T Plus 10 Days
Dorf awoke with a stretch and a mighty yawn, relieved that Koopa's Castle hadn't been stormed in the night. After playing around with his phone, he dragged himself out of bed, washed his face, showered and dressed in fresh clothes.
When he descended the stairs into the dining room, Koopa and Peach were already seated, enjoying breakfast together as the former's minions fried bacon and sausage, prepared scrambled eggs and baked biscuits.
"Morning," greeted Koopa. "You're just in time."
Dorf took a seat, his stomach growling as a plate piled high with food was set before him. "Looks delicious," he said before stabbing his fork into a golden mass of freshly scrambled eggs.
"It is delicious," said Peach, cutting off a piece of sausage, blowing on it and carefully putting it in her mouth. "I may not like being in this castle, but at least the food's great."
"Only the best for my Peachy," cooed Koopa.
Dorf then noticed that Peach was now clad in a strapless forest green dress with black accents, her hair in a messy ponytail. "I like the new look. It suits you," he said.
Peach tossed her head. "It's temporary," she said. "I'll be back in my pink gown before you know it."
The two villains chuckled.
"What's on the agenda for today?" asked Dorf.
"I'm just gonna spend time with Peach until those plumbers inevitably show up. You?"
"I'll head back to the Smash Mansion and deflect questions from MH. Thanks for letting me stay the night."
"No thanks is necessary; it was an honor to have you here."
"You know that MH will have it in for you after…"
Koopa sighed. "No doubt," he said. "It's worth it, though. He really needs to work on his security."
He and Dorf laughed.
"Just—don't push their buttons too much, all right?" asked Dorf.
"Believe it or not, I'm going easy on them this go-round."
Peach quirked an eyebrow.
"They're not giving up their search for answers," Dorf went on.
"No matter—this'll distract them," crowed Koopa.
"How does that concern you, anyway?" asked Peach.
The villains exchanged a look, knowing that they'd said too much.
"You were out of town all month long, Dorf. So why should you care?"
"Because—he's my friend," spluttered Dorf.
Peach glared at her captor. "And you—you threw quite a tantrum after Luigi handed you your tail in front of God and everyone. You'd really benefit if he was nerfed, wouldn't you?"
"Maybe," said Koopa.
"Well, the tournament rules don't apply in a rescue mission," Peach said crisply. "Either way, you're f—ed. Unless this is some psychological tactic, which I don't think will work for long. Luigi will pull himself back up from this and move on. So if you were in on this, then it was a waste of your time."
"In on what? I wasn't in on anything," said Koopa.
"Oh, I think you were."
"Don't be absurd—I'm not that bad of a villain," snorted Koopa.
Peach gave a soft, bitter laugh.
"They're gonna find out sooner or later," she said ominously, "so it might as well be sooner." She leaned into Koopa's ear and dropped her voice. "And you'd better pray that Master Hand finds out before my heroes do."
Silence.
"Okay—I could use a stiff drink right now," said Dorf, breaking the silence.
"Me, too!" said Koopa.
Two Hammer Bros began expertly mixing drinks for the trio. They began downing shot after shot as they filled up on eggs, sausage, bacon and biscuits, talking about this and that. Once the food started running low, Koopa's minions began wrapping up what was left to save for another morning. After lounging around and chatting for fifteen minutes, Koopa and Peach saw Dorf off as an airship flew him back to the Smash Mansion.
1.1.1
"Any news?" asked MH.
"They defeated World 1's boss overnight," said Jimmy, regret heavy in his voice. "Now they're halfway through World 2."
MH sighed. "Maybe they need this," he said. "It'll help clear their heads. But really, why would Koopa pull this now?"
Timmy shrugged. "A window of opportunity, I guess," he said. "Strike while his archnemeses are at their lowest point."
Remy and Rory were pale.
"I feel sick," said Rory, "over what Remy and I said to him. We feel like we're to blame for this. I just—I think about it and—oh, God."
"I don't know what came over us," sniffled Remy. "We just got all flushed and hot and…"
"That's no excuse," MH said sternly. "You still owe them both an apology when they get back."
The two dropped their heads. "We know," they said in unison.
"Why did my brother think this was the appropriate course of action, anyway?" MH went on. "Was he hiding something?"
"He didn't tell us why," sighed Timmy, "except for the fact that we needed to teach Mario a lesson."
"Mario thinks that some Smashers deliberately got Luigi nerfed," said MH. "They think my dear brother knows something; they told me that themselves."
"We don't know anything about that," said Jimmy. "Maybe we can ask him."
"I can handle my brother," said MH, "but thank you."
"What's your plan of action?" asked Rory.
"If there was a plot, then I'm sure that those involved in it will give up my brother to save themselves—or vice versa," said MH. "Maybe he'd bribed them with something, or worse—threatened them. I just don't see why he'd want to be in on something like this."
"We'll never understand Crazy Hand," Remy said consolingly.
"For now, we should all act natural," said MH. "I don't want him to know that I suspect him just yet. Currently, our top priority is following the Koopa situation. Whenever the Bros clear a world, I wanna be the first to know, understand?"
"Yes, sir," the four said in unison.
"And remember what I said about apologizing to them."
They nodded.
"Will that be all, Master Hand?" asked Timmy.
"That will be all for now," replied MH.
With that, the four men filed out of MH's office.
1.1.1
"Okay, thanks. Please, keep us posted," Theo said before hanging up.
"Are they all right?" asked Anna.
