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Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Mario or its franchise; it belongs to Nintendo and their affiliates. I just am really grateful to its creators for giving me such a wonderful game and media series to write about!
I also don't own anything related to Harry Potter, all that belongs to J.K. Rowling, but thanks go to her as well because, using her wonderful work, I can expand this story to make it more interesting :)
Chapter Twenty-Seven
It could be because he'd said something he wasn't supposed to. Or it could have be because he'd spent the entire day with Luigi and he'd been expressly forbidden from doing so. Whatever the reason, the child now had a steady headache and could barely get any rest the previous night. He now sat up in bed, tired but gaining no relief from sleep thanks to the familial entity residing his mind.
Junior looked from his knees to the other child in bed with him. Not Larry, who was knocked out sleeping with his arms and legs akimbo. He looked at Lemmy. He stared at Lemmy who was lying in his pajama pants and undershirt. His multi-colored hair was tousled, making the baby blues and reds and greens and yellows all blend into a mixed mess of locks. He rubbed at his eyes when Junior roused him, then sat up with a yawn.
"B-Jun, how come you not sleep?" Lemmy asked.
Junior said, "My Daddy won't let me."
"Won't let you sleep?" Lemmy then asked softly.
Junior nodded.
"Why he won't?" Lemmy inquired.
Junior glanced around to see if everyone else was still asleep. Roy was, along with Wendy next to him, MJ was snoring, and Iggy had stepped out of the room. Junior faced Lemmy again.
He whispered, "My Daddy is mad at me. He says I talk too much."
"But you barely even talk." Lemmy frowned. "You always got your thumb in your mouth, like a baby."
"I'm not a baby," Junior protested, his voice rising. "I just do that because my Daddy be telling me to, when I start to talk too much or when he want me to be quiet."
"Oh." Lemmy responded. "So he don't want you talking no more?"
Junior shook his head. "He just don't want me to talk about him no more."
"Oh." Lemmy said again.
And the matter was dropped. Lemmy, who sympathized with his friend, laid down but didn't shut his eyes.
If I go to sleep again, B-Jun will be up alone, he reasoned.
Tiredly Lemmy asked, "You saw Weegie on the yesterday?"
"Yes, he took me to the parade," Junior spoke with rising excitement, "He had put me on his body and I was all the way high up!"
"Really?" Lemmy asked with an impressed smile. "I wish I was-"
"Shut up!" Roy griped from across the room.
Both boys jumped at the sound and ducked under the covers. But after he did, Lemmy poked his head out stuck out his tongue at him, blowing an indignant raspberry.
Today was the perfect day for a picnic: the sun was shining, the air was sweet, the grass was nice and dry and bright green, and the weather was cool; not too hot, not too cold. It was absolutely perfect. Except for one thing.
Ludwig was here.
I saw him first, then Daisy did. We'd arrived when the event was in full swing, so the fact that I'd immediately spotted him among the hundreds of people was kind of weird. I saw him lock eyes with me and then glance back down at his siblings. He looked distracted. And overdressed. Everybody else wore summer clothes, light shirts and thin pants or shorts. The only reason I was wearing pants now was because pants was all I had. As rich as he was, Ludwig had to own something that wasn't as fancy as what he wore now; a royal blue uniform jacket with gold emblazoning that reminder me of a bull-fighter's garb. He stood above his siblings, all six of them, and Junior.
"Look, there's Peasley." Daisy spoke, pointing to the left.
I looked but couldn't see my friend. I just trusted her to guide me to him. We passed lots of people sitting either on the ground or on big red and white toadstools. Peasley was sitting with his legs folded on a fine white spread. He wasn't alone; two girls in white sundresses sat on either side of him. When we got close to him, he waved us over.
"Luigi!" He smiled, standing and falling into a bow.
"Hey," I greeted him.
Daisy rolled her eyes as he went through his normal theatrics; taking her hand and kissing it with a flourish that made the two young girls giggle. Peasley turned to them and they stood as well, approaching me.
