Chapter 11: The Attack on Mount Shroom

As Luigi and Daisy stood there face to face with Kamek and Bowser Jr., the two were unsure of what to do. Cornered in a room with the only way out blocked by their enemies, the pair could only stand there. Glancing at Bowser Jr., an idea soon came to Luigi's mind.

"We've been waiting for you, Luigi," Kamek announced deviously. Luigi glared at him and bravely went in front of Daisy.

"Ha. You think you can protect her from us?" Kamek continued. "Bowser has already taken away much of the Grand Battle Star's power. He's unstoppable!"

Luigi folded his arms and smiled.

"Indeed," he replied. "Perhaps I won't be a match for you this time."

Kamek merely stood there with a slightly stupefied look on his face. Luigi put a hand behind his back and shot Daisy a thumbs-up, signaling that he had an escape plan. She took note of it and continued watching the scene.

"Oh really?" Kamek inquired.

"Yeah, you win," Luigi fibbed. "We may as well be off."

With that, Luigi motioned Daisy to follow him and the two began to walk away until they were behind Bowser Jr. He had another hand behind his back, this time engulfed in a green fireball. He chuckled quietly to himself. Suddenly, he lit Bowser Jr.'s tail on fire, turning it a bright green. Bowser Jr. sniffed the air, smelling smoke, and suddenly realized what was being cooked.

"YOWWWWWWWW!" he screamed, running all over the room and clutching his burning tail. Kamek whirled around to see what was happening.

"C'mon, now's our chance!" Luigi exclaimed as he grabbed Daisy's hand and bolted into the tunnel with her. She smiled deviously as she followed him.

"Luigi, you're a genius!" Daisy complimented, chuckling at Bowser Jr. while he still held his tail.

"Eh, it was a piece of cake," Luigi replied with a friendly wink. The two continued through the tunnels to escape the mountain, despite that Luigi could not remember for an instant where he'd originally entered. However, to his dismay, Kamek had sent an army of Goombas, Koopas, Bob-omb Bros, and Boomerang Bros after them. They appeared in the tunnels not long after their escape from the room in which Daisy had been imprisoned. Luigi motioned Daisy to continue following him and the two dashed down the tunnel ahead of them as boomerangs and Bob-ombs flew in their direction. The boomerangs were one thing, but Bob-ombs could possibly cause the whole tunnel to cave in from their explosions. However, Luigi was still unsure of the way out, which only worried him more. Thankfully, the attacks stopped when the pair finally turned a sharp corner into yet another tunnel. Thinking they lost the army of enemies, the two stopped at an intersection not far off to catch their breath.

"Hey, what exactly did Bowser Jr. mean by you not being another Mario?" Daisy wondered through panting.

"Oh, he and Kamek probably thought I'd be as easy to trick or stump as he is," Luigi replied. He then explained Kamek's fake Peach disguise on the path and how it didn't fool him for a minute. If Mario really had escaped Bowser with Peach and returned to Toad Town to wait for Luigi, Toadsworth or somebody else in town would have probably known and let Luigi know. However, he'd heard of no such event and suspected something fishy was going on.

"Wow, that was smart thinking," Daisy complimented. "I bet you could get yourself out of a situation that would leave Mario stumped for awhile."

"Oh, I don't know about that," Luigi countered. "Mario's pretty smart in his own ways, but I guess the fact that he's more gullible would make me a little smarter. Why, I remember one time, Yoshi fooled Mario into thinking he was a mad Koopa using a costume he was planning to wear to a party we'd been invited to. I could tell it was fake, but Mario nearly ended up beating Yoshi half to death."

"Haha, oh wow. But yeah, that makes sense."

Before Luigi could respond, however, a massive group of footsteps echoed behind the pair. The two glanced behind them to find Kamek's goons still pursuing them, their expressions verging on feral.

