The sun was high in the late morning sky. It really was still quite early, only around eleven o'clock to those keeping track. However, to Luigi it felt considerably later. He'd been up since four thirty in the morning, though he did have a short nap in the ghost house, but that had done more harm than good. He was still shivering slightly from being among the non-living for a short period of time. Not that he could remember any of what happened.
Luigi walked, half asleep, down a quiet sunny path that wound through an endless sea of green grass. The fact that it was so bright and beautiful out today only aggravated the sleep-deprived boy. Muttering a string of curses that would cause his mother slap him in the mouth, Luigi continued down the path in a daze of sleeplessness...and of course hunger as well.
Luigi's stomach, which had a mind of it's own, gave a violent growl.
"Down boy-" He muttered putting a hand on his tummy. What he wouldn't have given for one of his mother's typical breakfasts. Toast, eggs, pancakes sausage.... The list went on and on. Even though they had been on a very fixed income, Maria had always insisted that Luigi was a growing boy and needed to eat.
Although in retrospect it probably wasn't very healthy to eat like that, but then again it was healthier than not eating at all. He smiled slightly at the thought of his mother. The way she fussed over him was ridiculous at times; like when she walked all the way to his school in a snowstorm because he had left his lunch at home by mistake, he could have easily shared with a friend. And it wasn't just with him either Mario had suffered many unintentional but undeniably embarrassing moments at the hands of their well-meaning mother. Like the time she had threatened to take the meanest bully at school 'over her knee' if he didn't leave her 'little bambino' alone.
Luigi chuckled at his brothers long since past misfortune. After that Mario vowed never ever to run away from a bully, or his Mama might have to step in again. And nobody wanted that!
~She must be worried out of her mind by now. ~ He thought sadly.
Luigi gave a heavy sigh and continued down the trail hoping that the town wasn't too far off now.
In life one will learn many lessons, one lesson to be learned is not to judge a book by its cover
Luigi squinted when he saw something odd up ahead of him on the path. Something moving, most likely it nothing more than a piece of trash caught in the grasp of the warm summer's breeze. Though it was bright orange and it perked the boy's curiosity as to what it was.
Luigi was surprised to find not trash but; an animal of some kind as he drew nearer to it on the path, it was somewhat round, it was hard to judge size from the distance Luigi was standing; but he could tell that this thing was a pretty good sized what ever it was.
Now what on Earth is that, he wondered? And of course being of very little common sense he naturally trotted further up the path to see what kind of animal it was. not stopping to think it could be potentially dangerous
He was awestruck to see a turtle walking up that path; and at a pretty good pace for a terrapin too. He was shock at the vibrant orange color of the animal's shell.
Getting down on all fours Luigi crawled along side the turtle. He was surprised that it paid him no attention. Most animals are weary of people. he noticed that even though this turtle was on all fours that it was wearing boots on it's hind feet and gloves riveted with metal plates over them on its front paws.
"Hmm, little guy must be someone's pet, they got him all dressed up." Luigi still crawling beside the creature, making sure not to disturb it. Still the turtle showed know signs that Luigi was even there and continued marching forward along the path.
"And what a color on that shell, wait till big bro hears about this" Luigi was thoroughly impressed, he'd never seen an orange turtle before. Of course he might do well to remember that turtles in the Mushroom Kingdom are not like the ones back home.
"Awesome-" He grinned watching it with fascination. By this time however the creature had, had enough of Luigi. It stopped walking turned to face him, stood up on its hind legs and said. "Haven't you got anything better to do than make an ass outta yourself?"
"W-what?" Luigi spluttered
"Honestly the wild life around these parts..." The turtle continued. Luigi frowned, he wasn't 'wild life' he was a human being... then again in a world where turtles and mushrooms were the dominant species, Human beings probably would be considered wild life.
"Great... more talking turtles..." Luigi trailed off. "So are you a good Koopa, or a bad Koopa?" Luigi asked as he got to his feet and dusted the filth from the knees of his overalls.
The question seemed to have taken the orange-shelled Koopa by surprise because it didn't answer for a long time.
"What kind of a question is that? Are you insulting my integrity?"
"Integrity?" Luigi marveled at the vocabulary of this Koopa. Judging by the Koopas he'd tangled with yesterday he didn't think they were all that bright. "You Koopas are pretty smart." He said more as a question than the statement it was.
"Too, bad I can't say the same thing about you." The Koopa replied coolly
"Quite a mouth on you, isn't there?" Luigi chuckled. The Koopa looked offended at the remark and turned its back to Luigi and began to walk away.
