Chapter 5

Luigi can't remember if he had a wink of sleep. He can't remember too much about what happened throughout the night. Did he sleep? Maybe. He's been gripping his brother's hoodie so hard his fingers feel numb, and his eyes felt glued on the small window, barely letting in enough light to see. He's considered trying to climb out of it, but his head wouldn't even be able to barrel through. It was impossible to sleep with the lack of noise, minus the grunts and mumblings of the Koopa turtles outside the door. Even if the environment matched the one he was used to, there was no way he was getting sleep with his throbbing foot. Propping it up did very little, but it eased something going on down there. He just continued to lay there as if he were dead, unmoving. Crying stung his eyes, and he didn't want to get the hoodie too wet. Luigi couldn't tell what kind of state he was in when Kamek burst into his room, waving his wand around. Luigi was quickly lifted from his spot, his body surrounded by an awkward magic that made him lose all feeling in his body. Despite Luigi's protests and cries, he was internally grateful his foot was numbed, even if only for a little bit.

"How are you lifting me off the ground?" Luigi frantically asked. "Is this magic? Magic? Oh, god!"

"Shut up!" Kamek snapped back, tightening his magic. Luigi huffed out some air and winced.

"Okay, okay, sorry."

Kamek examined him, shaking his head.

"You didn't sleep at all, did you?"

"I don't actually remember," Luigi chuckled nervously. "I honestly don't–"

"Remember anything," Kamek interrupted, glaring at him. "I'm aware."

Luigi stared towards Kamek nervously, grinning awkwardly whenever they made eye contact. Kamek glared him in the eyes.

"Just tell us what you know about the Mushroom Kingdom," Kamek demanded. "It'll make all of our lives easier."

"I genuinely don't know what you're talking about!" Luigi cried. "Seriously! Why don't you believe me?"

"Because you humans are all liars," Kamek hissed. "Liars and full of yourselves."

"Liar? Please, I don't want to be called that," Luigi pleaded. "I'm not a liar. I'm telling the truth!"

Before Kamek could continue talking, Bowser burst into the room, startling Luigi and causing him to yelp. Bowser got in his face, and Luigi recoiled back.

"C'mon, just spit it out already," Bowser laughed, his snout basically pressed against Luigi's nose. "I'm honestly tired of these games."

"I am too!" Luigi shrieked. "I want to go home!"

"Not until we get some information."

"I have none!" Luigi cried. Despite the pain echoing in his eyes, he could feel tears welling up. "Please just let me go home."

"Lord Bowser," Kamek interrupted. Bowser glanced down at him. "I hate to interupt, but he's actually being honest."

"What?" Bowser asked, flabbergasted. Kamek nodded.

"My magic says so," Kamek agreed. "He's completely doused in fear, but he knows nothing of the kingdom."

"How could a human not know about the Mushroom Kingdom?" Bowser hissed. Kamek shrugged and Bowser rolled his eyes.

"Whatever. Fine. You don't know about the kingdom. Great."

Luigi felt a bit of anger boil in his heart.

"Wow, its almost like, that's what I've been saying since I got here!" Luigi grumbled. Bowser immediately got in his face and snarled, and Luigi recoiled slightly.

"Stay in your place."

Luigi nodded.

"So what do we do with him?" Kamek asked. Luigi glanced behind them to see a couple of Koopas hiding behind the doorway.

"I don't know," Bowser groaned. "I thought he was a spy."

Bowser turned towards Luigi, and their eyes locked again.

"So, where are you from?"

Luigi was extremely put off by his sudden change in demenour.

"Uhm, Brooklyn."

"Where the fuck is Brooklyn?" Bowser asked, glancing towards Kamek. Kamek glared at him. Bowser muttered a whatever and then looked back at Luigi. Luigi grinned awkwardly.

"So there's another one of you," Bowser growled. Luigi felt the fear bubbling up again. Despite the fear, Luigi nodded.

"Great," Bowser continued. "They're from Brooklyn too?"

Luigi nodded again.

"Now where's that?"