"Mama mia, here we go again," Luigi grumbled, glaring at his foes. He and Daisy instantly raced down the tunnel, hoping to lose them at the next intersection. When exhaustion began growing on him, Luigi slowed down and glanced behind him. The mob of enemies was still on their tail and it seemed that no matter where Luigi and Daisy fled, their pursuers eventually caught up to them. Now it occurred to Luigi that they must have been trying to outrun them.

Just past the next intersection, Luigi spotted a boulder at the tunnel's left wall. He quickly dashed behind it, pulling Daisy with him. He sat down to catch his breath after the angry mob dashed by without noticing the pair. Daisy descended next to him, also quite exhausted. However, it was only minutes before the sounds of the enemies' feet echoed through the tunnel ahead once again. Luigi groaned in irritation, still reluctant to run again.

"Mama mia…there must be some way to get those goons out of our hair," he said.

"But what are we going to do? There's too many of them for us to handle by ourselves," Daisy pointed out.

Luigi frantically looked around for a solution and soon noticed a small, rocky ledge above him. The ceiling above the ledge was slightly cracked. Luigi smiled, knowing a plan was coming to mind. He then turned to Daisy again, forgetting about being fatigued.

"I have an idea. I'll get on that ledge and make the ceiling cave in on them. You keep them stalled for me."

Daisy nodded and came out from behind the boulder only to find the mob had already arrived. She immediately began taunting them while Luigi launched a Super Punch into the ceiling above the ledge. It slowly cracked some more, eventually pouring pieces of rock before the entire mob, blocking their way forward. Daisy quickly dashed out of the way, so as not to get hit. Luigi jumped down from the ledge moments later to rejoin her.

"Haha! That ought to hold them for awhile!" Daisy exclaimed happily as she gave Luigi a high five. "We make a good team!"

"Right on!" Luigi replied with a smile. "Now let's get out of here."

With that, the two quickly ran off down the tunnels ahead. Unfortunately, every tunnel appeared to be the same winding corridor as before. It looked as if there was no escape and that Luigi and Daisy were merely going in circles. Thankfully, Luigi spotted sunlight up ahead mere minutes later, indicating an exit was near. He and Daisy quickly went through it only to find themselves on a mountain trail partially bordered by a cliff. Nearby was a waterfall pouring into a flowing river below.

Realizing they must have ended up on a different section of the mountain, Luigi began leading Daisy in a hike around to the other side. By now the enemy mob likely wouldn't find them, so the two decided to slow down and take it easy back down the mountain. Daisy caught up with Luigi moments later and walked beside him as the two passed below the waterfall.

"You know, that was a pretty neat setup back there, trapping those enemies like that," she complimented. "I doubt even Kamek could pull a smart stunt like that on anyone, especially you."

"Heh, thanks," Luigi replied. "Mario always said I had good—"

He halted in his tracks and cut himself off, finally realizing the whole plan behind Daisy's capture.

"Wait a minute…That's it! Kamek did try to do that!" he exclaimed. "And Bowser Jr. was in on it!"

"What?" Daisy wondered, turning around to face Luigi.

"Don't you see? They used you to get to me," Luigi explained. He then went on to say that Bowser Jr. didn't kidnap Daisy simply because she was helping him or to solely get revenge on Luigi for beating him in the forest. He was actually intending to lure Luigi up the mountain to Kamek, where the two would try to prevent him from finding Bowser. Kamek's Peach disguise was only to provoke Luigi into further focusing on Daisy by tricking him into thinking Bowser was no longer an issue when saying Peach and Mario escaped their imprisonment. Kamek actually knew Luigi wouldn't believe Mario was in Toad Town. He was really trying to trick Luigi into thinking he was the real Peach and that that was proof enough of hers and Mario's escape.

"Their plan was working," Luigi went on. "But then I outsmarted them."

"Well, of all the nerve," Daisy replied in an annoyed tone. "You did a good job of foiling their plan, though. That was some scheme."

"Tell me about it. Thanks, though. You helped me figure it out."

