A/N: Hey guys! In the previous chapter, Mario and Luigi went to the Halloween party, but King Boo suddenly came back and attacked everyone after Luigi imitated him. Fed up of feeling weak because of King Boo, Mario took Luigi's Poltergust G-00, and began fighting King Boo, ignoring his brother's warnings. Since he had never used the Poltergust before, he had no chance of beating him, so Luigi defeated him instead. However, this intensified Mario's willingness to learn how to defend himself against King Boo and the other ghosts, just like his and Luigi's birthday, when his brother gave him an instruction manual for the Poltergust. Will Mario be able to use the Poltergust well and learn how to defend himself against ghosts? Let's find out!

Chapter 15: Anti-Ghost Defense Lessons

(''1 AM- Animal Crossing: Wild World OST'')

It was still Tuesday night in the Mushroom Kingdom. The Halloween party had been a more intense experience than Mario and Luigi would have liked, and even after dinner, they kept thinking about it. King Boo had returned while Luigi was telling scary stories about him and imitating him. When King Boo began to overpower Luigi, Mario had interfered and fought against him despite never having used a Poltergust before. Of course, his younger brother had tried to make him back down, telling him that it was a very bad idea, but Mario ignored his warning and was almost defeated as a result, pushing Luigi to take his place.

Luigi hated it when Mario didn't listen to him and threw himself into danger, and after this ambush by King Boo, he had decided: he had to teach Mario how to use the Poltergust. He had already considered the idea a few weeks ago, since their birthday was three weeks earlier, and Luigi had given his brother an instruction manual for the use of the Poltergust, a gift from him and Professor E. Gadd, with the promise that he would teach him how to use a Poltergust, but he had never had the opportunity due to various commitments, And now, it seemed like the right time.

''Luigi, I'm going to bed!'' Mario called him. He had already put on his pajamas.

''Are you going to sleep so early?'' asked Luigi, surprised. It was only 11 P.M., so it didn't seem so late.

''Yes, I'm feeling exhausted tonight. Fighting King Boo made me very tired. Good night, Lu. Love you.'' replied Mario, giving Luigi a goodnight kiss on the cheek and getting into bed.

''I love you too. Goodnight, Mario.'' said Luigi, and gave Mario a kiss on the nose. Before long, Mario fell asleep, and Luigi decided that he now had to call Professor E. Gadd to tell him what he was going to do. He picked up his cell phone and dialed his number.

(''1 AM- Animal Crossing: Wild World OST-s'')

(''Professor E. Gadd's Theme- Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time OST'')

Professor E. Gadd was in his laboratory. He had been particularly busy during this time, as he was examining the ghost energy of the ghosts that Luigi had caught when he had defeated King Boo for the third time. He was so lost in his thoughts that he got startled when he heard a loud noise, but he recognized it in a short time. ''Oh, it was just the ringtone.'' he murmured. Realizing that someone was calling him, he answered. ''Hello?''

''Professor E. Gadd! It's-a me!'' said Luigi.

''Oh, it's you, Luigi! How's Mario?'' asked Professor E. Gadd.

''Mario is fine. He's asleep now.'' replied Luigi. ''How are you doing? I'm not disturbing you, am I?'' he asked.

''Not at all, my boy. I've been spending a lot of time recently analyzing the ghost energy of the ghosts you caught in that haunted hotel. I still can't believe we've all fallen into King Boo's trap,'' Professor E. Gadd replied.'' I was hoping that the ghost energy of the ghosts you captured recently would power-up Gooigi.''

''OK. Listen, Professor, I have something important to ask you.''

''Yes?''

''I want to teach Mario how to catch ghosts.''

Professor E. Gadd was very surprised. ''Really? Sounds interesting to me. How long have you been considering doing this?'' he asked.

