#11: To the Tunnel
By Emerson Kluge

A map supplied by Morton Koopa Jr. led Luigi and Daisy though the backwoods of the Koopa Kingdom.

The two walked in silence, save for the fewest words necessary, but the farther they traveled the more an edge in Luigi's manner betrayed itself to Daisy's intimate knowledge of him. He tensed at unexpected sounds more than his usually calm demeanor allowed him. He sat agitated when they rested, his eyes distrustfully inspecting their surroundings.

Narrow paths cut through dense and foreboding jungle, shaded ravines in the scorching desert and treacherous ledges along bald rock mountains took them ever closer to Koopa Keep.

"What's wrong?" asked Daisy as they stepped from a ledge overlooking a jagged crevasse.

Luigi remained silent a moment before answering. "Nothing," he said, pretending to study the rock slope ahead, then took to it before Daisy could speak. He pushed himself up the incline in long strides.

Daisy kept up. "There's something wrong," she said, a waver of concern in her voice. "Won't you tell me?"

Luigi kept walking. Gravel crunched and rocks trickled down the slope in cascading streams behind him. He breathed heavy from the exertion, his speed greater than their normal pace.

"Luigi, please. It's too obvious." Daisy said, annoyed at his continued silence. "Don't try and hide it."

He stopped at reaching a short cliff face.

"Look," said Daisy as Luigi climbed. "If it's because I'm here you of all people should know I'm not going to sit around that castle while you play hero like Mario."

At the last words Luigi hoisted himself up the face with a burst of energy. He sprinted the height of the cliff with speed, leaving Daisy temporarily behind.

Daisy pursed her lips and took to the cliff, taking Luigi's hand at the top and stepping onto a small plateau overlooking a long, U-shaped valley.

After hoisting her up Luigi turned to crouch at the edge of the next slope, elbows on his knees.

Daisy once again read Luigi's silence and manner. "I know you're not trying to be like Mario," she said. "I'm sorry."

The bright lights of Koopa Keep lay on the horizon. Its grey ramparted towers flared white with the illumination and a great halo surrounded the castle as light revealed volumous airborne dust. The clouds above it reflected light back down, brightening the surrounding landscape.

In the distance a volcano gushed a brief column of fire.

"You do as you please," Luigi said, standing. "I'd be a fool to try and stop you. It's just..." He cast his eyes to the ground. They fell on and empty Koopa skull, stained dark as the rock. He sighed and looked at her, his eyes soft. "It's dangerous. Mario and I both have scars from coming here."

"I'll be safe," Daisy said, grasping Luigi's hand, hanging at his side. "It will take all of us to do this. Please don't worry about me."

A smile cracked at the edge of Luigi's mouth and he nodded. "I couldn't have settled with Morton like you."

Over the cliff a substantial fall of rocks tumbled down the slope.

Luigi turned and let go of Daisy's hand. "Someone's been following us for a while," he said, edging toward the cliff.

Another fall of rocks from beyond the edge and the clawed paw of a Koopa Trooper reached onto the plateau.

"Luigi, don't," called Daisy.

Luigi hesitated, still crouched, ready to strike. He relaxed, but remained on guard as the eye-patched bartender clambered onto the plateau. Luigi raised his brow at Daisy.

"He wanted to help," she explained. "When I followed you to Birdo he asked to come."

Luigi studied the trooper. He wore the same dispassionate look he had in the club and stood calmly, willing to let others speak.

"I don't see what he could do." said Luigi. "We have a map. We can already get through to Koopa Keep."

"Morton may have known - a - way," the bartender interjected, speaking with plain authority. "But not the fastest way."

Luigi waited for an explanation.

"I patrolled those tunnels," the bartender said. "Before..." He eyed Luigi and blinked.

"Hmmm," Luigi acknowledged, prompting for more.

The bartender looked to the clouds above, his paws flexed and the tendons in his neck stood for a moment. "Your brother took my eye," he said. "But he passed me by as I lay wounded and I escaped to the Mushroom Kingdom in his chaos."

Daisy walked to stand behind Luigi as he stood and listened.

"It seems strange, even to me." The bartender laughed nervously. "I have always wanted to thank him. The Hammer Brothers would never have been so kind to someone who did not die fighting."

"So why are you helping us, and not Mario?" Luigi asked.

The bartender smiled. "Pleased customers are good for business," he said, turning toward the valley. "You complimented Birdo's bow. I have never seen him happier." He descended the slope.

Daisy gave Luigi a concerned and puzzled look.

Luigi shrugged.