Mario And Luigi: Darkness In Light Pt.34

Previously: Pt.33

(Also there is only just small gore only at the beginning of the chapter, that's it.)

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"MARIO!!"

Luigi managed to catch Mario's limp body as he fell to his knees. Luigi quickly yet gently flipped Mario onto his back as his head was in his hands. Mr.L and Oiram were standing six feet apart watching in small concern. Luigi laid Mario's head in his hand, his sleeping expression being blank. He looked down at the wound, but instead of blood...there was a black substance. He put his hand on the wound, trying to stop more of it from leaking out as he struggled to hold back a sob.

"M-Mario...?" Luigi put his head against his chest, trying to listen for a heartbeat...

There was nothing...

"No..." Luigi shook his head in disbelief. "N-No...! P-Please! Mario!" He began to shake his shoulders rapidly as if he was shaking a doll.

"M-MARIO! THIS ISN'T FUNNY!" He exclaimed, tears falling from his eyes. "WAKE UP! WE PROMISED WE'D BE THERE FOR EACH OTHER! YOU PROMISED! P-PLEASE!! OPEN YOUR EYES!"

There was no answer from Mario's limp form, not even a groan or a twitch from his hand. Luigi still continued to shake him, but no matter how long he's been doing it, or how hard, he still wouldn't get an answer. Mr.L and Oiram both looked at each other in sympathy. Even when Mario was dead, they still couldn't risk Luigi hurting his body. They both walked over to him...and Mr.L grabbed both of Luigi's wrists in a strong grip as he pulled him away from Mario. Luigi struggled to break free.

"L-LET ME GO!" Luigi exclaimed, still struggling to break free from his grip. "H-HE'S NOT DEAD! LET GO OF ME MR.L!"

"Luigi! what Eldstar said? If someone dies in this wish you have to accept their death! Mario's gone and he's not coming back!" He exclaimed.

"NO! HE'S NOT!" Luigi exclaimed continued to struggle. Oiram knelt down beside Mario and he put two fingers against his neck...Oiram couldn't feel a pulse either and he shook his head at the duo. However, Mr.L gasped a little seeing dark flames began to engulf Oiram's fingertips. Luigi stopped struggling seeing Oiram like this, but he still had tears running down his eyes.

"Would you look at that..." Oiram muttered as he looked at his hands, the flames beginning to engulf his arms. "He really is gone."

"W-What's happening to you...?" Luigi's voice quivered as he asked that question.

"I'm connected to Mario, Luigi." He began. "As you already know, I'm his demons. I'm all that negativity he feels. But since he's really dead...there's no negativity to represent, no feelings. I'm...dying."

"..." Luigi glanced up at Mr.L...and his eyes widened seeing a tear fall from his eye. "...So I guess it's goodbye then?"

"...Guess so." Oiram said, the flames slowly engulfing his legs, making their way towards his stomach. "It hasn't been long since I took form...but it was fun while it lasted."

Mr.L hesitated, but he slowly let go of Luigi and he stood up as he walked over to him. The two dark demons both stood in front of each other, both having neutral looks on their faces.

"It's been fun, L." Oiram said with a sad smile. "Even though we might not get along, it's been nice knowing ya."

"Yeah..." Mr.L agreed as he brought out his hand for a handshake. "So...see you never?"

"..." Oiram looked down at his hand and he accepted it...as he pulled Mr.L into a hug as he gasped in surprise. Mr.L could hear a small sob escape from him. He only sighed as he hugged him back and closed his eyes. The flames began to engulf Oiram's face. Or a then smiled as he closed his eyes.

"...Take care of him for us." Oiram fully felt the flames finish him off as he fully disappeared into thin air. Mr.L took a step back as he let his arms fall to his sides. He bit the bottom part of his lip, trying to hold back a sob. He looked behind himself, and he saw Luigi was still beside Mario's body, holding onto his hand as he let out a few soft sobs.

Mr.L sighed as he walked over to the duo. He stood beside Luigi and he put his hand on his shoulder.

