16 March 2010
MK
Dear Diary,
Peach made a few phone calls to allow the Mushroom Sports Complex to host Jasmine's Lucky 13 birthday party. Jas has grown to become a very athletic girl, and according to her parents, she's shown interest in many sports, from basketball to tennis to volleyball and even dodgeball. So, the staff at the Sports Complex made sure that there were plenty of games set up around the venue. Inside, there was table tennis, basketball and dodgeball. Outside, there was volleyball, tennis, soccer, kickball and baseball. Mario and I joined the complex's staff and the parents of the younger guests in supervising these games, encouraging the participants to try out the other sports so those waiting in line could have a turn. To suit the occasion, Jas was dressed in athletic wear and told her opponents not to hold back on her just because it was her birthday. The occasion wouldn't make the outcome of the game any different. Jas really was taking the lessons she'd learned to heart.
At around four in the afternoon, the staff called the guests into a makeshift banquet hall, where a cake in the shape of an Invincibility Star was placed before Jas. We all sang the birthday song before the guest of honor closed her eyes, waited for a moment and blew out her candles.
"Happy Lucky 13!" we cheered as Jas blushed.
We helped ourselves to the cake before giving Jas her presents. The latest DVDs and music CDs and the hottest video games—including Super Mario Galaxy. She also received new clothes, headwear and shoes. And from Jake—she received a brand new bicycle, along with the necessary accessories.
"Omigosh—I've always wanted a bike!" gushed Jas. "Thanks, Jake!"
"You're welcome," said Jake, a bit shyly. "It's a special gift for a special friend."
"Awww…" we cooed.
"You're getting a bit too old for wrapped gifts," Jules said to Jas after the party had concluded and we were helping clean up. "How about next year, your mom and I give you some money for you to buy your own gifts? It's time to teach you about money matters, after all."
"Okay," said Jas.
"Soon, you'll be old enough to use our gym," Jules went on. "When that day comes, we'll have to talk memberships, and let me tell you, they don't come cheap."
"A gym membership," mused Jas. "I'd like that."
Once we finished cleaning up, I wished Jas a happy Lucky 13 before heading home to unwind.
Luigi
3 April 2010
Los Angeles, CA
Dear Diary,
What can I say about Super Grace? She has the patience of a princess. That's why I've started calling her Super Princess Grace.
Roland has promised me—and her—that his aloofness toward me would soon come to an end, a promise he's reneged on again and again. At the very least, he's trying to be nice about it, but his manner toward me can only be described as passive-aggressive.
What is his issue with me? Because I've run out of possible answers.
He toned it WAY down at Gavin's fifth birthday party today, though. Roland would be caught dead acting like that around his son. To me, that's one of his redeeming qualities, being a father first. Gavin's party was a simple affair; like Jas's parties back in the day, it was just a nice little jaunt in the park. The birthday boy riding the swings till he was nauseous and playing tag with the other kids, among them his fellow preschoolers, as I helped the parents supervise.
"Is he excited about starting kindergarten?" I asked.
"We can't say for sure," said Roland. "I think he looks excited, but he's such a ball of energy that it'll take him a while to buckle down and start learning."
"But we're excited," Grace joined in. "He'll be in school for most of the day, giving us more time for ourselves. And once he starts first grade, Roland and I will have more time to—catch up."
"How's Gadd?" I asked. "Has he mentioned me?"
"L—he's talked about no one BUT you," said Grace. "You left one heck of an impression on him, and he really hopes you'll cross paths with him again."
"Don't tell anyone—but I'm dying for another adventure," I said. "I haven't seriously used my Poltergust 3000 in—years. I don't even know if it works anymore."
"Don't sweat it," said Grace. "Gadd is already working on a new model as we speak."
"And what about Becky—is she doing okay?"
"She is—that adventure brought us closer than ever."
"What does Gavin think of them?" I asked.
"You know—I'm really not sure," said Grace. "They babysat him a few times, but I don't think Gadd's really shown him around. Roland and I are antsy when it comes to our son around ghost-hunting equipment."
"But maybe when he gets older…" I said.
"Yeah," mused Grace. "Maybe."
"All right—I think that's enough mixing business with leisure for the day," said Roland. "You know—I met Gadd and Becky. And while I'm still skeptical about things regarding the supernatural and paranormal, I think they're very dedicated and professional people. But enough of that. I know how we can get Gavin to really enjoy school."
"Fire away," said Grace.
"Nothing like good old positive reinforcement," said Roland. "The school we enrolled him in isn't far from Anaheim. And if he behaves himself and gets good grades…"
"…we take him to Disneyland? I was thinking the same thing!" cried Grace.
"And if Disneyland is closed for some reason, we'll bring him to the MK to meet his video game heroes," added Roland, giving me a look. "No kid has done THAT before."
"That's even better incentive," Grace said after a beat.
"Mommy! Daddy!" Gavin sang out. "May I please ride on the tire swing?"
"Not without us!" the parents said in unison, running over to join their son.
After Gavin's stomach settled, the guests gathered for cake and ice cream, and then the birthday boy opened his presents.
"Hey, Luigi," said Gavin as the party was breaking up.
"Yes?"
"You're super-cool," smiled Gavin, "and I just wanna say—thanks for helping Mommy."
"You're welcome," I said. "Happy birthday."
Gavin smiled as his parents herded him to their car.
