I absolutely loved the Nintendo Direct. So many new games got announced to look forward to after a six-year drought. I'm so excited!

Disclaimer: All assets of the Mario Movie belong to Nintendo and Illumination.

Chapter 10: Armor

Bowser's Castle

Bowser straightened his tie as he stared at himself in the mirror. While the Koopa General was on his mission, Bowser was making preparations for his wedding, as any suitor should do. In fact, this wedding had started even before he got the idea of getting the Super Star because a wedding was gonna happen either way. It was gonna take a bit more for her to say yes, ergo why he grabbed the Super Star, but after many months of planning things down to the immaculate detail, the wedding was nearly complete as invitations were already being sent out to people he personally wanted at the wedding, including King Boo and King Bob-omb, of whom he was on good terms with. The final thing he wanted to do before heading to the Mushroom Kingdom was practice some lines he had crafted to win the princess's heart, and the one Koopa perfect to help him was Kamek who could transform into Peach with his magic, so while Bowser waited for the Koopa General to come back with the information he wanted, now was the perfect time to practice his true proposal in marriage which he wrote in song form. "Sire?" a female voice said, presumably Kamek as her. "You ready?"

He cleared his throat. "Please, come in." The door opened as Bowser stared at the beautiful princess as she stared at him with those beautiful, majestic blue eyes, though a weird detail the Koopa noticed were the long eyelashes that looked so out of place. "Kamek, what's with the eyelashes?"

"Who's Kamek? I'm Peach, the one who you'll marry!" She wiggled her eyelashes.

"Drop the act!"

The spell went away as Kamek emerged back to his normal self. "What? Was it a bit much?"

"A bit? A bit?! Everything about that was wrong! Peach doesn't wear eye lashes, and she sure as hell doesn't act as cheery like that! She's tough and fearless! Don't do something she wouldn't do and ditch those big-ass eyelashes! You're ruining everything about her and I hate it! Now, go back outside and when I tell you to come in, act in character this time! Now go!" The Magikoopa sighed and left. Kamek wasn't always an idiot. He was smart, but he should've known that this needed to be as authentic as possible, especially since she was gonna reject him the first time until he brought out the Super Star. Granted, Bowser hadn't actually used the Super Star yet and had not a proper idea of how it worked, but he would cross that gap very soon after he did a bit more research on how it actually worked, but back to the topic at hand. There was a knock on the door. Bowser cleared his throat and opened the door. "Hello, my sweet."

"What the heck do you want?" she hissed. He smiled. That was better. "Well, what do you want? I have my people to take care of."

"My sweet, I've called you here for something very important. I wanted to tell you my true feelings. I just ask for a bit of your time as I sing this little song I wrote." He pulled out his piano and began playing it as his fingers struck across the keys with such a light touch as he closed his eyes, determined to pull his whole heart into telling his love for her. "Oh, dear Princess Peach. My love for you, I cannot keep. With every breath that I take, I swear my heart just starts to break. Though I may have caused some trouble in the past and left some towns in ruin cast, I vow to turn over a new leaf for our love is such an amazing motif!" He got on his knees. "So here I am on bended knee, pledging my allegiance eternally. Will you be my queen of the Darklands? Princess Peach, please take my hand." He extended his hand. "Peaches, will you marry me?"

She scoffed. "Marry you?! You're completely insane! First, you stole something that wasn't yours in the first place. Second, you've tormented me for years when I said no thousands of times. Let me make myself clear. I don't love you. I never will, so do us a favor and drop the freaking act! Our relationship is never gonna be!" Bowser paused, no words coming out of his mouth as all he could do was stare at her hardened glare, the same one she exhibited ever since the conflict between them started. It was always that same look, over and over. Those same words. Same everything, and Kamek nailed her character to perfection. Perhaps a bit too much. The Magikoopa transformed into himself again. "So, how was that?" he said in his normal voice. "Did it help you at all?" Bowser was at a loss for words. "Your Clawness? You're unusually quiet. It's starting to freak me out. Was it too much?" He stayed silent. "Your Angriness?"

