A/N: Here's the second chapter of this story guys. I hope that you like it. I already told you all the Disclaimers so no need to say more. Just be sure to give credit to NUTCASE1733 after reading too. Any questions that you may have on this fanfic, please PM me whenever possible. Thank you, and enjoy and review when possible!
Moments later after exiting the green pipe, the entire gang appeared before the home of the Super Mario Bros. Needless to say that the design of the home was unlike anything they had ever seen. Sam was the first to happily speak his opinion on it.
"Man, it looks so much better in person."
Just then, a turtle creature with wings known as a Paratroopa flew down. This Paratroopa was wearing a pilot's helmet and goggles, and carried a bag of mail.
"MAIL CALL!" was what Parrakarry said while putting the letters inside the mailbox and flew away.
"Heh heh heh, I see some things don't change around here," Sam said with a chuckle.
"Who was that?" Tails asked. "I don't remember him from our last visit."
"That was Parrakarry." Sam explained. "He was one of Mario's partners when he went on his quest for the Star Rod. He was declared the slowest mailman around, but Mario helped him with his deliveries, and in return Parrakarry showed he was one heck of a force."
"Doesn't look like much to me." Knuckles said in a huff.
"That koopa had some pretty effective attacks, Knuckles. He's a pretty tough fighter." Sam explained matter-of-factly. "I mean, people will steal ANYTHING these days. Even one's mail given the chance."
Knuckles thought this over, then said, "Ok, I'll give you that one."
"Yeah I agree too. Given the Marios' fame around here, it wouldn't surprise me." Miguel said as he searched through the mailbox with a sigh. "Perhaps there's some threatening letters from Baby Wack as well."
"Given from what we've seen of that guy, it wouldn't surprise me in the least, kid," Knuckles said while remembering the Koopa King.
A familiar man with a black bushy mustache and in green stepped out of the house to check the mail. Luigi caught sight of the group and smiled given that most are familiar to him.
"Hey kids, it's good to see ya!"
"Hey, Luigi!" Miguel said with a smile to the plumber. "Long time no see!"
"Got that right!" the blue hedgehog exclaimed as he quickly gets right in front of Luigi using his speed. "Good to see ya again, man!"
"Ahh! Hey, take it easy with the speed boosts, kid!" the plumber said with a jump right as he turned to Sam. "Who's this guy?"
"I'm Sam Baker, a friend of Miguel's from his own world," the boy said while at the same time really happy at looking at Luigi. "I've dreamed of meeting you and Mario for a long time, but I was surprised to hear about you guys having a third brother."
"Hehe, it's good to meet a new kid in the group," the plumber said as he opened the mailbox to get the mail and leads the group in. "Come on in guys, make yourselves at home."
Just like that, the group entered into the Marios' home and made themselves comfy on the chairs and sofa.
"I see the house hasn't changed since we were here last," Tails spoke while getting seated on a chair.
"Not a lot happens here," Luigi responded as he looks through the letters.
Just then a familiar man wearing red overalls and in a red chef's hat came into the living room he held a wooden spoon. To the two human boys, they're seeing Mario coming into the room
"Hey Weegie, do we have any...?" was what Mario said before seeing the new comers. "Oh hey paisanos!"
"Hey, Mario! Good to see ya again," Miguel said while turning to the Mobians as well as Sam. "Brought some of the gang as well as a new friend of mine."
"Yo, Mario! Good to see ya," Knuckles said as he pointed to Sam while looking around. "The new kid here's Sam Baker. Say where's your little brother at?"
Mario was the one to answer the Guardian's question, "Clay's on a job with Krunch off at Koopa Village. They should be back pretty soon."
Those words got Sam's attention, "Wait, Krunch?"
"Krunch is a friend of Clay's," Tails answered. "He's something called a Kremling. He got on his boss' bad side one day and he's been thrown out of his homeland."
"I know who Krunch is, I'm just surprised that the guy found his way here," Sam said while still surprised at the discovery.
"Hey, I'm just as surprised about it as you are, Sammy. Possibly more so given," Miguel added as he just shrugs off the words.
