A/N: Originally, I was going to take two summer courses, but it made things more complicated and stressful for me. I ended up dropping one and plan to take that class in the fall instead. (It won't be recorded on my transcript, thankfully.)
This way, I can continue my education, work at my job, and spend time writing some more. Other than that, I appreciate all of you for checking out this story and leaving feedback in the last chapter! Hotel Horror is now up to 150 favorites and 420+ comments! Thank you all so much!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything regarding Luigi's Mansion.
Chapter 31: The Spectral Catch of the Day
Luigi and his friends momentarily returned to E. Gadd's mobile bunker. He, Daisy, and Peach brought their Poltergust vacuums to the Ghost Container to transfer the three magician sisters all together in the same place. The remaining spirits, including the Portrait Ghosts and the Boos, joined them inside the tank. For Ginny, the youngest triplet was grateful to see her family again. However, she wasn't so fond of hearing Lindsey and Nikki argue face-to-face with each other. Sighing to herself, she played peacemaker once again. Old habits die hard...
Afterward, E. Gadd and the Toads offered the heroes a quick bite to eat and some coffee to refuel themselves. Peach also used her healing powers to rejuvenate herself and her friends' health. With the team refreshed, they headed back to the elevator. Luigi took out the new '12' button he received from Ginny, letting it slide into its respective slot. Clicking the button, the heroes elevated to their next destination.
Polterkitty shifted her head down at the marble floor. If she recalled correctly, the next area was where another creature resided. He was enlisted by Hellen, yet he wasn't as loyal to the owner compared to herself. But after helping Daisy and Luigi in the Boilerworks, the cat wouldn't be shocked if she chose him as a better companion over her. Either way, she knew what was coming up ahead unlike the heroes standing around her. Polterkitty thought of two scenarios; either they were going to make it out alive like every other floor, or they're going to walk the plank.
~12F – The Spectral Catch
As the anchor marker moved up to the fourteenth tick mark, the elevator bell rang before the doors opened. Luigi wasn't enthralled by the chandelier of lit candles, providing a dim light in the lobby. He and the others stepped on the green rug in front of them, gazing around the room. Aside from a few palm plants by their sides, there was a miniature pool of water placed as an embellishment. To their left was a sitting area with a purple couch. On their right was a long, blue carpet that led to a check-in desk.
Colombo ran up to the small pool, admiring the island decoration in the middle. However, he noticed some strange ripples in the water, despite the fact there was nothing in sight.
"Ruff?"
"What is it, boy?"
Colombo pointed his paw at the anomaly, causing Luigi to squint his eyes in confusion. He took a moment to look back at the elevator mirror since the doors didn't close yet. From the reflection, he spotted a boat circling around the island. After snapping his fingers, he turned on his Dark-Light Device. Moments later, the boat emerged in a shadowy figure. Five Spirit Balls floated around the pool before the ghost hunters sucked them all up. Suddenly, Luigi heard a high-pitched cackle, startling the crap out of him.
"Hehehehehe! Avast, me hearties! I am Booccaneer! Ye just revealed me clipper out in the ocean! Let me set sail because there is Boo-ty to plunder!"
"Not gonna lie, I'm really starting to hate puns," grunted Daisy.
"Well, we've caught these ghosts before. It's not anything new for us, so we should handle another one!" Peach remarked.
"Argh! Ye landlubbers ain't gonna haul me or the treasure!"
"Is the treasure an elevator button, by chance?" Luigi perked an eyebrow.
"I may be one of the hands of the royal King Boo, but I am not responsible for handling those golden doubloons! I'm only to blow the green man down! But it looks like I got more than one seadog to run a rig with. King Boo and that Hellen wench will definitely reward me with a bounty of me choice and sing a sea shanty in celebration! Yo ho ho!" Booccaneer guffawed.
As the ghost turned invisible, Daisy readied herself with her Dark-Light Device. "C'mon, let's expose this scallywag and toss him in the brig! Savvy?"
"You're really going on board with this?" queried Luigi.
Daisy decided not to answer as she began searching around the lobby. Luigi sighed as he turned on his own Dark-Light. Peach, Colombo, and Polterkitty kept their distance while searching for any paranormal activity. Booccaneer instantly appeared and charged at Luigi, waving his stubby arms like he was engaging in a sword fight. The plumber shrieked out of instinct and dove to the side.
"Argh! Playing coward, are we? Stand still so I can keelhaul ye!"
Daisy prevented him from attacking her partner as she stunned him with the rainbow luminescence. As Booccaneer groaned with his tongue out, Peach hurried over and tugged on it. She hauled the Boo over her head and slammed him to the ground multiple times.
"Blimey!" Booccaneer snarled. "I'll admit, ye flogged me pretty well with that vacuum! But it's not over yet!"
After he vanished a second time, Daisy and Luigi aimed their Dark-Light Devices around the lobby. But neither of them could unveil his hiding spot. Booccaneer was secretly behind one of the floating cannonballs suspended by a net. Luigi unknowingly ambled underneath one of them, inducing the sneaky ghost to cut the hanging rope. Colombo barked and pushed his owner out of the way. Luigi shrieked and landed on the purple sofa. Peach and Daisy flinched when the cannonball struck the wooden floor with a thunderous thud. Suspicious, Polterkitty leaped high to climb onto a different cannonball, inspecting the air around her. She reached a claw out in the empty space where the first cannonball used to be. The violet feline heard a weak cry, confirming her intuition. Hopping off the decoration, she forced Booccaneer to reveal himself as he was tackled to the ground.
"Reeee!" the pale minion screeched.
"Good work, kitty!" Daisy smirked. "Time to clean up the poop deck with this jerk! Heave ho!"
With the Poltergust 5000, she pulled with all her might on his tongue and smacked him until he couldn't handle the pain.
