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Thankfully for the Mario brothers, the seasons were very similar to what they had back home. The biggrst difference was the names of the months. It was the month of Nekrodasos, when the leaves died and the trees became barren. Even the giant mushrooms shrivelled up. For the bros though, it was mid-October.
The Toads were gathering up edible mushrooms before they were gone for the winter. Luigi had been roped into finding an unpicked grove with Toad while Mario helped load the mushrooms into the big truck they were carting the harvest in. The daring Toad and timid Luigi made their way across the woods, skirting around trunks and leaping over logs.
“So, Toad, what exactly are we looking for?” “Edible mushrooms. If you find any that look edible, let me know and I’ll check my field guide.” “Toad, I have no idea what edible mushrooms look like in your world. How do I know that they’re not poisonous?” “They’re not purple, for one. The purple ones are toxic, for sure.”
With this bit of advice, the two headed for a clearing a few hundred feet ahead when Luigi felt a chill crawl up his spine. Toad could feel it too. The two began to walk forwards through the clearing when they heard a soft, shrill voice.
“What are you doing here? Ehehehhheeeee…” Toad stopped in his tracks as the voice’s giggles encircled the two. “Luigi, don’t move.” The green-hatted man stopped mid-step.
“Toad, what’s going on?” The giggles multiplied and turned into shrieking laughter. Three floating white orbs with sinister faces and long tongues phased into view, circling the two mushroom hunters. “Why, you’ve entered our forest, Luigi,” said the largest orb.
“How do you know my name? What are you?” Toad shivered, “Boos. Mischevious spirit-like beings. They’re not quite ghosts, not quite fairies. But what they are is very dangerous.”
The Boos began to spin around the duo faster and faster. They taunted Luigi in particular. “Why, we all know the name of the famous heroes of the Mushroom Kingdom. EEEEHHEEEEHEEE!” They began to rush towards the two.
“RUN!” Toad sprinted away from the speeding Boos, Luigi hot on his tail. The chase wound through the falling mushroom spores and back to the main group. A Boo caught up to Luigi and licked him across the arm, catching his bare wrist.
“TURN ON THE HEADLIGHTS!” Toad hollered at the top of his lungs. The pink-capped Toad nearest the truck turned it on and flashed the high beams. The Boos following them shrieked in pain and disappeared.
Luigi was soon to notice that something was wrong. “Guys, my wrist feels like it’s numb and burning at the same time.” Everyone stopped what they were doing. A few Toads pulled out their phones, while the others tried, and failed, to not panic.
Toad himself was barely keeping calm. “Okay, okay, okay. It shouldn’t be lethal. Did any of the boos lick you?” Luigi wasn’t sure. “Pull up your sleeve and let me look at your wrist.” Pulling up Luigi’s sleeve, everyone could see that Luigi’s skin was blistering and the skin up his arm was starting to turn light purple.
Everyone began to panic. “Chanterelle, call an ambulance! Luigi, don’t freak out, but Boos are venomous. Their venom shouldn’t be able to kill you, but it will be very unpleasant. If the blisters or burning spreads, let me know. I should be able to keep you conscious.”
“Toad, what are you talking about? Venom by licks?” “Yes, it’s in their spit. Lay down and don’t move.” Luigi was too scared to disobey, and he heard someone ask for Mario’s phone number.
“No, no, don’t call him, he’ll panic!” Luigi said, panicking. The chaos began to die down as the ambulance arrived. EMToads ran towards Luigi and put him in the ambulance. Seeing as it was designed to hold Toads, Luigi had to sit on the floor of the ambulance. The paramedics made sure that Luigi was somewhat alright and sped to the hospital.
It took a few hours in the hospital, but it was determined that Luigi would be fine. He was set up for observation overnight and laying in the bed, feet dangling over the bed, when Mario busted in. “Luigi, are you alright?” “I’m going to be, but my arm is pretty messed up. This thing called a Boo licked my arm, and apparently they’re venomous.”
Mario was allowed to stay overnight, and did so. Luigi was discharged in the morning with instructions to keep it easy on his arm and not get it wet until his blisters had healed, and to come back if anything felt worse. Regardless of circumstances, both of the bros agreed on one thing: Boos were to be avoided at all costs.