''For a while. Mario is sick of looking weak in front of King Boo. Every time he tried to defend himself against him, he lost and was imprisoned in a portrait. If I hadn't intervened, it would have been the fifth time this has happened.(1) I had seriously thought about teaching him three weeks ago, when I gave him the instruction manual for the Poltergust as a birthday present, but I never got the chance, and now, after what happened at the Halloween party, I feel that I can't delay any longer.'' Luigi explained.

Professor E. Gadd had the impression that Luigi had changed so much, and yet it was still the same Luigi he knew. ''Of course I'll help you, Luigi! Your sheer loyalty to Mario is admirable, he will appreciate it very much. We'll meet up on Thursday night in my bunker in Evershade Valley. I'll call you the day after tomorrow when it's time and we'll start training Mario.''

''Thanks, Professor! See you later then! Good night!''

''OK! Good night.''

Satisfied, Luigi hung up. It hadn't taken long to convince Professor E. Gadd, and now he could finally keep his promise. ''As long as I'm here, King Boo and the ghosts won't hurt you anymore. Soon, I will teach you how to defend yourself against them. Good night, Mario. I love you very much.'' he murmured to Mario, kissing him on the forehead and getting into his green bed, next to his brother's red bed. He went to sleep peacefully, knowing that everything would be okay.

(''Professor E. Gadd's Theme- Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time OST-s'')

Two days later...

Two days passed. It was a dark but clear Thursday night in the Mushroom Kingdom. Luigi had told his brother what they were going to do, and Mario was so happy that he gave him in a tight hug in gratitude. Now they had to wait for Professor E. Gadd.

''Do you think Professor E. Gadd will call us soon?'' asked Mario.

''I don't know. Just be patient.'' replied Luigi. He didn't like dealing with ghosts, but he couldn't back down, especially after that promise. He had to do it! ''Anyway, I'm not going to back down, not now. I'll do it for you.''

''Thank you, my brother.'' said Mario, and the brothers hugged each other.

Ten minutes later, the TV began to show static. When the static ended, the screen showed a familiar place, and Professor E. Gadd was checking a few things. ''Is this on?'' Once he verified that everything was working as it should, he called Luigi. ''Hey, Luigi! Are you there?'' he asked.

''I'm here, Professor! Mario is with me!'' replied Luigi.

''Well then! We're ready! I'll prepare the Pixelator. Be careful not to lose a few pixels along the way,'' said Professor Strambic.

''What are you saying?'' asked Mario, confused.

The screen glowed green, and before Luigi could answer, he was broken down into small pixelated cubes with his brother, covering his face with his hat when he noticed. When they were back to normal, Luigi landed on his butt.(2)

''I had completely forgotten about this.'' said Luigi, wiping his hat off.

(''E. Gadd's Theme- Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon OST'')

''Can someone explain to me what happened?'' asked Mario.

''That is the Pixelator, one of Professor E. Gadd's inventions. It breaks you down into pixels and teleports you to where cameras like this are present. I never felt very comfortable with that.'' replied Luigi.

''Welcome to Evershade Valley, Mario! This is one of my favourite places to study ghosts.'' said Professor E. Gadd.

''This place doesn't look like the Mushroom Kingdom at all,'' Mario remarked, looking out the window.

''Evershade Valley is far from the Mushroom Kingdom.'' Luigi explained.

Polterpup entered the room, and seeing Luigi, he jumped into his arms, licking his face.

''It's been a while since Polterpup has seen you, Luigi. He looks really excited!'' said Professor E. Gadd.

''Hey, doggy. I know, you've missed me. Come on, stop! I see!'' chuckled Luigi. A Hider caught him off-guard, startling him. ''Ah! Oh, it's you. Good thing you and the other ghosts in Evershade are harmless. You startled me.''

The room was filled with ghosts. Several Greenies, three Slammers, four Hiders, two Sneakers, and a Creeper greeted Mario and Luigi. Mario remembered that when the Dark Moon had been restored by Luigi, the ghosts had been friendly towards him, but he was not used to seeing openly friendly ghosts like them.

''Surprised, Mario?'' asked Professor E. Gadd.

