A/N: Finally, I posted something! Sorry for the long wait, and thank you all for your support and patience. Feedback is always appreciated! :)

It had been so long since Luigi felt such warmth. Of course, as a ghost, he didn't feel much of anything physically, save for a vague, empty coldness. Now, for the first time in over four decades, he felt warmth from another human being. He wanted to soak in this warmth, hold it inside of him, and treasure it. But the warm glow failed to penetrate his icy being. He could feel its surface, but it remained elusive, like a firefly just out of reach. Frustrated, he clutched Daisy even tighter and buried his face deeper into her neck, trying in vain to retain the warm feeling. When his efforts proved fruitless, he relaxed his hold in defeat, still letting out an occasional sob.

A shudder from Daisy jolted him back to his senses, and he quickly withdrew and backed away, mortified by his behavior. "D-Daisy? Oh my gosh, are you okay? I-I'm so sorry! I shouldn't have… I-I didn't mean-"

"It's alright! I'm okay!" She assured him cheerfully, not wanting the poor spirit to feel worse than he already did. She hugged herself and rubbed her arms, attempting to stave off the bone-chilling cold.

He clasped his hands as he regarded her anxiously. "A-am I really that cold?"

She continued rubbing her upper arms. "Not really," she lied.

Luigi looked doubtful.

Daisy smiled sadly. "Hey, it's not just you," she assured him. "You're the only ghost I've actually touched, but I think all ghosts feel cold. I feel colder every time I stand close to one of you guys, and whenever one glides past me, I feel an icy draft. Plus, this whole mansion feels colder than it should, probably because there are so many of you in here."

Luigi ducked his head and glanced away, uncomfortable at being grouped in with the other ghosts, although he knew he was being silly. Of course Daisy would categorize him as a ghost. He was a ghost now. He was dead.

Daisy's smile faltered as she noted Luigi's sad expression. "Luigi…? Was it something I said?"

He started. "No!" he said quickly as she pulled him from his thoughts. His eyebrows furrowed in concern when she shivered again. "Daisy, I really am sorry. I don't want you catching a cold…"

Daisy laughed a little. "You know being cold doesn't actually give you a cold, right? It's a virus. Besides, I'm already starting to feel warmer."

Yeah, now that you're not clinging to her like a bambino, Luigi inwardly berated himself.

Daisy placed her hands in her lap as she studied her ghostly friend with concern. "H-how about you? Are you feeling any better?"

Luigi wiped at his tears and nodded tiredly. "I-I'm sorry I fell apart on you like that."

"Luigi…" she answered, "You have nothing to feel sorry for. After everything you've been through…" She sighed sadly. "I'm here for you, okay? And it's okay for you to cry. If you ever need a shoulder to cry on, I'm happy to oblige."

Luigi sniffled and glanced away, jumping when he perceived the encroaching twilight through a window. "Oh no," he gasped, "Daisy! You need to get out of here!"

Daisy's eyes widened as she realized the lateness of the hour. She stood and nodded, but then gave Luigi one more concerned look. "Are you sure you'll be okay?"

"Don't worry about me! Here, I'll walk you as far as I can."

The pair made their way out of the mansion as quickly as they could, thankfully escaping any trouble. Halfway down the path, Daisy turned to Luigi and offered a small smile. "Well, I guess this is goodnight." She saluted playfully. "I'll find out all I can about E. Gadd and the Poltergust, and report back to you on Saturday." Luigi opened his mouth to speak, but Daisy continued before he could get a word out. "Don't worry. I'll be sure to come during the day. Do you think you can meet me on the porch?"

Luigi nodded. "It's hard to keep track of time around here, but I'll do my best." He looked like he wanted to say more, but instead looked away and started fidgeting, a blush creeping up his face.

"Luigi?" Daisy inquired, "What is it?"

He turned to her hesitantly. His arms began to reach for her, but he then stopped himself, instead letting them fall to his sides as he looked at her with tears in his eyes. "Thank you," he said in a voice choked with emotion. "T-thank you so much. For everything."

Daisy smiled and felt her face heat up as her own eyes brimmed with tears. She moved closer to him and drew him into a brief hug. "My pleasure," she said warmly.

Luigi managed a watery smile. "Y-you'd better go, before you get into trouble."

Daisy smiled and waved as she turned and continued down the path towards her car. "I'll see you this weekend."

Luigi reentered the mansion and sighed wearily as he leaned against the door. "There you are!" said a familiar voice. Luigi jumped slightly in surprise and looked up to see Slim and Biff floating towards him. Slim smirked. "So, how was your date? Did you get her home by sundown?"

