OMG. It's a miracle! She actually updated.

Haha. Enjoy this chapter. Sorry for keeping you guys waiting for so long! :3

Ada awoke to warm sunshine on her face. She blinked wearily in the soft yellow light and sat up slowly. For a moment she was confused as to where she was, and it took her another moment to recall last night's events.

We could have died, Ada thought, all of us. But we didn't...

The toad scooted off the bed, her feet sinking into plush pink carpet. She was in a bed? She swore she had fallen asleep on the floor with the others. Ada looked around. Where is everybody anyways?

"Good morning."

Ada couldn't help uttering a cry of surprise at the voice. She turned to see a brunette human leaning against the open doorway of the room.

The girl gave her a sheepish look as she stepped forward, "Oh, sorry about that. I didn't think about how tense you would be, after all that has happened and all. I should have known better." The girl's eyes shined apologetically, an uncertain grin on her face.

"Who are you?" Ada asked, "And where are the others?"

The toad thought she glimpsed a bit of surprise in those blue eyes, "Me? I'm Princess Daisy. From Sarasaland?"

"Oh!" Ada blushed lightly, "I didn't realize who you were. You're not wearing a crown." Why do I continue to feel foolish in front of strangers?

Daisy just laughed, "Yeah, I got up some time ago, I have yet to put it back on. What, do you think gals like me like to sleep in their crowns? Ouch much."

Ada decided that she liked this girl. She didn't act too princessy, but she seemed nice and genuine, which was good enough for her, "My name is Ada, it's nice to meet you." She replied.

"Same." Daisy nodded, a small smile on her face, "Now come downstairs. The others are waiting for you."

00oo00oo00oo00

After going down two flights of stairs, they entered a long hall and went through some double-doors. Ada smiled when she smelled the scent of something sweet in the air. She recognized the smell as iced cinnamon rolls, which were sitting at the center of a small table in a surprisingly small room, along with a small basket of fruit. Peach must have preferred they have their privacy in the servant's dining area.

Peach stood up to greet her as she stepped into the room with Daisy, the others already seated at the table, "Good morning Ada, how are you feeling?"

Ada nervously played with a strand of her hair, "Umm, I'm okay. Thank you."

"You're very welcome." Peach motioned with her hand at an empty seat next to Mia, who was nibbling on an apple, "Help yourself, we were just discussing the news."

"The news?" Ada took a seat next to Luigi who nodded at her, forcing a smile though his eyes told a different story. He seemed distracted, and it was at that time that Ada recalled last night and Mario's condition, "Oh! How is Mario? Is he okay?"

Luigi sighed heavily, "He's stable, but he has yet to wake up."

Daisy came around to wrap a comforting arm around him, "Don't worry Lou, I'm sure he's going to be fine. He'll wake up when he's ready."

"Yeah." Benny agreed from where he sat at the other end of the table, a small smile on his face, "He's going to be just fine."

"Thanks." Luigi bowed his head, "I-I just don't know what I'd do without Mario."

"Oh sweet heart." Daisy sighed, bending down to rest her head on his shoulder.

"So, what did you say about the news?" Ada asked, "Is it about the black out last night?"

Peach nodded, a grave look in her bright blue eyes, "Yes, it turns out that there was an explosion at the power plant. They have yet to figure out what's going on, there is so much smoke that no one can get through."

"It's horrible." Mia said, "We just saw a report on the television. The sky looked black." The toad girl shivered, starting at the remnants of her breakfast, "I feel like this nightmare is never going to end."

"We're safe now." Ada told her, "It's over."

"I..." Mia closed her eyes, lying her head down on the table, "I really hope so."

"Is the program still on?" Ada looked towards the flat screen TV hanging from the wall, that was powered off.

"Nothing will come in." Luigi said, "I think the news channel cut out, maybe they're having problems with their generator."

"That's unusual." Daisy frowned, "I mean, when you think about it, those people usually have back ups. Reporting even during disasters like this is top priority."

"It is strange." Peach frowned.

"What...what if those things attacked them?" Benny wondered.

Mia made a startled noise, "No! We left them, in the forest. They can't leave." She looked at Luigi, "Right?"

Ada cast a concerned look at her friends. Everyone had a look of unease on their faces, and she knew the same expression was on her own face. What if they followed us? What if this really isn't over?

What if we are already dead?

The toad recalled a story she had read long ago, an article written by a famous reporter eighty years ago, about a strange woman who was known for her prophetic gaze. There had been many quotes from the hermit, and one stuck out to her at this moment. "Beware the beast who meets your gaze, for you have been marked. And I have yet to meet, a dark creature, who has surrendered their prey easily."

