I don't think any of you are prepared for this arc. The suffering has only just BEGUN.
"So, yeah! Congratulations, Luigi!" A clapping Nitori was in front of him. "You got an actual fighting chance this time! Oh, yeah, about this ship thing you probably came here for?"
Luigi furrowed his eyebrow. "How did you know about that?"
True, Luigi never told Nitori about the ship he wants since she rushed into a boss fight.
"Oooh, some weird human with a doll fetish came up to me!"
...Alice.
Luigi sighed. "Well, thank goodness she's looking out for me. Goodness me, I'd be stuck without her..."
Kogasa and Momiji looked at Luigi awkwardly.
"Yeah." Luigi rubbed the back of his head. "I met Alice before any of you. If it weren't for her, I'd be eaten alive by Rumia... What a horrific death." He chuckled to himself, but deep inside... He remembered. He remembered that mountain incident and how he fell down face-first into the ground without a parachute. His face was unidentifiable and a monster. Come to think of it...
How did he survive that?
There is physically NO way he could have survived that.
He turned to Nitori. "Sorry, continue."
"So, yeah!" Nitori did the math with her fingers. "It'll take approximately a week before this ship gets built! I hope you have a lot of patience!"
Luigi got PTSD flashbacks of the amount of trolling that Yukari did, the amount of scaring Kogasa dealt, and the amount of cruelness that Kaguya dished out.
"Yeah, sure..." Luigi said, with a slight hint of anger. "I'm patient." He stretched. "Well, sure, Nitori! I'll contact you via Wii Boo!" He handed the gamepad to Nitori.
"...what do you expect me to do with this?" She blinked. "Oh, right! Give me a second!" She pressed some buttons on the gamepad at LIGHTNING speed and handed it back to Luigi. "There we go! Now you can contact me at any time!"
Luigi stuffed the gamepad back in his infinite pocket space and gave a thumbs up. "Nice Nitori!" He turned and started climbing all the way back up the waterfall again.
Nitori waved. "Bye! Thanks for the fuuun!"
Luigi waved back with one hand as he continued climbing.
Finally, they were at the top and Luigi took a massive breath.
Momiji simply smiled at him. "You're awfully persistent, Luigi."
"Yeah..." He huffed, as he was getting his breath back. "Well, a lot of things are at stake here.."
Flashbacks of Mario. "That's my bro!"
"..." Luigi kept quiet.
Kogasa stuck her tongue out. "But you go running for the hills as soon as I spook ya! Hah hah!"
Luigi chuckled and brought Kogasa out of Momiji's impressive hearing range. "If you spook me one more time then I'll make YOU scream."
Back to Momiji. "Anyway! I suppose I should get going to the Human Village! Oh!" He pointed his finger at them. "You two wanna join me? We could make this a fun day ou-"
"We refuse." They both say at the same time.
"INSTANT REJECTION?!" Luigi's heart shattered. "There goes my flawless harem! I mean... not that I ever wanted one... Oh, right! Momiji's a tengu and Kogasa's a youkai! They can't really go into the Human Village..."
He bowed apologetically.
"I'm sorry, but it looks like we'll have to split paths."
Kogasa pouted. "Aaaw! I wanted to be with you mooore! Well, it can't be helped! Scare ya later!~" She then skipped off.
Momiji bowed. "I shall be in this mountain. Seek me if you require further assistance." She left elegantly.
"..." Luigi was by himself and sighed again. "The loneliness is catching up to me. Well, regardless... I don't think I'll climb up this mountain ever again until I get Nitori's ship-"
Just then, his Wii Boo went off. Luigi picked it up and answered, showing E. Gadd's face. "Yello?"
E. Gadd chimed in. "Ah, Luigi! I bet you finally got negotiations to build a ship! I know it's gonna take a while. After all, Rome wasn't built in a day! Thankfully, I had Alice take care of a feeeeew things while she was negotiating with the kappa!"
Luigi noticed a security camera down at Nitori's workshop.
"That's..." Luigi recognised it. "The Pixelator-?"
"Alice set one up here and in the Human Village!"
Luigi smiled. Finally, his allies were USEFUL!
"Well, take me to the Human Village, please!"
E. Gadd saluted. "Sure can do, buckaroo!" E. Gadd disconnected.
The Wii Boo started glowing and sucked Luigi straight in.
"WAAAAAAGH-"
Luigi suffers from interdimensional travelling; the fanfiction.
He landed in front of the Human Village. "I'm gonna have severe trauma from this... Some people aren't prepared to travel alternate dimensions..."
