Okay, I think this is definitely the last update for a while, since school starts tomorrow -_- Hope y'all like, and please review, it helps me know how well I'm going with this ^^

Luigi, Daisy and the MK (c) Nintendo

Nancy, King Diddlesmith, unnamed kitsune and the mentioned locations (c) Me

Luigi hurried down the sidewalk, trying his best to blend in with the crowd. His tuxedo wasn't helping, with drunken merrymakers occasionally stopping and pointing at him, with some sniggering snide comments. He sighed, annoyance flickering through him momentarily before he remembered the direness of his situation. He looked up worriedly, the skyscrapers on either side gleaming in the neon brightness of the street lights. He couldn't see a sign or a map, no clues as to where he was and how he could get back home. Home. Homesickness coursed through him, the sudden grief nearly forcing him to stop and sit down by the sidewalk in his misery. He shook it off, angrily wiping away the tears that had begun to form in his eyes and set off again. If there was just a sign, maybe even some sort of tourist centre, he thought to himself, his keen eyes keeping an eye out for any clue. Aha! A small building, covered in neon lights like the rest of the city, was nestled between a large, Greek-themed casino and a very old, but grand-looking, hotel. A blue information sign flashed in front of it, marking it out as a tourist information centre. Luigi ran to it, pushing awkwardly through the crowd, until coming up to the door, pushing through it into the centre. A small bell jingled from somewhere in the shop, which was surprisingly empty and dark compared to outside, with little touristy trinkets and plush dolls lining the shelves. A car number plate-style sign hung up next to the empty counter declared King Diddlesmith's domain to be Las Carcel, one of the main cities in the kingdom of Dratuga, apparently. Luigi blinked at it for second, fresh anxiety coursing through him. He'd never heard of a kingdom called Dratuga, much less a city known as Las Carcel. He looked around, searching for any maps. A revolving stand next to the counter seemed stocked with pamphlets, all advertising different forms of entertainment and things to do in the city. Deciding that was his best bet, he walked over hurriedly and searched, trying to find any clue telling him where exactly in the Mushroom World he was.

"Babe, you okay?" A voice sounded from behind him, thickly Southern and feminine sounding. Luigi jumped startled, turning around and blushing furiously as a slender, young blonde wearing a cowboy hat came prowling up beside him, her sky-blue eyes gleaming in the light. She looked at him with a shopkeeper's concern, wondering if he needed help. Luigi fumbled with the pamphlets, stammering as he tried to explain.

"Oh, no, I-I'm fine," he mumbled, trying to stuff the pamphlets back into their stand, nervous sweat breaking out over his skin. The shopkeeper looked unconvinced, raising a thin blonde eyebrow as she watched him wrestle with the stand. "Actually, no wait, you can help me!" Luigi yelled suddenly, remembering what he needed. The shopkeeper took a nervous step back, looking like she was considering throwing him back out. "Please, do you have a map? Actually, do you know how to get back to the Mushroom Kingdom from here?" Luigi asked frantically, nearly begging on the floor in his desperation.

The attendant took another step back, an uncertain expression on her narrow face. "Mushroom Kingdom? That's a mighty long way away now, in'it? Man, you've come an awful long way just to see Diddlesmith's humble lil' village. Well, I've actually never had to deal with tourists from your part of the world before, but I do know that the Mushroom Kingdom is north-west of here, though you'd have a mighty long train ride to get there," she said, scratching her head.

"Oh yes, thank you!" Luigi cried, pulling her into a tight hug.

The shopkeeper froze up, before awkwardly patting the plumber's back. "Oh, no need to thank me, eager beaver. We really that bad?"

Luigi blinked, releasing the shopkeeper as he realized what he was doing. He blushed again, praying that the shopkeeper wouldn't notice. "Oh, no no, it was just, um, I wasn't expecting to be…here," he stammered, trying to explain.

The belle's confused expression cleared up as she grinned. "Oh, I see! College friends pulled a prank on you, didn't they?"

