A/N: This story is a little more dramatic than the first, since I wanted to experiment with various themes throughout the collection. But it still has a happy ending!

To Nataly Guardado, who reviewed; I actually have a pre-made prompt in my bag that fits your suggestion, so we'll just see if random chance allows me to write it!

Day 2

Prompt: Frozen Rescue

Characters: Luigi, Toadette, Mario, Peach

Summary: Luigi and Toadette are left trapped halfway up a snow-covered mountainside when a storm interrupts their climbing trip. And it might be a while before any help can reach them.

The thrum of helicopter blades filled the air, loud yet strangely muted by the howl of snow-flecked wind. The Toad pilot battled furiously against the elements, grimacing as every gust of wind threw the copter off-course, pushing it further and further away from its intended landing position. After an agonising five minutes failed to bring him any closer and a blinking red light informed him that he was running low on fuel, he finally turned the copter away. It darted off into the bleak sky, leaving nothing but whiteness and churned-up snow behind.

The pilot spoke into his radio. 'Can't get close enough. We're gonna have to wait until the wind dies down.'

'Understood,' came the reply.

Back at the castle, safe and warm in the heart of the Mushroom Kingdom, Princess Peach clutched her hands together and exchanged a fearful glance with the man beside her.

'They'll be OK, Princess,' said Mario, his soft accented voice soothing her in a way she was reluctant to admit to, yet seized with gratitude all the same.

'I hope so,' she replied, reaching out to take his hand.

Luigi shivered, his whole body wracked with convulsive shaking in spite of the thick coat he was wearing - and the knitted sweater, thick trousers, two pairs of socks, fluffy gloves, and winter boots underneath it. He shoved his hands under his armpits in an attempt to keep them warm, though it wasn't helping much. His greatest fear was catching frostbite. Oh, Stars, why did this have to happen the ONE day we decided to go climbing?

Beside him, huddled up close for warmth, Toadette probably wasn't feeling much better, but she was so bundled up in clothing that she resembled a fluffy ball more than a person. Underneath the brim of her woolly hat, he could just barely make out a pair of glittering eyes. And below that, nothing but a knitted scarf that she'd coiled around the lower half of her face.

Taking a deep breath - which froze his lungs - he extended one arm and wrapped it around her, tugging her closer. His arm was trembling so badly he could barely control it.

'I-i-it's g-g-g-gonna be O-OK,' he said. In what he felt, quite honestly, was a poor attempt at reassurance.

'Y-y-yeah,' Toadette mumbled. 'W-we're n-not g-g-gonna die here. W-we're m-meant for b-b-better things than this.'

He wasn't sure whether she was trying to make a joke in their deathly situation, or whether she actually meant something sincere by it - perhaps she truly believed that Luigi of all people was meant for better things. He shook off the thought, reaching down with his free arm to brush some flakes of snow off his knees. They had nothing to do here except think. Think, reflect, and try their hardest to stay awake. Falling asleep in these conditions could spell a solid game over for them both.

I just want to be warm again... that's all I want...

An hour had passed since the helicopter had aborted its mission to rescue Luigi and Toadette off the mountain, and by then, the darkness of dusk was beginning to fall. Pacing restlessly up and down the castle corridors as she watched the sky dim outside the grandly decorated windows, Peach felt completely and utterly helpless. Two friends - one being Mario's own brother - were in danger right now and she could do nothing. Nothing but stay at home and wait for more news to come in from the Shiver Region Rescue Department.

Mario was empathetic enough to stay nearby, his very presence in the castle providing her with much-needed comfort. If he could be calm about his brother's situation - despite the fear he must be feeling deep down - then she could, too. But his empathy also allowed him to realise when she needed space, when her nerves frayed so much that she snapped at him without meaning to, and then he would retreat a respectful distance, waiting until she sought him out for comfort again. And so the cycle repeated.

Eventually, a message came in. They huddled together and listened to the words that they had been dreading all along.