Luigi turned around and was met with a face of a girl with red hair and a blue bow. Her scarf was covering her mouth.
"Ah, a human!" Luigi smiled. "Hello, how are-" He took a step back.
Yep, that was decapitated head being held by the hand of a headless girl.
"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH-AAAAAAAGH!" Luigi stepped back about six feet away from the girl. Gotta respect social distancing, even in alternate dimensions!
The girl cackled in laughter before she was interrupted by a familiar face. "Sekibanki, that's enough. Leave the defenceless coward alone."
Luigi and Sekibanki turned to the voice. It was... the shrine maiden again.
Reimu Hakurei.
Sekibanki whined, putting her head back on. "Jeez, Reimu... You're always so cruel to me. Well, whatever. That reaction was so worth it. Later." She dismissively waved her hand as she went back into the Human Village.
Luigi was shaking wildly and turned back to Reimu.
Reimu went to face Luigi. "You're still here. Honestly, Alice was pestering so much about you!" She pouted. "You're not really that special, just a human..."
"Hey, listen, you damn tsundere..." Luigi was still shaking. "I need your help."
Reimu sighed. "I know, I know. That was Sekibanki. She can make her head fly and stuff. Creeps me out too."
Luigi furrowed his eyebrow. "That's not what I'm begging for help about!"
"I know, I know." She shrugged. "You're completely lost, helpless, and with no current way to get home. I get that. That's why Alice pestered me to help you."
"Mmhhmm." Luigi nodded.
"Come now, let's talk this over tea at my shrine." Reimu walked forward.
"Wait for me, please! I don't want to be lonely..." Luigi ran after Reimu.
They walked into the Human Village square. Luigi commented despite already having been here. "This place is so lively and cheerful..." He looked up at the clear blue sky.
Clear blue sky? It was like that when he went to Nitori's... That battle was quick but it felt like hours.
Reimu turned her head to Luigi while still walking. "It's always lively. You really aren't from this dimension, aren't you?"
"Nope, none." Luigi shook his head. "I get so scared from the slightest things."
Reimu couldn't help but force out a chuckle at Luigi's sheer will to keep going.
"Live strong, Luigi."
"Ah, you know my name?" Luigi tilted his head.
"Alice kept saying your name over and over. Oh." Reimu looked forward. "Speak of the Hecatia."
"Hecatia? Is that your version of the Devil-" Luigi looked forward and saw Alice running towards the two.
"Luigiiii!" Alice waved and stopped in front of them, catching her breath.
Reimu gave a wry smile. "You're unusually peppy, Alice. This isn't like your cold silent personality at all."
"Well, seeing Luigi still alive is enough to make me feel better."
Reimu gave an unamused glare. "Well, I'm taking Luigi to discuss our world-saving plans in my shrine, of course, over some hot tea."
"R-right." Alice nodded. "I understand it's a private conversation, so I'll be heading back to my house. Good luck, Luigi." Alice smiled and then left.
Just as Reimu was about to take another step forward, another voice in the sky resonated. "Yooo! Reimu! Oh! And is that the latest incident?! Bold of you to not incinerate this incident yet, ze!"
Reimu groaned and Luigi groaned too, but mostly because the latter was tired of simply being referred to as 'incident'.
The voice in the sky dropped down, revealing a blonde girl with a black-and-white attire, and a witch hat on top. And yes, that broom really did make her fly.
Reimu groaned in despair. "I really don't have time for you..."
"Aaaaw!" The witch pouted. "You're always so cold to me... Fine, I'll talk to the incident myself, then!"
She brought her face up to Luigi's and Luigi went red out of instinct.
The witch chuckled and held out her hand. "I'm just the Ordinary Magician! But you may refer to me as... Marisa Kirisame!"
Oh, never mind. The 'witch', but now 'magician' had a bright attitude. Luigi paused for a few moments, taking it all in. He offered his shaky hand and did a handshake with Marisa. "I-I'm Luigi..."
Long story short, it took a LOT of wording to get Marisa to be not-suspicious about Luigi.
"Ah, I see, I see! So the incident is just a normal human, I see da ze!" Marisa nodded while folding her arms. They were STILL in the Human Village and not the shrine. Although the sky was fading from blue to a steady orange. "Mmh! I get it now! Not to worry, you! I'll call ya Luigi just so we're even!"
Luigi had angry eyebrows that were eventually relieved. "Good. Call me Luigi and I'll call you Marisa."
