The Surge [SPM Halloween Story!]

(7) Possesive Much?

Dimentio sat on the edge of the bed with his head in his hands, a vacant expression on his mask. Meanwhile, Luigi was nearby digging through his dresser drawers in an attempt to find a spare Return Pipe. With time now becoming a worry and the sun beginning to rise on the distant horizon, Luigi was hoping that he had a Return Pipe. That could make the whole trip ten times easier!

After the brief encounter with King Boo, and noticing the sun rising, the two of them had hurried back to the Mario Bros. home.

While Dimentio seemed to mope on Luigi's bedside, Polterpup had taken it upon himself to try and cheer the jester up. Luigi couldn't help but crack a smile from time to time when he would catch the ghost dog trying to get Dimentio to play by nudging him with big puppy eyes. However, the man in green had to tell Polterpup to stop bothering Dimentio when the ghost dog licked the side of his masked face.

"I could have sworn that I had another Return Pipe!" Luigi exclaimed. "Mario had one, Peach had one, Bowser had one, and so did I!"

Luigi huffed as he put everything he had dumped out back in his drawers and shut them. Dimentio and Polterpup looked up at Luigi expectantly, waiting for the plan.

"How could we possibly get to Flipside then if you don't have a Return Pipe?" Dimentio questioned. "I would teleport us, but I'm wary that it will sap up the rest of my energy..."

It was easy to note that Dimentio seemed more down in the dumps and somber, his sluggish body language evident. Luigi hoped that he wasn't giving up, now that the man in green knew that the reason he was still here was that he thought that everyone hates him. He wanted to prove to Dimentio that there were people who would care about him, even after everything he did.

"You don't need to use any of your magic. I don't want you using ANY of your special powers unless you absolutely have to," Luigi stated with a nod.

The man in green let out a small sigh and leaned against his dresser, closing his eyes as he did.

"Well... The only way I can think of to get to Flipside from here would be to go to the Mushroom Kingdom Warp Zone, or M.K.W.Z. for short," Luigi explained. "There we can find Warp Pipes that lead almost anywhere, including Flipside."

Dimentio arched an eyebrow in response.

"And where is this 'Warp Zone'?" Dimentio questioned.

Luigi bit his lip and opened his eyes, only to avert his gaze to the side.

"It's... across Toad Town..... and you would have to pass the Castle as well," Luigi answered. "B-but don't worry! We can find a way to get us both over there!"

Polterpup barked, earning his owner's attention.

"Sorry, I meant all three of us," Luigi sheepishly corrected as he leaned down to pet the dog's head.

The ghost pup happily licked Luigi's hand in response, satisfied with the correction, even though the pup would most likely stay behind regardless. Dimentio frowned as he thought, gripping the edge of the bed.

"But I thought that we established that I would end up dissociating in the sunlight?" Dimentio replied. "I would PREFER to NOT be killed off a second time, thank you."

Luigi nodded in response, holding out a hand as if motioning him to calm down.

"Don't worry, I'm thinking three steps ahead!" Luigi cheered.

Dimentio and Polterpup watched as the man in green ran off with a smile to who knows where in the house. Polterpup, not being pet by Luigi anymore, trotted over to Dimentio and pawed at his ghost tail, wanting attention. With a sigh, the jester leaned over to stroke the canine's back.