Luigi tried to find the right word to say what he needed to say. It's by Main Street, on the left side, and its in New York in the United States. All of this ran through his head, but the paralyzing fear kept him from speaking. He stared at the massive turtle creature, blankness overtaking his face. Bowser wasn't having that.

"Oh look, Mr. Talkative finally shut his mouth, huh?"

Luigi couldn't do anything else but stare. The only thing that made Luigi bat an eye was the way Bowser cocked his brow at him, an angry streak spreading across his face.

"Fine, be quiet," Bowser snarled. "Even when I am being nice. You're just too good for that."

"Wha– wait! No," Luigi pleaded. "I'm not too good, I just–"

"Enough from you," Bowser growled. "I have plans for you."

"Me?" Luigi asked nervously. "I'm sorry…"

"You're going to work in my castle," Bowser announced. Luigi looked on in confusion.

"Work in your castle?" Luigi asked. Bowser nodded, and Luigi's face shifted to worry.

"But my foot," Luigi quietly pleaded. "I can barely walk."

Bowser must not of heard him. When he spun around, Kamek released him, and Luigi fell on his back. When he lifted himself up, a black and red robe was flung in his direction.

"And wear this," Bowser demanded. "Your overalls are filthy."

And with that, the door slammed behind them. Luigi lifted the robes up and unraveled them, looking them up and down. They were simplistic, yet made of some kind of lovely silk. The black and red swarmed together, almost like oil and water. He was shocked he was given such a lovely piece of equipment. Luigi lowered the garb and his head, whining to himself.

"Oh, Mario," Luigi sighed. "You wouldn't be working for some royal schmuck, would you?"

—

Luigi had an immensely difficult time locating the place he needed to go. Some places in the castle were way too hot for him to approach, and other times there was nobody around, or the door was locked. The garb was a big awkward to walk in, but Luigi would be lying if he said he didn't like the dress-like style the garb gave off. It felt good because of how hot it was in here, and whatever the garb touched really eased the raw heat. Finally, Luigi entered a large, open ball-room-esc area, and a voice called out to him.

"Fashionably late, huh?"

Luigi spun around and his eyes locked on Bowser's, who was alone without Kamek.

"I got lost," Luigi admitted. Bowser mustered a chuckle.

"I know. I saw you walk past this place like, three times."

"Then why didn't you stop me?" Luigi asked. Bowser ignored that part.

"I noticed you were limping too."

Luigi perked up.

"Uh, yeah. I injured my foot when I arrived here."

Bowser glanced towards it, cocking his head. His eyes then went back to Luigi.

"I can help you with that."

"Seriously?" Luigi asked, excitement leaking from his voice. Bowser nodded.

"You just gotta tell me about the Mushroom Kingdom."

Luigi sunk into himself.

"I told you," Luigi groaned. "I. Don't. Know. Anything!"

"We're alone," Bowser tried to reason. "No one's around. You can tell me."

"I literally know nothing except that there's probably mushrooms there!" Luigi snapped. Bowser sighed.

"I just want to know something. Anything."

"I should be asking you that. I don't know anything about the Mushroom Kingdom. Kamek literally said so! But, apparently, you do."

Bowser glared at him, and Luigi knew he stepped out of place. Bowser growled.

"Fine. I'll actually get you something."

Bowser walked a couple of feet away, rummaging through some dresser that was lying around. He approached Luigi, handing him a large, carved stick. Shockingly, it fit his size just right.

"A one handed crutch," Luigi spoke, a grin slowly spreading on his face. "This might actually help a lot."

Bowser looked onto Luigi's smiling face, and a wave of emotion hit him. He couldn't quite pinpoint where this feeling came from, let alone what it even was. Affection maybe? Probably not, Bowser doesn't have affection for anyone- not since the war, at least. Maybe it was some kind of relief that Luigi would finally be quiet about his damn foot. It couldn't be pride, hell, there was no reason to pride a human. They are weak. Their pride should be that their life expectancy is 60+. But Bowser couldn't shake the feeling. Like he had felt this somewhere before. Emotions were an afterthought when Kamek burst into the room and cackled.

"How is your little man servant?" Kamek sneered. His attitude immediately got Bowser back in the zone.

