Surprise! A very quick update just for you :)

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Mario or its franchise; it belongs to the Mushroom Kingdom. Lol, technically it belongs to Nintendo but...we all know they have time shares in the Mushroom Kingdom so yeah :)

Chapter Seven

"So how was it?"

That bright smile was answer enough for me. This afternoon signaled the end of Daisy's first day of work and by the way she was beaming I could tell it had been a good experience for her. I was glad: it was one less thing for me to worry about. I saw Daisy leaving her job in her ironed uniform and had to smile. The girl was so beautiful that it was like falling in love with a different part of her every single day. She made that plain black dress and forest green polo shirt look like runway material the way it fit her so nicely. But then I noticed I wasn't the only one staring at her as she crossed the street with me to get to my car on the other side. All of a sudden her dress seemed a little too short. It was cut above the knee and even though she wore black stockings underneath, I didn't like the way these dudes down the street were ogling her.

Get over it, I groused to myself, she's beautiful, you said it yourself; guys are gonna' stare at her. As long as they don't touch her or say anything to her, there's no use getting upset about it.

"I guess it went well then," I spoke once we were both inside my car.

Daisy buckled up and grinned. "Yes, it went really well. My co-workers were friendly, and Mr. Lestrange was helpful: he showed me the whole store. I don't think I've ever seen so many pairs of shoes in one place!"

"That's nothing compared to some of the other stores around here," I told her.

She arched a brow and said, "Whoa. That's really strange. Back home, er, in the Mushroom Kingdom, the cobblers always had the material on hand to make or repair shoes, but never just tons of them lying around. What if no one buys all of them?"

"Trust me," I said wryly, "They'll get bought."

"People must have lots of money around here." She surmised.

"Not necessarily," I explained, "Some people use credit cards, so even though they might be broke or have a tiny budget, they can still get buy things on credit."

"Ah," Daisy hummed. "So if you had one of these cards, you could buy whatever you want then, huh?"

"Not really." I told her, "That's how people get into debt. They spend more than they can pay back and end up owing these credit companies thousands of dollars. With interest."

"Oh," Daisy frowned. "That's awful. I don't think I'd ever want one of those cards then. They seem like more trouble than they're worth."

"They're okay, as long as you know how to moderate your spending habits," I shrugged.

Turning the corner, I then asked, "So what'd you do today?"

"I stayed at the front of the store," Daisy replied, "I handled all the monetary exchanges."

"So you're a cashier," I noted, "Sounds cool."

"Cashier," Daisy repeated, "That was the word Mr. Lestrange called it. Luigi, do you know when I get paid?"

"Lestrange didn't tell you?" I asked.

Daisy colored and admitted, "He did, but I forgot. Do you know when workers are paid here?"

"Well it's not the same for all workers," I said, "Each individual company owner decides when to pay their employees."

"Oh," Daisy responded. "I see."

I smiled at the girl. It would've irked my nerves, having to explain every little detail of life here in Brooklyn to anyone else, but for her it was a sort of endearing experience. I passed up the turn that would've led to my apartment and Daisy, ever astute, made note of this.

"I'm glad you had a good day," I told her in answer, "I was thinking we could eat out to celebrate."

"Don't you have to go to work?" She asked.

I said, "In a little bit. But we've got time."

And if I'm late, who gives a care. It's not like I'm trying for 'employee of the month' or anything.

I wasn't looking at Daisy and wasn't thinking of her in that moment, so when she leaned over and kissed my cheek, I nearly ran a light. Daisy jerked in her seat when I threw on the brakes.

"Sorry about that," I apologized.

She laughed and said, "That's alright. I just wanted to thank you, Luigi."

"For what?"

"For letting me be a part of your life, and introducing me to your world." She said softly.

I was taken aback. My life, this 'world' of mine, it was only good because she was in it. Didn't she see that? Didn't she see how selfish I was? I'd taken her here not as a favor to her, but because I didn't ever want to be without her.

