Enjoy :)

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 Fifty-Three

Adrenaline raced through her blood as she knelt in the corner of the long, dark corridor. To her left was the bedroom she'd just escaped from, and she was still surprised that had happened. Maybe not so much as she had been when, before making her break, the Dark King had imparted some words of wisdom to her.

Go and sit in the corner, he'd told her, wait until the guards switch shifts. There's a two-minute interval where no one is on duty in the halls.

Daisy at first thought that the king had been messing with her, but he'd just shrugged and said he had no reason to; the girl didn't know whether to trust his word and figured that maybe he wanted her to wait so that when he got ready to leave, she'd be still around.

But I'd have to wait anyway, she knew. There were two guards at the end of the hall and she had to wait in the corner inevitably so as to come up with a plan for getting past them.

But then the Dark King proved not to be a liar. For once.

The two guards took up their staves and left their post. Daisy let a few seconds pass, then several more before glancing back into the bedroom. She hadn't shut the door behind her so she could see the king, who was leaning on the bed in view of the doorway. He winked at her and smirked. She cut her eyes back to the front and stood slowly. The guards were still gone.

She rose fully and took a few hesitant steps forward, then immediately shed her shoes; even though they were light slippers she'd raided from the king's closet, they were making too much noise for her liking. With bare feet she padded the rest of the way down the hall, ignoring the chilled floor and cold sweat she was breaking out into.

At the edge of the hall Daisy stopped: there were many more guards around. There were two by the front doors, two near the entrance to the servants' quarters, two near the double doors of the dining room, two near the door that led to the training room, and two near the bottom of the stairs. Daisy swallowed hard and rubbed her sweaty palms on her romper's silk fabric.

Don't panic, don't panic, she coaxed herself. Just think of something. Anything.

She couldn't. So she did the first thing that came to mind and just bolted, hoping her feet and the element of surprise would carry her out of the rotten palace.

Without hesitation, the Koopas near the training room began to take chase, being the closest to her. Daisy darted left and right to avoid them when the Koopas near the stairs moved to cut her off.

Dammit, she swore in her head, I was trying to get to the kitchens. Have to go another way now.

The kitchens led to a door that in turn led to the courtyard, but seeing as how she was about to get blocked in, Daisy made a heel-face turn and sprinted in the other direction adjacent to where she'd come from. The guards were much bigger but she was much faster and she ducked into the first door she came across.

Thank goodness it wasn't locked, she thought once she was away from the Koopa guards and behind the safety of the random door. She'd entered it without thinking and now wondered if that had been a mistake because before her were two options. One was a set of stairs to the left, and to the right was a path that led to a dark and musty room. It was no darker than the tiny area she stood in presently, so she figured it couldn't hurt to investigate.

Maybe there's an exit this way, she hoped.

Daisy jumped when the door swung open and she was faced with six to eight tall, imposing Koopas. She made her decision and hurried forward to the right, slamming smack-dab into someone else. Both she and the other person stumbled and when Daisy righted herself, drawing further into the room, she saw who it was. Then she froze.

The other person, a young woman as well, glanced at her and then at the guards. Her eyes shown with knowing light and she brushed past Daisy to approach the Koopas.

"What is going on?" One of the reptilians asked.

The tall redhead crossed her arms and stood erect, saying, "Nothing. This girl is with me."

"She came from the west wing," The Koopa spoke with as much doubt as it could express with its emotional limitations. "She was running like an intruder."

"She was running because she was scared." The redhead dismissed. "She's new here. She must have gotten lost, didn't you?"

Now the tall girl turned her lively eyes onto Daisy, who dared not speak lest something choked and unintelligible come out. She just nodded meekly, inadvertently helping her case.

The redhead told the guards flippantly, "See? She's one of us. If you don't believe me, just go and ask the Mistress, she'll tell you."

The older woman's moniker carried some weight in the palace because it seemed the Koopas were begrudgingly appeased. They glanced at one another in turn with hard, piercing black eyes and nodded once, firmly.