"Shiver me timbers! Ye might have pillaged a victory against me, but ye won't have the guts to face the scourge of the seven seas!"
"Puh-lease!" scoffed Daisy. "We're gonna wipe the floor against Hellen and your freak sheet of a king once we reach the top of the hotel!"
"Actually, I'm referring to the one guarding the button ye seek," Booccaneer expressed an evil grin, causing the orange princess's smirk to fade. "Best of luck ye won't be shark bait, or ye might end up in Davy Jones' locker!"
The Boo chortled to himself before accepting his fate, being trapped inside her vacuum. Daisy blinked in confusion, wondering what the ghost was talking about. Eventually, she turned her attention to her feet when she heard a light meow from Polterkitty. Appreciating her help in finding Booccaneer, Daisy kneeled to her and gently scratched her head. The cat purred in satisfaction. She was exalted that her three tails waved up and down like the tides in an ocean.
"Just from the looks of it, do you think Hellen created this floor as some sort of nautical-themed restaurant?" wondered Peach as she inspected the rest of the level's layout.
"Possibly. I mean, aside from the main kitchen down at the Mezzanine, she probably wanted to add some variety," Luigi shrugged his shoulders.
"Bark! Bark!" Colombo ran ahead past the check-in desk and stopped when he approached the bow of a ship in the way. Luigi, Peach, Daisy, and Polterkitty followed him and gazed at the large structure.
"Wowie zowie," Luigi mumbled with less enthusiasm compared to when he first admired The Last Resort. "This is some decoration."
"How exactly are we supposed to progress from here if this ship is in the way?" queried Daisy.
"Hey, guys. I can see a set of double doors from this open hole," Peach pointed. The others took a sneak peek at what she was referring to.
"Okay, so we found the way to the next room. But that doesn't solve our current roadblock."
"Maybe we can tear these wooden boards apart?" Peach attempted to do so, but she had no luck. "Ooh! These are a lot sturdier than I thought. I could've gotten a splinter if I wasn't careful."
"I doubt Gooigi can squeeze through that."
"Hmm..." The plumber ejected his gooey doppelganger and tried to push his malleable body through the narrow gap.
"Urgh! Oof! Owie! My head is stuck! Help me!"
Peach and Daisy grabbed him by his arms, grunting out loud as he remained wedged in the boat. Colombo tried to help him, but he accidentally chewed part of his leg.
"Ack! Did a spider bite me?!"
Embarrassed, the Polterpup stepped away from Gooigi, his tongue licking up the coffee-flavored substance. Polterkitty was a bit disgusted that she almost threw up a hairball. With a little more elbow grease, the princesses finally tugged the clone out of the hole.
"Are you okay?" Peach furrowed her eyebrows.
"Yeah, I am. Thanks for getting me out of there. But it's proven that I can't just slide inside with ease compared to a jail cell or spiked flooring," he replied before flying back into the G-00's empty tank.
Once Luigi was awake, the Virtual Boo's ringtone played out loud. He fished for the communication device out of his pocket.
"Yes, Professor?"
"Thanks for answering, Luigi. I'm quite baffled at the thought of a random boat being there in the first place. Either way, unless you were either Colombo, Polterkitty, or a ghost in general, there might not be a way for you three to slip through it."
"Unfortunately, we all had the same sentiment. We even tested with Gooigi."
"How can we get rid of this ship, Professor?" inquired Peach.
"A very good question, Princess... Hmm, let's see here. Well, I got nothing."
"Fantastic," said Daisy sardonically.
"If they can't take down the boat by hand, can Luigi use the Super Suction tool to destroy it?" Red Toad suggested.
"Hey, I think that's a great idea!" Blue Toad complimented.
"But I don't see any of those electrical outlets here," Daisy scratched her head.
"Meow!"
Everyone turned to where Polterkitty was. Luigi lifted the goggles to his forehead, catching a glimpse at her near the back wall. She pointed a paw over at a rectangular breaker box with a circular border and a lightning bolt insignia in the middle.
"Hold on, E. Gadd. I have put this away for a second."
"No worries, lad," the elderly scientist understood. "Hope you make it through!"
Placing the VB in his pocket, he sauntered to where Polterkitty sat and fired a Suction Shot onto the metal panel. Tugging the plunger's rope, he dismantled the breaker box's cover and discovered the same outlet he found in the Tomb and Twisted Suites.
"Sweet! Just what we're looking for!" beamed Daisy.
"We better stand back. We don't want to be in the way," Peach watched her footing as she and everyone else stayed far from the ship.
"Okey-dokey, let's turn this on," Luigi flipped the switch under the outlet.
The electrical band stretched out and connected to the Poltergust G-00. Just like the other instances, Luigi felt like he was in the middle of a tornado. Gusty winds flew into the Poltergust G-00's nozzle as everything tumbled, fell, and broke apart from the Super Suction. Tons of wooden planks, nets, and wallpaper were sucked up into the vacuum as fast as a kid trying to finish their dinner until the plate was completely bare. The boat and walls were shipwrecked, revealing the door to the next area.
"Awesome! Now we can finally advance!" exclaimed Daisy. "I wonder what's inside."
"Mrow!"
"Arf!"
The pets were the first to jump into the Grotto Lounge, a humongous dining area furnished with barrels, stools, and a circular bar at the other end of the restaurant. The interior landscape also included rushing waterfalls, bridges, candles, skulls, bone decorations, and lanterns hanging from some ropes. Behind the bar was an intimidating skull cave. Its pupil-less eyes made Luigi and the others freeze in fear, aside from Polterkitty.
"I'll be honest. If this wasn't a creepy, haunted hotel, I would love to dine here for some dinner," Peach confessed.
"You think they would serve some decent fish and chips here?" Daisy salivated.
"Bark!" Colombo panted enthusiastically.
