Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Mario was having a day .

It had started off fairly decently, as most days do. No Bowser-related kidnappings or voice stealing beanish witches, just a presentation of Professor Gadd's latest invention at the castle. Seeing that an invention of Gadd's had helped both brothers fairly recently, they had felt obligated to go even without the Princess's personal invitation.

That and Toadsworth had also insisted on their appearance in the event that anything went wrong. Mario was starting to wonder if the little Toad advisor was actually secretly psychic, because as soon as Princess Peach announced her desire to travel back in time, things did proceed to go very, very wrong.

He really should have gone with her. He had suggested as much, but she had simply given him a smile and assured him that it was just going to be a quick trip.

When the time machine returned, dumping what could only be described as a honest-as-the-stars alien right in the middle of the throne room, Peach and her attendants were nowhere to be seen.

And then the time hole had open.

And Luigi fell in . 

Now he and his brother were stuck, stars-knows how many years in the past, standing in the still burning ruins of Hollijolli Village, facing off against the same strange purple aliens with nothing but a talking suitcase and whatever they happened to have in their pockets.

On the bright side, they were holding their own fairly well. The creatures didn't seem to know what to make of them, as the brothers were a far cry from the Toads they had just been terrorizing. Kidnapping .

Luigi yelped and lept to the side to avoid another projectile from the creature's gun. It chattered in frustration and whirled around to fire at Mario, who simply jumped and landed with both feet on top of its purple-spotted head. He bounced back and the thing stumbled, teetering on one leg in an effort to stay upright. A zap from Luigi's Thunderhand sent it spinning into a crater, where it lay unmoving.

Mario gave him a thumbs up, which he acknowledged with a wan smile. Electricity was flickering across Luigi's body like it did when he was especially nervous in battle. Mario couldn't blame him, not after what they'd just seen.

He ignited his fists, ready to add his fire to Luigi's lightning, when he noticed one of the creatures hunched over- a small device in its hand. It seemed to be speaking rapidly into it.

A low humming pierced his ears. Mario looked up to see one of the creatures' ships hovering just above them. Luigi paused, having noticed it as well. Electricity sparked from his trembling fists.

A hatch in the bottom of the ship opened up, and Mario barely had time to scream "Luigi, MOVE!" before the ground beneath them exploded.

Mario instinctively covered his face with his arms as he went flying. Out of the corner of his eye, he could barely make out a green streak go tumbling in the opposite direction before he slammed into something hard. Debris crumpled down around him as he realized he had been thrown into the side of one of the houses.

The last thing he remembered was desperately hoping that Luigi was okay, while the creatures’ laughter echoed in his ears

When he came to, Mario realized vaguely that he didn’t hurt as much as he thought he would. Taking stock of himself, he noted that his arms and legs felt a little stiff, and there was a crushing weight on his chest that made it a little difficult to breathe, but otherwise he seemed to be in one piece. There was also a distinct tingling throughout his entire body that he recognized, although it took him a big longer to discern what it meant. 

1-Up Mushroom. Someone had given him a 1-Up Mushroom.

Eyes still closed, Mario shifted, trying to relieve the weight on his chest and also gather his thoughts. Slowly, pieces of it started to come together.

The time machine. Peach missing. The aliens. 

The explosion-

“Luigi-!” Mario sat up suddenly, feeling the weight suddenly lift off his chest as his senses went on high alert.  Through the pounding of blood in his ears, he heard someone give a cry of alarm.

He tried to jump to his feet, but something was entangled around his legs and instead of jumping into a ready stance, he crashed onto the floor in an unceremonious heap.

“ Mario-! Calmati fratello, va bene!”

A pair of hands grabbed him by the arms, stopping his frantic struggling. Luigi’s face entered his field of view, eyes wide with concern. Mario stopped struggling, shoulders sagging in relief.

“ Luigi…stai bene. ”

“Yeah.” His brother smiled shakily. “Yeah, I’m okay. We’re both okay.”

He reached over and helped Mario free his legs, which he now realized were entangled in a thin blanket. Mario stretched his legs and took a moment to look around at his surroundings. They were in a small, well-lit room with a singular circle window on the back wall. The walls themselves were made of a greenish metal with yellow support bars clearly visible every few feet. The only furniture in the room was two beds, the one that he had  just fallen out of and a second that he assumed was Luigi’s. Something about the room seemed familiar, he realized, as Luigi helped him to his feet.

