Author's note: Yay! Luigi's Mansion 3 for the Switch was announced! I'm so happy. :D
So! I know we've had a lot of chapters for introspection and dialogue, but I felt this was necessary in this chapter as well since Millie is forced to somewhat open up. I hope that's okay. We'll have a lot of chapters to develop the plot more soon. :3 This is a bit of a longer chapter by the way.
Now onto the reviews.
Pikminfan - Thanks! :D And yes, Luigi is alive and well!
Vickers Vic Vic - Thank you! And well, I've still gotta think about the other Boolossus ghosties being introduced somewhere, but Bootha may just be the main one. :D
'She's...a part of Boolossus?!' I exclaim to myself in my head, leaving myself in a stunned silence. 'I guess I shouldn't be surprised...I did hear voices coming from the entrance, so Boolossus must have split up. Still, if it works like the fusions in Steven Universe or something, I wonder how much of Boolossus is even controlled by her.'
However, before I could even think to ask Bootha more questions, she now moves to exit the room. I guess it's for the best that we hurry up anyway.
I find myself following her out of this part of the castle, as we continue to move swiftly down the halls.
I notice a couple of other ghost mice, similar to the one from before, scampering down the very same hallway leading to my room this time, though neither of them are golden. One is blue and one is pink. They both look at me with their beady white eyes, then scurry off as we approach. Bootha mutters something about them being pesky rats as I'm left to brood on some thoughts all alone.
'Odd that those ghost mice were there just now, since I hadn't seen them earlier.'
Somehow, -perhaps it was that mysterious voice from earlier welcoming me that made me feel this way- I get the feeling they might appreciate having a new guest around here. Though I don't know why ghost mice would feel the need for my companionship. Some living mice need humans to steal food from and for shelter, I guess. Maybe ghost mice just like having someone around too? For assurance?
'Or maybe it's really like I said? Everyone's equal when they're dead... I dunno.'
I turn my train of thought onto other tracks, like thinking of what I'm going to tell King Boo.
"Hey Bootha, how did King Boo hear I was missing so fast?" I ask her after some thought.
"Booberry showed up and decided to make trouble for us. All the same, we would have noticed soon enough." Bootha chirps. She doesn't sound too mad, which surprises me. She seems pretty self-assured and optimistic for a boo. Like she thinks things may just resolve themselves. I guess my mistakes won't affect her though. After all, I didn't wander far. And...
'It makes sense that I'd take the brunt of the punishment. Guess I really am just a prisoner who can't get away with anything.'
We make it outside to the courtyard way too fast after that. I can still hear some voices coming from the main gate area. I swallow my nervousness and follow Bootha towards "the others", still somewhat lost in thought about what to say.
Once we're nearer, I recognize a familiar voice, squawking nonsense as usual. 'Booberry...'
As we approach, I can hear (AND as an added unwanted bonus) see Booberry now, talking to King Boo and looking oh so smug as he spills the beans and tries to ruin the elaborate lies I've worked so hard to put together.
"...And when I questioned 'er about it, she said she wanted to meet with you, your majesty. A load of bull, if you ask me." Booberry jabbers on.
There are a few other boos too. 'I guess the others are still out looking for me...maybe.' I gulp as I continue after Bootha and they now all turn to look at me, expecting me to say something.
"..." I don't say anything. I can't. I had some sort of flimsy plan to lie again before getting here, but now King Boo has heard what Booberry had to say. He...knows that I lied to him.
I look down and away from everything. I'm about to have a mental breakdown again when King Boo speaks up again, all too soon.
"Is this true?" He says, referring to Booberry's rant about me.
"I just..." What can I do except admit to what Booberry said? "Yes, I did want to see you, your majesty. But I wasn't sure if it was possible, so I figured I'd settle for just-"
"You spew nothing but lies, do you Millie?" King Boo leers with a knowing look. At that, I freeze on the spot.
"I even know of your feeble attempt to escape this place." King Boo leers once more.
He knows...what I tried to do with the mirror? If...if I don't admit to anything related to Luigi though...
