Luigi kept focused on the flight path the whole way back from Bowser's Castle. He was trying his hardest to avoid sobbing uncontrollably. Yet he could still feel his knees knock together every so often. The airship was commandeered from Bowser's fleet, it was fortunate none of his minions dared to fight them. It was a spectacular feat of engineering, a mix of old world ship building, magic and science to create a flying galleon. The marks on the engines below deck indicated it was all Iggy's handiwork. Luigi had to admire the ingenuity of the deranged Koopaling. If he wasn't so scared, maybe he could take the time to appreciate such an amazing invention.
Luigi knew his brother had been cursed by Shalazia but he had no idea how he could confront the princess about it. He hoped at least Daisy and Peach were safe, Magnifico and Gallileo promised him they would do what they could to save them. He occasionally glanced over his shoulder to see Mario standing behind him ominously. There were no words spoken, just an icy frost in the air. Mario's hair and moustache had frosted over slightly as his skin went deathly white. His eyes, usually vibrant and blue, were dull and milky.
Luigi saw the sapphire and gold star badge Shalazia had gifted them. It was pinned to Mario's overalls and was the source of this accursed state. He wanted to tear it away from Mario and hopefully let his brother come to his senses. Yet he feared it may cause more harm than good. Even now, Mario had been partially gifted with Shalazia's mastery of water magic making him a dangerous foe if Luigi tried to fight back or flee. Sadly he knew that in order to survive, Luigi had to keep playing along with the act.
Mario remained oblivious to Luigi. He was mesmerised by the three prism star pieces they had to collect for Shalazia. Those points were like the purest cut diamonds that reflected all the colours of the rainbow. Luigi could feel something sinister about them. He hated when he got feelings like this because they always proved to be true. There was nothing more he could do but steer the airship towards the Arcane Kingdom and hopefully think of plan later.
Soon enough, Luigi could see an iridescent pearl road trailing along the landscape bellow. It was only from the air that he could see the various paths twisting among mountain ranges to lead travellers to the Arcane Kingdom. High shimmering walls that gleamed with hues of blue like waterfall shielded the civilisation from the mires in the distance. Beyond the gold and sapphire gates was bustling town of beauty and wonder. There did not appear to be any sign of poverty on the streets as its citizens wandered the ivory buildings in a state of euphoria. Gold, sapphire and crystal embellishments framed the plain white stone that parted the beautifully clean canals of gleaming water. The canals themselves networked their ways through the city with elaborate curves and swirls.
A castle rose from its centre and was by far the most remarkable. The pearly walls and turrets looked rather ordinary. It was the curving crystals reaching to the cloud line that made it spectacular. The gleaming gems reflected shades of blue from the surrounding canals. Their form contorted to resemble the flow of water itself as it cascaded down the walls and splashed upwards like tumultuous waves. He originally thought it was beautiful, but now that kingdom looked like a dangerous Piranha Plant waiting to snap.
He looked over his shoulder, feeling an evil gaze upon him. Luigi saw Mario give him the cruellest death glare, reminding him that Mario was no longer in charge of his body. He reluctantly made the necessary preparations and started the descent from the sky to the castle. The chill in the air grew colder the closer they got to the Arcane Kingdom.
The Arcane Kingdom had lost its wondrous lustre. Luigi was rudely shoved off the airship after docking it at one of the upper balconies. Mario kept him in line like a prisoner as they marched through the castle. Sapphire and gold frames outlined every corner of the hall, every piece of furniture was gilded and embellished that he was amazed they didn't break under the weight of the gems. Yet it was all frozen beneath layers of jagged ice; contorting into spikes and swirls to make the halls look like that foreboding maw of a greater beast. Luigi saw the floors were no longer relaxing pools. They were black ice… like a deep lake caught in the grips of winter.
They finally came to one of the identical chambers of this crystallised maze. In the centre of it all was a beautiful princess who looked so out of place in her harsh surroundings. She had that same air of innocence and kindness that Peach had; her hair and gown mimicked a cascading waterfall. Her golden eyes looked to him with understanding. This princess was a delicate snow flower amidst a cold, frozen wasteland. Yet Luigi could not believe how easily she had played them.
"Sorry I couldn't give you a more hospitable welcome, but I've been busy rebuilding my castle. It was attacked while you were away. Not that it matters much, I see you have completed the quest I gave you." Shalazia smiled warmly and wandered to Mario, outstretching a hand which received the remaining pieces of the Prism Star. She marvelled at the crystals "I heard you were the greatest hero of this era, but I didn't believe you could get the job done so easily."
Luigi nervously added "I helped too."
"Yes, yes, you helped too… I guess." Shalazia turned her praise back to Mario "Romulus' bloodline is all about obedience to royalty so I'm glad to see your breed still exists."
"So… that means this Romulus guy is my ancestor too, huh?"
"Yes, I suppose so. But you clearly inherited lesser traits which is why you're useless. My hex didn't even take to you and then you lost one of the badges, the nerve of you people."
