No Author's Note:

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Disclaimer: I don't own anything but the story idea and any OCs.

Chapter 5:
Doing What's Best

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Mario didn't look; he just couldn't. If he did, then he'll have to stare at the shock and disbelief expression on his brother's face. That was something he couldn't bear to see. After an endless silence, one of them finally spoke.

"…What…?"

Surprisingly, it was Luigi who was the first to speak. He talked so softly, so quietly, Mario almost didn't hear him. He cast his head down in dismayed.

"I'm sorry, Luigi. Really I am."

"You're giving me away?"

Mario sighed. He knew this was going to happen, which is why he came to see him alone. He moved forward to kneel in front of his younger brother.

"Please understand, Luigi, but I had to do this."

"But… but…"

Luigi was having trouble forming the words. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. His own brother was actually giving him up…to the Koopa King no least.

"…Why me?" he finally said.

"Bowser," Mario answered directly. "He asked for you specifically." He turned his gaze to the ground. "He said I have stolen someone dear to him. And the only way to make it fair was to give him someone dear to me."

"But…Peach wasn't his."

"I said that. But you know how stubborn he is…Anyways, he promised to leave the Kingdom in peace if you resign to his side."

"And you believe him!" Luigi shouted, tears running down his cheeks.

"Of course I didn't!" Mario looked up again. "I don't believe anything that comes out of that Koopa's mouth."

"Then why did you agree to it?!" He shot up causing Mario to fall back slightly.

"Because," Mario said softly, standing up. "The offer was too good to pass up,"

"But I'm your brother, Mario."

"I know that, and so does Bowser…which was why he asked for you in the first place,"

"So you're saying you would have been better off without me,"

"Of course not; I'm just saying that because he is aware of our relationship he knows whom to go after. And since Peach is out of the picture, you're the next best thing."

Luigi scoffed and turn away from his brother. Regardless of his brother's reasons, he was greatly upset to hear him trade him off like that. Didn't their bond mean anything to him?

"I'm not going,"

Mario sighed, "Luigi, you have to go. If you don't go then the Mushroom Kingdom will be at constant war with the Koopa Klan. Do you really want that to happen?"

"…I don't know, maybe."

Mario scowled. Now Luigi was talking selfishly. He wasn't going to risk the lives of thousands just because his brother didn't want to do something.

"Luigi,"

He flinched when he heard his name being called in that tone. Slowly, he took a glance behind him. Mario's stance was straight, his head was held high, and his eyes were glazing. Luigi grew afraid, knowing he had just displeased his brother.

"Not only am I your older brother, but I am also your king. And as you're king, I am ordering you to resign to Bowser's side whether you like it or not."

His voice was so firm and full of authority that it demanded him to listen and do what he was told without question. Biting his lower lip, he turned away, nodding silently in cooperation.

"All right then," Mario said, in a softer but still firm tone. "Tomorrow, we're going to start on making the treaty. And once it's sign and done, it'll be in effect by the following day. During that time, I suggest you decide on what you can carry."

Luigi nodded again slightly, not daring to look at his brother. Satisfied, Mario turned to leave. He opened the door and pause to look at his brother once more. He still had his back towards him but Mario could tell he was greatly upset. He sighed,

"I truly am sorry, Luigi," he said, "But things are different from what they use to be. I'm king now and as the king, I have to think for what's best for my people…and this is what's best for them."

Luigi didn't say anything but Mario knew he was listening. Without another word, he exited the house and closed the door behind him. Luigi just stood there, alone in his little house. He sighed deeply and let his arms fall heavily on his side as he sluggishly made his way upstairs.

Once he got to his room, he let the door close on its own as he free fall onto his bed. Soft sounds of weeping filled the air as Luigi began to shed tears into his pillow. The stream of tears continued to fall all throughout the days and nights until his time of depart came two weeks later.

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X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X

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Today was perfect. The sun has risen and hung itself over the air, with several puffy white clouds slowly passing by. The temperature was comfortably warm and the sky was a brilliant set of blue. Unfortunately, this perfect day was the worse day for one man… for it was the day he was forced to leave his home.

Luigi stood in front of the Mushroom Castle with two suitcases pack and ready beside him. Behind him were his brother, the Queen, and all his friends. All of them had a sad, teary expression on their face for they had just finished saying their goodbyes to him.

The sound of an airship draws their attention. Everyone looks up to see the Koopa Cruiser out in the distance. Before long it reached the castle and landed in the open space in front of it. The aircraft continues to run even as the Koopa King steps down to exit.

"Okay, let's go, Green 'Stash, I haven't got all day."

Luigi swallowed hard. Grabing his suitcases, he slowly started to broad onto the Koopa's cruiser. Although his face looked very tired and teary from the unstop crying, he kept his expression as stony as he could make it. Halfway through, he took a glance over his shoulder to have a look at his friends and family one last time.

First one he saw was Yoshi, next came Toad, Toadette, and a few others. After them, come the Professor with his Polterpup, Spettro by his side. He didn't want his ghostly friend to come along with him so he entrusted the old professor to take care of it for now on.

Once he finished looking over the rest of his friends, he turned over to his family. Mario looked overall sad and Peach looked ready to cry again. Toadsworth looked sad as well, but not nearly as sad as Mario.

A push told him to move fast and caused him to shiver slightly in fear. Mario told him Bowser wasn't allowed to place serious harm on him under the rules of the treaty. But that didn't stop him from being afraid.

Once he was on the cruiser, Bowser entered after him and soon they were taking flight. From a small window, he looks over the Mushroom Kingdom one last time. His friends, his family, his home, he was leaving it all behind…for something worse.

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Ending Note:

All chapters will vary. However, they will be at least 1000 words long.

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