Daisy POV

I ran. How could I just abandon ship like that. 

That's all I ever do. Run away. Whatever. I ran as far as I could. I hate those Mushroom Kingdom people. I hate them. 

I spent about a week hiding in town. When I returned to my hideout I found that it had been searched and basically destroyed. 

How frustrating. I spent years on that hideout, and they just show up and take it away.

Whatever. I wandered the town. I was going to steal some supplies, then search for a new place to set up camp. I made my way in when I found a wanted poster. Not that it was important. I've seen wanted posters all the time. In fact, I myself had a few, but this one was different. There were two people on this poster.

I snatched it and read it. The headline was, "WANTED, PSYCHO CLOWN AND MENTALLY UNSTABLE MAN ON THE LOOSE. PLEASE TURN IN TO THE MUSHROOM KINGDOM UNDER PRINCESS PEACH'S ORDER. MAKE SURE THE MAN IS UNHARMED." Below were two pictures, which very closely resembled Luigi and Dimentio.

Were they really on the run? Dimentio did say that they were accused of being these people, but they look so similar. Could it really be them? Their names weren't mentioned on the poster.

I shrugged it off, took the poster, and left. Who knows where I'm heading. Just away from here.

Dimentio POV

We've been staying here for about two weeks now. I know we should be making a plan, but honestly, we've hit a road block. No way we can go to the Underwhere. They'd just lock me up and put me back. I can't go back. Not yet. I hate it down there. Luigi needs to find someone else to do it.

Luigi seemed to be getting bored with just sitting around, waiting for a plan to form, so I offered to go to the bar. Seems like a good way to take our minds off of the situation for a bit. 

We walked in. There was music, and a few people were mindlessly dancing their troubles away. Another group of people were drinking their sorrows away.

I don't drink. When I was younger I would see angry adults throwing broken bottles around. I never wanted to become that, so I never drank. It was just something I never did.

Luigi looked happy. I think this was the first time in a while he's been out in public just to have fun. I mean, same for me. Before this I was just wasting away in the Underwhere.

He held his hand out to me. 

"Hey Dim, wanna dance?"

I froze. Did he just call me 'Dim?' 

I think he could see the slightly saddened expression on my face. "What's wrong?" He asked me. I looked up and met his eyes.

He had the same eyes as L. It was funny how similar they were, but how different at the same time. I had to keep reminding myself that Luigi was not L.

"Did you just call me.... Dim?" I asked. He smiled. 

"Ah, yeah. Dim is just faster to say."

I looked down. That's almost word for word what L said when I asked him why he called me 'Dim.' 

"It's just....an old friend use to call me that." 

Luigi took my hands and we started dancing. "Oh really? Who?" He asked. I smiled a sad smile. "L did." I looked into Luigi's eyes again. "You have the same eyes. The same face. You remind me of him so much." 

Luigi smiled. Now their smiles were different. Luigi's smile was more goofy. More light. L almost never smiled, but when he did, it lit up the whole room. His smile was powerful and fierce. Luigi began talking again, "Are you alright? You seem sad." I looked down. "It just hurts a little. He was my only friend, and I...." I let out a breath I seemed to be holding in. He lifted my chin so our eyes would meet. "Hey, I'm you friend. You can talk to me."

He considered me a friend?

"I really miss him. I guess you don't realize what you have until it's gone. I just wish I could tell him I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything I've done. I'm sorry for-" Luigi interrupted and pulled me into a hug just then. "I'm sure he knows."

I began to squirm. "Why are you being so nice to me? After everything I've done. How do you find it in you to trust me??" He shrugged and smiled. "I don't know. I just do."

He let go, and smirked. "You love him, don't you?" Luigi said, with a smile. "What? I never said that!" Luigi giggled. "I can tell!" I sighed. Did I love him? No. Of course not. I am incapable of love. This is me we're talking about. I'm just acting like this because he was my first and only actual friend. "Even if I did, wouldn't that be weird. Because he's essentially you?" Luigi just laughed. "Nah. It's not weird. It's cute. I didn't know you had such a soft side." "Hey! I don't have a 'soft side.' This is ME we're talking about. I am incapable of love." Luigi just smiled at me.

"You know..." He continued, taking my hand and dancing again. "If this Grey Prognosticus can possibly bring my brother back, then maybe it'll be able to separate Mr. L from me. We can bring him here for you!"

