Chapter Fourteen: The death of Mr. L

-Dark Lands-

Running down the hallway, Mr. L felt incredibly light headed and the hallway seems to twist and turn as he stumbled into his room. For once the curtains were gone and he was able to see his room clearly.

And there he was, Mr. L, standing in the mirror...

Staring back at him...

"Who are you?!" Mr. L screamed at his reflection. The mirror reminding him how wild he was looking, how his clothes were disheveled, hair messy and out of place. This wasn't him, this wasn't him at all. It was someone completely new, a stranger that is staring back at him.

Who are you?

Mr. L locked the door. Not wanting anybody to see what the shell of a man he had become.

I don't know… I don't know…

He began to pace across his room, pounding the fists against his head, it didn't stop the room from spinning, although Mr. L didn't even try, his eyes were burning, heart racing.

Across the room, his reflection stared back at him, returning his glare.

I know who you are…you are a coward.

"No…I am not…" Mr. L felt what little energy that was left slowly drain from him. His reflection reminding him that he is just a failure. He will always be a failure no matter what he does.

Do you know what your problem is, Luigi?

"I am Mr. L…" he muttered, his mask burning on his face. Yet his mind continued to torment him.

No. You are Luigi.

"Leave me alone!"

You were never a hero. I am the hero.

"You are nothing!"

I am something.

"Who are you?!"

I am Mr. L.

Mr. L grabbed a nearby candle stick, sweeping it across his desk and dresser, knocking everything off and sending the items across the room. Not caring what would happen if anything were to break.

He reached the mirror, candle stick raised in the air. Yet his reflection was unafraid.

You fight so hard to step out of one shadow. Only to create another to hide behind…you're no hero. You're a coward...

Mr. L dropped his candle stick, falling to his knees. No longer able to hold back his tears, what kind of monster had he become? Mr. L ripped off his mask, though it did nothing. Luigi was not there.

Luigi may never be coming back…

"Who are you…?" Mr. L asked, his body giving out under sheer exhaustion.

I am you… I am what you had tried to become. But you will never become me.

"Then who am I…?"

Silence.

Mr. L stood up again, grabbing the mirror with both hands. He forced himself to stare into his own eyes, searching. For anything…if he isn't Mr. L. Then what else can he be…?

Luigi

He stared into the mirror again, searching for anything. But all he could see was his reflection.

"Luigi…" he had forgotten how his name sounded. His name. He began to sob harder, his body shaking. That what he was, he was Luigi the entire time. He was always Luigi.

But what about Mr. L?

Just a name...

He glanced back at his reflection, almost begging it for some answers. But he didn't get any, at least, the ones he wanted to hear.

Luigi...His reflection seems to talk back to him. But is it really his words? Did he know the entire time and it took him this long to admit it to himself?

Mr. L was only a mask for you to hide under, because Luigi wasn't ready to face the demons ahead.

He didn't know where these words were coming from, and he figured that he would never know. But it didn't stop him from absorbing every line.

It's time for Luigi to see the light again...

"Can… I…?"

He stood up straighter, taking the mask he slipped it back on his face.

Silence.

Staring hard into the mirror; he was amazed to see that it was still him. Inside and out, he felt a weight lifted from his shoulders and he couldn't help but let the tears continue to run, absorbing into the mask.

He thought that Luigi wouldn't be able to handle this, but he could; and he did. He was there the entire time. How silly he was, thinking that if he became someone else, became Mr. L. That he would be brave and strong. Someone the people he fought for could rely on. Something that Mario would be proud of…

You are free…

Gaining back his composure he adjusted his suit and hair, Luigi gave the mirror one last glance, and smiled. For the first time in years… he could only see himself.

Just Luigi.

…

The party didn't last very long, but Bowser didn't care. After Mr. L and Daisy disappeared, the people who were there also decided to leave, it was a blessing in disguise. Bowser was not a party person.

But instead of going to bed, he decided to go to his large office. He rarely used it…for obvious reasons. Though, now this getaway is now put into good use, and since the treaty is in effect immediately, he might actually use this office once again. It was a nice feeling.

For once he was truly startled when he heard knocking, he looked up to see Mr. L shuffle in; and he knew that something was different about the man. Mr. L never knocks, he just barges in like he owned the place.

"Bowser…" his voice sounded tired, which got his attention. "I want to apologize…"

The king gave him a confused look "apologize for what? You did nothing wrong…"

Luigi shook his head "no. I want to apologize for my behavior these past months. I wasn't…well…" he took a breath.

"You were going through something rough…" Bowser continued "I wouldn't put that on you…"

Luigi shook his head "my behavior was inexcusable… but I believe things will be better now…"

Bowser smiled up at him, looking relieved "it's good to have you back, Luigi." The ambassador returned the smile. A true smile this time…

…

She didn't know why she is back at the gardens. But Daisy found it to be the only peaceful place. Though it made her terribly home sick, but she knew that she can't return.

But there it is… those familiar footsteps that made her shake with rage. Looking up she was about to say something to get him away from her but she stopped. There was something different about the man, yet it was so familiar it made her heart ached. It was something about his eyes that made her heart pound and her soul soar. It was something so comfortable, something so familiar.

"Daisy…" his voice was soft, getting on his knee once again he took her hands into his. This time she didn't reject it, she couldn't. He rested his forehead on her hands, then kissing it. Like he had returned after a long and dangerous journey.

"You can… take off my mask…" he looked up at her, and Daisy couldn't help but to return the smile, her eyes tearing up. How he missed that smile… She reached out to caress his face, but she shook her head.

"I don't need too, Luigi…"

She scooted off the bench and into his arms, wasting no time to kiss him. It was the moment she was waiting for. The chance to really hold her love again, it was all she ever wanted from him. Though something deep within her core whispered that this joy won't last forever, but she didn't care. She has him back. It's the only thing she cares about.

Luigi is back, and she would never let him go again…

End of Chapter