Warning!

This is a direct sequel to Luigi's Fabulously Fractured Fable. Reading it to completion is strongly recommended.

Legal Stuff

This is a work of fanfiction. All Mario characters are property of Nintendo.

Chapter 1

In the year that passed since Luigi had a much-needed Sarasaland vacation cut short by the hammer of his brother, entire days were spent in the dank bowels of the Mushroom Kingdom, as the transport pipes had no ulterior motives. Leon, the magikoopa thrown into the mix towards the end of the fiasco, proved to be an incredible worker for one quite obviously there to make sure his boss didn't skip town in the dead of night. The result of magic mixing with might was the smoothest and most reliable the warp system had ever been. New lines were opened, with the most surprising one leading into the Commercial District of Muraiya. Before Luigi could make use of his creation, and vanish into the once hidden city that was his former home, he was whisked away by his apprentice at Mario's behest.

With Luigi's entire life seeming like it was being filtered thorough Mario, it was a surprise that he was able to receive mail without obvious tampering. Every few weeks he would obtain messages, gifts and photos that proved that his time in Muraiya wasn't just a hallucination. One of the more memorable presents that he got was a large box of promotional Final Smash cards from Gaspar, his shy guy friend. That same week, Luigi was floored to receive a card from Persimmon, who was relocated to an address that wasn't even vaguely familiar. She never apologized for what she put Luigi through, but he wasn't expecting that. As accepting of the situation that Luigi was, his friends were livid at what he was going through. Every other letter had to be responded with a message begging folk not to attempt a rescue mission. Queen Daisy would have nothing of it and promised violent retaliation when she felt that the time was right. After all, Mario's attack on Luigi happened both in front of her, and within her newly expanded Kingdom.

It was a Friday morning when Luigi heard a pounding at his door as sifted through the newest pile of letters,

"The Door is unlocked," said Luigi, already knowing who it was on the other end.

The door swung open, and Mario slowly entered.

"Hey, bro," said Mario, desperately trying to get eye contact with his brother.

"What do you want, Mario?" coldly asked Luigi, eyes not leaving his mail.

"Big things are about to happen at the castle and we need to be there," said Mario.

"I am sure you can handle the situation yourself," said Luigi as he tore open an envelope.

Mario sighed. "I would if I could, but I can't."

Luigi's demeanor didn't change. "Really, now?"

"There's a caravan maybe an hour away from Peach Castle. It's King Toadstool."

Luigi looked up at his brother. "What?"

"That was my reaction," said Mario, who seemed happy to not be the recipient of Luigi's side-eye anymore.

"On other days and in the face of other situations, I would have planted my feet to the ground and let you absorb the brunt of the pressure. You know why," said Luigi. "That said, the arrival of the Mushroom King will prove to be far more draining than the events of the past year and requires a collaborative effort."

"In other words, let's go?" asked Mario, trying to ignore his brother's barbed words.

"Let's go."

The brothers rushed to the castle where they encountered the legion of toad servants that didn't seem to be overly panicked by the eventual coming of their old master. The princess, on the other hand, had a look of pure despondency even when her heroes arrived in her chamber.

"You two have no clue how much I want to angrily break valuable objects right now. Sadly, I don't have time to do that because father is within range of my screams," said Peach

"What the hell brought him back after all this time?" asked Mario.

Peach shook her head. "It has been over fourteen years since he last sat on the throne. Royal decree from back in the era of the Founders states that if a living king goes fifteen years without even the most casual attempt at wielding power, then he will be seen as deceased, and power will officially go to the next of kin."

"He is returning to ensure that your status does not change to that of Queen?" asked Luigi.

"Right," answered Peach. "Which is why I need you two to make sure he doesn't make it past the drawbridge."

"Wait, what do you want us to do again?" asked Mario

"Do whatever you need to do. I swear that any laws you break in the process relating to grave harm upon a member of royalty will be ignored by the High Court."

"Sorry for being out of line, but that is a terrible idea, Princess," said Luigi. "I will have no part in attacking your father."

"I'm siding with my bro on this one," said Mario.

Peach gasped and recoiled. "Are you not my sworn protectors?"

Mario nodded. "Yes, but- "

"But nothing, Mario!" shouted Peach. "My father is to be seen as a traitorous individual who abandoned his country to avoid prosecution! He has returned to clear his name by bloody force and must be dealt with accordingly! Now go out there and slit his throat!"

There was a lengthy period of silence that was broken by the faint sound of trumpets from outside. Peach then looked at the Mario brothers as if they were the living definitions of insubordination.

