Welcome back!

As a said last week, this chapter is shorter than the other ones, but you'll probably understand why when you see the next chapter.

Also I updated the description! So that's a thing I did.

Review Time

Ems602- I actually forgot about wigglers for this AU, this worm guy is actually Chuck Quizmo from the first Paper Mario, but I can understand the confusion. The scary part though is that he's only half corrupted, so he's going to take every opportunity to play around with Luigi.

As for Luvbi, let's just say the Pure Hearts did not handle the premature End of All Worlds, so their ability to manifest as love is incredibly weak and tantamount to what happened to the Pure Heart in Sammers Kingdom after it was destroyed in canon.

And I'm glad your excited for more!

*insert Disclaimer here*

"What kind of answers could you possibly need from the likes of me?"

Luigi didn't reply. He wasn't really lying about needing answers, he had no idea what to expect from a world he'd isolated himself from for so long. He should've talked to Mario beforehand so he'd know what to expect.

"Whatever. I'll just assume, little 'ol Mario couldn't be bothered to tell you anything and just lend my infinite knowledge unto you...for a price of course." He sniffed, grimacing afterwards with disgust. "Preferably something edible."

"But you already have food." Luigi said, pointing to the mass of organs and blood.

"Listen buddy, I'm pretty much always starving, just do 'ol Quizmo a favor and tough it out. You'll last longer without food than I will anyhow, so spit out what you need to know."

Luigi complied with Quizmo, although he couldn't help but feel intimidated as he asked away.

"What happen to the geography?"

"The End of Days rearranged so much stuff, I'm pretty sure sure it all got mixed up."

"Is Bowser's Castle still at its normal place?"

"What kind of idiot question-? Of course it is! Wouldn't suggest going there though, what business do you have with a dead monarchy anyhow?"

Luigi didn't answer.

"Whatever, next question!"

"Has there been any word on curing the corruption?"

"Your guess is as good as mine. I don't tolerate the virtue of sharing enough to bother finding that out."

"How'd you kill Merlon?"

"I just convinced those toads to ambush him. Their spots have paralyzing toxins in them now, just takes a single touch to immobilize something. All I had to do watch them nip at him until he fled off into here to lick his wounds. Only took a well-aimed shot for 'ol Chuck Quizmo to snatch himself a free meal."

"Are you corrupted?"

"I sure as Hell ain't pure, but I ain't a full blown corrupted either. It's more of a...transition."

He was running out of questions rather quickly.

"Well?"

"How long has it been?"

"Since The End of Days? Beats me."

He couldn't think of anything else.

"Looks like you've run outta things to ask pal." He smiled. "Now about my compensation..."

Luigi reached for his bag.

"I don't eat any of that plant crap by the way."

He paused. He only had mushrooms to offer.

"I somewhat lost my appetite for that stuff long ago, just tastes like dirt to me now. What I want is something with a little more...meat in it. Something fresh."

Luigi tried to flee, but tripped. Quizmo's tail wrapped around his leg and dragged the plumber to his location.

"Don't worry pal, I'm sure nobody will miss your sorry face other than your brother, which is fine by me. He'll have to go searching for your corpse eventually."

The sound of large, but brisk footsteps reached Luigi's ears. Quizmo's tail loosened, as if frighten by the sound.

"You were stalling me! You knew about the damn bird didn't you?! You dirty-" Quizmo was interrupted by an ear-bleeding shriek. A tall, buzzard-like creature with bone-thin legs emerged from the woods. The front and the back of the head both harbored a beak, one long, one short. The wings were far too small and underused to lift the beast into the air but still managed to provide as intimidating.

A pair of bloodshot eyes led themselves to plumber and his invertebrate capturer. It shrieked again, this time louder. Luigi was too frightened to consider pulling out the hammer in his possession.

"You led Buzzar straight to us you idiot!" Quizmo ranted, drawing the bird closer to them.

Buzzar twisted its neck, the long beak now facing the front, and snapped at its two morsels.

Quizmo froze up, releasing his prisoner. Luigi rolled out of the way without a scratch on him. The same could not be said for Quizmo, who flailed inside the birds grasp.

It lifted its head and opened its mouth, dropping the worm into its gullet.

Luigi fled behind a toppled tree. The buzzard made a beeline for the remains of Merlon, shooing and picking off a mass of small brown corrupted that had conglomerated in Quizmo's absence.

The mighty bird of prey gouged down into the carcass, cuing Luigi that now was an ideal time to return to his mission as swiftly as his feet could carry him.

And that's the chapter!

Next week we'll actually start a story arc, oooo!

Joking aside, as usual, I do thank everyone that reads this.

And please, if you could, be sure to leave a review. It helps me figure out how I can improve my writing and encourages me to believe I'm not just yelling at an empty void.

Anyway, Adios!