"Mm! Mm!" Marisa nodded again, "Wait, what were ya about to call me?"
"Something that wouldn't be PG..." Luigi had a menacing aura.
"I-I get it! Besides, I know you'll be busy with Miss Cold Shrine Maiden over there, so I'll take my leave! I'm looking for-"
Reimu interrupted "-loot to steal?"
"-finest treasures!" Marisa finished.
Reimu leaned in and whispered to Luigi's ear. "She means loot to steal."
"Aaaah." Luigi breathed in an understanding tone. "Well, Marisa, I wish you luck!" He gave a thumbs up.
Marisa got on her broom, flew up, and also gave a thumbs up. "Sure! See ya later, you two!" She flew off.
Reimu sighed. "Aaand that's Marisa. Best you forget about her." She said with no sarcasm.
"With your cold tone, I can't tell if you're serious or sarcastic..." Luigi muttered.
"Well, come on." Reimu hurried up and started to run. "If we're late, we'll be at nightfall, and scary things come out at dark."
Luigi shuddered at the thought of Sekibanki showing up agian, so he ran twice the speed of Reimu.
They were now in the shrine, the smell of tea filling the air. The moon didn't shine through the shrine, but a lamp gave the place a warm cozy atmosphere.
"I really do appreciate you giving me tea, despite how flat broke you are." Luigi bowed in respect as he sat down.
"In my world of poverty, tea is like a freebie." Reimu sipped her own cup and set it down on the table. "Now, about your problem and 'world saving'."
"Yes, that is what Alice said...?" Luigi leaned forward.
"I don't see anything that threatens the world so far aside from Yukari. The problem is, I can't pin her to any evidence that shows she would commit this incident. If I go and beat her up for 'no reason', then people would resent me."
"So?" Luigi shrugged. "What's the problem with that?"
"People resenting me means even less donations."
Luigi averted his eyes. "...that would be troublesome.. yes... I can see why you can't help me... I'm sorry if Alice pestered you..."
Reimu was actually a bit shocked. "Why are you so apologetic about everything? No harm came out of anything so far!"
Luigi dropped his tone and got a bit serious. "...I don't want another fight. I don't want another situation where my entire life is at risk... I'm a coward, but who can blame me? Anyone would be if they knew how much danmaku hurts..."
Reimu was at a loss for words. Luigi really suffered that much? She couldn't help but feel sympathy. "Hey, well, I can offer the best help I can. It won't be much though until I can pin Yukari against the incident."
"Thanks, Reimu... Thank you..." Luigi repeated.
"Well, you should get some sleep. I doubt you can get back with so little energy, even with your fancy high-tech devices that Alice kept telling me about."
"Ah, you're right." Luigi pulled out his Wii Boo gamepad and contacted Alice. "Hey, Alice... I'm crashing by Reimu's place for the night."
Alice nodded. "That's fine, Luigi. I'll tell the Red Toad that he can have the other bed. I'll also tell Gadd about it."
Luigi smiled and disconnected. "Well, that's everything!"
Reimu pulled out a spare futon. "I had one prepared because Marisa randomly crashes in for the night... So here."
"Aha! I see!" Luigi unequipped his Poltergust and crawled into the futon, all snuggly like. "Hee hee! It's so warm!"
Reimu seeing Luigi get excited over the smallest things was purely wholesome. "Well, Luigi..." She turned off the lamp and crawled into her own futon. "Good night, sleep tight, don't let the bed youkai bite!~"
Luigi shivered despite being in a warm futon. "H-hey...!"
Reimu giggled as Luigi realised that she was just being funny. He slowly laid down and closed his eyes.
Luigi woke up to a gentle breeze and in the middle of a flower patch.
He slowly got up, carefully trying not the ruin the flowers.
"Huh... This is not the shrine..."
He tried pinching himself.
"Ow-! Okay... This is not a dream either... Did I sleep too long, forcing Reimu or Alice to drag me along here...? Why am I here? Is this a shortcut to Nitori's place...?"
He walked forward slowly, feet stepping on the grass calmly as he looked at the beautiful blue sky, a gentle breeze tickling his mustache.
"Well, regardless, I think I should get my Poltergust ready. You never know when you're alone... You may just encounter a boss fight or two..."
Luigi reached behind himself for the Poltergust on his back.
His, ah... his.. Poltergust...
Luigi felt around his back as he slowly retracts his hands to a neutral position. His eyes shrunk in absolute disbelief and horror.
"My Poltergust...
is gone."