So I WAS hoping to get this written and posted before school started. No such luck, for either goals. It started on the 18th. So that means I'll be going back to my "weekends-only" schedule. If you're interested, I'll keep you updated on my SENIOR YEAR (woot) in my author's notes with each of my chapter updates.
And, to put a new spin on A/Ns, I'd like to introduce you to my new partner, and surrogate son. Say hi to Siph the Gemtone Mini-Yoshi, everyone!

*a sapphire-colored Mini-Yoshi (apparently named Siph) walks in*

Siph: Sup, folks?

Siph will be co-hosting the author's notes from now on. He'll also fill in for me if I'm ever absent for some reason.

Siph: That "some reason" being that he's hiding from Roy and everybody else. Especially that reviewer who has Bowser on speed-dial. What's his name again? Something like…

*interrupts him* Anyway, while I'll concede that Siph is right, I should probably get the show on the road, huh?

Siph: Yeah, you really should.

Hush.

Disclaimer: I own nothing here. Except Siph (but not his species).

Chapter 25: The Better Brother I Am Not

"'I am Mr. L!'"

Roy's jaw dropped. "No way."

Mario nodded somberly. "I couldn't believe it either." He took off his hat and looked at the big letter M that was embroidered on it. "I don't think anyone did. But we should have." He snorted derisively. "We really should have."

Mario tossed the hat aside. "He looked like Luigi. He sounded like Luigi. He even had Luigi's posture."

Roy cocked an eyeridge. "I thought he was cocky and jerkish."

Mario nodded. "Luigi can get like that, too, sometimes. In competitions, usually."

Kinda like Lud. Roy suddenly remembered his oldest brother. He's all calm and bossy all the time. But he can get pretty cocky when we're playing video games or something. Kind of a showoff when we really get him going.

Mario interrupted the Koopaling's thoughts. "And I'm his brother." The plumber seemed to be talking to himself more than Roy. "I should have seen right through the disguise. I should have realized I was fighting my own brother all that time!" Roy's eyes widened slightly as the heard anger lace Mario's tone. "I should have felt that Luigi was in trouble the moment Nastasia brainwashed him! In fact, I did. I had a nightmare about it. But I passed it off as stress from having the end of all existence literally looming over my head! What kind of brother am I?! Doesn't recognize his own brother! And fights him as a result!"

Roy, recognizing Mario was quickly getting lost in his own world — as well as starting a Morton-Koopa-Jr.-worthy rant — asked a question that was bugging him, "Would recognizing Green-stache have made a difference?"

"No."

Mario's quick and blunt answer almost caused the Koopa prince to flinch. Did he know I was gonna ask that?

"Because after we found out that Mr. L was Luigi, they fused into this…" he looked for the right word, "abomination. Dimentio was in control, and we had to fight it. And I didn't even hesitate."

Roy was speechless.

"Even more so, in Rogueport, Peach got possessed by a thousand-year-old demon and I had to fight her. I didn't hesitate then either. I just… saw a threat that had to be eliminated."

Roy Koopa finally found his tongue. "But they obviously came out fine after the fights. I mean, they're here, right?"

Mario gave the burly Koopaling a spiteful look. "I didn't know that then! How could I have known that then?!"

This time Roy did flinch. He stammered, "Well, uh, I bet they'd have understood that you were fighting to save the world and stuff. Noble sacrifice and all that." The words felt almost foreign to his lips. Yet here he was, defending his enemy's efforts to save the world that his father wished to take over.

"Yes, that's true," Mario said bitterly, "now if only that had been my mindset. But it wasn't. All I knew was to attack. And attack. And attack." The plumber looked at Roy. "I feel like a monster."

It took all of Roy's willpower to keep his jaw from dropping. Did he just tell me this? Why did he tell me this? I don't believe it. No way. He didn't. But he did. The burly Koopa's thoughts overlapped. Why? Why would he tell that to me? His enemy? When he knows I could use this against him? He blinked at this realization. I could use this against him. If Pop knew about this… we might actually beat him.

He looked at the plumber across from him. Mario was staring at his hat, muttering. Roy barely picked up what he was saying.

"I'm no hero. And I'm no brother."

Roy found himself softening at this. No. I ain't gonna take advantage of somebody's brother instinct.

It may be your only chance of beating him, a voice in his head remarked.

I don't know that, the Koopaling argued. There might be another way.

And if there's not?

Roy noticed that the voice sounded almost like him. Great. I'm arguing with myself. He shook his head. I got bigger fish to fry. Roy immediately directed his mind to Mario's tale, barring any more attempts from the insistent voice. Y'know… It sounds kinda like what happened with us and… The Koopaling stiffened. Wait… it is like that.

Don't be ridiculous. Of course it's not. The voice was back again.

Yeah it is, Roy argued.

Oh, well THAT certainly proves it, the voice snarked.

You want proof? I'll prove it.

And just how are you going to do that?

Well, I… the Koopaling paused. How was he going to prove the voice wrong? He looked at Mario. Wait… He grinned. Maybe we just need an audience's opinion.

Maybe we do — Wait, what?! The voice was incredulous. You're joking, right?!

You want me to prove it, Roy taunted. And I'm gonna do that for ya.

But Mario is your ENEMY! You're going to share confidential — better yet, PERSONAL — information with the likes of him?

In a normal situation, I wouldn't. Roy huffed mentally. But right now I got a bigger enemy, and Mario is on my side.

You're ridiculous! He'll just use it against you!

… seriously? Roy wasn't impressed. We're talking about a guy who doesn't like stepping on flowers. As much as I hate to admit it, the guy's got honor. You're the one being ridiculous here.

You'll regret this.

You'll regret opening your big mouth.

What are you gonna do? Punch yourself in the side of the head until something falls out of your ear? You can't fight yourself, dimwit.

That's it! I'm shutting you up!

Yeah, yeah. You keep telling yourself that. Just keep on talking.

Oh I'll talk. "Hey, Mario."

The plumber looked in his direction.

Roy smiled surprisingly gently. "Why don't ya kick back and listen to my story now?" Just not to you, he added as a parting word to the annoying voice in his head.

It didn't respond.

Well, this was certainly unexpected.

Siph: Totally. Hey, J. What was the hardest part of this chapter?

I would have to say it was figuring out how to get Roy to tell Mario his own story.

Siph: Oh yeah, I was wondering about that. So… how'd ya get him to do that? I'm still confused.

Well, I decided to have him argue with himself, represented by a cynical voice in his head. I decided Roy would get so fed up with the voice that he would decide to tell his story just to spite it.

Siph: Oh… I get it. So it's a sort of "Anything to get you to shut up" thing.

Exactly.

Siph: Well, there you have it folks! Now review!

Siph, we're not supposed to demand reviews! It makes us sound rude and insecure.

Siph: Maybe when you say it. But I'm an adorable Yoshi kid. Who can say no to this face? *makes puppy-dog eyes*