A/N: Without getting into too much detail, I just started my new job several weeks ago, and I haven't had as much time, motivation, and energy to sit down and write on most days. I tried to piece things out, one session after another. Eventually, the long-awaited finale has come.
While I thank all of you once more for your patience, I will address more of my thanks later on after we've come so far with this story. Without further ado, I present to you the epilogue of Luigi's Mansion 3: Hotel Horror!
Disclaimer: All rights belong to Nintendo when it comes to the characters and franchises. I am only writing this as a fan project.
Epilogue: Vacation at Last
He didn't know how long it had been since he started falling, but the feeling was almost equivalent to jumping out of a plane from over ten thousand feet in the air. The only disparity was that he didn't have a parachute on his back to decrease his speed. He was bound to hit the ground hard, possibly resulting in a fatal end as his life flashed before his eyes. The echoing scream persisted in the dark atmosphere until he suddenly felt the wind stop blowing directly into his face.
"H-Huh? What the..."
After he slowly opened his eyes, Luigi was shocked to discover his face was just a mere foot from the stony rubble, his large nose nearly scraped by a tiny rock. He then realized he felt himself floating in midair while something tugged the back of his overalls. Checking to his left, the plumber was pleasantly relieved when he eyed Colombo holding on tight to save him from the drop. But what made it even better was that Polterkitty carefully gnawed her teeth on his clothing without accidentally biting into his skin.
"Colombo! Polterkitty! Oh, you don't know how much I-"
Unfortunately, he didn't get to finish his sentence as the animals let him go. Yelping, the man accidentally released the painting from his hands before he fell directly onto it. Polterkitty and Colombo eventually floated down to greet Luigi, the latter eagerly licking his face with the biggest open-mouth smile he ever had.
"Aw, you guys..." Luigi proceeded to hug his pet and rub his underbelly.
While watching the two embrace each other, Polterkitty emitted a soft meow next to them, tilting her head as she wondered if Luigi was okay. The plumber smiled and carefully leaned over to the purple feline. Pressing his gloved hand softly on her head and gliding it down her spine, the cat purred in happiness as she seemed to fully gain Luigi's trust.
"Thank you both so much. I don't even think I would've survived that drop."
Later, the three of them jumped when they heard a large plop from nearby. The first things they saw were small puddles and droplets of Goo. Before anyone could make sense of it, Gooigi immediately came back to form. Even though Luigi wasn't controlling the duplicate, he still managed to wave at the heroes, indicating that he was also safe and sound. More importantly, he didn't melt away or feel anything painful. Lucky for him, he didn't have any bones.
"Heh heh, I see you're perfectly fine as well. Now then, how about we get our friends out of here?"
"Bark! Bark!"
"Meow!"
Luigi nodded as he grabbed the portrait and placed it against a large rock. All nine of his friends who were trapped inside the painting all looked terrified from within the frozen image. But the timid plumber could breathe again knowing his Dark-Light Device will carry them out of their prison. He prayed to Grambi that this would be the last time he sees his brother or anyone close to him be detained in King Boo's paintings.
Turning on the rainbow light, the painting shimmered in brightness before the first entity was able to exit. Morty started touching his face, sweater, and body all around as he realized Luigi freed him.
"Oh, joy! You've done it, brave Luigi! Excellent work!" he clasped his hands in pure bliss.
Luigi maintained his grin as the second person came from behind the director. He was greeted by the enchanted fortune-teller.
"Ooh... That definitely felt unnerving. Being in a painting without my permission was not to my liking at all!"
"But at least you're out now," Luigi replied.
"Indeed, I am! Thank you again, Luigi. You were amazing in the final phase of that fight!" Madame Clairvoya congratulated.
Next, the trio of Toads all jumped out of the painting. Red, Blue, and Yellow squealed with joy as they went up to Luigi, clinging onto his legs and thanking him profusely. The plumber couldn't help but awkwardly laugh and pat their heads until they finally let go. Later, E. Gadd was the next to fly out before he flopped onto the dirt. Groaning from the slight pain, the professor waved it off as Luigi kindly pulled him up.
"Ho ho ho! That's much better! Don't mind me, lad. You still have more friends to release!"
Finally, Peach, Daisy, and Mario landed in between the ghosts, still tied up from Booftop's rope. Clairvoya and Morty hurriedly loosened the constraint before bringing the humans up to their feet. Mario quickly rushed over to greet him. Only this time, Luigi was ecstatic that his true brother was running up to him.
"Yahoo! You did it, Luigi!"
"Mario! You're okay!" Luigi squeezed his arms around his back. It felt so relieving to be in his sibling's company again.
"Bro, you don't know how much I missed you! I've been held captive for so long that I was genuinely getting worried about your well-being! I kinda wish I wasn't so doubtful because I know how awesome and brave you are!"
"Oh, shucks... Don't say that, fratello..."
"No, I really mean it! Who else in the world can defeat a power-hungry, sneaky ghost like King Boo? Heck, you fought and defeated him three times!"
"Well, I did get a little bit of help from you guys. I couldn't have done it without you all."
"Yeah, but you did most of the heavy-lifting! Plus, if it weren't for you, I wouldn't have known the ropes to handle the Poltergust!" reminded Daisy as she and the pink princess walked up to the Mario Bros.
"Same here," Peach concurred. "We knew you were the one who could stop Hellen and King Boo. We owe you more than our gratitude!"
"Heh heh, please... I'm just happy to have my friends back."
"Ruff! Ruff!" Colombo jumped into his arms, making Luigi yelp as he didn't expect it until the last second. Polterkitty followed up by nudging her head against the tomboy's left leg.
Daisy kneeled down and smiled at the feline. Rubbing her head, she responded, "You were just as helpful, too. Saving Luigi from the painting was a bold move, and we couldn't have been more grateful that you kept him alive."
"You sure did, gattino. Thank you again," Luigi joined in by rubbing her back softly once more.
A delightful purr emitted from the spiritual kitten, pleased to hear how she managed to prove her worth. It was safe to confirm that she had gained not just Daisy's trust, but Luigi's as well. The more gratified she felt, the less guilty she was for betraying her former owner. On the other hand, Polterkitty remained somewhat bittersweet that she was the one who originally pampered her with many things, including a home and some love. Those things faded away as Hellen became more obsessed with fetching King Boo's affection like a dog trying to catch a long-toss frisbee. Throughout time, the cat chose to switch sides and help the heroes to take her out. At the end of the day, it was a tough, daring decision she made, yet she couldn't help but feel satisfied.
"So, I'm gonna need some catching up to do, huh?" Mario questioned.
"Tee hee, I'm sure we'll explain the details later," giggled Peach.
"But now that we're all here and out of King Boo's prison, what do we do now?" wondered Daisy.
Luigi stretched his lips as he fleetingly took a glance at his surroundings, taking in the remnants of The Last Resort. It was honestly the opposite of breathtaking as tons of broken walls, stairs, rooftops, and wreckage littered the forest. What once stood as an impressive, golden hotel turned into a freaky, ghost-infested skyscraper. Then moments later, it was practically nothing at this point. Eventually, his eyes were glued to the shining gem that laid in the middle of a pile of rubble. He strolled away from the group to grab it, touching the warm glow that seeped through the fabric of his gloves. Despite the numerous cracks on the surface, it still remained intact.
Morty soon floated over to the green hero. "You know, I have a strange thing to share."
"Hmm? What's that, Morty?"
"Remember when I said that I couldn't care less about guarding the elevator button Hellen gave me?"
"Actually, he didn't. He was unconscious at the time when we brought him back from the Boilerworks," corrected Daisy.
"Oh, heavens. Well, to paraphrase what you missed, I wasn't exactly like most of the other ghosts who were hired or brought in by Hellen. Obviously, I was more entranced by shooting my movies."
"Not to mention, there was another devil in the details that I've failed to discuss earlier," Madame Clairvoya elucidated. "Those who did not follow Hellen's morals were struck by this jewel from King Boo's crown. His powers forced some of the bosses you've faced to act harsh and belligerent towards you. Not only that, the minor ghosts such as the Goobs, Hammers, and the ones from Evershade and the first mansion were negatively influenced by this purple gem. As for a few names, there were certain ghosts who agreed to attack you for her benefit that King Boo's powers weren't necessary to corrupt their minds."
