A/N: With 2022 slowly approaching, I figured to post another chapter up since I'm still not done with this story. Nevertheless, I appreciate everyone once more for their feedback, favorites, and follows. To think that Hotel Horror has amounted to over 90,000 hits is not only phenomenal but somehow unreal to me. I cannot thank all of you enough for such an accomplishment. For now, let's get to it for some more ghostly details by our favorite fortune-teller!

Another warning, these descriptions are graphic, so read at your own risk. That's part of the reason why this story is rated T.

Disclaimer: I don't own Luigi's Mansion or the Mario franchise.

Chapter 35: Apparition Analysis III

~B1 – Basement

"Hey, Steward?"

"Hmm? Yes, Chambrea?" the bellhop turned around in his class capsule, facing the maid.

"I must say, it's definitely been a while since the green plumber and his pals have come back to secure the other residents in this claustrophobic container. At this point, he's probably on his way to capture your older sister!"

"Yes, I am fully aware of the intentions considering how much progress he has made up to this point," Steward groaned. "Luigi has already conquered The Spectral Catch at the minimum after overhearing those screeching Toads from outside."

"Not to mention, I'm right here," Captain Fishook brandished his sharp sickle. "I could've keelhauled that green pirate and his mighty crew if I didn't let me guard down."

"Do you think Johnny and Gloria have been caught by now?" Officer Kruller pulled himself into the conversation.

"I couldn't tell you since I'm not a psychic, yet I wouldn't be surprised if Luigi were to confront Hellen in the Master Suite by now."

"Aren't you even concerned that your older sister-"

"-will be confined like the rest of us?" Steward cut off Chef Soulfflé's question. "For me? Not really. I don't know how you would answer your own question."

"I'd say 'yes'. Luigi ruined my meals after sucking up my most voracious customer ever!"

"Are you really going to start this again?" Mr. Whirlinda grumbled.

"Bah, I'm still famished. When's dessert coming?" Mr. Luggs complained, pulling out a random turkey leg from his pocket. The image of that disgusted some of the ghouls.

"That's disgusting. Where did you even... Actually, I'm not even going to finish my question," Mrs. Whirlinda dismissed, flipping her blonde hair.

"Me also hungry. Want to enjoy meal with fancy and pretty lady!" Ug demanded, banging his fist against his own glass prison.

"Well, I don't want to spend a second with some smelly, hairy caveman!" Lydia stuck her tongue out. "Besides, I'm married!"

"Good lord, I'm not as desperate as that cretin. I may have been a bit clingy in my adolescent years, but not to this extent," Neville shook his head while rocking Chauncey to sleep.

"At least you're not being constantly asked to be married by some creep holding a candelabrum 24/7," Melody rolled her eyes. "Which, by the way..."

"I'm telling you, my lovely, come join me and I'll make you the happiest woman alive! Can't you just please listen to me?!" Shivers implored for the umpteenth time. It had been days, and he still refused to give up on his dream.

"First of all, Butt-face McGee, we're all dead, in case you forgot," Lindsey bluntly spat at the butler. "Secondly, will you shut up?!"

"Takes a lot of effort to follow such a simple command, eh, Linds?" Nikki jabbed.

The middle child's face reddened faster than a sunburn. She stuck her nose right into her older sister's face. "Maybe if you let me perform my own magic the way I want to, I wouldn't act like a snob towards you!"

"How about you get better at listening for once in your life? No wonder your elementary school teacher gave you a B+ in conduct!"

"I'm still a straight-A student, thus I'm smarter and wiser than you, doofus!"

"You wanna know what isn't wise?" Ginny interrupted, catching her siblings off guard. She suddenly grabbed their hair and pulled back tightly.

"YOW!" they both screamed. "Ginny!"

"Do I have to do this again? I'm the youngest sibling here, not a babysitter! Now get your acts together, and I'm not talking about magic!"