Krunch, as Tails mentioned was a Kremling; a humanoid crocodile similar to Knuckles' friend; Vector. Krunch was pretty similar to Vector except Krunch had yellow eyes and was often scowling due to his attitude. He also wore a tattered black vest with a skull and crossbones on the back; the skull being typically a crocodile skull.
Krunch hailed from a place known as Crocodile Island, the homeland of the Kremling race. His former boss was an evil being known as King K. Rool. One day Krunch was spying on K. Rool's enemies, the Kong clan on the island of Kongo Bongo when a chimpanzee named Diddy Kong and a few of his friends ran off talking about a neighboring island in trouble. Krunch, thinking they were trying to meddle in one of K. Rool's plans, followed them.
Krunch had followed the apes to an island known as Tiger Track Island; known across the world as a racer's paradise. Problem was an extraterrestrial threat came to the island in the form of a giant, pig sorcerer known as Wizpig. Krunch had also met some of Diddy's other friends and a number of the island's locals. Among Diddy's other friends was Clayton Mario himself who had gained a reputation as a racer a few months before.
Krunch thought about the matter at hand and figured Wizpig may eventually interfere with K. Rool's plans so he offered his help despite everyone not trusting him. After Wizpig was defeated Krunch was exiled by K. Rool on the basis that he was hanging around primates; namely Diddy, Clay, Diddy's girlfriend Dixie, and her little sister Tiny.
With no place to go, he wandered until he came across Toad Town where he met Clay again. After explaining what happened to his brothers, they welcomed Krunch into the family where he's lived and worked as a plumber ever since.
"So pasta man, still in good shape as ever given what's going on since we last been here?" Sonic asked while looking to Mario's direction who simply shrugged.
"Meh, can't complain."
"We finally managed to get some relaxation time after that last nightmare," Luigi said with a bit of a shiver.
"Considering what happened, I gotta agree. That would constitute as a nightmare," Sam said with interest as he fixed his glasses up a bit. "I really thought Smithy was toast until I heard the story."
"Got that right, Sammy," Miguel replied with a nod. "It's something that I never thought to experience in person."
"Still, that was two years ago that happened..." Sam said while looking to everyone "...you guys are tougher than most folks."
Those words caused Luigi to look at the four eyed young man as he spoke, "Do you know how tough Smithy is?"
"Yeah, I have the game."
"Well, he was working with a second apocalyptic metal head if you didn't know..." Luigi said with a shiver as he thought about the memory.
Sam could only shrug, "I wouldn't really know about RoboRobotnik, really."
"Just an alternate version of Robotnink but who's entirely mechanical and a much nasty dude to boot. Enough said," Sonic answered while making himself comfortable on the couch.
"Anyway, make yourselves at home, I'm just gonna take a look at the mail here..." Luigi said as he tossed a few envelopes aside.
Two of them sported Bowser's emblem, clearly a weak threat of some kind. A couple of others looked like bills. That's when he noticed a particular letter with his name on it.
"Hmmm? You may have won..." the thin plumber said while tossing it aside. "...yeah, we may have won, but you want us to buy something no doubt..."
"What is that, Luigi?" the older brother asked looking at the letter Luigi tossed out.
"Ah, some wise guy sent us this letter saying we won something."
Knuckles only scoffed at those words, "Hmph! Like that's something new, pal."
Sonic on the other hand was curious as he spoke up, "Just what is it that you've "Won" anyways?"
"A lifetime supply of those plastic things on the end of shoelaces I bet," Sam said adding to the echidna's sentiments.
Tails only sighed, "I wouldn't be surprised."
"Hmm..." Luigi muttered as he opened and read the letter before being surprised moments later. "No way! It says we won a mansion!"
Okay that clearly got everyone in the room to turn to the green clad plumber in shock. Sam was the first to speak his opinion.
"What?"
"A mansion!" Tails said clearly as surprised as everyone else.
"You're just making that up, Luigi!" Knuckles exclaimed looking to the taller plumber.
Miguel goes and looked over Luigi's shoulder for a closer look before he spoke up, "Well, what does it say exactly, Luigi?"
"Congratulations, lucky sir. Your name was drawn in our Super Deluxe Raffle drawing last Thursday," Luigi read while looking to the letter. "We award you and your family a brand-new, fully furbished Victorian-era mansion with no charge to you, the consumer."