Maybe when he gets wary of what's under his bed or in his closet, Grace and Roland could introduce him to E. Gadd, and then he'd learn that there's nothing to be afraid of.
Now that's a thought.
Luigi
23 May 2010
MK
Dear Diary,
Tonight, everyone in the MK will be treated to a shower of shiny stardust, a phenomenon which has occurred every hundred years. Due to this event, Josh, Jules and Jackie have closed their gyms a little early today, and the former is traveling to the MK with Joan to experience it with his family. Jules even invited Jake and his parents, with a strict warning to him and Jas not to leave the adults' supervision. Even the Butters decided to drop in from the City of Angels to attend. That's justifiable—they'd all be pretty old or dead by the time the next hundred years roll around!
As for Mario, Peach invited him to share some cake with her while they watched the shooting stars together. It seems like every date they have planned involves cake. When he rescues her (we rescue her), the reward is cake. Either she likes cake, or he likes cake, or they both like cake, or cake leads to something else—or the cake is a lie. But I highly doubt that.
I'll just set up a sleeping bag and a pillow in the grass outside and lay on my back as the stardust drifts onto my face. Heat up a nice mug of cocoa or break out a bowl of ice cream or pop some popcorn as I enjoy the show. Just a night of relaxation, all to myself, with no fame inequality or a friend's passive-aggressive husband to worry about.
Oh, yeah!
Luigi
27 May 2010
MK
Dear Diary,
Well—
My night of relaxation was going pretty well, until—
BOOM! BOOM! I heard the familiar sound of cannons. The MK was under attack!
My first impulse was to find Josh and his family, along with the Butters, and get them to safety, along with any Toad I came across. As I grabbed power-ups, led antsy citizens to safety and fended off attacking minions, Mario called. His tone was frantic as he explained that Koopa had grown to gargantuan size, attacked the MK and (surprise, surprise) grabbed Peach! His plan was to once again attempt to create an empire in his own image.
"Some Lumas are with me now," he said. "They're gonna launch me into space so I can pursue that turtle."
"Hang tight, Bro," I said. "I'll join you soon."
"Bro—I can list a thousand reasons why you shouldn't do that," said Mario. "You need to stay on the ground, assess any damage and tend to any injured. I should be back before you know it."
I sighed internally. "Good luck, Mario," I said before hanging up.
Seconds later, the phone rang again. It was Grace.
"Luigi—are you okay?" she asked.
"Yeah—I was gonna ask the same about you! Where are you guys?"
"We're fine, thank God. Gavin's just a little shaken up. As soon as we heard the cannons, we took cover. Now, we're in Mushroom Park. Meet us there; we need to discuss a plan."
"The only plan I have right now is to get everyone to safety," I said. "I need to check on some other friends, as well. Stay where you are, and when I get to the park, I'll find a Warp Pipe that'll take you back to L.A."
"We don't wanna go back to L.A.," said Roland's voice. "We wanna help!"
"Yeah!" added Gavin.
"All right—okay," I said. "Once I get there with my other friends, we'll talk about what we can do at this point."
"Be careful," said Grace.
"I will," I said before hanging up and making a beeline for Julian's gym. Part of me suspected that Josh and his family had taken shelter there.
I was proven correct when I reached the gym and saw Jules and Jackie at the entrance, waving me inside.
"Thank God! I was just about to call you," breathed Jules as he shut the door behind me.
Jules and Jackie led me to the front lobby, where Josh, Joan, Jasmine and Jake awaited, the latter two holding each other protectively. All four were armed with improvised weapons, and I noticed that both Jackie and Jules had metal bats at the ready. Some more Toads were protectively huddled nearby.
"When we heard the cannons, we brought as many Toads as possible here," Jackie explained, "and we had them shelter in place."
"Good going!" I said. "Mario called me and said that Koopa wants to try and take over the galaxy again, and he's now a behemoth, for some reason. He's also taken Peach, of course."
"Then what are we doing, just sitting around and doing nothing?" asked Josh.
"He's right," added Joan. "If Mario wants to stop him, then he needs our help. What's your plan of action, L?"
"Well—Mario wants me to stay here and keep everyone safe."
"And what do you want?" asked Joan.
"This isn't about what I want. The MK's safety is always my top priority," I said, but I knew what Joan was saying. I wanted to be out there, helping Mario. But doing so would leave the MK at the mercy of a second strike.
"For now, bring out as much food and water as you can," I instructed. "I need to make a phone call."
Stepping aside, I phoned Grace.
"There's been a change in plans," I said. "Bring Roland and Gavin to the gym, and bring as many Toads as possible with you. We'll rendezvous, and then we'll go from there."
"Okay. We'll see you soon," said Grace before ending the call.
Nearly five minutes later, the Butters arrived at the gym, flanked by a small crowd of Toads.
"Hey!" I greeted. "Are you all right?"
"Yeah—we're just shaken up," Grace assured me. "Gavin's such a brave little boy." She ruffled her son's hair as she spoke. "So far, he's followed our directions without complaint."
"I'm not scared of that Koopa," boasted Gavin.
"This is your first time experiencing an invasion, huh?" I asked.
"Yeah," said Gavin.
"While we were at the park, we distracted him by letting him ride on the swings," Roland explained. "Is—is everyone else okay?"
"Everyone's fine," I said. "However, there are other Toads out there who may be injured, and I've got to tend to them. Josh, Joan—wanna come with me?"
