The Doctor

Chapter III

If there was one thing Koopa was good for, it was his cooking. Apparently whenever King Bowser ordered invasions of the Mushroom Kingdom, the Koopas would often feed themselves by capturing and killing Toad. Over time they became excellent cooks.

"As usual a fine meal," Dr. Mario told him. "Nicely done."

"Thank you, Master Mario," Koopa replied. He was glad to have done a good job. Praise from the Doctor was always a good thing.

Dr. Mario finished and then looked around his lab to see if any projects needed to be finished. Suddenly a loud siren went off inside the lab and a large view-screen rolled down from the ceiling and showed what looked like Luigi. Could it be? Dr. Mario had designed a security system specifically made to go against the Mario Bros. Basically, whenever Mario and/or Luigi entered the area within a mile radius, the Doctor was immediately notified. Extremely interested, he watched as Luigi stop and talk to some Mushroom people. . . .

---

They hovered around Luigi like what the Mushrooms usually did for Mario. Apparently this group at least recognized his victories. It's about damn time, Luigi thought.

"What brings you out here, Luigi?" one Toad asked.

"I'm here to investigate the cave, the one where some people have disappeared," Luigi told them in that Luigi-voice of his.

All of them gasped when they heard a mention of that cave. "Luigi, we suggest you inform the Great Mario to help you if you're going down there!"

That was definitely the wrong thing to say to Luigi. He clenched his fists and shouted, "I'm not the one that needs his fucking help!"

They all looked at him surprised, and Luigi decided that if he was going to save these people and get all the credit he would need to seem more calm.

"Sorry, it's just I tried to get Mario to help. . . but he said he didn't care about what was going on here," Luigi told them.

"He did?" several asked.

"Of course he did… hey, how about I go check out this cave. I can handle this myself. Rest assured, Luigi's to the rescue!"

They all smiled and Luigi went on his way. Yes, he thought. I will be the hero!

When he got a far enough distance, he laughed that Luigi laugh of his. The people behind him still heard it.

---

Now Dr. Mario sat in a large chair facing the large screen. He had just popped a couple pills and was feeling in good spirits.

"Interesting," he said aloud. "Luigi believes he can come here and face me alone?"

He had seen Luigi's reaction upon Mario's mentioning and knew it quite well. The Doctor already knew that Luigi envied his brother Mario. That would be the key to his Plan.

"This is turning out better then I expected," the Doctor told Koopa. "This will require a lot less work then I had previously calculated!"

And then he laughed, that loud Mario-like laugh that was evil.

---

As Luigi walked off the path he heard a strange laugh. One that sounded like his hated enemy Mario but not quite. Mario's laugh was always noticeable and heard, but this one stood out even more.Had his brother Mario somehow find out about his plans and had beaten him to the cave? Was that laugh there to mock him? Clenching his fists once again he ran towards the cave. Enough was enough! Fuck Mario's ideals! He was going to KILL his brother NOW.

---

"The time grows near, Koopa," Dr. Mario said standing up. He popped two medium-sized pills. These would help with his reaction time. "I will meet our guest. Begin preparations."

"Immediately," Koopa replied and went to work.

A large grin appeared on the Doctor's face as he opened the wooden door and stepped into the brick hallway. There was easily enough space here to provide a battleground without him having to go outside.

---

It didn't take long for Luigi to find the cave. Not only was it large, but it was extremely out of place. From the looks of it, the cave looks like it might possibly lead underground. He would soon find out. The inside was dark, but Luigi was used to the dark. He walked along and soon enough found a wooden trapdoor. He lifted it and looked inside: a brick hallway. Clearly there was something here.

By now Luigi was extremely alert, and when he jumped in he was already in a battle position. The hallway was actually lit up by electric lights, something Luigi hadn't expected. That, however, wasn't the important thing. The important thing was the guy in the white lab coat that looked like Mario! He ran up to him and stopped about ten feet in front of him.

"What the hell are you doing here Mario?" Luigi demanded, and then added: "And what the hell are you wearing?"

Dr. Mario laughed. That was the laugh Luigi had heard just minutes before, and it sounded like Mario's but wasn't Mario's. He was now feeling confused. What was going on?

"You just don't understand, Luigi," the Doctor told him. "I am not the Mario you know. I'm the REAL Mario."

Luigi's eyebrows rose. "What the hell are you talking about?"

Another laugh. "Of course you don't remember Luigi. How could you? I made sure you would forget! Look at things this way, Luigi. We both want to see an end to the one you hate so much."

"Is this some kind of joke?" Luigi asked. He definitely wasn't laughing if it was.

"A joke? Ha! Ha! Ha! This is more real then you think!"

Without warning Dr. Mario charged at Luigi and landed a sucker punch to the face. Luigi was knocked to the ground backwards but was back on his feet in no time. So it was a fight he wanted eh? He would give it to him! Green flame formed in his hand and he launched a green fireball aimed directly at the Doctor's face. However, the completely unexpected happened. In Dr. Mario's hand appeared a pill about the size of one's hand and he threw it at the fireball. It somehow cancelled it out!

"What!" Luigi exclaimed surprised.

Dr. Mario laughed and another pill formed and he threw it. The pill bounced on the ground and then headed right for him. Luigi was confused, and the pill bounced up right in his face. It actually formed some kind of explosion and it actually hurt! Mario had never known how to do that!

"You are a part of the Plan, Luigi," the Doctor informed him. "Why not give up?"

"I don't know what you're talking about, but you have Mario's face! And that's one face I want to mutilate!" Luigi shouted at him and then charged. He promised he was going to kill Mario, and what a perfect opportunity to do it now!