Enjoy :)

Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Mario or its franchise; it belongs to Nintendo and their affiliates. I just am really grateful to its creators for giving me such a wonderful game and media series to write about!

I also don't own anything related to Harry Potter, all that belongs to J.K. Rowling, but thanks go to her as well because, using her wonderful work, I can expand this story to make it more interesting :)

Chapter Twenty-Four

"Luigi!"

It was Peasley who was calling me. I could see him hurrying towards me looking kind of worried.

"What's up?" I asked him when he neared.

He said, "You need to go and see about your beloved Daisy, she's over there."

I glanced to where he was pointing to the far end of the ballroom, the part that led to a pair of corridors, both dark, stretching out to the left and the right. I turned to my friend in confusion.

"Why do you say that?" I asked him, "Is she hurt or something?"

"No, she's with Ludwig."

"You left her with him?"

Here Peasley faltered. A very disturbed, discontented expression clouded his face. He stepped closer to me, so close that there was hardly any room between us, and dipped his head towards mine.

"I think he did something to me." He admitted in a hushed tone.

I frowned and asked, "Ludwig?"

"Yes." Peasley affirmed, then glanced over his shoulder and back at me.

"What did he do?" I then asked. "Or, what do you think he did?"

"You know me, Luigi, I wouldn't have left your lady love in that dark corridor. Not with him." Peasley whispered, "But something compelled me to leave. I was going to speak to him, but when I locked eyes with him, I couldn't remember what it was I was going to say. All I could think of was how imperative it was that I leave the area immediately."

"So you think he put a spell on you?"

"So that he could be alone with her." Peasley nodded. "I think you need to go and check on her. I would go along but I need to find my two little companions."

"Right." I nodded.

I could feel myself getting mad because, if Peasley was right and Daisy was somewhere in a dark hall with him, there was only a few things that could be happening. Peasley and I went our separate ways and I headed straight for the corridor.

"Baby brother!"

Jeez, why now?

"Mario, I really gotta'-"

My brother had impeded me and cut me off in my words by squeezing me in a huge hug. The wine, it made him get this way; all lovey-dovey. He messed up my hair with his big gloved hand and grinned goofily.

"Mario, I gotta' um, get Daisy and get back to the inn." I told him.

"Why? You just got here!" Mario whined. He must have drunk quite a bit.

"I know," I said gently, but still with a sense of urgency. "But it's getting late and I just want to call it a night."

"But Weege, you gotta' get some of the-"

"Mario." I spoke firmly. "I've got. To go."

I hated to be like that, but in this state I had to be clear. I wouldn't get through to him any other way. He seemed to relent at this point with a good-natured smile.

"Alright then," He grinned lopsidedly. "You sure you wouldn't rather turn in right here in the castle?"

"No, the inn's good." I answered.

I wanted some privacy. The inn would provide me that. Mario probably had only God knows who staying at this palace, I mean he had to accommodate his traveling guests. That was all well and good, but I didn't want to be around for all those strangers. And besides, the inn was all expense paid and it was pretty nice.

"Leaving so soon, Luigi?"

I swear if I get interrupted one more time

"Yeah, gotta go." I said in passing. I didn't even break my stride.

Yes, a part of me did feel bad for blowing off the Princess like that. She was probably being polite as usual. I just felt like every second that I wasted on hangups and pleasantries, the longer Daisy was in the company of the deceitful, navy-haired git.

I didn't make it to that corridor. I ran into Daisy when I was almost there. She almost plowed me over, she was practically running from where she came. That wasn't a good sign. The girl looked pale from a distance, and when we were close I saw that she was shaking. She looked spooked and confused and mad in turns. When she met my eyes, she smiled in relief, but only briefly.

"What is it?" I asked her. "What's wrong?"

I knew it was something when her mouth opened and then shut again. It wasn't just the dim lighting playing tricks on my eyes, she was freaked out and a bit infuriated, too. Not a good sign either. I put my arm around her waist and tilted her head up to face me. Daisy was upset and I needed to fix that, not go hunt down Ludwig.

