it doesn't surprise the brothers that the different Kingdoms experienced winter, its natural. the snow is gorgeous and beautiful.

what does surprise them, however, is how fast winter comes in the Mushroom Kingdom.

there was no drop in temperature, no warnings, no signs. it was 98 degrees, hot and beautiful one day, and -3 covered in snow and ice the very next day. the toads and their Princess had been prepared. the Jungle Kingdom had been prepared. everyone had been prepared, except Mario and Luigi.

neither had been prepared.

"this is cazzate." Mario mutters, rubbing his hands up his arms.

"it came out of no where." Luigi frowns, shivering. 4 inches of snow and counting.

"I told you guys winter was coming." Peach chuckles.

"yeah, this isn't how it happens in Brooklyn. you don't just go to sleep in summer and wake up in winter. usually there's like, fall. it gets cooler and cooler until it's freezing, doesn't just happen over night." Mario frowns.

"well, it does here, and you two are going to freeze if you don't put warmer clothes on." Peach frowns.

"the pipe is frozen. we can't get back to Brooklyn to get our stuff." Luigi mumbles. Peach frowns slightly, tapping her chin.

"well, I can see if we can find something to fit you guys. where are you off to right now?" Peach asks.

"the Dark lands. those stupid Koopas. Bowser wouldn't go into details just that the castle is taking on water and he can't find where its coming from." Mario grumbles. Peach raises an eye brow.

"again? didn't you guys just fix that like three days ago?" Peach ask.

"I'm starting to think its on purpose." Mario huffs, motioning to Luigi. "he just wants to see Lu." Mario snorts.

"huh? me? why?" Luigi asks. Peach laughs a little.

"alright, have fun, try not to freeze to death." Peach smiles, waving at them. "I'll try to have clothes for you when you get back." Peach adds.

"thanks Princess." Mario waves. "c'mon Lu, at least the Dark lands are warm." Mario mutters. Luigi nods, teeth chattering, and follows his older brother.

the two are all but frozen upon arrival, but Mario had been correct. the Dark lands are always warm, all the lava ensured that, and they warm up quickly while heading for Bowsers castle.

"you're late." Kamek mutters, watching them walk over. "the master has been waiting for you." he frowns.

"yeah, well, its fucking cold. we're here now." Mario huffs.

"where's the leak?" Luigi asks.

"this way." Kamek says, leading them further into the castle.

"ah! if it isn't my favorite plumber," Bowser smirks. he turns and glares at Mario. "oh and his brother." he growls.

"do you want us to fix this leak or not?" Mario glares back.

"whats got your overalls twisted, Mario?" Bowser scoffs.

"its cold in the Mushroom Kingdom. w-we didn't know it would snow like this. we're unprepared an-and cold." Luigi mutters.

"I see. well, stick around and warm up. the water can't cause any more damage than it already has." Bowser says, walking off.

"come on Lu, lets get to work." Mario says, heading down the hall. Luigi follows quickly.

its a disaster. Bowser had jinxed them, Mario swears. when they had gotten to the room, idiotically blocked off with magic, and opened the door, water had come flooding out. both of the brothers, Kamek, adnd several Koopas were soaked in the incident.

despite two hours of working on the pipes, along with attempting to mop up the water, both were still soaked when they left Bowsers castle.

Mario basically kicks open their front door. both are still soaked, though their clothes have ice forming on them, and their shoes squelch as they walk across the floor.

"M-M-Mario-io.... i-it-it-its co-cold." Luigi shivers. Mario shivers, teeth chattering, as he looks over at his brother.

"get, get a shower Lu." Mario manages, heading for his room. of course he'd let Luigi have the first shower, he was the younger brother and, as the older brother, Mario had to take care of him.

after they both get warm showers and changed into warm Pjs, they head to bed, too tired to eat or even watch tv.

Mario moans quietly when the sunlight comes through his window and across his face. he rolls over, pulling his pillow over his head with a distressed groan. his head is pounding, it feels like Donkey Kong used it as a punching bag all night. his body aches worse than the time Bowser stepped on him. he's sweating despite the fact his body is shivering. he sniffles, but his head feels like its stuffed up and it makes his head throb more.

"mama mia." Mario groans quietly. there's a knock on his door.

