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Chapter Text

Luigi woke up when he heard the alarm indicating a new day was starting. He did his usual routine in the house, a bath, breakfast and a little gardening.

It was a beautiful day in the mushroom kingdom and since Bowser hasn't tried to kidnap princess Peach for longer than a month after the last defeat the green plumber found that he had a lot of time to retake old activities like cooking his mama's secret recipes and spend his afternoons playing sports with Mario when his brother wasn't spending time with the princess.

He was really glad about this but if Luigi was totally honest he was becoming a little too comfortable of the routine, not that he would prefer the suffering of the whole mushroom kingdom and certainly he didn't enjoy Mario going to dangerous rescue missions, but a part of him had the feeling that the koopa king was planning something.

He shaked his head trying to forget that last idea of his mind. "Everything is gonna be okay Luigi" he said while making the final arrangements to the garden "If Bowser hasn't tried a thing, maybe he finally gave up on the idea of marrying the princess and is thinking how to sign the alliance treaty. Yeah! That's the reason". With that resolution, Luigi finished with his gardening and decided to go for a walk before It was time for lunch.

...

Meanwhile in the koopa kingdom.

Bowser was making plans with Kamek but not the kind of plans that involve princess Peach and his kingdom, no, these were plans more important than that. He was planning the best way to introduce the future heir of the Darklands! A pretty important thing to do now that they're kid was one month old, usually the baby koopas eggs take less than a month to hatch, but this was an special case just like Bowser's case was, so it would take almost two months for the hatchling to be ready and they already took one, so it was a good moment to start planning all the royal stuff like presentations to his people and the other kingdoms.

Since nobody knew (except for Kamek and the staff at the castle) about the future kid, this party in they're honor would be a huge deal.

While they were planning, Bowser tried to watch the egg that was beside him in a kind of big basket with lots of pillows and blankets (not that the egg really needs them, but oh well). In the meantime Kamek left to look for something that Bowser really didn't pay attention to. After a while he decided the time spent with his child was enough for the day and it was for the best to let the egg in the safety of his chambers.

"Guard!" Bowser exclaimed and in a moment a koopa troopa appeared in the room.

"Your majesty" the guard leaned to the king waiting for orders.

"Take the heir to my chambers. You better don't move too much the basket" Bowser said without looking up from his papers.

"Yes your highness" said the koopa before taking the basket carefully, he was ready to leave the room or at least that was his intention but suddenly the king's voice stopped his way.

"One last thing" Bowser said looking at the guard with fierce "Don't. For any reason. Touch the egg. Do you understand?" The king koopa said with a really warning tone that made the guard gulp before making an affirmative comment and finally leaving.

Bowser watched the guard leaving with the basket and sigh, he would have been more comfortable if Kamek was the one taking the basket with him. Hell! Even better if he was the one taking his child. But Kamek wasn't there and the pile of papers in his desk definitely won't let him. So he just resigned and continued working.

…

The guard was halfway to the royal chambers when a group of boos showed up trying to annoy him. The koopa tried to remove them leaving just one second the basket. This second was enough for the boos to take the egg and replace it with a similar thing that was covered in a blanket to simulate. Once they're prank was done they left the koopa who just continued his mission without noticing the very important detail.

The boos didn't really know what they took, they just believed the egg was some kind of special jewel since the koopa kingdom was known for their precious minerals. His surprise was incredible when they discovered the treasure was just something boring like an egg. The disappointment caused them to just throw the egg in the closest pipe they found, now It was someone else's problem.

…

Luigi's walk was really relaxing and without surprises, he was just passing for the last part of the journey when he almost tripped on a strange rock. That startled the poor plumber who stopped just in time before kicking said rock…

Luigi thought to himself while looking at the 'rock'

"Mamma mia! This is an egg!" He exclaimed aloud and hurriedly took a closer look at the egg. It was bigger than a Yoshi's egg and the colors were different too, this egg was a soft yellow with green and red dots. "It's bellissimo".

Luigi touched the egg carefully and let out a surprised gasp when he felt how warm it was. "Well little egg, what are you doing on this path alone? I better take you with me before you get cold, tomorrow I will find your famiglia, okie dokie?" He told the egg even if he knew they probably wouldn't hear…or understand. Then he took the base of the egg carefully and carried it in the direction of his home.

Little did Luigi know that while he took the egg, in the castle of the Darklands a king was about to destroy everything that came across his way.

Chapter Text

After deciding to take the egg and spend a lot of time walking really slowly while carrying it (definitely losing his lunch time). In the walk, the plumber started to notice that the egg was losing temperature, so he tried to walk a little faster.

Luigi eventually made it. Taking the egg to the safety of his house and putting lots of blankets and pillows around them to prevent any accidents and in hopes that would help with the temperature problem.

"Now, I don't think it's good for you to be cold…but I don't really wanna sit on you so…Oh wait! I got the solution, I'll be right back!" 

Luigi decided to make a heat lamp to keep the egg warm, so he walked towards the room where he keeps his tools and artifacts. Without losing time he looked for everything that could be useful and started adapting an old lamp. 

Once Luigi was satisfied with his work he took the lamp with excitement and left the room.

"Hey little one! Look at this!" pointing at the lamp in his hands with emotion he continued "Now you won't have any problem with your temperature" Luigi explained to the egg while moving things around. When he was making the lamp he concluded that the best place  to keep the egg was in the living room and at night he could take them with him to the bedroom just to keep an eye  on them for any problem. 

"Alright everything is done! Now you can be comfy and I'll go to make myself some dinner. How does that sound?"

If you asked him, yes, Luigi felt a little silly talking to the mystery egg, but it was better than just ignoring what he just did the moment he decided to take them.

"You know? Is not that late, why don't you watch me prepare some pasta?" Luigi kept telling while he took the ingredients from a cabin in the kitchen. "But I have to warn you, this is a ricetta segreta di famiglia . Mia mamma wouldn't like it if I shared it with someone outside the family, so this will be our little secret, sì ?" Luigi let out a little laugh and started cooking.

...

The rest of the evening was calm with Luigi talking about his daily life and asking questions even if he knew the little growing baby wouldn't answer. "Oh! I have to present you to Mario! He's my fratellone but just by minutes, i'm sure you would love him! Here in the mushroom kingdom he is a hero…but maybe you already know that?". Luigi stopped his conversation to think <hmm, I don't think toads are born from eggs… but I don't really know everything about this world, and for some reason the colors of the egg reminds me of something…but what?> 

"Oh nevermind, tomorrow I'll go to the library and I will discover what you are. Yes! That way I can take you home". And with that plan in mind Luigi continued telling more and more stories to his new company.

… 

"Where is them!!!??"

A single scream was heard in the castle followed by a roar and heavy steps that broke everything on his way.

The king of koopas was enraged to say the least. It was only an hour ago that he suddenly felt a terrible cold and the anxious need to go and check on his hatchling. Grand was surprised when he didn't find the egg in the basket, he just found a rock and nothing more.

"Your highness! What's the matter!?" Kamek appears in his broom startled by the terrible anger the king showed out of nowhere.

"Someone took the kid !" Smoke was starting to let the king's snout and fire was threatening with leaving soon. " Somebody DARED to steal from ME!!" Bowser took the closest thing and threw it. He was going to kill whoever had the guts to take the most important thing from him.

His anger was clouding his thinking,  he knew he should focus and put every single darklander in the search of their heir, but the instability was bigger and soon the king was destroying his castle with fire and punches.  

"Your highness! You have to control yourself!" Kamek was trying to keep the damage under control but he knew that Bowser was in incredible pain and this was his way of showing it, neverless if the damage continued soon the castle would only burn ashes. 

"They're gone! I can't feel them anymore!!" Bowser continued screaming, a sign of tears was starting to show and the look in his eyes was completely clouded in anger and pain "They're far enough that the bond was broken!" 

Kamek stopped for a second after hearing that. <How!? That bond was strong! Bowser was with the egg since day one, it was impossible to…except…of course! whoever that took the egg had to be touching it, an egg this young couldn't maintain the familiar connection…we have to find them and soon! Before another person connects with them.>

"Your majesty!" Kamek tried again to have the king's attention "We'll bring them back! Just-" a piece of some furniture almost threw Kamek from his broom but he dodged it at the last second. <If this continues the hatchling won't have a home to return. I have to do it.> 

Kamek took his wand and magic started to surround the king. He tried to fight it but after a moment he fell asleep. "I'm sorry, Bowser"

Everything was silent for a moment, a couple of guards started to get close to the chaos and they flinched when a voice said. 

"Make the announce. Every koopa, goomba and civilian of this kingdom should be looking for their heir". All the guards made an affirmative sound and started to go but one last warning left the right hand of the king.

"Bring to me whoever is found with the egg. I will show them why you don't mess with this kingdom".

…

A new day was starting in the mushroom kingdom.

Luigi again woke up to the sound of his alarm and began his routine with the change that now he had to take care of someone else. 

"Now ragazzino I will go quickly to the library and after I can take you to meet Mario. Sounds good?" The green man said, touching the egg fondly. He suddenly felt a weird kind of electric connection that ended up with a small but present warm feeling. It was nothing too concerning so he didn't put much attention to that. "Okie dokie i'll be right back". 

When he arrived at the toad village he noticed that a concerning amount of koopas and goombas were walking with an unreadable look on their faces. 

<Well, that's strange, maybe I should go to the castle to see if everything is alright> Luigi thought. He was about to change his direction to the castle when he heard a couple of koopas talking.

"We need to find it, if we go back without the egg the king will throw us to the volcano". A koopa with a blue shell said and the other just nod un agreement.

Luigi stopped after hearing those words and he felt  a cold shiver traveled around his body.

The koopas noticed the sudden attention they were having and looked towards the Mario brother. A yelp left the plumber's mouth and he started to walk away trying to look normal.

<It can't be!! It can't be!!> Was the only thought that Luigi kept repeating while he was unconsciously walking to his house. <Now I know why the colors remind me something… someone!> Panic was starting to run in his veins with every step he made. 

The plumber was almost in his home and quickened the step. "I can't believe the egg belongs to Bow-!" 

His phrase was cut when something fell on top of him. Luigi tried to scream but there was really no one close. 

"You!" Said a koopa to another of his companions. "Tell Kamek we found them".

< Mamma mía i'm in terrible trouble> was the last thing Luigi thought before the koopas start taking him in the direction of the Darklands.

Chapter Text

The way to the Darklands was relatively short, almost a couple of hours at most thanks to an airship. 

Luigi wasn't that relieved for the little time he had to make a mental explanation that sounded confident enough to grant him another day. That mission was kinda hard because he was shaking like a leaf in a tornado and his mind hadn't completely processed the fact that Bowser was the…father? Of the egg, and even if that was true. Why was the poor egg abandoned in the middle of a path of the mushroom kingdom!? The land that Bowser desired to conquer! That just didn't make any sense.

<Guess soon i'll find out if Bowser doesn't burn me the moment he discovers it's me.> 

His thoughts were interrupted when one of the koopas that found him took the end of the rope (what they used to restrain him) and pulled, forcing him to start walking once the airship stopped. The strength of that pull almost made Luigi trip, but he was fast enough to avoid the embarrassment, still he felt the start of a blush covering his face. 

Another pair of koopas took some kind of wagon with the egg, and just like that the walk to the castle started.

The big doors of the castle were open and the couple of koopas with the wagon entered first followed by the one with the prisoner. They walked across some hallways that Luigi recognized, it was the usual way Mario used to go to the throne room in their rescue missions. He couldn't continue remembering that bunch of times he was there because a sudden feeling of warmth filled him <Guess it's the nerves> was the explanation the plumber gave while looking at the grand entrance and the big throne rising in front of him. 

"Well…who do we have here!? The green Mario" a voice resonated seconds after they entered the room. "I must say I was surprised when I heard who the thief was" the last part was said with barely contained anger and if Luigi wasn't already losing his mind he could have sworn a little of disappointment was also there. 

"Bow-...Y-your highness!" Luigi tried to make a reverence, the ropes didn't help him a lot with that. "I- I must say you made a m-mistake!" <C'mon! Don't stutter!> "I- I just…!"

"Silence!" Bowser got up from his throne and got closer to the man in front of him. "You not only decided to steal from me! But now you're trying to deny it!" Smoke was leaving the king's mouth "You should consider yourself lucky I haven't burned you just to send your ashes to your brother!" 

His heart was beating like crazy and sweat was covering Luigi's face, the simple thought of Mario suffering from that scenario maked him feel a little moment of bravery. He was shaking to the bones when he said. "Non è giusto!!" words started to leave his mouth before he could process a thing. "Io stavo solo cercando di aiutare!" He knows the king won't understand a thing but when he feels strong emotions it's almost impossible to make him talk in other than his mother tongue "Se avessi saputo che l'uovo apparteneva a te, non sarei finito in questo problema! Ma come dice sempre Mario, sono troppo sensibile, non potevo lasciar perdere!" The last remains of frustration leave his mind and without really thinking he said one last comment "I- It's not my fault turtles are bad parents!" Once he finished his speech of frustration fueled by fear and a sudden rush of adrenaline he noticed that what he just said wasn't exactly in italian "I- I…"

"I don't really understand what you just said Greenie but I can tell you that I'm NOT a bad father!" 

Luigi yelp in fear and start mumbling "I- I know! I- It's just t-that the t-turtles back in m-my world are n-not really the b-best p-parents!" the need to correct himself continued "I- I'm not saying that you a-are one! No! B-but l-like, t-they laid eggs in the sand and t-then left them to his l-luck! s-so I thought m-maybe you just do something like t-that?" 

<What the hell am I saying!?> The plumber was panicking with every word that he was saying <Now i'm definitely dead! Mamma mía! Why I didn't just beg for mercy>

"...wow your world can be cruel Greenie, what kind of parents do that!?" Bowser was processing the unexpected dump of information with a face that Luigi would find hilarious if it weren't for the fact that his life was still at risk. "Now that you finished your nonsense. Any last words?" Recovering from the sudden speech Bowser go back to the intimidating mode.

"I didn't steal them!" Luigi groaned, he was getting tired of this. "Look, I was just walking and then I suddenly found them in the path! If you didn't left them, maybe the pipe that's close was the reason!" <Though I thought it was a useless pipe> was the thought Luigi had, but he wasn't going to say that "The point is they was kinda cold so I took them with me to protect them. I even make them a heat lamp to-" 

"A what?" The abrupt interruption scared Luigi, his moment of bravery was about to reach the end so he had to be fast if he really wanted to live another day. 

"A heat lamp? It's like a lamp but it gives off heat, so the egg doesn't lose heat… Doesn't the egg needs one?" The curiosity was bigger in that moment than the fear apparently.

"Have you felt the weather here? My castle is in a volcano! Why would they need anything like that?" The king said it like the most obvious fact in the world 

"I… well I guess you're right but in the mushroom kingdom the weather isn't that high so the lamp was my best choice!" The feeling of the conversation was more like he was having a chat with an old friend than trying to survive to this point. "Besides, the first time I touched the egg It was incredibly cold! My lamp was really helpful" That phrase provoked a change in the king's face.

"You touch them…of course you do!" A roar sounded in all the room. "Kamek" the magikoopa was listening to everything and with a sigh he got close to the prisoner and the king. "I'm assuming we have a problem here…" the tone used was anger but with special resignation.

"I'm afraid we have your majesty" Kamek started "It was just a day but apparently the young heir already make a connection with the human" that was said without hiding the disgust "Is not as strong as yours…but I don't really know the consequences that they could face if we keep the human away, and they was already deprived of your connection, sir we can't take the risk"

"E-Excuse me? What connection?" Luigi tried but he was ignored.

Bowser processes what the magikoopa said with a serious face and after a few minutes he just sighs. "You're lucky Greenie, apparently my kid has decided to let you live for now".

Luigi didn't understand a thing about the situation <What connection? Why me? I think they won't let me go. Am I going to live in the dungeons!?> "S-So that means you believe i'm innocent?" 

The koopa let out a gruff of resignation "For now I don't have a choice" he said before adding "Still I'll be watching you. Try anything funny and that would be the last thing you do" he turned around making his way back to the throne. "Kamek, prepare a room for our new guest". That was the last thing Luigi heard before being taken away.

<Okay…at least I'm still alive… that's good… right?> 

Chapter Text

Kamek directed the koopa guard to a room in a part of the castle Luigi wasn't familiar with. "Listen human, technically you're not a prisoner here, but that doesn't mean you can go anywhere on your own" the door of the room was opened and the view of a bedroom appeared.

Luigi was surprised that they would leave him there. Wasn't he accused of being a thief?? Worst of all, he was Mario's brother, the worst enemy of the king! Wait...That reminds him…

"Can I contact my brother?" Luigi asked, honestly he would have preferred to go back to the mushroom kingdom and explain in person the situation to his brother, but he wasn't going to push his luck.

"You cannot, you may forget any attempt to ask for rescue that was in your mind" Kamek said looking with distrust at Luigi.

"Per favore, please?" The plumber tried again. "Only one letter or something to explain why i'm not going to be home, if he hears that a koopa captured me he will come here anyway! Let's just prevent a battle" 

Now with that explanation the magikoopa took a moment to think. "Fine, you can send one letter but that's all" with that agreement set and a wave of his wand Kamek freed Luigi's hands and pushed him inside the room. "A guard will come to you if the king asks for your presence, in the meantime feel free to avoid any problem". 

The door of the room was closed and Luigi was officially left alone to think about what was going on since his day started.

<First, I'll write the letter, I really hope the word of me being taken by koopas hasn't spread around> the plumber thought already imagining the great chaos Mario was capable of doing when it comes to him. "Paper…paper… oh! There it is!" Part of the furniture in the room was a desk that fortunately had some paper and ink. "Okay, let's start this".

'Hey Mario! 

Remember the thing I told you I will show you this morning? 

Well, let's just say I found an egg in the path close to the mushroom forest near my home and I decided to take them with me!

Heh, funny story it turns out that egg belongs to Bowser! (Tho don't tell anyone, I don't think we're supposed to know). 

I know right!? That sounds crazy, but I swear it's true!  

So, short story, the egg has some kind of magic that makes me bond or something to them so I won't be able to go back until the hatchling is born. 

Don't worry! I'm okay! Bowser was surprisingly nice and didn't throw me to a dungeon or a cage, i'm in a nice room. 

Sadly this is the only letter they would let me send apparently. 

Still i'm sure i'll be okay, I hope they tell me more about this connection thing.

Until then, please don't get in trouble, okay? 

Oh! And look at my garden if it's not much trouble, I know it's not your strong suit but the flowers were really pretty and it would be a shame if they dried, so try at least, please? 

Send my regards to the princess!

-Luigi. '

Once he was convinced with the letter he took an envelope and wrote the direction. The envelope have some kind of spell on it because it was barely closed when the letter disappeared.

Luigi looked at the point when the letter was just a moment ago astonished. "That's definitely new". Well that part was done. <I know I leave out the fact that they kidnap me and threaten to burn me in ashes, but if I told that to Mario, he surely wasn't going to be calm… va bene! he probably won't be calm anyway, I just really hope he doesn't do something crazy". 

In an attempt to distract his mind about all the possible chaos Mario was able to do when he reads the letter. Luigi started to look around the bedroom. It was a very large room, the walls were gray with black and red details, there was a queen-size bed in the middle, the desk in the left corner, the door that leads to the corridor on the opposite and in the back a couple of extra doors. Luigi approached the doors and opened them. The first one led to some kind of dressing room and the other was the bathroom. 

<Wow, this is awesome. It doesn't really look like i'm being blamed for something horrible like practically kidnapping a child>. A half-laugh left his mouth. <I wonder if I can discover who really was the one that took the egg… if they touch the egg like me, why didn't they develop this connection thing? Maybe they didn't actually touch the egg? But I had my gloves on when I was touching them so clothes really don't affect… Mamma mía i'm starting to get a headache>. 

Luigi hesitated for a moment before sitting on the bed, it was really comfy and the sheets were light but soft at the same time.

The pleasant sensation and all the mental fatigue made him fall asleep. The mystery of the real thief could wait a little longer.

…

The plumber was woken up by the sound of knocking on the door. 

He got up and hurriedly opened, a guard standing in front of him waiting. "The king wants you in the nursery. Follow me" was the only thing said before the koopa started to walk leading the path. Luigi was processing everything, after all he just woke up, but he tried to follow the fast steps of the koopa while trying to adjust his hair, the hat he always wore was forgotten in the room and Luigi was kinda regretting that, he's bed hair wasn't the best, but oh well, he couldn't do a lot about it. 

The walk lasted a couple of minutes until they were in front of a big door that had an elegant design and in the middle a simple plate with nothing written on it. 

A knock on the door got a "come" from the inside. Both entered the room that Luigi noticed was filled with lots of things and what looked like a nest made with blankets and pillows. 

Luigi was surprised, but the most unbelievable sight was in front of him. In the middle of the 'nest' Bowser was sitting with the egg between his legs, the king's attention was on the egg, the koopa had the most caring look Luigi ever saw in the king's eyes, sadly that was quickly changed to a stare of fierceness when his attention passed to the plumber.

"You can retire'' was an indication the guard got, he just reverenced before leaving. Now Luigi was on his own feeling a warm sensation that was starting to suspect involved the so-called connection. 

"You may come here" the voice of the king took away the growing thoughts of the green man, he nodded and started to walk towards the king that just kept staring at him while he put his arms in front of the egg in a protective way. 

"You just arrived, but it seems you already have some mail" Bowser started once Luigi got in the 'nest'. 

"W-What?" The plumber got his answer when Bowser gave him an envelope, it was red and had the address of the mushroom kingdom. "Oh, that was fast" he said before taking the letter in the front pocket of his clothes. 

"Your brother also wrote to me, basically he threat me to allow the exchange of letters between you two so he just doesn't slip the fact that he knows about them" the koopa looked at the egg for a moment and then back at Luigi. The king didn't sound happy knowing the fact that Luigi told Mario the existence of his heir. "So, to not spoil the grand presentation more, I will let you send just one letter every day, but Kamek or I will read it before it's sent, so you just better leave details about the castle or them outside. Do you understand?"

<Cazzo! Mario I told you to not look for trouble> Luigi mentally cursed his brother nature, then he looked at the king and nodeed "Yeah, grazie…erm… thanks for let me keep contact with Mario" he offered with a little smile

"I'm not doing this for you" a huff let the king while he rolled his eyes.

"I know, but still, thank you" after all he was thankful for the opportunity.

"Whatever, now come closer to the egg, that's why I want you here" Bowser urged and Luigi do as told, gently holding the smooth and warm surface of the egg, the feeling of warmth grow.

"Can I ask about this connection? Why do I feel warm when i'm close to them?" The plumber let his curiosity take the lead of his words.

"Just know that it's an important deal we have to accomplish for them to grow healthy and the feeling is because you're sharing part of your energy with them. Now be quiet and wait, since your connection with them is weaker than mine and now that they just have one month left before hatching, you don't need to spend much time in contact" 

Luigi was getting more and more confused with the new information but he resigned to not push the conversation.

…

After a couple of hours he was sent back to the room, a little feeling of tiredness grew in him the moment the bed appeared in his sight, a dinner plate was awaiting on the desk. The green man chose to eat and read the letter from Mario before going to bed. 

'Hey Luigi! 

Of course I will freak out! What do you mean you have to stay in the Darklands for who knows how long!? And without even being able to communicate?! I don't think so! I'll send another letter to Bowser. If he really wants to keep you there without me involved. He would have to let you send letters.

I'm not gonna lie, I'm terribly worried about you but I trust you, okay? So please you also stay out of trouble, I know you have a big and kind heart, hell, you're being too nice to accept help Bowser! But still, you better be careful.

And about them… Can I really not tell anyone? I know Peach would be beyond impressed if she hears about how the koopa that proclaimed eternal love to her became soon a father! It's just so difficult to keep that secret! 

No worries, I won't tell, but you have to admit it is a really unexpected twist! Now we know why everything was in peace. I guess Bowser was reaally busy, eh?

I'm kinda wondering how that even happened, but I know the limits of my curiosity (but I wouldn't mind if you find the answer, just for the adventure!) and that answer is one of them. I got chills just thinking about it.

Anyway, I hope to get a letter from you soon or I will go personally and kick some sense into the king. 

Peach also sends regards! I told her you were invited in the name of negotiate peace so she's also asking to try and push some treaty arrangements in Bowser's mind. No pressure tho, you know her, she will just take any chance to try.

Good luck in the koopa kingdom! 

-Mario

P.S: I know I told you not to get in trouble but also don't let anyone step on you, okay?

P.S 2: I believe you would want some clothes so I will deliver them tomorrow, don't worry i'll let Bowser know about that. '

Luigi groaned when he finished the letter <Really Mario!? Why would you ask how Bowser got the egg?! I mean i'm also curious but…> the embarrassment of thinking about the fact of how Bowser was able to have a kid implied. <No,no,no I don't need to know that…absolutely no! There's no way he would tell me> His face was completely red and warm <What was that last thought?! I don't want him to tell me!!> "lo stupido Mario e le sue idee" the plumber mumble still feeling his face burning "I better go to sleep now". In the attempt to forget about those shameful thoughts Luigi finished his dinner and did his bedtime routine. 

"It was a really long and exhausting day. Let's see what will be tomorrow". 

