Luigi approached the menacing castle that loomed ahead of him. It lied amidst a barren lava plain and unmistakably belonged to Bowser. Luigi didn't particularly want to encounter Bowser, but he needed to in order to prove Mario's innocence.
Luigi and Mario had a strained history, especially since Luigi had always lived in Mario's shadow. No matter how hard Luigi tried to be appreciated, Mario always found a way to 1-up him (get it?). When Luigi had a mansion, Mario had a castle. When Luigi found a princess of his own in Daisy, Mario was hooking up with the far more popular and attractive Peach. Through all the lengths Luigi went to match his brother, he was always left in the dust.
As a result, Luigi always resented that he couldn't be as good as his brother seemed to be, and the two grew cold with one another. Even as Mario seemed to encounter turmoil of his own, Luigi didn't care. All he saw was an entitled child who threw a fit when he didn't get what he wanted, and Luigi further distanced himself from his now estranged brother.
Nevertheless, when he heard the king and Toadsworth accuse Mario of being behind the chaos that had befallen the kingdom, Luigi couldn't help but become defensive of his brother. He certainly wasn't fond of his brother and his egotistical tendencies, but a villain and a monster? Mario was many things, but he would always do the right thing, no matter what. Luigi needed to remind everyone what was really going on.
Luigi entered Bowser's castle with little resistance. In fact, it was a little peculiar how still the environment was. Luigi shuddered a bit upon moving through the castle gate. Sure, he had accompanied his big brother many times in order to save the princess, but what Bowser meant to Mario and what he meant to Luigi was vastly different.
The various weak troops such as Goombas and Koopas were caught off-guard by the plumber's presence and didn't even attempt to fight back, instead fleeing for their lives. Luigi was a bit perplexed, but figured the troops were only ordered to defend when Mario was on the attack. Luigi sighed and entered the throne room with a hardened face, readying himself to face Bowser.
As Luigi entered, he noticed Bowser sitting upon his throne, towering high atop the immense steps. Luigi braced himself for what Bowser was going to say to him.
"Ah, I was wondering why my troops were so panicked. Why did you come here, anyways?" said Bowser in a flippant and somewhat condescending tone.
"As if you don't already know. Now, where's the princess, and I'm not going to ask you again!" Luigi said spitefully, trying his best to hide his complicated feelings towards the koopa.
"I already told your stupid king I don't have her! What more proof do you need?" Bowser retorted, quite annoyed.
"Hmph, If you're going to keep playing dumb, I'll just search the castle myself. Its not like I don't know the place well enough." Luigi said, heading off to search the roomy castle.
As Luigi searched hall to hall and room to room, Luigi found each place more devoid of the princess than the next. Meanwhile, Bowser followed behind him by a short distance, analyzing his behaviour and making sure he didn't ruin his beloved castle.
"Why are you so obsessed with this idea that I captured Peach anyways? I really have nothing to hide, if I'm one thing, at least you can say that I've always been honest." said Bowser, still trailing the green-clad plumber. Luigi did have to admit Bowser, even at his most rotten, was always honest. Nevertheless, Luigi continued his search.
"Because I know exactly why you started capturing Peach, and you won't stop unless I stop running back to you so foolishly." Luigi sighed.
"Are you really still this jealous? Its been years man, get over it!" Bowser said, sensing Luigi's contempt.
"The only reason you kidnap that pink bimbo in the first place is because you know it makes me jealous. Can you really blame me for feeling this way?" snapped Luigi. He seemed more hurt than usual.
"You know, I don't capture Peach just to make you jealous, not everything has to be about you." Bowser said, a bit more reserved than before, but far more bitter. Luigi simply looked back at the menacing koopa.
"Junior needs a good mother, Luigi. He needs someone who will be there for him, someone who is loyal. He also needs someone who won't walk out on him just because they can't get over their inferiority complex." Bowser said. Luigi didn't respond, but he understood what Bowser meant. Luigi simply turned his head back quietly.
Luigi's solemn mood continued as he entered the last unexplored room. It was Bowser's bedroom, and inside it was completely empty. Bowser wasn't lying, the princess wasn't there. Luigi felt a sadness flow through him. Was Luigi really wrong? Had Mario truly captured the princess?
Luigi made his way through the bedroom. Although he knew it was empty, he was compelled towards a sight he hadn't seen in a long time. He looked over the balcony that was connected to Bowser's room. On full display was Bowser's private garden, and Luigi suddenly remembered the first time he laid eyes upon such a beautiful view.
Back then he was scared, fearful of the koopa lord. Yet, seeing the gorgeous array of flowers and plant life hidden within such an inhospitable land changed Luigi's view of someone he thought was pure evil. It was the beginning of a beautiful relationship, but one that was doomed to fail by Luigi's own hands. Luigi pined once more for the past, when him and Bowser were carefree and happy. He wondered their relationship could've been save, or if fate had doomed them from the start.
