Okay, so in case none of you guys have checked out my profile...I have a little bit of bad news. I broke my hand last week. :( So my updates are going to be a lot slower, at least for the next five weeks. In fact, I was actually pretty happy that I had this chapter almost finished. I couldn't just leave you guys wondering what was going to happen to Luigi! So without taking up any more of your time, here's the new chapter!

Chapter 9- The Water

Daisy watched Luigi make his way down into the dark, wet basement in awe. She was so glad that he was okay. It had really scared her when the lightning hit him. She wouldn't know what she would have done if she had lost Luigi today too. She really didn't deserve Luigi. He had been so sweet to her and so understanding, it made her feel guilty.

While Luigi was checking out the pipes on the opposite side, Daisy realized that he would need a towel for when he got out. She quickly made her way to the bathroom and grabbed the first one she found. When she came back she saw her father hurrying away to the supply closet. She figured Luigi must have found the problem. She ran down the stairs and stopped when she felt the ice cold water. She couldn't help but marvel at Luigi's strength. Everyone always considered him the weaker of the two, but she couldn't imagine herself getting struck by lightning and still being able to go down in the freezing water.

She sat on the next step up waiting for him to come back. She could see the flashlight bouncing back and forth, but she didn't see his face until he was halfway across the room. He smiled when he saw her which caused her to smile. Then almost out of nowhere, he jumped causing the water to splash around him.

She laughed figuring he stepped on a pile of junk that he wasn't prepared for.

"Are you okay?" She asked.

"Yeah, I think so." He told her.

However, she could tell from the way he was looking around that he was still a little unnerved by what he touched.

"Well come on Handy Man. You must be freezing."

She stood up holding up the towel for him waiting for him to cross those last few steps towards her. He took another step when he was suddenly slipping under the black surface of the water. She tried to hold in a giggle figuring he just tripped and fell.

"Luigi, you klutz, quit messing around." She called into the dark room still smiling.

However, that smile began to slip when she didn't see his head come back up. She listened for any noise of him resurfacing and didn't hear anything. The surface remained calm and silent almost as if it were hiding the fact that it stole her boyfriend from her.

"Luigi? This isn't funny." She panicked hoping that he was messing with her.

She waited for about half a second more before diving in after him. At first she couldn't see a thing. She was counting more on her sense of touch than anything else. She came back up for air when she heard something else surface. Thinking it was Luigi she swam over to the sound. However, what she saw didn't fill her with much confidence. It was only the green hat Luigi was wearing earlier. She had never seen it on him before, but she thought that it had completed him in some way. Therefore, seeing the hat without its owner scared her even more. She filled her lungs and prepared for her second trip below the surface clutching the hat tightly in her hand.

She knew he had been near the drain and thought she would start her search there. As she neared the hole something strange began to happen. It was glowing, allowing her to see everything that was happening. Stranger still, it had grown considerably in width and was now more like a smooth, green pipe sticking out of the floor. However, this all was irrelevant as she finally found who she was looking for. She managed to just catch Luigi's unconscious face before he was pulled into the strange pipe.

"Daisy, just promise me one thing. When the time comes, no matter how heartbreaking, you'll just let events unfold. Don't try to stop it, okay?"

Daisy was surprised when her mother's words suddenly rushed through her head. However, she didn't even stop to consider them. Luigi needed her help, and she would not stand by watching him disappear from her life. No matter how selfish it was, he was one of the last good things about her life and she would not lose him if she could help it. Without another moment's hesitation, she swam forward to the pipe and dove after her boyfriend.

If there was one word she could use to describe the trip down the pipe, it would be disorienting. She picked up speed and didn't even need to swim anymore. In fact, she took a breath forgetting where she was only to be surprised to be breathing air. She felt like she was on a giant slide with tons of twists, turns, and loops. She would have enjoyed it if she wasn't so worried about Luigi who was somewhere at the end of this crazy ride. Finally, a light began to glow and she realized she was fixing to come out on the other side. Involuntarily, she took a deep breath like she was coming out on the end of a water ride. This seemed to be the right reaction as she was plunged back into liquid.

