First off, let me apologize for taking what may have seemed like forever on this part. I've been really busy with a lot of things, and I lost my inspiration for this story for a while. Now, gladly, it's back! And just in time for the fourth part!


Part IV

Eclipse

Princess Peach woke up bright and early the day of the ball. She woke the rest of the castle up bright and early, too. The castle servants were tracking across the castle floor, yawning and stretching, but out of the princess's sight, so as not to upset her. Any final touches to the front hall, foyer, and ball room were made now. Ribbons were tied to the top of pillars, round tables were covered in freshly-ironed white table cloths, the floor was polished and swept again for any dust that may have sprouted overnight, and the curtains were drawn back to let the sunshine in. Peach strode through the ballroom with her clipboard in hand. She grabbed the pen that was placed carefully on the bridge of her ear and checked her final notes.

"How do you fair everything is coming together, your highness?" a young servant asked.

"Perfectly!" she exclaimed with her back turned. She twirled around. "No, better than perfectly! Everything is simply falling into place far better than I expected! It's going heavenly!" She laughed and dropped her clipboard and pen. Peach took the servant in her arms and spun her around in a cozy hug. "And tonight will be even better than that!"

The servant giggled in the embrace. "Good to hear that, your highness!"

Peach set down the young Toad girl and watched her scurry off to another part of the room. The princess collected her clipboard and pen, only to drop them again as a loud voice called her from across the room.

"PEACH!"

The pink princess stared as Princess Daisy stormed closer. "I don't know what you think you're doing," she exclaimed, "but it can't be as important as this!"

Daisy stopped in front of her and stomped one foot. "I want you to explain this to me!"

Peach grabbed her items once more and stood straight. "Explain what?"

"THIS!" Daisy held out a bitten and chewed hairbrush on the verge of snapping in half. "I don't know when you got the crazy idea to let animals in the castle, but I demand that you cancel that –"

"Daisy,"

"RIGHT NOW!"

"Daisy!"

The Sarasin princess was fuming. She blew a strand of hair out of her face and crossed her arms. "What?"

"You had a dog in your room the other day, if I recall correctly," Peach mused, matter-of-factly. "He must have gotten hungry, I suppose." She smiled.

Daisy looked at the comb again. "Dog? I don't –" she stopped herself and lit up at the memory. "Oh right! The ghost dog!" She smirked and wagged a finger. "Luigi's ghost dog. I can't believe he has a ghost dog. I wonder how much that would've costed!"

Peach hummed. "Well you better go sort that out, then."

"I guess I will." Daisy threw the comb to the side and rustled her hair quickly.

"You're only messing it up more," Peach remarked.

Daisy shrugged. "I'd rather have full bed-head than half gorgeous and half ragged. I'll see you later!" And with that, the flower princess dashed out of the room.

Princess Peach rolled her eyes.

A servant working on the stage curtains called out: "How's this looking, your highness?"

"A little more to the right," she replied. "Just to have them even!"

"On it!"

"And someone please pick this up!" She pointed her pen at the broken comb on the floor.


Mario walked down the path leading to his house and put his hands in his pockets. He sighed loudly while Toad Town buzzed with excitement down the road.

"Hey, Mario!"

He looked up and turned towards the voice. Princess Daisy ran down the road towards him. With a smile on her face she stood beside him. "Hey! Long time no see, huh? How's it been?"

They started walking towards Boo Woods.

Mario shrugged. "Uh . . . different."

"Really? Like how different?"

"Just different."

Daisy nodded.

"And you?"

"Good. Good. Nothing much really."

" . . ."

"W-What – you're looking at my hair."

"It's kind of . . ."

"It's . . . different." She smiled, and he smiled back.

"Truth is," Daisy continued, "my comb was destroyed by Luigi's ghost dog."

Mario looked at the ground. His smile disappeared.

"I didn't even know he had a dog – let alone a ghost dog. It's the weirdest thing I ever heard. So, my hair is a mess because I can't comb it because Luigi's dog thought it was a tasty snack."

"Why not get a new comb?"

