Making plans to set off towards The Dark Lands and continue his work was a lot more time consuming than Luigi thought it would be. That wasn't taking into account both he and Mario had to try and adjust to this new world. They decided to get a calendar from the kingdom so they could count their time there and Mario had begun working with Princess Peach on how he and Luigi could get paid for their work and all that business talk. So far 2 months had passed since they arrived, roughly, going by said calendar and if you took out how long it took to get it.

Speaking of, Luigi realized he couldn't really ask the questions he wanted to since everyone there was anti-koopa.

"What the hell did he do to make a whole kingdom hate him so much?" he mumbled to himself as he was in the market, looking for some supplies for both he and Mario and for what he'd need to travel. He couldn't be too obvious or else rumors would spread then questions would be asked, whether it be from the princess, the toads, or God forbid, Mario himself.

No, he hadn't talked to Mario yet. For one, they both were trying to settle in and get their ducks in order and secondly…he was petrified what Mario would think.

'Oh, ya, by the way, that tyrant Koopa king everyone is scared of or hates, you know him? Yeah, I was pals with him when we were kids and I might possibly still have a crush on him! Silly right? He's not even human or human shaped!' Luigi thought in his head, laughing at himself with a tear in his eye. "Like that's gonna go well." He went back to his shopping, seeing a few things he needed.

—————————

The week had already been a long and hard one. Not just because of the jobs, some in odd spaces either too big, tall or short and cramped, but he'd once again been called "Green Mario" more times than he could count. He thought that was done with after middle school, but these little damn toads kept doing it and not even apologizing for their mistake after he explains, "no I'm not, I'm Luigi", and they shrug. Then he'd laugh it off. They were small creatures after all. Maybe their attention spans weren't that long, he'd think with denial.

The only ones who got it right was Peach, for obvious reasons, and the first toad they met, Toad.

Then there was the nightmares. They weren't bad at first but then they became more vivid. The scenarios varied and the people he cared for differed depending on the dream, but the most vivid ones were of an evil Bowser.

Of those red eyes dark like the skin of a red plum and the large maw twisted in a sadistic type of glee at causing harm. Of fire all around and his brother's blood on Bowser's claws. Of a cruel laugh directed at him, declaring he was truly a fool for believing Bowser CARED.

The only reason he never believed it once awake, was the band that same koopa gave him years before, the scent of firewood and embers ash having now mingled with his, bringing him an undeniable sense of comfort and the memories he held onto of a koopa too scared to hurt him.

A koopa that hated even scratching him.

A koopa who would do anything to make him smile.

A koopa willing to destroy his only way home if it meant making sure Luigi got to his own home safely.

It made the warnings and the rumors about the Koopa king even more unbearable to hear.

Living there wasn't all bad but he wasn't adjusting like Mario was. Mario was charismatic as usual and he and the princess had a budding…thing going on. Luigi couldn't tell if it was friendship or flirting but he was happy his brother was finding someone to make him laugh.

Luigi made some acquaintances and Toad was fun to be around. Peach was informative and it was nice seeing her laugh and even get annoyed about something Mario did. It was nice she could lean on him sometimes. But none of them were Bowser. It was frustrating since he was so much closer, yet still somehow out of reach.

—————

The brothers ate breakfast in peace one morning as they were preparing for the day. The whole castle was in a tizzy. Busy here and there and Peach was is meetings all morning. Something about a 650-year celebration of the kingdom.

"When are you going to ask Peach out? Even if it's just one outing?" Luigi asked, curious and they had some sibling time.

Mario almost stabbed the table with his fork, a blush growing on his cheeks. "Oh, please, Weegee, she's a ruler! I wouldn't stand a chance. She's really nice and I do enjoy our friendship, but let's be real. I'm a nobody compared to that." He continued eating as he grumbled, blush growing.

Luigi mouth mocked him, crossing his eyes. ""I wouldn't stand a chance, let's be real, blah blah blah." C'mon, Mario, open your eyes. She may be royalty, but she's still a person. I also never said it had to be a date. I said, "an outing", which can completely be between friends. You need a slow night and she probably needs a night free from her duties. It can be stressful for royals." He smiled, remembering his Koopa king back in the day when he'd often literally use a portal to another realm to run away from his responsibilities. He chuckled fondly before continuing to eat.

"I'm so glad you think it's funny, Weegee." Mario rolled his eyes but had a smile, happy his brother was there with him and smiling like that one year. There wasn't any sadness or faking in this laugh.

