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Chapter Text

Luigi never expected to be dropped in a literal hell. The simple mission to stop the flooding in Brooklyn led by his dear brother had instantly turned nightmarish once they had found a gigantic green pipe in the depths of the sewers, being sucked into the pipe was terrifying enough, but watching as his fratello maggiore was literally ripped from his hold was all it took for the Italian plumber to scream bloody murder as his vision was filled with lava, smoke, and ash. Not to mention the prickling ache he felt in his own body as he was spat out onto ashen terrain.

Wherever he was now seemed like it was straight out of a horror film, surrounded by leafless burnt trees that branched out towards the sky like boney fingers and streams of lava running through the land casting an ominous glow to the already eerie atmosphere.

What's more to add to the unsettling feeling there was a tremendous ache in his joints that sent a sharp pain through his body every time he decided to move even an inch! His skin felt like it was crawling almost physically, though he chalked it up to the feeling of ash being caked onto his skin through his torn clothes.

With a shuddered breath the taller Mario twin picked himself from the ground, rubbing at his sore backside and wincing as his movement only seemed to agitate the pain settling deep in his bones. God, why was he hurting so much? Nothing felt broken (aside from a most definitely bruised rear) so why was his body in so much pain?

Luigi didn't allow himself to dwell on the thought, what mattered is that he could move, what mattered is that he needed to find Mario! And so he walked, making sure to pick up his tool kit as he walked deeper into the hellscape he's found himself in. All while a deep grimace of pain marred his mustachioed face as he fought against the agony settling deep within his body.

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The tall plumber didn't know how long he had walked, but he knew each step was becoming harder to take and increasingly uncomfortable. Call him crazy but his clothes were beginning to feel tighter around his body, his feet hurt in the confines of his shoes and his gloves seemed more torn around his fingertips. What was happening to him? The pain was steadily increasing, leaving the Italian teary eyed and on the verge of sobbing.

It was such a deep felt pain that he had never felt before. Dwarfing all the times him and Mario had broken their bones on little misadventures around Brooklyn as children. Nothing felt as bone breaking as this. Luigi didn't know when he decided to forgo the shoes and gloves all together.

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Something was wrong. So, so wrong.

His body was growing, changing. He didn't realize it until he noticed that the branches above his head were considerably closer and the crawling feeling on his skin escalated to a maddening itch. Upon rolling up his ripping and straining sleeves Luigi noticed them. Scales.

There were scales slowly spreading across the expanse of his arms, shining an emerald green in the glow of the lava.

Luigi's eyes widened in panic, his breathing picking up considerably as he watched the green engulf his arms and begin to spread to his hands. Instinctively he began clawing at the scales, trying to halt in their takeover of his flesh with little effect. Tears brimmed his eyes as a wave of mind numbing pain erupted through his body, causing the green-clad plumber to scream.

Whatever was happening to him seemed to be hitting it's point as Luigi felt his whole body seem to shift. There was no area on his body not blazing with pain.

His clothes were beginning to shred as his body continued to grow, no longer able to last as the human's anatomy changed into something far different from what it was supposed to be. Those emerald scales spreading like a parasite and bringing with them a change that left Luigi absolutely paralyzed.

Nails grew into mighty claws, face contorting into a beak-like muzzle as his teeth grew and sharpened into what was needed, joints breaking and reforming, a long spiked tail growing from his spine, two curved horns sprouting from his skull and a heavy shell settling onto his aching back.

It's no surprise that the screams became deafening roars before dying out all together as the plumber lost consciousness.

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The first thing Luigi noticed upon regaining consciousness was the distinct lack of bone-deep pain he had been experiencing, instead being traded for a much more bearable soreness. The second was a ghostly chill of something wet-but-not running across his face.

With a groan, the sound far deeper than it should, the Italian cracked his eyes open. The blurry hellscape around him signifying that he wasn't in a dream, he really was stuck here. In the center of his vision was a white, ghostly apparition in the shape of a dog, it's hollow eyes staring up at him as it's tongue lolled out in a goofy way.

With a yelp Luigi quickly sat up to scramble away from the ghostly dog in fear, successfully tripping over himself as he found his weight and balance was thrown off completely. The terror of the ghost was quickly replaced by confusion as he looked down at himself. Only to seize up upon viewing a body that wasn't his.

He looked down at a form that was unrecognizable, scaley and vaguely muscular that was FAR bigger that what it was supposed to be. Blue eyes stared dumbly down a tan plastron at two vaguely saurian legs and a thick tail with three spikes along the end. 

