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Enjoy :)

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

Chapter 35:
A Heart for a Heart

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"If I'm going down, I'm taking you with me, princess."

Wendy didn't know what to do when she saw Kalvin come towards her, dagger ready in hand, pointed right at her. She couldn't move, she couldn't think... All she could do was stand there and stare.

She closed her eyes, waiting for the pain to come and take her body. A few seconds later, she heard the metal cutting fresh yet she felt no pain. Slowly, she opened her eyes. She was expecting to see Kalvin in front her. But instead of black, all she could see was green.

When she opened her eyes fully, she saw Luigi standing in between her and Kalvin. She blinked in surprise, wondering what he was doing. Her heart sank when she realize what just happened.

The dagger that was clearly meant for her, it had found its way inside Luigi's chest instead. His naturally bright green shirt was now stained red – red from his own blood.

For a full minute, the whole throne room was in a total silence. No one said a word as they all couldn't believe what they just witness. Once that moment had pass, the first one to say anything was surprisingly Kalvin.

"You..." Kalvin breathed. His shock expression turned into an angry one. "You fool!"

Luigi didn't say anything. Instead, he gave Kalvin what he rightfully desires.

A fist full of thunder to the face...

The black koopa flew backwards and fell on the ground with a heavy grunt. He moaned painfully and rubbed the side of his face where he was punched. A small smile appeared on Luigi's lips; he wanted to do that for a while. However his smile soon disappeared as he fell heavily on the floor.

"Luigi!"

Wendy fell on her knees besides him, and gently rolled the plumber onto his back. Luigi let out a low painful moan from the movement. His whole body hurt and moving just makes it worse. Wendy's worry and fear increase as she franticly tried to think of a way to help the plumber who had just saved her life but was also losing his.

"Wendy," Luigi coughed, causing a trail of blood to appear on the side of his mouth.

She shushed him. "D-Don't worry," she said softly. "I-I'll pull it out,"

She quickly grabbed hold of the dagger with both hands. Before she could pull it out, Luigi gently place his on top of hers, stopping her from doing so.

"Don't," He said with a quick breath. "I'll just... bleed out faster,"

Wendy shook her head, tears building her eyes. "Why?" She asked with a shaky voice. "Why did you do that?"

"Because..." He coughed. "I wanted to protect to you."

"Protect... me?"

"Like I said... I will do anything... just to win your heart... even if... I have to... give up my own." Somehow he managed to smile. "I love you Wendy...It took some time...but I'm glad get to say it...Even if I die now...I'll be happy... just knowing that my heart... belongs to you."

Endless streams of tears pour out of Wendy's eyes. Luigi loved her... After all they've been through and all the mean stuff she had said to him in the beginning, he still managed to love her.

It was then she came to realized something... She didn't want a mate that wasn't Luigi. She didn't want any children that weren't loved and cared by Luigi. She didn't want a life without Luigi.

"Don't die, Luigi..." She sobbed. "Please...I love you too, okay? Don't die, Luigi please!"

Whether he heard her or not, she wasn't sure. As soon as she confessed, Luigi's eyes slowly closed. Wendy shriek in horror, fearing the worse. She turned to her father, pleading with him to save the one she now loved.

"Please, we have to help him,"

Bowser blinked out of his stupefied state at his daughter's pleading voice. Without a word, he nodded and turned to the guards who have yet to make a move. He growled, greatly displease with their lack of response.

"Don't just stand there you idiots; get him to the infirmary NOW!" He roared.

Everyone snap out of it and quickly moved into action. Roy and Morton gather around Luigi. Wendy stepped away as they try to pick the plumber up, causing him to moan painfully.

"Be careful with him," Wendy said. They apologized and try to lift him up more carefully.

"There's no point in trying to save him," Kalvin spoke suddenly. From the look of his left eye, Luigi had managed to sock him good. "Even if you did manage to stop the bleeding, the poison in his body will finish him off."

Bowser growled and grabbed the black Koopa by the plastron. "I've heard enough out of you,"

He tossed Kalvin roughly to the floor in front of his guards. "Take him and the others to the dungeon; I'll deal with him later."

A familiar moan caught Wendy's earhole, and she turn her gaze sharply on the standing PomPom.

"And take her with him," She hissed.

Pompey shock herself out of a daze and look up to see herself surrounded by guards. She looks around confusingly, wondering what was going on. Her eyes scan through the angry looks of everyone before settling on Wendy whose eyes says it all,

'We know your secret.'

Pompey growled. But that was all she could do as the guards took her into custody. As they cuffed her up, she saw how injured Luigi was and how distress Wendy was. She smirked.

'Well, at least I left a mark where is really counts,'

Luigi coughed out more blood, a clear sign he was running out of time. Once Roy and Morton got a good hold of him, they quickly head straight for the castle's infirmary. Wendy, wanted to make sure he stays alive, went along with them. Kamek turned to the King.

"I should accompany them," he said. "They'll need an antidote for the poison."

Bowser didn't say anything, he simply nodded. Kamek left the room quickly, with one of the poison darts in his hand. Only five Koopas remained in the room, still alarmed by what just happened and feeling a bit helpless. Junior took a cautious step towards his father.

"Uhm, Dad...?"

Bowser didn't turn around. "...What?"

The young Koopa rubbed his arm. "Is, uhm, Luigi going to be okay?" He asked, using the plumber's name for the first time.

The others turn their gaze to the Koopa King as well, wondering that exact question themselves. For the longest time, Bowser didn't say anything. His red eyes were focus on the dark red color that stained his floor. This wasn't the first time blood had been slipped in this room. But those were merely just drops. This...This was a puddle.

"Dad...?"

Bowser turned his head slightly to his youngest son. Although he was trying to hide it, but Bowser could clearly see the fear in the young Koopa's eyes. He couldn't blame him; he was only 12 (soon to be 13 already). He shouldn't be seeing this sort of stuff, no matter how grown-up he says he is.

He sighed and turned away. He could lie...It won't be something new to him, plus it might help make his son feel better. But that would only last for... what, a few hours? It will be best not to keep his hopes up so he answered truthfully.

"...I don't know."

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Ending Note:

Happy Father's Day

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