There was something nagging at him, though and it nagged ever since that laugh left back before school started that one fall. So, Mario decided to test him.

"Do you have anyone you love, Luigi? You can tell me."

Luigi didn't expect that question so he burst out into a laugh, covering his mouth. Only when the shock died down and he realized Mario was serious, did he become so too. It was only fair. He wasn't sure about revealing everything to his brother yet, even if then was the perfect time, but he could answer with honesty.

He looked to his plate and sighed. Luigi was silent for a moment, thinking on what his brother asked. Did he love Bowser? "Yes, but…it's complicated." He sighed sadly. In a way it was.

Before, they had lives to live that wouldn't include the other, like Luigi had a family and school and Bowser was training to be a king, but now…Luigi wasn't sure if Bowser remembered him which did hurt, but he felt he should be optimistic about it. It only felt fair since his mind replayed all those sweet words to him even in his dreams. "I do miss them." He sighed again, eyes sad and fond. "And I hate that I do."

Mario felt he couldn't say anything to that, not really understanding what his brother meant. "I bet they miss you too." He said off hand. He mostly just wanted that sad look gone.

He didn't expect the shocked face and the welling of tears before his brother wiped them away, changing the subject.

————————

Luigi didn't realize how busy they'd be at the time but kept up with gusto. Princess Peach needed assistance with their celebration and the brothers were eager to help. Letters and invitations were sent out to every kingdom except for the one he kinda wished they would've, but he supposed he wouldn't want to go to a party where everyone hated him too.

A few days prior to the ball, Luigi was looking out his window, thinking still of what he could do to reach Bowser since travel seemed to be the biggest obstacle. The moon was large and bright and would be for the few days. Perfect for a ball. Princess Peach was having suits made for him and Mario and they'd be ready the next day. Looking past the homes and shops of the toads, towards the forest-like area, he saw something fall from the sky and smoke and soon after, faint cries.

If someone was to ask him what he was thinking as he ran out of his room, the castle and the town and into the woods, in the middle of the night, he'd have to say, he wasn't. The cries pulled deeply at his heart so he had to at least make sure whatever was in the sky was okay.

He panted, almost wheezing as he made it near the area that still had smoke billowing upwards. "Hello?" He asked out loud but didn't want to be too loud in case anything dangerous was near.

"Wahhh! No fair!" A child's cry was heard and Luigi went towards it, worried. "Stupid, stupid ship!"

What he saw was a turnip with a face looking contraption, him unsure what it was but it was broken, and a huge-apparently a child- next to it, tears in bright orange eyes, smoke and oil from the machine on them. The kid had their arms crossed across their chest, a white bandana with a mouth on it just as dirty.

When Luigi looked even closer, he saw the similarities to a koopa he once knew. The coloring of the scales and a huge spiked shell on their back, as well as a ponytail of red hair. "Hey, are you okay, little one?" He asked, not wanting to approach suddenly and scare the kid.

The kid jumped anyway, opening their mouth to-what Luigi would guess-blow fire, but only smoke came out and the kid coughed. "Stay back! I can still hurt you!" He yelled.

Luigi doubted that but he tried lowering himself a bit to the boy's level. "Well I won't hurt you. Are you hurt from your fall? Do you wanna come with me and we can get you looked at?" He asked sweetly.

The kid sniffled. "Papa said not to go with strangers." He puffed, trying to look big and intimidating.

Luigi laughed a little. The child was adorable. Or maybe he was biased. "That's very smart but it's also dangerous to be outside alone like this. How about we introduce ourselves? I'm Luigi. You?" He held out his hand.

He didn't expect for the child's eyes to sparkle and he took out a paper from his shell, looking between it and Luigi a few times before giving a firm head nod and returning it to his shell. "You're Luigi? Really? I knew I could find you! Hahaha!" The child laughed "evilly". He went up and grabbed Luigi's hand. "You can take me with you. Then I can fix my ship and take you to Papa! Then he'll be forever indebted to me!" He smiled, small fangs pearly white and sharp looking. "But like you said, it's dark and I'm sleepy." Said kid was bigger than what he'd initially thought as at standing height, the koopa child was a little taller than at Luigi's hip.

Luigi's brain tried to process what was going on, but to be out at night scared him more, so he began to walk back still holding the koopa child's hand. "Uh…that's…nice? What's-whats your name? How do you know me?" He asked as he tried sneaking the large koopa child inside. "Wait until no one can see you. We-uh-don't want you scaring them. That'd be mean."