"Eating should be the last thing on our minds," prompted Luigi. "Besides, E. Gadd and the Toads cooked a meal for us recently."
"True. However, I wish I added some sugar to my Chuckoccino. It left a bitter taste in my mouth."
"Meow!"
"I know, right?" Daisy assumed Polterkitty agreed with her.
"Mrow!" Instead, the purple cat directed her paw straight at the wall from afar.
"Is she referring to the skull? As in, that's where we need to go to find the elevator button?" presumed Peach.
"Meow!" Polterkitty purred. In all honesty, she wasn't luring the heroes into a trap. She knew who was on the other side.
"I can see something through the eyehole of the skull. It looks like another ship," Luigi peered keenly.
"Sail, ho!" Daisy emphasized. She received a weird glance from her green-clad partner and an awkward shrug from her best friend. Polterkitty and Colombo didn't make any noise.
Moving forward, Luigi and the princesses aimed their flashlights all around the restaurant in case ghosts were creeping behind the barrels or rocks. Luckily, they crossed the bridges without any obstacles, admiring the genuine waterfalls along the way. Everyone made their way past the circular bar. At one point, they heard a loud thud from behind, but that was because Colombo accidentally knocked over a stool after jumping onto it. Shaking the small jump scare aside, the group stood in front of the scary skull wall. Other than the eyes, there was an opening for the nostrils. Down below was a barricade of rocks in the shape of some large teeth.
"Is there another plug for your Super Suction to activate?" Daisy scrutinized the walls and floor.
"Nothing here," Peach shook her head.
"So, we can't even proceed?"
"Oh, well. We tried," Luigi tried to back away, but Colombo and Polterkitty nudged the back of his legs, frightening him.
"Hmm... Those teeth have a slight opening just like the boat," E. Gadd chimed in. "Maybe Gooigi can squeeze through there instead?"
"And get myself stuck like a chewed wad of bubblegum?" Luigi doubted his postulation. "This will be like those treasure chests and the T-Rex Ug possessed as they tried to consume me!"
"They were eating Gooigi, not your bones," the professor corrected.
"You get my point!"
"Luigi, why don't you at least give it a try? It may not have worked with the ship, but what other choice do we have here?" Peach beseeched him.
Feeling hopeless, the man sighed before transferring his consciousness to his duplicate. "If I get jammed again, good luck hauling me out of the teeth."
"Just go!" urged Daisy.
"Okay, okay! Sorry..."
Gooigi pushed his body up against the wall. Somehow, he was able to get his head through the rocky breaches. Using all his might, he tried to squish the rest of his body in between the incisors. His friends heard a squishy plop the second he disappeared from their side of the wall.
"Ouch! That was uncomfortable!" Gooigi quetched.
"What do you see, Gooigi?" queried Daisy.
"I thought you said Luigi was controlling his body," Peach tilted her head, puzzled.
"Yeah, but I'm talking to the one who's sentient."
The blonde woman chose not to further question it as she waited for a response.
"There's another door over here. And here's a large lever," Gooigi indicated as he noticed a metal knob on the wall.
"Bark! Bark!"
"I assume he's saying, 'Pull it, Luigi!' Um, is that right?" the tomboy checked for verification.
"Ruff!" Colombo jumped and wagged his tail.
"Hmph! Gah! I feel so much weaker when I'm using Gooigi's arms! It's like I have weaker muscles!"
Despite the struggle, the gooey human pulled the lever down, causing the skull to shake. The teeth opened to allow the others to plod forward with ease.
"Alright, that's taken care of. I'm definitely going to rest."
"We can't stop now! We need to find the next button!" Peach implored.
"I meant let Gooigi rest while I return to my actual body."
"Oh..."
The man in green recoiled as soon as he woke up. After feeling less disoriented, he, Daisy, Peach, Colombo, and Polterkitty entered the skull cave before pushing through the double doors from within. The first four were amazed yet perplexed at what stood in front of them. It was the Beach – a massive expanse with sand all over the place, a dock, and a humongous body of water underneath a dark blue sky with a familiar-looking, crescent moon.
To reiterate, it was a beach. In a hotel. No further explanation was needed.
"This is too good to be real. Like you said, Peach, this would be fantastic to explore if The Last Resort wasn't a literal ghost town," marveled Daisy as she couldn't believe her eyes.
"I still can't tell if this is an illusion or not. But the smell of the fresh saltwater is convincing me otherwise," uttered Luigi.
"This is coming from me, but it feels like we're inside some sort of geodesic dome, similar to how it looks like when Tiara and I visited the Steam Gardens in the Wooded Kingdom. The background is fitting to make it look like we're at the shore late at night. However, everything is authentic when you visit it. Plus, the galleon over there looks real to me."
Although it was far away in the middle of the sea, the pirate ship was beckoning the ghost hunters to set sail on it. There was a solid chance the next Boss Ghost was on board the vessel. How to reach it seemed impossible unless they had the motivation to swim for an entire league. Luigi and the others were smart enough to not try that tactic or else they'd be fatigued halfway into the ocean.
"Hmm, there's a silver bell on the dock," Peach indicated.
"How conspicuous," Daisy commented. "You think you can give it a big, ol' ring, Weegie?"
"Why do I have to do it?" he spoke nervously.
"It's got one of those tassels to pull on. You're an expert on those, right?"
"Well, I've tugged on them before. But you can do it, too! I'm not the only one wielding a Poltergust!"
"Don't worry, Luigi. I can do it," offered Peach.
The pink princess headed there first with the others following from behind. Polterkitty twitched her whiskers as she knew what was going to happen next. Not only that, but she wasn't a huge fan of water unless it's for drinking. She turned on the suction with the Poltergust 3000 and pulled the rope, striking the bell. The clapper clanged against the metal, the sounds reverberating throughout the Beach. By then, the galleon garnered the heroes' attention before disappearing into a thick cloud of fog.
