"Daisy?"

Daisy sat up quickly and blinked wearily in the bright light. She looked at Peach who was standing over her. She had fallen asleep and it took her a moment to recall where she was…then she remembered. They were in the waiting room of the Mushroom Kingdom's finest hospital, waiting to hear what the doc had to say about Luigi.

"Dr. Mustoff wishes to see us." Peach informed her, hugging herself. Even though the blonde had on a sweater, the waiting room was still quite chilly.

"Where are Mario and the others?" Daisy stood up to see that they were alone in the waiting room.

Peach held her hand, "They're waiting for us."

00oo00oo00oo00

Mario was sitting next to Luigi's bedside, his brother having yet to awaken, his head in his hands. He was more than a little stressed. It had nearly killed him when he left the corn to find his brother lying cold and still on the ground. After Daisy screamed at him in hysteria he had realized that Mr. L was right. The villain and Luigi did have some sort of connection.

"Mario." He lifted his head up to see Peach enter the room with Daisy behind her, "How is he?"

The man shook his head slowly; his blue eyes dull and tired, "I'm not sure."

Pauline was also in the room, sitting in a plush chair next to the window, staring at the sun rising low in the sky. Peach sat down by Mario and stared out at the window as well. It was going to be a beautiful day today. No one will be able to enjoy it.

"Luigi?" They all looked with sad eyes as Daisy sat down at the foot of Luigi's bed, tears dropping down dark on the blue sheets.

Everyone waited, eyes on Luigi's pale face, but his eyes did not open. Pauline bit her lip and stared back out the window, feeling uncomfortable surrounded by such grief. She didn't know anyone that well, except for Mario, and felt that she was intruding for even being in the room. I have no right to be here. I can bring no comfort. With those words in her mind, she excused herself and went down to the lobby to get a soda. Any excuse to get out of that room.

Daisy began to sob heavily, her shoulders trembling as she bent down over Luigi's still form, "L-Luigi, please w-wake up!" She felt Peach's hand on her back but Daisy ignored her touch, staring with blurred vision at Luigi's face. Please wake up! Please! I love you so much! I love you more than anything on this stupid planet! Please wake up Luigi!

"Please!" Daisy cried, tears rolling down her cheeks. She buried her head in Luigi's chest. Peach pulled back, taking a seat next to Mario, her own eyes stinging with an onrush of tears.

There was a knock on the wall outside the open door and a toad doctor stepped into the room. Daisy sniffed and looked up at the sound and moved away from Luigi's bed, wiping the tears from her face. Peach and Mario also stood up.

"Are you all family?" The toad asked, holding a clipboard up, removing a pen from his lab coat pocket.

"Friends." Peach said, "And family."

The toad nodded and pulled a chair up next to Luigi, "Alright. Let's have a chat about Luigi here."

Daisy held on to Peach's hand, and they both tightened their hold as the doctor began to talk.

00oo00oo00oo00

Pauline was leaning against the wall in the lobby, sipping a diet soda, when she heard footsteps coming her way. Lots of footsteps. Curious, she peered out into the hallway and was surprised at what she saw.

The koopa troop. Led by no other than the lord of the koopas themselves: Bowser…and he looked very angry.

"Move it! Outta my way!" Bowser roared at a few toad nurses as they scurried by. He stopped in front of a desk where a small koopa nurse/secretary stared up at him in fear, "Hey lady, where is the room of green stache?"

"W-who?" The woman squeaked.

Pauline quickly stepped up to him. Larry waved at her from behind his Dad's tail and she gave him a small smile, then turned to look at Bowser, who was staring down at her impatiently, "Luigi is who you're looking for, right?"

"Mario's brother yeah." Bowser nodded, his eyes dark with an unknown emotion.

"Follow me." Pauline nodded, "I know where he is."

He mumbled something under his breath and Pauline was amused to hear a faint 'thanks'. Soon they were quite a crowd coming down the hall. After she spoke to Bowser, soon she had some koopalings walking with her as they went.

"Hi Pauline." Larry said as he walked by her.

Pauline gave him a grin, "What's up kiddo?"

Larry shrugged lightly a sad look on his face, "We're here to see Luigi, and because, well-King Dad knows that he helped keep us safe."