The kid smiled. "I'm Junior and I want to be mean!" He laughed and Luigi began to panic.

Junior was NOT quiet! He tried thinking fast. What would a kid listen to? A game? "Do you know what a spy is?" He asked, trying his best as he tried making sure the coast was clear as they made their way to his room.

Junior nodded. "Like the spies who try and whack Papa? They're funny cause they fail ALL! THE! TIME!" He cackled.

Luigi tried shushing him and nodded, having no time to dwell on all the tidbits. "Yeah, yeah. We have to be spies or else we can't get back to your Papa later." He whispered.

"Ohhhh." Junior nodded, putting a claw to his mouth.

Luigi could only sigh in relief.

It. Was. Chaos.

He had to wrangle Junior to the bathroom to clean him up and make sure he wasn't injured all while Junior was like a bull in a china shop. A scalding hot bath was what did Junior in, the child relaxing and yawning more often between their chats. Luigi learned that he was 5-going on 6- years old and Luigi was right in his assumption that Bowser was "Papa". The paper was apparently a decent sketch of him when he was young and a signature at the bottom was done in Bowser's handwriting. The notion had his heart squeezing in the confines of his chest.

His bed would have puncture holes in them but he was able to get Junior wrapped up and comfy before the child took another yawn and looked at him with sleepy eyes as he too got into his bed after he changed into clean pajamas. "Will you kiss my head goodnight? Papa does." He spoke quietly, the koopa kid trusting the human simply because Bowser knew him. Or at least that's what Luigi assumed.

Luigi hummed, nodding. If that's what the kid wanted. Plus, he knew he was right. The child was adorable. He kissed Junior's forehead, having to do it a second time but harder at Junior's protest that he couldn't feel it and watched the kid drift to sleep, snoring lightly.

Now that he was "alone", Luigi felt his breath shudder and he pulled his knees to his chest, head against his folded arms. "He remembers me." He whispered before he felt hot tears going down his face, allowing himself to silently sob into his arms in relief.

——————

Luigi didn't sleep that well. Not due to there being a turtle-dragon like koopa child in his bed who rolled around (though there was a few close calls being hit with the shell spikes) but he needed to figure out how to bring this up with Mario and Peach. Junior would no doubt want to explore or burn off energy, he was a kid, but this was a anti-koopa place and to see one there could cause serious issues. He could explain Junior would leave if they could fix his weird ship, but who knows how long that would take and the palace was already busy and hectic due to the party coming up.

"He's just a child, though, so hopefully we can find a way through this." He said to himself before taking a deep breath and figuring he'd sneak out while Junior was still asleep and make something for him. He took out the room key and left a quick message to Junior in case and he left as quiet as he could.

To say the chef toads were perplexed was an understatement. Luigi had made a plateful (more like tower) of pancakes and he remembered Bowser liked ham, so he heated some up for Junior in hopes he'd like it and some juice and syrup on a tray. He was already going upstairs with it when the chef toads came down, eyes bulging out of their heads but Luigi tried scampering off before they could ask him why he had so much food and why he was up so early.

Once he struggled through the door, he saw Junior was up, sniffing and messing with the spiked band Luigi had set on the nightstand, head bobbing. "Oh, you're up. Good timing. Let's get your teeth brushed and get you breakfast. Then we can talk to the princess and Mario about your ship." He smiled, setting the tray down and grabbing a spare toothbrush and just his brush for Junior's hair.

It seemed the koopa child was not a morning kid, which was a surprise since Luigi was able to brush his teeth and brush his hair while the child was still waking up and remembering what had happened that led him there. "Luigi?" Junior called, eating his food while Luigi changed for the day.

Luigi hummed, poking his head out of the bathroom. "Yes, Junior?"

Junior gulped down the juice, before he grabbed the wrist band again, him having similar ones without the spikes. "Why do you have Papa's wrist bracelet?" He asked curiously.

Luigi smiled at him, going over and sitting across from him. "He gave it to me."

"Why don't you wear it?" Junior asked.

"It doesn't fit." Luigi said simply.

"Why don't you make it fit?" Junior pried, liking Luigi answered.

"I don't know how." Luigi replied.

"What if we cut it and make it into many?" Junior suggested.

Luigi shrugged. "Never thought about it. I didn't want to ruin it, I suppose."

