We continue forward with chapter 2.
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Chapter 2
The pleasantly sun-warmed air lingering all around from the daylight hours was quickly swept away by the harsh and frigid winds of the dark night, drawing up a shiver from Luigi's core. His form, sitting on the grass with his heavy head atop his knees, had remained totally sedentary for what felt like hours. Though the setting sun had taken nearly every ounce of light from his eyes, his gaze stayed locked on the barely visible pile of ragged cloth before him. The mess had once been Mario's iconic outfit. Now they lay in a tattered heap having been torn from Mario's beastly transformation. Luigi was still having trouble grasping the reality of everything.
The younger of the famed brothers breathed a hopeless sigh. Though he was sure that he had seen Mario behind the monsters fearsome eyes and wanted to help him however he could, Luigi had no idea where to begin. He knew nothing of this affliction or how to cure it, he didn't even know how he was going to locate the beast. Mario had run off in a panic after his terrifying mutation, and he was far too large and too fast for Luigi to hope to follow. Though he had tried to come up with ideas of where his brother would hide in a time like this, his mind was just too frazzled to think of anything. The emotions that tore through him had caused his thoughts to deteriorate into tv static. Broken, alone, he found himself frozen in place as the night continued to consume him.
It was the sudden appearance of a bright light in the distance that finally broke him from his trance-like state. Luigi turned to the westward horizon and studied the comforting glow. Something about it felt so familiar; so inviting. He could feel the tug of some strange magnetic force pulling him in its direction. Struggling with intense fatigue, sorrow, and dehydration, Luigi finally rose to his feet to set off towards the light that called out to him; a moth drawn to a flame. He didn't seem to care where it was that he was going or why it seemed to beckon for him. He wasn't really thinking much at all. In the dark of the night with his exhausted shuffling, one easily could've mistaken the broken man for a zombie. But he hadn't exactly had any better plans of action, and somehow the light seemed to promise to show the way.
As he was finally drawing close enough to the distant light to make out a rough shape, the identity of the glow dawned on him. The light that he had been following was none other than the Mushroom Kingdom's Castle. The illumination from within the upper floors came spilling out through the huge stained glass window, shining the colorful searchlight that had attracted the plumber's attention. His eyes brightened slightly at the identity of the force that pulled him. Princess Peach; Maybe she could help him in this time of need. A glimmer of hope forming within him, he pushed himself to move just a little bit faster.
Inside the glorious castle, pacing somewhat nervously within the sitting room of the third floor, the Princess waited for the latest news from her senior attendant.
This past week had been hectic for the young royal. It was hard enough dealing with her own people's problems, such as the significant hit in food production that the farmers had blamed on ravenous animals devastating their fields. But this week also saw an increase in trouble with foreign relations. Representatives of neighboring or allied kingdoms requested assistance with their own problems, and big problems seemed to be popping up everywhere as of late. Normally the Princess tried to get plenty of rest every night, knowing that her mind worked best for her and her subjects when she was well rested. But she already had two meetings with foreign representatives scheduled for early the next day, and she wanted to be sure she was up to speed beforehand. Besides, she knew she most likely wouldn't have been able to sleep if she tried. She simply had far too much on her mind; even more than just her complicated political duties.
By the time the old toad had finally arrived with the updates, Princess Peach had tired of pacing and had wearily slumped onto one of the elegant pink and white chairs all around her.
Toadsworth looked to the fatigued Princess with an empathetic expression hidden beneath his colorless facial hair. How it pained him to see her so distressed. He wished there was a way he could relieve her of some of the tension that weighed her down. But the life of royalty was innately difficult, and Peach had had the misfortune of being born into it. Toadsworth slowly hobbled over on his aging walking stick and took a seat opposite the Princess, thumbing through the papers he had been clutching in his hand. He did what he could to help, even if that was just through gathering information or simply offering his company.
But the Princess and her loyal attendant had only barely begun to discuss the matters concerning the other kingdoms problems before they were interrupted. Even from their third floor location, they could hear when the huge castle doors were suddenly thrust open, immediately followed by the surprised and concerned chatter of the nearby toad guards. Puzzled, the Princess lifted her head to better hear the sounds of commotion rising up the stairs; who would be arriving at the castle this late in the night?
Toadsworth, an annoyed scowl forming on his face, threw his papers to the seat beside him and quickly stood up. The last thing he wanted was more things for Peach to worry about. He was in no mood for whatever interruption had burst through their doors.
"What is the meaning of all this?" He grouched, slowly making his way to the staircase. "Who in this land believes they can just come in here unannounced at all times of the night?" He spotted a royal guard, still wielding his defensive shield and spear, dashing up the steps as fast as his stubby legs could carry him, his face plastered with shock and worry. "You, there!" Toadsworth shouted, gesturing at the guard with the tip of his cane. "Tell this uninvited guest to leave at once! It is far too late, and the Princess is far too busy for any-"
"I apologize, Sir Toadsworth." The winded guard attempted to catch his breath. "It's Master Luigi. He wishes to speak with the Princess immediately!"
The elder toads face perked up with surprise at the name. This wasn't just anyone. Toadsworth wondered if this may be more important than he initially thought.
Princess Peach, who had quickly appeared beside her steward, clasped her hands above the sparkling teal crystal accenting her pink dress. A sense of dread grew within her, knowing that the younger hero almost never came to the castle alone. She could feel something wasn't right. "Send him here!" She pleaded, asserting her authority over her attendant.
But the toad guard didn't have to do anything. At just that moment, the trio at the top of the stairs noticed the slumped figure shuffling slowly up the steps. Rather than wait for an affirmation, Luigi hadn't stopped for even a second on his way to the princess. He just was much slower than the guard who set off before him. Breathing heavily with his heaving chest, he fought to conquer the last few stairs that separated him from the others.
Peach, as well as the two toads, had backed up significantly to give the shambling man room when he arrived at the stairs summit. As he approached, Peach could easily see that her sense of dread had not been unfounded. Luigi looked terrible. His skin was pale and drenched in sweat, his clothes filthy and stained. His mouth, opened wide in desperate gasps for air, was noticeably swollen on one side, the split in his lip turning the skin surrounding it a deep purple. Tear stains lead from his bleary eyes down his cheeks, and his whole form began to quiver once he finally arrived before the others.
"Luigi!" The Princess firmly placed her gloved hands on the mans shivering shoulders. "What's happened to you? What's wrong?"
It was in that instant that all the fatigue, all of the concern and frustration and utter shock of the nights events (not to mention the climb up three flights of stairs) finally caught up to him, engulfing his already frail form. Delirium began to take hold, forming a thick fog over his eyes that threatened to black out all in his vision. He groaned and began to wobble side to side, but stayed determined to get his message across before the haze took all of his conscious mind.
"It... I-it... I-it-s..." He sputtered, his voice as weak as his body.
Peach could feel his body beginning to fall limp in her hands. "What?" She begged for more information. "What is it?"
"I-I-its... M-Mario..." Luigi wheezed, and immediately dropped to the floor like a stone.