting speed, his thoughts…he'll never admit to it, Kamek's much too proud for that, but…if he's forced to juggle fighting all of Mario's friends at once, and he can't keep up, then…

My heart is hammering so much that I scraped away from the throne's arm to grip my chest. Water…tears filled my eyes. Wasn't it bad enough when the Koopalings were at risk? Why does Kamek have to go through this next? Why?!

Come on. Stop. Stop…

At this point, I've done all that I could, just short of chasing Kamek up to the skies myself. If I do that, though, he'll use powerful spells to send me plummeting back here, and he'll be in even worse shape before he even faces Peach. I can't risk that.

…Why does stubbornness have to be the defining trait for my family?

Exhaling a heavy breath, I deflated and shook my head. Dwelling on all of this won't solve anything, and I'll only be exhausted by the time tomorrow starts for me.

By now, I'm hoping that he's out cold, but I need him.

Pushing up from my throne, I storm from the room and through my quieter halls. Guards are posted here and there, but otherwise, it's calmer at these hours.

Making my way upstairs and toward our bedroom, I slowed down, dragging my footsteps. I hate waking him up; I know that he doesn't sleep enough. And doing that when I'm struggling to sleep, that's about as selfish as it gets. …But, even if I don't wake him, that's fine. Just listening to him, just seeing him still here, that's…that'll be enough.

As I approached the door, though, I heard a sharp gasp.

Twisting the knob and shoving the door open, I searched inside, as Mario shot upright and gripped at his chest. His eyes were widened, as the dark red blankets fell from him.

Please, not again. He's been through enough too.

Even as I hurried to his side though, I knew that he had some kind of nightmare. He was sweating and panting, and barely turned as I plopped down beside him.

"Mario? Are you all right?"

His breathing is labored, and I've got my arm around his shoulder, with my free hand resting on his and the blankets. Mario blinked and shook his head a bit, still taking a moment with his breathing.

"You're ok, I'm right here," I soothed. His hands wrapped around mine, and I pulled him closer to me. He trembled as I tried breathing steadily, hoping to calm him with me. "Easy. I've got you."

"Bowser…"

"Picked a hell of a moment to come up," I joked. "Good timing, huh?"

"Yeah." He still sounded breathless, and I kissed his cheek. His shoulders fell as I pulled him closer to me. "Sorry."

"That's ok. Just breathe."

Following my instructions and my lead, he steadied his breathing, inhaling, holding, exhaling, and then waiting before repeating. After a minute, he got it to match my rhythm, though both of our hearts were still beating quickly. Better than before, though, so that would be a win.

"Thank you." He leaned into my chest and rested there as I stroked him. "That helped a lot."

"Just a boyfriend thing," I joked with a wink, and wrapped my hands around his back. "You're welcome though."

"…Hold on." Mario pulled from me as his blue eyes gazed into mine. Stars, even now, they're as gorgeous and intoxicating as always. "What were you coming up here for?"

"Bed, duh."

"So why aren't you already crawling under the covers with me?"

"Wow, Mario, you just love to rush me along, huh?" I grinned and kissed his bright red cheek. "Anytime that you want me, just let me know, and—"

"Bowser."

"Honestly, I was really trying to come to bed," I confessed. "…But, uh, I was also going to see if you were awake to help settle my thoughts."

"Oh." He straightened up and smiled a little. "What did you want me—?"

"Ah, no, stop right there." I folded my arms. "You're the one that just had another nightmare, so I get to help you out with that first." He lowered his eyes and puffed out his cheek. "Don't give me that look, I'm in the right for this one."

"Fine."

"Nice to have you agreeing with me again," I teased. Scooping him closer to me, I nuzzled his head, rubbing and messing his soft brown hair around. If his nightmares weren't haunting him, this would be settling me down easy. Bah. No time to get distracted. "Now, what happened in this dream? Did they send the curse back to you or something?"

"No, this one didn't feel like any of those," revealed Mario. "It was…really bizarre."

"Well, it's late, and we're already in bed," I pointed out. Readjusting myself into the bed and plopping Mario onto my lap, I tugged the sheets and covers around us, hoping the comfort would help more. "So, might as well take it from the top."

"Ok, but it's definitely weird," murmured Mario.

"How bad could it be?" I raised an eyebrow as Mario lowered his eyes. Blinking, I sank back a bit. "Ok, poor word choice and tempting fate on my part. Sorry."

"It's fine."

Dragging his hands through his hair, Mario inhaled through his nose and tilted back, draping his arms across my legs. Ah, his soft skin did wonders. Wait. Stay focused! He closed his eyes as he exhaled, deflating against me for a moment before perking up again.

"Not sure what happened with everything, but I remember ending in this weird hybrid version of the Grasslands and the Deserts," detailed Mario. "Like, there were grassy pyramids, the dirt on the ground was yellow sand, there were mossy sphinxes in the distance and one running around at high speed, purple flowers that I think were from Star Hill, obviously giant mushrooms too, and trees with sand oozing from them too. There was a fortress that had Peach's castle colors instead, and then parts of your castle were buried in sand, or buildings with your architecture designs." He rubbed his chin before he snapped his fingers. "Oh, and an Angry Sun floated around, because of course."

"That's…already a weird start," I admitted. "But, ok, nothing too bad."

"Because it's the beginning."

"Uh-oh."

"So, I'm standing there, but I'm in red overalls with a blue shirt, which is from a really long time ago," Mario recalled. "And you're there, but you started with blue scales again. When I pointed that out, you told me to hold on and then jumped into the sand. Once you popped out, you were back to your normal scale color."

"Huh." I scratched my head near my horn. "Well, that's a nifty trick."

"Junior was just standing near the fortress with his paintbrush up like he was guarding it," continued Mario. "Kamek kept rolling around on his broom, and I was wondering if he was going to fall off, but he never did."

"Wait, he was just rolling?"

"Round and round, yeah." Mario tilted his head as I snorted and laughed. "What?"

"I don't know," I managed after another chuckle. "It's just…fun to picture, for me."

"Glad I made you laugh then." Mario smiled a bit as he patted my leg. "So, he took off and Luigi showed up next with Peach and Toad."

"Which one?"

"You know, Toad." He waited as I blankly blinked at him. "Uh. He's the main one that…ah, forget it. Anyway, their outfits are different too, because Luigi's got green overalls and a blue shirt too, Peach has a white and red dress with red hair, and Toad's got a red vest and shoes. So, they're just walking along, and I called out to them, but they just kind of ignored me."

"Rude."

"Right?"

"Was it because I was with you?" Mario shrugged as I folded my arms. "Probably. Stars, even in the dreams, they hate me."

"Maybe that's not it, because it's my dream."

"And you don't think they hate me?"

"They shouldn't in my dreams." Mario smiled a bit while I rolled my eyes. He's so cute, but definitely delusional on that front. "Well, anyway, they kept walking along, and then Toad stopped, tugged on some grass in the ground. And then he pulled out a giant magic potion."

"A what?"

"Magic potion, with a bubbling red liquid inside," described Mario. "He threw it, and then a door appeared from it." What in the hell…? "Then he walked in, closed the door, and then he comes back out, but now he's in all blue, with blue spots on his mushroom, a blue vest, and blue shoes too."

"All right then…"

"Basically how I felt by that point, and I picked up your hand and started walking along too, but I have no idea where we're going." At that, I scooped up Mario's hand into mine and laced our fingers together. "Yeah, like that." He smirked as I winked to him. "But then Toad ran off from everyone and disappeared. And right after that, a pyramid erupted from beneath Peach, but she just looked inconvenienced and stepped off from the tip, and then floated in the air while drifting off along the sky."

"Sounds very like Peach." I grinned while he scowled at me. "Sorry. Go ahead."

"With Toad and Peach gone, Luigi finally noticed us and came over," carried on Mario. "He just smiled while not even acknowledging the pyramid, even after I pointed it out to him. But then from behind a tree, a big beetle with four arms and gloved fists just walked out and he started swinging them."

"Wait, a giant beetle?"

"Kind of? Like, giant for a beetle, but he's my height."

"Oh, ok. So, you fought him?"

"See, I try to, but we literally just swung at the air the whole time." He shrugged as I gave him a puzzled look. "I don't get that either. But then, a little ball-like cow-fish creature just appeared."

"Huh?"

"It's like a cow's head—well, maybe a bull, I don't know, but a cow face, and then it had little arms, and then a fish's body and tail fin."

"That sounds like an abomination."

"It was!" He tone was a bit perky at that, but I imagined it was from me relating to him on that. "So that just rushed across the air and charged at Luigi, but instead of jumping on him, he just ran off." My mouth opened, but with the dirty look that Mario gave me, I closed it again. "Anyway, a white bird with red bat wings and a red mask over the face and beak hopped along, yelled 'I am error,' and then you just punched it away."

"At least I'm still awesome in dream land," I joked and he laughed. "So, that's not the end yet?" Mario shook his head, and I lifted my legs to slide him closer to me. "Then what happened?"

"Well, a Koopa came out, but he walked on all fours, and he also had a bomb for the shell."

"Why?"

"No idea, but he looked really grumpy."

"Uh, yeah, I'd be grumpy about my shell turning into a bomb too!"

"Anyway, he walked off, and the punchy beetle just folded all of his arms as he glared at me. Luigi came back over, no longer being chased, but he carried a giant sunflower that he used like a parasol. And you snatched it from him before throwing it into random ruins."

"This isn't the weirdest part yet?"

"Nope! There was a sudden rush of cold air and snowflakes just flew by. And then this small scurrying snowman critter just hurried past us, but I couldn't tell if he was running, sliding, or getting blown around. But the blizzard winds picked up from nowhere, while a maraca tumbled past us with no owner." Mario gripped his head as he leaned back against me, and I lifted my tail, plopping it on his thigh. "It was really bizarre then. At one point, some citizens from Shiveria Town floated by."

"…Those big goofs in the parkas?"

"Yeah! …Wait, they're not goofs!"

"They sound kind of silly."

"Maybe, but they're cute!"

"Don't tell me that, or I'm going to go out and buy us fluffy parkas," I jokingly threatened.

"That might be fun." He laughed as I bumped him around with my thighs, and I couldn't help but grin too. "Oh, and a frog with a top hat bounced by too."

"Because of course."

"By that point, yeah, that was my reaction too." Mario shook his head as I slid him back into me, with his legs going past my waist. Didn't get much of a reaction as he frowned while gazing away. "Then it got really dark, and you pulled me closer to you, but when I went to reach for Luigi, he walked further away from us."

"And here's where it gets bad," I mumbled as Mario nodded.

"A dark black hole opened in the ground beneath us, and then long white bindings come out. They wrapped onto Luigi and dragged him in, and we tried to get him, but he goes down. More come up and wrapped around us, and we get pulled together. But then we ripped them off, and you tugged back on me so I wouldn't dive in after Luigi." While I was glad that the dream version of me did that, Mario was still upset, and I held back my glee. "Toad and Peach came back, but they looked at the hole that Luigi disappeared into, and both started crying. You wrapped your arms around me and held me close." I wrapped my arms around him as I mimicked the notion. "And then a Goomba sprinted in out of nowhere, dove headfirst at me, knocked me out from your arms, and ran off. That was followed by the Angry Sun soaring down on me, and that was what snapped me awake."