"D-date?" Luigi squeaked with wide eyes as his face turned a dark shade of blue. "It wasn't… W-we didn't…"

Biff rolled his eyes and lightly nudged Slim with an elbow. "Don't mind him, Luigi, he's just being funny. Or trying to be, at least. Did Daisy make it out okay?"

Luigi nodded. "Yeah."

"Good, good." Biff smiled kindly. "Here, I think you dropped this."

He presented Luigi with a familiar red cap. Luigi gasped and grabbed Mario's hat, hugging it close to his metaphorical heart. "You managed to get it back! Thank you," he said with grateful tears.

Biff grinned. "No sweat! So, uh, what are you going to do now?"

Luigi sighed and ran his left hand through his hair, his right hand still clutching Mario's cap. "I-I don't know," he said uncertainly, "Daisy thinks she can get me a new Poltergust, but I-I don't know if it's possible. Either way, I guess I'll have to come up with a plan to challenge King Boo." He closed his eyes miserably. "Mama Mia, I hafta face King Boo! How am I gonna do that? Mario needs me, but I-I don't know if I have the strength to defeat King Boo." He did his best to steady his voice. "I will try," he said firmly, I have to, but…"

"No, no," Biff interrupted his impromptu monologue, and Luigi now noticed that the other ghosts were staring at him with wide-eyed, bewildered expressions. Biff continued, "I didn't mean…" he closed his eyes and sighed. "I meant, what are you doing now? As in, right this minute? Would you like to watch a few movies with Slim and me?"

"Yeah…" Slim added, his expression still bemused, "I'm not sure declaring war on King Boo is your best idea… Movie night sounds like a much better plan."

"At least, for tonight," Biff continued encouragingly. "I think you could still use a break." He waved his hand around. "You know, take your mind off things for a while?"

Luigi looked back at Biff and Slim with surprise, though he did feel touched at the older ghosts' gesture of friendship. "I… I guess it wouldn't hurt…" He rubbed the back of his head. "I mean, I won't know for certain how to proceed until Daisy gets back to me. But only for a little while, okay? I need to start making plans."

The older ghosts glanced at each other nervously. "Yeah, yeah. Sure," Biff said quietly, eyeing Luigi with concern and sadness, as though Luigi were a condemned man. "Let's just… wait on the whole King Boo thing for a while, okay?"

"And you should probably stop talking about it so willy-nilly," Slim added. "You wouldn't want anyone unfriendly to overhear your plans for rebellion." The tall ghost glanced around the foyer with some trepidation. He sighed and continued in a voice just above a whisper. "Look kid, you shouldn't get your hopes up. No one's ever managed to successfully challenge King Boo… It might not be possible. Just… prepare yourself for that, okay?"

Luigi fixed Slim with a determined glare. "I'm not giving up on my brother. Even if I hafta take his place, I'll find some way to save him from King Boo."

Slim massaged his temples. "Kid, you really don't know what you're up against. Look, let's just take it slow for now. You don't even know if you'll have another ghost-catching machine yet."

Luigi looked like he wanted to argue further, but Biff grabbed his arm and gently pulled him towards the door out of the foyer. "C'mon Luigi, it's this way to the Projection Room."

The ghosts moved out of the foyer and into the hallway beyond, Biff still pulling Luigi along. "Projection Room?" Luigi inquired.

"Yeah, we've got a movie projector!" Biff explained cheerfully. He then blushed slightly. "Actually, it belongs to Miss Lydia, but she doesn't mind us using it."

"Lydia's my little cousin," Slim explained further. "Well, she's not so little anymore. She was born when I was eighteen, but she died in her thirties, so she looks a little older. He shrugged and grinned at Luigi. "The one consolation of dying young: I get to look twenty-nine forever. Anyway, Lydia spent some time as movie actress before she got married. She gained a lot of friends and admirers, and she collected a few films during her time in Hollywood.

"It's strange. When I was growing up, movies were little more than a novelty. You know, something you'd see at fairs or sideshows. No one expected them to become a serious art form. Filmmaking didn't really take off 'til after I died. Lucky for me, Lydia brought her projector and films with her to the mansion, so at least I can enjoy a few films now."

The trio made their way down the hallway. After taking a few turns, Slim gestured to a door on their left. He gave a small bow. "Welcome to my humble abode." He grinned. "It's not much, but it's home."

Luigi stepped inside and immediately recognized the room beyond. He blushed slightly in embarrassment as he remembered the last time he had been in here; back when he had attacked Slim. Inside the room to his right sat a handsome, albeit dusty pool table which was lined on top with smooth, deep green felt. The walls were paneled in the same handsome green color and held a dart board on one end and a somewhat familiar portrait on the other end. To the side of the pool table on the checkered floor sat two elegant chairs upholstered in worn out green velvet. Between the chairs sat a small wooden table with a beautifully carved ivory chess set on top.