"Wow, awesome! It'd be great for the next big party!" Mario exclaimed to his brother with excitement at the thought of owning a huge mansion.
"I dunno Mario. I don't remember entering any contest in the past few months."
"I'm with the guy in green suspenders with this one guys." Knuckles nodded while agreeing with Luigi on the statement. "I mean it does sound kinda fishy for someone to suddenly win something through the mail in a contest they didn't enter."
"Yeah this is likely some Candid Camera stunt or something," Sam added.
"Are you kidding? This is official and everything!" Mario argued while looking at the letter. "No one in their right mind would go out of their way to make something look this authentic for it to be some kind of hoax!"
"Yeah, but still..." Tails' words were cut short as Mario took a map along with the letter.
"Hey, there's even a map leading to the mansion!" Mario said as he studied it carefully and drawn out a copy on paper. "Ok, I'm gonna head out to this mansion myself and tell you guys what it's like. See ya in a few hours!"
Before anyone could say anything, the red clad ran out the door at good but even speed.
"Mario!" Luigi shouted as he saw his brother leave and face palms as he moans. "Ugh! That idiot..."
It was at that moment that Clay and his huge crocodile friend Krunch appeared through the same front door that Mario exited from.
It was then that he spoke, "Hey Luigi, why'd Mario run out singing I'm in the Money?"
"Just some official letter supposedly saying that Luigi's won a Mansion or something. And nice to see ya again by the way," the blue hedgehog answered clearly catching Clay's attention.
"Oh hey guys, long-time no see."
"Who's the newbie?" Krunch asked taking notice of Sam.
"I'm Sam, nice to meet you guys," the young man answered. "I'm a friend of Miguel's from his world."
"Ah so you know about us then?"
"Pretty much, yeah," Sam responded to the Kremling with a nod. "But I find it surprising you live here though."
"We can explain it later," Clay sighed as he began to sit on a chair. "We're starving after the job we did in Koopa Village."
Knuckles nodded to the young plumber's words, "Yeah, and probably Mario would come running back to us after getting a whiff of the food here too."
"Ahahaha, quite right paisano. Guess I'll get to work on it then," Luigi laughed right as he got to work on dinner.
An hour or so later, everyone's got their fill of dinner. However, there's one thing missing given that Mario's still hasn't returned from his task.
"Mario's sure been gone a while," Krunch said while looking to the clock.
"He did say he'd be a while," Sam said as he goes to look to the map and studied it. "Judging by the map, it's quite a distance from here."
"Heh, heh, heh. Not a problem for me seeing that it's a jog for my morning workout," Sonic said with his usual smirk on his face.
Miguel could only sweatdrop as a thought crossed his mind, "Be grateful that it's not while having to wear heavy boots on, Blue." That of course got everyone to raise their eyebrows at the words as he spoke, "Uh, don't ask."
"...Right," was all Sam said while shrugging it off.
Tails could only shrug as he goes to Sam while examining the map himself, "Where does the map lead exactly?"
"I dunno really. It's not really listing truly specific landmarks or anything. All it says you go through a forest and the house is on a hill in a clearing."
"Still, perhaps we should go check this out. Mario's got enough sense to get through a forest on his own but I won't have him coming home in the middle of the night." Luigi said while shivering a bit at a random memory as he spoke again. "I damn near killed him when he did so once, as I thought he was a crook coming to swipe our stuff."
"I'm with Luigi on this one, guys!" Sonic said as he got up from his seat ready for action. "Besides, for all we know, he'd probably got caught up in someone's good home cooking and lost track of time."
"For once, blue, I'm not going to argue with you on that," the red echidna agreed.
With those words, Miguel got up from his seat and spoke, "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's get on with it."
"I'm not really one for a trek through a forest but might as well," Sam said as he picked up the map and looked closer at it. "Ok, seems the forest we're heading to is east of here. Best we'd get going if we're to catch up."
Much later, as night fell, the group found themselves trekking through a very creepy forest. Of course naturally, some reacted to this as anyone would expect.
"A-A-Are you sure you're reading that map right, Sam...?" Tails asked while shivering right near Sonic and Knuckles.
"Of course I am, but this doesn't make sense...why would this map be leading us through Forever Forest?"