Panic was what broke Luigi out of his stunned silence. He could hear the blood rushing in his ears as his heartrate picked up, his breathing becoming labored as a tight pain began to curl in his chest.

What was this? 

What happened?!

This wasn't his body. 

Nononononononononono

A soft 'Awooo' broke Luigi from his spiraling thoughts as the same ghostly dog floated up to the panicking man to run it's tongue across the transformed Italian's cheek, licking up the steady stream of tears that had begun to fall. The dog looked concerned, it's previously giddy expression falling into a saddened one at Luigi's distress.

With a sniffle he wrapped his too large arms around the phantom dog, surprised that they didn't phase through the pup like the movies usually depicted touching ghosts to be. It felt like hugging a cold marshmallow mixed with gelatin. 

As the pup nuzzled closer to Luigi he opted to forgo his fear of ghosts just this once. The little ghost dog was offering a comfort he needed, especially now.

Chapter Text

"Rallenta, d-doggy!"

Luigi called as he tried to keep up with the phantasmal canine, his steps fumbling over unfamiliar weight as the shell on his back caused him to have to lean forwards to support said weight, which ultimately resulted in his constant stumbling. On a few occasions the poor man had even tripped and fallen onto his front. Lets not mention the amount of times he had already tripped over this damned tail....

Thankfully the pup was merciful enough to always slow down so the taller Mario twin could catch up. It's patience seemingly endless as it led it's clumsy new master elsewhere from the foreboding forest it had found Luigi in. The Polterpup could feel the stress and fear emitting from the giant before he event saw him, it was a wonder how Luigi wasn't found by anyone else before he woke back up.

But now that it was here the spectral canine will protect it's master at all costs! Which was why it was leading Luigi to it's safe place, away from the creatures that lurked around these lands and would no doubt attack the poor man(?) on sight.

"Dove mi stai portando, cagnolino?" 'Where are you leading me, Doggy?'

Luigi asked curiously, looking at the (tiny in comparison) dog, only to get a seemingly excited 'Awrooo!' in response. He can't lie about the little ghost being a comfort he had desperately needed. It had sat patiently in his arms as Luigi cried and sobbed his heart out into it's surprisingly tangent fur, loyally staying there and offering soft whines and barks of comfort until Luigi could finally calm himself down enough to think straight again.

It was only when he felt able to stand again did the pup begin leading him somewhere away from the scary forest. The landscape quickly turning more rocky and Luigi quickly found himself having to hop across small rivers of lava to follow. He quickly found that walking on two feet was a lot harder than crawling on all fours. It felt more natural to walk on his hands and feet, it also balanced the new weight on his back better.

His curiosity was quickly beginning to wane however when the ghostly dog finally led him to what was seemingly the most terrifying haunted mansion he's ever seen in his life. Did...Did the dog expect him to actually go inside??

"Y-you want me to g-g-go in there?!"

Luigi couldn't help but squeak out, lifting himself back onto his haunches to nervously twist his hands around each other, his tail wrapping around one of his ankles as his anxiety and fear spiked once again. Sensing the spike in emotions the Polterpup yipped encouragingly, floating up to give it's nervous master a lick to the face before turning back to race to the entrance of the mansion, disappearing through the door before it's head phased back out to look at Luigi expectantly.

Giving a soft whine Luigi relents to the puppy's gaze, falling back down to his hands to tentatively crawl over jagged volcanic rock to reach the old, rotted door of the abandoned building. S-surely there won't be anything on the other side waiting for him r-right? With a deep, shakey breath the changed plumber pushed the heavy (or what should have been) doors open, only to be greeted by a front room filled with old rotting furniture and a thick layer of dust that tickled his nose. Luigi was relieved to say the least.

Taking a few tentative steps into the mansion, the changed man winced at the sound of wood creaking under his weight the sound was loud in the still air and left him sucking in a breath in hopes nobody, or nothing, was around to hear it. But all he was met with was the silence and the sound of a panting, very pleased ghost dog that greeted the giant Italian once he was fully inside, his tail moved to softly close the doors shut.

"Is this your home, Doggy?"

Luigi asked softly as he looked around the room wearily, taking note that despite the darkness he could actually see pretty well. He was met with a yip that he could only guess was confirmation as the canid apparition float-pranced around his form, it was happy that it's master would be safe now!

Watching the 'dog's antics made Luigi chuckle softly, his muzzle pulling into a small smile, surely if the little cane fantasma called this place home it couldn't be that bad right? Nervous blue eyes turned from the pup to begin really looking around, taking a few tentative yet clumsy steps on his hind legs to test if the rest of the flooring will hold his weight before really moving around to explore the now shared hideout.

