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

46

"Nastasia and Danny got their weight in big coins from their grant." Luigi says at Mario's house as he looks at his laptop, while haphazardly eating some pasta.

"You got a problem twisting your pasta?" Mario asks, grabbing Luigi's hand. "That's what the fork is for."

"It's still spaghetti." Luigi says noncommittally, then turns back to the laptop as some tomato sauce falls on his shirt. "So their thought was that the device will scan, analyze, and attempt to correct any irregularities or issues within the brain.

"I rest my case." Mario jokes about his earlier warning.

"That's it." Luigi points at a picture. "That's what they're working on.", then turns to Mario. "We should talk to Danny's cousin, see what he knows."

"Gladly," Mario points to Luigi's shirt, laughing, "But you might wanna change your shirt first."

Luigi looks down, and at the tomato stain, Luigi groans, "And why didn't you tell me?", before getting up and walking away.

"Where did I become the bad guy?" Mario says incredulously, right as he hears someone knocking.

"Coming." Mario calls as he makes his way to the door and opens it, and upon seeing the pink Toad, starts to greet, "Toadette! Hi--" right as she kicks him, making him wince.

"Ow!" Mario cries out in pain, rubbing his knee. "What the heck?"

"You didn't buy me those books, did you?" Toadette accuses. "You knew it was that adventuring Toad that got petrified."

"Hey, I tried to tell you! You didn't let me!" Mario defends.

"Now that's just pathetic." Toadette crosses her arms.

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry!" Mario throws up his hands in surrender. "I should've told you the truth."

"Is it safe to say you also weren't watching me through the Lakitu camera?" Toadette goes on.

"Nope, that was Toad too." Mario admits.

"How's it feel knowing you piggybacked off of someone else's good deed?" Toadette asks. "Nice going...." Then stops, clearly embarrassed.

"Mario." Mario says.

"Mario then." Toadette says dismissively. "And just when I really thought I'd made a friend.", then she kicks him again, then walks out, right as Spike and Pauline walk in.

"Wait was that...?" Pauline points behind her. "And she...?"

"Uh huh." Mario rubs his now extremely sore knee. "Second one harder than the first."

Spike and Pauline laugh at this, while Mario tries to move the conversation away, "So what do we know?"

"That a Toad's strong enough to knock you down." Spike laughs.

"Spike...." Mario warns,

Spike takes the hint, "Okay, so while it's more risky to detach a train while it's moving, it's not impossible. Apply the brakes, activate the automatic uncoupling mechanism, and move slowly, any train can do it."

"Huh." Mario says as Luigi walks right past them without saying a word.

"Uh hi?" Spike calls, making Luigi turn around, "What?"

"Where do you think you're going?" Mario demands.

"Talking to Dani's cousin." Luigi says like it's obvious. "You coming with or what?"

"Say no more." Mario agrees, then says to Spike and Pauline. "Touch so much as one fiber on my bed, I'll end you." And shuts the door behind them.