''I suppose.'' replied Mario. ''Are the ghosts here this friendly?'' he asked.

''Yes. Evershade Valley is known for the Dark Moon, which positively influences the personality of the ghosts that live here and makes them friendly. If it's destroyed, the ghosts become aggressive and hostile, and King Boo destroyed it once, but thanks to Luigi, it's all back to normal.'' E. Gadd explained. ''When I discovered the effects of the Dark Moon, I was really excited, as its influence makes Evershade Valley the perfect place to study ghosts in a safe environment.''

''Speaking of ghosts, how do we deal with King Boo?'' asked Luigi.

''King Boo made me feel helpless like no one before. I'm tired of feeling weak against ghosts. I'd like to learn how to fight ghosts.'' said Mario.

''Luigi told me everything a couple of days ago. The perfect place to train is my lab in Gloomy Manor.'' Professor E. Gadd said.

''Where's Gloomy Manor?'' asked Mario.

''It's a short distance from this bunker. Once you get out of the bunker, go straight to the plain and you'll get there.''

''Let's go, Mario. We'll teach you everything you need to know about the Poltergust.'' said Luigi.

The three left the bunker, followed by the ghosts of Evershade Valley.

(''E. Gadd's Theme- Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon OST'')

Gloomy Manor was one of the five mansions of Evershade Valley, and they had all been abandoned for some time. Every now and then, there were cobwebs around, but Professor E. Gadd led Mario and Luigi to his laboratory. Luigi had the Poltergust 5000 with him.

''I have the Poltergust 5000 with me, Mario. If you want to learn how to defend yourself against King Boo, follow our instructions. Professor E. Gadd and I will tell you what to do, and I will use the instruction manual to help you.'' said Luigi.

''I understand,'' said Mario, strapping the Poltergust 5000 on. ''I can't wait to learn!''

''So, Luigi, you never told me how long you'd been considering teaching Mario to catch ghosts. Have you only recently thought about it with the Halloween party, or have you been considering it for a while?'' Professor E. Gadd asked, curiously.

The excited expression on Mario's face changed to a sad look. Luigi didn't like the question very much, and felt uncomfortable answering it, but he sighed and decided to explain everything. ''It all started after I defeated King Boo for the third time. Two weeks after the events at the Last Resort, Mario had a nightmare.'' he said.

''Was it serious?'' E. Gadd asked.

''He dreamed of King Boo blocking him with a barrier, imprisoning me in a painting and killing me. Mario was crying as he told me what he had dreamed of, and he admitted that King Boo always makes him feel weak, helpless. From that moment on, I promised myself that I would teach him how to defend himself against ghosts.'' replied Luigi.

Professor E. Gadd was disturbed. ''Criminy! That King Boo is more psycho than I thought!'' he exclaimed, horrified.

''And he becomes more and more insane every time Luigi defeats him.'' Mario added grimly.

''Anyway, after the party four months ago, Mario considered learning how to fight ghosts, and I agreed, but I never got a chance to teach him. So much had happened that I couldn't find the time, but now it can't wait any longer, not after the Halloween party the other night,'' said Luigi.

''You haven't changed at all, have you, Luigi?'' said Professor E. Gadd. ''Well, now let's get started!''

The ghosts placed objects in the room, including a carpet and some silhouettes.

(''Gloomy Manor- Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon OST'')

''OK, Mario, remember that ghosts can't be defeated by conventional means. You have to suck them up to defeat them. First things first, try using the flashlight. It's connected to the Poltergust and will always be active when you're not sucking anything.'' said Luigi.

Mario had no trouble lighting the flashlight, and spotted a ghost in the dark room.

''Now try to blow something with the Poltergust. Press a button and it will do the rest.'' said Professor E. Gadd.

But Mario didn't know which button to press, and ended up using the Strobulb, almost blinding Luigi. ''Oops!''

''You pressed the wrong button. Try again.'' said Professor E. Gadd.

