Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Mario or its franchise; it belongs to

Nintendo and their affiliates. I just am really grateful to its creators for giving

me such a wonderful game and media series to write about!

I also don't own anything related to Harry Potter, all that belongs to J.K. Rowling,

but thanks go to her as well because, using her wonderful work, I can expand this

story to make it more interesting.

I also don't own anything related to Naruto if you see me throw a little of that, too.

Chapter Twenty-Six

The day was half over but time was passing slowly. I was glad for it, I never wanted this day to be over. It was the best day I'd had in weeks by far, mostly because I spent the whole morning in bed with Daisy. She was a handful and her presence, among other things, broke the cycle of monotony that was becoming my life here in the palace. The girl showed me there were many perks to being a royal, like the awesome bedroom and the room service. We had food brought up to us for lunch and it was even better than being at a hotel because we didn't have to pay for any of it. Daisy was still eating, but I'd finished a few minutes ago. She wanted to talk about our engagement. She wanted a party. Naturally, I didn't think this was the best idea but she couldn't fathom why.

"I'm just saying," I told her, "with all that's going on, maybe we should wait. I'm almost done with the troops and the Dark King's still on the loose-"

"Fuck the Dark King." Daisy spat, her face contorting into the most beautiful scowl I'd ever seen. "He can go burn in Hell."

I blinked at her choice words and said, "Um. Okay. Tell me how you really feel."

Daisy looked over at me and her face and eyes softened. She put her tray of fruit and bread and vegetables and rice on the nightstand near the bed and then rubbed her face. She was sitting among the pillows at the head of the bed and I was at her feet. Most of the sheets were on the floor, courtesy of Daisy. She had a real wild side. I'd found that out after the third or fourth time she'd climbed on top of me.

I only love her more for it, I thought, but her language had taken a sharp decline at the mention of the old reptile. Now I didn't like him any more than she did, but it kind of worried me to hear her talk like that.

"I'm not gonna' put my life on hold for him." Daisy said strongly, dropping her hands.

I nodded and said, "Yeah I guess you're right."

Then I shifted so that I was sitting cross-legged and took her feet into my lap. Daisy reclined against the bedding and held her arms behind her head. While she stared at the ceiling I started rubbing one of her feet. I wasn't sure how to do it but I used my thumbs to circle the balls of her foot, putting light pressure behind the motion. Daisy's eyes fluttered shut and she smiled dreamily so I had to be doing something right.

"Luigi, you have great hands." She told me. "Have you been practicing on someone else?"

"No, you just uh, have great feet." I replied and groaned inside.

Great feet? Couldn't you have said something that wasn't so lame and stupid?

Daisy opened her eyes and smiled mischievously. She was barely dressed in her shorts and my 'Ramones' shirt. She didn't even have on underwear. I knew because I watched her neglect to put them on. Not that I was any better because all I wore was pants.

"In spite of everything going on," Daisy started, "We should have an engagement party."

"Alright." I agreed. It wasn't like she was about to be swayed on the matter.

"I even know where to have it." Daisy went on. "There's this room downstairs, it'll be perfect. No decorations or anything cheesy like that, just a little get-together."

"Sounds good." I stated, bending down to kiss the center of her sole.

I heard the girl take in a deep breath and let out a quiet sigh when I dragged a lingering kiss down her arch. With my right hand, I started in on her other foot and earned another contented hum and a smile from my love.

I shouldn't have, but I asked her in a somewhat guarded voice, "…Did he ever touch you like this?"

I saw Daisy bite her lip and tell me, "Yeah…"

I frowned.

"But it doesn't matter." Daisy assured me, "You're much better at it than he is."

Why did that sound like a lie?

"Luigi," Daisy said, opening her eyes and leaning up on her elbows. "I love you. Please stop bringing him up, alright?"

