The very mood of the castle was different, traded from a warm, vibrant glow to a damp, frightened depression. It were as though the very foundations of its bright and cheery atmosphere had been stripped of all light. Fear reigned there now. Fear and a settled darkness. And it had fallen so suddenly. It had swept into every corner, every crevice, taking away joy and covering it with worry. Every heart, from the lowliest servant to the King himself, was heavy and dark. Hope, if there had ever been any, was now gone. Replaced with a helplessness that was barely tolerable. And, to be honest, it left Mario and Luigi feeling lost in the resulting chaos.

When Mario had stumbled into the King's court that morning, shouting at the top of his lungs that the Princess had been taken, it had caused quite a stir. But when he shared what he had witnessed, of the attack and the Princess's disappearance, things had really changed. It was as though his words had suddenly sealed the castle up tight. Orders were shouted, individuals summoned, and theories shot out, all with terrible energy. Mario had backed into a corner to get out of the way, and remained there until Luigi arrived, having heard the commotion. And, even then, Mario remained where he was. He somehow felt responsible for what had happened. He had been the one with the Princess when she had been taken. He couldn't help thinking that he could have done more. Somehow saved her.

Now it was too late.

Mario stood very still, alongside his brother, to the right of the great, oaken doors of the audience hall of the King. Not feeling comfortable actually entering, the two plumbers were content to stand beside the threshold, watching and listening to the frantic voices that had gathered in the room within. The Mushroom King had called together all his trusted advisers, generals, and whatever other individuals of importance the kidnapping of one's daughter called for. The audience hall was filled to the brim with toads, and various other creatures that Mario did not recognize, and who all made him exceedingly nervous. The King sat before them, on his thrown, looking far older than he had before. It was as though the stress of the morning had aged him. Dark lines sagged beneath his eyes, a sign that he was tired, even though it was barely even midday. The stress was palpable, and dug into the souls of all present.

"We must act!"

"No, that would be too dangerous! What if they killed the Princess out of spite?!"

"Don't be a fool! The Koopa King would never destroy a pawn of such value! Er...begging His Majesty's pardon."

"No! We should-"

"I think-"

"Let's just-"

The ceaseless chatter and yelling over one another was grating on the nerves, and it wasn't long before the King suddenly stood, in a fast, violent manner that caught everyone's attention and put an end to the bickering. "I did not call you here to try and outdo one another in a battle of strategy! I asked you here to work together to find a way to save my daughter! If you can't do that, then get out! Go find an answer for me, and then bring it here! Do your squabbling someplace else! OUT!"

Toads scattered, creatures skittered, and critters scurried, all trying to evade the King's sudden wrath. He never would harm them, of that his loyal subjects were certain, but no one wished to stand within distance of his anger. Within moments the audience room was cleared, all but the King, Toadsworth, Doctor Toadley, and the two unnoticed plumbers in the corner. The sudden silence was heavy and extremely thick. The Mushroom King raised a hand to his temple with a frustrated sigh, messaging it gently as he turned and sat down heavily upon his throne. Even then, he kept his gaze buried in his palm, trying to ease the pounding in his head, as well as his heart. Toadsworth seemed uncertain, like he wanted to try and encourage his superior, but had no words to give. Doctor Toadley was little different. The room seemed frozen in time, fragmented, except for their hearts, which all beat as one.

It was then that Mario took a tentative step forward. It was instinctive, and even as he did it his mind shuddered and demanded to know why. He would have much rather preferred to stay where he was, unnoticed and forgotten by the door. But something drew him, and he couldn't seem to fight it. Luigi gave him a startled look, obviously intimidated by the royal's anger, and reached out a hand to try and stop his brother from advancing, before he paused and then drew his hand to his chest instead. Mario returned his gaze, uncertain as well, but then took another step forward. Then another. And another. Until he stood in the middle of the empty room, his reflection visible on the polished floor beneath his feet. It recreated his ruffled appearance, staring up at him, trying to gather himself for the right thing to say. Toadsworth and Toadley noticed him first, their eyes latching onto him with something akin to surprise and curiosity.

Finally, Mario steeled himself, and spoke. "Your...Majesty?"

