Chapter 38:
-
Luigi didn’t mind being confined to a bed while waiting for the time when the doctor said he could be dispatched from the medical wing, and also waiting for Wendy. His friends had done everything to help make his hospital stay somewhat enjoyable. They would sit with him and talk, or watch TV with him. Squishy brought him the newspaper everyday, and while he did the crossword and jumble by himself his mother read it to him. Mario had brought in a rented video game console and they would play several rounds of games. Daisy and Peach would bring him a gift nearly everyday; sometimes it would be flowers, or a balloon, or even chocolate.
Mario and their mother visited him the most. His mother told him about how she first settled into the mushroom kingdom and how their father courted her and took her on dates.
“I tried to return home before,” their mother said while in the middle of a chess game. “A few weeks after my first arrival into the Mushroom Kingdom I wanted to return home. I wanted to go back before, but I didn’t know if it was possible. Lucio and I went through the pipe back to Brooklyn.”
“What had happened?” Luigi asked as he took another of his mother’s pawns.
“They wouldn’t let me inside.” Angela stared at the board and Luigi wasn’t sure if she was calculating her next move, or if she was saddened by the past. “My parents told me that if I left then I would never be welcomed back. They stood by the words and slammed the door in my face. I can still hear Sophia and Tony yelling at them. Sophia and I were always close. She was engaged at the time and I was going to be the maid of honor. I should have stayed around at least for her wedding.” She closed her eyes, but the tears still fell.
“Don’t blame yourself,” Luigi held her hand in his. “I would have also left. Uncle Tony’s wife is named Callie. They both raised us as well as our cousins.”
“I never asked,” Madam S wiped away the last of the tears. “How many nieces and nephews do I have?”
“Eleven,” Luigi remembered the last family get-together. “Six nephews and seven nieces and two grand nephews. Next time Mario and I go back to Brooklyn we will you take you with us.”
“Oh Luigi,” his mother kissed the top of his head. “Although how will you walk around if you are a Koopa?”
“Mario had already brought it up with Kammy,” Luigi said. “She mentioned something along the lines of an illusion disguise.”
“I see.” She made her move. It was clever and tricky. No matter what he would do, she would be able to take one of his pieces on her next one.
-
Luigi woke up from another nap, feeling soft lips against the side of his face and the scent of expensive, but not over powering perfume. “Wendy?”
“Yes dear,” Wendy kissed him again. She was as beautiful as he had last remembered and her belly was a little bit bigger.
“Wow,” Luigi placed his hand on the bulge. “Did they say it was safe for you to travel?”
“Very safe,” Wendy nodded. “At least for a few more weeks. I still have another month before I will be able to lay my eggs.”
“We’ll have to get a royal nursery set up. Wait did you say eggs and not egg?”
She nodded. “Our doctor said I’m carrying three eggs.”
“Mama mia,” Luigi sat back into his pillow. “Triplets.”
“I can’t wait,” she grabbed hi hand. “My poor husband. How did this happen?”
“I got thrown from a nasty demon after I stabbed it in the eye,” Luigi wondered why no one else had told her. “I hope you like Sugar Land.”
“It’s so beautiful here,” Wendy sighed. “I’m going to be queen of it.”
“I have another surprise, well a few more surprises.” He hadn’t mentioned neither his decision to become a Koopa to Wendy when he called her. He just told her that he and the others had destroyed the demon that also turned out to be King Nougat, mentioned that since he was the one who killed Nougat meant he was now the king of Sugar Land and Larry was also there. “When I’m fully healed Kammy and Kamron are going to make me a pure Koopa again. No more changing back and forth.”
“Oh Luigi,” she gently hugged him. “You don’t have to. I love you no matter what your form is.”
“I want this, not just me, but for our children. They may relate better to having a Koopa father, and I when I had changed back into a human, all I wanted to do was become a Koopa again.”
“And here I was wondering if things were going to get better,” Bowser stood in the doorway. He held onto a piranha plant in a pot with a ribbon tied around the center. “I heard my favorite son-in-law wasn’t feeling well.” He held up the plant. “I got you something.”
“Thanks,” Luigi smiled weakly. He had no idea; Bowser also came with Wendy to Sugar Land. “Seeing you here is a nice surprise.”
“I’m just full of surprises,” Bowser chuckled. He set the plant down next to the other gifts. “I have something a little more grand for your coronation celebration. Makes me even prouder that this kingdom will be under Koopa rule.”
“It has before,” Luigi told him. “You can ask my chief advisor to give you a tour.”
“Who would that be?”
“Luigi, lunch time,” Mario called out in a singsong voice. “I heard your wife is here. Maybe she could help out in the kitchen. The food is good, but I miss her pizza.” He entered with the tray of foods in his hands. He didn’t even notice Bowser was in one corner of the room. “Hello Wendy. How was your flight?”
“Mario,” Wendy had a weak smile on her face. Both she and Luigi glanced at Bowser. The Koopa King was still in shock. His eyes hadn’t blinked for a few minutes and his lower jaw seemed to merely hover a few inches above the floor.
