~Serenity's POV~

I struggled and squirmed, mumbling as I tried to break free from the binds I was put in. I looked around the room, looking for whatever could help me cut this rope off me, but nothing was out in the open.

I swear my mother knew what I was going to do.

I groaned, yelling for help as I snapped one more time. I was hoping that maybe my eyes were playing tricks on me...but the fact that I screamed into my gag right after had to have been explanation enough. I was trapped.

I squirmed more before I found myself in front of the lit fireplace. I looked at it for a moment, sighing as I realized there was no way out. There was no way I could save Luigi in time. My mother was going to go and destroy him and his brother, and there was nothing I could do about it.

I should have known this was a trap, I thought, sighing into my gag before perking up. The sound of faint screaming caught my attention. I looked around, at first thinking it was just my mother's new reign over the world, but then I looked down. The purple tint was flickering off the rope.

I looked to the fireplace, seeing the flames aglow on the logs. The faint screaming was still in my ears.

I forgot...this enchantment couldn't stand intense heat or fire. How I was grateful for the routine schedule of this fireplace turning on.

I started squirming again as I fell to my side, turning around so my bound arms could be exposed to the heat. I squirmed backward, keeping an eye on the edge of the fireplace. The screaming grew louder as I got closer and closer to the fire until one final scream echoed. I looked down at my bound legs...the enchantment was gone.

I snapped my fingers quickly and felt the rope fall off me like water. I quickly stood up and peeled the tape off my mouth. I crumpled it and tossed it in the fireplace before racing towards the door, opening it, and running into Laika.

"Hey, there you are!" Laika exclaimed. "Where have you been?!" I showed my wrist, which she gasped at the sight of the rope burn there. "Who were you with?!"

"My mother had me tied up to keep me away from her attack," I said. "She has the wand. How I don't know."

"Peach got it for her!" Laika answered, making me stare in surprise. "Your mother hypnotized Peach into doing so! Now, she's going to put the world in endless darkness unless she's stopped!"

I stared, worry entering my veins as I stood there. I needed to go protect Luigi and my friends from my mother's wraith. At least, that's what my heart told me. My mind was telling me to help my mother in taking over the world and to be her second in command of a new kingdom. Though, my mind went to Blumiere and how he fell in love with a human girl although he was part of the Tribe of Darkness.

My story was a little like that in a way.

I took a breath, realizing that I had to be there no matter what.

"Where's the fight?"


~Luigi's POV~

I back-flipped out of the way of an attack, hearing Lupin howl as he attacked. Ivy used her sorceress magic to attack the goons the Shadow Queen brought with her while Mario used his fire ability to help me. He shot another stream of fire, only to have the Shadow Queen block it and shoot it right back to my brother.

"Mario, LOOK OUT!" I yelled as I went to push him out of the way, only to realize I was too slow. Mario got hit and fell to the ground. "Mario!" I looked at the Shadow Queen, anger (and a bit of fear) in my eyes as she laughed evilly.

"Looks like it's just you," She said, making me look around. Lupin was out cold on the ground with Ivy beside him. "Time to end this."

I looked back at the villain before me, my fire, electricity, and dark energy flowing out of my hands as they swirled around like snakes. Her eyes darkened as her smirk widened.

"I agree," I then shot the power out at the same time as she shot hers out, having them collide together.


~Serenity's POV~

I ran through the forest, trying to get to Luigi as quickly as possible. I couldn't let him die. I couldn't let my mother win.

I just couldn't.

I raced over trunks, debris, and turned corner after corner as the sound of the Moonlight Rod's power struck the earth, shaking me down to my knees.

Though I knew I had to get up, I stayed for a moment. Doubt was creeping into my mind, my mother's voice echoing in my ears. Do I stay evil and run in the opposite direction? Do I go and destroy Mario so no one can save the Mushroom Kingdom?

Or do I be good? Do I go and save Luigi, telling him I love him and start down a road I hardly know?

My mind and heart had this battle time and time again, and of course, it would have to pop up as I'm racing to save the man I love. Why now?

"What do I do?" I spoke to myself, a light bubbling inside me.

...

Wait...light?

I looked at my hands, seeing a strange glow emitting from my palm. It wasn't dark light like I was used to, but a brighter, whiter light. It reminded me of the sun.

I stared in awe, fascinated by the sight of this power. How did I come to possess such a pure light? I was the daughter of the Shadow Queen, with no clue of who my father was. Darkness was my nature.

But perhaps...I was given a bigger role in life.

The light dimmed off my hands after a moment, making a sensation rise in me. This was it. This was the answer I needed.