"Sure," replied Josh.
"Yeah, we'll be fine," said Jules. "Go."
Josh, Joan and I cautiously trekked through the MK, tending to any Toad we could find. I saw Agnes, Oliver and Alec also helping with the rescue efforts, offering nonperishable food and water to anyone they passed. Koopa Troopa and Hammer Bro patrols tried to attack us, but we handily defended ourselves. We all regrouped at Jules's gym, where the Toads we rescued formed themselves into the Toad Brigade, intending to join Mario up in space and help him fight Koopa.
"I'm coming with you," I said without hesitation.
"We wanna come, too!" said Jasmine.
"Jas, no!" cried Jackie. "That monster won't hesitate to hurt a child!"
"Actually, we could use all the help we can get, but Jas, make sure you stay close to us," I said. "Grace, Roland—if you want to tag along, Gavin is still your top priority. Keep him safe."
The Butters nodded.
When we got to Peach's Castle, we were greeted by several Lumas who quickly put us on a Launch Star into space. Jas and Gavin whooped and giggled, respectively, throughout the ride into the stars.
We landed in Tall Trunk Galaxy—the base of a very large tree. And wouldn't you know it—Mario was already there, about to scale the trunk!
"Hey!" I called to him. "I brought some help!"
Mario turned and gaped at me. "Lil' Bro!" he exclaimed. "What happened? Are you…?"
"Yes, I'm fine," I said.
Mario threw his arms around me. "How did you get here? Are the Toads safe?"
"You told me to get them to safety, and I did," I said. "You just never told me what to do afterward."
"Well—there are lots of things to do here," said Mario.
As Mario, my volunteers and I scaled the outside—and then the inside—of the tree, we were brought up to speed on my big bro's adventures. He'd encountered a large, purple Luma named Lubby, whose ship was attacked by Koopa. Together, they'd constructed the Starship Mario, a spacecraft in Mario's likeness, and set sail across the galaxies.
"I don't know about you, but I think Jas, Jake and Gavin should stay inside the starship when we face Koopa," said Mario.
I didn't argue with that.
Of course, the two kids sulked when I passed on this news to them, but Mario and I were firm about it. They got over it pretty quickly, though, as we got to slide down the tall trunk and collect Purple Stars. Also, they found the starship pretty cool, too.
And as we explored various other galaxies and outran cosmic clones, Mario told me a little bit more about Koopa's plan. The reason why he was so huge was that he was using the power of the Grand Stars. If we could collect those Grand Stars, we could weaken him and save the day.
The Toad Brigade, Josh and his family, Jake and his parents, and the Butters handled themselves pretty well as we traversed galaxies, completed missions and challenges and pursued Koopa. Jas still had her slingshot, and Jake and Gavin had cobbled together projectile weapons of their own, but Mario and I still didn't take any chances, keeping them on the sidelines when a major boss menaced us. We also tangled with BJ, Koopa's number-one son, along with his Bullet Bills. The galaxy which really brought on the creepiness factor was the Shiverburn Galaxy, with those humanoid figures just standing there, watching us from the shadows. We had no idea who they were, whether or not they worked for Koopa, or if they were just figments of our imagination. They didn't chase after us once we left the galaxy, so they probably weren't THAT bad—
Earlier today, we finally reached Koopa's Galaxy Generator. As Jasmine, Gavin, Jake and his parents watched from the safety of Starship Mario, my big bro and I, along with Josh, Joan, Julian, Jackie and the Butters, faced off with our archnemesis. He had Peach in some kind of bubble, and she did NOT look happy. At least he was nice enough to send her off to a shady spot before the battle began.
Just when we thought we'd defeated him and claimed the final Grand Star, Koopa leaped out of the pit we'd knocked him into, ate the Grand Star and summoned a black hole for us to battle in. A black hole! Luckily, there were meteorites nearby, and we could easily Ground-Pound or kick them into our foe as he tried to get at us.
As one, we knocked the last meteorite into Koopa, who let out a roar of anguish.
"My powers—gone!" he bemoaned. "My empire, shrinking—my huge cake, never got a slice…"
We watched as Koopa tumbled into the black hole.
Mario, the Merricks, the Butters and I wound up in a meadow, where the starship was already waiting for us.
Jas leaped out, eyes bright with relief. "Mom! Dad!" she cried. "Grandma! Grandpa! You did it! You beat him!"
"With some help," said Jackie as she and Jules gave their daughter a group hug.
Gavin exited the starship and ran into his parents' arms, and then Jake disembarked, hand-in-hand with his parents.
"Yeah! That's how it's done!" cheered Jake.
Standing in that meadow, we looked each other over, our hair in disarray, rumpled and battered, but alive and victorious.
"My God!" Jules gasped after a while. "That turtle really pulled out the stops!"
"Hold on—where's Peach?" Jas piped up.
Mario and I glanced back at the black hole—just as the Grand Star came launching out of it, "Not Afraid" by Eminem playing faintly at first—and then steadily growing louder.
Calmly perched on the Grand Star was none other than Peach herself, a Bluetooth speaker clutched tightly in one hand. So THAT was where the music was coming from.
"Peachy!" cried Mario.
"Awesome!" gasped Gavin.
"Wicked cool," chuckled Jas.
Smiling, Peach guided the Grand Star downward.
"How did you…?" I began.
Peach spread her hands. "There was a window of opportunity," she said, "and I took it."