"Don't worry; they're fine," Theo assured his daughter. "Mario told me that he and Luigi are about to confront the World 2 boss. They'll update us regularly via call and text."
Vanessa heaved a sigh. "I can't even imagine what that monster is doing to Peach in that castle," she said. "She told me a little bit over lunch, but…"
"C'mon, Mom—the Mario Bros will save her," Ethan said confidently. "They always do!"
Vanessa smiled.
"After they defeat that Koopa and rescue Peach," said Theo, "what do you say we go out to celebrate?"
"Okay," chirped Anna.
"Sounds good," said Ethan.
"All right," said Vanessa before her cell phone rang.
"Hello?" she answered. "Hey, Peach! Yeah, Mario just told us! Are you okay?"
Silently, she excused herself before retreating to the master bedroom to talk to the Princess.
Ethan held his sister's hand. "No reason to fret," he said. "I have faith in Mario and Luigi. Do you?"
"Yeah," said Anna, "but I'm always afraid that Koopa will do something awful to them."
"He buffets them a little bit," said Theo, "but they always win. They're a team, and they'll love each other and help each other, no matter how many times Koopa tells them to give up."
"They're not scared of him," said Ethan, "and neither is Peach. She's dealt with him for thirty years—thirty whole years. Maybe more. So she's used to it."
Vanessa walked back into the room. "I just told Peach the good news," she said. "She—sounds okay. And she told me that Koopa gave her and the Bros two hours to get ready because—something happened."
"Wha…?" asked Theo.
"Mario got into a brawl with four men," Vanessa explained. "Two of them overpowered him and started saying these horrible things to him. Things—I don't think Anna and Ethan should hear. But they really hurt Mario, and he was just about to give up and let them do their worst when Luigi arrived."
"No way," breathed Ethan.
"Yay, Luigi!" cheered Anna.
"Luigi fought those guys off of his bro, and Mario recovered enough to help him. But…" Vanessa sighed. "…rules were rules, and because they were fighting outside of the battlefield, they wound up suspended. Luigi got ten days, while Mario got ten days added to his current suspension. And then Koopa grabbed Peach."
"Well—that's the cherry on top, isn't it?" huffed Theo. "That Koopa—he really knows how to…" He glanced at his son and daughter. "…set those plumbers off."
Vanessa nodded in agreement.
They jumped as Theo received a text notification. Theo pulled out his phone and read it.
"It's from Luigi," he said. "They're—right in the middle of a heated boss fight. And it doesn't look good."
Vanessa hugged her children close, comforting them, endeavoring to remain strong for them.
"They're gonna make it through this," she said softly. "They're gonna make it through."
1.1.1
"Are you serious?" asked Chad. "Out of all of the times to grab her?"
Charlie nodded.
"Wow," huffed Chad. "He really is their archenemy."
"He gave them two hours to prepare," said Charlie. "Called it 'generous'."
"I don't know what's worse," said Chad. "This—or Luigi getting suspended for simply helping his big bro."
Charlie rolled her eyes. "According to MH, he still broke the rules by starting a fight outside of the battlefield and Training Area."
"That's b.s.! I would've done the same thing!" hissed Chad.
Charlie hesitated. "You would've? Really?"
"If I'd walked in on four brutes doing such a thing to one of my friends—to you—I would've given them the worst thrashing this world has ever seen," Chad said, with heat.
Charlie blushed. "Well," she said. "I can handle myself pretty well. But thank you. And don't let MH hear you say that, or he'll suspend you, too."
"Let him try," said Chad. "Seriously, though—why would those four guys want to antagonize Mario, anyway?"
"After the Bros and Peach get back, then we're gonna find out," vowed Charlie, "and then we'll make them wish they hadn't."
1.1.1
All day long and into the evening, the Smashers spent their free time on their cell phones, checking for updates on Mario, Luigi and Peach. Even those who were the most vocal over the green-clad plumber's down throw got in on the action, sending out texts, encouragement and well-wishes to the trio. Even though they'd been frustrated over losing to Luigi most of the time, they knew that he was a formidable, capable fighter when it came to rescuing Peach, swallowing his fears and supporting his sibling. The Bros and Peach texted them back when they could, thanking them for the concern, and that they all should be back sometime next morning. One would think that Koopa would take Peach's cell phone from her, but no. He paid dearly for it, as Peach was able to communicate with her friends and fans when his back was turned, assuring them that she could handle that turtle until help arrived, and that he was having her pampered, and what was the harm in that? Master Hand and Crazy Hand—yes, Crazy Hand—also pitched in by sending food, water, Mushrooms, 1-Ups, Stars and first aid. Remy and Rory got in touch with Mario to apologize, only for the man in red to coldly tell them to say it to his face before hanging up. There was still a lot of anger, anger which he eagerly let out by dealing with the usual enemies and obstacles, and Luigi had a lot of aggression to release, as well. It gave both of them extra energy to clear worlds and infiltrate castles and airships. By 4p.m., World 4 had been cleared. They were halfway there!
"Thank you," said Koopa after Kamek broke the news to him. He then turned to Peach, who had a defiant glare for him. "Our time together is about to come to an end. Let's make the most of it, shall we?"
Mario—Luigi—I'm counting on you, Peach thought. I know you'll pull through.
1.1.1
Later that night, Koopa invited all four of the Bennigan Brothers—Vincent, Manny, Shane and Stuart—to his castle, and all four swiftly accepted. They showered, pulled on some clean clothes and headed over, since Koopa's Castle was a short walk away from their new homes. Carefully, they stepped across the lava moat and met their host at the door.