Luigi showed Mario the instruction manual. ''To blow objects away, press this button. You can also grab nearby objects with the Poltergust and shoot them.'' he said.

Following his brother's advice, Mario used this feature successfully, but then, some floating orbs made the desk disappear. ''What?! What happened? What's this?!'' he exclaimed.

''Spirit Balls!'' Luigi exclaimed.

''What?''

''They're Spirit Balls!''

''Spirit Balls cause a lot of problems. They can make objects disappear or possess them, but if you use the Dark-Light Device, you can spot them.'' said E. Gadd.

''The Dark-Light Device is a feature of the Poltergust integrated into the flashlight. With this you will be able to see things invisible to the naked eye and reveal objects trapped in the portraits. It's also the only way to spot the spirited orbs. To make the objects visible again, he sucks in the spirited orbs.'' Luigi explained.

Using the Rainbow Light, Mario brought the spirited orbs out into the open, but he didn't know how to suck them in. ''And now?''

''Press the grey button on the flashlight to suck them in!''

Mario pressed the button, and the Poltergust revealed its nozzle, sucking in the spirited orbs.

''OK, now it's time to get serious. Now you're going to learn how to fight.'' said Professor E. Gadd.

''How do I do that?'' asked Mario.

''You have to stun the ghosts first. This Greenie will be your target.'' replied Luigi. ''When I was using the Poltergust 3000 the first time I fought King Boo, my flashlight was able stun ghosts, but for those I encountered in later missions, the flashlight doesn't work like that on its own. To stun the ghosts, you need to use the Strobulb. It is a flashlight function that can be activated with this green bulb. Press and hold the green button on the flashlight to charge it, then let go after a second and the flashlight will release a flash that will blind the ghosts.''

Mario activated the Strobulb, but on the first attempt, he let go too soon and the flash was strong enough to stun the Greenie, but the effect was short-lived. On the second try, the flash was more efficient.

''Well done. You can stun ghosts with a weaker flash, but if you gully charge the Strobulb before releasing its energy, you can stun more than one ghost.'' Professor Strambic said. ''The Strobulb can also trigger green panels like the one on this door.''

''Alright, Mario, now it's time to catch a ghost. To catch a ghost, stun it with the Strobulb exactly as before, then suck it up. The ghosts will try to escape, and in the process will drag you around the room if you don't keep your feet firmly on the ground. Try to catch a couple of these Greenies.'' said Luigi, showing how to catch a Greenie.

After making the wrong button once in an attempt to catch a Greenie, Mario managed to stun it and began to suck it in. He tried to stay still, but it began to escape, dragging him away across the room. He tried to transfer all his weight to one leg, but he lost his grip shortly after touching the ground.

''Well, I never said it would be easy.'' Mario said.

The plumber in red tried again, but he crashed into a chair in an attempt to suck up the ghost, who managed to escape shortly after.

''That won't do.'' said Professor E. Gadd.

''Are you listening to me, Mario?'' asked Luigi, unimpressed. ''I told you to keep your feet firmly on the ground while trying to catch a ghost. I don't want something to happen to because of me.''

''I'm trying, Luigi. But it's not easy.'' replied Mario.

''You're going to get used to it. When a ghost escapes while trying to catch it, pull the Poltergust towards you and hold yourself steady on the ground. To avoid being dragged away, stand still or step back. If there are other ghosts around you, don't focus only on the ones you're sucking in at that moment or they'll attack you and you won't be able to catch the ones you stunned earlier. If you see that they are attacking you, move away or jump and transfer your weight back to your legs, but do it at the right time: don't get hit by ghosts while you're sucking one up or you'll lose your grip.'' Luigi suggested.

''The Poltergust 5000 has a special function. While sucking up a ghost, you can increase the vacuuming power, which requires energy. It doesn't last long, but it can make all the difference. To activate this short power-up, press the orange button on the Poltergust's nozzle.'' Professor E. Gadd added.