"You can be hopeless when you're alone..." He said. "I'm sorry this had to happen."

"...What do we do now?" Luigi said, not taking his hands off Mario. "I can't do this by myself. Even with just the two of us...what will happen now?"

"I-" They both felt a small gust of wind as they stumbled a little. They both looked up and they gasped seeing a huge portal that was a mixture of light and darkness cover the entire sky. Mr.L looked at the spot Lucian was suppose to be...but he was nowhere to be seen. Mr.L clenched his hands into fists as he had a determined look on his face.

"You have to do something, Luigi." He stated. "Staring at his dead body won't bring him back. Do you think he'd want you to mope about him? Do you think he wants Lucian to win? Do you think he wants you to give up?"

"..."

"You have to let go sometimes, Luigi. I know it's hard, but you can't let his death be in vain. He would want you to keep going...and finish what the light and dark started." Mr.L stood over Luigi.

"So...are you ready?" He gestured his hand out to him. Luigi looked down at Mario and he let out a small sob as a tear fell onto his chest. Mr.L rolled his eyes and he grabbed Luigi's arm as he made him stand.

"I know it's hard, but you need to stand up and accept it instead of crying like a baby about it." Mr.L glared at him. "You're not alone...you have me. So open your eyes already and realize that there are still people who are counting on you!"

"..." He took one last look at Mario's body and he clenched his hands into fists as he had a determined look on his face.

"H-He'll pay for this..." Luigi brought out both of his blades and he sprouted his white wings on his back and he yelled as he flew straight towards the portal. Mr.L took one last look at Mario's body, and he shook his head as he followed Luigi up towards the portal.

Unaware to the duo, Mario's hand twitched a little, but when he blinked his eyes open...they were different.

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When Mr.L and Luigi both shot out from the portal. Their surroundings looked...peaceful. The sky was black, but their were white rose petals falling around them. When their feet touched the ground, they could see their reflections underneath them. They looked at each other confused.

They expected their surroundings to be intimidating to them, to scare them. Why is it like this? They never expected this to be...tranquilized. They thought it would be something more threatening.

"Even when I have ended your brother's life, you are still here?"

"!" The duo looked in front of them, and they saw Lucian was standing there with his back turned towards them. Luigi grit his teeth in complete anger as he tightened his grip around his blades.

"I must it that I am impressed that your heart carries this much determination." Lucian said. "I thought you would whimper and scream at the loss of him. But I guess you carry so much loyalty you risk your life to avenge him."

"Why did you kill him in the first place?!" Luigi pointed one of his blades at him. "Why him?! I'm the one you want!"

"Not quite, Luigi." Lucian said as he started to walk towards him. "Do you really understand what Salem and my role is? Our roles were to keep the Light and Darkness balanced. How do you think we truly did it?"

"What does it matter?" Luigi asked. "You just messed everything up just to go back to the past! W-Why do that when you can just talk to them?!"

"If you would let me finish..." Lucian sighed. "Our roles were to bring peace to the world, bring balance to the light and dark, and keep the world order in place. But because of what Salem has started-"

"You mean what you started." Mr.L spoke up. "You know, if you would've just accepted the fact that you can't do anything alone this wouldn't be happening. Maybe if you just accepted the world as it is, you'd still be with Nightlight and Sunset."

"...And how do you know that experience?" Lucian glared at him. "You have been trapped within Luigi's mind and heart for decades, and it will last for an eternity!"

"Unlike you, I accepted it." Mr.L said, rolling his eyes. "You can't change what already happened. But because of your whining about a better world, that just made things worse...and look where that's gotten you."

"..." Lucian looked away for a moment until a small smirk formed on his face. "You know Luigi. There is a much more efficient way to end this, and no violence shall be involved."

"What do you mean?"

"If you let me rewind time...the life of your brother will be restored." Lucian said as Luigi's eyes widened a little. "I will be reunited with my loved ones, and you shall be reunited with your family. However, that will only happen if you stand down."