"On the other hand," Morty carried on from the fortune-teller's statement, "people like myself may be grateful that she built a customized floor to our hearts' desires, yet we know a lot about right versus wrong. I didn't care about attacking or preventing you from taking the button. Instead, you encountered us in the Paranormal Productions, took some time and energy to find my megaphone, starred superbly on camera to shoot my film, and became a friend of mine."
"You really think of me as that?" Luigi blinked in surprise.
Morty chuckled loudly. "I do! Surely, you've met some ghosts here and there who may have been a bit rough on you. But at the end of the day, they're honestly not as evil as Hellen and King Boo. They were only given the buttons because they were trusted to obey their orders."
"In fact, this jewel has proven to be a perverse tool for the wrong reasons. It's quite similar to the jewel on Polterkitty's necklace before you broke it," Clairvoya expounded, prompting the cat to meow in guilt.
"Huh... What do you think will happen if we destroy this gem? Do you think other ghosts will turn back to normal?" Luigi furrowed his brow.
"Hmm, you know, it's not implausible to believe this notion," E. Gadd tapped his chin. "If anything, I like to correlate it to the Dark Moon's energy to keep the Evershade ghosts congenial. If King Boo utilized this gem to brainwash the generic ghosts, then I think getting rid of it would change their demeanors."
"But if we do that, which ghosts would get released?" asked Mario.
"Obviously, the Goobs, Greenies, Golden Ghosts, Hammers, Slammers, Oozers, Slinkers... Eh, you get the gist."
"With that being said, why don't we abolish the gem right now?" Morty suggested. "That should take care of business with those ghosts under Hellen and King Boo's control."
"Right!" Luigi agreed. "Stand back, everyone. I don't want to get shards in your eyes."
Everyone carefully stood far away from the plumber as he raised the jewel over his head and slammed it into the dirt. Fragments scattered across the ground as the gem lost its luster. Suddenly, the shards dissolved out of thin air with the particles dispersing out of sight seconds later.
Several feet away from Luigi's left, the Ghost Container managed to subsist from the large fall after King Boo destroyed E. Gadd's portable lab. The tank shook violently for a few seconds, catching the attention of the heroes.
"Daisy, do you mind handing me the Dual Scream for a moment?" E. Gadd asked. The princess complied as she exchanged the device into his hands. Flipping the screen open, he tapped into his invention and performed an electronic scan. After a couple of seconds, the professor smiled as he looked up at the gang. "Fellas, I think we're all set."
Tinkering with the system, E. Gadd guided everyone closer to the Ghost Container. With the network linked up, he pressed some buttons on the electronic display.
"First, I'll take care of the minor apparitions that I've mentioned earlier!"
He pressed another button on the device, unlocking the portal that exclusively contained the Goobs, Hammers, Oozers, Slinkers, Greenies, Hiders, Golden Ghosts, Purple Punchers – practically every type of generic ghost that formed abundant colonies. A Goob squeezed out of the top aperture before a horde of ghouls sprawled outside into the night sky. Tens of them flew in circles full of joy, happy that they were free from their prison. To Luigi and everyone else's surprise, aside from the professor, they were acting congenial and playful as if they weren't manipulated under possessive control. Similar to the Dark Moon's effect, none of them were acting hostile or belligerent towards the green plumber and his friends despite the fracas they all endured. They all came down to eagerly greet the Mario gang and their fellow ghost companions.
"Well, ain't this a beautiful sight?" Morty chuckled as he shook an Oozer's hand. Even Colombo joined the fun by tagging along with some of the Goobs and Greenies.
"I checked through a hidden security camera of my Ghost Container, and it seems that the effects of King Boo's crystal wore off. They're all clean from their rowdy deportments!" E. Gadd smirked.
However, some of the ghosts appeared upset as they finally realized the wreckage of The Last Resort. One particular Goob, who happened to be the first ghost Luigi had ever caught from the hotel lobby, slapped his face and gasped in shock as he and the rest gazed at the setting. The place felt like a ghost town.
The colorful spirits who normally resided in the skyscraper felt gloomy and ashamed for a number of reasons. Although they were happy to be unfettered, they were guilty of trying to give Luigi a hard time. Simultaneously, they were saddened at the fact they lost their source of shelter. The plumber, understanding their thoughts, immediately felt sympathetic.
"I'm sorry. I never meant to destroy your home."
Again, the ghosts didn't have the ability to speak unlike the Bosses, but they managed to show how much they appreciated his apology. Nevertheless, they were back to being homeless and dubious.
"Hmm... Despite having another dilemma in our hands, should we think about what to do with the Boss Ghosts? Have they recuperated after the gem disappeared?" Mario wondered.
"Let me run a second diagnostic, this time for the separate unit I have for those people," E. Gadd refocused on his two-screen gadget. Nodding his head for a bit, he replied, "It looks like they're in the clear. Plus, the Clockwork Soldiers you've captured beforehand should also be back to normal. Now, I can't say that Hellen and King Boo are affected by this curse."
"I'm positive they deserve a chance at freedom like we did with these guys," Peach reasoned as she walked up next to Mario.
"Are you sure about that?" Red Toad doubted, only to get nudged by Blue and Yellow Toad's elbows. "Ouch!"
"I don't see a problem with that, even though I've never met them personally," Mario shrugged.
"Well, for starters, I think bringing out the triplet sisters might not be a bad idea. Ginny was the most civil of the three, but she and the others are only innocent children. Keeping them in a confined prison would be a little... negligent," Luigi considered.
"How about DJ Phantasmagloria? She despised Hellen, and she wasn't that bad of a ghost after we fought her briefly. She's also got decent taste in music and rhythm," mentioned Daisy.
"I firmly believe Johnny Deepend deserves to be freed, too. He wasn't too abrasive towards us, and he showed some respect after we let him out of the pool's drain," said Peach.
Polterkitty seemed to agree with their opinions. "Meow!"
"Honestly, I think almost everyone deserves to be let out. As I told you earlier, most of us only joined Hellen's staff for a special floor to reside in even if we aren't accustomed to her antics," Morty reminded.
"Of course, Hellen and King Boo should remain locked up. We don't want them causing chaos again," Clairvoya stated, to which every single one of them concurred.
"Ruff! Ruff!" Colombo barked as a way of saying he agrees, hands down.
"Well, they're still stuck in my vacuum, so we don't have to worry about that. If I'll be frank though, I don't know what to do with the Portrait Ghosts from your collection, Professor. I don't know if they should actually be free again or if they have to be plastered back onto a wall," Luigi contemplated.
"I kinda agree with you. After all, Hellen found a way to release them from their frames again to mostly cause havoc. At the same time, they might not be as aggressive as they used to be," replied Yellow Toad.
"Yeah, that's true. So... what do we do?" Blue Toad scratched his head in confusion.
"I'll leave that up to Luigi since he's probably the most responsible and logical being in this group," E. Gadd looked up to his fellow friend.
The ghost hunter thought long and hard about this decision. While he had some altercations with certain members such as King MacFrights, Dr. Potter, and especially Clem, the man wasn't entirely sure if he should let them go. But if Morty was telling the truth, maybe they wouldn't be so bad like the minor ghosts who were currently sociable for good measure.
Looking at his brother for advice, Mario only offered him a small smile.
"Do whatever you think is best, bro. No matter what, I trust you."
That alone made him calm down a little. After thinking about it long and hard, Luigi had an idea of what to do.
"E. Gadd, is there a way I can somehow communicate with them again when they're stuck inside?"
"Hmm... Let me see if I can configure the Dual Scream. Or maybe I can take care of that with the Virtual Boo."
"Um, thanks but no thanks. I would rather not have a headache looking at a red screen for so long."
"Fair enough, my lad. Give me a few moments here."
"Ugh... whoa. My head... It keeps spinning like I'm on a merry-go-round for twelve hours," Steward held a hand near his forehead. "What just happened?"