"See to it that she doesn't get out again." Was all they said before exiting and slamming the door behind them.

The redhead blew out a relieved sigh and turned to address the girl she'd just covered for, but before she could get a word in Daisy enveloped her in a bone-crushing hug.

"My God, I was so worried about you!" Daisy exclaimed over the girl's shoulder. "I didn't know what happened to you!"

Daisy was pushed back gently by the shoulders as the redhead gave her a confused stare.

"Um," The tall girl spoke. "Do I...know you?"

Daisy faltered, then said, "It's me-"

Oh right, she remembered, the last time she saw me I was a lot blonder and much less talkative. But then...

"If you don't recognize me," Daisy asked, "Then why did you help me?"

The girl shrugged and said, "I can't stand those creepy Koopas and you really do look like you'd fit in here."

"Where is here?" Daisy frowned, the musty scent of the room assaulting her nostrils.

The redhead said a matter-of-factly, "The royal harem."

Daisy's eyes widened. Softly she said, "Oh, Pepita, I didn't think..."

The redhead narrowed her eyes and asked, "How do you know my name?"

Now Daisy sighed and knew her escape plan wouldn't allow for her to give her former friend the entire run-down of what had happened the last time she was at the palace. As quickly and as simply as she could, Daisy gave Pepita and abridged version of what was going on. During her recounting, she got some quirked eyebrows, widened eyes, and various expressions of horror, disgust, and sympathy.

"Whoa." Pepita breathed quietly, hands on her hips. "So you mean to tell me you were a spy? You really could talk the whole time?"

"No, I had a charm on my voice." Daisy explained, "But that's not the point. I need to get out of here."

Pepita gazed over the other woman in mild awe, saying, "I can't believe you're Rose. She just seemed so timid and little and you're. Well. Not."

"I know." Daisy stated with a patient smile. "I was acting. I mean, not with our friendship. I really do appreciate everything you did, and I hope you didn't get hurt because of me."

A bitter knot coiled in Daisy's stomach as she recollected the morning when all those arrests were made in the kitchens. After that day, she hadn't seen or heard from Pepita again. Now she was alive and seemingly well, but in a harem of all places.

As if she didn't want an answer Daisy asked, "Did Bowser ever...that is, did he-"

"Touch me?" Pepita finished softly. "No. I thought he would, but I guess he sort of forgot about us after a while. "

"Us?"

"Some other girls got arrested that day, too." Pepita replied.

Daisy said again, "I'm sorry. He was doing that because of me."

"It's still wasn't your fault," Pepita shrugged. "The Dark King was crazy. Or maybe I should say 'is' crazy. Is he really still alive?"

"I just got away from him in his bedroom." Daisy told her.

Pepita shuddered and rubbed her tan arms. "That's awful. I knew something weird was going on lately. But speaking of crazy, won't His Loony Majesty be after you?"

Daisy had told Pepita about how Ludwig had kidnapped her and sold her out to the former king, and was not surprised when Pepita let her know how just about everyone in the palace had witnessed his descent into madness.

"I guess so." Daisy nodded, "But if I jet through the kitchens and out to the courtyard I should be able to get away before he notices."

Pepita gave her a skeptical look and said, "If you say so. Come on, you'll need to change clothes."

For the sake of time, we took a portal to the palace. King Boo knew how to open this teeming black oval gateway that could allow us to step from one coordinate on any dimensional plane to another. I stumbled out after Peasley and King Boo came stepping out last as we arrived right in front of the palace. We were far enough from the double doors that the Koopa guards posted there couldn't detect us. They stood with a staff in one hand and a hammer in the other. The brooding reptilians made a chill go up my spine. I turned to King Boo.

"How do we-"

King Boo looked at Peasley and asked, "Do you, by chance, know any cloaking spells?"

The prince nodded and brought his two fingers up to his mouth. He had his cloak on but the hood was down; it was permissible because tonight there was a new moon. Peasley spoke soft words I couldn't understand against his index and middle fingers and then disappeared.

