Chapter Text
Luigi crept along the halls in the mansion of Evershade Valley. During the daylight, the valley was quite pleasant. He understood why the professor loved this forest, but the setting sun gave this place a new eerie atmosphere, which is probably why ghosts enjoyed it so much.
The brothers, especially Mario, had been aware of the spirit-based species. They were said to live in the...Darklands because of the decay. Luigi paused in his journey, taking breaths as his doctor informed him. Images flashed in his closed eyes: those skeletons grabbing at him, glowing eyes hungry, the ShyGuys tying him up, the wedding...the wedding...the wedding...
Luigi pulled at his moustache, a bad coping habit his therapist said. It was enough to plant him in reality. Still inside a haunted mansion, heading to the basement of this crazy house.
He checked the compartments of his Poltergust 3000. The container had room and did not break. Luigi thanks the stars he had been careful battling those purple punchers. Of course, Biff was no Sunday walk. With weapon at the ready, Luigi opened the door. He made it down the stairs to the basement, keeping his breathing steady.
The professor warned him how Boos (the ghosts) were immune to the usual fighting techniques of Champions. He remembers Mario telling him that usually when he's against Boos he jumps on top of them to stun them, but he retreats. That meant no Power-Ups. Not that Luigi would know how to use them properly. He wasn't the hero. Mario was. He even stopped sparring with his brother after...Luigi paused. How long had he been away? Six-no, seven months in Sarasaland.
He squeezed the nozzle of the vacuum hard, his knuckles probably white. Luigi knew, he knew that Mario had secrets. Luigi had his own secrets hidden in his heart that would die with him. But, after...
No! No! No! Don't picture it again. It won't...he promised he didn't tell...but he lied...he lied to me.
Luigi pulled at his 'stache until he felt a hair rip. The adrenaline of pain made him continue his descent, mind numb and goal in mind.
He would save his brother. And then, they talk. Finally talk.
The room illuminated by open lanterns made Luigi aware of how this strange place worked on different planes. E.Gadd told him to be mindful of the landscape as the house was 'created by the spectral energy emanating from their king.' Luigi tried to think of what he meant by king. When asking for more, the little old man pushed him out with the Poltergust strapped on. Luigi guessed maybe the ghost, er, Boos were the residents and one of them was a former king. A few of the ones he captured did seem human like. He sighed as he tried to ground the screams of those bambini like ghosts. The baby, Chauncey it said on his crib, frightened him the most as he was sucking it into his pack.
The sound of the ghost yelling 'Mama, mama!' almost made him release the creature.
The only ally besides E.Gadd had been Clairvoya and she told him after tonight he will save his brother and start a new life. Luigi was looking forward to wiping the slate clean with Mario and apologizing to Princess Peach for what he said to her when she came to visit him. Yes, after tonight, he would be the hero for his brother and get his life in order.
The final step found him in an altered space, where ruins were scattered. No walls and an open sky met Luigi on his last step. He saw an altar with...
"Mario!" he said, breathless. He ran to the portrait, seeing the slight movements. It meant Mario was alive like the paintings in E.Gadd's gallery. The professor could free his brother. "Mario, mi fratello maggiore, I'm here! I'm...I'm sorry...for what...oh, le stelle mi danno forza, I'm sorry for what I did. I know, I know you were just trying to do what was best..."
The portrait Mario appeared to be banging on the frame.
"Si, piu tarde. We'll have-a more time," Luigi said.
What he did not realize was the ghastly visage of a large Boo floated behind him.
"Helllloooooooo," said a voice, deep and grave.
Luigi jumped and spun to see the Boo. It was bigger, not like the one from the roof, and had a giant jewel balancing on his head. Sharp teeth, razor sharp, with a long tongue sticking out. The smile unnerving and never-wavering with glowing deep red eyes. It was the eyes that made the plumber shake in his hold of the vacuum.
"Now, now," he said. "Let's table that for a mo'....or else." The voice distorted as flames surrounded the altar. Luigi jumped away in time to see the flames licking at Mario's portrait.
"Brother!"
"Gaw hahahaha!" the Boo laughed, tongue lolling out.
He looked down at Luigi, red eyes piecing. The green clad plumber found his bearings as he held the Poltergust up.
"Don't be so rude. Let's play a little, Luigi," he said. "Here let me get in something familiar...."
Suddenly, Luigi's world crumbled. He lost his breath as Bowser, alive alive, and breathing fire like he did...stood before looking down at him with those horrible eyes and that cruel smile. He was big...like seven months ago, no black ichor on him or whited out eyes. This was a conscious Koopa Dragon.
"..no.." Luigi whimpered. His eyes were pinpricks as he fell hard, knees buckling. The Poltergust still strapped buried his limp body under it.
"...no...oh stars, please....no..."
