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To say Luigi was nervous would be an understatement.
He’d been in space before, yeah.
He’d even been in space alone before, but he’d thought that was all behind him.
Apparently not.
Mario had insisted he’d needed to show his younger brother something amazing so, Luigi followed him aboard the Odyssey. He’d sat happily in an armchair and played with the frog plush that sat among the various souvenirs and knick-knacks. He’d relaxed at the thrum of the engine, humming a little tune of his own while Mario stared out the window excitedly.
Luigi assumed his brother was actually going to show him something awesome, why would he lie?
He wouldn’t.
Luigi followed him blindly just as he always did.
It was only as they landed did he begin to notice something was off.
Mainly that things were starting to float around him. He then realised he also felt much lighter than he did only a couple of hours ago.
This realisation of familiarity sent waves of horror through his veins.
He knew this feeling too well.
“We’re here!” Mario grinned as he ran to his brother’s side. “C’mon! You have to see this! It’s incredible!”
Luigi wanted to throw up.
However, he chose to force a smile and follow his brother out of the ship - away from safety and into the dangerous unknown.
He trusted his brother more than anything in the world. Mario would never knowingly put him in harm’s way.
Still, his loyalty did waver slightly as he walked out onto the ship’s deck and stared out at the cold, bare, hellscape before him.
“It’s the moon!” Mario was practically giddy. “Like, the actual moon!”
Luigi swallowed and nodded slowly, trying not to let panic consume him.
It was just so big and empty.
Mario whooped as he jumped up in the air, making Luigi squeak in alarm. Mario then dove downwards so he’d slowly drift back to his brother’s side.
“Can you believe it!?” He grinned ecstatically.
“I mean... wow.” Luigi nodded, not daring to leave the deck.
Mario laughed at him and grabbed his wrists.
“C’mon!” He urged jovially.
“Mario! Wait-“ Luigi tried to scramble free, but Mario was already pulling him onto the moon’s surface and beginning to swing him around.
“I won’t let go of your hand!” He promised as the force made them both leave the ground.
Luigi swallowed nervously but nodded.
Together they floated gently, Mario never loosened his grip on his brother. Luigi actually began to relax a bit.
“This isn’t even the best part!” Mario insisted eagerly. “You’ve gotta see the view! That’s what I wanted to show you!”
Luigi cocked his head curiously but, before he could ask, Mario dove down and together they landed on their feet.
“You know I’ve seen space before?” Luigi checked awkwardly.
“Yeah, duh.” Mario huffed with a smirk. “But you’ve never seen this!”
Luigi doubted it but followed Mario regardless, pleased that his brother still held his hand supportively.
They arrived at a large cliff with a strange flower beneath.
“Okay, I’ll go first.” Mario nodded reassuringly. “Just follow my lead and don’t worry.”
Luigi nodded with a smile, allowing his brother to separate.
With an excited whoop, Mario leapt onto the nearby flower and was sent soaring high into the air. Luigi watched as he drifted impossibly higher before disappearing over the clifftop.
“C’mon Weegee!” He called only a second later. “I promise it’s worth it!”
Luigi glanced at the flower and took a deep breath. He too dashed forward and jumped onto the flower.
His breath left him as he shot up into the emptiness, he went much faster and higher than his brother.
“Whoooo!” Mario cheered from somewhere down below.
Luigi was not as excited.
In fact, it felt like he became suspended in the empty darkness that surrounded him, suffocating as it all closed in on him.
He was so achingly alone.
It felt like hours before he slowly fell back down – by now so winded he didn’t even try to right himself.
But, as usual, Mario was there. He scooped Luigi out of the air once he was close enough and practically placed him onto his feet.
“There!” Mario nodded, pleased. “That wasn’t so bad, right?”
Luigi could only blink numbly as Mario grabbed his hand and dragged him along.
“This is it, Luigi!” Mario announced proudly. “The view I wanted you to see! Isn’t it beautiful?”
Luigi stared at Mario’s gleeful face for a moment longer before finally looking out.
Once again, his breath was stolen away though this time it was not fear – it was pure awe. In fact, he found it rather emotional. His eyes stung with bizarre tears as his throat burned.
He stared out at the earth in all its splendid beauty.
It made him feel oddly disconnected – like he had left his body and was on a whole new plain of existence.
He was literally staring at his planet, his world.
His home.
Mario was practically vibrating beside him in anticipation.
So many things came to Luigi but, when he opened his mouth only one thing came out.
“We’re so small.” He breathed.
Mario pouted and glanced at his brother.
“Really? That’s what you’re taking from this?”
“It’s beautiful, Mario.” Luigi nodded, unable to take his eyes off the earth. “But man... we’re so tiny in the grand scheme of things.”
Slowly, he sat down and crossed his legs.
“I mean... All of Bowser’s plans... they are meaningless. The world existed before him and us... and it will continue to exist even when we’re all long gone...”
Mario shuffled from foot to foot uncomfortably.
“But... we’re alive.” Luigi continued, almost dreamily. “We exist and we live this incredible life... what did we do to be so privileged? So lucky to exist together on that small planet in this huge galaxy in the vastness of space?”
Luigi shook his head.
“How many babies are being born down there? How many people have passed away? Everyone is just living their lives and we’re just... up here, completely distanced from them in everyway.” He took a moment to breathe. “Yet, they’ll never see this... we’re all human but somehow, we were lucky enough to be here and to see this.”
Mario sat next to his brother, unsure of what to say. Almost worried he’d actually freaked his brother out and made him fall into an existential crisis.
“Thank you.” Luigi finally tore his gaze away so he could look into Mario’s eyes. “For bringing me here.”
“You’re welcome!” Mario beamed happily.
They sat in contemplative silence for a few minutes.
“Your reaction was a lot better than mine.” Mario finally piped up. “I just said it was cool.”
They both burst out into laughter, somehow becoming hysterical and gasping for breath.
“I did!” Mario howled as he wiped away a tear. “I swear!”
“Why am I not surprised!?” Luigi cackled, gripping his stomach as his sides ached.
Both were red in the face by the time they managed to calm down, both still giggling fondly as they relaxed once again.
“I could sit and watch this until the end of time.” Luigi finally admitted, calming down completely.
“Sorry little brother.” Mario shrugged. “There’s no way I’m leaving you here to live on the moon forever.”
Luigi laughed a little at that.
“Stay?” He asked hopefully.
Mario pretended to think about it.
“I guess another five minutes or so wouldn’t hurt.” He shrugged easily.
They sat back together and simply watched their world in companionable silence.