"Daisy." I spoke gently despite the noise in the ballroom, "What did he do?"

"How did you know?" The girl frowned.

"Peasley told me you were alone with Ludwig." I explained. "What did he do?"

She gazed at me and said, "Nothing much. He was just being his usual obnoxious self."

"And what's that like?" I pressed. "Did he put his hands on you?"

I was on edge, no, I felt more like a bomb with a short fuse just on verge of exploding. All it would take was a word, one word. I wouldn't even need to know what it is he'd done, just the knowledge of him having done something at all would make me borderline homicidal. Or more than borderline. I wasn't sure at this point. Okay, yes I did; I really despised that kid, but I was pretty sure I didn't want to kill him.

"Luigi, don't worry about it." She spoke softly. "Ludwig and I, we had a disagreement."

"Disagreement?" I echoed.

What does that even mean? She's not telling me anything

Daisy said, "Peasley told me some things, and I got angry and accused Ludwig and provoked him and he...just...look, can we talk about this in private?"

"Yeah." I said at once.

At least she was willing to talk. And the way she trailed off like that, the way she shook her head and sighed, she just seemed so tired. She hugged herself to me and buried her head in the crook of my neck. I held her to me and tried to focus on her. If I thought about Ludwig, I'd get irrational. Not knowing what went on between them was bothering me a lot. I kissed the top of Daisy's head and tried to calm myself.

"You'd tell me if you were hurt, right?"

"Yes." Daisy replied with a nod in case I didn't hear her.

"You promise?"

"Yes."

"Honest?"

"I'm fine," Daisy murmured to me, "I just need some time to think."

"About what?"

"Things."

"Like?"

"I'll tell you once we get back."

"Alright." I nodded.

I kept my arm around Daisy and felt her put hers behind my back. She leaned into me as we walked past all the people. We weren't the only ones leaving, which was a small relief. It'd gotten very late.

Suddenly Daisy stopped.

We were near the entrance door, so I wondered why she would halt. I glanced down at her and saw a trace of fear flash across her face, then anger and indifference took over alternately. Following her gaze, I saw someone dead ahead, someone I was really hoping I'd make it through the night without seeing.

"I'm sorry." He said.

From what I knew of Ludwig, especially following what Peasley told me tonight, those were hardly the words I expected to hear come out his arrogant mouth. I knew he couldn't be speaking to me, not with our history, so I looked at Daisy. She looked extremely pissed off.

Ludwig stared only at her when he said, "I don't know what came over me, but it won't happen again."

"Just stay away from me." Daisy ground out, her eyes flinty.

Now Ludwig looked at me. I didn't even try to hide the way I felt about him. He must have seen it, the resentment, because in his own true fashion he smirked a little. He hadn't changed at all. Well, he looked different. His navy hair was thicker, longer, fell as a sheet down past his arms. There were black streaks in it too, framing a pale porcelain face that was all sharp angles and slightly feminine softness where one would hardly expect it, like in his smirking mouth and sloping lashes. He blinked slowly and cut his eyes from me to Daisy, then brushed past us into the castle.

"What was that about?" I suddenly realized.

Daisy just muttered, "Nothing. Can we go?"

"Daisy?" I tried in a quieter voice.

She sighed and leaned into me again, saying, "Sorry. I really do have a lot on my mind. I'll tell you about it when we get to the inn."

"Alright," I said, wondering what it was that could be bothering her.

He didn't do it because it was the right thing to do, he did it to avoid later confrontation. And he'd meant what he'd said. He wouldn't ever do something so stupid again.

It was stupid to think that could have ended any other way, Ludwig thought to himself. True, he'd tried to extricate himself from the stressful situation, but the girl had to go and touch him, put her hand on him. That had been his undoing. He was incredibly frustrated because he really had been trying to control it, the desire that wasn't entirely his own. Now he knew that if he were to have any semblance of dominance over it, he'd have to stay as far from the girl as possible. He would remain at the palace. From what he'd seen earlier, she and the plumber brother were staying at the same inn as his siblings. It wouldn't do to reside there, lest he be tempted even further.