Pauline gave him a surprised look, "You mean he came to visit? Not start a fight or anything?"

"Yeah." Iggy was walking on her left, "We had to tell Dad about…Wendy too. He's really upset." He spoke softly so only she could hear and Pauline glanced back at Bowser who looked like he was lost in his thoughts. I had forgotten. Poor Bowser lost one of his children. Pauline felt pity for the koopa and the koopalings. Little Lemmy was also by her side, and had a sad faraway look on his face.

Soon they were walking up some short stairs (Bowser can't fit in the elevator) and starting down another hall. Soon Pauline stepped in front of an open door and turned to nod at Bowser. Larry and Iggy were already peering into the room.

"Thanks." Bowser said gruffly and followed Pauline into the room. Mario stood up immediately when he saw the koopa king, his eyes narrowed.

"Sit down Mario." Bowser growled, "I'm not here to fight you. Not today."

Peach stood up when Mario took a seat, "Bowser, how are you?" She had a pitying look on her face.

"As good as one can feel when he's lost a kid." Bowser growled, but when one looked into his eyes they could see a sparkle of tears. Peach felt her heart ache as she watched Bowser stare down at Luigi's sleeping form.

"You're all just in time." The doctor said from his place by Luigi's bedside.

"What's wrong with him Doc?" Pauline asked, "Will he pull through?"

Everyone stared at the toad doctor. The toad nodded and stood up, "We took many tests and all point out that he is perfectly healthy. But for some reason he isn't waking up. At this point we only have to wait for him to awaken."

"When will that be?" Daisy asked, wiping her eyes on her sleeve.

"One can never be sure. It could take minutes. An hour…even days."

"Years?" Pauline asked, "He won't take that long will he?"

The doctor shook his head, "That would be a rare case…but a month has not been out of the norm."

"A month?" Daisy sighed tearfully, "That's a long time."

"A life time is longer." Bowser informed her with a low growl, "Stop whining, at least you have him. I don't have my…"

There was a crash as Bowser's huge fist banged hard into one of the rollway tables near Luigi's bed. Everyone jumped in fear at this sudden attack on the object, and Mario jumped up by reflex. Soon though everyone just watched with sad faces as Bowser left the waiting room.

The koopalings waited though.

"Mario?" Iggy stepped forward looking a bit shy but steady, "We just wanted to…thank you for sticking with us. In that maze."

Mario nodded, "I wouldn't have left you kids. If your father was in there…I'd probably make him stick around too."

"It's amusing." Ludwig noted, "How ve're at this moment, talking like close companions."

Larry went over and hugged Pauline around the waist, and the girl smiled, "Come visit me?" His voice was begging and Pauline was amused to see that his 'puppy dog eyes' were attacking her.

"Sure thing kiddo." Pauline laughed, "Just let your daddy know beforehand, I don't want to be roasted."

"Nah." Larry said, "King Dad wouldn't do that."

"We should head out." Roy nodded at Luigi's sleeping form, "Tell green stache we said thanks when he wakes up. Later."

They watched as the koopalings left the room.

"They really are just children." Peach said when she was sure they had gone, "I hope Bowser realizes that next time Mario's is forced to battle them."

"I try to be careful with them." Mario said, looking at Luigi's chest as it rose with each breath he took, "That can make things difficult though."

"The little blue haired ones a cutie." Pauline laughed, "I don't think he'll grow up to be like his father. You know, in the 'bad guy' sense."

Daisy stood up suddenly her eyes wide, "Guys!"

Everyone stood up and surrounded the bed, looking expectantly at Luigi who was currently rolling over in his sleep. Daisy held her breath as she waited for him to awaken. Come on Luigi. Come on!

There were cheers as he sat up in bed, blinking sleepily, "W-wh-hat happened?"

"EEEK!" Daisy screamed and jumped on him, the hospital bed trembling as she did so, "Luigi!"

Peach laughed happily and smiled at Mario whose eyes were alive with joy. Pauline grinned widely.

"Welcome back bro." Mario smiled.

00oo00oo00oo00

"The owners of the maze have yet to comment on the horrific events of last night, but visitors to the popular fall fest, had much to say." The toad news reporter said.