My eyes went wide. "R-really? You'd do that?" He smiled. "Of course. What are friends for?" There was that word again. Friends. 

"....but he wouldn't want to see me. Not after everything I've done." I argued. Luigi shook his head. "If I can come to forgive you, then so can he. I'm sure he misses you just as much as you miss him." 

"Do you ever talk to him? Like, can you read each other's thoughts or anything?" I asked. Luigi stopped dancing. "Umm...well no. But don't worry. He's in there."

I smiled. Luigi was a funny person. He's actually willing to go through all this extra trouble and release his alter ego just for my benefit?

"Alright." I said, a happy feeling resonating inside of me. 

"HEY, YOU TWO!" A koopa called out. In one hand was a small ball of fire, and in the other was a wanted poster. 

Oh no....

The guy walked up and shoved the poster in our faces. Luigi had a worried expression on his face. "IS THIS YOU??" The guy asked. 

I remained calm and shook my head. "Nope. You got the wrong people. Now if you'll excuse us, we were having a conversation before you so rudely interrupted."

The man appeared angry. "THIS IS YOU! YOU GUYS ARE LITERALLY THE SPITTING IMAGE OF THESE TWO!" l looked at the picture and shook my head. "Nope. You see, the guy on the poster has a black and white mask. MY mask is white and black."

Luigi snickered a little. The guy in front of us started fuming. "THAT'S THE SAME THING! WHATEVER, WHATEVER! I'M TAKING YOU TWO IN." The man pulled out a taser. Just like the one the guy in Sarasaland had. My eyes went wide. "Okay, where do people keep getting those??" Luigi shrugged. "They are a new product. After the Ultimate Show people started making these to prevent people like you from doing stuff like that." I sighed. "Oh. Well that's just peachy."

"SHUT UP! I'D KILL YOU BOTH NOW, BUT IN ORDER TO GET FULL PAY I HAVE TO BRING THE GREEN ONE IN ALIVE." The guy yelled. Luigi stepped back. "W-what?" He stuttered. I stood in front of him. "Hey, back off. We don't want any trouble. It'll be easier if you just walked away." The Koopa smiled at me. His voice lowered. "Well, they never said I had to bring YOU in alive." Luigi's eyes went wide. He grabbed my shoulder. "Dim?" He asked, with a worried tone. I got into a fighting stance. "Ah ha ha! That's funny." He quickly activated his taser, and tried jabbing it at me. I was able to dodge. 

.....But I forgot Luigi was standing right behind me.

He immediately fell to the ground, shaking before falling unconscious. I'm guessing that taser was not made to be used on normal people, because he was out cold. I dropped down next to him. "Oh no! Luigi?? Luigi??" I shook his shoulders, trying to wake him up when the Koopa walked up behind me and thrust the taser into my back. I cried out in pain. 

I stayed next to Luigi, fighting the pain and trying to wake him up. I could see a few more Koopas joining the original and gaining up on us. Two picked Luigi up and started tying him up. I tried running to him, but people were holding me back and tying me up as well. "NO! UNHAND ME!" I yelled.

Daisy POV

I don't know how far I've walked. Pretty far. I'm in some thick jungle. The trees provide pretty good cover. I think I like it.

I was about to set up, when I heard a group of people marching past. Oh, great. People.

There was a group of about five koopas. A fire bro, two red koopas and two green. I quickly ducked down. It looked like the two in the back were carrying something....no. Someone.

I ran to get a better look. My eyes went wide. They had Luigi and Dimentio! How did they do that, and why?

I bet they were taking them to the Mushroom Kingdom. "Oh no. Not on my watch." I whispered under my breath. They had my scrolls. No way I was allowing them to fall into the Mushroom Kingdom's greedy little hands. I pulled out my sword, and swiftly sprinted forward, cutting down a large tree and blocking their path.

I made sure to stay out of sight, but not before getting a better glance. Looked like Luigi was knocked unconscious. I could tell Dimentio was awake because his legs were kicking around. They were both tied up.

I saw the group of koopas jump back. They began frantically looking around. Dimentio's eyes went wide.

I jumped out, quickly kicking aside the koopas carrying Dimentio and cutting the ropes. Dimentio stared up at me. He looked completely shocked, somewhat relieved, and slightly annoyed to see me.

"I see you've gotten yourselves into another situation from which I must rescue you." I teased. He smirked. "Okay, ha ha. Now help me up, will you?" I lifted him up. "Let me guess, you two were accused of being someone you weren't, just like last time?" He shrugged. "Sure. Something like that."