"Peasley?" I frowned.

I heard him say, "I'm here."

Ah. So that's what a cloaking spell does, I noted to myself.

I was starting to feel a little nauseous because the moment of truth was upon me. I had to do this now or never; the thought of going through with Boo's plans made me feel like tossing cookies but I took a breath and faced him.

"How do we do this?"

King Boo stepped in front of me and said, "Just relax."

"What do you-"

"Luigi," King Boo cut in. "Relax. Try closing your eyes and taking a deep breath. I can sense how high-strung you are."

I did as he suggested but couldn't help but think to myself, wouldn't you be high-strung if you were about to get possessed?

Yes, I suppose I would be

I jumped so hard that I stumbled backwards, tripped over my own feet, and fell down in the grass. My heart was thundering in my chest and my ears were still ringing as if I'd just been yelled at. There was a presence inside me that wasn't there before and it felt enormous, sinister, and deadly. I blinked and glanced furtively around but King Boo was nowhere in sight. I could have sworn I just heard him speak to me but...no...it couldn't be.

You're...in my mind?

...Something like that, yes

Peasley dropped his cloaking spell long and glanced down at me with blatant concern. He reached a hand down to me and I took it with one of my own shaking ones. I stood on unsteady legs and willed my body to get used to the cramped feeling that was bothering me in the same way an itch under the skin does. It felt like my heart had been stuffed with feathers and balloons. It wasn't totally unbearable, but it was unnerving all the same.

"So how-"

It would behoove you to communicate with me telepathically

"And how do I do that?" I muttered, clenching my teeth to stave off the nervousness.

I didn't like how easy it was for King Boo to just get into my head like that; it made me realize that he could have done that all along. It made me see just how dangerous and powerful he really was. I made a mental note to be more careful around him.

In my head I swear I could feel him grinning.

All you need to do is just think and I'll hear you

Right, I told him. So how do we get inside?

Through the front doors

...You're joking

Perhaps I'd better show you

Like a marionette I felt my legs began moving by their own design. It freaked me out and that must have showed on my face because when I glanced at Peasley, he asked me if I was alright. I nodded stiffly and let King Boo do his thing. With Peasley beside me, invisible again, I 'walked' up to the front entrance.

Grab his hand, came the king's demand.

What?

Grab your companion's hand!

I reached out for Peasley and brushed the fabric of his cloak. His hand found mine and gripped it tightly. Instead of stopping at the entrance doors, I felt my legs plow forward steadily, carrying me straight through the wall. It was the oddest, most barf-inducing sensation I'd experienced yet, and that was saying something coming from the guy who'd gone through 12 years of public school in Brooklyn.

Peasley and I kept our hands joined and I blinked in the darkness of the palace. There were a few points of light here and there, but they were very dim. Still, Peasley moved to put on his hood with his fingers still linked with mine.

What now?

Now you must-

"Look, Luigi!" Peasley hissed near my ear.

He dragged me by the hand past the oblivious guards down the hall to the left. I struggled to keep up and make my steps as soundless as the prince's as we trekked down the quiet hall. Then I saw what he was chasing; heading down the hall ahead of us was a short, bald green creature.

"It's Fawful," Peasley told me in a hushed whisper.

I squinted to see better and suddenly my vision clarified several percents over to where I could make out every crack in crevice in the creature's wrinkled skin. I blinked, unused to the enhanced eyesight.

You're welcome, King Boo seemed to chuckle. Once again, I felt more than heard it. I rolled my eyes and peered forward.

Peasley nudged me and guided me down the hall to the right. He put my hand on something cold and round, like a doorknob.

"When I say so," He murmured, "Open this door. I'll make a grab for him and you shut the door behind us."

"Oh..kay.." I answered.

"Now!" Peasley stage-whispered.

We broke hands and I twisted the doorknob, then swung it open. It wouldn't budge.