But it feels like everything in me is fighting this, He mused as he walked through the emptying castle. He felt as if being within these walls were grating on his last nerves and he longed for the palace in the Badlands. It was where he belonged.

No it's not, Ludwig frowned. He had another palace, one he commissioned to be built within the city of his territory, that's where he belonged. It was strategically logical, after all. But his mind and reasoning had hardly been sound as of late. He needed rest.

I'll have it, if only in the physical sense, once I collect those little baneful siblings of mine, He knew.

Ludwig had sent off Wendy and Lemmy and the prince Junior, he'd sent off Larry as well, but three of his brothers yet remained in the palace. He sought out Iggy first. It was easiest, now that his magic lay within the boy. All he had to do was seek out the presence of his essence like a GPS and let it guide him to the boy's location. That's where he was headed now. But the further he walked, the more confused he became.

He must be wandering aimlessly, Ludwig thought, it's not like he knows his way around. He hasn't been here before. Well. Not in a very, very long time. There's no way he could remember...

Ludwig stopped in that line of thought for two reasons: one, he wasn't really sure just how much Iggy remembered because the boy was so enigmatic; and two, he'd found him. Before him Iggy sat on a set of stairs that led down into the pit of the castle. He had his feet on the steps below him while his slender fingers gripped the edge of the step he sat on. He stared out at the darkness below him with blank lime eyes.

This is what I mean, Ludwig thought, the little nuisance is so damn hard to read.

"What are you doing here?" Ludwig asked.

Iggy sat with his back to his brother with no intention of turning around anytime soon. In fact, the only thing that moved after Ludwig had spoken was the tail of his bright green high ponytail.

"I asked you a question, Ignatius." Ludwig spoke in warning.

"I know." Iggy said simply, then drawled. "You won't be getting an answer. Unless, of course, you force your way into my mind again."

The boy stood slowly, then turned with even less haste. Once he was facing his brother, his eyes shown with fierce challenge, quiet and calm as his voice was. Ludwig stared back with a mix of emotions but didn't say anything more. Iggy's mouth twitched for a split second as he snorted softly. He brushed past his older brother.

"Next time you think about tampering with my mind," He called back behind him, "Don't."

At first I thought she'd changed her mind. When we got back to the inn, Daisy started gathering her clothes from her suitcase and headed straight to the bathroom without a word. She didn't come out for a while. I didn't know what to make of her behavior. She told me we'd talk about whatever was on her mind and whatever happened between her and Ludwig, but her behavior spoke of avoidance or, at the very least, reluctance. While she showered, I sat on the edge of the bed and waited for her to get out.

I must have fallen asleep because I found myself blinking my eyes open after having my shoulder tapped on. I looked up and saw Daisy standing before me. Her hair was up but was much more limp and slightly damp, probably from the steam that was pouring from the open door of the bathroom.

"I woke you up?" She spoke softly.

The yawn I released was answer enough. I stood along with her and stretched my arms. Daisy put herself between them and hugged me. With her head around my chest, I held her warm, clean body and smelled fresh water and soap on her.

"I'm sorry for waiting this late," She told me, "Still wanna' talk?"

"Yeah." I nodded.

We went to the bed and I lamented the fact that I hadn't changed out of my dress clothes. I took a shower before the event, so all it would have taken was putting on some sweats and a t-shirt. I would have done it now but Daisy was already settling herself in my lap. I bent over and took off my shoes and then my belt and dropped them on the floor. I leaned back against the head of the bed and felt a little amused when

Daisy crawled right up beside me.

"So what's going on?" I asked her.

She gazed at me and then sighed. "Oh, Luigi. A bunch of stuff. It started when Peasley took me aside to speak with me on my country."

"He took you to that dark hall?" I asked.

"Yes," Daisy replied, "He told me that he'd been watching my country and investigating its goings ons. To a degree, that is."

"Why's that?" I asked.

