Hearts Be True: Under the Dark Moon

Chapter 4

Luigi and Mario went back to the Haunted Towers with the pinwheel veins and the wrench that Elvin had gave Mario. The green clad ghost hunter was doing this all like a zombie, capturing ghosts and going back for Boos plus doing the mission that the ghost researcher gave him. This time, the mission involved finding a Toad that was in the Hollow Tree or close to it. However, the path lead the brothers upstairs to...a cemetery... Luigi gulped, swallowing some of his fear down.

While Elvin or Mario wasn't looking, Luigi made sure that he made himself bleed with the knife Mario gave him for his birthday a few years ago. The cuts weren't very deep so they went unnoticed by Elvin and Mario. Luigi just made sure that it made him bleed for a minute or so before he covered it. They were all over his upper torso, his arms, and his legs. Luigi wanted to make sure that the cuts weren't in plain sight. Anyhow, they needed to find the Special Key and the Toad.

Luigi entered the Crypt and muttered, "Well, at least I know what to expect."

Mario stated, overhearing Luigi, "At least one of us does..."

After tearing down the brick wall, Luigi saw something that he prayed that he would never see again (or at least close to it). Luigi saw a Toad in a painting. Mario's eyes widened in horror as Luigi whispered a curse word. The green clad ghost hunter shone the Dark-Light Device on the painting, bringing the Toad out of it. But that knocked the three of them to the ground.

The Toad blubbered, "I'm free! Wait... Luigi? Mario? What are you two doing here?" Luigi got up and then the Toad hugged his left leg, making Luigi cringe a little bit in pain. Mario didn't notice, which Luigi was grateful for. The Toad (Ethan) added, "Aw, it doesn't matter! You're my hero, Luigi!"

Luigi patted Toad's head as he asked, "And what's your name?"

Ethan answered, "Ethan, nice to meet you!"

Mario stated, "Ethan, huh? That's a nice name!"

Ethan smiled, happy to be in the presence of both brothers. After guiding Ethan passed the Three Sisters, Mario pixelated the Toad back to the Bunker before the two of them got pixelated themselves. Elvin told Luigi and Mario that Ethan had brought back a snapshot taken by the special tridimensional security camera. Both brothers looked at the picture and saw something quite...unusual. Not only was a Boo giving the Special Key to a ghost that none of them had never seen before but in the background was something of interest.

Two Boos were holding a bag with something in it: a gold frame with some shoes showing. 'A painting,' Luigi wondered. Luigi didn't know what it was but looking at the frame made his heart stop cold. What was it about that frame that was giving him such a hard time? Mario couldn't help but wonder why Luigi was making that face. But then again, he was having his own flashbacks about paintings.

Anyways, after much climbing, the two brothers got the Special Key back from the Sneaker ghosts until he heard some barking. Luigi looked and saw the same ghost dog from Gloomy Manor.

Luigi scolded, as the polterpup played with the Special Key, "No, no! Bad doggie!"

Mario scolded, "Put it down, doggie!"

Polterpup, however, didn't listen to them as he tossed the Special Key out the window and then went after it. Luigi groaned as Mario face palmed himself. Luigi forgot all about Violet and was more focused on the ghost dog. They chased the polterpup all around the mansion and finally caught him. However, the rascally dog got out of the Poltergust 5000 and ran off. Mario couldn't help but chuckle when Polterpup licked his face. Luigi smiled for once.

After a bit, the two went up to the top of the Hallow Tree and faced the ghost at the top (which possessed some stairs). It was just like that Luigi and Mario were moving on from the Haunted Towers to the Old Clockworks. Like Elvin had instructed, the brothers went to the time gate but the hands were missing... Elvin called Mario on the Dual Scream, seeing this all from the Bunker.

Elvin groaned, "Billowing banshees! The clock hands are missing! Ho ho! Oho! Those ghosts sure are a clever bunch. You see, the clock hands operate the Clock Tower Gate. The ghosts figured that out and hid them from us! Incredible! Well, not for us, of course. It's actually pretty terrible. It would take a strong ghost to pry off those clock hands."

Luigi asked, "So what the hell do we do?"

Mario was a bit taken back that Luigi was now swearing but in the current condition he was in, he decided to let it slide. Elvin didn't notice it as he typed on the computer and the Parascope.

He answered, "There's a strong signal underground, and I reckon it's them. According to my research, there's a special compass that should help you get down there. It's likely stored in the Drafting Office. Hop to it!"

With that, Elvin hung up and the two of them were once again on his own. After retrieving the special compass, Luigi and Mario went underground next, in hopes to find the clock hands. However, when he got down to the Crypt, a Poltergeist took the hour hand and the two of them had a battle with mummies. 'Glad that they aren't my mummy,' Luigi mused. 'They are all tied up,' Mario mused.

Luigi sighed sadly, capturing Mario's attention. Mario looked at Luigi, concerned.

Mario asked, "What is it, Weegie?"

He stammered, "M - Malleo, do you think she was sent back to the real world?"

Mario shook his head and explained, "I doubt it, since if that was the case, we would've been sent back too. No, Violet's here in our world. And we will find her soon."

Luigi took in a breath and let it out, relaxing himself as he replied, "I hope you are right, bro."

Mario nodded as he responded, "Yeah, I happen to agree, since this might be harder than we thought."

With that, Luigi sighed sadly. The green clad ghost hunter was really worried about Violet. Where was she? Was she safe? Did she...still love Luigi? So many questions...not enough time. Luigi picked himself off of the ground and went back to the mission, becoming more and more like a heartbroken man. Mario followed behind, seeing Luigi's posture and got worried. 'Please Grambi, let us find Violet,' the red clad plumber thought, worried.

...

Wishmaker1028: This chapter covers the missions: B-3, B-4, B-5, B-6, C-1, and C-2. We shall continue onwards with Luigi after these commercials! Just kidding! Please read and review! And always think outside of the box!