TIME FOR LUIGI TO EXPLORE THE CASTLE TO FIND MARIO AND MARGIE. I'LL TELL YOU NOW, IT'S NOT GONNA BE EASY.

SOMETHING I SHOULD'VE SAID IN THE LAST CHAPTER; WHEN CHARACTERS ARE USING POWER-UPS, LIKE THE CAT SUITS, I WILL WRITE THEM AS PART AS THEIR BODIES.

LIKE HOW I WAS TREATING THR CAT SUIT'S PAWS AND TAIL AS LUIGI'S.

SOMETHING ELSE IS THAT, IN THE EPISODE, LUIGI USED A FROG SUIT TO GET THROUGH THE SEWERS TO RESCUE MARIO.

HERE, LUIGI USED A CAT SUIT TO BYPASS THE ROAD TO REACH MARIO AND MARGIE.

P.S. DOES ANYONE KNOW HOW TO EASILY READ THE NINTENDO ADVENTURE BOOKS? I'D LIKE TO READ 'KOOPA CAPERS' NEXT, BUT I COULDN'T FIND IT.

Chapter Seven: He's Here!

Luigi had his moment of victory after clearing the difficult road with just his cat suit, but now, he had an even tougher path; Bowser's castle!

Whenever Bowser had a proper castle, it was the same premise - not confusing, but loaded with enemies.

He inspected the outside first. It looked like a regular Bowser's castle... almost.

It had various Koopaling features, like the spiky wristbands they wore around the four towers, Morton's stars scattered about, Wendy's rings and Roy's sunglasses.

Okay, now I'm just stalling.

He tried to swallow his fear, as he slowly walked forward. This castle showed no signs of having a door or gate, but considering the dangerous path he just crossed, he could understand the 'cut budget'.

He walked up the stairs, and through the archway. The thought about being in Bowser's castle alone was one he didn't want to think of.

He thought about his times in space, when he'd always get himself lost or trapped or cornered when he found a star. He would always be grateful when Mario and Margie would save him. Now, it was time to finally return the favour.

He looked at this new castle: it was a hallway with four doorways, two went to different rooms on the same floor, but the other two had staircases, one down, one up. He predicted Mario and Margie would be held captive in the room at the bottom.

There was a red carpet with a yellow rim that spread in a strip to the end. It wasn't flat; it had plenty of small bumps and ripples.

The problem was where the stairs were: at the end of the corridor. Between it and another doorway was a table, with... Koopa Troopas, Boomerang and Hammer Bros playing cards?

It was strange, but all of the enemies gambling were a danger, at least since Margie was gone.

'Five shells! Beat that!'

'Oh yeah? Goomba, shell, boomerang and hammer.'

'Look at this; Bowsers across the board!'

'Oh come on...'

'Why did I bet half my life savings on this stupid game?'

'I'm done! That's it... waaait a minute..'

The game already confused Luigi, especially since two sounded female, so he didn't try to wrap his head around it.

He walked as quietly as he could, which was almost silent with his cat paws.

'Alright guys, look at my hand: two Goombas and three Boomerangs.'

He was getting closer and closer at each line they said.

'Ack... pass.'

'I'll pass off too.'

He was already half through the hallway.

'Got five hammers! Can ya beat that?'

'Four boomerangs and Bowser!'

He was almost there.

'Look at this: Larry, Wendy, Roy, Lemmy, Iggy, Morton and Ludwig!'

After a large about of frustrated groans of the table rose, he took the advantage and ran.

He kept a close eye on the gambling troopas, nearing the stair case. This was easier than he...

WHACK! He hit the edge of the doorway.

'Ah!' He cried as he fell over, grasping his shoulder.

The gambling troopas put their cards now to face him.

'It's Luigi. He's here! Get him!'

The troopas pushed their seats back, and stood up immediately.

'Ah-haaa... I'm so clumsy...'

Luigi didn't know where to run. He decided that running down to where Mario and Margie was with six enemies on his trail was a bad idea, so he ran back into the hallway towards where the entrance was.

He found it strange how they refused to attack him. Either they were idiots, or they had a dangerous plan.

'Stop him!'

A Hammer Bro threw a hammer at a button in the wall.