"I think I know what's up. That Luigi person must've beaten that King Boo cretin for good," Chambrea hypothesized, regaining her composure. "I could hear his scream from all the way down here even when he was so high up from the hotel."
"Is The Last Resort even intact right now?" asked Neville.
"I highly doubt it when I heard a lot of crashing noises from outside," Lydia spoke up, currently soothing Chauncey in her arms.
"You're telling me. The first crash was from being levitated in the air and falling down to the ground! I also have a splitting headache!" Amadeus Wolfgeist complained.
"So... if King Boo is done for a third time, I bet Hellen must've been defeated by him, too," DJ Phantasmagloria realized.
"And?" Clem grunted with his arms crossed.
"And... that means we don't have to put up with Hellen's crap any longer! Nor do we have to submit to King Boo knowing how those two get along."
"Get along? If my memory recalls, those two seem to have some tension between themselves," Dr. Potter rebutted.
"You're definitely not wrong. Whenever I'm dusting around the Master Suite, sometimes I can overhear King Boo growling at Ms. Gravely over some trivial matters. Although I wasn't around to witness or hear their latest arguments, they weren't exactly on the best of terms," Chambrea mentioned.
"Well, that doesn't matter! Because I think that stupid, green piece of vomit shouldn't have been around to toy with me or my rubber ducks! A guy like me needs his beauty rest!"
"Whatever you say, Sleeping Beauty," Johnny Deepend shook his head in disappointment.
For a little bit, they began to argue once more about whether or not the situation was good or bad. Several apparitions went on to defend Luigi for taking on Hellen and King Boo while the remainder stayed ticked at the plumber's arrogance... according to the haters.
Suddenly, the ghosts felt a strange aura surrounding their spiritual bodies. They all glowed purple for a moment before they shined in various colors. Once the glimmer disappeared, some of the trapped bosses felt a different sense that they haven't experienced in a while: normalcy.
"What just happened?" Chef Soulfflé blinked his eyes.
"I don't know..." Captain Fishook scratched his hooked fin lightly across his head. "It's like I'm feeling a disturbance in the salty sea air..."
"Hrmm... Eyah!" Dr. Potter stretched his arms wide. "You know, I don't know how to explain this, but it's like I'm rejuvenated again. Even though I'm still a ghost, it's like I'm living a whole new life."
"Me, too. It's kinda weird how your description somewhat makes sense. My old back hasn't felt this way in ages," Uncle Grimmly replied.
"Whatever. I'm still hungry," Mr. Luggs sighed, wishing he had a leftover turkey leg to devour.
"Hey, does anyone hear some static going around?" Melody cupped a hand around her left ear.
"Yeah, I hear it, too," commented Officer Kruller.
"Me no hear anything. Ooh, wait..." Ug started picking into his ear, removing a small ball of ear wax from within.
"Ew! That's disgusting!" Serpci gagged.
Before they could even make out what was happening, everyone spotted some new figures entering the Ghost Container. Specifically, the only victims who were transported to their own separate glass vials were King Boo and Hellen Gravely. It only took them a couple of seconds to settle in, much to their discontent. But for Hellen, almost every pair of ghostly eyes were glued to her like a group of kindergartners huddling around an ice cream stand, except the majority of them were either indifferent or livid towards the violet-skinned woman. Some of them also had a bone to pick with the large Boo king.
"So, thou finally decided to bewray thy faces in hither, eh?" King MacFrights jested while cleaning his sword.
"Decided to?! Why, you little-"
"Nice of you to drop on by, Princess Beehive Hothead," Gloria spat at Hellen, interrupting her thoughts. "Has your hair fallen off yet from being sucked up in a vacuum?"
"Pfft. At least I still have my hair intact," the former hotel owner scoffed.
"You're lucky these glass containers are unbreakable, or else I would easily wipe you out and cut your hairdo with my sharp DJ discs! Then see how funny it is to be bald!"
"All quips and confrontations aside, I presume Luigi managed to capture you both?" Sir Weston dared to ask.
"No, a stupid Goomba walked up and stomped us with his own two feet," King Boo snarled, pure sarcasm easily detected in his tone.
"How pathetic," said Henry.
"What do you have to do to get beaten up by one of those armless creatures? Just stand there and do absolutely nothing?" Orville joked.
"You childish imbeciles! Not a single Goomba is capable of overcoming my powers! Luigi defeated me again!" the huge king boomed.
Slim Bankshot simply whistled before replying, "Shocker. Now you're a bigger failure than all of us since the most we've ever been caught was twice."
"Except for us hotel staff members!" Kruller yelled out randomly.
"Even so, I can't believe we've gotten into this mess to help you out. Besides, you relied on us to stop Luigi and get him captured. I'm just convinced that you don't want to do all of the hard work to lay a trap and take him down right then and there," Steward grunted, which only angered not just King Boo, but her older sister too.
Hellen Gravely's yellow eyes burned so much that they could've turned bloody red by showing her true form again. Instead, she kept her Gheistpaint makeup on and berated her sibling.
"You dare say that to me?! Listen here, Steward! If you would just do your job like you were supposed to, then maybe-"
"Shut up, Hellen-Who-Buried-My-Grave-ly!"
None of the ghosts expected Steward to reach an octave that high when he smacked back at the tall woman. Nor have they ever seen him look so pissed than anyone in the Ghost Container. One thing was certain, the kids didn't misbehave to interrupt his speech. None of the animal-like spirits opened their mouths. Every other individual was beyond shocked to even react. Not even King Boo had words to speak even though his face remained neutral.
"Ever since that goddamn car accident you got us in, I've never lost more hope in you than ever! You may think you're this overly popular person whom everyone looks up to as a role model, but you're nothing but a deceitful piece of garbage from the get-go! Everywhere you go, you try to manipulate people to get what you want, and this incident right here is no different from all those previous instances! You tried to make me come back, trying to pretend you changed for the better after you killed us! I was convinced you became endearing. But all you do is act reckless and fail to take accountability for your actions, or lack thereof in this case. Once you invited that professor to coax him with the King Boo painting, you forced a great number of ghosts to turn evil, chaotic, out of control, or worst of all, submissive to you both! Of course, I had to be one of your victims. To think I said that you treated me like family... What a disgusting comment I formed from my mouth. That's anything but the truth! We know your true intentions, Hellen! All you care about is yourself!"
A sudden period of silence roamed within the metal tank. Hellen couldn't believe a single word her brother yelled at her. Whether she was in denial or realizing the truth, the only thing she really got out of this conversation was that she no longer considered Steward a loyal brother.
The sad part? Even the bellhop didn't have to continue any further to back up his point.
He could tell from the look on her face that she got called out for her antagonistic lies and laziness. Not even Steward expected himself to go all out in a blazing fury at the one who devised this hotel scheme. But years of pain and pent-up anger came bursting out loud like a fireworks display.
Suddenly, a virtual screen popped up in front of all of the Boss Ghosts within the Container. Everyone could see a large nose with a groomed mustache underneath.
"Um, hello? Is this thing on?"
"Isn't that Luigi?" Ginny blinked as she watched the projection.
"I think it is," answered Nikki.
"What the heck is he doing?" Lindsey raised an eyebrow.
"Ah, wait! That's better," his face became clear and in frame of the screen. "Um, hello," the man introduced awkwardly.
"Hiya, Luigi!" Sister Lucinda giggled while waving her fingers.
"Ooh, I'll be honest, it's great to see you again even though we're stuck in here," Belinda replied.
"Yes, indeed. We hope we didn't get off on the wrong foot after the madness that ensued in the Garden Suites," Herlinda apologized.
"I think it's safe to say that it goes for all of us even though we've initially had some poor relationships with you," added Chambrea.
"Meh, not really," Clem smacked his lips.
"Shut up, you lousy mechanic!"
"Oh my, I completely forgot how many people I ended up researching with my crystal ball. To see all of your faces in here, it's a little strange how we're on this side of the Ghost Container," Madame Clairvoya commented as she squeezed next to Luigi.
"That includes me, yet I was one of many who got hired by Hellen rather than being released from a painting or getting corrupted by King Boo's crystallized crown!" Morty mentioned as he was shown on the left.
