15

It had been about twenty minutes since Mario rescued Luigi from the freezing watery depths of the frozen underground pond. Using his body as a heater (or at least attempting to do so), Mario struggled in bringing his brother back to normal body temperatures to steer him away from death, for his body was also suffering from the intense cold. Looking down at Luigi's face, he could tell that his brother had gone through plenty of hell to get what they had come for. Turning his attention back over to the Crystal Star, Mario looked at the engraving on the back. The symbol looked very similar to a sickle, but Mario was unable to remember what the planetary symbol was, since his knowledge on the subject was not as well-rounded as his brother's. Mario then checked Luigi's pulse again. Amazingly, his heart was still beating.

"Stay with me, Luigi!" Mario said. "I know you can make it. Just stay strong!"

Suddenly, Mario began to hear hushed voices coming from the top of the room, the voices of Koopas and Goombas from Bowser's seemingly endless army of goons. Looking up, Mario thought he could see some of their shadows crawling up the ceiling of the lighted crystal cave. Using the last bit of strength he could use, Mario took his hands and moved them underneath Luigi's body before lifting him and carrying him in his arms. He then started slowly walking over towards the large cave opening where they both found the large boulder and decided to head towards the unexplored cave passage with the low ceiling. Mario could feel the ice crack underneath him, as the combined weight of both him and Luigi concentrated on one spot seemed to disrupt the structural integrity of the ice. Luckily, Mario was able to safely transport Luigi's body across the ice and into the more stable rocky cavern. But once Mario actually started making his way into the new cave passage, his arms suddenly gave out and was forced to lay Luigi flat on the ground once more.

"Damn…You're heavier than I thought." Mario said as he tried lifting his brother again. He reached into the rucksack and took out a red mushroom to increase his strength, but even then he struggled to carry his brother. It was the intense cold inside the cave that bringing him down, but Mario had to keep on going to get away from Bowser's insidious army. Mario was now walking through the passage with the low and jagged ceiling and saw that the caves were becoming darker as the colorful crystals on the walls became scarcer.

"This is going to be a real challenge." Mario said to himself as he struggled to guide himself through the growing darkness and carry his brother at the same time. Despite the little light there was, Mario was somehow able to see that the passage lead to another small cavern where two more smaller passages were connected, both of which lead down passages that were pitch-black and filled with uncertainty. With Luigi still in his arms and with the threat of Bowser's troops becoming more intense, Mario randomly chose to go down the left cave passage. It was then that Mario unexpectedly caught a glimpse of something that he and Luigi had already come into contact with back in Sarasaland.

"It's the orange light!" Mario said. "Mama? Papa? Are you there? Will you help me and Luigi? Please! Luigi really needs help!"

The orange light halted in its passage down the dark tunnel and reversed its direction until it came right up to Mario and the figures of his and Luigi's parents appeared before his eyes.

"I could already tell that you and your brother were in serious trouble when you guys dove into that frozen lake." Mama said.

"Oh, thank goodness you two came!" Mario said. "Please tell me there's a way I can wake up Luigi!"

"As much as we'd like to help you, son. We can only do so much." Papa said. "All we can do is provide you with helpful advice and tips as you and your brother search for the other stars. What happened back in Sarasaland was a one-time thing. It's strictly up to you guys to fulfill the prophecy."

"We should've told you earlier." Mama said. "We knew about the predictions of the Ancients. We can't interfere too much with your quest."

"But this is mine and Luigi's quest!" Mario replied. "I can't just let him freeze to death like this! If you can't help wake him up, could you guys at least guide me out of this cave or somewhere that can provide the help that my brother needs?! I can't lose any more of the people that are close to me!"

"All we can say is that help will be waiting for you just as soon as you exit these caves." Papa said. "It's only a matter of time before it arrives."

"What are you talking about?" Mario asked. "What do you mean that it will only be a matter of time before it arrives?!"

"You have to trust us, Mario." Mama said. "It's important that you believe us."

