Mario and Luigi: Darkness In Light

Chapter 16: Twilight

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"This must be it."

"Looks like it. Let's just grab the orb and go."

"Right, let's-"

"Wait...something's not right here."

"What do you mean?"

"...GET DOWN!!"

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"...Shut up."

"B-But-"

"Shut up! Just get out of my way."

"..."

"DID YOU HEAR ME?! GET OUT OF MY WAY, OR I'LL MOVE YOU MYSELF!"

"...N-No. The darkness is getting stronger, ____. You have to fight it. Please...I can't lose you. Not like this."

"..."

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Mario winced as he put his hand on his right eye as he, and Luigi were both in the living room as they were sitting on the couch. Luigi heard him wince and he glanced over at him.

"Another vision?" Luigi asked, and Mario nodded his head.

"...They're starting to scare me, Luigi." He said as he looked down at the floor. "It's all blurry, but at the same time I sometimes know who's in it. Most of these visions involve you and I...but it's not good."

"Whatever's happening in those visions, we'll make it through it." He said as he put his hand on his shoulder. "Whether it's bad or good, you'll be ready for it. We both will."

Mario couldn't help but snicker at this as he closed his eyes and shook his head.

"You know...I wish I could stay positive like you, Luigi." He said as Luigi gasped a little. "Ever since we found out about Lucian and Salem, it's like...I've changed." Mario looked down at his hands.

"It's like all my confidence just got drained out of my body." He said. "This talk about darkness, light, and a war...it scares me to death, even just the thought of it." He clenched his hands into fists.

"How can we even stop Salem if he's a part of me?" He said as he put his hands on his knees. "I don't want this to effect who I really am, but it looks like it's too late for that. I was confident, happy, carefree, but here I am now...being scared of what Salem can do. We've handled bad things before, but why does this make me feel...unsettled? Why now?"

"Mario...you didn't change." Luigi said as Mario glanced at him. "It's okay to be scared about this. It's what makes us human just like our personalities, and our feelings. We may be heroes...but that doesn't mean we're invincible. Fear is an emotion that we sometimes can't control, but it's okay. It's normal to feel this way. Just like what Salem said to Lucian, stay strong. Everything will be okay."

"..." Mario couldn't help but smile hearing this as he put his hand on his chest. "Thank you, Luigi. You're better cheering me up than I am with you."