"..." Luigi and Mr.L both looked at each other. Luigi then looked down at his blades. Of course he wants his brother back...but not in the way Lucian wants to. Besides, if there's really no other way to bring Mario back...then he has to think about what he wants him to do.

"You just want me to give up?" Luigi asked. "I...I can't." He looked at Lucian with a determined look on his face, tightening the grip around his weapons. "T-That's not what Mario would want me to do. He wants me to finish this, so that's exactly what I'm gonna do! I'm not gonna fall for your tricks anymore!"

"Of course...why did I think you would understand?" Lucian shook his head. "Very well then...this is where you shall meet your demise!" Lucian's body became outlined on a light aura and he tightened his grip around his scepter as he floated in the air. Luigi and Mr.L both looked at each other and they nodded their heads with a determined look on their faces as they got into their fighting stances...getting ready to ready end this once and for all.

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"Lucian...what have you done?"

Alessia was in a familiar place as their were stars in the night sky. She was standing in a dark violet platform as their were seven different colored star symbols on the ground. She had finished explaining the situation, and about the fight that is going on. She didn't leave out a single detail about what was going on...and she explained to them who she was.

"I never thought Lucian would reduce himself to this..." Misstar said ashamed. "He wants a peaceful world, and he's pushing himself to complete that goal."

"He's getting close to winning." Alessia said. "As long as he has that scepter, he's unstoppable. Eldstar, you all gave Lucian that scepter, there has to be a way to stop it, or at least weaken its power!"

"Hmm..."

Eldstar began to think for a moment.

"There should be a way to weaken its power...but it is a risk at the same time."

"What do you mean?"

"I will get to that. But answer me this Alessia; If what you have said about yourself is true...why do we have no memory of you?"

"!" Alessia tensed as she looked away. She may have lied and said that she didn't leave out a single detail. The way they had their memories of her erased and altered. It was painful to talk about that memory. The memory...of her death.

That is the most painful memory she could think of. It's even painful to have her her own death in the first place. Sometimes she wished she could forget that memory herself. She sighed as she closed her eyes.

"Salem's running out of time...so I have to make this short." She said. "Lucian, Salem, and I were all part of your organization. We were friends. We would do our jobs together, talk when something was wrong, it was fun...until I was the reason Lucian was dying."

"!" The Star Sprits' eyes widened hearing this information. Regardless, they saved their words until Alessia was finished with the story.

"When you recruited me as the Goddess of Twilight I thought it was the best thing that has happened to me. But the better thing...was meeting the two people I could talk to. But because of my powers...I was slowly draining Lucian's power and life without even realizing it. I told Salem this, the way to make Lucian better...was to destroy me. We fought and he won.

My last wish was for Salem to alter everyone's memories. With the help of Lucian's secepter he was able to rewind time, but only two years back...before I even ed. Salem is the only one who re me, not Lucian, or any of you. For that...I'm sorry. I'm so sorry I failed as a Goddess...and as a friend."

Alessia bowed her head down in shame as she put both of her hands on her chest. She also tried to hold back a sob as she bit the bottom part of her lip. She saw a small faint light get close to her, and when she glanced up, and she saw Eldstar got close to her face. He rested his stubby hand on her shoulder.

"Even when we don't you...you still stood beside Salem and Lucian, carried out the balance, the connection you all had. Those memories are still there, even when you make new ones. We forgive you, Alessia. And we thank you for being by their side."

He gave her a warm, fatherly smile.

Alessia's eyes widened a little hearing that speech, but she smiled as she struggled a little to hold back her tears. She never expected to hear these words come from her master, the one who taught her to control her powers, the one who has been there for them. She felt...relieved to know he is still the kind-hearted spirit he was before.

"T-Thank you...master." She said as Eldstar nodded his head back at her.

"I hate to ruin the heart-warming moment, but what are we going to do about Lucian?"

Klevar asked.

"I don't think Luigi and...Mr.L can give you more time."

"We have given him this power, we can take it away from him...right?"

Skolar asked in small hope.

"In the state he's in now...he will only turn against us again."

