New Story Underway

Firey Love Through Burning Sands Chapter 5: Welcome to Sarasaland!

Luigi couldn't help but marvel at how the warp pipes worked.

Sure, his first experience with them caused him an insane amount of trauma, but he couldn't help but admire the engineering that made it possible. The streams of magic that flowed through them were strong enough to suck your body into its current but concentrated enough to let you safely travel to the farthest reaches of the known kingdoms (provided that you knew your way around).

After going through the pipes to go back and forth between Brooklyn and the Mushroom Kingdom, his fears about the pipes were slowly getting better, even becoming one of his favorite ways to travel. The rosy-pink clouds that surrounded the see-through walls of the warp were kind of soothing to look at.

But he sure wasn't feeling that way now.

He held onto Mario's hand and shuddered, the two of them and Toad following the princess as she guided them to the Sarasaland pipe, the ride seeming to take an eternity. The clouds that surrounded them did little to ease the pit that grew in his stomach as they passed through, the strong currents endlessly pulling at him from all sides. Mario, meanwhile, had his focus mainly on Peach, not taking his eyes off her for even a moment.

When he made the journey to win the Kong Army and save Luigi, the furthest that they had gone via warp pipe was outside of the Mushroom Kingdom's borders. Now, they were using the warp pipe to get there instead of walking the rest of the way.

Why?

"Hey princess," Mario shouted, "Where exactly is Sarasaland?"

Peach didn't turn around to look at them, instead looking dead ahead as she searched for the right pipe.

"Just beyond the Dry Dry Desert. Both kingdoms use the desert as a neutral border, so we're going through the warp to get to the main gate away from that region."

He felt Luigi's grip on his hand tighten as the smell of sulfur wafted into the pipe.

The pipe to the Koopa Kingdom was close.

Mario returned the tightened grip in an attempt to comfort his brother.

"Non preoccuparti, Luigi. Nothing can hurt us as long as we're together."

The group moved closer to the wall of the tube, not willing to be sucked into enemy territory as they passed by. After an agonizing moment, Peach's voice rang out as she grabbed Toad.

"The Sarasaland Warp is just up ahead! When I say go, we're going to make a right turn! Ready?"

The brothers took a deep breath.

"Set."

They held onto each other tight.

"GO!"

And with a sharp turn, they followed the princess and the Mushroom boy down the warp.

Here we go!

Meanwhile, in Sarasaland...

The Bela Nandi held the reputation as not only one of, if not the deadliest, army in the land but also as the only all-female military group in all of the known kingdoms. While the armies of the Jungle Lands and the Koopa Kingdom had great numbers and strength, the Bela Nandi seemed to surpass them both with their genius war tactics and stealth. And seeing as the empire was spread out between four distinct kingdoms that were ruled by the Queen, they were also considered one of the most diverse.

Among the ranks that gathered in the throne room stood Daisy, fully dressed (if not a bit winded from making a mad dash not to be late) with a golden bow in her hands as they all talked to each other, waiting for their general and fellow battle sister to arrive.

Suddenly, the doors opened.

The chatter from the Bela Nandi hushed instantly as the sound of metal clashed together. The warriors lined themselves against the walls as Taraji strode through the room, twin Ida swords in hand. Daisy and the warriors saluted her as she climbed the steps that led to her throne.

"Ukunqoba Nodumo, Bela Nandi!" The queen saluted her fellow warriors as she stood.

"Ukunqoba Nodumo, Indlovukazi!"

With a nod, her soldiers went back to formation, herself sheathing her blades as she addressed them.

"My sisters, Princess Peach of the Mushroom Kingdom will be arriving shortly with her companions for an urgent matter of upmost importance. As to what that matter is, I am not a liberty to say for now. In the meantime, these are your assignments: Princess Daisy and Squadron One, you will be meeting our guests at the Warp Pipe Border away from the desert."

Daisy looked up at her sister, a surprised grin slowly growing on her face. She was going to lead her first assignment! Was it a small one? Sure, but it was better than being stuck in the palace.

Taraji glanced over as the princess failed to keep a stoic expression at the announcement, her own lips forming a tiny smile before continuing on.

"Squadrons Two, Three, and Four, you will be guarding our borders from here in Birabuto to the Easton Islands. The rest of you, continue with your training. We will also be anticipating more guests soon, so we must be vigilant at all times. And let's not forget, the Harvest Festival is almost upon us, so I expect all of us to be ready for that as well."

With a final salute, the army dissipated and headed for their assignments, Daisy walking with her squadron.

"Daisy, a moment if you please," Taraji spoke, getting down from her throne.

The princess froze, turning around to face the queen. Taraji placed her hand on her shoulder, studying her for a moment as doubt and worry war on in her mind.

"This is your first official assignment as my heir presumptive. I understand that you're excited, but remember that you must-"

"Be careful. I know, I know," Daisy interrupted, shuffling her quiver of arrows to the other side. "You worry too much, Raji. I'll be fine! Besides, we know Peach. She's cool."

The queen sighed, her grip on the princess' shoulder tightened slightly.

"Daisy, this is serious. This isn't a visit between friends. This is a request for aid. I am entrusting you with the safety of her and her companions and for you to lead them straight to the palace. I need you to pay attention to your surroundings so no getting distracted. And don't tarry too long. The more time it takes, the more time is wasted. Do you understand?"