"Wow." My grip around Mario loosened as I blinked at him. "That…was really weird, I'll give you that one."

"Yeah." He dragged his hand over his face. "It was such a stupid ending, but everything was so weird and off." Mario dropped his hand away and rested against me. "I kept waiting for it to connect to the nightmares that I had before, because that came into my head and I was expecting something cursed to happen."

"That entire dream sounded like a curse."

"Didn't it?"

"As freaky as all of that was though, it seemed like a normal nightmare compared to the other stuff you had before," I reasoned. "Since virtually nothing made sense and there didn't seem to be any significance to it, that might have actually been your most normal nightmare in a while."

"Great." Mario yawned scratched his neck below his chin. "So, my cursed dreams were somewhat stable but twisted with horrible events that could play out, while my supposedly normal ones still feature all kinds of unexplainable nonsense happening to us."

"Sounds about right!"

"Super." He grabbed a pillow and buried his head into it. "Ugh, why can't I have normal and less traumatic dreams like everyone else?"

"Because then you wouldn't be able to have your big boyfriend comfort you over them." I leaned over as he took the pillow away, and kissed him on his forehead. "And isn't that worth it in the end?"

"You definitely do help." Mario reached over and kissed my snout. I will never get tired of his tickling mustache! "Thank you." He dropped back. "It did help talking about it, as weird as it all was. But I think the worst part was losing Luigi…"

He sank down mentioning his brother, and I wrapped myself tighter around him.

"Going over it was pretty simple, but that part felt longer when I was in the middle of the dream," murmured Mario. "Maybe it wasn't, but…"

"It didn't really happen," I offered. My smile faded into a frown as my brow fell. "He's still off helping Peach trying to stop us."

"Well, one of us still has to," suggested Mario. "It's not like he can just come running over here and join up with us."

"Why not?"

"Because Peach is our friend, Bowser." Mario frowned while I sighed and I rolled my eyes. "Luigi is helping her like we always have. I'm just in a different position because I know more now."

"What if he came here and learned more too?"

"It would only escalate Peach's efforts against you."

"How?"

"She'd slowly lose people around her that she thought she could trust." He folded his arms behind his head. "Wouldn't you panic if Junior just left you to join Peach, and then Kamek followed, and then the Koopalings?"

"They would never, and have no reason to do so."

"Suppose they did." He raised an eyebrow. "What would you do?"

Mario waited while watching me, and I clawed up the blanket into my hands. Of course I'd lose my mind, but my side of the story made sense, and I wouldn't have anyone betray me like that. It was Peach that kept things hidden for all these years. My eyes darted for the darkness outside of the window, and I hesitated, because I didn't want to answer Mario either way; arguing with him wouldn't help, and lying about him being right wouldn't either.

"It's not about what has happened or what's going on now," reasoned Mario, reading me well enough. "Just understand Peach's perspective, and why Luigi is with her. If he were here, I'd be there too." I scoffed and shook my head as I returned my attention to his questioning blue eyes. "What?"

"Your brother, here instead of you? Please." I sat back as I dug my claw through my hair. "He'd be screaming every time a Boo floated past him, at minimum."

"Luigi's not entirely incapable," insisted Mario. He sank down and looked past his shoulder. "Plus, he's family, one way or another."

Honestly, I kept forgetting that Mario's brother would become my in-law, or rather, I don't consciously think about him. It's…a bit unfair of me, considering that Mario's become very close with my son, but at the same time, his brother is currently working alongside Peach. According to Mario himself, his brother didn't exactly agree with his choices, and being with me was included among those. Bonding time isn't exactly on either of our agendas.

Still, I wasn't about to unload all of that on Mario.

"Ok, maybe he wouldn't completely fall apart right away," I relented. Smirking, I stroked at Mario's face. "But the only reason he'd be here would be to lure you over instead."

"How romantic," deadpanned Mario.

"Aw, come on, it all goes back to you, always," I reiterated.

"That's not the point…"

"What is then?"

"Just…I don't know." He clasped his hand over his messy brown hair, but his attention was still unfocused. Quieter, he admitted, "…I guess I just miss him…"

"…You really love him, huh?"

"He is my brother, my twin," reminded Mario. "I'm not going to lie about us getting along perfectly, nobody does, but…he does care about me, and I don't know what I'd ever do without him." With a light chuckle, Mario smiled. "Sure, he's not the bravest, but he follows me into hell whenever he's able. I don't usually ask him to either, because I want to keep him safe…but he wants the same for me."

"Junior, uh, does the same, for me," I reluctantly related. "People think that I always drag him into all of my plans, and sometimes I'm reckless when I do, but…a lot of times, he'll beg me to take him along, and I go against my better judgment for him. Even now…especially now…" Kamek's like that too…don't, not right now…

"Back when I was at Peach's Castle, even when I thought Luigi hated me for everything, he still wanted to reassure me that he didn't," recalled Mario. "That's how family is supposed to be."

"Guess so." He was still down, and I didn't want him stuck like that. Again, I tugged him closer to me. "Got any silly moments from your brother? Favorite memory or something?"

"Ha, a lot, really." Mario grinned and glanced down at our hands, as he put his into mine. "If I go back through all of our adventures, we'll be here for weeks…"

"So don't pick one of those," I offered. "Tell me something new, something quieter."

His eyes came back to mine, perked up again, and that line must have brought some energy back into him. Mario rubbed his fingers against mine as he picked his mustache, thinking it over. After a moment, he straightened up.

"While, I don't know about quieter, I have something silly. There was a time we were visiting Yoshi's Island, so that we could help them gather some fruit," reminisced Mario. "Luigi called me out on making too many trips back and forth and insisted that I took a break while he took over. So, he grabbed a bunch of melons, but he fumbled with them when he saw a giant raven."

"Oh, that had to terrify him."

"You're right, and it did."

"Of course. So then…?"

"It happened so quickly, and he tried so hard to keep it together, but he lost his balance before I could move, and then slipped over a small fruit pile." He chuckled and shook his head. "One flew away from him, and Yoshi just grabbed it with his tongue, because saving the fruit was priority. Luigi crashed down and there was just melon and berry juices firing out everywhere." Mario stifled his laughter and shook his head. "So, I hurried over to help him up, and Yoshi did by this point too. And he shoved a broken watermelon into my hand, and went, 'Ok, your break is over, back to work.' And just dropped his head back into the fruit. He was so sweet trying to help, but it was just too funny of a scene…"

Hearing his laughs brought a smile back to my face, and I gently squeezed his hand. Slowly, his laughter settled and he sank back, gazing up to the ceiling.

"There was…another time, when we were outside Peach's Castle one night," reminisced Mario. "This one's simpler, because we were just gathered together, and Peach spotted a shooting star, and told everyone to make a wish. After it went by, she asked if we wished for anything good, so Luigi answered first, and he came up with, 'I've got everything good right here, so I just wished for something extra.'" Mario sighed and smiled, lightly swaying our arms about. "And he looked at me when he let that one out."

"How sweet," I murmured.

"Yeah…"

Even from that, he was still smiling, and at first, my shoulders stiffened as I envied the joy that his brother brought him. But…to love his brother so much, and yet to be with me now, without him…when he makes him so happy…

"I really hope we can all make new memories like that."

Jolting up a bit, I blinked and looked to Mario, as he settled back on me. His gentle, soothing blue eyes eased the tension back out of me, and I melted just looking to him again. He smiled and rested against my chest.

"When everything is over, if there's a way, I really hope we can all do something nice like that together." He wrapped himself around me as he tugged up the blanket. "I think he'll come around to you." Mario lifted his head and looked back up to me. "You're a lot sweeter than anyone realizes, and I'm sure once Luigi sees that, he'll be happy to be closer to you too, get to know you better." He sighed as I rubbed his back, lingering my motions across him. "I want them to love you too, like I do." A chuckle escaped him. "Well. Almost like I do, minus the boyfriend perks."

A laugh escaped me too, and I nuzzled my head over his, taking in his soft hair against my face. Stars above, he is too good to me…

"For you, I'll try," I promised. "Some day, if we can…I will…"

"Thank you." A yawn escaped him. "And thank you for listening too." Mario slipped away from me, and rolled back over in the bed. But he tugged my arm to have me rest over him. "Goodnight, Bowser."

"Goodnight…Mario…"

Waiting there for another minute, maybe two…I felt his body rising and deflating, getting into a rhythmic sleep. It lulled me a bit, and I almost fell to sleep with him.

But I lifted myself back up and slid back around, facing my end table. Tugging the drawer open, I dug around and scooped out a golden book. If it hadn't been in there, it might've been coated with dust. Tapping a small light on the top, I placed it over the table.

Glancing at the cover, I hesitated as my eyes traced the title: Finding the Light, and Letting It In. My hands trembled, but I turned back to my slumbering Mario. Even just a faint sight of his smirk, and I roused myself again, opening the book and turning through the pages.

I really wanted to do anything and everything for him.

Even…

Mimicking the illustrations on the page, I lifted my hands, spreading my fingers apart as they faced one another. It's been years, but…if I just concentrated how it instructed, just think…

My eyes darted back for Mario. He's so…

A crackle fizzed and I whirled back around. A ball of light generated between my hands. My jaw dropped open as I watched it flicker, and it expanded a bit. Too much, as my eyes winced, and I pulled my hands apart as it sizzled from sight. Dropping my shoulders, I closed the book, and swung back around by Mario.

Maybe I wasn't ready just yet…but I won't stop.

Listening back to Mario's soft slumber, I cuddled closer to him, rubbing the muscles in his arms as I pressed against his back. There's still a smile on him somehow, and I can't help but smile with him. He really wants me to be closer with his brother, huh…?

…Well…family is family…one way or another. We'll figure it out.

... ... ... ... ...

[Luigi]

Pacing never really helps with settling anyone down, and yet I couldn't stop myself.

In a few hours, Peach would be delivering her address to the citizens of the Mushroom Kingdom, coming from all over to hear her discuss the latest with the war between their home and the Koopa Kingdom. And, while doing so, she would choose to either bring up Mario's relationship with Bowser, or omit it to maintain its secrecy, at least from our end.

This could potentially be the end of my brother's reputation. Quite possibly mine as well, but I couldn't concentrate past Mario's pending dilemma. Once Peach decided, once she comes out with it all…how will people react? No one will look to him as a hero anymore. They'll be horrified that he could seriously entertain the one demon they all knew hated them.

And then…from there, who could see what would come? Chaos, likely, as the citizens would no longer have their role model. How would they behave after? Would they follow Peach so easily, given that she trusted Mario the whole time? Or will they take matters into their hands?

Still, Peach hadn't decided, not yet, right? If she kept it to herself, among us, then there was a chance…well, one of the others could spill it for her…but I don't think anyone would dare cross her after she made a massive decision.