Luigi looked back at Bowser with a sad expression. Knowing that Bowser was innocent, Luigi feared for the worst. He could feel that the future was dim, and he didn't want to face it.
"If Peach isn't here, than I fear Mario may have really kidnapped the princess. For what reason, I do not know, but we need to find out why." Luigi said, looking back at Bowser who was still there.
"Gwahaha, now we're talking! I've been meaning to settle some beef with that portly plumber for a while now! Let's go show him a thing or two!" said Bowser, now all fired up at the prospect of a good brawl, but Luigi was not so enthused.
"I... don't know if I can do this Bowz. I know its for the best to get to the bottom of this, but Mario's my brother, I don't want him to get hurt." Luigi sighed, not moving from his place on the balcony.
"Hmph, typical. You always complain about how much you hate Mario, yet you can't quit him. Every time you have the chance to move on, you simply refuse to do so. Perhaps someday you'll grow past it but for now..." Bowser said before trailing off. Luigi remained still, contemplating Bowser's words.
As Bowser left to pursue Mario, he turned around one more time.
"You know, those overalls always did do a good job of hiding that fantastic figure of yours." joked Bowser, trying to lighten the mood. However, Luigi was not impressed.
The room was nearly pitch black. The only thing that gave off the most remote hints of lighting were the flashing buttons connected to the twisted machinery enveloping the entire chamber. The princess could not get a good look at what the machines were or what they were for, as she was being restrained in a small cylindrical chamber. Only her head was exposed as she attempted to move even an inch from her holdings to no avail.
Worse still was the suffering Peach was forced to endure. She was constantly being poked with needles and being roughly handled by all sorts of strange and foreign equipment. Each diagnostic test inflicting more pain upon her than the last. If not for the faint lights of the machinery, she would've experienced sever sensory deprivation as her world was transformed into a cold, black abyss.
As she begged for her life, an image of her saviour flashed in her mind. Unlike before, it was no red-clad plumber saving her from some meagre turtle, this saviour was different. He was dark and brooding, his shirtless body revealing a strong and sculpted body. Further drawing the image in her mind she moved towards his face. His long, luscious silver hair obscured what can only be described as the face of a god, with fiery red eyes that pierced her soul and a jawline that could cut through boulders. For the first time in her life, she felt herself longing for Melanchario the Fallen Angel.
Peach had lost track of time from being in her personal torture chamber. She couldn't tell if it had been hours, days, or even weeks, at this point it all felt the same. But her pleas seemed to have been heard as she noticed sounds different from the usual screeches and hums of the computers, as footsteps could be heard approaching her location. Peach could only hope that she'd be freed from this hell.
The door to the lab she was held in swung open, bringing in a flood of light into the room. To any average person the light was weak and dim, but to Peach it burned her sensitive eyes. Like a burning, holy light her eyes were filled with salvation. As she adjusted to the light she made out the rough figure of her saviour from this living hell, and it was Melanchario the Fallen Angel himself. Although she still couldn't move, she was simply grateful to be able to properly see once more.
"Melanchario!" was all Peach could muster as she laid eyes upon her new dark god. Melanchario the Fallen Angel shot her an intimidating glance, sending her a message that such an address was not good enough for him.
"I-I mean, Master, you've come back." Peach said more timid and nervous than before. Previously she would not hesitate to talk back to Melanchario the Fallen Angel, but now she was desperate for any sort of human connection.
Melanchario the Fallen Angel simply smiled at how fast Peach was falling into line. She still needed to learn how to properly address her master, but at least she recognized his true name without hesitation anymore, and was more than willing to change herself to please him.
"Things are moving along as planned, I see." Melanchario the Fallen Angel said with a devilish smile as caressed his hand along Peach's cheek before holding her chin up, as if he was inspecting the poor specimen.
Taking note of her condition he smiled before several of the machines that had inflicted so much pain upon the enslaved girl came whirring towards Melanchario the Fallen Angel with a plethora of seemingly vital information.
Melanchario the Fallen Angel inspected the long lines of complicated data before delicately grabbing a vial full of red liquid. Peach could only assume that the vial was filled with her own blood as Melanchario the Fallen Angel poured a few drops of her crimson life force directly into his mouth.
"Delicious..." Melanchario the Fallen Angel muttered to himself, licking his dastardly lips so that the piercings on both his tongue and lips made contact with each other.
"Please, Master, let me out of here. I'll be a good little girl from now on... just as long as you never put me in here again!" Peach begged as if her life depended on it.
Melanchario the Fallen Angel simply smiled, taking pleasure watching her attempts to struggle in the tightly locked cage and listening to the desperation in her voice.
"You're making good progress, darling, but there is still work to be done before you fully submit to me." Melanchario the Fallen Angel said and without a word more he left Peach to once again suffer all by herself.
Melanchario the Fallen Angel returned to his above ground laboratory to the sweet sounds of Peach's desperate screaming. However, soon enough the screams faded and Melanchario the Fallen Angel resumed his carefully laid master plan.