Luigi rubbed the back of his neck. "Uh, yeah, I guess you could say that," he mumbled awkwardly. The lass smiled, walking back to her counter.

"Well sugar, if you're that eager to get home and pull yer revenge prank, can't keep you waiting here any longer. What train d'you wanna catch?"

"Um, what's the first one out?"

"Man, somebody's really fired up fer revenge! Well, the next one leaves in about an hour, though you wouldn't be reaching Toad Town until Friday."

"Oh, I'll take that one!" Luigi exclaimed, reaching into his pocket for his wallet. He'd checked before he'd started his shift that he had his wallet, and he was relieved beyond measure that his foresight had possibly saved his life. "Wait," he said, looking up. "What day is it today?"

"Early hours of Wednesday, darlin'," the lady replied cheerfully, typing something into an ancient computer. If the Blue Moon Ball was on Thursday, then that means that I've been missing for, what, nearly a week?! Luigi thought to himself, shocked.

"That'll be 75 coins please." Luigi was interrupted from his shocked thoughts by the cashier holding her hand out for the money. He rummaged in his wallet, pulling out his credit card.

"Do you take credit?"

"Yup." The lady took his card and slid through the transaction machine, holding it back out for him to enter his pin. He had just finished entering it when a bell chimed, announcing another visitor to the shop. The shopkeeper looked up, a smile on her face, ready to greet the customer, when she froze suddenly, her blue eyes widening. Luigi turned around, wondering what had caused the lady's reaction, when he too froze. Standing before him, her yellow gown billowing in the breeze from the open door and her deep blue eyes shining with delight was Princess Daisy. Luigi stood frozen to the spot for a second, before rushing to her, dropping his wallet in his haste to be with her. Daisy hitched up her skirts, pacing forward to meet him, when a monstrous voice screamed "STOP!" The plumber halted in his shock, though Daisy kept advancing towards him, ignoring the harsh noise completely. Luigi turned around and yelped with surprise when he saw the shopkeeper standing right behind him, her eyes narrowed with fury. But she wasn't looking at him. She was looking at Daisy with a pure, undisguised hatred. He noticed that Daisy was staring back as well, something sinister entering her gaze. With a sudden shiver of dread, Luigi took a step back from between the two women as the tension in the air suddenly thickened. He glanced at the flower princess, confused and frightened.

"Daisy? What's going on?"

"Ha!" barked the shopkeeper, her pale eyes gleaming with black humour. "That ain't Daisy you got there, just a poor gutless imitation of the princess! And what d'you think you're playin' at, sneaking inta my shop?" she snarled questioningly. Daisy drew herself up to her full height, an expression of utter contempt and distaste on her face, one that was completely alien to Luigi. He backed away further, beginning to tremble as the fake Daisy began to speak.

"Hmph, if it wasn't for this snivelling cowardly wretch, I would never even dream of associating with a creature like you, dear Nancy, nor would I ever be seen within forty feet of your tacky little shed that's trying to pass for shop. Honestly, what was our King thinking, letting a dog like you run our tourist centre. No wonder we get no visitors these days," she sniffed snobbishly, her eyes gleaming with a similar hatred. Nancy snarled furiously, a noise that made the hairs on Luigi neck stand on end, a noise that he had heard only once before…

"Werewolf…" he choked out, sliding to the floor and trembling. Both ladies looked at him, and as he met their gaze, he let out a small cry. Nancy's eyes were a pale yellow, the whites completely swallowed up, while Daisy's had gone an eerie brilliant amber shade, flecked with clear bits of bright purple. The pupils were slit as well, like a cat's. They glittered with sadistic humour as she prowled closer, leaning in so her face was nearly touching his. She blinked slowly, seductively, as she nestled her head into his neck, purring like a kitten.

