The Evils Within

Chapter 18

Luigi ran into the wall across from the infirmary. Taking a step back, he turned his head down the hall, seeing two Toad guards running in his direction. Luigi bolted the other direction to outrun the guards.

Luigi turned a corner and found himself in a room with a large spiral staircase and two more hallways, one continuing straight and one going to the left. He jumped up to the upper balcony to throw the toad guards off his track. He barely reached the next floor and pulled himself over the railing before standing against the adjacent wall.

The toad guards turned the corner and stopped near the base of the staircase. "Where did he go?" One guard asked.

The other turned his head between the forward and left hallway. "I'm not sure. We should split up. You go West, I'll go North," the other guard suggested.

Luigi watched as the toads nodded to one another and ran down their respective hallway. He sighed in relief. He needed to keep himself hidden as he tried to think of a new plan that won't backfire in his face.

Suddenly, a loud explosion shook the castle walls. Luigi ran to the other side of the balcony to a window to examine the sound. Outside, where a field of flowers used to be, was a large smoke-filled crater. An army of enemies could be seen advancing to Toad Town.

Luigi watched as chaos in the small town began to unfold. He needed to help them. Luigi ran to the nearest room, Peach's bedroom, and over to the exterior balcony. He looked towards the ground, tightly gripping the railing as he realized how far of a fall it was. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his super leaf. As he used it, he sported a fox tail and a pair of pointed ears atop his head. He ran back into the room to get a running start before jumping over the balcony and gliding towards the town.

~~~~~

Mario sat on the cot, talking with Peach while 'Luigi' looked down the hall where his dopplegänger ran.

"Are you sure we can trust him?" Mario asked. "I mean, the other Luigi did heal me."

"I don't know. When he-," Peach gestured to the Luigi standing in the doorway, "When he came to me with you and his arms, I wasn't really thinking. I knew I should have questioned him, just a little bit, but all I could focus on was getting you better. We have to be careful around either of them. Who knows what they have up their sleeves.

Suddenly, an explosion rocked the walls of the castle. Mario stood up from the cot. "What was that?" he asked.

"I'll go check it out," 'Luigi' didn't hesitate. He ran out of the room and down the hall.

"I should go with him," Mario insisted. "Peach, you find somewhere safe to hide, I'll go investigate that sound." Mario began to walk to the door but was stopped by a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm going with you," Peach said, determined.

Mario sighed, "Peach, I don't know what's going on out there, but I know it's not safe for a princess. You could get hurt."

"You don't get it. As the leader of this kingdom, it is my duty to protect it. Even if it means I could get hurt in the process. I'll go after him, you make sure that my people are safe," Peach instructed.

Mario almost gasped, being taken aback. He wasn't exactly sure when Peach started acting so tough, but he liked it. He also feared it, so he simply nodded before heading down the hall.

Peach walked the opposite direction, the direction she had seen 'Luigi' run. She entered the throne room, seeing a figure near the front entrance. As she drew closer, she noticed a set of overalls lying on the ground next to it.

The figure perked up, hearing a familiar set of footsteps clicking against the hardwood floor. "Hello, princess," it spoke before turning around to face her. It was Mr. L, back in his traditional jumpsuit. He quickly removed his cap and flipped it inside-out, inverting the 'L' and the color on his emblem, and placing it back into his head.

Mr. L had a bruise around his right eye, which Peach took notice of quickly. "I should have known it was you," she spoke. "What are you doing here?"

"Is it not obvious? I'm trying to give this kingdom a much more devoted leader," Mr. L responded. "Answer me this, Princess. Is being a leader something you really want to do?"

Peach didn't even need to think for a response. "Of course, it is! I've been wanting to do this ever since-" she began, only to be interrupted.

"Do you though? Did you know that being a leader means you have to take action into your own hands?"

"Yes! I've been doing that for-" Peach tried to speak once more, only to get interrupted again.

"No, you haven't. Mario has. You can't just leave the safety of your kingdom in the hands of... one person... You've got to take matters into your own hands. This kingdom deserves someone like that, not someone like you."

"I am though," Peach spoke, her voice low.

Mr. L scoffed, "What exactly are you doing to better this kingdom, Princess?"

"This." Peach removed her crown from her head as she began to approach Mr. L. He was confused, but also intrigued. He began to reach his hands out to grab the crown before it came swinging towards him, hitting him in the face and sending him down the hall.

Mr. L fell to the ground, putting a hand to his head, feeling dizzied at the impact. He chuckled, "I underestimated you, princess. You're a lot tougher than you made yourself out to be." Standing up, he cracked his knuckles, a jolt of electricity shooting from them. "Guess we're just going to have to do this the hard way."