Song: Chrono Cross--Dead Sea

 

Chapter 4: Awake from a Nightmare's Dream

 

~*~*~Flashback: 15 years ago~*~*~

 

A young boy between his 10 years of living stood midway from a window and the

endless darkness of a dim room. He trembled within this dark confinement and not even a

soul seemed to care for this matter. "No....s-s-sweat! Nothing's g-g-going to happen to

me....I'll just...."

 

"BOO!!!!!!!"

 

"EGAD!!!!" A humongous shadow popped up from the ground scaring hit witlessly. His

little gasp of air skipped his scream as they were replaced with running streams of water.

 

"There, there, com'on! I was just playing with you." The more older boy apologized by

resting his hand on the sobbing child's shoulder

 

"You are so mean!" he bellowed, shedding tiny tears down his delicate face. "You know

exactly that I don't like horror stuff, especially ghosts! I hate you!"

 

"I'm sorry, little brother. I just couldn't resist it. I'm really sorry." After some time, the

boy relaxed and stopped his cries. He quietly sat next to his older brother who looked out

of the window and into the deep night sky. The little boy also pulled his view up, then

shyly to his sibling.

 

"Mario?"

 

"Yes?"

 

"What if it's true?"

 

"What is?"

 

He remained quiet for a second until he brought enough courage to address his question.

"About the ghosts. A-are they real? I mean, are there anything like paranormal monsters

out there?"

 

"........ I dunno, at least I think not......"

 

" Mario, what if they come for us?" The boy's eyes tilted up showing his most disliked

subject and thought.

 

"Are you afraid, Luigi? " He asked, sitting up.

 

"........"

 

"Let the come! We will whoop their butts so bad they'll cry for their momma!"

 

"......."

 

"Weege, don't worry, if you'll be in trouble, I'll be there to back you up," Mario once

again laid his hand on his young sibling's shoulder. His assuring arms embraced Luigi for

a promise of safety. "And you will be there to back me up, understand? They don't stand

a ghost of a chance!"

 

"You and I, together........" He whispered to the darkness.

 

~*~*~End of Flashback~*~*~

 

He awoke to the sound of falling rain that violently collided into the windows of an old

shack. "MARIO!!!!!" Luigi's body jumped at the sudden vision he had seized. As cold

sweat engulfed him, he swore that he heard his brother calling for help. "What just

happened? Where am I?"

 

Still feeling dizzy from what occurred, Luigi brought his hand up to his forehead for a

moment of rest. He looked around his surroundings and concluded that he was no longer

in the mansion and even better, away from those fearful ghosts trio. Thank God.

 

"Ah, I see that you are awake now. Are you feeling better, sonny?" came a strange voice

from the empty air.

 

The now alarmed boy panicked to the voice that escaped from a bodiless owner. "W-

Who's there?"

 

"Down here." At the end of the bed, Luigi glanced upon a short guy in a white lab coat

with some contorted glasses and a red infected round nose.

 

"I assume that you have recovered from the attack," Smiled the little aged man. Besides

the thick wavy strand of white hair sticking out of his head, he was pretty much bold and

also tooth-bucked.

 

"Who are you? And where is this place?" asked Luigi, sitting at the edge.

LM_E.Gadd.jpg

"My name is Professor Elvin Gadd. Nice to meet you." They shook hands.

 

"Oww.......my head....it hurts," the plumber groaned.

 

 "Not very surprising considering that I found you unconscious in the mansion's parlor. You were lucky. It would've been very uncomfortable if those three orange ghosts got their hands on you. They are gone for right now. We should be save in my laboratory."

 

"Laboratory?" His eyes caught a variety of strange gadgets standing around the room. Many of them were closely relevant to all sorts of appliances and for unknown uses. If he wouldn't have known better, this professor may qualify for a crazy scientist.

 

 

 "Yes, this is where I reside to consume my study on the supernatural." Gadd showed Luigi his nifty machinery and some other boring paper work scribbled on documentaries. "By the looks of you, you don't seem to be a fella devoted to this."

 

It certainly wasn't at this time, because he had other thoughts that dearly bothered him."No, it's just. I'm worried. To be honest, I'm...looking for someone. I was supposed to meet my brother at the mansion."

 

"But, why here? Choosing this as your meeting place just got to be the last to decide

on," The gnome poured a cup of green tee and took a sip. "You are well informed that

Forever Forest is full of phantoms and other lost spirits. This mansion, " Gadd paused

and restated his thought. "no, this whole area is haunted by those who used to make a

home here some decades ago. I wouldn't even live here if I won a huge house in a

lottery."

 

The young plumber literally gulped at those words.

 

"What's wrong?"

 

"Uh..nothing, " he answered nervously. "It just so happens......never mind. So, have you

seen my brother? His name is Mario Mario."

 

"Mario? " He raised his eyebrow. "Say, do you happen to be Luigi?"

 

"Yes, I'm his younger sibling."

 

"Hmm, well, I did hear a strange Italian accent coming from the house earlier," Supposed

the professor, looking out of the weary window. 

 

"That must've been him!" shouted Luigi anxiously.

 

"Possibly. Now that I think of it, THEY may have been freed after all. Your brother is in

grave danger so long they are on the loose. That scream can only mean that they must've

found him."

 

"You're not telling me that he's..." He was terrified for the fate of the other hero. 

 

"I'm not sure. I, myself have been trying to tame those mischievous ghosts. Sadly to say,

I failed. My body is too aged to do anything. All I can do is lend a hand. You probably

can make a better hunter though, since your youth is still fresh. You may still have a

chance to save him, but be aware that you are dealing with strong ghosts."

