Drak and Luigi Write: The Story of how Luigi Became a Dragon (Part 3)

Strange Magics

            Luigi’s eyes snapped open. He had been asleep, or maybe almost asleep, when suddenly he remembered that Mario had collected the strange stone they had found. The instant he realized it was here in the house, he was wide awake. The urge to go find it grew stronger and stronger until he could no longer resist it.

            He quietly slipped out of bed and opened his bedroom door as quietly as was humanly possible. Tiptoeing past Mario’s room, he passed into the living room. Moonlight oozed in through the translucent window curtains, giving his night-adjusted eyes just enough light to see by. There on the arm of the couch was Mario’s hat. Right where he had left it when they got home. It bulged strangely, indicating the stone was still under it.

            Luigi stood there a moment, an invisible war within himself taking place. Common sense told him that he should not be feeling so drawn to this thing, whatever it was, and he should definitely leave it alone. Yet those feelings, desire to claim the stone, to hold it, to make it his own, were overpowering.

            Slowly, agonizingly slowly, he reached out and lifted Mario’s hat off the stone.

            It’s beautiful. In the moonlight, the stone shimmered and gleamed. It was as though some inner magic was awakened within it. Colors shone out, almost like a kaleidoscope, sweeping across the faceted surface of the stone… gem… morphing from one color to another like… like… Luigi couldn’t think of a good analogy to compare it to. It was like nothing he had ever seen before… and it called to him.

            Before he was really aware of what he was doing, he had scooped the gem up and was carrying it back to his room. The faceted surface felt warm against his bare hands. He was so distracted that he was unaware of how loudly he was walking, his bare feet slapping against the wooden floors.

            It was apparently enough noise to wake Mario, or perhaps Mario hadn’t had a chance to fall asleep yet anyway. At any rate, he suddenly appeared in his doorway, looking ready for a fight. He relaxed when he recognized Luigi.

            “What’s going on? Are you okay?” He noticed the gem in Luigi’s hands. “…Oh no.”

            Luigi cringed away from his brother before remembering, this is Mario, you can trust him. “Uuuhhh…” He glanced from the still-glowing gem to Mario’s concerned expression and back a few times. “I… uh…”

            “Weegie, I think you should put it down.” Mario said, holding his hands out placatingly.

            Luigi nodded in agreement. Every part of him, at least every part that was still reasonable, knew he should never have even touched the gem. Yet when he tried to retrace his steps, to put the gem back where he found it in the living room, he found he could only go a few steps before he stopped. Soon, he found himself transfixed again, gently caressing the stone. It seemed to shift the pattern of its glowing, as if in reaction to his touch.

            “Luigi.” Mario’s tone was becoming alarmed. “Put it down.”

            “I can’t.” Luigi whispered. Part of him was terrified. The rest of him was too busy petting the glowing gem.

            The gem was glowing brighter and brighter, and growing warmer in his hands. More and more, he realized that all he really wanted was to hold it and watch it.

            “Luigi! Bro, come on! You’re scaring me!” Mario had walked over and had taken hold of him by the arms, shaking him.

            Luigi responded by cradling the gem closer to his body. “You’ll break it! Stop!” He looked up at his brother angrily. How could he be so careless??

            Mario’s expression was rapidly evolving from alarm to terror. The part of Luigi that knew what was happening was wrong, oh so very wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, felt a tremendous pang of guilt for doing this to Mario. Yet he still couldn’t let go of the stone!

“I shouldn’t have brought it back. What was I thinking?!” Mario slapped a hand across his own face.

Now Mario was blaming himself! Luigi couldn’t bear it. Finally, he found the strength to tear himself away from the stone. It landed on the floor with a dull whack! and the glowing stopped immediately. Luigi didn’t even notice; he had rushed to his brother’s side and was hugging him tightly. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, please don’t blame yourself! It’s not your fault!”

“We… we have to get rid of that thing. I wanted to find out what it is but it’s not worth it now!” Mario tried to pry himself out of Luigi’s grip.

“No!” Luigi felt himself panicking. He wasn’t sure what was happening, but he knew he did not want Mario to touch that gem. He jerked them both away from the gem lying on the floor just feet away. They wound up in a heap on the floor of Mario’s bedroom. “Don’t touch it!” He gasped.