"Not gonna lie, I'm kinda glad we don't have to share a glass container with them," Henry whispered to his twin.

"I couldn't agree with you more. And I rarely agree with you," Orville muffled back.

"Will you snappy kids simmer down?! I'm trying to sleep after my capture!" Nana complained.

With most of the ghosts clamoring, they all stopped when they heard a loud whirring sound coming from outside.

"Hey! Stop for a minute! I think we're about to get some new guests in here!" announced Jarvis.

The next thing they knew, Johnny Deepend, DJ Phantasmagloria, and Biff Atlas entered the unit and were confined in separate capsules. The other generic ghosts and Boos were deposited in their respective sections of the Ghost Container.

"Whoo-hoo! What a dive by yours truly! I think that deserves a perfect score of 10!" Johnny flexed his biceps.

"Whoa! I didn't expect a trip down here would be so groovy!" Gloria spun around with her wig still intact.

"Wait a minute. Luigi and his friends captured you, but you're not mad about it?" Dr. Potter raised his eyebrow.

Gloria scoffed at the botanist. "Are you kidding me? Luigi may have played it roughly against me and my soundtracks, but at least he's one hell of a break-dancer! More importantly, he's not vindictive towards me when it comes to my wig!"

"And you should've seen him face off against me in some water sports! Not only is he talented at catching ghosts, but he's a dark horse competitor. He even bested me despite my impressive strength!"

"Kinda pathetic if you ask me," Biff Atlas rolled his pupil-less eyes at Johnny.

"Says the other bodybuilder who got sucked up twice already," Sir Weston grumbled. "Seriously, do you even lift?"

"Let my muscles do the talking, Santa Claus. You go sit in your icicle stand."

"I must say, if you really think Luigi isn't that bad of a person, I'm not entirely convinced," Queen Serpci replied.

"Fer me, I resent dat darn-tootin', big-nosed piece of snot! Every time, he wakes me up from my siestas with those squeakin' ducks!" Clem snarled, scratching the back of his neck.

"Thou art so incompetent and lazy that thou can't e'en fix a plain turkey sandwich," remarked King MacFrights. "Thou probably can't hold up a sword withal those scrawny arms!"

"You're one to talk. You look like da kind of guy who's only capable of running a low-end, crummy fast-food joint!"

"Yet you seem like some kind of forbidden hillbilly who got kicked out of the countryside," teased Slim Bankshot.

"I hate to butt in," interrupted Belinda, "but I honestly think you're getting the wrong picture. Even though Luigi had captured us twice already, he's not really a bad person."

"Vat makes you say zat? Did you partake in some silly tea party with a bunch of stuffed animals? Were you busy holding up your pinkies, pretending to be all fancy and sophisticated?" mocked Vincent Van Gore.

"Now, you listen here! He was the one who stopped King Boo and restored the Dark Moon in Evershade Valley! He helped all of the ghosts revert to their friendly, cheeky selves!" emphasized Lucinda.

"She's right. If he never recovered the fragmented moon pieces, the entire population of ghosts would remain hostile and rampant across the residence. Maybe even throughout the Mushroom Kingdom!" Herlinda shivered.

"And if you think about it, he was never violent towards us. Sure, he was quirky and nimble to dodge our attacks or retaliate. But in some way, I feel as though we're the ones trying too hard to make a move," Ginny added as she agreed with the Three Sisters.

"I honestly couldn't care less about the current situation. I'm already pooped and bored inside my capsule," Uncle Grimmly sighed.

"Well, in case anyone didn't listen to me or even care, I got drenched by his water hose when I was sleeping one time! And recently, that stupid buffoon pushed me off my bed in the Twisted Suites!" complained Sue Pea.

"It's whatever at this point. I genuinely think he's a better sport and more respectable person than Hellen, believe me or not," Johnny Deepend crossed his arms.

"I'll go with the latter," Amadeus Wolfgeist huffed. Although Bogmire, Spooky, and the two Poltergeists couldn't physically speak, they collectively despised Luigi.