Luigi turned around at halfway, skidding on the ground to stop, before a fenced gate slammed behind him, stopping him from escaping, but that wasn't why they closed it.

The Hammer and Boomerang Bros jumped on the table, while the Koopa Troopas gave him their own version of a death stare.

'Koopas, shell attack!'

The two Koopa Troopas hopped into their shell, and bounced into the walls, turning the hallway into an almost obstacle-free pinball machine. They were headed towards him.

He knew how quickly he had to think. It was time for his experiences with the Dual Scream to be useful for once.

As the Hammer and Boomerang Bros prepared their weapons, the red and green shells were close. The red shell homed in on him, while the green shell went everywhere behind it.

'Now... B!' He yelled as he jumped.

He landed square on the red shell. He dug his claws into the holes in it and he crouched as the red shell mimicked the behaviour of the green shell.

'Get off me, you green grimace!'

Luigi found the insult it gave him to be more humorous than cruel. Maybe it was the alliteration the troopas sometimes spoke in.

'Yeah! Let my friend go, green grime!'

The shell he was riding hit the wall, but Luigi managed to stay on. Each time, even if his tail got sandwiched, his claws stayed in.

'This 'grimy green grimace' is staying on, no matter the impact!'

He didn't see the Koopa Troopas giving a wink to each other as the red-shelled one straightened up towards the table.

The green shell bounced off the table, almost knocking a Boomerang Bro off, towards the red shell Luigi was riding.

'Uh... you're about to hit your friend.'

He didn't see it, but the Koopa Troopa smiled evilly.

'You might want to move... preferably now... please.'

The Hammer and Boomerang Bros held their weapons up in air as the shells were almost about to collide.

Luigi embraced for impact, when he heard the usually 'satisfying' but now terrifying sound of koopa shells hitting.

The Koopa Troopas survived the impact, but he didn't.

The impact threw Luigi off the shell while the Koopa Troopas overcame their dizziness.

He closed his eyes, ready to feel himself slammed against the ground.

The feeling came earlier than he expected.

He felt his other shoulder slam against the ground, before he landed on his face and skidded.

I should perfect my cat skills...

He got to his paws quickly. It didn't help that both his shoulders hurts now, but he knew that as long as enemies didn't hit him, he wouldn't lose his cat suit.

The Koopa Troopas didn't go back into their shells, and he couldn't tell if that was good or not.

'Hammers and Boomerangs out!'

The Boomerang and Hammer Bros got their weapons out and ready.

One of the Hammer Bros threw a hammer, missing him on purpose as he jumped to the side to avoid it.

'Get out now, you twerpish twit, or we'll be forced to turn you into mush-paste.'

Luigi's eyes widen in shock which caused the troopas to laugh.

'Roy was right: younger siblings are always cowardly! He's worse than Larry! At least he only freaks out when Mario and Margie show up!'

I resent that!

The Boomerang and Hammer Bros got ready to throw.

'Yah!' Luigi screamed.

He jumped to the side as two hammers were threw where he was standing.

'We'll give you one last chance. You can run away forever and live your own life without your older brother and sister, or you could risk death. We're nice enough to let you off, you should take it.' He thought the Boomerang Bro who said that was female.

A Hammer Bro threw a hammer at the button, opening the gate.

Luigi looked back passed the Koopa Troopas. The open gate was inviting him.

He knew Mario and Margie would've wanted him to run off and live his own life, but he didn't think so.

'Decide already!'

Luigi cat-dived out of their view and towards the Koopa Troopas.

'Decision made! A!'

He jumped on the green-shelled one, and it hopped into its shell. He picked it up, and threw it at the troopas on the table, who jumped out of the way.

'I'm here to fight!'

The Koopa Troopa hit the wall, and popped out of itself shell, dizzy from the impact.

'Hey! You hurt my friend!' The red-shelled Koopa Troopa shouted.

It went into its shell, and got itself going. It spun towards him, and he jumped.

The red shell hit the table and knocked everyone off.

Luigi laughed in victory. Normally, he wouldn't be able to feel the satisfying sense of victory after almost being killed, but he thought he got it now.

The Hammer and Boomerang Bros were quick to get up their weapons. A Boomerang Bro threw its weapon early, and Luigi easily caught it.

'What are you doing? Don't you know what happens when baddies attack one at a time?'

