Hello, everyone! As promised, a new story is here! If you remember, I posted a hint on what my next story would be, and if you guessed Luigi's story from Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door, then you're absolutely correct! I will say more about the story at the end. For now, enjoy chapter 1!

Disclaimer: Paper Mario belongs to Nintendo and Intelligent Systems.

Luigi and the Marvelous Compass

Chapter 1: A Tale as Old as Time

"A long time ago, there was an area of land undiscovered by man. It remained uncharted for many years as many people had not known the existence of its intricate and unique landscapes. That all changed when a young man named Wafflington Muguffin discovered the islands. When he was a young boy, he always wanted to discover the world. When he was five, he would always jump up and down and beg his parents, 'I want to explore, Mommy! Can I go explore?' Of course, his parents would deny his wish, but as he grew older, they realized the seriousness of his wish. Wafflington was always fascinated with geography. He would always study maps in his bedroom for hours and wondered what other discoveries waited for him as he craved adventure. Seeing this, his parents decided to build him his own boat that they kept hidden for a year. On his 21st birthday, they revealed their secret present to him. He was so ecstatic, his knees felt like they were going numb. Pack with supplies and materials needed for his trip, Wafflington sat out towards the world with a compass in hand and a lone map to guide the way. He travelled through harsh terrain and rough seas as he made it his quest to discover something the whole world never knew before existed."

"After weeks of sailing, he eventually stumbled across seven distinct islands with interesting geography. He described them as various shapes of desserts like an island made of pudding! He travelled from island to island, taking note of the topography in detailed notes. He wondered what other secrets were to be found. After he took his notes, he travelled home and told everyone in his village about his discoveries. 'We must settle on them!' he would say. Many people were skeptical about leaving their homes, but there were others who didn't have a home to go to. He travelled all over the world, spreading the information about the islands and many months later, a huge gathering of many different species agreed to go with him."

"Hundreds of boats were built and they set sail towards the mysterious islands. The group eventually split up and settled on the seven islands. Because of his bravery, many people looked up to Wafflington as their leader since he was the one to originally discover the islands. He was very skeptical. He hadn't known any leadership skills, but the people trusted him, so he decided to become that leader."

"And so as the years went on, Wafflington established all the principles that we stand on today. He unified all seven continents as one, but separated. And that was how the Waffle Kingdom came to be," King Macaron finished his story as he gazed at his daughter as she smiled, something he always loved as it would instantly brighten his day when he was always down.

"Tell me another one!" a five year old Princess Éclair said while jumping up and down. She was always eager to learn about the kingdom's stories.

He chuckled. "I'm afraid that's all for tonight. Tomorrow, I shall tell you the story of my first year as king, and man, it sure is quite interesting. Time for bed, sweety." She groaned but abided to his wish as he kissed her good night before closing the door behind him. He smiled. With her enthusiasm for her kingdom, it surely was in good hands. As he went into his room, he sighed. Things were never as glamorous as what King Macaron said when he described the Waffle Kingdom's history. There was a dark history about the kingdom he knew he could never tell his daughter as she was only five years old. It would haunt her with nightmares for months. He shook his head, dismissing the image out of his mind.

Queen Madeleine sat up from her bed. "You're back, honey. How did things go with story time?"

"It went well."

She chuckled. "I see. She's gonna make a fine leader one day. She always has that sort of curiosity of hers, just like Wafflington. Her enthusiasm will inspire many people one day." Her smile faded away when a look of sadness flashed over her husband's face, drawing out concern. "Honey, you OK? You seem sad. Wanna talk?" He nodded and sat next to her. "What's on your mind? Did you tell her the origin story? I know there's dark history we can't tell her, but if that's it, then don't worry. We'll tell her when the time is right. Plus, they haven't been around for years. Things have been so peaceful. There's-"

"I'm having the nightmares again." Queen Madeleine gazed at him in confusion. A couple nights ago, the king started receiving nightmares of the dark history. Images of destruction and screams would fill his mind as he slept, causing him a number of sleepless nights.