Mario made another attempt, and following Luigi's advice, managed to catch the Greenie, who disappeared into the Poltergust. ''Did I... Did I catch it?'' he asked, confused.

''That's how you do it, Mario! You've managed to catch your first ghost!'' Luigi cheered, holding his brother close to him in a side hug.

''Thanks.'' said Mario.

''You're doing great, Mario. Now try to catch multiple ghosts at once. By charging the Strobulb, the flash will be able to stun multiple ghosts at a time.'' Professor Strambic said.

A Slammer tried to hit Mario, but dodged his shockwave and stunned him along with a Verdino, capturing them both.

''Great, Mario! You're learning fast!'' congratulated Luigi. ''Remember that you can't stun all ghosts right away: some will have glasses or shields with which they will protect their eyes, so get rid of them before you stun these ghosts. Now try the Poltergust G-00, it has features that the Poltergust 5000 doesn't have. I'll use the Poltergust 5000 for now, while you test the Poltergust G-00.''

(''Gloomy Manor- Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon OST-s'')

A ghost placed a small grate in the center of the room, and Mario slung over his Poltergust G-00.

''Since you tried to use the Poltergust G-00 against King Boo and almost got captured, I'll teach you how to use it. It has almost all the functions of its predecessor, but it has some new ones.'' said Luigi.

''OK. What should I do?'' asked Mario.

''The Poltergust G-00 has a different special attack than the Poltergust 5000. While you're sucking a ghost, you can weaken it further by slamming it to the ground. There's no need to press buttons, just pull the Poltergust sharply towards the ground. Do as I do,'' replied Luigi, demonstrating this function against a Hider.

Mario had no problem slamming ghosts, and with this method, he managed to catch a Slammer. ''That feels great!'' he said.

''Nice job. Now try using the Burst. Press the button on the Poltergust's shoulder straps to activate it.'' Professor Strambic said.

Pressing the button, Mario was pushed off the ground by a sudden gust of wind. ''Whoa!'' Soon after, a group of ghosts approached, and when he activated the Burst, they were repelled.

''Nice! The Burst is useful if you're struggling against a large group of enemies, as it will push them away from you, and if a large ghost or something else grabs you and tries to choke you, you can use it to free yourself from their grip. You can also use it to avoid some obstacles or attacks.'' said Luigi.

''Now try the Suction Shot. By firing a plunger you can interact with the environment around you or disarm enemies by pulling on the rope, and you can also hold on to certain surfaces. A ghost has put a target on the ceiling, so try to shoot a plunger there.'' Professor E. Gadd said.

''There's another button on the nozzle. Press it and you'll shoot the plunger.'' added Luigi.

The older brother took aim and shot the sucker upwards. The sucker latched onto the target on the ceiling, dragging it toward it, and it was now hanging in mid-air. Although with difficulty, he managed to descend slowly.

''Good going! Now let's try Gooigi.'' said Luigi.

''But how can I get him out?'' asked Mario.

''There is a sensor located in the area where the Poltergust comes into contact with your shoulders. Activate it and you'll get Gooigi out. When he's out, you'll take in control of him. Gommiluigi can pass through bars and grates and can move on spikes without getting hurt. Try it out.'' said E. Gadd.

Mario managed to gain control of Gommiluigi, but then found out that he could not move his body. He could, however, make Gooigi act as he wantet, and he successfully passed through the grate, but a Hider poured a bucket of water on him, sending him back into the Poltegust.

''You got it! Remember, Gooigi loses his shape and melts if he comes into contact with fire or water,'' said Professor E. Gadd.

''Now put everything you've learned into practice. Your last test will be a challenge against a group of ghosts, and the last round will be against three Poltergeists. If you can capture all the Poltergeists, you win.'' said Luigi. ''Ready?'' he asked.

''I'm ready,'' Mario said.

''Let's begin!'' Luigi and Strambic declared, and Polterpup jumped into Luigi's arms.