Junior looked thoughtfully to it then snapped it much to Luigi's horror. "We can make it like mine. Papa probably wanted you to wear it." He said as if it was fact.

Luigi just stared. It was a leather bracelet, how could he divide it without the proper tools? "Junior…you shouldn't do that to someone else's belongings." He went to grab them back but Junior pulled it away, reaching into his shell and pulling out a sewing kit with a thick bonded nylon thread and he handed them both to Luigi.

"Here. I stole the kit cause I liked the case but if you just stitch it, like I've seen Papa do, you can wear them!" Junior smiled with pride and Luigi wasn't sure if he wanted to dash the kid's idea and creativity to a problem.

With a sigh, he figured it couldn't hurt. He'd just have to find a way to protect it if he bathed or when he was working, make sure he had long enough gloves. "Won't they get damaged?"

Junior actually rolled his orange eyes. "We can make it loose enough where it can stay unless you want it off. Like Papa's."

With a small sigh Luigi gave in. "Okay. If you want me to wear them so bad."

Junior seemed to light up like a light bulb. "YES!"

—————

The stitch job wasn't half bad and luckily his sleeves covered the ones on his wrists but unless he wore a turtleneck, nothing could hide the one on his neck like a choker. It wasn't Luigi's idea at all!

Junior had tackled him, using his heavy weight to his advantage and sloppily but tightly sewed the choker around his neck. The koopa child got put in timeout for that one.

Oh, Junior fought it, but even when he went inside his shell, Luigi would lift it and put it back in the spot he chose, warning him he'd get no treats later if he didn't serve his time. That seemed to work well enough. He just hoped Bowser wouldn't be too mad at him for disciplining his kid.

"Junior, I have to talk to them first then you can come out with me, okay?" He tried talking to the child who seemed adamant about latching to his legs so Luigi couldn't leave without him.

"No! I'm going with you or you don't leave at all! Pleeeeease? I won't run off!" He pleaded and Luigi wanted to believe him but the kid was 5-years old.

He doubted he wouldn't get distracted. That, and everyone was up and moving by then so he wasn't sure about walking around with him. Maybe he could have a toad bring the princess and Mario to them? No. That'd take up their time and unless he gave specifics as to why, they'd blow it off or relay that Luigi go to them if it was important. He took a deep breath, putting a wrist to his nose to help calm him. "Okay, fine, but you HAVE TO stick by my side, do you understand? You could get really hurt then I'll get in trouble and you won't ever see me again." He might've exaggerated on purpose by just a smidge but he could tell Junior was the type to need a dramatic consequence to whatever action he would take. He wasn't even sure if Junior would care to see him again. The kid could just brush him off.

Until he saw the big tears and the shaky body. "But-but I wanna see Mama Luigi again! I'll be good!" He began to cry. "Don't leave."

Luigi stood, shocked and eyes wide as a deep blush spread across his face. "M-M-Mama?!" He almost screamed. But seeing Junior wasn't going to stop anytime soon, the boy really upset, he pried his feet from the kid's grasp and got on his knees to comfort the koopa. "Hey, hey, it's okay. Just stay close while we're here and I won't go. We need to get back to your Papa, remember? He has to be missing you." He smiled to the koopa child, ignoring how that one word Junior said messed up his heart.

They got gasps and some toads running off, either to hide or warn Peach. Jokes on them, he was already headed to her. "With all the chaos, I forgot to ask you. Does your father know you ran off?" He rose a brow to the koopa holding his hand.

Junior, happy as could be it seemed, nodded. "Yep! Left a note." He kept humming. "Wait. I did, right?" Junior slowed, thinking then shrugged. "It's fine. He'll find us or we'll make it back first cause we're gonna fix up my ship and head home!" He smiled triumphantly.

Luigi groaned, pinching his nose with his free hand. "Oh, buon Dio, questo bambino sarà la morte mia e di tutte queste persone. L'ho appena incontrato. Per favore, abbi pietà." He looked up.

"Is that Italian?" Junior asked, messing up the pronunciation of Italian.

Luigi was surprised. "How'd you know?"

Junior rubbed his cheek on Luigi's hand. "Papa's teaching me with this old book he has. We need to find more of them though because even he doesn't know all of the language."

Luigi blushed, finding it very sweet.

