20 July 1985

Brooklyn, New York

Dear Diary,

Can't you believe we've been at this for two whole years? It's the Mario Bros against the creepy-crawlies, and the Mario Bros are winning! With Sal's help, we've been able to pinpoint the root cause of this infestation. We're getting closer to cracking the case—I can feel it!

In our spare time, Mario and I hit the arcade with Josh, Joan and Julian. The Mario Bros game hasn't lost its appeal, and neither has Pac-Man. I sense a little rivalry going on between these fandoms, but we're getting off-topic here.

The weekends are when I really get in some "me" time. Hanging with Josh and Mac at the gym and laughing about my smelly job. Mac's still climbing up the rungs in the WVBA, and he's dreaming of the moment he'll face off against a worthy opponent. He and Doc have gotten pretty close; Mac refers to Doc as his father figure. In the boxing universe, he has a new nickname—the Bruiser from the Bronx. It's much better than "runt", I'll tell you that. Although some can't resist putting a "Little" in front of his name. Little Mac. Come to think of it—it sounds pretty catchy.

But when I'm back in my apartment—that's where I really have fun. I clear out some space, turn on my stereo and start dancing like a maniac. I don't care who's watching—other tenants catching a glimpse of a shirtless guy dancing and shimmying to Toto's "Africa" or Tears for Fears' "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" or a plethora of my favorite tunes—let them watch as I cut loose. The stress of the preceding week can't stay inside me forever.

While we're on the subject of guilty pleasures, let me tell you about this new film showing in the theater. It's called Back to the Future, and it's about this kid (a teenager, if you want to be more specific) and his wacky scientist mentor who build a time machine out of a DeLorean, and the kid—er, teenager—winds up sent back 30 years. His interactions with the younger versions of his parents are hilarious! To sum it up, his own mom falls in love with him, and our young protagonist has to get his parents together in time for a prom dance before he's erased from existence! No sweat.

There are realistic films like Flashdance, and then there are escapist goodies like this one. A chance to forget about a long day of clearing creepy-crawlies out of the sewers and laugh at the exploits of a teenage boy and his time-traveling DeLorean. Okay, there's this pretty intense scene involving the school bully and the boy's eventual mom, but then the dad intervenes, and all is well again, yay! And I won't give away the end, but—I see a sequel or two on the horizon.

Jules is nine years old, and he wants to own a gym like his dad. He also likes to play sports like volleyball and tennis, and he's partial to arcade and video games. Joan and Josh take him to the arcade every Friday, with the proviso that he stays on his best behavior and keeps his grades up. Recently, his parents celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary, so I got to watch over him again. We just watched some movies and played board games till it was time for him to go to bed. The two of us are closer than ever.

Gotta get some sleep—it's back to work tomorrow!

Luigi

12 September 1985

Brooklyn, New York

Dear Diary,

Towards the end of our shift, Mario and I finally discovered where those creepy-crawlies originated. Turns out, it's another pipe! This pipe wasn't like the others, though—it was wide and dark green, wide enough for someone to crawl through it. We reported our findings to Sal, prompting an interested look to creep over his face.

"Good work, you two," he said, and a sense of accomplishment washed over me. We agreed that Mario and I would explore that pipe bright and early tomorrow morning. I've had to brew two cups of chamomile tea so far and run a warm bath. I don't know what we'll find inside that pipe tomorrow, but we'll discover it—together.

Just think—by tomorrow night, the Mario Bros will have eradicated those pests and seen the inside of an extraordinary-looking pipe.

Nothing will ever be the same.

Luigi

13 September 1985

?

Dear Diary,

Well, yesterday, I said that nothing would ever be the same once we explored that pipe, and I sure wasn't lying!

After breakfast, the two of us reported for duty, went into the sewers, and practically skipped toward that strange-looking pipe. We exchanged a look, took a deep breath and crawled inside. The two of us had brought flashlights with us, so we clicked them on so we could see. It was an uneventful crawl for the first couple of meters—and then my hand encountered a distinct slope in the ground. Sort of like a slide.

I looked over at Mario, and his eyes told me that he felt the slope, too. After a few seconds' contemplation, we decided that, hey, you only live once. So we shifted onto our backs, and then we pushed off—Mario first, and me second.

The feeling was like being on a roller coaster, or a slide at a water park. Mario and I just leaned back and enjoyed the ride, whooping and hollering. The end of the pipe waited below us, and beyond it, a bright light.