"Luigi, Daisy," Peasley spoke, "I don't think you've met the twins: Mina, Nina, these are my friends."
One of the girls wore her black hair in shiny ringlets while the other, Nina I believe, had her hair flat as a sheet and held back with a white barrette. They both curtsied politely and smiled, telling Daisy and me how nice it was to meet us.
"Now don't be alarmed," Peasley said as we all sat back down. "They are, in no way, romantically involved with me."
"I should say so," Daisy remarked, "They look very young."
"We're not that young!" Mina, I think, proclaimed.
Her sister added, "We're going on sixteen."
I exchanged a glanced with my friend and quirked a brow. He only shrugged. I assumed these were his fan girls, or two of the many ones. They wore the same color clothes as he did, though I didn't think the outdoors was a good place to wear white. Peasley was nothing if not fashionably daring, though his outfit today was incredibly low-key. He had another of his tailored pair of pants on, with his chain-link wallet in his pocket. His shirt was a plain white silk garment. I had to assume the white silk wrapped around one of his hands was another of his questionable choices. Daisy didn't.
She asked, "Is something wrong with your hand, Peasley?"
One of the twins blurted, "It's a blemish!"
"Unsightly little thing!" Her sister chimed in.
"He doesn't like to talk about it." The first one finished up.
Peasley shook his head but his expression had faltered a bit. He took one of the girl's hands in each of his.
"Mina, Nina." He said in turn.
"Yes?" They asked in unison.
"You see that table over there?"
He pointed to the refreshments area. They nodded once they saw it, too.
"Won't you go and get us some more to drink?"
"Of course!"
"Right away, your Majesty!"
They left to do his bidding eagerly. When they were out of sight, Peasley dropped his eyes to his hand with a sigh.
"What's wrong?" I asked him.
Peasley glanced at me and Daisy before unwrapping the silk bindings. The first thing I saw was his wrist. He still had the tattoo there, a thorny rose, but on the other side of his hand there was a red splotch. He ran his thumb along it softly, his handsome face pensive. He raised pea-green eyes to me.
"What's that?" I asked.
"I don't know." Peasley shrugged. "I have an idea, but at the moment it's unfounded. I haven't had a chance to research the matter as much as I'd like to."
"Where did it come from?" Daisy wanted to know.
Peasley shrugged. "I just woke up and it was here."
"Does it hurt?" She prompted.
"No." Peasley replied.
"Does it itch?" She then asked.
"Not at all." Peasley answered. "It's just..there."
Daisy and I shared a look. I didn't know what to tell my friend. It clearly had him bothered, or else he wouldn't have sent his young companions away. And speaking of them, I could see them now. They were talking to Roy and MJ.
"Where did you meet those girls?" I asked my friend.
Peasley said, "They made themselves known to me sometime last year. They do adore me so much, for some reason."
"Can't imagine why," Daisy quipped wryly.
"They really aren't so bad." Peasley stated, then stared straight at me."And in no way are they a threat...to us."
"Peasley..." I spoke in warning.
"Don't worry, Luigi." Peasley said earnestly, "Nothing will ever come between us."
"..." I gave Peasley a flat expression.
Beside me Daisy was fighting to keep a straight face.
Prince Peasley then tilted his head and spoke musingly, "Well, there is one thing that might threaten our relationship."
"You know, it's times like this that make people think we're-" I started.
"And do you know what that is?" Peasley interjected.
"What is it?" Daisy asked through her laughter, because I was done entertaining the royal in this line of conversation.
Peasley smirked and said, "Why, it's you, fair flower. As long as my dear Luigi has you, he and I shall never be."
Daisy was enjoying this immensely. I sighed heavily and drummed my fingers on the mat beside me. Daisy wrapped her arm around my middle and leaned her head against me.
"Are you done?" I asked my best friend.
Peasley began wrapping his hand again, saying, "I really am happy for you, my friend. But I must know: when will they come?"