00oo00oo00oo00

He was afraid. There was no mistaking the tremor in his hands as he locked the door, both knob and bolt, releasing a choked gasp as he heard cloth on wood outside in the hallway. He stumbled backwards away from the door, eyes wide behind his swirled lenses.

Professor Egad was not known as a man to be taken easily by fear. He had dealt with ghosts and other demonic types of spooks, even once having a bout with King Boo himself, before Luigi had taken it upon himself to do the job. This however, was different. These things were not ghosts.

They were part of an entirely different group, and one that the professor had very little experience with.

This was all a mistake. Look at what you have done Madox. He could feel a heavy presence suddenly behind the door, and winced as the door trembled on its hinges. We were fools old friend. A bunch of dastardly old fools. Dust sprang up from the ground as the pressure on the door increased, a jagged crack appearing across the top of the door. It won't end with me. They have an unnatural unrest. They will not be sated by my death alone.

Egad took several steps backwards, bumping into his dresser with a ragged gasp as the door shivered in its foundation. He knew he was not long for this world, and he was afraid, but he remained resolute. He would wait for the end and his just desserts. Egad knew he deserved nothing more than death for what he had brought upon the world.

As the door caved in and darkness flooded the room, the man fell down onto the floor and with one final cry, a cry of regret that rose up from the bottom of his soul, he uttered his last words.

"Forgive me."

00oo00oo00oo00

After breakfast everyone gathered in the room where Mario was resting. When Ada entered the room she couldn't help swallowing as she saw his still form in that bed. Visible cuts on face and arms and skin overall appearing as pale as milk.

"We've had medics check up on him every half hour." Peach said quickly, noticing the looks of anxiety on everyone's face, "They have told me he's just fine, he's probably just exhausted from last night."

Luigi moved to stand by his brother's bed side, pressing his hand into Mario's still one, squeezing it gently, "Don't worry bro. We're all here." He didn't know if Mario could hear him, but he thought he would try anyways. He had always had a deep connection with his brother, sort of like with what some twins had, but they weren't twins. Luigi was the little brother, but for some reason, they had an uncanny ability to know when the other was in danger. Luigi remembered a few weeks back when he had suffered a terrible dream. Mario had been downstairs cooking, as he liked to do early in the morning on Sundays. Luigi must have cried out, because moments later he had been pulled out of his sleep and had found himself looking up into Mario's concerned eyes.

Everyone gathered around Mario's bedside silently. Ada stared at the rise and fall of his chest, feeling comforted by the fact that he was still breathing.

"EGL." Someone said quietly. Ada turned to look at Benny, who held the chain in his claws, the tag gleaming in the light streaming in from the window, "What could it mean?"

"May I see it?" Luigi asked.

Benny handed it over wordlessly and Luigi held it up in the light.

"Hmm...wait just a minute." Luigi stared, "I think I know what this stands for."

"Really?" Ada couldn't muffle the excitement in her voice, "What is it?"

"If I'm not mistaken." Luigi started, "I would think this belonged to a scientist I once knew."

"Elvin Gadd!" Benny yelled suddenly, his eyes wide with realization.

Everyone flinched at his yell, and he blushed, "Sorry."

"What's going on?"

Luigi gasped as Mario blinked up at him, confusion clear on his face, "Mario!"

"Oh thank goodness!" Peach cried happily, clasping her hands together.

"Bro, we're at the Princess's castle." Luigi told him, "Your safe. We're all safe."

Mario slowly sat up in bed, looking around him as he did so, "What happened? I don't remember too much." He put a hand on his forehead and winced when he felt the deep cut there.

"We...hit you accidentally." Ada said, looking away. "You ran out in front of the car."

Mario looked at Luigi and noticed the necklace in his grip, "Do you know what it means?"

Luigi nodded, "It's Professor Elvin Gadd's. EGL, Elvin Gadd Laboratory."

"Alright." Mario pushed the sheets off his body and everyone watched as he stood up, Peach taking a tentative step forward, "I'm going to check this out."

"We can't do this right now Mario." Luigi said, "You need to rest."

"The sooner we finish this, the better." Mario said firmly, "Those things are still out there. This must end before they cause anymore damage."

"Too late." Ada sighed, "I think it's too much of a coincidence that the power plant was affected. I bet it was an attack."

"That means." Benny said carefully, "That there's a very real possibility that those monsters are loose in the city."

Mia gasped and Ada moved to stop the girl, but was too late as the small toad girl ran out of the room. Luigi stopped her from following, "Ada, let her go. She just needs some space."

Ada nodded, staring down at her feet, "She shouldn't have went with us. It was a terrible mistake."