Chapter Text

It was a new day, Luigi woke up feeling a little weird for the lack of noise his alarm would usually produce, he moved between the bedsheets looking with one arm the alarm just to suddenly remember where he was.

<Right, the castle of the Koopa Kingdom, that explains why I didn't hear my alarm>. 

He woke up and rubbed one of his eyes with one hand, he let out a yawn and after that decided to walk towards a window he kinda ignored last night. 

To his surprise the landscape was directed to part of the koopa city. He admired the koopas, goombas and shy guys that were walking calmly showing how the early morning was just greeting them.

He and Mario never really got inside the city, Bowser's castle served like some shield and the land before it was just part of the dark woods (inhabitable for almost everyone except for some dry-bones and boos). Since every fight happened outside or in the castle, the rest of the Koopa Kingdom was a mystery for him. 

"It looks so beautiful, bellissimo. I wonder if I'll be able to wander around". <Probably he won't let me, after all he still believes I'm a danger>. Sighing in resignation, Luigi left the window and decided to start his routine, or at least try to do the most of it.

First he took a bath and comb his hair and mustache, then he walked to the dressing room, he wasn't fond of the idea of wearing the same clothes (and the only ones he have) so he put a robe he found that thankfully was for his size and hoped the clothes Mario promised to deliver didn't take too long.

After a few moments a briefcase appeared in the room scaring Luigi to the point he almost fell off the bed. He approached carefully and took the note that was above the briefcase.

'This came for you.

Hurry up to get change and tell the guard outside the room to take you to the dining room.'

The note seems to belong to a certain magikoopa that probably wasn't really happy with being a messenger. <Well, at least I have my clothes now!>

Inside the briefcase Luigi found clothes, a couple of books and other essential things, finally he saw hidden between everything a red mushroom with something attached. 

'Just in case.'

"Ovviamente, nothing really escapes to my fratello" Luigi said with a smirk, he hid the power up and took some clean clothes. "I better not make the King wait".

…

Luigi greets the guard outside and asks him to take him where Kamek indicated. 

The castle was still confusing for Luigi, big halls with black and red walls, every single one looked the same except for the decorations. Big frames full of paintings of Bowser and what Luigi assumed were the past rulers. Everyone showing big smiles full of power and confidence. There was also some passage with sculptures and other ornaments he really didn't understand.

Finally they arrived at a big door that was opened showing a large table with what looked like breakfast served. The smell of food maked Luigi's stomach rumble, he blushed a little.

"Greenie! You're finally joining us!" Bowser said, making a gesture with his claws to Luigi to come closer.

"G-..." Luigi cleared his throat "Good morning your majesty" he said while walking towards one of the empty chairs on the side of the table. He yelped when he saw Kamek sitting on the opposite side. "Also good morning to you Kamek" Luigi said, giving Kamek a nervous smile. The magikoopa just made a gesture of acknowledgement.

"Well, now that everyone is here, we can start" Kamek made a sign with his hand and some servants started to uncover the trays with different types of food. 

Luigi's moth started to watered at the smell of all the food, it looked similar to the meals in the mushroom kingdom, they seem like the ones back in Brooklyn but not quite identical. Actually he was devastated when he discovered that in this world they didn't have the same type of ingredients to make his recipes, but was glad when he found similar replacements that actually worked really well and gave a special touch to the traditional recipes. 

Anyways, now Luigi was focused on the delicious meal he had in front, he let a goomba waiter serve him and once everyone got his meal he started digging his own.

The plumber finished what apparently was some type of omelet and was about to start with a pastry bread when the voice of the king caught his attention.

"So… Greenie, now that you adjust here, when are you going to confess how you stole the future heir?" 

<Again with that?!> Was the first thought of the plumber, he finished eating what was in his mouth and took a sip of the juice they served him before saying "I already try to tell you. I didn't do it! In the first place, why do you think I would be interested in doing something like that?" His voice didn't stumble to his surprise.

"Alright, stop that! There's plenty of reasons! You're the brother of that 'hero'! Of course you would get inside and try to take them from me!" Bowser said, his voice was starting to get louder, a clear sign of his patience running low every second he didn't get the answer he was looking for.

"Dio mio, I don't even know the castle that well, much less the existence of a nursery or the kid until yesterday!" Luigi responded, his fear wasn't yet enough to make him control his words.

"Well that's just-!... Wait, the nursery? They wasn't there when… dang" the koopa king looked with surprise at Luigi "You're not the kidnaper" he finally stated.

"I already said that! I'm not! I found them near a pipe, maybe the other side is close to where the egg was and that's how I found them or someone else took them" 

The king was about to respond but was interrupted by a certain advisor.

"Sire, if I may. I suggest we finish our meal before continuing, it's almost time for you to look at the young heir anyway".

Bowser looked at Kamek trying to find a reason to retort his suggestion "...fine" he let out almost as a growing when he couldn't find one.

…

Luigi found himself once again being led to the nursery, but this time Bowser was leading the path. The plumber tried to find the courage to ask one of the many questions flowing in his mind. 

He took a deep breath "I-If I may know…how is this bond formed?" He quickly added "I know is some kind of magic for like…energy? But how, just touching it?" They stopped at the sight of a familiar door.

"You sure are annoying, almost as annoying as your brother," Bowser said, opening the door and revealing once again the big 'nest' with the egg in the middle.

The plumber waited until the king gave him a nod indicating he could get close. 

He tried to get comfortable before once again getting in contact with the warm surface. "Hey little one, it seems your father isn't really good at making conversations so you will have to make me company, okie?" A light blush climbed in the plumber's face, yes, he felt a little self-conscious talking to an egg that won't really answer back, but that was better instead of silence.

A moment later when Luigi was starting to think he should bring one of the books Mario put in the briefcase the next time, just to ignore the awkward silence. Bowser apparently was happy to ignore the presence of the man in the room, or that's what Luigi believed. 

"It's not just touching it" Bowser suddenly started, the green man took a second before remembering the question he made. "Yes, It's magic thing, it's usually made to form a good connection between familiars but it can also be to obtain magic from the parent that helps the hatchling to grow healthy, in your case Kamek thinks it's taking energy, the most similar thing you have to magic".

Luigi was surprised he got an actual helpful answer, once again he believed that was all the explanation he would get but the koopa continued. "How it is formed isn't exactly known, but part of it is being in continuous contact and feeling  some sort of consideration… not necessarily the positive version you're probably thinking, it can be just the need to have the egg alive that can make the bond useful". 

Surprised filled the face of Luigi <That's one of the reasons Bowser sounded so stressed when he discovered about me bonding…> "So…that's like a survival instinct? The feeling?" You couldn't really blame him for asking more, this world full of magic always finds a way to surprise him! 

"Yeah…you could say so, not the most brilliant one, but I guess it helps" Bowser said almost mockingly. "But it has limits, like the not-so-living creatures, they can't form bonds".

"Hmmm, so dry-bones and boos are out… that makes a little sense, I can't imagine a boo even caring at all for an egg. The mental image is so…" Luigi stopped his rambling when the sudden silence came back, his anxiety going high immediately <Oh merda, Did I get too comfortable? I should have just kept my mouth shut>.

The silence continued a little more and then the koopa king got up, walking towards the door.

"Change of plans Greenie, you'll have to keep an eye on them… there are some pests I have to take care of". 

Bowser left without any other explanation. Luigi just stared at the door in surprise. "...Do you know what just happened?" He said looking at the egg "Yeah, me neither…but I think now i'm your nanny".

Chapter Text

“Kamek!” Bowser screamed across a hallway, he could barely contain the fire burning inside him, figuratively and literally. 

“Yes? your loudness?” Kamek appeared beside the king “Is it about the green Mario?”, they continued the walk (flying in the case of the magikoopa) towards Bowser's personal meeting room. 

“No, it's not about him, but he said something interesting this morning, remember?”  Once they got inside the room Bowser started to look for something in a pile of reports, Kamek stared in confusion for a moment before answering.

“Yes, I do remember, sire, but I believe he could have been lying just to get away from the spotlight” the advisor got close to the king “Why you’re bringing that if this isn’t about the plumber?” Kamek adjusted his glasses. Bowser kept moving papers and after a moment he let out a triumphant  “ha!” he looked at the confused magikoopa. 

“He asked about the bond and I, as the merciful king I am, gave him the answer” he explained “You were there when they told me the implications of the bond, and even before that, you already knew, right?” That picked the interest in Kamek, <All of this was about the bond between the Mario brother and the young heir?>. 

“Yes, that is correct, I knew thanks to the late king about the connection. Are you worried about the connection with the plumber?” Kamek offered, trying to finally get the answer he was looking for. 

“No, I have no worries about that, he just reminded me about how the not-exactly-living creatures can’t form one since they have another type of magic that doesn’t align with our species” he passed the report he took before, Kamek read it and looked with surprise at the king.

“You’re majesty! Are you implying that King Boo planned all of this?!” 

That was a really serious thing, the Darklands were the only kingdom with a treaty between the leader of the boos, even though they have some record about causing problems in the Koopa Kingdom.

Since the boos don’t have an actual kingdom, one of the points of the contract was that the boos could stay in the Darklands in exchange for helping in the king's will. Bowser honestly believed they were more a burden than anything but until now he didn’t have a real reason to break the contract. 

“No, at least not yet, I need to hear again the story of the guard I sent that day, before asking for an audience with King Boo”.  

…

The now ex-guard got inside the throne room trembling, the last time he was summoned things didn't end well for him, after all he was accused of losing the kingdom's future heir, he got expelled of the castle staff and the worst thing was that he got a reminder of the kings anger, or at least that’s the way he called his new dry-bone appearance. So…yeah, he was very nervous about why he was suddenly summoned to the castle.

“Y-You called for me, your highness” he said bowing to the king that was in the throne. The royal advisor was at the king’s side holding a few papers. Both had a serious face, but despised that they didn’t have any threatening aura. 

“Your majesty has some questions about the…incident in the castle” the magikoopa began, the ex-guard went stiff, so after all his suffering hasn’t ended yet. “Your report of the moment you walked with the royal egg mentions you encounter some boos almost at the end of the hallway that directs to the royal chambers, is that right? ”.

The poor dry-bone was trembling but he raised his head to answer the best he could. “Y-Yes, I f-found some boos when I was c-carrying the basket. I-I had to occupy both of my hands to get rid of them for a moment but after all I kept walking” he told the event again. 

“Yes, that’s what you said the first time, now try to remember, as you know the heir’s egg got replaced with a rock and was covered with a blanket to simulate. You didn’t feel any change in the weight of the basket after you fought the boos?” the advisor explained 

“N-No? I-I… was fighting two  or three of the boos, I thought the others left first because they didn’t bother me, the ones I was fighting got bored o-or something because they left a little later. The moment all of them left I took the basket again and put it in the royal chamber” the koopa explained again, he really didn't feel anything different or saw something suspicious. 

The king that was listening looked to his advisor, then both nodded and then he directed his gaze to the scared dry-bone.

"You may leave" the king koopa said, the anger in his tone and gaze was lower but a sentiment of disappointment lingered.

The dry-bone walked (practically ran) away from the room. 

Bowser sighed "Now we have a problem, he didn't notice but he got ambushed by those bastards" a line of smoke was leaving the koopa's snout, flaring his nostrils, a low grumbling indicated the contained rage. "Prepare a message for the king and one of the airships! We're going to the castle of that good-for-nothing King Boo!" 

…

"...and that's why now I look to the ground before walking, I don't need another dog chasing me" Luigi finished his millionth story. 

He started to tell the egg some of the adventures he and Mario had back in Brooklyn while waiting for Bowser to come back. Several hours have passed and he hasn't heard a thing of where the king might be. The guard that gave him a plate with food said nothing about it, just to keep spending time with the egg. 

"You know? The food here is really good! But don't say that to your father, okay? He will brag about how the food of the koopa kingdom is superior or something like that, we don't need to feed his ego". 

When the plumber finished the food he went to the door to return the plate to a guard. He was planning to return to the 'nest' but now that he was technically alone he could take advantage of that and go to explore the rest of the nursery. 

The room was surprisingly big so first he went to the left side where a set of carmine curtains covered the windows. He looked through them and let out a surprised noise. "A garden! It looks gorgeous! I didn't believe something like that could grow here!  Your room definitely has the best view of all the castle. I'm almost jealous of that". That last part was said with a giggle. 

Luigi kept walking around the room, he found very curious the fact that some parts, like shelves with some fairy tales, had a thin layer of dust. "It looks like your room was a place to store before…but it's all right!.. The walls could use some colors tho" a sad stare was directed towards said walls "Maybe you could paint them when you grow older! When I was a bambino I had a phase where I would paint on every surface my crayons touched, my parents weren't too happy about it, but in your case it's fine, I would love to see the resignation in the king's eyes when he sees all the castle full of drawings!" He laughed at the mental image, nothing like a tired Bowser trying to control a little koopa. That was going to be fun. "Perhaps he would be busy enough to forget about kidnapping the princess…"

Once satisfied with the exploring, Luigi went back to the egg's side enjoying the warm feeling, maybe a little too much, his eyes started to get close with every second, the human let the feeling surround him and soon he was sleeping next to the egg.

…

The loud noise of the door opening startled the sleeping plumber that was disoriented for the sudden wake up, almost by instinct he tried to cover the egg with his body. His eyes were adjusting to the light and when they finally made it he saw the picture of the king starring. 

Soon he saw how the rest of the koopa's body was injured with what looked like bruises and… burns? But how?

"Bowser?! What's wrong?! What happened to you?!" The tiredness left Luigi's body as he hurried to get close to the king. "Where is Kamek?! We have to treat your wounds!" He took the king's claw and led him to a side of the 'nest'. 

"Heh, don't worry Greenie, Kamek already knows, he's just busy treating his own wounds, he will soon find me". Bowser said with a surprisingly calm tone with a lingering satisfaction on it. "Besides I lost a lot of time today, I have to be here" he touched the egg that was beside.

"But what happened? Where did you go?" Luigi was still looking for more injuries, he found nothing too serious so he calmed down and looked at Bowser's eyes.

"Let's just say I won a new enemy today".

Chapter Text

While waiting for Kamek, Luigi tried in the meantime to obtain information about what happened. Bowser only responded with some little details like he had a previous agreement with King Boo but when he refused to hand over the boo’s that stole the egg they got into a fight and when he obviously won, that marked the end of the treaty. 

“So the boos were the real thieves?!” Luigi exclaimed, “Did you catch them?” he asked just to be sure, <maybe I would need to ask Mario to bring my poltergust…> 

“Yes, when I defeat King Boo, Kamek locked up every boo with a spell” Bowser said with a grin “He probably will try to attack the kingdom in the future. Now that he believes we are defenseless without him” the koopa king was almost laughing, as if the idea was totally ridiculous.

“W-Well if that happens, maybe I could help! I myself defeated King Boo once!” Luigi said proudly, he wasn’t usually a person that brags about that kind of thing, but with Bowser he could make an exception. 

The king rolled up his eyes “Yeah, I’m aware, I heard from one of my spies" a grin started to grow in his face. "Still I can’t believe you were fool enough to think you won a mansion” that was totally said with mockery and it was turn to Luigi to roll up his eyes and let out a groan.

“H-Hey!! It was pretty convincing!” Luigi crossed his arms against his chest “Besides I wasn’t that used to how things work here, I thought maybe it was a common thing!” 

A chuckle was heard “Whatever you said Greenie”. Silence fIlled the room.

Luigi was glad that his innocence was finally proved, maybe he would be able to enjoy the stay in the palace, but there was still a thing that occupied his mind. 

“Are you sure your kingdom will be safe now that you lost a treaty?” the question left his mouth. Bowser looked at him almost offended.

“Of course we’re going to be fine! I have the most powerful army! And I still have a treaty with King Bob-omb. You should be more worried about King Boo and his useless boos”.

Luigi gave a nod and was about to let the conversation die when a sudden idea got to his mind. It was a bit risky, but Bowser didn’t seem angry so he could try it. 

“You know? What i’m hearing is that maybe you can have a new treaty” he said with a teasing tone, the koopa king caught instantly that and looked annoyed at the plumber.

“Don’t you even dare to finish that thought” the threat wasn’t really a scary one so Luigi continued. 

“What? I’m just saying. The mushroom kingdom, especially princess Peach would be happy if you considered it” Luigi finished, he had a teasing smile on his face when Bowser let out a growl.

“You certainly can be more annoying than Mario” Bowser said “You know what? Maybe you’re right, I’ll ask Kamek to bring some paper and ink later”. 

“Yeah, sometimes my family believed tha…What?! Are you serious?!” Lugi didn’t expect to be taken seriously, at much he expected to hear Bowser start talking about the princess (not that he would have preferred that). Now it was the turn of Bowser to grin in Luigi’s direction.

“Again, I’m not saying that because of you. I already thought about the possibility when I decided to have an heir. I was just waiting to present them and all of that formalities”. The king explained.

“Mamma mía! So you finally get over the princess?!” now Luigi knew when he overstepped, and that last comment was a good example. “Mi scusi. I’m sorry! I-I-I shouldn’t have ask”. He hurriedly apologized, not daring to look at Bowser, who was strangely quiet. 

When the silence remained for too long Luigi finally dared to look at the king. His face was completely blank, no emotion was visible, the plumber felt more scared about that, he almost desired to be yelled at like usual. When Bowser finally came back to himself and looked at Luigi’s eyes indicating he got an answer, the sound of the doors opening distracted.

“Your tiredness! I’m finally able to heal you properly. Please don’t move while I make the spell” the magikoopa said the moment he entered, magic wand in hand ready and shiny. “Now, green Mario if you excuse us”, the plumber just nodded and got close to the door. 

“R-Right! Okie dokie! I’ll be in my room” he closed the door of the nursery and started to walk. He kinda remembered the path to his room, but his mind was busy with other things <what was that strange feeling just now?! Why didn't he get mad?! And why did I ask that?!.. ugh, I'm probably just tired. That’s it i'm going to rest> the determination didn’t last too much when Luigi noticed he wasn’t in a familiar hallway. “Non può essere possibile! I'm lost!”

He wandered around the hallway looking through any window for any familiar place, he didn't find any, just places like courtyards, more tricky hallways and what looked like the place where the guards train. <Better avoid that, I don't think they would be so happy to see me>. Luigi knew he wasn't the person that defeated them most of the time, but still he didn't want to cause trouble. 

…

Eventually Luigi found a big door, he let out a sigh, he was starting to consider asking anyone for help, but the hallways were empty, except for some koopas that seemed busy taking out some boos. <The word sure spreads fast… I kinda feel bad for the innocent boos> he knew that most of them were an indicator of trouble ornat least that was his experience, but he liked to believe not all of them were like that. Despite that, he understands the reason and he could do nothing but hope they find a place to live. <Well, I still have to find my way back. I hope there's someone here that can help me>. He knocked the door and waited 'til a "come in" was heard on the other side. 

The plumber entered the room, said room was apparently a private library with lots of shelves full of books and a front desk where somebody was writing behind a pile of books. "Hi, I'm Luigi, can you help me?" He started to get close to the desk. "I was supposed to be in one of the guest rooms but, heh, I kinda got lost so… Kamek!" When he finally reached the desk he saw with surprise that the magikoopa was the one behind, said koopa also seemed to be surprised by the presence of the plumber.

"The Mario brother, what are you doing in this place?" Kamek left what he was writing and continued looking with distrust at the human. "Weren't you going to be in the guest room? If your highness hears about this, he won't be happy knowing you are wandering around unsupervised" one of the advisor's hands were getting close to the sleeve of his robe, Luigi could bet he was taking his wand.

"Y-Yeah, I'm sorry, that's what I intended but the paths were confusing so I got lost. Can you help me?" 

Kamek scanned Luigi's eyes looking for any lies, then he just adjusted his glasses and left the chair when he was writing. "So you're telling me you've been walking around for almost two hours?... Nevermind, returning to your room won't be necessary. It's almost diner time and your majesty wants you to discuss the treaty with the mushroom kingdom". The magikoopa made his way to the exit and Luigi just followed him processing the surprise <I really walked for that long?!>

"Why Bow-, your highness would need my presence?" Luigi said he was looking and taking mental notes of the path to avoid future moments like this one. 

"Since you're already here, your majesty thinks you could be the ambassador of the mushroom kingdom until the princess chooses an official one". Kamek explained and turned around a corner that led to another hallway similar to the last one.

"M-Me?! B-But I don't know about politics! I'm just a plumber! A common citizen!" Luigi stopped his mental map to look with disbelief at the royal advisor. "I-I'm not even native of this world! M-Maybe you should reconsider?" He tried to put some sense, he truly didn't know that much about the kingdom, sure he liked to read about the history of the kingdom and their traditions but he surely wasn't the right person to deal with such an important deal. 

"You and your annoying brother have been living here for around five years now. I'm sure you know enough to be useful for now". Kamek said without even a doubt. Before Luigi could try to change his mind they arrived at the dining room where the king was already waiting. 

"I apologize for the delay, your graciousness" Kamek walked to the table and took the same morning seat. 

Luigi soon followed the magikoopa steps and sat in front of him.

"Nevermind. Now that we are complete, shall we start?" 

…

The conversation was long, in the journey of that Luigi remembered that Mario said to the princess he was in the koopa kingdom looking for the treaty, so he reluctantly abandoned the idea of escaping the plans. He just resigned himself to listening to the conversation and giving a few comments on the subject. 

Finally they decided to send the official invitation to the mushroom kingdom inviting princess Peach with his official advisor's (and the current hero to Bowser's inconvenience) to the Darklands by the end of the week. 

The original tradition says that the ruler looking for the treaty has to be the one to visit the other kingdom to negotiate, but with the current situation of the egg not being able to be without the connection, they just can hope the princess understands the reason and accepts the unusual situation. 

Luigi finally was free to go to his room (this time with the company of a goomba guard). He wrote a letter to Mario telling him about the future invitation to the princess and asking for his poltergust. He knew that Bowser said everything was going to be fine, but still he chose to be ready in any case.

The tiredness finally knocked out the plumber but before falling asleep he took a moment to think about the last interaction with Bowser when the diner ended. 

"Greenie. About what you asked earlier... The answer is yes".

Chapter Text

Luigi was eating breakfast, Kamek left earlier for some important business so it was just him and the king. He wasn't quite ready to bring yesterday's question because he didn't fully understand what to do with that knowledge so he just looked for another theme of conversation. 

"So… don't you think there's someone who deserves an apology?" The plumber was already more calm talking to Bowser, now that he's kinda important for the treaty the koopa king and Kamek were more… friendly to him, that was a great advance but he still wanted at least a little apology for all the thief thing.

"Now that you mention it. Yes, I think someone in this room deserves one". Luigi's face filled with surprise, did he hear correctly? Maybe Bowser could be a nice person after all! "So, Greenie…"

"Luigi, you know my name is Luigi" maybe he was pulling out his luck, but hey! It was a good moment to finally correct the way Bowser refers to him. Bowser just looked a little annoyed for being interrupted and continued. 

"Yeah, yeah, Luigi… I forgive you". 

"..." 

Luigi looked at Bowser, face totally inexpressive, was this guy serious?! He hasn't even done a thing that could be taken wrong!! 

"You…forgive me?" Luigi spoke really slowly. 

"Yes, that's what I said" the plumber could hear the big grin Bowser had on his face.

<mi stai scherzando…> "...Why?"

"Oh you know, for wandering around my castle unsupervised" the koopa king said like it was the worst crime.

"Oh c'mon! I was lost! I told Kamek that!" Luigi explained, barely believing the conversation "I deserve the apology!!! At least for the kidnapping! Or I don't know… for being threatened to be burned!?!" If Mario could see Luigi right now he would say he was making one of those tantrums the green man sometimes performs when Mario eats the last slice of pizza. A little over exaggerated but in Luigi's mind, totally worth it.

"I won't apologize for defending my kid" Bowser said, then he stood and expected Luigi to do the same, but the plumber just stayed in his chair with arms crossed against his chest. 

"C'mon Greenie don't be petty!" Said person just kept ignoring the king. "Hurry, we have to go see the hatchling! Today we're supposed to spend the time in the garden" <...It can be a coincidence he knows I like gardens…right? No, Luigi don't fall for the dirty trick, don't…ugh>.

"Fine" Luigi said, getting off his chair and walking towards the door, ignoring the satisfied grin Bowser had. "But don't get me wrong. I still want an apology!" 

Bowser just laughed. Luigi kept ignoring the king, pretending to be angry. If someone dare to say Luigi had a smile, he would deny everything.

…

The rest of the week passed without more unexpected surprises, just Luigi taking care of the little heir, sometimes with Bowser but most of the time alone, planning something big like hosting a possible new ally consumes a lot of the king's time.

Luigi wasn't complaining, he likes spending time with the egg even if it's just him talking like a crazy person. 

In his free time when he doesn't feel very tired (Luigi didn't fully understand the reason but he didn't pay much attention to it), he enjoyed spending time reading in the garden or in his room. 

He slowly started to enjoy the new routine, specially trying to get on the king's nerves at every chance he got.

"How did you get them?" Luigi finally found the courage to ask one day. Bowser was reading some documents in the nursery and Luigi was reading a book, but the bug of curiosity bit him in the moment.

"Are you sure you really want to know how?" Luigi got used to the teasing tone and grin Bowser uses to reply most of his questions or comments, but in this case there was something more in the tone that maked Luigi blush, the look Bowser gave in his direction didn't help at all. 