Daisy dropped her head in exasperation before nodding her head.

"Yes, ma'am."

Taraji relaxed for a moment, lifting Daisy's chin to take one last glance at her face before letting go.

"Good. Now, go on. They're waiting for you."

The princess turned to leave, but not before a mischievous smirk spread on her face.

"Don't worry, sis. I'll make sure not to scare her companions too badly."

Before the queen could say anything else, her sister ran out of the throne room with a laugh, her bow clutched tightly in her hand as she nearly tripped over her feet in order to catch up with her squadron.

Taraji sighed, feeling a stress-induced migraine coming on as she plopped back down on her throne.

"UGrambi omkhulu nokhokho, lo mntwana uzoba ukufa kwami."

Near the back gates of the city, a rumble was heard as the warp pipe next to the walls expelled four beings out of its bowels. As Princess Peach and Toad landed gracefully on the soft soil that surrounded it, Mario and Luigi shot out of the tube and hit the ground with a hard thud, Luigi landing on top of his brother.

"Are you two okay?" Peach asked as Luigi scrambled off of him and helped Mario up, the latter groaning in pain.

Their eyes wandered around the area, in awe of the section that they landed in. The land that surrounded them was a jungle, not unlike the Jungle Kingdom of the Kongs, but as Mario followed the wall towards a clearing nearby, the sands of the Dry Dry Desert seemed to blow towards him. Luigi couldn't help but stare at the gates themselves, taking in the intricate design of the archways and columns that supported them. The edge of the archways had lotus blossoms and daisies chiseled into the stone, and the columns had flowering vines etched into them. The doors seemed to sparkle like gold, the knocker a giant sunflower. Peach, meanwhile, stared straight ahead, her hands trembling slightly from anxiety.

"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go!" Toad exclaimed as he made a rush towards the gate.

Quick as a fox, she darted her hand out and pulled the eager Toad back, setting him back down in front of her.

"Wait a minute. Before we are allowed to enter, there are some things that you need to know first."

Mario, Luigi, and Toad paused.

"The Sarasaland Empire stretches over four kingdoms, making it one of our most diverse nations. With that in mind, there are certain citizens that might look familiar.

"Like?"

Her explanation was interrupted as the sound of a war cry echoed through the air, followed by the sound of the gates opening and archers drawing back their bows.The sudden ambush caused Luigi to screech out a startled yelp as he ducked behind Mario, the warriors circling them. Mario immediately went into a fighting stance as he began to see Bombshell Koopas, Kumos, Ganchans, Gaos, Goombos, and Bunbuns. He even saw some Toads sprinkled among the ranks that currently held them all at spear-point. But nothing prepared him for what they saw next.

Right among the thrall of turtle-like creatures and moving stone heads were humans.

Real flesh-and-blood humans like them.

"Che cazzo?!" Mario blurted out as the ring around them got tighter and tighter until Princess Peach spoke.

"Please! We seek an audience with Queen Taraji!"

The soldiers paused for a moment, looking around for a response.

"Yima phansi!" A voice rang out.

The warriors parted as a figure approached them, a bow and arrow clutched tightly in their hands. Luigi peaked over his brother's shoulder and was taken aback by the sight of who he thought was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

Her skin was a light brown and dotted with freckles from her face down to her arms. Her raven black hair was twisted into cornrows that ended with an afro puff that started at the crown of her head to the nape of her neck. Her brown eyes were wide as he noticed white dots painted under them and two white dots on her forehead and chin that were bordered with yellow lines on both sides. She was dressed in a dark orange top that was decorated with daisies at the hem and flared at the bottom into a skirt whose sides were split, revealing tan pants. On her head was a delicate gold chain that wrapped around the sides of her temples and down the middle of her head with an orange jewel dangling from it. Her arms were decorated with an arm cuff on her left arm and a single gold bracelet on her right wrist. Two gold studs adorn her ears, and a small golden hoop piercing decorated her right nostril.

The brothers watched as Princess Peach's shoulders relaxed before putting a gloved hand on her chest and extending her other hand out for the stranger to take.

"Ukunqoba Nodumo, Inkosazana," She spoke.

The woman was still staring at Luigi for a moment before her face broke into a wide grin as she turned to the blonde-haired princess before her, placing her own hand on her heart and grasping the gloved arm with hers.

"Ukunqoba Nodumo, Usisi,"

Peach gave a yelp as she was dragged into a tight hug, her friend's laughter echoing into the jungle behind them.

"Peach! It has been too long!"

"I know, Daisy! And I wish we were seeing each other again under better circumstances."

The Mario Brothers and Toad all stared at the two of them, confused (and a little bit terrified) as the two royals reconnected.

"And who are they?" They heard her ask, gesturing to them.

Princess Peach stood up straight, momentarily forgetting that they were there.

"OH! Princess Daisy, this is Toad," She started, as the Mushroom boy walked up to her and shook the other woman's hand.

"Nice to meet you!"

"And these are the Super Mario Brothers, Mario and Luigi."

Mario tipped his hat to the archer, a small smile on his face. Meanwhile, Luigi gave a shy smile and a wave.