“Where are we?”

“Ah.” His brother rubbed the back of his neck. “We’re…on the Koopa Cruiser- but-!” He gripped Mario’s arm, having no doubt seen him tense. “It’s um…we’re still in the past, so...it’s not the Bowser we know, yet.”

Mario stared at him. “We’re on the same ship as a younger Bowser?” 

Luigi nodded. Mario drew a hand down his face. “ Che diavolo- ” He sat down hard on the bed. “So what…Bowser saved us?”

Luigi chuckled a little. “Well, he had some help.”

He nodded at something over Mario’s shoulder, prompting him to turn. Standing in the corner, watching him with wide, curious eyes, were two boys. They looked to be twins, around three or four years old, with messy brown hair and wide blue eyes. One of them was hiding slightly behind the other, his hand gripping his brother’s for security. For a moment, Mario was slightly confused as to what Luigi was implying.

Then he saw the hats.

Their hats.

Mario looked between the babies and Luigi, who simply nodded in affirmative.

“That’s us.” Mario said slowly. 

“Yeah.”

“As toddlers.”

“Uh-huh.”

Mario buried his face in his hands. “Oh I definitely hit my head too hard.”

“It’s…probably one of the weirder things that’s happened to us.” Luigi agreed. Mario snorted as his brother continued. “But, Mario…they’re the only reason we survived.”

Mario lifted his head, the after-effects of the 1-Up Mushroom more noticeable than ever. “That bad, huh?” He asked quietly. He received a shaky nod in return.

The younger Mario (oh that was so weird to think about), hugged his twin close and met Mario’s eyes. He could sense…something, a feeling that he usually only associated with Luigi. Their “twin sense” , some people called it. The kid was worried, a little scared, but more than anything he was curious- all feelings Mario himself was experiencing.

“You saved us?” He asked gently. Baby Mario puffed up his chest proudly and nodded.

“Uh huh!”

“That was pretty brave of you.” He looked over at Baby Luigi. “Both of you.”

Baby Luigi cracked the tiniest smile- one that Mario recognized even on a face that was twenty years younger. Mario extended a hand and the two boys approached him carefully.

“Do you guys know who we are?” Mario asked tentatively. 

Baby Luigi nodded earnestly. “Big big bro.” He said, pointing at Mario. “Big Weegee!” His finger trailed over to Luigi, who grinned.  

“Hey, not bad, bambino . You’re pretty smart!” 

Baby Luigi beamed in response, lifting his arms up over his head. Almost instinctively, Luigi leaned down and picked up the toddler, setting him in his lap. He looked between himself and Baby Mario before giving Mario a look that, even without their mental connection, he could understand perfectly. It was one of slow realization, concern, then dread.

They were stuck in the past, in the middle of an alien invasion, with themselves as babies.

There was no mistaking it, the stakes had definitely just gotten higher.

Chapter Text

Well it’s nice to see that Bowser’s sense of interior decorating hasn't changed. Mario thought somewhat bitterly.

He looked back at Luigi, just to make sure that he was still with him. His brother was creeping along carefully, casting glances every so often off the edges of the platforms.

The edges that went straight down into lava, because of course they did.

The entire palace was floating in it, with the small sections of path they were using being the only protection between them and the molten liquid below. Despite the many times Mario had stormed Bowser’s fortresses, he never liked the stifling heat and smoke that made him feel like he was being slowly cooked alive.

“Well we know one thing.” Mario said, pausing to remove his hat and run a hand across his forehead. “At least the babies are okay.”

Luigi looked at him for a moment before cracking a ghost of a  smile. “Good point.”

Mario returned a smile of his own, pausing as the terrain changed. The platforms dropped slightly onto what looked to be an extended bridge. “Watch your step here.” He called to Luigi as he jumped down. He waited for his brother to drop down beside him before continuing quickly across the bridge.

“Mama mia!”

Mario froze, looking back at Luigi. The look his brother was giving him told him enough- he’d heard the outcry too.

Something large, metal, and spiky slammed into the bridge between them, narrowly missing Luigi. The green brother jumped back with a yelp and Mario shifted into a fighting stance, ready for an attack.

None came. 

Mario relaxed, but only slightly as he edged his way carefully around the spikes to check on Luigi. “You okay?”