A koopa with an auburn colored shell was being interviewed, "I take my kids and my little cuz to this fest every year. I never knew that something like this would happen. It's just scary."

"Yeah, I was in the maze." A toad girl with green eyes and blond bangs said, "It's freaky that a bunch of murders were taking place all around me."

Back to the toad anchorwoman who was standing in front of the maze sign, yellow police tape surrounding the edges of the corn, "The known victims name's have yet to be released. Overall 12 bodies have been discovered."

"12?" Pauline was on the couch next to Peach, "The hell?"

Mario had been standing in the doorway with a glass of water and came in when the news ended, "Mr. L killed more people than we thought."

"When we find out their names." Peach said with a sad look on her face, "I want to visit their families."

Daisy was leaning against the side of the couch, holding hands with Luigi, "At least the bastard is dead."

"I hope so Daisy." Luigi sighed.

Daisy gave him a long look, "No Luigi. He's dead. He has to be."

"He told me that he wouldn't die unless I did." Luigi said softly.

The Sarasa princess shook her head, her eyes narrowed, "Mario killed him, remember?" She looked at Mario who nodded.

"He's gone Luigi." Mario told him, "I saw him die myself. I made sure of it."

Luigi looked into his brother's eyes and Daisy smiled when she saw relief flood into his expression.

"Don't worry Lou." Daisy kissed him on the cheek, "No more corn mazes for us. Let's try a cruise next time."

Peach nodded with a small smile on her face, "How about we plan a vacation. We can all relax and enjoy ourselves after this strenuous ordeal."

"Sounds great!" Daisy groaned aloud in relief, "I hate fall weather. I need a little sunshine, no a lot!"

Everyone laughed and Peach felt joy in her heart being surrounded by friends in the safety of her home. I'm so glad it's finally over.

00oo00oo00oo00

There was a crisp noise as the officer stepped through the corn, "Hey Ron, There's a path over here."

Another toad followed after the first officer, "This place is so confusing. Why don't we just mow the whole damn thing down?"

"Then officer moronic, we would destroy valuable evidence."

"Oh." Ron followed the older toad through the narrow path, wincing when he saw blood on one of the stalks, "Jason, there's blood here."

"I noticed." Officer Jason led the way down the path and soon it widened out and the two toads found themselves in a clearing of sorts in the corn.

Ron whistled and moved in closer to the center, "Check it out."

Jason moved closer, his eyes narrowed under his shades. There was a huge staining of blood on the path here, as if a body once lay on this very spot, "Interesting."

Ron pulled his receiver from his waist, "Hey Amy, bring your people where we are. Is your machine still picking us up?"

There was static then, "Yeah, your trackers are still on radar. You're near the north quadrant of the maze. What did you find?"

"Blood." Ron walked around the large stain; face an expression of disgust, "Lot's of it."

"Did you find a body?"

"Negative. Nothing here."

"Alright. Just stay where you are. I'll send Mason's team."

Ron turned his receiver off and tucked it back in his belt; he turned to look at Jason who was eyeing the bloody spot, "I guess now we just wait. Damn this place creeps me out."

"It's daylight." Jason pointed out but couldn't help feeling the same way, though out of pride-he refused to show a hint of fear. With this much blood there should have been a body here. Odd.

"Hey." Ron laughed, "Maybe they just got up and walked off."

Jason gave him an irritated look, "Don't be dumb."

Ron shrugged, "Well, ya never know."

The two waited there for a while until two forensics agents replaced them. Afterwards they too left the scene and when every part of the maze was searched, the maze itself was destroyed.

This is where our story ends. Will the body of the killer ever be discovered? Or did he somehow survive? This is up to you to decide. For now we have reached…

THE END.

~Throws confetti in the air~! Guess who just completed her first story? Moi! ^_^ Thank you all for sticking with me to the very end. I hope you all enjoyed Chills. I plan on starting a new story once my poll is complete, but don't worry! Every story I start, I will finish eventually! It's a pity how many people give up on their stories. I've found more than a few great stories with big followings, but are never updated.

I will try my best as a fanfic writer to finish all my stories. :3

Note: My poll ends in a few weeks! So if you would like to vote, then get on with it before it's too late! :D Thanks! Until next time…

~Elemental Queen.