Which would she pick though…?

My hands clamped onto the cap over my head, and I slumped back against the nearest wall, sliding down to the floor. Dragging my hands down over my eyes, I groaned. How is this really happening…?

"Luigi?"

Blinking as I removed my hands from my face, I gazed up as Yoshi approached. He frowned for a moment, but then crouched down and extended his hands. Taking them, I stumbled a bit as he pulled me up from the ground, forcing up a smile while rebalancing me.

"Take it easy," he advised. "There isn't much to do now but wait."

"That's the exact part that I can't stand." My shoulders fell and I looked away from him, out the window. "Everything is hitting me at once, and I just…I don't know what to do."

"You're not alone though. We're all going to make it through this." Yoshi kept his smile as I tilted my head back to him. "Remember that."

His hands and mine are still wrapped together, but I don't want to move them away. It's so difficult holding onto anything, and when he squeezed them gently, it felt like I could believe that things would turn out for the better.

But I couldn't be certain of that.

He could tell though, and lowered our arms a bit, maybe so that we could concentrate more on one another.

"Do you want to talk about it with me?"

"It's nothing that you don't already know," I murmured. "If she tells the kingdom, everything falls apart. Not just Mario, but everyone else around him."

"True, and I agree with you there." Yoshi sighed. "I don't want Peach to tell the world, but it's her decision, and it is her kingdom, so, she makes the final decision."

"But—"

"We did our best to appeal to her," reminded Yoshi. "I think I brought up some good points." His smirk widened. "And I'm sure that you did too, without a doubt." I nodded. "Then, we can hope that would be enough to sway her to our side of the argument."

"Maybe we could." I bit my lip. "But, even still, even past this…"

"Yes?"

"What's to come?"

"After Peach's kingdom address?" Yoshi tilted his head while I nodded. "Um. What else should come next?"

"No matter what, Peach is going to reclaim the remaining fortress, the one in the Skyline. That's going to lead us to fighting more, but…" I adjusted my cap. "Where does it end?"

"Usually at Bowser's Castle, where we make our final efforts against…him." Yoshi blinked, starting to follow my thought process. "But—"

"If we're set to just challenge Bowser in the Dark Lands, is it really going to end there?" My shoulders dropped. "I can't help but think not, at least not this time."

"Where else would it go?"

"What if it doesn't stop this time?" I lifted my cap a bit, and gazed into Yoshi's darker eyes. "If Bowser doesn't want to let Mario go, or if he comes back after us…what else will happen?" Turning around and gazing out the window of the blue castle walls, I stared out at the meadows nearest Peach's Castle. "Is it possible that he'll fight that much harder against Peach than he has ever before? Or is she going to be the one to try ending these battles once and for all?"

"It…I don't think that…" Twisting back to Yoshi, I raised my eyebrow while he shook his head. "We'll make sure things settle differently, at least by the end of everything. After all, I don't think Mario would want it to end with more violence."

"Right, that's true."

"What's ending with more violence?"

Yoshi and I jumped up, as Pauline came around the corner and approached us. She glanced down at the floor tiles below us, eyes shifting between the black and white patterns.

"Huh. Retro looking, but not as old…" She picked her head up and flipped her hair aside. "Sorry, I interrupted. But, what were you two talking about violence for?"

"Luigi is just worried about the war escalating further," summarized Yoshi. "I don't think it'll get that bad once we stop Bowser."

"Sounds optimistic," observed Pauline. She folded her arms and tilted her head. "I'm a little less familiar with these events. Bowser seems the stubborn type, but he wouldn't be if Mario contested the matters."

"Exactly, that's where I was going with it," agreed Yoshi. "Mario can probably be the one to finally calm him."

"But, that's thinking Mario will be ok through everything, until the end and after."

My eyes widened while Yoshi deflated a bit, and we both looked to Pauline. She kept her arms up as she turned away from us, but she frowned and her eyes were lowered, with her hair blocking some of her face. It's…a bit odd to see her like that.

"How do you mean?" I couldn't help myself from asking. She turned to me, though tried avoiding eye contact.

"Honestly, I've been thinking, after talking with Peach and everything," started Pauline. "Mario's role ends up being critical to where this war ends up."

"Peach and Bowser's are important too," brought up Yoshi. "In fact, we all play a part."

"Yet it's Mario who has the hardest part," deduced Pauline. "If he wants a happy ending for everyone, he has to convince Bowser and Peach not to fight." She slowly looked up to me, and her hair swayed away from her face. "But the way we're going, doesn't it seem like fighting between Peach and Bowser is only inevitable?"

"It's a foregone conclusion, more or less," I determined.

"That's my point." She gazed into my eyes. "What makes you think Mario won't try to get between that?"

"He…will."

"Of course he will, naturally," confirmed Pauline. "But what happens when someone gets caught in crossfire?"

She waited as my mouth parted a bit, and I blinked, stepping back a bit. I hadn't been thinking about Mario trying to save the day like usual, and Pauline's right that he would go against both Bowser and Peach to stop them. If she's right, and he gets in the way of their spat, then…he could…

"Provided that he makes it that far." Pauline chimed in with worse thoughts to interrupt mine. I lifted my head up to look at her again. "We don't know anything that can happen from now until the inevitable…"

"No." We both spun around to Yoshi, who tightened his fists. He glared to Pauline. "Mario won't fall that easily, and he won't get himself hurt by Peach or Bowser's hands."

"We've already seen Peach failing to stop Bowser and hitting Mario by accident, when they were just immobile training targets," recalled Pauline, and I thought back to our Star Hill trip. "And Bowser already fought you guys earlier, didn't he?"

"Back at Seaside," I remembered. "And he fought against Mario back then…"

"That doesn't mean things will play out that way at all," protested Yoshi. "Mario won't get himself into that kind of trouble."

"Don't get me wrong, I really hope not." Pauline sighed. "He's overcome insurmountable odds so many times before, he makes it look easy." She chuckled a bit and smirked. "He's been doing that for so long that I shouldn't even consider him losing anything." Unfolding her arms, she turned to me. "But he still can, because we all forget that he's not invincible. And we're only thinking on his physical fallouts."

"Is there anything else…?"

"Well, based on Peach's decision, Mario's social life will change drastically." She blinked and tapped her finger on her lower lip. "Actually, that will probably happen no matter what." She frowned and brushed at her hair. "How does his life change after everything?"

"Everyone's will," brought up Yoshi. "And I think it'll be for the better!"

"It's possible that it could," relented Pauline. "But…where does Mario go after everything?"

"Afterwards?" We turned around as Birdo came from a guest room up the hall. "How about where he is now?"

"At Bowser's Castle?"

"Obviously." Birdo tugged on her ribbon and approached us, tail swaying behind her. "But where do you guys think his interests lie?"

"Stopping everything from going on, same as us," I offered.

"Cute." She lowered her eyes while placing her hands on her hips. "Pauline, darling, please give me an actual answer. I know Yoshi's full of optimism, and it seems to have rubbed off on Luigi." She thinks that? In that case, he hasn't done enough of that for me.

"Wait, you've lost me too."

"Great, so, you all think that Mario's going to be playing openly for both teams." Birdo shook her head. "That's not how I'm guessing it'll go."

"Why not?"

"Just a little thing they call love." Birdo folded her arms behind her neck. "If Mario is into this relationship as I've heard, he's not likely going to go that hard against Bowser." She shifted her weight around as she surveyed each of us. "Heck, I know that Bowser's whole castle believes that he's got it bad for Mario, and that's based on my rumors from earlier on when I joined you guys. How deep do you think their relationship is by this point, since they're still together?"

"Birdo, what's your point?" Yoshi scratched his cheek while studying her. "Mario's together with Bowser, we know that."

"There is no part of you guys that thinks Mario won't have a favorable interest in cooperating more with Bowser than usual?"

"Come on," contested Yoshi. "He's Mario. There's no way, even dating Bowser, that he won't want to help us too."

"My argument with Peach was that, should she tell about their relationship, Mario will be stuck with Bowser no matter what." She watched as my eyes widened. "There we go, now you're getting it. If Peach shoves Mario into Bowser's arms further than he's already in, that means he won't have much of a choice but to join in entirely on Bowser's side."

"Doing that, though…" Pauline lightly sucked in her cheek, and then slowly released it. "If he goes alongside Bowser from there on out, and he faces off against the Mushroom Kingdom—"

"Mario would never do that, even if Peach goes against him," insisted Yoshi.

"Sweetie, we really don't know how things would turn out in that scenario," brought up Birdo. "Mario can change entirely if Peach really outs him in front of everyone like that." She dropped her shoulders as she fiddled with the ring on her finger. "Take it from someone that thought she didn't have a choice but to work with less savory folks, it's…very easy to fall in on compelling arguments." Birdo's eyes narrowed. "It's…even easier when you feel alone and cut off from everyone. When you're an outsider, and you're desperate to follow the first person that treats you halfway decently…"

"…Birdo…"

"The fact that Mario is in love makes his judgment even more skewed by that pressure or the temptation," she pointed out. "Trust me, if I was guided by love with those kinds of decisions, I'd be blinded into fighting the world for my partner." Birdo straightened back up. "Mario's not me, but I don't think he'd have a lot of choice based on circumstances that unfurl."

"So, you think he'll join Bowser's campaigns going forward?" Pauline blinked and rubbed behind her head. "Provided that he feels it's the only place to go."

"Likely." Birdo placed her hands back on her hips. "If that happens, where do go from here?"

"Huh?" I blinked. "What do you mean?"

"Luigi, are you really going to stand by Peach, if she puts herself firmly against your brother?" Birdo's eyes lowered as she watched me. "Or if Mario finds a way to come to you, would you really refuse joining him instead?"

"I couldn't."

"He's your family," reminded Birdo. "In fact, let me put it this way." She looked to Yoshi and Pauline now too. "Let's make up a wildly magical scenario, where Mario is exposed and hated by the Mushroom Kingdom, and then he's totally loyal to Bowser. Maybe, just maybe, things work out well enough that he's happier with his Koopa King." She rolled her eyes and leaned closer to us. "One day, they have plans to fight back against Peach and wage a firmer, tighter control for the Mushroom Kingdom. They promise that, once they seize it from her, they'll help make things better for everyone, including Koopas, ourselves, Toads, whoever." Birdo folded her arms. "Do we just dismiss that because we've seen Bowser's tyranny in the past? Or do we join Mario with trying to help Bowser turn over a new leaf, and then sacrifice whatever faith we have in Peach for them?"

"That…that really is a wildly magical scenario," quipped Pauline with a smirk.

"Listen, I have to work with what I've got to make my point," countered Birdo. "I hope you can appreciate that. After all, you like toys and creativity, right?" She winked to Pauline, who giggled a bit. "But really, where do we fall if Mario is chased from Peach's reign?"

"Where…should we go?"