The King dropped his hand from his eyes, looking both exhausted and annoyed as he lifted his gaze to settle it on the short individual. His eyes softened a bit as he recognized the plumber, but that was only replaced by emotional pain when Mario's presence only reminded him of his daughter's absence. He replaced his hand over his eyes, releasing yet another heartrending sigh. "This..." He swallowed. "This is not a good time. I know you wish to return home, but-"

"That's...not what I was-a going to say," Mario interrupted softly. In afterthought, he realized he probably shouldn't have interrupted a king at all, but his heart was heavy, and the pain in their host's eyes had cut him deep. That hopelessness. That fear. Mario knew those emotions. He had struggled through them more than once in his lifetime. And now, to see them in someone else, it seemed to call to him. A whispered call for help that only he could hear.

And Mario had never turned away from a call for help.

"I wanted to ask...what-a we can do to help."

The King's gaze snapped back up to him, gaining that same almost startled look that had now spread across Toadsworth and Toadley's expressions. The royal looked over the young man, taking in his bedraggled appearance for the first time that day. The fellow was decidedly pale, dark circles having gathered beneath his eyes, as though he hadn't gotten any sleep. His clothes were wrinkled, and a button was missing, causing one of the straps on the odd, blue garment to hang down behind him, unlatched from its designated place. His brown hair was ruffled and unkempt, sticking out at strange angles. But the most distressing thing was the large bruise, and blotch of dark red that resided just left of his forehead. It peeked from beneath his hair, half hidden in a way that looked deliberate. The King frowned.

"You're hurt."

Mario mentally winced, both because he had forgotten, and because he had not wanted the King to know. He had not wanted anyone to know. He hadn't been able to check himself, and so had no idea how bad it was, but if it could be noticed from that distance, it had to be more than a light scratch. His head hurt in more than one place. And he wasn't going to mention that he believed the back of his head had been injured as well. He was certain it was nothing serious. Raising a hand to the injury, Mario very lightly touched his fingertips to it. Most of the blood had dried, but the smallest trace of red still showed on his hand when he pulled it away. There was no sense hiding it. "Your daughter's kidnapper got the better of-a me," he explained with a hint of embarrassment. He quickly switched the conversation back to the Princess and the problem at hand. "What are-a you going to do?"

The King became distant once more, releasing a shuddering sigh. "King Koopa has left us with very little choice. He knows that I would do anything to save my daughter, and he will surely use that to his advantage."

"What is it that-a he wants?"

The royal bowed his head, eyes closing. "My kingdom. He wishes to rule, like any tyrant, as much of the world as possible." He frowned. "But I also fear he wishes to do battle."

Mario blinked. He could not understand why anyone would want to cause a war. War took lives, on both sides. War created fear and devastation. Back home, his own country battled against others, fighting a war that was both long and frightening*. It left many in poverty, and darkened the days to a dull grey. Life had become hard, and routines, with no changes and very little hope. Why would someone want that? Why would anyone aim for such a state? Though, Mario supposed that was what a villain like this King Koopa would want. After all, if one had superior numbers, or technology, or weapons, there would be very little fear of war on his side of the battle. But it would be horrific for the fighters of the Mushroom Kingdom, who, from Mario's observation, would stand very little chance.

"Why would-a he wish to do battle?"

"The Koopa are a race that pride themselves in military prowess. They have been feared by many in the past, and in recent years have managed to conquer a few smaller regions. It was only a matter of time before they would turn their gaze here. King Koopa sees my kingdom as a great prize to be won, but he wants to gain it in glorious battle." The King gave a huff of disdain. "And my daughter is his key to my weakness. The key to my kingdom. And the key to our doom." He shook his head, the grief and vulnerability returning full force. "We will have to attack. He has left no other choice. If we sit and wait, nothing but allowing my daughter to remain in danger longer will occur. It is what King Koopa wants, and I'm afraid it is what he shall get." The King lowered his head once more, as though his very own words were laying some enormous burden on his shoulders. "It is all we can do."

Doctor Toadley stood perfectly still, having been listening in silence up until this point. He had been watching the young man that stood before the thrown, as emotion after readable emotion crossed his face and danced in his eyes. Such passion for life the doctor had never known. The short fellow truly cared. He really, truly did. His face was a battle of feelings, something akin to a mix of nerves and pained uncertainty. It was as though he were considering something that was proving to be incredibly hard to do. Concentration focused, and yet, at the same time, fractured. After a moment, Toadley realized what it was that the young man was considering. It filled him with a fondness, but also a small foreboding. With a nod of his shrouded head, Toadley turned to address his king. "Your Majesty, would it perhaps be wise to consider an alternative? Yes it would."