"Please, come in!" Koopa happily greeted them.
In no time at all, the five of them were in the living room, enjoying some ice-cold drinks and helping themselves to snacks.
"You seem pretty happy today," observed Shane.
"Well—these past few days have brought me good fortune," said Koopa. "For starters, those plumbers got suspended!"
"I thought Mario was already suspended," said Manny.
"Yes—ten more days were slapped on in his case, but Green 'St—Luigi's been suspended, too!"
"Tell us—tell us," Stu said eagerly.
"Okay, here we go. So, there are these four guys, right? Out of the blue, they show up in Mario's room and start a fight. It spills into an empty lounge area, and it gets ugly fast. I mean, two of those guys REALLY start letting him have it." His voice turned solemn. "They even said some things."
"My God! Why would they do that to Mario?" gasped Vince. "He's our hero!"
Koopa sighed. "I don't really know. But they were just relentless. They were beating the snot out of him while saying—stuff that I'm not gonna repeat. It was that awful. Things got to the point where Mario simply gave up. All of it would've ended in tears if help hadn't arrived."
"Luigi," Vince realized.
"He—saved Mario—again," breathed Manny. "He stood up for him."
Koopa nodded. "He sent those four packing, but he was also fighting outside of the tournament, which is a big no-no in Smash. So, MH had to suspend him for ten days, and Mario got the extra ten days due to his involvement."
"Wow," said the Bennigan Brothers.
"And—how is that good news?" Shane ventured to asked.
Koopa grinned. "I don't have to worry about them on the battlefield!"
"But—isn't that why we had Luigi nerfed?" asked Manny. "So you wouldn't have to stress too much if he was the opponent?"
"When it comes to me and those plumbers, it has nothing to do with nerfs," said Koopa. "I've fought them countless times before I joined the Smash party in Melee. Believe me—they're no one to trifle with."
"I thought you look forward to fighting them," said Stu.
"I do. But I'm smart. There are days when I just know that I'll stand no chance against them. This is one of those days—they're fired up over Steve and Stevie's attack and MH's response to it. They're fired up over Luigi getting nerfed in the first place. No sense in rocking the boat till they've calmed down a little, yeah?"
The four nodded.
"What the two Steves did was wrong. That wasn't the angle we were going for," said Vince. "I hope you know that."
Koopa nodded. "I'm on Mario's side with that one. MH shouldn't have suspended him over that. Probation, maybe, but not that. And—those four guys ganging up on him—was kinda my fault."
"What…?" asked Stu.
"Dorf and I panicked," explained Koopa. "We thought that Mario was closing in on the plan and alerted Crazy Hand. Shouldn't have done that."
"Something about that glove's giving me the heebie-jeebies," said Vince. "He helped pay for the whole affair and did his part in manipulating MH, but now…"
"Some of our co-conspirators have come to us, saying that CH has sent them gifts thanking them for their 'loyalty'," added Manny. "I think that throwing in our lot with him wasn't the best idea."
"We couldn't have gotten this done without him," said Koopa.
"Yeah, but—I'm starting to think we shouldn't have done this at all," Shane told him. "Luigi's bouncing back, and judging by his actions yesterday…"
His brothers murmured in agreement.
"You never told me why you hate him," said Koopa.
"Well—we don't really know," stammered Vince. "Maybe we didn't think he was worthy of being the star of the show, but seeing him in action for once proved us wrong."
"He faced his fears twice," Koopa told them. "And yesterday…"
"Yesterday, he fought four men bigger and stronger than him to protect Mario," Stu finished. "I was wrong about him. We all were."
"Wow. We spent a full month of scheming, and now look at us," Shane put in.
"We're starting to like the guy," said Manny. "No doubt about it."
"He grows on you, doesn't he?" opined Koopa. "He certainly did in my case, after seeing him back Mario up so many times."
More murmurs.
"But there must be another reason why you're so happy," said Vince. "Your biggest enemies getting suspended is merely the icing on the cake. You look like you've just accomplished a major—wait a minute." He dropped his voice. "You have her, don't you?"
Koopa nodded smugly.
"Where?"
"Upstairs."
"And you invited us over anyway? Remember what happened last time?"
"She's not within earshot, I assure you. And last time turned out okay, despite a visit from those plumbers."
"Oh, wow," gasped Vince. "Oh, wow."
"She's been here since last night," said Koopa.
"So, after the Bros dealt with those four guys and got in trouble with MH, you topped things off by grabbing Peach?" asked Stu.
"That's right," said Koopa. "It was as good a time as ever."
Manny whistled. "It's not just about her magic, is it?" he asked. "You—you love her."
"I do," Koopa said. "I always have. That plumber—he doesn't deserve her."
"I beg your pardon?" asked Shane.
"He doesn't deserve her!" growled Koopa. "He doesn't appreciate her beauty and her power like me! Does he even have feelings for her—or does he love the fact that he gets free cake after every rescue? Him and his 'Wah-hoo!' and 'Whee-hee!' and 'Let's-a go!'—it's just annoying and childish! What does he know about loving a woman like Peach?! Why does she choose him over me? I—I can take care of her! When I have her in my castle, I keep her fed and clothed, I pamper her, I make sure she's comfortable in every way! I spend as much time as I can with her, and that's more than I can say for Mario! He's always on an adventure or playing sports while she's cooling her heels and ruling a kingdom by herself!"