"Look, I'm not the best one to answer that, at all," admitted Birdo. "I've fallen in with the wrong sort of folks, based on false promises of grandeur and good fortune to come my way." She lowered her head. "I've been put in dark enough places where I'm gullible to believe in those persuasions, and the flickers of hope in me scream to chase after them, and fight for a better life." Birdo looked back up to me. "But, if it's Mario that ends up asking me to join him, even if he's on Bowser's side, how can I possibly go against him? How could any of us?"

"That…that's not…" Yoshi hesitated and looked away, staring at the bright blue walls. "Mario wouldn't—"

"Just pretend that my idea happens," persisted Birdo. She watched as Yoshi slowly turned back to her. "Are you really going against one of your best friends, especially if he offers you a better chance with life, in exchange for keeping what Peach already has given?"

"What if he's wrong and Bowser only makes it worse?"

"What if he's right, and Bowser helps reform the Mushroom Kingdom for the better?" Birdo locked onto Yoshi's eyes, as he faltered under her gaze. "We've never even seen Bowser in charge, have we? What if he actually does better than Peach? What if we are on the wrong side of history, and have been all along?"

"Impossible," denied Yoshi. "My people have suffered Bowser's wrath before."

"Yeah, because they were loyal to the Mushroom Kingdom," brought up Birdo. "What if they should be siding with the Koopas? Do you even know how far back their history goes with them? How did they splinter off and join the Mushroom Kingdom side anyway?"

"Uh…well, I…" Yoshi stared down at his shoes. "I don't remember looking into that…"

"Maybe I'm wrong, and I'm not trying to make it out like I've got this set the right way," conceded Birdo. "Peach might've gotten the accurate side of the story told to her, and maybe Bowser's truly been on the evil side since before he even entered the picture." She shrugged. "Wouldn't be the first time that I'm wrong, and far from the last either." Still, Birdo grimly looked over each of us. "But what if I'm right? Or, rather, what if Bowser's right?" Her eyes fell on me again, as drops of sweat escaped me. "Would you go against both Bowser and Mario, in that case? Even without that, even if everything has been told right to us, but they still want to change things…are you just going to remain steadfast against them?"

Waiting in the silence for a moment, I searched Birdo's eyes as she did mine. I never really thought about anything like that before, and the way that she had laid it all out like that for us…what would we do? How can we go forward from here?

"Do we just…defect from Peach's side, then?" Everyone turned to Pauline. "If she puts us against Mario, and we're getting that feeling, right?" Birdo nodded, and I tugged on my mustache, while Yoshi folded his hands together. "Then…should we be prepared for that?"

"If I get any kind of confirmation that Bowser has a better path, or that Mario will lead him down one, I'm definitely switching to working with them," warned Birdo. "Peach is nice, but stubborn, and I've seen her get low. We all have." She folded her arms around again. "I don't want to make the fighting worse, but I also need to follow the path that will lead to the better possible future for me, for my people, and possibly for everyone that I hold dear."

"Peach and I have been developing better relations," assessed Pauline. "I couldn't just ask the Metro Kingdom to align against her." She swallowed hard and waited for a moment, looking away. "But…Mario is such a dear friend to me…"

"This kind of talk is dangerous around here," cautioned Yoshi. "We're lucky if Toads didn't overhear all of this."

"Checked through the rooms along this side of the castle earlier," revealed Birdo. "I wouldn't have even started this conversation if I knew Toads were already around us." She blinked and glanced to the doors. "Well…not that they couldn't come in at any moment, I guess. But…huh." She whipped her tail around. "Damn, I really need to think these things through better."

"Uh…I didn't…see any Toads before."

"Luigi?"

Yoshi jolted up as he touched my wrist and quickly reached for my face.

"Hey, hey, are you ok?! Your heart is beating like crazy!"

"It's…I just…haven't…" It was a lot to process. "What if…so many possibilities…"

"Ugh, see?! This was bad enough to bring up anyway!" Yoshi snatched my cap and waved it around in front of my face. "Why did you two come up with even worse things for Luigi to think about? He's stressed enough as it is!"

"Aw, you're so overprotective," teased Birdo. "It's cute."

"Birdo!"

"Fine, fine, sorry." She stepped in front of me and waved her hand. "Luigi? Hey, Luigi. Sorry about the horrifying scenarios that I made up." Birdo sighed. "It might not happen after all, you know?"

"Luigi, take it easy," soothed Pauline. "We do need to think of these things, but if you're going to get so overcome by them, then you shouldn't."

"No, no, I…" My hands shook but I forced myself upright. "It's…I'm fine." Yoshi's hands fell away as I held myself back together, slowly exhaling. He handed back my cap as I tucked it back on my head. "We do need to keep that in mind…"

"What would the Toads even think of with that anyway?"

"Well, we could risk asking the ones that just walked in now."

Birdo pointed down the hall at the Toads who came in. Quickly, I straightened myself back up and composed myself, surprised as they came closer into view.

"Hey, Luigi!"

The quintet of Toads hustled over to us, waving excitedly. I smiled a bit and waved back to them. They had been recovering from their previous kidnapping situation, but it's been long enough by now. The Red Toad was the first one forward.

"Sorry that we haven't kept up with you guys for the past adventure, but we're ready to get back to it!" He beamed up to me. "You'll be happy to have us back again!"

"Red, how do you have the biggest ego?" Yellow Toad shook his head, but then gazed up to me. "It's Blue and I that have teamed up with Luigi more, so we'll be ready to help him for whatever comes up."

"Hey, we're not totally out of this either," piped up the Purple Toad. "Green and I can handle things better now!"

"Just as long as we don't get kidnapped and locked away anymore," mumbled Green Toad.

"We're all ready to help you out however we can, Luigi," offered the Blue Toad. "Count on us; we'll make up for everything from before."

"You guys don't have anything to make up at all," I insisted. "Adding you back in will be great though, since we're going to need the help."

"True that you do, but so does the castle."

Each of us jumped up a bit, as Toad came up from behind the five and folded his arms behind his back. He smiled to each of the other Toads, who deflated upon his arrival.

"Wait, so then…we can't go?"

"Nope, because you'll be needed to keep everyone around here safe," expanded Toad. "Toadsworth is worried that we'll need to have tougher defenses around the castle, so, with Princess Peach, Luigi, and company gone, you five are going to be reassigned to working here, under Toadsworth's supervision, and to help guard our home."

"Sorry, you guys," I whispered.

"That…that's so cool!"

All five Toads bounced around and swung about with one another, while I raised an eyebrow and watched them hop about.

"We're going to be part of overseeing the castle's defenses!" Red Toad bounced around. "What a huge offer! This will be great to help on after all that's happened!"

"This will be great, we can teach everyone what we've learned from adventures and how to use those skills around here," realized Purple Toad. "They'll be so happy to learn new tricks!"

"Plus, Toadsworth might need us for even more important matters!" With a little shuffle dance, the Yellow Toad grinned. "He'll probably want us to keep everyone in order!"

"My stomach is already back off from the ground!" The Green Toad clapped his hands. "Taking it a little slower here will definitely help!"

"Then we've got that settled!" Blue Toad nodded his head. "We'll be giving the defenses of Peach's Castle our top percent effort! No more kidnappings, no more attacks!"

"Yeah!"

"Well, you guys better go find Toadsworth as soon as you can," instructed Toad. "After all, he's got to give each of you the posts he wants covered, and he'll want to do that before returning to Princess Peach."

"Ah, you're right!"

"We better hurry!"

"Can't keep him waiting!"

"Thanks again!"

"Here we go!"

Together, the five Toads hurried off to find Toadsworth, and they disappeared around the corner. Toad chuckled softly and shook his head as he turned back around to the rest of us.

"They've certainly got the Toad spirit," he joked. Taking a moment, Toad eyed me closely and frowned. "What's the matter, Luigi?"

"Nothing!" I blinked and tilted my head. "Why would you think something's wrong?"

"Well, since you're asking that," decided Toad, and Birdo smacked her head. "That reaction doesn't help." He smirked. "It also doesn't help that you're a bit sweaty, lightly paled, and…" Toad's eyes widened. "Oh, Stars! You didn't see a Boo or another kind of ghost around, did you?"

"Um." I glanced back outside. "Did you guys ever get rid of the courtyard where the Boos invaded ages ago?"

"Yeah, we redesigned it, and I haven't seen any around here in a while."

"Oh. Well…"

"Is it or isn't it a Boo?" Toad shuddered. "I'm not exactly confident on handling those any better than you might be."

"No, no, I…it wasn't a ghost of any kind," I confirmed.

"Ah, that's good." Toad exhaled in relief. "Well…then, what happened?"

"It's the royal address," I confessed. "I'm…worried."

"Stressed," emphasized Pauline.

"Completely losing it," piled on Birdo.

"And neither of them are helping," muttered Yoshi.

"Now that makes a lot more sense, given what's going on," determined Toad. He smiled and patted my leg. "But, it's ok to feel nervous. Even I don't know what Princess Peach's final decision is, and I don't know what she's planning really."

"None of us do, and that's what has me so worried." My shoulders slumped and I stared off at the ground past Toad. "This really hits hard, because it's my brother who will be caught up in all of this. And as much as I want to help him…"

"You're both in two totally different places, and in more than one sense." I blinked and redirected my attention to Toad, who smiled at my bewilderment. "I catch on quick."

"So how come you never can save Peach, then?" Birdo poked at Toad's head. "If you're so observant, that is."

"Look, just because I can see drama from miles away doesn't mean I'm at all adept in handling it," conceded Toad as he lifted his hands. "You know that."

"Yeah, yeah, that's true." Birdo rolled her eyes as she leaned over Toad's head, turning to focus on her claw nails. "Even still, you've got quite the fire in you in spite of that, huh?"

"What do you mean?" Pauline tilted her head. "Wait, do you two know each other?"

"Originally, Toad battled against me, back when we first met and I was working with a horrible nightmare monster named Wart," enlightened Birdo. "But since then, we've teamed up sometimes. He's good at puzzles, and I'm good with encouraging him to help solve them."

"It's mostly that we've teamed up in sports a few times since then," added Toad. "She's usually the one bringing strength for us."

"And he acts like he's got nothing to him at all, the humble little Toad pie," teased Birdo. "He's as surprising with strength in a battle as I am." Toad cleared his throat. "Fine, in different ways, he insists." Birdo nudged off from Toad as she waved her fingers. "He still packs a punch all his own, which is why I mock his efforts defending Peach." She tapped on her cheek. "Not that Mario has ever prevented her kidnappings any better, mind you, but he is usually the one saving her instead of Toad."

"He's a lot stronger than me!"

"Oh, stop."

"Actually, I'm with Birdo on this," joined in Yoshi. "You're more capable than you realize, Toad."

"Nah."

"Wait, do you two team up too?"

"From time to time. Sports, parties, and helping out on adventures." Yoshi smiled to Toad, who returned it. "We tend to go together pretty well."

"Representing the best of the Mushroom Kingdom, yeah!" Toad jumped up and threw a fist into the air. He dropped and sank down. "Well, best supporting buddies, anyway."

