AN: Hey guys. I'm sure a lot of you are worried about the Corona virus going around. I will admit, I am as well. However, while I don't think I am in any position to lecture anyone about the virus, I do want to urge you all to not worry. At least, don't worry more than you have to. There are studies that show that worry actually weakens your immunity. Besides, this "Corona Craze" will pass. It's going to get better; I promise.

Chapter 17 Tentacle Belt

Lemmy felt his stomach flitter with excitement. Mario was going to help them; he was honestly going to help them! That meant that they could get Iggy back and get themselves back home! Lemmy personally could not wait until that happened; he was starting to miss the siblings that were still back in his universe.

After Mario had gotten his supplies, which consisted of two fire flowers and a tanooki leaf, the party started making their way back to Darkland. Mario was leading the way with gusto, appearing confident and strong. Lemmy really admired that about Mario in general, not just this version of him. It didn't seem to matter which version of Mario one encountered, his bravery and determination seemed to be universal. Or, in this case, "multiversal." Lemmy chuckled at that pun, and was just about to tell it to his siblings when the twins addressed Mario.

"Please don't hurt King Dad too much," said Hip. "We don't want…"

"...to get in trouble with him!" Hop completed the sentence.

Mario snickered.

"Oh, I think that you two have already dug a hole way too deep for yourselves already."

Hip and Hop's eyes started to water. They also started to tremble, and Lemmy felt sympathetic towards them. He hated being in trouble as well. Mario also seemed to be feeling sympathetic towards them, as he cast them a reassuring smile.

"Hey," he said. "It'll be alright. Look, if ole' King Koopa decides to hurt you guys, I'll make sure he gets his just desserts."

Hip and Hop smiled.

"Thank you, Mario," they said happily.

Mario smiled at the twins. Then he directed his attention toward Roy.

"So," he began. "What am I like in your universe?"

Roy hesitated.

"Uh….I don't know. Marioish?"

Mario narrowed his eyes at him.

"Marioish? What does that even mean?"

Roy shook his head and threw up his hands.

"I don't know! Look, I just travelled across dimensions! I don't have time to think about the positive qualities of my arch enemy"

Mario raised an eyebrow.

"Arch enemy?"

It looked like Roy and Mario were just about to get into an argument. Thankfully, Morton stepped in before that could happen.

"Alright, alright, alright," he said as he put his hands between Mario and his brother. "Look, can we just focus on the task ahead?"

Mario glared at Roy.

"Fine," he said. "Just as long as he behaves himself."

"Hey!" Roy said. "I'm not the one who asked the question!"

So, the rest of the journey was continued in silence. Despite the fact that Lemmy had already seen Darkland's scenery, he was not at all used to it. The deeper they got into the dreary realm, the creepier and more dreadful it became. What didn't help was the sight of Castle Koopa, which rested on top of a humongous, jaggedous mountain. The climb up it was tedious, even more so than the trek down it. When the party finally got to the front door of the castle, Mario let out a determined breath.

"Okay, Koopalings," he said. "Let's beat the lasagna out of King Koopa and get you guys home!"

Mario pushed the door, causing it to creak open. The hallways of the castle were just as dark and just as foreboding as Lemmy remembered them, but with Mario leading the pack, he actually felt a lot better. When they got to the throne room, Mario cleared his throat.

"King Koopa!"

Lemmy gawked at the sight. King Koopa was resting on his throne with his eyes closed, and Iggy was giving him a foot massage. When he heard the sound of his arch enemy, King Koopa sprung out of the chair, practically stomping Iggy's hand into mush in the process.

"Mario!" he yelled in surprise. "What are you doing here, plum scum?"

"I'm here to take you down!" Mario yelled. "And I've got the Koopalings to help me!"

It seemed that King Koopa finally noticed the presence of his captives. His jaw dropped in shock.

"What?! How did you guys get out of your cell?"

Lemmy cast a glance at Hip and Hop, who were cowering in fear behind Mario's back. Lemmy started to feel extremely bad for them.

"That doesn't matter," Mario shouted. "What matters is that you are going to release that prisoner of yours and send these alternate Koopalings back to their universe!"

King Koopa grinned a scaly grin.

"I have a much better idea. Iggy, get that project you were working on!"

"Yes, King Koopa," Iggy said with his stilted inflection. He walked to the other side of the throne and picked up a silver belt. As he strapped it on, Lemmy began to feel a worried. He had never seen that belt before; what exactly did it do?

Before he had time to finish the thought, he got his answer. Large, silver tentacles shot out of the side of the belt. The Koopalings and Mario gasped. Iggy now looked like a villain out of a comic book. King Koopa laughed evilly.

"You drain brains are going to be sleeping with the fishes!" he said with a threatening, joyous malice.