His skin was pale, almost sallow. Red-rimmed were his irises. His eyes were swollen, puffy. Little cuts littered his arms and clavicle and throat, traces of incidents where he'd slept fitfully and scratched at himself. There was a scar beside his eyebrow and he had no clue how it'd got there. His strength was waning. He couldn't use any advanced magic for how heavily it taxed his stomach and back; he felt as if he were about to heave violently when he'd tried to assuage his head.

He didn't even want to think about his head.

He knew his body, his health overall, was deteriorating, he could see it this morning in the mirror. His hair wasn't too well off, either, as it hung limply in dirty tangles against his cheeks and shoulders.

I look like shit, he thought bluntly.

By now there was no question. He knew his ailment was due in large part to his absorbing the former king's dark energy. He was frustrated to admit this, to admit that he couldn't control his own powers anymore, much less the ones foreign to his body. His abilities had grown less and less accessible over the course of time, to where now he had to just suffer with his pains and aches instead of will them away.

"This doesn't make any sense," He growled to himself, "I did everything right."

He had to grip the edges of the vanity surface-top to keep himself from swaying on his feet. As he grimaced down at his ash-white knuckles, he furrowed his brow in consternation. For weeks he'd exercised his internal body so that it'd be prepared to sustain the presence of that gross amount of dark energy, but it seemed now that it had all been for naught. If there was one thing Ludwig hated, it was wasting time.

"This shouldn't be happening," He scowled. "I should be able to control this!"

"Who are you talking to?"

Ludwig whipped his head over to his door and saw his brother, Morton Junior.

"Don't you ever knock?" Ludwig hissed.

"You look like-"

"Get out!"

His voice was hoarse because his throat was red and raw. That dark energy was tearing his body apart from the inside out. He shoved the heels of his palms into his shut eyes but that didn't give him any sort of relief anymore. Very quickly Ludwig grew furious. He was so frustrated that he began to defy his body's pleas and channel his magic through his mind. His stomach twisted itself in knots, sweat pooled to his palms and soles, but he persisted. His vectors, spindly and weak instead of thick and powerful, retracted back into the recesses of his core in surrender.

No! Ludwig gritted his teeth, You bastard! I will control you! I have to!

His body betrayed him soon after his failed attempts in that his mind completely blanked out. For a second his vision went and a shot of panic soared through him. He was acutely aware that he was slick with sweat all over now, and that he was trembling badly. He almost tripped over nothing but he grabbed the vanity once more and panted. Each inhalation was like taking in tiny shards of glass against his already raw throat.

"Majesty?"

Now, of all times, someone would find me in such a fucking state, he thought darkly.

His vision returned, as if on cue, but there were glaring blind spots in his eyes that wouldn't go away. His mouth was a cesspool of bile and hot saliva and his legs felt too weak to take more than five steps, but he willed himself to stride to the door, ever so slowly, and approach his guard. The Koopas never expressed emotion, so he couldn't tell how he was being received by his subordinate.

"What is it?" He asked thickly.

He couldn't get his emerald eyes to focus so there were two, at times three, Koopas when there should've been one.

"You have company." the guard stated.

Ludwig's frown deepened. He didn't know how that could be since he'd already met with Mario and Peach earlier in the day. He'd barely gotten through that meeting without puking or fainting but that wouldn't be the case if he pushed himself any more. He needed to get this person out as soon as possible before his weakness made the Badlands news.

With a strained expression, Ludwig made his way from his bedroom in the guest wing to the throne room. He figured, as protocol dictated, that the guest or guests were already there because there was no one at the front doors. But as he approached his throne, he didn't see anyone but his guards. Ludwig took a seat rigidly on his throne and addressed the Koopas.

"Where are they?" He frowned, "Whoever's here bring them in so I can kick them out already."

"Yes, Majesty." The Koopas bowed.

And when they brought in the guest, Ludwig's scowling face went completely blank. His emerald eyes, shaded on one side by his tangled hair, narrowed slightly as his body stiffened even more.

"Well, well," The newcomer grinned, "Long time no see, my boy!"

"Why have you come here?" Ludwig ground out.

"Why, your precious siblings implored me to join them in their return here." the immortal answered.

"Oh?" Ludwig spoke.

One of these days I really will beat the shit out of those meddlesome brats, he thought grimly, they really can be quite annoying when they put their minds to it.