She smiled fondly and said, "Because he's nosy. And because he's a good guy, I suppose; us royals do need to stick together. But anyway, he said that there's turmoil in my country."

"This has something to do with Ludwig?" I predicted.

Again Daisy nodded and said, "I'll spare you the details: Peasley is nearly convinced that Ludwig is trying to take over my country."

"What?"

"I know," Daisy glanced up at me. "It sounds crazy."

"No, that sounds about right." I remarked in a flat tone.

Daisy shook her head and said, "If he has aims for my country, he may well succeed. You and I both know how much he can accomplish when he puts his mind to it."

"Unfortunately, that's true." I stated. "But why does he want your country? I mean, no offense. Your country's really great, I mean, from what I remember of it, that is."

Daisy laughed a little and I smiled. It was always good to hear her laugh and see her smile.

"Luigi, I know what you mean, don't worry." She grinned, then sobered and said, "I don't know why, but Ludwig's been acting...well, he didn't seem like he was himself tonight."

"That's what he said," I noted, "but I thought that was just some go-to excuse people use when they do something stupid. And while we're on that, what did he do?"

Daisy sat up and so I did, too. Here it was, the crux of the matter. I braced myself for whatever her next words would be. She folded her legs Indian style and started wringing her hands, not meeting my eyes for a few seconds.

"Daisy." I prompted gently.

"After Peasley told me what he suspected," She began, "Ludwig came into the hall with us. He said something and then Peasley went over to him. I didn't expect him to just leave, though."

"Neither did he."

"What do you mean?"

I told her, "Peasley thinks Ludwig did something to make him leave you."

"That sounds feasible." Daisy spoke dryly.

"What happened after Peasley left?" I tried not to implore.

Daisy said evasively, "I basically accused him of taking over my country, demanded an answer, and when he didn't give me one I kind of provoked him and he got upset and-"

"What did he do?" I asked, surprisingly calmly.

"Nothing you need to worry about." Daisy said with her chin lifted. "I won't tell you because I don't want you getting mad. It's over. I'm fine. And it won't happen again, so..."

"...If you say so, Daisy." I murmured at last.

Daisy's lips pouted a little when she said, "Luigi, please don't be mad."

"I'm not," I assured her, then leaned over and kissed her for good measure.

She smiled against my mouth and kissed me back. Her hands came up to either side of my face but too soon she let go.

She said, "What should I do?"

"Um." I said, trying and failing to play off the fact that the kiss had completely disoriented me.

As always.

"About what?" I said lamely.

"My country." Daisy said with a patient but worried smile. "What if Peasley's right?"

"What if he isn't?" I countered simply.

"If he isn't," Daisy explained, "Then I guess I have nothing to worry about. But Peasley is probably right. And if he is, and Ludwig is trying to take over, what should I do?"

"What can you do?" I asked her. "What are your options?"

I was already still thinking of kissing Daisy again, and distraction number two came in the form of her worrying her bottom lip.

"The first option would be to go home." Daisy said slowly.

"Home as in Brooklyn?"

"No. Home, home." She corrected. "Home as in Sarasaland. If I go back and take up the throne, there's no way Ludwig can take over. I mean, besides hostile invasion or an assassination."

"Wouldn't put it past him," I said in a mutter.

Daisy shrugged and said, "Well I guess it's best to consider every possible scenario. Once I'm back on the throne, there's no guarantee that Ludwig wouldn't still try to take over. Which is why I move on to my second option."

"Okay."

"We could just go back to Brooklyn and pretend this isn't happening." She said weakly, "We could stay for the wedding and then go home and continue on with our lives."

"You don't sound too pleased with that option." I observed.

Daisy furrowed her brow and said, "I don't know if my conscience would allow that."

"How 'bout a third option?" I suggested.

"Sure, let's hear it." Daisy encouraged.

"How 'bout we talk with Peasley. He's clearly good at eavesdropping on your country's affairs, so maybe we can work something out to where he'd keep you up to date on what's going on," I said. "That way you can go home and still be in the know."

"We could write him letters." She agreed. "That's a good idea, Luigi."