"I will. I just wanted to ask Luigi something."

"What?"

"How much that dog cost."

" . . ."

"And something else. Hey, are you going to that ball thing tonight?"

"Yep."

"Then why are you going to Luigi's house?"

"I'm not going to his house."

"Then why are you going to Boo Woods?"

"To find something."

"What?"

"A sign."

"Are you going on a spiritual journey?"

"Ha. No."

"Then why are you looking for a sign?"

"A literal sign. Like –"

" 'Organization X. For the well-being of the citizens of the kingdom.' That sounds familiar."

Mario looked at the sign. "Something like that."

The two stood back and looked at the tall office building that pierced the circling black clouds above. The building was painted gray and lacked any sign of vibrant color. Daisy snapped her fingers. "That's right! Luigi and I tried to get his dog back here! That's why you came here."

"So you've tried?"

"Yeah. It didn't work out well, though. But the people in there love you. I'm sure that they'll let you take the dog back." She smiled. "I'm sure Luigi would appreciate it too."

Mario nodded. "Thanks, Daisy."

"No problem. I'll see you tonight." Daisy continued walking through the woods towards the small green house ahead.

Mario took a breath and opened the glass doors of the building.


The door was open, which was strange considering the fact that Luigi never left any door unlocked or open – especially his house's front door. Princess Daisy let herself in after shouting hello.

The house looked empty. Everything was in place, but no one appeared to be home. Suddenly, a strange thought came to mind. Luigi must have been kidnapped!

There was a rustle from the kitchen. The kidnappers are still here! Probably to steal something!

Daisy grabbed a pillow. She wanted to cause minimal damage to the face of the kidnapper, and she trusted her killer pillow fighting skills to do just that. She made her way towards the kitchen slowly, trying to be as quiet as possible.

When she looked over the archway, she saw the figure of someone looking under the sink. Daisy walked closer to the figure, gradually bringing the pillow above her head.

She brought the pillow down on the figure's back, bringing it to the ground.

"YAAAH!" Luigi screamed.

"Oh! Luigi! I didn't - !" Daisy quickly stood and threw the pillow to the other side of the kitchen. She put out a hand to lift him up.

Luigi grabbed her hand and stood. Then he grabbed his head and groaned. "Daisy, what are doing?!"

"I, I thought, you, I didn't, the door –." Daisy fumbled over words until they heard a crashing sound behind them. They both turned their attention to the broken spice rack. Underneath it rested a spice-covered pillow. ". . . Luigi, I'm sorry about that." She turned around and looked at him. "I'm sorry about this. Breaking in and everything."

Luigi brought his hands to his side, looking the least bit mad. He looked up at Daisy's hair. "Is that a new, uh, fashion statement?"

Daisy shook her head. "It might be if enough groupies see me wearing it. What were you doing under the sink?"

"Fixing it."

"Oh. Why was the door open?"

"Lock's busted. I need to fix that too."

"How much did that ghost dog cost?"

"What?"

"Your ghost dog? How much did it cost? And where did you get it?"

"Uh, why don't you help me clean up this mess and I'll tell you."

Daisy smiled in agreement and they started to clean up the spice rack.


The sun started to slip into the west horizon. Lights began to turn on around Princess Peach's castle. Toads began to enter the castle, wearing their finest get-ups with dates under their arms.

Meanwhile, Luigi and Daisy stood in the kitchen laughing. The kitchen sink started to spray water everywhere, making both Luigi and Daisy absolutely soaked. Daisy blocked her face with her arms while trying to get close to the faucet to stop it. She slipped, screamed, and fell to the ground. Daisy started laughing while Luigi asked if she was alright. Daisy sat on the wet floor, in a fit of giggles. She reached over to the toolbox and threw Luigi his wrench. "You're our only hope, Luigi!" she jokingly called. "Go! Save the world!" Daisy fell back, grabbing her aching sides.

Luigi neared the squirting faucet and tightened the ring around the sink's main pipe. Water flowed out from the mouth of the faucet rather that every place but. He fell to the ground, chuckling to himself. Daisy crawled over to him, holding back her laughter. She grabbed his hat and wringed it out over his head. "For a job well done, hero," she said.