"Do you think we'll ever get out of here? My hair needs a new wash!" Miss Petunia groaned.

"Argh... I completely doubt it. And I can bet a thousand doubloons we're gonna stay trapped like a disobedient lassie," moaned Captain Fishook.

"You know, I bet that's why Morty and Madame Clairvoya aren't here with us. They respect Luigi more than most of us," Steward commented. "I can only wonder what those two are doing right now. Not to mention, how ticked Hellen is right now..."

"Alright! That should be the last of them!" Luigi smiled as he removed the hose from the Ghost Container.

"Good work as always, fellas! I hope the last couple of floors weren't much of a hassle!" E. Gadd chortled.

"To be fair, some of the levels weren't humongous to explore. Plus, Johnny Deepend and Phantasmagloria were courteous to part away from the elevator buttons," explained Peach.

"Yeah, they may not have been as cool as Morty and Clairvoya, but I have to say they seemed like a pair of cool ghouls," added Daisy.

"Did someone say my name?" Morty peeked his head through the lab door.

"Yikes! Do you really have to do that?!" Yellow Toad screamed.

"Oops! Pardon me, Mr. Mushroom Head," he apologized before entering the bunker. "I see you have also been rescued by your pals. The name's Morty, director extraordinaire!"

Yellow took his hand and shook it. Although he felt some chills down his spine, he remembered all of the details from the professor, the ghost hunters, and the other Toads. "Nice to meet you, too. Just next time, please don't freak me out again."

"I'll try my best not to do so! I can't really guarantee since I am a ghost after all."

"Touché, I guess."

"Hey, Morty. Isn't Madame Clairvoya with you?" asked Luigi.

"You rang?" her face popped in.

"GAH!" This time, all three Toads shouted since none of them expected her coincidental appearance.

"Toads, settle down," Peach held her hands up.

"I'm sorry, Princess, but we can't help it!" Blue defended.

"We know some people can be frightened of ghosts, but we've already come to the consensus that we're the worst when it comes to them!" Red fretted.

"Did you forget I existed like every other time?" Luigi narrowed his eyes.

"Hello? You're the only one courageous enough to conquer this spooky hotel and the rest of the haunted places in the Mushroom Kingdom! And besides, most of the Toad population in town only remembers Mario. Except we're not unretentive idiots like them," Yellow replied.

"Don't worry about it, Luigi. Soon, we're going to forget about this nightmarish vacation and rescue Mario from King Boo and Hellen's clutches," Peach assured the younger brother.

Luigi cannot thank the pink princess enough for making him look on the opposite end of the spectrum. They were one floor away from locating his inseparable sibling.

"But now that you're all here again, I think it's time for another well-deserved break," Morty smiled.

"You're telling me. I can surely use one right now!" exclaimed Daisy.

"In that case, shall I bring out my crystal ball?" Clairvoya gestured with the purse she was carrying.

"Bark! Bark!" Colombo didn't even wait for anyone to respond as he was quick to answer enthusiastically.

"I'll take that as a 'yes' for everyone," she chuckled. "Let's head back outside so we don't stay cramped up in here altogether."

"Sounds delightful! I think I'll take a break from my computer for a little bit. Sitting here for a while can be uncomfortable sometimes," the professor said as he hopped off his chair.

The luggage from the Garage hadn't moved since the previous setup. Since the green plumber was unconscious at the time, Daisy gave him a quick rundown of Ug and Clem; the latter made him shiver every time he heard his name. All he could think of was rising water and rubber ducks. As she placed her bag down, Madame Clairvoya carefully grabbed her crystal ball and placed it on top of the green suitcase. Morty floated right beside her while Luigi, Daisy, Peach, Colombo, Polterkitty, E. Gadd, and the three Toads circled around as the spherical glass glistened.

