Long ago, there was a kingdom. A kingdom ruled by the Extriva bloodline. However, one day the king's half sister, Faye Morgana, conspired against him. Jealous of his claim to the throne, despite being raised by peasants, Faye, a feared practitioner of the dark arts, conspired to absolutely destroy him at all costs. It was a task she never lived to accomplish. But in her dying breath, she imparted a curse: a shadow of her ambition would one day rise, and when they did, her brother would be trapped in an eternal state of limbo by that shadow. Unable to pass on, as the entirety of his kingdom fell into ruin...
Vinny and Luigi departed the elevator, walking along the cobblestone floor. A cold draft invading the entirety of the floor, as they looked at the torches aligning the walls. Most of which were barely alight. "This is one of the more... eccentric floors, Luigi. It was built as a means of providing entertainment to the guests, by letting them watch jousting matches and such." As they walked, they saw it: Extriva Castle. A blue mist in the air, with the walls of the room itself painted black, to give the illusion of a starless night sky. The front gates were rusty, and looked about ready to collapse any minute. "Golly... I'm impressed. How did you guys manage to fit an entire castle on a single floor?" Peach asked through the Joyconnector. "Well, in truth it's MUCH smaller than a real castle. But I believe this floor employs what the construction crew labeled 'funhouse design'. And apparently it's able to make it possible for a floor to look bigger on the inside, than the outside."
They carefully opened the gate, as it squeaked very loudly. One of the tapestries on the castle walls coming undone, and falling into the moat, where it is immediately eaten by ghost alligators. The drawbridge is up. Figures. "Hmm. Just spitballing here, but I have the feeling someone doesn't want us going in there." E. Gadd stated. Vinny folded her arms. "Want or not, we're not gonna squat out here hoping they give in." Normally Vinny would just float across, but alligators are capable of leaping out of the water, and she didn't wanna run the risk. That's when they noticed an odd shadow being cast to their right, but nothing was casting it. Luigi knew what to do, and use the dark light on it to reveal a catapult. "Hmm... Not exactly the ideal way of gaining entry, but..." The two of them then rolled the catapult into place, before Vinny got in position to launch it. Luigi looked down at the alligators, one of which licked its lips in anticipation.
"Alright, Luigi. I'll make sure you land safely on the other side." Luigi nervously shuddered at the thought of being launched. "Sorry, but it has to be you. Unlike me, you have the luxury of wearing pants." Luigi was about to resign to his fate, but then he remembered something: he then brought out Gooigi. "Ahh, good thinking." Gooigi then sat on the catapult, and the two of them launched him together. He flew over the moat, and the raised drawbridge and successfully made it to his destination. From there, he pulled the lever to lower the drawbridge, and they were now able to cross without incident. Luigi high-fived Gooigi, and returned him to the poltergust. Now it was time to enter Extriva Castle...
(The music "King Bowser's Castle 2" from Yoshi's Woolly World plays)
The duo walked into the front hall, greeted by some really dusty and ancient looking decor. As well as a ghost boy leaning against a wall with a rose in his mouth. He wore black armor, and had blonde hair that flowed down to the top of his neck. His skin was a hue of light green, and he wore a silver crown that had the appearance of being made of thorns. "Prince Mordread..." Vinny stated, in a disinterested tone. Mordread then stood straight up, and removed the Rose from his mouth, brandishing it in his hand. When he spoke, his voice had a British accent to it. "I could tell by the rise of the moon, you'd be joining me for a visit, luv." He then casually walked over, and sniffed Vinny like a dog. Something that visibly bothered her. "Strawberry hand lotion, milady?" She then clonked him on the head. "Perhaps I should remind you that you're already in hot water with the president from your previous flirting attempts." He rubbed his head. "First off, ow. That was... that was ow, right there. And secondly, I am royalty. It's not like the old man has any status over me."