Try pushing it

That worked and I knew the king felt the radiating waves of embarrassment at my little blunder. I stepped into the closet and saw the odd sight of Fawful being apprehended by an invisible force. His lips were squashed to his face like someone had a hand over his mouth and his feet dangled off the ground. His arms were pressed to his sides and the way he floated into the closet with Peasley's careful steps looked comical. I shut the door behind us and Peasley dropped Fawful.

"Muffliato," Peasley murmured, his hand on the door near my arm.

The closet was tiny. It was empty, too, with nothing but four walls and floor-space. I felt a bit claustrophobic.

Or that could be because I've got someone sharing my body, I thought wryly. Again I felt the king's amusement. At least one of us was enjoying this.

"What's going on?" Fawful sputtered, "Revelio!"

I felt something pulling at me, like I'd been wearing a bedsheet and it had suddenly been yanked away. Fawful gaped at me first then at Peasley. I frowned.

He can see us?

I'm afraid so.

"Illuciano." Peasley spoke, forming a ball of light and setting it in place above his head where it floated and brightened up the closet.

Peasley was visible now, too, and had his hood up. He crouched down to Fawful's height and gripped the creature's shoulders.

"I may look different but I know you know my voice." The royal spoke evenly.

Fawful paled and trembled, saying, "P-P-P-P-Prince Peasley! H-how did you find me here?"

"Never mind that." Peasley spoke brusquely. I've got some questions I need answering."

When Pepita told her she'd be changing her clothes, Daisy hadn't planned on getting a full makeover. The redhead had not only draped her in typical harem garb, but had made up her face and put her hair up in an elaborate ponytail. That was before she'd decked her arms and face in some kind of glittery perfume. Her excuse for all that was that Daisy needed to look authentically disguised.

I gotta' hand it to her, Daisy thought with a tiny smile, she did one heck of a job and she did it fast. If we weren't parting ways...

Daisy and Pepita walked hand-in hand out of the door that led to the musty room and both girls jumped at the sound of a scuffle on the other side of the palace.

"What was that?" Daisy whispered, more alert than afraid.

Her body was set to run off at a moment's notice. Pepita noticed the guards that were around the stairs and front doors begin to head that way to investigate. The redhead smiled.

"I don't know, but it worked out in our favor. Come on."

Daisy gripped her hand tighter and they walked right up to the Koopas that were guarding the kitchen.

"Don't act suspicious," Pepita leaned over to whisper. "We're just two harem girls getting something to eat. No one suspects you."

Once they reached the two guards, Pepita put on a winning smile and asked to be excused. Daisy eyed the guards nervously and expected them to call the two of them out or ask to know their business or anything. But all the Koopas did was just step aside and let them pass.

Oh, right. I forgot how much people underestimate women around here, Daisy thought, but couldn't really bring herself to be bitter about the fact when it served her purposes so well. She relaxed a bit and entered the double doors still holding Pepita's hand. When she opened the door, she nearly had a heart attack.

"I'm sorry she wasn't there." Junior spoke apologetically.

Once he'd shut the door to his bedroom he turned to his friend and the other redhead child. They were seated on his bed so he came to join them. None of the boys' feet could reach the floor.

The taller redhead blinked slowly at Junior's words and then gazed to the left at the wall. Junior then faced Lemmy.

"Your brother is still so mean. I wish we wouldn't have even ranned into him." The prince frowned.

Lemmy shrugged and then said, "I wonder where they went."

"Who?" Junior piped.

"Your Daddy and um, your queen." Lemmy replied.

Junior would have responded with something along the lines of 'I don't know', but in the next instant their door slammed open.

Were he a lesser man and a harder sleeper, the loud banging on his door would have given him a heart attack. As it was, it only annoyed him. With a patented scowl Ludwig flew out of bed and stalked over to the door, then swung it open. With his mind cleared, he didn't do it so hard as to make it bang on the hinges. He rubbed his emerald eyes and gazed up at the two Koopas who'd awoken him.

"What is it?" He asked callously.

One of the guards told him, "It's the prisoner, sir. The Dark King has escaped."

"Impossible." Ludwig denied.