All this time, he was after her heart. When they were young, he got acquainted with her, and the two became friends, but over time, he matured and wanted to start a relationship with her. He hadn't been into too many relationships, but for some reason, he was never attracted to other females of his species. Sure, some may have caught his attention, but Peach always came into his mind. There was something about her that he couldn't quite put into words on why he drifted to her, someone of a completely different species compared to his own. He knew for a fact that she was the only one of her kind in this world. Maybe that was the reason why he loved her among a multitude of others, but why hadn't she said yes? Granted, he would try to understand that she wasn't ready for a relationship and would try again a few months later, but this became a back-and-forth for a long time. He was surprised he was still after her heart after so many years, and they knew each other since their childhoods. He had gotten to know her for so long and vice versa, so why? Why hasn't a relationship fostered between them after so long?!

It was fathoming how many different ways a man could propose to someone. He tried going after things she liked in men to the best of his knowledge; he wasn't the best at reading women, but he tried, regardless. He also did much research on what women in society loved, things like men who were powerful, redeeming qualities that slowly became stereotypes over the years, but Bowser didn't have a choice. He thought by showing the might of his army that she would be impressed, but all he caused was fear in her people and a forever broken heart. And now that he had the most powerful weapon in the world, finally, she would bend to his will.

But what was the point? He wanted a genuine relationship with her, and her attitude towards the matter hadn't helped one bit. What was the point in trying when he already knew the answer? Getting her to forcefully marry him didn't feel natural if that love wasn't reciprocated in the same way. He wasted all these years on her all for nothing. In the end, he acted nothing but a simp with not one meaningful thing coming out of the end. What should he do given the circumstances? Should he just call it quits when his forces were willing to die for him because they believed in his goal? "Sire," Kamek said, "I'm gonna need a response from you. You've been quiet for too long."

"What's the point?"

"The point? Are you referring to the wedding? Because we have a plan that'll guarantee Peach to say yes. You don't have to worry. We prepared for every contingency. The princess will be yours shortly."

"But it's not the same! Even if I were to forcefully have her marry me, it's not natural when she hates me, and I want a relationship where we love each other equally, but all she says is no! I've been after her heart for the past decade and nothing's changed! The wedding won't change her feelings for me! So, what's the point of any of this when she doesn't love me back?!"

Kamek sighed. "I knew that was always a struggle. That was how she always was, and she didn't budge an inch. Tell me something. Did you want to call the wedding off? I understand if you want to continue, but I'd hate for you to be trapped in a relationship which you want nothing to do with. What is it that you want to do?"

Bowser sighed. At this point in their relationship, marrying Peach was consequential as not doing so. On one hand, he would be with the love of his life, but it wouldn't be the same. It would just be an unrequited love, and he didn't want that. On the other hand, not having Peach in his life would leave his heart empty that no other female could fill. He would lose all sparks of love just because of how deep his love for Peach went. Which was the lesser of the two evils?

Before he could answer, there was a knock, Bowser not even wanting to retaliate for interrupting his session. "Come in."

The Koopa General entered. "I have-" He paused as he stared at the two. "Am I interrupting something?"

"No. Speak."

"I have returned with all the necessary information we need about Green Stache's brother."

Bowser's eyes perked. He had forgotten that Green Stache had a brother. Wait a sec. Was he after Peach, too? Well, he had to start somewhere like a name. "Continue."

"Everything that we thought is true. Green Stache's brother does look like him. His name is Mario."

"Mario." He smiled. Good. Now he knew the name of the person he would have to crush if he laid a finger on the princess. "What do you know about him?"

"Not much. Though he does seem quite determined to get his brother back, and he seems to be aware of your presence." Bowser's eyes flared. That man knew about him? How? Most likely because he ran into the princess. Knowing that, it was time to answer the most dreaded question.

"Does the princess like him?"

"It appears so, Your Highness. Though at the moment, this Mario doesn't seem to notice said feelings, so he's oblivious at the moment, but that might change in the near future considering the princess might be already making a move on him." Bowser growled. What? The princess was already taking a liking on him? This man had been here for less than two days, and there was already a possibility of a relationship?! Inconceivable! "That's not all. Unfortunately, the princess has been training him."

