Jumping back through the painting and landing abruptly on the marble floor of the room, Luigi sighed with immense relief knowing that he was free from the chilly world with Donkey Kong safely rescued. The large ape lifted Luigi up from is shoulders and put him down on the floor with surprising grace and gentleness. Luigi pressed his hand to his pocket and felt the Dark Power Star concealed within.

"Come on, let's get out of this tiny room." Luigi suggested happily.

D.K. agreed and waited for Luigi to turn the knob on the door.

It was a tight fit but D.K. managed to squeeze through the door that was just a little too small for his frame. Luigi waited for D.K. to pass through the doorway before continuing on, just in case his friend got stuck and needed help getting unwedged.

While Luigi waited for D.K. the ever familiar sound of Gadd's jingle sounded off over the communication watch still strapped to his wrist. Without taking his eyes from the ape who was just about free Luigi pressed the answer button on the side of the small display. "Hello?"

"Luigi! Come in!" Gadd's voice sounded more frantic and static sporadically cut into the display. "Luigi!?"

"Hello?" Luigi repeated as he tapped the display with his finger, like the action could somehow clear the image.

"Luigi!" Gadd struggled to get his message through the static filled link. "There's a POWERFUL force coming from the large Star Door in the West Hall at the top of the stairs!"

Luigi looked up and at the large door. The chains weren't any different from the others that had previously barred his way, the Dark Power Star would be enough to unseal the path.

"Luigi!" Gadd called out again, fortunately the sound wasn't suffering any interference during the transmission. "Be VERY careful! There's something different about THIS Boo!"

D.K. walked up behind Luigi and stared at the watch with a little confusion. He could see Luigi beginning to shiver with fear and nervousness.

"I'm not sure what's going on son," Gadd calmed his tone to sound more reassuring. "but whatever it is I'm sure you can handle it! Take care!"

The display went black and Luigi ended the call. He was still staring at the door.

D.K. patted Luigi's shoulder, wanting an answer about the bizarre situation.

"It-it's okay." Luigi forced himself to speak, his throat dry with nervousness. "Go on outside and meet up with the others. I'll be fine."

D.K. could sense Luigi's fear and didn't want to leave. He shook his head 'no' and stood his ground.

"Now, come on. The last thing I need is to keep looking over my shoulder to make sure you're still okay. I can take care of this, I promise."

Despite his reluctance to believe Luigi the proud ape respected Luigi's request and nodded in approval. Moving in a swift march on his feet and knuckles he strolled to the large entry of the Castle and exited much easier through the wider door frame.

Alone with his thoughts Luigi scanned the vacant chamber. All of the doors; with the exception of the Star Door, the main chamber door at the top of the stairs and the two door leading to the basement, were cleared of troublesome Boos. And yet the air somehow felt heavier, darker, almost malicious. Gadd was right, there was something different about the Boo waiting for him behind the Star Door.

Step by step Luigi forced himself to climb the stairs to the second floor. As he stood at the top of the staircase Luigi locked eyes on the Star Door to the left. The chains were dark with the same ethereal padlock keeping the passage sealed. But to his right there was another door, very much like all the others, that did not have any chains whatsoever.

"Odd..." Luigi spoke out loud as he tentatively walked to the door. "Why isn't this one locked?"

Turning the knob the door opened with a mournful creak. Inside the room was a small chamber with three stained glass murals of Princess Peach. In the center of the smaller room was an object, glowing with the same purple energy given off by the Boos. Upon closer inspection Luigi could see the object in question was one half of a single key.

"What the?!" The key dropped to the floor with a metallic clunk at Luigi's feet. As he bent down to pick it up a Boo cackled behind him.

"Good luck!" The Boo taunted wickedly. "I have the other half of the key!"

Luigi turned and looked over his shoulder at the Boo floating in the doorway. This Boo wasn't white like the others, this one is purple. A Dark Boo!

"If you want to save the rest of your pitiful friends, come and get it!" With that final brash statement the Dark Boo faded from sight and left nothing more that dwindling cackle to echo in the small room.

His hand was shaking as Luigi picked up the key-half and tucked it in his pocket. As he tucked the key away he took the Dark Power Star out and stared at it.

"If I can't get through the rest of the Castle..." Luigi's heart went out to missing friends and Brother. "No, I can't lose! I have to beat him!"

Straightening his cap Luigi held his head high as he walked to the Star Door opposite of the small room from whence he collected the half-key. The Star Door was much larger than the other doors, indicating that something special was concealed beyond it.

Holding the Dark Power Star aloft the ghostly padlock gave way to the energy emanated by the Dark Power Star. The door's two halves slid open into the walls of the Castle giving Luigi clear passage down the corridor. A corridor lined with ruby red carpet and brick walls. A dozen torches lit the corridor with an orange glow.

"What?!" Luigi's blue eyes widened with disbelief as he examined the new area. "Daisy?!"

At the end of the long corridor mounted on the end wall was a portrait of Princess Daisy. She wasn't calling for Luigi or trying to escape like the other portraits Luigi had cleared. In this painting she looked like she was a statue, not moving at all.

Luigi ran down the corridor, ready to grab the portrait and find a way to free her when the floor beneath his feet gave out. Luigi fell through the floor and into a dark pit. As he began falling he saw the image on the panting shift from Daisy's likeness to that of the same Dark Boo who threatened him.

The darkness seemed eternal as Luigi fell what also felt like an eternity. The timid hero didn't know what awaited him at the bottom of the pit, but in his heart he knew it was dangerous and inevitable.

...to be continued...