Chapter 4: Meet Your Maker

AN: Chapter 4! This chapter introduces none other than...ME! And to those that want it, I promise Chapter 13 (up to 12 are already written) is where the villains come out from their shells for once. It's a shorter chapter, though... Anyway, I do not own any of the characters (except myself) in this chapter. I may not upload any chapters until after Thursday, as I have to go to a concert.

It was a disaster. Trying to get the treasures solo, or in groups of two, didn't work out. Bowser and the Tails Doll outsmarted them time and time again. Everyone was lucky to make it through alive. Shadow was sore about his fight earlier, so when Mario and Luigi came back and reported a failure, he threw them into a time hole, sending them onto the planet of two of their most powerful, deceased, archenemies: Shroob. They weren't seen until near the end of Chapter 11.

But Bottles, who had just arrived, and Jamjars took advantage of the chaos by setting up a shop. Of course, they only accepted notes, but they had a currency exchanger off to the side. One ring was worth two notes and coins' values depended on what kind it was. The regular gold coins were worth five notes, red coins were worth ten notes, and blue coins were worth twenty. However, a goal ring was worth fifty notes. The same went for Shine Sprites, Jiggies and other end-of-level apparatuses. Empty Honeycombs and Mumbo Tokens were worth 25 notes. Bottles sold weapons and upgrades, while Jamjars monopolized the ability market. Below are their merchandise at the beginning:

Bottles:

Intelligence Cap: Bi Makes Big as smart as everyone else 100N

Super Hammer: A A Piko-Piko Hammer upgrade 200N

Jet Boosters: T Allows you to fly longer 250N

Drill Claw: Ku Allows you to dig underground 300N

Pick Nails: Ro Comes with Drill Claw, same effect

Light-Speed Shoes: SoASh Allows you to speed through ring trails 300N

Large Backpack: Ba Allows you to hold more stuff 300N

Grappling Hook: Bi Allows you to grapple onto things 300N

Steel Beak: Ka Allows you to pierce metal 400N

Crystal Ring: Ev Allows you to become invisible for short periods 500N

Frisbee: Ev Summons a horde of rabid dogs 600N

Jamjars:

Fire Eggs: KaBurns target 50N

Grenade Eggs: KaExplodes on impact 75N

Ice Eggs: KaFreeze target 75N

Battery EggsElectricity-packed eggs 75N

Swimming: EvSwimming lessons 75N

Chaos Inferno: SoShBlA Allows you to stop time for a short period 100N

Improved Homing Attack: Ev More damaging homing attack 100N

Taxi Pack: Ba Lets you place everyone in the pack (Large Pack required) 100N

Shock Spring Jump: Ka Lets you jump very high 125N

Invulnerability: Ka Makes you invincible for a short time 150N

All the spare change they earned during their attempts totaled at 654 notes. Of course they bought the Intelligence Cap and the Large Backpack. They also took swimming lessons and the Taxi Pack move. To end this shopping trip, Kazooie learned how to fire Fire Eggs. When they left, the mole brethren agreed to keep track of the last 4 notes in their possession.

"Hey, Mr. Sonic!" called Cream when they left. "Can I come along with you?"

"Sorry, Cream. We need someone to look after these babies." came the reply.

"But I already have someone to babysit for you! So can I come?" She made her most pitiful, round-eyed puppy-dog eyes as she said this.

"Er... Okay. As long as you don't hinder us, you're welcome to come with us!"

Tails suddenly cut in. "Hey, Sonic! Apparently, that Bowser jailed the Star Spirits I was talking about! Let's go after them first! You know how bosses always give you some information just before they die."

"I'll stay here and alert you if I find anything here, young whippersnappers!" announced E. Gadd. "Now, Eldstar is being held in the Koopa Bros. Fortress. Go and rescue him!" Just as they were about to leave, he cut in again. "Oh! Sorry, but keep your eyes open for keys! They'll help you get through the different places you'll be traveling to."

Even Mumbo and Humba Wumba, who were bitter enemies, were working together. "Bear and bird bring Glowbos to Mumbo and Dumba Wumba. (Old habits die hard) We give animals spells for helping make adventure easier. But drop by Fourth Wall first. Here, have portable wall. Press green button to make wall grow. Time stop while in building. Press red to have wall shrink. If animals go more than ten feet of wall, animals freeze until wall shrunk." With that, Mumbo handed them a small wall, like you might find in an office: dull, drab, and white.

"Mumbo get sued for insults. Wumba get all his property. Wumba has good lawyer." Wumba replied. They soon got in a fistfight.

"I think it would be wise to do this outside..." said Banjo as he inched towards the exit.

"Good idea, Banjo!" agreed Kazooie as a spell almost hit her. "This is gonna be fun, but I wanna kick some butt myself!"

Fourth Wall, Inc. is an office in which many, MANY authors work, and Mark is the one writing this story right now. MARK WUZ HERE. There. That's proof. Many characters in videogames and fanfics (like this one) break through to here to talk with the authors. But the building itself is magical. To get to other rooms, you have to break through walls right under where there's a 4. When you get through, the broken wall repairs itself, no matter how many times you do it. But only people concerned with an author can break through his/her wall. Just like the several characters are doing RIGHT NOW to mine, just to get introduced with me, as I'm going to be in here a lot.

Whatever I say in here happens, no matter what. This computer, with this typed document on it, is the BIBLE of this story. Tails has no tails. "Hey, gimme my tails back!"

Oh, fine. Tails has twenty tails. There's all the tails you've lost in this building.

"NO, I want TWO tails, not every tail I've ever had!"

Fine. Tails has two tails and...

Everyone else yelled, "STOP!"

Well, ex-CUSE me! I was just about to make this easier for you, but I'll make it harder. Remember, it'll come back to haunt you... Anyway, I'm the author, so be sure you don't say anything...EMBARRASING about yourself, as I type verbatim. Everyone except myself is in Goomba Village. All of the animals vanished into thin air.