We shot out of the pipe, and to our surprise, soft grass broke our fall. Initially, we thought we'd landed in China, as the myth says. But as soon as we pulled ourselves together from that wild ride, we got a good look at our surroundings.

The environment we'd landed in was very pretty and fantastical looking. Royal blue, pink and purple flowers were blooming around us. Ahead of us was the silhouette of a mountain range. Pipes similar to the one we just crawled through stuck their necks out of the ground like trees. And get this—the clouds were actually smiling at us.

It was official. We weren't in Brooklyn anymore. The absence of smog was our first clue.

As we surveyed our surroundings, two mushroom-shaped people toddled up to us, concern on their faces.

"Hey! Are you two all right?" one of them asked.

"Uh—yeah," said Mario.

"Are you lost?"

"Obviously," I said. "We just dropped out of the pipe up there. You see, some nasty creatures were causing trouble for us back home."

"Where's home?" asked the second mushroom-head.

"Brooklyn, New York," we replied in unison.

"New York, huh? We've absolutely heard of that place," said Mushroom Head #1. "Is the Statue of Liberty really green?"

"Yes, she is," I said proudly.

"Are the Dodgers still your baseball team?" asked Mushroom Head #2.

"They moved to L.A. back in the 60s," said Mario. "We have the Mets now. They won the World Series in 1969."

"Are Nathan's Hot Dogs that delicious?" Mushroom Head #2 piped up.

"Are you kidding? They're the best hot dogs ever!" I crowed. "Uh—just to be sure—is this a dream?"

"No," chirped the Mushroom Heads.

"I didn't think so," I said. "And—we're not dead, correct?"

"You guys look pretty alive to me," said Mushroom Head #1.

"Just making sure," I said. "Listen, we didn't mean to bother you…"

"You're not bothering us at all," Mushroom Head #2 assured us. "Furthermore, we haven't been properly introduced. My name's Agnes."

"And my name's Oliver," said Mushroom Head #1. "It's really nice to meet you."

"Hi, Oliver. Hi, Agnes," said Mario. "My name's Mario, but my friends call me Jumpman. And this is my baby bro, Luigi."

"We're the Mario Bros," I added.

We shook hands, and then I asked the million-dollar question. "Do you know where we are?"

"Absolutely!" chirped Agnes. "You're in a quaint little place known as—the Mushroom Kingdom!"

"Mushroom Kingdom," I repeated. "That's understandable. You two are talking mushrooms, after all."

"Actually, Luigi, we prefer the term 'Toads'," said Oliver. "Y'know, like toadstools? Toads? Get it?"

"I get it," I said.

Then, both Toads wrinkled their noses. "What is that awful smell?" they asked in unison.

"We're plumbers," explained Mario. "We work in the sewers."

"Hm. We could use a couple of strong, muscular plumbers," said Agnes. "Tell you what—you two can spend the night at our place. We'll get you washed and fed, and then we'll tell you everything you need to know!"

"We could use a shower right about now," I said gratefully.

We hopped into their minivan, and then the two Toads drove us to their house, which was shaped like, surprise, a mushroom. Within minutes, we were showered, attired in clean clothes and seated at the dining room table, helping ourselves to the meal Agnes and Oliver served us.

"You couldn't have come at a better time," said Agnes as we ate. "The Mushroom Kingdom has had it rough over these past few years."

"Economic trouble? Political turmoil?" asked Mario.

"Uh—try a turtle tribe who's a pain in the MK's [bleep]!" Oliver sighed in exasperation.

"Turtles? Like those Shellcreepers we've dealt with?" I asked.

"They're actually called the Koopa," said Oliver.

"No plural?" asked Mario.

"Nope, that's the tribe's name," said Agnes. "Say it with me—Koopa."

"Koopa," Mario and I repeated.

"Many years ago, the Koopa invaded our lovely kingdom, and turned the Toads they came across into blocks," narrated Agnes, showing us pictures of turtle-like creatures with red or green shells chasing after Toads, as well as the aforementioned blocks. "To make things worse, their ruler, the Koopa King, has his sights set on our beautiful princess—the only one who can reverse the transformation!" She gave us a picture of a lovely, red-haired young woman in a white, scoop-neck dress with red embroidery.

We gawked at her for a full minute or so.