She alighted from the Grand Star and strode toward us. "Thank you," she said. "All of you."
"Just doing our civic duty," said Josh.
Just then, a baby Luma popped out from under Mario's hat and waved at us, deciding to keep the iconic headgear as a souvenir. Thank goodness my bro had more hats at home.
The crisis averted, we climbed into the Starship Mario and sailed for home.
"Hey—what's that?" Grace suddenly asked.
Glancing outside the window, we all saw a bite-sized Koopa floating in the black void, pouting. At least he was okay.
"He looks sad," Gavin observed.
"Don't worry," Mario assured the boy. "He'll be all right."
And we had a good laugh.
Luigi
18 October 2010
MK
Dear Diary,
Koopa hasn't bothered us since we thwarted his second plot to recreate the galaxy in his image. I guess seeing people like Josh and Grace standing up to him has given him a reality check. Or maybe he's just trying to recover his wounded pride. Nonetheless, that turtle is still considered a high-level threat in the MK.
We spent the day in Peach's Castle, celebrating the 25th anniversary of our first rescue mission. The Toads did a better job of remembering my name during the reenactment, and a few presidents of my fan clubs were also in attendance. After the reenactment, Peach gave a speech, talking about how the MK's economy and quality of life had skyrocketed since our arrival. Then, she invited the other guests to speak about the Super Mario Bros.
Grace talked about—and showed off photos of—her playing the first NES game with her mom, and sometimes her dad, when she was just three years old. Josh talked about how working together to beat the game and save the Princess helped him bond with Julian, as they'd spend Saturdays tackling it. Jas told us that her first Mario game was Super Mario Sunshine, and how she joined the Mario-mania when she got the Game Boy remakes of the original games. Blue Toad and Yellow Toad had a lot to say about my efforts during last year's adventure. And finally, the rest of the Toads delivered little speeches of their own, thanking us for continuing to protect them when others would've just given up.
A cake in the shape of the castle was brought out, and the Toads cheered as Mario and I made the first slice and then rubbed icing all over each other's mouths.
Twenty-five years ago, we crawled through that pipe into the MK as simple plumbers, and emerged from it as saviors and protectors of a faraway magical land. And during those twenty-five years, we experienced things that made us stronger, wiser and better than we could've ever imagined.
I wouldn't trade the last twenty-five years for all of the treasure in the world.
Luigi
1 January 2011
MK
Dear Diary,
Happy 35th anniversary! So much has happened since the beginning of the new decade. Jas is in her teens and got to go on yet another cosmic adventure. Gavin's now in school. Most importantly, I got to see the Merricks hold their own against the Koopa King. Mario and I don't have to worry about rescuing them, that's for sure!
Even after all of these adventures, I'm happy I still have time to pour myself some wine, make myself comfortable and write in your pages. Whatever took place in the past, more excitement, wonder and even aggravation is sure to await me in the years ahead.
Luigi
7 February 2011
MK
Dear Diary,
Remember the plethora of sports at the Sports Complex for Jas's birthday last year? Well, Peach must've drawn inspiration from that, for she declared today a Sports Day! Both the Sports Complex and Mushroom Park hosted a variety of sports, including basketball, volleyball, dodgeball and hockey. Characters from the Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy franchises were also invited to participate. We played the basketball games first, followed by the volleyball games, then the dodgeball games and finally the hockey games. Josh and his family happily participated, as did the Butters, but the latter group had to leave bit early, as Gavin had grown cranky and sleepy. All day long, I played my hardest, my best, aiming to win more games than Mario. People might not recognize me during our regular adventures, but when it came to sports, that was a different story! That's why I love it when Peach hosts those sporting events. My two personal favorites are tennis and kart racing, because they really make my blood pump! Basketball's not so bad, either.
Hopefully, we can keep these Sports Days few and far between. I don't want Jules and Jackie's gym going out of business!
Luigi
19 March 2011
MK
Dear Diary,
I don't get it with Roland. I just don't get it. One minute, he's all smiling and buddy-buddy with me, and the next, he's bristling over my closeness to Grace. Lately, his stance was leaning farther from the passive side and more toward the aggressive side. He's not overtly hostile, but nowadays, we can't cross paths without him taking a crack at me. I ignore him and move on, because that's the best thing to do.
Now I think that Grace is the most tolerant young woman I've ever met, because anyone else would've thrown Roland out years ago. I think he's trying to hide it when he's around her, but she's not stupid. She can see through his little charade. When we talk over the phone, she tells me how she keeps trying to ease Roland's fears about me.
"What is it about me that he doesn't like?" I finally summoned the courage to ask her today.
"I don't know," huffed Grace. "I wish he'd tell me."
"I wish he'd tell me, too," I said.
Despite this, Grace and Roland are still on solid ground, and they're committed parents to Gavin. They reward him for good behavior in school and discipline him when that behavior starts to slide. They divide their time between L.A. and the MK, and let me tell you, Roland can still be civil with me when needed. But he still manages to sneak in barbs when his wife's back is turned.
But for the most part, I don't worry too much about Roland. He's not the one menacing the MK every Tuesday and Friday. Whenever he gets on my nerves, I just hook up my phone to the AUX cord of my stereo and let my music take my mind away as I dance. If Roland wants to get under my skin, then he'll have to try harder.
