Huh...well that took unexpectedly long. Yeah, I can't really say that the updates will take so painfully long. I was just very busy beating Paper Mario and doing some other things that when it came time to write, I was either tired or simply uninterested. But anyway, expect the next chapter by Friday (hopefully?).
Chapter 24-Friendly Environments
"Ugh..." Peach moaned to Luigi, "I am so bored!"
The two were currently in room 4, more commonly known as their bedroom. With the new understanding that they were trapped on board with a murderer, entertaining themselves through the blimp's array of recreation had not only lost its amusing luster but was just plain unappetizing. So, as a resort, they paired up in their hopefully safe bedroom and simply...waited.
"Yeah, me too..." Luigi sighed, but didn't exhibit Peach's whiny and almost immature complaining. At times, she sure could act like Daisy...and speaking of which, her name could only make Luigi wonder if the flower-living princess would be able to visit him at Poshley Heights, "Where's Goombario and them...?"
"Who knows?" Peach asked, "Probably off eating or watching a movie or something...but, well, I wanted to help Mario, you know?"
"Well why don't you?"
Peach sighed, "I'd only get in his way. Besides, Pennington's there to help him, and, well, I'm no detective..." Which was very much true, Luigi hated to admit. In reality, Peach was probably the most clueless person the green-capped plumber knew. That is, with the exception of Bow. If Sushie's unbelievable story was true in regards to the Boo's untimely disappearance (which, by now, it probably was), then Luigi would certainly have to say that Bow takes the top prize as the most unaware person out there.
"Well..." Luigi took a minute to think, "We can help them from in here...I mean, we already know a lot about the suspects, right...?"
Peach didn't entirely consider a person's name and their reason of presence to be a boat load of information, but for the sake of agreeing with Luigi and increasing both of their morale, she simply said, "Yeah..."
"Well, why don't we help Mario and Pennington out, then? We could try and solve the case from right in here, you know...?" Luigi smiled almost triumphantly as he finished the sentence. But the princess knew better than that. Why on Earth would Luigi want to waste his time writing down a couple of useless facts about each person? To make Peach happy? Maybe. Or perhaps to compete with his brother in respect to who could solve the mystery first? Well, it certainly wouldn't be the first time the Mario brothers were fighting to prove themselves better than one another. And it would be almost typical for them to start their own tournament right in the middle of Zip Toad's murder.
Peach sighed, "I guess so...should we right it down...?"
"Yeah," Luigi nodded and searched the drawers for some paper. Conveniently he found both a tablet and a pencil inside one of the nightstands. He turned back to Peach and retook his comfortable position on the couch, "Now let's figure this out..."
Like Peach and Luigi, Goombario, Lakilester, and Sushie all resided in their own bedroom, not discussing the case, but discussing something that was, to them, equally important.
"Sushie," Lakilester said calmly, "She's fine, at least I hope...I mean, where could Bow have run off to? I want to believe you...but, I just can't understand how she just disappeared out of thin air. Give her some time, really..." At this point, Sushie was exhibiting some high levels of worry. With each coming minute of the seemingly immobile day, the Cheep Cheep grew more and more nervous in regards to Bow's unknown whereabouts. And Lakilester was certainly beginning to tell that this 'tragedy', as Sushie put it, was really starting to eat at her. He had hoped that his gentle and soothing words might be enough to calm the fish's worried emotions and transform them into something much less stressful.
"Yeah, I know what you mean, but..." She stopped and sighed.
Goombario couldn't help but to long for an escape route from their discussion. How many times were they going to go over the fact that there was a missing ghost somewhere not on board? It wasn't exactly rocket science to realize that there wasn't an annoying voice penetrating your brain. But Goombario still liked Bow, and although he was worried too, he hated to relive the exact same sad conversation over and over, "Well, guys, I'm sure Bow'll come back. For now, let's have some fun, hey?"
Sushie brightened a little. The thought of relaxing and just getting to enjoy herself was clearly enough to make her forget about her Boo friend and move on to more personally pleasing things, "Heh heh...good idea. If Bow was here we'd have gone shopping..."
"Oh gee, what fun..." Lakilester said sarcastically, trying to lighten the mood with his smiles and laugher. And even Sushie chimed in, smiling and just rolling her eyes. Apparently Lakitus weren't very much interested in buying sequined purses and trendy clothes. But hey, his loss, Sushie thought.
"Hmmm, Lakilester..." Sushie laughed, "You know you'd love to buy yourself a purse, huh?" She laughed as he grimaced at such a thought, "Or buy one for Lakilulu...she'd sure love a new purse, don't you think?"
"Thanks but no thanks..." The Lakitu said, smiling, "I think she's good with what she has now..." A girl like Lakilulu was likely to own a stack of unused purses and shoes that were kept rotting away in a closet, somewhere. The kind of girl that typically demands the newest and best, only to treat it like trash when it's upgrade comes out on the clearance aisle at the nearest Shroom Navy, "And besides, Goombario and I need to catch up on all the video games we've missed now that we're not at home,"
"Oh, please...did you pack a Wii with you, or what?" Sushie joked.
"Well that's an idea..." Goombario thought to himself, "Huh, well..."
"Actually," Lakilester butted in, "We'll go to an arcade..."
"An arcade on a blimp...are you sure one actually exists?" The Cheep Cheep asked. Well, it was certainly a good question, and it only left Lakilester wallowing in his sheepishness as they both exchanged some mild laughter. And it was so good to see Sushie happy now...but he knew it wouldn't be over. Now he was forced keep his guard up and make sure he kept her entertained, or else she'd probably start going haywire and run around the blimp screaming her full head off looking for Bow. Yes, even the 'right in the mind' Sushie was capable of a big emotional breakdown like that...heh.
"Well, anyway..." Goombario suddenly said, "How about we head out. I think I've spent enough time in this tiny room, huh?"
"Yeah..." Sushie answered.
The Goomba spoke up again, "You know how cool it would be to see Mario in action? I mean, like, watch him solve the case and stuff...he sure is a hero..." And to a person like princess Peach, he was probably Superman. Literally. How often do you get to fly around outer space with your boyfriend with only the glistening sparkle of a Grand Star leading you to your cosmic destination? Or, how many times a day do you watch your significant other thrash the 1,000 year old plans of an ancient witch demon?
"True...I wonder how long it'll take him?" Lakilester asked. The other two just shrugged and looked as if they were seriously considering his question. But before the duo practically wracked their brains trying to foretell the future, he quickly added, "Something to consider sometime else...but anyway, let's get going. Goombario...wanna look for an arcade?"
"Sure thing," He said enthusiastically, hopping up from the bed and running over to Lakilester's side. The two said their goodbyes to Sushie, then quickly escaped through the door in hopes to tackle the dilemma that lie in front of them: navigate the corridors of the blimp and actually end up where they think they're going to end up.
As for Sushie, she needed to put in a quick word with the conductor. Although Lakilester's cheery attitude really sparked her spirits, the image of Bow in a lonely, dark place remained plastered in the back of her mind. And she knew that if she didn't do anything about it, a horrible image like that would be there to stay...
The next several chapters will provide lots and lots of information on the suspects. So get your thinking caps on. :P