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Author's Note:

Sorry for the short chapters. Beginnings were never my strong suit nor are endings.

This one's longer than the last, 2000 words more or less. I hope you enjoy it.

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Disclaimer: I do not own anything but the story idea and any OC(s).

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Chapter 8:
Training Begins

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Darkness pervaded across the land. The sky was filled with dark thunder clouds and the strong winds. No light penetrates from the black clouds, except for the flashes of lightning that appears every so often. It was a few minutes passed six and the sun has started to rise over the land. It was hard to tell in the Dark Lands, since sunlight doesn't shine as often through those deep dark clouds.

Luigi woke up from his less-than-restful sleep to the sound of someone knocking on the door. He yawned and sat up achingly. He rubbed his tired eyes when a pillow suddenly hit him.

"Get the door," Wendy said, tired and annoyed by the knocking on her door.

Luigi moaned slightly and stood up from his bed on the floor. He stretched his tired muscles as he walked over to open the door. When he did, he saw Kamek standing before him, already dress for the day.

"Rise and shine, plumber; it's almost time for your training." greeted the Magikoopa. "His Majesty sent me to retrieve you, so get dress so we can get moving."

Luigi sighed. "Okay, I'll be out in a few minutes."

Kamek nodded and waited outside the room as the plumber got ready for the day. In about ten minutes or so, Luigi stepped out of the room, washed up and dressed in his usual plumber outfit. He closed the door behind him and followed the magikoopa through the castle's dark halls.

Throughout the walk, neither of them said a word as they headed toward where they needed to go. Within minutes, they reach their destination – the dining room. Luigi frowned and look over to the magikoopa.

"Can't start your first day of training on an empty stomach, can't you?" Kamek said without looking at him. "Don't want his Koopaness thinking you're weaker than you really are."

The magikoopa entered further, walking over to the seat on the dining room table that was prepared for him. "I suggest you hurry; his Impatientness doesn't like to wait."

Luigi swallowed and walked over to his seat on the table. He looked down at his plate – eggs, toast, and some juice. He took his fork and started eating. Once he was done, Kamek lead him to Bowser's private training grounds. The area was set up like an arena of some sort. Standing in the center was Bowser who was waiting impatiently for them.

"Finally, I was starting to think you went into hiding or something." He said.

Luigi stood in front of him and quickly grew nervous. He didn't know what kind of training the Koopa King had in stored for him, but he knew it was going to be hard and brutal.

"Ah man, we haven't even started and you're already shaking." Bowser complained.

It was true, he had started shaking, but he couldn't help it. He was always afraid when he went up against Bowser. Eventually, it does stop but that was when he had his brother by his side to ensure him that everything was going to be alright. Now, he had no one but himself to tell him that.

"Here,"

Luigi jumped at the sudden voice. He looked over to his side and saw Kamek offering him something. In his hand were black spiked wristbands, just like the ones Bowser and the Koopalings had on.

"Well? Don't just stand and stare, put them on." said Bowser annoyingly.

Luigi glance at him confused before taking the wristband from the magikoopa. He equipped them around his wrist and examined them. It felt strange to have these on.

"Call them a wedding gift," The Koopa King said. "You're a part of this Klan, so you have to wear those wristbands every day."

Luigi flinch when he said that and glance down at his new wristbands again. Every day he had to wear these – they were a constant reminder that he could never return home, not unless Bowser allowed him too. And the chance of that ever happening was one in a million.

A strong stomp on the ground broke Luigi out of his thoughts and caused him to fall back. He looked up to see Bowser towering over him, looking as intimidating as ever.

"Enough standing around," He said. "Your first day of training starts now!"

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Luigi walked slowly has he drag his tired and beaten body through the castle hall. His first day of training and Bowser did not go easy on him. It was long and gruesome, more so than he thought. He was only allowed two breaks, each of which was only fifteen minutes long. They didn't stop until dinner time came rolling along and by that time, Luigi was already a sore limp on the ground.

The Koopa King was the first one to leave, but not before informing him that he'll be doing this again the next day. After that, he spent another thirty minutes just lying there, silently crying to himself.

Once the pain in his body dulled a bit, he slowly got back up and started his way back to Wendy's room. It took a while but he finally made it. He let out a sigh of relief as he opened the door and entered, only to be greeted by his Koopa wife.

"Oh you're still alive? I could have sworn Bowser killed you by now."

Wendy was sitting on her bed with what looks like a magazine in her hands. Luigi grunted slightly and closed the door behind him.

"No, he just wants me to suffer first. Then he'll kills me,"

Wendy snorted and looked up from her magazine to face him. "Wow, you look like crap,"

He shrugged. "Yeah well, I feel like crap right now," he mumbled.