"Training him?"

"She has plans of her own. She plans on recruiting the Kong Army of the Jungle Kingdom and will invade this castle. If she does so, there's no telling when they'll be at our doorstep." Bowser paced around the room. No. None of this should've happened! First, that Mario just had to come into contact with her, making a relationship possible between them, and now the princess planned on attacking him with the Kong Army?! No. None of this shall stand! He stomped his foot in the ground and roared.

"Sire! You must calm down! We will stop them!"

"How?! Tell me, Kamek, because I don't know! What she's doing completely threw all my plans down the garbage, and it's all because of that Mario laying his grubby hands on her! She's mine, not his! How dare he! How dare they both! To hell with all this!"

"We can stop them." Kamek rubbed his shoulders. "We will find a way to stop them. Maybe we can ambush them instead."

"But how? They're literally across the ocean. How in the world are they coming here?"

"I might have an answer." They turned to the Koopa General. "I'm not all too familiar with the Jungle Kingdom, but I have heard rumors of some sort of Rainbow Road acting as some sort of bridge that connects the two kingdoms. We can use that to invade them, but I'm not certain."

"Then you need to be."

"Lord Bowser?"

"You really think I have the time to base my plans on baseless rumors?! No! We need to stop them! Bring me evidence of this Rainbow Road, and I'll approve it."

"Actually, if I may suggest something much easier." The two glanced at Kamek. "We have airships. We can invade them from above. No need for the research."

"While that seems sound, I still want to find out about this Rainbow Road. After all, I highly doubt the Jungle Kingdom can handle an invasion from two different fronts at the same time. Destroying them that way should be a piece of cake. Leave at once, Koopa General. I want to invade the island by tonight. Bring me some evidence about this Rainbow Road, then get to work on rallying as many troops we can spare for the invasion because I want you to lead it." He closed in on his face. "Kill Mario at all costs, but spare Peach. If any piece of her hair is scorched, there will be consequences. Understood?"

"Yes. For the Darklands!" He flew out in a flash.

"I want you to get me Green Stache, Kamek."

"Sire?"

"There's a chance that Mario might survive. I won't be taking any chances. I need to know as much about him as I can. It's time we put your magic to good use."

"Of course, Sire. I'll bring him at once." He left. The best course of action at this point was to stop Mario. If he truly were to make a move on her, then any chance of a relationship would end, so he had to be eliminated at all costs. Only then would Bowser be comfortable with holding the wedding.

Luigi sighed as he stared at the bubbling lava, struggling to find a comfortable spot to lay down. Why did metal have to be a conductor, especially when he was trapped in a fiery furnace that was the prison? Well, there was nothing he could do to answer that question. All he could do was wait. Wait for what seemed like an eternity for Mario to even come. Was he even in this world? The answer to that was the only thing that he could hold onto as he slowly got accustomed to his new life.

He never thought he would've gotten stuck with prison life. It was a thing he heard growing up and he wanted to stay away from it, but alas, here he was. He and the other prisoners were stuck in a tiny cell that hung from the ceiling with the lava hanging below them. It was completely closed off with no visible exit in sight, but obviously there was one since guards came and went. The food was nothing but stale bread and other tasteless foods, nothing substantial enough to feed a human let alone someone of another species. The water they got was fed to them through a small bowl that was attached to a big handle, and they would feed the water through the grate of the cell for just a mouthful of water, and it was only two mouthfuls per day, leaving many throats parched and prisoners complaining.

His companions weren't the best of company. Some of them, in particular the penguins, were having trouble cooling down from the heat, and Luigi didn't find that surprising. Penguins' bodies were made to adapt to cold environments, but stick them in a completely different environment, and things start to change. Luigi didn't know all the science behind it, but they were suffering because they weren't made to survive extreme heat. What made things worse was another companion who seemed to take a lot of joy in being trapped: a star organism of some sort. The star would do nothing but fantasize about death, claiming how short life was and how everyone should appreciate the forthcoming reality of death, and the penguins wouldn't stop incessantly complaining about it. Luigi sighed. This was his world for the last few days, and nothing seemed to indicate it would change anytime soon. "You seem sad." He glanced at the star. Luigi hardly made any conversation with any of his fellow prisoners, especially the star. "I'm sad, too. But I know there's a brighter future for all of us in death." It nihilistically sighed. "How sweet. I can picture it already. The sweet, beautiful mercy in death."

