Enjoy :)
Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Mario or its franchise; it belongs to
Nintendo and their affiliates. I just am really grateful to its creators for giving
me such a wonderful game and media series to write about!
I also don't own anything related to Harry Potter, all that belongs to J.K. Rowling,
but thanks go to her as well because, using her wonderful work, I can expand this
story to make it more interesting :)
Chapter Thirty-Five
There was a lot more people in Bean Kingdom than I would have thought. The Spring Festival itself was actually held in the capital city. There was dancing and free food and much merriment. Now it was evening in the ball was afoot. Peasley, Daisy, and I had to go back into town near the giant square of earth that lay in between the shops and businesses. This was where the ball was being held. This was where hundreds of people, human and Beanish alike, had gathered to dance and make merry some more. Earlier it had been wild dancing, just people moving all around free as the pleased with no real order. Now it was a little less chaotic. Everybody stood in a giant circle while a select few people performed organized dances in the center. Since Peasley was the prince and we were friends of the prince, we got the great fortune of going first. Great.
I nudged Peasley while we split the crowd and made our way to the center, but he was too busy waving and blowing kisses at his people. They were just as surprised by his outfit as Daisy and I were, but they loved it. I could tell by their roaring cheers and applause. In the light of the waning sun, Peasley seemed to glow under their praise, smiling widely and bowing humbly. He took my hand and Daisy's and we started to dance.
"What were you saying, Luigi?" He asked me genially.
I swallowed because now it was silent, save for the sound the musicians were providing. I didn't want to voice my fears in front of everyone, but the truth was I'd only just learned this dance yesterday and my skills weren't quite at the 'mastery' level just yet. I was nervous. Daisy seemed to pick up on that and gave my hand a squeeze.
"Just relax," She told me gently.
Peasley nodded and said, "Yes, it's all in good fun."
So I did try to relax. I focused on the steps and didn't do so badly. This was the first time I'd ever done a dance with three people but it wasn't as hard as I thought. First we went round in a circle with our hands up, palms facing each other's but not quite touching. Then we went in another circle as one, counter-clockwise this time. Then we bowed and took four steps backwards. With our hands still raised, we formed a single file line with me in the middle, standing in place while Peasley and Daisy revolved around me. The dance repeated itself several times, and it did turn out to be pretty fun.
"It's time for us to switch partners, now." Peasley said, "As prince, I do have to spread my attention around."
I didn't mind that, I felt like I was getting the hang of the dance. But, as Daisy and I were falling into step for the next round of dancing, an unlikely figure came striding over to us. Daisy stiffened. I stopped altogether.
"I told you to stay away from me." Daisy spoke tersely.
"I know." Ludwig stated, "I need to talk to you." He then eyed me and said, "Both of you."
The second round of dancing had yet to begin, we still had time to ditch the ex-enforcer. Daisy stood rooted to the spot, however.
She gave Ludwig a wary look and said, "What do you want to talk to us about?"
"Were you even invited?" I asked him.
He was dressed as if he were. He even wore the customary colors; a white silk shirt, olive green pants, and a tawny orange jacket. Even his emerald eyes matched. The only thing out of place was his long, navy hair. His boots had chains on them and made noise as he stepped impatiently from side to side. He clenched and unclenched his hands almost nervously at his sides.
"Can we not make a scene?" He implored us quietly. "I swear I just came to talk. Once you tell me what I need to know, I'll leave."
"Fine." Daisy told him before I could say anything.
To me she whispered, "I just want to hear him out. He's been acting strange lately."
"Alright." I acceded.
And so we three started to dance. I didn't know how, but Ludwig knew all the steps. We stood in a tight circle with one of his pale hands hovering in front of mine but the other lying flat against Daisy's palm. I glanced at her to see if this was alright and she nodded a bit.
"What do you want?" She asked him directly.
We stepped to the right in a circle and Ludwig blurted, "Did you put a hex on me?"