Vinny sighed, as Luigi watched the scene unfold. "Now if you're done making stupid remarks, we would like to know if there's a peculiar life-like painting that had been transported to this floor earlier this night." Mordread smirked. "If I told you, would you promise to go on a date with me?" Vinny shot him a look that conveyed he shouldn't push his luck. "I'm joking. Chill. And yes, as a matter of fact, there was. Why?" Vinny dropped the death stare. "That's not important. Do you know where it is?" He smugly smiled. "Of course. My father has it. Said it was a gift from the higher ups." Vinny scanned his expression for any hint of deception. "'Higher ups'? What are you trying to imply?" He wagged his finger at her. "Hey, I'm just saying it as it is. Don't duel the messenger." Vinny thought about it for a moment. "Well, if this is some sort of inside job, it would explain why all the staff are working for them."
Mordread then tried to hand Vinny his rose. "Obviously that washed up has-been I call a dad isn't gonna hand over the painting without a fight. How about a gift, for luck?" Vinny went back to being repulsed. "Nice try, but its probably got your germs and saliva all over it." Mordread shrugged. "Suit yourself. When you need your prince to come rescue you, you'll know where I'll be." He then vanished. He didn't even notice Luigi at all. That, or he just didn't care enough to mention it. "Yeesh, I'm guessing you two have a history?" E. Gadd inquired. Vinny rolled her eyes. "He's just one of those guys who can't seem to take a hint. Don't mind him. You could probably draw a pretty face on a tree, and he'd act the same." With that scuffle out of the way, they proceed deeper into the castle. They eventually find themselves entering the stands of a gladiator style arena. And there, in the center of it was Vlad Extriva. King of this castle. He had a white beard, and purple armor with neon blue trim. A purple and gold crown on his head, and an eyepatch over one eye. A scar running across his face. And his skin color was a light hue of yellow, and he was shriveled and decrepit from old age. He had a tired look in his eyes, as he stood there in the arena. Not really doing anything, just staring at the ground.
The two of them were confused, but decided it'd be a good idea not to alert him to their presence. But then... they saw a goob on the other side of the stadium holding a ye olden trumpet. He looked across the arena with a smile on his face, raising his eye brows to imply what he was about to do. Luigi gave him a pleading expression, while Vinny looked around for somewhere to hide. But alas, the seats were too small to cover them. The goob then obnoxiously blew the trumpet, as Vlad jumped to life! "Mordread... Mordread! He's here somewhere. Where...! Wheeere...!" He then looked up at where the goob was. It immediately ran for its life, as the king shifted his focus to his uninvited guests. His eye twitched. "You...! Mordread! I will break the curse! I will destroy you! YOU WILL KNOW TRUE TERROR!" The Kong's sanity had long since collapsed, and he legitimately believed the they were Mordread.
Vinny grabbed Luigi's arm, as the two of them started running. At first Luigi didn't see why, considering Vlad was all the way down there, but he realized what the danger was as the scabbard around his waist started to glow blue, and he started getting bigger. "Goodness...!" Peach gasped, as Vlad soon towered over the arena and pulled out his sword. Vinny and Luigi ran into the barracks nearby, hoping it'd provide some protection as Vinny explained the situation. "The king's scabbard contains the ghost energy of everyone he once ruled. If we don't get it off him, we're as good as doomed." The both of them screamed as a giant sword sliced off the roof. "You have nowhere to hide, coward!" Vlad said, as he tried ramming his sword down on them. The room shook, as the king's colossal hand invaded the space. His mighty blade striking down through the floor. Though he was terrified, Luigi could see the armor on Vlad's hand was just as ancient as he is. It was practically falling apart itself.