Luigi glanced at the portrait on the wall. "Nice picture. It's you, isn't it?"

Slim glanced away uncomfortably and begin fidgeting with the fine ruby ring on his finger. "No, that's my brother. This way," he said, eager to change the subject.

He led them through a door to their left. The large room beyond housed an old movie projector facing a large screen. A shelf on the wall opposite the door held about ten movie reels in addition to the four movie reels placed haphazardly on the table holding the projector. "Here we are!" said Slim cheerfully. He turned his head to Luigi. "Any preferences? We got some Buster Keaton here, a few Chaplins, and I know we've got a Lloyd around here somewhere," he said as moved to search the shelf.

Biff grabbed a reel from the table. "How about 'The Kid'?" He grinned at Luigi, "Chaplin's masterpiece."

Slim shook his head as he continued to search the shelf. "No, no. We just watched that. Hey, Biff, have you seen 'The Navigator'?"

Biff sighed. "It's right here on the table. We watched that one recently, too, remember?"

"Eh, I guess you're right, but that one's my favorite, and Luigi wasn't here when we watched it." He turned to glance at Biff, who looked unenthusiastic. "All right, all right. How about 'Our Hospitality'?"

Biff shook his head. "Do we have to watch Buster Keaton again? I mean, he's alright, but what do you have against Charlie Chaplin?"

Slim scratched his head. "Nothing really. He's okay. I mean, he's talented and all, I just get tired of him. And he gets a little too sappy for me sometimes."

Biff raised his eyebrows. "Too sappy? Are you kidding me? What, do you have a heart of stone?"

Slim rolled his eyes. "Well obviously, I don't have a heart at all. I'm kinda dead."

Biff sighed in exasperation as Slim grinned slightly. "You know what I mean!" said Biff, "Anyway, at least Chaplin could act. Keaton never even changes his expression!"

"It's called deadpan humor, and it's hilarious," Slim countered. He looked to the plumber. "What do you think, Luigi? Keaton or Chaplin?"

Luigi started a little. "Eh… I don't know. They're both pretty good, I guess. Maybe a little old fashioned…"

Slim looked slightly miffed. "Old fashioned?! Okay, no need to rub your youth in our faces. I'll bet you're used to talkies all filmed in color!"

"Well, uh, pretty much…"

"Too bad! The only talkie we have is 'The Jazz Singer,' and we still have to watch it without sound because the speakers busted about 50 years ago!"

"Actually, I think they've been dead for about 60 years," Biff amended.

"Whatever," Slim continued, "Anyway, we've got no sound, not even piano accompaniment. We do have a few color films. You know, the kind that were hand-tinted."

"Well, we could possibly get some piano accompaniment," Biff ventured, but Slim only snorted.

"Yeah right, you think we could get her to play for us? You know she and I don't exactly get along."

"I wasn't talking about Melody. You play, don't you?"

Slim sighed. "A little, but I'm not that good, and I haven't played in decades. Besides, Melody would never let us borrow her piano. How would we even get it in here to begin with?"

"I could lift a piano, no sweat!" said Biff in a slightly offended tone.

"Well, it doesn't matter because like I said, she'd never let us borrow it."

"We could kinda sorta sneak into the music room and borrow it without asking…"

Slim let out a bark of humorless laughter. "Sounds like fun, but believe me, she'd make us regret it. Nope, buddy we're stuck with purely silent films. So, what should we watch? Doesn't have to be Chaplin or Keaton. Doesn't even have to be a comedy. We've got plenty of dramas."

Biff glanced at Luigi a bit worriedly. "Nah, I think we could use a good lighthearted comedy tonight. Maybe Lloyd? Do you like Harold Lloyd, Luigi?"

Luigi blinked. "I-I don't think I've ever heard of Harold Lloyd."

Biff's eyebrows raised in mild surprise. "What? You've never heard of Harold Lloyd? He's the guy with glasses? Likes to hang off of giant clocks?"

Luigi thought for a moment. "Well, the clock thing does sound familiar."

"What kind of movies do you like, Luigi?" Biff asked.

"Well, the last movie I remember seeing is Star Wars."

"Star Wars?" The older pair chorused in confusion.