Eldstar said in defeat.

"However...I think their is a way you can truly convince him to return to his normal state. It is something he truly wants after all."

"What is it?" Alessia asked confused. Eldstar closed his eyes for a moment, and a small orb appeared in front of him. Alessia gasped seeing what it was.

"I-Is that...?" Eldstar nodded his head in confirmation.

"We have taken it away from him and Salem a very long time ago. This is truly what Lucian needs to get rid of his loneliness."

The small orb floated in front of her.

"Alessia...you must help Luigi stop Lucian. You can't let him rewind time to make a peaceful and eternal world. That will only hurt him more."

"Okay. You can count on me." Alessia held the orb disappeared in her hand. She turned around and opened a Corridor of Twilight and she began to walk towards it.

"And Alessia?"

"Hm?" She glanced behind her and she saw the Star Spirits all had sad and worried looks on their faces. Eldstar had the most worried. He let out a small sigh as he looked at her.

"When you see Lucian and Salem again...tell them we're sorry for our actions."

He said. Alessia stayed silent, trying to consume the words she's been told. She nodded her head at them and she walked through the corridor as it disappeared. Eldstar sighed as he closed his eyes in sadness. The other Star Spirits noticed his behavior, and they went to give him comfort.

"Lucian...I hope you can see we regret our actions."

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Luigi grunted in pain as he hit the ground and landed on his back as his blades fell out of his hands in the process. He growled and he jumped back onto his feet as he blasted thunder at him. Lucian moved our of the way, and he went to blast an aura of light at him. Mr.L got in front of Luigi and he blasted green thunder at it, knocking it off course. Luigi's blades appeared back in his hands and he ran towards Lucian.

Lucian began to blast multiple orbs of light and darkness at him, but Luigi managed to hit the ones that were in his way. He then jumped up, and yelled as he managed to get multiple hits on him as Lucian screamed in pain. Lucian coughed as he put his hand in front of his mouth, but he clenched his free hand into a fist as his entire body began to glow brighter and brighter.

"ENOUGH!" Lucian raised his scepter up, and their surroundings became consumed in a bright light as Luigi and Mr.L put their hands in front of their eyes to block the light. When they looked around once again they couldn't see anything, not even their own hands and feet.

"Mr.L!" Luigi called out to him. He could hear him groan in small pain and dizziness.

"I-I'm fine!" He answered him. "Where are you?!"

"I-I don't know!" Luigi answered. "I-I can't see anything, not even my own hands!"

"Sheesh! Get a grip! Just...stay where you are, I'll try to-AHH!" Mr.L got interrupted as Luigi heard him scream in pain. He heard a small thud from him and Luigi's eyes widened a little in concern.

"M-Mr.L?! Are you okay?!" Luigi tried to get an answer from him, but he didn't hear anything from him, not even a cough. "MR.L!!" Luigi felt a small gust of wind flow behind him as the hairs on his neck stood up. He quickly turned around, but he still couldn't see anything. He clenched his hands into fists as they became shrouded in thunder as he stood his ground, but took a few steps back as he looked nervous.

He heard a footstep behind him, and he yelled as he turned around and blasted thunder at the direction, but it didn't hit anything. It only disappeared in the endless light. At this point Luigi's hands were shaking. Not because Lucian was trying to trick him...but because he was alone.

This is another one of Luigi's fears. Loneliness, abandoned. Ever since he's had to travel alone in the mansion, he's been afraid that he would be alone. But now since his brother's gone...

Luigi grit his teeth in anger as his whole body shivered. He didn't want to think about it. He didn't want to accept it. He wants Mario back. He wants their lives back! But he knows he can't let Lucian get away with this. Even though that would be his only chance to see Mario again...he knows he doesn't want that.

He knows what his brother wants.

However, being in his thoughts for so long made him lose his guard. He felt a hand on his shoulder and he gasped as he knew who it was.

"Thinking about death will only make your death faster."