(''Mini Boss Battle (Popstar)- Kirby's Return to Dreamland OST'')

The Greenies were easy to defeat, but some used a variety of objects to cover their eyes, and the Slammers were ghosts that could hit hard. After defeating three of both types, Mario struggled against the Hiders. They were very fast, often hiding, and attacked by throwing things at him. He was especially faring poorly against obese yellow ghosts.

Professor E. Gadd watched, hoping that Mario would pass the test, and Luigi hoped so too, but he couldn't help but worry.

''Those fat guys are really annoying!'' said Mario.

''That's a Gobber. It has a lot of stamina, and if you get too close, it'll lunge at you with all it body weight and deal serious damage, so keep your distance.'' Luigi told him.

''Gobbers are very slow, but they can spit out a slimy substance that you'll need to avoid. They have a huge appetite and will eat whatever they are facing,'' Professor E. Gadd added.

''Ugh! Is that drool? Nasty!'' exclaimed Mario.

''I think that's ectoplasm. Don't touch the puddles or it will hurt you.'' said Luigi.

Trying to hold back his disgust, he kept his distance from the Gobber and sucked in two Slammers and three Hiders. The Sneakers were also a problem, as they would pop up behind him to try and startle him him, which helped the other ghosts break free, and try to push him.

''That's good, Mario. Don't let your guard down against the Sneakers and their surprise attacks. Watch your back and use the Dark-Light Device if you don't see them.'' said Professor E. Gadd.

The man in red managed to defeat the two Gobbers and four Hiders, but a Creeper grabbed him from behind and crushed him in what appeared to be a painful hug before imprisoning him in its own body and punching him.

''Mario, get out of there, quick!'' cried Luigi.

Remembering about the Burst, Mario activated it and managed to get out of the Creeper's body. ''Whoa! I've got to catch my breath.'' he said, gasping for breath.

''That's a Creeper. Creepers love to hug, but it can be painful for the receiver.'' Professor E. Gadd said.

''If a Creeper grabs you, it will punch you from inside its own body, but you can break free if you use something like the Burst. You're going to need a lot of suction power to suck one in, so keep your grip firm and don't get hit by the other ghosts.'' added Luigi. ''I know you can do it, brother! Keep fighting and show what you're made of!''

Despite his lack of experience against ghosts, Mario managed to suck up almost all the ghosts that made up the penultimate wave, isolating the Crusher, and this allowed him to suck it up.

''Excellent, Mario! You're almost there! Now you only have to catch these three Poltergeists! Defeat them and you'll pass the test!'' cheered Luigi. Polterpup barked excitedly.

''Poltergeists use telekinesis and throw things like books at you. Don't get too close at the wrong time or you'll be in trouble.'' E. Gadd said.

But Mario quickly found himself in trouble against the Poltergeists' paranormal powers. The books and objects they threw prevented him from effectively stunning them. At one point, a Poltergeist grabbed Mario with its psychic powers and slammed him to the ground. Another Poltergeist threw books at his head, and he was stunned.

''That's hard...'' Mario murmured.

''You can't stun a Poltergeist that has grabbed an object, it will protect itself with it! Wait for them to throw the items, it will be your chance! If one of them disappears into the shadows, use the Dark-Light Device!'' Luigi advised, as he tidied up the lab.

(''Mini Boss Battle (Popstar)- Kirby's Return to Dreamland OST-s'')

But the situation did not change. Despite Luigi's advice, Mario wasn't doing so well. After five minutes, the three Poltergeists were not weakened that much, and he still hadn't managed to capture a single one. He was showing signs of fatigue, and was beginning to feel insecure. ''I guess I'm not cut out for these things...'' he said.

The ghosts stopped. They were testing him, of course, but they were starting to worry a little.

(''World 3- Super Mario Galaxy 2 OST'')

''It's not as easy as it sounds, is it?'' said Professor E. Gadd.

''Are you OK, Mario?'' asked Luigi.

''I'm fine. But I don't think I can do it.'' Mario said, feeling a little down.