This was my decision.

"A million thoughts/in my head/now I know my heart is listening..."

I raced through the final stretch and shot a beam of bright light into the air, causing my mother to turn and look at me.

"How did you break free?! I enchanted that rope!" She yelled, anger boiling in her eyes.

"You forgot to put out the fire!" I called back, letting the light die down as I held out my hand. "And now I command, the wand to my hand!"

Black and white shadowy orbs danced around the air before spreading out like ribbons. They darted to my mother, grabbing hold of the wand. She and the shadows fought over it before my powers won and brought me the wand.

"Why you little...?! I thought you wanted to be just like your dear old mother!" She yelled. Her anger was growing.

"That's the thing, mom," I began, "I don't anymore."

"Serenity, don't be a dummy," Mother said. "Work for mummy./Mother-"

"I don't wanna be evil/like you/I just wanna be free./I don't wanna be wicked/or awful/or mean./And here I have the wand/so now my reign begins./And this evil queen/repents for all her sins./No, I won't be heartless/or hardin'/as stone./No, there is nothing wicked...in my...BONES!"

Light spread from the dark violet orb on the wand, going through the air and suffocating the darkness.

"No! You little brat! Look what you've done!" Mother yelled as she tried to stop my newly acquired power.

"No, mom...this is your doing!" I let the power surge through me before it blasted through the wand, sending a shake through the earth.

"NOOOOO!" My mother yelled as I watched her get taken by the light and stuffed back into her coffin. The seal reappeared and the coffin vanished as my light dimmed.

"Goodbye," I spoke, "mother."

I looked ahead of me, the light coming to a complete halt as I saw a mass of green on the ground.

...

No...

"Luigi!" I raced over to him, my heels kicking some of the debris as I ran. "Luigi!" I fell to my knees as I flipped him on his back, taking his gloved hand into my bare one.

"Luigi, can you hear me?!" I called, hoping for an answer. But he remained quiet. "Luigi, come on. Please answer me!" My voice had to wake him. It just had to!

But he remained still.

"No...my mom couldn't have gotten to you," Tears tempted my eyes as I squeezed his hand, worry and fear making its presence known in my heart. "She couldn't have!"

However, a soft groan and mumble from his lips made me sigh with relief. He was alive. Thank God.

"Luigi!" I looked over to see Mario running over. He was all beaten and bruised from the fight. I guess my mother's broots disappeared the moment she was encased again.

"Get away from him!" Mario called as he pulled me away and knelt by his brother. "Luigi, can you hear me?! Luigi?!" He shook with anger and sadness before turning his gaze on me.

"What did you do to him!?" He yelled at me. I glared, angry that he would even think I did this. I loved Luigi. I finally knew what love felt like because of Luigi. I finally found my home and purpose...and it was him.

I just showed my arms, still with fresh rope burns that I was hoping would disappear within a day. He stared at them for a while, tears brimming on the edge of his waterline until it donned on him.

"You weren't here," He said. "You didn't hurt my brother." I shook my head.

"My mother did," I retorted, walking around and kneeling beside Luigi's motionless form, opposite Mario.

"Then why are you here?!" Mario asked, making me keep my gaze on Luigi. Worry had to have been present in my eyes. Fear had to be present in my movements. Love had to be present in my touch.

I gave a side-eye look to Mario, seeing the look of the same worry, fear, and love in his eyes. Maybe not the same kind of love I felt, but the love only a brother would share with his sibling.

"You love him," He said, making me grin as my eyes turned back to Luigi. His face, pale and covered in cinders. His hair, stuck to his forehead from sweat. And the cut on his cheek showed me what my mother wasn't scared to do.

"She almost killed him," I said, sighing in defeat. "She would have succeeded if I hadn't shown up when I did."

"You kept her from killing him?" Mario asked, surprise was in his voice.

"I had to," I returned, squeezing Luigi's hand before releasing it. "His time wasn't up."

Silence fell upon us as the wind picked up just the slightest bit.

"Dark Princess," Mario spoke, making me look at him after that moment of silence. "I mean, Serenity," I grinned. "Thank you for being there for my brother when he needed help with his new power. And I'm sorry to have judged you because of who your mother is."

"We all make mistakes, Mario," I said. "We all sin. Mine far greater than yours." I sighed. "Maybe it's for the best that I leave." I stood up, feeling the surprised gaze on me as I brushed off my skirt. I took a few steps back, staring at Luigi's sleeping face. "Tell him I love him and...I'm sorry."

Then I ran.


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