Count Bleck knocked on Mr. L's door the next morning. When he heard the affirmative, "Come in," he opened the door and let himself in. The room was bare. All of Mr L's posters had been taken off the wall. His dresser drawers were open and empty. The desk was clear. The floor was cleaned of debris and dirty laundry. The bed was neatly made.

"You've made your decision, then," said Count Bleck sadly.

"Yeah." Mr. L was packing the last of his black overalls. Now he was just wearing his old green and blue outfit. The only hint of his life here still on his person was the black mask that covered half of his face. "I'm going to tell the others, but I don't really want to hang around much after that... you know, in case they're mad at me."

"They can't stay mad at you," said Count Bleck. "They love you too much."

"That's what makes this so hard."

"I know." Count Bleck turned to leave. He paused in the doorway, then turned around. "But before you go, I think you should stop by the meeting room."

"Sure."

Count Bleck left. Mr. L took off his black mask and put it in his suitcase. He never would have thought that a single suitcase would be big enough to hold everything he had in this castle, but then again, it used to be Dimentio's. Most of the suitcase was in fact an alternate dimension called Dimension S (the S standing, of course, for suitcase.) Dimension S was not only big enough to pack everything you could ever need in, it was also big enough to take your vacation in.

When he closed the suitcase and his possessions were out of sight, he knew there was no putting it off anymore: He was officially Luigi again.

Luigi heaved the suitcase off his bed, finding it surprisingly light he almost lost his balance. Then he left the room.

Luigi headed to the meeting room like Count Bleck had recommended. He expected to find the others inside waiting for him, and was surprised to find O'Chunks, Mimi, and Dimentio huddled around outside the door, whispering to each other. Luigi cleared his throat. The three of them jumped.

"Oh, hi!" Mimi said quickly.

"Lovely day," added Dimentio.

"Hi," said Luigi, eyeing them suspiciously. He held up his suitcase. "Well... I've come to tell you I've made my decision. I'm going back to my brother." He waited for a reaction, and was slightly unsettled when Mimi, O'Chunks, and Dimentio all just stared at him. "I've thought a lot about it," Luigi continued uncomfortably. "You can't change my mind. I like you guys, and I like it here, and we do so much good, but, well... I gotta go with Mario. We've been adventuring together since we were babies. There's too much there to just ignore it... you guys are all my friends, and I'll always treasure the time we had together, but... well, I have to go."

"We know," said Mimi.

"... What?"

Dimentio opened the doors to the meeting hall. Luigi blinked and stepped in, completely in awe, as he saw what had been done in the meeting room: an enormous banner hung on the back wall reading GOOD LUCK, MR. L.Beneath that was a table with a big cake on it shaped like a green warp pipe, with little marzipan Mario and Luigi figures on top.

"Surprise!"

Dimentio sent forth a burst of magic confetti that rained down around them. Luigi looked surprised, but then his face split open into a grin. "You guys!"

"We totally didn't want you to think we weren't gonna miss you," said Mimi, "so we all put this party together."

"Nastasia did most o' the plannin'," said O'Chunks. "She's... she's really good at that."

Nastasia pulled out a piece of paper from her pocket and unfolded it. "And we all have a little something we wanted to read to you before you go." She straightened her glasses. "That is, if you're not in too much of a hurry."

"Uh... no, no, go ahead."

O'Chunks pulled up a chair and Luigi sat in it. Nastasia cleared her throat: "Yeah. So, you've been a valuable member of our team, and we could not have achieved as much as we have without your valued contributions. I remember a time when you came all the way to Castle Bleck to assist me in my own personal problems."

Luigi remembered what seemed like such a long time ago, shortly after Count Bleck had returned and all the minions had gotten back together, when Nastasia was still nursing a broken heart after losing Count Bleck to his true love Tippi. The others had asked Mr. L to come back and help them make Nastasia feel better, and he had tried.

"True, no one could make me happy again but me, but the point is that you tried, and that's why you were a valued friend in our organization."

"You always were a quick thinker, too," said Dimentio. "I seem to recall a certain incident in Rogueport where a certain purple and yellow jester revealed your secret plans to a surly mafia boss. It was thanks to Mr. L's quick thinking that he was able to escape unscathed.

"Remember when we had to fight that gigantic Smilax?" asked Mimi. "You were awesome! You were all like boing, boing, and you stomped on it and it was all aaaugh, don't kill me, I like being alive!"