'Look, if the wind doesn't abate within thirty minutes, it's going to be too dark to attempt any rescue,' said the Toad helicopter pilot. His voice was grim; he hated not being able to accomplish a mission. 'I'd try anyway, but I'm not allowed to put myself or the copter in serious danger. Not even for this. We'll have to wait until dawnbreak.'

'They can't wait that long!' Peach exclaimed. Mario's gloved hand brushed her arm, but even his presence wasn't enough to soften the piercing terror in her chest. 'Don't any of you understand? It'll get so cold at night, they'll both freeze!'

A pause. Then:

'Well, I guess... you're the Princess. If you promise not to let the department fire me, then I'll head out after dark.'

She sagged a little. 'Thank you. Thank you so much,' she whispered.

'But if the wind doesn't die down, then I can't do anything. OK?'

Mario spoke up before Peach could, his voice quiet yet fiercely determined. 'It will. I know it.' He hadn't stopped believing even for a second that his brother would be OK. Peach only wished that she could share his resolve.

'L-Luigi... s-s-stay awake...'

'...Mrhm...'

'Luigi!' Toadette's voice was rising in its urgency. She tugged on his coat sleeve, but her muscles were so weak from cold, and Luigi's body so numb, that he felt nothing. 'Stay awake! You can't fall asleep here! Neither of us can!'

He stirred a little, turning his head away as if disturbed by an annoying noise. Toadette grimaced with frustration at her own weakness. She reached up, touching his face.

'Whuh?' he slurred. 'Go away... Imma sleep...'

She tried to pinch his cheek. His skin was icy-cold.

'You have to stay awake... Come on, Weegee...'

Somehow, the nickname seemed to rouse him in a way nothing else did. He opened his eyes. Ice crystals were forming on his hair and eyelashes, and he was so pale... 'Wha - what's happening?' he stammered, scared. 'Is the helicopter here yet?'

'Soon,' said Toadette. She had no idea if the helicopter would come; the wind had abated, but it was getting so dark... Still, it's better to give him some hope than make him believe no-one is coming... 'Just stay awake a tiny bit longer, OK?'

'...Okie-dokie...' he mumbled, eyes half-closed as he gazed across the snow-blanketed mountainside. Toadette kept her eyes on him, hiding her fear, using her worry for Luigi to keep herself awake.

'OK, guys, I'm heading out now,' announced the Toad pilot over the radio.

The news couldn't have come a moment sooner. Peach clutched at Mario's arm, seeing her hope and excitement reflected in his face. 'Now? Are you sure it's safe for you?'

'Er, not exactly...' said the pilot honestly. 'But I'm not letting them stay there all night if I can help it.'

Mario took Peach's hand between both of his, rubbing it gently. 'They're going to be OK,' he said quietly, and for the first time, she completely believed him.

The thrum of helicopter blades shook up the mountainside, making clouds of powdery snow rise into the air. Through the dim light, Luigi saw a great yellow shape approaching. He was almost certain that he was delirious from cold and seeing things that weren't real. He began to close his eyes. He wouldn't let this yellow vision of hope disrupt his quiet, dignified death.

'Luigi!' Toadette shouted, clutching his arm with a grip so weak he barely felt it. 'The copter! The helicopter is here!'

'What?' Shaken to a faint alertness, he opened his eyes wider. A light blazed, coming from the front of the floating yellow shape. The sound of whirring rotary blades grew louder, cutting apart the night. 'Ah... it...'

Suddenly, the side door of the helicopter opened, and a Toad wearing an orange reflective jacket began to descend on a rope. All at once, Luigi's weariness and pain melted away. He struggled to stand, eventually managing to pull himself to his knees in the damp snow, face turned up towards the light.

'It's the rescuers, Weegee! We're OK!' Toadette was half-laughing and half-crying.

They were saved at last.

'We're bringing them back now,' said the Toad pilot over the radio. 'They'll be taken straight to Toad Town Hospital. But they're gonna be OK.'

Peach thanked him, smiling uncontrollably. She then turned to Mario. 'Come on, Mario! We've got to go to the hospital and see them!'

He nodded, smiling as well. 'I'm glad they're safe.'

'So am I... This is the best Christmas present, just to have them home safe and well.'