"No problem. Still, I definitely despise the idea of being Luigi bait."

Luigi laughed at Daisy's comment.

"Seriously, who would want to be bait for someone else? The only thing I don't understand, though, is why Kamek didn't mention Yoshi. He was captured as well."

"Yoshi? Oh, that dinosaur friend of yours that Mario has mentioned to me a few times. That is a good question."

Luigi nodded.

"Yeah, him. I have a bad feeling about this."

"Don't worry, I'm sure he'll hang on.

"…Well, if you say so."

Silence befell the paur as they continued past the waterfall and began traversing a downward sloping trail. Daisy peered up at the night sky, which was clear enough to see thousands of stars. The full moon lit the sky overhead, shining down upon all of Mushroom Kingdom. As she explored the darkness, Daisy let out a tired yawn. Luigi heard it and soon noticed her drooping eyelids and smiled.

"Tired?"

"Yeah. It's late and I've been up and about all day, not to mention all that running we did back there was exhausting," Daisy replied.

"I agree. I'm a little tired myself. After all, I've been running around a lot today. Which reminds me, do I smell at all?"

Daisy halted as she arched one eyebrow and forgot about being tired. Luigi went pink in the cheeks, realizing he asked a strange question.

"Well, now that you mention it, you do smell a little funny," Daisy replied, trying not to make Luigi look idiotic for asking. "Why?"

"Uh…this is going to sound silly, but…" Luigi began in a nervous tone. He relayed to Daisy the events from the haunted mansion and forest and how the ghosts shoved him into a garbage dumpster. Forgetting that he reeked of trash, Luigi returned to Toad Town smelling like he hadn't washed up in ages. He didn't realize it until Toad found him by his house and pointed it out. By now, the odor must have partially faded away.

"Oh, haha. I believe you," Daisy assured. "Sometimes the enemy—"

Suddenly, a rumbling noise cut Daisy off. Luigi looked up above to see a wave of rocks heading straight for their path. The two of them attempted to get out of the way, but the rocks tumbled down and crashed into the mountain trail, causing another rockslide below. Luigi stumbled and fell over, catching the edge of the path's cliff with his right hand. Daisy began falling below as well until Luigi grabbed her arm with his free hand just in time. The two then merely hung there, unable to do anything to help themselves. Luigi looked up again to see Kamek's mob at the top of the path above.

"Not them again…" he groaned.

"Ugh…don't those guys ever give up?" Daisy wondered rhetorically.

"I wish. But nevermind that, we've got to get out of this mess. Just don't let go!"

"You don't have to tell me twice!"

Luigi tightened his grip on the cliff as he desperately tried to think of a way to save both him and Daisy. Suddenly, a breeze began blowing, rendering it even more difficult for Luigi to hang on. Unable to hold on to it, his hat was blown off his head and plunged down to the foot of the mountain below. Luigi looked back and watched as his only trademark belonging disappeared below him. Daisy attempted to grab it, but the hat flew by so quickly, she barely missed it.

"Aw great…" Luigi grumbled. Before he could think anymore, however, he found a pair of Koopas standing on the path directly above him. They began stomping on his hand in attempt to force him to let go.

"Ouch!"

"What's going on?" Daisy inquired from below.

"They're trying to push my hand off!" Luigi replied.

Before the two could say anything more, a Goomba came to the Koopas' aid and shoved Luigi's hand away from the cliff. After failing to grab the cliff again, the two plunged down below. Without thinking, Daisy let go of Luigi's hand and grabbed onto him by his neck and closed her eyes in fear. Noticing a rope bridge below, Luigi quickly tossed fireballs at it and broke it. He grabbed the remaining ropes and before he knew it, he and Daisy were swinging right towards the wall of the cliff.

"Hey, watch out for the—!" Daisy began.

