Mario looked at the Duel Scream as Bowser watched the two twins from the side. He was wondering if Grambi from the Overthere dropped a present in his lap to destroy them here and now. 'Might as well,' Bowser thought, smirking very evilly.

Elvin stated, "Mario! Good to see you are alright, my boy!"

Mario asked, "What are you talking about, Elvin?"

Luigi cut Elvin to the chase and answered, "King Boo is free!"

Mario instantly paled as he blurted out, "What?!"

Elvin replied, "Luigi is right, Mario! How odd though. I thought for sure he would go after you!"

Luigi responded, "I think he has the princess!"

Mario looked at his baby brother, a ghostly white (if you pardon the pun) and before he could say anything, Spettro started to growl. Mario and Luigi looked as they saw Bowser breathing a fire ball at them. Both Mario and Luigi quickly dodged it, as Spettro turned invisible and ran in fear. The fallen Dual Scream laid on the ground as Bowser leaned over it.

Elvin started to say, "Oh dear..."

Bowser started to stomp on the Dual Scream but Mario threw a fire ball at Bowser. That got the Koopa King's attention as he charged at Mario. Luigi saw his chance as he ran out and grabbed the DS. As Mario kept Bowser distracted, Luigi was about to run and get help. But he knew that he couldn't leave Mario behind. 'Ohana means family. No one gets left behind. Or forgotten,' Luigi thought, his knees knocking together. That's when he put the DS in his pocket and reluctantly shocked Bowser from the right side.

Bowser huffed, "That was a bad move, Greenie."

Luigi threatened, his knees still knocking together, "S-stay away from my fratello!"

Bowser stomped over to Luigi as Mario, who was knocked off his feet, quickly got to his feet. He was about to join his brother in defeating Bowser but that's when he saw something that blew him away. Bowser breathed his flamethrower straight at Luigi but he blocked it...with a shield made of his green electricity. Mario was surprised as was Bowser as Luigi - trembling still - bounced it back. Bowser was forced back a few steps but that didn't stop him from his attack.

He huffed, "Time to get my grilled Manfredi!"

With that, Bowser started to charge at Luigi. Mario quickly reacted as he ran as fast as he could and pushed Luigi out of the way. Both twins landed on the ground with a thud as the Koopa King slammed into the back wall. Mario opened his eyes as he saw Luigi underneath him, quickly getting up.

Luigi breathed, "You saved me."

Mario smiled as he replied, "You're my baby brother."

Luigi smiled now as Bowser quickly recovered from the trick. Mario and Luigi scrambled to their feet. The two of them activated their respected powers as Bowser huffed, knowing it wasn't worth it - especially when he didn't have Peach to begin with. Bowser stepped away from them, puzzling them both.

Luigi asked, "You aren't gonna fight us?"

Bowser answered, "Not exactly worth it, Greenie."

Mario hissed, "Are you saying we're not worth your precious time?!"

Bowser stated, not looking at Mario, "Yeah, that's what I'm saying."

Mario's blood started to boil as his whole body started to glow of the same fire red light from before. Luigi quickly got in front of him, surprising both Bowser and Mario.

He hissed, "What are you doing, Weegie?!"

Luigi answered, calmly, "Malleo, in case you have forgotten, King Boo is more the threat right now." He turned to Bowser and added, "No offensive."

Bowser replied, "None taken."

Luigi turned back to Mario and responded, "Our job, or rather, your job is to help and protect Peach. Not hurt any of the innocent."

Both Bowser and Mario were stunned. Did Luigi just defend Bowser? To Mario? He did and the strangest part: he wasn't trembling. Mario was just stunned. Not only did Luigi get stronger but he got wiser since the Pi'illo Island incident. 'What got into him,' Mario thought.

Mario finally responded, "I guess your right. But this our job, not mine."

Luigi hissed, "Really?! Cause the way you keep leaving me behind certainly gives me the impression that you don't want me around!"

Mario replied, hissing back, "I never said that!"

Luigi responded, making a fist as he got more upset, "No, not directly. But your actions did. You remember the Isle Defino incident, don't you?! Why didn't you ask me to come with you?!"

That's when a voice echoed in Mario's ears that made him turn white as a ghost.

"Think about it, red cap. The minute you get the opportunity to go on vacation with the princess and her royal adviser, what was the first thing you do? You started packing! You didn't - not even once - ask your own younger twin brother if he wished to join you. Nope, the only thing you did was asked him to get the luggage from the attic since you were too busy talking about the trip of a lifetime. Talk about insult to injury. You think Luigi is a poor excuse for a human. Why else would you leave him behind constantly? It is because you are embarrassed to be around a failure and the worst part is - he is your younger twin brother."

Bowser decided to break the silence as he spoke up and asked, "Hey, isn't my future wife-y in the hands of an evil king of boos or not?"

As the air was filled with tension, the Manfredi twins knew that Bowser was right (surprisingly) and headed out to - who knows where. Bowser watched them go, gaining respect for Greenie, er, Luigi. 'I remembered it after the Pi'illo incident,' Bowser thought, 'And I'll continue to remember it. ...I think.'

AK1028: Things are getting good, I think. This time I didn't have flashbacks, lol. Anyways, please read and review. And always think outside of the box!