~Serenity's POV~

I appeared in the clearing I knew my friends liked to hang out in. My scowl was most likely still painted on my face, revealing my mood to everyone as I sat on my log chair throne by the firepit. It was aglow with a flame.

"oh, boy," Laika said. "Someone's mad."

"Try furious!" I yelled, groaning out of my mother's constant reprimand.

"Did your meeting with your mom go that bad?" Ivy asked as Lupin worked on making a s'more.

"You could say that," I said. "She asked about the wand. She asked how close we were to finally getting it. Nothing big, right?" I paused for a moment, leaning forward on my crossed legs. "Then she spoke of my coronation!"

"But you're not ready for that!" Laika exclaimed. "Why is she pushing for this so much?!"

"Because I'm 22 now, and "mature enough to take on her throne", or something like that," I waved a hand dismissively. "I'm not ready for that responsibility."

"We know this, Rena," Ivy said, fixing the hem of her shirt. "And your mother knows now as well."

"For now! I told her we'll talk when I had the wand," I sighed. "I need some sleep. We'll work harder tomorrow on finding this wand." And as soon as those words left my lips, I stood up and disappeared in a puff of smoke from the area.


~Luigi's POV~

I walked into the dining hall of Peach's castle, seeing Mario and Peach sitting next to each other. They were giggling and chuckling as they had a glass of wine each. I grinned as I walked in further, knocking on the door as I did so.

Peach looked up, her smile growing when she saw me.

"Luigi! I'm so glad you could make it!" She exclaimed. I noticed she was wearing a different pink gown today, with thin straps for sleeves. And she wasn't wearing her normal white ballroom gloves. Instead, her hands were bare.

"Well, you said you wouldn't take no for an answer," I retorted, sitting across the table from Mario. He was smiling like a ninny. What was he so happy about? "So, where's the rest of the party?"

"Oh, they're on their way," Mario said, holding onto Peach's hand. "We wanted it to just be us for a while, though."

"Why? Is something wrong?" I asked, confused before the glimmer of a stone on Peach's hand hit the light just right. I looked at her hand, seeing a diamond ring on her ring finger...left hand. I stared in shock, before looking back at my brother. His smile grew.

"You-" I started, feeling my own lips turn up into a smile, "You finally asked?"

"He did," Peach said through a giggle. "That's why we're hosting this dinner party. To celebrate."

"Congratulations!" I said as we all stood up and I hugged her. "I look forward to having you as a sister-in-law." She giggled as she pulled back.

"As I am with you as a brother-in-law," She said. I grinned, giving my brother a bro-hug before hearing Toadsworth walk in.

"So, now that both families know, shall I start making preparations for the wedding?" He asked, making me look at him confused.

"Yes! Oh, gosh! I can't believe this is happening," Peach exclaimed, holding Mario's arm.

"You and me both, Peach," Mario said, kissing her forehead.

"Wait, who else did you tell before me?" I asked, thinking this over.

"Oh, just Toadsworth and my aunt across the valley," Peach said. "I don't have much of a family."

I stared. I did feel bad for Peach. Not having a mom or dad to talk to about this had to have been hard. But, at the same time, I was hurt. I was the ONLY one in Mario's family that was alive. I was his twin brother! I should have been the first one told about this. I should have been considered to be told this first.

Why was I always Player 2?

"Luigi, you okay?" Mario asked, making me look at him, hurt most likely present in my eyes. Though, I'm sure fear was there too. My dark energy...it was bubbling over again.

"Luigi?" Peach asked, reaching out a hand when it blew over. My dark energy shot out of me like a bullet, hitting everyone in its path and sending them flying. Well, everyone but Mario.

"Peach!" Mario raced over to her, helping her sit up before looking at me again. Fear crept into my veins as I stared in shock. I hurt someone I loved. I could have killed her.

"Luigi...where did that come from?" I stood frozen, my brain a mess of emotions. Emotions like fear, worry, and anger. This wouldn't have happened if I was told first. I was always a second thought. Or in this case, a third thought. I was always the screw-up.

And look at what happened now.

I stammered back, my heart pounding in fear.

"Luigi, it's okay," Peach began to say. "I'm fine. Don't-" But I raced away.

"Luigi, wait!" I heard Mario call after me.

(SONG: "Crossing the Line" - Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure - Caleb Hyles Jonathan Young cover) [Lyric change]

I ran down the halls of the Mushroom Castle, trying to steer clear from those around me. I didn't want to hurt anyone, and yet I did. And with this power, I didn't even know I had to begin with.

"Lu!"

I stopped dead at the nickname, clenching my fists tight as to try not to explode. Though, a dark flame did spark around my hand.

MARIO: This has to stop now/whatever it is that you're going through/we'll fix it together/me and you/just like we've always done.

LUIGI: NO! (Spins to face Mario) This has to stop now/ignoring the things that I have to say/leave me behind/just sit and wait/the way you've always done.

MARIO: Luigi, listen/(LUIGI: I'm listening)/I know it isn't true/(LUIGI: Isn't it?)/Just look into my eyes now/(LUIGI: Well)/I know you feel it, too/(LUIGI: Perhaps I do)./Luigi, listen/(LUIGI: I'm listening)/I swear it's not too late/so before another line gets crossed and/everything we have is lost/just wait.

LUIGI: Wait? I'm done waiting.

My eyes, I felt them glow a brighter shade of blue as the dark energy swam around me. It built a wall between myself and Mario.

"Luigi, NO!" Mario yelled as I raced out of the building, my senses clouded with dark thoughts.

LUIGI: There's a line between the winners and the losers/there's a line between the chosen and the rest./And I've done the best I've could/but I always knew just where we stood./Me here with the luckless/you there with the blessed./And that line between the beggars and the choosers/is a line you never let me quite ignore./How I've tried/to jump that great divide/but I never got the chances you were given./You don't know/how much I've been denied (looks at hands) But I'm not being patient anymore!

I shot my hands out, sending a dark fog out of my palms and letting it swirl around me.

LUIGI: I'm crossing the line!/And I'm done holding back!/So look out, clear the track/it's my turn!/I'm taking what's mine!/Every drop, every smidge/if I'm BURNING A BRIDGE/LET IT BURN!/But I'm crossing the line!

I could hear Mario race in through the smoke, most likely seeing me at the epicenter of this storm.

"Luigi!" I turned to look at Mario with not one ounce of sympathy on my face. At least...not anymore.

LUIGI: AND FOR US IF WE'RE OVER/THAT'S FINE!

MARIO: Luigi, WAIT!

LUIGI: I'm crossing the line.

I then swept my hands up, causing the fog to go with me as it swirled around. And once it dispersed...I was no longer in the Mushroom Kingdom.

(End of the song)


Follow my socials:

Twitter: brittanybauer95

Instagram: brittany_bauer95

Also, if you want to read some original, NON-MUSICAL, short stories of mine, check out my website! It's just my name (brittanybauer) with a dot com at the end of it (can't put links here sadly).