Chapter 2: Biff, Neville and Clairvoya.
The three ghosts sat waiting patiently for the Professor to return. The wait was taking a fair amount of time so Melody decided to teach Luigi how to move things. Waluigi didn't see the point in this. He didn't plan on being dead all that long.
Melody fetched a small plastic cup that belonged to Luigi himself and placed it on her piano. She told Luigi to come up close and study the cup, which he did.
"Right Luigi, I want you to concentrate on that very cup," She said in her melodious tone. Luigi looked at it and focused hard.
"Good. Just imagine you are holding it," She instructed. Luigi did so.
"Excellent, now try touching it... feel anything?" She asked hopefully. Obviously she didn't expect him to crack it straight away. Luigi lifted up his hand and moved it towards the cup. His hand went straight through the cup. Feeling disappointed he turned to Melody, who smiled encouragingly.
"It's okay. I didn't master it on my first attempt either," She told him. Waluigi laughed sarcastically. Melody glared at him, she turned her attention back on Luigi.
"Is he always like this?" She asked. Luigi nodded. Melody looked at the cup and told Luigi to keep trying. After his tenth attempt Luigi mastered touching the cup. He was so delighted by this that he made Melody feel proud that she had been able to help.
"Melody my dear! I have some bad news, I need you down stairs," Came a voice from behind them. All three ghosts spun round to see the professor standing there.
"Oh are we glad to see you!" Melody said happily. The Professor lifted an eyebrow up at Melody.
"We?" He asked. Melody nodded.
"Yup! Luigi's here!" She said pointing over to the piano. The Professor looked past Melody and saw nothing.
"This is not the time to be pulling pranks Melody, Luigi is dead," The Professor told her sharply.
"I know that silly. He's a ghost, him and his cousin. But you can't see them!" Melody tried to explain. The Professor didn't believe her though. A little irritated that he didn't believe her Melody turned round to look at Luigi with the cup and then she smiled.
"Okay, if you don't believe me, watch the cup...Luigi if you will try and move the cup," She said. Luigi looked at her, he hadn't successfully moved the cup yet and didn't really want to let her down. He tried anyway and concentrated really hard. To his and Melody's surprise he actually managed to move the cup a fraction. The Professor jumped in shock.
"Luigi is over there?" He whispered. Melody nodded.
"Only ghosts can see them though. It's a bit odd dont'ya think?" She asked and the Professor furrowed his brow and nodded. Luigi walked over to where Melody and the Professor stood, Waluigi shortly followed.
"Melody, ask the Professor if there is any way in which he can restore life?" Luigi told Melody. She nodded.
"Professor, Luigi asked if there was any way in which you could restore him and Waluigi back to life? It would be helpful for me too, because I don't think I want to spend my afterlife with Waluigi near by," Melody asked the Professor who smiled sympathetically. His smile didn't last long and he answered Melody.
"I'm afraid my dear that it took me a while just to get some of you out of your paintings. I'm not sure there is a way back from death. It's just so unethical," The Professor pondered.
"But is it possible?" Melody asked. Luigi and Waluigi paid great attention to the Professor's words.
"I believe it may be so. But I would be tampering with the way life was intended. I'll see what I can do," The Professor said. Luigi didn't think that he sounded to hopeful on the subject. The Professor bid his goodbye and headed straight down to the laboratory. Melody turned round to face Luigi and Waluigi.
"Looks like you may be stuck like this for a while guys," She said sadly.
"So what do we do now? This could take forever!" Waluigi asked. Luigi shrugged.
"We erm, just blend in with the dead?" Was his only suggestion, Melody studied them hard. She bit her lip as she thought about his words.
"If you want to blend in with the dead then you'll have to behave like the dead..." She said looking at Waluigi with great curiosity.
"How...?" Luigi asked with fear in his voice. Being dead to the world he knew had now started to sink in. How would he cope in a situation he feared most?