Luigi fell silent, he had no real response to that… it took all his strength not to burst into tears. Shalazia raised her hand and spoke an incantation; the icy runes flittered as ethereal chains only to melt away to flimsy ribbons when they attempted to grasp Luigi. Her brow furrowed, this was most unusual. No one should be able to defy her hexes without potent magic abilities. She then sensed something peculiar about him "You uh… you haven't had prolonged exposure to Boos or anything have you? Like, you don't work as an exorcist or anything, right?"
He informed shakily "Actually… I did help out with some Boo problems in the past…"
"Knew it, I can sense Agaricus' taint all over you!"
"Agaricus?"
"The one you know as King Boo. When he was alive, he was the mad mage, Agaricus." Shalazia stomped her feet like a child mid-tantrum "Now, be a good little coward and follow my every command! If I can't control you with magic, you will fear me!"
"No…" Luigi whimpered, he saw her turn to face him. He strengthened his resolve "No! This stops now! I'm taking my brother and the princesses home! We don't want anything to do with you!"
Shalazia tilted her head, her fine features turned to a low snarl "Or else what?"
"I… uh…" Luigi immediately regretted his decision.
"Well, come on," she floated over and poked him hard in the chest "What are you going to do about it?" Luigi shrank beneath her presence "Pitiful. You're a horrific little coward. But I need you for the ritual." She snapped her fingers "Mario," she cooed "Would you be so kind as to escort your brother?"
Mario's deathly eyes were blank by now. He lumbered over to Luigi with outstretched hands. Luigi felt like he was back in those haunted mansions all over again. He was paralysed with fear as Mario grabbed him roughly and forced Luigi to follow Shalazia.
She raised a finger and warned "One wrong step and I will kill your brother."
Luigi replied "But don't you need him for the ritual?"
"Well… yes… but… shut up! There are seven star children. I only have five here so there are still two out there. That means two of you are disposable!" The princess cracked open the surface of the black ice sending them all into the darkness bellow.
Dull light allowed the outline of the ancient chamber to come into view; emitted from series of gemstones set in the walls. Each was part of a larger pattern of runes that weaved into a giant tapestry across all surfaces of the room. The impossibly high ceiling reached beyond the chamber, high up into a mountain where bioluminescent moss clung to the remains of a sunken city. Luigi, Shalazia and Mario were in the lowest chambers of the Thwomp Ruins. Not the bright, cheery temples he had raced through during go-kart championships. The lost, forgotten remains of the past buried within the mountain. The same ruins one had to traverse to reach the Arcane Kingdom and the Malevolent Mires.
The main feature of this chamber came in the form of a large circular pedestal that bore various crests and charms. The main pattern appeared to be a pentagram that branched out into spiralling meteors and nebulas. Whatever this chamber was; it was clearly designed for casting powerful spells. Everything was too precisely laid out from the main pedestal, to its steps, the support pillars and the canals and pools of pure water that added to the patterns of the charts on the floor. On the main pedestal, frozen upon three of the points of the main pentagram were Bowser, Peach and Wario. Two were vacant, obviously awaiting Mario and Luigi. Off to the side was another ritualistic circle laid out over a pool of clear water. Imprisoned in frozen shackles over it was Ludwig. His form was not frozen but coated in a fine layer of ice crystals.
Shalazia gestured to the remaining points of the main pentagram. Mario robotically dragged Luigi over to one point. When Shalazia snapped her fingers Luigi's legs and feet were frozen in place. Mario then lumbered to his designated place and remained still. With an approving smirk, Shalazia remarked "Excellent, all is in place. Now, to wait for the moon to reach the optimal position."
She glanced upwards revealing that even in the deepest parts of this ruin there was channel leading to the sky. The layers of ruins coalesced around this tunnel to the heavens so that when the moon was in just the right position, it further empowered the ritual chambers.
"That'll be a few hours from now," Shalazia rolled her eyes, she glared at Mario "Make sure no one gets out of place. I'll be back in a while." She wandered over to one of the pools, the waves danced around her and engulfed her. The princess had vanished in an azure splash.
Now that they were alone, Luigi finally noticed that Daisy, Waluigi and none of the other Koopalings were around. Mario was dead to world as he stood in place like a perfect sentry. Luigi turned his attention to the only other person who might be still conscious in the chamber. "Hey…" he looked back at Mario, no response. He yelled a little louder "Hey Ludwig!"
Ludwig lifted his head wearily "Yeah, green Mario?"
"Luigi." He corrected "Look, can you still breathe fire? Think you could hit something from over there?"
Ludwig carefully evaluated the distance between him and the main pentagram. "I think so, perhaps what's closest to me, but I'm pretty drained at the moment… there's something about this chart that's weakening me… could only manage a few shots."
"All I need you to do is weaken the ice around Bowser and Wario… maybe save one fireball for Mario when you get the chance to remove that stupid badge from him."
"Well, look at you. All sneaky and planning."
"Look, are you going to help me or are going to wait for an insane princess to come and do… whatever it is she intends to do to us?"
Ludwig's response came in the form a fireball; it shot directly into Bowser's frozen form. The flames were only red and orange indicating a lower temperature. Yet Ludwig felt he could manage a few shots before passing out from exhaustion.
"That's it! Keep going when you can." Luigi cheered.