"Yeah, it was great!" Luigi beamed. "Great special effects, too! My bro and I went to see it four times! That's not nearly as much as our neighbor Tony, though. He went so much, the theater started letting him in for free! Anyway, it's about this kid who wants to be a Jedi knight. And he has to team up with an old guy who becomes his mentor and then they meet a space smuggler at this bar full of weird alien creatures! And there's also this tall gold robot who keeps complaining and a cute little robot who only talks in beeps. And they hafta save a princess from an evil villain with a scary black mask named Darth Vader. And it takes place in space in a faraway galaxy! And-" Luigi suddenly stopped and glanced back at his companions, who both wore wide-eyed, bemused expressions. "Eh, I don't explain it very well," Luigi ended lamely as he plopped down in a nearby chair.

"W-well, if you like science fiction," Biff said after a few beats of awkward silence, "We do have 'A Trip to the Moon' by George Méliès."

Luigi looked up. "I think I did see that one, actually. Long ago. At least parts of it. Is that the really, really old movie with the rocket that crashes into the moon's eye?"

"Yeah. It's really, really old," Slim drawled sarcastically.

Biff chuckled. "Well, it is pretty old, Slim. 1904, right? Isn't that the year you died?"

"Don't remind me," Slim remarked flatly.

"I always thought it was a bit creepy, actually," Luigi mused.

"Funny to hear a ghost say that," Slim quipped. "I vote Lloyd. That should keep everyone somewhat happy."

Luigi had to admit that the Harold Lloyd film was pretty good, despite being a silent film from the 1920s. And it did help him feel somewhat better to enjoy a movie with friends. Biff excused himself after the movie, saying he needed to return to his workout. Slim returned to his billiard room next door but told Luigi he could crash in the projection room, since Luigi didn't really have a room of his own.

Luigi sat by the empty, lit projector, idly making shadow puppets as he let his mind wander. He glanced sadly at the red hat perched on the projector's table, where his elbow was also propped. If only that hat could talk, maybe it could give him some clues to where Mario was now. Luigi's eyes widened and he sat up straighter. If the hat could talk… He clapped his hand to his forehead and cursed. "I'm such an idiota," he muttered to himself as he raced out of the projection room. Before Slim could do more than give a bewildered look, Luigi was speeding down the hallway to the fortune-teller's room.

Luigi burst unceremoniously through the psychic's door yelling, "Madame Clairvoya! Please wake up!" He turned quickly to Madame Clairvoya's table and was surprised to see her gazing back at him in bemusement.

"My dear boy, please calm yourself! There is no need to shout! I'm perfectly awake! Why wouldn't I be?"

Luigi panted slightly as he remembered himself. "Eh… S-sorry. I just, uh…" He shook his head slightly to clear it and thrust Mario's hat toward the fortune teller. "Never mind. Um… Madame Clairvoya, didn't you tell me once that you could tell a person's fortune by examining their personal items? Y-you told me you may be able to help me find Mario if I brought you something that belonged to him, b-but I didn't have anything on me…"

Madame Clairvoya blinked and carefully took the hat from Luigi's shaking hands. "This is your brother's hat?" She looked up at Luigi and smiled a little sadly. "I remember, you used to have one very similar, didn't you? Only it was green?"

The plumber nodded. Madame Clairvoya examined the red cap and seemed to concentrate deeply. "Very well, kind Luigi. I will see what I can do."

She placed the hat on the table next to her crystal ball. She dusted off the crystal ball with a corner of the tablecloth, then she slowly glided her hands over the orb.

She closed her eyes and began to chant. "Oooh… Harummm… Crystal Orb, symbol of my clan, use your darkling power to show us all you could! Er, I mean CAN! Show us all you can!" Luigi leaned over the table and peered intently into the glass ball. It shone and something swirled within it, but he couldn't detect much else. Clairvoya gently shooed him away. "Stand back a bit, my boy, I need some space." She let out a hacking cough and resumed her chanting. "Harummm… Come spirits, show me what has become of Mario Martelli's ghost." Her voiced lowered to a mutter. "Come on, stupid orb, work with me here!"

After a few tense moments, Madame Clairvoya's eyes widened. "Ah! I…I see him!" She cried out with some surprise, "It… it worked! W-well, naturally it worked, it always does," she laughed a little nervously. "Anyway…I see your dear Mario! At least, I-I see a painting of him. Wait… did he just move? He… He is trapped in a painting…!? Y-yes, I see, noble spirits, he is imprisoned in a painting, hanging over a strange altar. And… that dark presence. I sense dark forces at work! Ah!" She suddenly sat up and leaned back dramatically. "Ah… the orb falls silent. The spirits speak no more."