Luigi
2 May 2011
Brooklyn, NY
Dear Diary,
Peach kept to herself for most of the day. Mario and I didn't prod, but as we worked, I found myself envisioning the worst-case scenario, that Koopa was planning something again. Mario and I kept our eyes peeled for that turtle as we tackled clogs and leaky faucets and saw about Julian and Jackie. After we got off work, Mario treated me to burgers, fries and shakes. Just as we were about to head to Brooklyn to visit Josh and Joan, Peach gave us a call, summoning us to the castle.
When we arrived, her face was bright with excitement. Koopa was next to her, his eyes moist, a big smile on his face. Daisy stood on Peach's other side, dabbing at her eyes with a handkerchief.
"What's wrong?" Mario and I asked in unison.
"Nothing," Peach softly replied. "I bring joyful tidings from the United States."
Mario and I listened in suspense.
"The vile brute behind the 9/11 attacks, whose name I refuse to mention, is no more," Peach told us. "They got him!"
My breath caught.
"American forces stormed his hideout and took him down," added Koopa.
"It was a risky mission," said Daisy, "but they managed to pull it off."
I found myself getting choked up.
"Wow," breathed Mario. "I—I knew they could."
I saw Koopa's tears break loose, and Peach and Daisy also dissolved into tears. But unlike that dreadful September day, they were crying tears of joy.
Shakily, I pulled out my cell phone and called Jules.
"Julian, they got him!" I exclaimed.
"Who?"
"The mastermind behind 9/11!" My voice was shaking. "Peach just told me and Mario!"
"No—way!" gasped Jules. "Hey, Jackie—turn on the TV! Luigi, I gotta go. Talk to you later."
I looked up in time to see Koopa dancing a victory jig, his face awash in happy tears. Peach and Daisy hugged each other. And then Mario grabbed me for a hug.
Several minutes later, the news officially broke. Toads whooped and yelled, jumping for joy. As we watched the report, Jules walked into the castle with Jackie and Jasmine in tow. Disbelief gave way to a sense of triumph, and we all began laughing and hugging and dancing as the news sank in.
A group of Toads started to sing "God Bless America" as Peach typed up a statement to give to the press. Then, she went to the kitchen to bake a cake for the occasion, with Jules, Jackie, Jas and some Toads offering to help. Josh gave me a call as I started to smell the pastry, and I retreated somewhere quiet to talk to him and Joan. Just as Peach and the others were putting the finishing touches on the cake, Grace called. They all told me that throngs of people were celebrating in the streets, and they should. Thousands of American citizens have been avenged tonight.
I turned as Peach brought out the cake, decorated in white icing and red and blue edible stars, topped by two sparklers. We helped ourselves to a slice or two, and then we headed outside to watch a specially-prepared fireworks display.
Later in the evening, Mario and I went to Brooklyn, met up with Josh and Joan, and then joined the throngs of celebratory New Yorkers. Once the revelers dispersed, Joan and Josh invited us to their place for hard cider and mini pizzas.
Of course, this won't bring back those who died. But at the very least, it will accelerate the healing process.
Luigi
15 May 2011
MK
Dear Diary,
Today, I told Josh about my situation with Roland, and he was just as puzzled. The two had met before, and Roland had seemed like an affable guy. But then again, not all people are what they seem, are they?
"My prayers are with that poor woman and her son," said Josh. "If something isn't done about Mr. Butter's attitude, then where will that lead them?"
"Grace is strong," I said confidently. "I know she'll find a way."
Besides, Roland hasn't taken it out on those two—yet.
After dinner that night, my phone rang.
"Hello?" I answered.
"Hey, L," said Grace. "I think Roland's jealous of you."
I blinked. "I think so, too. But why? Because I fight ghosts?"
"Well—because I've been a big fan of you since I was a girl. I think he's—taking that the wrong way."
"Wow. Has he confronted you over it?"
"No. Earlier this afternoon, the three of us went to the Universal Studios theme park. It was fun."
"Okay, but if he does anything…"
"L, I appreciate the concern, but I can handle my husband," Grace assured me. "If he tries anything, then he risks being kicked out of Gavin's life, and I think he understands that."
"Next time he gets in a mood over me, tell him that I'm already spoken for," I said.
"I met Daisy," she said. "We're really good friends, and she understands what was going on when we met each other. Of course, we have that bond, because we helped each other."
"Thank God I don't have to worry about my Flower Princess turning into a green rage monster," I laughed. "All right, take care."
"You too."
And then we hung up.
To think that I had it bad with the jealousy issues.
Luigi
19 May 2011
Brooklyn, NY
Dear Diary,
For his 35th birthday, Julian invited his friends and family to dinner at his old favorite pizzeria. He'd called ahead in advance, so the staff was ready for us. When we arrived, we were shown into a private dining room with numerous tables pushed together to form one large table. Pitchers of ice-cold sodas soon arrived, followed by several extra-large pizzas.
Besides Josh, Joan, Jackie, Jasmine, Janice, Jamie and I, the guest list included Grace, Roland, Gavin, Jake, his parents and Daisy. Pauline called us and said that while she and Stanley wanted to go, they were unable to because of their schedules. They each sent a card, though. Oliver and Agnes had recently taken jobs at Julian's gym, and they offered to manage it today.
After all of the pizza was eaten, the staff brought out a big cake and set it before Jules. Once we sang the birthday song, Jules made a wish and blew out the candles. As we enjoyed the cake, we gave the birthday boy our presents.
"Thanks, guys," beamed Jules. "This means a lot."
