Mario and Luigi couldn't believe that they were seeing Elvin yet again after all of this time. They hadn't seen the ghost researcher since the time incident he had with the Shroobs. That was one heck of an adventure...

Luigi blurted out, "What ghosts?!"

Mario asked, "Yeah, I thought the old mansion was burnt to the ground? Did the portrait ghosts get loose again?"

Mario instantly got worried as Luigi started to hyperventilate. Mario didn't blame him, especially after the first encounter. 'I'm not letting him near those ghosts again without me there,' the red clad hero thought.

Elvin interrupted his thoughts as he reassured, "Oh, don't worry, I sold those paintings a long time ago."

Mario raised an eyebrow and asked, "Was that exactly a wise idea?"

Elvin seemed to ignored that as he asked Luigi, "Ah, what are you doing on the floor?"

Luigi blushed out of embarrassment as he got up off of the wood floor. Luigi brushed off the dust on his overalls, Mario standing next to him.

The green clad plumber started to say, "Elvin, I..."

The ghost researcher interrupted, "Never mind that! I'm preparing the Pixelator!"

The red clad hero perked up at that and asked, "Pixelator?"

Luigi paled as he started to protest, waving his hands in front of his face, "Professor, wait a minute..."

But Elvin already started the Pixelator and transported Luigi and Mario to Evershade Valley. When Luigi and Mario opened his eyes, they found themselves in a make-shift lab deep underground. And sitting in a chair was Elvin himself. Elvin was surprised that Luigi and Mario were alone.

Elvin asked, "Guys, where's Violet?"

Mario reported, "That's what Luigi was trying to tell you. Violet has gone missing!"

Elvin stated, "Oh dear, how awful!"

Luigi made a fist in worry as he replied, "I have to find her!"

Elvin waved a hand to dismiss the idea and responded, "This is far more important right now, my boy. I need your help."

Mario raised an eyebrow as he questioned, "What's going on?"

Elvin explained, "Well, first let me say that you are completely safe here in the Bunker. We'll catch up later and I will help you two later with finding Violet. I've been continuing my research on paranormal happenings and whatnot. In fact, after our last adventure, I have become somewhat of an authority in the field. But enough of that, let me fill you in on our ghostly predicament."

With that, Elvin pointed at a screen which had a dark purple crescent moon on it. Both brothers were in total awe.

Luigi asked, "What's that?"

Elvin answered, "That is something called the Dark Moon. It's a mysterious celestial body that has a pacifying effect on all of the ghosts in Evershade Valley. When I heard about it, I jumped at the rare chance to study ghosts in a peaceful environment. It was incredible, boys! I was doing some of the best research of my long and storied career! That is, until something inside the ghosts and they suddenly got all hostile!"

Mario put two-and-two together and stated, "And you ran in here to get away from them, correct?"

Elvin nodded as he replied, "Yes. I was in Gloomy Manor but I knew that they wouldn't come in here after me. Of course, I'm not the one to sit around and twiddle my thumbs. I wanted to know why the ghosts freaked out. So I settled in and did some research to figure out what had happened. That's when I discovered something truly astonishing: the Dark Moon vanished from the sky! And top of that, the whole of Evershade Valley had become enveloped in an eerie fog."

Luigi mumbled, "Mamma mia!"

Elvin continued, "Now, I can't be sure, but I think the disappearance of the Dark Moon is what caused all this mess. And what a mess it is! If we don't do something about it, the ghosts might leave this valley and terrorize the world beyond! Worse still, my research will go to waste! We can't let that happen, boys! Now, I got good news and bad news."

Mario questioned, "What's the good news?"

Elvin took a piece of the Dark Moon out and explained, "The good news is, I found a fragment of the Dark Moon near-by! The bad news is, I found a fragment of the Dark Moon near-by which means the thing is broken. And this Dark Moon piece seems to be corrupted by some sort of energy... I reckon it's a disruptive energy that suppresses the Dark Moon's ability to pacify ghosts!"

Both brothers looked at it, in awe, as they both stated, "That's not good..."

