Luigi glided towards Toad Town, landing atop a house not far from the advancing horde. He jumped from rooftop to rooftop, occasionally gliding to ones he could hardly reach. As he jumped to the last house, he felt as if he was struck in the face, causing him to practically fall out of the sky. He grabbed ahold of the roof in front of him before he could hit the ground. He pulled himself atop it and looked out to the field in front of him.

From a distance, it looked concerning but these were easy enemies. Goombas and koopas, with the occasional fly guy here and there. It wasn't an ambush, just a distraction. Jumping down from the rooftop, Luigi swung his tail, taking out a mass of goombas, as well as a few koopas. He picked up a now empty shell and aimed it at a line of fly guys, hitting all but one. The remaining one wielded a bob-omb, which it threw to Luigi, who managed to hit it back with a swipe of his tail. The fly guy fumbled with the bob-omb for a moment before it blew up in its face.


Mario could see a second explosion as he rushed to the site of the first from a distance. He was seemingly out of breath as he arrived to see a familiar green-clad figure fighting off the swarm of uncomplicated enemies. He lightly smiled knowing this one was on his side.

As Luigi defeated another koopa, he kicked its shell behind him to a group of enemies that evaded him. The shell flew back, past him, taking out another group to the side of him. He turned around curiously to see what it bounced off of only to smile at the sight of his brother back on his feet again.

They approached each other, standing at each other's side, neither of their backs facing the enemies.

"You look like you could use some help," Mario remarked.

"As glad as I am to see you, I am a little worried. Are you sure you're strong enough to fight?" Luigi asked, concerned.

Mario quickly glanced to the ground before looking back up to Luigi "Yeah," he nodded, a twinge of uncertainty on his face. "And besides, these guys are easy. We can take the rest of them out with a simple bros. attack!" He suggested, walking up to a koopa and jumping on it to take its shell.

Mario kicked it over to Luigi who, in turn, kicked it to the next koopa in line. Back and forth, the two kicked the shell, taking out another enemy with each one. As the shell ran back to Luigi to kick to the final koopa in line, another feeling of pain shot through him, distracting him from the fight. The shell struck him, knocking him to the ground, causing his super leaf augmentations to dissipate. The shell flew back to the koopa, defeating it before the shell flew right back to Luigi.

Mario gasped. Running over to his brother, he kicked to shell away before he could be stuck again. He crouched down. "Are you okay?" He asked fearfully.

Luigi looked up to Mario in pain and he felt a third blow, this one to the stomach. "I- I think Mr. L is in a fight," he groaned.


Peach tightly gripped her crown as her assailant stood up off the ground, noticing the lightning forming from his hands. Mr. L charged towards her, his fist practically illuminated. She dodged, turning to the side and inevitably, and somewhat graciously, turning in a circle to face him once more. Now behind him, she swung her crown again in his direction, knocking him down to his knees.

Now, Mr. L was angry. Standing back up to his feet, he formed a ball of lightning in his hands and quickly threw it to the princess, it came without warning. Peach couldn't avoid it. The ball struck her in the stomach, causing her to collapse. She may have been able to deliver a hit, she certainly wasn't able to take one.

Peach looked up to see Mr. L approaching her. She tried to push herself up, wincing in pain but she didn't have enough strength. Instead, she lunged herself forward, crown in hand, landing one more hit upon him, sending Mr. L back towards the ground before she fell herself.

Mr. L didn't move. He just sat on the ground, hands behind his back, sitting him up, seemingly defeated. Peach noticed this and used it as an opportunity to gather enough strength to stand to her feet once more. Slowly, she approached her phone, her grip tightening on her crown, which was nearly bent out of shape. Mr. L stayed put, his hat covering his face. Unbeknownst to her, he smirks maliciously, his hands blowing behind him, waiting to strike.

Peach slowly raised her crown as she stepped closer, prepared to retaliate for an upcoming attack. Mr. L slightly tilted his head upwards, his smirk now visible to her. He quickly threw his hands forward, lightning shooting from his fingertips. Before she could do anything about it, she was thrown back, her grip loosening on her crown, and collided into a pillar that held the upstairs balcony. The pillar cracked and Peach fell to the ground with barely enough remaining strength to lift her head.

She looked just ahead of her, seeing her crown just out of reach. Shakily, she extended her hand in an attempt to reach the crown in her weakened state, getting within inches of getting ahold of it, only to watch him pick it up before her.

Mr. L examined the crown. Even though it was practically bent out of shape, it didn't mask the fact that possessing it was a mark of power. He directed his attention back to Peach.

"I am surprised, princess. You lasted longer than I thought you would. You're strong," he praised before crouching down to look Peach in the eye. "But not strong enough." He tauntingly waved her crown in her face.

Peach's expression shifted to one of anger as she tried to raise her hand to him once more only for him to gently put it back down with a shake of his head. "Save your strength," he said, "Your kingdom is mine, princess, and there is nothing you can do to stop me."


Luigi noted when the pain stopped, not too long before a strong feeling of pride washed over him. He knew it wasn't his own emotions he was feeling as, right now, he was nothing more than concerned. Something was very wrong.

"Mario?" he asked, "When was the last time you saw him?"

Mario thought for a moment. "Peach insisted on going after him back at the castle," he responded. He too was beginning to feel concerned.

Luigi's eyes widened. "What?! M-Mario, Peach could be in serious trouble right now!" he practically shouted.

Mario's heart sank. As much as he understood Peach's intentions, he knew he shouldn't have let her go alone. At least, not without being certain she could take on what could be thrown at her. He knows that she can fight for herself, but could she protect herself? He shook his head in an attempt to clear his mind, but to no avail. "I have to go back," He spoke quietly before bolting back to the castle.

"But Mario-!" Before he could get the words out, Mario was already out of earshot. Luigi knows Mario didn't have the strength to fight Mr. L. Not alone. He swiftly ran after him.


Mario barged into the castle, rushing to where he had last seen Peach, coming across the scene of her fight where she lied, weakened, in front of Mr. L, who turned at the sound of him entering.

"Mario? You again?" Mr. L perked up. "This is perfect. First, the princess challenges me to a fight, and now you just walk right into my arms," he laughed. "This is just too easy."

"Too easy is what you'd call that sorry excuse of an army you sent on the town," Mario retaliated. He glanced down to Peach, who gave off a feared and pained expression. This instilled anger in him, causing him to unconsciously ball his fists.

Mr. L scoffed, placing his free hand behind his back, allowing it to charge once more, "Those guys? Merely a distraction! But, enough talk, let's just get this over with." Just as he finished his sentence, Mr. L threw his arm forward, throwing a ball of lightning to the unsuspecting red hero. Peach, who could only watch in horror, gasped shakily.

Luigi ran down the hall, stopping just short of the entrance to the lower stairwell. He could hear a gasp, followed by a thud. He peeked into the room, careful not to be seen, it was met with the fear-filled gaze from his brother, who had just collided with the wall and was losing a battle of consciousness.

Luigi backed back into the hall. He fought the urge to go up to Mr. L and fight him once again. He was feeling a multitude of different emotions that he struggled to keep under control. He was upset. He was angry. He was scared.

He needed help. And he only had one more chance to get it.