Luigi sluggishly walked over to his mat/bed and nearly fall into it. He sighed tiredly and started taking off his shoes.

"Hey, don't fall asleep yet," Wendy said. "Dinner's coming up and Bowser suspects you to be there."

"Ooh, do I have to?" Luigi whined; he was so tired and achy – all he wanted to do was go to sleep.

Wendy scowled at his childish behavior. "Don't you whine to me; if it was my choice, you'll be eating dinner in the dungeon for all I care. The last thing I want is to be seen with you, much less married to you. Unfortunately, you're part of the Klan now, and that means eating at the table with the rest of us."

Luigi sighed, defeated. "Alright fine,"

He stood up from the floor and walked over to the bathroom to wash up. Wendy snorted and return to her magazine. After twenty minutes of showering and redressing, the unusual couple made their way to the dining area.

"Well, well, if it isn't the newly-weds," Ludwig smirked.

The blue hair koopa was leaning against the wall casually when he spots the two approaching him. Wendy growled at his little tease and walked right pass him.

"Shut up, Ludwig."

Ludwig stood up from the wall and started following after her towards the dining room. "Aw what's the matter? Marriage life not turning out the way you wanted it."

Wendy turned and glared heatedly at the older koopa. "Can it, Ludwig, or I'll can it for you."

Ludwig raised his hands in a defense matter. "Okay, okay, gesh..." He turned to Luigi and smirked. "Seriously Luigi, you're just going to stand there and let your wife do all the talking?"

"That's it!"

Wendy jumped him which he dodged. Ludwig laughed as he ran across the halls with Wendy chasing after him. Luigi frowned and followed after them. By the time he got to the table, Kamek had already separated the two and were already in their seats.

Sitting next to Ludwig was a female yellow koopa Luigi has yet to meet. She was one of Bowser's species with similar feminine appearance to Wendy. She had tan, yellow skin complexion like the rest of them with her head also being this color. She was about a head taller than Wendy, with blond hair tied in a high pony tail. Her face was feline-shaped with hazel eyes, a flat nose and slightly curved red lips. She wore small silver bracelets around her wrists and a silver necklace around her neck.

Luigi sat in the same seat he sat in this morning which just so happens to be right next to Wendy's. Once everyone else arrived at the table, dinner started soon after.

Overall, dinner went relatively alright. Luigi ate in silence as he listened to everyone else talked about their day. During that time, he learned the koopa sitting next to Ludwig was actually his new wife, Kanary. He wasn't sure how long they had been married, but it had to be for some time.

The only annoying part about dinner was Bowser Junior. The young heir kept constantly throwing food at him. He asked him to stop but the young heir just kept on doing whatever he pleases. It wasn't until he missed and accidently hit Wendy that the youngest koopa finally stopped. The pink koopa's temper was something no one wanted to mess with. And since they got married, rarely anyone wanted to mess with her anymore much to his relief.

After dinner, everyone was free to do their own things and that included Luigi. The green plumber thought about going to bed, but then decided against it. Wendy was still awake and the last thing he wanted is to get into something with her. Plus this was the only free time he got to himself so he had to cherish every moment of it.

He thought about taking a walk around the castle. Of course, he had explored the castle before but those were times when he and his brother had to save the princess. He never really stopped to take in any details. But with the castle so dark and scary-looking, it was kind of hard to enjoy it.

Eventually he found a small, quiet balcony. It was the perfect place for him to hang around until it was time to turn in. He placed his hands on the balcony wall and look out into the opening. Everything was dark and gloomy and filled with lava, just like it always been in the Darklands.

He sighed and started thinking about home. What were the others doing now? Were they thinking about him like he was thinking about them? And Mario, how was he doing? Probably worrying himself sick over his wellbeing...He sure would be mad once he found out what Bowser made him do. He'll probably storm the castle himself, demanding that he'll be release regarding if it will lead to war.

Or not...

Luigi shook his head, clearing his mind of any doubt. Of course, Mario will save him...he always do. He will never leave him behind, they were brothers after all. Sure, he may have agreed to give him up but it wasn't his fault. Bowser tricked him. And once he got this whole thing figure out, he'll immediately come for him and get him out of there.

That thought bought him some reassurance. He just have to hold out long enough until his brother comes. Then he will return home where he belongs.

Unbeknownst to our green hero, a certain Magikoopa was watching him as he gaze into the open. Kamek stood behind the balcony door frame, silently watching the plumber in a thoughtful stare. Without alerting him, he left Luigi to himself as he disappeared down the darkness of the hall.

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