"N-Nevermind! I-I don't want to k-know!''. Luigi covered his face with the book. Thankfully Bowser took mercy on the poor man and left the conversation there, just after laughing at the plumber's reaction.

Okay, maybe he shouldn't take all the chances.

…

Finally the day arrived, a pink airship descended in front of the Koopa castle. The doors opened and Mario was the first one to get out followed by the current royal advisor; Toadsworth, a couple of toads that were part of the royal council and finally the princess. 

Kamek, who was waiting in the front door, cleared his throat before starting with the introductions.

"Presenting the royal head of the mushroom kingdom, princess Peach Toadstool". He bowed the moment the princess passed by his side before continuing "In her company there are the members of the mushroom kingdom's official council and Mario, the current hero of the kingdom" the mentioned toads and human got inside the castle where the king was waiting. 

Once everyone was inside the official meeting began. 

"Princess Peach, I'm glad you accepted the request to finally put an end to this chapter of history" Bowser said with the most gentle tone possible. 

"Greetings king Bowser", the usual calm and soft voice of the princess exclaimed. "It's my pleasure to know your kingdom is finally ready to listen about this treaty" 

"Yes, it's about time. I apologize for the sudden letter asking you to come here, I'm aware it's traditionally the other way, but if I may invite you to the throne room you'll understand the reason". Bowser offered.

"Perfect, lead the way please". 

Soon the official committee, Mario and the princess were following the king and his advisor. At some point the king requested the committee to allow some time alone with the princess, the toads agreed after the princess agreement and started to follow Kamek to the meeting room. The mushroom hero was about to protest but Bowser was ahead and reluctantly said he was allowed to come. 

…

Luigi was nervous…really nervous, the meetings wasn't his strong, much less a royal meeting. The good part, he was going to see his brother again after a week and two days. It wasn't that long, still Luigi felt weird to be far from his fratellone, they were together almost everyday since they arrived in this new world. Luigi gave a nostalgic smile at the memory, they were practically glued to each other the first years trying to contain the pain of losing his family and home. Of course they eventually grew fond of the new world and started to make his own life there. Still, sometimes the feeling of loneliness returns… 

Luigi shaked his head pushing away the thoughts, he didn't have time for that! He was currently waiting in the throne room with the egg, the king, princess and his brother surely will come at any moment.

True to his thoughts, the doors opened and the presence of Bowser and his guest was shown.

"Here we are princess, as you can see, your royal ambassador is taking care of …"

"An egg?!" The princess interrupted the king's speech when he saw the basket to one side of the throne. "I mean. I'm sorry for the interruption. Now I really understand the reason you asked to meet here" Peach tried to regain his formal temper, failing a little with the emotion shown in her expression. 

"Yes, they're the reason I can leave the castle at the moment. I decided to take your advice and…" Luigi stopped listening to the private conversation between the two royals to go where his brother was.

"Mario!" The red man looked toward his brother and hugged him when he got close enough. 

"Luigi! fratellino! I'm so glad to see you're fine!" Mario said, checking his brother looking for any injuries, "You look tired! Haven't you been sleeping well?" Luigi giggles, Mario always tends to overreact about him, he can't blame him tho, he's exactly the same with him. 

"Fratello! Sto bene! Ero solo un po' nervoso per la riunione di oggi" the younger brother reassured. "Now, why don't we go to the airship to get what I asked you to bring?"

Mario sighs and agreed, after excusing themselves for a moment both went to the airship. 

"Now you have to tell me with honesty all the story! I know you skipped some details in the letters" Mario started his protective older brother mode, leaving no option to Luigi except to tell the truth. 

"I-Is not that bad, you'll see…" the walking kept going and the story of Luigi too, Mario was quiet listening but the expression he made every now and then weren't good.

"So, you're telling me he basically kidnapped you?! Aspetta solo di tornare da quella stupida lucertola. Lui saprà perché nessuno fa casino con il mio fratellino!" Mario was about to turn around and get back to fight Bowser. 

"No, no Mario. Calmati!" Luigi took his brother's arm to stop him. "Yes, maybe he kidnapped me and I'm not happy about that. But think about it! This time he was just worried about his famiglia! Just like you are right now!" 

"Weegee! Don't compare me with him!!" Mario shuddered at the thought of him being similar to Bowser, nope, not even in his wildest dreams. 

"Bene bene. Ti prego, fidati di me, ok?" The green brother decided to use one of his little brother's weapons, the puppy eyes. Mario couldn't resist that, he was weak against his baby brother.

"Ugh…Fineee. I let it go…for now" he mumbled at the end. 

"I heard that!" Luigi teased "Anyway! Let's-a-go they're probably waiting for us!"

…

"...I see, so you used your wish" 

"A wish?" The twins returned to the throne room just in time for Luigi to hear that last part of the conversation, he didn't notice he voiced the question until he felt all the looks in him. 

"Oh, Mario! Luigi! You're back!" Peach exclaimed "Don't worry Luigi, I'm sure Bowser can explain it to you later. Shall we go to the meeting room? I'm sure all of us are anxious to settle this" the princess changed the subject. Luigi was glad to get out of the spotlight and he agreed to the offer just like the others to finally settle the treaty.

...

The meeting was long and boring for the most part, just political stuff about the advantages and future trades of products for both kingdoms. At some point Toadsworth remarked on the forbidden kidnaps. Bowser contained the need to roll his eyes and that almost made Mario laugh. 

"I must say I'm surprised you're fine with all of this", Luigi whispered to Mario. 

"And lost the chance to have less work? Oh no fratellino the deal it's a win-win situation!" He whispered (a little louder than his twin) back. 

"Ah! Vuoi solo passare più tempo con la principessa" Luigi teased, grin getting bigger when he saw the hard blush on his brother that he tried to hide with his hat.

"Weegee!!" He 'whispered' "Un giorno mi pagherai. Piccolo diavolo". Luigi tried to not laugh at Mario's words. 

"Are you two done?" Toadsworth spoke when the laughs ended up distracting the meeting. 

Both brothers looked like they were caught caught red handed and apologized. 

…

When the treaty got done without any inconvenience both parts started to say goodbyes. Of course the brothers hugged again wishing to see each other again soon. Bowser who was passing aside rolled up his eyes and called them exaggerated. Luigi again found himself stopping Mario before he threatened the just made treaty. 

Once Luigi was left alone with Bowser he found it was the perfect time to ask.

"Umm…so…a wish?"

Bowser looked at him with his shiny red eyes "of course you wouldn't let the conversation slide" he huffed "I'll tell you if you first answer a question".

"Sicuro. Sure. What question?" Luigi wondered. 

"Why are you so comfortable around me?"

Chapter Text

"Why are you so comfortable around me?"

"...Mi scusi?" Luigi was taken by surprise, <what kind of question is that?> 

"Don't act like you don't know" Bowser said in an exasperated tone. "Since you got here you've been incredibly calm. And you're Mario's brother! The one that is known because of being afraid of everything". <Okay, you didn't need to hurt me like that> Luigi thought, "so you can't blame me for being surprised you haven't acted like that except for day one!" Bowser's tone was on the defensive.

"H-Hey! First of all, I'm not always afraid! I can stand perfectly fine when I need to! Second, you said it yourself! You were protecting your child, once I understood that I couldn't really blame you… that doesn't mean I'm done asking for an apology by the way. And last, it's been a long time since I stopped being afraid of you". Luigi let out everything in a rush that left him without air for a moment. 

Bowser looked astonished.

<Per favore! Is not that surprising I'm not the scary-cat everyone thinks I am, right? I know even I didn't believe that for a time and I'm still afraid of a lot of things but… Do I really look that weak?> Luigi low his head, the negative feelings he tried so hard to keep away were starting to reach him.

"I-I was afraid of you the first times I helped Mario with the missions. That changed when the princess seemed fine with you getting invited to the sport events… and you helped my brother one time when he was fighting another villain, he told me you tried to convince him you only helped because Mario can only have one arch-enemy, but both knew that wasn't entirely the truth…"

Luigi took a deep breath, he didn't want to cry, it wasn't even a big deal, he knew how everybody always looked down on him! 

"A-Anyway! That's part of the reason. I also have been enjoying my time here, the castle is beautiful and you're good company!.. Ah! I t-talked too much, right? B-But that's why…"

There was an uncomfortable silence followed by the speech Luigi just said, he was trying to control his breathing to avoid the emotions taking control, maybe it really wasn't a big deal, but it wasn't a long time ago when he felt very little, useless. His brother and friends helped him to overcome that sentiment eventually. But moments like these made the idea come back. 

Probably the hope of Bowser talking to him almost like friends was the reason he felt bad hearing the koopa king also believed he was…

"I don't believe you're weak" Bowser interrupts Luigi's train of thoughts, whispering, as if telling a secret. "I've seen you fight along with your brother against my army or any other enemy. You're clearly the smart one, that's a good quality and I'm saying that as a king". 

Now it was Luigi's turn to look astonished. Not everyday you hear Bowser say something nice. He almost didn't believe it, but the king wasn't known for being a liar, quite the contrary. 

A feeling of warmth growed in Luigi's chest and his heart skipped a beat. He was too tired to try to put a name on the emotion, so he just looked at Bowser's red eyes, they were full of confidence directed at the plumber and challenging him to refuse what he said.

Luigi didn't want to refuse so he offered a sincere smile, "Grazie, thank you. That means a lot to me" 

Bowser nodded with a satisfied smile. "Good".

Both took a seat along the egg in the familiar nest. "Now! Back to your question". The koopa looked at the egg thinking how to start, he took a moment organizing his thoughts and when his face reflected satisfaction he started. 

"You asked how I got them" he pointed at the egg, "well, I wished for them and the great kingdom of the stars granted me the opportunity". 

"You wish for them?! How is that even possible??" Luigi didn't expect something like that, "I-I thought you…you know…in a more t-traditional way?" He blushed, the direction of the conversation changed too quickly outside of his comfort zone. "Thoug I-I don't really take the time to think h-how that works in this world…" yep, this was very uncomfortable, the laugh of the king didn't help with the redness of his face.

"Oh Greenie, we do have the 'traditional' way, that's how I was created. This is a special case". Bowser looked at the egg fondly. "There's a legend in this world, about the Star Kingdom, a kingdom that isn't present here but looks after us. The great protectors; how we call them, gave a present a long time ago, every ruler of a kingdom would have the right to ask for a wish, whatever they desired could be granted". 

"Wouldn't that bring problems? I mean, I suppose in the past the kingdoms looked for more power". The plumber let out his worry, something like that was extremely dangerous without control.

"Yes, it can be dangerous, but like everything in this life, asking for something has consequences. Some annoyingly mysterious thing like 'the price of your wish takes away something you didn't know you possessed until it's gone'. Nothing too specific but that does the trick to avoid problems". 

"Dio mío, okay so, you used your wish to ask for a…family?" Luigi has a soft smile <I'm happy he didn't ask to rule the world or something like that, he is more adorable than he thinks…wait, adorable? Where did that word came from?!> He changed his thoughts to something else to avoid those kinds of ideas.

"...You could say I asked for something like that" Bowser said, Luigi was curious but he decided to not insist. 

"One last thing, if every ruler can have the wish, how is it that no one has tried to take the throne just to have it?" Maybe it was years of human history, but the idea of not even a single living being trying to steal something powerful like a wish was odd.

"That's easy, is a secret between rulers and advisors. For the rest is just a legend, a fairy tale". 

<Wait a moment, a secret?> But...you just told me the story…" again the warm sensation on his chest. 

"Oh, yeah, I guess I did. Just don't tell anyone" Bowser winked in his direction. <...Io sono fottuto>.

…

After a long day full of surprises Luigi was exhausted, now that he was in his room he was just going to brush his teeth and go to sleep. That was his plan but the presence of a little box in the desk awakened his curiosity.

"That wasn't here… oh! Is from Mario, let's see" he opened the box, inside there was another red mushroom with a little note.

'Hey Luigi!

I sneak out to give you this. Just for precaution of course!

And also, I kinda accidentally drowned your garden…

Sorry about that!

Anyways enjoy the rest of your time in the kingdom! There's no need to rush back home.

-Mario. '

"He…drowned my garden?! It's been only a week! How he could…Mario!!" The legend says the scream of the green plumber reached the mushroom kingdom and his brother's ears.

…

A couple of days passed with his new routine consisting in taking care of the egg with Bowser and talking about little things both enjoyed. 

That's how Luigi found out Bowser liked to play piano and composed his own songs, in exchange the plumber told Bowser his dedication to his now dead garden (he was still a little mad, not even the mountain of letters of Mario apologizing would change his mind for now). 

They also discovered they both shared the passion of building and repairing stuff. 

"Actually Mario and I studied to become engineers back in our world!" Luigi said, "Sadly our parents couldn't pay the tuition of the whole career so we eventually dropped out and became plumbers", the memory of his parents being ashamed for not being able to provide was still hurtful, Luigi really believed his parents did they're best for them and that was incredible. It was hard living in an unknown country just to offer a good life to your kids. 

He admired that and was proud of his parents, that's why Mario and he tried to help with the expenses. Of course until they came to the new world.

"I also like cooking, my mamma was a very good chef, it was a family tradition! The whole family tried to be together at least once a year and we all make the best dinner to share" The green man said with a nostalgic smile, that was a good memory.

"Sounds like a good thing to do. I didn't meet my biological parents so I don't understand the idea of a big family" Bowser commented.

"Mamma mía, I'm sorry. I didn't know". Now Luigi felt bad for talking too much about his family.

"It's alright Greenie. I have Kamek by my side and soon my family will grow. Who knows? Maybe someday I will also have a big family" he let out a laugh at the thought. "Tell me more about your family meetings" Bowser asked (it sounded more like a demand, but that wasn't important).

"Well I have my nonni, a lot of uncles, cousins. I remember enjoying taking the younger ones on my back or just having them on a baby carrier…" Luigi suddenly stopped his story when an idea came to his mind. "Hey do you have any spare fabrics and a sewing machine?".

…

Bowser wasn't totally convinced by the idea, but he indulged the plumber.

Luigi measured the egg under the king's look, made his template and when he was satisfied with the results he took the most resistant fabric and got to work. 

A few hours after and a bunch of accidents with the needle took him to the final result. It was black with some green and red details, he put some pads to guarantee comfort and security and an expansive fabric just in case the measures weren't perfect. 

"Look! If I use this, we can go for a walk with the egg!" Luigi proudly showed his creation to Bowser.

The king took a look at the baby carrier "Absolutely no", just like that he crushed all of Luigi's illusions. "Why don't we just use the usual basket? You don't even have the strength to carry them for a whole walk!".

"That's why I would use a red mushroom! It would give me extra height and strength to carry them! Besides, we'll still be in contact so they can have whatever the bond needs. It's a good option" Luigi tried to convince Bowser, he wouldn't suggest something if it was dangerous. Bowser was still not sure about the idea. "There must be a place you want to take them without the annoying basket" he used his last fact to try to win the king's approval.

"...Fine" Luigi was about to celebrate but the king cut the excitement "I'll go with you and if you feel tired, even if it's just a little you will return them to me, understand?" 

"Okie dokie! I understand!" Luigi's voice betrayed the excitement he felt. "So, where are we going?" He asked.

"First I can show you a calm part of the kingdom, there's usually a market where the koopas working there offer a great variety of food. Our final goal is going to be the volcano". The king explained, challenging the human to take back his words.

"The path to the volcano wouldn't be dangerous?" Luigi asked without taking his resolution to go.

"No, there's an easy way to go there without danger, unless you're too scared to try" the now usual teasing tone was back. 

"No, I'm alright. Let's-a-go!" Luigi smiled with determination at the king before turning around and going to his room for the mushroom.

…

The first attempt to take the egg was a little more tricky than what he expected. Bowser was with nerves on edge using his claws to catch the egg in the horrible case Luigi let it slip. 

Of course that didn't happen and after a few accommodations he was ready to go.

Kamek almost had a heart attack when he saw Luigi with the royal heir walking so freely, and he was even more shocked when he heard Bowser was alright with the plan. He tries to persuade the king to not get out of the castle but the koopa just affirmed he was going to take care of everything.

Luigi felt bad for the poor magikoopa so he tried to assure the egg was going to be safe. Kamek didn't look convinced but let the both be. 

Soon they were in doors that lead to the principal street of the city. Luigi was excited to finally look around the city, said excitement got interrupted when by casuality he glanced over his shadow in the wall. <Heh, that's funny, I almost look as if I was pregna…Mamma mía what I'm thinking?!>.

The blush in the human's face didn't go unnoticed by Bowser. "Is everything fine Greenie?".

"Y-Yeah! E-Everything is fine! L-Let's just start walking!" He said and started walking to the door. 

They walked for a while until the view of the little market appeared. "Well, both of you. Welcome to the Koopa Kingdom"

Chapter Text

The goomba market (that was the name apparently) was a little but pretty colorful place, all the locals walked naturally between stalls buying different things. The stalls ranged from groceries to food outlets and desserts, others have random things like ornaments. 

"This is amazing, I wish I brought some coins with me", Luigi said while looking around some stalls. <...Wait. Are those shells?!> 

Bowser who was by his side leading the path and explaining little details about the place huffed at what the plumber said. "This trip is just for exploring, if you want to buy things the principal market would be best. Maybe we can go some other time when the hatchling is in a better condition to support big crowds". The king seemed to think for a moment. "Even so, maybe I'll let you choose what we get for lunch". 

Luigi blushed <Is he inviting me to come even after the hatchling is born?! Oh Dio , calm down!! Of course he didn't mean it like that!> The plumber fought his thoughts before answering. "I'll choose only if you tell me about what food can be found here! I don't know a lot about your gastronomy".

The eyes of the koopa filled with an emotion Luigi wasn't sure which but they quickly changed to the normal. "Deal. We have a big variety…" the plumber tried to hear but the pressure of several koopas and goombas looking in their direction wasn't exactly subtle and he was starting to get anxious. 

He couldn't really blame the curious and judging gazes, not everyday the king walked with total calm along one of his enemies who worst of all was carrying the royal egg. That was definitely something weird to see. Still, Luigi's feeling of self-consciousness was clouding his mind. 

"...and that's why our food has a lot of spice on most of the plates… Are you listening to me, Greenie?" 

"Hmmm?" Luigi barely noticed Bowser was asking something, he was just looking around trying not to make eye contact when he caught a goomba or koopa staring. The king was quick enough to notice the reason the human suddenly felt uncomfortable. 

A threatening gaze and a growl directed to the crowd was the only warning needed to take away the stares. Luigi let out a yelp at the sudden noise before sighing. 

"You didn't need to do that. It's normal they're curious about this " the plumber first said, not agreeing totally with the method, "once stating that, grazie, I really appreciate that, you probably know but i'm not a big fan of being the center of attention".

A huff let Bowser's snout "I didn't do it for you. It's just that I got tired of the attention". Luigi just giggled <Of course he won't admit it, but he is a terrible liar>.  " Sicuro, sicuro . Now, would you keep telling me about your traditions?"

…

The rest of the market walk was filled with Bowser rambling about the principal things that could be found. Luigi learned a lot of fun facts. Like the shells, certain type of koopas can take them off and change them for others from time to time. Bowser species couldn't, just like the turtles in the human world, the shell grows with him. 

Also, apparently the reason some food contained a lot of spice was because the thing that provokes the spicy sensation was a good source of nutrients for the people in the koopa kingdom, a really unique thing if you asked him. 

That leads to Luigi choosing some kind of spicy bread accompanied by a salad. The bread almost maked him cry.  He actually could tolerate the spice more than Mario, but that was just too much. 

Bowser just called his palate weak between laughs before offering him a drink to help with the burning sensation.

After a little break they returned to the journey for their next stop. One of the less active volcanoes of the kingdom, the koopa told the name of said volcano to the plumber but it was called with an old language that Luigi wasn't able to pronounce (he tried a couple of times but he just earned Bowser's laugh again). So 'volcano' was fine for him. 

The path to the volcano was actually pretty decent, not risky places to fall or something similar, just a normal path. Still Luigi checked every certain time the egg. They didn't seem to shake a lot and the temperature was good, so everything was normal. The image of a baby koopa trying to sleep between all the movements of the trip was a little funny to the plumber. He touched the egg, "I'm sorry if the journey makes you a little uncomfortable piccolo , I hope at least you're enjoying this, after all, this is part of your kingdom".

"I'm sure they're fine. That thing you made seems to be fine" Bowser assured. 

" Grazie , I tried my best. The only bad thing is that my back is going to hurt tomorrow". Luigi said making an exaggerated gesture just to emphasize. "By the way, I thought every volcano in your kingdom was active, you know? The surrounding lava and all".

"The volcanoes that surround the kingdom are active, but this one is actually pretty calm, that's why we can live here. Just once every year the volcano goes active and releases a large amount of ashes. Our ancestors discovered that the ashes helped with agriculture, so now is a festival we celebrate around that time of the year". Bowser said. 

"Wow that sounds awesome! Humans can't tolerate the ashes very well, but I imagine that's not your case". He continued, "So this volcano is important. That's why you wanted to come here?". Both were almost in the mouth of the volcano.

"Partially" Bowser answered, finally they reached the highest part of the place. "The reason was this". 

Luigi was confused for a moment but then he looked around. The view left him without breath. He could see almost all the kingdom, including little shining spots of the lava in the distance. The incredibly large woods, the castle, everything! " Questo è bellissimo" .

"When someone describes the koopa kingdom they usually say it's a dark place full of horrible things. That's because almost nobody gets to look past the dark woods and the volcanoes. This is the real kingdom, full of life and with unique characteristics like any other place". Bowser's voice was full of pride. 

Both stayed in silence enjoying the landscape for a while. It was a comfortable feeling for Luigi who eventually let curiosity speak for him. 

"What's that part in the east?" He pointed at a green spot in an area of the woods.

"It's the piranha plant forest. Anyone who dares enter the place should be careful where they step" 

"Heh, I can imagine. And that volcano over there? It looks like a…Oh! It's 'Grumble volcano'! I almost didn't recognize it!" That was one of the race tracks of a tourney. He got second place on that occasion because of a red shell. "Can we go one day?" He looked at Bowser.

"Right now it's in maintenance so we can't. But if you want to play something we can try tennis. I have a private court to practice". 

<Why am I even surprised? Of course he has one> "Sure, it's been a while since my last game, but i'm sure I can beat you" When it came to sports Luigi had a competitive side, almost bigger than Mario's and that was a lot. So he would take the chance to show off in front of the koopa king.

"Sure, if you say so". Bowser mocked him.

…

The sunset was starting to show when they decided to go back to the castle. In the path they talked about sports and competitions, among other things, that did the return faster of what Luigi expected.

Finally the egg was in the safety of the nest, both had dinner and Luigi decided it was time to go to bed. He got up and tried to take a step. The sudden feeling of dizziness made him stagger.

"Greenie?" Bowser looked at him with worry. Luigi just took a moment to stabilize himself, he tried his best to smile at the koopa.

"I'm fine! Just a little dizzy. Probably all the walking I did after a week of just sitting around maybe it wasn't the best idea" he wasn't sure of that reason, but that was the only conclusion he got. "Don't worry, tomorrow I'll feel better!".

Luigi finally made it to the door, he said good night to the king and hatchling once more before leaving.

"That was weird…maybe I'm more tired of what I thought, I better go right to bed". 

…

Four days after the trip Bowser took him to his private tennis court. The egg was also accompanying them in a safe basket with a silly protection against any possible ball. 

Both warmed up before playing and soon they were on opposite sides ready to start. 

"Are you ready Greenie?" Bowser challenged. 

"Of course, you'll see how I'll win", Luigi challenged back.

The game started, after a few matches where Luigi lost because of the long time without playing, after a few more attempts he eventually got the rhythm. 

Things got heated between matches, both had competitiveness and a pride as players to defend. The ball flew from one side to the other, the sound of the rackets hitting the ball and heavy breathing was the only noise present.

In the last match they were tied so the concentration for one last point was incredible between these two. Sadly Luigi miscalculated the angle of the racket and the impact caused the ball to go off the court making Bowser the winner.

Sounds of victory and loss filled the room.

" Cazzo! I almost have it!" Luigi agonized over his loss, that was so close!

"I didn't think you were this competitive Greenie, you almost beat me!" Bowser said without malice in his voice, he was really surprised by the game, he felt trapped in the corner several times.

"Well, I enjoy the game and in a family where you have to win against a lot of cousins and a twin, the competitive feeling grows on its own". All the reunions playing board games, video games and sports  wasn't a joke on the family. That could cost your reputation against the youngest. 

"Well, that was a good game, especially for me of course, but that's not a secret, nobody can win against me". Bowser bragg, that made the plumber roll his eyes.

After more bickering they put everything in his place ready to leave. Both were close to the basket with the egg.

"What do you think, piccolo? I gave a fight to your papa, right?" Luigi said with a teasing tone. Bowser was about to answer but he was interrupted.

It was almost imperceptible, but it was there, the egg did a little movement, basically a shake. 

The koopa and human looked in silence at the egg. When the little motion stopped they took a moment to process what just happened.

"They move…I didn't know they could do that" Luigi was the first to say something.

"It's not very usual…that can mean they're getting ready to hatch". Bowser said, still lost in the astonishment. 

