Chapter Text
[Luigi]
The castle hall was crowded with Toads — men, women, children, all gathered to celebrate yet another victory of my brother. Princess Peach had prepared this event in Mario’s honor, for having once again saved the kingdom from Bowser’s claws. I, as always, greeted the guests. It didn’t matter if I was “the hero’s brother”; I felt I should be kind.
Suddenly, I noticed something out of place.
Among the guests, a tall figure, draped in dark clothes, moved in silence. It wasn’t common to see unknown humans at this kind of party. My heart tightened, and instinctively, I began to follow him.
Before I could reach him, warm arms wrapped around me.
“Ciao, mia Lulu!”
I smiled as I recognized the voice.
It was Daisy, princess of Sarasaland — my girlfriend. I didn’t know she would come, and the surprise filled me with joy. Whenever she appeared at these events, Daisy called me in Italian, while I answered in her native Spanish.
“Hola, Daisy!” I said, returning the hug. “What are you doing here?”
“¿No es obvio?” she answered with her Spanish laced with sarcasm. “I came to see my boyfriend… and my brother!”
I laughed. Daisy had this unique bond with Mario, as if he were her little brother. The two were always getting into trouble together, coming back with scratches and ridiculous excuses. I loved seeing how much she cared for him.
After chatting for a while, I noticed the Toads gathering. As always, I stayed close to Mario at these moments, ready to calm him down if he got nervous. So I said goodbye to Daisy and entered the reserved hall, where Mario was preparing.
“Mario, are you all right?” I asked, placing a hand on his shoulder.
He turned, smiling, though there was tension in his eyes.
“Yes, just a little nervous.”
“I wanted to wish you good luck… and congratulations, again.”
“Thank you, Luigi.” He smiled more openly. “Your words always help me.”
Minutes later, everyone was gathered. Peach descended the stairs, elegant, and greeted the guests. When she saw us, she gave a special smile.
“Thank you all for being here. This moment means a lot to me and to our kingdom.”
After a ceremonial speech, the princess extended her hand and announced:
“Welcome the hero of the Mushroom Kingdom and our dear friend… Mario!”
Mario walked up to her under applause and cheers. When he kissed Peach’s hand and began to speak, I couldn’t hold back an excited shout:
“That’s my brother!”
He thanked the people with his usual simplicity. Peach, her face blushing, added:
“Mario, without you — and also without Luigi — the kingdom wouldn’t be the same.”
Mario blushed back and smiled at her. The two were so adorable together that I could only imagine when they would finally marry.
[Mario]
I was nervous, but happy. Applause, friends, my girlfriend, my brother by my side… I felt grateful. Until a strange voice cut through the atmosphere.
“Excuse me…”
A man taller than me was approaching. He held a bouquet of purple flowers. He wore dark clothes, his face partly hidden.
“Forgive the interruption. I’m a great fan, Mario. I’ve read everything about your battles and victories. I brought this for you.”
I took the flowers with a smile.
“Thank you very much, but I never do anything alone. My brother and my friends are always with me.”
The stranger extended his hand.
“A handshake from the hero of the Mushroom Kingdom would be an honor.”
I accepted, but as I grabbed his arm, I noticed dark spots — pulsing, alive. Before I could comment, I heard Luigi’s desperate voice:
“Mario, wait!”
Everyone fell silent. Luigi was pale, staring at the flowers.
“There’s something wrong with this. No one here knows this man! And those flowers… they’re strange!”
“Luigi, don’t worry, it’s just—”
The stranger laughed.
“He’s right. Allow me to introduce myself.”
He pulled back his hood, revealing his face: pale skin with black marks, brown-and-black hair, little beard, purple-and-blue clothes. His eyes, a shade between brown and beige, gleamed disturbingly.
“I am Lunard Hyeobjugdo, king of a forgotten land, dying under false peace. Mario will be my key to restore it. He will live there… forever.”
The hall erupted in panic. Peach nearly dropped her scepter, I myself shivered, but I tried to react:
“I will never go with you! If you try to hurt anyone here, you’ll have to go through me!”
Lunard laughed — a cold sound that echoed through the hall.
“I don’t need anyone else. Only you.”
The flowers in the bouquet came alive, vines coiling around my wrists and ankles before I could react.
“Mario!” Luigi shouted desperately.
In seconds, I was immobilized. Lunard lifted me in his arms as if I weighed nothing and dashed toward the nearby forest.