"H-hello there, your Highness." Luigi stuttered.

Daisy gave a huge smirk as she faced the green brother.

"Well, h-hello there yourself!" she giggled.

Luigi's face turned bright, tomato-red as the squadron opened the city gates again.

"Welcome to Birabuto, the capital of the Sarasaland Empire!" Daisy said, their guests gasping in awe. "Now, come! My sister awaits our arrival!"

Taking Luigi's hand, Daisy dragged him through the city gates and towards the palace, Peach, Mario, and Toad following close behind them as the gates closed with an echoing thud.

The Guardians of Narnia Update!

Hey Guys! I decided to move my Guardians of Narnia over to Wattpad, and Chapter 2 was just updated! 😁

Please give it a looks and remember to Vote, Comment, and Share!

Also be on the lookout for FAQ's and artwork about our new Guardians!👀

Can't wait to see you guys in the next chapter! ❤️

Thank you @millylotus and everyone who got me to 5 reblogs!

Humans are Space Orcs: First Encounter

Planet Hedar 9-BG6, 2135 GE (Galactic Era) 

We had scheduled meetings between the leaders of the various species of sentient life that have become members of the United Inter-Galactic Federation with the topic of allowing a newly introduced species to be inducted into our council.

Humans, from the Level 10 Death-World, Earth.

I, Mokar'ak, diplomat of the Gracovkar, have been tasked to meet with the captain of the Earth starship, the U.S.S Castaway, as their personal guide and as a secret investigator to learn more of our potential allies. So here I stand at the docking bay of my home planet, waiting for their ship to come to port. Everyone in the UIGF had heard tales of the feared Apex Predators from Earth, how they were advanced, but also the most primitive of the known sentient life forms in the known galaxies.

The first time any other lifeform had ever gotten into contact with the human race, they had just successfully colonized the red, neighboring planet in their solar system. Everyone, my planet included, had sent numerous amounts of disguised scouts to observe the humans and report back to us. The accounts varied from species to species with some reporting humans with different colors, cultures, and regions of their home planet and their newly acquired sister planet. However, the way they described the humans was mostly the same. They were bipedal creatures, walking upright on two legs with a foot on each leg and having only two arms, a hand and five fingers on each one. They had one head with two eyes, one scent reciprocal, a mouth with small teeth, and two sound canals that were surrounded by fleshy skin and cartilage to protrude out from the sides of their face. They did not have scales or spikes of any kind, only skin that, for some humans, would burn as soon as they stepped outside and faced their star. They did have some fur (if you could call it that), but it was mostly on the top of their heads and/or on their faces. They had no claws either, just some built-up keratin that protruded from the front-side of their hands. They held no powers, such as telepathy like the Vradari of Fenu-5 or night vision like the Smenuru of Ydriv-B43, nor did they have any sort of natural body armor like the Hmunurbe of Vega-0943-P or the vast intelligence of my own people. In fact, they had no outward display of strength or power of any kind beyond their crude and primitive weaponry that a small Xlarion child could dismantle.

At first, we were relieved, if not slightly disappointed. We had heard some dark tales of humans killing each other with such malice and contempt that some members of the Federation were convinced that they were nothing but a planet of savages. But with this rather unimpressive report, we thought that though they were a threat to themselves, to us, they were more or less harmless.

We were wrong. So very, very wrong.

The Degartsi of planet Bul’nimsat-3534-L were a way-fairing race, conquering smaller, more obscure planets for their vastly growing empire and enslaving the surviving inhabitants by helping them drain the resources of their planet and any other planet they came across. Standing at 9 rigmas tall (10 ft by Earth standards), they towered over many of the other life forms in the known galaxies, with multiple limbs and a vast arsenal of weapons of mass destruction, both close and long ranged, as well as a full militia fleet with thousands of spaceships, housing well over 100,000 soldiers, both Degartsian and slave alike. They were ruthless, showing no mercy to any lifeform on their newly conquered planets.

Old, young, it didn’t matter.

The sheer notion of resistance against them was to guarantee the total annihilation of your entire species and any neighboring planet that would try to assist you. Though the UIGF were able to push them away from the planets under the Federation’s protection, it did not come without enormous casualties.

I shuddered at the memory of the day I saw Degartsian ships leave the atmosphere of my own planet in a hasty retreat when I was a youngling, my parents being included amongst the dead after they tried to protect me and the rest of my village after they laid waste to our planet, desecrated our most sacred spaces, burned our crops, taken over our mines, and destroyed our homes. By the time the Federation were able to cause them to retreat, the Gracovkar were almost completely wiped out, our population going from around sixty million to only ten million.  

So, when the horde set their eyes towards the human home-world, none of the surrounding Federation members dared to help them. We were even more convinced of the planet’s destruction as the leaders of the planet had refused the horde’s demands for surrender. 

Instead, they declared war. 

We watched with bated breath as their forces closed in on the little blue and green planet. Surely, such a small planet wouldn’t stand a chance against these cruel overlords. All of the Federation planets began to say their prayers and hold memorial services for the planet, expecting the battle to be over in an hour. With such archaic technology that they had, there was no chance that they would win. The fact that they thought they COULD stand a chance was impossible and, in Earth terms, stupid. Noble, but stupid.

