A/N: Short chapter today, sorry about that! But they're getting longer after this one. I'm still not sure how long this story is going to be, but I currently have seven chapters fully written.

I'm trying my best to iron out all possible plot holes as I write and proofread these, but do feel free to let me know if you spot any. When it comes to multi-chapter stories, I am notorious for forgetting my own writing and creating all kinds of strange inconsistencies.

The dungeon was fitted with a security camera. The prisoners didn't know this, but Bowser had installed it the second time he kidnapped Peach because he wanted to make sure she didn't try to escape somehow. At least, that was the explanation he gave his minions; the real reason was that he was simply curious. Beneath the claws, fangs, fire breath and scaly hide, he was really just a man who was desperately and secretly in love with Peach, and so of course he couldn't resist the opportunity to spy on her. What did she do, he wondered, when she thought he wasn't looking?

(As it turned out, not very much. But he'd still enjoyed watching her for hours on end as she paced up and down her cell.)

Now he found himself returning to the camera for a slightly different purpose. He didn't have Peach anymore, but what he did have was a pair of prisoners who were absolutely, definitely going to have conversations. And since they had no idea he could listen in, he was bound to hear some juicy info.

Grinning, he entered the room where a bunch of computer monitors had been set up with live video feeds of all the cameras in the castle. He ignored the others and went straight to the monitor marked 'Dungeon'.

It was a high-tech piece of equipment, designed to pick up sounds as well as images – an invaluable tool for eavesdropping. He crouched in front of the screen (the desk chair was much too small for him) and settled down to enjoy whatever he might see.

He immediately discovered that it was hard to see anything because the dungeon was so dark and the security camera didn't have infrared. But this didn't matter, because he could clearly hear words being spoken inside cells number 13 and 14.

'But you should care about this, Weegee,' said Daisy's voice, softer and gentler than Bowser had ever heard it. 'I mean, he just left you. I know... I know he did it to save Peach, but...'

'It's OK,' said Luigi. 'You can say it, I won't mind.'

'Say what?'

'That Peach was more important, so it's understandable that he left me behind.'

'I'd never say that, Luigi. I'd never even thought of that. Sure, Peach is the ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom, so from a public view, yeah, she's more important... But to Mario, she shouldn't be worth any more than you are.'

'But he loves her...'

'And he loves you, too. Look, imagine this. You're back in there, fighting Bowser, and Mario is the one who gets hurt instead of you. Then Bowser makes you choose between him and me. Who would you choose?'

Luigi's breath hitched audibly. 'I-I can't...'

'Can't decide?' Daisy's voice was sympathetic.

'I can't imagine letting either of you go,' he admitted.

'And I'm sure it was just as difficult for Mario, too.'

'So... then... why do you think I should hold it against him?' Luigi asked.

'Because he hasn't come back yet. Weegee, it's been hours. He's had plenty of time to get Peach to safety and then come back for you, so why hasn't he?'

Bowser couldn't help pondering the same question. But then Luigi spoke, and that horrible, unwanted feeling of pity rose up inside him again, stronger than ever, making him snarl with the effort to push it back down.

'Maybe... maybe he just decided it's not worth the effort.'

There was a short pause, followed by a dull thud of flesh hitting metal. It sounded like Daisy had smacked her hand against the bars in frustration.

'You're worth ten times the effort it would take him to rescue you,' she said, and there wasn't so much as a hint of humour or teasing sarcasm in her voice. There was nothing but hard, cold belief.

Luigi sniffed. 'I just have trouble thinking of it that way.'

'Well, that's perfectly understandable. God, Luigi, he should have come back by now. What's taking him so long?'

There was no reply this time. Bowser leaned back slightly, resting his huge head in his hands in a thoughtful posture. So, Luigi and Daisy didn't understand why Mario hadn't come to rescue them either. Earlier, Bowser had theorised that the brothers might've had a recent falling-out which made Mario hesitant to rescue Luigi, but that obviously wasn't the case.

'Dammit,' he grumbled under his breath. 'I'm never gonna know, am I.'

Heaving himself to his feet, he left the computer room. For the first time, he felt afraid; afraid that his grand plan to take control of the Mushroom Kingdom wasn't going to work out. How could he use Luigi and Daisy as bargaining chips if no-one even cared what happened to them?