Mr. L POV

We spent a few days, maybe weeks, we didn't keep track, working on the gun, making sure everything was in order. The kid actually rather enjoyed sleeping outside in the woods. He said it reminded him of when he'd go camping with his parents.

"Okay, so if we did this correctly, Mario's soul should still be in here. Now, there's no way to really test this until we find him, so we'll only really have one shot." The kid started. 

"Okay. So we've gotta get into your house, free Mario, then boom. Luigi's happy and doesn't hurt anyone else."

I hope.

Varian excitedly nodded. "Cool! Then he'll come clean and clear your name! We won't have to worry about hiding!" I nodded. "Yep. That's the goal."

An unlikely goal, but worth a shot.

Third Person POV

Luigi spent every day outside, looking for Mr. L. He didn't go far, since he needed to be near Mario. Once he got Mr. L's soul, he'd only have 30 minutes to get it back to Mario or it would disappear, and he couldn't let that happen.

"Where are you...." He muttered.

Varian held up the gun. "I think I should be the one to free Mario. I caused this mess, and I wanna fix it. Plus, he's going to feel disoriented. He won't know that any time had passed. I was the last person he saw, so I think it'll be less stressful for him if it's just me." Mr. L hesitantly nodded. He knew that Mario would probably freak out if he woke up and saw...well...him. But leaving the kid on his own? Mr. L had a deep gut feeling that something bad was gonna happen.

Varian could see the uneasy look in L's eyes. "Please. I started this mess. Let me fix it. I need to be the one to fix it."

Mr. L slowly nodded again. "Alright. I have full faith in you. You can do this. Just... be careful."

The two walked over and up to a hilltop. They were about a mile from the Mushroom Kingdom. This was a more open area compared to the woods. Mr. L wanted a view of the whole Kingdom so he could see if Luigi was anywhere. No sign of him yet.

He handed the kid a radio. "Here. I'll keep watch from up here. If I see him, I'll be able to tell you where he is. Alright?" The kid nodded and took one. "A-alright."

He slung the gun over his back. The two had added a strap so it would just hang there. Mr. L briefly smiled at him. The kid gave a confused look. "What? What's with the smile?"

"Oh, nothing. You just look super cool. With that gun slung across your back." Mr. L replied. He smiled. "Thanks," Then started down the hill.

Mr. L watched over, holding the radio close to his mouth. "Okay, no signs of him yet."

The kid carefully made his way down the hill. He was careful not to be seen by anyone. He could cut through town to save time and get to his house faster, but if he didn't want to get spotted, he'd have to go around and use the trees as cover.

"You okay, kid? I can't see you," Mr. L asked through the radio. Varian picked it up and replied. "Yes. Just using the trees as cover so I don't get spotted-"

Varian suddenly froze.

"Kid? Kid? You good?" Mr. L's voice came through the radio.

Varian dropped it and stepped back.

"Varian? Come in. Come in? Kid? Answer me!" The radio kept saying, but Varian ignored it.

Standing right in front of him, was Luigi. He was staring him down, staff in hand.

"Well, if it isn't Varian." Luigi stated. "And what would that be?" 

Luigi pointed to the gun. His eyes narrowed. "Wait, did you.... rebuild the gun you used to kill my brother?" 

Varian held his hands up and stepped back some more, shaking his head. "N-no. It's not what it looks like."

Luigi began to walk forward. "I..... I see. You wanted to end me, just like you ended him, didn't you?" Varian shook his head. "N-no no no. That's not it, I swear! I mean, I can see how this looks bad, but t-trust me. It isn't that. We're trying to-"

Luigi shook his head and pointed the staff at the kid's chest. "Shut it! I don't care what you have to say. I'm not gonna let you do that."

The kid began to shake. He couldn't move. He couldn't run. "W-w-what are you doing?"

Luigi glared into his eyes. "I'm gonna make sure you never, ever, keep me from my brother again."

The glass ball in the staff began to glow. The kid squeezed his eyes closed as he felt a pain well up in his chest. "Ah, ow, what are you doing?? S-stop it...."

Luigi stepped back and turned around.

"You have 30 minutes. I'd say goodbye to your loved ones.....oh wait. That's right, you don't have any." 

He began to walk off. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to find Mr. L."

Luigi then calmly walked off, leaving Varian speechless.

"Kid? Kid? You okay? Come in? Come in?" Mr. L's voice came through the radio. Varian slowly walked over and picked it up.

