Chapter Nineteen: The Aftermath Part 2

-Mushroom Kingdom-

Mario made sure that Luigi was remembered as a true hero.

At first the citizens were afraid that their king had given up and joined Bowser, but Mario finally stood up and told them the story about how Luigi sacrificed everything for a group of people who were oppressed for far too long. That how it took his brother's death had made him see the horrible mistakes he and the previous generations of kings were making. That things are going to change, for the better.

In return, Bowser then promised that Peach would no longer be in danger because of him, and the feud that went on for so many years has finally ended. Bowser became a very powerful ally…and a friend; and it was all because of his wonderful brother.

It was Mario's mistake that had ended his life way too early. Then he had learned that he did not just slaughter a hero… but a king...

Luigi's time as king may have been a rein that was cut too short, but it was the one that had changed entire kingdoms over night. Mario vowed that he would continue to work for the peace that his brother sacrificed for. For the rest of his life; in his mind, it was the only way Mario could redeem himself. Not in the eyes of his people, but in the eyes of his brother.

The last thing that Mario could do was to erect a statue of his brother in the hall of great knights. Though he was never properly knighted in life, but he did more than just proved himself that he truly belonged here. He deserved to be remembered here, and Mario knew that the same treatment was done for Luigi in Sarsaland, but in their hall of great kings.

Despite all this, Luigi was buried in a simple ceremony, in the gravesite next to their parents. Mario knew that is what he would have wanted, and that is where Mario will be when he eventually dies. If their parents could see this, they would be so proud of their youngest if they saw that his second funeral in the Mushroom Kingdom had turned out a huge crowd. Despite being hated for the longest time.

Luigi came home…

After the service the king of the mushroom people had found himself wondering around the small village. Without his crown and dressed in all black, it looked like he wasn't royalty at all. But that was what Mario always saw in himself. That he was still the same…even if in reality being king had changed him completely. But here he was, standing on the doorstep of the formal home that he and his brother once shared. Though he noticed that he had stepped on something, a note?

Picking it up he noticed that the elements weren't too kind to it, and the letter disintegrated when he tried to open it. His heart dropped, he knew that this was from Luigi himself. That Mario only wanted to see his brother's handwriting again… if only.

Despite the fact that this house was abandoned and the door was left unlocked. No vandals had come in and destroyed the place. Maybe out of respect, or something like that… but Mario couldn't help but to think he is standing in a tomb.

Out of the corner of his eye, Mario saw a bit of white. Looking over he saw that a second letter was sitting on the kitchen table. He approached it, and his heart swelled. It was addressed to him… and it looked like it hadn't been here for very long.

"Luigi…" he picked up the letter, wondering how it could have possibly gotten here.

-Flashback-

It was the night before his brother invaded, and he knew that he should be in bed. But as soon as he learned what his brother is going to do, Luigi couldn't help but to write one last letter. It was all he could think of, it was his only way of really talking to the Mario he once knew.

Luigi peaked through the window and noticed that all their old furniture was still there. He could figure that. Mario probably didn't want to bring any of the old and dusty furniture to the castle when he became king. He then approached the door, looking down to see that his old letter was here and that the weather had ruined it. Oh well. Luigi patted his pocket to check that his new letter was still there.

He knew that he should just send it to the castle. But Luigi also knew that the king wouldn't read it. After all it wasn't addressed to the king, it was addressed to his brother…

Picking the lock, Luigi easily slipped in and it felt like he stepped back into time. His heart began to hurt. Knowing this would never be home again. That he could never go back and relive those precious memories. That he and Mario's relationship would never be the same again. Luigi then knew that he had really lost everything…lost the only real family he had left behind.

Even with this new pain in his heart, Luigi couldn't help but to explore his formal home, and he found that it was all still in good condition. Even though a thick layer of dust had settled on everything…it reminded him of a tomb. This was his fault… this was all his fault and he had no one else to blame.

Finally he had gathered the courage to walk into his old bedroom and noticed that everything was still there. Including the pajamas he had laid out on his bed when he returned from the knighting ceremony. Taking his flashlight, he shined it on every photograph he had hung in his bedroom. It was something he prided himself in. Luigi loved his photographs, but he didn't dare bring these with him. It felt like they belong here now. These were from his formal life, and they were not something he was privileged to remember.