The remnants of a kitchen was pretty easy to find, Luigi felt that if this place was in top shape that the place would easily be the biggest kitchens he's ever seen (he can fantasized about everything he could cook at once in a place as big as this). The next was an old lavatory, the room reeked of rust and stale water, but upon testing the sink he found that he had at least some type of water source in this place. (even if the smell of metal and sulfur that came from it made his nostrils curl.)

The only thing Luigi lacked was food. Just the thought of it made his poor stomach rumble loudly in his ears. The last time he had eaten was back at home in Brooklyn (oh how he craved some of Ma's cooking right now), and who knew how long he's been here already? (maybe a day, but that was still too long without food for Luigi's poor stomach to handle)

He looked back at the Polterpup that had been following him through his little exploration.

"You w-wouldn't know where any food would be, would you p-puppy?"

He asked with a little anxious grin, only to be met with a sad 'woooo...' from the ghost dog as it hung it's head low. Of course it wouldn't, why would a ghost need food in the first place? Luigi sighed, it would mean he'd have to leave to find food....something he dreaded but needed to do.

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There was little in the ways of food when it came to a land filled with lava and soot, what creature would willingly live in such a wasteland anyways?

To say Luigi was annoyed was an understatement. How many days has it been since he's fallen here? How many hours has he spent trying to find something to eat in the surrounding area? No amount of foraging or digging into the ashy ground with his claws turned up anything, even with the Polterpup's help (whom he eventually dubbed Rex since he desperately needed a name to call the pup besides Doggy or Puppy) they couldn't find anything.

So it was no surprise that upon hearing the first sounds of life in days Luigi went into predator mode. Having stopped in his digging all together to listen for that sound again. Pupils shrunk as he fell to all fours before he began creeping through the trees to get closer, the soot and ash covering his body muted the bright green scales that covered his form enough to blend in with the landscape.

Upon seeing movement he froze entirely, blue eyes honing in on a small group of.....walking mushrooms? Small brown creatures that just barely passed his ankles in height, but it was something.

The feral Italian struck surprisingly quick, his claws easily piercing through the small mushy bodies closest to him while his tail swept to knock the others of their feet. Soon the small group of five creatures fell to Luigi's bloody, hungry claws to be devoured then and there. The plumber was too hungry to wait and his instincts demanded he eat them then and there.

He wasn't aware of the lone, turtle like figure watching the carnage from the air in horror. They quickly began flying away before the feral koopa could spot and eat them too, they had to inform the King.

Chapter Text

Anger wasn't an uncommon feeling for Bowser. If anything, it was an almost persistent emotion he felt. How could it not when it seemed like you ruled over a kingdom that's faced so much strife and still is? Constant stressing over his people's food supply and quality of life has turned Bowser into an incredibly exhausted and incredibly temperamental individual throughout the years.

The current situation did absolutely no favors on his current mood at all. Just days ago, a mysterious red human appeared out of nowhere, and worse, it seemed his Peaches was getting close to the red-clad runt! It left Bowser fuming and enraged to think that all his hard work and endeavors were going down the drain just because of a little nobody showing up and pulling at the Princesses heartstrings (he refused to think that his chances with his beloved Peach were ruined).

Another major issue happened only hours after the first made itself known. It wasn't one he's seen more than heard, that loud thunderous roar that had echoed across the Darklands. While not a roar of challenge or dominance, it spurred the giant koopa's instincts to hunt the being down and put it in its place. The call was unfamiliar yet familiar at the same time, and it irritated him to no end, only making his mood sour even more than it already was. Everyone was walking on eggshells at this point. Even Bowser's most loyal of subjects, being Kamek and his General, tried to stay clear of his ire more so than usual. 

With the almost permanent tension in the air, it was of great surprise to watch and hear a small Paratrooper hurriedly fly into the vast flaming throne room of Bowser's castle. The poor Troopa looked tired from his flight, but the wide-eyed look of terror painted across their face was a telling sign that something was or had gone wrong. Not exactly good when it came to the King's current state.

Scarlet colored eyes narrowed down at the significantly smaller koopa, pupils sharpened in an obvious sign of anger and annoyance as Bowser leaned forward to loom over his panicked solder from his throne.

"Is there a reason why you're here and not at your outpost, runt?"

The behemoth King asked in a dangerously calm tone.

"I thought I made it very clear that all Troopas were to be stationed in the surrounding areas. What makes you think you're an exception?"