Mario tried to sit up, not an easy task with Luigi almost sitting on him. “We can’t leave it in the house though…”

“I-I’ll do it then.” Luigi stammered. “I’ll… I’ll… I don’t know.” Suddenly he realized he had no idea where he could take the thing without being drawn to it again every time he thought about it.

“Then let me do it.” As always, Mario understood without Luigi telling him. “Look, if you don’t want me to touch it, I won’t. Okay? I’ll find somewhere to put it and I won’t tell you where…”

Luigi realized as Mario spoke that he couldn’t let this happen, either. “N-no, don’t… you can’t take it away…”

Even in the dim light within Mario’s room, he could see the look of alarm on his brother’s face. The rational part of him knew exactly how right Mario was. There was something terribly wrong about this stone, some unnatural hold it had over him, and it needed to go. And yet…

Before Mario could react, Luigi scrambled back out into the hallway and scooped the stone up. Then, not entirely sure what he was doing himself, he darted outside. The gem had started glowing again as soon as his hand touched it.

“Luigi!” Mario was chasing after him.

Still not sure where he was going or if he even had any sort of plan, Luigi tore down the cobblestone road. In his hands, the stone continued to glow brighter and brighter, and continued to grow warmer with each step.

The stone suddenly became searing hot, and he dropped it with a cry of pain. Just as the gem left his hands, it lit up painfully bright. A jolt ran through him as though he had been shocked. The gem hit the ground and rolled a short distance. It had gone dark again.

Luigi felt weak and faint, and collapsed beside the gem.

“Luigi!” Mario caught up seconds later and pulled him into his arms.

Once again, Luigi felt like laughing. This time though, all that came out was a faint giggle. “H-h-hey bro…”

            Mario’s expression was of abject horror. Then, his face grew hazy and indistinct, and finally all Luigi saw was darkness.

. . .

            Luigi woke feeling absolutely great, like he had gotten the best night’s sleep ever. Then he realized that he was not in his own bed. Nor was he in his house. Looking around, he realized he wasn’t even in Toad Town. He was somewhere in Princess Peach’s castle. And, beside him, collapsed in exhaustion half in half out of a chair, was Mario.

            The night before came rushing back to him. He sat up and reached for his brother. “Mario?”

            Mario bolted upright. He looked terrible. He had probably been up all night and just recently passed out. “Luigi? H-how do you feel?”

            “Um… actually… I feel pretty good.” Luigi admitted.

            “You… do? Really?” Mario’s eyes lit up. Clearly this wasn’t what he had expected.

            “Yeah… I’m surprised too.”

            The next thing Luigi knew, he was being squeezed tightly in a hug.

            “I’m so glad you’re okay! When you collapsed last night I... I didn’t know what to think!”

            “Is that why we’re not at home?”

            “I wasn’t going to let this wait until morning!” Mario pulled back and gave Luigi a look of horror. “We still don’t know what was going on with… with…” He suddenly trailed off and paled, and Luigi realized he was afraid bringing up the strange gemstone might restart whatever had begun last night.

            “With the stone?” He finished for him.

            “Aaaaaahhhhh-uh, yeah. That. …How do you feel about that, by the way?” Mario looked at him intently.

            “Um.” Luigi realized that the strange attraction for the stone he had experienced seemed to be gone. All he felt was indifference and maybe a touch of irritation that it had caused all this trouble. “I’m… I don’t think I feel… anything about it? Anymore?”

            Mario’s eyes darted about, searching Luigi’s face for any suggestion of a lie. Evidently finding none, his expression morphed into relief and he hugged him tight again.

            Luigi wriggled his arms loose enough to hug his brother back. “Um… has it affected anyone else like it did me?”

            “Not so far.” Mario very reluctantly let go. “No one’s touched it since you dropped it. I carried it in my hat again like before, just in case. Toadsworth sent for Professor Gadd as soon as it was morning – it’s late afternoon now by the way – and they’ve been studying it since. Or at least I assume they still are. I’ve been with you.”

            “I… noticed.” Luigi was torn by guilt for what he had put Mario through. “I’m sorry… Did you get any sleep at all?”