She sighed. "Honey, we talked about this. Look, I know they started a couple days ago, but don't worry. They're just nightmares. Perhaps you should take some medicine to put you into a deep sleep. That way, you can actually sleep for once. Your attention span has been dwindling. I'm gonna go to the doctor and see what he can prescribe for you. I'll be-"

"I think they're visions." Queen Madeleine sighed. "Honey, just hear me out. I remember these dreams so vividly. All the screaming and the destruction felt so real, like someone is trying to foreshadow to me of their arrival. Honey, I think I must travel to the Rapturous Ruins. I must confirm my suspicions. I must see if they're coming back. If someone is trying to foreshadow their arrival with these nightmares, then I must confirm that. I must do it, for the safety of my people."

"And leave our daughter behind?!" Queen Madeleine hissed. "No! You're acting delusional! These are nothing but nightmares! You can't leave Princess Éclair behind just because you received 'visions'! They could just be nothing! I'm not allowing you to leave on that accord! You need rest! Please, you mustn't let these nightmares get the best of you! Let me take care of you! I-"

"No," he said sternly. She was taken aback by his tone. "Look, if I didn't think these nightmares were real, then I wouldn't be bringing it up, would I? They feel so real. I must confirm if they are truly coming back. I promise that I'll be back. I just need two days. No more. If they are truly back, then we must prepare for a second war. You know how dangerous they were. They used the Marvelous Compass for nefarious deeds. We must prevent the destruction of our kingdom if they're truly back. I must go. I'll return. That's a promise."

Queen Madeleine sighed. Once when King Macaron had his mind set on something, there was no turning back for him. He was one stubborn man, always fixated on a goal and wanted to accomplish it, especially towards the goodness of his people that he would protect at all costs. Deep down, she knew how powerful they were. He was telling the truth; she could tell through the seriousness in his voice. She was in denial as she wanted to protect him from any harm, but now, she didn't have a choice but to trust his judgment. She probably would've made the same choice had she seen those nightmares herself. "OK," she said. "I suppose you can go. Please be careful. I don't want you killed."

He nodded. "Of course. I promise. It's only for a couple days. I will be back." With that, he packed a bag full of supplies and gave Princess Éclair a kiss before saying goodbye to his daughter as he gave her a kiss. "I will be back." He walked out the room, beginning his journey towards the Rapturous Ruins.

Many years later…

'I will be back.' Those four words echoed in the back of Princess Éclair's mind as she gazed at a picture of the Éclair family together. She glanced at King Macaron and sniffled a tear as memories of him flew back to her mind. One day turned into two days. Then three. Eventually, Queen Madeleine sent search parties to find her missing husband, but as the days went by and reports never came in, she gave up. A couple years ago before Princess Éclair's 21st birthday, she retired, causing her to have a marriage to be set up as she was next in line. Princess Éclair sighed. "Why can't you be here, father? Why do I have to become queen so soon? I don't understand." She thought of her loved one. "Where are you, my sweet Chestnut King?"

"Good morning!" Éclair's door opened as her maiden entered the room with her cheery sing-songy voice. "It's time for final wedding preparations!"

"Hey, Lady Soufflé," Éclair said in a distant voice.

"How's my sweet Princess Eclair doing?" Soufflé said. "It's time to get moving! We have final preparations for tomorrow! We have to finish tailoring your dress and decorating the venues! We must get started! Ooh, I'm so excited!"

"Yeah." Soufflé glanced at the princess and sighed at the photo she was holding. She and Eclair grew up together and were childhood friends. They cared and often visited each other as her father, Minister Crêpe, and the royal family had meetings. The drift in Eclair's family was what made her so distant from her mother.

"I see why you're so down. You miss your father, don't you? Still thinking about that conversation with your mother?" Éclair nodded, the conversation entering her mind.

Five years ago…

Princess Éclair laid on her bed as she flipped through a book about the history of the Waffle Kingdom. When she wasn't busy doing any royal duties, she would fill her mind about information about the world. Facts were a major drive in her curiosity about the world, a trait she shared with Wafflington Muguffin. She sat her book away as Queen Madeleine entered the room. Her eyes were drained with redness from the exhaustion of running the kingdom. Princess Éclair gasped. "Mother! You look exhausted!"