"Huh?" Luigi lifted a hand over his eyes and underneath the brim of his cap. Squinting his eyes, he couldn't find the boat. "Where did it go?"
Suddenly, the ship emerged out of the fog and slowly made its way to the ghost catchers, parking parallel with the wooden dock.
"Splash zone!" Daisy yelled.
"Eek!" Peach ran away from the bell. Polterkitty didn't hesitate to jump back either. Colombo and Luigi ended up getting soaked as a small wave of water crashed into them.
"Gah! What is it with me and getting my clothes drenched?!" the man complained.
Colombo literally shook it off as the droplets spread off his body. He nearly got Polterkitty wet, causing the cat to scowl. While his owner wasn't paying attention, the Polterpup yipped again and pushed Luigi out of the way. The reason being was because an elongated ramp extended from the deck and nearly slammed onto the mustached plumber.
"Good save!" Peach complimented.
"Arf!"
"I guess we can now hop on board. Better than climbing Jacob's Ladder," said Daisy as she climbed the slope first.
"D-Do we really have to get on?" Luigi trembled. He wasn't fond of the boat's archway with the creepy skull's orange eyes and a pair of swords nailed onto it. To say the least, it was the opposite of inviting. "I'd rather be marooned on a deserted island with a crab pinching my nose."
"C'mon, Luigi!" Daisy called once she was standing on the deck. "What's the worst that could happen? A bunch of ghosts scuttling the ship?"
"Um, yes! Do I need to list any other reasons?"
"We'll watch your back, Luigi. We promise," Peach attempted to calm him down. Colombo also agreed. Even Polterkitty, who remained silent, saw eye to eye. She was already in too deep. What else did she have to lose?
Once Luigi recomposed himself, he let the princesses and the pets walk up the ramp before he did. He held a hand over his eyes, only to avoid eye contact with the angry skull. Meanwhile, Polterkitty stayed centered on the wooden ramp, avoiding the edges so she wouldn't fall into the sea. While studying the ship, the main deck featured a few crates and barrels with some lit candles placed on top of them. They were accompanied by some stools, representing a special sitting arrangement for guests to enjoy a fancy dinner on a boat.
"Arf! Arf!" Colombo spotted a significant object.
"What is it? Did you find the next elevator button?" asked Peach.
The Polterpup shook his head and pointed at the upper deck near the ship's stern. From their viewpoints, the humans gasped when they noticed Yellow Toad's painting.
"There he is!" Red Toad screamed from the Virtual Boo.
"Oh, poor Yellow! He's been held captive longer than us!" Blue Toad cried out.
"Not to mention, he's high up on the quarterdeck. The wall next to you doesn't look scalable in the slightest," mumbled E. Gadd.
"How are you going to get up there?"
"Bark! Bark!" Colombo decided to simply float his way to the higher level and nab the portrait with his teeth. However, neither he nor the humans noticed the pair of creatures lurking nearby. One was hiding directly near Yellow Toad. The other was in the ocean, lurking his way towards the galleon. As soon as the Polterpup was about to snatch the painting, he froze when he heard an ominous growl behind the barrels. Whining softly to himself, he was unsure if he should proceed or back away as a precaution.
"Colombo! Are you okay?" Luigi was getting worried.
He turned his head around to peek at the green plumber and everyone else on the ship. But as the ghost pup was about to reface the captive Toad...
"ARF! ARF! ARF!"
Colombo yipped loudly, jumping off the quarterdeck and into Luigi's arms. The plumber's heart skipped a beat as he realized who nearly attacked his pet. The entity revealed himself from their hiding spot. It was a lavender animal with turquoise eyes, four sharp fangs, and a red, spiked chain around its neck.
"Who the heck is that?!" Daisy's jaw dropped.
"It's Spooky," answered Luigi. "He's a bulldog who tried to bite my legs off in the first mansion. He once guarded the doghouse near a graveyard to prevent me from advancing any further!"
"He looks rather disobedient!" Red Toad shrieked as he, Blue, and E. Gadd watched the monitors. The VB's camera had a close-up shot at the bulldog with Yellow Toad's painting within the frame, but none of them noticed the other stranger in the water.
"Oh!" Peach nearly lost her balance. "Is it just me or did the boat rock a bit?"
"I felt it, too," Luigi shuddered as he set the Polterpup down.
Polterkitty crept near the port, glancing through the openings of the guardrail. She caught a glimpse of a dorsal fin that was completely stationary for a few seconds. As it submerged underwater, she let out a panicked shriek to warn the heroes.
"What is it, Polter- OH, MY GOD!" Daisy cut herself off mid-sentence. She, Peach, Luigi, and Colombo leaped in total shock when the figure egressed from the ocean. Running over to the starboard, the ghost hunters freaked out as a shark plopped onto the deck. Polterkitty hurried over Daisy, circumventing the splash zone.
Thar she blows.
"This is the Boss Ghost of the twelfth floor?!" shouted Peach.
"Aye, indeed I am..." the fierce ghost spoke vehemently with a large, creepy grin. The great white shark had a sickle in the shape of a hook in place of his right fin. He also had a golden ring wrapped around the dorsal fin and some sharp teeth, including a golden tooth. His right eye was red and pupil-less while the left was concealed by an eyepatch.
"Um... Did I just hear that shark talk?!" Daisy did a double take.
"So, I'm not the only one who's dreaming," Luigi affirmed.
"Ahoy, sailors. The name is Fishook; Captain Fishook, to be exact. What are ye scurvy dogs doing on me pirate ship?"
"I think the more important question is, how can you talk while the other ghost animals can't?!" Daisy wanted a lucid explanation.
"That is none of your business, lassie," Fishook pointed his scythe towards her.