 

Luigi's silence left him alone for a moment of thought. * Me? Hunting for ghosts? What

if I'm too late? What if that those gruesome creatures already..... I don't even want to

think what they did to him! *

The chain of images blurred his mind and Luigi reluctantly allowed them to show more.

 *I've got to be positive! It's alright. He's okay. Mario.....hold on, I'm coming to rescue

you!*

 "I can do this! Professor, please tell me what I need to do."

 

"That's the spirit! Now follow me to my main lab. You will need a weapon to defend

yourself on this journey." Gadd shuffled through a whole bunch of gadgets until..

"ACK! OH MY GOODNESS!! WHERE IS IT??!!! " Gadd literally screamed his head

off, jumping like a mad dodo "Oops! Never mind, I found it." 

 

Luigi: *Sweatdrops* Uh....

 

From the pile of junk he drew something particular. He proudly presented: "This is the

Poltergust 3000; A genius invention of mine."

 

"It's... a vacuum." Luigi took the little machine and wore it like a handy backpack with

the neck in his hand.

 

"Ah, it may seem so, but it's specialized to catch the supernatural."

 

"Are you saying that this house appliance can suck up ghosts?" he questioned, not

believing the scientist.

 

"You got it sonny! This baby is equipped with all the things you need to get around

unwanted visitors. It has a reverse and can shoot elemental....

 

~*BLAM!!!*~     0_o .........

 

 Gadd's face was covered in black smock when Luigi accidentally pushed the fire switch

on the vacuum's neck.

 

"Um...before you embark into the mansion, I think that you ought to undergo a little

training. Please follow me." Gadd wiped off the dirt and guided him into the training

room.

 

In the specialized area, Luigi conducted his first test with the Poltergust 3000. Every

single ghost that neared him swam within a tidal wind into the vacuum. Though he still

had some difficulties getting the hang of it, with some aiming, dragging and pulling, he

managed the deal quite well. Luigi was the born ghostbuster!

 

Over the monitor, Gadd congratulated the newborn hunter. "Bravo my boy! You were

great! But, this doesn't mean that this adventure will be a cinch. Now listen, all you need

to know is you've got to keep your watch. These ghosts are not to be taken lightly."

 

"I still don't like this whole idea...."

 

"Would you care to take a look in the gallery? You may find some useful information.

Besides, I'd like you to show something really special,"

 

Gadd led Luigi to another section of his underground laboratory, only to be hit by another

surprise....

 

"AHHHH!! OH NO!!!! MY PAINTINGS????!!!!! THEY ARE........G-O-N-E!!!!!!!

BUT! HOW CAN THIS BE?! THEY WERE RIGHT HERE!!" The now panicking

scientists stumbled over to every side in the room, looking for what's has been stolen.

But to no luck for each wall's treasure he examined had been taken away or literally

wiped out.

 

"The walls, were there originally paintings? They are...empty," Noticed Luigi as he

passed by the halls.

 

"Wrong. My gallery used to have the most fascinating paintings you could've ever

imagined, " A sobbing Gadd walked up from behind and guided his hand across a blank

painting. "I guess they broke free and are now at large."

 

"Broke free? How? Paintings can't walk....or do they?" He turned to the tiny man for an

answer.

 

"The portraits are actually ghosts. Only in a more concealed form. Oh grieves! My poor

sour work, gone down the drain! *Sigh* I believe I'll have to deal with it later." The two

returned to the main lab to consult with the final agenda.  "As you explore the mansion

you will encounter many unusual phenomenons. And things may get rough.  Don't be

afraid. I'll be there to help you. You can contact me using the Gameboy Horror. " He

handed a small rectangular communication device into the hunter's palm.

 

Luigi made his way toward the exit stairs.

 

"Oh and before I forget! " Gadd stopped him for a "tiny" request. "while you will look

for your brother, do you mind if you could catch any Portrait ghosts you come across?"

 

"I'll try."

 

"Ah yes, you see history is repeating itself, sort of."

 

He turned around. "What do you mean?"

 

"I once used to be a lad just like you. But Luigi?" Gadd walked across the lab. "I believe

that you have a problem with paranormal creatures. Am I right?"

 

The plumber blinked. "What makes you think that?"

 

"Come on! I can tell from a person who fears dead people! Actually, let's say, is witlessly

afraid of their flowing souls. It's the clattering of your teeth, the shaking in your boots,

that trembling feeling against your will that tells me that you dislike ghosts. And most

remarkably, are those anguished eyes of yours...It's as if you lived in that fear for

years....."

 

Time paused the moment until Luigi choose to speak.

 

"I...hate ghosts.....It's always been like that, ever since I ... I was very young. Mario

always used to scare me so bad that I became restless for a whole entire week! It even

became a long lasting effect.... "

 

"It's fear from the past, I assume. Well, have faith Luigi and make sure you are all right.

If you're in trouble I'll be here to back you up. "

 

"Those words....." Luigi immediately froze the second he realized that exact phrase that

escaped Gadd. He was once promised these words some time ago, but the situation

brought him back to reality.

 

"Now go find your brother before I fear the worst may happen."

 

Luigi gave a slow nod and climbed out of the lab.

 

Outside, Luigi stood in front of the mansion. Filled with fear, yet determination the

mansion gladly accepted Luigi's new arrival. Again, a horse whisper could be heard in

the sky.

 

"Mario....you and I, together.....you'll be okay....... I'll be there to back you up... I

promise.......as much as you have promised me a long time ago........"

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Awe! Man! This chapter is so messed up! I'll tell you why, it's sooooo UGH. Hey it turned out better than before, but still! I became so eager that I rushed through!! I hope I'll get better with this. If not, I may start to give up on this. WAAHHH!!! -_-"

                                                

Luigi's Mansion; Tale of the Haunted Residence
 
Chapter 3          Chapter 4          Chapter 5