The Mushroom King lifted his gaze and settled it on the odd toad. "I can see no way around it. But if you know of some way, then, by all means, please tell us." His tone was quivering, and held very little hope. He didn't expect any revelations. For him, he already felt certain there was no way out of the situation unscathed. The dark depression that had befallen him could not be lightened, and the burden was crushing. Crushing the very life from his soul. All he could see was his daughter's face, frightened and alone, looking so much like her mother that it gripped at his soul with a bitter twist. It drained him, and he felt his hope slip even further from his grasp.

Toadley sensed his mood and frowned. He did not fear the king. An old seer such as himself held no fears that could be inflicted in anger or hate, but was protected by the ages. His knowledge of the magic arts was extensive, and left him above anyone else's power, at least as far as this particular room was concerned. Scurrying to stand before the thrown in the manner all toads seemed to walk, he came to stand, eyeing the king warningly. It was a look that basically told that the royal was being childish. As though Toadley believed the solution were as simple as anything. "Should we sent someone to rescue Princess Toadstool? Yes, we should. Should war and fighting be an option? Indeed, but not as the tactic, but as a distraction."

Toadsworth cocked an eyebrow at the strange individual. It was only by pure force of will that the adviser tolerated the doctor's company, and that tolerance was now wearing thin. "What are you chunnering on about?" he huffed irritably. "What makes you think that will do any good?"

Toadley's mystic eyes turned toward him with a flash of his own irritation, annoyed by the other's shallow understanding. But, to his surprise and pleasure, Mario had understood.

"You mean, send a few people off-a to get the Princess?" he inquired carefully. "While the army fights the Koopas as a distraction so that-a they can get through?" It actually made sense. Mario had always been one for reasoning. Well, not always, as he could be quite impulsive, but when something needed solving, he was usually very methodical about it. Toadley, in his own, creepy way, functioned the same way. He was seeing it from a fresh perspective. One that actually contained a scrap of hope.

Toadley nodded, a hidden smile growing on his face. His magical senses told him that the young man was starting to give in to the proposition he was considering. This was the moment of truth. The moment that would be the deciding factor of the old prophecy. The moment when fate would either show its hand, or whether it would be made apparent that these two men were nothing but a mistake. Strangers lost in their land. Toadley became silent and expectant. He was very certain of how it would play out, but he was still curious to watch. Watch and observe.

The King shook his head weakly. "It would do little good. I need every soldier here, to defend the kingdom. I can spare no one." There was a long, heavy silence. The room contained nothing but the soft sound of breathing, and the awkward shuffling of Luigi's feet in the corner. The quiet stretched into what felt like forever, before Mario's unusually timid voice suddenly shattered it like glass.

"I'll go."

Luigi almost fainted. No. No, no, no, Mario! Coming out from his corner, the taller brother found himself at Mario's side and laying a hand on the shorter one's shoulder. Mario refused to acknowledge Luigi's touch, knowing that if he looked back he would not be able to handle his brother's frightened expression. He couldn't afford to take it back. Now that he had said it, he was all the more determined. Princess Toadstool...no, Princess Peach, had shown him a kindness that he had not been given in a very long time. Having grown up in a world where everyone was out for themselves, Mario had missed that tender care that she had exhibited toward him and Luigi. Now that she was in trouble, he couldn't just go back to New York and turn his back on her. Something had to be done. He might not be much of a warrior, but he was willing to do what he could to help these people. To help her.

All eyes were fixed on the plumber. Toadley was smiling beneath his veil, eyes focused on the young man with a look of satisfaction. He had just been proven right. Toadsworth was utterly speechless, eyes wide and filled with complete surprise, his spectacles balancing on the bridge of his non-existent nose. And Luigi just looked plain terrified. But it was the king who seemed most shocked. He had risen his head, eyes boring into Mario's very soul with an intensity that almost made the plumber back down. Standing slowly, the royal made his way down the thrown's row of steps until he was directly in front of the small man, looking down at him with stern eyes.

Mario tried to contain his sudden twinge of fear. He never truly realized how compact he was until someone intimidated him. His outgoing spirit usually made up for his height. But, right now, wishing that he could just disappear, he was able to see himself in scale compared to everyone else around him. But, besides the slight widening of his eyes and a hardly perceivable shift backward, Mario stood firm, matching the king's gaze with one of his own.

The Mushroom King blinked slowly, turning all at once in a dismissive way. "You know not what you ask," was all he said, returning to the steps of his thrown.

Mario cocked his head, stepping forward, a hand extended. "Maybe not...but what could it-a hurt?"

"My answer is no."