"Every week, you ride in on your airships and fire upon her kingdom," said Stu.
"Yes—but I don't do that to injure people," said Koopa. "I do that to rattle those Toads a bit and announce my presence, like any villain! Then, I go to the castle, get the Princess and fly out of there without causing any more destruction. After we arrive at my castle, I calm her down, give her something to eat, and then I have her bathed and pampered until she's nice and relaxed. I don't hurt her. I just—I—I want her to understand. And I only put her in the cage toward the end so I can psych myself up and keep her out of harm's way."
The Bennigan Brothers exchanged a look.
"I love her so much—but she'll never understand. Here in the Dark Lands, I'm lonely. My Koopalings are lonely. BJ, especially—he just wants a mom. And I just want a queen." Koopa lowered his head and quietly wept.
"Hey," said Vince, laying a hand on Koopa's shell. "You have a lot of friends—my bros and I and Dorf and…"
"Aw, thanks, guys," sniffled Koopa, "but there's one thing missing here—the love of a gorgeous woman like Peach. I look at her, and for a while, world domination doesn't matter to me. All that matters is holding her in my arms—just once. Which reminds me…" The turtle composed himself and wiped at his eyes. "I've spent some time working on my ultimate plan."
He hefted out a folder heavy with documents and placed it onto the table. "A royal wedding."
"Royal wedding? You wanna marry her?" cried Vince.
Koopa nodded eagerly. "Dorf agreed to be my best man, but I'll need some groomsmen."
"You already have four of them," said Manny.
"I'll ask some Smashers when those plumbers aren't looking," said Koopa, "but in order to get the food, I'll have to traverse different parts of the world. An odyssey like that costs money."
"We can fund it," offered Vince.
"You're too kind. But I already have a funding source. I've saved up some dough."
"Okay—maybe we'll help plan this wedding," said Shane.
"I already hired some planners." Koopa showed the four a brochure as he spoke. "They're very professional and very flexible."
"They're—rabbits," Vince said in confusion. "Rabbits you haven't even met."
"It's not like I don't trust you," sighed Koopa. "It's just—you've already been involved in a scheme targeting Green 'St—Luigi, and there's a chance Mario could uncover that. If I rope you into this wedding—then Mario will really have it in for you. I can't risk that, all right?"
The Bennigan Brothers exchanged looks. Koopa made a valid point.
"Why rabbits, though?" Stu wanted to know.
"They're not rabbits," said Koopa. "They're Broodals, and I hear that they're the best wedding planners around. A team of three brothers and one sister. The sister—the one wearing purple—is Harriet. The one in green is Topper. Spewart is the one in royal blue. And the thin one wearing a yellow hat and orange shorts is Rango. Later this month, they'll come by for a consultation. The plan itself should be ready to execute in about two years."
"We're happy for you," said Vince. "We really are."
"However," said Koopa. "This is meant to be a special wedding to a special woman. Which means—I won't settle for any old wedding dress, any old wedding rings, any old flower arrangements, and any old food selection. I hired the Broodals because they'll help me find the best of the best—of the best. They'll comb through continents unknown to procure the most precious accessories. Like the Binding Band, said to keep couples together for all eternity. And the Lochlady Dress, the perfect wedding gown for my blushing bride. And the Stupendous Stew—I've heard a lot about the Stupendous Stew, how it's—stupendously delicious."
"You have to decorate the castle, too," said Shane.
"Who said anything about holding it in the castle?" asked Koopa. "There's a good chance that he might show up and object to the nuptials. And he already knows where my castle is located. When the time is right, it's crucial that I keep Mario guessing, trip him up—subvert his expectations. Because Peach is gonna be my bride, whether that plumber likes it or not."
"He could bring help," warned Manny.
"Sometimes, Mario battles me alone and leaves his bro in charge of the MK. It would be a good time to launch a secondary strike, really get under Mario's skin by targeting Luigi, but that would mean less time I'll get to spend with Peach. Maybe one of these days I'll grab him."
Stu nodded. "He'll be useful as a bargaining chip."
Koopa grimaced. "Using a loved one as blackmail is beneath me. Besides, what's the fun in that? Do you know the number of ways I can d—k with my rival in red through his beloved brother?"
"He won't fall easily," cautioned Vince.
"I don't expect him to," winked Koopa. "But—enough talk about capturing Luigi. That's—for another time."
"Who else are you inviting to your nuptials?" asked Stu.
"I'll invite some Smashers and some other high-profile guests and give them the VIP treatment. Vanessa is one of Peach's fans, so I'll ask her if she can be the matron of honor. Anna can be the flower girl and—I haven't decided on a ring-bearer yet. Maybe my son—no, if the worst happens, I don't want him to get hurt. But Theo can be another groomsman."
"Make one of those Toad retainers be the ring bearer," suggested Vince. "Makes for a good psychological impact."
"The Binding Band isn't any ordinary ring. It's HUGE. Maybe I'll have the two Steves carry it—on second thought, those two fell out of my favor because of what they did to Luigi. So, I'll ask Ethan and one of his friends if they'll be up for the job. I'll go over this plan regularly with my minions and advisors. You're more than welcome to drop in, too. And—I wanna invite Mr. Sakurai. My 'thank you' to him for his contribution to our little plan."
"If Peach sees him among the audience…"
"She won't suspect a thing," Koopa said confidently, "because she won't know about it."