Luigi wiped his face and put his hat on his head. "Why thank you, princess."

They laughed.

Daisy stood, her dress sticking to her like a second skin. She pulled Luigi up, patting him on the back. Their eyes met for a short moment before a loud gong from the castle rang throughout the house. Daisy looked at the window. "The ball . . ."

Luigi's smile faded.

"Hey, Weege, I was meaning to ask you –"

Luigi sighed. "Daisy, I don't really want to go."

Daisy relaxed her shoulders and frowned. "But . . ." she groaned. "I know that you probably don't want to go, but Peach is expecting me to go with someone. I won't hear the end of it if I don't. And you're my closest friend! We can just go as friends. No romance. Nothing."

Luigi sighed again. "Well, umm –"

Daisy fell to her knees. "Please!"

Luigi looked at her.

"I'll do whatever you want if you just go with me!"

Luigi huffed. "That won't be necessary, princess. I'll go with you."

Daisy looked at him. "Really?!"

He nodded.

She shot up and hugged him hard enough to make him nearly pass out. When they broke away Daisy looked down. "Well, we can't go looking like this! I have a wardrobe in the castle we can use."

"How are we going to get in?"

"We'll sneak in. Just follow my lead." Daisy grabbed Luigi's hand and they started out the door.


"What to do you mean you haven't seen Mario?"

The Toad guard laughed nervously. "I've looked high and low through the entire castle – moreover, the areas that are open to the public, but Mario knows this place like the back of his hand by now. I just can't find him, your highness!"

Princess Peach slouched in her seat by the vanity. She crossed her arms over her chest. "How dare he leave me like this?!"

"Now, now, princess," consoled the guard, "I'm sure he's just fashionably late."

"By thirty minutes?"

The guard shrugged. "I could check again, if that is your wish."

"No, that's fine. I assume you have yet to see head or tail of Princess Daisy as well?"

"Not since she left this morning, but I could look for her now –"

There was a loud crash in Daisy's room. Princess Peach and the guard made their way into the hall. The guard stepped ahead, urging the princess to stand to the side, lest it be an attacker. The princess complied.

The guard reached for the doorknob, but before he could open it, Daisy opened it herself. She poked her head out the door. "Can I help you?"

Peach pushed the door open. "What happened – THE WARDROBE!"

Daisy turned around, making her ball gown twirl with her. "Oh, yes, it fell."

Peach walked over the fallen hunk of wood. "Are you hurt?" she asked Daisy.

"Oh, no, I'm fine. I don't think it is, though."

The bathroom door opened. Everyone turned to face it.

Luigi stepped out, looked at the three, and opened the bathroom door to step back in. Peach looked at him up and down. He was fully dressed in a suit that fit a little snug on him but worked well enough. Then Peach looked at Daisy. She was dressed in her yellow ball gown, but more importantly, her hair was fixed.

Peach switched glances between the two. "I'll interrogate you two about your whereabouts later. For now, go on downstairs and situate yourselves in the crowd."

Luigi and Daisy did just that.

"Your highness," began the guard, "the wardrobe is short a leg."

Princess Peach looked down. "Ah. So it is. I'll have that repaired in the morning, then." She walked over to the window. A makeshift grappling hook was latched onto the windowsill. Peach looked out the window to where it started. "Hmm. It doesn't look like Bowser's cronies could have done this." She knocked it down into the bushes below. "Mysteries, mysteries." She closed the window.

Another loud crash was heard, this time from downstairs. Princess Peach groaned. "Oh, what could it be now?!"

When the guard and Princess Peach reached the staircase leading to the ball room, they looked out into the dark ball room. All the lights had gone out, leaving the room flooded with nothing but darkness. All was quiet; even the orchestra stopped playing. Purple fog had arisen from seemingly nowhere and filled the room. The crowd stared out to the castle doors, all huddled together with fear. Luigi and Daisy had front-row seats to whatever crazy show this was, as they were in the front of the crowd.