Luigi didn’t respond. His eyes were fixed on the ceiling, where the object had fallen from, and his face had gone pale. Mario followed his gaze, feeling his stomach drop once he realized what he was looking at.

Far above them, embedded into iron bars that ran parallel with the bridge, dangled several spiked metal weights dangling from long chains. Baby Luigi was crouched on top of one of these iron bars, peering over the edge as far as his fear of heights would let him. Even through the dim lighting and smoky air, both older bros could see he was shaking like a leaf. One of the chains was missing its weight, which was likely the very same weight that had nearly crushed Luigi seconds before. 

And dangling from the chain, clinging desperately with both hands, was Baby Mario.

“Oh stars, oh stars, oh stars- ” Luigi was beginning to panic. Mario’s eyes scanned the area, looking for a way up. His heart lurched as Baby Mario started carefully pulling himself up the chain and towards his twin.

“Mario!” Luigi cried, though if it was directed towards him or his baby self, Mario wasn’t sure. His scan of the area had yielded nothing. The weights dangled directly over their heads and were embedded solidly into the thick stone pillars that were several feet away. If he got a running start, he could probably wall jump up the pillars to the babies. But that was a sizable gap, one that would drop him right into the lava if he was even an inch off.

“Gah!” Baby Mario’s grip suddenly slipped and he was left dangling from the chain by one hand, causing both Luigi and baby Luigi to cry out. Mario felt his muscles coil in preparation for a jump.

After a brief moment of free-hanging, baby Mario adjusted himself and finished his climb, clambering up onto the metal bar and into relative safety. 

“Mario!” Baby Luigi cried.

“Weegee!” Baby Mario responded.

The two hugged each other fiercely and Mario felt a slight wave of relief wash over him. At least both babies were on something solid now, thank the Stars, but they were still suspended several feet above them. He exchanged looks with Luigi, and they silently came to the same conclusion. If they couldn't get to the babies, the babies were going to have to come to them. 

They were going to have to jump.

“Babies! Down here!” Mario waved his arms to get both of the toddlers’ attentions. Baby Mario peered over the edge and gave a cry of recognition, grabbing his brother and pointing. The two of them cheered and began babbling excitedly.

“Listen, we can’t get up there so you’re going to have to jump!” Mario looked to Luigi, who extended his arms up in a beckoning gesture. “Can you do that?”

Baby Mario unsteadily got to his feet and stared down at them, as if judging the distance. 

“Come on little-big bro!” Luigi called reassuringly. “Weegee’s got you!”

That was apparently all the reassurance he needed. Baby Mario let go of his twin’s hand, reached up to plant a hand firmly on his hat, and then leaped directly off the edge. For a moment, he was suspended in freefall and Mario felt his stomach crawl into his shoes. Then Luigi sprang up, catching the toddler with both hands and holding him close to his chest as they landed. 

Baby Mario let out a whoop, the pride in his successful jump evident on his face, and Mario wondered if somehow, he had been more reckless as a baby.

He made a mental note to apologize to Luigi once all this was over.

One down, one to go. As Luigi checked his younger self over for any injuries, Mario looked back up to where the littlest green twin was still waiting. Baby Luigi was back to gripping the bar and shaking, his confidence having gone over the edge with Baby Mario. 

Mario extended his arms up. “Big Bro will catch you, Weegee!” He called. Baby Luigi glanced down at him, only to wail in terror and press his tiny hands in against his eyes.

“No no no!” He shrieked. 

Okay so, in hindsight this was probably to be expected, and if anything was more akin to how a normal baby would react to this whole situation. Mario glanced at his younger self, who was now giggling happily as Luigi made funny faces at him.

Then again, Mario and Luigi weren’t “normal babies.”

Something vibrated in his pocket. Stuffwell, trying to get his attention. “Mario!"

Mario reached into his pocket, pulled out the miniature suitcase, and tossed it on the ground. The automated assistant flipped a couple of times rather like a coin before extending to his full size and landing on the bridge beside him. He turned to Mario urgently.

“Perhaps you could use me as a sort of cushionation device?” Stuffwell suggested. ‘I am, of course, well padded.”

Mario thought about it for a moment. While he suspected that Baby Luigi’s fear was more related to the being so high off the ground rather than the actual falling, it wouldn’t hurt to try.