I said, "If things in Sarasaland seem too sketchy, we could always come back and go from there."

"Right." Daisy smiled as if a weight had been lifted. "I'm glad I talked to you about this."

"Yeah, me too." I said.

I was kind of worried once she mentioned her problem dealt with her country, because, well, I was useless when it came to politics. But the idea to write to Peasley to stay informed just seemed to come from nowhere. I was glad for it. Whatever kept the anxiety from Daisy's beautiful face. She seemed a lot more at ease now.

"Tomorrow there is a parade." She spoke, her light eyes sparkling. "I suppose we can arrange a system of correspondence with Peasley then."

"Sure." I nodded. "What time's the parade?"

"I have no idea, but I'm guessing noon." Daisy admitted.

"Let's hope you're right."

I don't wanna' get up any earlier than that

Release. That's what he was craving. He couldn't put a name to it before, but the stress had finally pushed him towards the answer. Release was what he wanted, needed right now. His sister was driving him up a wall with her mood swings and depression, letting him in and then shutting him back out; his emotions were all over the place lately. And of course Ludwig wasn't helping matters. He really didn't know how he felt about his oldest brother anymore. Ludwig was bothersome and uptight, but never this bad. Now the teenager didn't know how to feel about his navy-haired brother and king. His platonic feelings were mounting towards disgust and resentment.

"Roy?"

Said youth focused on the girl in front of him who'd called his name. Roy wasn't used to thinking so much. He wasn't a thinker. He was intelligent, but his forte lay with his immense strength. That was where his confidence lay. He was beginning to get away from his usual self.

All this contemplatin' shit ain't me, he thought bitterly.

Thinking too much frustrated him because he couldn't do anything about the things that bothered him. Well there was one thing he could do; find release in something, or someone, else. Hence his current situation.

With his brother MJ on lookout, Roy had taken the young woman who'd been trailing him the entire night to a closed off room beyond the dining hall and kitchens. The room was relatively small and had a long wooden table and chairs in the middle of it.

When it comes to these things, I guess I could do a whole lot worse, he figured, studying the girl. She was lovely, by any standard, with brown hair that curled and bounced around her tan face and thick brows that made her look a bit younger than she was. Her dress was too young for her as well; she was at least Roy's age and yet the white gown was plain and loose, no good when it came to advertising the new curves and mounds he knew lay under the garment.

It didn't matter. Roy took to sliding his hands under the hem of it to find those curves for himself. The girl was sitting on the table with her hands on his shoulders. Once his palms hit thighs, she let her own hands run down the front of his dress shirt. Roy moved closer to her and pulled her thighs around him. Surprised, the girl stiffened. Even though there was her stockings to prevent skin to skin contact, the girl was getting nervous. She'd been attracted by the handsome, foreign young man and on a whim decided to leave the security of her friends in favor of wandering off alone with him. Now she was wondering if she'd made a grave mistake.

"Hey," Roy whispered, "Look at me."

He took his hands from under her skirts, much to the girl's relief, and placed once on her waist. With his other hand, he lifted her chin so that their eyes locked.

"Look at me," He whispered again.

With his head bent over hers, all the girl could see was his young, handsome face. Despite the ridiculous shade of short hair, he was a stunning individual and she felt stomach flutter nervously, but not in a fearful way. Roy let his eyes drift down the girl's face. He could tell she'd gotten scared and was trying to fix that. With a gentleness that was certainly forced, given his desperation for something to distraction, he pushed his own mouth against the girl's. With that kiss, she felt her hands go lax once more against the older boy's chest. Roy kissed her again, on the cheek, then kissed her behind the ear. She shivered.

"What's your name?" He murmured.

His voice was low enough to make her weak in the knees but loud enough to be heard over the thudding of her heart.

"Asa." She almost forgot reply.

Roy smirked then and methodically spoke to her and moved his hands over her body in turn.

"Asa." Roy repeated.

His hands roved down her hips.

"Pretty name."

He dropped a kiss against her ear lobe at the same time that he slid his hands down her legs.