"They said you were not well. And that I can clearly see." King Boo continued. "Tell me, what ails you, Ludwig?"

"It is of no concern to you," Ludwig spoke tightly. "And if that's the reason you came here, you ought to leave now."

"Nonsense!" King Boo grinned, "I came to help and help I shall!"

There were times, like now, where Ludwig got so frustrated and fed up and angry that he would stop speaking altogether and just level the object of his aggravation with one of his coldest glares. King Boo could see that his former protege was in such a volatile mood and his grin faltered, then died altogether.

In a solemn voice he said, "What is troubling you, Ludwig?"

Ludwig was silent still, contemplating whether or not he would tell the king of his dilemma. It was bad enough he was realizing the crippling effects of his decision to usurp power he couldn't quite control. To have King Boo know of his piteous state; well, he almost figured he'd rather suffer in silence than have that.

"Come now," King Boo coaxed softly, "Have I not been like a father to you, Ludwig? You can tell me."

Ludwig tensed.

"A father?" He spoke in a soft, accusatory tone, "How very presumptuous."

"I nearly reared you since you were a child, didn't I?" King Boo retorted, "That counts for something."

King Boo's violet eyes had steeled. He pushed his long black hair over one shoulder and let a mad grin play on his mouth. Meanwhile Ludwig grew silent once more, almost guiltily so, were he capable of the feeling at the moment.

In a quiet voice, King Boo told him, "Don't forget what I did for you, Ludwig. You wouldn't be here now if I hadn't taken you in, shown you the ways of magic and gave you your start in the dark arts."

Ludwig was yet silent. King Boo was ill at ease with his unmoving silence.

He's always been that way, King Boo knew, even from a very young age.

Ludwig's eyes were unreadable, his whole stony face was. King Boo wondered then, like he always did, what the young man was thinking. It was an impossible query. Ludwig sat there, staring at the violet-eyed immortal, until he finally spoke.

"Well then, father," Ludwig spoke mockingly, "If you want to help me, end this curse."

"Finite incantatum?" King Boo recited with a questioning lilt.

"Don't you think I've tried that already?" Ludwig hissed testily.

"Calm down!" King Boo chuckled, "You always were so high strung. It was just a joke."

"Does it look." Ludwig gritted out, "Like I have time to be joking right now?"

King Boo's good-natured grin suddenly washed away like paint on the sidewalk from a good rain. He observed Ludwig very closely, squinting his eyes until they were purple slants under his black brows. When they widened again, his expression was grave.

"My God, it's killing you, isn't it?" He whispered, enlightened.

Ludwig was silent.

"Don't tell me you've gone and done it, Ludwig." King Boo frowned, not wanting to believe what was unfolding in front of him.

Ludwig still didn't speak.

"You're full of dark energy," King Boo remarked, "I can feel it. You've gone and done it, haven't you?"

Ludwig didn't say a word.

"Didn't I warn you about this?" King Boo said, raising his voice, "Didn't I tell you the power would consume you?!"

"No it won't!" Ludwig snapped. "I will control it!"

King Boo barked out a mirthless laugh, saying, "You will control it? Boy, it's killing you!"

"You think this is funny?" Ludwig asked, rising with his fists clenched at his sides.

King Boo smirked and said, "Your anger is misdirected; I told you not to do this."

Ludwig glowered at him, his body and its sickness inhibiting him from doing any more than that. He desperately needed to sit back down but his pride kept him on his feet.

With a heavy sigh, King Boo said, "Since you have though, you have two options. The first would be to yield to the energy."

"What?" Ludwig frowned.

"Part of him, his innate essence, is the driving force behind that energy," King Boo spoke, "you knew him intimately, you know that he is not one to yield to others. So instead of trying to force him to bend to your will, yield to him. Let his energy expand within you."

"...What?" Ludwig asked, his expression both furious and dumbfounded.

"From your sorry state, I'd have to assume you've been trying to constrict his energy and its effects," King Boo surmised, "That only causes it to lash out at you. Just yield to it, stop fighting it."

"Yield?" Ludwig echoed. "It can't be that simple."

