Chapter 25

Lost

The Yoshi's galloping jarred his bones but Mario was too tired to assume the correct riding posture. It was all he could manage just to guide it, let alone stay alert to the potential dangers around him. Bruised and bloodied, he flopped from side to side as the little dinosaur weaved through the thick subtropical undergrowth, dodging the millipede-like Wigglers and the brown, mushroom-shaped Goombas. To a degree he could rely on the creature's instincts now it was back in home territory, in the very forest where he'd helped it hatch three days before.

He caught hold of its shell as it swerved and leapt over a snapping piranha plant. It reminded him of the look on Luke's face at seeing his first Yoshi hatching beneath the leaves of one similar to this. Mario hadn't realised how much of Earth he'd forgotten until he'd seen the boy's excitement at the wonders of Mushroom World. Nor had he realised how much he missed Earth now that Luke had gone. He'd not felt this homesick since the day the pipe to Brooklyn disappeared.

Homesick? No. He tried to rationalise, conjuring those moments of his last days on Earth; the tax demands, the threats from the bailiffs, his tearful mother, his frightened brother. Even though the business had been dissolved he'd refused to stop paying rent on the workshop because it housed the only escape from reality he and Luigi had, despite it driving them into more debt. That pipe was their secret, their chance to holiday in a world that defied the wildest of imaginations. They knew it could disappear without reason the same way it had appeared many months before. They'd wanted to make the most of it. They needed that bolt-hole. So what if they were on the wrong end of the pipe when it finally did go? Life was better here, wasn't it?

The little dinosaur chirped in triumph as it flattened another Goomba, but its exhilaration was lost on Mario this time. This extraordinary creature, this breathtaking forest, the incredible super-powers he'd gained - he'd swap it all now for a warm evening with his family and friends back home. The debt didn't matter. The shame of letting his father's business fail didn't matter. He felt Luigi's despair now; he understood his need to believe in something, however misguided he thought his brother's faith in the Spirits was.

The heat of the sun hit Mario like a wall as the Yoshi emerged from the jungle into drier, grassy plains. He pulled the bill of his cap down to shade his face, still squinting as his eyes adjusted to the brightness. The dinosaur stopped dead, craning its head around to look at its rider, waiting for the next command.

Mario straightened his back and inhaled through his nose. He needed to keep a clear head now; the boy was depending on him. He stared ahead. He wasn't far from the pipe to Toad Town. If there was any truth in Luke's dreams he'd be able to consult the World Map in the Toad Town Museum Library and pinpoint the likeliest places where Kamek had taken him. As much as he'd been desperate enough to listen to Miles's information through Luke, losing the opportunity wasn't a disaster. After all, nothing could be better than a good old-fashioned map.

He traced his fingers over the Yoshi's cheeks, a command to veer left, and it took off at a trot, clouds of dust kicking up in the trail behind it.

Something jostled Miles in his sleep. Unfamiliar hands slid under his arms and knees as he was lifted from the bed. He squirmed, Luke's handheld tight in his fist. He felt himself being carried, heard footsteps on the stairs and the sound of the front door opening. He curled up against the rush of the night air on his bare feet and ankles. Feeling cold, he screwed up his eyes and whined.

"If you get in first, Ma'am, I'll hand him over to you." That was a man's voice. Who was it?

"Mum..."

"It's okay Miles, we're getting in the car."

He relaxed at her words and snuggled next to her on the back seat, the soft fleece of his blanket brushing against his chin. He felt her arm around him and her hand stroking his hair. The sound of the running engine lulled him back to sleep.

"Here, let me carry him."

"Oh... Thank you nurse."

Bright lights cut through Miles's eyelids as he felt himself being pulled away from his mum. He moaned as he clung to her neck and her hair.

"All right all right." Her arms closed around him again. "I don't think this'll work. I'll have to take him in with me."

"No problem."

The sounds and smells seemed familiar. Miles opened a bleary eye to confirm he was back at the hospital. He yawned and rested his head on Mum's shoulder, despite her hurried footsteps jiggling him about.

"Are we going to see Luke?" he mumbled.

Mum didn't answer. It felt like she was almost running. He lifted his head to see a nurse hurrying through the corridor behind them, carrying Mum's overnight bag. He recognised her from the last time he was here, but she had no smile for him now. He looked round at his mum's tear-stained face and caught his breath.

"Left here," said the nurse.

Miles's eyes snapped wide open. This wasn't the way to Luke's room. He wriggled in his mum's arms and discovered then he was in his pyjamas. Why was he in his pyjamas? "I want to get dressed," he said.