————————

"So let me get this correct." Peach began, pacing back and forth in front of him and Junior. Mario looked between the three confused. "THE Koopa Prince crash landed outside the city and you went to pick him up and he may or may not have left King Bowser a note about leaving in the middle of the night?" Peach paced faster. "He has to know his only son is gone by now. We're going to have to cancel the ball and guests from the other lands will be here anytime for it so we have to find a way to stop them and send them back so we can get ready for war-"

"Peach, I really think you're overreacting. We can either fix his ship and I drop him off or Junior and I can be outside when there's word of him arriving. He'll know his son is safe." Luigi tried reassuring her. He really thought they were blowing Bowser's temper out of proportion.

"What makes you think he'll listen to you? He's not known for rationality." Peach asked.

"A ball? Isn't that a party, Mama Luigi?" Junior asked, looking up at the green clad man and the three adults stopped.

"Junior, didn't I say we needed to talk to your Papa about that? I'm not your Mama." Luigi tried asking the child sweetly.

Junior puffed out his cheeks. "Yeah-huh! Kamek and Kammy told me what a Mama is and does and so you're Mama." He nodded as if it was common knowledge.

"Weegee, che cazzo sta succedendo?" Mario asked, tone in a hiss. He was completely lost and confused and didn't know why this creature was latched to his brother's hip.

"Ho appena spiegato cosa è successo, Mario, non posso fare a meno che si sia affezionato. Prometto che è innocuo." Luigi replied, sighing and petting Junior's head. "It's fine. So can we fix his ship or not?" He asked, looking at Peach who looked stressed beyond her years.

"We don't have that kind of time. It would have to wait until after we send them back then we have-" Peach began her tangent again and Luigi went over to her, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Then how soon can I send a letter to him? He won't be on attack mode if we can at least send a letter assuring him that Junior is safe and will be returned safely, right? Just trust me." He pleaded, giving her and Mario puppy eyes. If he could avoid an attack on either side, he'd do just about anything.

Peach wasn't phased. "What aren't you telling us? You seem to have a huge amount of faith in King Bowser." She crossed her arms.

"I'll explain, I promise, but I think we need to get that letter out first. The sooner the better." Luigi replied, holding his hand us in a prayer motion.

It took Peach a moment but she eventually sighed, going to her office desk and taking out what he'd need. "I'll call for a Goomba. Make it fast." She moved so he could sit and start writing. "And Luigi." She added.

He looked to her, brows furrowed in worry. "Yes, Peach?"

Her gaze was stern and she held an obvious doubt. "If this doesn't work? You'll have the lives of my toads on your hands. I hope you're prepared for that." She then walked out, leaving the brothers and the koopa child.

Luigi knew she didn't mean the word "lives". He took a deep breath and got to writing, Junior trying to peek from where he stood next to him, his little claws digging into the wood.

Mario approached him from the opposite side of the desk. "Is it okay if he's here while you explain yourself to me?" He motioned to Junior, his tone not the happiest, is all Luigi could say.

Luigi stopped his writing and glanced upward to his brother, a nervous and squiggly feeling in his belly. "It's a long story."

He could practically hear Mario roll his eyes. "Then cut to the chase."

Luigi finished his part of the letter and looked to Junior. "Do you want to sign it too so your Papa knows you're safe?"

Junior smiled. "Yes, Mama Luigi. Don't worry, Papa will know it's us. Even if I have to scorch it, hahahaha!" He then took the pen and tried very carefully to sign his name so Bowser could read it.

Luigi sighed, thinking where to start. "Cut to the chase" it was, he supposed. "When we fell into the well…that wasn't the first time I've encountered a portal. First time I went through it myself, but you remember that summer?" He asked nervously, fiddling with the bracelets. He saw Mario nod, curious. "Well, I met Bowser in the pipes in Brooklyn. That's how I know it'll be fine. He's not as bad as he looks." There. That wasn't so hard. Luigi felt a weight off his shoulders, but not weightless yet. He bent down and rolled up the letter, petting Junior's head. "Good job, Junior."

"Can you cover his ears for a sec?" Mario asked so Luigi did, not sure how effective it was, but he tried, knowing his brother would say what's on his mind even if he didn't cover them.

"So you're saying since you knew Bowser for not even a year, 10 years ago, you know he won't attack people that have known him in his own realm for years? Am I hearing that right?" Mario's tone had Luigi bristling, his gut sinking. "You snuck off to the sewers of Brooklyn whenever it was you did. Alone. With no protecting yourself or telling anyone where you were. You interacted with this thing, not knowing if or when he'd kill you. Then you keep it from us. Keep it from ME for 10 years!" Mario continued to count on his fingers. "Now, even when these people from these places say he's a tyrant, he's a liar, he's cruel and evil, you're still protecting him? You'd believe what that thing said or did for LESS THAN A YEAR in front of you than believe these people who are just trying to live their lives? For that matter what makes you think you mean anything to him?" Mario's face was getting red with anger and he felt betrayed. Betrayed by his own brother.