When the party was over, we walked the Merricks to their car before going our separate ways.
Wow—I'm stuffed and exhausted. Night-night!
Luigi
8 June 2011
Brooklyn, NY
Dear Diary,
Jasmine, Jake and her friends have graduated from middle school and are on their way to the nuanced world of high school. Jules, Jackie, Josh, Joan, Janice, Jamie and I were all smiles at the commencement ceremony. Nervousness was mixed with pride on Jas's face as she received her diploma, and we flashed her thumbs-up signs when she glanced in our direction. After everyone had their portraits taken, I whipped out my phone, opened the camera and took several pictures of Jas and her family.
"Congratulations," I said to Jas later.
"Thanks, L," she replied.
"Are you thinking about college yet?"
Jas pursed her lips. "I'm torn between NYU, UConn, Harvard and Mushroom U," she said.
"Just between the two of us, Mushroom U is a little cheaper," I said, "and less rigid. And more fun."
"Hm," said Jas. "I hope Mom and Dad agree with that."
After we helped ourselves to some sweets, I said my goodbyes and headed to my apartment.
Jas is carving out a wonderful life for herself. I wish her the best.
Luigi
16 July 2011
Brooklyn, NY
Dear Diary,
Jules and Jackie celebrated ten years of marriage today. After a sweet, simple vow renewal ceremony in the park, we all ferried across the Hudson River and visited the Statue of Liberty. We all scored quite a view from the observation deck, located in the torch, and made sure to take lots of selfies. Then, we decided to kill a few hours at Coney Island, screaming our lungs out on the rides and chowing down on hot dogs and fries.
While we were relaxing in Central Park, Jackie and Jules revealed that to mark their tenth anniversary, they were going to Isle Delfino for a few weeks, planning to catch the first flight out tomorrow morning. Jas would be staying with her grandparents during that time, and from the looks on Josh's and Joan's faces, I knew that they were gonna spoil her rotten. She'd be able to bypass most of her parents' rules and restrictions, but not all of them.
"I hope we make it to our twentieth," said Jules, taking Jackie in her arms and kissing her. "It sure wasn't easy getting to this milestone."
"Don't worry," smiled Jackie, smoothing her husband's hair. "We will."
I believed her.
Luigi
25 August 2011
MK
Dear Diary,
You're not gonna believe this. Roland's jealousy has escalated to the point that he's accused Grace and I of seeing each other behind his back! Seriously, WTF?! I have a strong, healthy and loving relationship with Daisy, and we've always found ways to keep our relationship fresh, despite being a couple for twenty years. Why would I want to sabotage that? Need I mention that she was only nineteen when we first met?!
I found this out from Grace herself when she gave me a buzz. She told me that she and Roland had gotten into a tiff over my presence in their orbit, and that's when he made those accusations. From what I've gathered, Grace has shown her husband nothing but love and loyalty. They have a six-year-old boy together. What Roland was accusing her of sounded especially ludicrous to her. How could she do that to Gavin, anyway? But Grace didn't freak out—didn't even raise her voice. She politely told him that his accusations were a load of you-know-what and calmly showed him the door. Pure. Class.
Of course, Roland showed up earlier in the evening, cooled off and armed with all of his wife's favorite things and a nice speech about how sorry he was, and that he just had a bad day and needed to let off steam, so could she please forgive him? And she did. She actually did!
"I don't know if I did the right thing, though," she told me later that night. "This tension between the two of you hasn't gotten any better."
"Grace—the two of you have a son, and you need to focus on him first," he said, "but if his antics persist or worsen, then you need to kick him to the curb. Gavin doesn't need that in his life, and neither do you."
"I just don't wanna give up on him so easily, because he's a d—n good father. But I've drawn lines here, and if he crosses them, then yes—he's out of here. I spoke to my parents about this earlier, and they said that if it gets to that point, then they can make room for me. And Gadd and Becky still have my old room, too."
"You have a lot of lovely friends, Grace," I said. "Have you two talked things out?"
"Well, kinda—but I just can't shake the thought of him accusing me of that without any hard proof. Who's to say that he won't do it again?"
"Like I said—if he does, then he doesn't deserve you," I said.
"I'd better sleep on this," said Grace. "Good night."
"Good night," I said.
You want to know my thoughts? While Mario and I have had our fair share of quarrels, both in childhood and adulthood, I always forgave him, but not that swiftly. I didn't want Mario to think he had a free pass just because we were blood-related. Gracie—she's compassionate and understanding and doesn't hold grudges, and I fear that her husband is taking advantage of that. I'm worried for her and her son. Very worried.
Luigi
12 September 2011
Brooklyn, NY
Dear Diary,
Today, Mario and I visited the newly-opened 9/11 memorial. The solemn, simplistic design makes it perfect for remembrance and reflection. This memorial consisted of two black squares inscribed with the names of the fallen, water continuously cascading down them. We waited until the crowd had dispersed before heading over to the monument.
I ran my fingers over the names, listening to the rushing water. Against the black marble, they felt like scars. Scars still visible after ten years—the sights and sounds of that day, of the visuals on the TV, are still burned in my memory. Of Mario breaking down as the North Tower fell. Of reality seeming to shatter once we saw the second crash, of the crashing steel and roiling smoke. Of Josh's frantic and anguished voice over the phone. Of the pained voices of the reporters and anchors and of the voice of the caller trapped in the North Tower, seconds before its final descent.
