Paper Mario X
Chapter 1: The Gates of a New Adventure
Mario was knocked out in a grassy field. It seemed like the end for him. Being beaten by Bowser was enough, but getting beat by Bowser and knocked out a 10,000-foot high window was out of the question. He let out what was thought to be his last breath; some say it was to say farewell to his beautiful mustache. Suddenly, seven star spirits appeared and hovered around him, giving him life and energy.
"Oh thank Heavens! He's been gravely injured, but he'll recover!" A star with a pink bow exclaimed.
"But Bowser has the Star Rod! He's mightier than Mario!" another star with a mustache added. "It's hopeless! All is lost!"
"Everyone, just calm down. As long as we pull together, there is always hope! Now…our fates are in Mario's hands. We need to revive him! Gather round everyone! Send Mario your power!" an older star with a bushy grey mustache ordered.
All the stars did as they were told and there was a brief sparkle of star around Mario.
"Phew…that's all we can do right now. Mario…please…get up please!" the older star pleaded. The star spirits disappeared one by one, causing the sky to brighten and the future to have hope. A Goomba girl strolled into the clearing, claiming she heard something fall around there. She glanced at the fallen man.
"Oh…I wonder who that could be?" she asked herself. The goomba waddled over and nudged Mario. "This red hat…this shirt…and this mustache…you know, he really looks like the one and only Mario!"
"It couldn't be…could it? The real Mario?" The girl went into a frenzy trying to wake the plumber up. "Oh no! He won't wake up! Oh, oh! What am I going to do?" She darted off, shouting some of her family members' names.
. . .
Mario was still sleeping, but this time, he was in a bed in a small house. In a dream, the old star appeared to him.
"Mario…can you hear me Mario?" he asked. "I'm Eldstar, a Star Spirit…I have something very important to tell you…it concerns the princess…all of the Mushroom Kingdom…and many more lands…But sadly, I haven't the strength to talk to you here. Mario, I need to have you come to Shooting Star Summit. Please…Mario…We Star Spirits will be waiting for you…" Eldstar vanished, and Mario finally sat up. He stood up, glancing around for the star. A Toad slammed the door open and gaped when he saw Mario awake.
"Oh…Mario! I'm so happy to see you awake! You haven't opened your eyes for days and days! Everyone's been worried sick!" the Toad explained, "This place is Goomba Village, just west of Toad Town. The only residents are me and a family of Goombas. The Goombas in the family are the nicest you'll ever meet. They're the ones who found you unconscious in the forest and carried you here to get better."
Mario then remembered Eldstar's plea and quickly told the Toad about it.
"Huh? A star with a mustache? You're saying a star with a mustache told you to go to Shooting Star Summit?" asked the Toad. Mario nodded his head. "No…I didn't see anyone like that. I sure didn't see anyone come in or out of this house! I wonder Mario…if you just had a dream?"
Mario: WHAT?
"Although maybe not…It could have been some sort of message from a Star Spirit. They live in Star Haven. Shooting Star Summit is the closest place to Star Haven, so it'd make sense…Who knows? In any case, I'm glad to see you recovered! I know the Goombas would be happy if you paid them a visit!" the Toad finished. Mario waved good-bye, but then the Toad thought of something else.
"I can't believe I forgot! The Goombas are also taking care of this strange elf looking man who they found in a bush right after they found you! He knew who he was and where he came from, but he completely forgot the last hour before he landed! Check that out too!"
Mario immediately knew it had to be Link and dashed outside.
Outside, it was a perfect day and…no sign of Link. Mario was a tad disappointed as he jogged to the gate. If Mario could find Link, he would have a better chance of saving Peach and getting back at Bowser. Beside the gate was a goomba, apparently busy with something.
"Howdy Mario! Feeling better?" he asked. "Feel free to rest in our house." Mario then told him he needed to go. "You have to leave right now? Oh, Shooting Star Summit! Something important, no doubt. Well I believe that the summit is near Toad Town. You'll have to wait a bit. I have to fix this gate before you can head out east. The earthquake the other day really did a job on it. Did you feel that quake? Shoot! I thought the sky was falling! Just relax and don't worry. I'll have this done in a jiffy!" Mario understood and trotted off.
