As it usually tended to, whenever his luck decided to take a sudden downturn, the day had started off good.
He'd had a fully filling breakfast for once.
Mario, miraculously, hadn't decided to jump through every construction site they passed or bounce around on or on top of fellow commuters.
And! And they'd been on their way to what promised to be a very lucrative job for the city.
Sure, the area was...kinda creepy and...maze-like but, that was just New York for ya!
What would the Big Apple be without a little omnipresent danger hanging overhead?
And then they got pulled through some sort of demon teleportation pipe before getting separated in...space? He. Wasn't quite sure where they'd been floating as winds buffeted their bodies around wildly before separating them.
He'd lost sight of Mario, landing in some sort of barren wasteland that wouldn't have looked out of place in a horror movie.
And as he was looking around for his brother, just in case he had landed somewhere nearby he'd quickly discovered that yes! He was in a horror movie! Or hell! One of the two!
Because in additional to withered trees, dusty, dry ground devoid of color, and pools (POOLS!) of lava, there were giant skeleton turtle zombie things that WAY outclassed whatever horror monster Hollywood could ever dream up
Because Every. Single. Monster. He'd grown up watching, loving, and being scared of could be killed. Stopped. Beaten if you knew what to do.
These things had no weakness!
They could be broken apart into pieces and seconds later they'd just pull themselves back together (or, in the case of two particular ones, combine into a bigger, multi-limbed nightmare) and chase him again.
And even when he'd managed to find some sort of safe house, (a castle. With heavy metal doors and solid rock exterior that no skeletal hand could break through, no matter how demonic) it still wasn't the lucky break he'd hoped for.
Because surprise surprise, the castle belonged to some bigger, scarier monster.
At least the little red robed people inside were alive and didn't immediately attempt to rip the flesh off his body like the zombies he'd first run into had been trying to do.
No, they'd just tied him up and threw him in a balloon to better transport them to the giant flying volcano in the sky.
Just another impossible thing he was forced to quickly wrap his mind around.
Sure. Whatever. Why not at this point?
As long as there weren't any more skeleton turtle zombie things up there as well, it'd probably be...well not fine but tolerable at least? Maybe?
He decided to keep that semi-hopeful outlook as the person (lizard?) greeting them just gave him a flat, unimpressed look-over before motioning his captors towards a door.
And, as he was thrown into a cage overhanging lava, it could have been worse.
They could have just thrown him into the lava and be done with him. So, where ever he was, the residents weren't completely heartless.
Heck, he wasn't even the sole prisoner! There were a bunch of penguins moping in the cages around him, a couple of...mutated mushrooms and, a surprisingly morbid little star that sounded like a toddler that gave the zombies in the woods a run for the title of 'Most Terrifying Thing He'd Seen All Day.'
He wasn't sure how long he was in the dungeon, listening to the penguins lament and wonder over how quickly their Ice Kingdom, with the finest and fastest Snow Warriors they had, had fallen to the fiery might of the evil Koopa King, (he had a suspicion, but figured it might be a little rude to comment that he could maybe spot a couple holes in their battle strategies while they were already down, electing instead to keep his mouth shut.) When his cage suddenly shot up and towards the entrance where the same little lizard from earlier was waiting.
"His Boisterousness is ready to see you now, Human."
With a wave of its' staff, a blue glow surrounded him, locking him in a ramrod position before teleporting the both of them out of the dungeons and to a much bigger and grander room.
"Kamek tells me you were found lurking around one of my castles." A deep voice rumbles from across the room, it's owner shrouded in the shadows cast by walls of fire surrounding them.
A squeak of terror just barely makes it past his lips before he feels himself being hurled toward the figure stopping just a few feet shy of its' throne.
As it stands up and makes it's way towards him, Luigi just barely bites back a hysterical laugh.
The penguins in the dungeons thought they could beat that? With a couple of snowballs? No wonder they'd lost and their home destroyed.
There was no fighting that.
It. He. Radiated heat and power with every step he took closer to him, mouth wide and full of long, sharp teeth and if Luigi wasn't currently being held up in the air with magic, he was doubtful he'd even come up to this monster's chest.
"I don't know if you who I am," the creature rumbled as it raised a claw and gently trailed it across his face, stopping as the end of his mustache. "But I'm the guy who's gonna rule the world."
A nervous laugh bubbles out of him at that. "G-Great! S-Sounds like fun!"
Fiery red eyes narrow suspiciously. "...you think ruling the world sounds fun?"
Luigi swallows, hoping against hope he didn't just set set himself a return trip to the dungeon sans cage. "W-Well not for m-me personally. I'm uh. N-Not the ruling type. B-but I can support the uh drive and erm, commitment it takes to m-make that dream a reality! And if y-you want to change the world up a bit? Go for it! C-Can't loo-get any worse than it already is!"
The giant fire turtle gives a low hum as he slowly starts to circle him.
"You really don't care? You'd just...stand aside as I took over everything?"
"If I can, yeah."
Another hum before there's a slight pressure on his arm and he's being spun to face his captor again.
"What about...helping me?"
"What?"
The would be conquer looks away as he studies his claws. "There's these Power Stars. Powerful artifacts that I need in order to take over and rule the world. I've already gained a few of them with ease but there's a couple hidden and locked away in areas much too small for me or my army to get to." his eyes flick to him. "You however…look like you can squeeze into those spots easily."