Her eyes were besought me to just let it go, so I nodded and looked down at her feet again. She moved them out of my lap and turned onto her side, her knees drawn up to her chest. I couldn't believe Bowser had ruined this for us and he wasn't even here.

"Hey," I said, crawling over towards Daisy.

I hovered over her lower body and nudged my head against her stomach. She didn't respond, so I kept head-butting her until a smile broke out on her face and she swatted at my face.

"Quit it!" She giggled, "You're gonna' give me a stomachache!"

I smiled at the sound of her laugh and nosed my way under her shirt to blow air into her navel. She laughed harder and rolled onto her back, but in the process her knee knocked against my nose. It didn't even hurt but I covered it like it was bleeding.

"You're really mad at me, aren't you?" I accused.

Daisy gasped and cried, "Oh Luigi, I'm sorry! Let me see how bad it is!"

"No, no." I feigned offense. "Haven't you done enough?"

"It was an accident!" Daisy claimed, reaching for my hands.

"Sure," I said, rolling my eyes.

I was about to ham it up even more but the girl moved my wrists aside and her eyes widened. They narrowed and she smirked and slapped at my shoulder.

"You jerk!" She pouted, flopping onto her back again. "I thought I really hurt you."

"You did," I laughed, then pointed to my chest. "In here."

"Cut it out, corn-master." She grinned.

I leaned down and kissed her right on the smile and she slid a hand behind my head. Breaking away, I brushed my uninjured nose down her shirt, inhaling the damp smell of soap from when she'd showered again earlier. I lowered my head over her shorts and pulled at the drawstrings with my teeth.

"Luigi," I heard and felt Daisy shiver.

On her hips I laid my hands and then looked up at her innocently. She stared at me and seemed to be holding her breath. When she didn't say anything, I kissed the middle of her shorts and slid my fingers under the waistband. She tried to close her legs and I pulled back. I wanted to do this. I'd never done it before.

"If you want me to stop," I didn't realize how husky my voice was but Daisy blinked long at the sound of it and shook her head.

She let me pry open her legs and I buried my head between them.

As soon as his head lowered an electric thrill crackled up her spine and her body swelled with heat. She was nervous and her heart was thudding painfully in her chest but she shut her eyes and tightened her grip on his hair when she felt his mouth make contact with her abdomen. He dropped kisses down her stomach and it felt like he was starting a fire down there. His tongue flicked over her most sensitive spot and she hissed sharply. He looked up from under his lashes, concerned—his eyes were so beautiful and clear—and she smiled clumsily and massaged her fingers in his scalp.

"Is it good for you?" She heard him whisper, felt his breath cool her heated flesh.

She moaned and said, "So fucking good"

"You have a very dirty mouth."

"You're one to talk…"

He huffed out a breathy laugh that sent a shot of desire straight to her core. His tongue was back out. He brushed his rough appendage against her bundle of nerves experimentally, then took it into his mouth and sucked on it gently. The sheets near her head she grabbed with one hand and yanked his hair at the roots with the other.

He's so good at this, was her only coherent thought.

Well damn, I must be good at this, I thought when I saw the girl's writhing body.

She was rolling her hips in time with me as I slipped in two fingers below my tongue. Another glance and I saw the girl, cheeks flushed, eyes shut, with her knuckle in her mouth. Her chest was heaving and she whimpered around her index finger. That was it for me.

I sat up and was inside her in seconds and it felt so good, so familiar, to be inside her again. Daisy's eyes flashed open and her nails scratched my face as she moved her hand from the back of my head to my cheek. She put her fingers on my mouth and I kissed them and started sliding in and out of her as slowly as I could manage. She matched me stroke for stroke and I closed my hands over hers on the bed, weaving my fingers through hers. I didn't last nearly as long as before, not with her moaning my name like that. I kissed her when I came and she wasn't so far behind.

I think to her I'm addicted.

"Where are we?"