"What?" Daisy blinked.
"A hex." Ludwig repeated, dead serious.
"What are you talking about?" I asked. "Daisy's not a witch."
Limited as my knowledge in this subject area may be, I knew enough to know that Daisy was innocent of whatever Ludwig was trying to accuse her of; I'd watched a lot of movies. I knew what a hex was.
Ludwig stared at her for a moment. Counter-clockwise we turned, waiting for the enigmatic sorcerer to speak.
"Never mind." He said at last. "Have you been having any strange dreams lately?"
"Dreams?" Daisy paled, bowing low and letting her long hair brush the ground.
"You don't have to answer that." I told Daisy at once.
Ludwig gave me a dirty look but I didn't care. I could see that dreams were still a sore subject for the girl. She glanced at me as we all rose out of our bowing and her expression was grateful but determined.
"It's okay," Daisy said to me, then turned her head and asked Ludwig, "Why do you want to know about my dreams?"
"Is that a yes or a no?" He deflected.
She responded in kind with, "I always have strange dreams."
"About the Dark King?"
Here I had to intervene. Here we also formed a single file line with Daisy in the middle.
I asked beyond her head, "What are you after?"
"Did you?" Ludwig pressed, ignoring me.
Daisy said in a very hushed voice, "...Yes. A few."
Ludwig lifted a brow.
"Okay, I had lots of them." Daisy amended. "But not anymore. Not recently."
I told her, "If you feel uncomfortable-"
"Do you hear voices?" Ludwig cut in.
"What?" Daisy frowned.
"Voices. Do you hear them?" He repeated curtly.
I asked, "Where is this coming from?"
"Just answer the question." Ludwig demanded, but not of me.
"No." Daisy snapped, offended. "I'm not crazy."
The dance ended and Daisy came to stand beside me. Ludwig gazed at her without blinking. I didn't like it, his stare was too intense.
I said, "I thought you wanted to talk to both of us."
"Does any of that apply to you?" He clipped without taking his eyes off of Daisy.
I didn't say anything because along came Peasley. He stood next to me so that I was between him and Daisy. He didn't have any kindness in eyes or expression for Ludwig.
"You know it's very rude to crash parties and interrogate my friends." Peasley remarked conversationally.
Ludwig gave Daisy one last lingering look before turning to the prince.
He said coldly, "I was just leaving. I got what I came for."
Before he made a move to leave, though, he glanced at Peasley's hand. Presumably, at the mark on his hand. The two locked eyes.
"You'd think a prince would take care of such unsightly things." He spoke callously and with a faint smirk.
Ludwig then glanced at me, his smirk fading into a scowl, and then at Daisy, his scowl turning into what seemed like frustration and longing. It only lasted so long so I couldn't be sure if that's what really crossed his face but in the next second he was gone, having vanished.
Yesterday morning, just a day after Ludwig had left, Iggy realized why it was he'd felt so strange. It was gone. The binding magic that had gnawed away at the back of his mind, constantly reminding him of his situation was no longer within him. It was gone and certainly by no means of his own or Ludwig's, which at first confused Iggy. But then he remembered what had transpired the day before and knew who had to be responsible.
I have to see him, Iggy resolved, but how? I don't know anything about him, other than the fact that he's clearly a powerful sorcerer and he knows a lot about Ludwig.
He'd wracked his brilliant mind all day, trying to figure out how he would get in touch with the old immortal. But nothing had come to him. By some odd coincidence, there was no information on him in the meager excuse for a library the late king had in his palace.
That could be Ludwig's doing, Iggy thought, ever the conspirator. He didn't want me to talk to King Boo in the first place.
But the thirteen year old was a firm believer in the motto, 'where there's a will, there's a way', so he was also in possession of a fierce perseverance that now had him standing in front of the bedroom that his two older brothers shared. Iggy glanced to the left and the right only to find that he was still alone in the hall. Mostly everyone had stayed in their rooms the past few days, only coming out when it was time to train with Roy or to eat; which, with Wendy, neither was the case.