"You will soon be a father!!!" Luigi exclaimed, excitement leaving his body with great force, that was an odd feeling, but he couldn't control how he automatically took one of Bowser's arms and shook it out of pure joy. The koopa finally joined his emotion and both looked at eachother, both having a similar emotion embodied. Something in Bowser's stare changed, a feeling Luigi recognized because he saw how that emotion was directed to someone else, the egg. A deep gaze full of endearment. 

The silence filled the room again, there were just the two of them at the moment. Staring at each other not knowing what to do.

Once again Luigi was the first to get out of the trance, a deep blush extended to all his face. He covered his face with his hands, losing contact with the koopa. That took the king out of the trance, he just looked at a different part of the room.

"W-We probably should go" Luigi said, he just wanted to go and hide in his room. 

"Yes" Bowser cleared his throat, "We should do that".

With that said, both leave the room, Luigi excuses himself with some lame pretext of getting a shower after all that playing. Bowser easily agreed and just like that both split paths. 

" Dio mío, dio mío, dio mío . What just happened?!" Was the only thought running in Luigi's mind. Well, that and the warm sensation he felt when the king offered that sincere look towards him.

Chapter Text

Since the events of that day, Luigi reluctantly admitted he couldn't ignore anymore the big mess of feelings he was having. It was time to name the new feeling and deal with it…

He knows that's the correct thing to do, actually doing it was a totally different thing. That's how he spent almost all his second week avoiding the king any chance he could.

Having breakfast? A little awkward but with Kamek in the same room it was fine. Taking care of the egg? Since Bowser was still a king with duties and a kingdom to rule, they didn't cross paths that much. 

They still talk once or twice a day but now Luigi was terribly aware of the strange feeling so he couldn't enjoy it completely… okay he still enjoyed the moments a little too much and that was also a problem.

The little child moving every now and then didn't help, the warm sensation he felt when that happened wasn't okay,  it wasn't supposed to be there, much less if Bowser was also part of the reason, looking at the little waggles with a bright look full of pride and happiness. 

He didn't belong in that picture, a new happy family. That wasn't his place to stand… somehow his mind believed that he did belong there, or at least he wanted to.

In the night the anxiety took a good amount of his time to sleep so a couple of eye-bags started to show, the tiredness was also increasing.

So yeah, a tough week playing hide and seek with his feelings and losing every time. 

Soon frustration was included in his messy mind. <Why him?! That doesn't make sense! He's… bad!> Images of the past two weeks filled his mind making him sigh. <Fine, that's not true, he did bad things, but he is not bad, at least not anymore… and he is trying to amend the damage, I saw how he started to send things to other kingdoms, that has to be a good thing. I admire his compromise to assure a good and calm life to his kid that's really… Nope! No, no, no. Don't think like that!>

…

"Fine, maybe it's not that terrible that I feel that way, right? He doesn't even have to know! I can just finish my time here taking care of you and once you're born we can go back to the way things were…" Luigi told the egg looking at them, almost expecting some advice. When the silence in the room was the only answer he got he moaned in frustration. That made the egg waggle a little. <Of course you're laughing at my disgrace. You really are your fathers kid>. He smiled at the wiggling egg. 

"So what do you say little one? What can I do with these feelings?" He received a waggle "For you is easy! He loves you, probably since the first time he saw you. Instead I'm an old enemy… more like a side-kick enemy, but that's something!" Another waggle. "Give me a moment! I'm afraid, okay? I've never been good with this kind of feeling… in the human world I was just the weak and fearful brother of the so-great Mario, not popular at all. O didn't fit, I was lost. Here… Well that didn't change a lot but at least I'm respected and I'm able to help people!" <Not that I feel less lonely…> "I lost track of the conversation. The point is. This is the first time I…I… and just in the span of two and a half weeks! How lame is that?!" His voice did a little echo in the room that made him blush. "Ugh, sto perdendo la testa ".

…

After another incredibly tiring fight against his own mind, Luigi was starting to consider telling his brother about the issue. Not a great idea, he knows that, but the desperation is bigger. 

As if he had summoned it, a letter appeared on his desk. 

"Let's see" Luigi opened the letter. It wasn't anything outside the normal. Just Mario having some little adventure, spending time with the princess and doing what a hero does. Help. The green brother was happy to know at least one of them wasn't in a dilemma. He kept reading the resume of a week full of many activities and then something caught his attention.

"... This time for dinner I tried to make one of our mama's recipes but the result wasn't the best, and I had to add mushrooms to the sauce. I can hear your voice questioning how despite all those years I still don't like them, and you know I usually don't eat them, but I guess that's what I get when the person I want to impress is the princess of the mushroom kingdom. Anyway at the end everything went well, at least that's what she told me. That reminds me! The other day…"

"That's it!!" Luigi put the letter back on the desk before leaving his room. He walked in the now familiar hallways of the castle looking for Kamek. When he reached the door of his dispatch he knocked a few times before hearing the permission to get in.

"Ah, green-one. What do you need?" The advisor said once he saw who entered. 

"Can I use the kitchen?" He blurted in a rush.

Kamek looked surprised for a moment by the sudden question, he seemed to think about it for a moment. "The staff should be planning the dinner by now, I don't think this is the best moment for that". 

" Per favore, please! I-I… I'll make dinner today! Just… let me, please?" He sounded desperate and well, he was. 

Again the magikoopa stared in astonishment at the particular expression of the man in front. He sighs and rubs his temple with one of his hands. Then he nods. "Fine. Follow me, I'll show you the path". He didn't have time for that kind of request, he was too old to deal with a brat who was king and now with the plumber. He was just helping because of that look in the human's eyes. Just that.

…

Luigi apologized to the kitchen staff for taking away his job so suddenly. He assured them it was a one-day thing. Of course he got some angry stares. <Nevermind. I have the kitchen, I can do this now>.

A roll up to his sleeves, clean hands and a bunch of ingredients later and he was ready. 

He took a knife and started. The mess of his mind frantically running stopped for a moment, now with his empty mind he started ordering his thoughts while his hands moved on his own following a recipe he knew since he was little. 

Heart and mind again were in synchrony creating a line of thoughts that took form. Just like his food. 

Once his mamma caught him in a similar state for other reasons. She sat by his side comforting him. When he found the way back to himself she just guided the path to the kitchen. 

"Sometimes the mind is messy and doesn't let you think clearly, you can try to cook to stop thinking for a moment before ordering your ideas, figlio " the sweet comforting voice resonates in his memories. "When you're lost there's only one person who can find you again, and that's you. Of course your famiglia is here to help. So don't worry, just allow yourself to feel".

How could he forget something like that? Fortunately his fratello helped him without knowing. Now he was able to confront the feelings he was afraid and tried to deny.

…

How he met Bowser wasn't ideal, the brothers practically get in the between of a battle when they first arrived. 

Mario's personality made him a natural hero to the mushroom kingdom. All the people trusted him, Luigi included.

The first time Luigi accompanied Mario in a rescue mission he was trembling. After all, he would meet in person the so-called monster of the koopa kingdom. Possibly fight him! He wanted to go and hide but Mario needed him.

Fire and other sound of battle filled the throne room of the koopa king. Luigi slipped away to release the princess. That worked so it occurred more than one time and every time the Mario brothers won. 

When the group of heroes ran to escape the Darklands, Luigi looked towards just a moment. Sometimes he didn't see more besides the chaos.

On rare occasions he could see the king's red eyes shining with anger of the lost and something he was familiar with. 

Loneliness. 

That was curious, if he was a monster like everybody called him. Why could Luigi understand just a little of what the other was feeling?

The idea grew when the princess kept inviting Bowser several times to events. Maybe she also knew about the other side of the king. Luigi believed.

Several years later he was finally able to know the real Bowser behind all the intimidation. All thanks to his kid.

…

Bowser was a lot of things, some were bad, others were good. At the end of the day Luigi understood that Bowser was lost, just like he felt sometimes. But now with a new purpose besides just kidnap the princess and conquer kingdoms, the koopa found himself again. 

Now he understands. He falling for Bowser didn't just revolve around the 'good' side. He didn't excludes the counterpart. Two sides of a coin making a balance.

"I like him". He finally says aloud just when he finished the dinner.

…

Now that his mind was calm and the dinner was ready, Luigi went to find the king. 

The mission wasn't hard, he probably will find him in the nursery. 

When he reached the place Bowser was there reading some papers with the egg by his side. Luigi blushed a little, he didn't have time to control it before the king looked in his direction guided by the noise the door make when it was open.

"What's going on, Greenie?" Bowser questioned the sudden interruption. 

"I… Erm… I-I made dinner. W-Would you like to join me?" Luigi invited <Keep calm, it's not a date, just a normal dinner!> He reminded.

Bowser smiled, "Sure, let me ask Kamek to watch the hatchling".

"J-Just the two of us?!" Okay he didn't expect that, Bowser didn't let the kid alone since the accident, unless it was with him, and Kamek, that's not new. Even so  Luigi didn't imagine he was going to have dinner totally alone with him, they never were truly alone, the kid was usually with them! <It's not a date, it's not a date> he started to repeat to himself.

"Yeah? You just invited me, I'm curious about your food. Let's get going!"

The enthusiasm in the king's voice didn't help Luigi's heart.

…

The dinner was going good, ignoring the fact that Luigi almost dropped the plate with the food in the beginning and that he almost spilled the drink in Bowser's lap, then yes, everything was perfect.

"I must admit your cooking skills weren't a joke", Bowser said after finishing his plate.

"W-Well, thank you! I really a…" he couldn't finish his sentence when the king kept talking.

"So, this is your way to say you're not going to avoid me anymore?" 

Okay forget about the perfect date…Erm, dinner! Luigi was out, he was going to bury himself in the sand of the Sarasaland kingdom. (He never went to that place, but now it was a good moment).

"Greenie?" Bowser insisted.

" io ...I m-mean, I wasn't a-avoiding you? Where did you get t-that idea? Heh". The plumber failed his attempt to deny the thing.

"C'mon you literally ran to the opposite side of the hallway that day when you saw me! Don't mess with me!" Bowser let out a thin line of smoke, he wasn't in the mood to be exactly patient.

<Maybe I wasn't that subtle…> Luigi thought. "O-Okay! M-Maybe I was avoiding you! B-But it's not for a bad reason!" <No! Don't say it like that!>.

"Then I wonder what the reason was" Bowser slowly approached the human trying to look intimidating. 

The sudden closeness to the king did make Luigi's heart beat faster, but it wasn't for the reason the koopa believed. 

"So, what can be a good reason to avoid me ?" 

<Is that…he sounds almost hurt? Why? Maybe…no, I don't think so, but maybe he actually feels similar… B-But>. Another mental fight started, he blamed those beautiful red eyes full of anger combined with … fear? yearning? It was a complicated combination of emotions that led Luigi to unconsciously get closer to the king's face, almost feeling the warmth he emanated.

Again both were lost in the collision of blue and red eyes staring, just them trying to read the other's mind just looking through the eyes. 

Getting closer, and closer, almost closing his eyes to let the feelings lead his next move.

When Luigi finally closed his eyes, waiting for the moment. The bubble where they were broke.

The noise of the door opening without care scared both of them.

"Sire!" Kamek hurriedly yelled.

"WHAT!" Bowser yelled back "It better be important Kamek" now it was just anger in his eyes.

Luigi was a blushing mess trying to escape. 

"Sorry for the interruption sire" Kamek apologized without actually caring. "But it's about the egg!".

Now both were worried, Luigi looked at the magikoopa waiting for more information.

Bowser walked towards the door "What about them?! What's wrong?!" He said without waiting, the advisor followed him and Luigi soon join them.

"Nothing wrong, your anxiousness! But they start!" Again both stopped when the words sank on his mind.

"Do you mean that they…?" Luigi tried to ask.

"They're hatching". The little but firm voice of the king confirms, he looks at the plumber, both started to feel the joy consume them. 

" Oh, Dio mio! Go, go, go! You have to see them!!" Luigi hurried the king who just nodded and restarted his walking with now more excitement.

"Let's go, Luigi !" Bowser called him, " We have to see them!". Just as he finished that he turned to the next hallway. 

Kamek was waiting with Luigi, the plumber was shocked with what he heard, the emotion filled him and his heart was about to let his chest cavity with how hard it was beating.

"Well you heard him!" Kamek said to him. "What are we waiting for? Let's go!". The magikoopa started to walk the same path the king was a moment ago.

Luigi was about to follow them, he gave two steps and then… his vision became blurred, a screech filled his ears and his voice lost power. Soon he was on the floor looking at the path he was supposed to follow. 

The last thing he barely heard was Kamek calling him before everything went dark.

Chapter Text

"Now listen carefully, little hatchling. There's a whole universe out there, full of other kinds of magic that even I don't understand". The gentle voice of Kamek filled the room, he was standing next to the little prince that was looking at him, eyes full of curiosity, "There's a story, a legend that is told  to every ruler of this world. Would you like to know?"

A big smile appeared on the kid "Yeah! I'm going to be the stroongest king of all!" he said while he stretched his little arms to all of his capacity just to emphasize his point. "So I demand you to tell me!" 

Kamek let out a chuckle at the sight of the little prince "Alright, if that's what your majesty desires". The magikoopa settled down on his spot and the prince followed his example, getting himself comfortable between Kamek's legs, bumping the poor magikoopa a little with his spikes in the process <He is definitely getting bigger for this>. Kamek thought. "Are you ready?" the kid nodded enthusiastically. "Okay, let's see…"

There was a time, a really long time ago, when the kingdoms were one and the ancient creatures still existed. 

The now forgotten place was called "The Silver Kingdom", a place with natural beauty protected by the stars.

The kingdom was wealthy and the peace was well preserved, nobody tried to take more of what they had and everyone lived together in harmony. 

Everything seemed perfect. Until one day.

You'll see, the stars were known for his power and capacity of creation. It's thanks to them that we have power ups and knowledge of magic.

Said power was desired for some people, so they united force and tried to conquer the power for them. 

"Oh no! That 's not good!" A voice interrupted. "Why would they do that??" 

"Well, sometimes people believe that there's only one way to do things, little hatchling". Kamek explained with a little laugh when he saw the confusion on the kid's face trying to understand. He took that like a sign to continue the story.

The war was terrible and all of the cities in the Silver Kingdom were destroyed, that horrible chapter of the history finished with all fighting side by side. But sadly, that wasn't enough. The Silver Kingdom was lost and the land became uninhabitable. 

Without the guide of the stars, the creatures decided to split paths with their own species and forge kingdoms for them. 

"Like our kingdom! And, and the mushroom kingdom too!!" The hatchling exclaimed looking proud of his comment.

"Yes, like our kingdom, but how we get to be The Koopa Kingdom is another story"

The magikoopa was about to continue when the voice of the infant was heard again, this time with less emotion . "Pa-...Kamek, that means the stars are angry with us?" 

"Well-" he cleared his throat "That was probably the case for several years…"

When eventually everyone settled down in their new homes something occurred.

Apparently a few beings of the original kingdom remained hidden in an old observatory, with a guardian to protect them. 

Some felt betrayed for the ungrateful treatment so they returned to the sky and never came back.  

The few that remained watched the new  kingdoms rise and decided to give one last gift, one that could be good or bad depending on how you see it. A reminder of why they stopped helping depending on what you desired.

A wish . 

Simple as that, the possibility of making something unreal, real. The only requirement to have it is to belong in the royal family.  Whatever a king or queen could imagine could be possible. 

But of course that came with a price. One that a lot of royalty discovered in a bad way. 

So now the future lineage is more careful deciding what to ask. Some sacrificed themselves for the kingdom, others desired more power, and others were another kind of selfish…

"That means I can make a wish!?!" The eyes of the prince were sparkling with emotion.

"Yes, your majesty, you can" 

"Woah! I- I'll wish to be the strongest king! No, I'm already that…oh! I know I'll wish for an infinite dessert! So I could eat whenever I wanted! Or I could wish for the fastest kart in the world! I would win every race Or maybe!.." The kid was bouncing in his place giving Kamek some hits with the spikes.

"Now careful, a wish is not to be taken that lightly, it has consequences and there's only one. You should use it when you get older and really desire something strongly" the prince crossed his arms in his chest and let out a huff.

"You're not fun" he said looking away pretending to be mad.

Kamek rolled his eyes but let the hatchling be, he got up to take a book to read assuming the story time was over.

"Did…did my parents get to make they're wish?" It was barely heard, Kamek would probably miss it if they weren't in a silent room. He prepared mentally to turn himself and look at the prince.

"Yes, they got to make a wish in his last days" a sad smile left the magikoopa. "They desired something that would guarantee leaving without regrets". He explained, the prince gave him a conflicted look before asking.

"Can I know what that was?" A scared but hopeful voice let the young prince mouth. 

The hatchling was already six years old so Kamek understands the growing curiosity about the latest rulers of the kingdom, his parents,  after all they were his first connection to this world for at least more than the first half month when he was still in the egg. A sudden attack took the queen's life and soon after that the king also perished.

Kamek as the official advisor took the responsibility of protecting the egg making a bond with him until he was born. 

The memory of  how the latest king made his wish still hurts him, but he just took a deep breath and looked at the kids' eyes.

"The queen's wish is unknown. She used it in the battle field so nobody knows. But I  know what the king… your father wished… he wished for you to find happiness". 

There were tears in the advisor's eyes at the memory of a barely conscious king wishing for something like that. After all he was the one with a soft side for his family. 

"So don't worry, Bowser, even if it's destined by the stars I'll make sure the wish is fulfilled". 

That's the promise he made in the past and he wasn't going to rest until that became true.

Kamek lives to fulfill that promise, making a spoiled child in the process, the poor advisor regrets a little about that, a king with big dreams comes with big troubles…

…

Bowser met princess Peach in one of the friendly competitions between kingdoms. 

The Darklands were looked down for the odd lack of connections between other kingdoms, rumors always following the young prince. Except for one person. One princess with great kindness to offer.

Soon the kindness of the girl and her strong personality maked him take an interest in her. She was the perfect person to rule the kingdom and the world!

However his attempts to get her attention didn't work, so when the time to be officially crowned came, one of his first plans involved kidnap the princess. And the hunger of conquering other kingdoms grows thanks to all of the rumors.

They wanted to know his kingdom? Well, he was going to be sure everyone knew which was the most powerful kingdom!

And that lasted for six years, the princess fought a lot the firsts attempts, eventually she just resigned and took the kidnapping almost as a royal reunion. Trying to persuade the king to stop his plans.

After the first year, two brothers came to the realm and agreed to help with the situation.

Peach wasn't exactly in danger, Bowser kept trying to convince her, later that became forcing attempts of weddings and then…nothing.

Bowser was so used to the plans, like a routine, he stopped feeling something for the princess at some point of he second year, but kept making the kidnapping for some reason.

"You're lonely" Peach stated one day, she was in some part of Bowser's castle in a room made for her. 

"I'm not, I still want that political marriage" Bowser answered back already tired of the conversation.

"You don't even try to force me these days, you just take me here to talk! This could easily be arranged with some good tea and less kidnapping, you know?" The princess said. "Just think about it". 

Bowser was about to refuse the comment when the noise of fighting filled the place. 

"Well, it seems that my heroes are here" Peach walked towards the door, she wasn't even locked in the place, that just fueled her theory. "I hope to see you again when you're ready for a treaty, King Bowser". 

"I don't need that! I just need you!" 

That stopped the princess for a moment, she turned to face the king. The phrase was said with a lot of feelings, anger, desperation and loneliness, but not a single trace of love or caring. 

"That's not true and you know it" she sighed, "I found someone I want to settle down with. You should try to find someone that really appreciates you". 

And with that she just left the room, this time she and the heroes escape without fighting the king. 

That wasn't the last time Bowser kidnapped the princess. The last time the fight was tiring and both sides got injuries.

Kamek saw the state of the king, wand in hand ready to cast healing spells. 

"Your tiredness, maybe you should consider the princess' words…" carefully he started, "...and try to find another purpose. The kingdom can't take forever the attacks". Kamek expected an attack for daring to say something like that. Instead he just got a tired sigh. 

"Perhaps you're right…"

…

Bowser walked inside the empty room, heavy steps echoing in the place. 

Kamek told him about the place. Some kind of secret temple made to reach the stars and hear their murmurs. 

Well. He didn't hear a damn thing and his patience was on thin ice.

<This is dumb. If the old man is messing with me I'll make him suffer when I get back>. 

Currently Bowser was sitting in the temple where the royalty usually made their wish. It wasn't a rule or something, his parents didn't (or rather couldn't) go to the place. 

Still, there he was, standing like a fool in the middle of the salon closing his eyes and starting to say an even more dumb phrase.

"I wish… I wish…" 

Yeah, totally foolish. He was ready to forget about that and go before losing more pride.

He opened his eyes and found himself surrounded by stars. The air of the place was mysterious and in complete silence.

Silence that was broken when a sudden voice was heard. It came from everywhere and nowhere at the same time and the tone matched the mystery.

"Bowser. King of the koopas" said koopa tried to find the source of the voice in vain.

"You may tell your wish and the stars will listen" the indication makes Bowser forget about finding the source for a moment and concentrate.

"I want a new purpose! I want someone I can trust!" The frustration filled his words, he was tired, he had all the power and a great kingdom, and somehow that wasn't enough for him. He wanted more, something that he didn't quite understand completely but needed. 

"I wish to find a way to escape from loneliness!"  

The scream resonated in the place. The stars doubt for a second, it was a long time since a royal asked for something so… abstract . They took a moment, looking for a future where that wish was fulfilled.

"Just remember that what you wished for will have a price". Was the last thing the stars told before the place returned to its usual appearance. 

Bowser stands there processing the situation. He really asked for something so… weak! What a waste of time! The wishes of his younger self were way better than what he ended wishing! But there was something in the atmosphere of the place that made him feel unable to lie. 

The shame escalated fast to the king, he was about to leave the place and burn him to the base. 

He turned to the exit, preparing the fire in his chest.

Then he saw them.

A koopa egg with similar colors to him was in his eyesight waiting to be lifted and taken home. 

Something in Bowser felt right when he reached to take the egg. Forming a bond almost on the moment he held it.

Fine, the burning temple could wait, he had to take home his new hatchling. 

…

Kamek didn't believe the image in front of him. He probably needed new glasses. 

Bowser huffed at the exaggerated faces his advisor was making. 

"Yes, the stars decided the kingdom deserved an heir and that's what I got. They're going to be the strongest koopaling of the kingdom under my protection". The king explained hoping to clarify the subject. 

It caused quite the contrary. 

"So the stars gave you an egg?! Sire, what did you even wish for?!" The magikoopa steps closer to the king and egg just to get a growl in return. <Okay, so he already formed a bond with the egg>. 

"That's a secret. You only have to know that they is my hatchling, the future heir of this kingdom".

Kamek looked at his king. The idea was crazy… at least Bowser seemed happy with that. 

<Guess I'll be a grandfather soon>.

…

The first month wasn't complicated, the hardest part turned out to be the soon-to-be father. He was paranoid with the egg, taking them everywhere with him and almost burning any koopa who tried to get close or even look in the direction.

Bowser finally had someone to look forward to meeting. He was going to be the greatest father for the hatchling, his protective instincts were proof of that. 

Of course the natural feeling of having to protect the egg went down while they were closer to the first month.

For the first time he let someone besides Kamek take the egg to another room. The planning was almost over and the kid was safer in his chambers anyway so he took a decision. 

Big mistake. 

When Bowser stopped feeling the warmness of the bond he knew something was wrong. 

He rushed to his chambers and felt relief when he saw the basket with the egg. The feeling didn't last, when he reached to touch the egg just to feel a rock in its place.

The rest was blurred. 

His feral state just wanted to find his child, destroying everything and everyone on the path. The inner voice in him was crying in pain looking for a clue of where the hatchling could be. 

It was the next morning when he recovered his conscience. 

Kamek explained the best he could the situation, scared of triggering the feral state with his words. Bowser tried to get up to help with the search, the magikoopa hurriedly explained that It wasn't necessary, the hatchling was found, the king saw the doubt in the advisor so he ordered him to keep explaining.

"You'll see sire, the egg was found in the mushroom kingdom. With the green Mario".

…

Bowser expected resistance and a fight when the human appeared. Instead he got a frightened plumber vomiting words about turtles and the strange words the brothers talk between them. 

His instincts told him to throw the human in the closest dungeon and torture him for taking his kid and then denied the fact. 

That was his plan until the human said he touched the egg. <Of course . Now I can't get rid of him>.

Once the human was led to a guest room the king sighed. "What a mess to deal with…".

As if it wasn't enough Kamek let the human send a letter to his annoying brother just to avoid problems. 

That involved the mushroom hero threatening the king to not even hurt a single hair of the green one. What a bother.

Reading the letters between the brothers in case any of them tried something wasn't any better. Who would have said that the red hero was such a nosy person?! 

…

The green Mario turned out to be… fine .

Way too comfortable for his own liking, but at least he wasn't that annoying. 

Except that he was just as nosy as his brother, maybe worse. 

Again, to Bowser's surprise, that ended up being helpful to find the real thief.

That's how the advisor and king are currently in King Boo's castle. The only remains of the now lost Boo kingdom.

"Well, well, well. What a lovely visit I have today!" The shrill voice of King Boo filled the throne room. 