"Mario?" Luigi asks, creaking the door open. his voice sounds rough like he's been coughing.

"Lu?" Mario mutters. he winces, talking hurts.

"you too huh?" Luigi asks, coughing into his hand.

"yeah. you okay?" Mario asks. forcing himself to sit up. he immediately regrets the decision as the room spins and his stomach churns. "oh no." Mario mutters, getting to his feet. he scrambles for his trash can, gripping it like a life line as he empties his stomach into it. Luigi winces.

"I-I'll be right back." Luigi murmurs. he leaves the room quickly. Mario sits back, wiping his mouth on his PJ sleeve. he groans and drags the can back to his bed. he plops back down and curls up, groaning. he closes his eyes, intent on waiting for Luigi to get back, but ends up falling asleep again.

Luigi calls for help from the only person he can think of, Princess Peach.

the Princess wastes no time calling in back up before heading over to the Plumbers house.

Peach, DK, and Bowser head into the house, followed by a couple of the Princess' Toads. they're immediately concerned as the house is usually so full of life, but its utterly silent today.

"uh... Mario?" Peach calls. "Luigi?" she calls.

"shhh." Luigi mumbles, walking out of the hallway. "no-not so loud. you're gonna wake him." Luigi says, coughing when his voice cracks. Peach, Bowser, and DK wince at his voice crack.

"wake who?" Peach asks, walking over.

"Mario." Luigi murmurs, pulling the blanket around his shoulders tighter. he's shivering. Peach reaches out and feels his forehead with a frown.

"hmm. alright, Toads head to the kitchen and make some soup, be careful." Peach says. she turns back to Luigi. "take me to Mario, if he's as warm as you are, we're gonna need a doctor." Peach adds. Luigi nods and turns heading for Marios room.

Luigi motions to Marios closed door, shivering. Bowser frowns and walks over, scooping him up.

"he-hey!" Luigi yelps. he pauses sinking into the Koopa kings arm. "hey you're warm." Luigi mumbles.

"good idea. sweat the fever out." Peach says, opening the door to Marios room. Mario is curled up under his blanket, back to the door, snoring. the trash can beside his bed has a new bag, Luigi had replaced it without even waking Mario. "Mario?" Peach calls. the red wearing twin doesn't even stir. Peach frowns and walks over.

Marios hair is plastered to his forehead with sweat, clothes clinging to him with sweat, skin pale. the sheet under him looks as though its soaked ins wear as well. Peach reaches out to feel his forehead gently.

"well?" DK asks.

"he's warmer than Luigi." Peach frowns. "Luigi, what happened?" Peach asks, turning around. Luigi is passed out.

"he's asleep. don't wake him." Bowser growls. Peach frowns slightly.

"alright, well... take him to his room, I'm going to go keep an eye on the toads and call a doctor. Donkey Kong, you stay with Mario... his fever is pretty bad." Peach frowns, glancing over at the red twin.

"no way, no thanks. not happening. I'm going home before I get sick." DK huffs.

"please, just keep an eye on him. if he gets worse... someone needs to keep an eye on them and I can't, I have to keep an eye on my toads." Peach says. Dk huffs.

"fine." DK mutters, walking into the room. he sits down by Marios nightstand and huffs, crossing his arms over his chest. Peach nods and turns, watching Bowser try to creep his way into Luigi's room without waking the younger plumber. she nods to herself and heads to the kitchen.

Mario groans quietly and rolls over, curling in on himself.

"merda." Mario mutters, sitting up. he scrambles for his trash can, only to find it being held in front of his face. he doesn't have time to question it before getting sick into the can. he dry heaves for a moment before slumping back against the bed. he can't even fix himself, nearly falling off. he doesn't have the energy. he accepts the fact that hitting the floor will hurt, but can't stop it.

"idiot. you're going to hit the floor." DK mutters, setting the trash can down. he stands up and picks the man up, laying him in the center of the bed, before pulling the blanket up over him. Mario looks utterly confused, tilting his head back to blink up at the Kong Prince.

"DK...?" Mario asks.

"yeah. thats me dumbass." DK huffs. Mario looks more confused, coughing into his blanket. "lay back down idiot." DK mutters, pushing him backwards gently when Mario sits up. Mario blinks at him, letting DK pull the blanket around him. he reaches out and grabs DKs arm, and the Kong pauses. "what are you doing?" DK frowns.