"That no-good King Koopa has our princess in his castle, all the way in the Dark Lands!" said Oliver, handing us a map and showing us what he was talking about. "The missions to retrieve her so far have been unsuccessful. That's where you guys come in."

Mario blinked. "Well—I've always wanted to rescue a princess. How about you, Luigi? You up for a rescue mission?"

"Oh, yeah!" I sang out. "Let's-a go!"

"Bring her back safely, and we'll help you get back home to Brooklyn," promised Agnes. "We have a deal?"

"Indeed," smiled Mario, and we all shook on it.

"One last thing," said Oliver, holding up yet another picture. "These brown, mushroom-looking guys are traitors to our kingdom, called Goombas."

Mario and I winced.

"What?" asked Oliver.

"Could you not use that term, please?" I asked. "It's considered an ethnic slur. How about you call them Mushroom Defectors or—I know—Benedict Toads?"

"Call them what you wish," said Oliver. "We're just telling you about the enemies you'll face on your journey. These green-shelled and red-shelled guys are called Koopa Troopas. You can defeat them by jumping on them, stunning them long enough for you to get away."

"Thanks for the tip," said Mario.

"Now, you need to get your rest, because you've got eight worlds to go through," warned Agnes. "Along the way, you'll also need to free seven of our princess's Toad retainers that King Koopa has stashed in his smaller castles. They'll likely give you advice, and plus, that's good karma."

"We'll keep that in mind," I said.

So, Mario and I spent the day resting up and familiarizing ourselves with the new world we've found ourselves in. Agnes and Oliver offered us a few tidbits on the Mushroom Kingdom's history. ("We tried a democracy once," said Agnes. "It didn't work out too well.") As the day wore on, we found ourselves sympathizing with the Toads. And besides, someone intruding on a peaceful country doesn't sit too well with me.

The Mario Bros are gonna step up to the occasion and help the Mushroom Kingdom fight off the hostile Koopa tribe. We want to help them, and not just because we want to get home. It's also because we smell adventure, and d—mit, we want in.

Tomorrow's the start of something new.

Luigi

18 October 1985

Princess Toadstool's Castle, Mushroom Kingdom

Dear Diary,

Sorry to leave you hanging for so long. Our adventure was so taxing that every drop of energy in my body was worth saving. Let me tell you of how our mission to save Princess Toadstool came to a bittersweet (for me, at least) end.

The clothes our hosts provided us with were travel-worthy as well as flattering. Mario wore a blue-gray shirt with red coveralls, a red hat and blue-gray boots. I was clad in a dark green shirt with white coveralls, a white hat and dark green boots. A hearty breakfast was waiting for us when we woke up. We ate what we could, wrapping up what was left to subsist on later.

Not long after we set off, Mario and I encountered the first blocks Oliver and Agnes were talking about. Several of these blocks had question marks on them. When Mario hit one of the ? blocks, a red mushroom popped out.

"Thanks for freeing me!" said a voice. "Take this as a token of my gratitude. It will come in handy."

I hit another ? block and also received a red mushroom. With a shrug, I popped it into my mouth. It tasted quite heavenly, and a powerful feeling swept over me. I looked over at Mario, and that's when I noticed that we'd actually grown! Laughing, we took off running, hopping on any enemy who got in our way. One of the things we liked to do after stunning a Koopa Troopa was kick the shell into groups of other attacking enemies, pretending we were going bowling.

The ? blocks yielded more goodies than what was identified as a Super Mushroom. Sometimes, they gave us an orange tulip-like plant called a Fire Flower. Upon consumption, our clothes turned into an orange shirt and white overalls, white-hot heat flashed around us, and we gained the ability to throw fireballs at attackers! But one slight touch from an enemy took away our powers, so we had to be careful. The Super Mushroom gave us one extra hit point, while the Fire Flower gave us two.

Along the way, we got to collect treasure. Lots and lots of treasure! Coins just floating around in the air, in treasure troves underground, and stuffed in one of the blocks. If we were really lucky, then we'd earn green mushrooms which rewarded us with an extra life. These, we'd find out later, were called 1-UP Mushrooms. We could also score extra lives by hitting a certain amount of enemies consecutively.

