Setting: The House of Silent Wails Heavy, dismal clouds loomed over the House of Silent Wails, cloaking Blackthorn Hollow in a veil of gloom. The winds howled, rattling the shutters of the manor like chains on a convict. Inside, the air was thick with an unsettling silence—a stark contrast to the horrific echoes of the past that tinged its very walls. The sound of creaking wood filled the air, an uninvited symphony that began each time the entrance door swung open. As the five companions advanced into the manor, shadows danced on the walls, flickering like the last breaths of those who once roamed its halls. Seth the Emo Umbreon pulled the dark cloak tighter around his frame, the half-mask shadowing his eyes. “This place… it feels wrong,” he mumbled, his voice an echo of despair. His gunmetal bones shifted as he clutched his Beowulf greatsword, the weight of his mission to purge the haunted halls hanging heavily upon him. “Of course it feels wrong! It’s a haunted house!” Luigi squeaked, his cowardly demeanor shaking as he clutched his Poltergeist closer. “Why do we—why did we agree to come here?” He shouted, glancing nervously at every noise. “I-I just want to get out of here! I can’t handle this!” “Luigi, we are here to face our fears,” Philip said sternly, though even he felt the chill creep up his spine. The once-cowardly man was holding it together—barely—and for his fallen friends, he would fight. The short sword gleamed evilly in the dim light, hinting at the potential within that he could embrace if the need arose. “Together, we can make this place right. This house feeds on fear; we have to stand bold against it.” But the true threat lingered at the end of the grand hallway, a looming figure, the Void Hound, crooning low like a phantom whisper. Mounted on the creature's back was a Void Worker, eyes of malice set on the intruders. The monster’s sleek coat shimmered ominously as it hunched low, preparing for a pounce. “Can we just avoid it?” Luigi whined, his knobby knees shaking. “What if it wants to eat us?! We should find another way!” As if hearing his thoughts, the Void Hound lunged forward, jaws snapping. "Surrender… or perish..." it growled, its voice ethereal and haunting, a preface to the horrors that awaited. Seth stepped forward, unyielding, the sword slung across his back glinting in the ghostly light. “Face me, monster! I have no fear! I will not be your prey.” “You brave idiot!” Philip shouted, but it was too late; Seth was already locked in battle. With a deft leap, he unleashed a Shadow Claw, aiming for the Hound’s flank. The creature howled—a sound that vibrated through the marrow of their bones—as the attack landed. But it didn’t deter its fury. Out of the shadows emerged the Crying Children, moaning in sorrow that echoed off the walls—their ghostly presence fueled Luigi's dread. They surrounded him momentarily, their weeping filling the air with memories that clawed at the edges of his sanity. But then, he mustered strength he didn't entirely believe he had. “Get back!” Luigi cried, channeling his magic through the Poltergeist and summoning Gooigi. The gelatinous figure slipped through the clutches of despair, his form blobbing through the horde and sucking up the wandering spirits, one by one. The children's cries turned to silence as they were consumed, and Luigi finally felt a semblance of bravery wash over him. Meanwhile, Seth and Philip fought bravely against the Void Hound, their axes of power clashing against its fur. The sound of metal ringing filled the air as Philip manifested his EGO Ability, causing a blazing sword to erupt in flames. “Stay close to me!” he shouted, charging towards the beast. “We can finish this!” Seth nodded and unleashed his Limit Break, darkness swirling around him like a tempest. “Let’s end this!” he yelled fiercely, striking with the combined force of shadow and longing, fueled by the memories of the things they yearned to save—the hearts of their lost friends and loved ones. The house trembled as their strength coalesced, the shadows retreating against the onslaught of light erupting from Philip’s sword. “Courage can conquer fear,” he intoned, bearing down upon the Void Hound with relentless determination. Sandwiched between despair and hope, their strength surged. The great beast screeched and crumpled, the Void Worker dismounted but sought no reprisal; it faltered beneath the weight of its own fear, realizing it was no match for the bond formed between the companions. In the aftermath, the walls of the House of Silent Wails began to dissolve, shadows fleeing like memories left unremembered. The mists that had coiled inside the manor thinned until they could finally see the light piercing through the front door. “All of that for a ghostly house...” Luigi muttered while glancing at Philip, who wore an exhausted but relieved grin. Seth touched his shoulder, a newfound respect gleaming in his eye. “You were brave,” he said solemnly. “And you were ready to sacrifice yourself for all of us,” Philip added, looking thoughtfully between Seth and Luigi. “Maybe we’re braver than we thought.” With newfound resolve, the trio, forged in friendship and unity, stepped through the door into the pale sunlight filtering through the fog, leaving the House of Silent Wails to its silent screams, victorious. As they emerged from the cursed grounds, Luigi was the first to speak. “You know, we really need a vacation. Next time, let’s just go to the beach.” The resolution hung heavy with laughter, the sun breaking through the clouds, illuminating the shadows that had been transient. Together, they walked away from the darkness, the burdens of their past starting to lift. Each of them understood now that fear could be confronted together, forming bonds stronger than any haunted house could ever break.