She nodded. "I am. Thankfully, Minister Crêpe offered to help me full time. We need to talk about a couple things." She sat on her daughter's bed. "To be frank, I'm thinking of retiring the crown soon. I've been up 24/7 and I haven't gotten any decent rest ever since your father disappeared. Also, it's time you knew the truth about his disappearance." Princess Éclair glanced at her in worry. For all her life, being without a father figure has put her into a mental state of loneliness. Her mother was working so hard to raise her. Being a single parent wasn't easy. "There's a dark part of history that you don't-"

"I know about them." Princess Éclair held up the book. "You know how I am, mother."

She nodded. "Good. A long time ago, your father received nightmares about the war. Each night he would tell me of the horrors he saw and how he saw them as visions of their return. Of course, I said they were only nightmares. I dismissed them. As the nights went on, he became more apparent that war was on the horizon. He wanted to travel to the Rapturous Ruins to confirm his suspicions." Princess Eclair gasped. "Look, honey. I tried to stop him, but he was so stubborn!"

"So you let him leave, anyway?!" Princess Éclair's heart pulsed. Her eyes teared. Her hands clumped with sweat. In that one moment, her world turned upside down. "How could you?! It was because of you that I didn't have a father figure in my life! Get out!"

"Sweety, I-"

"I said get out!" She shoved her out of the room and slammed the door. She threw herself in her pillows and screamed her anger and sadness she held onto for years. Queen Madeleine sighed. Why did things have to be so difficult between them?

Present Day

Princess Éclair sighed. "That conversation was five years ago," Lady Soufflé said. "I know that you still have hate towards her, but you have to forgive her. Even after all these years, I'm willing to bet your mother regrets not doing more than she should've. You can't keep blaming her for your father's disappearance. His disappearance has been just as hard for her as it has been for you. She's been barely holding on as she's been running this kingdom by herself. You have to forgive her."

Princess Éclair sighed. Deep down, her mother wasn't the one responsible for his disappearance. King Macaron was the one at fault. He was a stubborn man. Queen Madeleine tried her hardest, but Eclair was in denial because after finding out the truth about his disappearance, she never accepted it and moved on, something she needed to do in order to mend her and her mother's relationship. "OK. I'll try."

"Good!" Lady Soufflé said. "Now, we have lots to discuss in terms of final preparations. Now, come!" She grabbed her hand and went out of the room.

Queen Madeleine sighed as she gazed into space. Tomorrow would be the day her daughter would take her place as queen. "You OK, your Highness?" asked a voice.

She turned to see a finely dressed crêpe man wearing a black suit and spectacles. "Oh, yes, Minister Crêpe. Totally fine." He crossed his arms. "OK, I'm worried for my daughter."

"That is more like it," he said. "You're never good at hiding your distress, are you, your Majesty?"

She chuckled. "You can just call me Madeleine. No need to be so formal."

"Nonsense," he huffed. "The royal title shall never be disrespected by me or anyone for that matter. That is of the highest importance, something you seem to forget, your Highness!" She rolled her eyes. Having been raised within the royal family, Minister Crêpe had a deep respect for the title, regardless of friendship. He would belittle anyone who would disrespect the throne, no matter of age or status. That showed how loyal he was to the throne. "So, I see your daughter is getting married. Ponder for me, what are you worried about? I've seen her and my daughter bond quite pleasantly. Princess Éclair has matured into a fine young lady. I feel that your retirement is a wise decision. She is ready for the throne. No need to worry about the marriage. I have been overseeing everything. She is ready."

Queen Madeleine nodded. "Yes, but I'm worried that she won't accept this as the true reality. Still, after five years, she hasn't forgiven me for what happened to my husband. I don't understand where those visions came from, but this concerns me."

"She will forgive you," Minister Crêpe said. "She has to. It is her duty to do so for the sake of the kingdom. She has a role to fulfill. She needs to."

The queen sighed. "Perhaps I should apologize to her."

"Whatever it takes to move forward. All grudges must be settled before Princess Éclair can rule this kingdom with the utmost righteousness." When it came to telling people about the true reality of things, Minister Crêpe was that person. Queen Madeleine nodded and went to find her daughter.

"So, what do you think?" Elsewhere, Princess Éclair and Lady Soufflé were trying on the wedding dress that Soufflé designed herself. The front was covered with dapples of white cloth woven together and sparkled white flowers topped with glitter. A white veil stretched across the back. "Pretty neat, eh?" Soufflé said. "I always like to go with simplicity. No need for too many fancy flowers or anything else that would distract you from your own beauty. You radiate beauty from yourself! That is where true beauty lies."