"Yo, Asa." He then murmured.

The girl turned brown eyes up at him, though hers were a bit hazy from his attentions.

Roy smirked again and asked, "You ever been kissed like this before?"

And after he laid his mouth on hers again and kissed her with innate ability, he gained free reign over her entire body. Her arms came up to wrap round his neck as he deepened the embrace. His hands were free to return to her the inside of her skirts where he tried to be sensitive in groping her thighs and bottom. Her tongue was smooth under his own, sweet like honey and impossible to tame though he tried when they kissed. He needed more of this. It felt good. Roy kissed her jaw and collar and as much of her blossoming chest as her dress' neckline would allow.

"Roy!"

The two young people froze. Roy glanced at the door, from where he'd heard the hiss of a noise, then shrugged and went back to dragging his open mouth over the girl's chest.

"Roy," came the girl's timid voice.

"Mm?"

"I think somebody's coming," She spoke worriedly.

Roy returned to the girl's mouth and gave her a heady kiss.

"Asa," He drawled in a low whisper, "don't worry about it, yo."

"Roy! Pssst, Roy!"

Now even Roy could not deny the urgent tone coming from the door. It was MJ. Roy sighed, annoyed, and turned his head towards the door but before he could take a single step, it slammed open.

Brilliant was the spread of crimson over Asa's creamy flesh. She was blushing hard in the face, especially, and wide were her doe-ish eyes. Roy was less fazed, opting to rest his hands on Asa's thighs and roll his eyes. He shot a look to his brother MJ, who stood just behind their eldest sibling.

"Big mouth." Roy accused.

"I tried to warn you!" MJ shot back.

Ludwig's voice was hard when he asked, "What do you think you're doing?"

"Whatever I want." Roy replied flippantly.

Roy turned his back on his brother and faced Asa. He helped the embarrassed girl from the table. She righted her skirts and tried to keep from meeting anyone's eyes. As she toyed with the fabric of her gown, Roy dropped a kiss on her cheek.

"You should go, Asa." He murmured, then said more loudly, "My brother's kind of a monumental bastard."

Ludwig flinched at the word and narrowed his eyes. As the girl left, brushing past him in the doorway, Ludwig didn't even spare her a glance. MJ, in the hall, looked between Roy and Ludwig. He knew that a confrontation between the two was bound to be bad, considering what Roy had been doing.

Roy walked out of the warm room as well but Ludwig grabbed him by the back of his neck.

"Don't you ever call me that again." He spoke evenly.

Roy jerked away and spat, "What should I call you then, yo? A rapist?"

Again Ludwig twitched in anger and told, "You don't know what you're talking about."

"I know what I saw," Roy shouted, "And I know damn well not to force my fucking self on somebody else-"

"That's enough!" Ludwig raised his voice.

Roy stood shaking with anger, his eyes full of indignation and agitation. MJ couldn't stand to see his brothers behave in such a volatile way towards each other. Ludwig was already irritated from his encounter with Iggy, he just wanted to collect his brothers and get them back to the inn so that the night could be over.

"I don't care what you think of me." Ludwig ground out. "You will not undermine my authority as your king. Do you understand me?"

Roy scoffed and said, "Fuck your authority."

Ludwig yanked him by the front of his shirt and dragged him forward so that he was right in his face. Roy struggled but couldn't call his monstrous strength to come to his aid, not against Ludwig's magic-enhanced grip. He fumed but knew fighting his tyrant brother was futile in this instance.

"I said, do you understand me?" Ludwig reiterated once Roy stopped fighting.

"...Yes." Roy spat reluctantly.

Ludwig released him with a shove. Roy rolled his shoulders and glared at his brother. As Ludwig led the two of his siblings to the inn, he could have sworn he heard one last muttered word.

"...bastard."

A/N: And why does Ludwig hate that word so much? Hmmm. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, I'll try to have the next one out soon. Enjoy your spring and Easter break if you guys celebrate it and I'll see you next time!

Until then...

~DymondGold~