Luigi couldn't speak at first. He knew Mario would be mad he didn't tell him, but to say those things about Bowser? To belittle him for having faith in the person he loved? "It's BECAUSE I interacted with him that I know there has to be a reason, IF there is one. I never told you because I knew you'd think I made it up or I was crazy! Why do you believe these strangers over your brother?"

The door opened and Peach came in with a brown mushroom looking creature with a serious underbite and white wings. "Here, I hope you're ready." She looked between the brothers, feeling the tension. "What happened?"

Luigi grabbed the letter and attached it to the Goomba. "Princess? What did Bowser do to warrant all this?" His eyes held a deep sadness but a determination only rivaled by his brother.

Peach looked uncomfortable and looked between him and Junior. "I'm not sure I should say with a child present."

Luigi looked tiredly to Junior. "Hey, bud, can you go outside the door for a moment? Don't run off, I'll be right there." He bent down and patted the short muzzle.

Junior looked at him, worried, having heard everything a little before and he didn't wanna leave his defenseless Mama Luigi alone with the meanies, but he nodded. "Okay, Mama." He then sent a glare to Mario and closed the door behind him as he held the Goomba with the letter.

There was a moment of silence before Peach spoke.

"He went around looking for pipes that stuck out of the ground or on the sides of mountains. When the people of the lands wouldn't tell him where their's were, in fear of what he'd do if he did find any, he burned towns to the ground. Most of the pipes we believe he was looking for were too small for him to go through anyway and some of us tried explaining that and that he was trespassing on land that wasn't his, but he ignored us all." She spoke curtly, as if she were reading from a book, but there was a lying sadness there.

Luigi was trying to wrap his brain around the "why" by the time she was finished. "Did he say why he was…?" He shook out the words.

Peach shook her head. "He never told anyone why he was looking for them. Just he was in need to and he'd destroy anyone who didn't."

"Weegee..." Mario said, but Luigi wasn't sure why he was speaking.

"I understand." He replied, opening the door and grabbing Junior's hand before he looked back to them. "You wouldn't mind if Junior was my plus one, right? I know it'll take a bit for the letter to reach and I don't want the little guy to miss out."

Peach nodded, unsure. "Thanks, Princess. And Mario? Give me a little bit, okay? Love you." He waved and took the Goomba, the pair leaving to release it.

They stood on the steps, Luigi letting Junior do most of it while he was lost in his head. He wished he knew what Bowser was thinking.

"Are you okay, Mama Luigi?" Junior asked, grabbing the man's hand.

Luigi smiled down to him. "Yeah, I'm okay. Things will get better, I promise." He thought for a second more before smiling rottenly. "But let me tell you a secret." He looked back and forth before cupping a hand to the kid's ear. "When I see your Papa next, he's in for a whopping himself from yours truly."

Junior giggled, showing off his sharp teeth. "Ooooo, Papa's in trouuuuble! Hahahaha!"

Luigi smiled warmly at the child and saw ships and carriages arriving from afar with their guests. "Say, you wanna see what we can salvage of your ship before we grab some food?" He held his hand out, gaze fixed strongly on the leather bracelet, Mario's words swimming in his head.

"Yeah! And don't worry, once Papa gets the letter, he'll be here faster than Kamek when he's got an upset tummy!" Junior assured him, swinging their arms back and forth between them.

Luigi laughed, feeling a little warm despite being cold earlier.

The letter:

~"Dearest Bowser,

I'm not sure how to prove it's me by sending a letter, since I'm supposed to still be in Brooklyn, but that's a story I can tell you when I see you. Junior is safe with me, he had crashed his ship in The Mushroom Kingdom. I'm not sure if you want to come get him or wait until I can return him to you, but he's going to go to the ball they're hosting in a few days with me, so I hope you can wait till then.

I just doubt you'd want to be at a party where all but us hate you. I can say more next time.

PS: If I'm honest, I'm aching to hold your hand again and to hear your voice say my name. I miss you. Do you miss me?

~Hopefully Your's,

Luigi & JUNIOR"