            “Um… I’m not sure.” Mario looked away for a moment. “Probably not.”

            “Maybe you should take a nap. I feel fine. I could –”

            “No, no! I’ll be fine for a few more hours. Really.” Luigi could tell by Mario’s expression he wouldn’t be talked down.

            “Okay, well, at least let me make you breakfast… or, I guess lunch?” Luigi asked, pulling his best “I’m sorry” face, trying to show how badly he felt for his uncontrollable behavior last night. “Let me make it up to you for scaring you like that?”

            “I’m afraid Peach already beat you to that. She’s taken over the castle kitchen. We didn’t know when you would wake up, or… if…” Mario cleared his throat awkwardly, “So she decided to cook up breakfast, then brunch, and is probably almost finished with lunch now, just in case you woke up. If you’re up to walking, we can go see her.”

            “Oh, I can walk… Oh! But I can’t go see the princess in my pajamas!” Luigi felt his face turn bright red.

            Mario burst out laughing. “You already have! So have I! How do you think you got here?”

            Luigi’s mind was filled with an image of Mario, clad in naught but red striped pajamas, carrying his unconscious body to the castle that was wearing matching green pajamas. He began to laugh along with his brother. “I guess we must have been quite the sight.”

            Mario eventually stopped laughing and wiped his eyes. “But don’t worry, some of the toads took mercy on us and went and retrieved our clothes.”

            Luigi realized Mario was dressed in his usual red-and-blue overalls, not his pajamas. “Oh, I guess so.”

            Mario smirked. “So, would you like to get dressed too?”

 . . .

            The two brothers, now properly attired, entered the kitchen that was Princess Peach’s pride and joy. It was her favorite place in the whole castle. In fact, she spent so much time here that on a number of occasions she had been in the middle of a cooking project when one of Bowser’s surprise attacks came. Despite having been kidnapped directly from the kitchen more than once, Peach always insisted it be rebuilt exactly the same each time and never seemed to shy away from returning here.

            She was moving between culinary projects with such fluidity and grace that it almost seemed a dance, and humming a happy tune to herself as she tended to each dish.

            She evidently spotted them out of the corner of her eye as she suddenly left her dance and swept toward them. “Oh, Luigi! I’m so glad you’re awake!” She gently hugged him and left a peck on his cheek that started his whole face burning. He knew he was turning bright red, but Peach never cared how she made either brother blush. She giggled impishly and did the same to Mario before swirling back to her various bubbling pots and pans, resuming her dance. “It’s so lovely to see you’re up and about! We were so worried.” She continued conversationally. “How do you two manage to find such trouble anyway?” She snickered, casting a glance from Luigi to Mario and back.

            “We just have a special talent, I guess.” Mario said, his cheeks nearly the same color as his hat.

            “Thankfully you also seem to have a special talent for getting away with it without any serious consequences.” Peach said with another gentle laugh. “How are you feeling, Luigi?”

            “Surprisingly good, princess.”

            “Peach, Luigi, I’ve told you a thousand times.”

            “Sorry, prince – er, Peach.” Luigi stammered and barely stopped himself from wringing his hands. The princess certainly did know how to fluster both he and Mario when she wanted to. Which was often.

            Peach snickered quietly and returned her full attention to her cooking.

After a few minutes, she glanced back at them. “Oh, this will be ready in just a few minutes. Perhaps you’d like to set the table? Since you’re feeling so well, Luigi, I thought maybe we could have lunch out on the balcony.”

            “O-okay.” Luigi wasn’t used to being doted on like this, especially not by the ruler of the kingdom.

            “C’mon, let’s go get it set.” Mario took him by the elbow and steered him out of the kitchen, leaving behind a quietly snickering Peach.

. . .

            The rest of the day flew by in a whirlwind of pleasant activities. The only thing that dampened the day in Luigi’s eyes was the fact that Mario was obviously exhausted. His brother did his best to hide it but there was no hiding how frequently he yawned, nor the way his eyes drooped whenever he wasn’t actively doing something for even a few seconds.

            Evening finally came and Luigi insisted that Mario go to bed early to help make up for his sleepless night.

            “Oh c’mon, you’re worrying too much.” Mario protested.

            “Last night you worried about me, now it’s my turn.” Luigi insisted.

