-
Luigi limped towards the courtyard, even after a small massage and a few painkillers he still felt sore after grappling with Ludwig. His hand-to-hand combat skills have improved since the last time he had wrestled with Bowser’s eldest son. He had grown to appreciate his new body the past few weeks. He was stronger than before and he could see that his arms have grown a little thicker with muscle during the past few days.
“Are you going to oversee the Troopas while they train?” Ludwig was following him and from the sound of lower claws being dragged over the stone floor, Luigi could tell that Ludwig was equally sore as him.
“I would like to watch them,” Luigi nodded. “Make certain they will be in top performance during the next ta-“
“You can cut the crap,” Ludwig grabbed his shoulder. “I have known you have never changed sides, nor do you ever plan to.” He relaxed his grip when he noticed Luigi’s frightened stare. “If I were to inform my father, I would have done so during our first dinner together.”
“Why haven’t you said anything?” Luigi wasn’t certain what the other Koopa’s motives were.
“It does not seem feasible,” Ludwig shrugged. “I love my father dearly, but his not the brightest Koopa at times. He was a little too eager to accept you as one of us, perhaps the fact that you are a Koopa had confirmed the thought in his mind.”
“I can understand, but aren’t you afraid that I will foil your plans in trying to battle the Mushroom Kingdom?”
Ludwig laughed. It was the first time Luigi had heard him laugh and it was rich, almost musical and it made Luigi wonder if the composure could also sing.
“When was the last time he actually tried to go into battle against the kingdom?” Ludwig raised his eyebrows. “He did raise the castle, he has taken over the castle, but when did he actually take over the kingdom?”
“It has been a while,” Luigi nodded. “But what about you when you become king?”
“There are other kingdoms to try and take over,” Ludwig said. “I can also negotiate and sign treaties to have the borders of Dark Land extended. There is also Grass Land, Ice Land, not to mention Dinosaur Land. My father is a bit obsessed and stubborn when it comes to the Mushroom Kingdom and to Princess Peach.”
“I wonder if I broke his heart,” Luigi recalled how quiet the Koopa King was after he delivered the announcement of Mario and Peach’s engagement.
“He knew it was coming up, it was something he could sense.” He stared out the window and watched as several Troopas lined up in a neat row. “Like how I could sense you hadn’t changed teams.”
“I am curious,” Luigi raised his brows. “What else do you know?”
“I know you want to be a human again, but that does not need an educated guess, since I have been to the mansion, and Iggy has explained what he and the good professor are up too.”
“You are not bothered by that?”
Ludwig shook his head. “I can understand. If I were turned into a human, then I would want to be turned back into my natural form, even with the possible perks of being human.”
“I already promised her that nothing would be changed between us if the machine does work.”
“I know.” Ludwig gave him a pat on the back of the neck.
“Master Luigi,” a Paratroopa flew into the area and nearly crashed into the wall. “Whoops.”
“Patrick is that you?” Ludwig rolled his eyes. “How many times have I told you to get glasses?”
“All the time sir,” the Paratroopa squinted at them. “Luigi is the other one?”
“I’m right here,” Luigi waved to he near sighted Paratroopa.
“Iggy is back with his helicopter. He says the device is ready. Wendy is already at the helipad. They told me not to inform their father about Iggy’s return. Should I your highness?”
“I’m over here,” Ludwig placed himself right in front of Patrick. “Don’t tell father anything, and get some glasses.”
“Yes sir,” Patrick bowed and flew towards the window, barely missing his exit by an inch.
Luigi inhaled. This was what he had been waiting for. “Now is the time.”
“Considering how much work my brother has put into the device, I hope it works.”
“I have no idea when we will be back,” Luigi said.
-
“So let us be exact,” Luigi said as the copter flew out of the Dark Land border. “What do you mean by everyone?”
“Just your brother, Peach, Toad, Toadette, Yoshi, and Daisy and Professor Gadd of course,” Iggy said.
“Everyone wants to come and see Luigi turned back into a human?” Wendy asked. She was seated in the middle and never stopped holding onto Luigi’s hand, even with the threat of her bow about to be blown off.
“The professor said he needed some human volunteers,” Iggy explained. He kept his hands on the controls and kept his gaze focused straight ahead.
“He never did get that blood from Mario,” Luigi rolled his eyes. “Then again I’m one to talk. I still have a fear of Boos.”
“I hate spiders,” Iggy said, “Wendy’s afraid of birds.”
“I am not,” Wendy glared at her brother. “Not all of them anyway.”
“We don’t really need the blood,” Iggy said. The copter was passing over the Boo woods. “We just need some human volunteers and that includes both Peach and Mario.”
“Why would you need so many volunteers?” Wendy asked.
“You will see,” Iggy brought the helicopter in for a landing.
-
Shivers had welcomed them and lead them to the stairs to the basement. “All of the spirits have been talking non stop about the device. “Everybody has been simply referring to it as the metamorphosis device.”
“That isn’t the official name,” Iggy reminded him.
“Oh sorry, forgot what the official name was,” Shivers floated through the door.
“What is the official name for it?” Luigi opened the door for himself and the other Koopas.
