A/N: Yeah. This story. I like to sound smart but... huh... oh, look- a butterfly... so pretty...

Chapter Three: The King and the Knight

The Princesses castle was eerily quiet when Mario arrived home. But he didn't find anything wrong with the silence; it felt appropriate to how empty he felt inside. With his brothers' hat tucked deep inside his pocket, Mario wanted to believe that the item somehow kept a part of his brother with him. But he knew well it didn't, he knew that he was forced to abandon his only family, and despite how much he wants to go back to be with his brother, he knew he couldn't. He can't turn back.

Making his way to where he knew the Princess is, Mario was surprised to see the same sword that was used in knighting ceremonies was still out and in the Princesses grasp. The Princess held the sword up in the air like she was about to ride into battle.

Peach turned to smile sweetly at Mario, who in turn bows slightly to her. Bringing her attention back to the sword she takes a breath "Mario… do you know where this sword came from?"

She turns back to Mario, not letting him answer the question "this sword came from a very old legend which begins with two brothers, one a very loyal knight, and the other a very powerful king.

The knight was very loyal to his king, he fought for him, and he would die for him. But one day the knight saw past the castle walls, and for the first time he saw that the people were hurting.

So the knight went to his brother, but he discovered that the king was blinded by his own crown. Enraged and heartbroken, the knight decided to leave the safety of the castle walls to help those who truly needed him the most... now the knight and his king were divided, and they fought… the king to keep the old ways and the knight who fought for the people. But their endless fighting came at a terrible price… the knight soon perished by his brother's blade...

Wiping his brothers' blood from his eyes, the king began to see. Stricken by grief the king raised the sword that had slain his brother and established a new order; an order of knights who would protect the innocent, but mostly protect the values that makes a true knight- integrity, nobility, fidelity and above all else, bravery."

Peach held out the blade, balancing it between her fingers, letting the light reflect though the blade over symbols that represent the four qualities of knighthood that were engraved into the steel.

"This blade was believed to be the same that had slain that knight. It was passed down from generation to generation, no person who was offered knighthood had ever turned down this honor…until our friend Luigi."

Mario sighs "I know…I'm sorry." He watched as Peach place the blade back into its simple wooden box. She paused for a moment to take a breath "I'm sorry about Luigi. I didn't want to abandon him like that, but I had no choice… "

Placing a hand on her shoulder, Mario gave her a sad smile "I know… but don't worry about Luigi, he's going to be fine, we'll find a way to bring him home..."

-Dark Lands-

The Dark lands castle was unusually quiet, but Bower found it rather peaceful as he smuggled Luigi inside his home.

Finally reaching a fairly decent bedroom chamber, the king finally removed the potato sack that poor Luigi was forced to wear. The human finally took a deep breath, looking around the room.

"This will be your new room, you like it?"

Luigi was snapped out of his thoughts, looking back at Bowser he gave him a grateful smile "yes, it's wonderful, thank you…"

Bowser nods "good, we'll provide you some clothing that may fit you, but in the meantime…"

Luigi looks back at him, now curious, but at the same time he somehow knew what the king was going to ask. Bowser continued "there are people after you now, kingdoms that are going to remember your…name… your face… you might have to hide it."

Luigi nods "I know…I understand…" he looks up at Bowser "but what should I do?" Bowser crossed his arms "remember when we fought a crazy jester and some kind of evil heart thing? If I remember correctly you were hypnotized and turned into a bad guy… and with that they gave you a new name… do you remember?"

Luigi looks down almost ashamed "I remember… everything" reaching into his pocket he pulled out a small bundle of black fabric "after that I always carry this around, to remind me of what I had become…I almost destroyed everything…it was the least I could do…"

Bowser shook his head "you know it wasn't your fault…" Luigi looks back up from the bundle of fabric "I know, and it's all over now, that monster is gone."

"Then I need you to take on his face, his name, you need to hide, not just from your formal princess, but from her kingdom too, you are now their enemy, they would always see you as their enemy…I know it's difficult Luigi, but it's for the best."

Unfolding the black fabric to reveal a mask, Luigi took a deep breath, slipping it on his face; looking back up at Bowser he gave a reluctant smile "w-who's Luigi?"

Bowser patted Luigi on the shoulder "exactly…Mr. L…"

Luigi finally made real eye-contact with the king, but unknown to Bowser; he had planted a seed inside of Luigis mind. To where not even the younger Mario brother knew just how deep his scars ran.

End of Chapter

A/N: Just to let you know, the "Mr. L" character is not appearing in this story, but at the same time he is, you just have to trust me. This is Luigi's story, not his. I'll explain why as we follow Luigi into the messed up depths of his mind.