Lunard carried Mario like a trophy, while the vines kept him bound. The moon lit the forest clearing, casting menacing shadows. Luigi, panting, stepped forward with fury burning in his eyes.
“LET MY BROTHER GO, NOW!”
The villain laughed, his voice echoing like muffled thunder.
“You truly don’t understand… Mario is the key to restoring my kingdom. He is no longer yours.”
“Then you’ll have to fight us!” Peach raised her scepter, the crystal glowing pink.
“Oh…” Lunard smirked sarcastically, snapping his fingers. The vines burrowed into the ground. “I was hoping to hear that.”
Suddenly, enormous twisted flowers sprouted from the earth, their petals covered in thorns. Roots slithered like serpents.
“WATCH OUT!” Luigi cried, dashing aside.
A vine lunged, but Luigi flipped and smashed it with a powerful kick. He landed on one knee, trembling, but determination burned in his eyes.
Peach opened her parasol, using it as a shield against a barrage of thorns shot by a carnivorous flower. With a swift motion, she spun the parasol and struck the plant, sending it crashing down.
“You’ll regret messing with the Mushroom Kingdom!”
Daisy charged with courage, dodging vines that tried to ensnare her. She landed a solid punch on Lunard’s face, forcing him back a step, surprised by the princess’s strength.
“That’s how we do it in Sarasaland!” she shouted.
Lunard wiped a trickle of blood from his mouth and laughed.
“Interesting… you have more fire than Mario himself.”
“That’s what you get for wearing sneakers instead of heels!” Daisy quipped, flashing her green floral shoes.
“Hey, I heard that!” Peach retorted, ducking another strike of vines as she swung her scepter.
Irritated, Lunard raised his hands. The vines multiplied, forming a green wall around the clearing. The plants now moved like living beasts, roaring hungrily.
“You think you can stop me?” Lunard snarled, eyes glowing. “I command the very essence of life!”
Luigi seized the distraction, sprinting toward his bound brother.
“Hold on, Mario! I’ll get you out!”
But before he could reach him, a thick vine slammed Luigi into a tree. He crashed to the ground, air knocked from his lungs.
“LUIGI!” Mario cried, struggling against the bindings.
Lunard advanced, grabbing Luigi by the collar and hoisting him into the air.
“You really think you can be a hero, little brother?” he mocked. “You’ll never be more than a shadow.”
With brutality, he slammed Luigi into the ground, making the earth tremble. Vines shot up and coiled around Luigi’s arms and legs, pinning him down.
“No… Luigi!” Peach tried to rush forward, but a wall of thorny flowers blocked her.
Furious, Daisy leapt, striking with a flurry of kicks. Lunard defended himself with roots that erupted at each of her steps, but Daisy weaved past them with agility. With a precise upward kick, she smashed his chin.
“That’s for hurting Luigi!”
The villain staggered, but quickly retaliated, unleashing a wave of vines that wrapped around Daisy, suspending her in the air. She struggled, kicking wildly, but the plants were too strong.
“Fools.” Lunard stretched out his hand, and the flowers began to close around her like carnivorous mouths. “Nothing can stop destiny.”
Gathering all her strength, Peach raised her scepter. A brilliant pink light exploded, firing a beam that blasted through the clearing and shattered the vines, freeing Daisy.
“You won’t hurt anyone while I’m here!” the princess declared firmly.
Lunard gritted his teeth, then smirked again.
“Admirable courage… useless, but admirable.”
With a snap, every vine surged at once. In seconds, Luigi, Peach, and Daisy were on the ground, completely restrained.
Mario fought desperately, but every movement only tightened the plants.
“STOP!” he shouted, face red with strain. “Let them go, it’s me you want!”
Lunard approached, kneeling before Mario. His eyes gleamed with obsession and triumph.
“Exactly. Only you matter.”
He lifted Mario once again, ignoring the desperate cries of Luigi, Peach, and Daisy. With a swift leap, he vanished into the forest’s darkness.
Silence fell upon the clearing. The vines withered and crumbled, releasing the three battered heroes. Groaning in pain, Luigi crawled toward where Mario’s cap had fallen. He picked it up with trembling hands, pressing it to his chest.
Tears streamed down his face, unstoppable.
“Mario…”
The moon illuminated his tear-streaked face, while a single question echoed heavier than any wound he had received:
Who was that villain… and why did he want Mario so badly?