I've Got the Strangest Feeling This Isn't Our First Time Around

9

"You can't be mad at us for saving lives!" Mario protests to Snoozemore. "We saved Star Hill and apprehended the Shy Guys."

"Mm, yes." Snoozemore acknowledges. "But you very nearly exposed us to the people we're trying to keep ourselves hidden from."

"Why are we doing that again?" Luigi pipes up.

"Lucky for you, the Shadow Sniffits cooperated and in exchange for not being arrested. Our lab is safe for the time being, provided this never happens again. Only dreamwalking. Understood?"

"What I understand," Luigi retorts. "Is I was dragged here against my will." And gets up to leave the conference room.

To which, Snoozemore only looks at Mario.

"Aw, come on, why do I have to--" but Snoozemore doesn't budge, so Mario gets up as well. "Fine, fine! I'm going." And follows Luigi out.

"Luigi, wait!" Luigi hears behind him as he turns to see Mario catch up with him. "Listen--"

"No you listen." Luigi snaps. "Dreamwalking...woke me up, somehow. Growing up, I constantly bumped into things on purpose because it was a tried-and-true way to make sure I was awake. But in Lemmy's dreams? I felt alive. I felt Wendy's happiness when Lemmy hugged her. I felt Lemmy's loss towards losing Wendy when she vanished..." Here, he stops to look right at Mario. "I think I even felt your fear when I almost woke up with you still inside my subconscious."

The revelation leaves Mario stunned for a moment, to Luigi says,

"I never want to feel that again. Find another dreamwalker."

"Are you sure?" Snoozemore suddenly appears. "Because our lab has just been tasked with waking up someone you may want to take a look at. A rare opportunity we may never get again, due to its nature. She was friends with the ones that helped make this lab what it is today." He hands Luigi a file. "Molly Turner."

As Luigi reads it, Snoozemore goes on, "What your authorities didn't tell you about her body is it was inexplicably petrified after they took the photos. So there is a slim chance the nightmare chunk is keeping her brain intact, and by extension her memories. We don't believe she ended her life."

"No belief necessary." Luigi slams the file shut. "Who were her friends?"

"Mia and Giovanni."

The bluntness stops Luigi cold, as Snoozemore adds, "Your parents."

But in the next instant, Luigi's back to business, only saying,

"I'm all in."