The plumber flinched back at the stiff answer, his eyes fixed on the royal's back. He couldn't understand what he had done wrong. He would have thought that the king would be glad for the help. That he would appreciate some kind of plan to put in action to save his daughter, but, instead, his reaction seemed almost angry. Frustrated. It didn't make sense.

Toadley was as equally confused. He glared up at the king, his eyes demanding an explanation. "Why is it that y-"

"Because!" the royal suddenly bellowed, his temper now released like the floodgates of rage. "I will not be responsible for the deaths of two outsiders! I will not stand for it, and that is final!" He finally turned with a violent jerk of his head, giving Toadley a cold stare. "I gave you sanctuary in this castle, Doctor; don't make me wish I had not!" The wrathful proclamation echoed throughout the chamber, probably loud enough to be heard for several floors. The anger stayed a moment more in the king's eyes before it faded and the grief returned, as he averted his eyes back to his thrown, motioning absently to Toadsworth as he did so. "Take them back to their chambers, and make sure they stay there. You are all dismissed." He sat down heavily in his chair once more, resting his eyes in the palm of his hand.

"But-"

Mario was about to object, when Toadsworth moved to his side and lightly grabbed his wrist, shaking his head urgently. Mario glanced back up at the king with a desperate air. But then he relented and allowed himself to be turned and led toward the door. Luigi, badly shaken, followed, hands clutched at his chest and hunched over slightly, trying to make himself as small as possible. In this manner, Mario, Luigi, and Toadsworth left the audience chamber. Toadley, however, remained a few seconds more, before he too left, but through a different exit. The king was left alone, with his own fearful, stubborn thoughts.

Toadsworth led the two humans back to their room rather guiltily. He felt sorry for them, for having offered their help only to be treated with such an angry reply. He knew that they could not possibly understand his Majesty's reasons behind it. He could see how frightened the taller one, Luigi, was because of it. The shorter man, Mario, just seemed distressed. They all walked in silence, eyes glued to the floor and expressions betraying nothing but confusion. When they finally made it back to the chamber that had been given to them, Toadsworth opened the door to allow them both in, feeling more like a warden welcoming prisoners back to their cell. A very luxurious cell, but a cell nonetheless.

Mario and Luigi entered without protest, coming to stand just inside the threshold. It was then that Mario lifted his gaze and gave the old toad such a look that Toadsworth could keep silent no longer.

"I beg you forgive his Majesty. He didn't mean any harm by his words."

The smaller brother's eyes grew wide with indignation. "Didn't mean any harm?!" he yelled, his own anger finally released. "He's-a hurting everyone! We offered our help! We gave-a him an option, but he turned us down! His daughter is-a in danger, and yet all-a he does is sit there!" He didn't notice Luigi shrinking back behind him. "He may not have-a meant harm, but he has caused it!"

Toadsworth closed his eyes as though ashamed and grieved. "You don't know his reasons, Young Master."

Mario blinked at being called a master. As far as he knew, he wasn't a master of anything. Especially now that Foreman Spike had taken all they had ever owned. He let the words slid, instead refocusing on the situation. "Then enlighten me! I want to understand! I want to help!" Mario's anger turned into sadness, his tone suddenly pleading. "I just want to help."

There was a long pause, before Toadsworth nodded slowly. He entered the room, closing the door behind him, though he didn't leave the comfort of its side. "His Majesty has not faced such trying times since the first year of his reign," Toadsworth began softly, as though he were afraid he would be heard. "He was newly married to his lovely queen. She was kind, and just, but above all else, brave." The old toad's formidable, white mustache wrinkled above a hidden smile. His gaze was fond as memories came back to him from those days long gone. "She treated all fairly, and was the pillar of strength that balanced the Mushroom King. She was...well loved in this kingdom. Greatly loved."

Luigi's eyes seemed to reflect the pain that was all at once in Toadsworth's face. "...Something happened," he whispered sadly. "Didn't it?"

The old toad nodded, somehow looking even older. "When the kingdom was endangered by an outside threat, not all that unlike the one we face now. A small village, not far from here, was captured, and its inhabitants were facing what was certain to be their deaths."

"What happened?" Mario asked when the toad paused a little longer than he liked. But while Toadsworth seemed to be gathering the strength to go on, the smaller plumber pieced it together. "She went out, didn't she? She went out-a to save them."

