Luigi had not planned on this. There were many things that Luigi didn't plan on, and this was most definitely one of the biggest misfortunes to have happened yet. There had been a few other times; getting locked in an abandoned mansion, being held over a pool of lava, rejection unless he was alongside Mario, all of these things and more were things he did not plan on happening, and yet they did, just as they were now.
Only to make matters worse, he had been dropped into the bowel bunkers of the airship armada itself, stowed away levels upon levels under the deck, having no clue where else to go, but up.
It had all started with, of course, a small get together at Princess Peach's castle. There was cake, and he loved cake, so it seemed like a pretty good idea, right? Wrong. Completely wrong. Princess Peach was forever cursed to remain in sight of the Koopa King himself, Bowser, and whenever the cake was brought out, it was almost like a summoning of him. There he'd be, before Luigi had the chance to taste the warm, delicious chocolate calling out to him. And there was Mario, hopping off to do very heroic things like jumping, running, throwing koopa shells, the usual drill. And there was Luigi. In the rubble. Cake-less.
It was no easy task, being the younger brother by a few mere minutes to someone who would grow up to be infamously known throughout the world as a hero. Luigi was heroic at times, but he wasn't cut from the same cloth. Mario was a man of few words. Luigi babbled and stammered. Mario could run fast. Luigi couldn't keep up. Mario wasn't a coward. Luigi was.
And all of this had served in Mario's favor, while Luigi was barely remembered as 'that green guy'.
Even now, when all he'd wanted was to change things, to be a better person, he couldn't even do that right. He was terrified, now more than ever. Mario wouldn't come for him, he'd go save the Princess before he'd ever save him. And even still, Luigi hoped Mario would come anyway, because darn it, he went through a house filled with ghosts for his brother! Surely Mario would return the favor…if he knew where he was, that is. Another obstacle Luigi hadn't planned on.
He could hear his teeth chattering in the cold, musky air down below as he crept through the cellar, various barrels and other unpinned items gently rocking with the sway of the airship. He could hear the clattering of chains, but otherwise did not hear a sound from henchman or otherwise. That was good at least. Right?
Wrong.
Just as Princess Peach's cakes summoned Bowser, Luigi's hopefulness summoned trouble.
And he was about to get eight times the trouble.