"She might find out," warned Manny.
"That's a risk I'm willing to take," said Koopa. "If she does, then I'll probably have Kamek erase it from her memory, or something."
"And Mario?" Stu put in.
"Yes, well—every plumber should have a secret to take to their grave," mused Koopa.
The four brothers exchanged looks.
"Now," said Koopa. "How are those homes treating you?"
"Can't complain," said Shane.
"Totally awesome," smiled Manny.
"I kinda split time between here and Baltimore," said Vince.
"And Stu—don't worry. I'll get you situated in no time," said Koopa. "And I'll put in a good word to MH for you. Maybe he'll give you another chance."
"Maybe," echoed Stu.
"Are you sure you don't want a bachelor party before the big day?" asked Shane. "My brothers and I know how to throw it down."
Koopa smiled. "I'll think about it," he said. "Okay?"
"Okay," the four brothers said in unison.
A few Koopa Troopas arrived to restock on snacks and drinks.
"So," said Koopa after they departed. "I hear that you have another plan up your sleeve."
"Yeah, but we're thinking about shelving it," sighed Vince.
"Why?" asked Koopa.
"It's just not appealing anymore," explained Vince. "This plan was destined to hurt Luigi where his nerf couldn't, but your words about the depravity of using a loved one as blackmail hit home."
"And last I checked, ballot tampering is illegal," added Manny.
"Ballot," murmured Koopa. "The Smash Ballot—Daisy!"
"Yup," said Vince. "The objective of Operation Ballot Box was to nip Daisy's bid to join the tournament in a bud. But—this is Daisy's dream. We don't wanna mess with an innocent woman's dream just to get at a man we hate."
"Did he do something to you?" asked Koopa.
"No," chorused the brothers.
"We just—didn't really like him," said Stu.
"Well—maybe you all can talk it out sometime," offered Koopa.
"You really think that'll help?" asked Shane.
"It'll be a good start," Koopa said reassuringly.
"You're giving us advice on patching things up with one of your enemies, you know that?" laughed Manny.
"I don't hate him that much," smirked Koopa. "Besides, I wanna help you. If you can get to the root of the problem—maybe you'll live better lives without all of that hate bogging you down. Like—what's-his-name."
"Oh—him," snorted Vince. "We don't hate him that much, either. And last I checked, he's still trapped in a vault somewhere—I hope."
"He escaped before," shuddered Stu. "He could do so again."
"Relax, Stu," said Vince. "In that case, L will be ready for him—scared stiff, maybe, but ready for him."
Silence.
"How about some more wine?" asked Shane.
"You got it!" said Koopa, uncorking a fresh bottle and pouring it into his guests' goblets.
The wine and other spirits continued to flow through the night as the four brothers lounged around with Koopa, talking and joking. For a short interval, nothing mattered—not even the possibility of someone unearthing the truth about Project Nerf. It was just five friends socializing. Eventually, two Shy Guys brought platters of freshly baked donuts and cookies to share, along with a huge pitcher of water and some dessert wine. Then, a Lakitu came along and put on some music. There was much relaxing and unwinding, problems all but forgotten.
Until—
"Your Vileness!" Kamek exclaimed, flying over on his broom. "I bring urgent news!"
Everyone stiffened.
"What is it?" asked Koopa.
"Mario and Luigi have been spotted!" reported Kamek. "They're about to breach the castle!"
"Do you have an ETA for them?"
"As of right now—six to nine minutes."
"Sixty-nine minutes?!" shouted Vince.
"No, no, no—six to nine minutes," corrected Kamek.
"Holy [bleep]!" cried Manny. "We gotta get out of here!"
"All right—everybody stay calm," said Koopa. "Please, line up and follow me in an orderly fashion."
The Bennigan Brothers finished their drinks and obeyed. Koopa led them to a small room with more snacks and a widescreen TV.
"Wait here," he commanded. "I need to get Peach ready. Don't open the door for anyone else. And if those pesky plumbers come across this room, then don't panic. Just follow their instructions; I'm sure they won't hurt you—badly. Sit tight—I'll be right back." Briskly, he left, closing the door after him.
The four men could hear muffled shouting and running footsteps as Koopa's minions went to engage the castle's defenses. Quietly, they stood and helped themselves to some chamomile tea to steady their nerves.
"I've played the games for years," mused Stu, "but I've never seen the final battle from Koopa's perspective."
His siblings hummed in agreement.
"After nearly 30 years, it's still a big deal," murmured Shane.
"I think that's true for both sides," opined Manny.
"The question is—whose side are we on?" asked Vince.
There was a distant rumble.
"What was that?" asked Stu.
"Just some artillery," said Vince. "Bullet Bills. And I think there are Thwomps practicing, as well."
Stu relaxed.
"How do those two get past all of that?" asked Manny.
"Beats me," grunted Shane. "Maybe raw determination."
"Maybe," echoed Vince.
They jumped at a THUD, followed by another.
"That's not good," muttered Vince.
CRAAASH!
The four brothers dove for cover as chaos exploded. Koopa Troopas and other minions began shouting orders to each other as more running footsteps tramped outside. In their minds, the Bennigan Brothers could imagine the front door bursting from its hinges and the Super Mario Bros determinedly striding through, powered up and ready to tussle with their nemesis. What if those two came across them? Would they consider them a friend or an enemy? And what if they recognized Stu?
"Where is that turtle?" hissed Shane.
"He's right here."