Luigi was shaking. "W-what? No! That can't be it! Madame Clairvoya, please. You must sense more…"

Madame Clairvoya slouched in her chair tiredly and massaged her right temple. "I am sorry, dear Luigi, but I can see no more. The spirits have shared all that they could. Perhaps if you brought me another item…"

Luigi shook his head miserably. "I don't have anything else! O-okay. Let's just focus on what you did see." He glanced at her with a little confusion. "You say my brother was trapped in a painting?" The clairvoyant nodded. Trapped in a painting? How was that even possible? Then again, perhaps he shouldn't be asking such a question after all the strange things he had seen. Luigi shuddered. His poor brother. He couldn't imagine what that would be like. "And there was an altar… Where in this mansion is there an altar?"

Clairvoya merely shrugged her shoulders as her eyelids drooped.

"No, no, no! Please don't go back to sleep!" the plumber pleaded. "Please, Madame Clairvoya. I need you to focus for just a little longer!"

Her eyes slowly opened and rose to meet Luigi's. "Alas, my boy, I was merely a boarder here, I am not acquainted with the mansion's every nook and cranny. I have no recollection of an altar like that anywhere." She glanced to the side as she thought. "The crystal showed a room with stone walls and stone pillars, but that's all I could see."

Luigi slouched a little. "A-are you sure it was even in the mansion?"

She glanced back at him. "I cannot be certain, but I believe so. That horrible presence. It felt like that demon."

"King Boo…?" Luigi asked quietly.

The fortune teller nodded. "If your brother was trapped by that monster, it's likely he's still in the mansion, or at least in the vicinity." She coughed a little. "Demons like that feed off despair and death; it increases their power. King Boo rarely leaves the mansion, and he would most likely keep his prisoners somewhere in the mansion where his strength is the greatest."

Luigi sighed. "Well, at least we can narrow it down to somewhere in the mansion."

"We may be able to narrow it down further still," Madame Clairvoya mused, "I may not recognize the altar, but perhaps there is someone in the mansion who can. Wait." She quickly turned to Luigi with wide eyes. "Luigi… You don't mean to say that you plan to challenge King Boo?!"

Luigi nodded. "I know King Boo has Mario. It wasn't just your vision. I met a ghost named Jarvis who saw King Boo taking my brother away."

Madame Clairvoya's eyes saddened. "My dear boy, challenging King Boo… Let's just say that's not advisable."

"I don't care!" cried Luigi with some frustration, "He has my brother! I have no choice!"

Clairvoya continued to gaze at him sadly. "I would try to persuade you otherwise, but it seems your mind is made up. You are certainly not the only one who would like to see that demon go. I... I've been thinking about it, actually. I know I told you that you may be preventing yourself from crossing over, and I stand by that. I sensed your turmoil and I wanted you to make peace with yourself. But this place has always possessed a dark aura. At least for as long as I've been a ghost here. And no one that I know of has crossed over. I brushed that off for a long time, thinking everyone had their reasons for staying, but lately… I've been thinking it may have more to do with King Boo's darkness. Perhaps he is somehow blocking the way to the other side. It would make sense. The more ghosts he has influence over, the stronger he becomes. So, he does have something to gain from keeping us all here.

"If that's true, haven't you ever wondered why you couldn't cross over? Have you ever tried?" Luigi queried.

The fortune teller sighed and looked down. "I never saw the light. I thought that meant I was supposed to stay here." She gave a wry chuckle. "I thought that maybe I had a purpose here, that maybe someone here needed my help or guidance. But perhaps I've been fooling myself all along."

"I wouldn't say that," Luigi said softly with an encouraging smile. The fortune teller's eyes rose up to meet his. She smiled warmly back.

"You truly are a good soul, Luigi. If nothing else good comes of all this, know that I am at least grateful I met you." She sat up straighter. If we want to find your brother, we're going to need a little help. For starters, perhaps someone can give us a lead to the exact location of that altar."

Luigi shuddered as he considered the implications of her statement. "Y-you mean, we hafta go around asking each ghost what they know?"

The medium chuckled. "Oh, there's no need to go through all that legwork. I can bring them here!"

"W-what?"

Clairvoya closed her eyes and began to chant in a low, raspy voice as she raised her hands. "Hear me! All those who would oppose King Boo! (Hack! Hack!) Come to me! Tell us now, the next thing we did! Um, I mean should do! Tell us the next thing we should do!"

A chill wind coursed through the room and Luigi suddenly heard a multitude of surprised and confused voices. He gulped and slowly turned around, only to gasp in shock at what he saw. He jumped back, only to wind up in the middle of Madame Clairvoya's table. Everywhere he looked, he saw both familiar and unfamiliar faces. The fortune teller's room was suddenly crowded with ghosts.