"Um, excuse me, Mr. Fishook-"
"Me name is Captain Fishook, pinky face!" the shark angrily countered at Peach. "How would ye like it if I disrespected your royal title?"
"S-Sorry, Captain," she genuinely apologized. "We don't mean to trespass on your ship, but we're looking for the next elevator button to continue up the hotel."
"Aye, it's quite obvious why you're here. Well, landlubbers, the treasure ye seek is closer than ye think!"
"What does that mean?" Luigi trembled.
The shark temporarily lifted his eyepatch, causing the plumber to flinch and look away. He assumed there was a missing eye or stitches, but instead...
"Arf! Arf!"
"Mrow!"
"It's the elevator button!" Daisy yelled.
Luigi snuck a peek to see if she was telling the truth. It was confirmed. The '13' button was where his left eye used to be. Fishook covered it with his eyepatch and sneered.
"I was entrusted by Ms. Hellen Gravely to guard this treasure from ye scoundrels. Now I finally get the chance to devour some shark bait! And if ye think about trying to hornswoggle the prize or free the little inmate up above, good luck avoiding ol' Spooky because he's also voracious for some bones!"
"RUFF! RUFF! Grrr..." the bulldog growled.
"Where's a golden bone when you need one?" Luigi sweated.
The thought of bones made Colombo salivate, but his fantasy was perturbed when Captain Fishook chortled evilly.
"Hope your sea legs are stable enough because I'm going to make sure your inevitable deaths are in shipshape for Ms. Gravely! Argh-har-har-har!" he brandished his weapon.
Fishook flew into the air before passing through the deck, destroying some crates and barrels in his path. Suddenly, the wooden floorboards began to form a familiar face. His right eye glowed red while the left was concealed by some dark brown planks. An opening below his pupil was a bright, red mouth with jagged teeth around the inside border.
"What just happened?" Peach was confused yet terrified simultaneously.
"Why, that rugged shark just possessed the deck of his pirate ship!" exclaimed E. Gadd. "This is quite reminiscent of the Possessor Ghosts in Evershade Valley when they took over various objects to make them animated!"
"Oh, Mamma Mia! You've got to be kidding me!" groused Luigi.
"Meow!" Polterkitty directed the heroes' attention towards the bow. An Oozer and a Hider were donned in pirate hats, eyepatches, and striped clothing. They started rolling powder kegs at Luigi and his friends with sparks flying across the boat. Colombo howled when he also noticed a Goob and Greenie in the same attire, hovering near the stern while holding more explosive barrels. Spooky remained from his guarding spot, watching the fight down below.
"Duck!" Peach crouched down to evade a barrel.
"How are we supposed to coax Captain Fish Brains out of the deck?" Daisy grunted as she hurdled over a stool.
"The name is Fishook!" the face roared loudly, his voice echoing throughout the Beach.
Daisy's visage changed from aggravated to stunned. "Okay, sheesh."
"Luigi," called E. Gadd, "if the barrels contain gunpowder inside, that's probably why their fuses are lit! If you and the others can grab those with your Poltergust vacuums, you can push them into the mouth when it's wide open!"
"Are you sure there isn't a different way that's more efficient?" Peach sounded doubtful.
"Look out!" Luigi grabbed the princess as a powder keg nearly detonated in front of her.
"My goodness," she held a hand over her chest. "Thank you, Luigi. I could've been caught up in an explosion or worse!"
"Don't worry about it. But based on what the professor mentioned, it might be our only way to force him out of the boat. Believe me, I faced something similar in Evershade Valley when a Possessor Ghost took over an icy surface and became a monster face out of it. I had to shoot bombs at him, including his mouth. We'll have to do the same thing here."
"Okay then... If we don't have any other choice, we'll stick to it."
"Colombo," Luigi turned to his pet dog, "we're going to focus on Captain Fishook. Do you think you and Polterkitty can handle Spooky?"
The Polterpup hesitated for a second as he wasn't comfortable facing the cutthroat bulldog up close. Then again, he had to deal with Polterkitty in her panther form beforehand. Mustering up the courage, he showed a determined face and barked with confidence. He shifted over to the feline, awaiting her response if she's willing to assist him. This wasn't the first time Polterkitty pondered about her decision-making. Ultimately, she remained true to her word to side with the heroes. Emitting a determined 'meow', she and Colombo floated their way to the upper level where Spooky was. The bulldog caught sight of the pets and rancorously woofed at them. Spooky wound his hind legs and scratched the back of his ear, itching for a brawl.
Down on the main deck, Luigi, Daisy, and Peach tactfully dodged the barrels the pirate ghosts were hurling. With several of them blinking red, the ghost hunters were smart to stay far away lest they get soot on their clothes or fly off the vessel and into the ocean. Peach was the first to grab a powder keg with her 3000. Although she was known for her technicality, the blonde princess threw off her trajectory and sent the barrel at an angle. It ended up stunning the Hider temporarily as he laid back in pain. Peach took the opportunity to rush over and drain the Hider's health. But after she sucked up the ghoul, Luigi reminded her of a crucial point.
"Peach! If we get rid of the minor ghosts too early, they won't feed us the ammunition we need to expel Fishook!"
"Right!" Peach returned.
The plumber finally got ahold of a keg after the Greenie tossed one in his direction. He discerned how the mouth was only open when the face was sliding across the floorboards. Once Fishook started to move, Luigi aimed carefully and pushed the air from his hose, sending the barrel into his mouth. The result was an impactful boom with broken planks flying out as debris.
"That's it, Luigi!" E. Gadd cheered. "Keep doing that until Captain Fishook can't handle the heat!"
The pirate crew had an endless supply of explosive casks, and the humans remained aware of their surroundings so they wouldn't trip or fall off. Daisy sucked up a keg in the 5000's nozzle. She waited for Fishook to budge and released it.
"Fire in the hole!"