If she was expecting an answer, she'd be waiting a very long time. Roy was single-minded in the way he walked straight ahead in front of the rest of their under-aged traveling group. He had the sack of jewelry thrown over his shoulder and the overstuffed suitcase in his hand and squinted in the light of the high noon sun. Behind him, Eriana glanced over at his brothers, hoping they could give her a reply where Roy could not. Larry was too busy trying to catch up with Roy and ask a thousand questions of his own so it was MJ who responded after a sigh.

"I'm just as clueless as you are." He stated, then glanced over at her.

For the first time he really looked at her, taking in her bouncing black curls, smooth tawny skin, and bewitching dark eyes. She was struggling to walk in the long teal skirt she wore but was glad for the heat because it made wearing her cropped blouse worthwhile. She felt MJ's eyes on her and glanced over at him as she walked through the treacherous forest and MJ averted his eyes with a faint smattering of red in his face.

Real smooth, He lauded himself, she's way out of your league anyway.

Eriana noticed his blush and wondered if the black-haired boy was shy or something. She picked up her skirt and bunched it up around her knees so that she could walk more easily in her brown sandals and smiled disarmingly at the younger male.

"So you're Rex's brother?" She stated conversationally, "What's that like?"

"It's a pain in the neck." MJ blurted, making the girl smile.

She said, "He can't be so bad."

MJ snorted.

Eriana shot him a sly look and said, "You only think so because he's your brother but he's my...He takes care of me."

MJ nodded in understanding. He could say that as well. Roy wasn't perfect but he'd at least tried to do right by him and Larry.

"So we're going to see another of your brothers?" Eriana asked. "What's this one like?"

"He's a real piece of work." MJ huffed, recalling how he hadn't heard a single thing from the blue-haired leader of their 'pack'.

Roy was leading them out of the forest and up a great, low-grade hillside. He stopped once he reached the top where the ground flattened out and stood with his eyes closed. Eriana hurried over to him and MJ grabbed Larry and held him back when he saw Roy's hand start to glow pink. The other three kept their distance and watched Roy extend his hand and wave it slowly around the space in front of him like he was searching for something.

"What's he doing?" Eriana whispered to MJ.

The boy shrugged and whispered back, "No idea."

The air in front of the youth started to ripple and suddenly a big, black Victorian mansion came into view. Eriana gasped and MJ blinked in surprise. Larry broke free from his brother's slackened grip and jogged over to Roy, who was rubbing his hand and fingers.

"What's this place, Roy?" He chirped.

Roy glanced at Eriana and asked, "Are you alright?"

She nodded and came to stand behind him. MJ joined them and Roy went to the mansion's entrance. He sauntered confidently over towards the door with the rest of them in tow, but before his fingers could close around the ancient knockers, someone cleared their throat. Everyone whirled around and saw the tall, long-haired immortal standing behind them.

"Well," He spoke, a slow grin revealing sharp teeth. "I didn't expect to see you again so soon."

Eriana grabbed Roy's arm at the sight of the pale-skinned, mauve-eyed immortal and she stepped behind him when the royal started striding towards them. Roy stood his ground, no longer unnerved by the other being.

He said, "We came to see if Ludwig was here, yo."

"But of course you did." King Boo stated quietly, knowingly. He then ran slender fingers through his sleek black hair and said thoughtfully, "You know, you aren't the first to come here. Your other brothers stopped by not too long ago."

"Which other brothers?" Roy asked, narrowing his eyes.

The immortal stood right on the young people now and instead of answering he extended his hand towards the girl who least wanted to accept it.

"Forgive me my dear, but I believe introductions are in order." He purred with what he tried to pass off as a disarming smile. "I am the ruler of these lands, King Boo."

Eriana shivered when those vibrant, magenta eyes rested on her. She stared down at the royal's proffered hand and reluctantly slid her hand into it. His hand was ice-cold.

"And what is your name, love?" He asked smoothly.

She swallowed and said above a whisper, "E-Eriana."

