Mario The Music Box (Fanfiction)

Chapter 25: Blood Or Bonds? Which One Is Stronger?

                    Luigi walked over to the fake "Mario" and took the knife he had in his left hand. Luigi slipped it into his pocket, then looked back at Marchionne.

                    "Ok, let's go."

                    The two ventured out of the foyer, and they proceeded to the second level. Marchionne then glanced at Luigi.

                     "Luigi, we're about to go on a journey of the unknown. The chances of you getting out of this alive are slim. Do you still wish to continue?" Marchionne asked in a cautious voice. Luigi looked at him with a determined face. He had his goal set.

                     "There's no way I'm backing down now. I've come too far," Luigi answered nodding. Marchionne nodded as well.

                      "Very well then." They then continued on their way to the second floor, when Luigi remembered something else. He turned to Marchionne.

                      "Oh Marchionne, I've been wanting to ask you..... what was that thing that attacked me?" Luigi asked him. Marchionne turned his head to look at him. Luigi continued,

                      "I mean, I could tell that he wasn't Mario because of the inconsistencies but..... why were his attributes the complete opposite of Mario's? That part I never understood." Marchionne had a look of consideration. He then answered,

                      "He was a phantom. An incomplete one however. Usually spirits have many unique attributes and spiritual energy, but his energy felt off. If I were to guess, I think the mansion created him." Luigi ceased his walking. He looked at Marchionne with a bewildered expression.

                      "T-the mansion?!?!? W-what?!?!? H-how?!?!" he asked stunned. Marchionne continued to walk as Luigi followed closely behind, while answering,

                      "While the mansion does not have a consciousness of its own, it does follow a motive which was given to it when Alice cursed this place." Marchionne rose his index finger.

                      "Think of it like a computer program. Alice codes for it to bring wrath to this place. So it has no choice but to take on her wrath and bring it to the victims of this place. That phantom we saw was just a fragment of it. The mansion most likely wanted to end your life, so it created him." Marchionne then narrowed his eyes.

                       "But not without a couple of flaws. If I were to guess, they probably created him from a mirror, and he could take the form of someone you knew. But of their reflections. He couldn't help the fact that he was left handed or that his wound was on his right shoulder. So....."

                         "...... he put the bandage on his left arm to make it seem like he really had been possessed. I see. I wondered why he imitated Mario's actions so horribly. I thought he was just toying with me." Luigi paused.

                         "Although, then again, I guess he did mock me a couple of times....." he said with an annoyed expression. Marchionne rose an eyebrow.

                        "You were able to tell him apart from your brother? You two must have a good relationship with each other." Luigi turned pale, then he looked at Marchionne with a panicked face.

                       "A-ah! N-no! I-It wasn't that at all! Mario and I just work in that type of expertise where we solve issues and whatnot...... I'm not exactly sure whether or not our relationship is really......"