The Koopas quickly situated themselves, hanging onto Luigi, who was still unconscious. The fire bro threw a flame at me, but I was able to easily dodge it. The fire bro glared at me. "Whoever you are, leave and mind your own business. We found them, fair and square. Don't think you can't just show up and turn them in yourself." I shook my head. "I'm not turning them in." The fire bro laughed. "Ahh, I see. So you're a criminal, just like them."

I looked over at Dimentio. "So where did you find these fellas. They seem lovely." He shrugged. "We were lying low when they showed up. They temporarily disabled my magic and knocked Luigi out." I nodded, then pointed my sword at them. "Well, this should be fun."

Dimentio looked at me. "Wait, I don't have my magic. What do I do?" I smirked. "Just sit there and look pretty. I'll take care of this." He glared, but I ignored it, and charged forward.

I used my sword to block the flames the fire bro was throwing at me. I immediately charged for the koopa holding Luigi. I swiftly kicked him down. Boy, were koopas weak. One good hit and they were out. I turned around, and circled my blade around me. All the Koopas besides the fire bro ran away scared. "HEY! GET BACK HERE YOU COWARDS!" He called out to them, as they retreated. I circled around him, pointing my sword at him. "Looks like it's just you and me." He rolled his eyes. "Whatever. WHATEVER! I DON'T NEED THEM TO TAKE A PUNY GIRL DOWN." He sent a line of fire in my direction, but I simply stepped to the side, dodging it all. I rubbed my sword with my sleeve, making sure it was all nice and shiny. "Huh. Is that all you got? I honestly expected more." I teased, with a hint of sass. He clenched his fists. I could see Dimentio kneeling down next to Luigi, trying to wake him up, out of the corner of my eye. I gripped by sword.

Then, the fire bro charged towards me, trying to tackle me to the ground. I ducked and stepped to the side, causing him to fall onto his face. He turned around and started to get up, but I kicked him back down and placed my foot on his chest, holding him down. I pointed my blade at his throat.

I could see the fire bro shaking "N-no! Please! I need the money. I have a family." I stayed still, staring him down with my fierce blue eyes. I made sure not to show any emotion in them. I lifted my sword into the air, preparing to strike. I saw him whimper as his eyes squeezed shut. Dimentio watched, his eyes going wide.

For a moment, my eyes softened.

I jabbed my sword down at full force, hitting the ground, just two inches away from the fire bro's face. He seemed shocked and slightly confused. "W-what? You're sparing me?" I leaned down on my sword, so I was towering over him. "You're going to go back home to your little family, and pretend this never happened. Capiche?" He quickly nodded. I got up, and took a few steps back. The fire bro quickly scurried away.

I waited for him to leave my sight, before running over and dropping down next to Luigi. "Hey, is he okay?" Dimentio nodded. "Yeah. They just knocked him out. They wouldn't hurt him. Apparently they needed to turn him in alive." I sighed a sigh of relief. "Oh, good. So.... have you guys given up yet? " Dimentio looked slightly uneasy. 

"Well....no. In fact, we got another key." He showed me the key he got from Sarasaland. My eyes went wide. He really got it. "Oh! That's wonderful!" He nodded. "Yeah, and painful. I will never look at stairs the same way again. And I'm pretty sure I have a newfound fear of heights, so that's great." I smirked. "Oh, quit being dramatic." He glared, before continuing. "Anyway, the next key is a bit of an issue."

"Which one are you talking about? The one in the Underwhere, or the one in the Mushroom Kingdom?" I had previously read the scrolls, so I basically knew all about them. He sighed, then stood up, showing me the scroll for the key located in the Underwhere. "Well, we can't go to the Mushroom Kingdom right now without getting turned in, as you could see. However, there is no way either of us could go to the Underwhere." 

I met his mismatched eyes. "Oh, how come? Are you guys scared or something?" Dimentio nodded. "Yes. I am terrified beyond belief of it, but that's not the point. We can't go there because of reasons I would rather not share at the moment." 

What a vague answer. Kinda a red flag, but I'll go with it. I haven't told them about my past, so it seems fit I don't know about theirs. "Okay, so what's your plan?"

He appeared to be thinking. "We've been trying to come up with one for weeks, but we can't think of anything....." He then looked into my eyes. A smile formed on his face. 

"I just got an idea."