"you're soft." Mario mutters, petting his arm gently. DK raises an eye brow, before looking down. Mario doesn't have his gloves on.

"uh, thanks?" DK frowns. "let go now." DK huffs trying to pull his arm back. Mario refuses to let go. "Mario, seriously. let go." DK growls, yanking his arm back. Mario blinks, startled. the sudden yank had almost ended up with him in the floor, but DK had easily caught him, shifting him back onto the bed. Mario looks up at him, eye brows furrowing, before pulling away from him. he looks confused and lost. he winces, coughing, before rolling over. he wipes at the sweat on his forehead, burying himself into his blanket.

"get out." Mario mumbles. DK looks confused.

"Mario, if I hurt you-" Donkey Kong starts.

"get out." Mario snaps. he winces, curling in on himself. he whimpers quietly, with a groan. he'd nearly made himself puke with the force of his words. "jus' go away." Mario manages.

"can't do that. Princess ask me to stay." DK frowns. Mario rolls over slightly, hazy eyes and pale faced, to look at him.

"m'telling you t' leave." Mario hisses. he starts coughing and winces, holding his throat. he winces, the force of the coughs bring tears to the corners of his eyes, but he blinks them away and rolls back over, putting his back to DK again. he pulls the blanket tighter around himself, pulling it up and over his head, shivering. DK frowns, refusing to leave. he plops back down to wait silently. it takes Mario no time to fall back to sleep.

DK watches him sleep, confused about what had just happened. he assumes its just the fever Mario has, making him act weird.

Donkey Kong isn't sure how long he's been sitting in the floor staring at Marios sleeping body, when Peach walks back in.

"how is he?" Peach asks, walking over with a bowl of soup.

"sleeping." DK mutters, glancing over at her then back to Mario. "hows Greenie?" DK asks.

"not as bad as Mario. fever, chills, the usual. he's sick to his stomach, but hasn't puked. what about Mario?" Peach asks, glancing over at the sleeping plumber.

"everything and more. he's gotten sick twice." DK frowns, motioning to the trash can. "he's got a nasty cough. might need someone to take a look at him." DK adds. Peach nods.

"I'll see if I can get a doctor over here to see them. Luigi wants to go to Brooklyn, but well, you know." Peach frowns.

"pipes still frozen." DK frowns, glancing at Mario again. "we might have to find a way around that." DK adds.

"I'll get my Toads working on it. can you stick around for the night? Bowser is staying with Luigi, I'd feel better if you could stay with Mario as well." Peach says.

"yeah, no problem. he needs someone to watch him." DK frowns. Peach smiles at him.

"thanks. I'll be back in the morning, call me if anything happens." Peach says, rushing out of the room.

DK watches Mario boredly for probably an hour, before the older plumber sits up, sluggishly.

"Mario?" DK asks. Mario gets up, stumbling slightly. DK gets up quickly and grabs him. "where are you going?" Dk frowns.

"bathroom." Mario mutters, rubbing his head.

"alright come on." DK says, scooping him up.

"I don' need help." Mario grumbles.

"I'm just going to help you to the bathroom. I'm not going to watch you or anything." DK mutters, rolling his eyes. he carries Mario to the bathroom and sets him down gently, before shutting the door.

he waits for a few minutes, before Mario opens the door. DK scoops him back up and carries him back to his room.

"you good? Peach brought you some soup. its probably a little cold, but I guess I can warm it up." DK offers. Mario looks at him and shakes his head, pushing away from him. he lands on his ass on the floor.

"jus' gotta get t' bed." Mario mutters getting up. he struggles to pull himself with a wince.

"hang on Red." DK murmurs, scooping him back up. Mario melts into his warmth.

"y'warm." Mario mumbles. DK sighs slightly, frowning.

"if you tell anyone about this, I'll kill you." DK mutters, grabbing Marios blanket. he plops himself onto Marios bed and covers the plumber with the blanket. "don't puke on me." he grumbles.

"okay." Mario manages. he snuggles into the Kongs chest, pulling the blanket tight around himself. "thanks." Mario murmurs.

"whatever." DK mumbles, closing his eyes.