"Alright then. You have captured a lot of new members of Hellen's hotel staff. Since we've been going in order of the levels you've progressed, let's begin this session with the Egyptian queen, Serpci."

"Sorry to butt in like this, but before we defeated her and the Ancient Poltergeist, Serpci mentioned how she was the former ruler of the Birabuto Kingdom, which is part of Sarasaland. Is this really true?" questioned Daisy.

"Believe it or not, she was not lying to you. She ruled the region several generations before you were born, Princess. Around this time, she had gathered thousands of workers to build the pyramids all around the desert. In fact, she even helped Hellen construct the pyramid and dungeon in the Sandy Grand Hall. Serpci has been well-respected as a leader on some occasions, but other times she can be temperamental."

"What else has she done during her reign?" Peach wondered.

"Given how intrepid she was during your sandy battle, this relates to her expertise in combat. Whenever citizens were in danger or threatened by intruders, Serpci never backed down from a fight – verbal or physical. She had fought many enemies who attempted to usurp Birabuto, and none of them had succeeded... except for one cruel individual."

"What happened?" Yellow Toad feared for the worst.

"A mysterious figure cloaked in bandages and a dark hood manipulated Queen Serpci to head underground in one of the pyramid's chambers. With their strange powers, they trapped her inside a sarcophagus, sealing the queen as she couldn't get out. Afterward, the rogue used magic again to conjure a poisonous cobra."

"You're kidding," gasped Blue Toad.

"Have I ever lied about the ghosts yet?"

"How unbelievable," Morty shuddered. "I guess that means..."

Madame Clairvoya nodded her head as she solemnly stared at the director's eyes. Turning over to the group, most of them were riddled with shock and sadness. "She was forty-seven during the fatal incident. She was remembered as a graceful, resolute queen."

"I know she was somewhat aggressive towards us, but she doesn't deserve a fate like that," Luigi mumbled.

"There are many things out there I'm very afraid of. Getting bit by a snake is definitely one of them," Red Toad jittered.

"I really don't know how I never heard of Serpci until now. To think, she was a former queen in my homeland. When I get back, I should probably ask my parents if they know anything else about her. And I wonder how they'll react when I got to meet and fight her," uttered Daisy.

"Like with most phantoms we've discussed, Serpci ran into Hellen Gravely by fate. After learning about her experience in Birabuto, she dedicated a desert-themed level just for her. The floor was just as enormous as King MacFrights's castle because of the tiered dungeon."

"Who's next on the ghost list?" asked Yellow.

"If memory serves me correctly, you fellers went around and about in the Twisted Suites. I guess you could say you got sick and twisted navigating those rooms! Ho ho ho!" E. Gadd chortled.

"This is why I never laughed at your jokes, Professor," Luigi rolled his eyes.

"You all faced some young, snarky apparitions. Aside from Henry and Orville from the old mansion, there were the three magician triplets: Nikki, Lindsey, and Ginny," Clairvoya narrated.

"I'm not gonna lie, but I'm definitely not looking forward to how they passed away," Blue Toad twiddled his fingers.

"As I was saying, the three girls were a set of triplets, all born just minutes apart. Of course, you already know who's the oldest, the youngest, and the middle child. After a long day at the beach, these energetic sisters became interested in magic after they spotted a group of magicians performing tricks on the boardwalk. Nikki, Lindsey, and Ginny wanted to stop and stare at the many acts they've done. The good old-fashioned card tricks, making stuff disappear in front of their eyes, you name it. It was their dream to imitate their magic, so they became a trio of ambitious prestidigitators."

"And how did they fare?" asked Red Toad.

"Well, judging on how you had to constantly hear Lindsey and Nikki argue a lot, it pretty much sums up how they may not get along very well. Nikki can be a little boastful because she has some pride as the older sibling. Lindsey tends to be abrasive and irritated over anything that doesn't go her way or whenever Nikki acts controlling. Thus, their little sister, Ginny, has been the one to calm things down as she despises arguments, especially when they can't stop serving up comebacks at each other like they're playing an intense game of tennis."

