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Chapter Fifty-Two

Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Mario or its franchise; it belongs to

Nintendo and their affiliates. I just am really grateful to its creators for giving

me such a wonderful game and media series to write about!

I also don't own anything related to Harry Potter, all that belongs to J.K. Rowling,

but thanks go to her as well because, using her wonderful work, I can expand this

story to make it more interesting.

I also don't own anything related to Naruto if you see me throw a little of that in, too

By the time we got out of the desert fifteen people had passed out—and recovered—seven asthma attacks occurred between three soldiers, Portia and Lise-Marie and even the usually tranquil Deanna had perfected the most passive-aggressive ways of calling Daisy a bitch and a single fight broke out. I thought that desert would be the end of us. That fight was nothing compared to the ones I dissolved before they could turn into anything and, between playing peacemaker and trying to keep everybody's spirits up, I was exhausted. I had to hold everyone together and pretend that we weren't inching closer to death by dehydration and starvation as the hours wore on. Daisy wasn't much help in terms of morale but she was happy to share what she had with everyone else, so much so that I worried about her; I think she stopped eating completely yesterday night til now. She was handling this better than the troops but that was just not okay. I mean it was fine that I was doing it since the day before yesterday but that's because I'm Commander and it's my job to make sure these guys make it but Daisy shouldn't be doing things like that.

Well it doesn't matter now because we made it, I thought in weary relief.

It was in sight, the gates to the city. Arid City was less than a mile away and it was acting like a meal and a gallon of water for the troops because they were pulling themselves together and perking up little by little. Except for two of them. Because they were still unconscious.

So long as we all get there, I thought in lieu of my fiancée. No one could match her tenacity.

I was very surprised and proud of my soldiers when they didn't all collapse at the foot of the city gates. They did like me and pulled up short and climbed down with a fragment of dignity, then assembled themselves behind me and Daisy. While she walked ahead of me, I turned to them and felt another swell of pride at them. They'd been through some ugly stuff in the desert but here they stood, awaiting orders patiently.

"Congratulations," I told them with a small smile. "You guys are tough, you made it. The worst is over."

No one said anything but there were faint smiles and expressions of relief among them. I saw their tired faces and the effort it was taking to just stand there and exist and I felt guilty.

I know they're fine and they can handle this but that doesn't mean they should have to go through it, I thought, then abstractly told myself, ah, stop being so softhearted and weak. This isn't even the part where it gets nasty: just wait til we catch up with the big reptile himself.

"Luigi," Daisy called, waving me over.

I headed towards her with the troops dragging behind and together we got to the middle of the gates where there were guards. They were on the outside and just beyond the gates was another group of men, these wearing uniforms with red sashes and hanging around some kind of old warehouse building. One of them had red eyes. Weird.

I stood next to Daisy and the guards addressed us first, demanding we state our business or leave.

Daisy told them, "I'm princess and ruler of Sarasaland and I'm here with the Commander and his troops to pursue a global criminal. Do we have your permission to enter and remain in the city until we can apprehend him?"

I looked down at the girl and was impressed with her diplomacy, considering we were both still tired and hungry and caked in sand and sweat. She held herself tall and with all the regal authority her station required. The guards saw this and exchanged a glance with each other.

One of them asked, "Who is it? This criminal."

"The Dark King." Daisy responded and I know she had many other, less respectful names for him.

The guards moved closer together and spoke in low, anxious tones. They glanced at us and at the troops and at Daisy's cold, unchanging expression and waved over at the men near the warehouse.

One of the guards cried, "Send for the King!"

It was the one with the red eyes that pushed himself off the wall and rolled his tongue in his cheek, smirking as he bowed his head in answer and headed further into the city.

We had to wait and while we did, the guards continued to speak amongst each other. They clearly knew who Bowser was because they were looking all nervous and slowly losing their tan. It probably didn't help their nerves when a bright pink ray of light appeared in the air near them and then stretched to form an oblong hole in time in space; it was a portal and the second eldest of Koopa's children stepped through it.

So he is king, I confirmed.

Roy stepped through and rubbed his face. He looked pretty much the same, except he had an even tan and his hair was much longer. It came down to his chin and was shaggy and bright pink; so he wasn't disguising himself anymore? He had the right idea in wearing as little clothes as possible, just white basketball shorts that probably came from his brother and a white t-shirt with the sleeves cut off. He saw me and Daisy and blinked in surprise, then frowned.

"Why's everybody just poppin' up out the blue?" He asked.

I said, "Hey. We came because we need your help."

"How?" He scratched his chin.

Daisy told him, "We're looking for your father."