"I must say I was surprised with the sudden urgence in the letter. So, what's the plan? Are you done whining about the last fight and ready to attack again?" The mocking tone of the Boo asked.

"One of your good-for-nothing minions took something valuable for the kingdom! I want them to face the consequences!" Bowser tried to maintain the calm around the king.

A strident laugh filled the room "Oh~ Now I'm curious! What could be so important for you to dare treat me like that!" The ghost's eyes shine for a moment, after a minute several boos and ghosts appear in the room.

"Which one of you dared to steal from the koopa castle?" The king asked with a wide smile.

All of the specters looked confused between them.

"See? My people didn't take anything from you! Now get lost before I decide to forget my manners" he dismisses the other royal and advisor in front of him with a wicked smile.

Bowser smoke was an indicator of how close he was to start a fight, he wasn't done until the culprits faced his anger. 

Some boos arrived in the room, looking around the place with confusion.

"You!" One of them asked another ghost, "What's with this?".

"The Koopa king believes one of us stole something valuable to the kingdom" the other simply said. The just arrived boos looked at each other before one said. 

"So that egg belonged to the king?!" The scream was in a bad timing since everything was in a tense silence and everyone heard the boo. 

All of the presents look surprised by the statement, even King Boo for a moment before smiling again. 

"All this trouble is because of an egg?!" He laughs "What are you?! A mother hen?!" The king removed tears from his face for laughing so much. "And here I thought you were a real threat. Turns out you're just a big softie". The laughs grow with now all the ghost's following they're king. 

Fire broke the noises, Bowser was enraged, burning the castle and driving away the ghosts.

"You bastard! How dare you treat the castle of one of your allies like this!?" The Boo starts to glow preparing to attack.

"Great news King Boo. Our alliance is officially over". Was the only thing Bowser said before returning to fight.

…

The fight really tired him out. Bowser just wanted to rest laying in the nursery with his egg and Greenie…

Wait.

The plumber shouldn't be in the picture. He must be more tired than expected. 

Shaking the thoughts away he entered the nursery where the picture of the plumber sleeping almost hugging the egg received him. A warm feeling grew in his chest, and It got worse when thanks to the noise the plumber moved in his sleep covering the egg with his body, almost as if trying to protect them. The purring he let out ashamed him, what's the deal with him suddenly reacting like that?! 

The calmness of the place didn't last once the human saw his injured body and freak out guiding him to the nest.

<This isn't what I expected for my return… But it's quite nice>. Bowser thought and then started to explain the situation to the human.

"…So you finally get over the princess?" Usually Bowser would react offended by the question. Instead for some reason Luigi being the one asking didn't bother him, quite the contrary, that make his heart to beat a little faster.

The feeling came back when he saw the expression the human made when he answered, his blue eyes shining with surprise for the sudden answer and something else, the feeling of relief. What a curious reaction indeed.

…

Since that day the interactions with the human become more enjoyable. Both joking and talking like buddies and all. 

Bowser even allowed Luigi to be part of the big decisions about the treaty with the mushroom kingdom. 

Kamek had his doubts on the decision telling him something like "Don't get your hopes too high".  What hope? He just wanted the human involved, for political reasons of course, nothing else. 

That week was busy with a lot of paperwork and other boring stuff to do. <Thanks to the stars now I have Greenie to help with the hatchling…> Why was he so comfortable with the human taking care of his egg alone? Only his strange feelings know, but the plumber was really nice with the kid. 

He knew that because sometimes when he was looking for a break, he could hear the human talking to the egg with fondness in his voice, telling him some of the adventures with his brother or memories of his old home. That always put a smile on the king, who was starting to suspect the kind of feelings he was having.

…

The day of the treaty turned out fine, now he had a new kingdom to negotiate and ask for help (yikes, that idea still makes him shudder. Of course he wouldn't need that). 

He presented the future heir to the princess and she was quick to unite the ideas. Asking him if that was his wish and if they was the reason to finally accept the peace.

She also mentioned something about the surprise of knowing Luigi was with him helping giving a knowing smile that Bowser just decided to ignore with a eyeroll.

…

"Why are you so comfortable around me?" 

He felt surprised at his own question, maybe he was asking that to himself more than to the human. He tried to amend the question brushing off the seriousness but the somber expression in the plumber and his words made him realize the mistake. 

Assuring the human that he didn't believe the rumors (at least not completely and surely not anymore) the bright smile came back to Luigi's face and Bowser understood.

<So this is the feeling>. In other circumstances he would freak out at the discovery, for a reason knowing the feeling was towards Luigi just felt right. He looked again at the smile. <Yeah…I'll leave the freaking out part to Kamek>.

Once again his view of the relationship with the human changed, now more focus on trying to find out more about him and maybe the chance to ask him out. 

He even let pass the fact that the brother of his interest sneak out to the guest room to leave a note (he stopped reading the letters after the second because he didn't need that trauma, so much rambling for his own good). 

That somehow led them to a not-so pleasant idea of a funny backpack to carry the egg around the kingdom. 

Bowser was with the nerves on the air the first part of the journey, eventually the emotion of Luigi carried away the nerves making the walking a pleasant family trip. <Maybe it's too soon to think that way… Who cares, nobody can read my mind!>.

But that was the truth, he wasn't even sure if the feelings were mutual, and the idea of forcing this time didn't sound right so…the long path was going to be…

When they came back and the egg was again in the safety of the nest, the plumber seemed like he was about to pass out. He tried to help but the human dismissed the worry saying It was probably due to the long path. Bowser wasn't convinced but let him go. <I'll have to wait before asking for that tennis match. Also I should ask princess Peach for a couple of books about human health>.

…

Luigi looked so awesome playing tennis, he liked that competitive side of him. 

The best part was him talking to his kid about the game, and getting an answer for the little hatchling making his and the plumber's emotions rise to the stars. 

He looked towards Luigi, his eyes almost competing with the shine of the stars due to the emotion. Said eyes looked at theirs, maintaining contact for a while. <Okay maybe the path is not that long> Bowser thought and started to consider making a move. That idea was discarded when the plumber broke the connection and escaped the room.

The next days his dream routine broke, Luigi started to avoid him every chance he got, making weak excuses and just spending the right amount of time with him and the egg. 

"Did I read the air wrong? Maybe he just doesn't feel the same and now is awkward" Bowser complained.

A sighed was his answer.

"Your obliviousness, that's why I told you to not elevate your hopes!" Kamek said already tired of hearing the king complaining for the third time in the week. "He is one of the mushroom heroes! I hate to say it but maybe you should let him go".

…

"Okay, maybe you have a chance" was the only thing Kamek said the next day leaving a confused Bowser with the hatchling waggling. 

His answer came later with a nervous human inviting him to dinner.

Everything was crystal clear during the dinner, Luigi was a mess! Blushing all the time and being clumsy with things. It was a miracle he didn't spill the dinner or combust from how red his face was. 

Bowser had to keep it cool, trying to listen the reason why he was ignored for almost a week, his feelings were a little hurt with all the avoiding game. 

He teased the human to find out the answer, that worked out pretty well and now both were almost kissing. 

Key word almost.

Of course something has to ruin things (or rather someone), he was counting to ten on his mind to avoid burning his competent advisor.

That feeling soon changed to one of pure joy. He was about to see his kid for the first time! 

He ran to the nursery after shouting to Luigi to hurry. He saw the nest with the egg waggling fiercely, little cracks starting to form in the egg. 

A few minutes passed, Bowser was completely silent observing the scene and saying little encouraging phrases to the hatchling to keep breaking the shell. 

Finally a good piece of the shell fell and a tiny claw showed up. Soon followed by a tail wagging and the shell with the most adorable spikes Bowser ever saw. 

With almost half of the hatchling showing, the rest of the egg broke and in the center appeared a tiny copy of the king, chirping non-stop and looking at his surroundings. 

Bowser was about to cry of happiness while he carefully raised the newborn, putting him close to him to share the warmth. That calmed the chirping as the little hatchling fell asleep. 

"Welcome home my son". Bowser said voice cracking a little. This had to be the happiest day of his life.

"Greenie! Look at him! He is beautiful just like his papa!" He laughs at his comment, expecting a response or even a sound in return.

When he turned around the room to find it empty, the room suddenly felt cold. Lonely .

"He…He didn't abandon me, right?" He looked at the sleeping hatchling trying to push away the new growing feelings. 

Thanks to the stars Kamek appeared in the room stopping the spiraling in his mind. He was about to ask but the seriousness on the advisor's face shut him.

A little smile grew in the magikoopa when he saw the hatchling resting in the king's arms. "Congrats on your kid Bowser. He looks healthy. I'm glad about that". 

Then he went back to the serious tone. "W-We have a problem, It seems that I miscalculated how the bond used the energy of the hu-.... of Luigi, and he is…".

Bowser listened to the first part and then everything was silent, a single phrase repeating in his head as a reminder. 

"Just remember that what you wished for will have a price".

"It… It can be him?!" Bowser whispered looking at Kamek for  hope. "Right?!".

Kamek just looked with sadness "I'm sorry. But that seems to be the reason". 

Bowser stares at his sleeping hatchling, with a bunch of conflicted feelings. < I didn't want this to end like that. I didn't want to lose him...> 

Chapter Text

"Is he…?" Was the first thing Bowser said when he saw the human lying on the bed.

"He seems to be in some sort of sleeping state" the magikoopa explained, both looking at the pale face and the almost imperceptible breathing from Luigi.

"Use your magic to wake him up!" 

"I already tried that, but if this is what you think, I can't do much against fate. Not if it's the stars will". The advisor noticed the anxious state of the king. "I'll keep giving him support with magic, we can just hope he wakes up on his own". 

…

Luigi found himself surrounded by darkness the moment his eyes opened, trapped in some kind of room with a barely shiny ending.

He was trembling. What happened? Just a moment ago he was having the best time of his life and the next moment he was here, in the middle of nowhere.

The human tried to find an exit or something to help him get out of that place. When his search was hopeless he resigned to walk towards the light.

"The movies always say to avoid that kind of light at the end of the tunnel. But I don't think I have another option, so…" was his thought before walking in a steady pace to the light.

Luigi was really confused, he wanted to know the reason to be there, with any luck the end of the path would give him answers. 

"I hope Bowser and the kid are okay…"

…

Bowser reluctantly had to focus on other matters. As if running a kingdom wasn't a handful already, now with a newborn hatchling demanding food every few hours and crying every now and then his job became the double of complicated. 

That didn't stop him from visiting Luigi every chance he got, looking at the sleeping human with hope of seeing the precious blue eyes looking at him one more time.

And just like that a week passed without a sign of progress. 

…

After what Luigi bet was an hour he finally reached the light. He looked one more time to the darkness behind him. Then after taking a deep breath and closing his eyes he got inside the place and waited.

And waited…

And waited…

Intrigued by the lack of something happening he opened one eye carefully peeking his surroundings.

The surprise of the view forced him to open both eyes and look around, the place was still mostly dark but with little shining dots  accompanying it.

"...stars" was the only coherent idea the human let out at the breathtaking view.

"Yes, many live beings across the worlds named us like that" 

A voice suddenly was heard making the plumber jump for the surprise it caused. When he recovered from the moment he looked around for the origin, finding nothing, just more stars.

"H-Hello?" His voice resonated in the place.

Giving up on finding the source he thought about his situation before coming to a conclusion.<stars…mysterious voice…strange place…!> 

" Mamma mía, you're the ones that fulfill wishes!" <Should I reverence or something? Bowser make it sound like they're important so, maybe I should do that>.

"That is correct. Do not worry, there's no need to do something like that Luigi". The mystical voice answered.

"Oh, you know my name and can read my thoughts…that's new".

…

After a big debate with Kamek, the king finally was able to take Luigi's bed to the nursery, so he could be able to watch him and the hatchling at the same time. 

Pride was leaving Bowser's gaze at the sight of Luigi being closer to him, Kamek was sighing in the background.

"Sire, I understand your concern and I still believe it's a bad idea having him too close to the hatchling" he saw the king's intention to contradict him and interrupted before he had a chance. "I know, I know, Luigi is not sick but the condition is thanks to the abnormal amount of energy he lost through the egg, we don't know if the hatchling can still affect him". Kamek once again tried to point out, Bowser didn't believe that idea so after a while the advisor let the king win. 

"Greenie you better get up soon, Junior wants to meet you and I bet you also want that ''. Bowser told the asleep man. "Also your brother is getting tired of the excuses so he will soon be coming here, probably trying to take you away from me… from us. I can't let that happen". 

…

True to Bowser's words, Mario was getting uncomfortable with the unanswered letters, he just got little notes from Kamek telling Luigi is busy helping with royal things so he couldn't answer. 

After telling his worries to Peach, she granted him the permission to go for his fratellino . 

The trip would take almost two days walking so he didn't waste time to start his journey to find the reason his little bro stopped they're communication.

…

"Wait, if you're the ones that fulfill wishes… Why am I here?". Luigi asked, still confused about his relevance on the subject. 

"You formed a bond with King Bowser's hatchling. You humans are not made to lose that much energy in a short time".

The words sank like a rock in Luigi's stomach, now reminding the other part of the deal to make wishes.

<A price… I lost too much energy… I followed a light…>  

The panic filled his body.

"Am I dead?! I-It can be!! I-I'm not even… I h-haven't! Oh Dio, What about Mario?!?! I can't leave my fratello like that!! He would be devastated!!! And Bowser! I-I… We just… I-I really wanted to meet the hatchling… Oh dio, oh dio …" 

Luigi was hyperventilating and tears were falling leaving a path on his face, a pain in his chest started to grow thanks to his heart that was about to leave his chest from how strong it was beating. 

He was losing to his thoughts second by second until the voice was heard again.

"You are not dead. The advisor of the Koopa Kingdom is maintaining your body stabilized and the prince is helping you to recover the energy". 

The human tried to focus on the voice and what they were saying, little by little he gained control on his breathing again and after several minutes he was calm. 

"W-What? T-The prince?" Was the first thing he exclaimed hoarsely thanks to the crying, his mind clicked after that. "The hatchling!" The faintest smile appeared on his face. "So Bowser has a son". 

…

"C'mon Junior stop crying" a tired Bowser tried again. It was the middle of the night when the hatchling woke up chirping like crazy, he already tried everything to please him but nothing seemed to work. 

He currently was cooing the hatchling in his arms humming a song he usually enjoys playing with the piano, hoping to appease him with that. 

The king wanted to rest, one of his spies said he saw the red twin close to the kingdom early in the day. 

Mario probably lost his patience and was going to see Luigi by himself. Now Bowser had less than a day to plan something to soothe the mushroom hero and avoid a fight. He knew Luigi wouldn't be happy if he and his brother confronted each other again. 

For obvious reasons Junior didn't understand that so he kept crying for something. 

Bowser decided to walk around the room in a desperate attempt to calm the hatchling. 

When they got close to the bed with Luigi resting, the chirping of the hatchling lost force.

"You also miss him?" The hatchling seemed to understand what he asked, and Bowser walked towards the bed showing the hatchling to the human. "Guess you recognize him, afterall he took care of you". 

Junior wiggled until one of his paws touched the human's face. 

The emotionless face the plumber had all the week changed at the contact, making a little gesture. It didn't last too much, but it was there. 

The koopa looked at what happened a moment ago with new hope. "Alright little brat, you've had the solution all this time!". 

…

"If i'm not dead… Why am I here then?" Y-You mentioned the bond and my lack of energy. I get that, what I don't understand is why are you telling me all this?" 

Now that Luigi cleared his mind of the panic and fear (not completely but enough to be bearable), the question of the stars talking to him was again in his mind.

"The wish of King Bowser involves you. What he wished for, moved the strings of fate to unite two lost souls. You also are a key to fulfill a wish that was made several years ago". 

"I see…" Luigi felt a light touch on his face. <That's weird>.

"It seems our time it's ending. Your body is finally able to wake up".

"W-Wait! I have one last question!" The room of the night sky was starting to get blurred. "If i'm not the price of the wish…then which was?".

…

Junior was laying beside Luigi chirping with happiness while playing with the mustache of said person. 

Bowser questioning the moral of playing with an asleep person was interrupted when a groan was heard coming from the human.

He quickly took Junior from the bed, the hatchling made a discomfort sound but nothing more, watching with his curious eyes at the human waking up. 

Luigi stretched his arms, yawning in the process, he opened his eyes looking disoriented at the room illuminated with candlelight . "It's not dark… Where am I?" 

He turned his face around the room until his eyes landed on a pair of red eyes shining with joy.

"B-Bowser!" The human tried to get up from the bed stumbling in the attempt, now his head was spinning again.

"Easy there Greenie, you've been laying for a while". Bowser catches the human with his claw and helps him to sit on the bed. "You give me a good scare there Greenie, passing out like that… I thought y-you…" 

The warm hand of Luigi touched the side of his snout, giving a sad smile in response. 

" Mi dispiace . I didn't know I was sick until it was too late". The hand was caressing the king's face attempting to delete the worry. 

Bowser approached the hand purring a little at the show of endearment. Luigi smiled at the image of the big koopa king being happy in his arms like that.

"… I really believe for a moment you were the price for my wish. That really scared me". The words made Luigi change his semblance to a more serious one, he took away his hand and looked at the bedsheets.

"I-I'm sorry" Bowser heard the broken voice of the plumber sniffling and on the verge of tears. "T-The prince… t-they told me…" a round of sounds covered the words Luigi tried to say.

"Hey, hey, Greenie, is alright, i'm sure it's not a big deal" the koopa tried to calm Luigi taking aside the weight of the price, it was true that he believed the price wouldn't be that bad, he had everything he needed, that was enough.

"Y-Your life span… I-Is shorter now" Luigi said, barely containing his tears "Y-You used to be able to live longer than many of the creatures here… b-but now you'll live less than that, m-maybe the same as a h-human. I'm so sor…"

A light kiss on his forehead stopped the sad discourse of the human. 

"I said it's fine, Greenie, I still can watch my hatchling grow and my kingdom prosper" the look on the human said he wasn't convinced at all. "Besides, I would rather live a little less than expected instead of living longer without you by my side". 

Luigi blushed at the confesion, his heart skipping a beat. He looked at Bowser, the king was already looking at him, appreciating him like one of his most valuable treasures.

He stretched both arms to take Bowser's head and leaned closer, finally both lips crashing together. 

The first kiss was awkward and filled with desperation, by the second try they took the time to explore each other finding the best position to keep sharing kisses between little laughs Luigi let out. 

Giggles was the sound that took both off his bubble. Luigi looked at the source, finding the little hatchling still in one of Bowser's arms. The hatchling also was looking at him letting out more giggles. 

"Right, let me introduce you to Junior", Bowser said, moving closer the arm with the hatchling so Luigi could hold him.

"He's like a mini copy of you! But more adorable!" Luigi said holding the hatchling in his arms carefully, Bowser huffed at what he said. "Oh, don't pout caro " he said, still smiling at the hatchling. "Also…Junior? You really named him like you?!" 

"He needed a name that claims fear and respect for everybody! Bowser Jr. does the trick!" Was the reason the king gave with a superior tone. Luigi deadpan him before talking to the half-asleep hatchling.

" Tuo papa is such a narcissist" Luigi says with a silly voice, winning more giggles from Junior. "He's really lucky I like him just the way he is".

Bowser pretends to be offended by the attack of his naming skills.

He kept enjoying the interactions between the most precious persons in his life, even if they were making fun of him, being finally able to see them together made his chest full with the feeling of satisfaction. 

His family is complete now. 

Eventually both human and hatchling fell asleep, the king tried to take Junior from Luigi's arms but both put up resistance in the attempt.

"Fine, I suppose we'll sleep here". Bowser accommodated some pillows and blankets so he wouldn't be too uncomfortable. 

They'll have to deal with Mario in some hours, but that could wait, right now he was happy to see his family complete where they belong, sleeping in the safety of the castle.

Chapter Text

"I slept for a week?!" 

The family woke up past noon, everyone ended up too tired after the reunion.

When Luigi woke up by the constant sound of footsteps he asked Bowser the reason for the anxious walking.

The king explained the possible problem with Mario for the lack of answered letters in the week, which led to Luigi being surprised. Did he really sleep that much? He felt gone just for a couple of hours! Not a whole week! 

"Cazzo , that explains why Mario is worried" Luigi was still in the bed, not ready to try and walk now that he knew his body was weak from the lack of movement in the past days. 

"Yeah, he probably thinks you're hostage or something. By pure luck you woke up before he had the chance to see you like that". Bowser said while playing with a just woke up Junior. "So, what's the plan, Greenie?" 

"First, I could really accept breakfast. I'm starving after all this time without solid food", Luigi's stomach rumbles emphasizing the request".  After that and a bath, I'll be ready to explain the whole story to Mario. That's the best option we have, I don't want to lie about this".

Bowser nodded, leaving Junior for a moment in Luigi's lap to go for breakfast. Luigi took his claw to get his attention again. "Before you go" he leaned and let a small kiss in Bowser's snout. "Buongiorno".

…

After what Luigi could call the best breakfast he ever had due his lack of food and a warm bath he was ready to receive his fratello . 

He struggled with his walk and almost fell the first time he tried without support, so Bowser carried him to one of the armchairs of the meeting room and told him to wait for him and his brother. Thankfully Junior was with him looking around the place with his curious baby eyes. 

When Bowser entered the room again this time in company with Mario and Kamek the first two were already fighting. 

"I came uninvited because you kept ignoring my questions about my brother! What did you expect?!" Mario was too focused in his discussion to notice the presence of Luigi and Junior.

"We told you everything was fine, what else do you need besides that?!" Bowser bites back.

"What else?! You stup-!" 

"Hey! Not bad words in front of the hatchling!" Luigi exclaimed, interrupting Mario. 

The human in red looks at his brother, relief painting in his face, he walks towards him and gives him a side-hug. 

"Weegee!! You're fine! Why didn't you answer? I was worried! And they …" he looked at the king and advisor "... didn't help at all!". Mario said letting out his worry with every word. 

"Calmati, ti spiego " Luigi reassured his brother, inviting him to take a seat with him. "First of all. Meet Bowser Junior!" Luigi showed the hatchling to Mario. 

Both looked at eachother, hatchling and human, then Junior extended his tiny claw to Mario and pulled at his mustache ripping some hairs in the process.

"Ack!" Mario covered his face with his hands, Junior was giggling enjoying the act and a snort sounded in the room. 

"Junior!" Luigi took the hatchling close to him and watched Mario with regretful eyes.

"Ha! That's my son!" Bowser said, trying to contain his laughter in a not-so subtle way. 

"Bowser! That doesn't help!!" Luigi says to him, that only won another round of laughs.

Kamek was looking at the mess rubbing his temple <I'm afraid this is going to be a long evening> he thought, sighing at the idea. 

…

After everyone calmed down and now with Junior sleeping Luigi was ready to start.

"By some chance the princess has told you some sort of legend about… I don't know about stars and magic wishes?" Luigi tried to ask, the story was still some secret and even if the princess and Mario had been dating for a while he didn't know how much the princess had told him.

"The wish the royalty has? Yeah, princess Peach told me for some reason after we came here last time" Mario said, looking confused at his fratellino .

Luigi sighed, okay, that was good, he could talk without restraint. 

And he did, he told the whole story (leaving out the unexpected development of a relationship with Bowser, his fratello didn't need to know that for now).

"...In the end it turned out the connection with Junior drained my energy or something and I lost my consciousness for the week. That's why I couldn't answer the letters". Luigi finished the story, the room grew silent, everyone looking at Mario.

Mario was processing the information. "So…you almost died?" The words were said at a slow pace.

"No! I was fine. It felt like a few hours for me and the stars told me Kamek and Junior helped me to wake up" Luigi tried to erase the worried expression on Mario's face.

"Sorry for the interruption" Kamek broke the silence this time, "You really talked to the stars?" The magikoopa was intrigued by the confession.

"W-Well, yes. They told me why I was there…" Luigi's face reddens a little by the reminder of his role in the wish "... a-and they also explain how I was fine thanks to your care and Junior, apparently he starts to develop his own magic so the bond lasted a little longer, this time helping me to recover. Thanks for that, by the way". Kamek noded saying he was glad everything turned out fine.

Luigi looked at his brother, Mario was with a blank face looking at his brother. 

"Andiamo a casa (let's go home)" Mario got up and extended his hand to Luigi.

"W-What?!" Luigi stared in shock "Non possiamo partire Mario! (We can't leave Mario!)" 

"Sei quasi morto! (You almost died!)" Mario said, failing to contain his emotions.

"Sto bene! Non mi hai sentito? Mi hanno aiutato! (I'm fine!  Didn't you hear me?  They helped me!)" Luigi tried to wake up but again his legs couldn't with the effort. 

Bowser tried to get close to help him but Kamek stopped him, this was between the brothers now.

Mario was more alarmed by the image, so he got close to help. "Vedi!?  non puoi nemmeno camminare! (You see!?  you can't even walk)"

Luigi didn't find what to say so he just let his brother help him.

"E se fosse stato peggio?! Cosa sarebbe successo?! Io non voglio perderti Lu! (What if it was worse?! What would have happened?! I don't want to lose you Lu)" Mario said once he helped Luigi back on the armchair. 

The twins looked at each other for a moment. Luigi sighed at the stare full of worry in the opposing eyes. "Bene (Fine)".

