Chapter Three: Dark Knights.
Yoshi and Luigi rode for an hour or more, Mario was nowhere to be found. A part of Luigi was hurting; he was of no use to either Daisy or Peach, only his older brother had the fighting capability. Apart of him was jealous, but the most of him had learned to accept walking in Mario's shadow.
"Yoshi!" The green coloured Yoshi called beneath him. Luigi looked ahead of them and saw Mario sat a top a hill, his head was in his hands and his knees were pulled up against him.
After Mario had seen the looks on everyone's faces back in the party room, he had realized what a fool he'd been, he'd probably upset Peach and he'd hurt his brother by rejecting him. He couldn't do anything but run, he wanted to run and never stop until his legs gave way.
Mario was fighting two clear conflicting emotions. One, he knew his dreams were a sign that he was loosing his fighting ability and that hurt him more than anything and two, he knew that Luigi would have take over from him and that hurt as he knew Luigi hadn't faced the things he had, he hadn't been given the chance.
Mario saw himself as the leader and now this leader was failing, he had to give up the leadership to someone who was younger, and much fitter. Collapsing to his knees Mario fell on his hands in front of him and breathed hard, he had no idea how far he'd run and he didn't care. Mario was no more; he couldn't go back, never ever.
Luigi stopped the Yoshi short of Mario and let him wander off towards the fruit trees. Luigi had no idea how to approach Mario.
"M-Mario…" Luigi stuttered just loud enough for Mario to hear. Mario's head shot up and he looked across at his brother. His mouth opened as if to say something but no words were coming.
"Luigi, leave me alone!" Mario said standing and beginning to run away, Luigi though was quick off his mark this time. He was afraid of everything but now he realized that he could never be afraid of Mario, they were connected on a more spiritual level if anything.
Luigi ran after him, though Mario was quick off the mark Luigi had long legs and could keep up with him. Nearing him Luigi pounced and landed on Mario's back sending the two Mario brothers rolling through the tall grass. Finally their roll came to a stop but Mario wasn't about to give in that easily.
Pouncing forward he pinned Luigi down "Leave me alone Luigi you don't need me!" He shouted almost close to tears, Luigi felt hurt but he was pushing his words aside, grabbing Mario's hands and pushing up with his legs Luigi kicked Mario off him and stood quickly running over to him and kneeling down beside him. "Give it up Mario you never could fight me!" Luigi shouted, maybe trying to break him. Mario growled and flipped Luigi on to his back over his head. "I can…" He stopped knowing he very well couldn't take Luigi, not anymore.
Luigi was starting to see a pattern now, a darker pattern of what was up with his brother. "You can what brother?" Luigi asked taking deep breaths; Mario fell back on his legs and stared out ahead of himself. Sitting up Luigi turned and looked at his brother his red cap slightly tilted, reaching up gently he adjusted it so it sat nicely upon Mario's head.
"Talk to me Mario, I'm your brother." Luigi said getting his breath back too. Neither of them had been play fighting just now. Mario kept staring for a good few moments before he grabbed the cap on his head and tossed it down angrily in front of Luigi.
"I hate you…" He whispered, Luigi paused in his motion to pick up the cap and looked up to him stunned. "You don't mean that…" He said softly. Mario stood slowly and threw his jacket to the ground. "Go home Luigi and take over, you're the leader now."
Luigi stood too and picked up the cap with him. "M-Mario?" He asked softly. Mario turned his head slightly to signify he was listening. "M-Mario you're a failure, your nothing! You're not my brother!" Luigi said soft but harsh. Mario felt his chest tighten and he gripped his fist.
Turning suddenly and violently he began to throw endless punches at his brother, the first one a direct hit to his chin, the rest blocked by Luigi's shaking arms as his brother sat over him throwing endless punches at the quivering body below him.
Luigi went to grab Mario's arm it was his only attempt at stopping the onslaught his brother was lashing out on him. But as he moved to grab him, Mario managed a blow to his nose and chest which caused Luigi a nose bleed and a much winded stomach.
Instantly covering his nose with one hand and wrapping his arm around his waist, Luigi turned away from Mario and shook not only because he was in pain but because he couldn't breathe.
Mario stopped instantly, the two punches could have had fateful consequences to his brother and Mario was in panic mode. He couldn't bear to think of his brother in pain let alone pain that could mean the end of his life.
They had play fighted as kids, but Mario had never meant to hurt Luigi, and now that he had he could barely stand to look at himself. Falling back off Luigi, Mario crawled away and breathed hard, he'd hurt him, what if seriously?
Luigi felt like he had the seven bells knocked out of him, he was shaking with fear that his brother would continue his onslaught, but when Mario's small form left his Luigi took a few deep breaths and then slowly lifted his head, shaking it a little, then turning and looking to Mario. "M-Mario, its okay." He said gently, turning and crawling across the ground to him.
"Mario listen to me!" He said grabbing Mario's shirt and pulling him closer until they were eye to eye. "Peach is in trouble Mario and Daisy, Bowser has them and they need you to go stop him. They need your help Mario!" He tried in vain not knowing whether the words of a brother could be of any use to him.
Mario was lost, lost in a world of pain and anguish, he'd hurt his brother, the one person he swore to always protect, never to hurt and to always look out for. Yet he'd sat there beating the guy who meant more to him than anything, into a pulp. How could Luigi ever forgive him now, things were too far gone, he was too far gone, there was nothing left of him.
"MARIO!!" Luigi shouted at him, but Mario refused to respond. Luigi felt helpless, not only could he not save the princesses but he couldn't even save Mario from the dark knights.
"Mario please don't give up! If I mean anything to you don't give up!" Luigi shouted, looking out across the distance, towards the sun that was just creeping up over the hill, time was running out drastically.
"M-MARIO IF YOU DON'T LISTEN TO ME NOW, Y-YOU'LL NEVER SEE ME OR PEACH OR DAISY OR ANYONE EVER AGAIN!" Luigi shouted as hard as he could, physically shaking the older man. Mario still looked vacant and blank. There was nothing left anymore for him, this was it, he was giving in.
"M-Mario!!" Luigi shouted as three black power stars began to hover over the two. "Mario... I need you. I can't do this without you please!" Luigi broke down as Mario's body fell limp in his arms.
The black power stars collected the body of Mario from Luigi, lifting it up into the sky in a dark black cloud. "MARIO!!" Luigi screamed. "YOU PROMISED YOU'D ALWAYS BE HERE FOR ME YOU PROMISED WE WERE A TEAM! YOU, YOU…" Luigi paused letting his head fall to his hands as he shed his tears, "you promised and you lied." He finally finished and broke down crying into his gloved hands.
The black cloud circled and got wider and wider until the Mushroom Kingdom was completely covered in a shroud of blackness that would last eternity. Bowser had won.
A/N: Well I think I'll leave it there see what you guys think, whether you want me to carry it on make a sequel or what, its up to you guys let me know. :)