"Um, not to be rude or anything, but what exactly are you doing, young boy? Why are you even communicating to us like this?" queried Vincent Van Gore.
"I'm here to make a proposition."
"Yes, you are! Get me out of this confined prison so I can seal you and your stupid friends up for good!" King Boo hissed venomously, losing all of his patience.
"In your dreams, King Loser. Or should I say, King Boo-ser!" Daisy bantered at him.
"Luigi! You better let us out this instant! I'm not letting my special VIP guest ruin this moment for me and my hubby!" Hellen gritted her teeth.
"Hubby? Since when have I-"
"Can you all shut up for a moment and let him speak?!" Steward butted in, completely incensed at the evil pair. Hellen was about to speak up until he continued. "Let him talk, or else I will find a way out of here, take your glass prison over to the lake, seal you up with a non-twistable cork, and make you sail down the body and over to the beaver's dam where you'll become a makeshift stick for the rest of your afterlife!"
"Yeesh, I've never seen Steward this abrasive before," whispered Miss Petunia.
"And this was just moments after his most recent outburst," Jarvis gulped.
After a quick moment of silence, Luigi finally had the floor. "Ahem, um... How do I begin this? First of all, I'm only talking to you because it seems rather unfair how the majority of you whom we caught with our Poltergust vacuums are now stuck inside E. Gadd's containment cell. As for Morty and Madame Clairvoya, we were nice to let them be after they've been civil with us. On the other hand, people like DJ Gloria and Johnny Deepend were fairly courteous even though we transferred them here."
"Personally, I'm not offended that you captured me," Deepend frankly spoke up.
"Neither am I. Let the record show that we accepted our fates after submitting defeat," Phantasmagloria was on the same page as him.
"Hey, so have we after those rats slapped us silly!" Hellen narrowed her eyes.
"Yeah, but you and King Boo are a much different story," huffed Mr. Whirlinda.
"Unlike us, you hardly have any chemistry between yourselves," Mrs. Whirlinda rebuked.
"In what way?" Hellen demanded an answer.
"First off, one of you is more focused on wooing their admirer while the other is a volatile beast who lost all his confidence in his partner in crime," Captain Fishook rebuked.
"Ey! Big shark make sense there!" Ug slurred.
"As if your diction and grammar are comprehensible!" Hellen smacked back at the caveman ghost.
"Hey, hey, hey! Don't try to turn this onto him now! Luigi! Keep going before this conversation goes south again!" implored Steward.
"Right, right," Luigi scratched his hair. "Anyway, as I was saying, we were talking about the ghosts who've been freed – the Goobs, Hammers, and everyone else who were 'employees' of Hellen's ruse. All of them have returned to normal after King Boo's gem dissolved into nothing."
"Don't remind me," said enemy groaned as he only donned a gem-less crown above his head.
"Even Polterkitty was affected when she wore a diamond necklace with the same kind of energy as his gem. After destroying it, she became somewhat shy and guilty at first, but then she became a valuable asset to our team. Although she tried to attack me twice, Polterkitty showed how much she means to me and my friends, especially Daisy."
Luigi paused for a moment as he glanced over to his right where the cat sat. She even displayed a little smile while twitching her whiskers. With the flower princess also sharing the same expression, she nodded at him to continue.
"Now, I must know the truth. How many of you agreed to be employed by Hellen and become part of her hotel staff?"
All of the unique individuals who once held the elevator buttons raised their hands.
"The same question goes for those from the first mansion and Evershade Valley. Who was forced against their will to follow Hellen and King Boo's bidding?"
The big-brained Poltergeists and a vast majority of the Portrait Ghosts showed their hands.
"Okay, and how many of you were brainwashed by King Boo and Hellen's bidding?"
Once that question was addressed, everyone hesitated for a moment. Of the ones who remembered being brainwashed, the ghosts who kept their hands up were Dr. Potter, King MacFrights, Serpci, Captain Fishook, Amadeus Wolfgeist, Serpci, Officer Kruller, Ug, Chef Soulfflé, Clem, and Steward.
The main exceptions were Johnny Deepend, DJ Phantasmagloria, Ginny, and Morty, even though he was floating next to the man in green.
As for the Portrait Ghosts, either several were brainwashed by King Boo or they were mainly neutral and wanted to enjoy their time outside of their paintings and within The Last Resort. Then there was Spooky who barely understood any of Luigi's questions. Additionally, Bogmire remained in silence, floating as a disembodied blob. Chauncey only cooed without saying a word.
"By the way, I noticed that the only ones not in here are those toy soldiers," Nana pointed out. "I assumed you had caught them at one point."
"Hey, you're right! What gives? Why are they not in here but we are?" Sue Pea put her hands on her hips.
"Maybe he and the professor have already stuck them back into a picture frame," assumed Biff Atlas.
"Actually, you're wrong. You see, I figured most of you might have been manipulated, and you don't mean much harm. But then there are certain individuals whom I may not fully trust based on our history together," Luigi narrowed his eyes.
Most of the eyes fell on Hellen and King Boo, for obvious reasons. However, Clem was the most prominent Boss Ghost given how he was the one who nearly drowned Luigi. Looking back on it, the violet mechanic probably thought his idea of taking down the plumber was a bit overkill. The more he reminisced about his behavior, the quicker he became guilty of his actions – especially since he was no longer under King Boo's power.
"Oh, jeez... What have I done?" he murmured.
"This is where my proposition takes place. I didn't mean to ramble on for so long and keep you here lingering around. But I want to be fair to everyone else. Most of you didn't deserve to be captured. So, after talking with E. Gadd and everyone out here, we are willing to release you from the Ghost Container-"
"Wait... Are you serious?" Ginny sounded hopeful.
"I hope this isn't a prank like the schoolboys pull on us," said Lindsey.
"Luigi, I'm practically begging you that we can be freed! We promise we won't harm or fight you!" Nikki cried out desperately.
"Hold on. I haven't finished my sentence yet." Luigi took a second to regain his voice. "We will let you free on one condition. It somewhat correlates to the reason why I haven't transferred the Clockwork Soldiers in here. That's because we thought they could be useful for something special."
"What is this 'special' thing you have in mind?" Shivers scratched his chin.
"Well, all of the Goobs and local ghosts who reside in this forest have lost their original home. While The Last Resort was considered a safe haven for them to live in, it was also a place where they were forced to deal with uptight management."
"Ugh... You would think so, Luigi!" Hellen shook her fist.
"My point is," he briefly sounded exasperated, "E. Gadd happened to come up with this idea. Do you want to take over and explain, Professor?"
The short scientist grinned as he appeared on the projection screen but with a yellow hard hat on his head. "We've been discussing this while I was setting up the interlink from my Dual Scream. We want to build a brand-new hotel for the ghosts to reside! That being said, anyone who assists us in the construction process will have their own special place to live in!"
"You're basically telling us that we have to build another rendition of The Last Resort?" Dr. Potter raised a bushy eyebrow.
"Not exactly. We'll customize a special hotel for all of you to accommodate your interests, except it will be a lot more ghost-friendly since I will be running the place!"
"Um... I don't know about this idea," Kruller seemed a bit hesitant, taking his cap off and scratching his head nervously.
"Officer, if you don't mind, I understand that you seem skeptical about it. However, I can't think of anyone more passionate about studying ghosts than him. He's been accustomed to working with them for plenty of years, especially with the friendly residents of Evershade Valley. I'm positive he can take care of the new hotel with all of you helping around," persuaded Luigi.
"Well... as much as I do not like participating in tedious labor, I do like the prospect of a new place to live in," Clem sighed while deep in thought.
"I'm sure you'll do a great job with the fixtures and amenities. Heck, Mario and I can work on the plumbing for the hotel."
"Oh, yeah! We're not exactly rusty when it comes to that kind of business. With some extra hands, we can construct it as quickly as possible!" Mario joyfully added.
"I can't say that I'm against the idea," Serpci rubbed her chin.
"Same here. I think I'm on board!" Ginny clapped her hands.
"Why do us kids have to work on this?" Henry complained.
"Yeah! Can't we just play with our toys and vehicles while you do the heavy duty?" Orville crossed his arms.