"Mario and Luigi would be lost without else helping them out when they needed it most," brought up Yoshi. He looked to me as I nodded and grinned. "See? Even Luigi agrees, so, we're clearly the best that the kingdom offers."

"Ok, ok, we're definitely on the better end." Toad giggled but hopped back up. "Wait, wait, enough about me!" He spun around. "Luigi! Let's get back to you."

"Oh, you don't need to worry."

"Don't try downplaying your insecurities on the master of doing exactly that," rallied Toad. I wanted to question that, but he kept going. "It's better to get it all out. Now, I know that Princess Peach doesn't have her mind made up, and I know that you guys have been through a lot…really, a whole lot." Toad held his head for a moment. "Honestly, I've got the watered down version of everything, and that still makes my head spin."

"Yeah, it's definitely been a journey," I allowed.

"Even though it's not over yet, I still think that you guys should really keep your heads held high for handling the adventure so far, because it really has been taxing!" He looked to Yoshi, who frowned. "Hold on, I'm still going! Everyone's been through this, after all." Toad watched as Birdo and Pauline nodded. "But even still, you've all got different goals to reach from it, and different means to get there." I listened as he turned back to me. "You're waiting on getting back to your brother, because you're close to him, and I know that it's driving you crazy to not know how Peach will set his life going forward."

"It's eating away at me."

"Of course it is. But don't forget, Princess Peach has the whole kingdom to address too." Toad lifted his hands and waved them. "That's not to compare your scopes by any means! It's just to help remind you of who she's left to appeal to, and why she'll choose as she does when she gets to that time."

"That's not something that I've lost sight of," I contended. "I know that Peach is responsible for everyone in the kingdom—"

"Right, but what she forgets, what we all do, is that does include Mario, and Bowser too."

Blinking, I stared at Toad, and he smiled back up to me. He couldn't possibly know what we were going over before, but…when he brought them up like that…

"From when I talked to her earlier, she's definitely got a whole lot on her mind," recalled Toad. "So, definitely not taking it lightly on any part."

"But…?"

"Well, I can't promise you that you'll like what she decides," confessed Toad. "In fact, I'm not even sure of that, so, I can't even help you prepare for it on that level, or what to do after."

"Fair enough."

"What I can tell you though is that I've worked with everyone here for a long time." Toad blinked and pivoted around to Pauline. "Well, to differing degrees, and I'm still learning about the newcomers too!"

"When it comes to Mario, you're more of a newcomer than I am," teased Pauline.

"Oh yeah, good point." Toad thought for a moment and rubbed his cheek. "Huh. That's a different way to look at things."

"Yep, I can do that a lot too."

"Not my point, though." He turned back to me. "I know that you're scared of everything that's coming. And I can't promise anything, with the address or anything else after. The world changes with the shift in the wind and in the blink of an eye." Toad lifted his fist to his chest. "But I know that we've all handled so many obstacles and pulled through, finding our way in even the most hopeless situations. I can't tell you how many times I thought I'd fail, and how many times I actually have! But I still do my best, and that's what I think we all need to do." He lowered his hand. "And that's what I offered to Princess Peach, because that's all I could ask of her. So, my point to you is to trust that."

"Huh?"

"Just…don't forget about everything that you've all been through, from this journey and every one before it." Toad smiled. "It's been a lot of fun times and hard ones, good and bad, exciting and frightening, but we've come so far after all of these years. So, we have to keep that in mind when it comes forward to what lies ahead." He lowered his head. "Trust me, I know it only gets harder when you really think everything out, and I've started doing that a lot too." Frowning a bit, he looked back up to me. "I can't imagine the panic that hits you from it. But I want you to remember something, for what Princess Peach decides, and for what we do after."

"What's that?"

"Have a little faith." Toad had a small smile return to his face. "We can't change what's broken, and we can't tackle the world's problems all at once. But, I truly believe that there is more good in people than not." He lowered his head. "And I know that Princess Peach will make the best choice for us all."

"How could you possibly know that?" Birdo placed her hand on her hip. "You just told us that you didn't know what she was deciding."

"I don't. But I know my princess. And I know my friends." He balled up his hands and studied them. "And as hard as everything's been so far, as we face all kinds of uncertainty ahead, I have to believe that we can face it. Maybe it's a little silly to think like that, but I really hold onto it. And it helps when I remember to look at it this way. Because, after all, it is true." Toad returned his attention to me. "We're in this together. All of us."

His words echoed from something I thought up a while ago, but it was odd to have it come out now. Last time, when I thought about what I faced like that…

"Wait. Oh gosh, I have to go meet Peach before she heads out!" Toad bounced up and flailed his hands around, hurrying about. "Ah, I'm always late to everything!"

"Someone so fast still falling behind," joked Birdo.

"Yeah, ok, you're right, but still!" Toad twisted back and hopped around on his feet. "Luigi, I really hope that I could you even just a little bit! I'll try to talk with you about everything after, but please, don't give up! Even as everything gets harder! And even as we fall behind on things, like me running later and later, my Stars, I really have to go!" He spun back around. "Promise I'll find you to talk later, or whenever we can, but Princess Peach needs me! Bye!"

Sprinting off from the room, Toad raced away to go join Peach before her royal address. I scratched my head beneath my cap and thought about it all.

"Well, that seemed…" Pauline shrugged. "He tried, I guess."

"Actually, he kind of helped me out," I admitted. "I don't know what to do with everything that lies ahead, but…" Glancing down at my gloves, I adjusted and tightened them. "I know at least one thing: Mario wouldn't give up, not on anything or anyone." Everyone watched as I straightened myself up. "So, I'll work on what to do based on Peach's decision, but…I think I've got a better idea than before."

"Toad has the right ideas when he really brings them forward," piped up Yoshi. He smiled and stuck his tongue out at Birdo. "And you think I'm too optimistic."

"You're not, it's encouraging to hear," admitted Birdo. "I'm just trying to be cautious. And with Toad, it's different, because he needs it more so he can keep up."

"Should we head out to see what Peach decides too?" Pauline jabbed her thumb back from the hall. "Toad's not the only one that'll be late, and we should have a spot reserved for us when Peach starts."

"True, we should get going." Birdo wandered along as Pauline led the way. "It'll be nice to stand in a special spot above the crowd!"

Yoshi followed along after them, but paused as he pivoted back to me. I smiled as I started after him, and waved him along forward. Slowly, he turned back to rejoin Pauline and Birdo. I lagged behind a bit as I followed them from the blue hall and back into the main one.

Though I wanted to focus on what was coming up, my thoughts only returned to my brother. I still wish we parted on better terms, but that's out of my control, as is Peach's decision. All I can do for now is hope that he'll be ok…and I hope I can help him with everything that comes up…

Him, her, and everyone else…

... ... ... ... ...

[Mario]

Light came in through the bedroom window and I slowly opened my eyes. The longer I spent here, the easier it was getting used to the fainter light of the dark lands. Even the air has gotten a bit easier to breathe. Sniffing as the gust blew air inside, I coughed a bit from the smoky scent. Well…sometimes easier.

Pushing up from the dark red pillows, I blinked and spotted Bowser's arm wrapped around me. Leaning back, I smiled from his warmth and sank into him.

My fire.

The morning had carried on without us, and I'm sure that I should get him moving, stir him awake. I thought of the ways that I could, but I as I turned to him, spotting him slumbering so tenderly, I…I couldn't do anything. He looked so peaceful as he slept. His body gently rose and fell, with a light and low snore escaping him. His snout twitched as he nuzzled into the pillow, and his grip around me tightened, just a bit, pulling me closer to him.

We might regret it later, but if I could just have a few moments more with him, together, as we stayed like this…would that be selfish?

Probably, but…just once in a while…

Taking the blanket up, I brought it higher on him, making sure that it didn't slide off from him. He kept me so warm, helped me rest, so I should do the same for him. A light, almost airy breath escaped him, and he cuddled in closer. Comfortable.

Still, as my hands went to his arms, to bring him closer to me, they felt tight, tense.

He should be relaxing, so…I suppose I could help him along.

Tenderly, I rubbed at his arms, pressing just a bit over his muscles, easing him. Bowser groaned a bit as I massaged him, working my hands from his arms to his shoulders, and then guiding myself along to his chest. I slowed and lightened my pace, not looking to rouse him. He needed the rest.

Sliding my hands from him as he oozed from my work, his arm brushed past me, wrapping around the pillow instead. Another soft breath out, almost a hum as he buried his head.

My hand lifted and I cupped it around his horn. Firm yet smooth, I rubbed around the ridges along horn; he took care of them rather well. Sliding from it, my fingers traced his bushy eyebrows, and I pushed along a few loose red strands along the outside. Slowly, I guided my hand down his cheek, caressing him into my hand, my thumb stroking his jaw.

Temptation invited me to kiss him, but I resisted for the moment. Bringing my hand back up along his head, past his horn, I wove it between his hairs, and lightly brushed them along. Pushing it to the side, I smiled at my wavy redesign on him. It could be a look that suited him in formal wear, or for specific occasions. Stretching my pinky and ring fingers out as brushed his fiery red hair back, I guided it up and along his head, messing it back to the usual state. Loose, wild, dancing like a flame. That was definitely more like him, of course. Stroking out from his hair and back down along his face, I grinned as his head nuzzled into my palm.

This time, I couldn't resist, and I brought myself to his forehead. Just a small kiss, nothing too much, no need to linger. My lips and mustache came upon him, and I gently pressed them close into him. Carefully, I pulled back from my king, and smiled as he…oh.

His bright red eyes fluttered open, and Bowser lifted his head up from the pillow. I sighed and leaned back from him; I knew I was pushing my luck, and yet I had carried on just the same. But, after releasing a yawn, he gazed over me, grinning.

"Now that's a wake-up call!" He laughed. "Good morning."

"Sorry." I rubbed my hand behind my neck. "I was trying to let you rest."

"Are you kidding me? I feel great!" He reached around and kissed my cheek. "Thank you. That's my best in a while."

"Still, I…" I glanced outside, to the fading morning light, and bit my lip. "Actually, maybe I should've woken you up sooner." Sighing, I sank down. "I kept you up, after all."

"First off, I did that to myself," contested Bowser. "Sleeping in is my fault, because I stayed up worrying late into the night and early morning, and then even after comforting you to sleep, I didn't follow you right away." He snorted, shook his head, and then rubbed his eyes. "Plus, it's not the first time I've gotten a late start, and it'll be far from the last."

"When you put it that way…"

"That's the way it is." Bowser folded his arms and nodded. "See? You come around to my thoughts well enough."

"Well, you certainly argue hard enough for them," I teased and stuck out my tongue.

Bending forward, Bowser swiftly scooped my face into his hands and kissed me. He pressed his tongue against mine, pushing both of ours around along our lips. I moaned as he chuckled, pushing his lips deeper into mine before pulling back a bit. Licking at my lips once more, he slowly drifted away from me, beaming as our cheeks flushed over. His hands still lingered on my cheeks.

"And you make opportunities like that too easy," Bowser fired back with a wink.

"You're insatiable."