The doors flew open.

A small white dog jumped out. It barked excitedly at the crowd. The crowd stared curiously at its translucent figure.

"Luigi," Daisy whispered while holding his arm, "isn't that -?"

Luigi gawked. "Polterpup . . .?"

The ghost dog sat down and howled. Seconds later, a swarm of Boos flew in. The crowd screamed and broke apart. Everyone ran frantically around the room. Luigi and Daisy stood still, looking at Polterpup sit there, wagging his tail. "What's with his eyes?" asked Daisy. "He doesn't have any pupils!"

Luigi realized what that meant. He looked up, not the least bit surprised to find King Boo hovering over the doorway.

The king of the Boos laughed his crazed laugh. "It's good to see you again, Luigi!"

Daisy gasped. She and Luigi stared at King Boo.

"Well, not really good for you, but good for me!" King Boo went on. "Know why?" He clicked his tongue (the Boo equivalent of snapping) and two Boos flew out holding a glowing painting. They raced towards Princess Peach, who was fighting off a group of Boos already. The painting was brought down on her. When the Boos pulled it up, she was gone.

Daisy snapped, "What did you do to Peach?!"

"She's safe, for now," King Boo laughed. "She's in her own little painted world along with her subjects and your brother!"

Luigi groaned. Not again, he thought.

The sounds of frames hitting the ground echoed through the room until not a single Toad was left.

"And now," King Boo hissed, "my gallery will finally be complete!" He pulled out a glowing canvas made just for Luigi.

Luigi whimpered. There was no way out of this one. He sighed and stood tall. Daisy looked at him and recognized his stance. He was giving up.

"NO!"

SLAM

Luigi opened his eyes to find Daisy inside of the painting instead of him. He looked around. He was on the floor, and Daisy had pushed him out of the way.

King Boo looked objectively at the painting. He scoffed. "I didn't want this thing messing up my final painting!" He raised the frame above his head. "I suppose I can get rid of her later! I'll just fit you in!"

As King Boo prepared to bring down the painting on Luigi, a powerful light hit the chandelier. All the lights in the room quickly turned on. They were set to a blinding degree, forcing the Boos and Polterpup to retreat into darkness and King Boo to drop the painting. He made a squeamish sound before fleeing the scene.

Luigi, breathing heavily, stood up and walked over to the painting. He flipped it over and looked at Daisy. He sighed, "What do I do now?"

"Master Luigi!"

Luigi looked in the direction of Toadsworth's voice. The lights' intensity was turned down a few notches, and Luigi could see that next to Toadsworth stood Rosalina.

"What happened in here?!" cried Toadswroth.

Luigi stuttered.

Rosalina held her wand close to her chest. "King Boo and his minions trapped the entire kingdom in paintings. Nearly, the entire kingdom, that is."

"Rosalina!" Luigi jumped to his feet. "When did you come down to visit?"

Her face was emotionless. "Toadsworth informed me of the royal ball. I accepted his invitation and decided to take part in your earthy festivities; however there appears to be none at the moment."

Toadsworth adjusted his glasses. "Quite right. I told the princess of this the other day, I believe. Speaking of, where is her highness?"

"I-In a p-p-painting, sir!" Luigi called.

"What?!" Toadsworth slammed his cane on the ground. "Along with the others?"

"I think so. Yes!"

"Well assign Master Mario on the case posthaste!"

Luigi sighed. "He's in a painting, too, sir."

"What a mess this is! Then it's up to you, Master Luigi!"

"Me?"

"Yes! You're our kingdom's only hope!"

Luigi whimpered. He looked over at the painting of Daisy. After a few minutes of mental preparation, he turned back to Toadsworth and nodded. "I'll return with Princess Peach and Mario!" Luigi grabbed the painting of Daisy and ran out the door.

"Don't forget the rest of the kingdom as well, Master Luigi!" Toadsworth called. "Good luck!"

Rosalina looked down and closed her eyes. "May the Stars be with you, Luigi . . .

"Because you'll really need them."