"He ain't here."

Those were not the words we wanted to hear but apparently those words comforted the gate guards. I saw them relax in the corner of my eye.

"Where is he." Daisy asked and due to the fact that her voice was so tight it was toneless, that didn't really sound like a question.

Roy shrugged and said, "He didn't tell me where he was going but he ought to be back in a few days. That's what he said."

"How long has he been here?" Daisy pressed.

"Not that long," Roy replied.

"In that time," Daisy then asked, "did he say anything strange to you?"

Roy drew his mauve brow together and asked, "Like what, yo?"

"Like…anything about taking over this country?" She expounded. "That may be why he's here."

Roy rubbed his head and said, "Yeah, that's what I thought, too. But he ain't about that."

"How do you know?" Daisy asked him sharply.

"Cause I been talking to him and stuff." Roy muttered.

Daisy glanced at me, both concerned and angry.

"What did he say?" I tried, hoping the boy would shed some light on what was going on between the two of them.

Roy shrugged in a careless way and said, "Nothing much."

Daisy warned him carefully, "You should steer clear of him, Roy. He's no good."

Roy nodded but I'd been around this boy long enough to know that he wasn't taking anything to heart. Whatever Bowser told him was really fixed in his mind and he was talking to us all evasively, what with the short, ambiguous answers. He was talking to us like how teenagers back home talk to their parents; oh he was answering our questions and he may have been being honest, but there was a lot he wasn't telling us. I worried for this boy and I just realized how worn out he looked. It was in his expression, so tired and drawn, and in the way he kept blinking long and hard. Before I could ask if he'd been sleeping alright or if there was something on his mind, he spoke again.

"If y'all wanna' stay in the city, you can go wherever you want." His voice was quiet and only emphasized my earlier observation.

He formed a portal behind him and started walking backwards through it, saying, "I wouldn't stay too long, though. It's pretty dangerous round here."

He left and I looked over at Daisy. She seemed to be thinking the same thing I was. Something was amiss here.

"Uh, excuse me?"

We both looked over at the guards from the gates. One of them was heading back to his post while the other stood in front of us with his hands clasped and a hospitable smile on his face. Oh, he was in a much better mood now that he'd heard the Dark King wasn't around. I couldn't fault him, though.

He said, "If you and your party are willing, I'll be happy to escort you to amenable lodgings for the evening."

"Yeah, cool." I played it off like that wasn't the best news I'd heard all week.

He then looked at the horses and gestured towards the uniformed men by the warehouse and said, "They'll take care of your steeds."

Please do, I thought, because they're the only ones we've got left.

"Any friend of the Champion is welcome here!" The guard proclaimed as he led the way. He said, "Arid City does boast the most accommodating inns in all the Kingdom."

I wasn't listening after that. I walked behind Daisy, because she was walking so much faster and I didn't have that kind of energy, and tried not to fall out before we made it to our destination. And the guard was right, it was very nice. I could see a tall building probably painted within the last couple of months with multiple floors and decorative lantern lights hanging on all the balconies. The ground floor had wooden doors with slats in them to let in the light and air and the whole building was made like that, airy and open.

In this heat, it's a must.

There was a thin black iron gate that went around the entire building and out back I could see a pool and lounge area. It was really nice. But the only thing I was interested in was a bed.

We got inside and we got some stares—not a surprise since we were sweaty, sandy, grungy and there were at least two people still passed out—and then we had to go up some stairs to get to our rooms. Were they trying to kill us?

It was worth the trip because each room was like a presidential suite. Very clean, very spacious, very free. There was plumbing here, a luxury in the Mushroom World, and there were signs on the bathroom doors informing us that Arid City was facing one of the worst summers in history and asking us to please conserve the water.

"Conserve my ass," I heard Portia say as she and Lise-Marie shut themselves away.

There were enough rooms for everyone to have their own but, like those two, Daisy and I boarded together and it was hard not to just drop right there on the floor and call it a day.

I should at least get a bath first.

It was amazing what a shower and some clean clothes could do; all that soreness and tension just disappeared and now I just felt drained and ready to lay down.

No, ready to eat, I frowned, noticing that dull ache in my stomach had grown worse. I'd first sated my thirst with some water and had forgotten how hungry I was but now I was painfully reminded. I finished drying my hair with the softest towel in the world and sat on the edge of the huge bed. It was nice and set in the middle of two large box fans. I didn't see any plugs on the big devices so I had no idea how they were running but they were and they felt so, so good.

What a relief after all that heat, I thought. This was like the perfect reward to that long, grueling excursion. I was glad we hadn't turned back like I'd wanted to. It was all because of Daisy and her endless persistence.

I got up and left the towel on the bed and headed to the bathroom. It was so good to walk around without shoes or socks on for once in over a week. I opened the bathroom door and a lot of heat came out, but that was to be expected since Daisy had taken a hot shower and then moved into the tub where she laid with her legs crossed and her head tilted back. I stood there, mesmerized with this girl and how beautiful she was, just naturally. Her hair was on top of her head and she was gripping the sides of the gilded white tub with her slim fingers. Most of her was hidden beneath the water but she had enough of herself exposed to make me forget we were on a mission and come over to her. I walked almost like I wasn't in control, like her beauty was pulling me. I smiled when I saw one form on her face. Her eyes were closed but in a serene way, so smooth were her features that she looked more like a painting or a statue than a human being. She sighed and that smile looked more like a smirk now that I was closer to her.

I knelt down beside the tub and brushed my hand against her forehead, then kissed her there. She smiled teasingly and opened her eyes.

"You pervert," She accused. "Don't you know we're on a mission?"

"Yeah. So?" I shrugged.

Daisy sat up and crossed her arms over her chest and she must not have tied her hair properly because, as she turned to face me, it came tumbling down her shoulders. She stared at me with her head tilted and a sort of secretive smile on her face.

"What?"

"Nothing," She shook her head. "Did you need something?"

"No," I said. I sat back on my heels and told her, "I just wanted you to know that you're amazing and I love you and I wish I was more like you."

Daisy frowned, something I didn't expect her to do, and looked sad and conflicted.

She stared down at the water and mumbled, "You don't want to be more like me."

"Why do you say that?" I asked.

She sighed and said, "If you knew what I was thinking before you walked in here, you'd understand."

Hm. If I had to guess, she might have been thinking those dark thoughts about a darker king and, in my book, there was really nothing wrong with that. I mean obviously there was; you can't just spend your time imagining ways of maiming and killing someone, but given the situation she was put in, I'd say they were at least warranted.

"You know you're not an evil person, Daisy." I stated, hoping she'd take it to heart.

Daisy just shrugged so I leaned forward and reached for her chin. I lifted her head because it did something to me inside every time I saw her with her head down, sad and stuff.

When I had her looking at me again I said quietly, "Just because terrible things happened to you and you want revenge—"

"Don't try to justify it," Daisy turned away. She bit her lip and said, "Sorry. Let's talk about something else."

"Alright." I wasn't satisfied with the fact that she was probably still thinking she was some kind of monster but what could I do?

Daisy brought her knees up and laid her chin on them and peered at me. She narrowed her eyes and was silent, then locked onto mine with interest.

"Did you notice how different Roy seemed?"

"Yeah," I replied. "He's not exactly the same but then again, who knows what he's been going through since Ludwig dumped him here?"

"Do you think Bowser's gotten to him?" She pried.

"I don't know, maybe."

Daisy bit her lip again and I was so close to asking her to stop doing that. It was almost as distracting as the fact that she was naked right in front of me. If I took a moment to really focus on that, this conversation would be over.

"Hey." Daisy dipped her head to the other side to get my attention.

I blinked and said, "Yeah?"

"I've been thinking about the mission and I think we should go back to Sarasaland." She said. "Just you and me. We can take the map and get back."

"You wanna' leave them here?" I frowned.

Daisy hunched her shoulders and said, "They're in a top-rate inn. I think they'll be alright until we get back."

"What do you want to do there?" I asked, not seeing the point of going back alone.

Daisy said, "I haven't totally figured it out, but I'm getting there. You'll see when we get back home."

"Right."

"Hey," She frowned, feigning offense. "You trust me, right?"

"Sure, Daisy."

"Luigi," She said my name in a way she shouldn't have and sat up on her knees.

I sat back mostly out of slight shock but the water still rose to her hips. Looking at her, it was obvious by that light in her eyes and that devious smirk that she knew what she was doing to me. She held one arm over her chest and slid her other wet hand onto my shoulder, up the side of my face. I met her halfway for a kiss that was far too close to turning into something else, what with the way she moved her lips down my jaw and over the side of my throat.

"Daisy," I warned her but the girl bit me before sitting back.

It didn't really hurt, it was cute to me but the girl had to know what she was starting. She laughed and looked me up and down like some kind of predator.

"Really?" I said, standing up. "I thought you wanted to talk."

"We did talk." She pointed out, standing with me and I knew that was my cue to leave.

"Luigi, wait!" I heard Daisy call out over a laugh.

I knew better. I left her and the room and headed across the hall to the one I thought Portia and Lise were in. Knocking first, I was greeted by the sight of the latter.

"Yes?" Lise-Marie asked me.

She looked so much frailer without her armor on, donning instead a pair of black fabric pants and a top that was more sports bra than shirt. She was either sweating or had just come from the shower because her brown skin was damp all over; it was probably from the shower because her hair was wet, too. And speaking of that, the girl had a knife in her hand and half her long locks had been chopped off down to her chin with the other half trailing her waist. It must have been growing in the desert but I didn't notice.

"Why's the door open?" I heard Portia ask. "All the air's getting out!" She came to investigate and saw me and said, "Oh. Yes, Commander?"

She, like Lise, wore a pair of tight black pants but she had on a black tank top to match. She wrung a towel over her violet hair and stood next to her roommate.

"I need to get a message out," I told them. "Daisy and…your Princess and I are going back to Sarasaland. In the meantime you'll all stay here and wait for us to come back."

"We're halting the mission?" Lise-Marie frowned.

Portia smiled and asked, "Are you serious? We're just gonna' chill here?"

Lise gave her a look and said, "This isn't a vacation."

"I know but still," Portia nudged her friend. "It's nice to just cool off, right?" She asked me, "How long are you two going away for?"

"I don't know." I told her.

"Are you sure there's nothing we can be doing while you're away, Commander?" Lise-Marie asked.

I said, "Honestly, a lot of you just need to recover from the desert."

"…If you say so," Lise sighed, crossing her arms and reminding me so much of the one kid in the class who stayed begging for extra work.

She and Daisy had similar attitudes regarding this mission and that was good but for now it would be wise for my soldiers to take it easy. They'd need to be at full strength pretty soon.

Though it was a blessing that Callian hadn't come to him in several days, it was also a curse because he hadn't had anything to eat or drink in that time, either. He was famished and weak and his throat was dry and burned like a forest fire. He slept most of the time but not by choice; it was more like frequent lapses of unconsciousness. He'd just woken from one a few seconds ago and realized he had no idea what day or what time of the day it was. He didn't remember how long he'd been there in that room and his body was sore and ached from being in the same position for so, so long. So, in this state, it was no wonder he thought he was hallucinating when the son of his enemy appeared in his 'cell'.

Ludwig looked up, his neck almost refusing to support his throbbing head, and stared at the boy. He recognized him, but he didn't know why the boy had come.

To torture me in his father's place, Ludwig hazarded a guess but shot it down. Callian despised his son for…some reason or the other. Ludwig was having difficulty concentrating at the moment.

Munson glanced over shoulders as if someone would be coming through the smooth surfaces of the four walls. He seemed nervous. He stepped over to Ludwig, stood in front of him, and bent down to look the 'child' in the face. He paled, thinking he'd made a mistake, then calmed.

Ludwig felt something probe him, like an invisible itch, and vaguely registered that the boy was checking his magical signature. He didn't resist or attempt to hide it, being powerless as he was.

Munson tentatively came between Ludwig and the metal table in front of him and the boy pushed the table back and sat on it. He moved like a skittish animal, fearing an attack or something from Ludwig, which almost made the blue-haired sorcerer smile—he didn't have the energetic capacity to do.

What could I possibly do to him? Moron, Ludwig thought, tacking on the insult out of habit.

Munson ran a hand through his wavy dark hair and then rubbed his wrist. He looked at Ludwig and Ludwig blinked and Munson coughed.

"Um. Right." He said. He looked down and back up and said, "I came to you because I need your help."

How could I help him, being in chains and without an ounce of magic, Ludwig thought, then figured, well he was never very bright.

"I need your help," Munson said again, then his voice dropped as he added, "It's about Wendy."

That name alone struck a cord so strong in Ludwig that he became slightly more lucid as he narrowed his eyes.

"Where…" He frowned and tried again. "Where. Is my. Sister?"

He had to speak slowly and swallow again and again to get that out and Munson winced. He brought a glass of water into existence, then handed it to Ludwig. He was confused at first when the smaller sorcerer stared at him flatly, then Munson saw the chains and made them disappear.

Ludwig looked at his freed hands and then at Munson as if surprised. Munson shrugged.

"I'm not as powerful as my father, but I'm not useless, either." He claimed.

Ludwig thought, so you say, and took the water from the teenager. He drank and it made his throat burn more but after he got to the bottom of the glass the pain had numbed. He swallowed, testing his throat, before speaking again.

"Did you bring her here?" He asked evenly.

Munson said, "What? Oh, no. I didn't. I left her in—somewhere safe."

Ludwig frowned and asked, "What did you do with my sister?"

"She's fine, I didn't hurt her, I swear." Munson said quietly. "I would never hurt her. I love her."

Ludwig rolled his eyes.

"I left her somewhere safe," Munson said, "but I don't know if she'll be safe for long. My father may find her—"

"Has Callian seen her?" Ludwig cut in.

"No—"

"Has he searched your memories?"

"How would I know?" Munson frowned. He said, "I just know it's only a matter of time before the League comes after her. I can feel it. But I can't do anything about it because my father activated the marks—"

"Where is my sister?" Ludwig asked insistently.

Munson said, "I can't reveal that out loud but she's safe, I promise—"

"You think that means anything to me?" Ludwig said carefully, trying not to raise his voice. "I knew something like this would happen, that's why I didn't want you around her."

"I know, I see that now." Munson said remorsefully, "And I'm sorry but I'm trying to fix this."

"How? You just said Callian's activated the marks." Ludwig frowned. "You're just as much a slave as I am."

"Not quite." Munson revealed.

He took something from around his neck and untied the string from around the black stone. He rolled it around in his hand, feeling the electric charge: it was packed with magic. Ludwig knew what it was.

"Where did you get that?"

"Stole it from my father." Munson said coolly.

Ludwig lifted a brow, begrudgingly impressed with the boy. If his memory served him correctly, Callian carried that rock on his person. It was one of many magical artifacts he had on him but it was still one that he may miss. The boy was taking a real risk.

"Where is Callian now?" Ludwig asked.

Munson said, "He's here. Somewhere. Speaking with the Dark King." Munson looked off and said, "even if he realizes this is missing and you're missing, he won't suspect me."

"How do you know?" Ludwig asked dubiously.

"I just do." Munson assured him. He handed Ludwig the rock and stood.

Ludwig closed his fist around the rock and immediately felt the power swell inside him. So much had been squeezed in the small black stone. No wonder Callian valued it. Ludwig felt his strength return somewhat, because even though it was artificial magic it was still magic and to a sorcerer magic was life. He stood and steadied himself on the table. Looking at Munson, he frowned.

"How do I know this doesn't have a trace on it?"

Munson rolled his eyes and said, "It doesn't. It's clean. I'm not deceiving you."

Ludwig eyed him suspiciously.

"You think you're the only one my father torments?" Munson blurted, exasperated. "I hate him probably more than you do. I've had to live with him, the man who tore me from the only person I know loved me unconditionally." Munson narrowed his stinging eyes. "Then he turned around and cursed her, too. So yeah, I'm not exactly on his side."

Ludwig was far too jaded and doubting to be swayed by that speech but asked, "What do you want?"

Munson shook his head and said, "Nothing. I just…" He locked sea-green eyes on the smaller sorcerer and confessed earnestly, "I really do love Wendy. I know you don't think so because I'm young or because of my heritage but I really, really love her." He blinked and mumbled softly, "I just want her to live a good life. Even if it's not with me."

Ludwig was quiet.

"So make sure you protect her, okay?" Munson said sternly. "Get her somewhere safe."

"Yeah, I'll clean up your mess," Ludwig remarked, reminding Munson of the fact that he was responsible for this.

When he saw the boy pull a mournful face, Ludwig felt a stab of guilt. He could see that the boy was genuinely sorry for what he'd done.

Even if he's deluded himself into thinking he know what love is, he still cares for her, Ludwig frowned. I suppose that counts for something. So does the fact that, up until now, he's kept her alive and well.

"I owe you." Ludwig said bitterly as he came to that realization.

Munson protested, "No you—"

"A life for a life." Ludwig insisted. "Your father would have killed me or worse."

Munson didn't deny that.

Ludwig motioned for him to come near, and Munson did so without thinking. He wasn't prepared for the strange strength the weakened, child-like sorcerer demonstrated when he pulled Munson down by the front of his shirt.

He said, "However. If you come anywhere near my sister again—"

Munson shoved him away and said, "You don't have to threaten me. I'm never putting her in this kind of danger ever again."

"See that you don't." Ludwig scowled. He then looked down at his feet, then said before teleporting away, "…and thank you."

He'd almost died, after all.

A/N: Um…please bear with me. I know it seems like they're just on a wild goose chase, but Bowser is very busy; he takes the idea of building his empire very seriously (even if he's delusional) and is moving around for a reason. Luigi and Daisy will be facing him very soon, don't worry, though it might not pan out the way you think. Or it might. I don't know what's in your heads.

Well.

I'll get more out to you soon. Thanks as usual for reading and commenting. Thanks a lot!

Until next time…

~DymondGold~