“You look quite radiant,” Mario pulled set the tray down on Luigi’s lap.
“Thank you,” she had yet to remove her gaze from her father.
“What the hell is he doing here?” Bowser roared and pointed at Mario.
Mario jumped and spun around in the air. “Bowser?”
Bowser growled. “You little pain in the ass. You are not wanted in my family.”
“Luigi is my family,” Mario clenched up his fists. “You better not make me angry. You won’t like me when I’m angry.”
“Daddy stop,” Wendy covered her eyes. “You are embarrassing us.”
“Embarrassing you?” Bowser stared his daughter in the eyes. “Did you not forget who our enemy is?”
“Mario, calm down.” Luigi waved his good hand and arm at his brother. “Mario, please don’t transform in here.”
“If he tries to cause trouble I might,” Mario continued to glare at Bowser. “Unless he forgot about the last time.”
“Forget about the last time?” Bowser made his way over to where Mario stood. “Do you think I will forget about this?” He pointed at his arm where Mario bit him.
“Trust me, next time I will do more than just bite you.”
“Mario Mario,” Madam S stood at the entrance of Luigi’s room. “Did you bite this man?”
“Yes,” Mario seemed to relax at the sound of their mother’s voice. “But he is evil. He once had the entire mushroom people turned into rocks, bricks and horsetail plants. He had his children turn seven other kings into different animals. He also kidnapped my fiancé, I don’t know how many times.”
“You have been giving my son a hard time?” Madam S stared Bowser straight in the eyes. “Is it true what he said.”
“Yes,” Wendy answered for her father. “It is true, and recently his actions have been embarrassing.”
“So you two are rivals,” Madam S placed her hands on her hips.
“Enemies,” Mario corrected. “Wario is my rival, Bowser is my enemy.”
“I think I remember your father,” Madam S did not remove her gaze from Bowser. “Where you not that boy who kidnapped the baby princess, right before the Shroobs invaded?”
“Yes,” Bowser was no longer scowling. He was smiling and seemed to have a far off look in his eyes.
“Are you really as evil as my son states?”
“Yes,” Mario nodded.
“Mario, please.” His mother held up a hand. “Let Bowser speak for himself.”
“Yes mama,” Mario stared at the ground.
“No,” Bowser shook his head. “I am a creature of ambition and plans. I want to rule this whole world. Evil creatures want to destroy it. Smithy is evil, Dimento is evil, the phantasms that attacked the other side of the planet are evil, and so were these vampires that you have fought. I remember they tried to seek an alliance with Dark Land years ago. I told them to get out of my land and threatened them to stay out.”
“Why do you keep kidnapping Peach?”
“Cause she is beautiful,” Bowser placed his hands over his heart. “Ever since my last wife died after laying her egg I felt this void in my heart. Then I looked upon Princess Peach and fell in love. I sent her poems and then we met. Once she saw me she ran away screaming.”
Luigi had no idea if Bowser was making stuff up. He stared at Wendy with a raised eyebrow and she only shrugged.
“That’s a lie,” Mario said. “She told me about the poems and you both agreed to meet. She did not run away screaming. You took her right there and then.”
“That still doesn’t change the fact she was repulsed by me because of what I am,” Bowser pointed to himself. “She agreed to go on a date out of pity and I took her to get the best cup of coffee in the world. The place to get the best kind of coffee is at my castle.”
“But you admit you did take her,” Mario pointed at him.
“I was in love with her. Do you know how rare it is for a human woman to be beautiful enough for a Koopa to not only just court her, but also kidnap her and take her back to our own castles?
“That is not how you date someone,” Madam S shook her head.
“My daughter kidnapped your son, and you can see how well it had worked out for them.” Bowser pointed at Luigi and Wendy. They both stared into each other’s eyes and kissed. “See?”
“Well it may work for some, but not everyone,” Madam S said. “Your son Iggy has asked Daisy to go riding around on the Ostros and then he will take her to a nice café. Your other son Larry is treating his friend to a place where the can get hamburgers and milkshakes.”
“Wait,” Bowser held up his hands. “Iggy is dating the princess of Sarasaland?”
“That is what I said. This café does sound nice and I think I would like to go and see if they can brew a decent cup. How would you like to join me?”
“Mom,” Mario paled. “What did you just do?”
Their mother ignored him. “It would be nice to talk, seeing as my son and your daughter are married and we are both about to become grandparents.”
“I kinda like that idea,” Bowser grinned.
“Then it is settled,” she turned to Mario. “I think we should leave your brother and his wife alone so he can have his lunch.”
“Mom, you didn’t ask Bowser out on a date,” Mario looked ill.
“Your mother is a grown woman,” Bowser continued to grin. “And you heard what she said.”
“I think I need a doctor for myself,” Mario placed a hand over his eyes as he walked out.
“Wow,” Wendy gasped.