"I can genuinely relate to Ginny's point of view. It's best to keep certain things behind closed doors rather than ignite a flame that could destroy a forest," Peach commented. "Having to play peacemaker for such a long time is very stressful for me and my kingdom. I can't imagine how such a young girl could handle her sisters acting belligerent very frequently."

"She was smart and benign, to say the least," Luigi remarked. "All she wanted was to perform magic, let alone be around with her family."

"Precisely," Clairvoya replied. "Ginny didn't care if they mess up an act, fail to execute a trick, or fool around like kids should do. As long as they were all having fun, Ginny was happy. And magic was their number-one hobby while growing up. Of course, you have to wonder how they all died at such a young age like the other children..."

Luigi gulped, trembling uncontrollably as he waited for the tragic story. Daisy reached her hand over to his and interlocked her fingers. Luigi caught a glance to his right with the tomboy staring straight at Clairvoya. He could feel her hand squeezing it tightly as they both braced themselves. Everyone else was on edge, too.

"The girls signed up to partake in a talent show at their local middle school. On the night of the event, their parents drove the kids over there as they were filled with excitement to wow an audience full of their friends, teachers, and other guests in attendance. That is until their car got struck by an oncoming vehicle who didn't pay attention to the streetlight."

"Oh no..." Luigi internally groaned, squeezing his eyes shut.

"Full-on collision. Both front bumpers got damaged as the stranger drove over the speed limit and ran through a red light without thinking. While the perpetrator got arrested, he was charged for reckless driving and... vehicular manslaughter," Clairvoya struggled to get the last few words out.

"Goodness gracious..." E. Gadd breathed. "My sincere condolences for them."

"My sentiments exactly," Peach felt a tear escape her eye.

"What an unfortunate moment for those young girls. If I had children, let alone a group of peppy triplets, I can't imagine losing them like that," Morty sighed.

"Surprisingly, the parents survived the crash, yet they were rushed to the hospital with critical injuries. Nikki and Lindsey were unlucky after the impact. Ginny's heart stopped beating once the paramedics arrived. All of them celebrated their twelfth birthdays not too long before the crash. But they never participated in the talent show. Because they never got the chance."

"I can't believe it," Daisy shook her head. "I should've never been too harsh towards them."

Colombo was also saddened as he dropped his head. Even Polterkitty expressed the same feeling as her tails curled up to her body.

"Well, I'm definitely not going to recover from hearing about their tragic past. The only positive is that Nikki, Lindsey, and Ginny have remained together as ghosts."

"That is true, Luigi. You can't help but feel bad for the kids. They all had bright futures ahead of them," Clairvoya followed up. "Hellen found the girls wandering around trying to levitate random objects outside, like twigs and rocks. Intrigued by their sleight of hand, she manipulated the girls by building a floor to their hearts' desire. Hence, the Twisted Suites were created for them to practice and induce magic."

"Criminy... Those poor youngsters had no idea what they were in for. It's just sad how devious Hellen must have been to influence them to join her hotel," E. Gadd crossed his arms.

"I'll give Hellen a point for providing them a new home. But I won't forgive her for putting me and everyone else trapped inside a bunch of picture frames," Daisy scowled.

"Sorry to be a bother, but do you mind if we can move past them, please?" implored Yellow Toad.

"Of course. Let's see who's next." The fortune-teller twisted her hands around her crystal ballot to seek out the history of the next Boss Ghost they had faced. After the triplets was the pirate shark, Captain Fishook.

"Oh, right. Ol' Sharky with his freaky hook," Daisy huffed.

"The spirits are telling me some rather interesting lore about this creature. He was a former servant of Captain Jonathan Jones."

"Wait a second. Jonathan 'Johnny' Jones?" Peach reiterated. "As in, the leader of the pirate sharks down underneath the ocean near Seaside Town?"