"Trust me, you kids don't have to do much. But any assistance is welcome and appreciative as we prepare our biggest project yet!" E. Gadd chuckled with excitement.
"Me strong! Me can carry weights and heavy stuff to you!" Ug exclaimed, pounding his chest with his large fist.
"Hey now, you're not the only buff ghost around here. I can do some heavy lifting, too!" Biff gloated.
"If I can use my artistic vision to picture the layout of the interior and exterior, I'd be happy to hop in," said Vincent Van Gore.
"That's the spirit! Hohoho, I still crack myself up," the professor couldn't help but chortle out loud.
"I don't mean to interrupt, but I just wanted to make sure. Only we are the ones who are getting released, correct? And by we, I'm talking about everyone except Hellen and King Boo?" Phantasmagloria emphasized.
"I'm gonna get out of here some way, somehow – even if it's the last thing I do!" King Boo growled while sticking out his large tongue.
"King Boo and all of his followers, aside from the one who flew away, will stay here with Hellen. Plus, to be frank, I'm not exactly sure how beneficial Bogmire might be given his origins with the first mansion. At least the Clockwork Soldiers have some potential to be builders and patrollers. No offense, Office Kruller," Luigi quickly stated.
"None taken," the portly ghost tipped his cap.
"Spooky may be a canine, but I'm sure he can be just as useful as Colombo and Polterkitty."
"Arf! Arf!"
"Meow!"
"I mean, everyone here has technically been wronged by Hellen and King Boo. It's honestly fair if we let you out after what we've done to you. Especially since we didn't capture Morty or Madame Clairvoya."
"We also could've let Ginny, Johnny, and Gloria alone had they not agreed to join you all," Daisy declared.
"I only accepted to be trapped in your vacuum for obvious reasons. But if you are kind enough to break us free, then I want to do everything in my power to fulfill your vision!" Ginny exclaimed.
"You know, despite all the hassle and tomfoolery we've done, I bet we can utilize our magic to build one of the best hotels ever!" Nikki smiled.
Even Lindsey concurred with her older sibling's sentiments. "It'll just be like building our dollhouses! Only this will be much bigger and better than them!"
"So... what do you say? All in favor of helping us construct the new hotel, show of hands?"
Luigi watched several members instantly join the alliance. Johnny Deepend, DJ Phantasmagloria, and the magician sisters were the first to raise their hands. Slowly but surely, more captives were convinced by the incentive. Those who treated Luigi and his friends poorly saw the error of their ways when they first attacked the ghostbusters. They wanted to pay it forward for the sake of their freedom, most notably Clem. Not only that, but Steward was also determined to be of assistance, to work in a job that was not run by her tyrannical, incensed sister.
Hellen couldn't think that she was betrayed by her blood brother. At the same time, she was deeply upset that he wanted to part ways with her.
"Steward, I-"
"Save it, sissy," Steward mumbled. He didn't speak in a toxic tone. The bellhop had already unleashed all of his rage to the point where he couldn't care less about his family. "You have said and done enough leading up to this point. It's over. It's all over."
The former hotel owner didn't narrow her yellow eyes or initiated a new tirade. All she could do was inhale through her nostrils and sigh deeply. She then turned her head over to King Boo, who looked discouraged within his glass dome.
There was only one bright spot for Hellen in this case.
"Well, at least we get to spend all eternity in here together! Even if we can't be together in the same capsule, it's still just as wonderful to be next to you!" Hellen clasped her hands in delight.
That sentence alone not only made the king groan, but it also had everyone either groan as well or roll their (nonexistent) eyes.
"Argh... This stinks," King Boo grumbled with a discouraging face.
"Alright, everyone! Prepare yourselves!" E. Gadd announced as he configured the Dual Scream to release the Bosses, one by one.
The first one out was Steward. He was followed by Chambrea, Shivers, Miss Petunia, and the family of Neville, Lydia, and Chauncey.
Following them were Officer Kruller, Chef Soulfflé, Uncle Grimmly, Slim Bankshot, and Mr. Luggs.
Then came Amadeus Wolfgeist, Melody Pianissima, and the Floating Whirlindas.
Next were King MacFrights, Dr. Potter, Belinda, Herlinda, and Lucinda.
Ug, Vincent Van Gore, and Sir Weston flew out of the tank.
Clem somewhat reluctantly followed in pursuit, but he couldn't help but enjoy the fresh air outside after being cooped up indoors for most of his tenure.
Serpci and both Poltergeists were the next ones to be free. Jarvis stuck his head out momentarily like he was still in a jar before flying out.
Nikki, Lindsey, and Ginny giddily soared high in the sky once they were released. The other kids – Orville, Henry, and Sue Pea – got their chance to get out, too.
Nana, Captain Fishook, Spooky, Johnny Deepend, Biff Atlas, and lastly DJ Phantasmagloria shot out of the Ghost Container. The remaining apparitions who remained inside were King Boo, Hellen, and a third wheel in Bogmire.
Later, E. Gadd took out the Poltergust vacuums from Luigi, Peach, and Daisy to release the other ghosts they've captured in the Master Suite, including the Clockwork Soldiers. Reuniting with their companions, everyone settled down as they congregated around the main group with E. Gadd leading the charge. He brought out a few more hard helmets, handing one to Luigi and passing them off to some of the ghosts.
"Alright, fellas! We'll begin the construction momentarily! First, we'll need some bulldozers, dump trucks, cranes, and other vehicles to help clear this mess out. I can call over a crew to rent them along with some tools that'll speed up the process."
"I'm certain Toadette and the other Toads in the Mushroom Kingdom can contribute as well! I'll get in touch with her right away!" Peach stepped back to call the pink-braided girl.
"Excellent! I bet you're all pretty exhausted from the battle and from staying cooped up in my Ghost Container, so we don't have to start right away. But while we wait for everything to arrive, we'll develop the foundation for this new hotel with my blueprints. Anyone who has an idea for a room can forward them to me, and I'll do my best to make it work!"
"In that case, can I have a luxurious kitchen with a proper dining suite? By that, I mean one that isn't infested with rats!" Chef Soulfflé clarified.
"Hey, Chef. I know you're not a fan of me competing with your restaurant with The Spectral Catch, but do you mind if I join forces to whip up a storm? Maybe even serve some drinks like the bar in The Spectral Catch?" Captain Fishook asked.
"Hmm... I wouldn't mind that at all!"
"Then it's settled!" E. Gadd clapped his hands. "I'll make sure you boys have the best kitchen to cook in!"
"Um... is thither any way I can hast a room dedicated to mine swords and staffs?" King MacFrights wondered.
"How about another gymnasium for me to work out in?" Biff Atlas desired.
"Oh, yes! I would love a brand-new gym – with a large, new swimming pool, too!" Johnny Deepend grinned.
"What about a room for me to settle on a throne? It doesn't have to be another sandy floor, per se," said Serpci.
"Ooh! How about a stage or auditorium for us to perform our magic tricks in front of a huge audience?" Ginny recommended.
"Yeah!" Lindsey and Nikki both agreed, only to look at each other for a moment. But instead of making faces or starting an argument, the older siblings giggled at their outburst.
"Only if that same stage could be used for me to perform my musical melodies," Amadeus Wolfgeist preferred, straightening his necktie.
"That would sound marvelous!" Melody beamed.
"Eh, how about a beautiful garden for me to take care of my plants? I'm afraid ol' Petunia is no longer living now that the hotel has collapsed," moped Dr. Potter.
"Excuse me? Are you referring to me?" Miss Petunia looked offended.
"Oh no, he's not talking about you. Petunia is also the name of his special plant," Herlinda explained.
"Either way, I would love to join in your gardening, Dr. Potter," Lucinda fluttered her eyes.
"Me, too! I'm sure it'll look more inviting and brighter than the Garden Suites!" Belinda chuckled.
More ideas were being thrown at the Professor that Luigi needed the ghosts to calm down once more. "Hey, hey, hey! Guys, wait a moment. I'm sure we'll all be able to implement your wishes for the new building. But let's not bombard him with so much at the same time."
"Oops, sorry about that," Chambrea apologized.