"Thanks, and you're adorable!"

He giggled to my sigh, gently drumming at my cheeks. I leaned into him as he caressed my face, guiding me closer to him as he lowered his enticing red eyes.

"Stars know I love those blue eyes of yours," he purred.

A laugh escaped me. "I was just thinking about yours too."

"Great minds…" Bowser stuck his tongue out from the side of his mouth. "Among other great things."

"Really? Can you name a few?"

"Oho, I could go all day, especially for you," flirted Bowser. "In fact…"

Knocking sounded from the door, as Bowser's shoulders fell and his hands dropped from my face. He groaned as he grinded his teeth, rolling his eyes up.

"It never ends." He grumbled as he dragged his hand over his face. Glancing back to the door, he called out over his shoulder. "Yes, what is it?"

"Papa?"

"Junior!" His face burned into a full scarlet now. "Oh, Stars. How long were you there, son?"

"Just walked up now."

"Ah, and…?"

"I didn't hear you probably flirting with Mario."

"Perfect!" Bowser paused and lowered his eyes while I stifled a chuckle. "Junior, we're going to have a long talk about your sarcasm."

"Aw."

"What do you need, son?" He quickly kissed me as he pushed off of the bed, grabbing at his collar and…wait, where did that book come from?

"They sent a Rex up here for you, but he came to me instead," reported Junior. "A bunch of minion bosses came by, some from the fortresses and some from elsewhere."

"Wait, already?" Bowser blinked and tilted his head at the door. "When did they get here?"

"Uh…a few minutes ago? None of them were asking for you yet."

"Grab the Koopalings, tell them they're temporarily unpunished, and then head down there with them." Bowser rubbed his chin. "Mario and I will be down in a little bit, we just got a late start."

"Ok, you got it, Papa."

Listening to his son's retreating footsteps, Bowser slumped down and wiped at his forehead, some of the color settling on his face again. I moved to the edge of the bed, grabbing my cap, but I stalled while studying the golden book.

"What's this?"

"A spell book." He followed as my eyes traced the title. "It's for Light magic." My mouth parted open as I jerked my head up to him. He smirked and glanced behind him. "A cute and nosy guy suggested that I look into it, and he was handsome enough to convince me."

"No kidding." I grinned. "I'm sure he'd be grateful for your efforts."

"Is he?"

"He is."

"Well, he's welcome then." Bowser smiled as he watched me, but shook his head. "Come on, finish dressing, and let's get ready to head down there."

"Hold on." He stopped and kept his eyes on me. "Bowser, what about…did you want to talk about Kamek more?"

"Oh. Uh, no." For a moment, Bowser hesitated, but then folded his arms. "Maybe later. But, let's focus on who's here now."

"Can we make sure to later?" I adjusted my gloves as I observed him, and there was this faraway look in his eyes. "You helped me with my nightmare, so I'd like to help you more."

"This morning was a great start," teased Bowser with a slight smirk. His shoulders fell and he closed his eyes for a moment. Opening them, he set his attention on me, calming from just a moment ago. "We'll see about later. I might like that." I beamed as he softly smiled, but he jerked his head around. "But for now, come on! You're done, so let's go."

Ushering me from the bedroom and through his stony castle walls, we descended to the lower levels. There are various soldiers and servants that we passed, though we didn't interact much with any of them. Still, a Monty Mole and Rocky Wrench paused their conversation to smile and wave as we passed them. A Rex dusting a portrait of Bowser took a moment to bow for us as well. Beyond those though, none of the others made much of a fuss, even with Bowser holding my hand.

As we neared the throne room, I made my way toward the doors, but Bowser stopped short. I blinked and spun around to him, while he pointed to another room.

"They should actually be in the meeting room," revealed Bowser. He paused and lowered his eyes. "Which, the one that we have for them is really just another grand hall of sorts, but that's where we gather the larger forces." I nodded and he mimicked me. "Anyway, they're gathered in there so that we can talk about settling down the troops a bit more, without relying on the invasion against Peach's Castle, and then I could persuade them to maybe stick around for defensive measures." He sighed. "Hopefully none of that will get too derailed, like usual."

"Um." I scratched behind my head as Bowser lifted an eyebrow. "Should I be going with you?"

"Why wouldn't you?"

"These are bigger, uh…well, they're like bosses beneath you, right?" Bowser nodded to me. "So, do we really want to find out how they're going to interact with me? They could cause more issues with their respective underlings or stir up other issues." I rubbed my arm and glanced aside. "Or they could still hold a lot of aggression toward me, considering past encounters."

"Ok, the last one, you've got a point," admitted Bowser. "But, these are bosses that I've either appointed or established as part of higher ranks among the Koopa Troop. None of them would go against me for some kind of coup or riot. They know better." He smiled to me. "Plus, I won't let them do anything to harm you, if they really wanted to try it!" Bowser hesitated and deflated a bit. "Though, they may be a little annoying or nosy, so…brace yourself on that."

"How so?"

"Uh…since they're higher in rank, they like to know more and be involved."

"Ah."

"Trust me, you'll see." He guided me to the large green door with red borders. "Hopefully they won't be too much for today, but given their work at the fortresses this time around, ah…I doubt it."

Entering the meeting room, I surveyed the various underbosses that arrived. At a long table on the right side sat the Koopalings and Junior, watching the other bosses while whispering among one another. Near one of the room's columns, a large, crowned Whomp and a big Bob-omb with a great white mustache chattered with each other. By another table with a couple of candles on it, two more familiar faces were waiting around it: King Boo and Petey Piranha. At the spot past them were a skeletal Koopa, two Boom Booms, and…what appeared to be a helmet with horns…?

While I observed all of them, Bowser made his way to the center space and sharply whistled. Everyone quieted down and turned their attention to Bowser, working their ways over to meet him…or rather, us.

"Ok, looks like everyone that could be here made it, so, that works out," assessed Bowser. "So, uh, welcome back—"

"Is that Mario? Actually the real deal, the Super Mario?" The horned helmet, with feet and eyes, spoke first. …Ah, ok, I remembered him.

"Yes, Prince Bully, this is Mario," flatly reintroduced Bowser. "Do we need a minute to do meet-and-greet moments, or can I continue?"

"Where are your manners?" King Boo cackled. "We have a newcomer with you, in one regard or another."

"He's not new."

"Sure he is," debated King Boo. "After all, has he ever been part of these meetings? Has he discussed anything freely with us concerning your usual matters of conquest?"

"No."

"Then he's new after all."

"For the love of the Stars…" Bowser dragged his claw over his face. Dropping it to his hip, he pointed at me. "Everyone! This is Mario! Yes, the same one that you all used to fight. He's working with us, currently and to a certain extent."

"Extent?" Petey Piranha tilted his head.

"Meaning that he won't help us to totally conquer and annihilate the Mushroom Kingdom," summarized Ludwig. "He does have friends there."

"Petey can be friend!" Petey paused and turned to Bowser. "Can Petey be friend?"

"Uh. Sure."

"Mario and Petey now friends!" Petey lifted a leaf to his mouth and chuckled a bit.

"Oh, um, thank you." I scratched my head, but I didn't want to question him.

"Look, Mario already knows all of you, so we can keep it short—"

"That's boring," interrupted King Boo. "What fun is it if we can't reintroduce ourselves properly?"

"This was supposed to be an update on our efforts," Bowser reminded them.

"If we can't be showy, then what's the point?"

"To get work done."

"It gets done in due time, trust me." King Boo spiraled around to the others. "Who wants to give proper greetings and introductions?" Most of them either lifted their hands or hopped around to agree. King Boo grinned and spun back. "See? Everyone is excited."

"Fine," relented Bowser. "Let's just not take forever, please." He glanced down to the Koopalings. "You lot first."

"We've been here," protested Larry. "What would he need from us?"

"We're the Koopalings!" Lemmy bounced up and waved his hands out, trying to make the gesture grandiose. "We're the fun bunch!" He glanced at his siblings, who silently watched him. "…Well, I tried."

"You did great," offered Morton. "Mario does already know us, anyway."

"He knows everybody!"

"Sire, please."

"Ugh."

"Mind if I go next?" King Boo floated forward and waved his long tongue around. "Mario and I are pretty acquainted after all!"

"All of you are already, which is why this is pointless," complained Bowser.

"But we have a special connection!" King Boo grinned to me while I folded my arms.

"If that's what you want to call kidnapping me, sure, sounds fine," I deadpanned.

"Wait, what?"

"How else do you think I lured his brother into the mansions?" King Boo cackled. "There's no better bait than family, after all!"

"You…kidnapped Mario," murmured Bowser.

"And locked him in paintings," specified King Boo.

"…But you kidnapped Mario." The agitation in Bowser's voice increased with his volume.

"Duh. You had to have known." King Boo shrugged. "That was the easy way to sucker Luigi in."

"Who cares about Luigi?!" Bowser roared out. "You kidnapped Mario! And trapped him in paintings!"

"What are you angry about?" King Boo twirled and drifted out of Bowser's reach. "Didn't you do the same thing a few times yourself?"

"Of course, but that's me," thundered Bowser. "I know my limits, so I'm allowed to! You don't, so you're not!"

"Blah, blah, blah…" King Boo huffed. "Give me a little credit, would you? He's not dead. And I could have sold him off to you—"

"Sold?!"

"Ah. Ha?" King Boo shrank back as he floated further off. "That came out wrong."

"You're lucky that you've worked well enough for me over the years, or I'd grab a vacuum to suck you away myself!"

"Yikes, that's needlessly harsh." King Boo clenched his teeth. "Not like you're the innocent one or anything…"

"Why I—"

"Petey's turn!" Petey flapped above the ground with his leafy arms…wings…? "Petey fought Mario before. Bunch of times!"

"Yep, we have."

"Fun fights!" He flopped down and clapped his leaves together. "Now Mario is Petey's friend!"

"Wonderful." Bowser moved to fold his arms, but stopped and took a closer look at Petey. "Hey, wait, you're all cleaned up from those spell burns."

"Kamek helped!"

Wincing at the Magikoopa's name, Bowser hesitated before he nodded. Petey paid no mind, perhaps not noticing, and spun around, skipping to King Boo in the corner.

"Good to see he's as cheerful as ever," mumbled Wendy, focused on reapplying her lipstick.

"Hello…King Bowser…and…"

Bowser's skeletal form stood before us, and I blinked up as he studied down over me.

"Mario…" Dry Bowser rattled. His voice echoed Bowser's a bit, but was a lot more unsettling in delivery.

"Um. Hi."

"…You have a nice form," observed the undead skeleton. "…It might look nice…next to mine…"

"Uh…thank you?" I scratched my head as he tilted his skull, and I'm left to wonder if that was supposed to be a compliment or a threat.

"Hey, back off, bonehead." Bowser wrapped his arm around my back and shoulder. "He's mine, and he's got a long time that he'll be with me, got it?" He glanced down and blushed a bit. "Uh. Well, um. Hopefully he'll be with me, that is."

"Wait, what's that mean?"