"Just shut the hell up!" a penguin hissed, most likely a king with the crown on its head. "It's bad enough my people are suffering from the heat, but your constant rambling is driving me insane! Just shut up already!"

"I'm just stating what you're ignoring."

"Hello, my prisoners!" A robed figure flew to them on a broomstick. "I hope you all have enjoyed your stay."

"Please!" the penguin cried. "You must get us out of here! My people can't take it anymore! We were not made for the heat, and that star won't stop rambling about death! Please! Let us go!"

"How sad," the robed figure said. "Well, unfortunately, I didn't come for you, so you'll have to stay put for a bit longer." He flew away from the penguin.

"No! Get back here!" Luigi's eyes wavered as the robed figure approached his cell.

"Good morning, Green Stache!"

"It's-a Luigi."

"Who?" Luigi sighed. They were never gonna call him by his real name, so why should he even bother? "Surely you know why I've come for you, yes?" He nodded. "Good. We'll talk along the way." He opened the door and grabbed the plumber using his magic as the star waved goodbye at him, a smile plastered on its face and the penguin's cries echoed the prison as they faded. "Now," he said as he flew down the hall, "I have good news and bad news. We actually found information about your brother." Luigi gasped. Mario was in this world? Well, at least that gave him some sort of relief, but that didn't completely give him full relief as the robed figure continued. "Unfortunately, that's also the bad news as he has now become a threat since he had an interaction with the princess, and she has plans of her own. Knowing that, His Ungratefulness wants as much information about him should he survive our incoming attack, which is where you come in. We know brute force won't work on you, but we have other ways."

They walked into Bowser's room as the turtle turned around to greet them. "Ah, Green Stache! It's been forever! How's prison life been treating you? Been enjoying it?"

"It's OK, I guess."

"And here I was expecting a more enthusiastic response. We found your brother! You should be smiling, not sporting a frowny face 24/7. Learn to smile once in a while! Anyway, you should know why you're here. Kamek should've given you the rundown, but let me go into more detail. You see, I've been after the ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom for a long time, Princess Peach. Picture this, Green Stache: beautiful blond hair that glows in the sun. Blue eyes soothing as the ocean. Her gorgeous pink dress that radiates her beauty. She's the most beautiful organism in the world, but every time I try to propose to her, she says no, resulting in a broken heart every time." Luigi raised an eyebrow. Well, the Koopa General wasn't kidding. Bowser sure did have a soft spot, especially when he would dramatically swoon, doing a poetic dance with his gestures as he embellished the story. "Don't you understand the situation I'm in, Green Stache? My heart can't take any more of this back and forth. My heart longs for her love, but alas, I receive rejection every time. And you know what's worse?" The smile plastered on his face quickly vanished and was replaced with a snarl. He certainly was one to change moods on a dime. "She has competition from your brother. She started taking an interest in him, and I hate it. Why? Because she's mine! Understand, Green Stache?! Mine!" He punched his hand on the desk beside him, crumbling it as it broke apart from the force of his punch. He cleared his throat. "Forgive me. I have the tendency to snap and thus break much of my furniture, but that can be replaced. What can't be is my love for Peach if your dumb brother reciprocates those feelings. So, you're gonna tell me everything about him when I pummel his face into the ground." He zoomed in on the plumber's face, brandishing his claw before snipping a part of his mustache off with one swift strike, causing him to wince. "Everything. Understand?"

"Y-Yes, Lord Bowser."

"I know how you are. Even knowing what's at stake, you still won't spill the beans. That's why I'm gonna have Kamek's magic do the work." Kamek nodded and began chanting before thrusting his wand at him as the spell agonized Luigi's head, causing the plumber to fall to his knees as he cried out in pain.