"Oh, hey, I'm sorry, I didn't mean nothin' by it, really!" Luigi took a few long strides to catch up to the Koopa. It continued walking forward like it didn't hear him.
"Awe, come on, really... I am sorry, I'm not from around these parts... I- I've never seen Koopas before. I didn't realize how intelligent you were." Luigi apologized.
The Koopa continued walking Luigi felt a bit down hearted. He always seemed to stick his foot in his mouth. First Toad and now this.
"You... think I'm intelligent?" The Koopa asked quietly as it continued walking forward never looking at Luigi who was walking right alongside it.
"Yeah, pretty witty too, I swear you remind me a lot of someone I know." Instantly Mario came to mind. He always had a good comeback in arguments. Luigi could see that the Koopa looked pleased at being called witty and intelligent.
"So... what's your name, or do I just call you Yurttle?" The Koopa looked at Luigi questioningly the Dr. Seuss humor being lost on it.
"Sherbert." It replied shortly
"That's a fu-" Luigi chuckled nervously as Sherbert looked at him intently
"F-fine name for a Koopa"
"You really aren't from around here are you... Most people think my name's weird"
"Well, no weirder than mine." Luigi gave a sheepish grin
"Oh, what's your name then?"
"Luigi. In Italy that's a fine name it means unknown warrior, in New York... It's weird and the other kids at school laugh at me." Luigi gave the turtle a sad smile.
"Italy, New York? I've never heard of such places..."
"Er... yeah... they're really far south..." Luigi lied.
"Oh... so where are you headed?"
"I'm headed to a town in the north..."
"which town there are lots of towns in the north."
Luigi looked a little uncomfortable "well, uh the thing of it is.." Luigi rubbed the back of his head while wearing a sheepish grin, "I don't really know."
Sherbert gave him an odd look... "You don't even know whether you're coming or going!"
"Look I'm going to the Valley Of Bowser and I got directions from a ghost..." Luigi's hand shot up to his mouth, he didn't want Sherbert to think he was cracked.
"yes you got directions from a Boo... go on..."
"You don't think I'm flipped out of my wig?"
"Uh... I didn't until you said that!"
"It's an American expression okay!"
"Uh...okay... did you say you were trying to get to the Valley of Bowser?"
"Well eventually yeah I need to go to a town up north so I can get directions." Luigi pointed strait ahead in the general direction that he planed to travel in.
"That's where I'm going, we can travel together." Sherbert smiled "I was kinda lonely walking all by myself anyway."
"really?! that would be so cool, at least now I don't have to worry about getting lost." Luigi said brightly "Uh... you do know how to get there, right?"
"Of course I do, what kind of a question is that?"
"Sorry, sorry, don't get your shell scuffed!"
Sherbert scoffed "I should say not!"
"I do have to stop at the next town though, I'm out of food."
"Ooooh, please don't mention food..." Luigi's tummy gave a violent growl signaling it need some attention.
"Yikes, keep that thing away from me..." Sherbert joked
"We can get some grub on Pleasant Path.'"
Is that the name of the place we are headed? I like the sound of that. My stay here in the Mushroom Kingdom has been anything but pleasant." Luigi replied sullenly
"What happened?"
"I'd rather not talk about it..." Luigi looked strait a head of him pretending to be watching some birds in the distance.
Luigi could tell that Sherbert really did want to know but the little Koopa said no more on the subject.
Luigi yawned loudly and stretched his arms over his head as he continued down the dirt trail that somewhere along the way had turned to a brick road (No its not a Yellow Brick Road you smarty!)
"Sleep much lately" Sherbert chuckled
"Not as much as I would have liked" Luigi replied through another yawn.
Well I'm a little a head of schedule, I could cheat and we could stop for a while you could catch a few Z's..."
"That's really nice; but if its all the same to you.. I'd rather eat than sleep. ^_^"
Sherbert chuckled and shook his head "Okay have it your way..."
Sherbert looked sympathetic, "the other Koopas make fun of me too." bringing up the subject once again
"Because of my shell," Luigi gave Sherbert a blank look, "Uh..."
"You really haven't seen any Koopas, have you?" Luigi blushed shaking his head.
"Well not really, only four so far...five, including you."
"Well when a Koopa is born they have a shell, at first the shell is green. then as the Koopa grows older the color of his or her shell changes to one of the only four colors that Koopa shells come in."