Luigi took this opportunity to throw the boomerang back, but it caught it easily.

'At least he didn't know our real skills!'

Luigi had to think about this. He could risk losing his only power up and hit them directly or - jump! - he could be more abstract and - duck! - chase them out!

'This may be Luigi, but we can hit him!'

Luigi turned away when more weapons were thrown at him.

'Y!'

He climbed up and ran along the wall towards the exit.

'He's trying to run; get him!'

Luigi knew that no matter how agile he was, the Boomerang and Hammer Bros were always going to be more acrobatic.

They jumped and flipped several times towards the entrance. Luigi watched them from the wall, as he felt his ability to run across walls lessen.

The Hammer and Boomerang Bros blocked the entrance. Luigi skidded to a stop and he fell. He landed on his paws this time.

'I see you've gotten better at landing, but that isn't going to help.'

He looked behind him, and saw the red shelled Koopa Troopa prepare to attack him.

Ha! I might not have been the smartest Mario Sibling, but I know what to do next!

He stepped to the side, and the red shell headed towards him.

'Now B!'

He jumped and the red shell zoomed underneath him.

The troopas ahead looked surprised, and the shell hit one of the Hammer Bros. The Hammer Bro was flung into the air and it crashed, leaving only a coin that Luigi wished he could grab.

The shell travelled on the road until it fell off into the lava below.

The other Hammer Bro hid behind one of the Boomerang Bros.

Even I wouldn't do that.

He stepped to position himself between the double troopas and the green shelled Koopa Troopa.

The green shell came at him, as he jumped to avoid the weapons from the troopas, and over the green shell.

The shell hit the Hammer Bro and the Boomerang Bro in front of it, and like the Hammer Bro before, they were flung and crashed on the ground into two coins which quickly disappeared.

The shell followed the red one and it fell into the lava.

The remaining Boomerang Bro looked behind and where its team mates used to be. It emitted a loud, low growling sound when it realised its team mates were easily defeated.

It threw its boomerang to the ground in rage.

'Why does Bowser even hire these dimwitted dunderheads!'

Luigi cat-dived into it, and pushed the Boomerang Bro out. It didn't explode into a coin, but when it looked back, Luigi was already at the other end of the corridor, with his paw on the button.

'Hey... what're you doing? Don't you dare...'

It was cut short when Luigi smugly pressed the button, closing the gate on it, and it left a coin behind.

Luigi wanted to laugh it victory, but he thought that may get him spotted.

Actually, if they didn't hear that, they're not gonna hear me.

'Haha!'

He opened the gate again for emergencies, and headed to the downstairs room.

With the six troopas taken care of, I can finally get down to Mario and Margie. I'm ready!

He looked down the stairs. He couldn't see much, as not only was it pitch black further on, but the staircase turned a ninety degree angle to the right.

He looked down as far as he could see.

W-was that a boo? Oh no, it wasn't. But it's still pitch black.

He gulped down as much fear as he could manage.

It's time to save the saviours. Huh... that sounds really odd as a thought. How would it sound out loud? Oh, never mind; I gotta go!

He crawled down the stairs, and entered the darkness. He was lucky that the cat suit gave him slightly better night vision.

Alright. There's no turning back now. It's really time to beat the Koopalings and free Mario and Margie. Here we go, step by step. There we are! I'm making it!


Mario tried to adjust his wooden bed above Margie's. He shook it several times while trying to rest on it.

'I wouldn't do that if I were you. You might fall off.' Margie stated.

Mario continued. Margie shook her head; sometimes her brother's hotheadedness and stubbornness annoyed her, almost as much as the helmet and muzzle did, not to mention the chain only she was forced upon.

'Woah... Waaah!'

Margie watched nonchalantly as her brother expectedly fall from his bed to the floor, sending dust into the air around him.

Mario sneezed from the dust, and Margie laughed with a teasing tone.

'Haha! Is the floor made of rabbit fur? Or is it...'

He gave her a stare, and she became quiet instantly.

'Don't make fun of it, or the Koopalings could hear!'

The sound they heard were small feet running away from the door.

'Hey, brothers and sis, I think Mario's allergic to rabbits!' Larry yelled.

'Sweet! All we need to do now is get outside and get stealin'!' Roy exclaimed.