"I'm here." He muttered. Mr. L let out a sigh of relief. "I couldn't see you. Are you okay. Why didn't you respond?"

Varian hesitated. "I'm....." He looked at the gun behind his shoulder, then let out a sigh.

".....Yeah. I'm okay. I'm.... gonna go free Mario."

Mr. L nodded on the other side of the line. "Okay. Good. Stay safe, kid."

Varian turned off the radio and looked down. He felt a tear roll down his cheek, before pressing forward.

Mr. L POV

I continued looking out for Luigi. He had to be around here somewhere. I had a small telescope with me. I could see that he wasn't in the house. So the kid should be able to just walk in....

Suddenly, I felt someone's presence behind me. 

I slowly turned around to see Luigi standing there. The weird book was floating next to him, and that staff in his hand.

The staff was glowing brightly. I felt a chill run down my spine.

He did not look good. He didn't look like himself.

He honestly looked like me, but more intense.

"Dang it." I muttered, before standing up.

He smiled. "I found you!" He chimed. It almost sounded like his old voice. But not quite.

I held out my arm. "Luigi, stop. This isn't you." 

He shook his head and smiled. "No. This is me. I've never felt more in control. I've never felt so.... real."

I stepped towards him. "NO! Look at yourself! Luigi, this ISN'T you! We saw that toad. The one you killed. The Luigi I knew would NEVER!" He laughed some more. "That Luigi was constantly pushed around. I would think you'd be proud of me finally standing up for myself."

I shook my head, when he opened the book.

"You know, I'm not a magician, but this book has a few spells made for humans, like us! While waiting for you, I've been able to practice! It's so cool! For example," He waved his wrist, causing me to float up into the air. It felt like a hand was grabbing me and holding me there.

He giggled. "Look! I'm Dimentio! The Charming Magician!" I began to squirm.

He smiled an almost childish smile. "I'm been practicing that one in case I found you," He beamed. I shook my head and frantically moved my legs. "What? What the heck? What do you mean?!"

Luigi stepped closer.

"Mr. L, I'm a hero. And as a hero, I have to do whatever it takes to save someone. You see...." He pointed his staff at my chest. "I need your soul to save Mario. You understand, right?"

I shook my head. "What?! No! No no no! Don't do that! The kid needs me! Put me down!"

He smirked. "Not my problem."

"THIS ISN'T YOU! WHERE'S THE REAL LUIGI!?" I yelled while frantically trying to move.

Luigi glared into my eyes. "He's right here."

I shook his head as he pushed the orb on to my chest.

But nothing happened.

I could see a confused expression on his face. "What? Why isn't this working?!"

He looked down and turned around, thinking. I was still floating there, struggling to get loose.

"The staff must only be able to hold one soul at a time...." He muttered. My eyes went wide. "Wait, you killed another innocent person?!" He shrugged and tapped the glass orb. "Nope. They're not dead yet. They've still got about 20 minutes, but that's not important. I just have to keep you here for those 20 minutes, then everything will work out!" He chirped. I glared at him.

Hopefully the kid would get back here with Mario before that happened.

"How'd you do it??" I asked suddenly. He smiled and brushed his staff. "Do what?"

"You know what I'm referring to." I spat. He shrugged. "I have no idea-"

"How'd you kill Dim?"

He froze. And I swear, I saw a tiny look of....guilt.

He looked down. Yes. I could definitely see guilt. "Same way he killed you. Betrayal."

"Tell me how."

Luigi let out a small sigh. "We were running. There was a bridge, it was breaking. He jumped, I caught him, then dropped him. End of story."

I slowly shook my head. "But...he can fly. That doesn't make sense." Luigi smiled. "Yeah, well he couldn't fly in there. He's dead. I killed him, end of story. Let's not talk about it."

He seemed less angry and more sad now.

"But-"

"Mr. L, I said, drop it. I don't wanna talk about it."

I had a confused look on my face, when I realized,

"You regret it, don't you?"

He clenched his fists. "NO! I DON'T! I DON'T REGRET ANY OF IT! IT'S JUST A SACRIFICE THAT NEEDED TO BE MADE."

He pointed the staff at me again. "Now shut up! Or I'll make you!

He had this crazy look in his eye.

A crazy look I've never seen. Suddenly, I felt a deep, crushing pain.

The invisible force around be began to squeeze. I was finding it hard to breathe.

"Luigi....let go. I...can't breath." I cried.

He smiled.

"Good."