“We have dubbed it,” Iggy took a deep breath. “Are you ready for this?” He waited until both Luigi and Wendy had nodded. “The Gadd Iggy Species Metamorphosis Chamber Pods, or simply the G.I.S.M.C.P for short.”
“Simply?” Wendy gave her brother a look.
Iggy nodded. “Well it is more simple than saying the whole name.”
Luigi nearly ran down the steps. He was eager to see the machine, but more eager to see his brother and friends again. He hated having to be sneaky; at least Wendy, Iggy and Ludwig knew the truth.
His eyes were drawn to the silver metal mass in the center of the lab. There were four cylinders like pods connected to a lager pod in the center by metal limbs that were attached, molded into a smooth shape to be precise. The pod in the center was capped with a glossy black dome. The four smaller ones were capped with a candy red dome. Each pod had a v shaped window. Long wire cables were connected to the machine and fed to various ports. The thing cackled and hummed from the electricity.
“Wow,” Luigi stared, wide eyed at the machine. “Is this the Species Mega whatever?”
“The Gadd Iggy Species Metamorphosis Chamber Pods,” Gadd stepped out from behind the machine. “Fully operational.”
“How about making sure it is fully working?” Mario asked from the direction of the laundry room section of the room. Everyone else was there, either seated in the foldout chairs or leaning against the washer and dryer. “I don’t want this thing to fritz out and cause my brother to be turned inside out.”
“Or worse,” Toad added. “He could step out with a fly head, just like in that movie.”
“Maybe it would be like the other one,” Mario turned to the mushroom retainer. “He could merge with the fly and start loosing his teeth and puke up acid on his food.”
“Gross,” Toadette closed her eyes and shuddered.
“I don’t think I will ever eat another fly again,” Yoshi turned a paler shade of green.
“Will you two knock it off?” Peach stared at Mario and Toad with her hands on her hips. “Luigi is probably nervous enough as it is. He is nervous about the machine as it is without you two bringing up horror movies.”
“I wasn’t afraid,” Luigi felt ice cold fingers trace down his spine. The possibilities of the machine not working hadn’t entered his mind before.
“You are also insulting Iggy’s and the professor’s hard work,” Daisy said. She was still wearing the shirt, jeans and lab coat combo. She had her chestnut brown hair pulled into a bun with a few stray locks.
“Not too mention your hard work,” Iggy told her. “I don’t know how we would have been able to make it with out you to make sure we have food helped clean up.”
“It wasn’t much,” Daisy blushed. “You should thank Shivers as well. He also helped with the refreshments and clean up.”
“But he didn’t do the paperwork,” Iggy took her hands into his.
“I cannot take credit for that,” Shivers nodded.
“Why is everyone over there?” Wendy pointed to the laundry everywhere. “Should I be over there?”
“The just wanted to stay out of the way,” Gadd explained while opened a panel on one of the pods. “Until we made sure we have everything on line and ready.”
“You also told us too,” Yoshi said.
“Oh yes,” Gadd chuckled. “There is that.”
“Wendy you should wait over there with Yoshi and the toads,” Iggy pointed to where everyone else stood. “We just need the humans.”
“I don’t like the sound of this,” Mario did not budge and he kept his eyes on the device.
“We told you it won’t hurt,” Iggy accepted Daisy’s hand as he led her to the machine. “There are no needles involved.”
“Then how are you going to get my DNA?”
“I thought Daisy already offered her blood,” Luigi raised his eyebrows.
“She did, but that was the basis of the study,” Gadd opened one of the doors to the pods. “It was to help study, not create the cure.”
“How did you create the cure?” Peach stepped inside. “Is that the best way to describe it?”
“I wouldn’t call it that at all,” Gadd placed a finger under his bottom lip. “That doesn’t seem quite scientific, not to mention politically incorrect. Koopas are not diseases.”
A muffled snort and cough came from Toad and Yoshi. Luigi glared at his friends and bared his teeth. Toadette gasped and hid behind an equally shocked Toad and Yoshi.
“I know most of the mushroom people are racist against my kind,” Iggy made sure none of Daisy’s clothing could be caught in the door. “Then again my father and my own past actions have influenced the hate.” He shrugged. “I don’t think I really care one way or the other.” He closed the door. “Is Mario in?”
“No,” Mario stood in front of the third pod. “I still don’t like this. Has this thing been tested?”
“Not exactly,” Gadd held the door open for Mario. “We really don’t have anyone to test it on.”
“Then how the hell am I going to know if it works or not?” Mario asked.
“Don’t you want your brother to be human?” Iggy asked.
“Of course I do,” Mario threw up his hands. “I just don’t want to be turned into a baked potato.”
“This may be the only way,” Iggy opened the door on the middle chamber. “Luigi, step in here please.”
“I would do it for you,” Luigi stepped inside.
“Wouldn’t you be too afraid?” Mario asked.
“No bro,” Luigi shook his head. “Not for this.”
Mario inhaled deep. “Fine,” he stepped inside the chamber. “Remember Gadd, I am warning you.”
Gadd closed the door behind Mario. “My, my he is touchy.”