His laboratory was laden with all sorts of high-tech gadgetry unmatched throughout the kingdom, not even by that old fool professor E. Gadd. Upon his table laid various power-ups, from super mushrooms to fire flowers and even tanooki suits and cape feathers. Displayed upon several monitors that hovered above the table read the complex genetic code comprising each of the power ups laid out on the table. Now all he needed was the blood he extracted from his subject.
Pulling out the vial of blood he poured it into an empty syringe and was prepared to begin his grand experiment. But just before his plans could go underway, a loud banging came at the door to the laboratory. This caused Melanchario the Fallen Angel to nearly fumble the syringe, spilling it on the floor. However, Melanchario the Fallen Angel's ninja like reflexes saved the syringe at the last moment. Melanchario the Fallen Angel angrily opened the door only to be met with the two bumbling idiots he hired to keep watch over the castle town.
"Why should I even be surprised..." Melanchario the Fallen Angel sighed looking down at the fat yellow man and his tall purple companion.
"Wahh, mister Melanchario, we've come to give you your daily report about the castle, sir!" Wario said in his usual obnoxious tone.
"Ugh, don't you know I'm busy you morons! You could've completely ruined my master plans with your idiocy!" Melanchario the Fallen Angel righteously fumed at the duo.
"Gee, sorry boss, we were just doing what you ordered." Waluigi chimed in somewhat nervously.
Melanchario the Fallen Angel had to give them that, he did order them to report to him directly. It was a great idea on his part too. He simply sighed and let them continue their report.
"You see, one of those stupid Toad thingies found out about your kidnapping!" Wario began.
"But we got him real good before the word could get out to the king. Wahh, just like that!" Waluigi continued, flailing his arms about to simulate the stabbing of a knife.
"It seems like you've done a good job keeping the town quiet about me. How about the king, what's his condition?" Melanchario the Fallen Angel further pressed.
"Looks like the old man could croak at any second. He's already talking to that old mushroom about succession." Wario said crassly
Melanchario the Fallen Angel paused to take in the information.
"Hmmm, I see. Continue to monitor his situation, I can't have him die this early. We need to wait for the right moment before we can strike." Melanchario the Fallen Angel pondered, largely going over the heads of the bumbling duo.
As Melanchario the Fallen Angel spoke, Waluigi's interest was piqued by the array of power ups behind him. Just as he was about to touch one of them, Melanchario the Fallen Angel interrupted Waluigi's curiosity by giving him a firm slap on the wrist.
"Hm? Are you interested in all of this? I'm honestly shocked someone of your... intelligence would care at all for the sciences." Melanchario the Fallen Angel said grabbing a basic super mushroom "Do you know what this is?"
"Yeah, its just a stupid mushroom." Wario said bluntly.
"Its far more important than that, although I wouldn't expect a plebeian like you to understand. A power up, such as this, by nature has the ability to change and modify the properties of the user upon simple consumption. Such a powerful ability... to change and distort the user in whatever way you see fit, imagine the possibilities! If the basic properties of a power up can be manipulated to induce whatever modifications you wish, the simple baseline for all reality is at your fingertips!" Melanchario the Fallen Angel monologued, staring passionately at the mushroom before him.
Melanchario the Fallen Angel turned back at the two, clearly disinterested in whatever he was saying. Melanchario the Fallen Angel simply sighed and commanded his two minions once more.
"Predictable... go back to the castle and continue to monitor the king's condition for me at the very least. Check back with me in 3 days." Melanchario the Fallen Angel snapped his commanding order to the two of them as they scurried out of the room, intimidated by the muscular Adonis who loomed over them.
With the two pests gone, Melanchario the Fallen Angel returned to his work as he retrieved the syringe that he laid on the table. Slowly he began to inject Peach's blood into the super mushroom, watching carefully for any mutations that the blood would incur upon the mushroom. Soon the readings monitoring the genetic code of the mushroom began to fluctuate wildly, and the shape of the mushroom warped and twisted. Melanchario the Fallen Angel took sadistic pleasure as he watched his master plan slowly warp into fruition, laughing a maniacal cackle.
But just as things were beginning to come together for the dark god, another disruption befell his front door this time.
"Again?! This time those fools will pay with their lives..." Melanchario the Fallen Angel raged at such insolence.
He stormed towards the door, grabbing his eloquent katana blade with murderous intent on the way. However, upon opening the door, he was met not with the idiotic stare of two fools, but a far more menacing glare.
It was his age old rival, the massive koopa that had proved to be a thorn in his side for far longer than Melanchario the Fallen Angel could tolerate. Upon seeing such a menace before him, Melanchario the Fallen Angel simply smiled, drawing the blade in front of him.
"Finally took you long enough to come here, huh? Well then, let's party." Melanchario the Fallen Angel said with a bitter chuckle.
To Be Continued...