It was warmer than the water in her basement, but still dark. She propelled herself forward hoping to find Luigi not too far away. Her lungs felt like they were going to burst, but then she realized that Luigi couldn't have taken a single breath this whole time and pushed herself farther. Her determination was rewarded when she felt flesh pass through her fingers. It was a hand and she grabbed onto it hoping it was Luigi's hand. Finally, she pushed herself to the surface.

She had only gone a few feet when she was met with resistance. She started pulling harder on the arm. However, there was something on the other end that was not relenting. She was desperate as little black spots began to dance in her vision from her lack of oxygen. She was unsure of what to do, but decided she couldn't help Luigi if she drowned.

Hesitantly, she let go of his hand and pushed towards the surface. She was surprised when it didn't take her any longer than a couple of seconds. Greedily, she took in a large amount of air. She almost started choking on it, but once she was sure her lungs worked again she dove under the surface once more. It didn't take her long to find Luigi again, but instead of pulling on him like last time she dove deeper. If she could just find whatever was stopping her in the first place then she could swim them both to the surface.

She felt down along his body until she felt something slimy latched around his leg. She was surprised to see that it was a tentacle that had captured her boyfriend. She pulled against the suction cups that refused to release their prize. She tried everything. She pulled and punched and kicked, but the tentacle still didn't yield. She was on her last leg and was still no closer to getting Luigi free.

She swam back to where his face was and cuddled it in her hands. He seemed so peaceful, as if he were merely sleeping. She wasn't sure whether or not he was even alive at this point. After all, he had been under the water for much longer than she had. She pressed her head to his almost as if enough of her could seep into him and bring him back.

Praying that it wouldn't be their last, Daisy kissed Luigi blowing the last bit of oxygen from her lungs into his. She realized that this couldn't possibly help, but she needed to feel like she was doing something. She could feel herself pulling closer to the surface when Luigi's eyes opened.

"Daisy?" He asked as simply as if they were on land.

She didn't know which emotion hit her first: confusion, relief, concern, exhilaration, amazement. They were all there as Luigi came back around. She hugged him, forgetting for the moment that they were both still underwater without a breath to spare. His eyes widened considerably as he seemed to realize their situation. She pointed upward motioning that they needed to get to the surface. He nodded his understanding and she led the way. It wasn't until she broke from the water's clutches once again that she remembered Luigi's restraint on the other end. She gasped and dove back below.

She saw that he was figuring out that he was held captive as she could see him pulling against the tentacle. With renewed strength she went back to fight the same battle as before. However, with Luigi helping they actually seemed to be getting somewhere this time.

"Watch out!" Luigi cried pushing her out of the way.

She looked back down surprised to see a second tentacle snaking towards where she once was. Now they had a good look at Luigi's captor. A large white squid with a black mask like a raccoon made its way into view. Daisy was so surprised by the strange creature that she gasped. Instantly water poured into her lungs. She would have started coughing if she didn't get a hold of herself in time. Regardless, she needed air. Immediately.

Luigi looked at her alarmed before setting his jaw in determination. He swam forward to meet the squid thing and kicked his feet out to hit it between the eyes. It instantly recoiled and released Luigi from its grip. Satisfied that he was free, Daisy began kicking towards the surface. However, the constant swimming back and forth had taken its toll on her. Not to mention the fact that she was already half-drowned. Her vision was dimming faster and she wasn't even sure she was swimming upward anymore.

She felt Luigi's hands grab onto her arm and her middle. Before she knew it they were jetting to the surface. It took her a few seconds to register that she was breathing again. After that she was violently discharging the water already in her system, and finally she was able to make out shapes and colors once more.

"Daisy? Are you okay?" Luigi asked from beside her.

She was starting to get really tired of that question.