Our heroic journey took us through land, sea and sky. For some strange reason, we were able to breathe and see underwater. A vibrant mix of enemies tried to impede us, but our quick thinking and teamwork won the day. We became acquainted with Koopa Paratroopas, Bloopers, Buzzy Beetles, Cheep-Cheeps (red and gray), Podoboos, Bullet Bills, Lakitus who floated over us on clouds and dropped Spiny Eggs on us, which would hatch into nigh invincible Spiny turtles we had to outrun, Piranha Plants we could only defeat using fireballs and the annoying Hammer Bros, who, as their name suggested, liked pelting us with hammers. We could access underground areas via the various green pipes, called Warp Pipes, and there were various Warp Zones we could use to skip a world, if we chose to.

These various worlds boasted their own distinct obstacles. Scales, broken bridges, wide chasms—you name it, they had it. There were also vines hidden in some ? blocks, which we used to climb high into the sky and grab hidden coins. 100 coins equaled 1 extra life, by the way. Kind of makes you think of Jack and the Beanstalk, right?

And if we were extremely diligent, we'd get a yellow star with eyes on it, known as the Invincibility Star! For ten glorious seconds, we could barrel through enemies and not receive a scratch, with an accompanying euphoric feeling, our bodies flashing in different colors. We'd collect these Stars and save them for the more enemy-infested courses, where we really needed them.

We journeyed morning, noon and night, rested when we felt like it, napped when we felt like it. When multiple enemies were ganging up on Mario, I'd always come to his rescue, and he did the same for me. We learned to depend on one another in ways we'd never even imagine. We'd pass the time the usual way, making small talk, telling dirty jokes and listening to our favorite songs.

The first seven worlds ended with us infiltrating a castle and defeating a false version of the Koopa King. The quickest way to do that was duck and slide under him, grab the nearby axe and destroy the bridge he stood upon. After that, we were greeted by a Toad retainer who uttered these exact words:

"Thank you, Mario Bros, but our Princess is in another castle!"

The retainer would then give us a hot meal and a place to crash for the night, and then we'd be back on our way as our host waved goodbye.

Mario and I were armed to the teeth by the time we arrived at Koopa's Castle. The eighth world had by far the trickiest courses and the nastiest enemies. We evaded and defeated them all, and announced our entrance by leveling the castle doors with a combined fiery punch. Nothing was gonna stop us from freeing the Princess—nothing!

After suffering through a "game", in which we had to find the correct Warp Pipe which would take us deeper into the castle, Mario and I found ourselves on a bridge, face-to-face with the Koopa King himself. He was a tall and imposing reptile, with well-muscled limbs, sharp claws, a hard, spiny shell, a fleshy underbelly, gleaming horns, red hair and a perpetually smug, smirking face.

"This is as far as you go, you pesky plumbers!" he roared. "I'll finish you in the blink of an eye, and the Toads will never see their beloved Princess again! She'll be mine for eternity! GWA-HA-HA-HA-HAA!"

"We'll see about that!" we vowed in unison.

I wasn't without fear, but I was confident because Mario was at my side. I turned to him and held out my hand. He grabbed it. And then we shook, exchanging the physical and mental strength we both needed.

Thus, the decisive final battle began.

Koopa didn't go down without a fight, that was for sure. He belched fire at us, swiped with his claws and tossed hammers our way. But we gave as good as we got, answering back his assault with fireballs of our own, along with hefty punches and kicks. I came up with the idea of attacking Koopa's underbelly, his most vulnerable spot, pounding on it as long and as hard as I could, getting clawed and tossed around for my efforts. But the thing I was really good at during the battle was backing up my brother, taking the worst of Koopa's attacks for him, tossing him a power-up whenever he needed one and rushing to his side whenever he grew exhausted. Whenever that beast managed to down Mario, I'd plant myself in front of him and give our foe a look powerful enough to pierce through his hide. He'd laugh and mock and jeer, and I'd conjure fire in both my fists and engage him until my big bro recovered. Amid the boiling lava and the sounds of fighting, we heard a hopeful, dulcet voice, saying, "Whoever you are, I believe in you. I'm counting on you. You can do it!"

It all ended up with the three of us on our last leg, hurt and cross and determined to end it once and for all. Mario grabbed my hand, the two of us sounded a battle cry, and we took a running start before performing an impressive leap over Koopa's horned head, slamming down one last punch as we did. Koopa crashed onto his back, stunned, before slowly sliding off the bridge, plummeting into the sea of lava below.