'Too bad there aren't any rabbits around...' Ludwig sighed.

Mario gave Margie an angrier stare.

'See? Now they know.'

Margie held her hands up.

'Look bro, I'm sorry. It's just that since we've been capture, it seems that just a few hours of capture is enough to drive us against each other.'

Mario stood up.

'Just like the storm.'

Margie nodded.

'How many times have I kicked the door again?' Mario joked.

Margie kind of laughed, but she found it difficult to.

'You kept going until both your feet hurt. Since they're better again, I wouldn't recommend it.'

Mario was about to jump back onto his bed, when he heard two voices.

'Concentrate brothers! The machine's got a problem, and we need a plumber to fix it!' Wendy reminded.

'Alright sis, I'll go down. Come on Morton; you have the keys.' Iggy replied.

The door opened, letting light it, and Iggy stepped down, with his metal wand. Morton followed holding the keys.

'You might want to come down else well. You know Mario!' Morton called.

The other Koopalings followed down, with Wendy still carrying Katy. The door, like before, was not closed while they were in the room.

Morton unlocked the door, and Mario came charging out, aiming at Lemmy, who hid behind Ludwig.

Roy grabbed his arm, and Morton grabbed the other. He tried to get free, but Morton and Roy were strong.

Iggy pressed the dark grey button, and Mario's pupils turned red again.

Margie tried to get out, but she couldn't break the chain.

'Maaariiio... our machine's plumbing has broken, and we need you to fix it.'

Mario nodded in a way that made Margie cringe.

'But first, we'll need...'

The rest of his voice faded away when Margie found something else to pay attention to.

In the doorway, she saw something green, furry and a bit bruised, staring in shock at the area.

It was Luigi! He was in all his spotty furry glory.


After the tumble down the stairs, this is what I have to deal with? All the Koopalings, handling my ex-brother?

He looked at Mario more closely. He had a metal helmet on his head. The scary part was his red pupils.

Ludwig handed him a silvery wrench.

'Some of the pipes of the Down Pour are broken, and if you don't fix it, our castle could flood.'

Margie shook the bars. She was on a chain, with the muzzle still on her.

'Then let the castle flood! Does it matter? I don't care if I drown with you; if you drown, anything is worth it!'

Luigi stepped back, but Roy and Morton could only laugh at her.

'It's so sad dat it's funny!'

Margie moved her eyes to Luigi. He would normally have made a sound by this point, but he tried his best to stay quiet.

Margie motioned to something at the bottom of the stairs. He looked at saw it; a Bowser statue, just like the one he hit his head against, the same one he saw throughout the castle.

He tip-toed down the stairs as quickly as he could, trying to avoid tripping over his own paws.

'How are gonna get him to the device?' Lemmy asked.

'Iggy's built a teleporter, remember?' Larry replied.

'We've never shown it to him, go easy.' Roy, surprising, reassured.

Luigi reached the bottom of the stairs.

'Hey Koopalings, why don't you let me out? I can't use my power, so why don't you just unlock me?'

Ludwig laughed evilly.

'We're not that stupid; no matter how weak you are, we won't set you free unless we need your powers.'

She insulted me, but... Ludwig calling her weak...

Luigi ran behind the stone the statue was on.

Okay, I'll wait until the Koopalings leave, and maybe I can pick the lock.

'Hey! I am not weak!' Margie exclaimed.

Luigi jumped onto the stone block the statue sat on, leaning on the statue.

'Then how come that when we take your powers, you become completely exposed?' Wendy teased. Even the baby koopa she was holding laughed.

He leaned more on the statue, curious to see what they were going to do to Margie, and he felt the statue move.

He could only watch in shock as the statue fell off, shattering on the ground. The sound it made was deafening.

Dust surrounded the area, and he sneezed, but that was the least of his problems.


Margie, the Koopalings and the hypnotised Mario looked in the direction of the sound.

They saw a green spotty cat, standing nervously at the scene he had created.

'Oh Luigi... and you wondered why I called you a child.' Margie murmured.

'It's that lousy Luigi! He's here! Get him!' Ludwig ordered.

WOAH, DID THIS TAKE A WHILE!

I CAN ONLY HOPE THE NEXT CHAPTER COMES OUT QUICKER.