"Bully, hush up and wait your turn," hissed King Bob-omb.

"Your will…is my command…" Dry Bowser bowed his head to Bowser.

"So…what exactly is Dry Bowser?"

"My reanimated remains, I guess?" Bowser shrugged. "We've killed each other a bunch of times before, right? He's just a dark spell gone right."

"Am I you?"

"…Are you not?"

"We are linked," observed Dry Bowser. "But I feel…as though I am something more…"

"Well, you're not tethered to me, since you're moving around on your own," pointed out Bowser.

"Not just that…" Dry Bowser's eyes flickered. "Like we are…different…in more ways than one."

"By now, yeah." Bowser raised an eyebrow. "Are you telling me that you're not me, or based on me? Because I can't really remember by this point."

"…Neither can I…"

"…Hey, Junior?" Bowser turned to his son, who stepped forward by us. "What was the original spell you used when summoning him?"

"I don't remember," admitted Junior. "It was a spell that Kamek used."

Again, Bowser flinched on hearing Kamek's name, but regained his composure. Junior noticed and frowned as he gazed to me, but I only shook my head.

"We are still one, and I still serve you," insisted Dry Bowser, his speech clearing up a bit. "I failed at the fortress. I will not do so again."

"Ha, no one better to trust than your undead form," decided Bowser with a grin. "Sounds good to me, uh, me!" Bowser rubbed his chin for a moment. "Actually, I might as well refer to you as Dry Bowser like anyone else."

"As you wish."

He stepped aside while the next two came forward. Their expressions didn't change much as they looked down on me.

"Well, I'm sure you remember me," started King Bob-omb. "I'm the big Bob-omb, baron of all blasting matter, king of ka-booms the world over, and I am none other than King Bob-omb!"

"What an explosive delivery," complimented the Whomp King.

"Aw, thank you!" King Bob-omb brushed at his mustache. "And I'm sure Mario recognizes you as well, of course!"

"Less likely, but whatever!" Whomp King stomped a bit closer. "We build your houses and castles, pave your roads—"

"Perhaps just skip to the name bit," suggested King Bob-omb. "Lord Bowser is looking even angrier than before."

"Oh. I'm the Whomp King." He and I waited for a silent minute. "Um. I served alongside King Bob-omb under Bowser, though I went to space once too." He glanced over to King Bob-omb. "I normally get to be bigger too, but they wanted me to fit inside for today…"

"But now you're at my level, and it's nice to have you around!" King Bob-omb seemed to smile at Whomp King, who…I think blushed?

"Nice to…see you both again?" I lightly waved, to which they both waved back.

"Quit taking up all of the time!" Boom Boom stormed over, rolling his arms as he came over. "Name's Boom Boom! I'm the top Boom Boom of the Boom Booms!"

"And I'm Pom Pom!" His companion hurried over and lifted out her pink shuriken. "Have you ever seen a lady as refined as me?"

"Yeah he has, and I'm literally right here," deadpanned Wendy.

"Oh! Of course you are, Miss Wendy!" Pom Pom waved to her. "It's nice to see you again!"

"Likewise." She eyed Pom Pom's weapon. "Did you stop using boomerangs?"

"Huh? Oh, no, I use both," revealed Pom Pom. "But the Boomerang Bros. all make use of those, while the shuriken is less utilized among our forces."

"Either way, it's very you."

"Thank you so much!"

"Hey, I'm here too…" Boom Boom dropped his arms down, lightly enough to only cause a slight rumble to the floor. "Aren't I cool too? I use my arms!"

"You're plenty cool to me," offered Pom Pom.

"All of my top troops are very cool, that's why they rank." Bowser waved his hand. "Can we please wrap this up?"

"Of course, sire!" Boom Boom rolled his arms as he sidestepped away from us. Pom Pom followed, but then dragged him closer by Wendy and the Koopalings.

Lastly came Prince Bully, who wandered over and glanced around at the others. Unlike the usual dark blue color of other Bully creatures, the prince was silver and looked like a knight's helmet. He blinked at me, and then turned to Bowser.

"Well, you already know that I'm Prince Bully and help lead the Bullies," he introduced. "I like to charge and run, and I don't like getting pushed around." Bully blinked, eying me again. "Um…Lord Bowser, sire, I'm behind on everything, and I know that I have the lower rank of most here, but I'm confused."

"How far out of the loop are you?"

"Why is Mario here, and why are you so close with him?"

"Wow, that far." Bowser sighed and dragged his claw through his hair. "Uh. I'm dating Mario." He waited as Prince Bully's eyes widened. "I've been in love with him for ages now, and we've finally started a real relationship."

"In love? With Mario?"

"Yes." He waited as Prince Bully blinked again. "…Is this going to take you a minute?"

"Wait, so, you're gay, Lord Bowser?"

"No, I'm bi," snapped Bowser. "I still like ladies."

"But you're dating Mario," pointed out Prince Bully. "And you're both guys."

"That doesn't make me less interested in women." Bowser placed his hands on his hips and tapped his foot, already fed up.

"So is Mario an exception?"

"He is among love interests, not because he's a guy," tried Bowser. "I've liked other guys before him."

"Wait, what?"

"Look, I don't air out my interests all that often." Bowser blushed and folded his arms. "It's just…I don't know, my preference."

"Has this ever been a thing for a Koopa King before?" I turned to Boom Boom, who shrugged after asking. "Just kind of curious."

"Please don't make me review my entire family history…" Bowser pinched at his brow. "I don't know it off the top of my head."

"You know, that would actually be interesting to go over some time!" Pom Pom waved her shuriken around. "I'm not as familiar with the royal Koopa family's history, and it sounds interesting!"

"Junior and I are the only ones that should matter," insisted Bowser.

"Which do you like more?" He whipped back around to Prince Bully, who blankly blinked at Bowser.

"What?"

"Between guys and ladies, which do you prefer?"

"Does it matter?" Bowser's fists tightened.

"It could help you choose," offered Prince Bully. In spite of his name, and judging by the inquisitive tone in his voice, I think he was actually trying to help. "That way, you could know which you think is better."

"There is no choosing!" Bowser growled as his face burned up. "I'm into both!"

"Do you prefer one over the other?"

"What does that matter?!"

"It'll help Mario know what he's in for, won't it?"

"No!" Bowser stomped down with his foot, causing Prince Bully to lose his balance. "I'm dating Mario, and I have all intentions to continue dating Mario, because I'm in love with him!" He raised his fist and seethed behind it. "I'm not planning on stopping myself from being attracted to others outright, but Mario is the only one that I want to share my life with! Is that clear?!"

"Actually, it sounds pretty cute," cooed Iggy.

"Cute? That was really romantic," praised King Bob-omb.

"Shut up, all of you!" Bowser threw his arms up and pulled them apart as he roared out. "My love life has nothing to do with this!"

"Doesn't it have everything to do with this?" Ludwig rested his face on his hand, still seated at the table. "After all, you've basically been trying to get Mario's attention the entire time, and you're basically going to war in part for all of us, but also so that you can freely be with Mario, right?"

Falling silent, Bowser glared across the room at Ludwig, who just sat at the table, unflinching. Roy, who nervously looked between the two, promptly lifted his eldest brother and chucked him out a nearby window.

"Is that better, King Bowser?"

"No! Get him back in here!"

Reaching outside of the window, Roy pulled Ludwig back in, who glowered at his brother. Roy dropped him to the floor and raised his hands in defense.

"Hey, he's clearly stressed, and you weren't helping," Roy excused for his actions.

"So you threw me out of a window?"

"It's the ground floor, and we're not over a lava moat on this side."

"But you threw me out of a window."

"Will you two behave?!" Bowser stomped down again. "Can we all please control ourselves a little bit here?!"

"Shouldn't you be the first?" Larry glanced up and blinked as Bowser and his siblings glared at him. "Um. Sorry…"

"Actually, I think it's quite wonderful that Lord Bowser has finally started courting a companion worthy of him," complimented King Bob-omb. "Plus, he has wonderful tastes grabbing a partner with a cute mustache, even if it's not quite as majestic as mine."

"Yours is the most majestic one out there," touted Whomp King.

"Wait, are you two dating too?" Prince Bully spun around to the pair.

"Might as well be out with it," determined King Bob-omb. "As a matter of fact, we are! We recently returned from a nice little vacation that we took for ourselves."

"Plus, you all lost the other fortresses, so we're losing the war," accused Whomp King.

"Petey tried!"

"Yeah, we all did," piped up Iggy.

"We were holding fortresses?" Prince Bully blinked. "How behind am I?"

"Apparently very, which must be why you didn't get one," decided Larry.

"Quit instigating, Larry," scolded Morton. He tugged on his brother's shell and they glared at one another before Larry lowered his head.

"Prince Bully—"

"Oh! Prince Junior! Uh, Prince Bowser?" Bully fumbled with his words. "Wait, um…Prince Koopa! Sir! Sire! Ah…"

"Just call me Junior, it's fine," allowed Junior. "We're both princes."

"But you're a much higher rank than me, and your father is literally right there!"

"Papa, does it really matter?"

"Yes, son."

"But it's Prince Bully. He's my friend."

"He should still be respectful, son, at least while we're in the meeting."

"Which is in shambles," I quietly observed, and Bowser shot me a dirty look.

"Fine. Prince Bully," Junior started again, "we had seven territories that we claimed, but Princess Peach took most of them back over."

"Princess Peach is fighting us herself?! Again?!"

"She got magic and recruited a bunch of her friends."

"This is just like when she joined in during the Sprixie Kingdom takeover!" Prince Bully hopped around. "Oh! Lord Bowser, it'd be an honor to battle against her!"

"We already lost all of the fortresses to her," reminded Lemmy. "Well, except one, but she's going for that next."

"Send me!"

"Kamek already went to defend it," reported Iggy.

"Wow, Master Kamek? That's great!"

"No, it's not."

Everyone turned to look at Bowser, who sank back with everyone turning to him. He hesitated and looked to me, with a bit of fear in his widened eyes. Was he afraid of something that I would bring up, or did he want me to help quell these masses?

"It's…my fault, actually," I started up.

"Mario—"

"No, it's true." I smiled to Bowser's panicked, pleading eyes, but then turned to the others. "Peach and I are friends, so, I was planning on going to reason with her, and try to talk her out of fighting. Kamek didn't want me to go, so, he took off instead." Not the complete truth, but also not a lie, so, that should suffice. "I don't want everyone fighting over the Mushroom Kingdom anymore, so I…thought that was a good idea."

"Aw, he really is a total softie!" Whomp King chuckled. "I thought as much, but no one listened because I call almost everyone softer than me. Which is true!"

"Peace is an admirable goal," determined King Bob-omb. "Near impossible with Princess Peach in charge, but nice of Mario to make the effort." He blinked and eyed Bowser. "Oh, were you going to let him go?"

"No."

"Ha, the overprotective phase, how cute!" King Bob-omb paused and twisted his mustache a bit. "…I act like that one goes away all of the time."

"It doesn't!" Whomp King proudly smiled as King Bob-omb rolled his eyes.