Luigi turned around, but he screamed in pain as he felt an orb of light hit his head, and he fell to the ground as he laid on his side, unmoving. Lucian tapped the tip of his scepter on the ground, and the light around them disappeared, now showing that Mr.L was laying on the ground twelve feet away from him. Lucian smirked as he walked over to Luigi's body and he kicked him over, making him lay on his back.

"You have shown me how strong you truly are, Luigi. You have made a suitable vessel for us, you and Mario. But I am afraid this will be the end of you." Lucian said, materializing a sword of light and raised it right above Luigi's head.

"But please don't fret. Once I rewind time, you and Mario will go on with your days, and none of this shall ever happen." He raised the sword up.

"It has been a pleasure to be by your side, Luigi." Luigi still remained unconscious on the ground. The sword was ready, it was raised high enough to end it. And...

"N-NOO!!"

"What?!" Lucian looked beside himself and he gasped seeing who stopped him. "I-Impossible! You...wait..."

The person who stood over him was none other than Mario...right? No. Instead of his blue eyes, they were scarlet, blood red as he had a deadly glare on his face as his breathing was unstable, and his hand was on his wound. Lucian growled as he tightened his grip around his scepter.

"How many times must I kill you, Salem?" He glared at him. "It shouldn't be possible to take over his body when his spirit is gone!"

"T-That's one thing...I figured out..." He said, pain in his voice as he grit his teeth. "W-We can't...control their minds...when they're empty, but we can still control their...bodies, when they're...e-empty."

He coughed as he put his hand over his mouth. Lucian's eyes widened at this. Even though Mario couldn't feel the pain from his wound, Salem could still feel it. Then again, there were times Mario could feel Salem's sadness...so he shouldn't be too surprised about it.

"You still push his empty body to its limit? How reckless of you, friend." Salem just snickered as he closed his eyes.

"H-Hey...that's one thing...Mario and I have...in c-common. We're r-reckless...but in a g-good way." Salem brought out a dark fireball in his hand as he gave Lucian a weak smirk.

"Are you here to truly fight me?" Lucian laughed maniacally. "How can you when you are feeling Mario's hurt?! Are you that determined to end me?!"

"N-No..." Salem smirked seeing a faint light behind Lucian. "I just had to buy some time for her."

"!" Lucian turned around and he saw Alessia walk out of the Corridor of Twilight. He sighed as he closed his eyes.

"It is you again..." He said.

"Lucian, you have to stop this." She said. "Rewriting the world won't make things better. It'll just hurt you more."

"LIES!" He exclaimed. "How can you all not see why I am truly doing this?! I am doing this to bring back our memories, I am doing this for you, Salem! For us! How are you not pleased with it?!"

"...Because you're really doing it...for yourself." Salem said. "You think...this'll make things b-better...it won't."

"Having this power changed you, Lucian." Alessia spoke. "It drove you insane, you're not the soft, and caring person you were before. I don't see Lucian at all."

"Then who do you see?"

"...An enemy." Salem said as Lucian's eyes widened in hurt. "I don't see...my friend at all. I-I don't see...Lucian, I don't...see my b-best friend. I just...see a s-shell who thinks they...know what they're doing but...t-they don't."

"I know exactly what I am doing!" Lucian said. "And I do not need your interference to bring us happiness!"

Lucian then charged straight towards Salem, who now weakly stood his ground. However, right as Lucian swung at him, Alessia yelled as she hit his scepter back with her rapier. Lucian managed to land on his feet as Alessia stood in front of Salem protectively. Lucian growled as he glared at Alessia.

"It is you again..." Lucian muttered. "You truly care for Salem that much? To stand in front of him to defend him?"

"That's what you did with the both of us." She said. "I know you don't ...and that's okay. But can't you see that you're hurting us instead of helping us?" At this point, Alessia clenched her fists in anger.

"Look around you, Lucian! You knocked out Luigi and Mr.L, you destroyed half of our Undying Valley, and you killed Mario right in front of Luigi's eyes!

YOU CALL THAT BRINGING PEACE?! OPEN YOUR EYES! YOU TURNED YOURSELF INTO A MONSTER! NOT A PEACEMAKER!"

