The mansion was dark; a single candle providing the only source of light. On the floor was a circle drawn with chalk, a strange symbol in its center. It had begun to rain heavily in the Mushroom Kingdom, almost as if a 3rd person omniscient narrator was purposefully adding ambiance… Right. The thunder cackled across the sky as the storm leaked out from its origin above the house.
Luigi's mansion had never been creepier.
Ashley instructed the plumber to lay on the circle. He did as he was told, eager to be rid of the demon within him. Ashley pulled out her spell book and skimmed through a few pages. She finally found the desired section and read it quietly.
Before anything could be done, a knock was heard at the door. Ashley groaned before answering it. It was Red, a big grin on his face. "Hiya, Ashley! What're you doing?" he asked with adorable innocence. The little girl lifted an eyebrow as she stared blankly at the creature. Before Red could say anything else, he found himself tied up on the couch.
"Ashley, what's the idea?!" the demon demanded.
"Simple, really," Ashley answered; "You're not Red."
"What're you talking about?! Of course I'm-"
At that moment, Ashley's wand began shaking. It leaped out of her hands and into the air, where it seemed to have exploded in a puff of smoke. When the smoke cleared, another red demon was floating in the air, a smug grin on his face. "Really? Because I'm not that short," he taunted.
"Yes, you are," Ashley replied lamely.
The fake Red looked around nervously. He finally hung his head in shame and reverted back to Mimi. She didn't try to break free from the ropes anymore. She just sat there in silence. Ashley grabbed her by the collar and stared her down. "How did your master find out about this?" she interrogated.
"He doesn't know, I swear! I came here on my own," Mimi pleaded.
"Likely story."
"I'm telling the truth! I came here for help, but I didn't think you'd trust me, so I disguised myself as your pet."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Red interrupted; "I am NOT her pet! I like to think of us as equals."
Ashley merely rolled her eyes at the demon's plucky attitude. She then returned her attention to the changeling on the couch. "You have five seconds. Go," the child stated. Mimi struggled to find the right words for her situation. She finally swallowed and started speaking.
"TheCrownOrbisatfullpowerandDimentioplansonunleash inghisplantonight!" she screamed at a fast pace. Ashley, Red, and Luigi all tilted their heads to the side in confusion. Mimi groaned in frustration. "The Crown Orb's at full power and Dimentio plans on unleashing his plan tonight," she said slower this time. The others finally understood and gasped in unison. Ashley looked around at everyone and their scared faces. She had to calm them down.
"Why are you telling us this?" the witch asked the captive. Mimi avoided eye contact. "I'm not strong enough to stop him, not even close. But you guys are. You have to stop him!" she explained. Ashley lifted her eyebrow again. She thought for a moment, then untied the woman.
"We have no time to lose then," the child said; "But even with our combined talents, we are not enough."
"Oh! That reminds me!" Mimi shrieked. She then got off the couch and ran out the door. She returned a moment later dragging something behind her. Luigi lifted his head up to see what she had brought in. The moment he saw it, his eyes widened. Mimi had just dragged in a man in red, who was peacefully snoring away.
Luigi instantly got up to check on his brother. He remembered having attacked Mario the day before, and thinking he was dead. Needless to say, the green plumber was more than ecstatic to find his sibling alive. Luigi asked Mimi how this could be. The changeling looked away for a moment.
"You see, Mr. L never really attacked Mario," she explained. Mimi then transformed into a short mustachioed man wearing a red cap and shirt and blue overalls. Once her point was made, she reverted back to normal. "I went to the ball without Dimentio noticing to save Mario. Of course, I had to knock him out and hide him in a closet, but that's not the point."
Luigi stood up and looked at Mimi. The next instant, he was hugging her and showering her in thanks. The woman felt very awkward as she patted the man's back. "Y-you're welcome, I guess," she managed to say.
Ashley told Luigi to return to his spot on the chalk circle, as there was no time to lose. He did so without hesitation. Mimi thanked them all again and headed out the door, hoping to get back to the green dimension before Dimentio knew she was gone. She assured the group, however, that she would stall the ceremony as much as she could.
"Red, if you don't mind," Ashley asked.
"Oh, right!" the assistant replied. He then turned back into the wand and landed gently in Ashley's hand. She then looked at the spell in her book. "Alright," the witch started as she pulled out her wand, "we only have one chance to do this. It is a highly sensitive spell. If something goes wrong…"
She hesitated. Luigi lifted his head and urged her to continue. The little girl avoided eye contact as she sighed, almost sounding unsure. "If something goes wrong," she continued, "then Mr. L will be saved and you will be gone forever."
Luigi swallowed hard. The thought of being gone forever would frighten any living being. A high risk chance, no doubt. One Luigi was willing to take. He nodded his head, indicating that he was ready to continue. Ashley nodded back and eyed the spell once more. She raised the wand into the air; the orb at its top started to glow. Ashley began chanting in another language, her eyes beginning to shine the same light as her wand. The thunder boomed outside as the lightning beat it to the ground. Luigi's body tensed. This was it; it was now or never.
Ashley pointed the wand at the plumber as she reached the end of her chant. "Efil on evah uoy neht, siht derehpiced evah uoy FI!"
Luigi's body contortioned unnaturally. His life began to flash before his eyes. The feeling of such an experience is indescribable. Soon the plumber floated into the air. His entire body began to glow in a yellow light. Ashley shielded herself behind the couch-dragging the still sleeping Mario with her-as the man exploded in a great sight. Smoke filled the room. The witch slowly peaked out of her hiding spot. She couldn't see the man.
"Luigi?" she called out.
The smoke began to clear. Ashley could make out the silhouette of a man, standing rather calmly. Ashley strained to look closer. Her eyes widened as she realized the man was wearing a black jumpsuit.