"I wish I could, Mama." Mario said. "But right now, I'm just overwhelmed by everything that's going on that I don't know who to trust anymore. I've pushed myself to the very limits to get where I am now, and so has my brother. He's the only person that I can really trust at this point, because he has shared my pain and my misery throughout both of our lifetimes, as well as in the time we've been scouring the globe searching for these Crystal Stars and saving the princesses from Bowser. All I ask from you two is guidance. If you, as our parents, can't show us the way to freedom from this God-forsaken place, my brother will die! I don't feel like losing my twin brother! Take a good look at him…A few nights ago, he was with one of the prettiest women in the world and lost his boyhood to her, and I know for a fact that he wants to save her from the Koopa King! He has too much to live for, and so do I…Please help me help my brother."

Both parents looked at each and then back to Mario.

"Follow us." they both said in unison. The orange light started moving down the rocky passageway and Mario closely behind with Luigi still lying limp in his arms. The strength he acquired from the red mushroom was still working through his body, though Luigi's body still felt extraordinarily heavy.

"Where are you leading me?" Mario asked.

"We're leading you to somewhere important." the ghostly parents replied. "Just follow this passage until you reach the end. It will be a little brighter once we reach the end."

Mamma mia! Mario thought to himself as he became frustrated with the entire situation. Why can't they just tell me if this is the way out of the cave!

What seemed like an hours was really only fifteen minutes. Mario followed the orange aura of his deceased parents and found himself emerging at the top of another large cavern filled with large glowing crystals. The crystals in this cave, however, were dimmer and displayed a soft bluish glow instead of displaying multiple colors at the same time. Looking around, the cavern looked much more difficult due to the undeniable presence of what looked like a pitch-black bottomless pit in the center of the room. Even more surprising was the change in temperature. Even though it was still very chilly, Mario could tell that there seemed to be some kind of heat source hidden somewhere in the cave.

"This is as far as we can take you." Papa said. "Just follow the rocky path to the left down to that next cave passage." he then pointed down to a small doorway a hundred feet away on the left adjacent side of the cavern. It was situated almost right next to the large bottomless pit and was much farther down than the ledge Mario was currently standing on. The sheer vastness of the cavern was enough to make his mouth drop.

"You mean I have to walk all the way down there?" Mario asked. "Why can't you and Mama stay?"

"We can only remain here on Earth for so long before we are dragged back into the spirit world." Mama said. "Just follow this path and you will find something that will help Luigi and yourself. We wish you the best of luck! We love you!"

"But wait…" Mario said as the parents began to vanish.

But it was too late. The orange light had already vanished from sight and Mario left by himself with Luigi still in his arms. He looked around the giant cavern, wishing that there was a simpler and easier way of navigating the underground cave systems. As Mario slowly started walking down the narrow path down to next cave passage, he caught sight of some loose rock that fell over the edge of the rocky ledge and into the giant bottomless pit. He listened for the echo of an impact, but no sound was ever heard. Trying not to look down, Mario slowly carried his brother downward towards the passageway. Luigi's weight threated to offset his balance, but he barely managed to stay on his feet and make his way downwards through the dim bluish light emitted from the large crystals on the wall. Besides the sound of the gravel below his wet shoes, Mario could not discern any other sound in the cave. It was unbearably silent.

"Oh, shit…" Mario said as he slipped on some loose rock and almost lost his balance. His heart was racing from the sudden scare as accidentally found himself glancing into the threatening black depths below. "Don't worry, Luigi. You'll be awake in no time."

As Mario ventured further down into the cave, the temperature continued to climb ever so slightly. He was now under the impression that whatever was causing the warmth was coming from the doorway he was making his way towards. Maybe the ghosts of his parents were really helping him and Luigi, but in a way that allows them to accomplish their goals on their own. He and Luigi were young adults after all. Whatever the cause behind their reasoning, it did not stop Mario from saving his younger brother at whatever cost it might carry. So far, the only thing that Mario had to deal with was his precarious trek over loose rock. The main thing that was keeping him going was his curiosity. What in the world was making so much heat?