"Who?"
"The children." Peasley answered simply. "I mean, you are having children, aren't you? This is the optimum age to bear them, mind you."
Daisy tensed beside me. I glanced at her and saw it was not from fear or anxiety, no, a slow grin was spreading on her face, though she was blushing as well.
"Forgive me," Peasley spoke quickly, "But I'm just curious."
"You're always curious." I told him. "We seriously need to have a talk about conversational boundaries sometime."
"So..." Peasley pried. "Are you?"
"Is he what?"
The twins had come back with two bottles of what looked like wine between the two of them. They handed their wares to Peasley and sat down, eyeing the three of us with interest.
"What's going on?" The one with ringlets asked.
Peasley shrugged and said offhandedly, "Oh nothing, Mina. I was just wondering if my friends planned on extending their family anytime soon."
"We will," Daisy spoke with a coy smile. "Just not right now."
I didn't say anything to that. The two twins wore mirrored expressions of enthusiasm.
"Ooh, you're a couple?" Mina asked.
"How sweet!" Nina exclaimed.
I wanted to take the focus off of Daisy and I, so I decided to give Peasley a taste of his own medicine. I leaned onto my arms behind me and Daisy lay on her side with her head in my lap. While the twins cooed over how cute that was, I faced my friend.
"So Peasley," I spoke with challenge, "You said this is the age to have kids, right?"
"This is the age of ripeness, yes." The prince answered, examining his nails.
"So when are you gonna' get started?" I then pressed.
Peasley dropped his hands and gazed at his lap for a second. He then gave me a weak smile.
"In light of my past misfortune with marriage and the like," He spoke slowly, "I think I'll stay single for a little longer."
"Ah, right." I said with a slight grimace.
That was kind of insensitive of me to bring up that subject for him. Lord knows he went through Hell with Cackletta, or Kate Clact as she'd called herself. I gave my friend a sheepish look.
"Sorry about rehashing that." I apologized.
He waved his hand and said, "Think nothing of it, Luigi. In time, I'll find someone."
"But I'm already here!" Mina proclaimed.
"And so am I!" Nina said just as loudly.
Peasley looked at them and sighed, saying, "You two aren't even old enough to drink."
"Yes we are! This...this is wine," Nina spoke, confused. "Isn't it?"
Peasley had glasses and a tray of sandwiches and treats in front of him on the spread. He picked up a glass and poured some of the red liquid from the bottle into it, handing it to the girl.
"There isn't any alcohol in this." Peasley told them. "It's just sparkling strawberry juice."
The girls looked dismayed.
He told them reproachfully, "You of all people should know the ill effects of alcohol on the body, nurse 1 and nurse 2."
"They're nurses?" I asked.
"Not yet." Mina said over a pout.
"We're still training," Nina amended.
Peasley said, "Yes, and so am I, though my studies are nearly complete by now."
"You're going to be a nurse?" Daisy asked, tickled.
"No, a physician." Peasley smiled back at her.
Daisy said, "Oh, wonderful, then you can deliver our firstborn!"
"I'd be honored!" Peasley said in response.
Then they both laughed loudly.
I think they were both enjoying themselves way too much at my expense.
"There was a new hospital unveiled in my kingdom," Peasley then said. "You should come and visit it sometime."
"Maybe we will," I said. "But not for that reason, I'm sure."
"Hm, you never know." Peasley said with another wry smirk. "Those things have a habit of sneaking up on a person."
Well, he was right about that, especially since neither I nor Daisy had done anything thus far to prevent that from happening. I guess that might be a sign; maybe a part of me really was ready for a child.
That's crazy; I don't have a big enough income, my car is barely reliable, and God knows that apartment complex is no place to raise a baby.
The only 'sign' I really saw was the sign that I wasn't as responsible as I should be. Not yet.
Wendy was in a relatively good mood, and, by some kind of sibling default, so were her other brothers. She was finally glad to have hope of living in a way that wasn't dictated by her brother or anyone else. She was going to live with Munson in the place she'd always wanted to go. All she had to do was bide her time.