"Luigi, I believe the poltergust may be able to suck up chunks of his gauntlet! Maybe we can find a way to hurt him from there!" With the backing of E. Gadd's brain power, Luigi got to work. Avoiding the bits of falling debris around him as he started sucking away at the gauntlet. "What are you up to, scoundrel?" Vlad questioned, as he struggled to free his sword from its place. Against the suction of the poltergust, the armor around his hand soon crumbled to dust. Vinny then grabbed a nearby torch and used it to set the king's hand on fire! Letting go of the sword briefly as the fire spread across his hand, the king smashed it against the far wall of the arena in a frenzy to put it out. And he was successful, that attack only proving to anger him forward. "Agh! You'll regret that, you little hooligan!" Finally ripping his sword free from the stone, he reeled back to swing it. "Brace yourself, Luigi!" Vinny warned, as the both of them jumped onto Vlad's sword mid-swing. Holding on for dear life, as it raised into the sky.
They hung on to the best of their abilities, as Vlad impatiently looked at the room. Not seeing where they went. "I know you're here somewhere... Hiding like this? It's very befitting of you." Vinny lost her grip, and screamed as she fell towards the ground. Luigi watching in horror, unable to do anything. Thankfully, she grabbed onto his scabbard before she fell too far. Luigi breathed a sigh of relief, but it was short lived, as the sword started moving again. "I will break your curse on this castle, even if I have to destroy everything in... it?" Luigi swallowed hard, as Vlad rose his sword to eye level to see Luigi. Luigi found himself paralyzed with fear as a giant pair of eyes stared him down. "Ah... I see. Clever. Very clever. But not enough to escape my wrath." He lifted Luigi by the foot with his finger and thumb. "One power you don't possess is flight. To think your reign of terror would end in such an anticlimactic fashion. Any last words, Mordread?" However, as he was saying this, a ripping sound was heard. The belt that attached his scabbard was tearing from old age, and Vinny's attempts to stay on. By the time the king noticed what was going on, his belt had ripped. Vinny and the scabbard fell to the ground, but fortunately the scabbard broke her fall. Vlad could only stare in disbelief as he started to shrink back down, his pants having fallen off with his belt no longer holding them up.
Finally back down to his normal size, and pantsed in front of his opponents, Vinny covered her eyes at the ridiculous sight before her as Luigi, still hanging upside down from the king's hand, flashed him with the strobulb and sucked him up. "What sorcery is thiiiiiiiis-!" Captured, and contained. Vinny dusted herself off, and rejoined her friend. "Don't know how, but we made it through that one. One thing has atleast been made apparent though." Luigi looked at her questioningly. "The painting isn't on this floor. After that fight, I believe this might have been one giant trap by Mordread." Luigi then froze, as Vinny looked at where he was looking. "Aww, you wound me, luv. You really do." There was Mordread. Holding the king's scabbard in his hands, and giving a cocky smile. "You lies to us! You deliberately set us against Vlad to have us killed!" Mordread's smirk grew wider,
"Don't take it personally, fair maiden. That was just a happy coincidence, really." E. Gadd then spoke up through the Joyconnector. "Elaborate, you fiend!" Mordread gave his rose a good sniff. "It's true, we were offered a HUGE horde of coins for the green man's capture. But there's something more important than money, my dear. Power. The power befitting of this kingdom's rightful king. And thanks to you..." He then held up the scabbard as it flowed ominously. "There's no one else who can stand in the way of that. The power of the scabbard? The kingdom my old man refused me and my aunt? All of it belongs to ME!" They then watched, as he channeled the magic in the scabbard, enveloping him in a cloud of darkness. "Just when you think you've lost all sympathy for that no-good double crossing... Urgh! Let's take this guy down, Luigi!" Luigi nodded, and readied his poltergust. Mordread has transformed into a dragon made out of darkness! His black wings flapping intimidatingly over his foes. "It's really a shame. You could've been my queen, Vinny. But now it seems I'll have to destroy you. Oh well. I'll find another girl. Preferably, one who doesn't give me so much lip."