"You won't last long against my spell," the wizard said. "My spells have a good track record, and I would like to keep it that way. You will succumb to the mind control. A feeble mind like yours only takes minutes to achieve full control, that way any resistance will be quickly silenced. Give up control. It's the only way to end your misery."

"You certainly have a way with words, Kamek."

"Of course, Sire. Believe it or not, that is nothing but additive to help enhance the effect."

"Well, make sure it's quick. I don't want to be here all day." Luigi gritted his teeth as he tried his best to fight the pain, but he quickly found himself losing consciousness by the second. His face started to perspire the longer he kept pushing the pain, but his legs started to go numb, then his fingers. No. He couldn't end like this, being controlled like some sort of puppet for someone else's deeds. That was how he always was his whole life. People toppled over him because he was too quiet and scared to defend himself, and he hated himself for it. Mario always had to step in every time, and it made Luigi question his worth in life, if he was even worth saving.

But he was. Mario did it because he cared for him. Mario did so much for him, and sure, he would get angry at him for his cowardliness, but he truly cared. Now Mario couldn't save him. He was trapped with the same kind of tormentors who ruined Luigi's life over and over, and Luigi couldn't save himself. Well, he had to, even if his body started to go numb. He could feel the force in the back of his mind, fighting for control as the plumber's left hand went completely numb.

Luigi had to do something. Mario was in danger. Luigi just couldn't let them win. He had to fight back! For once in his life, he had to protect Mario! But how? How could he fight going unconscious and undergoing the mind control? Wait. He had to stay conscious throughout the duration of the spell. He had to feel something, something that his brain could perceive. And one thing he could do was cause pain.

He bit on his own finger on the hand that wasn't numb, creating a muffled scream as the action caught the two off guard. "What the? Kamek, why the heck isn't your spell working?! He should've fallen under your control already!"

"I don't understand! Normally it does! Why isn't it working?!" Kamek increased the intensity of the spell, but Luigi bit deeper, causing even more pain as his other arm slowly regained from the numbness, and then his legs one-by-one as he slowly but surely stood up, a snarl emerging on his face as he charged at the wizard, screaming as he knocked him back with a punch as the wizard flew into the wall with a mighty crash.

"I will never allow you to hurt my brother!" he snarled, his look darting at Bowser as he ran to Kamek. "And for the record, the name's Luigi!"

"Kamek!"

"I'm OK," he said as Bowser pulled him up. "I must say, Green Stache, not many have escaped from my magic's control like that. Clearly, I underestimated you entirely. I haven't received a blow like that in years." Luigi glanced at his hand. He actually punched him? That was definitely a first, but he couldn't help but chuckle. He actually defended himself, and it felt good. For once, he actually didn't feel scared anymore. He didn't cower, and it was the greatest feeling in the world.

"Don't you dare get cheeky, Green Stache!" He glanced at Bowser. "No one hurts my advisor and gets to walk away scot free! Hell no!"

"Well," the green plumber said, "I won't let you hurt my brother!" He ran at him, but Bowser punched him as he got close. He flew into the wall as he coughed. So much power in one punch.

"Listen here." He gripped the plumber's face. "It doesn't matter if you've had a change of heart or whatever. I will kill your brother with my own claws once the Jungle Kingdom is annihilated. You're nothing but a pathetic weakling, and I can't imagine that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Knowing this, he's toast."

"You're wrong. My brother is strong, and he will defeat you!"

Bowser threw him across the ground. "I don't care! I will crush him for ever laying his hands on my future fiancé, and it will be his blood that soaks the ground when I'm done with him! Guards, take him away!" As the guards took him away, Luigi couldn't help but smile. He actually stood up to someone. Now with his newfound confidence, he just had to find a way to join Mario in this fight against the King of the Koopas.

Thanks for reading. Now, in regard to the song, I had a lot of trouble coming up with a song good enough for a replacement of Peaches with good lyrics because I may be a writer, but not a songwriter, and I wanted a song that didn't feel out-of-place for Bowser, so I just used an ai song generator to craft the song, so credit goes to the ai generator I used.