His trembling returned. Polterpup nowhere near to offer him comfort, he left the dog with E.Gadd. Mario trapped. No one here to save him. Someone save him please!
"Bowser" stood still, a look of utter disgust and confusion on "his" scaly face.
"Truly," he said in a voice. The wrong voice. "This moron is what terrifies you. What gives you such delicious fear?"
"Bowser" took one step closer, not noticing the flames engulfing the portrait on the inside. The king paused. He felt the fear of the human, but also deep-seated hatred and...a mixture of lust and self-loathing. The king hummed. And then, he was shot back by fire so potent with elemental magic it burned his side. Losing the balance, "Bowser's" head fell off.
King Boo emerged, pissed off, smile gone. The fun was over before he got started. He glared down at the red pest that always trampled his subjects. The human's eyes glowed cerulean elemental fire surrounding him. The king stayed afloat. Power-ups were ineffective against his kind, but elementals were another problem.
"STAY. THE FUCK. AWAY. FROM. MY BROTHER!" Mario screamed, pure undulating rage deep in his voice. His fire took the shape of a Bastard sword, a commoner weapon, and then the red clad brother launched.
King Boo dodged. He used his crown to produce his rapier and blocked to his best. Unused to sword fighting, the king lost his weapon as it scattered back to energy. The plumber's stamina was impressive, but the king smirked as he looked at his adversary's brother.
Open.
King Boo flew faster. Yet, in his haste, he did not consider that the red pest could flame throw like a Fire Flower. He felt the sting at his tail and flew away, above the range.
He growled down at Mario. The man spit steam. King Boo's brow lifted. Ah, yes.
With great concentration, the king of the Underworld kept his assault, feigning his captures of the catatonic green man. Little by little, Mario's body burned. Steam rose from his eyes and ears, no sweat on his brow and his hands starting to show first-degree burns, his gloves singed through. The Champion of the Mushroom Kingdom took no notice as he kept the king at bay, at times calling out "Luigi, run!" to the still frozen man.
The king needed patience, or his fun would be over sooner.
Mario stopped. Everything hurt. His throat full of ash, his skin red and blistered, even his prized moustache smelling like burnt hair. The red clad plumber glared at the laughing king above him, the monster that had trapped him down here.
"Bwahahahahaa! Looks like you're finally slowing down. Elemental magic's such a fickle thing," he gloated. Mario fell to one of his knees. The king continued. "It's fine and dandy in a fight, but zaps away at you if you don't know how to use it. NEWS FLASH! You don't Mario! Hahahahah!"
King Boo lowered himself.
Mario's body was heavy as he collapsed, a foot from Luigi's spot.
"...igi...*cough*...weegee...run...live...i'm'a'soooorr..."
"Yes, yes," the king kept going on. "A matter of time before your body gives up. Oooooooo, maybe you'll be one of my Boos. Running around at my bidding. Hheehhehehe! I'd make you clean the pipes for all eternity."
"...luigi...get up....run...run away...."
"...eep..."
"Perhaps, you'll die and I'll consume your energy. It'll enhance my already impressive powers! Ha!"
The king kept on, not paying attention. The green man's eyes, blank, began to move.
"....luigi...run..."
Mario's body was too high to produce tears, but Luigi knew that broken look on his brother's face. It was the same one he had when....
"No."
The word small cut the guffawing of the king.
"No."
Louder this time. King Boo looked down at his original quarry. The fun could continue.
"No! Mario! Per favore non morire! Accidenti! NO, no. Mario!"
Luigi once again ran to his brother. He would always run to his brother despite the danger. Luigi cradled the burning man, ignoring the heat melting pass his denim lap and gloves. Mario's breathing came in rasps; his lips chapped from dehydration. The white gloves he wore were singed at the fingers and the soles of his shoes were warped from overheat. Luigi held him softly. He took out the water he packed and tried to pour it down Mario's open mouth. The water steamed as it dribbled down.
"Mario!" Luigi said. "I'll-hic-I'll get the doctors. Geez louise, I didn't bring any healing mushrooms, but-but I bet E.Gadd can help-"
"DON'T SAY THAT NAME!" growled the Boo.
Luigi had forgotten him.
"That fool won't know the first thing how to fix this. Neither will that princess of yours or the medical toads. Your brother's going to die from arcane elements only Magikoopas and other sorcerers know." A cruel smile engulfed the large white face. "And none of them will help you."
Tears streamed down Luigi's face. His lips trembled.
King Boo was taken aback at the sheer beauty of this man's fear. A deep longing struck the king.
"Save him. Please."
Again, the king of the Underworld was taken aback.
King Boo lowered himself to be eye level with the green man. His face, similar but contracting against his brother's sharper edges. Softer cheeks, fuller lips. King Boo gulped.
"Why would I do that?" he asked.
"Because I'll free the ghosts...all of them," Luigi offered.
