"Luigi's Dream Adventures: Antasma's grand return."
Chapter 14
"How far will you go to save your people?"
Mario JumpMan, hero of the Mushroom Kingdom and personal savior of Princess Peach, had seen and fought a lot of horrible things during his many adventures.
He battled dragons, undead skeletons, marshmallow-shaped ghosts, has confronted possession and aliens that tried to destroy his world.
Sometimes he came back from said encounters more than just a bit worse for wear. Injuries varying from third degree lava burns to broken ribs, were all in a day's work for the red clad hero.
While he was never particularly frightened by his enemies, nor disgusted by any of the terrible injuries he managed to sustain…
The image Mario saw after switching on the lights, will haunt him for the rest of his life.
Luigi was levitating over the bed, held in the air by some kind of invisible force, crimson blood dripping down on the white sheets with dull thuds.
His little brother's face was twisted in silent pain, hands curled into fists so tight his white gloves were soaking with blood...the top green pajama that had clung to his brother's torso so perfectly it could have been confused for second skin, now had three blood-soaked ribs sticking out of it…
But that was nothing…all of that paled in comparison to what had been done to the younger plumber's legs.
At the sight of them, Mario's own eyes widened for a fraction of a second, before the lasagnas he ate for breakfast demanded to be closely acquainted with the carpet.
Luigi's legs looked like ragged and twisted versions of themselves. Like someone broke those strong bones as if they were mere twigs, and then tried to reassemble them as if they were Lego parts. Ending up with two limbs that didn't even resemble legs anymore.
The kneecaps smashed, bones sticking out in random places...
Feet facing the opposite directions…
Mario was no fool. He knew that, even with the magical healing powers of the magical Mushrooms, those wounds will not heal completely.
At least one of those powerful legs will never stand again.
Luigi looked more like a wooden toy soldier after being destroyed by a naughty child, than he did the younger brother of the famous Super Mario.
Said older brother was frozen in place after seeing the extent of the younger one's injuries, cold shock paralyzing his limbs.
Though his body was immobile, his mind was the complete opposite.
Questions like: What happened?! How?! When?! Why?! Buzzed inside his head like a horde of angry bees, fighting powerful emotions like fear, anger, hate and utter confusion for his undivided attention.
He couldn't move, body frozen in time, and mouth hanging agape.
His mind was a mess, Luigi's condition throwing his simple mind into overdrive.
So he just stood there…frozen, wide eyes counting each drop of blood that landed on the sheets.
Drip…drip…drip…
The sheets were already soaked with the crimson liquid.
Drip…drip…drip…
It won't be long before a pool will begin to form.
Drip…drip…drip…
Oh dear Grambi, he's still bleeding.
Drip…drip…drip…
Why isn't the blood coagulating yet?!
Drip…drip…drip…
Why is nobody doing anyth-
"Oh my God…LUIGI!"
A voice, frightened and concerned, exploded from somewhere behind him and Mario blistered at the sheer volume.
Something whooshed past him at an incredible speed, bumping into his arm in the process.
It took him a while to figure out it was their host that came to a screeching halt next to his brother's bed.
With a startled gasp the older Mario brother bolted towards his brother's stranded figure in the air.
Dreambert was hyperventilating, eyes wide and locked on the green-clad man.
No…He thought, shaking his head. This…this can't be happening.
He can't be back…It's not possible! We…I saw him die!
Those wounds weren't there before.
He…he could have slipped. Dreambert tried to rationalize. Luigi is known for being a bit of a klutz. He…He could have fallen off the stairs.
Anything…anything but that horrible monster coming back.
Unfortunately the voice in the back of his head was relentless.
You believe Mario wouldn't notice his brother is injured?
He…he could have been asleep already.
That was a weak one, even he could hear that.
Are you trying to convince me… The voice whispered. …or yourself?
The young prince swallowed.
Because, so far, you're not fooling anyone.
Dreambert grit his teeth.
He can't be back.
But what if he is?
It's. Not. Possible.
And yet your eyes say otherwise.
I…They must be playing tricks on me…I…I must be tired. He closed his eyes then, counted to ten and then opened them again, not really knowing what he was expecting as his green friend remained stranded in the air. He's a dead man. One does not get back up from being dead!
Men don't, yes. The quiet voice agreed. Demons like Antasma however…killing them is not as simple as pushing a pike through their chest. Not with everything they're doing to keep Jades at arm's length.
Dreambert's throat went dry.
What…what do you mean?
Did you forget what realm your enemy had control over? The voice hissed, scolding. As the king of Nightmares he visited countless individuals and corrupted thousands upon thousands of dreams…
Dreambert didn't like where this was going.
But none of those lives have intrigued him as much as your friend Luigi did, being the only possessor of the Luiginary powers. The same powers that managed to stop him in the first place…
Just imagine what he would be able to do with them in his arsenal.
The young prince's heart began to double in its speed.
Oh Grambi…
Do you really think he wouldn't plant a small portion of his essence inside the green plumber's mind, once he realized they had the potential to end him?
Dreambert tried some of the breathing techniques his father used to use when he was stressed.
The only thing they did was make him feel lightheaded and woozy.
And so the seed grew and grew, slowly darning its host's life source like a hungry parasite and connecting them together…
Unnoticed by the victim until it was too little too late…
His heart was pounding in his ears, nearly blocking out the voice he was hearing, he barely noticed Mario making a dash towards his floating brother.
How do you think Antasma survived as long as he did?
The price's shot out to grab a fist full of light red pajamas, before the voice could even finish what it was saying.
As long as this plumber lives…
"Mario! Stop!"
…Antasma will never be fully dead.
"Please! Listen to me!"
You gotta ask yourself: How far are you willing to go to save your kingdom, Dreambert?
"Don't touch him!"
Would you kill one of the best friends you ever had, to ensure the safety of your people?
Dreambert knew the answer.
It made him feel sick and disgusted with himself, but…it was the truth.
The ugly ugly truth.
Even Mario's fist colliding with his nose, making him loosen his hold over the red fabric, didn't make him feel any less like trash.
Yes.
I would.
AN: Sorry for any grammatical mistakes that I made, and the long wait!