"..." Lucian looked at Luigi and Mr.L who were still unconscious on the floor, he looked at Salem who still had his hand on his wound, and he looked down at his hand. She was right...he did bring this pain onto them. He hurt Luigi, he hurt Mario, he hurt Salem and Alessia...

And he hurt himself.

His hands shook in small fear as he now realized this. But he didn't want to surrender...he couldn't. It was far too late to turn back now. He grit his teeth in small anger as he clenched his fist.

"...I am sorry." He said, getting back into his stance. "But this is what I must do to erase my mistakes."

"W-Why?!" Alessia glared at him. "You know this is wrong!"

"H-He won't...listen." Salem said, slightly wincing. "Once you've fallen t-that far...there's almost no t-turning back..."

"How dare you..." Lucian's voice was bitter. "I am only doing what is right for humanity. If you cannot see that...then I guess we were never to be friends in the beginning."

"!" Salem and Alessia's eyes widened hearing this come from Lucian. In the years they have known him, never has he ever thought to say those words to him. However, Salem closed his eyes as he ed a sentence he said before he left Lucian the first time they lost their humanity.

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"I couldn't tell whether meeting you was a blessing or a mistake. But after seeing what happened...I can tell it was the worst mistake I ever made. Maybe our connection was a mistake too."

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"..." Salem bit the bottom part of his lip as he ed those hurtful words he said to his close friend. Even just thinking about that sentence to himself hurt. He suddenly snickered. "I was a good influence on you, huh?"

"...The irony has struck the both of us." Lucian said. However, just before he could speak again, he sensed something behind him, coming towards him. He only moved out of the way as he saw it was green thunder. He turned around, and he saw Luigi was now on his knees, but Mr.L was nowhere to be found.

"You always know how to stand once again, do you?" Lucian said as Luigi slowly stood on his feet.

"Even when I'm scared." He remarked, walking in front of Salem and Alessia. "Leave Salem and Alessia out of this. I'm the one you want."

"...Very well then." Lucian tapped the tip of his scepter on the ground and a huge light barrier appeared around them. Luigi put his hand on his chest, and he got into his fighting stance...without using his blades this time. He was going to rely on his own strength.

Luigi was the first to make a move. He ran straight at Lucian as his fists became shrouded in thunder. Lucian managed to block his attack as he blasted multiple orbs of light and darkness at him. Left and Right, Lucian and Luigi were both going right at each other. The fight was a complete blur.

You could barely keep track of any of the attacks. Alessia and Salem were both impressed by this sudden speed in Luigi. They've never seen him be able to keep this much focus on Lucian. It was...incredible, completely new to then. Suddenly, Salem coughed once again and he fell to his knees, using his free hand to keep himself off the ground as Alessia knelt down beside him with her hand on his shoulder.

"I-I'm...running out of t-time, Al..." He said. "I-I can't...keep using his body...like this..."

"But if you lose your grip on it...what will happen to you?" She asked concerned. Salem just smirked as he closed his eyes.

"I guess...i-it'll be a goodbye t-then..." He nervously chuckled, eventually turning into a small cough. "A-Al...sorry for dragging you into this..."

"It's not your fault, Salem." She said. "You and Lucian just wanted a peaceful world. You realized you can't change it...but Lucian hasn't."

"W-What...do we d-do then...?"

"...I have a way to convince him." Alessia opened the palm of her hand and when the orb materialized in her hand...Salem's eyes widened in shock.

"H-His...heart...?" He asked.

"I just have to find the right time to do it." Alessia said. "Until then...there's nothing else we can do right now."

"Then...w-what do we do...?"

"...We wait." She said. "Only when it's the right time. Don't interfere...because you'll only hurt yourself and Mario more."

"..." Salem hesitated. He didn't want to wait. He was an impatient guy, and waiting was not his game. However, he knew Luigi wanted to do this alone. He wants to prove himself that he can survive and live on his own. Coming up with a choice, he sighed as he closed his eyes.