"Not now, sweetheart, later."

"I want to get dressed!" He struggled and punched at his mum's shoulders. "I want to get dressed now!"

"Miles, please..."

"I'm sorry." The nurse's voice was firm. "You'll have to leave him in the waiting room if you can't keep him quiet. He'll disturb the other patients."

"No! I want to see Luke!" Miles wriggled and kicked as much as he could until he felt himself slipping from his mum's grip. As soon as his toes touched the floor he twisted himself away and ran as fast as he could towards the nurses' front desk. He heard the grown-ups calling his name in hushed voices as he ran down one corridor and then the next, Luke's console still tight in his hand.

He stopped at his brother's room and peeped in through the open door at the empty, stripped bed. Luke had gone. All his things had gone. All his Get-Well cards, even the one Miles had made for him had been taken away. Unable to fathom what it meant, Miles turned to face his mum and the nurse as they hurried towards him.

"Mum? Where's Luke?"

The nurse stepped forward and crouched down in front of him. "Now young man, it's the middle of the night. We can't have you running around waking everybody up! Luke has been moved to another room. Your mum has all your clothes with her." She looked up at Miles's mum. "I can take you somewhere where you can get him dressed if you'd prefer."

"No," said Miles. "I want to see Luke first." He looked up at his mum and slid his hand into hers, then they walked in silence as the nurse led them back the way they came.

The new room looked no different from the last one. It had the same bed, the same equipment, same furniture, even Luke's cards and belongings had been arranged around him in just the same way as before. But now there was a new machine beside his brother's bed. It made quiet, whooshing noises over and over, each followed by a click. A thick tube extended from it all the way into Luke's mouth, and his face was covered with a lot of tape. The sheet normally covering most of his body had been turned down to reveal his chest, bare but for the large round pads with wires stuck to them. Miles was used to seeing all the wires and tubes coming out of his brother but this new machine was creepy. Luke's chest rose and fell, blowing up like a balloon and then going down again in time with the whoosh and clicking noise, as if he was a part of the thing itself.

Miles drew back and clutched at his mum's sleeve, horrified at the sight but not able to look away.

"My Princess, Princess Peach is waiting for you in the emergency meeting room. There is no good to come from staying up here. Please, come down."

Her fists clenched, Daisy ignored the pleas of her Pionpi attendant and scoured the darkness beyond the castle battlements. Distant sounds echoed from every direction as her guards widened their search through Toad Town. She could hear nothing yet to suggest they'd caught up with Luigi.

"My Princess, please... You must respect Princess Peach's order for high alert. We can't be seen to jeopardise their kingdom's security."

With a sigh Daisy nodded at her attendant. "Tell her I'm coming. And please, wait in there for me."

The Pionpi folded her hands into the large sleeves of her lilac robe, closed her round eyes and bowed, her single braid of black hair falling forward over her shoulder. Then she drifted over the courtyard and descended towards the Keep while Daisy dabbed her face dry of tears and plodded down the more conventional steps.

Numb to the breeze tugging at her hair Daisy entered the Keep on autopilot, barely aware of the red polka-dot capped Toad ushering her down the hall and into the meeting room. She glanced up at the ancient shields and flags decorating the walls before gazing at the three people sat at the long table in the centre of the room.

Wrapped in a cloak to hide her nightclothes, Peach looked up from her place at the head of the table and indicated the empty seat nearest to her. "Sit down, Daisy."

"I'm sorry to keep you waiting." Daisy took her place, nodding at Toadsworth opposite, and again at the mysterious Doctor Toadley seated next to her. She looked back towards the door and exchanged a nervous glance with her Pionpi.

Her face solemn, Peach settled her gaze on Daisy. "Now, tell me, what happened with Luigi?"

The businesslike approach caught Daisy off guard and it took her a few seconds to gather her thoughts into a coherent order. "He's... he's very much worse and I... I think he's lost his mind. My guards are out looking for him. I had orders relayed to them to bring him back unhurt. They...".

"I want details, Daisy." Peach stared with a stoicism Daisy had never seen from her before. "What happened when you visited him?"

Toadsworth cleared his throat before Daisy could answer. "Someone said he'd tied a scrap of cloth around his neck, fashioned like a bandanna. Is this true?"

Bandanna? Daisy blinked at him. What did that have to do with anything?

"Well, is it?" Peach stared at her. "Daisy, I need to know every little thing that was changed about him, however insignificant you think it may be."