The Bennigan Brothers looked up as Koopa appeared in the doorway, looking mildly shaken. "They're a little early," he said.
"Oh, man," breathed Vince as he and his siblings got to their feet. "Is there a way out of this place without getting spotted?"
"Aw, come on!" objected Stu. "I wanna see the big fight!"
"This isn't the Smash tournament," Koopa reminded him. "There are no rules here. Anything that can happen between me and those plumbers will happen. I don't want you caught in the crossfire, and I'm sure they don't, either."
Stu huffed. "All right," he conceded. "Perhaps another time."
"I have to meet those two on the bridge," said Koopa. "In the meantime, the rear of the castle is your best bet. You shouldn't encounter the Bros, but if you do, don't engage them. Do as they tell you and answer their questions honestly. Is that clear?"
"Yes," said the quartet.
"The best of luck to you all," said Koopa.
"You, too," said Vince.
All four brothers shook Koopa's hand before walking out of the room and into the commotion-filled hallways. The king then took a deep breath before heading off to his "date" with Mario and Luigi.
Vince, Manny, Shane and Stu were surprisingly calm, striding through crowds of minions as if they belonged there. They watched these minions as they set up Bullet Bill Blasters and affixed Fire Bars to strategic areas on the ground. A few Hammer Bros dashed past, hefting menacing buzzsaw blades. Eager Chain Chomps of various sizes frisked about as their Koopa Troopa handlers sought to soothe them. Heavier muscle, from giant Wigglers to Boom Boom and Mega Monty Mole, lumbered past them as they gazed in wonder. Whenever they came across a minion having difficulty with their task, the four brothers paused in their evacuation to assist them.
"So, this is what it's like, huh?" Vince shouted above the uproar. "It's so cool!"
"It's a gigantic pain in the [bleep]," said a Red Shell, "but it has its moments."
"You think he's gonna win this time?" Manny piped up.
"I dunno," the Red Shell told him. "One of my colleagues told me that those two looked pretty wired and p—ed when they arrived."
The four brothers grimaced.
"Well, that's what he told me," shrugged the Red Shell.
The quartet wished him well and continued on their way. They ascended a staircase and encountered a little Koopa Troopa that could, psyching himself up.
"First time?" asked Stu.
"Yeah," the Koopa Troopa said breathily.
"Listen," said Vince. "Why don't you come with us? Something tells me that it's gonna get ugly—fast."
"Not a chance, mister!" replied the Koopa Troopa. "I promised to fight for my King, and I will fight!"
The Bennigan Brothers stared silently at him for nearly a full minute.
"God be with you," Manny said finally.
The brothers patted the Koopa Troopa on the shoulder and strolled further down the castle. Hearing Koopa roar out his challenge to the Mario Bros was their signal to pick up the pace.
Sounds of the battle echoed through the walls as Vince and his brothers traversed the many corridors and raced up spiral staircases. Koopa's roars and bellows as he spewed out fire. The slightly metallic sound of his claws slashing. The resounding thuds of punches connecting. A familiar, falsetto voice, answering Koopa's growls with wordless battle cries and grunts of effort. Another familiar voice joining in, slightly skittish but wholly committed. Those two voices shouted to each other, as well, exchanging commands and encouragement and various expressions of concern. There were other sounds, as well. Sharp cries and deep gasps of pain. The wince-inducing sounds of claws meeting flesh. The two brothers, hollering each other's names on various occasions, making Vince's heart twinge in sympathy. Another voice, a calming, dulcet voice, addressing her two rescuers and telling them that she knew they could beat this villain; they had to, for their sake, for her sake and for the sake of her constituents. Koopa's sinister laughter. Thumping and crashing and smashing and labored breathing. Intermittently, the ground trembled, sending the Bennigan Brothers stumbling, but they always regained their bearings and pushed on. The sounds of battle only amplified during their flight, but they weren't afraid. On the contrary, they were—excited.
Vince and his brothers were laughing by the time they reached the top floor. And there, they saw it—a long slide leading to the outside world.
"You first," Stu said to Vince.
Rolling his eyes, Vince sat and scooted forward so that he was partially seated on the slide.
"It's just like one of those slides at the water park," he assured them.
There was a rough thump and a pained-sounding roar from Koopa, followed by the sound of a punch being thrown, air rushing from someone's lungs and Peach giving a small, horrified exclamation.
"There isn't much time," said Manny.
Vince snapped off a crisp salute and smiled. "See you guys real soon," he said.
With that, he crossed his arms over his chest, leaned back and shifted forward the last few millimeters, quickly disappearing into the flume-like contraption. His joyous whooping faded as he descended.
Manny waited thirty seconds before taking his place on the slide. "Tallyho," he said before crossing his arms, leaning back and letting gravity do the rest.
The remaining Bennigan Brothers peered down the slide as the middle brother's delighted shouts grew fainter. Then, Shane plunked himself down and assumed the position.
"Wanna give me a push?" he asked Stu.
"Okay," Stu agreed.
Placing a hand flat on the small of Shane's back, Stu nudged his brother forward until he was fully on the slippery surface, and then watched as he dropped out of sight.
"OH YEEEAAAAHHH!" Shane's voice exclaimed.
Stu was the only Bennigan Brother left, and he could hear the two plumbers as they attacked Koopa with all they had left. The battle was almost over; he could feel it. The youngest Bennigan Brother eased himself onto the slide, assumed the position and closed his eyes.