That was until the humans began to wipe them out. 

To this day, we don’t know what really happened. The majority of the Federation planets had banned travel to Earth due to the impending war, but what few that dared to be near the planet’s solar system all had different testimonies. The J’rutsi people of Quasvi-43G claimed that the human’s atmosphere was filled with noxious gasses that had the horde fleeing back towards the stars. The Muvriadians of Wi’ox-9-3FD reported that the humans had their own weapons of mass destruction that rivaled the size and number of the Degartsi. The Kniphors of Umortina-F435 swore up and down that the humans simply brought down their ships and then hunted the Degartsi until the horde was too tired and too depleted to carry out their plans. 

Whatever the cause was, the Degartsi certainly never discussed it, even after their complete and total surrender. Their armies were depleted, their ships were destroyed, and in their surrender, they were confined to their original, dying world, never to traverse the galaxies again and would free any planet that they had enslaved, alongside giving the planet’s inhabitants reparations.

It was at this moment that I heard the low, ground-trembling rumble of a starship as it made its decent from the atmosphere to the docking bay. The ship’s interior was a bright, almost iridescent white, which made the name of the ship stand out in bold, black letters on one side. The once quiet deck began to bustle with activity as the arrival of this new ship brought with it all the curious and cautious alike to welcome our new guest. 

Then, the docking bay went silent as with a whoosh, the hatch of the ship opened and one, lone creature stepped out, dressed all in white and a strange, round orb on their head, which I began to realize was a helmet as they began to take it off and reveal themself. 

The helmet gone; the face of the human was clear. They were of moderate build, dark brown skin and head full of black, thick braids on top of their head. I couldn’t help but stare. Surely, they never said anything about the humans being beautiful. 

I guess they forgot to add that to their reports. 

The human glanced around for a moment before I remembered what I was actually there for and made my appearance. I turned my translator on in order to communicate, seeing as Gracvese wasn’t understood by most of the galaxy and made myself known. After getting their attention, I introduced myself. 

“Greetings, human. My name is Mokar’ak of the Gracovkar. Welcome to the planet Hedar. I will be your guide and translator during your stay here. And what may I call you?” 

The human stared at me, the eyes of an apex predator shining with interest on my form. Then, baring her teeth in what I briefly remembered was supposed to be a form of positive assurance, the human spoke.  

“Hello, my name is Tsiri Stephens, I use she/ her pronouns, and I bring you greetings from the planet Earth.” 

I hate to ask for help again, but I’m homeless right now.

In the last year, I’ve had to move five times. My parents are both emotionally and verbally abusive, and my sister was frequently physically abusive(on one occasion, leading to an injury that’s left me disabled). My property was destroyed on multiple occasions, I wasn’t allowed to eat, and I was locked out of the house several times. I feared one of those nights, I’d be left in the rain with my phone taken away, and not let back in, no way to contact anyone.

I had to run in the middle of the night a few months back. I left behind more than half of my things and my beloved dog, Dewey(who, up until this week, I was trying to strategize bringing to live with me) because I feared for my immediate safety. What’s worse, when I moved in with a friend right after, I left my suitcases on their fenced-in porch and someone stole one of my four bags, so I lost a quarter of my things less than two weeks after having to leave the rest. My entire life fits in just three suitcases now.

I had been living with a friend and working on getting health care to treat my injuries and get back on track weight-wise, and then get a job as soon as I physically could. But I didn’t have time—our other roommate abandoned us even before the lease was up. I wasn’t making money, and my friend just lost their job due to covid. We couldn’t afford rent in the expensive area we were living in, plus our roommate trashed the apartment before she left and cut contact. We didn’t have the funds to continue living there, so we had to pick everything up before I even got settled and move again.

Both my friend and I are disabled, so they had to leave some of their things behind, and we ended up burning through both of our savings getting out here. The plan was to temporarily crash with their mom, just until we could get an income and money enough to pay for a place of our own. But within three days of being there together, their mom threatened us, verbally abused us, and watched us. She installed multiple cameras, one in a common area and one in our bedroom, and used them both while she was home, to watch us when the door was shut, and while she was at work. She did this without knowledge or consent, and we were entirely unaware we were being watched at first. We spent Thursday night with the door barricaded because neither of us felt safe without it.

Friday, we were kicked out of the apartment with my friend’s cat, and abandoned on the curb with our bags. We had to scramble for money for an Uber and a hotel room, and we ended up waiting for almost three hours at night, when it was 37 degrees. We don’t have money for toiletries, food, or water, and we only have a few days of safety where we’re at.

Please, if anyone can spare even a few bucks to pay for something to eat, and another day or two of warmth and shelter: @/ipetrera on venmo, @/isapetrera on paypal, or our gofundme, which also has pictures attached.

This is money cat. He only appears every 1,383,986,917,198,001 posts. If you repost this in 30 seconds he will bring u good wealth and fortune.

Awww, it's okay Hun! 😭

Prince of Egypt is actually one of my childhood favorite films, and I had that brainworm for the longest!

I have less angsty stuff on my AO3 and on this Tumblr as well as more bowserxreader stuff I wanted to try.