And so I will, she thought with a private smile.
She sat in a pretty pink and white dress that was decorated in lace flowers. Her legs were tucked under her to the side as she sat on the cool grass in her white stockings and flat shoes. She'd gone so far as to not only participate, but to dress her best. Her hair was combed nicely in a braided up-do and her manners were impeccable; she'd congratulated the royal couple on sight and greeted anyone who looked her way politely.
"I'm impressed." A voice spoke above her.
It was her brother, of course. Ludwig. He gazed down at her blankly. She stared up at him with pleasant neutrality.
"No sulking?" Ludwig asked. "No melodrama? No attitude for me today?"
"Nope." Wendy replied.
"Why the change of heart, dear sister?" He asked, his eyes gauging something in her.
"What do you mean?" She asked innocently.
Ludwig stared hard and said knowingly. "It's that boy."
"What boy?"
"Where is he?" Ludwig asked, glancing around slowly.
"Why?" Wendy frowned. "So you can do something awful to him? You're the worst, you know that?"
"There's my sister." Ludwig said, rolling his eyes. "Wendy, I meant what I said. If I ever see him, it'll be the last time you do."
"Whatever." Wendy huffed, glaring at him. "Don't you have somewhere else to be?"
"Indeed I do." Ludwig spoke absently.
The navy-haired twenty-year-old winced a bit at the sight of a familiar figure. There, making his way towards the royal couple, was his old mentor. He frowned. The crowd reacted in much the same way as he, except there was a lot more fear among the Toads and other guests. The ancient immortal made his way through the throng of people, along with his floating minions. The people parted the way for him and he bowed in thanks, as if they'd done it out of reverence or respect. The royal couple, who sat together on a toadstool, regarded the being warily. He was so out of place, not only because of his fearsome reputation, but also because of the way he was dressed. His clothes were reminiscent of the Victorian era, what with his liberal use of blacks with splashes of red and violet. He wore a fine three-piece suit and something of an ascot, with his long black hair down and his magenta eyes dancing with mirth and mischief. The immortal royal bowed as he reached Mario and then held out his hand for Peach's. Once she slid her hand into his, it was bare for once, the royal let his purple tongue drop from his mouth and dragged it over her open palm.
"Oh!" Peach exclaimed, snatching her hand back and wiping it on her dress.
King Boo let out a raspy laugh that chilled a certain young former plumber's spine.
"I don't remember inviting him," Mario whispered to his fiancee.
Peach responded softly with, "That's because I did."
"What?" Mario frowned, "Why?"
Peach explained quietly, "Well, given the circumstances, it seemed appropriate."
"What circumstances would this ever be appropriate?" Mario asked her.
The king, who'd picked up on all this with his exceptional hearing, grinned wider than was humanly possibly, making people shudder and turn away from the ghastly expression. Every last one of his teeth, even the sharp ones that looked like fangs, were showing.
"What I think Peachy's referring to is the fact that I played a key role in her rescue," King Boo stated, amused.
"Right." Peach affirmed, albeit reluctantly.
Mario looked less than pleased, but he still accepted this. If Peach felt the need to invite him, then he'd respect her judgement and sighed.
King Boo said, "I brought something for you, as custom dictates."
He tugged two fingers through the air behind his head and one of his Boos came floating forward. In its stubby arms was a bottle wine, the black glass and deep maroon ribbon giving it an elegant appearance. Mario took the gift and raised his eyebrows.
"Gee, thanks," He said in mild surprise.
King Boo said, "My only request is that you save it until your wedding night. Its effects can be...quite potent. Ludwig, my boy!"
All eyes turned to the king's ex-enforcer who'd chosen to approach him. Ludwig cringed openly now, especially when King Boo clapped a hand on his shoulder affectionately.
Glaring at the offending hand, Ludwig stated icily, "I need to speak to you in private."