"What are you talking about?" Daisy turned her head towards her best friend.

"Oh, I think I know what you mean!" Luigi realized. "You and Mario mentioned about him briefly when you were scavenging the Mushroom Kingdom and the neighboring lands for the seven Star Pieces that had broken from Star Road!"

"Exactly! I recall venturing with Mario, Mallow, Geno, and even Bowser at the time. When we heard about a star falling into the nearby ocean, we sank into the depths and infiltrated a submerged ship. Eventually, we encountered some puzzles and a freaky Blooper before running into Johnny. He was a tough opponent, but he respected our valor and gave us the Star Piece after defeating him and his crew. Ooh, sorry to veer away from all of this. The memories were quite nostalgic to me."

"No worries, Princess," Clairvoya accepted the apology. "But indeed, Captain Johnny roamed the underwater region with his crew after his ship sank from the nasty Blooper you aforementioned. Before it occurred, however, Captain Fishook was a member of his pirate crew. However, the shark grew jealous of Johnny's power and riches that he pursued an act of mutiny. One late night, he snuck into his quarters when Johnny wasn't around. Fishook attempted to steal all of the locked-up treasures. Afterward, he planned to oust Johnny from the leadership role."

"Yikes. What a traitor!" Blue Toad narrowed his eyes.

"Luckily, several crewmates caught Fishook in the nick of time, placing him in the brig. When Johnny found out about his deceit, he was about to let him go until Fishook threatened to duel him. The pirates clashed, much to Johnny's chagrin. He actually thought Fishook was a loyal, trustworthy friend until he realized how much of a backstabber he truly was. In the end, Johnny outmatched the rebellious shark, and Fishook's right fin was lost in the battle."

"Gross... I hate mutilation," Yellow winced. "What's worse was watching you guys fight against him and Spooky on the ghost ship. I really thought you were going to be goners!"

"How did he become a ghost?" Luigi was curious.

"After losing to Johnny, Fishook went off on his own to scour the seven seas. He replaced his missing fin with a hook, which makes his name very fitting. The shark had heard about the legends of Cortez and his treasure, so he sailed to Keelhaul Key in hopes of reeling in riches. But like most pirates who tried to invade the island or his Black Skull vessel, Fishook ultimately lost his life as he couldn't outlast the bony pirate spirit. Even though he possessed three sharp swords, it was ironic how Cortez's hook ended the shark's life."

"First, Captain Johnny defeated him. Then, Cortez got the best of him. And most recently, we sucked him up as a ghost. With three losses, he's built up a pathetic resume in combat skills," Daisy remarked.

"It's what he deserves for being unfaithful!" yelled Red Toad.

"That also brings up memories when Mario and his partners explained the whole story while I was stuck on the moon. What a small world we live in," Peach thought.

"Frankly, Fishook had the urge to pilfer, even as an apparition. He was caught red-handed trying to snag Hellen's jewelry in hopes of selling it for gold. While Hellen was furious at the shark, she came up with a compromise to give him all the money he desired and his own pirate ship. Plus, The Spectral Catch was built since Fishook had a hankering for becoming a restaurant entrepreneur whenever he's not out in the sea. Let's just say Chef Soulfflé wasn't a big fan of him trying to steal his potential customers."

"I wouldn't be happy either if I was that finned scoundrel. But in my case, since I'm more interested in film projects, I don't want anyone stealing my contributions and awards for my movies! In fact, no one should pry away my beautiful co-stars to prevent me from fulfilling my dreams!" Morty chortled as he floated over to hug Luigi and Daisy tightly, causing them to slightly lose oxygen. "Oh, and I can't forget the adorable pooch, too."

"Bark!" Colombo yipped before earning a head rub.

"Who's up next?" Blue inquired.

"That would be Johnny; Johnny Deepend, specifically. Not Captain Jones," Clairvoya elucidated.

"I do remember him talking about being a rescue swimmer as his occupation. Was there anything else he did?" Luigi wondered.