"It's not your fault. Besides, I'm just as eager to get this new hotel up and running!" Daisy expressed her enthusiasm.
"Me, too! I'm more than happy to participate in the construction with you all," Peach smiled.
"You know, it's kinda funny how we rebuilt your castle before embarking on our 'vacation', Princess. Now, we're circling back to making a new edifice," Mario shook his head with a smirk.
"Would that be déjà vu for you then?" questioned Morty.
"Mmm, to an extent, I guess."
"Either way, no matter how long it will take for us to build it, we want to ensure that you will all have a new home to live in. And with all the money we collected, we can use those funds to get the materials and furnishings," Luigi concluded.
"Bark! Bark!"
"Meow!"
Even Gooigi showed another thumbs-up.
"Heh heh, so we'll go back to all of your ideas again. But this time, let's take it slow and go one at a time."
Suddenly, the gang all heard a loud, crunching sound. When they looked in the same direction, they noticed the blocky Hammer ingesting the hard helmet he received earlier. The Slinker floating next to him facepalmed in disbelief.
Once everyone was well-rested, E. Gadd handed the blueprints of the hotel he imagined to Luigi. With the help of Vincent Van Gore, the artist was benevolent to draw the schematics, marking down each of the ghosts' desires as well as sketching the peripheral design. Professor E. Gadd pictured it to be large and spacious for him and the friendly phantoms to enjoy their new home. That being said, he also wanted to develop a new laboratory since his portable one got destroyed by King Boo. Overall, he wanted it to be just as functional and technologically advanced as his previous bunkers.
As the gang was prepared to set course, Morty wanted to film their creation with a time-lapse camera. After setting it up, Luigi and E. Gadd directed the ghosts and their friends to grab some shovels, pickaxes, screwdrivers, or whatever was around to get started. The first step was to clear off the debris from the damaged hotel. Toadette and several other Toads arrived at the site as Peach told them about the plan. With a ton of enthusiastic workers, they all took their time to clean up the mess.
During the process, the robust apparitions in Ug, Biff Atlas, Johnny Deepend, the Slammers, Hammers, and Blue Twirlers were capable of carrying large pieces to the dump truck. Several trees and shrubs were taken down to provide more space for the hotel's foundation. Much to Dr. Potter and the Three Sisters' disappointment, they took in that sacrifice as they operated saws to cut them down. With Goobs, Greenies, Golden Ghosts, and some Toads assisting them, they were careful not to remove a lot of trees to preserve the forest wildlife.
As the ground became less messy, cranes and bulldozers were controlled by the Slinkers, Hiders, Oozers, and Purple Punchers. Toadette and her crew brought over materials such as wooden panels, steel beams, and pipes to construct the underground plumbing. With a large H-shaped hole developed, Mario and Luigi worked together with Clem (of all people) and some other hands from the Whirlindas, Slim Bankshot, the Poltergeists, and Blue Blazes.
Sir Weston and King MacFrights stopped by with a pair of concrete mixer trucks, carefully pouring in cement around the base for the walkways and the road. After drying up, Morty, Madame Clairvoya, Shivers, Kruller, and the Clockwork Soldiers carried some steel beams over to the construction site. Peach and Daisy were enjoying the ride as they sat along the metal bars with some wrenches and screwdrivers in their hands. Colombo, Spooky, Polterkitty, and all of the kids carried smaller objects like buckets and wooden planks to the site.
Hours turned into days as the party continued to work hard as they made progress with the first floor. They all knew they had a long way to go, but the reward they sought was too enticing for them to not lounge around for so long or give up. As much as Clem wanted to take another siesta, the mechanic was determined like the rest to finish the job. Nonetheless, Luigi and E. Gadd made sure everyone wasn't overwhelmed, exhausted, or dehydrated.
The weather had been pleasant for a while now that the forest was no longer shrouded in perpetual darkness. Luckily, the yellow sun wasn't scorching hot for the team to sweat under. Thanks to Chef Soulfflé, Captain Fishook, and the Toad chefs, they catered sandwiches, soups, and other miscellaneous meals for everyone when people took their lunch break. Colombo and Spooky enjoyed their bones with some cooked beef while Polterkitty delightfully consumed a bowl of warm milk and a plate of fresh, smoked salmon.
As the hotel became larger, more work was being done as Mario, Phantasmagloria, Neville, and Lydia were placing the window panes in place. Mr. Luggs, Melody, and Amadeus all got a turn with the tower cranes as they carefully placed the rooftops on the building. Indoors, the princesses teamed up with Chambrea, Steward, Miss Petunia, and Jarvis to screw in bolts for the walls. Other ghouls such as Serpci, Uncle Grimmly, Nana, and the Sneakers tagged along with Mario, Luigi, E. Gadd, and the Toads to work on the other rooms. Funny enough, Gooigi was part of the action as he tried to hammer in some nails on a wooden board. He accidentally nailed one through his gloved hand, causing a Goob to shriek in fear. Gratefully, the gooey man didn't feel a thing.
Vincent Van Gore started the paint jobs on the walls with the Garbage Can Ghosts, Creepers, and Gobbers, who all surprisingly didn't leave much of a mess. Even Chauncey played with a brush and got some small portions of the wall completed. The interior was getting cleaned up by Luigi, Daisy, and Peach with their Poltergust vacuums. Chambrea was also kind enough to help sweep up the leftover dust and particles left behind from the construction. E. Gadd, Toadette, and all of the ghosts carefully brought in tons of furnishings and knickknacks to liven up the rooms they built for the Bosses. Everything was starting to come together, much to their joy. It only took them a few more days to finish their biggest project yet.
When it was all said and done, Professor E. Gadd was ready to open up the brand-new hotel as the humans, Toads, ghosts, and pets gathered around the red ribbon for the grand opening. Once he cut the bow, the group clapped and gazed up at the luxurious building they had erected together. Needless to say, the entire party was proud of themselves for what they accomplished.
Albeit not as tall as The Last Resort, the special hotel was over ten stories tall with three separate tiers. White, rectangular windows and green, circular panes – ones that somewhat matched E. Gadd's glasses – were installed to provide guests with wondrous views of the mountainside, the forest, and the lake. The apex was topped off with a lofty, white strand sticking up that resembled the professor's hair on his head. It was quite a sight to behold.
What made it more satisfying was when Morty edited the video from his footage and played it in front of the group, watching the hotel start from the ground up to where it was right now in a matter of seconds. All that hard work put into this building was definitely worth it.
"Hohoho! Well, what do you think, lads?" E. Gadd placed his hands on his hips triumphantly.
"Fantastic! Marvelous! Monumental!" Morty smooched a kiss into the air. "Look at how extravagant this hotel has become!"
"Yes, indeed," Madame Clairvoya giggled beneath her veil. "I must say, it was a clever idea to set up the time-lapse to see how far we've come."
"You bet it is," Steward nodded his head. "I'm proud to be a part of this."
"We're glad you're here, too," Luigi kindly replied. "Not only that, but we're all pleased with everyone contributing to this hotel. Everyone deserves a great pat on the back."
"Oh, yeah! All of you were excellent for the past several days! We couldn't have done it without you!" Mario gave a thumbs-up and a wink.
"Sure thing! It might've been a hassle to put everything in place, but it was just as taxing yet exciting to build it!" Toadette chimed in.
"And I thought rebuilding Peach's Castle was difficult enough. At the end of the day though, we've done a great job!" Red Toad clapped.
"Totally!" Blue and Yellow simultaneously shouted.
"Hotel big! Massive for Ug to nap in!" the caveman grunted in contentment.
"Hey now, it's not just for you. We all have a new place to live in," Miss Petunia reminded.
"Plus, we built another museum for you to look after the new fossils and exhibits we've displayed. But we have tons of room for everyone else," Chambrea backed her up.
"Sure do! We now have our own magic room to practice our prestidigitation!" Nikki smiled.
"Best of all, we don't have to share a room together when we go to sleep. Cheers to separate bedrooms!" Lindsey also smirked.
Ginny popped in between them with her arms around their shoulders. "But as long as we're still together performing magic, we're gonna be the best in show!"
"Um, is it possible if I can watch you perform? Or even join in?" Sue Pea twiddled her thumbs.