"It's a pleasure to meet you," The King stated, turning her hand over and exposing his vivid purple tongue.

With a gasp Eriana snatched her hand back and Roy made a face. MJ and Larry remembered now where they'd seen the odd man; at the palace in the Badlands, at dinner one night.

King Boo chuckled at Eriana's reaction and stepped past the teenagers to open the door. Holding for them all, he watched them file into his estate. He then strode ahead of them and stood in the foyer. Looking over the girl and the three boys in turn, his grin broadened.

"It's been a while since I've seen you three," He remarked, then asked, "Can I get you anything? My minions could bring you some hot tea and biscuits if you'd like."

Roy impatiently asked, "Is Ludwig here? I need to talk to him."

Eriana agreed with him wholeheartedly; she knew the sooner they spoke with his brother, the sooner they could leave.

There's just something scary and off about that king, she noticed, staying as close to Roy as possible and smoothing down her skirt. Although she and Roy nonverbally declined, MJ and Larry did the opposite.

The black-haired boy said, "I'll take some."

"Me too! I'm sooo hungry," Larry complained.

King Boo waved his fingers in the air and herded the group over towards the staircase. He stepped on the first stair with the youth behind him and for the third time Eriana gasped.

"What the…?" Roy frowned, staring at the plump white thing coming towards them.

He dropped the suitcase and pillowcase of jewelry near in the foyer and took Eriana's hand, then started walking up the stairs after King Boo, who was still ascending, while MJ and Larry marveled at the floating thing. On its head it carried a tin tray of steaming white biscuits and two porcelain white teacups. Because its little hands covered its eyes, it wobbled in its course and the tray threatened to topple over. When it got to the two Koopas, MJ smiled and took a handful of biscuits and a cup and Larry shoved him in the side.

"Hey, don't take it all!" He whined.

King Boo stood hesitantly at the door of a room near the top of the stairs with Roy and Eriana on his heels. He glanced down and then knocked lightly before turning the knob.

"Ludwig, my boy," He called after sticking his head into the room, "You have visitors."

King Boo then smiled at the two plus MJ and Larry who'd hurried up the stairs at the mention of their brother. But the King's smile was strained and sad.

He warned them, "Don't be too surprised by what you see. Ludwig isn't…quite himself."

"What you mean by that, yo?" Roy asked suspiciously.

He didn't wait for an answer, brash as he was, just stepped past the immortal clad in black and red and walked into the room. He frowned at what he saw. There was a child, dressed in white, with long navy hair. Roy mistook him for a girl and glanced from 'her' to the rest of the room. It was in disarray, with a couple open books lying around with some of the pages torn out and a bed with the sheets tossed about. There were dents and chips in the walls and a lamp lay in pieces near the nightstand.

"Who's the brat?" Roy asked the retreating King.

Boo didn't answer but the 'brat' turned around at the sound of that voice. Emerald eyes met the dark ones of Eriana and she tugged on Roy's hand. He glanced first at her and then at the child who was turning around. Both Roy and Eriana saw that he was wearing a strait jacket and there were cuffs on both ankles and a chain that linked them. The child narrowed his eyes at Roy and King Boo made his exit.

"Wait, where's Ludwig?" Roy asked, but the King had disappeared.

MJ came into the room and when he saw the child he choked on his biscuit. Larry dropped his cup of tea. It slipped right from his frozen fingers and the boy didn't even notice it stain his shoes and the floor below, his eyes were wide and his mouth dropped open.

"What are you doing here?" Ludwig asked them, his voice babyish but stern.

He stared hard at Roy and MJ and Larry in turn, expecting an answer. Roy glared at the boy he didn't know was his brother and scoffed.

"I'm here to see my brother, kid, you got a problem with that?"

Ludwig looked at Roy with a mix of irritation and disappointment. Roy bristled at that and MJ swallowed hard.

"Roy," He said slowly, "I think that is Ludwig."