"What the hell is going on?" She finally gasped deciding to ignore his question.

"I'm not sure, but I'm going to say we aren't in your basement anymore." He told her looking around.

She also took her first look at their surroundings and was surprised by the sight. It was definitely not her basement as she was staring out at an endless sea of water in all directions. Directly above them were bridges of floating rocks, just suspended in midair. There would be a few gaps between them, but for the most part it was pretty continuous. Above that was hundreds of twinkling stars. Having lived in New York most of her life, stars were a pretty rare sight. Therefore, it wasn't anything short of breathtaking.

"Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore." She whispered.

Luigi snorted, obviously not expecting her to joke around about the situation so soon. She finally noticed that they weren't in the water anymore, but were floating on a small wooden raft.

"Yeah, well I hope we don't have to run into the wicked witch any time soon." He finally replied back.

"Wasn't that the thing that tried to eat you back there?" She teased back.

He frowned however. "So you saw it too? I wasn't just imagining it?"

"Yeah and speaking of imagining things. How didn't you drown and I almost did?"

Now that Daisy wasn't worried about Luigi dying, she couldn't help but question how he was alive. He was underwater far longer than she was. And he was talking to her down there as clearly as he was now. It just didn't make any sense.

"I-I don't know." He stuttered, obviously just as confused as she was. "The last thing I remember is getting knocked out on your basement floor. Then there you are, and it took me several seconds to even register that I was underwater. But I was breathing normally, and the squid thing, I'm not dreaming am I?"

Daisy rolled her eyes. "No, I wouldn't be here if you were dreaming, dummy."

"But this can't really be happening." He persisted getting more frustrated by the second.

Daisy had to admit that the series of events that let them here were far-fetched to say the least. However, she seemed more inclined to accept it than what Luigi did. After nearly drowning, she was having a hard time believing that this was one big dream. Besides, this could be fun. Someplace new and exciting, it was like an adventure unfolding before her very eyes.

"It could be. I mean nothing is impossible." Daisy shrugged.

Luigi stared at her as if she had been the one to hit her head instead of him.

"Daisy, there are pieces of land just floating above our heads. It is defying the laws of gravity. That is most definitely impossible."

"And yet there they are." She countered.

"Which is why we're dreaming." He concluded.

"Unless we're not, and they are actually there…floating."

He sighed frustrated running his fingers through his hair. In that moment Daisy remembered something. She held out her hand that still clutched his hat. He looked over at it uncertainly before a small smile plastered his face.

"It's been so long since I've worn it. I completely forgot I didn't have it on." He mused more to himself.

Daisy couldn't help but cock her head in curiosity.

"It's a nice hat. How come I haven't ever seen you wear it before?" She asked him.

He sighed before pulling his knees up to his chest. "It's a long story."

She looked around at the endless expanse of ocean. "I don't think we're going anywhere."

He gave her a sort of half-smile before that somber look overtook him again.

"It's something I probably should have told you a long time ago. I-It's just hard, even now. I mean I still haven't been able to say his name." He started rambling, lost in his own thoughts.

"Lou, I can't understand what's going on if you're only going to give me these vague references." She supplied worried about what had him so upset.

He took a deep breath. "Okay, here it goes. I had a brother once. And the last time I wore this hat was the last time I saw him."

Daisy was dumbfounded. She had no idea. In fact, she had been in his house hundreds of times and never once saw any evidence of a brother. She quickly realized that this had to be some sort of big family secret that no one was allowed to talk about. She felt sympathetic, but she also felt a small amount of comfort in the fact no matter how selfish that was. He understood what it was like to suddenly have a family member leave you.

"We were twins and he was like my other half. Strong, athletic, courageous. He always knew how to pick me up when I was down."

"So what happened?" Daisy encouraged softly.

She could see that he was struggling with his emotions and put a comforting hand on his shoulder. He put his other hand over it and squeezed it.