"I see... uh Sherby... what does this have to do with why you're made fun of?"
"Sherby? hmmm I... Kinda like that, it sure beats 'freakoopa'..." Luigi beamed brightly and let 'Sherby' continue with his explanation.
And as I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted... Sherbert gave Luigi a fake angry look.
"A Koopa's shell only come in Red, Blue, Green and Yellow... not orange..." Sherbert looked up at the boy sadly "I am always made fun of and called a freak by the others..."
"Every one calls me names even my own father."
"That's terrible, w-why would he do such a thing?" Luigi had never met his father, but even he knew that a dad wasn't supposed to call their children freaks or any other names...
Sherbert shrugged "I dunno"
"Well you know what?" Sherbert stopped walking and looked at Luigi
"Your Dad is wrong! I think your shell is neat, I mean really who ever heard of an orange Koopa?!"
"Luigi if you're trying to cheer me up it isn't working..."
"No I mean really think about it, besides yourself how many other orange Koopas are there?"
Sherbert looked thoughtful for a moment then answered, "none... that I know of."
"So then, that means you're one of a kind... You're not a freak, you're unique!"
Sherbert, looked Luigi square in the eye. "Luigi..."
"yeah?"
"That is the dumbest thing I've ever heard in all my life!"
"Oh-" Luigi couldn't help but be a little hurt by the remark, he was only trying to help. "I was only trying to cheer you up!" Luigi shot back annoyed
"Yeah, well don't quit your day job, you'll never make it as a motivational speaker." Sherbet sniffed. "You could show a little appreciation-"
"for what some dork who was feeling sorry for me?"
"One I wasn't feeling sorry for you and two I'd rather be a dork than a jerk!" Sherbert had been thoroughly hurt by the remark, though he hid it well.
The pair continued to walk down the path again in silence.
"I know you were only trying to help... I'm sorry for calling you a dork, do you really think I'm a jerk?"
Sherbert looked up at Luigi half expecting to be told "Where-he-could-get-off" and if it had been anyone else in the world they would have. But this is Luigi Mario we're talking about ^_~
Luigi looked down at the turtle with an unreadable expression that made Sherbert squirm.
"Ya wanna know what you are?" Luigi finally stated calmly
Sherbert's face fell
Luigi poked him on the forehead right between the eyes. "You're it."
"Wha--" Sherbert replied dimly
"You're it." Luigi repeated with an ever-growing grin.
Sherbert frowned "How old are you?!"
"Awe, your just sour cause you know you can't catch me." Luigi stated with a smirk
"Oh yeah, that's it, uh huh..." the terrapin rolled his eyes.
"I'll tell ya what," Luigi started "I'll be 'it' and I'll even give you a ten second head start."
Sherbert couldn't find the voice to reply, he just stood there for a moment with his mouth gaping open, was this guy cracked?!
"One, two--," Luigi started to count each number being ticked off on a finger.
"You're nuts..." the little turtle stated finally having regained his voice.
"You'd better run... three, four--"
"You're not serious..."
"Five, better get going--" Luigi grinned mischievously and made a step towards Sherbert who stepped back
"I'm not doing this..."
"Six--" another step forward
"Luigi..." Another step back
"Seven--" Two steps
"Stay away from me!" Three steps back
"Eight-nine-TEN!" Sherbert took off down the road with Luigi fallowing behind
"No fair you cheater! You can't do that!"
"Hey, you had plenty of time to get a head start I can't help it if you wasted it..." Luigi laughed as he chased Sherbert down the old dirt path to the next town.
~~~
The sky was beautiful that night. Not a single cloud to obstruct ones view of the millions upon millions of shimmering little diamonds that danced among their navy blue background. Mario turned on his side looking away from that beauty "Stupid stars" He angrily muttered and tried to sleep. His bed was nothing more than a soft patch of grasses in otherwise vegetation less area on the outskirts of the gloomy forest. It had taken Mario a good portion of his day getting out of that forest after he left the Mansion. As night began to fall Mario grew weary and stopped to rest for the night. Futile really, Mario wouldn't be sleeping tonight no matter how tired he was.
~ What kind of rotten brother am I? That's just the problem, I'm not a brother anymore...~
Mario quietly crept into his parents room, Papa had said that Mama was in there but that Mario need to be very quiet; though the child wasn't sure why. He never had to be quiet before...well unless Mama and Papa were sleeping.