Hope I didn't hurt ya heart too bad.🥺

Once I Called You Lover

Luigi franticly palmed his way through the unusually darkened Koopa Kingdom and toward Koopa Castle, determined to see the king, plague of darkness be damned. Potholes the size of washtubs pitted the ground around him, nearly causing him to trip over as he grew ever closer to his destination.

Bowser was going to listen to him this time, he will make sure of it!

He just had to.

There was too much at stake if he refused now.

For him and Luigi both.

He sighed as he felt his way towards the main gate. The Koopa guards had long abandoned their posts when the fourth plague came in the form of a swarm of flopters, so there was no fear of being stopped for trespassing. Luigi knelt down and felt around the ground before finding an abandoned torch before venturing closer to the lava moat and dipping one end, lighting it. Though the darkness still obscured his view, the glow of the lava moat and his new torch allowed him to make out the extensive damage the castle took from the bob-omb sized balls of fiery hailstones from two plagues back. Chunks of obsidian stone we're missing from the castle's battlements, dashed to pieces by the fiery balls of ice. Stone statues of the gargantuan Koopa we're missing limbs if not completely smashed all together. As he turned his gaze from the building, he felt his heart constrict with sympathy. Whatever damage Bowser's castle had sustained was nothing compared to the absolute devastation that his citizens' homes endured. The few he was able to see had irreparable damage, ranging from nearly being burnt to the ground to being almost crushed by an giant hailstone, or both. Many of the citizens who lost their homes had to take shelter in one of their gaming arenas, leaving the streets completely empty.

So much destruction. And for what?

He placed a hand over his face before taking a shuddering breath.

How did it come to this? He thought to himself.

What was supposed to be a simple plumbing job with Mario to "save Brooklyn" had turned into a few months of a dream turned waking nightmare. And all because of a certain king whose selfishness was going to get others even more hurt.

Including himself.

Suddenly, the castle gates were opened, causing the timid man to jump. He looked down as Kamek, the royal Magickoopa and one of Bowser's closest advisors, glared at him through his thick coke-bottle glasses.

"What do you want?" He sneered, his beak turned up in a snarl.

"I... I need to speak with Bowser," Luigi stammered, holding the light closer to himself.

Kamek scoffed, "Oh, do you now? What else could you possibly have to say, hmm? What? Was turning our only water supply into lava not enough? What about the frogs? Or our moo-moos dying? Hmm, maybe when you gave everyone shellpox?"

"Kamek-"

"Oh wait, maybe it was last time when the swaphoppers destroyed the rest of our crops after the flying balls of fiery hail burnt most of it to a crisp?"

" C'mon-"

"Let's not forget about the skeeters and flopters! Although, I might be speaking to someone else entirely, considering it's so dark here lately, I haven't been able to see my own beak in front of my face!"

Luigi went silent for a moment. He couldn't blame the elderly mage in the slightest for his anger. But the more time he spent with Kamek, the more time was running out.

"Please, Kamek," Luigi begged, "He needs to hear this. If he doesn't, this next plague will destroy us!"

Kamek paused.

He very well knew what Luigi meant by "us".

He growled.

"I swear, if any harm comes to my grandson-"

"That is what I'm trying to prevent!"

Kamek stared at the young human. When he first arrived in the Darklands, his son had just finished conquering almost all of the known kingdoms after Princess Peach rejected his marriage proposal for the last time and fled to Sarasaland, which was currently under siege. He remembered the way that Bowser's obsession of the Princess seemed to melt away in an instant after locking eyes with this green plumber. The two of them connected in a way that he had never seen before, and he could see just how much his very presence brought out the best in him. He was able to make him laugh (and a real laugh, not the hollow-sounding cackle that he adopted during his conquest), he would stay in the library and learn everything that he could about Koopa culture in order to better understand the things that Bowser held near and dear to him.

But what had really won him over was the way Luigi bonded with the Crown Prince.

If Bowser was in love with Luigi, then Junior seemed to worship the ground he walked on. Every waking moment of the day, Junior wanted to spend it with the green clad man, no matter how boring the task. And who could blame him? In the few times that Bowser kidnapped the princess, Peach would sulk in her room and refuse to let anyone inside, even to give her meals. And though she was never cruel to the poor boy (at least not intentionally) the few interactions she did allow were filled with an apathy so palpable that after a while, Junior stopped asking for her altogether.

But then Luigi arrived.

Soon, the halls were filled with the little prince's laughter as the two of them drew together, played video games, went karting around the castle courtyard, and baked delicious treats together. And with the happiness of the prince, the king's happiness was doubled.

Happiness that the scrawny human brought.

It wasn't very long until Bowser was writing love poems and ballads dedicated to literally sing his praises and three months in, he had commissioned an engagement ring for him.

What a shame that it didn't last.

Without another word, he opened the door wider for his supposed-to-be son-in-law to let him in.

"Thank you." Luigi whispered. The elder nodded his head as he passed, but not before calling his name.

"Luigi."

The green plumber turned around to face the elderly Koopa once more. The weariness from the plagues caused him to slouch and lean against the heavy door.

"Convince him. I don't know how much more of this we can take."

With a nod, Luigi ventured further into the castle, the atrium growing darker as he carried the torch inside.