"But it is," King Boo assured him, "Just do it. The agonizing pain leave you and his energy will be much more compliant and available for your use. Don't look at me like that, I'm not trying to deceive you; I always did want to see you succeed all your life.

"Your potential, your ambition enthralls me. I warned you against this but now that you've gone and done it, I'd like to see what you'll become." The king explained honestly.

Ludwig swallowed difficultly and whispered to himself, "Yield to it."

"Yield, but don't let it consume you," King Boo advised. "Give it just enough leeway to settle inside you, not get comfortable and take over."

"What do you want?" Ludwig suddenly clipped.

King Boo was hardly taken aback. He knew his former enforcer well, after all. He gazed at the young man with hooded eyes and folded his arms.

He spoke through a broad smile but stated sadly, "Remember me."

"That's it?" Ludwig asked with scathing skepticism.

"Remember what I have done for you," King Boo implored of him, "Remember that I care about you."

"How much can you care when you don't even have a soul?" came Ludwig's soft, cutting remark.

King Boo flinched in the eyes and in the heart, saying before he vanished, "You'd be surprised."

"Guess what!"

"What?"

"I got my first check!"

"That's great."

"Um. Luigi?"

"Yeah?"

"What do I do with it?"

I chuckled a bit and made Daisy smile sheepishly. She was just getting off work and I was picking her up before I had to head to my own job. She'd been working for a month and a half and had just gotten paid. I guess I'd better tell her about the way money worked here.

"You have to get the money off of that," I said, "because right now it's just a piece of paper."

"Oh," She nodded, then asked, "How do I do that?"

"We could stop by the corner store and cash it," I said, "Or you could open an account at the bank and put it into savings."

The girl cocked a brow.

"The bank or savings?" I asked.

"Both." She replied.

I explained, "The bank is a place where people hold their money for later. A savings account is your individual um, well it's something banks require so that they can tell whose money is whose."

"Ah, I think I understand," She said, "People really do have a lot of money here."

"Not as much as you'd think," I told her.

"I think I wanna' open an account a the bank." She stated.

So we got in my car and headed there.

"How was your first month?" I asked her while driving.

She shrugged, her excitement somewhat dampened from her first day.

"I think I'm starting to get used to it now," She admitted.

"That happens," I said to her. "You sure you're alright with me being gone all night during the week?"

"Yeah," She said, then with a private smirk told me, "I watch a lot of television."

I wondered about that pretty smirk.

We got to the bank and I showed her to the front where a teller took over from there. The woman showed Daisy all about opening a savings account, and a checking account as well, getting a debit card, and using online services to monitor her account. I hardly thought that was necessary since I didn't have a computer and my phone had no internet capabilities, but I just stood off to the side and let the lady do her job. When the teller cashed her check and was counting out the money for her, asking Daisy if she wanted any now, the girl glanced back at me, looking torn.

"You don't have to put all of it in savings," I told her. "Put some of it in your checking account and then you can use your debit card to buy things."

Daisy looked hesitant. "But you said that those cards can lead to immense debt."

"No, no," I said, "Those were the credit cards. With the debit card, you can only spend what you put on it."

The bank teller with the stern bun at the top of her head smiled, validating my words.

"Oh, okay." She nodded.

Daisy ended up putting 200 dollars on her card, and leaving the remaining 300 dollars in her savings account. I couldn't believe she'd made that much working only fifteen hours a week, but then again, Lestrange's place payed well. Much more than I could say for my job. But I wasn't jealous. This meant I didn't have to work weekends anymore just to keep the lights on. It also meant I got to spend more time with Daisy, and that was always nice.

A/N: So I hoped you enjoyed that. Yes, more things arise to thicken the plot; as it turns out, KB is closer to Ludwig than anyone thought and yes he did know that Ludwig was plotting to take Bowser's power for himself a verrry long time ago: Ludwig was a dark kid, what can I say.

Oh, and if you haven't noticed by now, the boy has daddy issues. I tried hinting at that with his relationship with Bowser but I think I failed, ha.

Things are going to be shaking up soon so stay tuned! Until next time my readers!

~DymondGold~