Oh thank the Stars! Why? Well, I know there are some of you who are thanking the Stars that I updated. You know who you are. And trust me, I know how you feel. You have no idea how happy I am to finally update this thing.

So, after a research paper, finals, a graduation ceremony that choir students have to attend, a Super Paper Mario binge, a Mario Kart: Double Dash! binge, and lack of motivation, I've finally done it.

Whoop-de-Koopa-doo.

Disclaimer: (rhyme time) No own. No sue. Just read and review.

Chapter 23: Heal My Brother

Larry Koopa's surgery had started smoothly. The medical team worked almost mechanically. It was rather mesmerizing. That is, if the observer could stomach such a sight.

Roy Koopa watched intently, hoping to make sure that nothing went wrong. He wished Kamek or Kammy Koopa were there. He didn't trust these Toads' competence of Dragon-Koopa treatment.

Mario, however, found himself having to look away every time he tried to see what was happening.

Roy snorted. He ain't seen Koopas like this before. I bet he didn't even know our shells could break! He watched as Mario anxiously shifted between his left and right feet. Look at him. I'll bet he wants to leave. No way. He's got the only thing that'll help Larry.

Just then, Princess Peach entered the room. Roy expected the doctors to stop his brother's operation to acknowledge her, but to his surprise, not one of them strayed from their job.

Good. If they stop, they're in a world of pain. He narrowed his eyes at them. Are they even blinking? he wondered.

Peach looked at Larry sadly, then walked somberly to Mario. She whispered something in Mario's ear, making his eyes widen. Mario walked towards the door, although Peach looked like she wasn't quite finished with what she was saying.

That didn't matter to Roy, though. All he saw was that Mario was trying to leave. And take his healing paper with him.

"Don't take another step, pudge-ball!" Roy growled, stopping him. "Where do you think you're going?"

Mario, growing tired of the Koopaling's constant enforcement, started walking again. "I'm going to my brother."

Roy stomped over to the plumber and grabbed him roughly. "Oh no you ain't! You've got the only thing that'll help Larry!"

The prince felt a gentle hand on his shoulder. He looked over and saw it was Peach.

"Please," she pleaded, "let him go. Lu—"

"Why should I?!" the Koopaling snapped, interrupting her. "It's my brother that's in trouble, not his!"

Mario tried to pry Roy off him. "Let me go! Luigi is hurt, too!"

The bulky Koopa stared him down. "Larry. Is in surgery," he hissed.

Mario tensed up. "Let. Me. Go!" he yelled, releasing all of his tension into a blow to Roy's good arm. It didn't hurt as much as it could have, but it surprised the Dragon-Koopa enough to make him let go.

The plumber was gone before Roy could do anything. The prince of Darkland growled a curse.

*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*

Mario skidded to a halt next to the doorway to the room that he was looking for. Toad was standing there waiting.

"Mario!" he greeted, but the plumber hustled past, focusing on the one he came for.

Almost half of Luigi's face was covered in bandages. His eyes were at least uncovered, but Mario thought he saw pained tension in his little brother's expression.

"What happened to him?" the older twin asked Toad.

Toad answered, "Those Bullet Bills. They avoided us at first, but then one of them turned and hit Luigi in the face! The doctors say his nose and jaw might be broken. Well, maybe not the jaw."

Mario recalled Princess Peach call his name when he returned to the hospital. She must have been trying to tell me about Luigi, he realized. Why can't I feel when he's in trouble? The plumber brushed his hand against Luigi's forehead, half-hoping for a reaction.

Luigi didn't respond. Mario dug his other hand into his pocket.

Toad walked up next to Mario. "He'll be fine," he reassured him. "He's a Mario brother, remember?"

The hero of the Mushroom Kingdom hummed in response. He's probably right. But just in case…

Mario pulled out the Magical Map and, focusing, called upon its power. Toad watched with bated breath.

As usual, Sweet Treat didn't take long to use. Mario stowed away the Magical Map, then took Luigi's hand in his, squeezing it slightly.

"I'm sorry, Luigi," he whispered in his little brother's ear. Then he left.

*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*

Mario was too distracted by his own thoughts to realize what was waiting for him back at the Koopalings' room. It didn't take him long, though, considering that a very livid Roy Koopa grabbed him by the collar and held him against the wall.

"WHAT TOOK YA SO LONG?" the bulky Koopa roared. "LARRY'S SURGERY FINISHED FOREVER AGO!"

"Actually," one of the doctors said, "it was only about a minute —"

Roy glared daggers at the Toad who dared to correct him. "Zip it, half-pint!"

Mario pulled the Magical Map back out of his pocket. Roy, instead of letting the Mario go, maintained his grip on his collar as he dragged the plumber over to Larry's cot.

No way he's slipping away again, Roy thought with cold resolve. "Heal him. Now," he ordered.

Mario wordlessly complied. All he could think about was how frighteningly similar he and the Koopaling really were.

Well, there you have it. Chapter 23. You are so very welcome. And now summer is here, so I can write more! Don't rat me out to Bowser, please! You know who you are…