"Your Majesty, it's true." The Koopa persisted. "He's incapacitated the two guards who were stationed near his room."

Ludwig then narrowed his eyes and brushed past the guards. He made long strides towards the west wing, nearly tripping over three children in the process. At them he glared.

"Shouldn't you little beasts be in bed?" He called over his shoulder.

Unbeknownst to him, that's just where they were headed. But they had come from the bedroom of the former Dark King.

Upon arriving, Ludwig saw the proof of the guard's words; two Koopas lay scorched on the ground and the air around smelled of burnt flesh.

Impossible, Ludwig thought angrily. How did he get past my wards? And where is that girl? Ludwig made a face and turned to the living guards.

"Did you see where he went?"

The Koopa guard who'd been silent until now spoke, saying, "He was headed towards the kitchens. He wasn't alone."

"What do you mean he wasn't alone?" Ludwig barked. "Who's with him?"

Then the young sorcerer caught sight of two slippers, two feminine shoes, discarded in a dark corner of the hall. His perceptive eye observed this and his perceptive mind filled in the blanks. His frown deepened as he then made his way single-mindedly to the kitchens.

"Pepita. Leave."

Two words, curtly spoken and wholly meant did Daisy utter. Unfortunately, one glance at the redhead beside her spoke volumes of her apparent fear; it looked like Pepita was frozen in place. That wouldn't do.

No one else is getting hurt because of me, Daisy thought with determination.

She gave Pepita a mild shove towards the doors they'd just stepped through and even that didn't totally spur the girl into motion. Daisy didn't fault her for her fear; the Dark King in all his bare-chested, fat-bladed-knife-wielding, shit-eating-grin glory was enough to make even the hardest of men tremble. She felt her knees getting weak at the sight but kept her bravado at the forefront of her mind.

I have to get her out of here, Daisy thought.

She turned to her friend and clutched her face, making her gaze into her own light eyes instead of into the enigmatic ones of the former king. Pepita blinked, her attention diverted.

"Get out of here." Daisy ordered.

"But-"

"Go!" She implored, shoving her harder for good measure. In vain she added, "Get help."

That made Pepita nod and she skirted past the counter near the wall and bolted through the doors. Daisy glanced at her as she left and saw the guards were no longer on duty.

Figures. When I need them, they vanish, she thought wryly.

Daisy took a calming breath and faced the king. He grinned as if he was waiting for that all along. She made herself appear calm, aloof, in control. He was all the way at the other end of the kitchen and she was near the door. Her exit was to the immediate right of the king. If she wanted to leave, she'd no doubt cross paths with him.

She said in her head, it would seem some manipulation is in order.

Very casually Daisy began to take measured steps forward. There was a series of island counters in her path, so she moved to the right of the first one and ran her hand along the sink. Her demeanor did well to give off low-key vibes.

To Bowser she said, "You told me you didn't care if I stayed or if I left. You said you wouldn't force me to come with you."

In her mind, she was wondering how he got out of the bedroom in the first place. She deduced that he probably knew a way out all along and just chose to bide his time.

Or maybe he just piggy-backed off of my idea, Daisy considered.

She did a foolishly brave thing in turning her back to the Dark King but she knew what she was doing and, like according to plan, he was behind her in an instant. The only reason Daisy didn't flinch as hard as normal when he put his hands on her waist was because she knew something crucial.

This is the last time this is going to happen, she vowed. I will get out of here tonight.

The king leaned down and said near her ear, "Yeah, well. I changed my mind." He kissed her and added, "Can you really blame me? I mean, look at you, Precious. It's like you went out of your way to make me think twice about what I said."

Daisy's clothes were akin to that of a woman she'd seen on Luigi's television back in Brooklyn, something about a genie. She didn't have a headpiece to match the outfit, but her hair was done in a flattering way all on its own. She stiffened when she felt the knife in Bowser's left hand make contact with her thigh. Through the sheer red fabric the blade felt cool against her skin.

I have got to get that away from him, she thought desperately.