"F-Fine..." He said as he and Alessia could only watch what was going on in the batrier...and pray Luigi would be able to win.

Luigi yelled as he blasted the auras of light and dark back and he blasted thunder at Lucian. It managed to hit Lucian, but he was still able to block Luigi's punch. However, what he didn't expect was ten swords of light were right above him. Luigi's eyes widened as he took a couple of steps back. Lucian smirked sensing his fear, and he pointed his scepter at him and the swords shot straight towards him.

Luigi yelped in surprise as he tried to dodge the ones. Every time one sword would strike, another one would come back. Luigi was slightly breathing heavily as he was starting to lose his energy, but he still had to dodge his way out of this. However, being distracted by the swords...he didn't notice Lucian actually materialized a much sharper sword as it was pointed directly at Luigi. He yelled as he shot the sword straight towards him.

Luigi gasped seeing the big sword, but even when he moved...it still managed to hit his side and he screamed in pain as he fell to the ground on his stomach as he heard the concerned cries of his new allies. He coughed as he tried to lift himself off the floor, but he couldn't. He tried it two more times, but his strength was leaving him...quickly. He could now see black spots begin to cloud his vision as he could see Lucian floating a few feet back. Lucian raised his scepter in the air...and many, many swords of light appeared beside him.

Luigi could only lay on the floor and watch the swords appear. He could feel tears once again form in his eyes. Was this really it? Was this how he was going to die? Laying miserably on the cold floor and watching Lucian summon his death? Was he really going to die by the light? By the hands of the one he once trusted?

Was he really going to die seeing that he failed to avenge his brother?

'This can't be real...'

Luigi thought.

'T-This has to be a bad dream! I-I can't die without avenging Mario! I-I...I don't want to die alone. M-Mario, big bro...I'm so sorry I failed to avenge you...and be a strong brother...'

Maybe if he closed his eyes...he would wake up from this nightmare. Yes, that could work. It has too. He slowly closed his eyes, and prayed to let sleep claim him.

He prayed he would see his brother again soon...

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"Don't give up Luigi!"

"!" Luigi snapped his eyes open, hearing a familiar voice talk to him. He recognized that voice...was it really who he thinks it is? Was it really his motivation? Was it...

"M-Mario...?" He whispered, looking around with his eyes to find him, but he couldn't see anything or him. Was he hallucinating? Was this another one of Lucian's tricks?

"You have to get up little bro! Fight back!"

There was no doubt about it. It really was Mario! But how...? He dies right in front of him! How could he be talking to him right now? How can this be? He felt...relieved hearing his voice, and knowing he was still with him. He smiled in peace knowing that his voice was still there.

"Mario...h-how?" He tried to ask.

"Now isn't the time for a Q and A Luigi! You have to get up! You can't let Lucian win! You can't let him turn back time!"

"B-But...I'll be with you again." He said. He could hear a small gasp from Mario, but then he could hear a sigh.

"Maybe...but you can't let him get what he wants! My body may be gone...but my heart isn't. It's still with you. You're strong, Luigi! You can do anything! We might not see each other through our eyes...but we can still see each other through our hearts! Please...think about Peach, Bowser, Toadette and the others! Think about our friends!

Do you really want to disappoint them? Do you really want to disappoint me?"

"..." Luigi thought about his answer. Of course not! He would never want to disappoint him. As he said, he thinks about what Mario wants. But what is he doing now? Moping? Giving up? He doesn't want Mario to disappoint him. He doesn't want to lose the motivation to fight!

He has to get up! He has to!

"...I have to g-get up...!" Luigi grunted as  he tried to get to his knees as he grunted. It took a few seconds, but he managed to get to his knees. He brought out one of his blades for balance as he put his other hand on his side where Lucian scratched him.

"I can't...g-give up...! N-Not now!" He could tell Mario was smiling seeing Luigi was now trying to make his way towards Lucian. Lucian only growled in annoyance as he pointed his scepter at him as some of the swords were heading straight towards him. Luigi yelled as he started to hit the swords out of his sight as they came towards him.

