Chapter 7 Code Mauve

Ludwig followed Lemmy as he waltzed across the town. Bubbles were springing up around the two of them, clogging the air. Ludwig did his best to brush them away, but Lemmy just kept making more. It wasn't until he stopped walking that he finally decided to put the bubble pipe down. He turned to Ludwig, his eyes locked in a brooding gaze.

"I believe that I outdid myself, Watson," Lemmy said. He stroked his chin and stared off into the distance. "Now all we need to figure out is how to solve the next case."

Ludwig raised an eyebrow. Next case? Next case? How could Lemmy want to try his hand at a different "case" if he almost got beaten up during the first one?

"Lemmy….oh, I'm sorry, 'Shellock,' don't you think it would be best if you leave this be?"

Lemmy took another puff of the bubble pipe

"I will not rest until every single last case that needs to be solved is solved! It is my solemn duty as the great detective that I am."

"Lemmy…"

"Uh Dat duh," Lemmy said. He waved his finger at Ludwig, shushing him. "Those are my sentiments, Watson. Period, end of sentence, shut the door, case closed."

With that, Lemmy started walking again. Ludwig watched him go, shaking his head as he did so. This was ridiculous. Utterly ridiculous. He decided right then and there that this needed to be taken care of. So, he started walking in the opposite direction.

"Watson? Just where are you scurrying off to?" Lemmy called out. Ludwig turned toward his brother. He was doing his best to keep a straight face, but even then it was hard not to glare.

"Why, I'm going to go see if there are more cases we can solve, Shellock! Where else would I be going?"

Lemmy grinned. His teeth and eyes glimmered like the snow of World 3.

"Ah, I see that my philosophy has finally got through to you." He started walking away. "About time that you started emulating my genius!"

Ludwig felt like cringing. He put one foot after the other, using all self control he had at his disposal to not run like a lunatic. He ducked into the alleyway and got out his phone.

"Hello?" Iggy's voice said from the other end.

"Iggy," Ludwig said as he pinched his brow. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but we have a code mauve."

Iggy gasped.

"Lemmy is dressed up like a detective and is going around solving nonexistent cases?" he asked, his voice sounding panicky.

"Uh huh." Ludwig snickered. "And I thought you setting up a code like that was idiotic."

Iggy's breathing started to whistle through the speaker.

"Oh, this is bad, this is very very bad. Just where are you two exactly?"

"Generica. Lemmy almost got beaten up because of this."

Iggy's hyperventilation became heavier. Ludwig could practically see his wide-as-saucers eyes.

"Well, what are you waiting for? Bring him back home before he causes anymore trouble!"

"Roger that," said Ludwig. He turned off the phone and rose into the air. He scanned the town for the sight of his brother. Thankfully, because of his bubble pipe, doing so wasn't difficult at all.

"Lemmy!" Ludwig said once he landed. Lemmy did not turn around.

"Not now, Watson, I am very busy. I have cases I need to find."

Ludwig hesitated. He gripped hold of his pointer finger, thinking as fast as he possibly could.

"Actually...that's what I came to tell you about. I just discovered a case that requires your assistance!"

Lemmy turned. He beamed at his "trusty assistant."

"Well, that sure was fast," he said. He blew bubbles into the air. "Just where is this case, exactly?"

"Come on! I'll show you!" With that, Ludwig grabbed hold of Lemmy's hand. Together, they flew toward the castle.

….

"By jove, this place is incredible!"

Ludwig rolled his eyes as he and Lemmy made their way through the castle. For crying out loud, Lemmy lived there! He knew perfectly well what it looks like!

"Er, yes. Now come on Shellock, the person in need of your assistance isn't that far away."

Lemmy nodded and continued to follow Ludwig. They walked up the stairs of the east wing fairly quickly, as Ludwig was starting to grow worried. When they got to Iggy's lab, they found their lanky sibling sitting expectantly on one of the lab stools. When his eyes landed on Lemmy, he started biting his nails.

"Oh baby, oh baby," he muttered. Ludwig brought Lemmy over toward their brother. He displayed the tiny cloaked Koopa to the scientist as if it were their first meeting ever.