. . .
There really wasn't anywhere to explore, and there wasn't any place to go, so Mario gave up and talked to a Goomba with a blue hat. Goombas weren't Mario's favorite things, but if they got tough, he could take care of them easily. The Goomba took one look at Mario and shrieked.
"Hey Mario! I'm Goombario! You're biggest fan! You don't know what this means to meet you! Seriously!"
Mario grunted. He wasn't much of a conversation starter. It bugged him knowing Link was there, but he couldn't find him. Therefore, Mario's instinct led him into the Goomba's house to have a look around. The house itself was decent, nice little wood things here and there. A very old Goomba was half-asleep while standing up; she was making a light noise. Mario ignored her because he heard something out in the back door. Opening it up, he found another elder goomba sitting out there.
"Hi!" Mario squeaked.
"Oh! You startled me! Hm, yes, Mario, isn't it? So you've awakened at last! Good! Knew you'd pull through! Call me Goompa. I'm the Goomba grandfather so…Goompa," He told Mario. "Do you mind giving me the details later? I'm very busy fixing the veranda." Mario was about to ask Goompa if he had seen Link, but he didn't want to be bothered! Frustrated, Mario stomped away. The moment he'd stepped into the front yard, Goombario waddled over to him.
"Oh! Mario…my dad was looking for you. He said to tell you he finished fixing the gate. "
Mario: That's great!
"So I guess you can travel to Toad Town and Shooting Star Summit now huh?"
Mario nodded, and Goombario backed up sadly. Excited, Mario rushed over to the gate; unsurprised at the fact that Goombaria and Goompapa were waiting.
"Hoo! What a job! Sorry to keep you waiting. The gate is finally fixed. If you take this road straight ahead, you'll eventually come to Toad Town, home of Princess Peach's Castle!" Goompapa stated. Mario was relieved he could leave. "I believe that Shooting Star Summit is just beyond there. It's too bad you can't stay…I feel like I just met you! But duty calls, I know."
"Good luck, Mario," Goombaria added.
Suddenly, a strange cackle echoed through the air. The three quickly turned to find Kammy Koopa hovering about on her broom. Mario snarled. He recalled that she was with Bowser when he kicked him out of the castle.
"Bleh heh heh heh heh heh….my instincts were right. Mario…I can't believe you're walking on your feet after taking such a beating from King Bowser. You're a hardy one, all right! I was smart to come here and check on you." Kammy snickered.
"What's that Daddy? What's that weird flying thing?" Goombaria asked innocently.
"Weird? Why you little…I am a beautiful Koopa with a beautiful name: Kammy Koopa! I wish I had time to teach you a lesson brat! But, no. Mario! Hear this! It is useless for you to save Princess Peach. Ridiculous! Laughable! As you have seen, King Bowser is more powerful than even you can deal with this time! Here's a gift from him!"
Kammy chuckled evilly while using her magic to create a yellow block to crush the newly fixed gate. Goompapa cried out in agony at his hard work being destroyed.
"Mario! You will kneel and weep when you see the wonderful changes that King Bowser has made! The worlds are ours now!"
Kammy laughed once more and putted away on her broom. Mario felt like he would never get out of there!
"I just fixed that gate…" Goompapa said quietly. "Nobody say gate to me…Kammy Koopa, that FIEND!"
Mario explained that Prince Peach had been kidnapped again, and that he needed to get to Shooting Star Summit to save her. Goombaria finally spoke up.
"Dad, we've just got to do something, right?" she wondered. "Mario's gotta save the princess! No one else can do it!"
"Here's an idea! Maybe we can break the block with Goompa's big hammer! I think he's using it right now to fix the veranda. Go ask him for it, will you?" Goompapa suggested. Mario nodded yet again, and returned to the house. Goomma was still inside, and Goompa was still out on the veranda. Mario entered the veranda door, and was finally able to talk to Goompa.
He stood on the veranda for a few moments…until he realized that there wasn't even a veranda under his feet. Mario didn't realize until the last moment, suddenly plummeting to the unknown parts of Goomba Village…