Note: Yay enter Luigi!

Chapter 13

Luigi's New Quest

"… This is just horrid! Dreadful! A whole day of seeking and still no sign of the Princess, Toad or Mario! What are we going to do? Without Mario, we're sure to never claim the Princess back!"

The Chancellor, a mustached Mushroom who was the official secretary of the Mushroom Kingdom, started to pace nervously before Luigi and the remaining retainers. Luigi and many of the fungi servants spent yesterday searching for the trio, but it was fruitless. The young plumber wondered why his brother did not appear at the castle like he said he would. If he did, Toad and Peach would have been safe. Mario always had a habit of being late, but not even Mario would keep a Princess waiting, especially one they have known for a long time.

"Chancellor, I'm sure I can find the Princess," offered Luigi. "Mario is not the only hero you know."

Luigi was used to being shadowed by his older brother, which he didn't mind, but there were times he wondered if anyone knew he existed. The Chancellor stopped moving, his hands still behind his back. He sighed deeply, he was filled with doubt, but decided to give Luigi a chance.

"Oh, all right," he said reluctantly, his voice not very hopeful, "Luigi it's up to you to find the Princess. You battled Bowser countless times," – Not as much as Mario, Luigi thought – "and I'm sure you'll bring her back safely."

Luigi bowed and pivoted toward the door. He barely placed his foot on the first step when he chief secretary called to him.

"Luigi!"

The voice startled him and he lost his balance, tumbling down the first set of stairs. The Chancellor ignored the reaction and handed him a parchment.

"This may not be much, but take it anyway. It's a map of the Mushroom Kingdom, Mario used this before."

Once glance at the smooth, unruffled paper made Luigi doubt that Mario ever opened it, but he pocketed the map and started another flight of stairs, this time he was careful in case the Chancellor decided to give him more last minute items.

Outside the castle he sighed deeply. He only went on a few adventures without his sibling, the most recent one was saving his gullible brother from King Boo. This time he had more than Mario to worry about. As he walked through the Mushroom Kingdom he noticed the festival was still going on.

No one outside the castle wall knows about this, he thought.

Luigi passed the old faded "Welcome" sign that was carved into the shape of a mushroom and spotted two people near the edge of town. One of them was armed.

"Yo, suspicious character, what brings you here?"

"M-my name is Geno. I came to get help from Her Royal Highness."

The Mushroom lowered his bazooka, but not by much, and stared at the weird newcomer. The stranger wore a cobalt blue cape, and his wavy red, which looked like yarn, was barely concealed under his hat. Luigi ran up to them and asked what was going on. The Mushroom pointed to Geno with his weapon.

"This fellow says he needs help from the Princess, but I don't believe him."

"I didn't mean to intrude," the strange character said, "but there is trouble and I need to ask Mario and the Princess for help. They'll recognize me, I'm sure of it."

"You know my brother?" asked the plumber, and Geno nodded.

"We saved the world together," he replied simply, and gave no further details. Luigi gestured to the guard, who still kept a tight grip on his bazooka, to be alone. Unwillingly, he left, with intense glances over his shoulder.

"He's gone," stated Luigi, crossing his arms. "Explain, please."

"You heard of the Star Road, right?" asked Geno, and Luigi nodded. Relieved of having to explain the system of the Star Road, Geno went straight to the point. He finished in less than a minute, and Luigi absorbed the information slowly, his eyes gazing at the ground.

"So you're saying someone, or something, is draining the power of the Star Road? But that means wishes will be impossible to grant!"

"Yes," said Geno, "that is why I seek the aid of Mario and Toadstool immediately."

"Geno, I'm sorry to say," Luigi said grimly, "that we have our own problems, too. The Princess has been kidnapped and Mario is missing. I'm here to find them."

"We have quite a dilemma," said Geno. "We both have equally horrible problems, but the question is: which one should we be after first?"

"I don't know," Luigi admitted. "If we go after Bowser, we might lose too much precious time to prevent the Star Road of being completely drained of its power, but without extra help we'll never defeat the parasite."

"Well, standing here is also a waste of time," said Geno firmly. "Come on, I know someone that can help us."

The wooden doll turned, leaving the Mushroom Kingdom he intended to visit behind. Luigi, stunned, followed him.

"Where are we going?" the plumber asked, his hand reaching for the map. Without glancing back, Geno answered, "Just trust me."

Slightly confused, Luigi wondered if he could trust him, but since the stranger said he knew Mario and Peach, he decided to give him a chance. And he hoped it wasn't a mistake.