Luigi breathed in the familiar scent of smoke and brimstone that permeated the castle, his heart aching. This was his home. All he had ever wanted was right here. The man of his dreams, a child to call his own. Everything that his heart desired was right inside this castle.

But the ends can't justify the means.

In the absence of the normal hustle and bustle that used to echo in these halls, the sound of a mournful piano concerto filled the air.

Bowser.

Following the sound, he walked the empty halls as memory after memory played like a broken record in his mind.

The awkward first meeting, when the Koopa spun him around in an attempt to interrogate him.

The room he was given after staying in the dungeon for all of 30 minutes before the little prince came and broke him out in order to play with him.

Their talks in the library.

The first dinner date where they talked long into the night and into the next morning.

Bonding with Junior.

Their first kiss.

The proposal.

The night they shared after.

He stopped outside the music room door, the piece nearing its end as he tried to quietly open the door to not disturb him right away. Bowser poured his heart out over the music willing the plumber to both stay rooted to his spot on the floor and to run into his arms as the crescendo rang out of the instrument and slowly began to fade, much to his dismay.

"Bravo, mio Re. Bravissimo." Luigi whispered.

The Koopa king was startled, his claws causing the piano to create a cacophony of mixed up notes. Luigi had ended up right at the base of the floating stage. He growled as he caught sight of his former lover.

"Oh, let me guess. Greenie wants me to 'let the kingdoms go'?" Bowser spoke, sarcasm lacing his words.

In the poor light, Luigi was still able to make out the king's hulking frame as he hunched over the piano keys. A golden goblet sat right on top of the piano as he paused to take a gulp from it.

"I... I was hoping to find you here."

"Get out!" He barked, chucking the half-full goblet at the voice.

Luigi quickly dodged as the cup shattered on the floor next to him, the sheer force behind that throw causing a dent in the obsidian stone floor.

"Bowser, we need to talk."

He slowly inched his way closer to the piano before Bowser let out another snarl.

"Oh really? What else do we need to talk about that we didn't discuss the last nine times you were here?"

With a heave, he got up from the piano bench and stomped past him, nearly toppling Luigi over with his spiked tail.

"Now leave. And don't let the door hit you on the way out."

Luigi breathed out a sigh as he tried to keep up with the fleeing Koopa, his gigantic strides causing him to jog to the throne room after him, torch in hand like he was in the opening ceremony for the Olympic games.

If it weren't for the situation, Luigi would have chuckled at himself.

Bowser, meanwhile, was getting agitated. The green man was the one person he most definitely didn't want to see right now. Or ever again, for that matter.

Liar. His heart seemed to reply.

He finally got to the throne room doors and tried to quickly open and close it before Luigi could follow him in. He didn't care if the room would be pitch dark. In fact, he would actually prefer it at the moment. But the presence of a tiny glow of firelight that lit up the dark room made him aware that his efforts of keeping him away were in vain. Luigi had already found a fire pit nearby and threw his torch into it, lighting the pit into flames for the both of them to see each other better.

With a defeated sigh, he stumbled his way towards the throne, slouching and folding his arms with a pout. It took all of Luigi's willpower to not just go up there and kiss that pout away, just like they used to, but there was too much at stake now.

"Well? Get on with it! Tell me how awful I am and how I am such a monster." Bowser interrupted his thoughts.

The human glanced at the Koopa, a hurt expression on his face.

"You're not a monster."

Bowser scoffed.

"Oh really? Then why did you leave, huh? I get the fact that you would have been startled by my plans for world domination, but to up and leave like that?"

Startled? Luigi thought, That was an understatement.

"Did you know that I had to try and explain to Junior why his Mama was missing? Why every time I looked for you, I could never find you? He was crying every night for two weeks straight!"

Luigi was stricken dumb as his heart sank. He never intended to hurt the little prince. Junior might as well be his own heart, he loved that little boy as if he was his own.

And that's why I got to convince him!

"I-"

"And then, you just decide to show up after abandoning us!"

"I didn't -"

"And then-

"WILL YOU JUST LET ME TALK?!"

Bowser jumped in shock, shutting up immediately. No matter how angry he was, Luigi had never yelled at him like that.

He didn't know whether to be scared, pissed, or aroused.

And he didn't know which one he wanted to feel more.

"Bowser, we both know there is no other option. Your people are suffering; the plagues are not going to stop unless you do what's right and let the other kingdoms go."

And... The feeling's gone.

Bowser huffed at that.

"If that is all you have to say, then you might as well see yourself out. I'll take my chances with the plagues."

Luigi growled in frustration. If he had the power to yank this Koopa around and shake him until he had some common sense, he most absolutely would.

"Stars! Why must you act like such a-"

"Like a what?! Go on, say it!"

After a moment of silence, Bowser huffed again, deciding to be petty.

"Well, at least I am not someone's pawn!"

Luigi felt his blood boil at that.

"You take that back!"

"Why?" Bowser sneered, " Does the truth hurt?"

"At least I actually care about what happens to your citizens! You're so willing to let your people get hurt 'cause of what?! Some... stupid sense of pride?!"

"Do you think I like this?! That I like to see the people I love so much suffering?!"