Luigi stares at this gigantic monster wide-eyed.
He should say yes. Refusal would probably mean instant death and kissing any chance of seeing his brother aga-
A small frown appears on his face as he looks up his captor. "What's in it for me?"
A low growl escapes the turtle dragon thing as he grabs him easily with one hand, clawed fingers enveloping nearly his whole body.
"Me not burning you to a crisp for starters!"
Luigi offers a weak smile and with more confidence that he thought himself capable offers up, in his a humble opinion, a reasonable point.
"T-that seems a little counterproductive if you needme to get your stars."
His captor's grip tightens around him slightly as he exhales a steam of smoke from his muzzle. Surprisingly, he doesn't carry out his initial threat and just set him on fire.
Instead, he seems to almost be appraising Luigi.
"What do you want?"
"To go home." Amazingly, his voice does not shake. "I would do anything to get my brother and I home."
Bushy red eyebrows raise. "Your brother?"
Luigi nods eagerly, leaning forward as much as he can in the monster's grip. "My brother, Mario. He looks exactly like me. Except shorter, and a bit rounder, and wearing red instead of green. Have you. Have you seen him? O-Or know if one of your troops has?"
"Mm." The king of monsters moves one of his fingers to the back of his head, running a clawtip through his hair.
"I can't say I have…" he says quietly. "But that's all you'd want in return for collecting stars? Is to take your brother and go back where ever you two came from?" He frowns, eyes sharp enough to send a chill down his spine. "What if your brother doesn't want to go? Or puts up a fight first?"
Luigi swallows. "I'd drag him back to earth myself if I have to. No offense to you o-or this uh. Lovely world you've got here, but we don't belong here."
His captor smiles. "I think I can work with that, consider it a deal, Greenie."
Before he can really register what just happened, he's being placed on the floor, giant fist leaving him as if he's being trusted not only to stand on his own power but also to stay in place.
Which honestly why wouldn't he? Who's he to argue with a giant terrifying turtle thing who really is as stupidly tall and towering as he'd suspected him to be without him being magically levitated in the air to be at slight eye level.
"KAMEK!" his captor roars, gaze flicking down at him for half a second before looking back at something behind him. "Escort Greenie here to one of our guest rooms."
"Of course, Lord Bowser."
Luigi nearly jumps at the sudden voice of the lizard guy from earlier.
Kamek, presumably, gives an unimpressed look before motioning Luigi to follow him. "Come along, Human."
Swallowing, Luigi does so.
Careful to keep close attention to the path Kamek leads him, just in case he's expected to somehow memorize it right off the bat, Luigi can't help noting that as warm as the whole place is, hallways at least aren't as warm as Bowser's throne room is. Was.
….it's honestly kind of odd he didn't really notice how hot that place was until after he left it…
Absentmindedly, he can't help wonder if stress and fear can just do that. Make a person unaware of insane temperatures.
"Your room." Kamek's sharp voice snaps him out of his musings.
Embarrassed at losing track of where he was was at the moment, Luigi offers his guide an apologetic smile. "Thank you."
Kamek gives a small 'hmph'. "You will reside here until Lord Bowser has need of you. Meals will be brought to you as needed. Do not take advantage of his Graciousness' decision to give you a chance. Any escape attempts will result in you going to our lowest cage in our prison. Do you understand?"
Luigi quickly nodded and held up his hands. "Crystal! N-no escape attempts from me!"
"Very well, Hum-."
"Luigi."
Kamek frowned.
"L-Luigi. That's. That's my name."
A small hum escaped the lizard in front of him. "I'll let your interruption pass this time, but if you try that again, I won't be so forgiving."
Luigi felt cold at the unsaid threat. "S-Sorry. W-Won't happen again."
Kamek nodded and gestured towards the room. "I'm a very busy Koopa, so if you'd be so kind-?"
Nodding, Luigi nervously made his way around the...koopa and retreated into his room.
It; actually wasn't too bad.
There was a bigger bed than he was expecting on one side of the room with a small desk next to it while on the opposite side there was a medium sized dresser (empty of course) and, a surprisingly decent sized mirror next to it.
He'd been in apartments smaller than this.
Drained from the absolute nightmare roller coaster of day he'd had, Luigi flopped face down on the bed and was met with another surprise.
It was. A really soft bed. Definitely softer than the old beat up mattress he had back home.
It even smelled nice. Kinda...floral…
It was...nice.
Much nicer than he'd have ever guessed someone like Bowser having in his...floating lair.
But he had said this was a guest room…
And...as long as he kept up his end of the deal, he'd be considered a guest.
Groaning, Luigi kicked off his shoes and rolled over onto his back; picking up his hat after it'd fallen off his head and stared at the familiar L embroidered above the brim.
He missed Mario.
He missed their home.
Running a finger across the L, Luigi frowned and thought about his twin and wondered where exactly his brother ended up.
If Bowser hadn't heard about or seen him, maybe that meant that he hadn't also landed in a barren wasteland full of vicious skeletons.
Maybe he'd ended up somewhere nicer.
A small scoff escaped him at the thought. As if any place in this hell world was nice.
…
If there were, Mario would find it. He was lucky like that.
Sighing, Luigi placed his cap on the desk next to him and covered his eyes.
Whatever.
It didn't matter where his brother had ended up. Luigi would find him and then they'd go home together.
He owed it to him after all, since it was his fault for finding that stupid pipe in the first place.