"Yeah this place is haunted after all," Clay nodded while hearing Luigi chattering his teeth loudly while waving his flashlight about.
This of course didn't go unnoticed by Sonic as he spoke, "Yo, Luigi! Get a grip on yourself! It's not that frightening!"
"Yeah! Besides..." Knuckles added while looking around the dark forest. "...compared to Pumpkin Hill, This place seems like a normal walk in the park!"
"Uh...I don't think that it's what he's worried about guys," Miguel said while holding his own flashlight forward.
Clay could only sigh as he explained, "Luigi's been afraid of dark places for as long as we could remember. But he's especially afraid of ghosts."
"Why exactly?" Tails asked.
The young plumber took a moment to think before speaking, "Well, I remember one time Mario telling me Luigi was possessed once back in Brooklyn."
This of course got Sam to turn pale at the thought as he spoke, "Oh yeah... I remember. A live action segment in one of the Mario cartoons featured Luigi getting taken over by an evil spirit. The Ghostbusters ultimately had to be called in to deal with it. Or at least Winston Zeddemor."
"That I remember given the fact that Luigi's been covered with slime. I also recall he chewed through a plate on top of it all before crushing a glass of root beer with one swipe of his hand, Sammy..." Miguel added with a shiver at the thought.
This of course got the red echidna to pale and shiver as he look to Luigi, "Ugh, man...now I feel bad for Luigi, guys."
"Yeesh...and to have to go through here? No wonder he's shaken up." the young fox said while looking to the green clad plumber.
Sam could only agree as he looked to the path and the map before saying, "Ok we should be getting close to the target guys. There should be no creepy Forever Forest now."
They looked up and instead of seeing a pleasant manor in a vibrant green field; they still see dark, dreary forest surrounding the clearing they were now in. The hill that held the mansion itself had tombstones littered about and the mansion itself was dark and forbidding. Lightning arced in the sky overhead even though no storms were broadcast for the night. Finally, only two windows had light shining through, and they were right over the door making the mansion appear it had a creepy, angry face.
The blue hedgehog was the first to speak his mind as he eyed the place, "Now that's...a real pleasant place..."
"Got that right, Blue. Really...cheerful," Knuckles said in a sarcastic tone.
One of the two human boys from looked to the scene as Miguel spoke to Sam, "Uh, Sammy, are you sure that this is the place?"
"Says so on the map..."
"I-I knew this was too good to be true..." Luigi said while shivering at the sight.
"Come on, maybe it's just the Wario brothers trying to pull rank on us again." Clay said while keeping his older brother from running away.
"Doesn't explain why Mario hasn't come back though..." the four eyed teen said looking to the place.
"Knowing the Warios, they probably have him locked in a cage to mock him or something." Clay responded.
"Or better yet, just jack him of his money after beating up on him," Miguel added with a nod. "Knowing them, they would do it too."
"Let's go inside then," Sam said as he went ahead with the others following behind.
The group made their way up the walkway to the front door. Luigi is scanning the area like a frightened animal, making sure nothing was out to get them. The older plumber slowly advanced toward the door.
"H-H-Hello...?" Luigi said he slowly opened the door and shined the flashlight into the mansion. He calms down when he sees nothing and enters followed by the others.
"For a mansion won in a contest, it's not very well-lit..." Tails said looking around at the place, mostly at the candles. "...candles only provide so much light."
Miguel could only shudder as he spoke, "Got that right, Tails. Not to mention poorly kept too."
"I'm sure that with a little dusting and paint, it would be a cheery place to hang out..." Sonic said while trying to lighten the mood.
"Yeah...a good place for spiders and mice, Blue." Knuckles muttered while looking around the floors and ceiling.
As he looked, Sam's nose started twitching a bit as he gave out a small but strong sneeze. Needless to say, the four eyed teen didn't enjoy it, "Blech...damn dust."
Tails looked over and saw a door where they are at. When the young fox tried to pry it open, it wouldn't budge, "Hmm. It's locked."
"Let's try the ones upstairs," Clay said as he noticed a stairway leading upstairs.
As everyone marched up the stairs, they all saw two doors, both of which were locked. This got Luigi to speak out his thoughts on it.
"Ok, this is ridiculous."
Suddenly, something that sounded like a very faint giggle is heard, getting everyone's attention.
