The boo ghost hid in the shadows, waiting. Others were around, but they were farther away, hiding and hovering. They were eagerly awaiting the next visitor. But the one ghost, he was busy thinking. He found it a funny thing that he could faintly feel the weight of a cap on top of his head. But the feeling dwindled by the passing second and he wasn't so sure anymore. Wasn't he forgetting something else, too? A name? What was it again? Something important. Lugi? Lugio? He tried to remember for a moment then gave up. It didn't really matter. There was mischief to be made and someone was bound to walk by. In the darkness of the place he found comfort in the feeling that he belonged. The boos took him in when he was alone and he couldn't be more grateful. Never mind the spark of sadness that he couldn't shake off. But they had told him it was just a remnant of the feelings he had from the time he was alive, and that it would soon pass. He was still curious about that. What was he like alive? Did he have brothers or sisters? Friends? All he could remember was one name, though he didn't know who it belonged to. Was it someone he loved? Hated? When nothing more than blurred images and voices came up in his mind, he stuck out his tongue with disinterest. That didn't matter either. He was a boo now, and he couldn't wait to scare whoever came by. As if on cue someone rushed in, squat and stocky; a little man in red, showing not a shred of hesitance. He seemed very familiar to the boo, possibly someone important. The ghost drew close, ready to pounce; mouth agape with bared teeth and a lolling tongue. He couldn't help but giggle a little in anticipation. The little man had stopped running a little ways away, his back to the boo. He stood still for a second, then suddenly he turned around. The ghost saw a little of his face before halting and covering his eyes. This happened before, the boo thought. The eyes of the living always burned like white fire, and it hurt to be looked at. It was what made his eyes so small and burnt black, and they couldn't bear to look anymore. But something in him told him that the face belonged to someone he knew very well. That face, he recognized that face. He forced himself to pull his hands away a little and take a peek at the man on more time. He had to know. Because that name came up again in his mind, louder than ever and he couldn't ignore it: Mario.

Mario ran into that cold, dark and silent place. He couldn't stop now; he felt he was so close to his goal. His friends tried to console him, tried to stop him from going. It was too late, they told him. Luigi was gone. It was best to let him go and move on; to remember the man as best as they could for as long as they lived. But Mario would have none of it, not after what had happened before Luigi's death. It was a mission just like any other, but he could never have imagined it would end like it did. He could still remember with pain their last conversation together:

"I can't do it, Mario! It's too far!"

"You have to jump, Luigi. Come on!"

"I can't!"

"You can do it, Luigi. It's not so far."

"But Mario I…I'm so tired…"

"We can't waste any time. Just jump!"

And Luigi did. But his terrified face was the last Mario saw of him before Luigi's energy had run out and he plummeted to the fiery depths below. Mario was overcome with grief and despair, and it took him a long time before he pulled himself together. At first he wouldn't accept Luigi's passing. Then he couldn't stop thinking that it was his fault, for a long time. He shouldn't have made Luigi jump; he shouldn't have been so determined. He should have celebrated every one of Luigi's victories; he should've taken Luigi with him more on his adventures, to make him feel more like a hero and less like Mario's second shadow. Though they were the Mario brothers, Luigi was always just 'Mario's brother.' Mario knew Luigi looked up to him, and he let him down. These punishing thoughts brought fresh tears to the plumber's eyes and he wiped them away. He was here for the most important mission of his life and he would follow through with it. He tightened his grip around the end of the Poltergust 5000. He would find and capture all the boos he could, little by little, until he got the right one. He would find Luigi. Mario would find his brother, capture him, and find a way to bring him back to life. He swore to himself he would succeed. Luigi had to come back, and then Mario would tell him he was sorry, and never let him go. He finally stopped running to look around and figure out where to go next, scanning the place with his eyes. Amongst all the shadows and silence he could feel something follow him, and giggle softly. He turned around to face it and immediately felt a ray of hope. It was a boo but it was peeking out at him like it knew him, and he could see something on top its head. More ghostly than the ghost, it was the faintest outline of a cap similar to Mario's, with the shape of an 'L' on the front.

(author's note: When I wrote the first chapter I was convinced it was the last one as well. I hope you enjoy this somewhat random addition to the story.)