The Order of the Slice

Chapter 18

Luigi still didn't understand what was going on. Even though Cheryl had tried to explain, again and again. "See Pepperoni picked the basil pizza,"

"Uh-huh."

"And I'm Basil,"

"Uh-huh,"

"So that means I'm the new messenger."

"Uh-huh-wait what?" Luigi stopped. "I-I still don't understand, just because that dog licked some pizza, that makes you leader?"

Cheryl snickered. "Well, kind of."

"That's..." Luigi hesitated.

"Stupid?" Cheryl offered. "Weird?"

Luigi nodded. "Both of those," Cheryl scoffed.

"You wouldn't understand." Luigi nodded again. He really didn't understand.

A hand snaked around Luigi's arm. Luigi screamed a little out of surprise. "M-Mushroom," The handsy Order of the Slice member had seemed to have found her way into Cheryl's new quarters. "What are you doing?" Luigi asked. Mushroom growled as a response. Luigi shot a pleading look at Cheryl.

"What?" She asked. Luigi sighed and decided to just ignore Mushroom. A small, chubby dog waddled into the room, Luigi recognized this dog. Pepperoni, The Order of the Slices "leader" was struggling to stand up as they searched for pizza crumbs on the floor. The dog bumped into Sir Patty, the cat that Luigi had taken from the Knights of the Burger, the cat seemed to be more irritable since Luigi last saw him, clawing and hissing at the pudgy little dog. Sir Patty jumped onto Luigi's lap, instantly calming down. Cheryl's eyebrows lifted in a surprised expression. Luigi stroked the fluffy cat.

"What?" He asked.

"That's the calmest I've ever seen him." Cheryl replied. Luigi shrugged.

"Maybe he just hates pizza." He guessed. Cheryl chuckled a little.

"Yeah, maybe," Mushroom cleared her throat.

"Basil," She began. "Cauliflower, Pineapple and Sausage are still awaiting their punishment." Cheryl stood up from the couch she had been lounging on.

"Whoa-wait-" Luigi stammered. "W-what are you going to do with them?"

Cheryl shrugged casually. "Probably just toss them in The Oven." She said. Luigi got up.

"Cheryl, you aren't going to actually send them to that wretched place, are you?" Both Cheryl and Mushroom's brows knit together in confusion.

"But they suck." Cheryl said.

Luigi frowned. "What about Barry? You and Barry were friends right? A-and I threatened the guy with a pizza cutter!"

Cheryl ended their argument with a single wave, as if he was not worth talking to anymore. "I don't have time for this." She grumbled. "Where is Deep Dish?"

Mushroom was silent for moment. "He's... Gone."

"Gone? What do you mean gone?"

"Gone! Vanished! Poof! Gone!" Mushroom made a poofing hand gesture. Mushroom and Cheryl continued to yell, they seemed to have completely forgotten Luigi was even there. He wondered if there was anything he could do to help them.

"Well then go find him!"

"Hey-"

"He might be dead! Why should I look for a dead person?!"

"Uh-Hey-"

"Because I told you to! That's why!"

"Uh-guys, I-"

Their bickering was interrupted by a knock onthe doorframe. "Ma'am?" They all turned towards the door. "Someone iscausing quite a racket outside." Cheryl stormed out of room, Mushroom andthe other Order of the Slice member followed. Luigi just stood there for amoment, unsure of what to do. Then Luigi realized something. He could go andfree Barry, Sausage and Ben right now. He slowly tiptoed out of the room. Butthen he realized that he didn't need tiptoe, since everyone had left, so hejust walked normally.