He wondered out of his room, almost in a daze and his flashlight landed on his brother's door. Luigi was tempted to go in there, but he couldn't bring himself to. Mario prided himself on his privacy and even now Luigi didn't want to break his promise that he wouldn't invade. Even if he just wanted something would remind him of his brother…but he couldn't bring himself to do it...

Heading back to the kitchen he passed by the respectable red and green chairs and the large couch that they used when they were hosting guests. Looking back at them, he which he could just curl up in his favorite chair again and pretend that this was all just one horrible dream… Luigi shook off the thought and walked into the kitchen, to the table and sitting in one of the chair that sat by the window.

This used to be Mario's preferred seat, he mused to himself. Mario would stare out the window absent mindlessly at nothing and Luigi would just admire his garden. Now Luigi could see that his once proud garden was nothing but weeds and tall grass. His flowers destroyed by the snow. He shivered; the power was turned off months ago, leaving only the bitter cold to pierce his clothing. He had to leave soon or he would catch his death.

Quickly taking out his letter, addressed to only the ghosts that lived here, he gently placed it on the table. Getting up, Luigi quickly fled the old home, unable to stay there any longer. Though he gave it one last glance, knowing that he would never see it again…

"Goodbye home…" he whispered to himself "and goodbye, Mario…"

-End of Flashback-

Mario stared at the letter, wondering if he should even open it. But his desperation to see what could be his brothers intended last words caused him to gently rip it open. Pulling out the piece of paper...

The letter was longer than the last one that he had gotten. Mario realized that Luigi must have poured his heart into it, somehow knowing that he won't live for much longer.

Opening up, the words seem to leap off the paper.

'Dear Mario.

I understand that I will never be a big-shot hero like you, but I know I will have to try.

Over the past few months I had learned that evil only exists if you truly wanted it to be there, and for awhile I felt disgusted with myself because I had given so much of my common sense to follow what I was told was right. Now I know what to do. Now I know what I have to do. I couldn't go back, even if I wanted to.

I know I was a coward for running away. But in my heart that is what I don't want any more. I didn't know why I had to run, but I understand now...

Mario, I hope you too understand all that I had done, all that I had sacrificed for what I truly believed to be the right thing. I hope you understand that Bowser, and this kingdom is now a part of my life, and it is something that I can never give up. Though sometimes, when I am alone, I had stopped to think about the wonderful life I had left behind…the wonderful brother I had abandoned.

Part of me wished that you can join me, but I know that the good people of the Mushroom Kingdom need their own hero to look up to. I just only hope I can do the same thing for the people here, because they need a hero too, Mario, and I know that that hero has to be me. I have no other options to go to. They deserve a second chance, they all do. I hope that if you can't forgive me, than you could at least forgive them.

I know I might die soon. I can feel it in my bones. I know that I won't make it to see the next winter, but I know you will, and if I do die, I hope you would continue the fight for me…and to remember that I would always be with you in spirit.

I need you to know that all I wanted was to be just like you, but because of my wish to feel like I could even be compared to you. I had forgotten what it would be like to be just me, just Luigi. I know I would never be a real hero like you. But I came close, didn't I? I only wanted was for you to be proud of me, I wanted that so badly because I couldn't do that for myself. But I am now something worth being proud of. At least, I think I am.

I love you, and I miss you so much it hurts. But thank you for giving me the strength to become someone worth remembering… I just hope it is for the right reasons.

All I ask in return is that you don't forget me when I am gone. I love you.

-Luigi'

Mario held the letter against his chest, his eyes burning with grief and shame. This was all his fault. He could only wish that Luigi would forgive him; for being so blind, for being so selfish and stupid. It was a waste of life. Mario felt his tears begin to pool out of his eyes and onto the paper. Even if he had spent his entire life working for the same cause that Luigi died for, he would never make this pain go away.

He just wished, wherever Luigi is now, that he is happy.

End of Chapter