Chapter Eight: I am not Luigi anymore.

-Dark Lands-

When Daisy heard the news that Mario was defeated by the new ambassador, she was devastated. Daisy never truly felt so scared and alone, once upon a time she saw the Mario brothers as these big and strong heroes, nothing could defeat them. But since Luigi was kicked out, things were crumbling to pieces. To add insult to injury, while Mario was in the castle, they finally placed her into a prison cell, where she was supposed to be the entire time she was staying here.

Down here it was cold, damp and lonely. Daisy vowed she will never let herself get kidnapped again if she could help it. She thought back to Peach and question how she was able to endure this time and time again. She wanted to cry…she missed Luigi so much. She needed to feel the warmth and happiness that came from his company.

But instead she heard the familiar slamming of doors and footsteps. She sat on the floor, leaning against the wall. Daisy looks up to see that Mr. L was staring down at her, most likely here to gloat at his victory.

She glared up at him "what do you want…" she could feel his smirk on the other side of the bars "oh…" he began "it seems like you are going to be staying here for a bit longer…"

Daisy looked away, not wanting to face this monster "go away…"

Mr. L frowned "I hope one day you will allow yourself to accept the fact that things are going to change…princess… please."

Daisy looks back at him; teeth clenched "Mario will come back, and when he does, he will send you straight to the Underwhere...where you belong…"

Unfazed by her words, he kneeled down to her level "I am tired of fighting with you princess…" she jumped when she heard the sounds of the prison doors unlocking, it swung open and Mr. L stepped back. "You are free to wonder the castle… but if you dare to leave… you know what will happen…"

With that he turned to leave Daisy, she stood up and quickly left the cell. Shouting down the hallway "don't think I am afraid of you, because I'm not! You are not going to get away with this because Mario will come back, and you will fall!"

Mr. L didn't entertain her with a response and continued. Daisy hated being left alone, not here. But she rather has the company of anybody but that man. With a huff she sat down against the wall again and whispered to herself "where are you, Luigi…? I need you…"

For a moment, Mr. L stopped. But before Daisy could notice her words had affected him, he quickly left the dungeon area. Part of him wanted to tell her that Luigi is dead, but the lump in his throat stopped him. He let out a breath that he didn't realize that he was holding, running his fingers through his hair, missing his hat once again.

Despite all his efforts, he couldn't stop shaking.

On the other side, across where he was sat another mirror. The castle was full of them, almost giving the illusion that it was much bigger than it really was. He hated mirrors. It reminded him of all the things that are wrong with him. Taking a nearby vase he throws it at the damned thing, completely shattering both pot and mirror in the process.

He felt better now, but only a little. Daisys words rang through his skull again and he almost wanted to take another vase to his head. Nobody needs Luigi. Luigi is nothing now. He took another breath. He is Mr. L now. That is all he needs.

Dragging his sore and weak body to his room, he passes several of the servants who congratulated him on a job well done. But he ignored them all.

...

His chamber was dark and inviting. The candles that had lit his room had gone out hours ago and all that was left to illumine his room was the streams of moonlight that shone through his heavily drawn curtains. Mr. L kept them closed because if he looked out the window and strained his eyes, he could see the glow of the Mushroom Kingdom in the distance; and the last thing he needed was a nice view of the world that shunned him, the sight that reminded him that he could never return home.

Though, he couldn't help to smirk to himself. The image of Mario dragging himself a failure was enough to make him feel better about his current situation. Mario never comes home as a failure and he wonders how the good mushroom people would think when their hero couldn't even defeat his weak and forgotten brother.

He glances over at the mirror that sat across the room, and quickly made his way over to remove the robe that was covering it. In the dark he could still make out his reflection. He was tempted to smash this one too, but the thought of having shards of broken mirror in his room didn't sound very appealing. Mr. L could only allow himself to stare.

Removing his jacket and shirt, he went to inspect the bruises that lined his arms, chest and back. He frowned, knowing that he is going to be very sore tomorrow. On his right arm there was a blemish that was in a shape of a hand, it was when Mario grabbed him and attempted to throw him. Mario's hands were on fire at them time and Mr. L knew that this was going to be permanent scar. Lovely...

He wondered if his lightning had left any unique scars of their own. Mr. L could only imagine what wounds Mario had to bandage. Wonder if he broke any bones...

"Where are you, Luigi…? I need you…"

He frowned again; it was getting harder to strain his thoughts away from what Daisy said earlier. He shook his head; he is not going to let himself become Luigi again, become so weak again. He growled, choosing to punch the wall next to the mirror. If he keeps this up, he is going to drive himself crazy.

If that was the case, he would welcome the change.

End of Chapter