''Didn't want to learn how to defend yourself against ghosts?'' asked Professor E. Gadd.

''Yes, but... I'm doing really badly. That's not like me.''

Professor E. Gadd seemed confused to see Mario so insecure. ''Look, Mario, catching ghosts takes skill and patience, and it's a difficult job. I stopped doing it myself because I'm too old for such things. But you've been through much worse.'' he said.

''Now I'm starting to question why I wanted to learn how to capture ghosts. Maybe I wanted to prove that I wasn't weak in front of ghosts, but more importantly, that I wasn't powerless against King Boo. It makes me feel self-centered and selfish.'' said Mario, frustrated with himself.

''Come on, Mario, don't say like that! Selfish and self-centered are two words that mix with you like water and gasoline! I wanted to teach you that too! Ever since you had that nightmare, I've wanted to give you lessons with the Poltergust, but I never had the chance because we were always so busy.'' said Luigi. He didn't like the way Mario was talking.

''I'm bad at this. I'm starting to question why I wanted to.''

''You can't be good at everything. You're very versatile, no one doubts that, but it takes time to become a ghost hunter.'' said Professor E. Gadd.

Luigi put his hands on Mario's shoulders. ''The professor is right. Mario, it's okay to be struggling with something. Everyone has something they're better at than someone else, but it never stopped you. You've fought so many enemies that I've lost count, and you've defeated them all. You're not good at fighting ghosts, but it doesn't matter. You can learn from us. I believe in you, big bro, and I know you can do it.'' he said.

''Thank you, Luigi,'' said Mario, smiling. He knew Luigi was right.

''Now let's finish this test!'' said Professor E. Gadd.

(''World 3- Super Mario Galaxy 2 OST-s'')

(''Try, Try Again- Mario & Luigi: Dream Team OST'')

The Poltergeists got back into position. Thanks to his brother's encouragement, Mario was ready and invigorated. Slowly, he began to improve, avoiding the books launched by the Poltergeists and using the right techniques at the right time. Seeing that everyone was attacking him in a group, he called Gooigi to his aid, and he seemed to act as if on autopilot to protect him. Eventually, with the help of Gooigi, he managed to capture the first Poltergeist.

''Yeah, that's it! Two to go!'' cheered Luigi.

Although he had no experience with the paranormal, his older brother had loved ones to support him, and this knowledge encouraged him to put in more effort. After dodging a psychic attack, Gooigi stunned the second Poltergeist, allowing him to capture him.

''You're almost there, Mario! All that's missing is a Poltergeist!'' said Professor E. Gadd.

Mario was breathing heavily. The training had been difficult, more because of his lack of experience than anything else, but he was beginning to get tired. He couldn't stop, not yet, but he felt the need for a break. He dodged some books thrown by the last Poltergeist, but was grabbed and pushed against the wall by a telekinetic force.

When he managed to stun the Poltergeist, he struggled to stop him from escaping, and for thirty seconds, they were in a stalemate.

''Mario! Catch it, now!'' shouted Luigi.

With a strong pull, Mario managed to capture the last Poltergeist and fell to the ground, exhausted.

(''Try, Try Again- Mario & Luigi: Dream Team OST-s'')

Mario got to his feet, breathing heavily. ''Did... Did I do it?'' he asked, putting the Poltergust G-00 back on the ground.

(''Victory!- Super Mario RPG Remake OST'')

''You did it, Mario! You've passed the training test!'' Professor E. Gadd congratulated him, and the ghosts celebrated.

''I'm so proud of you, Mario! You were great!'' cheered Luigi, giving Mario a big hug that he returned, and Polterpup licked their faces faces.

''Thank you... That was tough...'' Mario sighed.

''Mario!'' shouted Gooigi, hugging him too.

''Hey. Thanks to you too, Gooigi. You were awesome.'' said Mario, and Gooigi went back into the Poltergust.

''Thank you for your help, Professor. It means a lot to Mario and me.'' said Luigi.

