Sunset came before too long. Soon, beautiful, glittering stars were all over the dark night sky, each of them, shining a green color. The citizens were coming out of their houses and gathering at the plaza.

Mario found a nice tuxedo to wear in order to blend in with others who were dressing up tonight. The tailors and other shops were surprisingly on sale, and his currency from the real world still worked, too.

The older bro looked out the window and saw the many citizens going down the street towards the plaza. Starlow flew around the room, with Prince Dreambert waiting patiently sitting by the vanity mirror..

Mario recalled holding Luigi's hat close to him back in the real world. He didn't even get to see him in the Dream World. He had to know what was happening. No one in the Mushroom Kingdom, his home, recognized him, but there was no possible way that Luigi could forget his own brother… right?

"It looks like it's almost time!" Starlow said, excitedly. "Are you ready, Mario? Dreambert and I can hide in your coat until it's safe to come out."

"Starlow is right," said Dreambert. "Starlow and I are not from around here, so it would be safer if we hide to avoid drawing attention to ourselves."

Mario pressed his hands against the window.

"Do you think Luigi will recognize me?" Mario asked quietly.

"He has to!" Starlow snapped, kicking her small feet back and forth. "If he doesn't, I'll make him!"

Mario laughed a little, but still looked outside, frowning. Dreambert rose from his seat.

"It will be okay, Mario," he said. "You and your brother have gotten out of tighter situations. And you're not alone. We're here, and once we have Peach, as well, we can leave this place and straighten everything out in the real world."

Mario stepped back from the window and straightened out his gloves. "Okay, let's do this."

Luigi was busy doing the same: getting ready for tonight's celebration. He looked out his window, and saw how many people were gathering at the plaza. His heart was beating really fast and he had butterflies in his stomach. He was used to this. Parties and festivals like these were usually for Mario. Even if he wasn't acknowledged as much as him, there was some kind of peace in just sitting back from the sidelines. The eyes weren't on him.

"Isn't it beautiful?"

Daisy was dressed in a sparkling orange dress. It was thin, and the frills flowered out at the bottom. On her neck was a small necklace with a purple gem on it. She straightened out Luigi's tuxedo and adjusted his tie.

"Well, the Toads are ready to escort us to town." She looked into his eyes and smiled. "Tonight is all about you. Let's enjoy it."

Luigi, having heard Daisy's gentle words, took her hand and they walked towards the door.

"Okay…" he said, managing to smile a little.

There were streamers and lights hanging everywhere, and some of the citizens were running around with sparklers. Most of the townspeople were gathered at the stage, where there many Toads, armed with a shield and spear, guarding from any nosy busybodys from sneaking onto the stage.

Mario made his way through the crowd, trying to get as close as possible, without the guards noticing. He couldn't see anyone backstage, but judging how everyone was gathered out here, whatever was going on had to start soon.

Suddenly, the lights on the stage shined down and the townspeople began to applaud and cheer. Mario gasped. He saw Princess Daisy walking onto the stage, carrying the sass she always had. She looked mostly normal.

"YOOO!" she cheered as confetti fell down around her. "It's me, Daisy! I hope you're all ready for tonight. Our star of the night is getting ready in the back, but before he comes out, I just wanted to say a few things."

In the back…? Mario thought. As Daisy spoke on, he slowly began to pass through the crowd. He went slow enough, so that he wouldn't draw attention. And luckily, the Toads, including the guards were still super friendly, so Starlow and Prince Dreambert wasted no time chatting them up.

Mario made it behind the stage and snuck past the staff, hid underneath some of the tables, and eventually made it past.

Then, he saw him. There was a table set up with mirrors. It was Luigi, and he was straightening out his bowtie, and he had a small, but gentle smile on his face. The older bro smiled. He was there, and he was okay, but he was still worried just a bit. He took a breath and then he spoke.

"Luigi?"

And then his smile faded. He turned around and locked eyes with his older brother. The two were silent, and Mario's worries were reaching its peak

"...Mario?"

Mario sighed in relief. He smiled, walking forward towards his brother. But, before he could get near him a bolt of green lightning struck right in front of him. The superstar jumped back, and when the light was gone, Luigi was running away. He ran away into the marketplace.

"Luigi!" Mario yelled. He reached out his hand.

"Where's he going?!" Starlow said, as soon as she caught along with Dreambert.

"After him!" Dreambert yelled.

Mario was already on it, chasing after his younger brother. He already knocked over some carts of mushroom and flowers and some trash cans. Mario grabbed an ice flower and jumped over the mess.

"Luigi, I'm here to help!" he called.

"Then, just leave me alone!" Luigi yelled back. Two giant carts were in the way. To the shock of the Toads nearby he climbed on the boxes and fell onto the other side. Struggling back onto his feet, he kept running. Mario jumped off a Toad's head and landed on the other side. Then he continued his pursuit up the street.

"Luigi, Daisy's caused trouble for all of the Mushroom Kingdom. The real one! You can't do this alone!"

"Why not? You've done things alone!"

"I'm saying you don't have to!"

Luigi wasn't stopping. Mario chased his brother through the town, until he pulled out the ice flower and crushed it in his hand. A cold feeling rush through his body, and he threw down balls of ice in Luigi's direction.

Luigi was nearing the castle when he slipped on the frozen ground. Trying to keep his balance he turned towards the castle gates, but then something yellow hit him in the face and he fell on his back.

When Luigi sat up, he locked angry eyes with the only person who would ever hit him without hesitation. It was Starlow, who was looking down on him, as usual.

"Luigi, what are you doing?!" Starlow said, as Luigi stood onto his feet. "Do you have any idea how worried Mario has been. If you think you can do this yourself then you're wrong! I mean, come on!" She stopped for a moment, seeing that Luigi was still staring. "What is it?" she said, as Mario and Dreambert caught up. "Is there something on my face?"

"GUARDS!" It was the voice of Daisy.

Luigi didn't even have to wait before they were already out and surrounding everyone. Daisy had caught up before long and stood between Mario and his friends and the younger bro.

"Aren't you the ones who were pestering my guards earlier?" said Daisy.

"Daisy, come on!" said Starlow. "You know who we are! At least Mario!"

Daisy shook her head. "The Toads were being told the same thing. What in the world are you doing, causing trouble in my kingdom?!"

"Yours!" Starlow snapped. "This is Peach's!"

"Peach… who?" said one of the Toads.

"Ignore them!" Daisy hissed. "Get them away from us! NOW!"

Mario could barely say a word as they were escorted away from the princess of Sarasaland. Luigi locked eyes with his brother, only briefly, before turning away.

The three were taken beneath the castle and thrown into the dungeon. Normally, Mario would fight back, but these were Toads who weren't aware of what they were doing. Besides, if they harmed them, it wouldn't do anything but turn this dreamy Mushroom Kingdom against them.

"Dude… Did Luigi just betray us?" said Starlow.

"Hmm. It would appear that way, yes."

Mario was leaning against the bars as the guards began to leave them. "Luigi… Why would you-"

"Mario, it's not all his fault."

The three turned towards a figure in the shadows. This figure stood and came into the dim light and saw the true princess of the real Mushroom Kingdom: Princess Peach.