"Here we go," he murmured as he allowed his body to start sliding down.
It was an exhilarating ride all the way to the bottom, and Stu opened his eyes to find that fluorescent patches were stuck to the slide's top. This wasn't so bad, after all.
"YOOOOOOOLOOOOOOOO!" he shouted the whole way.
And then he shot out of the slide and into something soft and earthy, the friction slowing him to a stop. His three elder siblings surrounded him then, helping him to his feet.
"Oh, man," gasped Stu. "That was totally wicked!"
The four exchanged high-fives.
Outside Koopa's Castle, the battle between the reptilian king and the stout-hearted plumbers was still audible. The Bennigan Brothers stiffened when they heard Mario desperately shout Luigi's name. It was a physiological thing, a worry that they were all to familiar with themselves, Vince especially. Being the eldest, he'd always felt the need to look after Manny, Shane and Stu. Whatever problems he and the others had with Luigi didn't stop them all from relating to him—or to Mario. The man in red's distress was palpable, and they could feel it through the chilly autumn night.
What the Hell was Koopa doing to Luigi in there?!
"Should we go back?" asked Manny.
Vince bit his lip. "It's like Koopa said—he doesn't want more people than necessary getting involved," he said.
"Or maybe he doesn't want us to see what he'll do to them," Shane said softly.
"Do you think he'll…?" Stu started to ask.
He was cut off when they heard Luigi scream out in pain, the sound echoing and reverberating beyond the castle and through the many houses and provinces in the Dark Lands. Vince closed his eyes.
"Oh, my God," he said.
They heard Mario shout back, a truly heart-wrenching cry, and they also heard Peach joining in as well. Reminding them that despite being a laid-back, affable host, Koopa was still among Nintendo's best rogues. And so, they stood there, listening in, torn between rushing back into the danger zone to help and fleeing to the safety of their homes.
Stu steepled his hands and pressed them against his lips, praying silently. Shane, Manny and Vince took turns comforting him, the eldest sibling intermittently rubbing his jaw.
"What are you thinking about?" asked Shane.
"Well—I—I don't know what we're doing anymore," mumbled Vince. "Trying to ruin Luigi's life and implode his self-esteem. I thought we had a reason, but it turns out that we don't."
"I don't think we had a reason to begin with," Stu intoned softly. "I got expelled from Smash for nothing. I don't think MH will take me back—I won't blame him if he doesn't."
Shane nodded. "We hurt Luigi so badly—he's going through so much turmoil because of us. And now, here he is, helping his brother and doing the right thing, keeping the light alive—and taking even more pain because of it."
"Mario's gonna find out what we did," Manny sighed in resignation, "and when he does, he'll pull all of us apart like warm bread. And we'll deserve it."
The four of them sat against the wall, listening to the battle rage on. They heard Luigi saying something to Mario, his voice intense and a contrast from the scream that had ripped out of his lungs a few moments ago. And they could make out some of the words…
"Don't worry about me, Bro. I can take him. I can take him. Just—save Peach—get her out of here…"
And Mario sounded near tears as he replied that under no uncertain terms was he gonna leave his little brother behind, that they were gonna make it through this together, and that Koopa was gonna hurt him over his lifeless body. And then Luigi said something else, something drowned out by Koopa's laughter, and then Mario cursed his archnemesis out, threatening that if he did anything to Luigi, then he'd pay, which made Koopa laugh some more.
Luigi gasped. It sounded more like a stifled scream. Koopa was hurting him again or something, but then he spoke to Mario once more; he seemed in control of his voice. And all the Bennigan Brothers could hear was Luigi talking and Koopa's booming laughter before the sounds of battle started up again; it was forty degrees outside, but the quartet was sweating.
Shakily, Vince got to his feet. "I can't listen to anymore of this," he said. "Let's go home."
"Good idea," said Stu.
So, they all stood up and shook out the cramps before beginning to walk down a path made of what looked like volcanic soil and cooled lava, the sounds of the fight receding with each step they took. The pathway curved gently and took them to the castle entrance, and there, in the distance, were their three houses. It appeared that the Mario Bros were too embroiled in their rescue mission to notice. But maybe on the way out—no. The gates and moats would obscure them. And their focus would still be on Peach's well-being. They'd hardly give those three residences a second glance.
Near the castle, they recognized the flag the Mario Bros would pull down upon completion of each course. There were enemies pulling themselves back up, recovering from the plumbers' mad dash to the finish. Mushroom Defectors treated their bruised heads with ice packs as Koopa Troopas slowly emerged from their shells, checking to see if the coast was truly clear. Exchanging looks, the Bennigan Brothers raced over to help as many as they could.
"You guys are lucky, you know that?" asked Manny.
"Lucky?" a Hammer Bro sardonically repeated. "We let our King down."
"He won't hate you," Vince assured him. "He'll know you fought your hardest."
"Hey—are you his new friends?" asked a Green Shell.
"We are," said Stu. "We live not far from here."
"So you'll be seeing more of us," added Shane.
A Mushroom Defector nuzzled against Manny's leg. "You'll help him next time, right?" he asked.
Manny nodded. "Of course."
"That's good to hear," said the Mushroom Defector.
"We'll take it from here," said a Red Shell. "Go. Rest."
It was then that they noticed the castle had fallen silent.
The battle was over.
But who had won?
The Bennigan Brothers retraced their steps so that they stood directly across from the castle's moat. And who should emerge victoriously from Koopa's Castle but—
—Mario!