She told the king, "It's too bad you changed your mind because I didn't."

Daisy then reached over and seized the handle of the knife with both hands and yanked it away from him. She backed up in the direction of the exit but, with the agility of a feline beast, Bowser leaped over the counter and to her left and blocked her path. Daisy narrowed her eyes.

That's it; forget manipulation, she thought. It's time for plan B.

"Where is Cackletta?" Peasley demanded to know.

I crouched near my friend and asked, "And where is Daisy? I know she's here."

Fawful bared his teeth in a sneer and said, "I'll never tell you anything, I won't!"

That made me mad and I sighed in frustration but Peasley just wore a blank expression. He stared hard at the little creature before speaking.

In an oddly quiet voice he said, "Oh, I believe you."

My friend put the flat of his hand over Fawful's face and the creature was rendered immobile. As Peasley began to close his eyes, it was proven that Fawful's mouth was still fully operational; he began to grunt and cry out. His body moved again once more as he started to convulse, while Ludwig was still and looked to be in deep concentration.

"What are you doing?" I dared ask.

Peasley didn't answer me, but Boo did.

It looks like he's performing a complex technique that involves delving into another person's thoughts and memories

"So basically, more dark magic." I said flatly.

There was something disapproving in my tone and I guess that offended Peasley because he cracked open one lime eye and glanced at me.

Defensively he claimed, "I'm only getting the answers that would otherwise be denied us."

"But it's wrong," I told him. "You're torturing him!"

Yes, by now Fawful's grunts had escalated to loud cries of pain and anguish. I couldn't stand to hear it but it didn't seem to be bothering Peasley.

"This isn't you," I told my best friend.

Peasley shut his eyes again and murmured, "You don't get it, Luigi. He's done things, awful things, to many innocent people. I have to do whatever's necessary to bring him and Cackletta to justice."

"Even if it means turning into someone else?" I argued.

"Even if it means utilizing my talents in...questionable ways to achieve a certain means to an end." Peasley corrected softly.

"Peasley-"

"Don't you want to know where Daisy is?" Peasley asked, turning both eyes on me.

Well he's got me there, I thought and said no more on the matter.

I was still perturbed but then again, I didn't have a kingdom on my shoulders. I supposed that Peasley had a lot riding on him; if he was right and Fawful and his mistress had done dastardly things in his kingdom, then people were probably depending on him to do something about it. I'd been to Bean Kingdom, he was a hero there and that came at a price, apparently.

I just hope this doesn't do to him what it did to Ludwig, I thought without remembering who was listening. I sensed, to my surprise, great sadness and a feeling that King Boo shared in my sentiments.

He only said, I should hope that never happens

Suddenly Peasley stood and Fawful collapsed and I tried in vain to read him while his hood was up. His body language was strange in the way he stood slowly, stiffly. I feared what may come out his mouth.

She's not dead, she's not been raped, I convinced myself.

Oh, now why would you think that? I'm sure she's perfectly fine. Old Bowser isn't exactly up to his usual caliber, I think

"What did you see?" I asked Peasley nervously.

The prince just said, "Cackletta is working with Bowser against Ludwig. You need to go to the west wing because that's where he's keeping Daisy."

"You're not coming?" I frowned.

He told me, "Cackletta is here in the palace and I have to find her. I'll meet up with you in the Black Forest."

"Alright."

And against my intuition we stepped out into the hall, leaving Fawful behind, and separated. I headed straight for the west wing and started checking every bedroom in sight. Most of them were empty, including the room I recognized as Junior's. Finally I got to the last bedroom, the one that belonged to the Dark King. I remembered it from when I came to help Princess Peach get out of here. That memory brought a sour taste to my mouth.

You could save your brother's girl but not your own. Some hero.

You're still a hero to me, Luigi

Yeah, that's not helping.

I stepped into the room without pretense and searched around.

"Daisy?" I called.

I checked the floors and under the bed and atop the bed, pulling all the sheets off and everything without thinking too long on what may have transpired there. I looked through the closet and in the bathroom but neither her nor Bowser were around.