Toadsworth nodded again. "She left the castle, against his Majesty's orders. Her heart told her what to do, and she followed it, even if it went against the man she loved most." The old toad blinked back his emotions. "She was not human you know. Not fully. Not all royals here are. Over the years, some have mixed with other kinds, and true human blood has become rare. It is probably that fact that saved the Queen's life, at least in the beginning. She succeeded in saving the village, rallying her subjects to fight back. They won, but at a terrible price. Her Highness was badly wounded, by a magic that cripples the very soul. While she returned home, and lived for some time, it was the dark spell that eventually destroyed her." A pause. "Though not before she had given birth to the king's only heir."

Mario whispered the name before he could catch himself. "Peach."

"Princess Peach," Toadsworth corrected sternly, before his tone softened once more. "The king blamed himself for the loss of the most beloved person in his life, believing that, had he sent an army right away, she would not have grown impatient and left to fight alone. He also believed that, had he forced her to stay, she would not have gone into such danger."

Mario and Luigi lowered their gazes to the floor, all previous fear and anger at the king's behavior now gone, replaced with pity and sympathy. That explained a lot about the king's character. His strange reluctance, and hesitating nature. And the sorrow that seemed permanently gleaming in his eyes, even when he was smiling. This was an old wound. A very old, but deep wound. A wound that Mario, somehow, had pressed into when he had offered to help.

"But what has that got-a to do with us?" he couldn't help asking. He could understand the king being upset over the loss of his wife and the kidnapping of his daughter, but why should he care about him and Luigi risking their lives? He hardly knew them. The day before he had even considered them possible enemies. What had Mario said that had brought about such a strong reaction?

Toadsworth gave a sigh. "You are strangers in this land, and therefore under his care. When you offered to go and rescue the Princess, you used very close to the same words the Queen had, when she had first asked to lead a rescue of the village."

Mario winced. "But...we're not even related...We're not even from-a here. He isn't responsible for us."

"He believes he is," Toadsworth muttered sadly. He lifted his gaze to meet Mario's. "I'm sorry, but I have my orders. You...must remain here." His eyes held a strong regret. Mario tried to understand, but all he could think of was the injustice of it all.

"What are-a you going to do?! Lock us in?!" His voice trembled with a mix of rage, and a barely grasped understanding. He could accept that the king had had a hard life. He could understand the grief of losing someone you loved, after all, he and Luigi had lost both their parents when they were little more than young teens. But that did not give the king the right to force them into a chamber and keep them there. It just wasn't right.

Toadsworth cringed. "I-I'm sorry..." He opened the door and slipped out, too swiftly to be stopped.

Mario lurched forward, grabbing the door ring desperately, only to be greeted by the sound of a heavy bolt fixing the portal in place. It was now locked. He could not, no matter how hard he tried, force it open. Out of anger, the plumber gave the door a firm kick with his boot, ignoring the pain it caused him when it thumped against the solid, immovable surface. "Let us out!" he bellowed, his voice breaking with the intensity. "You've got-a no right to do this!" But his cries went unheard. With a sharp sigh of frustration, Mario turned his back against the door, sliding down to a sitting position on the carpeted floor, his face flushed with anger. He scowled at his hands, though for what reason he should direct his frustration to them not even he knew. Perhaps because he knew they weren't strong enough to free them. Weak, useless things.

The plumber sat that way for several moments, eyes boring into his palms with passionate rage. But it slowly subsided to depressive hopelessness, filled with an ache in his heart that was almost crippling. It was then that a slight movement from in front of him caught his eye, and he looked up sadly.

Luigi stood stiff and uncomfortable, eyes fixed on Mario with a mix of fear and emotional distress. His hands gripped each other in front of his chest, his uneven breaths showing that he was close to panicking. Or, perhaps, he already had, and this was him starting to calm down. He met his brothers gaze with desperation and questioning, but seemed too afraid to start a conversation. Mario saved him the trouble.

Lowering his gaze back to his hands with a weak, tired sigh, Mario closed his eyes with a mental wince. "I'm sorry, Weegie. This is all-a my fault. I should have gotten us out of-a here while we had the chance..." His head seemed to lower even further. "I'm sorry for last night...For everything...We wouldn't even be in-a this place if it weren't for me...I'm so sorry." He fell into a pained silence, too ashamed to look up at his younger brother, for fear of seeing accusation in him. But then, after a moment, he felt rather than saw or heard Luigi move forward. A presence moving toward him, sitting down beside him, before Luigi's voice shakily offered him comfort.

"It's not-a your fault, Mario."

