The day was getting darker, the air was getting chiller. It seemed an omen, as Mario knew what the next spirit usually was… "M-Mamma Mia… I don't like the anticipation…" He walked slowly across the icy path as he waited for the last spirit. Darkness came around him. He turned and saw an average shy guy, only he was wearing a black cloak instead of a green or red or even a yellow one. "The Spirit of the Future…" Mario followed where he led. "I expect I'm to die alone? That's how the story always goes."
The shy guy made not a sound as he led Mario down the icy paths he had already treaded. "I don't understand… this is my usual Christmas…" He saw himself in the distance, just the same as always. "Nothing changes? I'm alive? Spirit! Why are you showing me myself contented?" For his future self was content, or at least as much as usual. There was nothing different about the scene. "Spirit!"
Darkness again, then the castle scene. Daisy was pacing around the ballroom. There were no decorations, no costumes, no music. Just Daisy. Soon, she was joined by the mushroom children. "Any news?" Toadette asked.
Daisy shook her head. "I'm afraid he'll never find his brother… and then what?"
Peach was next to enter. "He will find him. Luigi will bring Mario home for Christmas this year."
"I don't know why he bothers. Last year, we had so much fun. And it was without him!"
"Yes, but he didn't come back until the middle of the year! At this rate, he will leave one Christmas and not return until the next!"
Mario was getting annoyed, "Okay, I get it… they hate that I'm not there. But I've got things to do, Spirit!" He looked around. "Spirit?" A chill wind, and more darkness, then he saw Powser. "What? Powser? What's he doing back?" The great beast, larger and fiercer than his son, Bowser, was walking toward the unseen Mario, through him, sending a shiver through him, and away toward future Mario. "Well… he's gonna get it when he gets to me," Mario said as he watched him walk off. He turned back to from where he came and gasped. "No!"
His brother was lying in the cold of the snow, wearing the Penguin Suit he had treasured too much to wear since that Christmas years ago. He had worn it to find his brother. But now it was slashed open, ripped to shreds by the mighty claws of Powser, and his brother was equally damaged.
"Luigi!" Mario shouted. But of course, no one could hear. Not even the shy guy seemed to be in sight. "Spirit! Help him!"
Not a sound or a soul except the chill winter air. Time fast forwarded, and he saw the sun set over his brother's lifeless body. Daisy appeared on the horizon and ran to him, tears freezing on her cheek. She cried over him. It all was a blur now to Mario. "Curse you, Mario!" Daisy sobbed. He looked up at her. She was looking up and seemed to look straight at him. "Mario! Don't you see he needed you at home! I hate you, Mario! Look what you've done!" Her eyes shot right through him, but he felt more than that. She was staring right at him, and he was frozen in place.
"Luigi…" he whispered.
"It was never about your heroics, you idiot…" Daisy looked back down at Luigi. "It was about your love… We're family… We spend time with each other… You don't go looking for adventure… You go as Luigi did… look for the ones you love." Daisy burst into more tears, something that made Mario feel worse. After all, Daisy barely ever cried, if at all. "Oh, Luigi! Why waste your life on such a jerk?" She sniffled. "I hope he never comes back… and if he does… if… he… does…" Darkness came around the mourner, blinding Mario from the rest.
He finally understood. This lesson wasn't about him. It was about the people he left behind. Luigi, most of all. I'llbehomeforChristmas… the words echoed in his head. The words he had written the first time he did not come. Daisy had every right to be furious with him, he knew. Peach gave him too much credit for being a hero and felt they could expect no more. Luigi was too kind to say anything against him, but Mario knew that deep in his heart, he was probably hurt.
"Spirit… I finally understand…" He looked around at the darkness. "Spirits?" He looked around again, seeming to float in a dark void. "That was from the future, wasn't it? Which means I can change it! I can come home now!" Still darkness. "Spirits! Hear me! I've learned my lesson! Let me go home!" Just darkness.