"Leave my chamber before I do something that I regret. Now!"

The Mario brothers exited into the foyer of the castle and noticed that the once aloof toads were standing at attention in two rows on adjacent sides of the front door. Facing forward at the head of the two rows was Chancellor Minsktoad, leader of the Mushroom Kingdom's High Court. Noticing Mario and Luigi saunter out into the proceedings, the well dressed, regal toad waved them into the line before making his grand statement.

"Royals, toads, and distinguished guests, I present to you all Alfonse Toadstool, the King of the Mushroom Kingdom!"

A trio of trumpet players marched in the castle blaring a somewhat off-key rendition of the Mushroom Kingdom's anthem. After the three made their way to a clearing in the middle of the foyer, a tall, bearded man wearing a lengthy, purple robe made his appearance. Not making any attempt to soak in the celebratory mood, King Toadstool quickly walked up to Chancellor Minsktoad and gave him an intense handshake. The chancellor seemed confused. The trumpeters, who had a full two verses of the anthem to go, ungraciously stopped playing.

"Chancellor Minsktoad, I am thrilled to hear of your exploits during the extended vacation that is leading the High Court," said King Toadstool in a mocking tone.

"I assure you that the appointment is not without its rigors," said Minsktoad, letting the insult roll off of his back.

"And look at who what you have beside you. The actual Justice Department: Mario and Luigi. My God, it has been forever and a day since I last saw you two," said King Toadstool with a large smile.

"Hey boss," said Mario, obviously at a loss for words.

"It is a pleasure to be in your presence again," said Luigi, politely.

"How has my daughter been treating you?" asked the king.

"Great," said Mario.

"Terribly," said Luigi, which caused his brother to shoot him a nasty look.

King Toadstool laughed. "That corresponds with what I was told. I assume my little girl is in her chamber?"

"She was caught completely off guard by your arrival," said Luigi.

"And that is what happens when you relegate Kinopio to the drawbridge. I long sent five letters explaining the entire situation behind me coming here. There should have been no surprise whatsoever. I can only imagine the assumptions that were made."

"You really don't want to know," said Mario.

"He speaks no lies," said Luigi.

King Toadstool looked towards Peach's chamber. "I think it is time to get reacquainted with my daughter. Minsktoad, do not work too hard."

Before the King could start his walk across the foyer, the chamber door opened and Peach entered the scene wearing what had become a tragically ill-fitting pink dress. He smiled widely and laughed.

"Did you not threaten to burn that thing?" asked King Toadstool before walking over to his daughter and giving her a hug.

"Why are you here, father?" asked Peach, rudely.

"As my correspondence with you was rather one sided, I understand how sudden my arrival appears to be," said King Toadstool. "Before that is touched upon, I must ask why do you think I am here today? "

Peach fell silent for several moments.

"Well?" pressed King Toadstool.

"You are here to reclaim the throne."

King Toadstool exploded into laugher. "You assumed that I made this journey in order to wrestle the power away from you, who have been ruling the kingdom for well over a decade? I am not here to do that at all."

"Then why did you come?"

"Because, in most miraculous news, your mother is back with us!"

Peach gasped and went completely pale. "Mother?"

Upon the very mention of the Queen, there was concerned murmuring from those in the foyer.

"Oh. the wonders of modern magical science! She is naturally in a weakened state, but she can walk, eat, talk, and has all of her mental faculties," said the King, with joy in his voice.

"Is mother here right now?" asked Peach, voice quite shaky.

"She will be officially cleared to leave the depths of Fahr Outpost in four months. The very minute that comes around, she will take her position beside me in an extended caravan to the castle just in time for your coronation."

Peach, the princess who begged for the death of her father not even fifteen minutes prior, gave him a long, tearful embrace.

Though Luigi had much animosity towards his brother, the narrowly avoided train wreck that was the arrival of King Toadstool motivated him to follow Mario back home to discuss what had happened.

"As a man who pedantically opens every parcel of mail that is delivered to my address, I find it distressing that the future queen of the Mushroom Kingdom is allowing the arteries of mailroom to be clogged to the point where her own father cannot get through," said Luigi, sitting on Mario's broken, but still comfortable recliner.

"Probably got tired of Bowser's love letters," said Mario, resting on a ruined desk chair turned stool.

"That made sense before modern times," said Luigi. "I am sure that the only recent letters from Bowser relate to Koop-Di-Loop."