(The music "confrontation" from Soul Caliber 2 plays)
"Better plan on canceling your coronation, because there is NO WAY I'm losing to a punk like you!" Vinny flew up to take on Mordread as Luigi watched from ground. Mordread flew across the sky, blasting orbs of fire from his mouth, as tried to keep a distance. Vinny dodged his airborn volley, and kicked him across the face. As he reeled, she got on his back and forcefully steered him back towards the ground. "Be ready, Luigi!" She called. Luigi stood in place, as the beast whooshed by, he used his poltergust to zap away at his vitality. Narrowly avoiding a wall, Mordread wrestled Vinny off of him, and crushed her throat in his claws. "The world is my plaything. You are no exception. I am your king, and you WILL respect me!" But before he could successfully choke Vinny out of consciousness, Luigi shot out a plunger onto his face. Forcing him to drop her and try to get it off of him. Vinny hit the floor before scrambling to her feet, clutching her windpipe. "Thanks for the save..."
Mordread freed his face, briefly pondering if that plunger had been used before returning his attention to the fight. He then flew towards Luigi, and grabbed him by the face! Grinding him across the sand and then lifting him into the air. "Oh no you don't!" Vinny quickly grabbed a sword from a nearby suit of armor and flew up after them. Mordread held Luigi up to him, as the plumber helplessly struggled to escape from his grasp. "Of all the people she'd get along with better than me, and she chooses you!? A plumber!? Ha! What a story that'll make! But I'm afraid yours ends here." He then started charging up a blast of fire in his jaws. But Vinny then raced in, sword in hand. "That call is not yours to make!" She then plunged the sword down his windpipe, getting his attack stuck in his mouth before it explodes inside of him, smoke rising from his ears, as he and Luigi tumble towards the ground. Just before Luigi hit the ground, Vinny grabbed him and floated him down to safety. Mordread meanwhile, got a face full of sand.
"Alright Luigi! Finish him off!" E. Gadd cheered. Luigi nodded, as he started sucking Mordread in, taking advantage of his dazed state. But because his dragon form had wings, it was proving quite difficult. So Luigi started yanking the capture stream back and forth, sending Mordread flying with it. Cleaning him straight through walls, and smashing his skull into the floor. Now he was exhausted, beaten, and downright humiliated. But he still had one last trick up his sleeve. "I didn't wanna do this. But you leave me no choice..." He started charging up all his energy into a single attack. His body eminating with energy as he prepared to charge at them. Luigi pointed his poltergust, with Vinny holding onto it as well for extra support. Mordread came at them full speed, and the two of them activated the blowing function on the poltergust to blow the dragon back.
At first, he was slowly inching forward, as the incredible turbulence pushed him as much as it could, but as he was almost close enough to complete his attack. "You know, I thought you looked very handsome in battle, my prince." Vinny said the one thing that could break his focus in a time like this. Mordread was so flabbergasted, that it gave Luigi the moment he needed to take him down. Mordread was splattered against the wall one last time, finally laying on the ground in total defeat. His dragon form dissipated, and he was reduced to a normal ghost once again. "How...? Why...? I'm the king...!" Vinny sighed. "You can be king in a containment pod. I'm sure your father has much to discuss with you." Luigi then activated the poltergust one last time. "Yooouuu cannoOOOT WIIIIIIIN-!" He screamed, as he was suctioned up.
That was quite a trying ordeal, but now it was over. This floor didn't have what they were looking for, so that left a total of 9 remaining. Including the upper 8 floors, and the basement. Luigi wiped the sweat off his brow. "That was awesome!" He turned his head to see Vinny. That caught him off guard. For a moment, her voice sounded like another young female ghost they've met. Vinny herself seemed quite surprised. "Sorry Luigi, I have... I have no idea where that came from. But hey, we made it through this. All things considered, that's pretty good." E. Gadd then called them on the Joyconnector. "That was a wonderful display of teamwork. Great job! Why don't you two come on down for a bit? No doubt you're both tired. Besides, Peach has made some cake, and you just have to try it." Vinny and Luigi agreed with the notion, and started heading back towards the elevator.
"You know Luigi, I just realized that of all the people to break the curse on Vlad and his kingdom, it was you and me. All things considered, that's quite the achievement." Luigi raised an eyebrow in confusion, obviously not knowing what curse she was referring to. Vinny smiled. "I'll tell you about it in the lab..."