He nodded to Stuffwell and grabbed the suitcase on both sides, lifting him over his head. “Come on, Weegee. Take your time-” Please don’t. “You can do it!”

Baby Mario gave his own cry of affirmation, waving a tiny fist in the air. Luigi lent his voice as well, and soon all three brothers were calling reassurances towards the youngest of them.

Slowly, and with some uncertainty, Baby Luigi uncovered his eyes and crept towards the edge. After a moment’s hesitation, lowered himself over the edge and grasped onto the dangling chain, yelping in surprise when it started to sway.

That's it. Mario urged silently. Just a little jump.

Baby Luigi lowered himself, hand over hand until his feet were hanging just beyond the edge of the chain. Baby Mario and his own Luigi had gone silent, watching him. Seconds turned into a minute….two minutes…

Baby Luigi let go.

Mario hardly registered the thwump of the kid hitting Stuffwell before he had dropped the suitcase and scooped the toddler into his arms. Baby Mario shrieked in delight, wiggling his way out of Luigi’s arms to clamber up Mario’s leg in celebration. Luigi nearly collapsed with relief, sitting down on the step that connected the bridge to the main platform with a long sigh.

"Cazzo…" He breathed before glancing up quickly to see if the babies had heard. Mario snorted to himself and  gave baby Luigi a once over. When he didn’t see any signs of injury he released him. The green twin immediately reached for Baby Mario and the two collided with one another so hard that they fell over in a tiny pile. It didn’t seem to bother either of them though, as they seemed content to just lay there and hug.

“We have located and been reunited with the babies.” Stuffwell said, bringing Mario back to reality. “Back to adventure!”

With that, he miniaturized again. Mario caught him in one hand and stuck him back in his pocket.

“You ready?” He turned to Luigi, who still seemed to be trying to pull himself together. The younger brother leaned back against the step with a slight groan.

“I really think this is going to be the one that kills me.” He complained, but got to his feet regardless.

Mario knelt down and got the babies’ attention. “Alright, we’re gonna move out now you two. Stay close okay?”

“Okie dokie.” Baby Mario detangled himself from his brother and sat up, giving him an eager grin. Before he could react, his younger self had clambered up his back and was now sitting piggyback on his shoulders. Mario grunted, shifting so that he could hold onto the toddler better. 

“Not quite what I meant.” He laughed. “But that works too.”

Luigi picked his younger self up as well, mirroring the way that Mario was holding his brother. Baby Luigi babbled a thank you that caused him to smile.

Together the two brothers, now four, climbed up the steps to the next platform and the rest of Bowser’s castle.

Chapter Text

Toadwood Forest.

Few things in Mario's past adventures angered him more than what he was seeing right now. Nothing that Bowser had ever done even compared to the cruelty the Shroobs were exhibiting. The attack at Hollijolli village had been just the beginning.

The babies were far too young to really understand what was happening, but they were upset nonetheless. Mario and Luigi realized early on that their own mental connection extended in part to their younger selves. It made for communicating with the toddlers far easier, but it also meant that the four of them were very closely linked on an emotional level.

It meant that whatever the older brothers were feeling, the younger ones felt it too.

And right now Mario was pissed.

Their original plan had simply been to enter the Vim Factory and find some way to shut it down, by the time they had found Toadiko and made it to the factory doors that plan had shifted.

No, they were going to destroy this thing.

Walking in the front door was bound to draw attention, but there was really little alternative. Stuffwell's scans had shown no other entrances anywhere in the building except for a landing pad on the roof meant for the Shroobs one-man ships. So straight into the fray it was.

Wouldn't be the first time.

They were right in front of the doors, Mario pondering the best course of action when Luigi broke the silence "Hey...bro?"

"Hm?" Mario turned to look at him. Luigi had let Baby Luigi off his shoulders and was staring up at the imposing building. "What's wrong?"

"....Why don't we remember this?"

Mario paused, confused for a moment before he realized. "Because we're babies." He gestured to the toddler on his back. "They...we're too young to remember."

"What about everyone else? Toadsworth and all the other older Toads?" Realization sunk in as Luigi pressed on. "The Yoshi's told us about Kamek and everything that happened on Yoshi's island. Why didn't they... why has no one ever mentioned this?"

Mario was quiet, thinking. Luigi had a point, and it had brought up another realization...

"We haven't moved yet." He said suddenly.

"Huh?"