"Are you okay, Luigi?" he asked me.

"Yeah," I gasped. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, thanks to you," he said cordially.

Arm in arm, we strode down the corridor and were greeted with a beauteous sight—the Toadstool Princess herself! She was more gorgeous than in the photos. Her deep red hair glistened in the firelight and tumbled down her back and past her hips, topped by a bejeweled crown. She had a lovely, heart-shaped face, amethyst-colored eyes and luscious-looking lips the color of strawberries. A necklace of hearts and stars was clasped round her neck, and she wore that short-sleeved, scoop-neck dress of white and red, showing off just the perfect amount of cleavage. A sterling silver watch was around her left wrist, and on her other wrist was a thin, gold bracelet. Then, we noticed that she was barefoot, a pair of red pumps dangling from the fingers of her right hand. She looked pretty good for someone who'd been in Koopa's clutches for God-knows how long.

Simultaneously, Mario and I took off our caps and knelt before the Princess, who placed her shoes on the floor and strode regally toward us—glided, almost. "Arise," she softly commanded, and we obeyed.

After carefully studying us, the Princess spoke again. "You must be the Mario Bros," she said.

"Yes, Your Highness," Mario spoke up. "My name's Mario, and over here is my brother, Luigi."

We were now so close to her that we caught a whiff of her perfume. It smelled of—peaches.

"Thank you, Mario," she said. "Thank you, Luigi."

Leaning down, she kissed Mario on the nose, a chaste but powerful kiss. I saw the flush come to his cheeks, his pupils dilate and a smile of pleasure worming onto his lips. Then, she stepped daintily toward me and planted a soft, sweet kiss on my nose. A warm, tingly feeling swept through my body, and little hearts came bursting out of me.

The moment was broken when we heard a car zooming toward us. The seven Toad retainers we'd rescued earlier came pulling up in a convertible, a-ha's "Take on Me" playing at full volume on the speakers. Mario and I helped the Princess into the convertible before taking a seat ourselves, and off we went to her castle. As we passed the numerous blocks and whatnot, she used her magic to turn them back into Toads, who laughed and squealed with delight at their regained humanity.

When we reached the castle—it happened.

"Look!" shouted a Toad. "There he is! There's the brave hero who saved our Princess!"

Hero? Didn't they mean heroes?

"Yeah, that's Mario!" piped up another Toad. "The dashing plumber from Brooklyn!"

I saw Mario positively glow at the attention and bit my lip, a peculiar feeling arising in my soul. A feeling similar to when Mario was hailed as a hero for saving Pauline from DK.

We all climbed out the convertible and watched as a drawbridge lowered over the castle's moat. Mario gave the Princess her hand, and together, they walked toward the castle entrance as the Toads shouted to him and showered the pair with confetti and streamers. I, on the other hand, walked alone, showered with nothing.

"All right! Let's put our hands together for the brave plumber, Mario!"

"Hip, hip, hooray for Mario, our hero!"

Huh?

"Mario, Mario, he's our man! If he can do it, anyone can!"

What?!

"Way to go, Mario! You sure showed that Koopa who's boss!"

But—I landed some blows on him, too…

"Go, go, Mario!"

"You did it, Mario!"

"You've won a gold medal, Mario!"

Wh—what about me? I put in my fair share of effort…

I couldn't believe what was happening. The Toads were heaping all of the praise on Mario. My name wasn't even mentioned once. It was as if I'd disappeared. As if I'd never shown up in the first place. They didn't even know I was there! I wanted to remind them that I'd helped out, as well, but my words died on my lips when I saw the big smile on my bro's face. I couldn't spoil this pivotal moment for him. I just couldn't. It would make me look like some entitled brat. So, I quietly followed them into the castle and watched the Toads throw a splashy reception for my big bro, extolling his brave actions and how he won his big fight with Koopa—the fight I'd fully participated in. But, no, they didn't care about that—my involvement was fully glossed over. Not a single nod or hint of recognition, not even from Agnes and Oliver, the two Toads who first took us in and explained the situation for us. Zero. Zip. Zilch. Nada. Nothing.

Save for the few slices of the cake the Princess helped bake, I didn't get anything for my efforts.

It all went to Mario.

And I bore it all in silence.

Luigi

27 November 1985

Brooklyn, New York

Dear Diary,

It feels good to be home, but things aren't exactly the way they were before. Going back to being everymen after our adventure is far from an easy feat. And one other thing's certain—my relationship with Mario will never be the same.