"Al…most…there!" Mario grunted as the weight of his brother was starting to overtake his weak shoulders. Finally, he reached the next passage and set Luigi down on the ground to rest his tired limbs. Checking his heart rate, Mario was relieved to find that Luigi was still breathing. Although his body was still extremely cold and wet (almost frosty from the intense cold), Luigi's breathing seemed to be improving from the last time Mario checked up on him, which meant that he would wake up anytime soon. But until that time, he knew that he was going to have to carry Luigi around. After Mario regained his strength, he lifted his brother back into his arms and continued to carry him down the dark passage. It was then when he started to notice the sounds of running water.

"What could that be?" Mario asked as the sound continued to grow louder the farther he ventured downward. Not only did he hear the sound of running water, but he thought he could hear the sound of bubbling water as well. Once he rounded a corner making a left turn, Mario could only stare in awe at the sight before him. The passage emerged into a medium-sized cavern with large red and green crystals shining brightly on the rocky walls. A large steaming lake of hot water heated by geothermal heat dominated the room, making the entire cave feel like a sauna compared to the rest of the caves Mario and Luigi explored, even though the air was still remarkably chilly. As the older brother set the younger onto the ground, he noticed that it very warm and dry, almost like someone's driveway on a hot summer day. Already, Mario could feel Luigi's body begin to warm and dry up. And then, just like that, Mario watched as his brother's eyes started to slowly open. He saw Mario's face and smiled.

"Luigi…You're awake!" Mario said.

"I'm alive…You saved me…" Luigi said in weak tone. "How can I ever repay you?"

"All I can say right now is thank goodness you're still alive!" Mario replied as he embraced his brother. "I was afraid that you wouldn't make it. You stayed strong, and I can't be any more proud to still have you with me!"

Luigi felt tears develop in his eyes as he embraced Mario back with a strong grip.

"Thank you." he uttered.

"Anytime, brother." Mario replied.

Luigi let go of his brother and started looking around the cave. He was completely unfamiliar with his surroundings, since the last time he was awake he found himself swimming in a subzero underground lake that had been frozen over with ice. In his mind, he immediately questioned the unseasonably warm temperature inside the room.

"Where am I?" Luigi asked.

"Where near an underground hot spring." Mario replied. "I had another vision of our parents. They helped guide me here…"

"You saw them again?" Luigi asked.

"Yeah." Mario said. "And I carried you for who knows how long through these underground caves just to keep you alive. Just before I found myself inside this area, I was walking down a narrow rock ledge overlooking a bottomless pit while I had you in my arms."

"That's insane!" Luigi replied. "Your arms are probably very tired."

"You got that right."

Mario tried massaging his own shoulders, but the pain was immense and Luigi could sense it through his facial expressions. He shivered as he tried keeping himself warm. Running his hands through his hair, Luigi felt frost and tied shaking it out even though his hair was almost completely frozen in place. Laying back down on the warm ground was the only way for him to stay warm.

"Do you have the star?" Luigi asked.

Mario reached into the rucksack and showed the Crystal Star to Luigi.

"The symbol…on the back of the star." Luigi said. "It's the planetary symbol for Saturn."

Mario turned the star around and observed the sickle-shaped engraving on the back. Well, that answers my question from earlier!

Hello everyone! Sorry for such a long wait (again). I was caught up in spending too much time working on some of my other stories. That and the usual excitement that comes about from the holiday season made it very difficult for me to stay on track with this story. But now that my writer's block is gone, I should hopefully be able to go back to my usual update schedule if everything else going on in my life permits.

Hope has finally returned for the two Mario Brothers. Luigi, who went unconscious after his freezing dive into cold water, is now once again back to his normal state of mind thanks to the rescue efforts of his older brother. With the guidance of his and Luigi's parents' spirits, Mario carried his younger brother through long cave passages and navigated treacherous obstacles before making his way to an underground hot spring where Luigi somehow managed to reawaken. As they recover from the intense cold, what other things will be in store for the Mario Brothers later on? What are the current whereabouts of Pauline and Yoshi? And what is the current situation with Peach and Daisy as they continue to suffer inside their caged prison? These will be some of the hot topics that will be covered in the coming chapters. I hope to see you in the next update!

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