"Then why don't you just let the other kingdoms go, tu... tu esasperante tartaruga?!"

"Because I will not allow myself to be weak again!"

Luigi was stunned into silence. Bowser slumped back onto his throne, emotionally exhausted. It was no secret that Bowser was a very passionate king. It was regarded as his best (and worst) quality, as Princess Peach had attested when he ran to Sarasaland. His love was just as deep and consuming as his rage and both resulted in something breaking.

Or someone.

Luigi sighed. This was getting nowhere, like the other nine times. Suddenly, he had an idea.

"Why don't we just...talk?"

Bowser did not reply, avoiding eye contact with him.

"No arguments, no fighting, just a regular conversation."

Silence. Bowser was not going to budge, not one bit.

Nope.

Not by a long shot.

Let him stew in his-

"I'm sorry for not saying goodbye."

Bowser looked up at that. The plumber stood still, green cap in his hands, his eyes casted towards the floor as he spoke.

"I'm sorry for hurting you like that. For hurting Junior like that. No matter what I saw, what I heard, I should have at least left you a note. But I... I knew that if I didn't go then and there, I would never leave."

Bowser still didn't reply.

Luigi sat down at the foot of his throne, his back turned to the Koopa before he heard him grumble.

"I didn't know where you were. I thought something bad had happened to you and that you were gone forever. And when you came back, I was so relieved. But then..."

He stopped talking, unwilling to speak on that moment.

The day his world seemed to crash and burn.

He wouldn't admit it to anyone, but he himself had spent many a restless night sobbing his eyes out. He never had romantic feelings about anyone in his life. Even with Peaches from before his takeover, which he had now understood as an obsessive infatuation. But Luigi was different, even now.

Luigi was the first and only person he had ever truly loved that wasn't his adopted father or his son.

And the first and only one who truly loved him back.

I highly doubt he loves me now, the Koopa King thought.

Luigi felt his eyes well up with tears of shame. He truly didn't take into account just how much his disappearance affected them. Sure, he knew that Bowser would be upset, maybe even feel betrayed, but he didn't mean for him to worry.

"I meant what I said, y'know. When you first came back."

Luigi looked up and met the king's amber eyes as he stared directly at him, watching his every move before he continued.

"You were my everything. The best thing to ever happen to me. And, to be honest, you still are. Even if you don't love me anymore, I still love you. And whatever I did to loose that love, I'm sorry."

The silence was deafening as Bowser laid his heart bare for the plumber. Luigi's own heart seemed to mend and break as his feet seemed to take a mind of their own. He sprinted up the throne steps, climbed atop the throne armrest and hugged him as best as he could before speaking.

"But that's the thing, amore. I never stopped loving you."

It was then that Bowser felt it.

The fluttering of his heart that he tried to ignore as he took Luigi and held him closer.

"Just as beautiful as the day I lost you," Bowser whispered as he cupped Luigi's face with his paw.

He closed the space between them in a kiss. Time seemed to melt away at that moment and it was just the two of them and eternity. The weeks of pain that they went through was inconsequential, it was just them, that moment, forever.

The kiss broke all too soon as they touched foreheads, their eyes closed.

"I love you, mio Re. Tu avrai il mio cuore per sempre." Luigi whispered.

He felt Bowser set him down on the floor him as he opened his eyes, gasping at the sight before him.

"Then stay. Please."

Bowser was on one knee, a heartbreakingly hopeful expression on his face, and in his claws was a golden ring set with emeralds and a large ruby in the middle.

His engagement ring.

The same engagement ring that Bowser proposed with all those months ago in the castle courtyard.

The same engagement ring that he wore when he ran to Sarasaland to meet up with his brother and Princess Peach.

The same engagement ring he wore when Rosalina, Princess of the Lumas, commanded him to go to Bowser and demand for the freedom of all of his conquests.

The same engagement ring he gave back when he returned the first time.

"I-"

"Mama?" A small voice interrupted.

The couple turned around to see a little Koopaling carrying a flashlight in one claw and a teddy bear in the other.

Junior.

Junior couldn't believe his eyes. His Mama was back home where he belonged. Dropping the stuffed animal at the door, he took a running start at the plumber before taking a flying leap into his arms. Luigi caught him and twirled him into a bear hug.

"I missed-ed you!" The little boy sobbed, dampening the front of his denim overalls.

"I missed you too, il mio Principe." He nuzzled the Koopa prince's fiery locks as he held him closer to him.

Bowser looked on as his two greatest joys reunited, his heart ready to burst. Junior had most definitely taken Luigi's disappearance the hardest. His crying and tantrums were loud enough to tear the paint off of the walls, and he even resulted to that when he learned that his Mama came back, demanding his father to let him see him.

And now his wish has come true.

Settling himself into Luigi's arms, Junior nuzzled his face into his shoulder, taking in his smell.

"You're home! I missed-ed you so much and I don't want you to go again! We can go see the new artwork I made for you and Papa and go round on my clown car and...and..."

Bowser laughed, ruffling his boy's head.

"One thing at a time, Junior. Mama just got back, but you have plenty of time to show him everything once he's all rested. Right, Luigi?"

Luigi's smile slowly began to fade, regret shining in his sapphire eyes. Junior, sensed his Mama's hesitation.