Before she could finish, Luigi slammed into the rocky wall and mistakenly let go of the rope. Not noticing, Daisy let go of Luigi and grabbed it herself. She gasped as Luigi fell into the thin river below and washed up on the shore near the waterfall. Worried whether he was alright, she didn't notice the angry mob of Koopas appear at the other end of the bridge on the path and begin chewing on the rope. It wasn't until it broke that she spotted them and began to descend below.

Luigi then rose at the edge of the water only to see Daisy with a broken strand of rope. He quickly scrambled to his fatigued feet and caught Daisy in his arms in the nick of time, only to fall back into the cliff wall behind him. His grip loosened as he began collapsing to the ground. Daisy soon found herself sitting on his lap and quickly got up. She kneeled down to Luigi's level in hopes that he was okay.

"Luigi!" Daisy exclaimed. "Are you alright?"

Luigi didn't answer. Instead, he just lay there, breathing lightly and looking bruised and beaten. Daisy felt tears coming to her eyes. Luigi had just allowed himself to seriously get hurt to save her. Thankfully, however, Luigi slowly sat up moments later, grimacing from the pain he had taken. His right hip hurt the most from slamming into the cliff.

"Don't…worry," he stammered. "I'll be fine. Are you alright?"

"Yeah…thanks to you," Daisy replied with a smile.

Luigi returned the gesture and slowly stood up. He stumbled from the pain in his left leg, for he'd fallen on it after letting go of the rope. Daisy quickly caught him and helped him regain his balance.

"Are you sure you're fine?" she inquired.

"Yeah, I just need to take a little rest before—" Luigi began. "Oh no…the star! I never found it!"

"Oh, you're not thinking what I think you're thinking are you? You can't go after it now. Not in the condition you're in!"

"But I have to… I'll take a short rest before I go."

"Well, alright."

With that, Luigi plopped back down against the rocky wall and decided to sit there for a few minutes. With the breeze in his hair now, having his hat off felt strange. Luigi hoped he hadn't lost it for good or that the hat didn't land in the river. If it had landed there, the river would have pulled it downstream to who knows where.

"Hey, don't worry too much about your hat," Daisy spoke up, sensing Luigi's thoughts. "I'm sure if it went downstream, someone there will find it."

"Yeah, I hope you're right," Luigi replied. "Mario and I have had those hats since we were babies. Come to think of it, he'd go through the roof if he found out I lost mine."

"Oh, I'm sure you'll find it before Mario even suspects a thing," Daisy assured. "Besides, I think you look better with it off."

She shot Luigi a friendly giggle.

"Thanks."

As Luigi continued to rest, he returned Daisy's smile. While he regained his strength and the parts of his clothes that had gotten wet from the river were drying, he listened to the waterfall as its waves beat the flowing river. Daisy was gazing upon the night sky again, seemingly admiring the stars and full moon ahead. Earlier, the sky had been cloudy, and Luigi must not have noticed it cleared up. Just seeing Daisy there with him made him begin to feel better. She soon turned around to face him again.

"Hey by the way, Mario once told me that you're heroic like him… Just in a different way," Daisy recalled. "And you know…he's right. You are a hero. My hero."

She smiled at Luigi once more. Luigi couldn't help but let his cheeks turn a faint red. It was now obvious to him that Daisy already really liked him.

"Ah, it was nothing. I really couldn't let you get hurt. Not like I did," Luigi replied, smiling again. "You've been a big help. And besides that…you're my friend and a good friend to my brother. I have to protect you."

"Aren't you a sweetie."

"Heh, thanks. Well, I feel okay enough to get going," Luigi decided, changing the subject. "You wait here. You should be safe behind the waterfall. No one will see you there."

"Right," Daisy replied. "Be careful up there. I care about you too, you know."

"I will. Those two goons up there won't know what hit them."

With that, Luigi departed and headed for the mountain trail again. Daisy watched as he disappeared around the corner to return to the summit. She sat there in hopes he was right about being able to handle Kamek and Bowser Jr. by himself and in his condition. All she could do was wait.