"Of course." King Boo obliged, "But first there's someone I just need to see!"
If he could, Ludwig would have felt pity for whatever poor soul King Boo had in mind.
I was starting to remember what it was like living in that bunker. All day, every day, it was the same thing.
"Weegie!"
"Weegie!"
"Come play with us, Weegie!"
Hearing the two brothers was like hearing an echo of my memories. I glanced up and saw the children waiting for me. Daisy did as well and smiled.
"You should go." She told me.
I didn't want to. Sitting under the sun with Daisy in my lap was relaxing. Running around with a twelve year old who was exponentially more athletic than I am was not. But she had that old wistful look in her eyes again, so I indulged her. I stood and lumbered over to the pint-sized people.
"Weegie," Larry grinned, "You're gonna' play catch with us?"
I stared from him, dressed in blue shorts and a blue shirt with a red lobster on it, to Lemmy, dressed in an outfit much the same as his brother's, minus the lobster. Junior was there as well, sucking his thumb and holding Lemmy's hand.
"Yeah, I'll play." I told him.
The two of them cheered while Junior smiled around his thumb. We were in the middle of a game when I felt the nostalgia hit me. Larry was about to catch the magic ball he'd conjured when something caught his eye.
"Ugh," He scoffed, "Roy's at it again."
"At what again?" I asked.
"He's showing off." Larry told me.
I glanced to where his expression of disgust was focused and found the muscular young teenager over by a small, chanting crowd. They were chanting in time to each push up Roy did. Not only was he doing push ups, but he was doing them with one hand. With rocks on his back. Giant rocks stacked on top of each other. I couldn't hear for sure, but I think the crowd was chanting numbers, way up in the hundreds.
Whoa. I knew the kid was strong, but that's just crazy. What kind of training is Ludwig putting him through?
I looked back over when I heard cheering. Roy had gotten up now. Some kind of way he'd lost his shirt and was flexing, much to the young girls' delight. I saw the pink-haired young man crouch to one knee and let a girl stand on each hand. Then he stood up slowly with them in tow. They squealed and clapped their hands. Wait, I knew those girls; those were the twins who hung with Peasley.
Roy put them down and the two girls clung to his side.
"My, my," Someone spoke near my ear, "It would seem they're quite taken with him."
I shuddered and said, "Peasley, don't do that."
"Don't do what?" Peasley murmured, standing too close behind me.
I turned and saw him grin and make his eyebrows jump suggestively. I gave him a deadpan stare.
"This is why people still think we're gay."
"Aren't we?"
"Peasley."
"Sorry, Luigi." the Prince laughed, "I'll stop. But there's someone behind you."
I only glanced over my shoulder because I thought he was joking but, sure enough, there was a tall person standing behind me that I hardly wanted to see again. When I jumped and swore under my breath, they laughed that same chilling, raspy laugh.
"And how is my arch enemy on this fine day?" King Boo asked me.
I stared at the slim immortal and said, "What are you doing here?"
"Same thing as everyone else," King Boo grinned. "Enjoying myself. Although probably not as much as you two."
Peasley smirked and King Boo winked at me.
God, this was awful.
"Okay, Luigi. I'll stop." Peasley chuckled, "Don't look at me like that!"
While I leveled my friend with a mildly annoyed expression, he locked eyes with King Boo past my shoulder.
To him the prince explained, "He's giving me 'bedroom eyes'"
"Peasley."
"Alright, that was the last time, I swear it!" The younger royal claimed, backing away. "I'll go and grace someone else with my presence now."
If by 'grace' you mean bother, I added to myself.
Meanwhile, King Boo had that ever-present maniacal grin on his face. He seemed like some menacing villain out of one of Grimm's fairy tales. He was dressed very elegantly, if we were still in the 16th or 17th century, that is. His clothes were outdated but the black pinstripe pants, polished shoes, and matching vest were undoubtedly well taken-care-of. Or just taken. I never did find out where Boo got this body from. All he'd said was that it wasn't a result of the Composition Curse.
