Disclaimer: I still own nothing.

Chapter 1

The Sun shone and its rays pierced through the window, into the eyes of a certain green plumber. I groggily groaned and turned over on the bed. But it proved fruitless as the Sun's rays still shot through through my closed eyelids, it was as if the day was promoting me to wake up. I finally caved in and woke up. It was too quiet. I looked to the top bunk, in which was his bed, as if to magically see him there-peacefully asleep. But he was not, of course. How stupid could I be if I thought he would just magically appear as if this all was a dream? I sighed, "I may as well start the day."

I stuck to the usual routine of brushing my teeth, taking a shower, getting dressed, and then cooking breakfast. It's funny, usually Mario would be snoring through the whole routine...today there was no snore. I took it for granted and here I am today, not a sound but the eggs sizzling on the stove top. I almost wanted to cry but I did not. Mario would want me to be strong, I was the new protector of the Mushroom Kingdom after all. "All my fault."

I finished my breakfast shortly after and proceeded to the Mushroom Kingdom. Visions of Mario and I coursed their way through my head. The time we rushed to the Peach's party when Bowser lifted her castle, the time when the both of them went up against the dojo master, the time when...I violently shook my head, I did not want to have those memories going through my head. It was too painful right now.

As I walked throughout Toad Town, nothing was going on. Normally, the town is always bustling with activities; today not one thing was happening. Not even Tess T. was cooking and humming. Even those hills and clouds that always smiled back at you (Mario thought they were creepy; I thought it was cute) were not smiling anymore. Their smiles were turned upside down, as if to provoke the mood.

Here I was now, the castle-Princess Peach's Castle to be exact. Sometimes I would come here to relax when things grew hectic. There was always a calming sense in Peach's garden, but today was an eerie silence. Of course the fountain was spraying water as usual, but I am talking about a different silence: dread. The feeling was mutual, as I had yet started seeing things-illusions more precisely. There I saw our baby version selves. I remember this day, the day we were playing tag with Baby Peach and Baby Daisy. We were 'it' and the girls started to run. Mario and I gave chase as we all laughed and frolicked in the garden. Clumsily as I was, I tripped chasing Baby Daisy; but before I fell on my face into the ground, Mario caught me. He smiled warmly as I gave him a hug. And we stood like that until the girls jumped in and dog-piled on us. At least I chuckled after the illusions disappeared, I needed that. Mario would never let me down, not even with with a simple trip, most of the time. When I fell down, Mario would always bring me back up...Always...But now I could see that 'always' did not last forever.

Nothing ever changed inside Peach's garden except recently. Mario's tombstone stood erect in the middle of her garden now, Peach insisted (rather demanded) that it would be done so and no other way. I made my way to it and noted that Peach was sitting in front of it. If anyone could understand what I was feeling, it would be her. If I were not Mario's brother, then she would be the closest person to him. I could hear her talking to 'Mario'.

She caressed the tombstone as she whispered, "Good morning, sweetie. How was your sleep last night?"

I slowly sat down next to her as she smiled, "Good morning, Luigi."

"Good morning, Peach," I replied. "How is Mario?"

"He's fine. He's snoring softly as he sleeps."

"Yeah, he would probably be snoring right."

She smiled as she continued to caress the tombstone. I relaxed myself to lean back on my hands as I stared at the tombstone. It read:

R.I.P

Here lies Mario, former protector of the Mushroom Kingdom, brother of Luigi Mario, and best friend of Princess Peach Toadstool. May you rest here in peace as you continue to watch over us from wherever you may be up there.

For some reason, I just wanted to cry. This tombstone was supposed to make me feel better, but in actuality it did not. I felt worse; this tombstone was the ultimate mark of all my mistakes, my shortcomings. All those times when Mario risked his life to save me added up to this, the ultimate price to pay for all clumsiness I had. There was no mistake about it...Mario's death was solely based because of me, with the occasional help from Bowser. If only I had been stronger, more braver, then things might have been different...

A pair of soft gloved hands wrapped around my neck, in which made me jump a little. But I immediately calmed down when I looked to see that it was only Daisy whom had me in her soft embrace.

"Hi Luigi and Peach," she said softly.

"Hi Daisy," we replied.

If there was anybody that could calm me down, it was Daisy. Not because of your beautiful features and personality, but also because I trusted her the most-perhaps more than I trusted Mario (which is saying a lot). There was nothing that I did not tell Daisy, she even knew some of my more inward secrets that I never even told Mario nor Peach. We told everything about each other, there was nothing that we would not tell each other...that's a lie. I tell her everything yet I have not confessed my true feelings for her. I guess I am afraid that I would ruin my friendship with her if I came out with it. I would rather have hidden feelings and have her as a friend, rather than letting them out and risking the friendship I treasured the most.

The three of us finally went back inside the castle after forty-five minutes of silence at Mario's tombstone. Peach had not eaten breakfast since then, and decided to finally eat; however, breakfast was cut short when the doors burst open and the king of the Darklands stood there, menacingly.

"Ah, there is my princess. And look, no Mario," he grinned evilly, "Just the way I like it."

Next chapter shall be : "The Tragic battle of Bowser."

Wow, when I go into a sad mode for this story, I do not say a lot.

Ciao!