"Bring the mirror here which she used for her escape attempt." King Boo orders.
"Yes, your majesty." I don't even look at Bootha before she departs the scene.
"As for you Miss Millie... What do you have left to say for yourself?"
I force myself to stay strong one last time. Even if I told him the truth, he wouldn't believe me, but...but... I have to try something. Like always.
"I just want to say...I'm sincerely sorry, your majesty. I originally was just trying to...get to my room...I didn't mean to get myself into this...this situation, b-but like I said, I ended up dead and...And far away from home. And I don't think I could get back even if I tried with my current powers..." I realize I'm rambling and I'd better say something to help my cause. Something related to what Booberry said, perhaps?
"That being said...I um...always thought boos were interesting and-"
"Silence. I have heard enough to satisfy my needs." King Boo declares. I can never really tell what he's thinking. He's so hard to read and I c-can't even tell if he's angry or not. I realize I'm shaking. I hardly even notice as Bootha returns with the mirror until King Boo uses his crown to levitate it towards him, but at an angle where we can all see.
I look up and watch as King Boo holds the mirror up and then, gives it a huge zap of red energy. The mirror shifts and turns with red flickering at the edges to reveal...my mother. She's sitting there, crying... At MY bedside.
Or an empty shell of me, anyway. My mom has always been kind of distant with her emotions, so it's weird to see her cry like this. It's also strange to see my body from the outside like this. Ironically, I would've looked in a mirror to see myself before too. I appear to be hooked up to some sort of life support now. I can see that even with the background being blurred. Does this mean I'm not actually dead? Just in some sort of coma? They'll probably take me off life support sooner or later though when they get no response... The sight of this scene is just... painful, so I now look away, simply hearing the sobs. I'm still lucky it didn't show Luigi though.
King Boo abruptly drops the mirror onto the ground effectively shattering it. I guess he doesn't want me to use it to try to escape again (regardless of any bad luck he may get from breaking it). That, or it took a lot of energy to use it and hold it up. Wouldn't be surprised since that was another dimension and all. I guess I look different in this world too, so maybe they won't know it was me in that hospital bed.
"Your majesty, I think this just goes to show that she most certainly was trying to escape back to these people, so why not issue the punish-"
"At peace, Booberry." King Boo states, being not too harsh, but firm with Booberry.
"Millie," King Boo merely states my name and I feel a cold chill go through me, but don't say anything to imply I heard him. However, King Boo knows I'm listening and awaiting his decision on my fate, and begins.
"I offer you a choice," King boo says. "The easy choice between your eternal imprisonment... or your freedom."
'He...might spare me? Even after I lied...about everything?' Although I'm shocked, I manage a simple nod, waiting for him to continue.
"Your imprisonment awaits you in every other prospect. However, if you ever wish to be free again, you must only obey my every command from this day forth."
Booberry now intercepts, "But your majesty, are you really going to let her go scott free and get away with-"
"Silence, Booberry," King Boo does NOT need to say any more to make him shut up. His cool gaze is paralyzing enough.
He turns to look back at me and our eyes meet. I can feel my eyes water up at his intense stare, but don't look away or cry. I have to stay strong. King Boo wouldn't tolerate me becoming a wreck right here and now anyway.
"Millie. I make this offer now with three establishing commands and in the confidence that you shall obey them." I nod. "You shall not attempt to decieve any Boo. You have been extremely fortunate to have been excused now, for your previous deceptions, but your luck is running dangerously low." I gulp at the dark look he gives me at that point. "Next, you may never attempt to leave this place. You shall inform Boolossus if you choose to wander the grounds further than the castle walls. Finally, in exchange for your training and eventual return home, you must assist us in vanquishing the Mario brothers. If you fail to comply with these commands, I will see it as a grave offense towards Me and you shall not be forgiven this time. What say you?"
"I-I a-agree to these terms." I affirm shakily. I had no choice, like before, but now that everything's out in the open, I get the feeling that...
'I just made a deal with the devil.'