"There was nothing you could have done to prevent it." Luigi said, "For now, we can help her by making sure she is safe and out of the way of this situation from now on. I want you to stay put too, Ada."

Ada looked up, alarmed, "What? What do you mean?"

"You're not coming with us." Luigi said, "It's better you stay here."

"But-I, I can help!"

"Mario and I can handle this ourselves." Luigi told her, "We've handled worse before."

"What could be worse than this?" Ada argued.

No one said anything in response. After all, once they thought about it, Bowser seemed as dangerous as a dandelion puff when compared to this new enemy.

"Your boss already payed the final price." Luigi sighed, "He dragged you into this mess in the first place, and almost got you girls killed. Owe it to yourself to enjoy being alive and out of harms way."

"I.." Ada sighed softly, "I'll stay. Just be careful you two."

"Umm, Lou?" Daisy stood by Peach, an unhappy frown on her face, "Are you sure you can't stay for a little longer, I was really worried about you...and-"

Luigi moved to embrace her, Daisy looking so small in his arms. They watched as Luigi buried his face in Daisy's auburn curls, "Don't worry Dais. I'll come back safe and sound."

Daisy pulled away, a scowl on her face, Ada blinked at the transformation, "You better mister! Every bit of you." He didn't act surprised at the sudden change of tone, and laughed.

"Every bit of me." He kissed her on the cheek.

00Oo00oo00oo00

Peach lent them another vehicle for their trip to Elvin's lab, a nice sturdy looking truck. The two brothers piled in, Mario in the driver's seat, adjusting the mirror as Luigi buckled in.

"Do you think he's ok?" Luigi asked his brother, who buckled his own seat belt once he was satisfied the mirror was in a reliable position.

"I don't know bro." Mario said honestly, knowing full well how Luigi handled disappointment. Just in case there was something wrong, it was best not to get his hopes up. He was the more sensitive brother.

"You take good care of him, Mario." Daisy had told him before he headed outside, her hands on her hips, lips in a frown, "I mean it. Don't leave him alone for one second."

Mario had smiled, amused by Daisy's stature, "Don't worry Daisy. He's in good hands."

Mario wouldn't let anything happen to him. Daisy didn't have to remind him, he was his brother after all. He couldn't imagine losing the only family he had left.

The red clad brother started the car, backing up around Peach's water fountain, then moving forward. He wasn't sure what they would find, but he couldn't help feeling a sense of foreboding.

He glanced at his brother as he flipped on the radio, and returned a smile when both brother's realized that all the radio stations were down. More of a way of saying: everything will be ok again once this is over. This won't last. No worries.

Mario could only hope this was a truth and not but a hopeful dream.

00Oo00oo00oo00

"Are we lost?" They came down a hill, the road changing from smooth and black, to rugged and rocky. Luigi clenched his teeth as they came down upon an especially deep hole, the truck rocking in response.

"No." Mario had one hand on the wheel, and one hand on the map Peach had supplied him. Since Peach had her generator up and running, it had been easy to use one of the computer's upstairs to look up the address online and print out a map.

Soon they were going down a smoother slope, rocks flying under their wheels. Mario was relieved when they turned down a dirt path. He hadn't told Luigi, not wanting to worry him, but he was still pretty sore. He felt like he had been swallowed by a piranha plant with a bag of rocks and then spat out and crushed by a boulder. Mario gritted his teeth when he felt the back of his neck with a fist. His muscles were so tight, they felt ready to tear with any small movement.

Mario's twitching did not go unnoticed by Luigi, "You alright?"

"Just a little sore." Mario replied, placing both hands on the wheel, a pained look in his eyes, "Nothing I can't deal with."

Luigi knew how stubborn his brother could be and said nothing, even though he knew he was lying. That was another thing they had in common, knowing when the other was lying, of course that was more from experience than a born gift.

They rolled past prairie and trees, and eventually came upon some woods. They were not as thick set as the other forest, but they both couldn't help feeling uncomfortable as they drove into the shade of them. Luigi scanning the dark places between the trees from the passenger side window.

Eventual they came upon a smooth hill and more of a clearing. Mario forced the vehicle up the sharp incline and soon the top of a building and eventually the whole structure, came into focus.

It was a huge white stone building, created by large blocks. Tall dark windows made up the top floor, but no windows were found on the bottom. They parked the truck near the doors and when the engine died down, they sat there.

"You ready?" Mario asked Luigi.

"Ready as I'll ever be." He replied tightly, swallowing as he looked up at those dark windows. For some reason he felt that something was looking back at him.

I hope everyone was happy with this chapter. It took me all day to type (had to keep coming back to computer), but I felt I owed it to my loyal readers, you know who you are! :) I am once again, sorry for the long wait. Thanks for reading! ^_^