Taking a great breath, Iggy rose his fist to the wooden door and knocked four times. Almost instantly it swung open.
"Yeeesss." MJ drawled in a bored voice.
"I need to talk to Roy." Iggy stated.
MJ rolled his eyes and muttered, "Of course."
He wasn't surprised that it was Roy's attention that Iggy was after and not his own. MJ yawned and shifted his weight in the doorway so that he was leaning on the frame. He crossed his bulky arms and gazed blearily at his brother.
"Well?" Iggy asked after a pause.
"Well, what?" MJ frowned.
"Can I talk to Roy?"
"I'm not stopping you."
"You're blocking the way into the room."
"He's not in this room."
"Well where is he?" Iggy prompted, trying not to lose his patience.
"He's down in the training room." MJ answered over another yawn.
Iggy took that information and decided to act on it, heading from the corridor past the throne room and down to the right where the sounds of metal clinking against metal greeted him as soon as he stepped through the door. Iggy hurried down the steps and felt the sweat pool under his palms. He was a little nervous, yes. Roy was his older brother and though he wasn't afraid of him, Iggy still faced some trepidation.
He didn't bother calling out, the music was blaring down in the lower level of the palace. Roy liked listening to his cd player and tonight he had it playing some fast-paced song with a lot of bass. Iggy got to the bottom step and saw his brother covered in sweat from his head down to his bare chest and arms. Roy had on loose black pants and black combat boots instead of his other shoes. A change.
"Yo."
Iggy was surprised he'd been greeted at all. He stopped a few feet away from Roy, who'd sat up and cut off his cd player. Roy regarded his brother dully and reached for a towel at his feet. He wiped his face and wrapped the white thing around his neck, then stood.
"You needed something?" He asked Iggy.
In truth, Roy was calmer after he worked out. Exercising and training helped him clear his head.
"I wanted to talk to you." Iggy said.
Roy scoffed and said, "You're not still on about Ludwig, are ya?"
"No." Iggy frowned. "I wanted to know if you remember where King Boo lives."
"Who?" Roy asked.
"King Boo." Iggy repeated. "The guy who was here a few days ago. The guy you and Wendy sought out to help Ludwig when he was sick."
"Oh. The creepy one." Roy recounted to himself. "What you wanna' know about him for?"
"Just curious." Iggy stated evasively. "Do you remember where he lives? And how you got to him?"
"What, do you think I'm stupid?" Roy deadpanned.
"You want me to answer that?"
"I know you're trying to get out of here." Roy stated, "No wonder Ludwig told me to watch you and Wen especially."
"He told you to spy on me?" Iggy said with a hint of disgust.
"No, not spy, yo. Watch." Roy corrected. "And he must've known you would try and bust outta' here 'cause he told me to make sure nobody leaves the palace."
"And you do everything he says?" Iggy challenged.
"Pretty much." Roy shrugged.
"Wendy was right about you." Iggy accused quietly. "I just hope you don't end up like Ludwig."
"That'll never happen." Roy snorted.
Iggy said, "It will if you don't control your pride, if you let the power he gives consume you."
"Go to bed, Igg." Roy dismissed. "You think too much. Give your giant brain a rest for once."
Neither Daisy nor I could get much sleep. At first we'd denied the obvious and had just tried to ignore what happened between us and Ludwig at the Festival. We'd stayed a good while later and then headed back to the palace. Peasley, who'd been acting just as distracted as us, stayed behind. We took showers and got in the bed and pretended we were going to have a great sleep. And now here we were, tossing and turning.
"Luigi, I can't sleep." Daisy told me.
I rolled over and said, "Me neither."
Daisy and I faced each other in the bed with our bodies only inches apart. The girl gave me a worried frown.
"What do you think Ludwig meant by coming here?" She asked.