Then I heard her scream.

It had been torn from her lips, that scream. Whether she wanted to or not it came bursting from her throat and pierced the surrounding area's formerly quiet environment. She was on the floor and that was never a good sign of how things would turn out.

Okay, she thought in hindsight, so maybe attacking him wasn't such a good idea after all.

But it wasn't her fault. When Daisy had flown at him with her knife at the ready, she was under the impression that he was without his power. But that wasn't the case; his hands had almost instantly closed around her offending wrists and she felt heat there, and that was just the first move. From there she'd lashed out at him with anything she could pick up on and the two had bruised and battered each other.

Now she was on the floor nursing her latest injury; a newly-burnt knee. How he'd gotten her there, she didn't even know. What she did know was that he was stalking towards her, one hand aflame and the other clutching the side of his head where a thick gash split the skin from his collar up to his temple. He was bleeding badly and was seething mad. She was starting to think this would end very poorly for her if she didn't find a way to that exit door.

Think, think, think!

She couldn't think, not when he was so furious. This was the worst she'd seen him yet, besides that night he almost killed her. She felt her heart hammering away in her chest and couldn't stand for how weak and noodly her legs felt. But then a woman appeared, seemingly out of nowhere.

She was dressed in a tight black dress and had her blonde hair in bouncing, lively curls. Her red mouth was painted glossy and was twisted in an unattractive scowl. In her arms she carried a red-haired child.

"We've got to go." The blonde stated to Bowser. "Fawful blew our cover. Come on, I've got the clone, let's ditch this place."

"Wait." Bowser growled, his eyes never swaying her way. He gazed at Daisy when he said, "I'm not leaving without my queen."

The blonde scoffed and cast a jealous look at the injured girl and then grabbed Bowser's arm. He jerked away, partly because he'd been stabbed there and partly because he didn't want he touching him. Before he could take another step towards Daisy, though, the double doors to the kitchens flew open.

In an instant both Bowser and the blonde with the redhead child vanished, but not before Ludwig could see them. With them gone, he turned his ire towards the young woman crumpled on the floor.

"Where did they go?" He demanded.

Daisy asked incredulously, "How should I know?!"

I heard Daisy's voice, I heard her scream. I knew it was her. I had to see to her, had to get to her as fast as I could. I ran in the direction I'd heard her and came out of the hall and back near the entrance doors. That's when I ran into that blue-haired know-it-all. He was man-handling Daisy, half-dragging her by the arm. I didn't know what she was wearing but I could see cuts and burns all over her body. Thinking the worst, that maybe Ludwig had done it to her, I lunged for him.

"You!" Ludwig hissed when he saw me.

He was good at leaping back and dodging the fist I had coming his way, and then I saw him getting ready to attack. First I heard Daisy shout my name and then I saw a bright flash of blue light coming right at me. I didn't have enough time to get out of the way. As it stood, the blast was going to melt my head off my shoulders.

Is it too late to pray?

It seemed like time slowed down. Control over my body was relinquished to another and I felt my legs slide into a balanced squat. My hands began to glow and my arms lithely caught the blast as if I were holding a newborn baby. Then, as if gently redirected a wayward little dog, I felt my hands push the ball of energy back in the direction it had come from, hitting Ludwig squarely in the chest. His eyes were wide, shocked, just like Daisy's, before he was knocked off his feet and onto his back. He was unconscious.

Did you kill him, I asked, because I knew that move had to be all Boo.

No, he'll be on his feet in a moment. It'd be best if you and your party leave now

A/N: A longer chapter for you guys, hopefully that means longer reviews? No? Okay then...lol

I hope you're liking the way things are going and don't worry, there's more to come! We'll see how the aftermath of this crazy night pans out. I wanted to do more run-ins with different characters, but it's after midnight and I'm tired. Oh well. It'll come in later chapters ;)

I'll see if I can update again soon, thanks for reading! Until next time...

~DymondGold~