Princess Éclair smiled. "I love it. It's amazing."

"Thank you, madam! It's always a pleasure!" Lady Soufflé picked up the hobby of making clothing when she was little. She was always fascinated by the dresses and made one every now and then.

"Yes, it is beautiful." Queen Madeleine stood near the doorway with a smile. "Quite fitting for a queen to-be. You've outdone yourself, Lady Soufflé."

"Tis a pleasure, my queen." She bowed.

"Now, if I may, I'd like to speak to my daughter alone." She nodded and exited the room, leaving the two to themselves as they stared at each other in awkward silence. "I guess I'll go first." The queen sighed. "My sweet Éclair, I've been thinking about what you said all those years ago, about how I could just let Macaron leave. Yes, I tried my best to dismiss the visions he spoke of, but when he kept pestering me about them. I suppose I let him go because he never sounded so serious and worried in his life before then. I'm sorry for letting him go, Éclair. He promised he would return and it's my fault!" She got on the ground and cried.

Princess Éclair teared a little. "Mother, please don't blame yourself. You've no one to blame."

"Honey, there is no need for me to hide from the truth anymore," Madeleine said. "You were right. How could I just let him slip through my fingers? It's my fault he's gone, otherwise he'd be here." In that very moment, all the tension between the two disappeared as the weight was lifted from their shoulders. Princess Éclair sighed. She hated the depressed look her mother exerted.

"Mother, was I at fault for causing you unnecessary guilt?" she asked.

Madeleine nodded. "A bit. In all honesty, I probably blame myself. I mean, I had to run this kingdom by myself. If it wasn't for Minister Crêpe and the other cabinet members, I would've crumbled a long time ago."

A thought came into Éclair's mind, one that worried her a little. "Mother, why weren't you sent any of these visions? I mean, you're the other ruler of the Waffle Kingdom. It would make sense for you to see what's forthcoming, right?"

She nodded. "Yes, that does make sense. Even if both of us saw it, your father would've offered to go, anyway. I would've stayed behind and had guards posted everywhere on high alert. Why I didn't see any of those visions doesn't make any sense."

Éclair pondered about the reason why. Unless there was no real threat or nothing serious, there was not a reason why Madeleine wouldn't have seen those visions. "The only thing that makes sense is that they were fake and someone wanted father to die in the Rapturous Ruins." Madeleine gasped. "Look, it only makes sense. There might be a traitor in our midst who wants the throne. They wanted to separate our family so they could rule the kingdom."

"And what evidence do you have, Éclair? Your words are nothing but hearsay! I wouldn't even suggest someone within the royal family would create false visions so the throne could be empty! You have no real proof!" Éclair sighed. With any concrete proof, her words meant nothing. "I suggest we drop that heinous idea and move on. We have things to-"

"But what if they are back? What if this is their doing? What if it's their fault that Dad left because of the visions?"

"Again, we have no proof," Madeleine said. "The Luffs haven't been seen for a thousand years. Yes, it might show some kind of concern considering there were visions of their arrival foreshadowed, but it could all be one huge nightmare fabricated in a dream. Without any proof, all we would be doing is spreading rumors. Now, come. We need to get moving." As Madeleine left the room, Éclair couldn't shake off the feeling that something amiss was coming that would spell doom for the Waffle Kingdom.

Thank you everyone for reading my story! This is only the beginning. It may take a bit for things to get moving, but I don't want to rush any character development or world building. I got this idea from watching Abdallah's stream of the Paper Mario marathon he did leading up to Origami King. (He does a lot of streaming of video games. Worth checking out!) This will be a close adaptation of the story Luigi tells Mario in Rogueport (something Hollywood has a lot of trouble when adapting books into movies). I will be combining both the story he tells plus the books that are published based off his story with extra twists that I decide to throw in. Each thing I mention will have some sort of bearing to the plot. Things will become clearer down the road. Some changes will be made like cutting out the return to Rogueport to manage the pacing. I will take my time with this story, which means no more rushing out a chapter every week. I'm determined in making this story the best adaptation as I can! With this long author's note done, I'll see you later!