'He's fine," Bowser laughed. "And he's going to help me get ready for my big speech."

"Huh?" Luigi glanced up, interrupted from his relief. "What kind of speech are you delivering?"

"You'll see."

"But I need to have a baseline," Luigi continued. "Is it informative? Entertaining? Oh! Maybe its some kind of persuasive speech? You are a ruler after all."

The green plumber continued to mumble to himself before Kamek whacked him on the head with his staff. They both glared at one another and Bowser chuckled.

"Yeah I don't know what you're on about, human," Bowser laughed. "But you have a lot of enthusiasm. Come on, lets get going."

"Where am I going?" Luigi asked. A threatened raise of Kamek's wand made Luigi hurriedly whisk to Bowser's side, the only noise admitted from him being the slight heartbeat-esc thuds from his crutch hitting the floor.

—

The two of them made their way to Bowser's bedroom, and Luigi was shocked with the grandious approach to it all. The room was large, even for large turtles, and the wall was covered with paintings, mostly about different turtle people that Luigi couldn't even begin to uncover. He was more interested in how a room like this could be completely decorated in paintings when, without the robe, it felt like he would combust like a bomb any second. He was shocked even the wooden crutch he was using wasn't flaring up. It wasn't even uncomfortably hot to touch. Bowser glanced down to Luigi and locked onto his eyes. For once they were large, and not with fear. They looked like they were replaced with extreme excitement, a slight glitter in his eyes. Bowser turned away back to the room. Surely that glitter was no more than his beautiful candlelit chandelier catching his eye, of course.

"You're going to help me get ready," Bowser announced. Luigi nodded along. After all if he said no, he knew it was back in that musty dungeon.

"What am I going to need to do?" Luigi quivered, fiddling with his fingers. His mind was racing. Was he stuck cleaning the room top to bottom? Was he stuck going through the massive closets to do some dry cleaning? Was he preparing all the seats, or cleaning the toilets? Was he going to be crushed to death to make a showing for the all of the attendants to see? Was he going to–

"I need you to help me…"

The suspense was overriding Luigi's body. When Bowser spun around, he thought that was it for him.

"I need you to help me pick out some clothes," Bowser admitted.

"What?" Luigi asked, dumbfounded. "Pick out some clothes?"

"You heard me."

"Uh, right. I just assumed that since you were royalty, you had an advisor, someone who knows fashion?" Luigi asked. Bowser looked down at him, but it didn't feel as aggressive as it did before.

"You can just go back to the dungeon," Bowser declared. Luigi shook his head rapidly. Bowser smirked.

"That's what I thought."

Bowser made his way to his closet, rummaging through different massively-tailored outfits. Luigi stood there, watching the colors race by. For someone who was really into that red and black aesthetic, he sure had a lot of color hiding away. He watched Bowser, rather gingerly, pick out three different tops, and lay them on the bed. Luigi hobbled over to get a look, but had a relatively hard time climbing up the small steps that lead to the massive bed. Noticing this, Bowser picking him up and carried him to the last step, which ultimately made Luigi stagger a little bit more; but not in relation to the ankle. His attention went to the shirts, and Bowser pointed at the set.

"Which one?" Bowser demanded. Luigi took a long look at each one. One muted yellow checkered pattern, one fiery red and black, with a symbol etched in white. The symbol almost looking like Bowser himself. And a deep purple color, with a design on the sleeves Luigi couldn't even begin to unravel. Bowser continued to mumble to himself.

"See, yellow seems like it doesn't fit. It's fall, after all. But the red seems too basic. And the purple, while it was in style for speeches maybe four years ago, its kind of out of style. But I am a big fan."

"I like the red one," Luigi admitted. "It matches all of the, y'know, fire."

Bowser looked at the piece of clothing more. He scoffed. Luigi stiffened up as Bowser towered next to him, shaking the red piece out.

"Yeah, sure, guess I'll do that one."

"Do you like it?" Luigi asked. Bowser chuckled.

"Yeah, I don't mind red. Do I look like I hate red?"