However, when he blocked one of the swords, he got flipped onto his back, and landed on his stomach, wincing when that sudden movement hurt his scratch. Luigi coughed as he tried to get up again as he used his blade for balance. He managed to get back onto his feet, and he weakly moved forward again.

He continued to hit the swords out of his sight as he still had a weak, yet determined look on his face. He wasn't going to back down. He wasn't going to run away. He wasn't going to disappoint his friends, his brother!

As he repeated those words in his head, it also increased his motivation. Do it for them, do it for them, do it for them! Those words were all that were repeating in his head...until he began to improvise them.

Do it for Princess Peach!

                                                      Do it for King Bowser!

Do it for Toadette!

                                             Do it for Professor E.Gadd!

Do it for Toadsworth!

                                                  Do it for Prince Peasley!

Do it for Queen Bean!

                                            Do it for Prince Dreambert!

Do it for Starlow!

                                   Do it for the Mushroom Kingdom!

Do it for the Beanbean Kingdom!

                                             Do it for the Pillo Kingdom!

Do it for my friends!

                                                         Do it for my family!

Do it for Mario!

Luigi yelled as he hit more and more blades out of his sight. The more he thought about his reason, the more motivation he was getting, the more strength he was getting. He blocked another sword as he stumbled a little, but he didn't fall. He still kept that determined look on his face, and he ed his montras, his reasons!

However, when he tried to block another sword he yelled as he landed on his back as he grunted in pain. He winced as he tried to stand again, using his blade for once more. He screamed a little in small pain, looking down at his scratch. It's gotten worse. Thankfully, it wasn't bleeding, but it was still enough to hold him back.

He tried to stand once again, but he started to become weaker and weaker. No! He didn't want to give up! He couldn't! However, he suddenly felt something grab his arm, and being wrapped around its shoulders.

"I got you, Luigi!"

"!" Luigi looked to his right and he gasped seeing Mario was the one helping him! Well, he was completely transparent as he was outlined in a light aura, but he was still here. He was still real! Mario looked down at him and he gave him a warm, brotherly smile.

"I'm still here little bro. You're not doing this alone! Not while I'm still here!"

"..." Luigi didn't need to say anything. He only smiled as he nodded his head, taking in every word Mario said to him. While moving slow, yet gentle they continued to move forward, both having determined looks on their faces.

At this point...Lucian was starting to become nervous. Not only at the face that Mario was technically here, Luigi still wouldn't stay down. He would still keep going! Why?! How much energy does he have?! How many hits does it take to strike him down?!

Lucian sighed in annoyance as he clenched his scepter tight. He put his hand on the center of it, and the sphere in the center of the scepter became bright as he charged what looked to be complete light.

Mario and Luigi both looked at each other and they both nodded their heads. Luigi gently got out of Mario's grip as he was swaying a little on his feet, but he still stood tall. Luigi put both of his hands out and he yelled as he blasted multiple thunderbolts combined at the same time Lucian blasted a ray of light at them. Luigi managed to keep it straight...but it was slowly starting to push him back, sliding his feet back.

He grunted as he grit his teeth, trying to keep himself balanced, and glued to his spot, but it was still pushing him back. However, he gasped feeling a hand on his shoulder and he looked up at Mario, who nodded his head at him with a confident smirk on his face.

Luigi smiled as he nodded his head back at him. He then spread his arms out, causing the ray to become pushed back a little, giving Mario and Luigi just enough time to charge their light thunder and dark fire attacks. They charged it for a few seconds and they saw the ray was starting to come back to them. They both screamed as they blasted the thunder and fire back at the ray, and it was completely cutting through! Lucian panicked as he tried to put more force into it...but he wasn't strong enough.

Lucian screamed in pain as he felt the attacks hit him right in the chest and he got flown through the air and he fell to the ground with a loud thud.

This was it.

This was finally it.

The battle was over.

The battle was truly over.

This everlasting war was done.

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Mario and Luigi have won.

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#Curatorreview

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