But there was also the quiet determination of America's citizens from coast to coast, the grim courage of the firefighters and law enforcement, the defiance of the passengers aboard United Fight 93. Peach, sitting calm and dignified as she gave blood. Daisy giving me strength as she rested her hand over mine. How we'd all come together to deliver food, water, medical supplies, clothes and anything that was needed. How enemies became friends, if only for a brief moment.
Mario and I stood there, gazing quietly out over the monument in deep contemplation. Then, Josh and his family showed up, clad in their Sunday best, and joined us in our silent vigil.
We remained there for most of the day. Only after we left that sacred area did we allow ourselves a quiet conversation.
Even after ten years, and even after the mastermind behind that mayhem and destruction was taken down, I don't think we've gotten back what was taken from us that day.
And I don't think we ever will.
Luigi
18 October 2011
MK
Dear Diary,
I awoke to find a note from Mario, asking me to meet him at the castle. When I arrived, Mario rushed forward and jumped into my arms. As I savored the contact, I found myself looking back on that night ten years ago.
Yes, I was fooled into thinking that I won a free mansion. But imagine the things that wouldn't have happened if I didn't fall for it! I wouldn't have met Gadd or Grace, I wouldn't have learned how to use the Poltergust, I wouldn't have rescued my bro and I wouldn't have experienced a much-needed confidence boost. When I was up there on that roof facing the King of all Boos, I kept repeating the same thing over and over in my mind, Do it for him. I'd forced myself to forget about the unnerving environment I'd found myself in and instead think about the moments my bro and I shared together—the moments we'd no longer experience if King Boo had his way. I was not only Mario's hero, but a hero to a driven young woman, a woman who remains driven even as her marriage faces choppy waters. A decade later, the mansion remains one of the most important events of my life.
Also greeting me were Josh and his folks, Gadd, Becky, Gavin and Grace. Roland wasn't present—that wasn't a very good sign. But today wasn't about him, so why stress over that? We ate a big breakfast, and then the castle hosted a small party commemorating the tenth anniversary of my heroic act. There was even a cake shaped like the Poltergust 3000!
In these past ten years, the question I'm asked most often is: If I had to do it again, then would I?
The answer is—yes.
I would. I'd do it thousands of times over if it meant seeing my friends and loved ones safe.
Luigi
3 November 2011
MK
Dear Diary,
Last night, there was a terrific storm. The wind howled, and the rain spattered the windows. Everyone had battened down the hatches and stayed indoors, snuggled up in sheets and blankets and watching the Super Leaves blow by.
This morning, the weather had calmed, so we went outside to inspect the damage. Luckily, it wasn't serious—just piles of Super Leaves strewn all over the place.
As we worked, a letter with a heart-shaped seal floated down to us. Mario took it and opened it—and then he went pale.
"What is it?" I asked.
Wordlessly, Mario showed me the photo.
"Oh, Dio!" I shouted.
It was a photo of Peach, grasped in Koopa's hand as he grinned into the shot!
Mario and I exchanged a look before dashing off—the start of yet another adventure.
Luigi
13 November 2011
MK
Dear Diary,
What a trek! Our latest rescue mission tested us like never before with new obstacles such as flip panels, which, true to their name, flipped when Mario and I jumped. There were rotating blocks, Monty Moles and Donut Blocks, which disappeared if we stood on them for too long. Fortunately, with these new obstacles came brand new power-ups! The Super Leaf turned Mario into a Tanooki and me into a Kitsune. Dio, we were so cute! Using our tails, we could jump, float, knock away smaller enemies and deflect projectiles as well as activate mechanisms. The Boomerang Flower gave us a shell on our backs along with a boomerang to deal with persistent enemies. The Propeller Box granted us the power of flight, which helped us negotiate perilous footholds and wide chasms. The ? Box was like a ? Block, except that we could wear it on our heads, and it awarded us coins by simply walking. Talk about easy money.
We still had the classic Super Mushroom, Fire Flower and Invincibility Star, but we also gained access to the Invincibility Leaf, which gave us the powers of both the Invincibility Star and the Super Leaf, with our respective costumes turning a white-gold color. And the Statue Leaf allowed us to turn into statues to Ground-Pound our enemies, just like our quest to help those seven monarchs back in 1990, with an added twist.
Some of the enemies were powered by the Super Leaf, as well, and they'd try to use that against us. There were even copies of Koopa with tails on them! We fought them at the ends of Worlds 1 and 5. The boss of Worlds 2, 3 and 7 was named Boom Boom, whose primary move was a spin attack. For Worlds 4, 6, and also 7, we had to deal with Pom Pom, who threw boomerangs at us. After figuring out their attack patterns, we defeated them by jumping on them three times, and then we continued on our way.
Mario and I teamed up and combined our Tanooki powers to navigate these treacherous courses. The only times we ate, rested and slept were in Toad Houses. We'd come upon more Toads along the way, who gifted us with items, power-ups and more photos from Peach. And we'd always find time to take selfies in our adorable Tanooki and Kitsune suits and send them to all of our friends.
In some of the photos Peach sent us, she was actively resisting Koopa and his minions. In one such photo, she introduced a stack of Mushroom Defectors trying to intimidate her to her Parasol! I'd long deduced that Peach didn't spend her time "in another castle" passively awaiting rescue, but now, I had photographic proof. A big smile was on Mario's face as he drank in the photos.