Another loud boom struck the ship. The tomboy was about to prematurely celebrate until she ducked from a launched barrel.
Meanwhile, Spooky growled ferociously before running up to Colombo and Polterkitty. The two pets were set to distract the bulldog before thinking about grabbing Yellow Toad's canvas. As they scurried off in different directions, Polterkitty landed on top of a pile of crates while Colombo sat on the ship's steering wheel. Spooky tried to jump up to the latter, but he was neither fast nor agile enough to reach him. The feline soon taunted the bulldog with a soft purr and a condescending wave with her paw. She swiftly hopped out of the way when Spooky rushed over. He banged his head against the boxes, rendering him inert. Since neither of them could work a vacuum, Colombo and Polterkitty stuck to what they're used to by pouncing on their foes. Spooky's head slammed into the deck.
"Bark!" Colombo showed his appreciation to the feline.
Polterkitty thought it'd be courteous to reply. "Meow!"
"Sounds like they're doing just fine up there," Peach murmured as she held onto another powder keg. This time, she didn't miss Fishook's wooden face as it fell inside his mouth. The shark howled in fear and came out of his pirate ship. His crew members hid for a brief moment.
"Yargh!" Captain Fishook coughed out smoke. "Shiver me timbers, I'm all hot and bothered! Now ye have done it!"
Out of retaliation, his hook shined underneath the light of the purple moon. While swimming in midair, he smirked at the plumber and started to chase him. Luigi hurried away with the princesses splitting up, too. Captain Fishook waved his sharp tool in the air and lunged at his target.
"Grr! Stand still, will ye?! I can't keelhaul your sea legs, pin them up on me cabin wall, and collect me bounty from Ms. Gravely if ye don't stop moving!"
"Look out, Luigi!" Daisy cried out.
"Eep!" The mustached man dove forward to avoid another swing. Fishook missed, but his hook got stuck in the deck.
"Argh! No! Come on, ye cheap piece of metal!" The shark struggled to wedge it out.
"Now's our chance!" yelled Peach. She charged her Strobulb and stunned the shark with a large flash. She pulled his tail into her hose as Fishook started squirming violently from the suction. Peach used all her strength to slam the beast onto the deck four times. Captain Fishook growled in agony while shaking it off. He wasn't pleased in the slightest.
"Blimey, that hurt! If ye do that again, I'll make sure I'll cleave the green grape to the brisket!" he threatened before repossessing the floor. "Crewmates, get more barrels and stop these meddling buccaneers!"
While the pirates re-emerged on the ship, they followed his orders and carried their ammo above their heads. As the heroes repeated the same procedure, Spooky recovered from his headache and rubbed off the pain. He yapped and made his way right at Colombo, next to the pole that held the crow's nest. The Polterpup turned invisible at the right moment, allowing the bulldog to rush past him. Spooky skidded on the quarterdeck and rerouted his run.
"RUFF! RUFF!"
"Mrow!"
Spooky was about to jump at Polterkitty who was resting on a guardrail at the poop deck. However, she countered the savage canine with her sharp claws. The kitten scratched her nails against his nose, causing him to recoil and tumble. Colombo reappeared and landed another jump attack on Spooky's head. The bulldog became more dazed and frustrated than he anticipated. But he wasn't as heated as Fishook who was forced out a second time after Luigi, Daisy, and Peach fired more powder kegs into his mouth. Then, the pets shoved Spooky off the ledge, making him fall onto the Swabbie Goob and creating a literal dog pile.
"Bark! Bark!" Colombo let the heroes know about the motionless guard dog.
"Thanks!" Luigi acknowledged.
"Daisy, I'll help Luigi with these ghosts over here! You distract Captain Fishook!" ordered Peach.
"I can handle it!" Daisy winked at her. "Hey, Mr. Fish Lips!"
"How many times do I have to correct ye on me titular identity?! It's Captain Fishook!"
"And how many times do I need to show that I don't care, Hooktail?" Daisy teased with a cunning smirk. She veered away as the shark front-flipped and got his hook stuck yet again. She took advantage of his mistake, brightened him with the Strobulb, and dragged him into the Poltergust 5000. "Say, what's that one lyric the pirates chant in their sea shanties? 'One hundred bottles of rum on the wall...' No, that's not it. 'Four score and seven years ago...' Wait, no, it can't be! 'To me, way hey, blow the shark down'? Yeah, that sounds about right!"
"Ye wouldn't dare! GAH!"
"Oh, ye bet I would!"
Daisy smacked the great white shark onto the floor until he escaped a second time. On the opposite side of the ship, Spooky scowled loudly as Luigi was draining his health. The Goob shrieked as his body was pulled into Peach's vacuum. Completely frightened, the Oozer and the Greenie pirates hid once more.
"Son of a biscuit eater! If ye scallywags are going to continue playing this game of mutiny, ye all leave me no choice!"
"Technically, we're not part of your crew, so we wouldn't-"
"Belay your mouth, ye bilge-sucking princess!" Fishook resentfully interrupted. "I'll truly make ye walk the plank this time! Or rather, I'll swallow ye whole like an Italian going crazy at a pizza buffet!"
"Hey! Mario may have ordered a lot of pizza on our first night here, but he's not too pudgy!" defended Luigi.
Captain Fishook couldn't care less as he gritted his sharp teeth together. Soon, he opened his mouth wide and charged at the team. Luigi, Daisy, and Peach panicked as they sprinted away, barely avoiding the attack.
"Ha! You missed!" Daisy chuckled.
"Wait, what is he doing?" Peach observed the shark sticking his head through the wall of the quarterdeck.
"Um..." Luigi was both nervous and perplexed that he couldn't form a proper response.
By then, a new eye hole and wooden patch materialized before the lower half of the wall unfurled into a larger mouth. Fishook thundered violently with a ton of force and wind that the humans' hair fluttered in different directions. Luigi's eyes enlarged as he couldn't help but scream.