Bowser asked (more like demanded). His head tilted ever so slightly to hear what excuse the winged koopa had. The solder themselves (what was their name? Bowser could have sworn it was something along the lines of Jim or Jimmy) ducked their head into their shell, quivering underneath the gaze of the royal, who was just barely refraining from turning them into a Dry Bones (though maybe that wouldn't be so bad compared to the inevitable rampage that was bound to happen any minute now.)

"We-well, you see, sir,"

Jimmy (?) began in a shaking voice, truly wishing he could just vanish from existence if it meant avoiding Bowser's ire-filled gaze.

"My squad and I were traveling to our assigned location, bu-but we were ambushed!"

Jimmy exclaimed, flailing their arms around sporadically in panic to explain. Even their wings fluffed out in distress. Poor Jimmy could still hear the wet sounds of claws piercing flesh and the crunching of powerful jaws ripping apart their squad one by one.

The initial shudder that the memory caused did not go unnoticed by Bowser as he watched the Paratroopa before him explain. The distant look of horror flashing across Jimmy's face was genuine. 

"Yes...attacks are nothing new," (especially with his reputation) "but that doesn't excuse the fact that you and your squad deliberately disobeyed me and fled, you all will be punished accordingly for such acts."

Bowser said with finality, huffing a plume of dangerous black smoke. But Jimmy's response to the declaration made his body freeze and go rigid.

"The others are gone, sire."

Jimmy responds in a soft, shaken voice. They didn't bother looking up to see the King's reaction, too caught up in the memory to do much but stare down at their feet in shame.

"What?"

Bowser asked coldly, a torrent of shock and rage washing over him like a bucked of cold water. What did they mean by gone? He knew his solders were extremely loyal, so deserters were unheard of, and any and all attacks against his troops never extended past non-lifethreatning injuries. (No kingdom was stupid enough to kill any of Bowser's subjects, less they wanted a proper war on their hands.) So Jimmy couldn't mean death right? But the expression on their face was all Bowser needed to realize that it was in fact the case.

"They- they were eaten."

They explained through gritted teeth, his paws clenched tightly at his sides. And that was all it toom for Bowser to finally snap. The greater koopa heaved himself from his throne, throat aglow with a molten heat as embers and sparks crackled from his maw.

"WHAT WAS IT AND WHERE IS IT."

He all but bellowed, the power behind his voice making the whole room shake. His rage was unimaginable, something or someone was eating HIS solders! HIS subjects! The people who relied on HIM to protect them! The fact that such a being had entered his domain right under his nose was a massive blow to his pride.

Jimmy flinched at the booming voice of Bowser, shrinking almost completely into their shell, Bowser's anger was nothing to scoff at or take lightly. The stench of sulphur permeated in the air with the King's rage.

"I-It was a Koopa! Al-long the forest of th-the Badlands-"

They squawked, cowering pathetically before the far larger royal. It became deathly silent after that. Almost too silent.

To think. One of his own subjects, one of the very beings he swore on his throne to protect. To think he'd be betrayed in such a way. It made Bowser's blood boil more than anything ever has, betrayal from his own kind hit deeper than anything he's ever felt.

"KAMEK!"

The mentioned Magikoopa appeared by Bowser's side in a poof of purple smoke.

"Yes, your nastiness?"

The elderly Koopa croaked in an aged voice, awaiting the King's incoming commands. 

"Get my fastest ship,"

Bowser hissed, his lips pulled back in a nasty grin as he stared spitefully ahead.

"We have a traitor to find."

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Inside the old decrepit mansion Luigi sat in his little nest of blankets and pillows, all of which were old and tattered with age, feeling the best he's felt in days.

After getting over the initial shock, and horror, of what he had just done Lugi found himself eating what little remained of the group of strange walking mushrooms.

'Eat'

Something primal in his mind had told him. It beaconed him to take another bite of the soft, spongey flesh, the blood pooling in his maw lacking any metallic undertones in favor of a rich aftertaste that seemed to add to the mushy meat. Honestly he wasn't going to complain, it's not like he was in the mindset to anyways.

'Full. Return to nest.'

That strange urge had told him, and so he listened. Trudging away from the bloodied ground on his claws and feet and back towards the mansion he had been residing in for the past few days.

The appearance of his spectral companion upon pushing through the doors made the feral, once human, man grin. A low, foreign sound not unlike a purr resounded through his chest as he crawled into the makeshift nest and the polterpup, Rex, followed to curl up on it's master's spikey shell. 

Luigi was content. With a full stomach and a comfortable not-weight laying on his shell, he found himself dozing off to the faint sound of bubbling lava from outside.

If only he knew of the danger heading his way.