At Least Your Brother's Not Gonna Die Because of You!

Okay, Luigi's Waited Long Enough. Let's Celebrate Before He Kicks the Bucket.

"Don't you dare." Mario glares at Luigi. "Look, I know you want to be realistic, but if it means losing you, I don't!"

Luigi won't look at him, so Mario grabs his chin, "Talk to me. What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Thinking." Luigi says absently.

"What about?" Mario pushes.

"Mario..." Luigi starts, now looking right at him. "I know you've been wishing for some sort of miracle, to cure me, and--"

"They are going to grant my wish to cure you." Mario growls.

"And waiting for our family to arrive," Luigi continues. "But can you not hear how hoarse my voice is? How hard I'm struggling to breathe?"

"I'll get the doctor--" Mario starts to leave, but Luigi grabs him, nit letting him.

"No, don't." Luigi begs. "I was warned that this was a sign...my time is almost up."

"Weegee--" Mario's face changes from to determined to upset in less than a second.

"Stop." Luigi shakes his head. "I don't need medicine. I need to commemorate our company's anniversary."

"And we're going to, I promise." Mario insists. "We'll celebrate it tomorrow."

"No, we can't." Luigi shakes his head. "It has to be tonight."

"Are you kidding?" Mario looks put out by this. "As in right this second?"

Luigi nods the best he can, "Uh huh. I don't want to die without knowing the business I share with my brother is a permanent fixture in both worlds."

"Weegee, you're not listening to anything I'm saying, are you?" Mario grabs his hands to squeeze them. "The family is not going to be here until tomorrow. They're gonna see it, and hopefully, the stars get on with granting my wish, so you won't die."

"Mario, I can feel it." Luigi says softly. "When I fell asleep, a part of me was terrified I wasn't gonna wake up."

"Lu--"

"And then I did, and you were right there, like you've always been—with that big protective scowl you aim at anyone who means to cause your little brother harm."

"Lu, it's because I want you safe." Mario says.

"I know. I've always known." Luigi smiles. "There are no words that come close to explaining how it feels to know after all this time, you're still here, protecting me. Wanting to protect me. I never needed anything or anyone else to live for. It's always been you, even before we ever came here, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I need you to do this for me, Mario. Tonight. Please."

Mario can only wipe his face as the tears start to fall, unable to answer, so he nods.

A while later, their friends gather in the room.

"Okay, so I got these super-secret papers Luigi forbade me from looking at." Daisy says, holding up the envelope.

"And I got the package that just arrived today." Peach carries it over to Luigi's hospital bed. "It's so heavy. What's in it?"

"You'll see." Luigi grins, looking at Mario. "You know, I remember every single word you said to me when you saved me from falling into lava. That was the first thing that came back."

Mario goes to hug him, but Daisy protests, "Hang on! No hugs until we open these!", pointing to the envelope and package.

"Whatever you say." Luigi chuckles. "Open the package first. Peach? Daisy? Little help?" he winces in pain.