It took awhile for Luigi to flatten down the cap; using his foot to roll it up into the shape he wanted, he would begin picking the lock, praying it would work. Several hours within the night growing frustrated when the lock wouldn't open, the young man kept picking the lock, and if need be, Luigi would re-shape the homemade lockpick. He was determined to escape.
Luck was on his side when one of the cuffs unlocked. He grinned at his success - soon he repeated the cycle with him reshaping his lockpick, struggling to pick the lock, and loosen the cuff until he was free. Happy with the results, the plumber rubbed his sore wrists and ankles, relieved to have them free. This was short-lived - Luigi heard the dungeon doors open. Luigi quickly put the cuffs back on but was careful not to lock them. He hid his lockpick and leaned against the wall. A hammer bro arrived with Luigi's breakfast: a mug of oatmeal . . . at least, that's what he hoped it was.
"Well, someone's up," The guard laughed.
"And I see someone still has that black eyes from the other night," Luigi mocked. The guard glared at him and slid the mug of oatmeal through the bars.
Luigi pouted, "Oatmeal again? Can't you bring me something else for a change, like a breakfast frittata?"
"In case you've forgotten plumber," The hammer bro sneered, "You're in a dungeon, not a five-star hotel, you'll eat what's given to you!"
"I'm just saying it wouldn't kill you guys to change the menu a bit,"
The Koopa Troopa glared, "You better just be grateful Lord Bowser's feeding you at all," He said scornfully, "If he didn't have any use for you, I'd make sure you would starve."
"Really," Luigi said inquisitively, "Aside from using me as his punching bag, what does he need me for?"
The Koopa Troopa ignored him and stormed out of the dungeon. Luigi waited a minute before taking off the loose cuffs. He worked his way over to the cell door, stumbling a bit from not moving around for a while, but he kept going until he reached the door. Luigi grabbed ahold of the bars and used his homemade lockpick to pick the door's lock, praying it would open. The overhaul hero swore his fingers were blistering, threatening to bleed the more he worked the lock. He wanted to stop, but every second counted so he had to push through. Still, he had to say alert in case someone came to check in on him. As minutes passed, and the more he had to reshape the worn bottlecap, Luigi feared he may never be able to escape the dungeon.
Luck was on his side, however. The plumber's eyes widen in surprise when he heard a small click. His shock turned to joy when he pushed the door open; almost shed a few tears in the process.
Luigi grabbed the mug and emptied its contents so he could use it as a weapon. He glanced left and right wondering what his next move should be. That's when he remembered one of the guards talking about an emergency exit, leading outside of the castle.
"It might take longer for me to get out, but I'll have more cover to hide," He thought to himself, "With any luck, I'll find a warp pipe that leads to the castle." He moved slowly, careful not to alert anyone in case they were coming down into the dungeons.
Time passed as he stealthily slunk down the long narrow dungeon, careful not to make any noise. Luigi had to slow down a few times since his ankles were still sore from being in chains for three days, but he couldn't rest for too long. Every second counted, and he had to hustle before someone noticed him missing.
Luigi managed to reach the end of the room where the emergency exit stood – its sign glowing "Exit" in bright red light. Luigi couldn't help but smile. He could get out. He could go back home to his brother, his friends, and the rest of his family.
"This is it," Luigi thought happily, "I'm going home."
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YONK!
Luigi was pulled and thrown back by his overhauls. He stumbled backward but managed to catch himself. He felt the pain in his ankle flare up again and grabbed it. He looked up to see Kamek, of all people, staring down at him hatefully.
"Where do you think you're going young one?"
Luigi raised the mug and glared at the vile wizard, "HOME!" he roared, throwing the mug at his foe. Kamek managed to dodge the ceramic object, only for it to shatter on the ground, as Luigi's fist collided into his jaw. Luigi felt the electricity spark up in his hands as he went to attack again. Kamek moved aside, dodging his foe's moves and pulled out his wand.
"You're gonna wish you'd stay in that dungeon!" Kamek fired his spells at Luigi, who swiftly dodge it.
Luigi winced when the pain surged through his ankle again, but he had to walk it off for now. Kamek fired more spells at the green hero, who quickly recovered enough to dodge. Luigi managed to run around the demented wizard in a circle before coming upon the smashed remains of the mug. He picked up on of the bigger, jagged pieces, and pointed it at Kamek.
"Last chance Kamek! Move aside now!" he ordered.
"You know I can't do that Greenie," Kamek said and charged up his wand's power.
"Then I'll make you!" Luigi ran straight for his foe slashing at his enemy.
Kamek managed to raise the wand in defense, and swung his scepter at his attacker, knocking him to the ground. Luigi quickly got up, ignoring the pain, and continued to fight. He kept slashing at Kamek, trying to hurt him, dodging his foe's attacks, and repeating the action. Kamek did his best to keep his guard up and knock Luigi back with his spells. It felt like an endless cycle until Luigi managed to cut Kamek's face and hand with the shard.
The Koopa wizard dropped the staff and the green Mario brother kicked it away; he tackled Kamek and continued the assault. Luigi never felt so much adrenaline rushing through his body as he kept punching Kamek. Eventually, the Koopa wizard managed to kick the plumber off him. Luigi hit the ground hard, dropping the mug shard in the process as Kamek lunge at Luigi.
The two continued to wrestle, determined to defeat each other. Kamek grabbed ahold of the plumber's neck and strangled him. Luigi clawed at Kamek's hand and his face, digging his fingers into the wounds he inflicted with the mug shard. Kamek hissed, loosening his grip on the process giving Luigi time to push his attacker off of him and kick him right in the face. The hero charged up his thunderhand once again as he bounced back to his feet. Blue and green sparks crackled harmoniously within his palm; Luigi thrust his hand right into Kamek.
The wizard convulsed, trembled, and screeched feeling the electricity coursing through his veins. Luigi relinquished his grip, watching Kamek collapse to the ground. He took off for the exit, only to find himself stumbling, and a familiar pain searing in his ankle. The adrenaline rush Luigi felt earlier was vanishing; nothing was left to dull the pain, but the plumber wasn't going to submit to it. He kept pressing forward to the exit; desperate to go home.
"I'm almost there!" He thought to himself. He could see his brother's smiling face, and the joy in Daisy, Peach, and the rest of his friends' eyes, thankful that he was safe. The hero's hand reached for the knob – a sense of joy and relief flooded through him. He was going home!
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BLAST!
Luigi felt a powerful blast striking him in the back. He felt the wind knocked out of him. He fell to the ground in agony: all the soreness he felt before, tripled in that instant. The superstar thought he was screaming, but heard no words escaping his lips.
"No," Luigi's eyes began to water as he hit the floor, "I-I was so close."
He felt himself beginning to blackout as he heard a familiar cackle. Kamek had managed to stay conscious and retrieve his wand in time before the prisoner could escape and now was at his mercy. He slowly made his way towards the green plumber, with a sadistic smirk on his face.
"I told you," He sneered, "I'd make you wish you'd stayed in that prison."
Luigi couldn't hear him: he felt himself losing consciousness, with his last thoughts being drifted towards his family and friends.
"I'm sorry…"