"I thought you missed me Luigi," she breathed, trailing her gloved fingers up his neck, the sharp nails trailing goose bumps. The plumber shuddered, feeling utterly, horribly wrong. This wasn't his Daisy, this was some monstrous seductress wearing her face as a mask. Those ghastly eyes glittered as she leaned in close, her lips parting as she tried to steal a kiss…

A sudden eerie howl echoed through the shop and Daisy rolled off Luigi, shrieking curses as something slender and canine leapt on top of the princess. The plumber scrambled to his feet, nearly hyperventilating in shock as Daisy screeched in fury, clawing at the snarling canine. It wasn't a wolf, Luigi realised, but something much smaller, with large creamy-white ears and long, slender legs. Dark brown fur bristled along its spine and its black tipped tail waved in fury as it snarled, revealing fearsome teeth. A coyote. Luigi backed away from the fight, trembling as he realized Daisy was changing. Lengthening canines distorted her face as it jutted out grotesquely into a narrow, whiskered muzzle, snapping furiously at the leaping coyote. Her hands came up, the gloves tearing and seemingly disappearing as they curled into clawed paws. But the most dramatic changes were happening to her dress, or rather, what was underneath it. Jet-black fur erupted, shredding the elegant yellow gown as what had been Daisy growled, lashing out at the coyote. Multiple, long bushy tails whipped behind her, jet-black tipped with pure violet, writhing in the air like furry snakes. Luigi shrank into his corner as the creature reared up, a monstrous black fox with multiple tails lashing at the air, its huge jaws opening as it let out a scream of pure rage. It leapt at the coyote, its huge size allowing it to easily bowl over the canine, and the two raged around the shop, biting, clawing and howling. The plumber glanced at the door, the way clear for now, and, without a second thought, made a dash for it. A huge tail lashed out, knocking him over as the kitsune glared at him from where she had the werecoyote pinned down.

"Stay there," she growled, her monstrous muzzle wrinkling as she spoke, the sound like knives grating against each other. She dealt one last blow to the coyote, blood flying out in an arc as the coyote shrieked in pain. Her head slumped to the floor, all fight gone from the therianthrope. The kitsune turned fully to face Luigi, her demonic teeth bared in a grin, crimson blood dripping from between the ivory fangs. "Well, you're the famous Luigi, aren't you? I'd be flattered. Everyone's taken quite an interest in you lately," she growled, her teeth grating against each other. She stalked closer, her huge paws thudding against the ground, claws scratching the surface. She leaned in close, her muzzle wrinkled in distaste. Luigi gagged at the stench of blood wafting from her jaws as the kitsune laughed, a high-pitched yipping bark. "Yes, King Diddlesmith sent me to fetch you. You are quite troublesome, little human, rejecting the hospitality of our fair King," she finished with a low growl.

The plumber trembled before the great fox, before asking, in a shaking voice that was barely a whisper, "Where's Daisy?" The kitsune's eyes widened, before she laughed again, a horrible yelping howl that stabbed at Luigi's eardrums.

"Oh, oh, that's all you're concerned about? "She laughed, her eyes tearing with mirth. The plumber listened fearfully, concern for his friends outweighing his fear of the fox. The kitsune had stopped laughing, staring at him thoughtfully with narrowed yellow eyes. "Hmph, well, just to make you feel better, I just used her form as a lure to get you back. The real one is running around Twilight Town, last time I heard, attacking the friends that are trying to save her from herself," the kitsune grinned knowingly.

Luigi blinked, confused. "Attacking?"

"Why yes. I've heard it's terrible, the disease affects your mind and your body, and mortalities among the ones who associate with them are, sadly, very high." The fox's tails waved, the only sign she gave of enjoying Luigi's confusion and rising fear.

"What happened to Daisy?" he whispered, his voice surprisingly steady.

The fox blinked, the fierce grin returning. "Let's just say she's sick. Very sick. In fact Luigi, Daisy had been infected with lycanthropy. To put it bluntly my dear, she has become a werewolf."