(As Long as We're Together) Everything's Gonna Be Okay

Luigi Doesn't Need to Remember, But it Doesn't Hurt, Either

"How is Mr. L?" Nastasia asks as a seamstress makes alterations to Mimi's dress.

"Nothing changed." Mimi confirms.

"So he still doesn't remember anything?"

"No, and it appears that was his last chance." Mimi says sadly. "The spirits on Star Hill have vanished. Or they're hiding. But as long as they're not there, the Hill is too unstable for anyone to be up there."

"I imagine Mr. L isn't doing too well with that news. I know he's desperate to remember everything."

"So you claim that Wario knocked you out and stole both your and the castle's account numbers." The Toad head of mechanics says to Mario when he and Mr. L meet him in his office at the racetrack. "Then used them to wire the Sammer Kingdom aid money into yours."

"Yes." Mario nods, watching the Toad write it down. "And then when I came to, he'd somehow dragged me back to the conference room and claimed I'd been there all night. But apparently his claims that I'd been using him as an alibi was actually him indirectly confessing that's what he was doing to me."

"Hard to believe a man like him would do this." Mr. L comments.

"Believe me, I know." Mario tells both of them. "He made me think..." he looks away, ashamed. "That I could still find a way to be happy with my life."

As the Toad keeps writing his answers down, Mr. L says suddenly, "Mario, I'm so sorry. Seems to me he knew exactly what buttons to push."

"Or maybe I was so desperate for anything to make sense again, I took one look and just ran with it." Mario won't let anyone absolve him. "I was breaking."

"Because I left." Mr. L won't let Mario absolve him either.

"What?" Mario turns to Mr. L. "No, come on, Luigi, I don't--"

"Stop." Mr. L says. "Anyone can see it's at least a little true. My memory didn't come back when we all got sent to the Underwhere. Dimentio destroyed any known chance of that ever happening when he let the Chaos Heart take over my body. And then I left the company, and started up a friendship with one of the people that helped to destroy the world."

"Not denying that." Mario says immediately. "But you don't remember me. Not as your brother, or as my best friend. And there's no way that you remember--"

"Our bond?" Mr. L finishes.

Mario startles a little, but picks it back up, "Point is, as I said, I don't blame you. At all."

"I'm still sorry." Mr. L insists.

"I'm just taking it one day at a time so I can remember everyone's who's still in my corner. Peach, she's not a princess for nothing. Our parents, they make it a point to call me to say they don't need to be here to know Wario's lying. And now Mimi's looking into those old claims about Wario being connected to Bowser to clear my name."

"That's right." The Toad replies.

"And of course, you." Mario looks at Mr. L. "Letting me sponsor your debut at the racetrack so people can see I'm not an embezzler, when you easily could've told me to get lost. I think even with what I'm facing, I'll be just fine."

"Are you sure?" Mr. L asks.

"I am." Mario can tell he still has his doubts. "Really. I promise I'm not gonna bring you down with me."

"And the worst part is, you're bringing your brother down with you."

Mario drops his silverware, "Thanks, Dad.", and walks towards his room. "Thanks for your support."

The dinner table goes silent as everyone stares at Papa Mario, "What'd I say?"

Mr. L flinches as the flashback ends, going still.

"Hey, are you okay?" Mario says next to him, concerned.

Mr. L blinks several times, but stays quiet. For now.

"How is Mr. L faring, anyhow?" Nastasia asks. "Knowing he can't go back up there?"

"He's trying to act like this was always going to happen, but I know him better than that."

"And you?"

"I said yes to being his friend for the same reasons as you. I want to make up for what I did to help end the world. If that means he remembers everything and walks away from our friendship, so be it."

"Are you sure you're okay?" The Toad's questioning seems to have ceased for a moment, as Mario's focus has shifted to Mr. L. "You got this funny look on your face just now."

"Did I?" Mr. L asks. "Sorry, wasn't paying attention." He shakes his head. "Nothing, honest. Nothing at all."

"Are you positive?" Mario pushes.

"Yes I am." Mr. L says with more bravado than necessary. "Just got a little lost in thought for a minute there. Thinking over everything that's been happening to you. You lost your brother in every way that matters."

"No I didn't." Mario shakes his head. "You're alive. That's the only way that matters."

"I hope you know I wasn't blowing smoke when I said I wanted you to be happy." Mr. L says.

"Thanks for that. And for this." Mario gestures around them. "I know you probably would've preferred someone else. But I can't be sorry I wound up here anyway." Then stands up, holding out a hand.

"Thank you."

Mr. L stands up as well, shaking Mario's hand.

"If there's any other questions you think someone might ask, let me know."

"I'll do that." Mr. L promises, as he watches Mario leave the office.

Mr. L's back at home when he gets another flash.

"You're not bringing me down." Luigi tells Mario after following him into his bedroom, nudging Mario on the shoulder. "You know what, what do they know, huh?"

Mr. L's mouth drops open. "That happened. Oh my stars, that actually happened. And I..."

He drops to the couch, and doesn't get up for several hours.