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

68

"Luigi?" Snoozemore comes in. "Come with me. There's something I want you to see."

They walk to his office, Luigi sitting across from him as Snoozemore pulls something out of his desk, setting it down.

"Molly's photo?" Luigi asks, confused.

"Happy birthday, Luigi." Snoozemore tells him, handing him the other half of the photo.

When put together, the picture becomes very clear: Molly, Snoozemore and a man and woman Luigi doesn't recognize, with a baby Luigi in the woman's arms.

Luigi's eyes wide, "My parents?"

"I've known them since the Dream Lab was still in its infant stage." Snoozemore finally confesses.

"But my parents weren't part of the Dream Lab." Luigi shakes his head.

"Yes they were." Snoozemore says. "In fact, they're a big reason why the Dream Lab exists."

"They designed the dreamwalking technology?" Luigi asks.

"No, Luigi." Snoozemore says, prompting Luigi to look at him. "Your parents were fleeing the Mushroom Kingdom to escape Bowser, and came to me trying to hide from them."

" What?" Luigi yelps. "But that's--"

"Not what Molly told you." Snoozemore finishes for him. "I know. The truth is when you were being delivered to them, Bowser's minion knocked the stork out of the sky, and took you to Bowser's castle. When they finally got you safe and sound, they decided to leave for your safety."

Luigi accuses, "You call taking what little hopes and dreams I had of them left and smashing them to pieces a birthday present?" then scoffs, "Aw, I'm touched. Really."

"You begged me to tell you the truth." Snoozemore reminds him. "And now I have."

Luigi flips over one half of the photo, "Molly wrote this. What is she talking about? What are we supposed to wake up from?"

Snoozemore replies, "After you were placed with her, we both knew one day you'd start asking questions about your parents. I think she wanted me to wake up to the fact that I would most likely be the one who'd have to answer them."

"So what am I waking up from?" Luigi asks.

"The lies you're telling yourself." Snoozemore says simply. "Your parents loved you so much."

"I don't remember them at all." Luigi says in a choked whisper. "Just Molly."

"She cared about you too." Snoozemore assures him. "She was one of the strongest women I've ever met."

"Then why haven't you shed so much as one tear since hearing about her death?" Luigi accuses.

"I did." Snoozemore replies. "Much like you, I don't make it everyone else's problem."

"Drink slowly." Spike orders as he hands Pauline a cup of water. "How did your talk with your dad go?"

"I talked to him." Pauline says slowly. "What about you?"

"Me?" Spike sits down next to her. "That implies there's someone to call."

"There isn't?" Pauline can't believe it. "Not even a family member or loved one?"

"My dad disowned me when I told him I didn't want to go into the family business or take over the Wrecking Crew from him." Spike says simply. "He forbid anyone from reaching out. Said I was a disgrace to the family name."

Pauline's heart just breaks, and it gets worse when Spike adds, "Trust me, the only people I wanna tell, already know.", looking right at her, the implication clear.

"What was Elara's exact time of petrification?" Luigi says, wincing at his dizziness.

"3:45." Mario replies. "Weeg, listen. I know this isn't really your MO, but you really need to call Destiny right now and tell her goodbye."

"I did tell her goodbye this morning when I left for work." Luigi plays dumb.

"That's not what I meant, and you know it. You said it thinking you'd be walking out of here more or less in one piece." Mario snaps.

"Protocol to inhibit deterioration was administered when?" Luigi asks, not listening at all.

"3:50."

"So if she was put in the glass box this morning..." Luigi says slowly, brain fog making it difficult. "We dreamwalked about a half hour later."

"If you care about Destiny at all-- " Mario says harshly, nearly at the breaking point.

"I do." Luigi snaps. "But you'd think you'd be a little less concerned about than whatever feelings I might have about calling my is-she-or-isn't-she fiancé to pretend I'm not saying goodbye to her and a little more about—"

"Saving everyone, I know." Mario stops him, moving closer, breaking point finally reached as he seethes, "But here's the thing: you don't ."

He sits down. "One way or another, there's a good chance we're gonna die in here. And I don't give a shit about your condition, that's a big deal for everyone , including you."

"I'm begging you to talk about literally anything else." Luigi says, not looking up, until he feels Mario grab his hands, smacking them down on the table and holding them tightly.

"No, you don't get to ignore me this time." Mario snaps. "I know about this better than anyone."

The seriousness in Mario's voice startles Luigi, as Mario continues, "Know how I got this scar?" he lifts one hand, tracing where it starts above his eyebrow, then up his temple and down the back of his neck. "Falling off a playground. That's what I was told. Something distracted me, and a sharp edge cut me as I jumped off. A few inches, and I would've had permanent brain damage or paralyzed. A few more, I wouldn't be here at all. I don't remember what happened or if it was because of what happened, but me and my parents just weren't close like families are supposed to be. Bad grades? They didn't care. I got in trouble? They didn't notice. It's like they were scared to love me."

Mario turns his head so Luigi can see the full scar. "I have to live the rest of my life with a reminder of the recklessness that took my parents away from me, on my face."

Luigi's quiet for several seconds, then reaches over with one hand on the scarred side of Mario's face. "Your parents were cowards. You hear me? We'd all be dead several times over if it wasn't for you. Don't ever change that, not even for me."