Daisy glanced at Toadsworth, then Doctor Toadley, and then back at Peach. She remembered the way Luigi had looked in that room and blinked back a threatening tear. "Oh Peach," she said, "everything's changed. Yes, he wore a bandanna. He didn't recognise me. He doesn't remember us coming to his room. His eyes had no pupils. He spoke..." Daisy looked down at her clasped hands. "He spoke perfectly, but with an accent I've never heard before. It was like he was possessed by another person!"

Peach gave Toadsworth a worried look before turning back at Daisy. "What did he say?" she said, her voice softer now.

"It was the same story about how Tatanga interrogated him in a dungeon cell. Only now he believes you and Mario are working with Tatanga and that the torture took place in this castle!" Aware that her voice was trembling, Daisy squared her shoulders and took a deep breath.

Peach closed her eyes for a moment and Daisy guessed she was struggling to keep her emotions at bay, too. "Did he hurt you?"

Daisy shook her head. "He said if I told him where Tatanga was, he wouldn't hurt me. So I told him the first thing that came into my head, which was that story of his about the castle on the mountain. He asked me how to get there and I told him about the World Map in the Museum Library. I'm... I'm sorry, Peach. He had me trapped in that room with him and he was frightening. I didn't know what else to do."

Peach paled and then swallowed, twisting her fingers together.

Toadsworth watched her for a moment and then leaned towards her. "It bears all the hallmarks," he said in a low voice.

"I know." Peach lowered her head, her lips tight. At last she looked over at the sorcerer-medic sitting at Daisy's side, a grave look on her face. "Doctor," she said, "I'm afraid we have an L situation."

"Then are you asking for tranquiliser darts?" Doctor Toadley shook his head. "Those I cannot prescribe, this time."

Peach stared, panic in her eyes. "But without them, what can we do?"

"Wait!" said Daisy. "What is this L situation?"

"What can we do?" The doctor echoed Peach's question. "You may knock him out in whichever way you see fit, your Highness, as long as it doesn't involve tranquilisers."

Daisy looked from Peach to Doctor Toadley. "Knock him out? This is Luigi we're talking about..."

Toadsworth leaned forward. "Princess Daisy, I'm well aware of your concern for Master Luigi, but this is a crisis we're familiar with. Please allow us to..."

Daisy shot to her feet and slammed her palms on the table. "What? This has happened to him before? Why have I never been told?"

Toadsworth rapped his walking stick on the floor beside him and he turned to Peach. "You summoned Princess Daisy to confirm the L situation. With the greatest of respect I suggest now that she is dismissed."

"I'm staying." Daisy folded her arms.

"Toadsworth," said Peach, her voice calm, "there are a dozen Bunbuns and almost as many Gao out there looking for Luigi right now. They don't know what they're facing. They need new orders and since they are Daisy's soldiers she must stay." She caught Daisy's eye and gave her a warning look. Daisy took the hint and sat down.

Toadsworth stroked his white moustache. "Your Highness Princess Peach," he said, "Daisy's guards are stronger and better equipped to overpower him than ours. If we can't tranquilise him I recommend they take him by force now and bring him back here where he can be safely secured until he sleeps of his own accord."

Peach gave Doctor Toadley an uncomfortable glance. "Doctor. Isn't there any other way? Why can we not arm the Bunbuns with tranquilisers?"

"The sedatives I found in Luigi's blood contained elements of an alien origin," said the doctor. "The dose he received was strong enough to knock out a creature the size and weight of Bowser. He's lucky to have survived but his organs need time to recover. Any more drugs may do him serious damage."

Toadsworth huffed and shifted in his seat. "Princess Daisy, I beg you to give orders to bring Luigi in by force. It's for his own good..."

"So you can clap him in irons and lock him in a cell until he drops with exhaustion?" Daisy leaned forward, bringing her face closer to his. "That's what it comes down to, doesn't it? You already threatened to restrain him once. He's ill..."

"Daisy," said Peach, "it's not like that..."

"He is unpredictable and dangerous." Toadsworth bristled with indignation. "We have no choice."

"If he's that dangerous I want to know what my soldiers are dealing with first. What is this L situation?"

Toadsworth adjusted his pince-nez and glared at Daisy through the round lenses. "It's an unfortunate madness that takes him from time to time."

"It is no such thing," Peach scowled at Toadsworth before turning back to Daisy. "Daisy - The changes in him you witnessed tonight - we know what it is, and we know it lasts only as long as he can last before he has to sleep. When he wakes up he's Luigi again. The tranquilisers stop it faster so he can recover more quickly."

"This isn't helping things!" Toadsworth reddened with frustration. "The longer we discuss his condition the more time we're losing. Princess Daisy, please give the word..."