…

Explaining the plan to Bowser was harder than he thought. Once Kamek and Mario leave to collect his things an awkward silence settles between the human and King.

"You're leaving". 

"Y-Yeah, Mario is more worried than I thought and well, the bond is officially broken so…" Luigi wasn't looking at Bowser, he didn't want to see the disappointment in those red eyes.

"Next week here. I'll send an airship to get you". Bowser said. 

That made Luigi look up in confusion. "W-What?" 

"It's a date, Greenie. Don't you dare leave me waiting" Bowser huffed as if that was the most obvious thing.

"Y-You're not mad i'm leaving?" The plumber said not believing what he was hearing.

"I mean, yeah. Part of me wants to fight your brother to keep you by my side. But you took a choice and if that gets the nosy human out of my way, I'll deal with it". 

Bowser said in a surprisingly nice tone. 

"Besides, our kingdoms are now in peace, I can invite you whenever I want. So, do you accept next week at noon?" 

"Oh you- come here!" Luigi says, extending his arms towards Bowser. 

The king walks to his side and Luigi hugs him, "Si , next week is fine" the human answers before sharing a kiss.

…

Several minutes later Mario entered the room again. He ignores Bowser sitting aside Luigi. Saying everything is done he leans to help his baby brother walk.

"Hey! Watch It!" Bowser complains when one foot of the older brother steps on his own.

"Oh, mi dispiace . I didn't notice you there" Mario tells, his tone and smirk letting now he didn't regret a thing.

"Mario! Quit messing, let's go!" Luigi threw a small punch at his brother's shoulder.

"Bene, bene. Let's go". The older brother said laughing.

They said goodbye to an asleep Junior and to Kamek. 

And (reluctantly on both sides) also to Bowser. 

…

The brothers were in a small airship (thanks to Bowser, he said he wouldn't let Luigi go on a long journey in his current state). 

"You could've eaten the red mushroom I gave you". Mario said, looking at Luigi's legs.

"Right. I forgot about it, maybe before we land I can eat it". Luigi agreed.

Mario nodded and the only noise left was from the airship.

"So…You and Bowser?" Mario said after a while.

Luigi paled, "W-What?! I-I don't know what you're saying!" He freaked out stuttering at every word, "We're just friends? Yeah! Friends! Amici, nothing weird in that!" 

"Don't try to fool me! You had that lovey-dovey stare! And as much as I hate to admit it, he is totally your type!" Mario expose.

Luigi groans "I-I don't have a type! Or a lovey-dovey stare!" 

Mario furrowed a brow and crossed his arms, "Destiny Del Vecchio from highschool?" He reminded him. 

"...Okay fair point". Luigi grumbles, also crossing his arms.

Again just airship sounds in the background.

"You're fine with…us?" The younger asks after a moment.

"I believe you could do so much better than him" Mario starts, "but whatever makes my baby bro happy. I'll support you" 

Both brothers shared a hug. 

"Grazie Mario" Luigi said with relief, this wasn't the scenario he planned to tell Mario, but it turned out fine at the end and that was the important thing. "I'm still a little surprised you knew just for my stare, we barely talked in front of you!".

"...I also saw how you kissed when you were alone", Mario whispered, trying to erase the memory. 

"Oh" 

"Yeah…" 

The rest of the journey passed with Luigi telling his twin about Bowser and his little adventures in the kingdom.

Finally they reached the mushroom kingdom, Luigi ate the red mushroom and that allowed him to walk normally again. Despite that Mario asked to stay the night in his house, just for precaution. 

…

And just like that Luigi and Bowser had to start a new routine. One with a lot of traveling (almost every time on Luigi's side), both keep going on dates once a week, sometimes twice. 

Luigi finally got to listen Bowser's skills with the piano falling once again in love thanks to the charming music filling his ears. 

Bowser even went to the mushroom kingdom (leaving in the castle a tired Kamek as a babysitter) a couple of times, learning about more of the human favorite activities and if the situation allowed him, messing with his lover's brother. 

Thanks to that visit, the next date Luigi returned with several piranha plants to start a new garden, this time 'Mario proof'. 

It was on the sixth date when Luigi asked if they could be in an official relationship obtaining a "If it were up to me, you would already be my bride" as an answer that made him flustered. 

Month and a half passed flying to them.

This time the human was getting ready for a new meeting with his lover. He was going to help him with the last arrangements for Junior's official presentacion to the kingdoms. 

"Mario! I'm leaving!" He yelled to let him know.

"Take care on the road! Call me if something happens!" He listened in response coming from some room.

After several long journeys to the koopa kingdom, Bowser ended up giving Luigi one of the koopa clown cars as a gift, that way the trip was safer and shorter. A win win for them. 

…

When the human arrived at his usual parking place, he wasn't greeted as always by the staff working there, this time everything was alone and with a strange aura in the air. 

Dismissing the strange feeling Luigi walked to the nursery. That's where Bowser waited for him. Now that he knows the castle like his own palm the hallways don't look confusing anymore.

He soon arrive at the nursery's door, hearing a low chirping coming from the other side, he hurried to open the door and enter the place.

"Junior? What's wrong, tesoro?" The weird aura felt heavier in the room, alerting the human, something was definitely wrong.

The view of Junior laying alone in the nest chirping in distress only confirms his feeling. He got close to the hatchling, he calmed down a little at the familiar face. 

When Luigi secured Junior in his arms he turned to leave the room. "Let's go find your papa, I don't like this feeling, maybe he knows something". 

Once in front of the door Junior started crying again. "It's okay tesoro, don't worry, you're safe" Luigi tried to soothe him walking out of the room.

At least that was the expectation.

The surroundings changed, that wasn't the castle anymore. 

Junior kept crying in Luigi's arms, the last one was trying to understand what just happened.

His train of thoughts was interrupted by a big loud laugh.

A chill ran through his entire body. " Mamma mía, I recognize that sound".

He turned around to start running somewhere but the silhouette of a very familiar enemy materialized in front of him. Luigi stands there protecting the hatchling with his arms. 

"I hope you haven't forgotten about me".

Chapter Text

"Well, well, well. What do we have here?" The ghost said, looking at his new guests, a spark of recognition crossed his eyes.

"Why, if it isn't my old pal Luigi" the king said with a wide grin spreading. "Hey remember that time you trapped me in a painting for all eternity? Good times". 

The snarky comment made Luigi gulp, he was in big trouble. 

"Anyway, today isn't about you" he dismissed, "The trap was supposed to be for that kid you have with you". The glowing stare settled in Junior. 

"You know? To play the game Bowser loves. Kidnapping. I believed it's his turn to be on the other team for once, so give me that child and get out of my way". King Boo was getting close, ready to take the hatchling that was looking at him with total fear.

Before he could touch the hatchling Luigi quickly moved backwards. 

"I won't give him to you" his voice faltered more than he would have liked, but he demonstrated his conviction pulling Junior closer to him and keeping an arm covering as much as he could of the hatchling. 

The death stare from the human directed at him seemed to catch off guard the ghost but not for too long.

"Bwhahahahah" the strident laugh filled the air, "I can't believe it!! So the rumors are true!!" Laughs kept going for a while.

After a moment the ghost was cleaning tears from his eyes. "You really are dating that loser! And here I thought we have something special between us, Luigi. I almost felt betrayed". The king said with a fake hurt tone.

"What a great joke! Now this also involves you!" The sudden change of tone alerted Luigi, "I wonder how Bowser will react when he sees the new additions of my gallery". Boo was preparing his attack and that was Luigi's moment to run.

Narrowly dodging the attack Luigi ran trying to look at the surrounding area. <I need a plan! I can't run forever and hiding is complicated with Junior making noise. What should I do? Where's Bowser?!> One attack hit really close to the running human, he had barely enough time to dodge it.

<No, I don't have time to worry about him, first I have to protect Junior…Where am I?> Luigi hid in the closest place he found and took a moment to look around and plan something. 

The first thing he already noticed was the darkness of the place, also the area was surrounded with several dead trees. They were definitely in some part of the dark woods. That wasn't much help but the trace of a lava lake at the bottom of the place, gave him an idea of where he was now. 

"Okay, we're close to the castle, that means king Boo doesn't have that much power to teleport. If I run fast enough we can get back and hide you". He said to the hatchling that was holding on tight to him, chirping in distress. "I know, I know. I promise it's just a little race and then you'll be safe. Okie dokie?" Junior looks at the determined face of Luigi and chirps as an answer, holding impossibly stronger to him with his little claws. 

"On the count of three…" the human holds Junior with both arms for better support. "One…two…" the sudden noise of an attack interrupted his count, the king had already found them and was getting ready to attack again. Luigi ran again now with a goal in mind. 

They just have to make it to the castle.

…

Maybe his plan wasn't that easy.

Running away from a ghost sending attack after attack was already hard, he knew the feeling thanks to that time he had to do something similar but in a narrower place.

Now running away from a ghost sending attacks without a rest having a hatchling on his arms, in a place with a lot of roots ready to throw him to the ground was ten times worse. 

Luigi already lost count of how many times he was close to falling, the lack of light in the place was another problem to deal with.

<Just great. Of course the day I decided to not bring my pocket flashlight with me is the day I need it!>. Luigi silently complained about his bad luck. 

His mental suffering got interrupted by another attack, this time in front of them forcing them to change course. 

<How can he even do that?! He wasn't that powerful the last time. And he has the normal crown!>

Thanks to the change he was able to find a place with more trees to hide, giving them advantage and losing the king for the moment. 

Finally the sight of the castle standing was getting close every second by. Luigi almost celebrate running faster. 

<...If I remember correctly, E. Gadd told me he's just this stronger when…> 

His relief changed when he saw the front doors. 

<...When more ghosts are close to him…> 

The whole castle was plagued with boos and other specters watching the entrance and every corner of the castle. 

Luigi abruptly stopped his running, hiding behind a tree before anyone could see them.

They couldn't hide there. 

<This is serious. Where is Bowser?! What happened to the castle?!> 

His calm temple shaken with fear starting to overcome the confidence. 

There was no place to run now. 

Ideas of what to do were running without sense in his mind. 

If they go back to the forest the chance of getting caught were high, the same applied to the case of staying close to the castle. And that would only grant more power to King Boo.

They could also wait for Bowser or Kamek but since he arrived, there was no clue to his whereabouts. 

"Maybe if we try to reach for a clown car we get a chance…" Luigi was mumbling every plan, discarding the possibilities.

Again the chirping of Junior alerted Luigi, trying to calm him before anyone could hear the noise. He followed the gaze of the hatchling.

An attack was getting close to them.

"Woah!" Luigi tried to run, however, part of the attack hit him in his left leg leaving him with a burning feeling. The attempt to run ended in him rolling on the ground covering the hatchling with his body to avoid any injury. 

The adrenaline in his bloodstream didn't let him stop despite the pain, running again to the depths of the forest, hearing the wicked laugh of the king behind him. 

"You can't run forever Luigi! Nobody will come to save you this time!" The fading voice screamed.

…

Once he created a distance with the castle and it didn't seem like anyone was following him, his running became erratic, the weight of running for a long time and his injuries began to show.

Stopping just for a moment to catch his breath and once again look for a new plan. 

A soft whining from the hatchling reached his ears.

Apparently the attempt to protect Junior on the falling wasn't a total success. Part of his shell and one of his arms were scraped, little dots of blood showing in the fresh injuries. 

"Merda, merda, merda. It's okay, it's okay" he cooed at the hatchling. "W-We just have to find a way to clean it" 

He turned to his sides frantically looking for… he doesn't even know what, just something to help his baby. He turned right, then left.

Then right again…his eyes must be playing with his mind. 

"A warp pipe?!" He got close to the thing containing the groan of pain from his leg.

It was indeed a warp pipe. A quite old one, but functional. An idea came to him.

"Isn't this the one that started all of this?!" Junior whined in response. 

"Luigi~" a sinister voice said in the distance. 

<He's getting close. Cazzo. Should I cross the pipe? But I don't know if this really will get us to the mushroom kingdom. If this isn't the actual pipe, who knows where we can end…> 

"I found you!" King Boo appeared in front of him, throwing one of his attacks in his direction.

Luigi didn't have to decide more, he entered the pipe disappearing before the blue fire reached them. 

___

It was an unusual calm day for Mario. 

After his fratellino left to see his… to see Bowser (he wasn't ready to call him his little bro's partner). He started his day as usual, walking around the village for any sign of problems. 

This time to his surprise there was not even one problem to deal with. 

No old toad ladies wanting to cross a street. No construccion that needed a hand. Not even a toad to stop on his way to ask for the story of one of his adventures! 

A calm day. Mario could deal with that. 

Getting back to his house, ready to start playing one of the new games he got.

Some sequel of one of his favorite games back in Brooklyn (or at least the closest version, replacing the main characters with toads and other creatures from this world). 

He turned on the console, when a sudden feeling startled him.

Call him crazy, but he believed in twin telepathy. 

Luigi insisted that was just his overprotective being, but Mario knew better.

A loud noise sounded in his front door followed by the voice of his fratellino.

"Mario?! Are you home?!" The scared voice activated his older brother's instincts. He took the stairs to go down from his room. 

"Lu?! What happened?! Why are you-..." The image of his baby brother covered in dirt and with several injuries made him create a lot of ideas. <Oh, Bowser is super dead>.

"Who did this to you?!" Reaching the living room he motioned for Luigi to sit down while he went to look for a mushroom to heal him.

"I don't have time to explain, Mario! Please take the first aid kit!" The distress in his brother's voice was palpable.

"W-What? Why are you in such a hurry? Have you seen your wounds?! A mushroom is the best option Weegee!" Mario tried to reason.

"Wha-...?" Luigi looks at Mario in disbelief "Not for me! For Junior! He's too little, I don't know if I can give him a mushroom!" 

Junior. 

Mario was so focused on Luigi's injuries that just now he noticed the little lump on his arms. 

"Don't look at me like that! I- I'll go for it!" Luigi groaned, then he tried to make a step just to almost fall whining in pain. 

Mario shook off his confusion and helped (forced) his brother to sit down. "You wait here. I'll get what you need", he also handed the mushroom he got. "And eat that! It will help you!" 

When he went back to the living room Luigi was already healed and was now cleaning Junior's wounds with a wet towel whispering little encouraging phrases to soothe the crying hatchling. 

"Grazie Mario" was the response he got when he handed the first aid kit.

"Weegee, please. What happened?" Mario almost begged to know.

Luigi sighed "King Boo came to get his revenge. He was about to kidnap Junior. I got there just in time to avoid that, but he plagued the castle with ghosts so he's really powerful right now. We barely escape". 

He explained while applying some medicine and a band-aid in the hatchling scraps.

"Mamma mía. And what about Bowser?" Mario questioned, it was really weird that the king let that happen to his kingdom.

"That's what I'm going to find out. Can you please take care of Junior while I'm gone?" Luigi finished to accommodate the hatchling on the couch and looked at Mario with serious eyes.

"No! I'm coming with you! I won't leave you alone" Mario denied walking to take Junior. Maybe Peach could watch for him in the meantime. 

A hand grabbed his arm before he could touch the koopaling.

"Per favore, Mario! I don't trust anyone else to take care of my hatchling! A-And I already lost too much time here! I-I have to confirm Bowser is fine! H-He… They're my family! I-I just want to protect them. Please…" the desperate tone broke Mario's heart. He measured the options and finally nodded.

"Bene. I'll take care of him" reluctantly agreed, "But if I don't get a letter from you by tomorrow morning then I'll go. Deal?" He offered.

"Deal! Thank you Mario!" The younger brother hugged him and then he hugged the hatchling, leaving a small kiss on his forehead. "I'll be back soon tesoro. And with your papa, okie?".

"How do you plan to get there? Wait… How did you even come back here?" Mario asked, he couldn't see the clown car outside. 

"Long story. I'll take my kart and I will use the shortcut. I'll explain when I get back!"

…

After a quick stop at his own house to take the poltergust 3000 and his kart. Luigi was ready to go back to the Koopa Kingdom.

"It's just the two of us, huh?" Mario looked at the asleep hatchling once Luigi left. His words still resonating 

<<"...my hatchling!" "...They're my family!…">>

"I don't think he noticed what he just admitted. But it seems I'm officially a zio". 

___

Earlier that day. 

Bowser was getting the last details for his date. This time he was going to impress Luigi with a new song he wrote just for him. Then they were going to share a delicious meal in the company of his son. 

Perfect date. 

"Sire! They need your presence in one of the mines!" Kamek appeared frantically waving his arms to get the king's attention. 

"It seems the mine is soon to collapse! You shall go and see. I'll take care of the arrangins and the young prince!" 

That was an emergency. Bowser was a little confused. The mine Kamek told him was a new one, nobody should be near the place, but he wasn't going to waste more time. His people needed him. 

"Fine, you stay here with Junior. I'll go take a look" were the last words before the king left the room. 

The eyes of Kamek watched the king go before they glow purple and the illusion broke showing a normal boo. 

That was really easy.

…

Bowser entered the mine looking for some koopa or sign of danger. 

"Sire?!" The advisor's voice echoed the place.

"Kamek? What are you doing here?" Bowser asked, he was supposed to be in the castle!

"I could ask the same, your confusioness. You send me here to supervise the mine". The magikoopa said.

"No, that can't be. You send me here. You even told me it was an emergency!" Bowser said with an exasperated tone. This didn't look good.

The strident laugh that echoed the mine confirmed his suspicion.

"What a bunch of fools! Can't even notice when an illusion is talking to them!" 

"Boo! You bastard! What are you doing in my kingdom?!" The koopa king screamed at the ghost in the entrance of the mine.

"No need to be that wary! I just came to say hi to my old friend! No hard feelings!" The sardonic smile of the ghost didn't match the words. 

"You're not welcome to your majesty's kingdom. Get out of here!" Kamek said back, waving his hand in treat. 

"Too bad. If that's what you want then I'll be leaving. But first… I'll take with me new portraits to decorate my walls" 

Kamek threw a spell to avoid the attack, making the Boo mad. He tried a couple of times more before deciding to use a ground pound attack big enough to collapse the mine entrance. 

"Mwahahaha! Come later to see my hatchling-portrait! I'm sure you're gonna love it!" Was the last thing they heard before the place went dark.

"Don't you even dare to touch one hair of my son!!! Bastard!! Get back here!!!!" Bowser punched the stone wall trying to make an opening to escape, he was also erupting fire with rage. 

"Kamek!! Do something!!" He turned to the advisor.

"I'm afraid sire, my wand slipped with the attack and got damaged. I can't use my magic to get us out of here". Kamek said with frustration, his grandkid was in danger and there was nothing he could do to help.

Bowser let out a roar punching the wall harder every time, feeling his claws starting to ache, that didn't matter, he had to get back with his hatchling. He had to protect him! 

The mine started to tremble again after several hits. 

"Sire! Stop! If you continue, the rest of the structure will collapse!" Kamek tried to warn the king but he didn't listen, only focusing on getting out.

A sudden fall of rocks got him out of his stupor, taking Kamek in one arm and heading backwards from the entrance. 

It was official, they couldn't go out that way. 

Bowser was about to lose his mind but Kamek spoke before that. 

"You have to get yourself together. If you lose your temper our chances to get out would be worse. Now we have to go to the other side of the mine. There should be an opening there". 

A grunt as a response and the fast pace towards the depths of the mine were the response he got.

"Let's hurry".

…

The depths of the mine wasn't exactly explored, after all that mine was a new one. 

The paths were confusing and tricky. One wrong step and they could end up falling to the void. 

A stone labyrinth that Bowser was carving every now and then. This time being more careful to avoid another accident.

After what felt like years, finally Kamek said they were close to the ending.

Rushing his walk, Bowser kept going. Seeing the low light at the end. They were almost free. 

___

Luigi arrived as fast as he could to the kingdom. He almost fell off the racing track a couple of times. 

That was the negative part of the shortcut, it was dangerous. Luckily his racing skills and conviction were bigger so he succeeded to get back the Koopa Kingdom. 

He left the kart in the woods to not raise any suspicion. 

"Mwahaha! how brash of you to come and face me, Luigi!" A whispering voice sounds in the air. "You should have just run away while you had the chance! But instead you stayed and fought all the way up here to oppose me? How foolish!"

Luigi searched for the king, when he didn't find him he assumed he wasn't there, the voice was just another of his tricks.

"Fine. Let's see if you can take me this time. I'll see you soon, Luigi" the ghost ended. Leaving Luigi again just with the murmur of the air crossing the trees.

Luigi adjusted the poltergust 3000 on his back and turned on his flashlight. <Let's-a-go! Bowser must be somewhere close to the castle>.

…

Cleaning the path to the castle was harder than he thought. 

The ghosts constantly appeared trying to block his way just to be absorbed by the poltergust. 

By the time he reached the castle he had already forgotten how many ghosts were trapped. 

For a strange reason the castle was alone, not a sight of ghosts or other beings guarding the entrance. 

That was odd.

Luigi entered the place, ready for any attack waiting for him on the inside.

When he got close to the throne room an unexpected noise got him on alert. Holding the poltergust against the source of the noise and about to turn it on. But the person in front of him stopped him.

Or rather. The koopa in front of him.

"Woah! Stop there! It's just me!" Bowser reacted at the poltergust pointing at him. 

"Bowser?" Luigi removed the vacuum when he recognized the voice and silhouette of his partner. 

"I can't believe you're back! What happened to you?! That's why the castle is free of ghosts again? You defeated them!" Luigi tormented the koopa with all his questions, feeling the relief of finding Bowser was alright and fighting back. 

"Heh. What can I say Luigi? I'm just that awesome. They didn't stand a chance with me!" Bowser jocked, making a silly pose to remark his point.

Luigi didn't laugh back. 

Instead he gripped more to the vacuum, expecting.

"Luigi? What's wrong? C'mon I already finished this! Tell me where's Junior so we can go and get him!" Bowser was taken aback by the attacking position the plumber took. 

"Before that. Where is Kamek? I haven't seen him?" Luigi asked without changing his position.

"The oldman? He's probably cleaning up the mess. Those bastards really ruined the place. Now, where is my son?". The king asked again, this time with a less friendly tone.

"... That was a good attempt. King Boo". Was the last thing Luigi said before turn on the poltergust. 

The room was suddenly filled with boos surrounding Luigi.

Not even the poltergust was able to catch that much at the same time, his view was covered by the espectres so he missed his chance to capture the king.

The illusion of Bowser started to change until the original king was shown with an angry frown. His eyes started to glow and then a force started to pull Luigi towards a blank canvas that appeared out of nowhere.

"I'm so done with you! Why don't you stop ruining my plans and become a nice painting?! That way you van watch how I catch one by one all the people you care about!" 

Luigi was trying to stun the ghosts with his flashlight but the force pulling him was stronger, forcing him to let go of the object to hold on to something.

<Oh no, I'm about to slip! This is bad…I have to keep fighting! I have to…> the human was thinking how to get out of the situation. 

King Boo was laughing at his attempts, enjoying how the plumber was losing second by second. 

"Stop the facade now! In the end you still are a simple coward! A simple weak huma-!" 

The fire directed at the ghost king stopped his speech. 

He turned to the source with an angry stare. 

Luigi who was holding until now finally lost the fight and was about to be absorbed when an aura of magic surrounds him. 

Close to the doors were standing Bowser and Kamek. 

The first one throwing attacks to the boos and the magikoopa after leaving Luigi close to them started to send spells to capture the rest of the boos. 

Without losing time Luigi also helped trapping more boos with the poltergust.

Most of the boos escaped when they understood it was a lost fight.

"Cowards! Get back here! That's an order!" King Boo tried to stop the other boos, falling in the attempt.

He fought back for a while but now the balance was against him. Frustrated with the verdict he opened a portal toward his dimension. Yelling his last warning.

"This isn't the last time you heard about me! Someday I will take my revenge! And you will regret the day you messed with me!"

The place was quickly empty again, except for the two koopas and a human.

Luigi collapsed on the ground, wiping with his arm the sweat from his brow.

"Greenie?! Are you alright?" Bowser hurried by his side.

<That's my Bowser>. Luigi thought, smiling a little before reassuring he was fine. Just really tired after that fight. 

"Where is our hatchling?!" Was the second thing Bowser asked once he was convinced his lover wasn't going to faint. 

"When I was running in the forest with him we found the warp pipe that leads to the mushroom kingdom. I leave him with Mario. It was the best option". 

Both king and advisor sighed in relief. The young prince was safe. 

...

The aftermath of the fight passed, sharing how they ended up in their respective roles. 

With Kamek and Bowser telling how they escape the mine just to find the koopas fighting with boos tormenting the city, they  helped in the process to get back at the castle. Once in there, Kamek was able to get one of his replacement wands, the rest was already known.

Luigi told how he got there feeling something was wrong and how brave and smart Junior was alerting him of the attacks. 

Both advisor and king thanked him again for protecting the prince.

Luigi blushed at the compliments. "I-It was nothing, really! I just wanted to protect our hatchling". He covered his mouth at the phrase, this time he noticed what he just said.

Bowser eyes they opened up comically at what was said.

The human was freaking out explaining his words and saying that he knew Junior wasn't his. It was just a slip! Like calling a teacher mom by mistake! Nothing to take so serious.

Stopping all the rambling with a kiss, Bowser said that he was fine calling the hatchling theirs. "You practically are raising him too before he was born!" 

