#4: Luigi's Obligation
By Emerson Kluge

From a window high in Mushroom Castle, Luigi watched Mario savagely spur the Yoshi into motion. His brother's mood was the blackest he'd seen since the night before they'd come to the Mushroom Kingdom. The end of a personal affair for Mario had left him in a torrid state; aggressive and pent-up, but completely frustrated for a release. Luigi ran his fingers over his mustache. The indescribable dreams that night kept tugging at Luigi's mind as he looked down on the stables. Mario had confirmed they'd shared those dreams but had always remained completely unwilling to talk about them.

Until Peach was back, Mario would be like that night. He would be perfectly predictable and easily stopped with sufficient counter force. Reacting, tearing with a foul temper at anything daring to block him. Not thinking.

Luigi would need to think for him.

This bizarre abduction made no sense and chief among the mysteries were the doors to Peach's chambers. They were completely unmarred with no sign damage to the locks. The doors were opened, not forced. If Bowser had opened them that meant he had a key or had picked the lock. If it was someone else then there was a small chance Bowser had duped Peach into opening the door herself. That possibility alone signaled far greater danger.

This time Mario's bull-headed charge against the Koopa army would not be enough to secure Peach's freedom. Mario would need covert help and Luigi had to get it for him.

He would go first to the city surrounding Mushroom Castle. Rumors of the goings on in Bowser's realm often circulated between the townsfolk long before they reached any official ear. Although the Mushroom Kingdom's spies did a fine job, there were places they never reached, especially amongst elements of Mushroom society that shied away from government light. Luigi wasn't officially employed by the government though. He hoped those element saw it like that as well.

Footsteps approached. A soft, comforting warmth spread on his back as Princess Daisy pressed close and hung her arm around his neck. A lock of brunette hair fell lightly against his cheek bringing with it the scent of sweet flowers.

The scent of her hair never failed to calm him. He brought his hands up and clasped hers.

She squeezed gently. "Is your brother gone?" Daisy asked, barely above a whisper.

"He is," answered Luigi, squeezing her hands in return.

Daisy lay against him for a few breaths, the stone walls muting all sounds but the clock's rhythmic tick. She pushed her chin closer to his. "You're worried about him."

Luigi sighed and nodded shortly with pursed lips. "Yes," he answered finally. "And Peach. And so are you."

Daisy closed her eyes and nuzzled against Luigi's neck, her hair falling in cascading sheets over her face. "You're going after him."

It was true, staying at Mushroom Castle would only frustrate him as well and he'd eventually go. The earlier he left the better chance Mario had. Luigi turned and put his hands on Daisy's shoulders. "He is my brother, and losing Peach would be the death of him."

Daisy smiled and tenderly lifted his hands from her shoulders. "I know." She placed her hands on his shoulders, staring into his eyes. "And if Mario dies but Peach lives, we'll lose her too."

Luigi cast his eyes to the floor. "So I must succeed."

Daisy's kind hand lifted his chin so he looked at her again. "We all have to succeed," she said.

Luigi smiled and Daisy slid her hand around his neck, pulling him close.

A metallic clink sounded and echoed briefly through the room. "My, my. Plotting on joining the party, are we?" Toad stood in the doorway, staring, an unusually large smirk on his face. "Such a compromising position for a Princess too."

As a foreign official Daisy could never be controlled by Toad the way he did Peach. She released Luigi and turned around, hands on her hips. "Toad, you're a wretched person."

Toad laughed, leaning against his scepter as he bent double. "Oh... my... what a day this had been," he said, straitening. "Ah... hmmm...." He held up a finger as he finished giggling. "I'll make it better for you then. I'll tell you this: Mario is in far more danger than he thinks."

"I figured that already," Luigi replied. "Do you have any useful purpose here?"

"I do! It's just that I suspect you've underestimated."

"Underestimated what?" asked Luigi.

"Oh, nothing definite." Toad waved his hand limply. "Just rumors of things that are... big."

"I asked if you were going to be useful," said Luigi. "Not tell me things I already knew."

"Then I guess the answer's 'no'."

"Toad, I'm going to..."

"Shh-shh-shh! Don't spoil it for me!" Toad whirled and looked over his shoulder. "I want to see how this turns out." He walked away, laughing again.

Luigi sighed when Toad was gone. "I should probably go."

Daisy nodded and turned to him once more, taking his hand and pressing it to her cheek. "Just be careful and come back." she said.

"I will be," he assured, feeling the warmth in his palm. "I will."