The FlashBack

The following morning, Luigi wandered through the Mushroom Kingdom, the familiar sights and sounds surrounding him. The kingdom was alive with laughter and activity—Toads traded goods in the marketplace, children played in the streets, and the sun shone brightly overhead. It was almost as if nothing had changed, as if this dimension were an exact replica of the world he had once known. But Luigi couldn't shake the unease that lingered in the back of his mind.

As he walked, he recalled Princess Peach's words from the previous day, her voice echoing in his thoughts:

"Remember, Luigi, follow the rules... and abide by Mario's will. First, no one in this dimension is allowed to oppose Mario's will. Second, no one may leave this dimension without my permission or... Mario's own. And finally... accept that you are part of him, for his will... is now the foundation of the universe."

Luigi had nodded slowly, his heart heavy with guilt and regret. He had then asked, his voice trembling,

"But... but Princess, h-how did you convince him... to spare this dimension?"

Princess Peach had looked at him, her eyes filled with a mixture of sadness and resignation.

"Because... in the end, he is still Mario. But his anger... and his sense of betrayal, especially... especially from you, Luigi, have blinded him."

She had paused, her voice breaking slightly as she continued.

"Didn't you ever wonder how we came to be here? How this kingdom survived? We... we came from an alternate timeline, parallel to the one you came from. The same thing happened there—Mario fell because of you. But in that timeline, he didn't return or transform... he died."

Tears had welled up in her eyes as she spoke.

"And the reason was you too... When Xeno Mario came to us, he... he..."

[FlashBack]

Princess Peach stood trembling before Xeno Mario, her people—the Toads—huddled behind her. Some screamed in terror, while others fainted from sheer fear. Xeno Mario's grotesque smile never left his face as he extended a hand toward her.

"Hello... Princess," he said, his voice a twisted mockery of the Mario she once knew.

"M-Mario? ...But didn't you... didn't you die?" Princess Peach stammered, her voice barely audible.

Xeno Mario's smile widened as he tossed Luigi's severed head at her feet.

"And the reason... he died in this universe too. But I won't stop here."

The Toads behind her gagged at the sight of Luigi's mutilated body, and even Princess Peach felt her knees buckle. But Xeno Mario's laughter cut through the air, sharp and merciless.

"Now, Princess... I'll be generous. To make my game more interesting... you can either live under my rule... or perish with this universe!?" he said, his laughter growing louder.

He extended his hand, waiting for her agreement. Princess Peach hesitated, her eyes darting between Xeno Mario and her people. Before she could respond, he interrupted, his voice cold and impatient.

"Hurry up... I don't have all day... or should I take more souls to play with?"

Princess Peach quickly reached out and shook his hand, her voice trembling.

"We... we accept. Please, take us under your rule and spare us... please."

Xeno Mario laughed, a deep, guttural sound that sent shivers down her spine.

"Millions... of souls to play with. This game just keeps getting better!"

With a wave of his hand, Xeno Mario tore a hole in the fabric of reality, creating a portal to the 12th Dimension.

"Under my rule... and under my laws... you will be safe."

Princess Peach and her people stepped through the portal, finding themselves in a perfect replica of their kingdom. Over time, their minds, bodies, and spirits adapted to the 12th Dimension, becoming one with its higher existence.

[End Of FlashBack]

Luigi's voice broke the silence as he asked,

"He... he gave you a chance to live?"

Princess Peach nodded, tears streaming down her face.

"Yes... And no matter how monstrous he's become... he's still Mario. No matter how twisted his soul is now."

She wiped her tears, her voice steadying as she continued.

"Every day, he grows stronger... and the concepts of the universe no longer hold meaning to him. The abstract, the tangible... none of it matters to him anymore."

"I hope... I hope he can return to who he was before that terrible betrayal broke him... and shattered his trust in you, Luigi."

Luigi's guilt deepened with every word. He couldn't help but wonder what would have happened if he hadn't let go of Mario's hand that day. Would things have been different? Would Mario still be the hero he once was?

As Luigi continued his walk, he stopped and looked up at the sky of the 12th Dimension. The stars shimmered faintly, their light a reminder of the infinite worlds that now lay under Xeno Mario's control. Tears welled up in his eyes as he spoke, his voice barely a whisper.

"Maybe... maybe it's too late to apologize... but I'm sorry for letting go of your hand, my brother Mario... I thought... I thought maybe I could be the hero for once in my life... You were always my ideal, my role model... I just wanted to experience what it felt like to be you... But that's no excuse for what I did... I'm sorry. I hope... I hope you can forgive me one day."

With those words, Luigi continued his journey, tears streaming down his face as he made his way back to the castle.

To Be Continued...

The screen faded to black, leaving only a single line of text:

"The game is far from over..."