Luigi hugged his lover with all his force. Happy to know that he belongs to the family.  

...

After double-checking the place for any posible boo hiding and finding nothing. They decided it was safe to go for Junior. 

…

Their arrival was welcomed by a happy hatchling chirping at his parents who held him in their arms. 

And a almost asleep Mario. It was the middle of the night afterall. Those two didn't know about decorum.

He'd let it slip that time, seeing the happy reunion of the family.

Bowser praised his brave son and Luigi cried a little, feeling the scare to death he had when Junior was in danger.

Mario held the hatchling again to let his parents rest for a moment. Singing some lullaby in italian to make Junior sleep. 

That ended up with Junior and Luigi sleeping soundly, one on his arms and the other leaning on his shoulder. The human in red shrugged when Bowser asked how that happened.

"Nostra madre used to sing that when we were little. I suppose it still works for my fratellino". 

"Right" Bowser whatchs both sleeping. Gathering strength to say:

"Thanks by the way. For keeping our hatchling safe". Bowser sincerely offered it to Mario.

He dismissed the gratitude. "That's what family is for. But you better take care of him" again he goes back to the threatening voice "Luigi can fight on his own but I expect you to protect him".

"With all the power I have. That's for sure". 

They kept their gaze on each other for a few moments. 

Finally they both nodded, silently promising to be at peace from now on. 

Luigi, who was awake listening, smiled at the conversation.

His family was finally at peace. 

Chapter Text

Luigi woke up when he heard the alarm indicating a new day was starting. 

He groaned at the sound turning off the device and snuggling against the bed sheets, ready to fall asleep for a little longer.

…At least that was the plan. 

But the noise of short steps approaching the bed said otherwise. 

A half-asleep Luigi suddenly woke up when an extra weight fell on top of him giggling in mischief.

" Mamma. Are you awake?" the childish voice asked. 

Yawning in response, Luigi slowly got up, sitting on the bed and directing his eyes to the koopaling on his lap that was shining with emotion.  

"Now I am tesoro " Luigi answered before yawning again, winning more giggles from Junior.

That was enough to wake up the sleeping koopa beside Luigi.

Bowser stretched and turned around to see his hatchling. "Guess you couldn't wait longer, you little brat" he said to the kid smiling at the kid's emotion. 

"Nuh uh papa! I can't wait! Today is a special day!" Junior told, getting up from his mama's lap to climb the shell of his papa.

"Oh, I wonder why today is special" the koopa teased the younger. Luigi muffled a laugh at the face of indignation that Junior made.

"Daaad!! It's my birthday!" He told, getting down of him to be by Lugi's side again, pouting with his little arms crossed.

"Your papa is joking, stellina. Of course we remember". Luigi assured hugging his hatchling. 

"I could never forget about your birthday kiddo. Happy birthday" Bowser said, ruffling the hair of Junior.

" Buon compleanno my little star. How about we get you some birthday breakfast?" Luigi offered, making the hatchling smile again, wagging his way out of the hug and out of the bed to hurry his parents. 

"Let's go mamma ! I want pancakes!" Junior was practically bouncing on his place. "But papa isn't invited!" The koopaling declared sticking out his tongue in Bowser's direction. 

Bowser made a surprise face making Luigi laugh. "Yeah, big meanies can't have birthday pancakes'', Luigi agreed, laughing more at the betrayal in the king's eyes. He kissed the pout on the king's snout and then he followed Junior to the kitchen. 

…

"I know you're excited. But try to knock on the door before entering the room, remember?" Luigi said once they were in the hallway. 

Junior's bad timing never disappeared with the time so the rule exists thanks to the multiple times Junior entered the room when his parents were…well…you could say they were doing something not so family-friendly. 

The hatchling just agreed, not really paying attention to his mamma. He was excited! Who could have blamed him?

Luigi sighed at this but then smiled. He certainly couldn't blame his hatchling. 

They keep walking towards the kitchen. Junior was leading the way walking as fast as a toddler of three years can be. Luigi followed him while looking at the several paintings around that hallway, feeling nostalgic. Perhaps the day was the reason.

Three years 

Three years with a lot of memories.

Some bad, like the hard times with the koopas accepting Luigi in the kingdom or the little fights with Bowser like any other couple, moving together was also difficult, he missed Mario the first month, but he really wanted to be with his new family. Eventually all of that worked out fine.

Fortunately the rest of the memories were good ones, spending long nights and days with his boyfriend's company and seeing Junior grow certainly was something he loved. Besides watching Mario and Peach accepting Junior and Bowser as family members filled his heart with love.

Mario was the cool uncle playing with Junior everytime he came to see them and Peach gave him plushies of every possible size and design since he was a hatchling. 

Junior's room was full with his big collection, he and Bowser weren't sure what to do with all of them but Peach seemed so proud with the big smile Junior always gave her so they are just resigned.

One of his favorite memories is the moment Junior said his first words. 

To everyone's surprise it was 'mamma'. Maybe in other circumstances that would be normal, but in their case that really was unexpected. 

Both were in the nursery, the three huddled up on the nest looking at the baby sitting and playing with a plushie with the form of a mushroom, shaking it and babbling noises without sense. One moment the plushie was shaken too hard, sending it flying against Bowser's. 

Junior laughed at the action, making Luigi also laugh in delight "Mamma mía! Our kid had a good pitch. Don't you believe it, amore?"

The koopa who was also laughing, stopped to answer, saying that of course his son was that strong.

In the beginning it seemed like a meaningless situation, until the day.

Luigi was cooking with the company of Junior sitting on a baby chair eating some fruits. The plumber was humming some song to lift the mood. 

The sound of the spoon Junior was using hitting the floor directed Luigi's attention, but it was the next thing that made him turn to see.

"Ma, ma, ma…mama! Mmama!" The hatchling said, extending his arms to Luigi's direction.

"...Me?" The shock was soon changed with happiness, he approached the hatchling "That's right tesoro! I'm your mama!" He said carrying the kid that kept repeating the word now with happy chirps.

Later Bowser would tease Luigi saying that repeating that phrase of him so many times was the reason Junior associated it with him.

Luigi was fine with that, he even bragged with Mario and Bowser of how the hatchling prefered him. 

The sound of Junior stumbling on the ground returned Luigi's attention. He reached the koopaling and helped him to get up asking if he was okay. 

Junior said he was fine but the little tears in his eyes betrayed him. Luigi offered to carry him for the rest of the trip, bending down to the kid's height. The hatchling climbed on his back and demanded to keep walking.

Again memories filled the human's mind, this time a few months after, when the koopaling gave his first steps. 

They were in the garden. Luigi was watering some plants while Bowser played with Junior. The sound of soft laughs and other baby noises filling the air, making the human smile.

That continued for a while and then everything was silent for a second. 

"Love! Look!" The excited voice of Bowser called him.

Luigi turned around just in time to see.

Junior was standing with the help of a tree, looking at his papa and extending his little claws towards him, he took four little steps and fell on the grass. 

Both parents hurry to help Junior and celebrate the achievement.

"He actually did better than my first. Kamek says I ended up falling on my shell", the koopa comments while watching the hatchling crawl on the grass. Luigi laughs at the mental image of a baby Bowser trying to turn and falling thanks to the shell.

Junior stood up one more time that day, this time he made it to his papa's knee hugging it the moment he reached it.

This time Bowser bragged with Luigi and Kamek of how his son prefered him.

"Oh my, if you keep carrying the young prince like that, people will believe you're becoming a koopa", Kamek said, appearing in the hallway.

"I kinda look like one" Luigi granted, he was about to say more but Junior talked first.

"Kamek! Mamma is going to make me birthday pancakes!" 

"That sounds delightful" Kamek smiled at the excitement of the koopaling, "before you leave, let me wish you a happy birthday" the magikoopa said ruffling the hair of the kid and then he continued with his path. 

Luigi kept walking, seeing for a moment one of the walls of the castle covered with different drawings. He sighed at the view, regretting the moment he whispered to the egg to make his dad's life imposible with lots of drawings. 

The desire ended up affecting him too, chasing daily the running koopaling with crayons and doodling on every surface he could find. 

After so many ruined royal paintings they started to think making a special room for the drawings was the best plan. That would be a surprise for a close future.

For now, finally they reached the kitchen.

Junior jumped down and went to get his little bench to reach the counter and help while Luigi gathered the ingredients for the breakfast.

…

Bowser joined them almost at the end of the cooking and helped set the table. 

The family sits down to eat the fluffiest pancakes of the world (even Bowser. At the end Junior let him try a few of them).

Now with a full belly the hatchling was asking when his zio and zia   would arrive.  

"They should get here by the afternoon tesoro . Why don't you go and play for a while? I'll let you know when they get here". Luigi answered, obtaining an energetic nodd as a response, leaving just Bowser and Luigi in the dining room.

"I can't believe he's growing so fast. It feels like yesterday when he was just an egg" Luigi said, looking at the door where Junior left. 

Bowser chuckled, getting closer to his lover to hug him. 

"Yeah, the little one is growing fast, he soon will be conquering his first kingdom for sure" the koopa said, winning a slap on his shoulder that makes him laugh. Luigi joined him soon. 

The rest of his morning was spent like that, organizing the grand salon for the arrival of the rest of his family and sharing stares full of love between them every chance they got. 

…

Mario and Peach arrived on time at the koopa castle. 

Junior ran towards them to greet them. Mario carried him in his arms. 

" Tanti auguri! Junior", Mario greeted him, he pulled the kid down so Peach could also say her birthday wishes. He approached Luigi with a knowing smirk.

" Ciao, fratellino " he hugged Luigi whispering something that let him with a little blush. "And ciao Bowser, thanks for inviting us", he fist bumped with him.

"Oh Mario don't say it like we wouldn't want you two here!" Luigi said, rolling his eyes, "our figlio, loves you!".

Bowser huffed at the dramatics "Yeah, tiny, you're welcome here".

The oldest twin was about to protest by the nickname, Peach intervened before that.

"Hello Luigi and Bowser. It's good to see you again for a nice occasion". She said with her usual elegance, despite all those years that didn't change. 

After exchanging his greetings they decided to start the celebration.

First with Kamek also joining the family had a nice meal, Junior's favorite, that was clear because he didn't leave any on his plate, not even a crumb. 

Then all of them walked to the grand salon, playing games with the hatchling and talking between them about their daily lives. 

Later it was time for the gifts, the koopaling was bursting with joy. 

Kamek was first, giving to his grandson a new game for his console, the one Junior kept talking about at every chance. 

Next Peach offered a stuffed toy that resembled a shining star. That one was going straight to the koopaling collection. 

Then Mario gave him a case. Inside the thing was resting a big pencil. 

"I got him in one of my adventures. The person who gave it to me says it's magical. I hope you like it". Mario explained getting a big hug from the kid, he reciprocated the hug looking with mischief at the parents.

<Oh great, now he has a magic pencil> was the thought of both, that was going to be a problem for sure and Mario knew it.

Finally it was their turn to give their present. Bowser left the room for a moment, he came back with a brand new kart perfectly made for the size of the young koopa. 

Junior squealed at the view of the kart, running to his dad to take a better look. 

"You always said I'm too little to have one!!!" Was the first thing the kid said surrounding the kart to look at every angle of this.

"You are," Luigi clarified, "but your dad and I did this one specially for you. It's not super fast, but you can control it". 

"Yeah kiddo, try it!" Bowser said, helping him to put on a helmet and get inside the kart. 

…

Bowser was distracted chasing the koopaling around the room, Luigi was watching them in the distance.

Mario took the opportunity to approach his sibling. 

"As I said when we arrived. I got the thing you asked me to". 

The sudden voice startled Luigi, he turned to see his fratellone holding a black box.

He quickly hid it, looking at Bowser's direction with anxiety, the koopa was still playing, he sighed in relief. 

"Mario!! Don't show it like that!!" Luigi whispered. 

"Sorry, sorry. It's just hard to hide a box this size, you should leave it in the place you're planning to ask him!". Mario said, leaving the box in Luigi's hands.

"I-I can't do that! He would notice if I leave!" Luigi tried to return the box.

"Who is leaving?"

Both brother's jumped at the question. How they didn't hear Bowser approaching?! He literally stomps at every step!!

"C-Caro! It's nothing!" Luigi finally gave back the box to Mario who sneaked away. "M-Mario is just going to the bathroom! Don't mind him!" The human explained, he was sweating from nerves. "W-Why don't we eat the cake?! I bet my stellina wants to blow out the candles!".

The distraction worked, as soon as the word 'cake' left his lips, the koopaling was bouncing again towards his parents yelling that he wanted cake.

…

The cake was waiting in the piano room. Bowser was determined to play the melody of the 'happy birthday' song, the humans accompanied him singing.

After distributing the cake Mario talked to Luigi again.

"I hid it under one tree in the garden". Were the first words he whispered "When are you going to ask?".

"I-I was planning on…tonight? I…I don't know if it's the right time" Luigi said with a nervous tone.

After spending three years together the human believes they are ready to take the next step. Bowser sometimes asks about the topic indicating he was also considering it. Luigi has been waiting the question for a while, but he got a little impatient about it, so he was going to be the one asking.

He asked Mario for help getting the ring, describing the color, material and size. It was the only way to get it without getting suspicious.

"You'll just know… I can't believe my fratellino is going to beat me with the question!" Mario jokes side-hugging Luigi.

"It's not my fault you're a perfectionist!" Luigi answered back. 

<That's why Peach is also going to beat you> he thought to himself remembering that time the princess came to ask for his blessing. Luigi was shocked (he wasn't sure if it was because of the question or who was asking that to him), but of course he said that Peach could ask Mario to marry her.

The rest of the evening went by with more games to indulge the hatchling until he was too sleepy to continue.

Both guests parted after that, wishing one more time a happy birthday to the hatchling and Mario giving a wink to his twin.

…

After taking Junior to his room, Luigi sneaks out to the garden to see his hidden treasure. 

A shining gold band with some embedded sapphires that symbolize his eyes. The one for him was similar but with rubies instead.

He closed the box and sighed. When he got the idea of asking first he didn't consider how anxious that would be. Now he kinda understands why Mario was taking so long. 

"What are you doing Greenie?" The sudden voice makes him jump on his place. Seriously. Since when was Bowser this good at going unnoticed?!

"...Would you join me?" Luigi asked, avoiding the question and patting the seat beside him under the tree. 

Bowser nodded, sitting by his side.

Both admire the night sky for a while, enjoying each other's company.

"...You know… since I met you…like, really met you. My life was full of happiness…" Luigi said after a while.

"Getting to know you has been my favorite adventure of all I've had since my arrival to this world. I even found myself wishing for the opportunity to see my famiglia again just to present you as my partner…" he continued giving a nostalgic stare to the stars.

"I know that's not possible, so I'm happy with Mario accepting you. Expanding what was left of the family with you and Junior bringed me so much joy. It gave me a new routine to look forward to every day". He took a pause to take a deep breath.

"You're such a great partner and an even better father. So full of love and emotions to give to your loved ones. I'm the luckiest person in all the worlds that you chose me to share that love with me… I guess what I'm trying to say here is… Grazie for finding me, thanks for accepting this lost soul and loving it". 

Luigi took a deep breath again, standing up from his seat and facing the koopa. He slowly stood on one leg, showing the box he had hidden behind him.

"Bowser. King of the koopas and love of my life. Ti amo con tutto il cuore and you would make me the happiest human of the world if you accept this" he revealed the ring, shining with the moon light. "Will you marry me?"

Bowser looked shocked at his lover, processing every word said. He was actually thinking of asking him but the fear of past rejections stopped him. 

His mind couldn't process that the human was indeed asking him first. Once he decided that what was happening right now wasn't some kind of dream his vision got blurred.

"...Yes" was whispered, "Yes!" 

The second time he raised his voice, getting close to Luigi and hugging him. He lifted him off the ground, both crying and laughing with pure joy.

"I'm the luckiest koopa in the world", Bowser said, looking straight into Luigi's eyes.

"You also found me the moment our paths melted together. Luigi Mario, you saved my soul from getting more lost. Being with you is my sole happiness and watching you and our son together reminds me of what my most valuable treasure is" he removed with his claw the tears on Luigi's face.

"Makes me realize how my wish came true. We are never going to be lonely again. Until our last day we'll have each other's company. Marrying you is my pleasure because I also love you with all my heart".

After his words Luigi smile grew imposiblily wider, he put both hands against Bowser's snout and joined his lips.

Closing a deal under the stars, a promise of being together for the rest of their lives.

Chapter Text

The announcement of the royal wedding was huge news between every kingdom. 

Too many people were surprised Bowser was actually able to tie the knot with someone, others were more surprised to hear it was a human, and not an ordinary one! One of the mushroom heroes! That certainly was going to be fun to write in the history books of the Koopa Kingdom.

Fortunately the rest of the murmurs about the engagement were from close friends and family congratulating the two and hoping to get an invitation to the wedding.

Luigi and Bowser reassured them that the moment they settle a date the invitation would reached them.

… Said date took a year and a half.

Let me resume the reasons for you. After all, the whole story belongs to the past.

After the proposal both started to plan the ceremony, sadly that had to be delayed due to an incoming celebration in the kingdom. They still had to decide some details about some festivals.

Once that was done said festival involved a not healthy amount of ashes, Luigi knew that but he was stubborn and got himself sick for a while, which forced him to go with his brother to the mushroom kingdom to avoid the season of lethal ashes. 

That took away a month of planning and got them a human with almost a lifelong lung illness.

Shortly after that the couple advanced a bit the planning, but again, luck wasn't on their side. 

One moment Luigi was sleeping, the next he got teleported to the Evershade Valley with a new mission. Thanks to his old friend E. Gadd, he was able to defeat King Boo one more time.

Again, no wedding planning for a while. His energy was drained for days after the mission.

At least this time he won another jewel and a new member to the family that Junior loved the very moment he saw the doggie.

Although, after that the wedding was in their last part of planning. The date was set and the invitations were almost done and ready to go.

… The stars might have something against them. 

A tragedy occurred in two mines of the kingdom, a bad decision led both places to collapse and somehow damage the close homes. 

The damage was big and the whole kingdom was mourning. Announcing a wedding would be terribly unkind. 

Naturally, neither Bowser or Luigi wanted that, again delaying the date to help reconstruct the areas and providing to everyone that needed it… at least most of them, the locals said some koopalings escaped the moment they heard their families were gone. 

A team of shy guys were looking for them, but I assure you, that's a story for the future . 

Just like that time passed, until finally the wedding day arrived. 

Let's see how the grooms are doing! 

…

Luigi woke up that morning alone on the bed. He discovered that one of the common traditions between weddings in the human world and this world involves not seeing your partner the day before the ceremony. 

The human wasn't so happy about it, he got used to sleep feeling the heat Bowser naturally radiates.

He ended up agreeing because he prefered that than making a ritual ceremony sacrificing the current prisoners of the kingdom.

That's how Luigi was laying on a cold and empty bed, still too sleepy to react to the  knock coming from outside the door. He yawned, mumbling the permission to enter. 

The door opened revealing Mario with a plate with breakfast. Both greeted each other and the younger one thanked him for the food.  

Behind the older brother, another figure appeared, passing through the door with no problem. 

The ghost dog also greeted the green man with some barks.

Breakfast went calm with the company of his famiglia (part of them at least). Luigi almost forgot to be nervous… Almost .

The moment Mario declared it was time to prepare for the ceremony and asked if he was ready Luigi made the most anxious face he could, giving thumbs up to his brother and saying he was ready. 

Yup, totally, not a sign of fear filling him from the head to the toe.

Asking was the hardest part, right? Making it official should be a piece of cake! 

Right?!?! 

Before Luigi could keep mumbling every bad thing that could happen in his mother's tongue, a new person made his entrance in the room.

Junior ran to hug his mama, greeting him in the process. Luigi asked about the sudden hug. 

The hatchling just said that his papa sent him over to 'avoid mama's head exploding like a bob-omb', then the kid asked with worry if he could really do that.

Both humans chuckled at the question. Mario explained that no, that wasn't possible for them and Luigi still thanked him for the concern, saying that he felt much better now. 

With now renovated happiness the hatchling was about to leave the room to find Kamek and get ready, he had the super important job of carrying the rings afterall! His papas would be so proud with how good he was going to deliver said rings!

Stopping for a second before leaving the room, Junior turned around to say:

"Oh! Dad also says he loves ya! But I love you the most mamma! Don't forget that!" 

Throwing that phrase the kid left the room along with polterpup.

Luigi had to remind himself it was too early to cry. 

…

Bowser was in the main room checking for the millionth time that everything was where it should be. 

The grand entrance is decorated with some silver ribbons with subtle green and yellow details, highlighting the usually dark place. 

A row of koopas was standing in the front gate, waiting for the guests (not that it was nearly too soon to that, the ceremony was in two hours, but no one dared to say that to the king).

Said king was about to check everything again when the voice of Kamek got him out of his mind.

Kamek attempts to soothe the nerves of the koopa reassuring that Luigi would love how the place turned up with the decorations. That accomplished its purpose, making the king leave alone the poor decoration and finally reaching his dressing room where the suit was waiting for him. 

When he entered the room, flashbacks of his old attempts to marry the princess came through his mind at the sight of the suit. 

It wasn't the same suit of that time, that would be disrespectful for his fiance, still he conserved the color palette

A sudden fear clouded his usual confidence, he has a bad reputation with weddings, he knows it's not the same scenario, but the deep fear of sudden rejection is there.

Then, the memory of Luigi standing on one leg, with his face painted with a nervous but hopeful smile and showing a box kinda big for his hand with a ring inside comes to his mind.

Of course.  

His Luigi asked to marry him .

This was nothing like before, this time it was for real. 

Bowser smiled. 

"Greenie, you always know how to cheer me up, even if you don't realize it"

…

The moment both were in their suits (Luigi taking more time, bathing to soothe the nerves and then fighting in the attempt to comb his mustache that decided to rebel that day) some guests arrived to provide support.

One of them being Peach. Showing a different dress of the usual, one with a more formal air but keeping the characteristic pink, just right for the occasion.

Beside her another person followed her steps, wearing a more casual attire and still maintaining a royal air combined with a more free spirit.

The princesses were received by Kamek and an excited Junior, after the formalities both girls went to greet their friends.

Peach greeted Luigi and Mario, after that she excused herself to look for the king.

Kinda shocking, right? 

That's what years and hours of coexistence achieve. 

Bowser and Peach returned to the short but still existing friendship they had one time.

Challenging, sure. The path wasn't easy after years of fighting, sometimes they still are awkward with each other but in the end both ended up being on good terms.

That also meant those two plotted against the twins on game nights, making the competitive spirit of the four bigger.

…

After Peach left the room, the remaining three people exchanged their greetings. Daisy's being the more energetic one.

The princess of the Sarasaland kingdom was Luigi's best friend. They met when Luigi finally got to visit the kingdom, crashing together while walking on a market close to the castle.

Honestly, Daisy was running away from her advisor, don't misunderstand, she loves her kingdom, it was just that sometimes the work was just too much and her natural enthusiasm needed more than just paperwork. 

Anyway, after their first impression Daisy quickly recognized the person in front of him.

It was easy, there weren't a lot of humans in the realm and her cousin Peach talked a lot about the brothers (especially Mario, but that was a special case). The face of the princess lit up when she remembered an important detail about the green man in front of her.

"You're the monster fuc-!" Was the first thing she tried to say before a bright red Luigi covered in a rush his mouth.

Yup, a great start to a friendship.

Now the girl was teasing Luigi about how in a few hours he would officially be part of a royal court. And a more important thing, going on a honeymoon.

Both brothers tried to shut the girl, one with embarrassment and the other not wanting to hear about it.

Daisy kept teasing the groom, achieving her goal of distracting his friend and making him forget the nerves for a while.

Mario understood the plan and helped the princess with his mission. Soon making his fratellino laugh at the antics of both.

Once Luigi recovered his breath he looked at the time, feeling a wave of anxiousness again. It was almost time, they should start to go.

…

"I still think you should have worn the dress". Daisy said while they were walking towards the place.

The suit Luigi is wearing ended up being a black tuxedo with some emerald details on the sleeves and edges. 

Initially when the couple were discussing the colors Bowser insisted Luigi should wear a completely green suit, the human does love the color, but he wanted the traditional approach (at least for the ceremony, but that was a little surprise for his fiance). The koopa was curious about the decision.

"I thought you humans have something with using one color for everything".

Luigi stopped to think about it. Peach and pink, Mario with the red, Daisy and orange…okay he can see the pattern.

"I didn't notice before… But you're right! Us humans living here have something with a color", he declared amused. "I still want to try the black…" Luigi thought for a moment, "...perhaps we can add some green". 

That made the koopa laugh, of course the color wouldn't be left behind.

After recalling that memory, Luigi returned his focus to the place, hearing muffled voices in the distance. 

Daisy hugged him and wished him luck before heading first to the room, leaving the twins alone.

With nerves on the edge and a pounding heart Luigi took a deep breath.

He felt everything was so fast yet so slow. That was it. After planning for a long time he was going to marry the koopa he loves.

Luigi's eyes were directed to the door, thinking, Mario reassured him saying that everything was going to be fine. 

The younger sibling looked at him, eyes reflecting fear and sadness before saying with a small voice.

"Do you think nostra famiglia would accept this?" 