I then made the mistake of looking back into King Boo's eyes. He had horrible eyes. They were the oddest, brightest shade of magenta and impossibly deep yet soulless. He held thousands of secrets behind those wild eyes and crazy grin. He laughed again. He was always laughing. What the hell was so funny all the time?
"So you're still with her, I see." King Boo spoke knowingly.
I frowned.
"The girl." He supplied, "That lovely little creature who came to my mansion with you. And speaking of that, when are you going to come visit me again, old friend?"
"Never," I spoke without bothering to hide my blatant unenthusiasm.
King Boo chuckled and said, "But I want to see you two again before you tie the knot!"
I felt my eye twitch from the ludicrous statement.
Slowly I explained, "I don't think you understand this, but we're enemies. You tried to kill me."
"I thought we discussed this, my boy," King Boo laughed, "Back at Evershade Valley, that was all a bit of fun. I never wanted to kill you, you're much too interesting, you see. And enemies; well, I'm not sure that word even fits the two of us, given our most recent history."
"Yeah, you helped me out with that Bowser situation. Somewhat." I admitted, "And I appreciate it. But don't expect me to be all buddy-buddy with you all of a sudden."
"Of course not," King Boo stated, his eyes narrowing and his grin turning into a slightly malevolent smirk. "But you must humor me; at least stop by after your honeymoon, won't you?"
"Are you done now?"
Surprisingly enough, there was someone more annoyed by the situation than I was. Unfortunately enough, that person had to be Ludwig. He'd come out of nowhere, as was his habit, and now stood glaring impatiently at the royal he once served under. King Boo met his glare with good humor.
"Just about," The King stated. "Now, what did you want to talk to me about, my boy?"
Ludwig glanced at me dismissively and said, "Not here."
I was very glad to see them walk off away from me and the picnic-goers, towards the woods. The king's Boos were still scattered about, though. I saw them causing various amounts of mischief among the people. One of them licked Roy on the side of the face and predictably set the boy off. Another followed behind my girlfriend as she made her way to me. There was someone else coming my way in leaps and bounds, but before he could reach me, he collapsed to the ground and cried out. The noise startled the Boo that had been hovering behind Daisy, and it twirled around and vanished.
"Junior, what's wrong?" I asked in concern.
The boy was on his knees in the grass. One second he seemed fine, and the next he just crumpled to the ground like he'd been axed or something. Lemmy was not too far behind. Daisy arrived as well, and crouched like I did over the child.
"My head," Junior sobbed, "My head!"
"What's wrong with your head?" Daisy asked gently.
She gathered the child in her arms but he pulled away and cradled his skull in his hands. Daisy gazed at me with a worried expression. I was just as confused as her.
"Junior, what's wrong?" I tried to get an answer out of the boy.
He was muttering something that sounded like 'please' or 'yes sir' but I couldn't be sure. He wouldn't stop crying. Lemmy was also distressed.
He said, "I think I know what the matter is. Come on, B-Jun."
And he led the other child away by the hand. I watched them both go. The farther they went, the more Junior began to calm. He was all the way on the other side of the field when he finally stopped crying. I shook my head.
"What was that all about?" Daisy asked me.
I said, "Your guess is as good as mine."
"He's been acting very strange." Daisy noted.
"It probably has a lot to do with him being the five year old son of a megalomaniac." I shrugged, then amended. "Deceased megalomaniac."
A/N: More updates are coming, I promise! And since you guys like longer chapters, I'll work on that, too.
So...what's in store for Luigi and Daisy?
Why does Ludwig want to talk to his old mentor/employer?
What is wrong with little Junior?
Who is this aunt Munson and Wendy are planning on running away to? And better yet, will they succeed or will Lud get in the way of their 'young love'?
And...most importantly...what in the world is up with the Dark King? Is he dead or alive or...something else?
All this and more will be addressed, so stay tuned people! Until next time...
~DymondGold~