"He vanished." He finished ominously. "He was just gone. No one could ever find anything, and I don't remember if it was weeks or months later that my parents started taking down his things. It was too painful for them to be reminded of him. So the sports trophies came first, then his bedroom was redecorated, and finally the pictures were put away. Most of them were the two of us so it was hard to watch them pull down my own face off the wall. I know they didn't mean it like that, but I felt like maybe they had even come to resent seeing me. Because I'm the only reminder left of him."

Daisy hugged Luigi not sure of what else she could do. I was a very heartbreaking tale, and it scared her a little. She started worrying that her father would resent her because of how much she looked like her mother. However, she quickly threw that thought away. Her father loved her and she knew that Luigi's parents loved him just as much.

"You're too hard on yourself. I've seen firsthand how much you're parents love you." She assured him.

He gave an emotionless chuckle. "I know they love me. In fact, my mom told me that before I left. I just…"

She heard him trail off and looked up worried. His face seemed to drain as desperation overtook him.

"My mother! I promised her I would be right back! And on The Day. What if they're already searching for us?" Luigi began to panic.

In fact, he was starting to rock the raft with all of his rapid movements.

"Luigi! Calm down. This isn't your fault, and first thing tomorrow we'll find a way to contact your parents and tell them what happened." She tried to soothe him.

"How? We're in the middle of nowhere?" He cried exasperated.

She grabbed his face with both hands forcing him to look into her eyes. Instantly, his features seemed to relax and a small blush crept onto his cheeks. She smirked. She never got tired of making his cheeks flame that red hue.

"Look. Running around like a chicken with its head cut off isn't going to help. Besides, it'll all be okay. I mean, we still have each other right?" She reminded.

He finally smiled nodding in agreement. She let go of his face and moved her hands to the back of his neck running her fingers through the small tufts of hair escaping from his cap. He leaned forward letting their lips meet softly. After all of the events of the day though, she couldn't stop herself from taking it a step further. Pretty soon her tongue was slipping through his defenses and he made no attempt to stop her. In fact, he seemed encouraged and Daisy almost gasped as his demeanor turned more forceful. Her hands moved down from his head to his arms, down to his chest and abs. He also seemed to be wanting to explore her upper body too, and she didn't stop him.

She opened her eyes to see that he had somehow pinned her back against the raft. He was panting softly which only excited her more. But then a small afterthought crept up on her. They were getting awfully close to the point of no return, and she wasn't sure she was ready for that yet. She could see in his eyes that he was connecting the dots as well, and he quickly rolled over off of her. She tried not to feel disappointed since this was obviously not the time or place for that sort of activity. He lay back on the raft looking up at the stars, trying to catch his breath.

"I'm sorry." He whispered softly.

She rolled her eyes before scooting closer and laying her head on his shoulder staring up with him. He wrapped his arm around her cuddling her closer.

"It's not like I didn't want it too." She admitted.

He blushed heavily. "I-It's not the right time. I mean, I was going to wait until…you know."

Daisy turned to him looking him dead in the eye. "So ask me to marry you." She stated seriously.

He looked startled but a little hopeful. "Really? I-I mean, that's what you want?"

She shrugged. "I don't know about right now, but if you're worried that I wouldn't want to, you're wrong. We've been together for two years and I know there's no one else I want to be with."

She could tell that she had lifted his spirits considerably. He kissed her on the forehead before leaning back against the raft. They laid together in silence before his breathing became regulated and a light snore filled the air. She giggled softly before allowing her own eyes to close. It had been a long, trying day and she had no idea what to expect tomorrow. However, she did know that she could face any obstacle as long as Luigi was with her.

I felt like with everything Daisy and Luigi had to deal with that day, they needed a little moment to themselves. So yeah, we're in Mario World now. It's only the beginning of Luigi and Daisy's adventures. I also noticed that this was one of my longest chapters yet. Thanks to everybody for reading and I'll get started on the next chapter.