At the far corner of the large room Maria... Mama, sat in a rocking chair the harmonious squeaking of the chair might be annoying to some but for Mario it was a lullaby...one that he had spent many nights in Mama's lap listing to the rhythmic squeaking until he could no longer keep his eyes open. But tonight he was not getting his normal bedtime lullaby; tonight some one else would have Mama's undivided attention...
"Mama..." Mario spoke softly "yes, sweetheart?" Maria answered just above a whisper looking up from the bundle she was cradling at her now elder son, Mario.
"What does that baby do exactly? I mean I haven't seen it..." "Him" Maria corrected
"I haven't seen him do anything but eat, sleep and go poop since he got here yesterday."
Maria looked at the Mario with an almost quizzical expression as if Mario should have already known the answer to his question.
"This baby... 'Luigi'" Mario, wrinkled his nose not really caring for the name, listened to his mothers words.
" This baby was a gift..." She said calmly
"A gift? From who.... Ohhhhhhh riiiiight" Mario said as realization set in.
"Ok so this baby, Luigi, is a gift but still what does he do? Why did you get this gift?"
"Why Mario this gift is for you too..." Mario cocked a suspicious eyebrow.
"Me? And what good is this baby to me?" Mario asked as he peered beneath the blankets at the sleeping bundle in his mother's arms.
"You now have a little brother..." Mario looked up at his dear mother
"Is that good?" The child asked
Maria chuckled a bit and ran her fingers through Mario's hair in an effort to untangle the mass of brown curls on the boy's head
"Yes, that is a good thing... As a big brother you must protect your little brother and keep him safe always show him how to be a big boy and all the things that big boys do..."
"Sounds like an awful lot of work if you ask me... and this is a gift??" Mario's eyes returned to the bundle that had started to move.
Maria smiled "And in return your little brother will do the same, protect, love and look out for you and up to you. You will never be alone because you have a brother and he will always be there for you. Just like you will be for him."
"Mama..."
"Yes, sweetheart?"
"I think I'll call my new baby brother, Weege, for short... Luigi just doesn't sound right for a little brother."
Maria laughed "Ok Just don't tell your Papa that you don't like his name"
"But I think the name suits him"
Luigi, Weege, (a/n: Luigi asked me not to put his middle name here sorry.) Mario Jr.
"Mama..."
"Yes, sweetheart?"
"Is he really is a gift?" Maria looked up at her son. "What do you think?" She asked quietly. Mario stared at the bundle intently for a moment before looking up to his mother and answering. "Yes, I think he is..."
Maria smiled and kissed Mario on the cheek and sent him off to bed.
~ I'm all alone in this world... All this for a girl I hardly know? My home, My family, all to help a princess and her kingdom? I'm no Super Hero I'm just a plumber... very fitting my life's gone down the crapper anyway. ~ ~Weege were ever you are I'm sorry I have failed at being a brother and you're the one that paid for it. ~ Kemack's words, as if on cue, came back to Mario's ears in full force.
And as punishment for your foolish actions... your brother will pay the price.
Mario sighed sadly trying to ignore the thoughts swirling in his head and the dull ach in his heart. ~It's my fault...~
Mario gazed up at the night sky and was about to make a wish on a star. A wish that he could be at home in New York with his mother and Luigi, to be done with silly world filled with Koopas and Princesses. He didn't want to be a hero he just wanted to go home...
"It's stupid, wishes never come true anyway, no matter how badly you want it..." Mario had given up hope of ever seeing New York again, to be truthful with out Luigi Mario Just didn't care anymore.
Relief from Mario's thoughts finally came in the form of sleep that eventually found him.
To be continued...
Next Chapter: The ShyGuy hip-hop!:
Luigi and 'Sherby' have a run in with some pretty freaky Shyguys and end up getting thrown way off course of their destination. Luigi also finds out Sherberts' 'not-so-secret' secret! Mario (poor guy) contemplates ditching the stupid princess who is ultimately responsible for his brothers untimely demise. more jewel collection, we'll check in on the Bowser and the Princess. ^-^
I'm sick, I didn't feel like proof reading crap, I ran a spell check but it sucks, you have been warned
Yeah nothing happens I just needed a chapter to introduce Sherbert. But... He is not I REPEAT NOT a marry sue character... That's Maria's job ^_^
Because as we all know, mothers are perfect...
Maria: Yes, I am perfect. (^-^)
Jes: (^_^!) eh heh, heh, heh... oh boy... (or at least that's what they would have you believe.)
Maria: I heard that! (.*)
Jes:... [Run Away!]