Luigi sighed a bit of relief as Bowser quickly used one arm to gather all of the remaining articles of clothing, shoving them back into the closet. Bowser quickly flung the robes over him and began to button it up.

"Kamek is going to enjoy the old fashioness of this one," Bowser laughed. Luigi laughed along awkwardly.

"Kind of like going to Church in a super old suit," Luigi blurted out.

"Church?"

"Uh, well, it's confusing, but, uh. Uhm."

Luigi began to start shaking again, and Bowser glanced towards him. He cocked a brow.

"You can tell me later."

Bowser slammed his closet door shut and opened a smaller drawer nearby.

"You seem to be a walking fountain of knowledge," Bowser began, "Yet, knowledge of all the wrong things."

"Wrong things?" Luigi asked. "I mean, I don't think so. These things are important."

"To wherever Brookerlyn is, maybe."

"Brooklyn," Luigi noted. Bowser ignored him and wrapped a tie around his neck. His claws were interfering with the loop needed to finish it off, and after about two minutes of trying, Luigi could sense the anger building in Bowser's chest. A knock on the door interrupted them, and on the other side Kamek announced that, "The speech is in five minutes!" which made Bowser only panic and get frustrated more. Luigi gently lifted an arm.

"Do you need help?" Luigi asked. Bowser quickly spun to face him, which startled another yelp out of Luigi. Bowser dug his nails into his palm, and then sighed.

"Yeah, does the fountain of knowledge know how to tie a tie?" Bowser demanded. Luigi nodded. Bowser quickly got in Luigi's face and lifted his chin.

"Well hurry up. If Kamek finds out I never learnt how to do this bullshit, he's going to kill me."

"Kill you?" Luigi asked, putting his hands on the dangling tie. "Over a tie?"

"You know how old people are."

Luigi held back a laugh and began to get to work on the tie. It felt different, tying a much, much larger tie, but he still remembered how to do it. With a gentle pull towards Bowser's neck, Luigi backed away, and Bowser admired himself in the mirror.

"Woah, guess you're worth keeping around for this alone," Bowser sneered. Luigi shrugged and chuckled.

"Well, Mario wasn't going to learn this in time for prom. He was too busy learning how to make–"

"Who's Mario?" Bowser interrupted. Luigi froze in his tracks.

"Ah, well, he's my– uh–"

Another knock from the door got their attention.

"Add that to the tell me later list," Bowser hissed. "Let's get a move on."

Without a warning, Bowser lifted Luigi up, carrying him along. Luigi held on for dear life, and was confused why Bowser was bringing him along by carrier pigeon, but with how fast Bowser was running, it was probably because of that. He can't walk quite right, after all.

—

Preparation for the speech reminded Luigi a lot of watching Mario get prepared to speak for the honor's society. He's picking his clothes, he's tying his tie, and he's watching as swarms of people surround him and get him all pampered up for the event. The difference being Bowser was a lot more vocal about how awkward and annoying everyone was to him.

"Green," Bowser called. Luigi glanced towards him.

"You stay behind the curtain," Bowser growled. "And wear your hood, while you're at it."

Luigi nodded, curling his hood over his head. Anything to not be noticed by a crowd. He watched Bowser take his lead, and enter onto the stage. Cheers erupted throughout the people below as Bowser came onto stage, and Luigi couldn't help but a tad bit closer to the curtain veils behind him, taking a peek outside. Bowser stood tall on what looked like a major stone pillar. Despite the dreary red and black voclanic looking enviornment, Bowser really knew had to put on a spectacle, including fireworks with the display. It was a nice change from the overly dramatic and in your face approach Bowser usually had with his talks.

"People of the Koopa Kingdom!" Bowser announced. Another round of applause erupted. "Can you guess why I've gathered you here today?"

A wave of people shouting pierced Luigi's ears, but a couple of noteworthy ones stuck with him. Something about a castle, a fight, something about casualties, land, eating, and the one that really punctured Luigi was talking about "sacrificing the prisoner". Luigi continued to watch on.

"One of you were right," Bowser laughed. The crowd followed suit and laughed.

"I gathered you all here because we are starving!"

