Chapter 15: Lost and Found
Luigi groaned as he stirred, his body aching as if he had been tossed around like a rag doll. He blinked, the harsh daylight blinding him for a moment. As his eyes adjusted, he realized he was lying on a rough wooden floor, staring up at a gaping hole in the roof above him. A seagull perched on the edge of the hole, cocking its head curiously at him before flying off with a loud caw.
Slowly, Luigi pushed himself up, wincing as he noticed the scattered pieces of his Poltergust 5000 around him. The device was in shambles, wires and metal parts strewn across the dusty floor. His breath caught as a sharp clang from outside pierced the silence. The sound sent a shiver down his spine, morphing into the memory of the noises of the war, echoing through the halls of Peach's castle. His hands trembled as he forced himself to steady his breath, reminding himself that Bowser was gone. But the haunting image of Mario's lifeless burnt body flickered in the edges of his vision.
With a sigh, he gathered the broken pieces, wrapping them carefully in a small net he found hanging on the wall. He slung the bundle over his shoulder, the weight a constant reminder of how far he was from home, and cautiously stepped outside.
The bright sun greeted him as he emerged, and he squinted at the bustling scene before him. The air was warm and salty, and the streets were alive with activity. Vendors shouted about their goods, children ran past, giggling and playing, and strange people that Luigi had never seen before wandered through the crowds. The buildings were colorful, with ornate designs and banners fluttering in the breeze, their roofs curved and slanted in ways that made them look almost whimsical. Everything was a mix of bright colors, the vibrancy clashing with the sense of unfamiliarity that gnawed at Luigi's insides.
As Luigi wandered through the streets, he heard the squawk of seagulls overhead and the distant crash of waves against the shore. The air smelled of salt and spices, with vendors calling out to passersby, trying to sell everything from shimmering gemstones to strange, glowing potions. He watched a pirate in a red bandana haggling over a rusty anchor, waving his hands wildly as if it were a prized treasure. Children ran by, laughing, while a scaly creature scurried past, clutching a stolen piece of fruit in its tiny claws. It was a place that felt alive, chaotic, and colorful, and yet... he felt like he was on a different wavelength, lost and alone in the crowd. The noise pressed against his ears, suffocating him with memories of the cacophony during battles—screams, clashing weapons, and the roar of Bowser's army. He clenched his fists, forcing the memories to stay at bay.
He approached a shopkeeper, his voice timid. "Excuse me, but... where am I?"
The shopkeeper barely glanced at him as she stacked jars on a shelf. "Scuttle Town," she replied gruffly, as if that were the most obvious thing in the world.
"Scuttle Town..." Luigi repeated, the name foreign and strange on his tongue. He'd never heard of it before. As he continued to wander, he tried asking for help at various shops, but most people brushed him off or didn't understand what he was asking for. One shop even suggested he try the dance parlor if he wanted to win some quick gems, but when Luigi peeked inside and saw the dancers performing on stage, he quickly retreated, his face flushed with embarrassment.
Feeling more alone and discouraged than ever, Luigi eventually found himself slumping down onto a bench, the bundle of the broken Poltergust still hanging over his shoulder. He buried his face in his hands, the weight of everything crashing down on him. The noise of the town faded into a dull hum as he was pulled into the dark corners of his mind—the moments he tried so hard to forget. The sight of Mario under Bowser's control, his eyes devoid of recognition, twisted with fury. The final blow that ended it all, leaving Luigi to stare at the lifeless body of his brother as he just stood there. His breath quickened, and he gripped his knees, trying to ground himself.
As he sat there, lost in his thoughts, a small voice broke through the haze. "Hey, mister! Why are you dressed so weird?"
Luigi flinched at the voice, as if jolted from a nightmare. He looked up to see a child standing in front of him, her eyes wide with curiosity. He managed a weak smile, wiping his eyes with the back of his gloved hand. "I... I'm not from here," he said softly. "I'm looking for someone who can help me, but I don't even know where to start."
The child tilted her head, thinking for a moment. "You should try the lighthouse. There's someone there that likes to help people."
"The lighthouse?" Luigi repeated, glancing in the direction the child pointed. It stood tall and proud at the far end of the town, its beacon glinting in the sunlight.
The child nodded. "Yeah! You can't miss it. Go see!"
With a bit of newfound hope, Luigi thanked the child and made his way toward the lighthouse. When he reached it, he knocked on the wooden door, his knuckles tapping softly against the wood. He waited, but there was no answer. He knocked again, a little harder this time, but still nothing.
Feeling the last bit of his hope slipping away, Luigi sat down on the steps, his shoulders slumped, and buried his face in his hands once more. For a moment, he let himself feel the weight of everything—the attack, the portal, waking up in this strange place where no one seemed to care, and the fear that he might never find his way back to the people who needed him. His mind drifted to Daisy and Rosalina—each face bringing a sharp pang of guilt and worry. They were likely in danger, and here he was, powerless.
He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't hear the soft patter of tiny feet approaching him. When he felt something small land on his shoulder, he jerked back, startled, and nearly fell off the step. It took him a moment to realize what it was—a small monkey, with bright, curious eyes and a mischievous grin.