            “Oooohhh… fine.” Mario said before yawning again. He chuckled. “I guess you’re probably right.”

            “Of course I am. You need sleep, bro.” Luigi nudged him toward his bedroom. “And don’t worry about me, I promise I won’t run off on some weird fixation again.”

            “You better not…” Mario yawned again.

            Luigi stayed up for a few hours longer after Mario started snoring in his bedroom. He had slept for quite a long time earlier after all, and wasn’t at all tired yet. To wind down some, he sat down on the couch to read, deciding to try a new book he had brought home some weeks ago but hadn’t quite found the time to start until now.

            He was just starting to feel sleepy and had decided to go to bed once he finished the current chapter, when he started to feel a strange sensation in his fingertips. Not quite an itch, more of a tingling sensation. He tried to ignore it, assuming it was just from holding the book up for several hours straight.

            Until he tried to turn a page and his finger stuck to the paper. No, not stuck… caught on. Luigi tried to shake his finger free and found he had ripped the corner of the page. Looking at his fingertip he saw part of the page had torn off and was attached to… what was that? A claw?

            He looked closer. Yes, that was exactly it. His fingertip had sprouted a claw. He looked at the rest of his fingers… they were the same. He nearly dropped the book to look at his opposite hand, to find the very same.

            He sat for some time staring at his hands, his thoughts racing. A cold sweat trickled down the back of his neck.

            He couldn’t take it anymore. He jumped up and started pacing, trying to get a handle on his nerves. No, he had to be imagining it. This couldn’t be real. He was just tired. After all, he had had a rather stressful day and night just recently. That was it. That had to be it.

            He rubbed his hands together and tried to ignore how the claws pricked at his skin. Still trying not to think about it he strode purposefully to his room, forgetting to turn off the light in the living room in his haste.

            Refusing to acknowledge the claws, he started to get ready for bed. I’ll just go to sleep and when I wake up it’ll be fine. He kept insisting to himself. There’s no way this is real.

            He took his shoes off and stopped, staring at his feet. Claws were protruding through his socks, tearing right through the fabric.

            Somehow, he managed to fight down the scream that was building in his throat. He found himself hugging his arms around himself, rubbing his hands up and down his arms and breathing erratically.

            It’s okay, it’s okay… nothing to worry about… He shut the light out and threw himself into bed, determined to ignore the claws. It’s not real, it can’t be real… it’ll be better in the morning…

. . .

            At some point, despite his heightened anxiety over the claws, Luigi managed to fall asleep.

            He woke to a peculiar feeling: his pillow seemed to be stuck to his head. He pulled it away and heard the pillowcase tear. Feathers tumbled down his face and tickled his cheek.

            Reaching up to remove the torn pillowcase from his head, he pricked his fingers on something hard and surprisingly sharp protruding from his head. Feeling around, he discovered a second one on the other side of his head.

            Horns. He had grown horns overnight.

            Hesitantly, nervously, he looked down at his hands. The claws were still there.

            Luigi sat still for several minutes, taking deliberate, deep breaths. That was supposed to calm you down. Yet he did not feel at all calm. He had felt less anxious and terrified while facing down Bowser in the heart of his castle, surrounded by spikes and pillars of fire and pools of lava, than he felt right now.

            At least then, he knew what was going on. At least then, he felt some small measure of control. But this?

            What is happening to me? All at once he knew exactly what must be happening, or at least the cause. That gem. It has to be… the way it was glowing… that weird jolt… He had almost forgotten about the way the gem seemingly shocked him before going dark. It did this… is doing this? Somehow…

            Then he remembered where the gem was now. Who had it. Surely they’ll figure out something, what it is, what it does… how to fix this. Right? Everything will be okay. He told himself, taking another deep breath.

            “Hey, Luigi! You gonna sleep all day?” Mario called from somewhere else in the house. “Or am I gonna have to eat all these mushrooms myself?”

            I can’t let him see… this. Luigi looked back at his claws, and the ones on his feet. Were they getting bigger? But how am I going to hide it?

            “U-uh, I’m… Coming!” He called to Mario, getting up and casting around desperately for anything that wasn’t too conspicuous he could use to hide his new… accessories.