A round of yeahs.

"We are wounded!"

Yeahs continue.

"And the only way to solve that, is to get this land!"

A huge eruption of the crowd startled Luigi back to reality. Did he tune out for something? He doesn't remember the "land" part very well. They're going to get some kind of land back?

"That land was fertile," Bowser continued. "And despite getting EVERYTHING in the war, the princess still demands we give her more! The land we won!"

The crowd was so loud, Luigi thought he lost all hearing. What on Earth was he on about?

"And I'm tired of rushing in and getting nowhere. Debates. Get. Nowhere!"

It was like everything he said was met with applause. But it was the final event that really got a rouse.

"No more debates! If we want our land back, its time to fight!"

Luigi stared in horror. Fight? Oh, he wasn't too interested in fighting. He really hoped he wasn't getting involved with that. The same thought kept ringing through his head. He had to get out of here. Truly he arrived at an awful time, and he needs to get back on track. His brother, he needs to find Mario. There was no way he could do anything without Mario. Luigi stared at the crowd way in the back, throwing one another and cheering. Bowser spun around and blew fire on a string of fireworks, and turned to the crowd again. Luigi's eyes trailed where the firework was going, and saw part of the cord was wrapped around Bowser's leg. His eyes widened as he watched Bowser take one more step.

"Wait!" Luigi cried, rushing out from behind the curtains. Bowser flung around immediately and taking a step forward caused him to tremble backwards into the crowd. Luigi threw his crutch on the ground and grabbed Bowser by any part he could, which ultimately ended up being the tail. As much as Luigi tried, he couldn't hold on, and the two of them came crashing down into the crowd. Bowser retracted into his shell, and Luigi landed on Bowser's stomach, groaning from the sudden impact. Bowser exited his shell and stared right at the plumber. Luigi couldn't read his expression, but somehow he knew he was in trouble. Bowser huffed, sat upright, causing Luigi to fall on the ground. Bowser quickly grabbed him and put him on his shoulder, walking back into the castle.

"We storm at dawn of the third moon!" Bowser hollered, causing the crowd to mostly focus on his final words. The fireworks lit off with an astounding boom, which got everyone cheering again. While in the castle, Luigi began trying to wiggle away, his heart beating so fast he thought he would explode.

"Please, please, please, please," Luigi repeated, the tears filling his eyes again. "Please, please, please, please, please, please don't hurt me! I didn't mean it or anything I was trying to help you, and I was just didn't know what to do, and I know you told me to stay there and I know–"

Bowser wasn't listening to Luigi's ramblings. His thoughts were racing. What on Earth was that? How did he slip on his own pillar? Why did the human Bowser has been treating as second class try and save him? Why was Luigi so much like him? Why was Luigi even here to begin with? Humans were gone, everyone knew that. And why was this human so nice? It felt different to Bowser, having someone genuinely try to rush in and save him. He's been so cold to others. His emotions didn't make any sense. Luigi continued squirming and crying, trying to break free from Bowser's ridiculously rough grasp. Luigi began freaking out even more when Bowser walked past the stairway to the prison cells. He opened the door to another room, and Luigi cowered, hiding his face from any view of it. Why wasn't Bowser talking to him? He was just trying to help, and–

The sudden plush feeling on his back made him jolt up. He opened his eyes and looked around, being placed in a somewhat more lavish room than he was prior. He looked at Bowser, who wore a serious expression, and then looked around the room again. He was confused.

"Where am I?" Luigi asked, shakiness in his voice.

"A new room," Bowser bluntly noted. "I'm having guards get your things now."

"From the prison cell?"

"Yeah."

They both stared at one another.

"Are you mad at me?" Luigi blurted out. Bowser shook his head.

"Get some sleep," Bowser quietly demanded. "Kamek will be here soon."

Luigi watched as Bowser exited the room, a lot less boisterous than he usually is. The change was weird. The change in demenour from outgoing, in your face, and scary to this weird blend of solemn and thoughtful confused him. He didn't know what to do. He glanced out the relatively bigger window, and stared at the sky. Night really comes fast when you're far from home.