"AAAAAAHHHHHH!"
Once he stopped, his arms glued to his hips, his eyebrows furrowed, his teeth chattered, and his entire body shivered like he was in the middle of a blizzard. The creepy pirate ship face was just as daunting as the ice monster he had to shoot down in Evershade Valley's Secret Mine.
"How are we supposed to defeat him now?!" worried Peach.
Abruptly, the pirate ship rocked backward, causing everyone to drop onto the deck with water splashing all over the place. Polterkitty and Colombo lost their balance up above and dropped down to the main deck, rejoining the ghost catchers.
"If ye won't walk the plank, then I'll chew and spit ye out into the blue instead! Avast ye!" Captain Fishook grumbled with his enormous, ligneous face. He controlled the vessel to lean it back at a forty-five-degree angle with the ocean. But he didn't stop there.
"Mrow!" Polterkitty cried, feeling petrified that she might plummet into the water. She may float like Colombo, but she wasn't like a bird or most ghosts. The cat wasn't capable to hover in the air forever.
Daisy carried her into her arms as she also became agitated. "W-What do we do?! We're sinking with the ship!"
"Bark! Bark!" Colombo directed his friends to a peculiar wooden board with a bullseye symbol drawn on it.
Luigi quickly comprehended on what he needed to do. Holding Colombo in one arm, he yelled at the princesses. "Daisy! Peach! Follow me!"
Without questioning it, the ladies trailed behind the man in green as the boat continued to lean back and the bowsprit was reaching a new apex. Luigi fired a Suction Shot at the target and held onto the rope with the G-00's nozzle.
"Daisy, grab my leg! Peach, grab Daisy's hand! Whatever happens, don't let go!"
"Ahh!"
"Oh!"
The entire ship was perpendicular to the sea level, but the trio grasped onto each other without descending into Fishook's possessed mouth. Nevertheless, everyone was petrified at the thought someone was bound to drop and get severely hurt by his teeth. Colombo and Polterkitty exchanged worried glances at one another while being held by Luigi and Daisy, respectively. The feline thought King Boo and Hellen had the most menacing expressions, but the shark's current state gave them a run for their doubloons.
"Ye won't give up, eh? Fine! Crew, raise the Jolly Roger and fire more kegs at these delinquents!" demanded Captain Fishook.
The remaining colleagues surfaced in front of the quarterdeck, but neither of them looked confident nor overwhelming. They simply repeated the process of tossing explosive casks at the heroes. When Colombo and Polterkitty were released, they darted forward and prevented the kegs from rolling any further. Peach and Daisy each sucked up one and sent them at Fishook once his mouth was agape. Two consecutive blasts shook the ship, offsetting the Captain's tactic.
Desperate to eat them up, the boss tilted his vessel once more. Luigi warned his friends and proceeded to dash up to the bullseye. With another Suction Shot, the plumber held onto the plunger's rope with Colombo, Polterkitty, Peach, and Daisy clinging on for dear life. Even Yellow Toad, who was still stuck in the painting, was somehow alive. Despite being trapped, his soul from within became disoriented and seasick.
"Oh, I don't feel so good..."
Captain Fishook became more furious than ever as the group evaded his dirty trick again. The Oozer and the Greenie sweated bullets before sending off another pair of gunpowder drums. Luigi clasped one with his Poltergust G-00. Waiting for the right moment, he pushed air to roll it into Fishook's mouth one final time. A massive detonation transpired, sending planks and the pirates soaring into the air before plopping onto the main deck. Daisy and Peach didn't waste any time as they stunned the subordinates and trapped them in their vacuums.
"Argh! Sink me!" Fishook couldn't stop coughing smoke.
"Can do!" Luigi replied. Unfortunately, he released the Strobulb too early, and it reflected off the shark's hook. He shrieked and galloped away as Fishook tried to bite him, swimming through the deck's surface. Luigi managed to stop him with a Burst, sending the Captain back a few feet.
"A little wind won't deter me!"
Fishook returned to his old ploy of swinging his hook aimlessly, hoping he would get a piece of the plumber or his allies. However, it backfired for the third time as his scythe was wedged in between the cracks. Luigi realized his mistake and stunned him successfully.
"You got it, Luigi!" Peach cheered.
"Bark! Bark!"
"Meow!"
"Hey, Captain Cortez! Ye might want to buy a new cutlass or a metal floor for your ship! Maybe it won't get stuck next time! Plus, you're looking all sweaty," Daisy chaffed.
"Argh! It's Captain Fishook! Ye got the name of the wrong pirate spirit!"
Luigi was tired of the banter and reeled the Captain into his Poltergust like a C-... er, a sea bass falling for fish bait. The vacuum shook rapidly, and the '13' button flew out of the nozzle. Daisy and Peach cheered happily and gave each other a high-five. Colombo was also excited that he prompted Polterkitty to do the same. She reluctantly followed by pressing her paw against the Polterpup's. Then again, she couldn't help but smile a little.
Exhaling a sigh of relief, the plumber joined the party and performed a pirate jig. "Yes! The next button to our hotel adventure! Great work, everyone!"
"Same to you, Luigi! Now, how exactly do we reach Yellow Toad from here?" Peach wondered.
"Arf!" Colombo flew up to the quarterdeck again and grabbed the portrait with his mouth. He carefully landed on the main deck and set the painting down for Luigi. Thanking his pet with a rub on his head, the man turned on his Dark-Light Device to extricate the final Toad in their vacation party.
"Whoa! Ouch!" Yellow fell forward onto the floor. "Huh? Oh, hey! Luigi! Princess Peach! Colombo! And... Daisy? What are you doing here? And who's this little kitten?"
"It's a long story, Yellow," Peach told him. "But don't worry, we're all okay."