"Sounds boring and less chaotic," complained King Boo. "What would we do instead? Play sports and hold parties all of the time?"

"That actually sounds more fun," reasoned Lemmy. "Isn't that better than fighting all of the time?" He waited as King Boo hesitated and thought it over. "I think so."

"Petey likes sports," agreed Petey Piranha.

"Plus, it makes Mario glow a little more," pointed out Boom Boom. "…Is he supposed to do that?"

Looking down to my overalls, I reached in and tugged out the crystal ball. I looked up to Bowser, who watched it for a moment, and then gazed to me.

"This could be important," I murmured. "I'll just go out to take it."

"Let me go with you," insisted Bowser. He paused and sniffed the air. "Wait, what's burning?"

Turning back around, he looked back at a banner on fire. Junior and Prince Bully sat below it, widened eyes as they exchanged looks before Junior lifted his arm.

"Bully did it."

"Really, Prince Junior?!"

"Oh, for the…just go without me…" Bowser covered his face and I patted his arm as he trudged over to contain the fire.

Exiting the room, I wandered just a little ways from the meeting room to look down at the crystal ball. Waving my hand over to activate the ball, I watched as the orb swirled and Merlon's image slowly formed within it.

"Ah, Mario, hello again!"

The Shaman wizard waved a bit, but then paused, and waved his hand over his crystal ball. For a moment, the light faded and he disappeared from it. I waited a moment before mine lit up again, and we reconnected.

"Stars above, I do that far too often," muttered Merlon. "You'd think I'd have learned by now…"

"It happens." I stifled a laugh as his bright eyes twinkled from beneath his hood. "Did you call for something?"

"As a matter of fact, yes!" He lifted a vial with a pink glow inside of it. "This is part of a cure that I synthesized for your curse! It's not complete just yet, but I've made a strong stride of progress."

"Oh wow, that's really great news! Thank you, Merlon!"

"Certainly, but, I have slightly bad news with it."

"Oh. Um, what's that?"

"To test it properly, I'll need to release the curse from the jar and it'll need to bond back with its host." Merlon tugged on his ivory mustache and lowered his eyes a bit. "Sadly, that would be you, so…"

"Do you need me there now?"

"Not quite yet, no," dismissed Merlon. "I still have preparations to finish, and there are still several observations I'd like to make before dragging you back to Star Hill." He lifted two other vials and turned the crystal ball to give me a better view. "However, watch this…!"

Pouring a small dose of the curse's aura wisps and the cure's liquid into a flask, he hastily sealed it and lowered the ball closer to it. Sparks flickered from the purple aura as the pink liquid spilled into it, and seared into it. A lot of the aura dissipated, but it still fought to remain, eliminating a lot of the liquid that countered it.

"As you can see, not quite ready, but a lot of progress since you left," reported Merlon, lifting the orb back before him. "Exciting, isn't it?"

"That is really great to hear, and even see." I smiled. "Thank you again, Merlon. I really do appreciate your efforts!"

"My pleasure, Mario." He paused and glanced at me, or rather, around me. "Have I interrupted anything important?"

"Well, I was at something important, but it was a little chaotic, so the excuse to get away was nice."

"Glad to be of service then." Merlon dramatically bowed his head while I laughed. Straightening back up, though, he eyes lowered again. "I should let you go now, however. Your time needed here draws near."

"Right, of course. I'll…I'll talk with Bowser, and we'll figure it out."

"Very good. Take care." Merlon got a mischievous twinkle in his eye. "Oh, and tell Bowser that I interrupted just to see you. Emphasize that too."

"Why would I do that?"

"For fun."

"He'll explode."

"I know."

"Goodbye Merlon."

"Aw, just a little mischief? For me?"

"Are you supposed to be helping your son or grandkids with anything right now?"

"Oh, would you look at the time!" Merlon scrambled around his basement. "Goodness, I have so much work to take care of now. Goodbye, Mario!"

He hung up and left me laughing, small tears escaping as I stowed the small crystal ball away. Twisting back around, I spotted Junior holding charred and ripped banner.

"Junior, hi!" I bent down by him. "What happened?"

"Papa made me take this out to throw it away after he put it out," mumbled Junior.

"Was it an accident?" He nodded and I sighed, but forced up a small smile. "We can bother him about that later. I'll come up with something."

"Like what that voice in the ball mentioned?"

"Uh…not quite that." I scratched my head and gazed down to Junior, as he lifted the banner higher above his face. "…How much of that did you hear?"

"Just the last bit about teasing Papa." Junior wandered off with the burned banner. "We can get him later, but I'll go throw this out."

"Ok…"

Watching him wander off to dispose of it, I waited a moment even after he left my sight. Pivoting back, I returned to the meeting room. Bowser gathered the minions around several tables pushed together, and they murmured among one another. Turning around, Bowser shot up from his seat upon seeing me.

"You're back!"

"Look at how excited he gets for him!"

Bowser blushed as he twisted around, growling while Wendy, King Bob-omb, and Whomp King giggled with one another. He stormed from the table and came closer to me, ignoring as King Boo joined in with the laughter.

"Is everything all right?" Bowser placed his hand on my shoulder, rubbing it a bit.

"Merlon was just updating me on progress curing the curse," I summed up. Bowser grinned at that. "Things might actually be turning around."

"Hey, Mario, was that Peach calling?" Prince Bully bounced up from the table. "One of my Bullies told me that she has a big address announcement that she's making today."

"She what?"

"It was something that they overheard…" He blinked as all eyes settled onto him. "Is that a bad thing? I figured she always made big speeches for anything."

Grumbling, Bowser gripped at his horns, and I gently rubbed his body. Junior returned and gave us a curious, inquisitive look, as Bowser sank down, dropping his shoulders, and resting one hand on my shoulder with the other on Junior's shell. He guided us back over to the group, with more discussions to resume.

Perhaps things were still a little ways off from turning around just yet.

---

...

Ah, cliffhangers, no! Curses, who could possibly enjoy those?! ...Oh, right, me. Mwahaha!

So, I was going to be cool originally and put the royal address in the same chapter. But that section is going to be long on its own, so, Peach will get a separate chapter from the boys on this one. I figured that would be the better move, because it'll have a good amount to take in. (Long as in individually; it shouldn't be the same amount as this chapter was, at least not on its own, lol.)

Quite a bit went on, so we'll address a few things below.

...

If you thought Bowser would just let Kamek go off to die, lol, not a chance. He's still not good at talking about his feelings though, even with Mario.

Bowser's section included Mario describing a dream that involved a lot of seemingly nonsensical elements, but they were actually throwbacks to the early Super Mario franchise games. The costume colors come from Super Mario Bros. 1, 2, and 3 for Bowser, Mario, Luigi, Toad, and Peach, who were basically the main characters back in the old days. Some of the freaky monsters that Mario described are based on enemies from older titles too, including Super Mario Land 2! (That game basically looks like a Mario fever dream anyway, lol.) Beyond that, a small shout-out for the Shiverians, which were my favorite species added from Odyssey.

It's also the first time that Bowser addressed Mario's relationship Luigi at length, which has been rather lopsided given that Junior is in the same castle as the couple while Luigi is technically working against them. But it was nice having Mario recall a non-game related scene between him and Luigi.

And then Bowser decides that he'll do almost anything for Mario, including learning a magic type that should be his antithesis. So sweet!

...

For Luigi's scenes, he pretty much is stressing about the upcoming royal address. This feels kind of lonely without Peach's section to balance it, but, it was designed as a segway between Bowser and Mario's sections, so I left it here.

But it was nice developing the cast included here. Birdo gets some nice development in particular, since she alludes to her past struggles and how they relate. Her skepticism contrasts nicely with Yoshi's optimism. It was also a good start at expanding everyone's relationships with Toad, which we'll get more of down the road, though probably with moments that aren't quite as quiet. Toad tries to help Luigi, but the others can't seem to help him with his own underlying troubles.

Also, I wanted to bring back the Toad quintet from the earlier chapters, since they still exist. Surprise! Obviously, with Toad's introduction, they're being put to work elsewhere, because no one really wants to juggle six Toads, Toadette, and Toadsworth all at once. That's a mess in the making!

Luigi has potentially hard choices to make. Can he take in Toad and Yoshi's advice? Or should he be listening to Birdo and Pauline instead?

...

And then for the last perspective with Mario himself!

He starts off quite tender and romantic with Bowser, ha! Try as he might to help his boyfriend, though, Bowser is still quick to double down on his efforts for Mario. After all, Bowser has some, uh, daddy issues. At least three or four kinds of those, in fact!

Mario's section reintroduces some of the past boss characters, and includes some newcomers too. I originally wanted to use King Bob-omb ages ago with the story, but I figured the other characters were a bit better fits based on areas. Including him now was a lovely treat! King Whomp seemed like a good companion for him, so I tossed him in for good measure. And they're dating because I was influenced by an artist that draws the two of them together periodically! The artist is Starjeti, and they make a variety of artwork online (Twitter I think?), but sometimes the art goes to a pairing they enjoy between King Bob-omb and King Whomp. They make a cute couple!

Another character I got to add in was Prince Bully, and I believe my first use of the Bully species both in ENY and in Mario fanfics. Another group I wanted to use for a while! Plus, Prince Bully is a boss character found in Super Mario 3D World (+ Bowser's Fury), so I'm happy to include more recent characters too. Since he's a prince, I decided to make him a bit younger than most of the bosses, though probably older than the Koopalings. Since Junior is a fellow prince, I thought it would be cute if they were friends, even though they have no canon interactions past Bully being an enemy in Bowser's Fury at one point. He's not the brightest of the bunch, but contrary to his name, he is trying help and learn more.

Lastly, if you ever had doubts of Merlon's mischievous side, lol, Mario can tell you all about it.

...

Up for the next update will be Peach's big scene, so there's that to look forward to. I'm excited for it, but we'll see how it turns out. And...maybe a moment or two more with some other familiar faces. But, we'll see about those.

This is the new longest chapter for not only this story, but any story chapter that I've posted on here! I really didn't mean it to be, but, it makes a nice milestone for the 50th chapter too. I was going to cram all of the cast in as best as I could, but that would've been a total overload for sure. (Not for writing, mind you, because I'm enjoying that, lol. Reading it back over, though, it's...well, a lot.) I wonder how things will go with Peach, now that we're mentioning it. What do you think? Feeling nervous like Luigi?

Actually, I hope everyone is still enjoying this story by this point! It's a tall order, but I love writing it, so, I hope it's still fun to follow by this point too. I know the updates can take a while, but that's life, I guess. It'll hopefully pay off when the story's finally completed. For now, more remains ahead!

As always, feedback helps, so feel free to share your thoughts! I'm sure that I missed going over something, so if you want to know more about something here or there, just give it a mention to me.

Thank you for reading and for all of your continued support to the story! It's great finally hitting a big landmark, and I hope we can keep going until the end. Anyway, please take care and stay safe! Do your best however you can. Until next time, good luck, and all the best wishes!