"Why, yes. He participated in some Olympic swimming events before you all had the opportunity, too."

"Wow. That's really interesting," Peach complimented.

"Deepend had won three gold medals and some runner-up awards during his tenure. While his competition and audience admired his goodwill and speed, he has annoyed some others with his constant flexing. And I'm not referring to just his muscles."

"Yeah, we've seen it a lot," Daisy shrugged. Polterkitty agreed with a soft meow.

"Circling back to his rescue swimmer status, he was also a part-time coach to help young students learn how to swim and become experienced lifeguards. He was revered for bravery and persistence, which is far better than his boastfulness."

"Did he pass away from drowning?" Luigi tapped his index fingers anxiously.

"Unfortunately, it was part of the reason he lost his life. He dove off a large boat to save someone who fell overboard. While the passenger got to the ladder safely, Johnny wasn't so lucky. A large Blooper tangled his legs and pulled him underwater. Other rescue swimmers jumped off to find him. Unable to escape, Johnny ultimately drowned as the rescue teams failed to locate his body."

"Oh, dear," Peach gasped with her hands over her mouth.

"How terrible to hear," E. Gadd lamented.

"I recall him talking about drowning, but I never thought it would occur this way," Daisy frowned. She felt a little regretful after hearing about his noble reputation. "The more I hear about their deaths, the scarier they sound. I would honestly hate to be in their shoes."

"You're telling me. Drowning is one of my biggest fears ever," Red Toad shivered.

"And how did he cross paths with Hellen?" Yellow pondered.

"The answer? One day, he practiced swimming in the nearby lake close to the mountains. When Hellen noticed him, she was surprisingly enamored by his physique and charm. You could say she had a crush on him, but she wasn't entirely swooned by him. Nevertheless, Hellen approached Johnny and offered him a free gym membership in exchange for holding onto one of the elevator buttons. Deepend gladly accepted, and he even had some competition when he encountered Biff. In the end, the two didn't get along since Biff was more interested in weight lifting and despised Deepend's muscles."

"Sounds like a chump. Biff, to be exact," Blue grunted.

"There should be only one new ghost left from Hellen's staff, and that's DJ Phantasmagloria. We already know about her health condition and how Hellen treated her poorly. But are there any other underlying details?" asked Peach.

"If it wasn't obvious enough, Gloria was a humongous fan of music," Clairvoya explained. "She enjoyed a variety of genres, ranging from pop, hip-hop, heavy metal, R&B, classical, and many more. But her personal favorites include electronic music and disco. While growing up, Gloria pursued a career in the music industry, thriving to be a breakout artist. Even though she fought through the grind, she wasn't very successful during her generation. However, it didn't deter her ambitions. Nor did her case of cancer stop her from creating music."

"You have to respect those who believed in themselves and pursued their passion while dealing with certain setbacks," praised Morty. "I definitely went down that road when it came to me and my appetite for directing and filming!"

"Then again, these things happen inadvertently where they might cause a major strain in your path. Gloria underwent chemotherapy, causing her to lose most of her black hair. Embarrassed by looking bald to some extent, she resorted to putting on wigs to hide her head. Despite a long, hard-fought battle, the disease proved to be uncontainable for her to overcome."

"Arf..." Colombo's head drooped.

"Mrow..." Polterkitty also felt sympathetic.

"Although Phantasmagloria was eager to have a disco hall for herself, she wasn't the biggest fan of Hellen Gravely. I don't think it's necessary to repeat the reason why though," Clairvoya trailed off.

"No, we're pretty aware of it," nodded Daisy.

"So, that should be everyone Hellen hired for her hotel," presumed Luigi. "What matters is stopping her and King Boo so we can rescue Mario."

"You fellers are going to need all the energy to stay perky and alert," the old professor advised. "Who knows what kind of traps and puzzles she has laid out in her penthouse?"

"I guess we'll head up to the RIP Suites and take turns keeping watch again."