Elvin then showed Luigi and Mario the turn table to clean off the piece of the Dark Moon. Luigi and Mario watched in awe as the piece was cleaned and then the fog lifted a tad bit. The ghost researcher typed on his computer a bit and then smiled.

He commented, "Heh heh! I've done it, boys! It seems to have regained its original power! And did you hear that whooshing noise outside, youngsters? Let me check my instruments." Luigi made a crazy motion behind Elvin's back. Mario couldn't help but chuckle softly. Elvin added, "Criminy! All the fog around this Bunker...is gone! Quick! Let's take a look at the map of Evershade Valley."

With that, Elvin brought up the map of the entire valley and appearing on the map was a mansion.

Mario perked up as he asked, "A mansion?"

Elvin nodded and answered, "You know what this means? We'll be able to reach Gloomy Manor now! But more importantly, it means that restoring the Dark Moon will solve all our problems! If we find all of the Dark Moon pieces, the fog will vanish and the ghosts will return to normal. But until then, the ghosts will need to be contained. And that's where you and your brother come in, Luigi."

Luigi stated, "You want me to capture them, right?"

Elvin replied, "Right, you are the best ghost wrangler I know! You and Violet tore up that mansion years ago! So, what do you say, young feller? Will you and your brother help me capture the ghosts and restore the Dark Moon?"

Luigi shook with fear. As much as he didn't want to do this without Violet's help, he knew that Elvin needed help. Luigi thought, 'Besides, maybe sometime away from Violet and with Mario will do me some good. I haven't really been myself since the Mr. L incident. I still can't believe that I almost killed everyone...' Upon thinking this, Luigi made a fist and started to shake. He even started to cry a little. Elvin saw this and wondered if he should really recruit Luigi if Violet was missing. Mario saw this as he placed his hand on his shoulder.

Luigi looked up at him as Mario gave him a smile. Luigi returned it, grateful that he had his brother.

Mario finally told Elvin, "We'll do it, Elvin. I'll keep a good eye on him."

Luigi joked, "But then who's gonna keep a good eye on you?"

Mario shot him a look, jokingly, making both brothers laugh. Elvin gave Luigi a small smile, the ghost researcher was really worried about Luigi and about Violet. He thought, 'Why would anyone want to harm her? She's a rather sweet girl. And poor Luigi is probably feeling guilty for not protecting her like he did in the first mansion incident... Well, at least he has Mario this time.'

With that, Luigi and Mario headed out to Gloomy Manor to pick up the Poltergust 5000, the updated version of Poltergust 3000. Luigi even got the Stroboscope, an updated version of his flashlight. Mario took the DS, the upgraded version of the Game Boy Horror.

"So this is what Violet did the first time around? Giving you directions and such?" Mario asked.

Luigi nodded as he answered, "Yeah, although she was more afraid of these ghosts than you are."

Mario rubbed the back of his head and stated, "Truth be told, I am scared."

Luigi perked up at this as he replied, "You are, Malleo?"

Mario nodded as he told him, "I'm human, just like you are, Weegie. But I am not leaving your side."

Luigi looked touched as he responded, "Thanks bro..."

Mario smiled. After capturing some Greenie ghosts and seeing a ghost dog with a gem, they headed back to get their next mission. Elvin told them about the Parascope. The Parascope was to detect paranormal signals. Luigi and Mario's next mission was to investigate the northern rooms in the Gloomy Manor. However, some Slammer ghosts got to the gears first and took them. After investigating the mansion, Luigi and Mario got the gears back and headed back to the Bunker.

Elvin commented, "You are doing a great job so far, boys. A few Slammers, Greenies, and even a Hider!"

Luigi shrugged and stated, "It's no big deal, Elvin."

Mario added, "After all, we're the best in the business."

...

Wishmaker1028: Dun, dun, dun! A-1 and A-2 done just like that! Can Luigi and Mario get the Dark Moon back together? What happened to Violet? Who destroyed the Dark Moon in the first place? There's only one way to find out! You stayed tuned for chapter 3! Sorry if squeezing Mario in feels a bit weird but this is what I wanted to do. Please read and review! And always think outside of the box!