-
Luigi was nearly out of breath by the time he had reached Bowser’s fortress. Peach wanted to give him a break and walk by his side while in the pipe, but there was no way they could tell if one of Bowser’s minions might appear, or if Swish or one of his troops would have caught up.
“Let me go,” Peach cried out and drummed her fists against Luigi’s shell, creating a tapping and beating mix. Luigi had taken note that she had no problem avoiding his spikes and he could almost feel her fists. “How could you betray us?”
“It was easy,” Luigi snarled. He carried her across the drawbridge, past the various members of the Troop who stared at him with shocked expressions on their faces.
There was a small group gathered in the throne room. Both Kamek and Kammy were there, along with Morton, several Buzzy beetles, Sledge bros, and, Wrigglers. All conversions came to an end when Luigi entered the room.
“Luigi’s back,” Morton had taken upon himself to announce his arrival. “And he has Peach.” He kept his large grin for a few seconds before realization struck. “He brought Peach.”
The room was quiet, save for the few murmurs, and Peach’s sobbing. Luigi felt the remaining part of his tail twitching back and forth. He cast a glance over the entire crowd before he locked his own eyes with Bowser’s.
“Well,” Bowser did not move, nor blink. His jaw had dropped when Luigi first stepped inside, but now he was smiling. “This is quite the surprise.”
“I know I didn’t follow direct orders,” Luigi placed a hand on Peach’s shoulder. “And I am sorry if you wanted to take her yourself.”
“I’m not sorry,” Bowser’s smile grew even larger. “Why should I be sorry? You have made things easier for me, and I am impressed that you were able to carry out such a task.”
“It was quite easy,” Luigi grabbed Peach by the hair. “The princess was quite gullible.” He gave her hair a light pull. “I asked her if she could join me on a walk, and discuss what I should get Mario as a wedding gift.”
“What have you done to him?” Peach stared into Bowser’s eyes. “You turned him against us.”
“I didn’t do anything, Princess.” Bowser ran his claws through her hair. “He did this on his own, and I must say that I am quite pleased with him.” He stood back up and snapped his fingers. “Guards, you know where to take her by now.”
Two of the Sledge brothers grabbed Peach by the arms and dragged her away.
“Luigi,” she cried out to him as they took her away.
“Sire, why do you waste your time and effort on her?” Luigi asked. “I am certain there are other women who are so much better and so much more worthy of you.”
“That is really my concern,” Bowser turned to Kamek. “We need to step up to phase two of the take over, and open another bottle of wine.”
“Forgive me if I may seem intrusive,” Luigi said. He just hoped the Princess will be able to do her part after she had read the note he had given her, and then all he had to do was wait for Mario to.
“You are just looking out for my interest,” Bowser put around his shoulders. “And enough with the Sire crap, call me dad. You are part of the family.”
“Finally a family I can be proud to be in.” Deep in his mind and soul, Luigi was apologizing to his aunts, uncles, grandmother, and his parents who he never really remembered and only saw in a vision in Kammy’s crystal, and finally an apology to Mario.
-
Peach did not stop sobbing, not until after the door to her cell was closed and locked. She sat there with her back turned for a few more minutes. She was certain the two Sledge brothers were still there, guarding her. She scooted herself around to see and sure enough they were there, standing with their shells facing her.
“Excuse me,” she wiped away her tears from her cheeks. “I have worn out my voice and my throat feels dry, can I have a glass of water?”
The two guards did not say anything or move. They didn’t even grunt. They were like two muscle bound statues.
Peach sighed. It wasn’t going to be too difficult to get past them if she used her wits. They also didn’t seem to be paying much attention to her. She turned around and lifted the false hem of her dress and removed the note and key from her pocket.
I am sorry if I was a little rough with you when I first grabbed you, I know that it must be a bit of a surprise. If I had said anything to upset you, I didn’t mean it.
‘I know you didn’t mean a single word of it,’ Peach thought as she read. She knew it was all an act.
