Melvin's POV

Dad (who had a P Acorn suit on) lead Uncle Luigi (who was powered by a fire flower that he had found), Aunt Violet (still using her ice powers), Mary (who was wearing a Penguin suit), and me (still wearing the helicopter suit). Dad had been awful quiet while we were all chatting.

I couldn't help but wonder what was on his mind so without Mary seeing, I approached him.

"Are you alright," I asked, avoiding formalities.

Dad looked at me and answered, "Yes, I'm fine."

"You don't seem fine," I pointed out, trying not to step on toes.

Dad sighed as he stated, "In all honesty, I'm VERY worried about the Queen."

"Well, you've won against Bowser before," I pointed out.

Dad replied, "Granted but this time the stakes are higher, now that Peach is Queen."

"How did she become Queen without getting married? Aunt Daisy didn't fully explain how that happened," I lied.

Truthfully, Mom did explain that Dad did secretly marry her so she could become Queen and try to stop Bowser's attacks. However, the attacks just increased over time.

Dad sighed again as he explained, "Truthfully, Peach and I married in secret five years ago. No one knows, not even Luigi and Violet. I hate hiding the fact that I'm hiding my wife...and my son."

Those words made my blood run cold. Mary and I not only existed at this point at time but we didn't know each other existed until Dad was... Wait, did he say five years ago?!

"You've been hiding the fact that you are a king from your own brother," I whispered, making sure that no one heard me but Dad.

Dad stated, "I don't have a choice in the matter. We thought that having Peach become Queen in secret would keep her safe. Truth is, it is doing the opposite. Now Melvin will never meet my little niece..."

'You don't know how wrong you are, Dad,' I thought but wanted to say.

"He will one day," I told him, with a smile.

Dad slightly smiled but I knew I had to talk to Mary alone, NOW. I quickly walked over to her at an even pace, grabbed her wrist and pulled her aside where I knew no one would follow.

Mary looked at me and asked, "Melvin, what's wrong?"

"You won't believe this but we're in the time we're supposed to be in! Dad's been married to Mom for five whole years," I answered, a bit panicked.

Mary stated, "I have realized this, sadly. But I haven't had the chance to tell you yet. We do need a plan to make sure that Mario isn't killed during this."

"Yes, agreed," I replied.

Mary responded, "Listen, we better get back there before they get suspicious."

"Alright," I said.

As we returned to the others, they were slightly ahead of us but we were able to catch up quickly.

Dad looked at me and asked, "Everything okay?"

"Yeah, just had to tell Mary something real quick," I answered, truthfully.

Dad simply nodded as I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. I kept moving but I bumped into Dad. When I was about to ask him what was going on, I saw that we were in Koopa Kingdom...

There we were, standing in what was the shadow of Bowser's castle. My heart was racing, even though we were just avoiding lava to get to where we needed to go. Anyways, once we got pass a mini trap, we continued along and saw this rather long bridge. Standing there, blocking the way, was the devil himself - Bowser. I gulped. How could I be afraid? I was the son of Mario! I couldn't get scared. But as I looked over at Dad, I saw some slight fear in his blue eyes. He was…scared? Th-that couldn't be. Dad was NEVER scared. Sure, Uncle Luigi was always scared but that was Uncle Luigi, he was ALWAYS afraid.

Before I could say anything to Dad, I felt the hot breathe of Bowser breathing down my neck.

Bowser commented, "Well, well. I was wondering when you would get here, Mario. And I see you brought some friends too."

Dad hissed, putting his arm in front of us, "Leave them out of this, you coward."

Aunt Violet started to say, "Mario…"

Uncle Luigi interrupted, "Malleo, let us help you. It's the only way we are going to get the princess back."

Mary lied, adding, "He's right, you have to let us help you."

"It's the only way," I finished.

Bowser looked surprised as he smugly stated, "Wait a minute. Greenie said that my Peach was a princess. That means that they don't know, do they?"

Mary and I tried our hardest not to gulp or flinch. Aunt Violet and Uncle Luigi both looked puzzled.

Aunt Violet asked, "Tell us what? Mario, what is he talking about?"

Bowser looked even more smug now as he explained, "Ah, so you don't know. Bad time to be you, Mario. For it is time for them to know!"

Uncle Luigi questioned, "For us to know what?"

I braced for the worst but it never came as Dad advanced on Bowser faster than a fire can spread. Bowser wasn't ready for the sudden attack and Dad was able to land a solid kick on him. I knew that the truth would could come out eventually but right now, we needed to beat Bowser. Using the helicopter power-up I still I had, I took to the skies. Mary grabbed a fire flower as Aunt Violet used her ice powers. Uncle Luigi used the P Acorn power-up. Bowser swatted at Uncle Luigi and me as we flew away from those rather sharp claws. Mary and Aunt Violet were hitting Bowser like crazy as Dad powered up his red fire.

I watched in awe as my father was going a brilliant red light as the fire seemed to have danced on his hands. I shook my head and focused yet again on distracting Bowser. My dad was able to get another hit on Bowser as he started to fire at us with fire balls. Uncle Luigi flew upwards but I was unable to in time and lost my power-up. Dad got hit by Bowser, knocking him towards the edge, where the lava was. I quickly ran over and grabbed his hand.

"Gotcha," I said.

Dad breathed, "Melvin! They can't know! We can't tell them! Let me go!"

"No, I refuse to let you go," I stated, not letting him going to die.

Dad replied, "You have to! They'll find out if I stay in the battle!"

"It is better to have your secret and apologize for the people that you hurt than to let you die like this," I responded, firm.

Dad whispered, "You are just as hard headed as me…"

'In more ways than one,' I thought as I helped him up. As we panted, Bowser stomped over, raising his claw. Aunt Violet, Uncle Luigi, and Mary were running over to try and stop him in time. But I knew that they wouldn't make it over here in time. That's when I knew what I had to do. I pushed my dad out of the path of powerful Bowser and took the slash to my chest. I felt the sharp claws going through my body as I screamed in pain. That's when I knew that things were undone. Because I could see through Mary by the time she reached me...

Mario's POV

I couldn't believe it. Not only was I letting Bowser defeat me easily but I was letting him sign my death certificate. Thank Grambi Melvin was there to save my butt - not once - but twice. I couldn't believe that he took Bowser's claw attack to protect me. I caught Melvin in my arms and saw that his blood was quickly coming out. There was no time for anyone to save him, not even me. A tear was threatening to come out but I dared not cry. I knew who he really was, it didn't take a genius to figure it out.

Melvin opened his eyes as he asked, "You okay?"

"Yes, but you should be worried about yourself," I answered.

Melvin stated, "I'm not, my job is done."

I perked up at this as I saw that he was starting to disappear. My future son was slowly being absorbed into the time stream. Luigi, Violet, and I knew that Melvin and Mary were our children from a future that they wanted to prevent. Though I didn't know what it was but now I did. They came to stop me from being killed today. As that shock was being absorbed into me, Melvin disappeared as did Mary. Luigi and Violet both looked at me as I got up.

"I declare that they will be no more secrets. I'm the king of Mushroom Kingdom and I will protect my kingdom," I declared.

And I kept my word ever since that day. Within a few weeks, I was crowned king of Mushroom Kingdom. As the royal adviser was Toadsworth, of course. The prince was Melvin, my son. As for the protectors of my kingdom (besides the armies we had) were: our brother, Luigi; our sister-in-law, Violet; and our niece, Mary. There was no bleak future for us, only for those who dared opposed us.

AK1028: With that, guys, we finish our story. Hope you all enjoyed. Please read and review! And always think outside of the box!