"Sure! We wouldn't mind that!" Ginny happily accepted.
"We even have our game room to play with our toys and stuff!" Henry jumped for joy.
"Now we can wreak havoc with our planes and cars again!" Orville snickered.
"Ugh! Don't even think about it!" Sue Pea glared at them.
"Don't worry about it, sweetheart," Officer Kruller laid a hand on her shoulder. "I'll make sure nothing bad happens in this hotel! Thanks to my newfound confidence, I feel like a new cop ready to prevent disaster from occurring!"
"I gotta respect the blue-collar approach when you're doing your job right. Not to mention, I'm a fan of donuts, too," Slim Bankshot hinted.
"That's cool! And thank you!"
"Aye, methinks it would art a grand experience to start anew withal a smaller, castle-themed area. Nought humongous or flashy liketh mine own floor, yet it suffices," said King MacFrights.
"We also got a special gymnasium for us to work out in," Biff Atlas flexed his muscles alongside a Hammer and Slammer.
"Don't forget the swimming pool! That's the best feature!" Johnny Deepend's smile shined as he adjusted his goggles over his eyes.
"I'm just happy that we now have a greenhouse installed in the courtyard," Belinda mentioned.
"Yeah! So many plants to tend for us!" Lucinda concurred.
"Even better is when we get to work with Dr. Potter and learn more about them," Herlinda winked at the elderly botanist.
"Oh, stop it. You're gonna make me blush. But anyway, I'll get to grow another Petunia, one that isn't man-hungry or enormous like my first," uttered Dr. Potter.
"Thank goodness," Daisy sighed.
"Maybe when I'm not busy with royal affairs, I would like to visit this place to help you with gardening!" Peach recommended.
"That sounds thoughtful of you! I wouldn't mind an extra hand or two."
"You better watch out when I start my special dance nights every weekend! I'm going to make this hotel all funky and popping when my tunes play!" Phantasmagloria mimicked playing her DJ stand.
"Would you happen to have any classical music for us to dance with?" Mr. Whirlinda questioned.
"Yeah, we're not exactly the kind of people who associate with the discotheque," added Mrs. Whirlinda.
"Might I jump into the tête-à-tête? I can take my time to write, practice, and perform my melodies in the new auditorium," Amadeus had a whiff of a grin.
"You can count me on that as well. I always enjoyed a partner to play by my side," Melody flipped her hair.
"Wouldn't you want to play the piano with me though?" Shivers butted in, causing everyone to be annoyed again.
"Oy, here we go again," Nana groaned. "The first thing I'm doing is going to bed, whether it's on a soft mattress or a rocking chair."
"I wouldn't mind a fluffy mattress with some soft pillows. My back is killing me after partaking in construction. After all, I'm not as youthful as I used to be," Uncle Grimmly reached from behind.
"Hey, Chef, you definitely cooked up a storm there whenever we catered to the group," complimented Captain Fishook.
"Why, thanks! I must say, you make a mean lobster bisque. It's honestly better than any of my seafood recipes," Soulfflé praised back. "You gotta show me your techniques and secrets to make that so delectable!"
"Just as long as you show me how you create those delicious dishes as well!"
"It's a deal! I look forward to working in the kitchen with you."
"I couldn't have said it any better!"
"Well, great. Now I'm starving again," Mr. Luggs muttered.
"You literally downed a huge turkey leg three minutes ago," Neville raised a concerning eyebrow.
"How is this glutton still hungry?" Lydia whispered to her husband.
Chauncey was busy drinking milk from his bottle that he didn't care about the previous conversation.
"Hey, Serpci? What kind of room did you envision again?" Jarvis wondered.
"Nothing special. I just wanted an Egyptian-themed place for me to enjoy. With a throne and a pyramid decoration, it feels like I never left the Tomb Suites!" the ghostly queen sounded giddy.
"Well, if it involves extreme heat or dryness, I'll politely stay away from there since I'm more of a cold person myself," Sir Weston verbalized.
"I'm thoroughly ecstatic to be one of the artistic eyes in this building. Conjoined with Ug's museum, my art pieces will look splendid on the walls and floors. Most of all, I'm thrilled to hear how everyone has their own new rooms to enjoy," Vincent Van Gore said pridefully, twirling the paintbrush in his hand.
"Ruff! Ruff!" Spooky agreed with the painter. Even Colombo and Polterkitty joined in.
"Arf! Arf!"
"Meow!"
"Say, Daisy, I just realized something," Mario peered up at her. "Polterkitty used to be Hellen's pet, but now that she's grown attached to you and Luigi, have you thought about adopting her?"
The flower princess glanced down at the violet feline who twitched her whiskers. They both had that look in their eyes that showed how much chemistry they shared since the night Daisy took care of her. Even Luigi shared the same sentiment as he smiled at both of them.
It seemed to be official.
"How would you like to join us?"
"Mrow!" Polterkitty cried out blissfully.
"I'll take that as a 'yes'!"
"Arf! Arf!" Colombo did a backflip. After he had little to no trust in the former panther, the Polterpup slowly realized how helpful she had been to the team. It got to the point where she earned Luigi's respect by saving him and his friends from a drastic nightmare.
"Thank you, gattino. Daisy, Peach, Mario, and everyone else wouldn't have fallen under King Boo's reign if you weren't here," Luigi gently scratched her chin, earning a soft purr from her.
"Have you thought about giving her a special name, Daisy?" Peach kneeled down to pet her back.
"Hmm... Not at this time. But maybe I'll come up with something later on. What matters is that you have a new member that will take care of you," the tomboy smiled at the cat.
"Ahem... Uh, Luigi?"
The green plumber turned around to see Clem. The mechanic definitely had something to say to him.
"I must admit, you and your older brother are a reliable team, whether you're fixing the plumbing or going out on adventures after what I've heard from the princesses. I underestimated you beforehand, and I didn't give you a single bit of respect or remorse for what I tried to pull off in the Boilerworks. I want to apologize once more for my extreme misconduct. I can only hope you can forgive me, although I won't be mad if you didn't."
Soaking in his words, Luigi took a minute to register his genuine speech. Once he did, he murmured, "Clem? I accept your apology, and I mean it when I say that I appreciate your words. As long as this is now water under the bridge, I'm okay to move on from that."
The lavender ghost curved his lips upward and raised a hand towards Luigi. The Italian reciprocated the gesture as he shook hands with Clem, ending their scuffle once and for all.
"Fellas, why don't we head inside and take in the interior?" E. Gadd suggested. Everyone was excited to finally enter the finished hotel.
"You lead the way, bro!" Mario gestured with his extended hand.
Luigi smiled at the man in red before checking the others. Daisy, Peach, Colombo, Polterkitty, the Toads, and the ghosts were eager to follow him. Lastly, Gooigi nodded at him.
"I'm ready."
Another laugh escaped Luigi's lips. "It's time to enjoy a real vacation, everybody! Let's-a-go!"
Cheers erupted throughout the forest as Luigi led the parade inside the new hotel. Knowing that the place wasn't haunted or filled with evil ghosts, the plumber was enthusiastic to enjoy the tour with his friends.
Luigi and the others got to spend a day at E. Gadd's new hotel, but it seemed wise for them to head back home to the Mushroom Kingdom as soon as possible. For Daisy, she needed to return to Sarasaland to update them on where she's been missing for over a week.
Toadette and the three colored Toads assembled the lost luggage that survived The Last Resort's collapse. While some objects and materials got destroyed or ruined, the ghosts were able to find most of their belongings, including every single one of Peach's suitcases. The charter bus was loaded up once more until there wasn't a bag left behind. Ready for departure, the Toads boarded the bus with Red Toad back in the driver's spot. Although Mario remained disturbed at his reckless driving, he waved it off and took his spot. This time, he opted for the back seat while Princess Peach took the window seat to his right. Across the aisle were Luigi and Daisy, the latter sitting close to the window. Yellow and Blue took the front seats near the door. Toadette, who remained with the gang for the grand opening, took her spot right behind Red.
"Thanks for everything, fellas!" E. Gadd called from the front steps of the hotel. Gooigi, the Boss and Portrait Ghosts, and some other ghouls gathered around to bid farewell.