Halfway through, we were informed that Peach had undertaken an escape attempt! Wow! Go Peach! I guess she'd decided to put her Smash Bros skills to good use. Unfortunately, Koopa and his minions thwarted it, but Mario and I saw that Peach was far from a delicate pushover.
We continued to exchange communications with Peach as we proceeded through the eight worlds of land, sea and sky. Once we arrived at Koopa's Castle, we stormed our way through enemy hordes and traps, along with a phony Peach sign, before finally locating the real deal.
She was tied to the checkpoint flag with a pink satin ribbon, but she'd managed to work her hands free and was now trying to jostle the ribbon loose. Her cheeks were flushed, her brows were knit and her eyes were narrowed as she puffed from the exertions. Other than that, though, she didn't look too tousled up, considering that she'd tried to escape earlier.
Her eyes lit up when she saw us standing there. "Oh! Hey!" she cried. "Just—hang on a sec! I think I got this!"
THUD!
Koopa landed between us, roaring.
"Nice to see you again, plumbers," he chuckled, "but I'm afraid we have no time for chitchat. I have a hot date with a peachy princess, if you know what I mean."
Mario and I raised our fists, glaring at him.
But before we could properly fight, the floor, weakened by Koopa's dynamic entrance, gave way, sending us tumbling down one story.
"Way to go, turtle," we heard Peach's voice snark.
"I really need to refurbish my castle," said Koopa as the three of us got up, "but I guess that'll have to wait. Anyway—this ends here, you pesky plumbers!"
Mario and I engaged him then, aiming most of our blows at his fleshy underbelly. At the same time, we began dashing up a walkway, leading to a bridge with a familiar switch. As we leaped over hurdles of blocks, bricks and concrete, Koopa breathed fire and merely charged his way through them to get at us. Finally, we landed on the switch at the same time, causing the bridge to collapse into the lava below, taking Koopa along for the ride.
"Just you wait! I'll thrash you someday!" vowed Koopa. "I'll…"
WHUNK! A piece of bridge fell atop Koopa's noggin, knocking him out cold.
Mario and I waved after him and then turned and ran to the checkpoint flag, where Peach had used her parasol to cut herself free of the ribbon.
"Almost forgot I had that," she muttered.
"Peachy!" cried Mario.
"Mario!" The couple spun each other around in victory before sharing a big kiss.
The two of us pulled out a spare Super Leaf, and then Mario lifted Peach into his arms and took to the sky with her as I followed.
"We Found Love" by Rihanna began playing faintly as we approached Peach's castle, and as we made our descent, we saw that there was already a party in full swing, including a DJ spinning pop hits. Gently, we landed right in the middle of the crowd, who caught us in a sea of hands and set us onto the floor.
"All right, all right! Let's give it up for Mario!" yelled the DJ, and the Toads showered my bro with soda pop as Peach's retainers led her into the castle.
Half of the other Toads hoisted Mario onto their shoulders and carried him inside, too. I was right there, and they didn't even notice me. The DJ just pointed them toward Mario, and that was it. Even after sweating my Kitsune tail off and helping Mario through these weird obstacles, I was still invisible to them. Even Peach—bless her heart, but it was like she forgot about me the instant she was in my bro's arms. Ah, well—no sense moping about it. I gamely smiled after them before showing the remaining party guests how well a Kitsune could dance.
After a few more songs, the party broke up, and the rest of us headed to the castle for a slice of that celebratory cake.
All's well that ends well, I guess.
Luigi
4 December 2011
MK
Dear Diary,
After things settled down from our most recent rescue mission, Peach hosted an end-of-the-year kart race. Julian, Jackie and Jasmine were invited to participate, and Josh and Joan sat in the stands, accompanied by Janice, Jamie, Jake and his parents. As always, the race was divided into eight cups, with the first four consisting of retro courses and the last four consisting of new courses. My personal favorites were Mario Circuit, which took us through the castle, and Daisy Hills, because—well, there was a course named after my girlfriend. The Super Leaf from our latest adventure was available as an item, and we could even get select items, such as Mushrooms, in groups of three. EDM and pop hits blared from my stereo as I raced, and I placed second overall, right behind Mario. Jules, Jackie and Jas didn't place very high, but it was their first race, so they weren't too upset.
I guess that's all. See you tomorrow!
Luigi
19 December 2011
MK
Dear Diary,
Bear with me, because I have a lot on my mind today.
There's more activity on the Roland front. He's graduating from implicit hostility toward me to outright harassment. He and Grace are butting heads more frequently, and they can barely enjoy a family outing without him suddenly going off about me for no particular reason. Grace does what she can to salvage these outings, but everyone has a limit, including her. She spends most of her free time on the beach nowadays, or bonding with Gavin, playing video games on the Nintendo 3DS together. One time, she called me, saying that she suspects her husband is trying to turn Gavin against me, too! What kind of person would try to get their son involved in something like this? My patience is also wearing thin, and I decide that the best course of action is to avoid Roland altogether until he gets it through his head that Grace and I aren't having an affair.
You know what? [Bleep] him. I'm not gonna let him disrupt my quality of life. And I'm sure not gonna end my friendship with Grace because of him. If he wants to busy himself with his delusions, then that's fine by me. Because he's not gonna break my stride, and he's not gonna slow me down.
Nothing's breaking my stride or slowing me down anymore.
Luigi