The monkey chattered playfully, tilting its head as it watched Luigi. The sudden burst of innocent curiosity in the creature's gaze clashed with the darkness in his mind, making his heart ache. When he realized it was just a harmless animal, he let out a small laugh, a sound he hadn't heard from himself in what felt like days. "Well, hello there," he said, holding out his hand as if to pet the creature. "You gave me quite a scare."
The monkey leaped onto his arm, then onto his lap, playfully tugging at the green fabric of his overalls. Luigi's heart warmed as the little creature began to play with him, making silly faces and jumping around as if trying to cheer him up. For a moment, it was as if all his worries melted away, and he found himself smiling—a real, genuine smile.
"You know," he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper, "you're the best thing that's happened to me today." The monkey tilted its head, listening intently as if it understood every word. Luigi took a deep breath and began to speak, as if letting out a weight he had been carrying all alone. "I don't know where I am... or how I got here. Everything happened so fast. One moment, I was on the Comet Observatory, and then there was this attack, and... I was pulled through this portal. And now I'm here, in this... Scuttle Town."
The monkey's eyes widened, and it moved closer, almost as if it was hanging on to every word. Luigi continued, his voice cracking slightly. "I'm worried about everyone back home—Daisy, Rosalina, everyone. They're probably all in danger, and I'm just... stuck here. I don't know how to get back to them."
His vision blurred slightly as old fears mixed with new ones, but before he could fall deeper into the memories, the monkey's playful tug on his sleeve brought him back. He let out a shaky sigh, feeling the tightness in his chest ease just a little. "Thank you," he whispered, giving the small creature a gentle pat. The monkey's eyes sparkled, as if reassuring him without words.
Luigi stood up, brushing himself off, and looked back at the lighthouse door one more time. "I guess I should keep looking for help," he said, more to himself than to the monkey. He turned to walk away, but before he could take more than a few steps, the monkey let out a loud, high-pitched screech, as if trying to call him back.
Startled, Luigi turned around to see the monkey still perched on the step, its little hands gesturing wildly. As he watched, the monkey suddenly leapt off the step and landed gracefully on the ground. Then, in a swift, fluid motion, it began to spin, a bright, magical glow enveloping its small form. Luigi's eyes widened in shock as the tiny monkey grew, its shape shifting and stretching, until the glowing light faded to reveal a girl standing where the monkey had been.
She had long, flowing purple hair and wore a bright, colorful outfit, her eyes sparkling with a mix of curiosity and excitement. A small, knowing smile played on her lips as she looked at Luigi, who stood there with his mouth hanging open.
"Wait..." Luigi stammered, pointing at her. "You... you were the monkey?"
The girl nodded, still smiling. "That's right. My name's Shantae," she said, walking down the steps toward him. "I'm a genie... well, a half-genie," she added with a playful wink. "Transforming into different creatures is kind of my thing."
Luigi blinked, still trying to process what he'd just seen. 'I—I didn't know monkeys could... do that.'
Shantae chuckled, giving him a wink. "Well, not every monkey can. But I'm full of surprises." She glanced at the bundle slung over Luigi's shoulder, her curiosity piqued. "What's that you're carrying in the net? It looks pretty heavy."
"Oh, this?" Luigi glanced down at the net, suddenly remembering the broken pieces of his Poltergust. "It's... it's my Poltergust. Or at least, it used to be. It's all smashed up now." He paused, then added with a small, embarrassed smile, "By the way, I'm Luigi."
Shantae's eyes lit up with interest. "Nice to meet you, Luigi!"
Shantae's eyes widened with interest. "Nice to meet you, Luigi!" She looked back at the net of broken parts over his shoulder. "Poltergust? Sounds like some kind of gadget. What does it do?"
"It's... well, it's a vacuum," Luigi said, trying to explain. "But not just any vacuum. It can suck up ghosts, blow things away, and it's helped me out of a lot of sticky situations. But after... well, after everything that happened, it got damaged, and I don't know how to fix it." His voice softened, the frustration and worry clear. "I need it if I'm going to find my way back home."
Shantae tapped her chin thoughtfully, her smile widening. "Well, you're in luck! My uncle is pretty good with gadgets. If anyone can help fix that thing, it's him."
Luigi's eyes lit up with a glimmer of hope. "Really? You think he could fix it?"
"I don't see why not," Shantae said, already starting to walk down the path. "Come on, I'll take you to his workshop. It's just down the road. And don't worry, he loves a challenge."
As they began to walk, Shantae glanced over at Luigi, her tone light and teasing. "You know, I wasn't expecting to find a guy with a broken vacuum and an impressive mustache talking to a monkey today. But that's the fun part about helping strangers—you never know where it'll take you."
Luigi hesitated for a moment, then hurried to follow her, the bundle still securely over his shoulder. For the first time since he'd woken up in this strange place, he felt like he might have a chance at getting back on track. "Thank you," he said, his voice earnest. "I really appreciate this."
Shantae glanced back, giving him a playful, reassuring smile. "No problem. Let's see if we can't turn this around for you, Luigi. Besides, I've got a feeling this is going to be a lot more exciting than my usual day in Scuttle Town."
As they walked, the path opened up to reveal the bustling town once more, but this time, Luigi didn't feel quite so lost. With a new ally by his side and a glimmer of hope, he felt like he was taking the first steps toward finding his way back.