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

18

"I'm getting into my pajamas." Luigi says the minute he gets out of the pipe in the Dream Lab, marching over to Pauline.

"You got the call to get Molly's body prepped, didn't you?"

"Uh yeah, but--"

"Mario, how fast can you make me fall asleep?" Luigi doesn't wait for her to finish, already turning away.

"Wait!" Pauline exclaims. "Look, I'm sorry, but we can't anymore."

At that, both Mario and Spike march over, with Mario reading the data.

"Impossible." Mario goes over to the computers.

"What is?" Luigi demands, while Mario keeps typing away at the computer, only to suddenly say,

"She's right. Apparently Molly's brain was too far gone when she was petrified. We can't even try to dreamwalk anymore."

"You're lying." Luigi states flatly.

"No he's not." Pauline says quickly. "We always knew this was a possibility, and now we have confirmation. Even if we tried, there's nothing."

"I'm sorry, Luigi." Spike tries, as Luigi stares at the glass box holding Molly's petrified corpse, then suddenly stomps away, straight for Snoozemore's office.

"How dare you send me on a wild goose chase?" Luigi says as he bursts in. "Purposely distracting me with Alexis Maven so I couldn't even try to dreamwalk into Molly's dreams?"

"Mm, no." Snoozemore still isn't fazed. "But I'm flattered you think so highly of me."

"So all your lackeys out there were in on it too?" Luigi demands, getting angrier. "Mario, Pauline, Spike?"

"Mm, no. That would imply there was something to be in on." Snoozemore replies smoothly. "I do apologize about Molly, but unfortunately, that's one of the risks with the job."

"You owe me." Luigi reminds him.

"Do I?" Snoozemore asks. "I recall saying if you could save Alexis Maven in time, you'd have a chance to dreamwalk into Molly's dreams. But you didn't, so you don't."

"What the hell are you hiding from me?" Luigi smacks his hands on Snoozemore's desk. "What's so important about a deadbeat foster mom that you'd destroy any chance of closure I could possibly get from her if it means I'm still on your leash? Is it the reason my parents left me with her? Or where they are now? Or who actually killed and petrified her?"

"Enough." Snoozemore says, moving to the door. "Follow me. There's something I want you to see."

After a moment, Luigi does.

"The lease on Molly's apartment is being transferred to you." Snoozemore informs him. "Everything in her tiny apartment is left to you, down to the last speck of dust."

Down below, Mario, Pauline and Spike come closer, listening in.

"Whatever you're hoping to find, will most likely be there." Snoozemore finishes, then presses a button on a remote, making a projector with Alexis' picture on it appear.

"Do you see that?" he demands, then looks at the others down below. "All of you, do you understand how monumental it is what we've done? How important the Dream Lab was for Jake?"

Snoozemore says forcefully, "Luigi. Because of you, Alexis Maven was able to do what she almost died doing: help Jake go back home. Those black holes in her dreams?" Snoozemore looks at the others again. "Anyone can easily get sucked into one at any time, but our lab closes them up before they ever get a chance."

"Would you knock it off?" Molly complains. "You're not gonna get sucked into the vacuum cleaner."

"Yes I am!" Luigi says from his hiding place behind the couch.

Luigi snaps out of the flashback, then says, "Well then. Let's plug 'em up, shall we?"

Smiles all around, except for Mario, who appears lost in thought.

The heart rate monitor beeps as Mario walks into the hospital room, replacing the Fire Flower from last time with an Ice Flower.

Then he comes close to the hospital bed, where Bowser still sleeps unconscious.

Bowser writhing and seizing from inside the dreamscape.

Mario shouting, "Just hold on, and I'll wake you up!"

But Mario shakes his head to snap himself out of it, crushes the Fire Flower in his hand, tosses it in the garbage, and walks back out of the room.