Head held high, the working-class hero and face of Nintendo strode out of the castle's doorway, his quest once again over. He was slightly smudged with dirt and covered in bruises and lacerations, there was a cut over his right eyebrow and a few claw strikes had managed to get him. But he would live to fight another day.
Peach was nice and snug in his arms, the portly plumber carrying her bridal style out of the land of danger. She was back in her pink gown, and save for the sweat shining on her face and dribbling down her neck, she was relatively okay. Her arms were around Mario, the two of them smiling tenderly into each other's eyes and soaking in the joy of being reunited.
A small smile began tweaking at Vince's mouth as he and his brothers looked on.
And then Peach caught Mario's hand in hers and pressed it lovingly against her bosom before raising it to her lips, gently kissing his knuckles and squeezing her eyes shut. Mario watched her, love in his eyes, before pulling her close, bringing their foreheads together. The sight of them touched the Bennigan Brothers' hearts—after all of that adventure, turmoil and suspense, the love between Mario and Peach was as strong as ever.
They watched as Mario spun his Princess around, the two of them laughing gaily, before they kissed, deeply and passionately. Slowly, they broke the kiss, and then Peach stroked Mario's cheek with her thumb as he tucked a stray lock of her hair behind her ear. The scene was beautiful and quite magical. Nothing mattered anymore—they were together and safe and homeward bound.
"Wait," whispered Shane. "Where's…?"
The four brothers allowed their gaze to drift beyond the reunited couple, and—
There was Luigi—
He walked a short distance behind Mario and Peach, just as banged up as his elder brother, maybe more. Yes, definitely more. And it dawned on the quartet that he'd taken all of that punishment for Mario. But Luigi's injuries weren't the only thing the Bennigan Brothers noticed.
It was the look in his eyes!
Those blue eyes were downcast and slightly dull. The eyes of an exhausted man having performed a thankless task. The eyes of an emotionally overwhelmed man enduring one thing after another. On Luigi's angular face was a wan expression, wan and weary and resigned. He gazed longingly toward Mario and Peach as they laughed and basked in their reunion.
"Wow," gasped Vince. "He looks so sad…"
His other siblings could only stare on in silence.
Commotion caught their eye, and they saw seven Toad retainers scurrying over, greeting their Princess and her plumber. Excitedly, they crowded around Mario, cheering him as their hero and thanking him for bringing Peach back. Mario beamed and flushed with pride, he and Peach talking to the retainers in low voices.
But they didn't even notice Luigi.
For once in his life, Vincent Bennigan didn't know what to say. Or what to think.
Luigi had paused, and now he stood there, watching his brother reap the benefits of his heroic act. Once again getting all of the credit, all of the recognition and all of the fame, while he got zip. A lump rose in Vince's throat as he studied the man in green, and he saw saw his brothers getting misty-eyed, as well.
"Do they—do they even know he's there?" Shane asked softly.
Solemnly, Vincent, Manny, Shane and Stuart watched the man they'd claimed to despise get essentially friendzoned. Luigi's hands were now on his hips, his gaze still unwavering at the Toad retainers fawning over his brother, bearing it all in silence. He was unaware of four other brothers witnessing his secret pain, their previous perceptions of him easily torn down as if they were made of paper. They'd never really seen him as a person, never really seen all of his vulnerabilities and day-to-day struggles. Now, as they witnessed him, stripped bare and fighting back tears and struggling to keep a brave face, once again stuck in an elder brother's shadow—they began to realize that they never really knew him at all.
Now, all four Bennigan Brothers had lumps in their throats.
"Hey, Luigi?" they heard Mario call out to his sibling in his chipper voice. Finally noticing him.
And they watched as Luigi heaved a big sigh, a sigh which pushed his chest in and then back out, and reset himself. His composure thus regained, the man in green shouldered his invisible burden and resumed his walk, joining his brother, Peach and her retainers. Vince and his brothers stared after him as he strode further away from Koopa's Castle with a purposeful gait.
Manny's lips trembled, tears beginning to trace his cheeks. Stu's eyes were dimmed. Shane just stood there, like a lost little boy. And Vince's gaze was locked on Luigi as he watched him and his companions leave the Dark Lands behind, headed for the welcome familiarity of the Mushroom Kingdom—or the Smash Mansion. Posture straight, shoulders back, but so much raging inside him like the tides—
When Luigi and Co. were at last out of eyeshot, Vince's eyes met the teary eyes of his younger siblings.
And he, too, started to cry.
1.1.1
The Bennigan Brothers caught the red-eye to Baltimore, and they were now in their high-rise apartment complex with adjoining rooms, sitting around as if in a daze. Vince stood at the floor-to-ceiling window, watching the sunrise and the morning rush hour below. Manny was sprawled on a bed, watching, or trying to watch, the morning news on TV. Shane and Stu were parked on a couch in the living room, staring into space.
The world they thought they knew—their previous existence—had ended. This much was certain.
Images of Luigi, standing outside of Koopa's castle, barely being acknowledged after presumably almost dying for Mario, looking so hurt and exhausted and so alone, began assaulting their brains.
Looking back on what they'd done, they felt ashamed.
Stu for antagonizing Luigi. His brothers for leading an outlandish plot to get Luigi's down throw nerfed.
And they wondered if they could ever make it right.
Last night, outside of that castle, the Bennigan Brothers had died.
Sitting in their high-rise, they were being born again.
End Season 1
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