"That's not exactly how I remember it, but okay."

"And don't forget Fawful," said Nastasia. "You took charge of his case like an expert. We couldn't have left him in better hands." She was over by the cake, taking a slice out of it with a cake server and putting it on a plate. She handed the first slice to Luigi.

"You guys..."

"And we understand why you're leaving," said Nastasia, "but should you ever want to return to our organization, your spot will always be open."

"Yeah," said Mimi, "or if you just, like, wanna come and visit us between adventures with your brother, we'll make your room up for you."

"And if yeh can't bring yer bro-bot, we'll keep it tuned up in the garage," added O'Chunks.

"Why, Mr. L," said Dimentio, "I do believe you've got something in your eye."

Luigi wiped his eyes with a small napkin that perfectly matched the cake plate. "This is a lot to take in," said Luigi. "I didn't know you even remembered all that stuff."

"Of course we do," said Mimi. "We remember everything."

"All the time. Forever," added Dimentio.

"It's just, when I came here," said Luigi, "I didn't really feel like I belonged, you know? Like I was the odd one out. I wasn't really one of Count Bleck's loyal minions, I had just been brainwashed. So when you said I could stay, I thought, yeah right. Why would I? But I stayed because there was nothing at home for me to go back to. It's just really amazing, going from being the guy that nobody seems to need to being the guy who belongs everywhere." He stood up and put the cake down on the chair. "Since I came here, I feel like somebody who can make a difference. But what's more important, I like myself more. I know that I'm someone worth being."

Mimi gave Luigi a big hug. "I'm going to miss you, Mr- oopsie! I mean, Luigi."

Luigi hugged back. "You can call me Mr. L if you want to."

"We are rather used to it," admitted Dimentio.

"I'd better go," said Luigi. "Sorry I can't stay."

"At least take your slice of cake for the road."

Luigi gave them all one last goodbye before leaving the meeting room.

"Well?"

Luigi jumped, for standing right outside was Count Bleck. He was grinning and looking down at Luigi knowingly.

"Well what?"

"It was all their idea," said Count Bleck. "They were so worried that you would leave and think they were still mad at you."

"They had every right to be. I let everyone down."

Count Bleck sighed. "Mr. L, for someone who just realized just how special and needed he is, you still need to start putting more worth in yourself. When are you going to realize that it doesn't matter how badly you mess up, that we're still your friends, your family?"

"Sorry. I know I don't usually have the best self-esteem."

"But you're getting better, all the time."

Luigi hefted up his suitcase. "I was just heading out."

"Goodbye, Mr. L."

"'Bye."

Count Bleck watched Luigi go before letting himself into the meeting room. It was very quiet. "So many sad faces," said Count Bleck. "It's not as if this is a wake, you know."

"I know," said Mimi. "I miss him already."

"I do, too," said Dimentio. "It was so much easier to unsettle him than any of you."

"Well, you'll be happy to know I've planned some activities for us, to help fill the time so we aren't moping around missing our friend, and-" Count Bleck sat down in the only chair as he spoke, and stopped abruptly. "What did Count Bleck just sit in?"

"Oh," said Nastasia. "Yeah, Count, just an FYI? Looks like Mr L didn't take his slice of cake for the road. Um, and he left it in his chair."

"Which Count Bleck is currently sitting in. Yes, yes, I see. Very wonderful."

Everybody had a good laugh, and after that, they knew everything was going to work out just fine.

This is definitely not a last-episode wrap-up. Not even necessarily the last appearance of Luigi as Mr. L. Just a story on the nature of family, and finding out what's important to you.

The whole time I had the song from the credits of The Land Before Time X: The Great Longneck Migration. It's sung by Olivia Newton-John and you should look it up on youtube if you like award-bait style credits music

Sometimes friends have to leave, it's sad, but true
But this I do believe: they stay a part of you
And if you go away to live some other place
I will think of you each day and see your smiling face

And I will always be your friend no matter where you are
Just around the bend or very very far
Wherever you will go when you reach your journey's end
No matter what I'll always be your friend

I will always be your friend although we're far apart
I'll see you in my dreams and feel you in my heart
And though the years may fly, I know we'll meet again
And when we do I still will be your friend

If you haven't already, be sure to check out my profile for information on my new book.