"Well Luigi, you're already on your way. You need to get the hang of floating around; moving things and we shall probably consult the professor on this from time to time... I suppose," Melody assured them. Luigi nodded. That sounded okay so far.
"I guess we'll need a little help..." Melody suggested, Luigi agreed, the more help the better.
"Neville could help research on why only ghosts could see us," Luigi said thinking of the other residents of the mansion. Professor E. Gadd had brought most of them back from paintings. Only the ones he felt that would be grateful and would make okay companions.
"Yes! And also Madam Clairvoya! She would help I'm sure... I could also ask Biff!" Melody said excitedly and before anyone else could say anything Melody whirled off out of the room.
"Bit mental that one..." Waluigi muttered.
It took Melody half an hour to return. She came through the door with two other ghosts. Luigi smiled instantly when he saw the familiar ghosts. The first ghost to come behind Melody was a tall, broad blonde haired male ghost. A red tank top covered the muscled torso of his body. He came in and nodded at Luigi. Following the male a female ghost wandered in. It was hard to form an opinion of her appearance, when her face was covered. She had a mystic glow about her aura. Like the male she also had blonde hair and she also carried a crystal ball. Waluigi looked at her and instantly thought she looked a bit insane.
Melody introduced the ghosts as Biff Atlas and Madam Clairvoya. Luigi of course already knew the ghosts but the introduction was purely for Waluigi's purposes.
"Ah Luigi, you have came over to the cold side...have you not?" Madam Clairvoya whispered in a bare audible tone.
"Any way, we are here to help you grasp the whole ghostly thing. I myself will be helping you move objects. Melody has already told me that you can touch objects Luigi, but she feels I may be more suited to teaching you the ways of supernatural contact," Biff told Luigi and Waluigi. Luigi nodded in agreement. Waluigi was less likely to play up with Biff. Melody was about to speak when once more the quite whisper of Madam Clairvoya interrupted.
"I shall be using my knowledge in order to help you channel your thoughts and powers... of course it may take time..." She started. Biff coughed sceptically.
"They don't want to be fortune tellers, they just need to know if it will help in contacting them they left behind," Biff said getting straight to the point. Madam Clairvoya feigned hurt and did not say much after that.
"Ahem," A short dignified cough came from the doorway. Melody, Biff, Luigi, Waluigi and Madam Clairvoya all turned round. In the door way stood a tall man. He stood up straight and marched into the room. He had neatly groomed light brown hair and moustache. In his arm he carried a few books. Waluigi noted that they feature theories on the afterlife.
"Waluigi, this is Neville..." Melody announced.
"...Resident bookworm..." Biff interrupted with a grin. Neville seemed not to hear Biff's obvious humour.
"I have devised a small rota which I think you will all find suitable. It will make things progressively easier if we all are to know what we are doing and how far we have progressed," Neville said. Waluigi didn't like Neville instantly. Neville spoke in a refined voice as thought he thought himself above everyone else. Waluigi didn't like this. Neville walked over and passed both Luigi and Waluigi a rota each. It told them when to report to Biff, Neville or Madam Clairvoya.
"Thank you Neville," Luigi said. He glanced at his copy of the rota and saw that they were due to report to Neville first thing in the morning and then it would be Madam Clairvoya. They wouldn't see Biff until the next day.
After Neville had also handed a rota to Biff, Melody and Madam Clairvoya he bid them farewell. He was retiring to the Library for the night. Biff and Madam Clairvoya also bid goodnight and left Melody with the two new ghosts.
"Well erm Luigi, I guess I should be getting along to my bedroom too. I am awfully tired. I suppose you'll be showing him where he's staying?" She quizzed Luigi. He nodded and bid her a good night. After Melody had swept out of the room Luigi told Waluigi to follow him.
They walked out of the Music room and down the corridor. Luigi pointed out which room was his on the way to one of the Mansion's many spare rooms. He also pointed out where the bathroom was situated. After leaving Waluigi in the spare room, Luigi retired to his room and settled down for the night. Tomorrow would be a busy day.