Made of Vigor

## **Plot**

Mario and Luigi have a talk about what information Luigi was given back at the island to which Mario becomes appalled to hear. Peach suggests that maybe their parents didn't outright abandon them but rather had no choice. Luigi refuses to believe this and demands to know the truth behind their origin story. He vows that he will return later on with life-changing news regarding their background and then leaves the castle.

Squirt finishes his first day of school and talks to Mason about if he has talked to Toadette at all to which he reveals that Toadette is considering moving towns after she heard Fungiville has a university that has a great program for those who want to enter into the fashion industry. Horrified, Squirt zooms toward Toadette's house and asks her mom if she is there to which she replies that she is already taking a weekend trip over to the city to see what places she could rent when she moves. Squirt pleads to her if he could talk with her but Toadette overhears and already assures Squirt she has made up her mind and that even though she will miss everyone dearly, she has made her decision regarding what she wants to do with her life. She gives Squirt a long hug and bids him farewell on his life.

Squirt wipes away tears on his way home and bumps into Luigi who requests he joins him on an adventure to find out where he and Mario came from. Squirt joins, desperately wanting to get his attention off what he just had to endure. They walk out towards the outskirts of the kingdom where Squirt begins venting to Luigi about what he just heard. Luigi pays little to no mind to what bothers Squirt, continuing to tell him that they need to figure out the truth behind the bros' past. Squirt notices this but tries his best to keep it hidden.

Mario sits in his room quietly pondering on his past. Peach comes in to see how he is doing. They discuss whether Luigi is doing the right thing trying to figure out the truth or if he is only going to find out something else he doesn't want to. Mario doesn't want to take the chance and leaves the castle with Peach joining. Meanwhile, Toadette begins finishing her resume but isn't able to finish it due to restraint from her feelings taking control. Her mom walks in to ask what's wrong and she replies that maybe things wouldn't be so different if she did leave, everyone would just lose a pretty memorable face and Squirt would only be more heartbroken. Her mother insists that it is her decision and that she doesn't have to do anything a certain way, just the way she feels is right. She then leaves Toadette, who is left pondering her advice.

Luigi and Squirt make it over a large hill and end up getting stuck in a small and tight ravine with no way out. Luigi doesn't give up and tells Squirt to piggyback on him so that he can reach the higher elevation. He flings Squirt but he ends up hitting a tree branch and they both fall down once more. After many attempts to go up, Luigi continues to express very little interest in what concerns Squirt despite how much he is telling him about the Toadette situation. One final attempt involves putting Squirt on a bouncy mushroom that Luigi found. This also does not work but Luigi is still persistent. This becomes the final straw for Squirt, who lets Luigi have his wrath and anger as he begins to break down about how through the entire time they have been together, he hasn't once expressed genuine concern for his apparent friend. Luigi becomes guilt-ridden and begins to cry alongside Squirt.

Mario and Peach continue searching for the duo with the townsfolk not knowing their whereabouts. Toadette meets with them and expresses her concern over their safety as well. The trio realizes that something is wrong and begins to formulate a plan to try and find them.

Luigi and Squirt continue to try their best to escape their trap but suddenly two large chain chomps begin charging at them. The duo seek refuge behind a large rock. Luigi enters a state of power, being able to tap into his inner strength once more, only this time, Mario is able to feel him. Mario immediately knows where to go, sensing Luigi. They find them in the ravine and they fight off the chain chomps and rescue the duo. Luigi apologizes for everything and says that he got really carried away with the past and that he knows now that if he can't find anything to solve it, there is no point in letting it affect his life at the moment. Squirt tells Toadette that he won't stop her from achieving her dream of where she wants to go. She shares a hug with him and says that she might change her mind regarding where she wants to go but still wants to become a fashion designer. The group then walk off while Mario and Luigi express the small connection they shared and wonder if they are able to channel it once more. Mario says it seems to only happen at times of danger, not when they want it. Just before they leave the area however, Mario notices a warpipe and asks if that's the same kind of pipe found on Yoshi Island. The bros take a quick peek but both are accidently pulled inside and warped to another part of the island, specifically the vision circle in the lowlands. While there, Mario then comes up with the idea that they should just ask the circle how they came to Yoshi Island. Unfortunately, the vision circle doesn't do anything, leading to them still not finding any answers but say they will still focus on the future as long as they can.