The king frowned, distrust clear. Putting his brother carefully on the floor, Luigi removed the Poltergust. He may not have any Power-Ups, but the man jumped, using his higher momentum to hit the glowing canister. It cracked and he immediately grabbed his brother as a torrent of Boos shot up to the air or ceiling of the basement.
Luigi watched them all fluttering about. In his observation, he noticed the bambinos crying and embracing Lydia and Neville. He saw Shivers comforting Melody. Even Biff hugging Nona.
They're...just like us. A family...
Luigi paled, torn between what he saw and what he been told. Yes, the other ghosts gnashed their teeth at him, but the family flew as far as possible away.
"Stop!"
All the Boos, all the ghosts, waited for their king.
"That's not enough," the king said. "Luigi of the Mushroom Kingdom. Your kin wronged my people first and that professor still hunts us. I, King Boo, can only allow you to leave this place intact and with banishment as your only punishment."
"NO!" he yellled. "Mario needs help now! Please, what more can I do." He sobbed openly. The tears hit the top of his brother's cap, steaming up.
King Boo looked at the man. The one from that wedding. He remembered it well. King Boo gestured for the denizens of this mansion to leave. They had no stake in this. His boos and his general, Boolossus, awaited his next move. He closed his eyes. Perhaps, a change of plans.
"Come with me," the king uttered.
Luigi met his closed eyes. The king opened them, instead of the red, they were a magenta.
"What?"
"I will save your brother if you come with me. Reside at my palace and entertain me. Stay there until you are no longer...amusing."
"hiccup..how...how long will that be?"
King Boo smiled, tongue lolling out. "Next week, a year, twenty years, or the rest of your life. You, Luigi, will not leave me until I say so. In exchange, your brother will live a full life and not die tonight."
"But Boss, the profressor," Boolossus whispered. "He's still there."
King Boo chomped at the larger Boo. "A problem for another time. That cursed device is destroyed, and we'll take the remains with us." He turned to the green man, staring down at his brother, at the fading light of his soul. "Do we have a deal?"
Luigi looked up at him, sorrowful eyes determined. He held his hand. King Boo gave him his right nub. They shook, a binding spell locking both parties in purple locks.
King Boo lowered his body and with his century of knowledge concentrated on the red pest. He created a magic band that focused the chaotic elemental mana. It was red with a "M" emblazoned on it. The band wrapped itself around Mario's right wrist. The effect was quick as the blisters healed and the singed hair regrew.
"Mario," Luigi said in a watery voice. He leaned down and hugged his barely conscious brother.
"Ehem," King Boo said.
"Oh, uh, thank you. Thank you, thank you,....what's your name?"
The Boo's mouth twitched.
"King Boo, as I mentioned earlier."
"Oh, scusi, I didn't hear. Thank you, King Boo for-"
"Say goodbye," the king said. "Boolossus, grab that weapon. We're heading out."
King Boo went to grab for Luigi.
"No, please, he's not awake and still hurt. Can't I...can't I stay until he's better."
"Are you going back on our deal?"
The purple locks appeared. Luigi felt a force pull toward the king. It was a familiar feeling, that made him breath rag as the cold breath of the king blew at him.
"The deal was you come with me. Not 'come-with-me-at-your-convenience." Sharp teeth nipped his earlobe. "Or does Mario die?"
Fresh tears spilled down his face. Quiet, with stilted movement, Luigi nodded.
"Si, that was...that was the deal."
"Now, say goodbye before I lose my patience," King Boo demanded.
Luigi swiveled his head to look down. The cruel king would not lower him. He saw his brother, the champion, the bolder of them, the one who kept him together during his fall. Luigi...was saving him. Finally repaying all the rescues from bullies, from harassing bosses, from....Bowser.
"Goodbye...Mario...please, please don't come after me this time," Luigi begged. He met the king's eye. "Can...can I ask you to put him somewhere safer, please?"
The ghostly king harrumphed but made a snapping sound with his nub. Two of the Hammers picked up the unconscious man and floated up the basement stairs.
"They'll leave him that old coot, happy?"
Despite the context and the rhetorical nature of the question, Luigi could not stop his smile.
"Yes, thank you."
The king stared at him, expression unreadable.
"Hey Boss, we going or what?" said Boolossus.
King Boo said nothing. Simply placed the human in his nubs and went through the portal back home.
It took several weeks for Mario to reawaken. For the haze of a few moments, he thought the ordeal was a bad dream; being captured by ghosts, fire powers without a Fire Flower, and Luigi being taken away.
All a bad dream.
He would wake up alone again, too prideful to apologize, and knowing at least Luigi was safe, far away from the Darklands.
Then, he awoke fully.
Princess Peach at his bedside, a dour look on her pretty face. The words spilled from her cotton candy flavored lipstick.
The Super Mario's mournful wails echoed in the Mushroom Palace.