"Iggy, let me introduce you to Shellock Holmes. He is…" Ludwig grunted and cleared his throat. "'The greatest detective to ever live.'"

Lemmy smiled at Iggy and gripped his hand. He gave it a shake so generous that it would make a philanthropist blush.

"Well hello, dear chap. It is always a pleasure to meet someone like you." Lemmy took another swig of the bubble pipe. "Now, Watson here says that you have a case for me to solve?"

Iggy looked confused before realizing what was being talked about.

"Oh, right. Um...when I was four, I lost a very important toy. Do you, by any chance, think you can find it?"

Lemmy stroked his chin.

"Hmm. I believe I can. Just give me an hour and that toy will be safe in your arms."

With that, Lemmy left the lab. Iggy cast a glance over at Ludwig.

"Watson?"

"I don't know," Ludwig muttered with a shake of the head. He reoriented himself so he was leaning against the lab table, directly in front of Iggy. "He's been acting like this ever since this morning. He started talking about things like a girl who went missing ten years ago."

Iggy looked consternated. He stared down at the table.

"This is worse than I thought." He got up and went over to his computer. "I don't see cases like this very often."

"What do you mean?" Ludwig asked with an eyebrow raised in curiosity.

"Well," Iggy said as he started to brush any dirt off of his arms. "I believe Lemmy could be doing this for one of two reasons. One, either he feels like his life is too boring and is going out of his way to seek adventure. Or two, he is trying to escape from an unpleasant reality."

Ludwig looked at Iggy. Unpleasant reality? Could that mean that Lemmy was upset about something? Actually, now that Ludwig thought about it, that last one made the most sense. He remembered the scene at the breakfast table that morning. Lemmy had been so distraught, so angry and upset. Yet, he hadn't been willing to talk about it. He had just brushed it off like a mosquito that landed on his arm.

"What unpleasant reality do you believe that could be?"

Iggy shook his head.

"I do not know. Lemmy usually has a healthy, positive attitude about life. If something has caused him distress, it could be hard for him to properly and efficiently deal with it. It could literally be anything that is causing him to do this."

Ludwig nodded. He looked down at the table.

"You're right. And since we aren't in Lemmy's head, there is no way for us to know."

"Exactly. The only way for us to know what is bothering him is for him to come right out and tell us. But, of course, that would require him to escape from his little fantasy bubble."

"Which he isn't willing to do," Ludwig said sullenly. With his eyes directed at the table, he started to draw circles on the surface with his finger. Iggy looked down at him doing so. "So, what do you propose we do?"

Iggy sighed.

"I am not sure. We could try to pry the truth out of him, but that we run the risk of causing him more distress."

Ludwig nodded. He started to think of any way that might help him solve this mystery. Wait a minute. Mystery!

"What if we play along?"

Iggy looked up at Ludwig with an interested look.

"What do you mean?"

"Lemmy obviously isn't going to tell us what happened. However, we might be able to find out what happened if we have some help from someone. Possibly a certain detective?"

Iggy looked up at the door. His eyes slowly started to fill with comprehension.

"Ohhh, I see what you're saying." Iggy smiled. "That might actually work!"

Just as he said that, the door burst open. Lemmy came back into the room, and in his hands was a dusty, moldy teddy bear.

"Another case has been cracked!" He approached Iggy and handed him the bear. "Is this your toy old chap?"

Iggy looked down at the toy in recognition and surprise.

"Oh my goodness! You actually found Mr. Newton!" He gave the toy a hug. Tears started to leak out of his eyes. "I can't thank you enough, Lemm...oh, I mean, Mr. Holmes!"

"Of course, dear chap. All in a day's work."

Ludwig beamed and gave Iggy a wink. Iggy winked back as Ludwig leaned down toward Lemmy.

"Okay, Mr. Holmes. I have another case for you to solve."

Lemmy looked interested.

"Oh really? What is that?" he asked. Ludwig took in a breath.

"I need your help finding out what happened to my brother, Lemmy Koopa."