"We're...they're still in the Mushroom kingdom." Mario replied. "Mama hasn't taken us back to Brooklyn yet."

Luigi's eyes widened. "...It wasn't safe." He whispered, repeating what their mother had told them when they asked.

Mario suddenly had about a dozen more questions he wasn't quite sure he wanted to know the answers to.

Tiny hands patted against Mario's hat, demanding his attention and halting any more thought on the subject. He could feel his younger self shifting on his back, peering over his shoulders to get a better look at their surroundings. "Go?" He asked, pointing towards the factory.

Mario smiled despite himself. "Yeah Mini Me, we're going. Luigi-?"

Luigi knelt so that the littlest green brother could climb back onto his shoulders. "Yeah...right behind you."

There were no guards on the outside of the building, something that only further proved to Mario how very proud the Shroobs were. Why post guards when no one had yet tried to stop them? Who would even dare to?

Still, he kept his guard up. Even if no one was outside that wouldn't stop them from getting discovered once they were in. The pressure sensitive floor panel dipped down in response to their combined weight and the doors slid open to let them in.

Almost immediately, they were ambushed.

Mario had been expecting to run into more of the little Shrooboids like the one's they'd fought in Hollijolli Village. Instead, two Hammer Bros dropped down in front of them, brandishing their signature weapons of choice. If Mario hadn't noticed the strange antenna helmets on their heads, the weird noises coming out of their mouths were a dead giveaway that these two Koopas weren't in their right mind.

Mario slid into a defensive stance. If they could destroy the helmets there was a chance the Hammer Bros could help them out. If they were willing to listen, that was.

Focus. He told himself. Fight first, details later.

"Waaah!"

Luigi's startled cry kicked his already tense nerves into high gear. Mario turned just in time to see that something had descended from the ceiling and snagged his little brother by the overalls, lifting him off the ground and sending Baby Luigi tumbling with a distressed cry. It looked almost like a vine- a long tendril of woven leaves that hung from openings in the ceiling.

But vines didn't glow purple, nor did they reach out and grab people for no reason.

"Luigi!" Mario lunged for him, the threat of the Hammer Bros forgotten. Baby Mario slid from his back, running to his fallen twin while his older self jumped, fingers just barely missing Luigi's by inches. He was already coiled, ready to spring again when another tendril unraveled and caught his ankle. His momentum carried him forward until he was dangling upside-down, a few feet from the floor.

The Hammer Bros still hadn't moved.

Mario twisted and strained until he was able to grab ahold of the vine-thing with one hand. He let his fist heat up, hoping to burn it away and free himself. He was vaguely aware of the babies crying out his name and Luigi flailing desperately to try and slip free. He strengthened his grip until smoke started seeping through his fingers, but the tendril never loosened. He switched hands, shaking out the flames and noticing with some alarm that he hadn't even singed the thing. 

So it wasn't organic after all. Metal then? Mario's Firebrand wasn't hot enough to melt metal. To do that he would need-

Something clicked.

"Stuffwell!" He called, digging in his pocket.

The automated assistant buzzed in response, growing to full size until the red plumber was holding onto him by the handle. The tendril squeezed his leg tightly and began to rise, pulling him up towards the hole in the ceiling. The babies were shrieking in alarm, jumping up and down.

"Mario! Do you require assistance?"

Boy was that an understatement, but Mario simply grit his teeth, eyes on the ceiling. "I need a Fire Flower! Hurry!"

"Affirmation! One moment-"

The vine shuddered and Mario lost his grip. He was flipped upside down again, the movement also causing Stuffwell to slip from his hand. The suitcase landed face first on the factory floor, very narrowly missing hitting Baby Luigi and scattering several items across the ground.

"Mari-!" Luigi's cry was cut off as the vine hauled him away, the hole in the ceiling sealing shut with a hiss. Mario kicked at the vine with his free leg to no avail. With a final shudder, the vine reeled him in and he had just enough time to see the Hammer Bros approaching the babies before the port snapped shut and he was left in darkness.

Chapter Text

There were two things that Baby Mario was certain of at that moment.

One, the Big Bros were in trouble.

And two, the big Koopas in front of them were definitely not friends.

