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Disclaimer: I do not own anything but the story idea and any OC(s).

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Chapter 4:
Broken Bonds

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A small yet cozy house lay stationary in a small area just outside of Toad Town. This house was once owned by the famous Mario Brothers. But since the red hero's marriage and his crowning of becoming king, he had resorted to the royal Mushroom castle. Now only his younger brother Luigi lives here, along with his ghostly canine companion, Spettro...

A gloved hand gently knocks on the house's front door. After about a minute later, the door opened, revealing the green plumber himself.

"Hey, Luigi,"

The man in green blinked. "Mario? What are you doing here?"

The king in red rubbed the back of his head in a nervous sort of manner. "I just thought I'll come by and, you know... check to see how you're doing." He replied.

"Oh, uhm... okay then,"

Luigi frowned. He was not quite sure why his brother chose now to come and see him since it was almost the end of the day. Mario took a moment to get a good look at his brother for the first time in a long while. He was still wearing the same old green shirt, blue overall, brown shoes, and his green cap.

"Can I come in?"

Luigi blinked and realized that they were still standing outside. "Oh right, sorry... please, come in,"

Mario nodded and entered the house he used to call home. Not much as change since his crowning. Everything was still where he had left it. He stood in the middle of the living room while his brother closed the door behind him.

"Where's Spettro? He's usually the first one at the door."

"The professor needed him for some research. I'm going by later to pick him up." Luigi replied, "Do you want something? Some tea or any snacks?"

Mario shook his head. "No thanks, I won't be long anyway."

"Oh," Luigi said with a noticeable sadness in his voice.

They both went into silence after that and it didn't take long for things became awkward between them. For the first time in long while, Luigi took a glance at his slightly older brother. No longer was his twin wearing the usual plumber suit he would constantly wear in the past. Now he was wearing much nicer clothes truly fitting for a king consisting of red, white, and gold colors with a golden crown to match resting gently on top of his head.

"So," Mario started, trying to break the awkward silence. "How are things with you and Daisy?"

Luigi flinched and turned his gaze elsewhere. Mario had to mentally slap himself. He had forgotten the two had never gotten together.

"Still just friends," Luigi replied forcefully.

Life for the green plumber hasn't been as glamorous as it was for his older twin brother. For one thing, Princess Daisy, heiress of the Sarasaland's throne and the woman he had loved for the longest time, had turned him down in favor for his taller rival, Waluigi. Since the rejection, the green hero had become depressed, separating himself from his friends and family, especially Mario. The red king hasn't been doing much to help his discourage younger brother. He's been too busy dealing with royal affairs to even check in on him.

Another awkward silence broke between the brothers again. Over the past few years, the relationship between the two brothers had started to dwindle. Their once tight bond had slowly but steadily begun to loosen as Mario's popularity grew and Luigi's did not. The biggest strain happened when Mario and Peach finally got together. And since his crowning of King, the two rarely see each other anymore.

"So," Luigi started desperately trying to change the topic. "How are things at the castle?"

"Things are great," Mario replied. "I actually just came from the meeting with Bowser."

"Oh? And how did it go?" Luigi asked curiously.

Everyone in town knew about the meeting between the Mushroom Rulers and the Koopa King. It was an attempt to bring back the peace that was stolen the day Bowser first invaded the Kingdom and attempted to kidnap the princess now queen. Mario took a seat on the chair.

"Truth, it all went better than I thought it would have gone."

"That's good, right?"

Luigi sat down on the couch, surprised to hear that the Koopa king was actually very cooperative. Usually, Bowser won't do anything for others unless he gets something in return. And even after he gets what he wants, he still tends to go back on his word.

"So does that mean Bowser will finally stop attacking?"

"Not exactly," Mario pouted. "He said he will stop... under one condition,"

Luigi raised a curious brow. "What is it?"

"Someone dear to me has to resign over to his side."

"What?!" Luigi stood up from his seat, shock written all over his face. "Mario, you can't do that. After all these years, you just can't give up like that."

"I know that, Luigi. But I have no choice. I had to accept his offer."

"Do you even remember all the times Bowser cheated and lied just to get what he wants? What makes this any different from all those other times?"

"I don't know, but the opportunity was too great. This may be our only chance to bring peace to the kingdom whether Bowser means it or not."

Luigi sighed and sat back down on the couch. Silence run between the two brothers again, the air was thick with tension. After several minutes, Luigi looked up at his brother and asked softly,

"So... who's it going to be?"

There were a lot of people Mario considered dear to him, he could have chosen any one of them. Mario let out a deep sigh but did not answer. Luigi grew more concern at his brother's silence.

"Mario, I must know... whom did you decide to give up?"

More silence was his answer. The tension between them was really starting to bother Luigi. He began to speculate,

"Is it Toad?"

This time he did get an answer. A simple nod, a clear sign that told him Toad was safe.

"Yoshi?"

This time Mario's head shook side-ways; no, Yoshi was safe. His next guess bought a quiver in his voice.

"Peach? Mario, don't tell me you actually gave up Peach?"

After years of saving the pink princess and falling in love with her in the process, it was hard to believe if Mario was ever willing to give her up. But another, harder shake of the man in red's head prove to him that he was not.

"No, it's not Peach," Mario spoke finally.

Luigi sighed in relief but he was nervous to hear which friend Mario had willingly given up. After all, that friend was most likely dear to him too.

"Mario, please, talk to me... whom did you agree to give up to Bowser?"

After what feels like forever, Mario finally looked up at him with somber blue eyes and gave him the dreaded answer.

"You...I agreed to give up you."

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Ending Note:

Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day

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Review :)