I gave her a half-shrug and said, "I don't know. Ludwig's not easy to understand."
"He thought I was hexing him," Daisy whispered, "That must mean he's in some kind of trouble."
"You know what I think?"
"What?"
"I think Ludwig's psychotic." I told her. "He killed someone. Even if it was the Dark King, and even if he really had it coming, it was still murder. That's gotta' be why Ludwig hasn't really been himself lately."
"But why would he think I was hexing him?" Daisy persisted.
"Maybe he's trying to blame his guilty conscience on you." I guessed.
"That doesn't explain why he wanted to know about my dreams," Daisy said. "Or why he asked if I was hearing voices."
"Misery loves company." I stated. "He probably is hearing voices and having nightmares and wanted to see if you were, too."
"...I guess that makes sense." Daisy said slowly.
In the next moment someone walked into our room. Without bothering to knock, they stepped in and locked the door behind themselves. It was much too dark to see my own hand in front of my face but I instantly knew it had to be Peasley. He crossed the room and climbed right into the bed with Daisy and me, stopping at the foot of it to sit and fold his legs Indian style. Daisy reached over to turn on the lamp on the nightstand and I sat up with my own legs extended.
"Good evening, Peasley." Daisy said.
"If only it were." The prince remarked gravely.
"Is there something you needed?" I then prompted.
He looked subdued in his casual sleeping clothes; just a pair of loose white pants and a white silk shirt. His thick hair framed his face and nearly covered his green eyes as he bowed his head. He met my eyes and I saw how solemn he looked.
"I need to talk to you, friends." He admitted. "There's something evil afoot."
"What do you mean?" Daisy frowned.
Peasley relayed, "I'm not totally certain, but I think Ludwig is cursing me."
Daisy and I shared a glance. This news didn't surprise either one of us.
"At first when I suspected him, I thought my ware was unfounded." Peasley remarked. "But after the events that transpired tonight, I'm almost sure it's him causing my current calamity."
"Does this have something to do with the mark on your hand?" I asked knowingly.
Peasley nodded and said, "Ludwig came to me some time ago looking to form an alliance between his kingdom and mine. I thought it strange that he was conquering or allying with so many nations, including your brother's."
"Mario allied with him?" I asked, startled.
"Indeed he did." Peasley affirmed. "I felt that something wasn't right about Ludwig and his ambitions, so I refused to ally with him. Only a short while afterwards, I began seeing this mark. I think he's cursing me in some way in retaliation for my decision."
"That's awful!" Daisy exclaimed.
"It is," I said, "But we don't know for sure if it's him."
"That's true." Daisy calmed. "But you have to admit, it does make sense."
"Exactly," Peasley agreed. "Ludwig is a very powerful sorcerer and doesn't strike me as one so benevolent, either."
On the one hand, I loathed Ludwig and wanted to blame him for this latest transgression. But on the other hand, I did know that this wasn't really his style; cursing someone over something so petty. Then again, he wasn't really himself lately anyway so maybe he was behind this after all.
"It's not just me I fear he's after." Peasley said. "I've heard of rumors of his soldiers, the Koopas, being spotted in several other countries. There's been talk of strange attacks, seemingly isolated and without reason, but I believe each one of those attacks happened as a result of his direct command."
"So you think he's planning a mass takeover?" Daisy asked skeptically.
"I don't know." Peasley replied. "But unless you plan on reclaiming the throne, I advise you both set out in the morning."
A heavy silence pervaded the room. I glanced at Daisy and saw she was conflicted. I still believed that, even if she were to take up the crown, there was no guarantee the situation would be any better. I was prepared to follow whatever decision she came to, though.
I told her, "I'll do whatever you want."
"I want to go home."
A/N: That's all for now. Some new problems arise in life. Good news is, I got my laptop back and my brother's alright, no more legal fiasco to deal with. I'll try to update again as soon as I can.
Until next chapter!
~DymondGold~