"Is that what you did last time?" Morty tilted his head at Peach.

"Yes, we did it because Luigi was recovering from the Boilerworks, and we didn't want to jeopardize him by leaving him alone while unconscious."

"But if all of you are planning to intrude Hellen's final floor, you should at least get some beauty rest instead of staying up 24/7. Why don't we provide a lookout for you instead?" offered Clairvoya.

"You wouldn't mind?" Luigi asked.

"Of course not! We'll make sure the rest of Hellen's staff won't invade your privacy when you deserve some sleep," Morty vocalized.

"Wow, we would really appreciate it."

"Anything for my movie stars and his friends!"

"Ahhh... In that case, I want to get some shuteye, too," Yellow yawned while wiping his tired eyes.

"You're more than welcome to bunk with the other Toads inside my lab," E. Gadd recommended.

"Alright, I guess we'll see you later before you head on up to the fifteenth floor," said Red Toad.

"Good luck as well!" Blue mentioned.

"We'll escort you all the way," Madame Clairvoya mentioned as she put away her crystal ball. "And if you need anything else from us, don't hesitate to ask."

"Thank you both," Peach smiled. "You ready, guys?"

"You bet! I can't wait to hit the hay!" Daisy exclaimed.

"Same here," Luigi concurred.

"Arf!"

"Meow!"

~5F – RIP Suites

Slowly but surely, the heroes made their way to the elevator alongside Morty and Clairvoya. As they rose up to 5F, they all headed over to Luigi's room and got themselves situated. The fortune-teller and director stayed true to their word as they guarded the outside of Room 501.

Luigi finished brushing his teeth and returned to the main room. Daisy was already lying underneath the covers. Colombo was resting at the foot of the bed. Peach laid down in the armchair with her fleece blanket while Polterkitty took up the other seat. As he took off his shoes, the plumber quietly joined the tomboy on the mattress. Before he could go to sleep, he heard Daisy whisper.

"You okay?"

Blinking at her question, he expressed a small smile while placing his hand above hers. "I'm okay, thank you."

"That's good. I'm still going to be there for you."

"I know, Daisy. You have never let me down."

"We're going to kick their butts by the time we get up. That's a promise."

Luigi softly chuckled. "Try not to overdo it. I kind of want some satisfying revenge, too."

In return, the orange princess smirked. "Good night, Luigi."

"Good night, Daisy," he mumbled before closing his eyes. Unlike previous times, he was falling asleep with confidence roaming in his bloodstream. He was more than determined to get his big brother back. With how much time he had spent fighting ghosts, it was way too late to turn back from here. No way in hell was he planning to surrender. It's just what Mario would do.

END OF CHAPTER

Well, we got some more ghost lore, and I hope you all enjoyed it! Given how Superfloxes compared Serpci to Cleopatra in her rewrite, I went for a different approach by associating the ghost with Urbosa from Breath of the Wild. It was tough to write Nikki, Lindsey, and Ginny's past since they're young children. I brought up some references in Super Mario RPG and Paper Mario: TTYD and implemented them for Captain Fishook. And of course, we already know a little about Johnny Deepend and DJ Phantasmagloria, but we get some extra clarity about their respective lives.

That should do it for the unique Boss Ghosts in LM3. Hellen Gravely is still alive with King Boo, but they are not the only Bosses who are left uncaptured. Some of you probably know who I haven't included in the story yet while others might not know. All I can say is that you will see some in the next installment or two...

35 chapters and a prologue down, about 4 more to go. Thank you all for being patient with me and reading the fanfic up to this point! The Master Suite is within reach for Luigi and his ghostbusting team. What will they encounter on the final level? Will Mario be saved or trapped as a painting for eternity? And most of all, how will Polterkitty handle the wrath of her former owner? I don't expect to post another chapter of Hotel Horror this month, but I plan to see you all again in 2022! Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! This is TGN, signing off.