I can’t really call and I couldn’t really e-mail you this
time. The Magikoopas put wards on the phones and computers. I had to find some
way to get this message out to you. There is something going on in Sugar Land.
A few people have cried out about the conditions imposed by their king. Boys as
young as 14 are being drafted and many supplies are being rationed, no one is
allowed to enter or leave. I think they are planning on a take over.
It did sound like a
takeover. Peach was going to have to talk with Toadsworth and her father about
it, as well as send word to the many different nations.
After Mario has rescued you, I am going to set out for
Sugar Land and find out what is going on. Knowing you and Mario, you will both
try to catch up. I have a feeling we can take care of the situation together.
‘Of course we will.’
The key is used on all of the dungeons, a type of skeleton key, also can be found on the key ring of the guards. Try to escape after you rip up the letter, however I will try to capture you again, at least until Mario arrives.
Apologies in advance
Luigi
Peach looked over her
shoulder to see the two guards still haven’t moved and kept her eyes on them as
she ripped up the letter into what would work as confetti. She forced one third
of the scraps in her mouth and chewed, while she scattered the rest in the
dungeon.
“Ack,” she gagged as she
tried to swallow the scraps and coughed. “I could really use that glass of
water.” There was still no movement
from the guards. “Bowser will be upset if I get dehydrated, and only one of you
needs to leave. The other is strong enough to watch over me.”
The two guards stared at each other before one nodded and left the area. That was one down, and another one to go.
Peach stared out the barred up window, not many could get in or out, save for mice and insects. She got another idea. “A bee,” she gasped and ran around in a circle in her cell. “There is a bee in here. Oh no, there is a bee in here.” She ran up the guard. “It just crawled in under your helmet.”
“Get it out,” the Sledge Bros threw his helmet off. “Wait, I don’t see a bee.”
“Nope, but you might see some birdies.” Peach held up the key Luigi gave her, right between the bars and over her captor’s head. She brought it down with all her strength.
There was the distinct thud, followed by the sledge brother collapsing onto the ground.
“That was a little too easy,” Peach slipped the key into the lock and turned it. She slipped out the cell and ran towards the stairs.
She was halfway up when she felt someone grab her by the shoulders and force her against the wall.
“Going somewhere, Princess?” Luigi hissed in her ear. His low voice sent a shiver down her spine.
“Please Luigi, please let me go.” She felt the tears return.
“Why should I do that?” Luigi asked.
“Because you are my friend and I care about you.”
“Save your sweet words for someone else,” He pulled her away from the wall and they both came face to face with first guardsman. He was carrying a glass of water. “How about we make an exchange?” He handed Peach over to the guard and took the glass for himself.
“Let me go,” Peach screamed as the Sledge brother threw her over his back.
“I’ll be certain to tell his majesty about this,” Luigi held up the glass before he took a sip.
-
Luigi hated a part of himself. He hated the scene he had created at Peach’s castle, he hated causing Peach to cry, although that was an act on her part, and it still hurt him on the inside.
“I know why you are doing this,” Wendy sat next to him on their bed. “And if I wasn’t carrying your egg I would join you.” She ran her claws through his hair.
“Mario is going to hate me,” Luigi sighed. “That is if he isn’t going to kill me.”
“He is not going to kill you,” Wendy said. “If everything goes according to plan then Peach is going to tell him the truth.”
“Not if he kills me before she tells him,” he had a feeling Bowser was going to order him to fight against his own brother.
“He won’t kill you, not when you are stronger than he is.”
“If I was still a Koopa I would be a little more certain,” Luigi stared at his hands. His fingers were five slender human fingers ending in sharp white claws. His skin color was almost back to normal, even with the patches of scales. His tail was now a stump, the spikes were gone from his shell and his teeth had started to change. He still had his horns, but they could only be seen without his hat.
“You may not still be as strong as us, but you are still stronger than a human,” Wendy reminded him.
“I won’t be able to wrestle with your brothers any more,” he sat up. “And I will offend your nose.”
“You will never offend me.”