"Ugh...this is Pumpkin Hill all over again, guys..." Knuckles said with a shiver while looking around.
Miguel frowned at the echidna's choice words, "Ugh, don't make it worse, Knucklehead."
"For all we know it's not what you think."
With those words from Clay, everyone head back downstairs to look. When they all got back, they all saw a key on the floor. Clearly they were all surprised.
"This wasn't here before," Luigi said as he picked the key up and tried it on the ground floor door but it failed to fit. "Won't fit."
"Let's go up to the big double doors on the next floor. It could work there," Tails said as everyone in the group nodded in agreement.
The group tried the key out on the door in question and it fits. The door was slowly opened as Luigi pulls the knob. The group then entered the room, which is bone-chillingly cold.
"G-gee whiz, did someone forget to pay for heating?" the two tailed fox said shivering at the cold atmosphere inside.
Sam could only shiver as he glasses got foggy from his breath as he spoke, "I got a really bad feeling about this."
Just then, a bright orange ghost with glowing yellow eyes appeared right in front of Luigi.
"BRAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA!"
And of course, green clad plumber could only react to the situation in the only way he knew how as he screamed, "!"
Luigi then quickly moved himself right behind Sonic in fright just as the blue hedgehog said, "Ah! Get a grip of yourself, man!"
Before anyone could say anything, an orange ghost crept toward the group menacingly. It laughed at Knuckles' attempts to punch it away and the punched Knuckles in the face in return. This clearly got the red echidna riled up.
"Why that little...!"
Miguel quickly stopped the muscle bound Mobian as he spoke up, "Knux, stop! I'd doubt that your fists would work in this situation!"
Sam hurried to the door only to find it locked shut. "It won't open, we're trapped!"
Before the ghost could attack again, he's stopped in his tracks as a funnel of wind suddenly stuck to his head. Looking behind it, they see an old man with a vacuum cleaner fighting the ghost.
"Heheheh! Don't worry boys, I got 'im!" the old man said as he started reel in the ghost.
This of course got mixed reactions from everyone. Sonic was the first to voice his opinion while sweatdropping at the sight.
"Uh, is that guy using what I think he's using against a ghost guys?"
"If you mean the fact that he's trying to suck the ghost up in a vacuum Sonic, then it's not just you, man. Trust me." Miguel answered while at the same time watching the old man do his work.
"Hey old man, watch out!" Sam shouted.
"I got 'im, don't worry about me sonny!" the old man shouted just as he was suddenly dragged around the room. "WH-WHOA!"
The ghost then turned and punched the old man in the face with an upper cut, throwing him off. The ghost laughs and vanishes. The group hurried over to the person who just saved their lives.
"Hey are you alright!" Tails asked the old man in concern.
The old man shook his head right as he spoke with a nod, "Ow! I sure take a lot of knocks in this line of work!"
"Just who the heck are you anyway?"
At Sam's words, the old man looked to everyone around him as he got up.
"Oh how rude of me! I'm Professor Elvin Gadd! Founder of Gadd Science Incorporated!" the old man, now Elvin Gadd, said as he looked around the room. "This mansion...I swear more and more ghosts appear everyday..."
Sonic could only whistle as he spoke, "Man, what we've all seen here, I would have figured that you'd quit by now, old man."
Those words got a reaction from E. Gadd as he looked to the blue hedgehog.
"Quit? Of course not! Paranormal research is my greatest hobby! Still, this is cause for concern...never before in my career have I seen this much spiritual activity..." the old man said as he looked to the group, turned curious at their appearance. "So what brings you boys here anyway?"
Before the guys could answer, a lot more ghosts identical to the first one appeared. Naturally, Luigi was the first to react at the sight.
"AAAH! More ghosts!"
"Uh oh! This looks messy! Quick, follow me posthaste!" E. Gadd shouted as he quickly headed towards the door and out the room.
"Hey, I'm not going to argue with the old man here, guys! Let's move it to it, everyone!" Sonic said following the old professor out the door.
"Hey, I'm not going to run after one of the little bastards have...!" was all that Knuckles could say before he was hit on the head by Clay.
"Forget it, Knucklehead! We're leaving!" was all the young plumber said as he dragged the echidna out as the others follow.