"What?" Roy frowned, looking at him.

"I won't ask again." Ludwig spoke warningly.

I don't know what's going on, MJ thought, but if that's not Ludwig this kid does a mean impression of him.

"Ludwig?" Larry asked, rising out of his stupor to ask, "Is that really you?"

Ludwig glanced at Larry briefly.

MJ asked, "What happened to you?"

"Never you mind, Morton." Ludwig responded curtly. "Why did you leave your kingdom?"

"They hated me there." MJ replied bluntly.

Blank-faced, Ludwig remarked, "Yes, I would imagine so. I took that land by force. They weren't so happy about that."

"Ludwig, is it-"

"Yes, Larry, it's really me." Ludwig snapped, "Did you come all this way to ask me the same question over and over again?"

Roy blinked and said incredulously, "Wait a minute…"

Ludwig rolled his eyes and waited for his thick older brother to catch on.

The pink-haired boy said, "Ludwig, that's you? How come you look like a little kid?"

Ludwig's expression remained neutral as he let silence reign for a moment. He addressed MJ and Larry first.

"So they despised you?"

MJ nodded and said, "I left that place and met up with Larry and we went to Roy's kingdom. We were gonna' look for you. How come you never checked up on us?"

Ludwig stared at them, thinking. He turned to Roy and eyed the boy critically. Roy's doubts about the child's identity faded under that uncomfortably familiar look of disappointment.

Contrary to that Ludwig said softly, "My dear brother Roy. Or is it Rex? That's what they're calling you, am I right? Arid City's Champion."

Roy asked, "How'd you-"

"You've done well in my absence." Ludwig continued tonelessly. "The best of all your siblings, actually, especially considering how these two were kicked out and your darling sister ran off with that boy-"

"Wendy?" Roy blurted, his eyes alert. "What happened to Wen? Where is she?!"

"Don't worry about that." Ludwig spoke tersely. "You should be concerned with getting back to Arid Kingdom."

"I can't go back," Roy refuted, "Not after…"

Ludwig closed his eyes and let out a slow exhalation through his nose. He didn't open them even as he said, "You screwed up, didn't you?"

Roy clenched his jaw but looked away, ashamed. Eriana touched his arm and rubbed it soothingly.

"So what did you do?" Ludwig asked dully, peeling open emerald eyes this time. "Did your quick temper get you banished?"

When Roy didn't answer, Eriana spoke up.

She said softly, "Rex left on his own. No one banished him."

"Oh?" Ludwig spoke in interest, gazing at the girl. He gave her a once over and said, "You must be my brother's whore."

Roy's eyes flashed angrily and Eriana flinched. Ever perceptive, Ludwig noticed this and a cruel smirk lifted the corner of his mouth.

He asked sardonically, "What, did you fall in love with the girl?"

"No!" Roy adamantly denied, his face flushing scarlet. "But you don't have to call her that."

Jumping subjects Ludwig asked, "Why did you leave Arid City?"

"They were tryin' to get rid of MJ and Larry." Roy stated, glancing at his brothers.

"And that pertained to you…how?" Ludwig frowned.

"I-They're my brothers!" Roy stammered defensively. "What was I supposed to do, yo?"

Ludwig sighed and murmured, "How fortunate it is that you're undoubtedly attractive because your intelligence is sorely lacking."

"What?!"

To MJ and Larry Ludwig said, "Both of you go downstairs and ask my warden to kindly escort you to the palace in the Badlands. The one I built." He clarified.

"What are we gonna' do there?" Larry piped, his earlier shock forgotten.

Ludwig told him, "You'll stay inside and never leave under any circumstances."

"What?" Larry frowned. "For how long?"

"Until I come for you."

"What if we-"

"You heard what I said." Ludwig shut him down without even raising his voice.

Here we go; it's like the bunker all over again, MJ thought.