"Bye-bye, everyone!" Luigi yelled, waving back at the group.
"Have a safe trip home!" Morty bellowed.
"We hope to see you again soon!" Clairvoya added, followed by some more 'goodbyes' from the group.
Red Toad put the gear shift in drive as he began to drive away from the hotel's front courtyard. As they watched the professor, Gooigi, and the ghosts become smaller and harder to see, Luigi sighed as he got back into his seat. He yawned out loud, stretching his arms and legs.
"Heh, tired, bro?" Mario chortled.
"I mean, is it even a surprise?"
"Tee hee, I know you can be very sleepy at times, Luigi. I should know that since your adventure at Pi'illo Island. But it's understandable why," Peach implied.
"Take all the naps you want, Luigi. We won't bother you," Daisy patted his left thigh.
"Ah, thanks. I'm just glad you're all safe and sound."
"Me, too, Weegie. If it weren't for you, we would've all been hanging above King Boo's furnace!" Mario shuddered.
"Meow!" Polterkitty got everyone's attention as she walked down the aisle. She eventually jumped up to Luigi and purred affectionately at him. After she received a nice pat on the head, she made her way to Daisy's lap, where she remained for the rest of the bus trip.
Suddenly, Luigi freaked out when he saw Colombo stick his head out from the chair in front of him.
"Oh, boy..." the man rolled his eyes before inviting him over. Colombo happily sat with him as he made himself comfortable with Daisy and Polterkitty.
"Aw, how adorable," Peach admired.
"Looks like you'll now have two pets to care for," Daisy teased.
"To be fair, Polterkitty is more attached to you. I'm certain she'll want to spend a lot of time with you," Luigi reasoned.
"Yeah, but she also wants to be with her special man in green and his energetic pooch. Right, guys?" Daisy asked the pets.
"Meow!"
"Ruff!"
"You've got quite the responsibility to handle, eh, Luigi?" Mario's mustache perked up from his wide grin.
Rolling his eyes and shaking his head playfully again, the plumber scratched the dog's head while getting licked in the face. As Colombo cuddled in his lap, Luigi sighed delightfully knowing that his pals were no longer in King Boo and Hellen's restraints.
"Next time, I'm not accepting any invitations for a vacation. Only we will plan one ourselves."
Luigi's comment made everyone giggle as his eyes fluttered from exhaustion. Leaning back in his reclining chair, he closed his eyes and snored peacefully as the bus slowly made its way back home. One thing for sure, he won't be catching ghosts for a while now. He can rest easy knowing that Hellen or King Boo weren't going to haunt him in his nightmares or in real life anytime soon.
END OF STORY
Wow. The first, legitimate chapter that's over 10,000 words. (11,000+ not including this heap of Author's Notes, to be specific.) Based on the fact that I wanted it to be 40 chapters long from my outline, I understand that I went overboard on this. I did want all of the major ghosts and characters to have some dialogue by putting their two cents in. At the end of the day though, I can finally mark this story as 'Complete'!
It's been quite a journey since the day Luigi's Mansion 3 was released. I slightly remembered creating the prologue just days before Halloween 2019, and I was prepared to take several scenes from the game's cutscenes and implement them into this rewrite with some twists. Of course, Daisy being in here was the primary disparity. However, implementing the Bosses, the Portrait Ghosts, and the generic ghouls from all three titles really changed the outlook of how I was going to write this story in the first place. Therefore, I need to express my thanks to some special users.
(Disclaimer, there are a lot of names to address.)
XIII Hearts- Personally, you should be the first one I should thank for including the suggestion of the Portrait Ghosts and others being released. Since it was implied King Boo and Hellen had something to do with it, the fact it wasn't utilized in the game was a bit upsetting. Although I don't normally take requests, this was one of the few ideas I did not regret using at all! The concept of dual boss fights was enticing enough for me to take some time and figure out how to include everyone, whether it was minor or important to the story. Thank you so much for allowing me to execute your suggestion!
LightDusk16, Arogustus (formerly TAWOGfan2000)- I had to dig back at my PMs to find your names since it's been a while, but you two were also kind and helpful enough to think of some boss connections that set up the dual fights! Thanks for that, as well as your comments!
Superfloxes- As a Luigi fan, I was also intrigued by your Luigi's Mansion 3 reimagining! You definitely beat me when it came to updates and all that. More importantly, the ideas you had flowed well into your story! I did my best not to spoil myself because I wanted to write down the chapters of each of the floors before I continued exploring your content. If we ended up having similar ideas, that goes to show it happened coincidentally, yet you have quite a creative mind! Thank you so much for taking the time to read my iteration as well!
The Sensational SpiderDom321, AzureStriker2014, Crystal Rose of Pollux, FairyTalePrincess16, Tiger of Darkness, StarlitDuck- Ever since I've met and known you on FanFiction, I appreciate all of your feedback and help on this story whenever you got the chance! While I am aware that some of you may or may not have played through most of the story as of this finale, I'm glad you all got the chance to sit back and read the rewrite!
Verran- I wanted a special shoutout towards you since I've followed some of your stories a while ago, and I was genuinely surprised that you came across my story! It was cool to see what you had in mind as the story progressed early on, and I just wanted to show my appreciation for that!
FireFlamerx9z, animegamefanatic, IanAlphaAxel, Almond-Walnut, Shana Hager, Draco Mercer, dbot, Bayoboo, DoggoneKingBoo, Ultimatejoseph135, Pikminfan, UltimateCCC, ColonelShamrock/Alex Wells, Bustamark, TheShadowStarr23, UAZ-469, Golden Eye, Califlower, LiamTheYoshi, Murasaki Dokugi, Oderus, Tsukimine12, MarioFan88, Megan Romero, Q, yonimenkir9, PikaMew1288, Boid Man, I. , Ohfortheloveofpete, diablo86, sigmadanny, Verafilia, MarioFan2463, scopica, 08rocben, tepigoverlord498, Darksymphony777, The Metal Overlord, LuigiFan640, RGGAM, Brendan Wolff, The-Black-Forest-Cake-Is-A-Lie, Th3AscensionYuNgJaY, KhaosOmega, G09F17R02, Nataly Guardado, Justin, and all of the anonymous people/Guests- After receiving a ton of reviews from you all, whether it's from every single chapter, several, or even just one, they've been very encouraging for me to continue whenever I sit down and write these out. It means a whole lot to me!
I apologize if I missed anyone or misspelled your names here. It's tough to keep track of so many people and reviews when this is literally my most popular fanfiction on the site. And even if you didn't review, marking this as a favorite/follow or even reading it in general is perfectly fine by me. Not only that, I forgot to mention that this story amassed over 100,000 views which is freaking insane! I never expected to achieve this milestone, but it actually happened a few months ago – and I completely forgot about it at one point! To go along with 180+ favorites, nearly 150 follows, and over 500 comments, I cannot express my thanks enough for all of your kind words and support!
With that being said, there were some other things I wanted to mention. Even though I gave Polterpup a unique name (since Hidden Bravery), I left Polterkitty as she is because I don't know if I'll be writing a follow-up to this. (That, and I'm typically bad with naming.) I already have a Mario & Sonic crossover that's over five years old and a sequel to my Sonic Forces rewrite that I haven't finished yet. Having to deal with three WIPs simultaneously is tiring enough, and this has happened for a long time when I also have to deal with outside factors. I had some ideas that were scrapped from this story, too. One of which was Daisy having an outburst at Luigi for thinking it wouldn't be smart to have her tag along. Instead, placing her as a trustworthy partner made this story a lot more fun to have the two interact with each other. The heart-to-heart in Ch. 13 where Luigi opened about his initial point of view only to realize how much he needed her in this adventure was a lot more satisfying ever since I wrote that scene. I won't go over all of the stuff that has been taken out or revised since I've been dragging this on for too long.
To conclude, I want to say thank you one last time for joining this reimagining of Luigi's Mansion 3. Now, I can close the books so I can try to complete my other projects. Until we meet again, I appreciate you all for following, reviewing, and reading Hotel Horror! This is TGN, signing off.