"You are staying this time, right Mama?"

With a shuddering breath, he hugged him closer.

"I'm sorry, tesoro. But I can't stay... Not this time."

Bowser felt his mind do a record scratch halt.

After all of that, after he had handed the plumber his battered and bruised heart once again, even after their declarations of love, Luigi had crushed it in his hands, like it was nothing. And now he has broken their son's heart in return.

"B-but, why?" Junior cried, tears forming in his crimson eyes.

Luigi was silent as Bowser gave a mirthless chuckle.

"Y'know, Luigi? You really had me there for a second."

"Bowser, I-"

"All those declarations of love you just spewed out, just gotta hit 'em where it hurts, right? So go ahead Luigi," Bowser baited, "Tell us. Why?"

"Because... because what you're doing isn't right and you know it, Bowser."

"Right? And what is right? Before I took over, those kingdoms were rife with war and famine, both with us and with each other! The citizens of those other kingdoms were treated unfairly, their leaders did nothing to help the poor and marginalized, so I instilled order by dethroning their corrupt leaders. And I don't know what "Princess" Peach or your nuisance of a brother tried to sell you about what the Mushroom Kingdom was like before, but it was not some happy-go-lucky utopia. In fact, her forefathers had once enslaved my entire kingdom for centuries. Enslaved, Luigi! Treated us like the scum of the earth! Made us fight to the death for their own wars and amusement!"

"And how is that any different, Bowser? How is taking over kingdoms by force any different from what the Mushroom Kingdom did to yours?"

"Because at least I can protect them just like I protect my own kingdom! Or at least I did, until you came along and brought these plagues down upon us!"

Here we go again! Luigi mourned.

"I'm not, Bowser. You are. The more you resist, the worse the plagues will be. If you would just please listen-"

Luigi reaches out his hand to touch his golden scales, but the king flinched away, his temper growing less and less restrained.

"I will not be dictated to. I will not be threatened. I am the morning and evening star. I am Bowser! King of the Koopas!"

"Something else is coming, something much worse than anything before. Please, let go of your contempt for life before it destroys everything we hold dear. Think of our son!"

Bowser looked down as Junior clung onto Luigi's overalls, terrified but unwilling to let go of his Mama as he placed a gloved hand on his tuft of red hair. A moment ago, Luigi's claim to his little boy would have softened his heart, but now all he felt was rage. With a roar of betrayal, he punched his throne, hearing the distinct sound of metal being snapped in half and gems crushing under his palm.

"I do." He growled at last, "And fuck me for not doing this before."

Luigi felt his breath hitch in fear.

"Bowser? Bowser, what are you-?"

"Kamek! Get in here, now!"

With a pop, Kamek appeared on his broomstick, a worried look etched into his face.

"Yes, Your Wrathfulness?"

"Call the troopas! Tomorrow, we attack Sarasaland and destroy all who stand in my way, once and for all! Starting with Mario!"

He turned to the love of his life, a hateful sneer gracing his maw.

"And there will be a great cry throughout all the kingdoms, such as there never has been or ever will be again!"

Luigi's blood froze in his veins as he felt his knees sink to the floor, his grip on Junior growing tighter.

Bowser briefly stole one last glance at his family before glancing down at the crushed ring in his hands, a flash of regret and pain shining in his eyes before stomping past them as he and Kamek made preparations for a full-on ambush. .

The elder mage and the young man gave each other a horrified, knowing glance before the plumber broke down into sobs as king and advisor left.

He was right about one thing: tomorrow, there will be a great cry throughout the kingdoms.

But both his and Bowser's sobs will echo the loudest of all.

You failed. The words buzzed around his mind like an angry swarm of hornets.

"Bowser," He whispered sorrowfully, hugging their scared son for what would be the last time, "You have doomed us all."

Made an OC for an AU idea that's in my head!

Meet Eliana, Warrior Queen of Sarasaland, and newly betrothed fiancee of our favorite King of the Koopas, Bowser!

reblog and make a wish! this was removed from tumbrl due to “violating one or more of Tumblr’s Community Guidelines”, but since my wish came true the first time, I’m putting it back. :)

Guardians of Narnia - Prologue

Wrong will be right, when Aslan comes in sight,

At the sound of his roar, sorrows will be no more,

When he bares his teeth, winter meets its death,

And when he shakes his mane, we shall have spring again.

When Adam's flesh and Adam's bone,

Sits at Cair Paravel in throne,

The evil time will be over and done.

All Narnians knew this prophecy by heart. Throughout the 100 years of endless winter, these words brought peace to the Animals and creatures that suffered under the White Witch's reign.

It was recited in hushed tones, whispered in their prayers, that one day, someday soon, the true King would return and banish the Witch back to whatever desolate place she had crawled out of. That Aslan and the fated Two Sons of Adam and Two Daughters of Eve would bring spring back to their land and usher in a new Golden Age.

However, what you, dear reader, may not have known, was the second half of the prophecy.

But while wickedness rules, and enemies reign,

By Narnia's Guardians shall evil's grasp be restrained

Aslan's own they shall be, endowed with gifts by He

Balanced by nature, by day, by night

Until the King returns, with glorious might!