“Luigi,” Roy pounded on their door. “Dad wants us front and center in the ball room on the eighth floor.”
“What is going on?” Luigi asked.
“Your brother is here, that is what is going on.”
“Time to face the music,” Luigi gave his wife a kiss on her cheek and another kiss on her belly. She had just started to show, and there was a noticeable hardness.
“Good luck,” Wendy said.
-
The battle had already started by the time Roy and Luigi entered the ballroom. Yoshi was running around in circles trying to doge Lemmy’s leaps as well as the large rubber balls the small Koopaling tossed at him. Toad was trying to dodge Junior’s attacks. Toadette was throwing several Yoshi eggs at Morton and Mario was dodging fire attacks from both Ludwig and Bowser while he was throwing fireballs in retaliation.
“Hah,” Toadette threw one last egg at Morton, striking him on the head and causing him to fall backwards and land butt first in a puddle of yolks.
“Gotcha,” Junior pounced on Toad.
Yoshi ducked and missed another rubber ball bounced over his head. He ran past Yoshi and Toad and flicked out his tongue and grabbed Junior, once he was in his mouth he turned to Lemmy and spat the youngest Koopaling out in the direction of Lemmy striking him in the head and knocking him out.
“Don’t you dare try to eat my children,” Bowser roared and rained down more fire in Yoshi’s direction.
“Stupid lizard,” Roy growled. “No one beats on my little brothers except for me.” He launched himself towards Yoshi.
“Poor Yoshi,” Luigi muttered before he ran past a wiped out Morton, towards Toadette. “You shouldn’t be here.” He growled. What was Mario thinking in dragging her along? She was not a fighter and he didn’t dare think of someone as sweet as her getting hurt.
“No,” Toadette frowned. “Say it isn’t true.”
Luigi pinned he down and bent over. “It isn’t true.” He whispered in her ear. He placed one hand, palm up an inch by her face and struck it with his fist. She made a gasp and closed her eyes.
“Luigi,” Mario called out from the other side of the room. He had already defeated Ludwig in battle.
“Get me down from here damn it,” Roy had somehow managed to get himself stuck on one of the chandeliers.
“Mario,” Peach called out. She was hanging from the ceiling by a thick piece of rope that was tired to the more rope that kept her tied up.
“Get him Luigi,” Bowser had Yoshi by the tail.
“Luigi,” Mario was glaring right at him. His face was red. “How could you?”
“Easy,” Luigi tried to help Morton to his feet, but the amount of yolk caused him to slip from his grasp. “It was so easy that I aught to be ashamed of myself.”
“Do you know how much this hurts me? Your own brother, how could you do this to your own brother?”
“You are not my brother,” Luigi kept up the act. He couldn’t help but notice how tight Mario’s clothes were and it almost did seem like his shorter brother was growing. “These are my brothers.” He pointed to Morton and looked up at Roy.
“You tell that fatass,” Roy smiled down at him.
Luigi tried to suppress the growl, no one makes fun of Mario’s weight, but he still heard it, even if he didn’t feel it. It only took him a second before Luigi realized it didn’t come from him, but rather Mario, right before his brother had tackled him to the ground.
“Mario don’t hurt him,” Peach shouted. “We can still get him back.”
Luigi tried to force Mario off of him, but his brother was stronger than him. He stared into his brother’s light blue eyes when he heard a ripping sound. He glanced towards Mario’s backside and noticed the orange Koopa tail that had just grown back. More ripping was heard as a crimson shell forced its way through Mario’s clothes and formed several pointed spikes.
“Mario?” Luigi felt sharp claws press through his shirt. He stared at his brother’s face as his mouth and nose merged together into a snout and horns tore through his hat.
Mario growled again and slammed Luigi’s head down against the floor.
“Mario stop it,” Peach shouted.
It had hurt Luigi, but it wasn’t enough to knock him out. He closed his eyes to throw Mario off and only opened one when he felt his brother’s weight removed from his chest.