''You're welcome, Luigi.'' said Professor E. Gadd. ''Mario, I didn't think you'd pass the test, considering your past experiences with ghosts, but you did. Keep training.''

Mario nodded. ''Thank you, Professor E. Gadd. We'll go home now, it's late.'' he said.

''I'll to activate the Pixelator for you. I'll release the ghosts from the Poltergust shortly. Good night.''

''Good night.''

The Pixelator was activated again, bringing Mario and Luigi back home.

(''Victory!- Super Mario RPG Remake OST-s'')

(''Home Sweet Home- Earthbound OST'')

''What a night...'' Mario gasped.

''Was it tiring?'' Luigi asked.

''Somewhat. I didn't think I could do it.'' Mario said.

''And yet you succeeded. I knew you could do it.'' said Luigi.

''I'm so glad you kept your promise.'' Mario said, with a wide smile.

''Hey, we always keep promises to each other.'' Luigi chuckled, but he couldn't say anything more than his brother hugged him so tightly he could feel his fingers tightening around the denim of his overalls.

''Oh, Luigi... Thank you! Thank you so much! I'll always be grateful to you for this!'' said Mario, pressing a big kiss on Luigi's cheeks in excitement. ''You're the best, Lu. I love you so much.''

''Aw, you're welcome. I love you too, Mario. So much.'' said Luigi, returning the hug.

Mario didn't know what time it was, but he felt really tired. Ghost hunting training hadn't been easy at all, and now he needed sleep. He let out a loud yawn.

''Are you tired?'' asked Luigi.

''Yes. It was tiring.'' replied Mario, looking at the alarm clock in the bedroom. ''Mamma mia! It's almost 1 AM! It's very late, I should be in bed already!'' he exclaimed.

''You deserve a little rest.'' said Luigi.

''Aren't you going to bed?'' asked Mario, as they put their pajamas on.

''I'll go to bed soon. You know what?''

''What?''

''You need to train a bit more, so you'll get used to using the Poltergust. I'll give you ghost-hunting lessons personally in the future, so King Boo will think twice before ambushing you.''

Mario gave him a look of overflowing affection. He was still amazed at how much Luigi had changed. He was still afraid of ghosts, but he had a Polterpup of his own and had taught him the ropes for the Poltergust. From hunted to hunter, they said. He followed him wherever he went, and it wasn't a bad thing at all. ''Thanks again, Lu. You're the best.'' he said.

''You're welcome. Now get some sleep and enjoy some rest. Tomorrow is another day.'' Luigi whispered, stroking his hair.

''Buonanotte, Luigi.''

''Sleep tight, Mario.''

Luigi leaned down and kissed his brother on the forehead. Before going to sleep, he opened the window and looked at the stars. It had been a night of certainty, and even though he was worried about his big brother, he was sure that he would soon be able to defend himself against ghosts.

He looked up at the sky for a few minutes, praying for Mario and hoping that he will be skilled enough to face the ghosts on his own, he went to sleep, shaking his brother's hand. Before he fell asleep, Mario turned to him and kissed his forehead, holding his hand tighter as they slept.

(''Home Sweet Home- Earthbound OST-s'')

A/N: Luigi has been wanting to teach Mario how to defend himself from ghosts for a while, but now he's finally able to keep his promise! What do you think of this chapter? Let me know! See you in the next chapter!

(1): In the Luigi's Mansion series, Mario was captured by King Boo four times. In Luigi's Mansion 3, he is not the last character to be freed, but the second-to-last, and after Luigi rescues Peach, King Boo returns, revealing that he has captured Professor E. Gadd and the Toads again and recapturing both Mario and Peach.

(2): When Luigi is teleported by the Pixelator, there are running gags where he crouches when it activates or lands in a less than ideal way when starting a mission, either landing on his face, on his butt, or, in rare cases without his hat. The Pixelator is used in Luigi's Mansion 2, but also appears in Luigi's Mansion 3 to take Luigi to the lab.