“He is just concerned,” Luigi explained. “There was also the fact you gave the youngest Koopaling a certain paintbrush.”
“He is never going to forgive me for that is he?” Gadd asked.
“There might be a little tingling,” Iggy explained before he closed the door.
Luigi could hear the muffled voices of Gadd and Iggy engage in some form of tenchobabble. He wished he could hear the others, especially Wendy. He wouldn’t have minded hearing Mario continue to complain.
“This is it I guess,” He stared at his hands. Soon he will have five fingers again and no longer have orange scales. “Good bye claws.” He glanced over his shoulder. “Good bye shell, good bye tail.” He liked his tail.
The hum of Luigi’s chamber grew louder as it was flooded with an eerie green light. A bar of brighter line slid down over his body and he closed his eyes, anticipating the pain of being transformed. He held his breath when the hum grew even louder and was accompanied by shrill whistles and beeps. Some of those sounds even sounded like various screams.
He opened his eyes when he no longer felt the light, and the sounds died down.
“I didn’t feel anything,” he stared at his hands. They were un-changed. “Those Magikoopas were right. This is permanent.” He might as well as let Gadd and Iggy know. “Hey guys,” Luigi stepped out of his pod. “I’m sorry, but it didn’t-“ He was cut of by screams coming from Peach’s and Daisy’s pod.
“Daisy,” Luigi climbed out.
“Princess,” Toad ran up to Peach’s pod.
“Oh God, Daisy,” Iggy was immediately by Daisy’s pod and opened the door. “Whoa,” he blinked as he stared inside.
“Gadd,” Mario growled. “What have I warned you?”
Luigi turned towards Mario’s chamber in time to see a short Koopa dressed in the tattered remains of a red shirt and blue overalls pounce on Gadd and grab the poor professor by the collar.
“Mario?” Luigi blinked before he grabbed his brother by his new red shell. “Let him go brother.”
“Look what he did to me,” Mario snarled and pointed at his new snout. The part with his nostrils was as big and round as Luigi’s Mario’s head matched the color of his shell and his horns tore through his hat. “Look what he did to us,” his eyes widened. “Peach.”
“Don’t look at me,” Peach had her back turned to them. A pink shell had ripped through the back of her dress and they could see horns poking through her blond hair.
Daisy stood a few feet away. Instead of a bright orange color her skin had covered itself with scales the same shade of brown as Morton. Her head and shell were as yellow as her favorite dress. She still had her figure, and she did appear quite fetching with a tail, maybe that is why Iggy would not stop staring at her.
“Peach,” Mario placed a hand on her shoulder. “Please turn around.”
“What happened?” Toad asked. “Everyone has been turned into a Koopa.”
“I’m not exactly certain,” Iggy regained his ability to speak. “We have gone over all the notes and nothing pointed to a possibility of a miscalculation like this.” He removed his fogged up glasses and started to clean them.
“A miscalculation?” Mario asked. “We’ve been turned into reptiles and all you can chalk it up to is a miscalculation.” He growled as he pounced on the young Koopa. “How are we certain this isn’t your plan all the long? Your family turned my brother into a Koopa nearly a month ago.” Smoke was leaking out of the corners of his mouth.
“Leave my brother alone,” Wendy grabbed Mario by the arm. “He didn’t plan on this.”
“Let him go,” Peach had grabbed Mario’s other arm. “They will fix it.”
“Fix it?” Mario’s growls deepened and the smoke was getting thicker. “You trust these two to actually fix it?”
“Everyone duck,” Luigi pushed Toad to the ground, just in time for a fire ball to exit Mario’s mouth and bounce along the floor before Yoshi gobbled it up.
Shivers screamed and flew out of the room.
Mario coughed. “Did I do that?” He blinked.
Luigi nodded. “You are going to have to learn how to control your fire.”
“I’m going to have to control my fire.” He stared his hands and trembled. “I have to learn how to use my body. I have to learn how to be a Koopa.” He grabbed onto Luigi. “I’m a Koopa.”
“Don’t let him go into shock,” Gadd said.
“Mario,” Peach said in her softest and most soothing voice. “Everything is going to be all right, this is just temporary.”
“They are going to fix it,” Toadette said. “Once they figure out what went wrong, they are going to make things right.”
“How long do you think it will take?” Luigi asked. Mario’s grip had relaxed and his brother was breathing normally.”
“Between a few days and a week.”
“I can’t go home looking like this, Toadsworth is going to have a coronary if he sees me like this.”
“I’m certain the professor will allow us all to stay until then,” Daisy said.
“Of course they can stay,” Gadd nodded. “The spirits won’t mind at all.”
“Right now, I’m going to find Shivers and ask if he can prep a few beds,” Daisy said. “Then I am going to make lunch.”
“I’ll help,” Wendy said. “Luigi likes my cooking.”
“Mario also loves it,” he stared into the frightened blue eyes of his brother. “Everything will be all right. You just need to sit and have a drink of water.”
“They mentioned food?” Mario asked.
“Yes they did,” Luigi smiled. If his brother mentions food, then he knows he is going to be all right.
-