“That was a bit intense,” Luigi stared down at his meal. There was tomato soup, grilled cheese sandwiches, crinkle cut fries, steamed carrot slices in butter and a couple of chocolate chip cookies. At least with Mario out of the room he wouldn’t have to worry about his brother trying to steal his dessert. He didn’t mind when it was Jell-O, but Mario nearly discovered his hand being impaled by a fork when he tried to take some of Luigi’s tiramisu.
“I don’t think it is a date kind of date,” Wendy said. “Not in the way Mario was thinking.”
“I have a feeling Peach is going to assure him of that.”
“I never knew your mother lived here.”
“I didn’t know she was still alive,” Luigi stirred his soup around. “That was another surprise for you.”
“It is a wonderful surprise.” She kissed him. “Make sure you eat every bite. You have to heal and get strong so you can be strong enough for your coronation.”
-
“I don’t know how many times I can thank you for this,” Larry carried the Poltergust into one of the professor Gadd’s labs. He never asked how many. Iggy told him there were several and that was good enough for him.
“When you told me who it was I had to help,” Gadd said in a glum tone. “Such a horrible fate to happen to her.”
“I want her to be happy,” Larry placed the sack part of the machine over one end of the Portratfication machine. “I think she would be happier here.”
“I hope she will be,” Gadd flipped on the switch. “I explained everything to Shivers He will wake up the others for a grand welcome.”
They waited and watched as the machine went to work and large gold frame painting was pulled out. Chloe’s image was in the canvas. Her exact image was captured by the display of vibrant oils.
“She always was a pretty girl,” Gadd said in a sad tone. He and Larry picked up the portrait. “Lets take her to the one space on the wall.”
The hung the portrait up in the space between Biff’s and Melody’s portraits. The others were already vacant. The spirits had gathered around. It wasn’t often a new ghost would be joining their family.
“Larry, you should be the one to release her,” Gadd said.
“Chloe Phillip,” Larry placed his hand against the frame. “I release you.”
The painting shimmered before it rippled like rings in a pond. Chloe’s spirit flew out of the painting. “Larry, where am I?” She looked around at her whereabouts.
“Your in the mansion,” Larry said. “You had been through the potrification. That means you are no longer confined to that shopping center.”
“Is professor Gadd still here?” She still seemed to be lost.
“I’m right here,” Gadd pulled out a small bag of candy. “I have some jelly beans for you.”
“Jelly beans?” Luggs asked from the back of the crowd.
“Not for you,” Granny struck him on top of the head with her crochet needles. “We need to let the poor dear fear welcome at her new home.”
Chloe smiled. “Thank you professor.” She accepted the candy from him. “You still make a lot of cool and neat stuff.”
“I can’t wait to show you all the stuff I made,” Gadd rubbed his hands together. “But you need to meet your new family.”
“My new family?” Chloe stared at the other ghosts. “They want me to stay here? I don’t think I will fit in.”
“Au Contrair,” Van Gore floated ahead of the crowd. “I think you fit in just fine mon chere.” He gently grabbed one of her hands and placed a kiss on top of it. “I think I have found my next model.”
“Model?” Chloe slipped her hand away and floated back. “Me?”
“He’s an artist,” Gadd explained. “He makes sculptures.”
“Oh that kind of model,” her face turned a ghostly pink.
“Van Gore stand down,” Nana pulled the artist back. “Don’t worry about him, dear. You can call me Nana. If you need a new dress, even a ghostly outfit I will be able to sew you one.”
Shivers floated up to her and bowed gracefully. “If you need anything you can call upon me. I am called Shivers. If you like I will show you around the mansion.”
“I would like that,” Chloe smiled.
Biff elbowed the butler out of the way. “My name is Biff, and don’t think I’m moving to fast or anything.” He held out a lily for her. “Just as a welcoming gift. Someone as pure as you deserves a lily.”
“Thank you,” Chloe accepted the blossom.
“You have such beautiful hair,” Lydia said. “I hope you will allow me to style it later.”
“I would love too,” Chloe did not loose her smile.
“And if you need something to read ask my husband,” Lydia pointed to Neville who had his face stuck in a book.
Orville flew high above the heads of the other spirits. “Hi. I’m Orville.”
“I’m Henry,” his brother followed behind. “You’re pretty.”
“Thank you, you two are very sweet.”
“Will you play with us?” Orville asked.
“Please?” Henry added.
“You bet, in fact I’m going to need some help in defending this place against an alien invasion.” Chloe gave both boys a wink.
“Yeah,” Orville gave his brother a high five. “Wanna meet our dog?”
“Spooky,” Henry whistled. “Here boy.” The ghostly dog flew along the floor up to the boys. “This is our dog Spooky.”
“Hello Spooky,” Chloe gave the dog a friendly pat on the head. Spooky jumped into her arms and proceed to give her sloppy kisses. “I’m going to like it here.”
“Good,” Larry turned to the professor. “She will be fine with the other ghosts while I return to Sugar Land for Luigi and Wendy’s coronation.”
“There should be no problems,” Gadd nodded. “Oh my. I nearly forgot I also received an invitation.”