"But what about the other Toads who joined us? And Mario?"
"Hey, Yellow!" two voices chimed on the Virtual Boo's microphone.
"What? Red? Blue? Is that you?"
"It sure is!"
"We're glad you're free, too!"
"Don't worry, youngster. They're both with me in my lab located down in the hotel's Basement. You can gladly reunite with them and stay here for safety," explained E. Gadd.
"Oh, Professor! I'm surprised to hear you, too. But I'll spare the questions for later. It's great to see all of you again!"
"Same here, Yellow. In fact, the only one missing is Mario. Although I can't say I'm surprised he's the last one," Luigi moped.
The Toad sympathized and laid a hand on his leg. "I'm sorry, Luigi. But if you were able to save our friends, you can rescue Mario like you've done in the past!"
Luigi appreciated his encouragement, mirroring a small grin. "Thank you. It means a lot."
"Well, now that we're done here, how about we return to the elevator and down to the lab?" proposed Daisy.
"I agree," nodded Peach.
"Arf! Arf!"
"Meow!"
The Spectral Catch was an enthralling yet creepy floor for the heroes to overcome. However, they weathered against Captain Fishook and his crew and saved the third Toad. Only the man in red remained captured under King Boo and Hellen's possession. Speaking of which...
~15F – Master Suite
To say Hellen Gravely was furious was an accurate testimony, yet it was also an understatement.
Her hands were gripping the armrests in pure ire. She grumbled and seethed in her seat. Long after her crystal necklace was destroyed and Bogmire was vanquished, her 'beloved' Polterkitty didn't bother to flee to the Master Suite after failing her mission. She continued to assist Luigi – the inverse of her original objective.
Hellen knew for sure she felt betrayed.
"How could you? How could you, Polterkitty?!" the purple woman reiterated. "In what world do you live in where helping the damn plumber is ideal?! I can't believe you! If you were here right now, I will gladly leave this hotel with you in my arms, head to the nearest junkyard, and-"
"Argh..."
Hellen paused in distress as she heard a familiar, ghostly groan from behind her chair. Revolving around, she blinked a few times, gazing straight at the disapproving face who floated in her vault. In an attempt to recoup her equanimity, Hellen grabbed a powder puff, dabbed her cheek a few times, and put on the fakest smile she ever had. It was more bogus than the one during her introduction to Luigi and his party in the very beginning. The woman got out of her chair and confronted the guest.
"Hellen Gravely..." King Boo snarled with a disgruntled frown.
"Um, h-hello, Master K-King B-Boo... Heh heh, how are you doing to-"
"Do I need to remind you of your end goal?" the large ghost leaned forward until they were inches apart.
"Your Majesty, I can assure you there was a tiny slip-up," Hellen gestured by pinching her thumb and index finger close together.
"A TINY slip-up?!" he made the female apparition flinch.
"O-Okay, I admit. I could've phrased it better. But please, stay calm! It's no problem at all!"
"Do you even hear yourself, Hellen?!" King Boo instantly interjected. "You promised Luigi would be locked away and sealed in a painting for me to hang up! And this was mentioned long ago! He's gotten to the point where he only needs to rescue his pizza-loving brother! If you dare ask me to give you more time or another chance to prove yourself, you're too late..."
"N-NO! King Boo, please understand! There are still two more floors he needs to conquer before he could even try to infiltrate my Master Suite! Please, honey-" Hellen was about to place her hand on his face, but King Boo scowled and smacked it away with his stubby arm.
"Don't. Touch. Me," he warned.
"King Boo, just give me one final chance! And if I truly fail, you're obligated to break apart from our alliance! I swear that I'll fulfill your heart's desires!"
The crowned ghoul glared into her yellow eyes with contempt. He already regretted many of the decisions he had made beforehand. King Boo had a feeling he was going to deal with it again once the words slip from his mouth.
"Technically, I'm not obligated to do anything you order. However, I will give you one last test."
Hellen was somewhat relieved to earn another opportunity, but his tone didn't rejuvenate her confidence. "What would that be?"
King Boo didn't say a word, but he hovered to the corner of the Main Observation Room where Mario's painting stood. Conjuring up his magic, he levitated the frame. Hellen extended an arm out, but she quickly realized what he was doing. Once he was done, King Boo was nose-to-nose with Hellen again.
"If he succeeds in finding the buttons for the fourteenth and fifteenth floors, make sure that green head of lettuce and his meddling ghostbusters are captured before they invade your vault. Do I make myself clear?"
Hellen batted her eyes in fear and gulped. Eventually, she responded, "Y-Yes, K-King Boo..."
"Good," he maintained his frown. Then, he vanished through the wall of televisions, leaving Hellen all alone with an imprisoned Mario.
"Oy vey. That could've been worse," Hellen sat on the edge of her desk, her head dropping in shame. But like a forest fire, her temper ignited immediately as she clenched her fists and teeth. "Luigi... you've crossed the line!"
END OF CHAPTER
In my opinion, Captain Fishook was one of the most unique bosses in the game. I hope I captured his character decently here. Nonetheless, I had a lot of fun writing this chapter! Luigi and the team saved Yellow Toad, and they're getting closer to Hellen and King Boo. Mario is still separated from everyone; can Luigi save his bro before things get dicey?
If anyone is wondering when we'll get to the backstories of the remaining bosses in LM3 exclusively, I plan to do that in the chapter before Luigi infiltrates the Master Suite. This will guarantee another appearance by Madame Clairvoya (with Morty tagging along). Moving forward, the gang's next stop is the Fitness Center on Floor 13.
Thanks again for waiting on another chapter! Leave a favorite/follow for more updates and write a review on what you thought about the fight against Captain Fishook and Spooky. Until then, I'll see you next time on Hotel Horror! This is TGN, signing off.