Mario shook his head. "No, those go to me."

"Speaking of, how are sales?"

"Everything that the guy makes is a hit. He just needed the proper marketing guru at his side," said Mario, proudly.

"Moving on, what can you tell me about the queen?" asked Luigi.

"Last time I visited the Old World, one of the elder toads had nothing good to say about her."

"Details?"

"Hateful towards anyone who wasn't human. Toads included."

"The toads that outnumber the humans in this kingdom by a vast amount?"

asked Luigi. "How incredibly silly."

The two talked until they ran out of information on the topic. Not wanting to spend any more time with Mario than he needed, Luigi returned home, where he noticed a handful of royal guards in front of his door.

"Is this my brother's idea?" asked Luigi to one of the weapon-toting toads.

"Your brother is of no importance to us. We are here to serve the king," said one of the guards.

"Where is he?" asked Luigi.

"Inside of your house."

"Strange. I do not remember letting him in," said Luigi, bitterly.

"Your dwelling is the property of King Alfonse Toadstool. He may come and go when he wishes," deadpanned the guard.

Luigi sighed and entered his home without another word. King Toadstool indeed was inside, sitting on a portable folding chair. The royal looked up at Luigi and smiled.

"Hello again, my friend," said the King, shaking Luigi's hand.

"Greetings, King Toadstool. What brings you to my home?" asked Luigi, trying to be as cordial as possible.

"Wheeling and dealing," said the King.

"Is that so?"

"Yes, Luigi. Listen, over fourteen years ago, I left the Mushroom Kingdom a place of unambitious toads on straw beds that were ignorant of the world around them. I tried my hardest to draw attention to just how bad we were being technologically lapped by the Koopa, but no one, my wife included, seemed to care. In my extended absence, I had assumed that Peach, a woman with a little too much interaction with Dark Land advances, if you know what I mean, would have taken to heart the old adage that one must fight fire with fire. I finally return to the Mushroom Kingdom and what do I see to combat the technological leaps seen in Diamond City and Muraiya? Unambitious toads on straw beds. It is embarrassing, Luigi, and you are going to help change that for me."

"What are your plans?"

"Though I have been gone, I have a firm grasp of your situation. You became the darling of Muraiya and were about to start a much-needed vacation before your brother ended that and blessed you with a magikoopa that has been trying to circumvent my magic for a half hour. Luigi, I have a foolproof plan to modernize the Mushroom Kingdom, but for that to even start, I need you working a government job in Muraiya again."

"Impossible at this stage. Mario would cut me off on my second step towards the Mushroom-Muraiya pipeline," said Luigi.

"And that is why I am going to give you this," said King Toadstool, as he presented a small, clear flask that held a familiar, red liquid.

"A subspace potion?" asked Luigi.

"Are you familiar with how they work?"

"Drop it on the ground, enter the door and rush to where you need to go before you are pulled back into the real world," said Luigi, not overly fond of the things.

"Exactly. When the time and place is right, do what you need to do and get yourself back to Muraiya. My people will come in contact with you from there," said the king, nervously looking towards the closed door.

"I have questions and concerns," said Luigi.

"They must wait. I have to go. Expect a visit from your stalkers very soon. Goodbye."

Without much delay after the swift exit of the king, Leon, Luigi's magikoopa assistant, appeared with only a sharp gust of wind as warning.

"Is everything okay here?" asked Leon, concern in his voice.

"You really need to stop teleporting into my house without my permission," said Luigi, annoyed.

"Sorry, but my ears were so jammed that I was convinced that there was something foul afoot."

"The king asked me about my time abroad. He also complained about the lack of electricity here in the Mushroom Kingdom."

"A valid criticism," responded Leon.

"Yes, and I am about to launch a few your way if you do not leave me alone."

"Very sorry. I will take my leave," said Leon before vanishing.

Luigi had no clue if the magikoopa actually left, but the fact that he wasn't seen was enough. Luigi then returned to his daily ritual of opening his mail, which had been delayed by the events of the morning. As he started reading the large, poorly-spelled words of a hammer brother willing to bring his hammer down on a few skulls in Luigi's name, there was a familiar knocking at the door.

"Bro, it's me. Can I come in?"

Luigi rolled his eyes and tucked the flask holding the subspace potion into his bag. He had no desire to cater to the whims of another high-ranking official with a blatant disregard for his privacy, but he felt that the newly recommended method of escape was going to be absolutely vital in what was going to be a tumultuous time in Mushroom Kingdom history.

: