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Mario and Luigi continued following the strange orange glow through a maze of interconnected tunnels. The tunnels were now beginning to look like underground caves and it seemed as though the brothers have wandered over two miles, both forward and down into the earth, although they were unable to tell where they were going. Both brothers were incredibly exhausted and tired from walking for such a prolonged period of time. They had no clue what time it was either.
"Where do you think this path leads?" Luigi asked.
"I'm not sure." Mario said. "But it seems as though we've been wandering for many miles, even though we haven't!"
"My feet are absolutely blistered!" Luigi said. "It feels like I'm walking on sharp spikes! I don't know how much longer I can take this."
"My feet don't fell any better!" Mario said. "But we have to keep going. Remember, Pauline and the princesses are counting on us!"
The orange glow appeared once again as the brothers continued down the seemingly never-ending cave tunnel. It was directing them through upward slanting caves that seemed to be taking them back up to the surface. Suddenly, Mario and Luigi reached a point where the ground began to level off and the cave walls were once again replaced by carved brick stone. Then, the orange light disappeared, leaving both the brothers in complete darkness.
"Where did our light go?" Luigi freaked.
"Hold on, let me get fire flower." Mario said, reaching into the rucksack. "I think we're going to have to get more supplies when the time arrives."
"How are we doing on red mushrooms?" Luigi asked. "I need one to reenergize myself and keep myself awake. Not only that, but I feel famished from not eating anything for a while."
"I know how you feel." Mario said. "Here, take one."
When Mario was able to form a fireball in his hand for light, he took two red mushrooms from the sack and gave one of them to Luigi for a quick energy boost. After taking one bite, both brothers already started to feel more alert of their surroundings.
"Thanks, bro." Luigi said. "I think that will do me for a little while."
"Yeah, me too." Mario replied. "I just wish we could have a normal breakfast again in our own dining room in our own house."
"We don't have a house anymore." Luigi said.
"I know." Mario said. "But I think once we defeat Bowser and save the princesses, we'll be guaranteed a new home. What do you think, Luigi?"
"I don't see why not." he replied. "I mean, we would've done a great deed for the entire world! How could they not be nice to us?!"
The brothers continued down the tunnel and reached what looked like the very end of the tunnel as the light caught the sight of a beautifully decorated mosaic of symbols carved from sandstone and encrusted with lovely multicolored gemstones.
"What is this?!" Luigi asked, touching the wall with his right hand. "Is this a dead end?"
"It sure likes like." Mario said. "But why would that orange light take us this far into the tunnel complex just to lead us to a dead end?"
"Hmm." Luigi said as he studied the gemstones. "I wish I knew, but I know as much as you do."
"There has to be something more here that we're missing!" Mario said. "But what?"
Luigi kept examining the door for any other clues that might be embedded in the stony wall. He looked at the top of the wall and noticed what looked to him like another strange message written on the same dead language that was used before.
"Mario, can you raise your arm so that the fire illuminates the very top of the wall?" Luigi asked.
"Do you see something up there?" Mario asked.
"It looks like another message." Luigi said. "But I can't tell."
Mario raised his arm and let the fire illuminate the top of the sandstone wall. Sure enough, there was another message written up there, but also something even more curious.
"There's a round hole up there too!" Mario said. "What does the message say?"
"I'm not sure, but I might need the book again." Luigi replied. "These messages are not very easy to decipher."
Mario handed Luigi the book and he slowly began to decipher the message. As the letters popped into place, things were starting to look bleak for the two brothers.
"The message reads..." Luigi began. "Only those who have the missing diamond are permitted to enter. The wrath of the Shadow Queen must not be released again by those who seek her dark legacy; therefore the treasure behind this door is to be locked up for all eternity."
"This is a door?!" Mario asked.
"Apparently, it is." Luigi replied. "The missing diamond is probably what goes in the hole. But we don't have the missing diamond!"
"Damn it!" Mario shouted. "We came all this way for nothing?! Where are we supposed to find a missing diamond?!"
"I don't know." Luigi replied. "What's this 'treasure' that the message is referring to?"
And then it hit Mario in flash...
"What is it, Mario?" Luigi asked curiously.
"I have an idea."
Mario searched through the rucksack until he found the huge diamond chunk that he found back in diamond cavern two days ago.
"Do you think this will fit into that hole?" Mario asked.
"Let's find out!" Luigi said.
Luigi took the diamond from Mario and brought it close to the large hole at the top of the stone door. Miraculously, the diamond was able to fit perfectly into the slot and so Luigi placed it inside. Suddenly, the wall began to shake.
"I think its working!" Luigi said.
"I hope this works. If it doesn't, I don't know what else will work!" Mario replied.
Suddenly, the shaking stopped and the door began sliding open, revealing a dark room with brick walls.
"It worked!" Luigi said. "Thank goodness I gave you that diamond!"
"No kidding!" Mario said. "What are the odds?"
"Let's see what's inside." Luigi said.
The brothers walked into the dark room and were surprised at what they saw next...
The brothers just solved another riddle, this time by luck! Had they not possessed a loose diamond chunk obtained from the diamond caves back in the Mushroom Kingdom, they would have reached a dead end! Luckily, fate seems to be on their side.
What treasures lurk behind the door? Will Mario and Luigi ever find a way out? If so, where will they end up? The answers will have to wait for now, but I can assure you that they will be revealed very soon. See you later! :)
saturn95