Fifteen minutes later, Luigi was facing the exit to the plumbing academy. He already exchanged good-byes with his friends and promised to write. The professors were looking eager for him to leave, so he picked up his things and started out the door. He had just made it out of the thresh-hold when someone called for him.

"Pssstt! Luigi! To your right…no, dear, your other right, that's it "

It was Ali. He rushed over behind the wall where she was so no one could see them. "So. I guess you heard…." he started.

"I know, I know." She had tears in her eyes.

"Well I have your address, maybe someday I'll…"

"Oh Luigi, what are the chances of us seeing each other? Let's face it, they're pretty slim."

"Awe, come on, Ali." Can't you hear the sappy music? "Why not?"

She seemed nervous and distracted. "I…I can't tell you. Just...just go."

"Ali, we can-"

"No, Luigi, don't make this harder." She took a deep breath. "I just want you to know that I'll never forget you." She gave him a peck on the cheek, then ran off crying.

Luigi was speechless. How could so much crap happen to me in so little time? He thought. My life is going down the tubes. (No pun intended.) I thought I would be happy to get out of here, and when I finally do, I want to go back. He slowly turned and resumed his sad walk outside the school walls.

***
Luigi missed his bus, and he wasn't even out of sight of the school. He stayed outside the walls hoping to bum a ride. "What do people have against plumbers these days?" he mumbled to himself. He decided to walk a little farther from the school so he wouldn't look like what he really was: a kick-out. It was just getting dark when the lights of the exam field popped on. Luigi squinted in their glare as he tried to make out the Big Runner. It had been repaired, and was looking bigger and more fearsome than ever.

"If they won't give me another chance, I'll have to give myself one!" he said determinedly. He dropped his things on the ground, and found a hole under the fence. He crawled under it, and stood in the glory of his worst nightmare. He took a deep breath, set his watch, and quickly went to work. Three minutes later…

"Ha! There finished! In good time, too…." But even as he spoke, bolts, pipes, and faucets began popping off. He moaned and ran to lower the pressure before he caused another disaster.

[*sadly* I do cause disasters, don't I?]

Well, maybe, but--

[No, you're right. I'm always messing things up. I'm a wash out.]

Awe, come now. Cheer up. I'm sure things will look up later…

[Says you! You're the one who's telling everyone this. Why don't you just blow it out your-]

Whoa! Hold it there. This has to be edited for our readers!

But Luigi isn't listening. He crawls out on the other side of the fence. Picking up his bags, he gives one last look at the 'Big Runner', at the academy, at his future. He resumes walking down the dusty road, mumbling to himself.

"Who needs them. Who needs any of it. This is the President of NSP's fault. He probably shredded my apprentice diploma. Rooney Totten my butt. More like Tooney Rotten!" Luigi sat on the side of the ground, feeling very sorry for himself, struggling to read his map.

"I never could read these things real well," he frowned. He was trying to figure out which way was North, when a piece of paper fell from the sky and right onto his map. He tossed it away angrily, but then he noticed it was addressed to him. It merely had his name on it, and was written in scrawly print. He opened it with curiosity, then froze. It read:


Yo! Plumber boy,

We have your older brother in our possession, and he would very much like to see you. If you want to see him one last time as well, you should come to my castle. But there is a catch…

Bowser & Wario


Luigi looked up in fear. He had nearly forgotten about the Mushroom Kingdom what with all the excitement around NSP. How did they get Mario? Was it is an effort to save the Princess? She wasn't mentioned in the letter this time. "Maybe it's a given she's been kidnapped," Luigi said to himself. Whatever the cause, Luigi got up, straightened his cap, and marched on.

Before he could take seven steps, another letter flew from the sky and hit him in the head. He read it. "Going home will take weeks, imbecile!" As he spoke, a large green pipe rose from the ground. Impatient, are we? he thought cynically. He put his hands on the rim of the pipe, and cautiously looked in. Five seconds later, he was sucked into the pipe screaming, and the pipe disappeared as quickly as it came.



*Author's Notes*Wow! I updated so soon. And...wow! It's so freakin short! Ah well...you'll forgive me right? Thanks Jes for so dutifully reviewing and reading for....the 100th time. I have a trick up my sleeve to make it better...heh heh. ^_^ Guys, if the story sucks, I need reviews to make it better. Kapeesh? Good.