Daisy closed her eyes. Crazy or not, Luigi had given his word, and he'd kept his word. He hadn't killed her, yet she knew he would have; he'd made it all too clear how she'd have met her death if she hadn't have cooperated. She lowered her head in resignation.

"Pionpi..." she turned to her attendant who still hovered by the door. "Relay orders to retreat, and then start preparations to return to Sarasaland. We are to leave within the hour."

Toadsworth's walking stick clattered to the floor. "What?"

"I'm letting Luigi go."

"But..." The elderly Toad stared, his mouth open as the Pionpi floated out of the room. He turned and gave Peach a searching look, only to see his princess look back at Daisy.

Daisy stood up. "Luigi is on a mission to find Tatanga and I know he'll kill anything that tries to stop him. I will not risk my troops' lives for a madness you say will pass within a few hours." She met Peach's gaze - her friend's face was emotionless.

Toadsworth sputtered. "P...P...Princess Daisy, I must... He's looking for an adversary who's not even on this planet! Who knows where he'll be by the time he has to stop and rest? He'll wake in an unfamiliar place with no memory of where he's been. He'll be lost!"

"Don't you think that before he needs rest he'll have figured out I've lied to him and that he'll be back for my blood?" Daisy clenched her fists. "He doesn't recognise me or know where I live and I intend to use that to my advantage. The security of my Kingdom is more important than the safety of one man, no matter who he is. Now if you'll excuse me..."

She stepped away from her chair and swept out into the corridor. She could feel the tears brimming again and she didn't want them to fall here. She ran to her quarters and flopped face down onto her bed, allowing them to soak into her pillow instead. She didn't know which was worse - Luigi's madness or the fact he'd never opened up to her about it after all this time. It was yet another reminder of just how unreachable he was. While he hankered after his homeworld she knew he'd always keep his distance because he didn't want to hurt her. He had no idea how much he was hurting her already.

"Daisy?"

She didn't bother replying. She knew Peach would come in anyway.

"Daisy, I just wanted to let you know I understand your decision."

Daisy rolled onto her side and looked up at her friend. "It isn't fair. Why does Luigi have to suffer this madness, on top of everything else?"

"Don't listen to Toadsworth." Peach handed her a lace handkerchief and sat next to her. "It's not a madness. It's a battle-scar from when he tried to rescue me once. Now you've seen it you have the right to know about it."

Frowning, Daisy pushed herself up and swung her legs over the side of the bed. She dried her face and looked at Peach. "Luigi tried to rescue you from Bowser?"

Peach shook her head. "Not from Bowser. It happened that time Count Bleck attempted to destroy the universe."

Bleck. Daisy remembered visiting the Mushroom Kingdom to join in the celebrations after the Mario brothers had brought Peach home from that adventure. Even Bowser had called a short truce to acknowledge the salvation of all their kingdoms from a common enemy. Although it was a significant triumph neither of the brothers nor Peach had recounted much of their escapade. She recalled how Luigi had been even quieter than usual at that party. "Go on," she said.

Peach fiddled with the folds of her cloak. "Bleck had organised a forced marriage between King Bowser and I so that he could fulfil an ancient prophesy and gain the powers he needed. Luigi attempted to stop it, and paid the price." She lowered her eyes. "He was caught, hypnotised and brainwashed. Then he was programmed to destroy Mario, Bowser and I."

Daisy's mouth dropped open. Luigi had never spoken about this. She scrunched the handkerchief in her fist, not knowing what to say.

"This monster Bleck turned Luigi into... he wasn't even given a proper name, just a codename: 'Mr. L'. And even though it was so obviously Luigi's body we were fighting and it was his voice we were hearing, he was unrecognisable. He covered his face with an eyemask and a bandanna of course but it was the changed personality, the accent, his power of speech and those blank eyes..." Peach trailed off and she stared into middle space for a moment as if she were re-living a part of her adventure.

Unable to imagine Peach and Mario facing the prospect of having to fight - and hurt - Luigi, Daisy could only wait for Peach to continue.

"Well of course," said Peach, "Mario triumphed over everything and Luigi was returned to normal, or so we thought. But every so often something will happen that causes Mr. L to break through. And when that happens he'll do anything to kill Mario, me, or even Bowser." Her eyes glistened with tears and her voice cracked into a whisper. "Luigi doesn't even know it's happening."

"Then... what made Luigi turn into Mr. L today?"