The Hammer Bros advanced on the toddlers, their robot-controlled brains indifferent to the fact that they were menacing actual babies . Baby Mario felt his brother press up against him in fear and he instinctively reached out to grab Baby Luigi’s hand. One of the Hammer Bro’s spoke, pointing his weapon at them threateningly. Baby Luigi whimpered, covering his eyes.

Baby Mario took a step back, pulling his twin along. Luigi was upset and every part of him was screaming that he needed to do something , he needed to do something right now -

Something under his foot caused him to stumble a little, nearly dragging Luigi down with him. Baby Mario looked down to see a...thing sticking out from underneath his shoe. In fact, there were several things scattered across the floor- a result of Stuffwell’s fall.

Baby Mario reached down and picked up the slightly crumpled, but still intact Fire Flower.

The Hammer Bro’s both lifted their hammers. Baby Luigi shrieked.

Without hesitation, Baby Mario crushed the Fire Flower in his hand. Just like he’d seen his older self do.

Power surged through him, nearly knocking him back. His hand erupted into flames and he stared wide-eyed in surprise. Even the Hammer Bros in their brainwashed state, seemed to hesitate at the sudden presence of fire.

Gripping his brother’s hand tightly, Baby Mario let out a cry of defiance and chucked the fireball directly at the closest Koopa’s head. 

The Fire Flower was as potent as ever and the metal helmet lit up like a candle atop a birthday cake. The Hammer Bro hesitated, and for a moment it seemed like he wouldn't be affected

Then he lost all composure, screaming and running in circles as self-preservation overrode whatever weird mind control he was under. His partner stopped, staring at him with blank eyes. He wasn't doing anything to help, but he also wasn't focused on the babies anymore either.

Determined, Baby Mario threw another fireball.

Two smashed helmets and one wordy explanation courtesy of Stuffwell later, the younger Mario brothers were off again. They were eager to find the Big Bros, who they could sense nearby. It was just the matter of navigating the maze-like Vim Factory to find them. 

The hammers the Koopa's had given them were very helpful, allowing the boys to press buttons and break down barriers that they would normally need an adult for. They were even able to take on the weird purple bad guys with much better results.

Baby Mario was having a very good time smashing things. 

Keeping one hand grasped firmly around Luigi’s, Baby Mario slipped through the bars of another locked gate. Stuffwell turned sideways, allowing Baby Luigi to pull him through the bars with a little grunt. It would have been easier for them to carry Stuffwell in their pockets, but the automated assistant wanted to keep a better eye on them in lieu of the adults not being there.

“My sensors are detecting a large amount of energy in the adjacent room.” He said, his voice, even at its normal volume, echoing off the walls. “I have a feeling that your adult counterparts are very close.”

Baby Mario looked at the open doorway ahead of them. He didn’t need Stuffwell to tell them the Big Bros were there, he already knew that. That wasn’t what worried him.

It was the fact that they were in pain.

He hefted his hammer, tightened his grip on Baby Luigi’s hand, and marched directly through the doorway.

The room was big, bigger than any of the others they had been through. The ceiling was much higher above them, a far cry from the low grates that were common throughout the rest of the factory, and there seemed to be thin streaks of natural light just breaking through the glass roof. In the center of the room sat a massive tree, at least three times as tall as any of the ones in Toadwood Forest and about twice as wide. Eerie purple veins could be seen just underneath the bark, running parallel with crisscrossing wires  that were connected into various points on the tree. Its roots extended across the floor in every direction, eventually connecting at the tips of several glowing pedestals. These pedestals supported glass orbs that seemed to be alight with flickering energy- like a kind of battery. 

It was weird, and a little scary, but Baby Mario could feel the Big Bros somewhere in this room.

But where-?

Baby Luigi gave a strangled cry and pointed past his head at something attached near the center of the trunk. Baby Mario followed his arm, squinting at the thing for a long moment before he realized what it was.

It was the older Mario brothers.

“Oh dear…” Stuffwell said.

They were unconscious, lashed to the trunk by various glowing wires and those same strange vines that had grabbed them in the entryway. Luigi's hat was slightly askew as he hung limply in the restraints. Mario was centered somewhat crooked compared to his brother, one arm still clenched in a fist and raised slightly about his head. He had clearly tried to fight his way free, to no avail.

“Oh no no no.” Baby Luigi whimpered. “Bad.”