He asked, "Is there a reason you're putting us on lockdown again? Or trying to? I mean, it's not like we have to do what you say. You're stuck here."

Maybe it was Ludwig's tinier form making him brave, but MJ felt bold enough to gesture at the cuffs on Ludwig's bare ankles and the jacket that restrained his arms. Ludwig didn't get mad or upset, he kept that steady, nonchalant look on his face as he grew quiet.

He told his brother, "I have many demons, but there's just one you need to worry about. If you know what's good for you Morton you'll do as I say."

MJ frowned. Demons? What is he talking about?

"Go." Ludwig commanded. "I want to talk to Roy alone."

MJ and Larry shared a glance but eventually did as he said, opening the door and trudging out of it. Ludwig glanced pointedly at Eriana and smiled falsely.

"You, too, sweetheart."

"I'm staying with Rex." Eriana declared, laying her hand on the younger boy's shoulder.

Roy met her eyes and didn't remark on that. But Ludwig did. He locked eyes with Eriana for the second time and then looked at Roy.

Abruptly he asked, "What is this?"

"What is what?" Roy drawled in genuine confusion.

"This…thing between you two." Ludwig spoke evenly, then asked, "Did you leave the kingdom for her?"

"No."

"You're lying."

Eriana glanced between the two and wondered why the obviously younger brother was talking to Roy like that. She held her tongue this time because she didn't want those intense emerald eyes on her, scrutinizing her every dark secret like they were doing to Roy. Roy couldn't even hold Ludwig's gaze for long and looked down at his feet.

"What happened at Arid City, Roy?" Ludwig drawled. "And tell me the truth this time."

Roy shoved his hands in his pockets and was silent. Ludwig tilted his head and gazed at Eriana, lifted a blue brow in want of an answer.

She glanced skeptically at Roy before saying, "He really did leave after the King threatened to send his brothers away."

"…In that case, go back." Ludwig told Roy. "Now that your brothers are out of the equation, there should be nothing barring you from returning."

The eighteen-year-old shook his head and said, "I can't go back."

"Why not?"

"I just can't, yo."

"Tell me why." Ludwig demanded.

"It's complicated."

"What. Did you. Do?"

"I killed somebody!" Roy shouted, "There! Ya' fuckin' happy now?"

Ludwig's face clouded over as he mulled over his brother's claim. His piercing emerald eyes never left Roy's wavering ones for a second.

"You killed for this girl." Ludwig stated knowingly but still added, "Didn't you?"

Roy swallowed and Eriana rubbed his back, hoping he wasn't about to get angry again. Ludwig glanced sharply at her and then back at Roy.

"Don't throw away what I've given you for this girl, Roy."

"You didn't give me shit!" Roy yelled.

Eriana laid her hand against his face and forced him to look at her. He calmed significantly once she was the only thing in his line of vision and she stroked his cheek.

"Your brother's right." She stated. "The King forgave you for killing Jack, he'll definitely let you come back."

"You got off with murder?" Ludwig smirked. "My, Roy, someone must really love you. And speaking of love, you should listen to your whore."

"Don't call her that!" Roy roared, whipping his head over towards his brother.

Ludwig just nodded to himself as if confirming something and ignored his brother's mounting ire.

He said, "Go back to Arid City Roy. My guess is they'll welcome you with open arms. Take the girl with you if it's that important and try not to kill anyone else."

Roy opened his mouth.

"Go." Ludwig ordered. "The time may come where your siblings will have to depend on you and it would help if you were king."

Roy's eyes widened and he recalled, "Wen! I've been writin' her for months. You know where she is?"

Ludwig's expression darkened.

"Just go, Roy."

"Tell me-"

"Go now!"

Roy shot Ludwig a scathing glare but sauntered out of the room nonetheless.

A/N: Thanks for reading.

I'm loving all these reviews, keep 'em coming! I appreciate what you have to say!

Until next time...

~DymondGold~