We spent a month in the Mushroom Kingdom, recuperating and getting to know the Princess we rescued (oh, right, Mario rescued her; based on her subjects' behavior, I had nothing to do with that—how foolish of me to forget). She was far from just a delicate flower, attempting to escape numerous times, remaining unafraid in the face of the imposing Koopa, snarking at him and telling him what she thought of him whenever she could. She also fostered a spirit of athleticism among her subjects, encouraging them to get out and exercise during select hours of the day. Of course, she didn't talk about her years of captivity a lot. She was determined to move on, and we were determined to help her.

Mario and I helped rebuild the kingdom we grew to regard as a second home, helped the Princess heal from her harrowing experience "in another castle" and befriended the locals. It was a refreshing and re-energizing month, but the Toads could sense our homesickness. So, earlier today, they led us to a Warp Pipe near Oliver and Agnes's house.

"Is this…?" Mario asked.

"We gave our word," Agnes said solemnly.

"Well," I spoke up. "You all have started growing on us, and—we'd like to think of this place as our home now."

"Never fear," said Oliver. "This pipe goes both ways! You can visit us again any time you like!"

We beamed.

"The Princess has agreed to oversee the construction of additional pipes for your personal use as a 'thank you' present," said one of the Toad retainers. "We don't think we would've gotten back on our feet if it weren't for you!"

"Yeah! The door is always open for you guys," chirped Agnes.

"Wow," breathed Mario. "Thanks, guys."

"Yeah," I added. "You're the best."

"Before you go," said Oliver. "We just want to say—thanks. For bringing back not only our Princess, but also our hope, our dignity and our lives."

I still feel that this was directed more at Mario than at me, but I brushed that feeling aside.

"Thank you all, too," said Mario. "You gave us the adventure of a lifetime in only two months."

"Wait!" shouted a voice.

There was Princess Toadstool, gliding briskly toward us. "Will I ever see you guys again?" she asked.

"Anything is possible," Mario replied.

She kissed us both on the cheek. "Have a safe trip," she smiled, "and thank you for everything you've done for us."

"You're welcome, Princess," we said in unison.

Giving one final wave, we hopped down the Warp Pipe, back to Brooklyn—back to an ordinary life.

We tumbled back out into the familiar sewers, picking ourselves up in time to see Sal standing there, goggle-eyed and slack-jawed.

"There you are!" he exclaimed, unrestrained relief in his voice. "Where in God's name have you been?!"

I smiled wryly. "You wouldn't believe us if we told you, Sal," I said.

Sal looked us over, and then he plucked out an Invincibility Star threatening to fall from my pocket. He turned it over and over in his fingers, looking from this neat find to us. An amused smile quirked his lips.

"Try me," he said, a twinkle in his eye.

Home sweet home, I guess.

Luigi

31 December 1985

Times Square, NYC

Dear Diary,

An extremely eventful year is about to take its final bow, and I can't find anything that I would've done differently. Mario and I discovered a vibrant new world, just by crawling through a pipe. We met a brave and determined ruler determined to keep her kingdom afloat despite a tyrant's efforts. And we got to go on an adventure straight out of a fantasy movie. As far as years go, I give this one an A+.

However, I can't deny that my relationship with Mario will be drastically different from now on. I'll always remember that he received all of the credit for rescuing the Princess, even though I got dirty and buffeted along with him. I'll always remember that none of the Toads could remember my name, eventually giving up and calling me "Green Mario". And I'll always remember the creeping jealousy threatening to sweep through my soul as I watched the accolades fall to Mario.

But fame inequality aside, I promise to still be there for my bro. To protect him. To defend him. Should adventure call again, I know that he'll need me at his elbow. And should the Koopa King or some other enemy prove too much for him, I'll swallow my pride and my fears and race to his rescue.

Waiting for the famed ball to begin its descent, I can't help but think that a day will come when someone will be stupid enough to hurt Mario. Then, I'll step up to the plate and show the unlucky aggressor and everyone else watching that I can be a hero in my own right, despite being not as fearless as Mario.

Facing an enemy larger, stronger and more imposing than me—and all to ensure Mario's safety.

Becoming Mario's hero, just as much as he's mine.

Now wouldn't that be something?

Happy New Year!

Luigi