"My theory?" Peach gazed at the floor. "We made him him doubt his own story and it led to him doubt himself." Peach looked back into Daisy's eyes. "Luigi's not crazy. But when he loses confidence in himself he leaves the door wide open for Mr. L to come through."

"What are you saying?" Daisy furrowed her eyebrows. "That Mr. L is proof that Luigi was telling the truth? We know his story is wrong..."

Peach gave a weak smile and shook her head. "I'm saying he believed his own story so strongly that..." She turned her head at a sudden commotion in the corridor outside. Shouts of excitement and running feet grew louder. She rose from the bed and turned to look at Daisy, a strange mix of delight and worry in her eyes as the voices became clearer. "Do you hear that?"

Daisy stood up and listened. "It's Mario. Mario's back!"

Their conversation abandoned, they hurried out of Daisy's quarters to see Toads scurrying in random directions, shouting instructions at one another.

"Princess Peach!" squeaked one, tugging at her cloak. "He's in the courtyard!" The Toads converged on their Princess, their little legs trotting to keep up with her long strides as they accompanied her towards the main entrance. Daisy tactfully dropped behind, not wanting to get in the way. She followed Peach outside, where an arresting sight greeted them.

A lone Yoshi stood on the main pathway between the Keep's entrance and the main gate, squawking in distress. His face and clothes smeared with dirt, Mario sat slumped forward on its back, his limbs hanging limp, his head resting against the spines on the back of its neck.

Daisy ran to calm the reptile by stroking its nose while Peach took Mario's hand.

"Mario," said Peach, "what happened?"

"Easy Yoshi," said Daisy as she drew her finger in a line under its chin, the command for it to lie on its belly. Mario half opened his eyes as the Yoshi settled into position, and then shut them again.

Peach looked over her shoulder at her servants. "Send for Dr. Toadley. Get Mario some water!"

Mario raised his head. "It's okay, Peach."

"Let's at least take you inside to get cleaned up, Mario!" Peach tugged at his hand but he pulled back.

"No, the fresh air keeps me alert."

Toads ran back and forth and before long a stool was set down beside the Yoshi. Peach and Daisy coaxed Mario into dismounting and sat him down, while a young Toad maid pushed a tumbler of water into his hand. Mario's eyes glimmered as he took a sip, and in a moment the rest of the water was gone.

"More," he said, with a gasp.

Another Toad stepped forward with a flagon and refilled the cup and a third offered a small bowl containing three 1-UP mushrooms. Mario ate one and put the others in his pocket. He drank more slowly this time and when he'd done he rested his arms on his knees, his head drooping between them.

Peach knelt beside him. "What happened?"

"I have-a to find them."

"Find who?"

"Kamek attacked. Took the boy. They have-a the Professor, too." He looked up, anger in his eyes. "They took him right from under my nose. They took him, but they didn't take me. They didn't want to take me, or kill me. Why?" He straightened up, raising his arms and letting them fall. Then looked at Peach, a startled look on his face as if he'd just remembered something. "Peach. I need to know. Did anything happen with Luigi while I was away?"

Daisy held her breath as she waited for Peach to deliver the news.

"There's no easy way to say this." Peach lowered her head. "Things haven't been good for Luigi. He was kidnapped by Koopas - within hours of you leaving with the boy..."

Mario stared, open mouthed.

"Daisy found him a few days later in..."

But Mario was on his feet, clasping the back of his head. "So it's-a is true. It is all true!" He turned a full circle, his eyes cast up over the outer walls.

Peach stood up and grabbed his arm. "Mario, wait! What do you mean? You're making no sense!"

Daisy stamped her foot. "Mario listen!" She flinched as the plumber turned his head to look at her. He seemed surprised, as if he hadn't noticed her standing there all this time. "You need to hear this. I found Luigi unconscious in the desert," she said, "near the Mushroom-Sarasa Pipe. He'd been drugged. When he woke he was delusional. He was telling us stories we know couldn't possibly be true. Then..."

"Stories! Yes!" Mario gave her an intense stare. "What did he tell you? He was tortured in a dungeon on a mountain? He escaped and stowed away in-a Tatanga's space ship?"

Daisy felt a nauseating sensation in her stomach. Peach blanched. Mario looked from one princess to the other.

"H... how did you know?" whispered Peach.

Mario looked up at the sky, a stunned expression on his face. Then he took her hands, his eyes gleaming. "The Spirits told me," he said, a fervent tremor in his voice. "Where is Luigi now?"

Thanks for reading. I'm receptive to all feedback, positive and negative.

26th Sept: All chapters up to Chapter 12 have been revised in response to earlier reviews.