Mario looked up sharply, letting his hands flop down at his sides in obvious frustration. "Don't try to make-a me fell better. It's-a my fault, and you know it. If I hadn't offered to go after the Princess, the king wouldn't have-a felt the need to keep us out of it all. We could have-a just waited all this out, and left when the chance came. But instead..." His teeth ground in self anger as he clenched his hands. He fell silent, too upset to trust himself with an intelligent sentence. Or at least one that wouldn't make matters worse.

Luigi had calmed down considerably, his own fears distracted by his concern for his brother. He recognized Mario's lowest low, something he hadn't seen since that morning back at the shop in New York, back before any of this had all gone wrong. Before the terrors beneath the city, before Foreman Spike, before they had ended up in this crazy world. None of that had happened on purpose. Mario had tried to stop each of those things from happening. He had tried his hardest. But things like that couldn't be expected. They couldn't even be imagined. That was why Luigi was sure, without a shadow of a doubt, that Mario was not to blame.

They sat quietly a moment, before Luigi offered another subject, though not too far from the main problem. "You like-a the Princess." Not a question, and not an accusation, but an observation. Mario flicked his gaze sideways to his brother and then back to the floor, his face flushing a bright shade of pink.

"W-Why do you say that?"

Luigi shrugged slightly. "Well, you normally don't try so hard to do something for someone, unless you like-a them."

"I...She came and talked-a with me last night," Mario offered. He sighed. "No one has done that-a for me since..."

Since there mother had died. She had always been so understanding and kind. Her heart had always been open to all those around her. She had been the type of person that lit up the room whenever she was around. She cooked, giving food away to others she deemed less fortunate than herself. Even when they were just barely gaining enough money to feed themselves. She had held the sweet innocence of her younger son, and the stubborn courage of the older. She had loved everyone, and there wasn't a soul she didn't believe in. She had been wonderful. But most of all, she had loved her sons. She had known just how to reassure Luigi when he was frightened. As a little boy, the darkness had scared him, as his vivid imagination often got the better of him. She would come in and sit on the side of his bed, softly telling him stories until he had forgotten all of his fears, and had fallen to sleep. With Mario, she had always been patient. She had always been aware of his need for independence, but was always there for the moments when that wall of self confidence fell.

Like now.

Luigi felt his heart twist. He blinked the emotion away. "I like the Princess too," he admitted. She did remind him of their mother. The way she had encouraged and comforted him after his and Mario's argument. She had seemed to know just what to say. And now she was gone. Swallowing nervously, Luigi lowered his gaze to his own hands. "Mario...I'm glad that you offered to help find-a her."

Mario looked up at him, surprised, eyes meeting his for the first time since they had sat down. "You...are?"

Luigi nodded. "I-If I wasn't so scared...I-I might have offered the same-a thing." He blushed in turn. "I still think-a we should."

Shocked, Mario just stared a moment, uncertain of how to respond. Of all the people he had expected to back his idea up, Luigi was the last. His younger brother had never been one to jump on board with his impulsive plans, but now, of all times, Luigi was willing. Even though Mario could tell he was frightened. The Princess must have had quite an impression on him, for her to prompt in Luigi such unusual determination. Mario blinked, shaking his head in stunned disappointment. "But we're locked in. There's-a no way for us to g-"

Click

The sound was subtle. Slight. Almost unnoticeable even in a dead silence. Both brothers froze at the sound, eyes meeting in confusion, as though each expected the other to know from where the noise had come. Together, they looked up at the door at their backs, before slowly making it to their feet. Mario exchanged a final look with Luigi, before stretching out a hand to grasp the great, brass ring of the door. He held it a moment, afraid to hope, and then gave a sharp tug. With a slight creak, the great wooden portal opened, slowly. Ominously. Mario and Luigi stepped back, surprised, and a little uneasy. There was no one out in the hall, even when Mario leaned out and looked up and down its length. Someone had unlocked the door...but they were no longer in sight.

Luigi was shaking, wringing his hands nervously. "W-What do we do, Mario?"

Mario stood undecided. A chance had been given them, by someone. He had wanted to go so badly, and now here he was with a clear path. But he was hesitating. He was uncertain. But the Princess was in danger. These people needed help, and the King needed help, even if he didn't want it. The situation was calling out to Mario, and something deep within him answered.

After all, Mario had never turned away from a call for help. And he wasn't about to start now.

"Come on, Luigi. Let's-a go get the Princess."

*World War II- At the time period I set this story, World War II was a burden the shoulders of everyone. Rich or poor. It was a hard time. My grandmother, who is still alive today, was a little girl in London during World War II, and she remembers the bombings. Her little friend across the street was killed. She still remembers what that was like.