Chapter 2 Mario ran the distance to Peach’s palace faster than he thought possible. The random citizens loitering around gawked at him. A few asked him questions but he was so focused that he honestly didn’t even notice. He did notice Waluigi though. “It’s not true is it?” Mario took bit of Waluigi’s features. He looked panicked as if he just realized he left his stove on. “What’s not true?” neither knew why Mario bothered asking that. “Is Luigi your brother or sister!?” A crowd lined behind the purple villain waiting for an answer. Mario mulled over it. His first instinct was to give no comment. That is until he realized it wouldn’t matter since Lucy wouldn’t be home when he got back. Spite and exasperation guided him. “I only have a sister. No brothers,” Mario replied like Waluigi asked for the time. That was enough to send the entire crowd into a frenzy. Toads whispered to one another. Many tried to shout over the din to ask questions. Mario worried Waluigi had a heart attack after hearing those words. The man looked so pitiful Mario moved to help him lie down. Waluigi just turned mechanically and made his way out of sight. Mario flinched at a thunderous laugh. Behind him was Wario. His evil doppelgänger was clearly loving every minute of this. “The look on your faces!” he choked out. The yellow plumber fell to his knees gasping for breath. “Shut it Wario, this isn’t about you!” That, oddly enough, made the yellow plumber freeze. A look of pure horror crept on his face. Wario went dizzy from surrealness. He took a scanning look at the crowd and ran off. Mario shrugged, glad to have one less problem to worry about, and steeled himself for the inevitable. The red plumber wadded through the crowd like a fish against the current. “Did you force Luigi to cross dress for the Mario Bros. brand?” “Is Luigi a depraved lesbian who simply wanted male attention?” “Does Luigi have gender issues?” “Did Luigi think she would get more attention and fame as the opposite sex?” Mario found himself in an oasis between palace guards and the door. This reprieve ended the moment he walked into the doors. Toad staff were there to escort the red plumber right to the princess. “It’s alright you can leave us,” Peach ordered the guards. “It’s true,” Mario got straight to the point. “Luigi is female?” “Yes.” “Why the deceit?” “Lucy grew up idolizing me and wanted to imitate me.” “That’s it?” Peach’s brow furrowed. “Your sibling was that desperate to emulate you?” “I’m afraid so. Lucy begged me for years to keep the truth under wraps, but here we are,” Mario’s sad voice croaked. Peach walked to the far end of the room. She was confused, but visibly sad. Peach took a seat at the tea table where this whole mess started. “Mario, sit.” The red plumber approached cautiously. “For years you two have deceived me. You both swore eternal loyalty to me as my personal knights. Did you really believe Lucy’s true sex would have mattered?” “No, and for years I knew this day was coming despite Lucy’s best efforts.” “You were also the elder Mario, you shouldn’t have entertained your sister’s unhealthy delusion. I understand how clingy and desperate Lucy can get but you were suppose to be the elder who forced the younger to do the right thing, even if the younger is kicking and screaming.” “ It’s all my fault. Lucy begged me and it was just so hard to say no.” “Here’s what happens going forward. You and I are taking a break,” Mario’s heart stopped, Peach’s eyes were glassy. “I will assuage the people and repair your reputations, but you must go talk to Daisy and explain the lie to her.” “Princess-” “When Daisy called to ask why people were questioning her on this news story she knew nothing about, I promised that you and/or Lucy would come personally to explain this if something was amiss. I’ve known your sister for years, despite not knowing her true sex, and her cowardly nature will always be a constant. Did your sister leave the Mushroom Kingdom rather than face the fallout?” Mario didn’t say anything. Peach went to the cupboard for some tea and biscuits. The two wordlessly enjoyed the elevenses that was supposed to be innocuous.