Mario looked taken by surprise at the question, taking a minute to think. "I suppose they would be a little… cautious at the start, but I can see how you look so happy and full of love since you got together. If I can see that, I'm sure they also would end up accepting him and the bambino ".

The brothers hugged, sharing the nostalgia of their lost family and remembering that at least they have each other, and now, their small family was about to officially grow.

…

Junior appeared with Kamek, the koopaling carrying a small cushion with two rings and the magikoopa with a book and papers, he was the designated one to make the marriage official afterall. 

Kamek laid his hand on Luigi's arm giving a short squeeze as a motivation, then he appeared a bouquet with piranha plants and offered it to him before getting into the room along with Junior who entered making little jumps instead of steps and stopping a moment after because the rings almost fell for the motion. 

That was the signal, it was his time to enter the room.

He took a deep breath and he saw with determination at his fratello .

"Let's-a-go".

…

The soft play of a piano and a soft rain of petals falling in front of them started the moment the doors opened revealing the twins walking side by side down the red carpet guiding towards the koopa waiting.

Red and blue crashed together sharing the emotions of the moment. A soft smile spread on the king's face at the look of his fiance walking without doubt to him.

Once they reached the end of the path, Mario looked at his baby brother again and then to Bowser, he told him to treat him well and then it was just the two of them.

The rest of the present people disappeared, it was just them and a background speech. 

Sharing votes full of praise and memories with the most trustful tone their voices could make, promising to care until the rest of their days and even after, their bubble was perfect.

The exchange of rings was the next step, Junior left his seat and walked with pride to his parents. He was almost there but the sudden itch on his nose made him stop for a moment.

He quickly resumed his walk reaching his parents who were looking at him with a big smile. Junior returned the smile and then the itching sensation came back, this time making him sneeze. That was what he thought. 

It was a sneeze, a really strong one that forced him to close his eyes. When he opened them again the cushion with the rings was gone, the only remains laying on the floor as a pile of burned ashes with two rings on top of it 

The hatchling was now a little distressed looking at the pile, taking the rings and then looking at his parents with a pout. 

Everyone was silently listening to the parents explaining how the young prince chose a particular moment to show his fire breath and reassuring everything was fine, he achieved the goal of giving the rings and that was the important thing. 

Junior returned to his seat trying to contain the excitement of his new ability. The couple laughed at the excitement of their hatchling before continuing with the ceremony. 

The wedding rings were made of a black gold band with an amethyst in the middle, symbolizing the union of both human and koopa.

Said union was declared complete, now becoming oficial husbands and sealing the ceremony with a kiss with the guests cheering on the background 

Normally that's the end of the main ceremony, in this case there's a last step for Luigi.

You'll see, now that the human became a king of the koopa kingdom he has a new right.

Kamek comes down from his place in the center, leaving room for a new person.

A very tall lady stands from a front seat, revealing a beautiful turquoise dress, she walks with elegance to the place Kamek left, followed by some lumas.

The very protector of the galaxy and called mother of the lumas among his many responsibilities, one of them is to make the union with the stars official, granting the right of the wish to the new royal member.

It sounds like a difficult thing, the reality is that they just need to sign a book. 

In this case the former king and advisor signs recognizing a new member, being a king this time. Then the new king signs closing the deal. Rosalina looks at the exchange and then she closes the book.

Luigi doesn't feel anything different, but he can swear just for a moment he hears the same voice that helped him several years ago, congratulating him.

Probably just his mind.

The human looks at his husband and then both look at the guests. Declaring it's time to start the celebration.

 …

The recepcion is full of greetings, good wishes and a long list of kingdoms, demonstrating the treaties with different rulers made in the past years.

Dinner time was interrupted by Mario, being the best man and brother of one of the grooms, it was his duty to give a speech, telling a few embarrassing stories of Luigi and demonstrating how proud he is for him, ending the speech with a toast.

The human who was strong until this moment, exploded in tears of happiness, earning a hug from Junior and Bowser.

Then it was Bowser's moment to hear embarrassing memories from Kamek, the closest koopa to a father he has, the magikoopa also showed his pride about the union, hoping for a bright future for them.

…

Luigi excuses himself for a moment, leaving Bowser talking with some king. 

A few minutes passed and there's no sign of the human. Kamek says it is almost time for them to share a dance, which makes the koopa worry. Where is the human?

Answering the question, some lights went out, leaving some to mark a path from Bowser to Luigi standing on the dance floor, surprising everyone with the new attire. 

The newly husband was found with a white dress, one simple yet beautiful. With the perfect level of extravagance just to remark a difference among the rest of the guests. Like icing on the cake, a simple silver crown with a veil was over the head.

Bowser looks at the exchange of stares Luigi and the princess of Sarasaland exchange, like partners in crime. He added a mental note to thank the princess for that. 

Greenie was absolutely beautiful, the dress really suits him, without losing one more second, he walked towards the man waiting. Making a little bow and offering his claw the moment he reaches the dance floor, asking for a dance.

With the usual blush he loves to see in the human, he accepts starting the soft balad. 

Now, dancing wasn't his strongest ability, his size made things more difficult than usual. His only motivation to learn is currently looking perfect with his arms intertwined with his, swaying gracefully to the beat of the music and looking at him with those eyes full of adoration. 

It made the lessons totally worth it, being able to hold his husband like that has to be a new favorite hobby.

Feeling so proud of the step they just took, while they kept dancing the koopa took a moment to see their family watching and dancing around them, the hatchling playing with other royal kids. It would be lovely if Junior could get siblings…maybe in the future. 

Right now, the present feeling of his partner with him looking so happy was enough for him.

Dancing a few more songs before he exchanges a look with Mario. 

Luigi wasn't the only one with a surprise, the king guided the human in front of the piano and told him to wait. Then he took a seat behind the instrument.

Eyes shining with anticipation, his Greenie should imagine what was about to happen, hell, he already dedicated many pieces to the man, but there's something special about this one.

That was shown the moment he pressed the first notes, creating a melody before he started to sing.

The stare directed at him changed to one with recognition at the foreign language, then incredibility.

Bowser took away his pride for the song, wanting to impress the human with lyrics totally in italian. The idea was first on his mind one day when he saw how Luigi looked excited the moment Junior started to talk with some of the italian words. 

Later Greenie told him it was nice to have someone to teach his mother tongue, Bowser asked him right away for lessons, he did know some phrases, living with the italian can teach you some, but he liked the idea of a fluent conversation, get to know even more about the man he loves.

One thing led to another and now the result of the lessons was being performed.

Playing the last part an eruption of applause filled the place. He bowed a couple of times and then he got to Luigi's side.

"So, what do you think?" 

"You really had that hidden, uh?" The sweet voice of the green man exclaimed. 

"What can I say? This koopa always has a trick under his shell" was the response he gave, getting a soft giggle and a kiss.

"Lo amavo. Grazie" 

"Qualsiasi cosa per te"  

After that they share another kiss.

…

The celebration lasted until a very late hour. 

Junior was the first to surrender, falling asleep in a corner of the room. Kamek was the one who found him and took him to his room.

Some guests started to leave after that, one by one congratulating the couple once more. At the end, the only ones left were two princesses and Mario.

The Sarasaland one was guided to a guest room, the other two walked already knowing the path. Mario hugging Luigi one last time for the day and Peach walking with the bouquet of piranha plants she catched earlier on her hands. 

…

Finally the married couple went to his room, the honeymoon starting in the morning. They planned to go to Delfino for a week. 

They would take more, but a kingdom can't rule by itself and Kamek was only one advisor, thankfully Mario offered to take care of his nephew. Nothing like spending quality time and showing the mushroom kingdom to the hatchling.

Luigi and Bowser fell asleep together side by side, sharing again the warmth and hoping for good things to happen now that they had a brought future together.

Chapter Text

"Are we there yet?" 

Mario already lost count of how often the question was asked in the span of… (he looked at his watch) half an hour! 

He understands the excitement, the last time the hatchling visited the kingdom he could barely walk, what surprises him is the ball of energy the koopaling turned out to be.

An apology was owed to his fratellino and Bowser. Now he knows why they asked hundreds of times if he was sure to take the kid with him for the week.

"Patience, we haven't arrived yet" the humor of the koopaling deflated  a little at the statement.

Looking around for something to entertain the bambino the human finally got an idea.

"There's a game we can play here, wanna try?" 

The slight tone of mystery caught the attention of Junior almost immediately.

"Yeah! I wanna play! I wanna play!" Bouncing on his place the hatchling exclaimed before looking again at his zio. "Wait. What are we playing? Dad says I can't run on the airship and they didn't let me bring my paint brush" 

Mario chuckled at the confusion. "I'll explain, come here". He said making space for the hatchling. Then he turned to look at the landscape through the window, Junior imitating him.

"First you have to say 'I spy with my little eye…', you can choose something from the landscape like a tree, but you can't say that you're watching a tree, you only say the first letter, 'T' in this case and the other person has to guess what you're looking". The mushroom hero explained, the hatchling just nodded, clearly a little lost on the idea. "Let's try, okay? I'll start and you will try to guess"

"Okie dokie!" Junior agreed.

"Let's see… I spy with my little eye something with the letter… S!" 

Junior took a moment to think, fully concentrated on the landscape, and suddenly he yelled. "It's the sky!!" He took away the stare of the window, "Did I guess right?!" 

"Yes! You got me! I was looking at the sky" Mario faked a defeated tone making the hatchling laugh at the dramatics.

"That was too easy!!" Junior argued, "I can do better!" 

Mario was nothing but a competitive person, he accepted the challenge with a "Do your worst kid".

…

The rest of the journey was spent playing several rounds of the game, every single thing was named, from trees and lakes, to goombas and a yoshi running. 

"That was fun!" Junior exclaimed after defeating Mario again, the idea of getting soon to the mushroom kingdom long left behind. 

"I'm glad kiddo, that was one of our favorite games when me and Luigi were your age" Mario said with his eyes closed, resting for a little bit. 

"You and mama played the game?! Junior's voice said with incredibility. 

"Yeah, we always played the game, but Luigi usually played dirty, changing between italian words or english or just inventing any other word", the human told, smiling at the memory. He opened one eye to see the sky again, soon changing his face.

"I spy with my little eye, something with the letter M!" 

"The mountain?" The hatchling tried, looking at the opposite side.

"Nope" 

Frantically Junior kept trying to find something more with an 'M'. "...Are you playing dirty?" Finally the kid said, looking suspiciously at Mario.

"Of course not! Look that way!" he pointed with his hand. 

A gasp was heard, "The Mushroom Kingdom!! We're here!!"

Still at some distance, the castle of the kingdom was visible, colorful as always and surrounded by the amazing mushroom forest. Junior kept screaming as he tried to put together the luggage to descend soon and start his adventure. 

…

" Benvenuto! This is my house" Mario pointed at the cottage.

Junior who was between amused and afraid watching a path of biddybuds returned his attention to Mario the moment he heard they arrive at the house.

"I thought you lived in the castle!" The hatchling said while he entered the house, exploring every corner with curiosity.

"I- technically I do, but I have a feeling you would like it more here!" <And I don't want you to burn down the castle> the plumber thought remembering the poor cushion and some blankets, victims of the newly discovered fire breath. 

"Hmmm… yeah! We can have an adventure here!!" Junior approved, walking to the next room. 

Mario let the hatchling explore the place, taking the opportunity to leave the luggage upstairs. When he went down he found the kid looking at the wall with pictures hanging.

" Zio , Why is papa sleeping in that one?" Was the first question he got when the hatchling noticed his presence. 

Mario looked at the mentioned photo, sweating with nerves noticing which one he was talking about.

It was one taken a few years back after defeating Bowser again. The older brother thought it was a great idea to take a picture of the moment just to brag about it.

The picture shows the twins side-hugging each other looking proud, in the background Bowser was visible laying on the ground. 

Now he fully regrets forgetting about the photo, thinking of an excuse to say. 

"I- uh- well…" before he can actually get to one the hatchling interrupts him.

"Oh, that's me!" He points at a picture with a baby Junior sitting in the middle of the nest.

That was the first picture he got from Luigi along with a letter full of love for the little one.

"Yeah, you were so little at that time!" Mario looks at the collection of photos with Junior.

"And that's…DQ?... No… DK!" The koopaling said.

He actually just met yesterday the soon-to-be king of the jungle kingdom, having a great time playing with him and Mario, sometimes more bothering than playing, but those were details.

There are more photos of course, there's one with Luigi standing with a trophy of a kart race, some with Peach smiling at the camera or making funny faces. A bunch more with him and Luigi….

"Huh, who are they?" The koopaling asks at the image with the twins and two unknown humans.

A bittersweet smile appears on his face at the memory of that one. "Those are your nonni ".

~

"Keep going Luigi! We're almost there!" Mario yelled at the person behind him, the water barely letting him hear the rushed steps.

"I'm trying!! The water è molto fastidioso"  Luigi complains.

Currently the plumbers are in an attempt to fix a big drain on one of the main streets of Brooklyn.

After being dismissed by his father Mario felt like a failure again, feeling like maybe he is really dragging his fratellino with him. 

He needed to prove he was capable of achieving something.

Like a call from destiny, the notice of a broken pipe led them to that moment.

Jumping towards a drain and actually being able to fix it after some fight with the water, he celebrates with Luigi, feeling like his life was about to change for good the moment they step outside like heroes.

The feeling lasted exactly two steps.

Then he heard something collapsing… someone.

His fratellino took a wrong step and ended up falling, dragging Mario with him. 

After the hard fall both looked at his surroundings. Some kind of old plumbing system.

Luigi wanted to find a way out, , Mario wanted to explore.

Oh how he will regret that moment for years.

One moment they were exploring, the next he heard one of Luigi's tools fall.

It just took one blink to change their lives.

Only with a bunch of plumbing tools as a memory of the day and one photo of his family. The one that Luigi always carried with him in the small notebook he uses to write the appointments.

Just a photo to remind their parents.

~

"Kamek is not the only one?" 

"Nope, our parents are also your grandparents" <They just don't know>.

"Can I meet them?!"  

The excitement of the koopaling punches him with guilt. He saw that hope in Luigi's eyes once, hell, he saw that hope in himself a long time ago.

"... I'm afraid we can't" he tried to keep a neutral tone.

"Why?" 

"W-Well the warp pipe that brought us here was damaged, so we can't go where they are". He simplified the story.

~

There was a time he felt deeply guilty for how they ended up in a new world. It wasn't his fault, Luigi reminded him.

But it felt like his fault. 

He remembers thinking that the moment they arrived in the new world, they almost got separated (luckily Mario held Luigi with all his strength). 

Surrounded by a new place full of strange giant mushrooms. 

Luigi tried to lighten the mood, joking about the irony of ending in a forest with Mario's least favorite food. The human in red didn't respond back, he was too concentrated looking at the warp pipe that brought them there.

Before he could pull Luigi and get back home a toad appeared, calling for help to save their princess who was kidnapped by a monster.

Once again the internal hero in Mario answered the call.

More guilt.

They saved the princess (a lovely woman if he could add), but for some reason when they tried to get back to his world, the warp pipe was found destroyed.

Until this day they have no idea what happend. 

For a while he blamed Bowser. He had to be the one behind that, right? 

Again, he was wrong. The koopa king denied committing such a thing, he was evil but he was no liar. 

Eventually the mystery got buried, days passed exploring the new world, then weeks trying to find a way back home, then months going to more adventures…

Then years, years where Mario found a new home with his fratellino, Peach and an entire kingdom by his side.

His only regret is his own brother. Mario found a place to call home, but Luigi was still…lost. Pretending to be happy but feeling as an outsider most of the time.

That changed. 

One day with a letter from him telling an incredibly weird story.

That brought them to the moment in front of him. With a now happy twin and a bigger family.

Still… the idea of seeing his famiglia again never left his mind, thinking of a way to repair the warp pipe every night since the first day.

~

"Maybe you can wish for a new one!" Junior offered, getting back Mario's attention, innocent of how his words will resonate in the human's mind.

"Yeah… maybe we could" before he could dig more on the idea he changed the subject. "I think it's time for lunch. How does that sound?"

"Great! I'm hungry!" The koopaling said, followed by a grumbling from his stomach.

Both laughed at the sound and Mario walked to the kitchen to make something, returning moments later with two sets of food. Junior helped setting the table. 

"I'm not nearly close to my brother's skills in the kitchen, but I hope you'll like it". Mario said delivering the food to the hatchling.

Junior ate the sandwich with juice and some fruits happily. Once he was finished he took away his plate and then continued exploring the rest of the house until his still toddler mind demanded a nap. 

Mario sighed at the silence, he truly loves the little tornado, but he needed that moment to return his mind to what Junior said before.

"A wish to bring the warp pipe back… that should work! I have to tell Luigi when the week is over" 

…

Shortly after a few more games and stories the night arrived, Mario tucked in Junior on the bed before he laid on his own bed, falling asleep almost the moment his head touched the pillow. 

At some point of the night a soft shaking woke him up. He looked at the source being this a whimpering hatchling.

"I-I had a nightmare" the kid said between sobs, "Can I sleep with you?"

The image in front of him reminded him how Luigi also woke him every time a nightmare or the thunders scared him. Too afraid to leave the room and go to their parents. 

Smiling a little Mario made room, the koopaling climbed the bed making himself comfortable and hugging his uncle. 

Mario lulled the hatchling until the only noise left was soft snores. 

…

The morning arrives and with that an unusually shy Junior greets his uncle.

"Why the long face bambino ? Did you have more nightmares?" 

At the mention of the nightmare the kid shrank further into place, shaking his head.

"N-No…" 

"Don't be shy! Everyone has nightmares! Your mamma woke me up all the time because of that" Mario tried to reassure the kid.

That seemed to work, the face of the hatchling lit up a little with curiosity.

"Even you?" 

"Even me!"

"But you're a hero!" Junior said not buying the idea.

"Even heroes have something to be scared of. It's normal, I bet your papa also fears something".

Junior thought about it for a moment, still not convinced of the idea.

"I'll tell you a secret, bene? " 

The kid nodded.

"One of my current nightmares is that I ate some new power up and ended up turned into an elephant". Mario confessed, shivering at the memory of the dream.

The answer he gets is a laugh, a really loud one, he joins with his own, lifting up the mood.

After the laughs of the hatchling dies he argues, "That's a silly nightmare!"

He pretends to be hurt at that, winning some more laughs. Now that's a way to start the day.

…

"Can I try a power up?!" 

Mario was enjoying a book when the question was asked. Leaving his attention off the pages to look at the hatchling in front of him.

"You… you've never used one?"

"Nope, papa says I'm too young… but I'm a big koopa! I can use one!" 

<That's odd> Mario thinks, contemplating the idea of having an angry Bowser at him or a tantrum from the hatchling…

Yeaaaah… he doesn't want to deal with a tantrum.

"Sure, but just one, okay?" He agrees, the hatchling celebrates and leaves a little fire out of his snout. 

…

"The fire flower! The fire flower!" Junior repeats in excitement once Mario asks him which one he would like to try.

"Great choice kiddo, that's my personal favorite" Mario says with pride, then remembers he's supposed to be a responsible figure. "I know the fire flower sounds exciting, but why don't you try the mushroom first?" 

The koopaling changed his expression to one of pure disgust. "I don't like mushrooms! They taste weird". 

<I can't believe it, he's just like me!> Mario thinks impressed.

"Fine, the fire flower, but let's go to an open place" Mario grants.

They walk for a while to an open space, free of trees and any other flammable things, one of his favorite places to train. 

"Okay, so I'll show you how to control the fire flower" Mario takes out the power up and shows it to the hatchling. He puts his hand in the middle of the flower, feeling almost instantly the fire running through his body and changing his appearance.

Junior took his own flower, closing his eyes and feeling, when he opened the eyes again he tried to look at him, walking towards the little lake that was on the place. 

Watching his reflection, his hair was now with white tips and his shell changed to black with orange and yellow spikes, looking absolutely…

"Awesome!!!" The hatchling celebrate, throwing a fireball to the water.

" Bene, bene , try to calm down and then we can start".

…

The training took all day, with multiple attempts. The first try ended with Mario almost losing part of his mustache. 

As they advanced, the control of the hatchling got better, throwing several fireballs to the right direction and even knowing how to throw more than one in a short span.

Again, Mario understood why their parents didn't let Junior try one before…

Maybe it was the age, maybe it was the fact that Junior is a koopa. Whatever it is, the power up lasted way longer for him. 

The human was already tired and using his last flower, Junior was perfectly fine and on his second flower.

"One last time! It's almost time to go home" Mario said at the playful koopaling that was just throwing some more attacks with his hands to a big rock. 

" Benee… " the hatchling reluctantly accepted, "I just want to try one last thing!".

The hatchling closed his eyes, inhaling a lot of air through his nose and exhaling all through his mouth. Leaving out a flame.

Curiously enough, the usual appearance of the hatchling was back.

Mario looked with surprise. "Junior! Did you see that?!" 

"What? I just wanted to try with my mouth!" Junior looked confused at the emotion.

"No, no! The power up turned off before that! That was your own fire breath!" The human explains, watching how the expression in the hatchling changes, to confusion, then surprise and finally happiness.

"I did it? … I did  it!!" The koopaling celebrate with more flames, this time controlling almost all of them. "I can't wait to show mama and papa!!" 

"They'll be so proud!! I'm so proud kiddo! You did great!" 

…

After that exciting moment the way back was filled with Junior explaining how he was going to show his new control and Mario helping with the plan.

…

Just like that the week passed. 

With Junior training and exploring new power ups. 

Mario shared a lot of stories and adventures that he and Luigi had. Making Junior excited and with a new plan in mind.

"I want a twin!" 

Mario froze at the conviction.

"Erm… you'll have to ask your parents" he just says avoiding more explaining. <Sorry Lu, that's on you>.

They also share some tea parties with Peach once she came back from some royal meetings.

So, yeah, a really normal week full of fun and great times between uncle and nephew.

Now Mario finds himself in the castle of the koopa kingdom, seeing how Junior hugs his parents, talking without stopping about the adventures he had with him.

"...And then he helped me control my fire breath! I can decide when I want to use it now!!" Junior proudly says taking a few steps back and showing his power.

Both Bowser and Luigi  showered the hatchling in praise and listened to all the rambling with a smile, nodding every certain moments or commenting before being interrupted again.

"... And! And! He told me about the great adventures you had together, mama! I want to have adventures too!!" 

Luigi was about to respond, being overtaken by his hatchling questioning.

"Can I have a twin?!" 

The room went silence 

Luigi changed his attention form the hatchling to his brother who was suddenly further from them. 

<You'll pay for it> can be read on Luigi's stare before he gets his attention back to his kid and an awkward Bowser trying to explain that he could not get a twin…but maybe a sibling…one day…perhaps…

…

After some more talking Mario took away Luigi, ready to tell his great plan.

"I know a way to repair the warp pipe!" He let out, not being able to contain more time.

"Scusi?" Luigi looked at Mario as if he had grown a new head.

"Yes! You have a wish! And soon I'll have one! We can wish for it! Isn't it a great plan?!" Mario explains. 

He expected Luigi to reciprocate the feeling, and start to plan how they would wish for it. But when he sees at his fratellino the expression of fear is the only answer he gets. 

"Weegee?" Mario asks with confusion.

"Absolutely not," Luigi says as a whisper.

"What?" The answer takes him by surprise "Why not?! Is a great idea! We can -"

"No Mario! It's too dangerous!" Luigi interrupts. "Bowser lost his life span thanks to the wish! What do you think could be our price?!" 

Frowning Mario responds "I don't know…"

"That's the whole point! We can't know! We could lose what we have now!" Luigi explains trying to calm down.

"B-But Weegee! We know we have them! The wish just takes away something we don't know we have! Maybe we lose some years too!"

"Even if it's just that… I won't take the risk! We have so much to lose!" The green brother takes a deep breath. "I- I know you miss them… I do too, b-but we have to l-let them go… at least the idea… we c-can't use our wish for that…" 

The last string of hope broke with that, Mario was stubborn and wanted to argue more about it, However, seeing his brother like that, afraid and almost crying stopped him.

"F-Fine, sorry… I didn't think that part… I just… It was a great plan!" Mario awkwardly apologized. 

Luigi hugged his fratellone. "I know… It's a tempting plan, but we can find another solution… and hey! You said it before. As long as we're together…"

"...Everything is gonna be okay" both brothers ended, remembering all the times they said that phrase to get courage before a battle, or simply to comfort in moments like this one.

Since they were born they decided to take care of eachother, it doesn't matter which world or universe. 

Mario will always be there for Luigi and Luigi will always be there for Mario.

…

"So… a sibling for Junior, huh?" The teasing tone broke the atmosphere.

"You really had to put that idea on him?! It's going to take months to explain!" Luigi scolded. 

"Oh c'mon! It's easy!" Mario says taking Luigi with his hatchling.

"Hey kiddo, remember the whole twin thing?" Mario asks.

"Yeah, I still want one!" Junior says with his arms crossed and pouting.

"You know what's better than that?! A trip to the Delfino isles! The place your parents were at. I'm sure you'll love it!" 

New sparkles left the koopaling eyes, "I want to go there! I want to go! Mama can we go?!" 

And now the hatchling wanted a new thing, repeatedly asking the question to a poor Luigi. 

Mario took that as his cue to go, ignoring Luigi's claims.  

<It seems they will soon go to another vacation…>