Bowser just stared at them, wide eyed, and his jaw hanging. He barely even reacted in time to Mario’s fire breath. He jumped as the flames shot out.
Mario snarled as he jumped onto Bowser and nearly knocked the Koopa King back. He sank his fangs into Bowser’s arms and swiped at him with his claws.
“Ow!” Bowser roared and released Yoshi from his hold. “Get off me you rabid plumber.”
Mario jumped off his shoulders, into the air and then landed on Bowser’s head before he ran to the princess.
Luigi sat up to watch as Mario released more fire from his mouth, straight towards Peach’s tether, burning through the rope. Mario jumped as Peach fell and caught her. Once they had landed he used his claws and teeth to tear through her binds.
“Thanks Mario,” Peach hadn’t lost the shocked expression on her face.
Mario said nothing and threw Peach across his back and ran out.
“I think that is our cue to leave,” Toad helped Toadette to her feet and the two climbed onto Yoshi before they ran off after Mario.
“Dude,” Morton was finally able to stand up again. “That was so cool.”
“How was that cool?” Ludwig sat up. Luigi had a feeling that his heart wasn’t fully in the battle either. “Look at our father.”
Bowser had slash marks on his shell and across the top of his head. Most of his blood was oozing from the bite on his arm.
“Daddy, do humans usually turn into Koopas when they get really, really mad?” Junior asked.
“No,” Bowser stared at his arm.
“We need to get you and everyone checked out,” Luigi stood up. He had a bit of a story to tell Wendy.
-
“Mario, please set me down,” Peach said once she and the others had cleared out of the warp pipe to the Mushroom Kingdom. “I can walk the rest of the way.”
“You are not hurt?” Mario asked he set her down. She had forgotten how much taller he was in Koopa form. She could almost stare into his eyes.
“I’m fine, but I think we should talk about what had happened back there.”
“My own brother, my only brother betrayed me,” Mario growled. “That was what happened.”
“No he didn’t,” Toadette slid off of Yoshi’s saddle. “It was all a trick. He whispered in my ear and pretended to hurt me.”
“It was a trick,” she held onto his hands and tried not to stare at them. “Those hurtful words were all just lies. He never wanted to hurt you.”
“It was a trick?” Mario blinked his eyes. “I could have hurt him.”
“But you didn’t,” she embraced her fiancé. She didn’t want him to go through shock; turning into a Koopa would be bad enough. “He was fine when we left.” She felt his snout nuzzle against the back of her neck; right before she felt sharp teeth graze against the flesh. “Mario!” She stepped away.
“What?” Mario asked.
“You were about to bite her,” Toad said. “Are you feeling all right?”
“Yoshis nip the backs of the necks of our mates,” Yoshi said. “Maybe it is the same for Koopas.”
“I wasn’t going to bite her,” Mario scratched the top of his head until his hands came across one of his horns. His eyes widened as he grabbed onto both of them. “No.” He stared at his hands. “Not again.”
“You are just now realizing you've turned into a Koopa?” Toad asked him. “Didn’t you feel it, or even heard yourself growling?”
“No,” Mario examined his tail.
“You went feral on Bowser and you spat fire again,” Yoshi pointed at him.
“I kind of blacked out when I attacked Bowser, and I thought I was still throwing fireballs.” Mario fell to his knees. “I thought it was over. What if this is permanent?”
“I still love you,” Peach kneeled next to him. “That is all that matters.” She kissed him on the snout. “And in the morning we will call Gadd and find out what is going on.” She held him in his arms. She will inform the others about Sugar Land after they had returned to the castle, but first she had to make certain Mario was well enough to continue.
“Why was Luigi pretending?” Mario asked after what seemed like forever had passed.
“He had to tell us about something suspicious going on in another kingdom,” Peach stood back up. “He plans to set out for Sugar Land tomorrow, and we are going to join him, right after we figure out what has happened to you, Mario.”
“Need some rest,” Mario returned to his feet. “And I need something to eat, and hopefully get this Bowser taste out of my mouth.”
-