Baby Mario hefted his hammer. Maybe if he hit the tree hard enough it would let the Big Bros go? Without further thoughts, he ran at the tree, slamming the weapon against the base of the trunk. The hammer bounced back with a loud clang , like metal, but otherwise left no mark behind. 

“A valiant effort Baby Mario!” Stuffwell encouraged. The toddler frowned in frustration, looking all around the tree, then back up at the helpless brothers. 

So the trunk was a no-go. What else? The wires seemed just as durable as the tree itself, and there were so many of them. There were also the pedestals…

Stuffwell kept talking. “Perhaps if we can find a control interface, I can initiate a deactivation sequence-”

Baby Mario moved closer to one of them.The pedestals themselves were clearly made of metal, but the orbs on top looked like they were made out of some kind of glass…

And glass, Baby Mario knew, was very smashible. 

Before anyone could stop him, Baby Mario swung the hammer directly into one of the orbs. Glass shattered on impact, the energy inside fizzling out. Several of the wires dimmed, no longer exhibiting that purple glow, and even the roots connected to it seemed to shrivel slightly. Baby Mario grinned triumphantly as Stuffwell paused.

“Or…that works too.”

There were four orbs in total, and between himself and Baby Luigi, they made quick work of them. With each one they smashed, a little more of the tree seemed to wither and dim until, finally, the wires restraining the older bros twitched and began to peel away.

They both slid down the side of the tree, landing in a heap at the bottom. The toddlers ran for them, Baby Mario urgently shaking Luigi and Baby Luigi resting his head on Mario’s chest to feel his breathing.

For a long moment, neither of them moved. 

Then Mario’s fingers twitched.

He shifted, groaning, and raising a hand up to rub his head. “ Mamma mia… ”

“Mario!” Baby Luigi cried, latching himself around the oldest brother’s waist. The toddler was sniffling pitifully, tears streaming down his cheeks. Mario absently patted the toddler’s back as he looked around the room, slowly putting together the pieces as his brain fought to catch up.

Meanwhile, Luigi was struggling just to open his eyes. Baby Mario kept up his frantic shaking. “Weegee!” He pleaded. “Up!”

Eventually the green brother groaned, his eyes fluttering open. “M-Mario-?” Baby Mario peered at him carefully. “No wait…mini-Mario…”

Baby Mario laughed and hugged his big-little bro the same way Baby Luigi had.

“Hey bro.” Mario rasped, still holding Baby Luigi against his chest. “I think these bambinos are two for two with saving us.” 

Luigi nodded, still dazed as he shifted himself into a sitting position. “What…happened-?”

“I believe the Shroobs were using the two of you as an energy source for their vile Vim process.” Stuffwell cut in, matter-of-factly. “Scans show that your vitals are lower than your normal average.” 

Mario’s free hand curled into a fist, face suddenly hard. Baby Luigi hugged him tighter in response, which seemed to keep him calm. Still, his voice was tight when he spoke to Luigi. “We need to get moving.”

“No!” Baby Luigi shrieked suddenly, startling everyone. The green toddler pressed his fists into Mario’s chest and shook his head. “Naptime.” He insisted.

Luigi covered his mouth with his free hand to hide his snicker. Mario laughed a little. “We can’t Weegee.” He started. “We have to-”

“Nap.” Baby Luigi insisted, climbing off Mario in order to plant himself firmly in Luigi’s lap. “Good nap! No bad tree. It will make you feel better!”

“Yeah!” Baby Mario suddenly chimed in, doing the same to his older self.

“I have to tentatively agree with the babies.” Stufwell interjected. “A Mushroom will help, but physical rest is also beneficial for the human body."

Luigi raised his eyebrows and gave his brother a look. “I think…we’re outnumbered, bro."

Mario sighed, relenting. “Okay…just for a few minutes.”

The babies cheered. Mario shifted onto one knee, wincing slightly. “Let’s…get away from this tree though. I don’t…trust it.”

Luigi hummed in agreement and gathered up his younger self. The little party moved across the room, far away from the strange tree, and settled down against the wall once more. Stuffwell allowed Mario to retrieve two Ultra Mushrooms, one of which he passed to Luigi. As the older bros ate, gathering their strength back, the babies made themselves comfortable again.

Although he was on high alert, and the Shroobs would no doubt be sending someone to find them sooner rather than later, Mario felt relief just knowing they were all together again.

For the moment, everything was okay.

He was definitely going to ask about the hammers later though.