Chapter 6: Like, Totally Classy
At dawn, the gang was having breakfast peacefully in the second floor enjoying Luigi's famous Shroom Roast delicately prepared by him. The exception was Bow and Yosh, whom after telling everyone the experience they had night before, they went to sleep immediately and haven't wake up yet.
They did manage to rescue Bootler the night before. He was trapped in a wardrobe somewhere in the second floor. Bow and Yosh narrated what had happened to Bootler, and after telling him everything was fine, they say goodbye to him and decided to return to the travel trailer immediately because it was almost dawn.
And now there they were, sleeping each in their own respective comfy bed in the third floor. Yosh woke up some hours later, but still feeling too drowsy to leave his bed. Bow was moving uneasily in her bed changing positions eventually.
"Bow, are you awake?" Yosh asked.
"Yea," Bow said opening her eyes sheepily.
"Uff! What adventure we had, wasn't it?" Yosh asked remembering his awesome battle with the Duplighost King the night before.
"Yea, sure" said Bow sleepily.
"Hey… I wanted to ask you something…" Yosh said full of interest.
"Mm?" said Bow distractingly.
"In that room… in the ballroom… well suddenly I stared at the floor… and well… I saw myself getting older and older as I approached…and the next moment I was being dragged by the floor as if it was some kind of quicksand… Man, that was craziest thing ever!" Yosh said excitedly.
Bow, now giving Yosh her full attention, was looking for the best words to say it before replying to him.
"It's one of the protections the Ghost Gem has," she replied, "Is to scare away people, making them to think that if they came closer to the floor they will actually become older. That's the greatest fear of weak people: to be afraid to grow up. But one who is not afraid of going forth to face the challenges destiny awaits for him or her can approach the floor easily without cowering about what might happen. Only a true courageous mind, one who is not fooled by tricky illusions, can pass through. You were approved to be a courageous person so the floor dragged you a step closer to where the Ghost Gem was".
"Wow!" replied Yosh with gleaming eyes. "That's very philosophic and stuff!"
Bow smirked at Yosh just as Parakarry appeared in the stairs carrying a tray with some Koopa Buns and some Healthy Salad in his hands.
"I was told to bring you these, guys" Parakarry uttered putting the tray carefully in Bow's bed.
"Oh, okay, thank you, Parakarter," Bow gleamed.
"It's 'P-a-r-a-k-a-r-r-y'!" Parakarry huffed while his cheeks blushed.
"Oh! I'm so sorry, Parakarry!" Bow apologized, "I kinda forgot your name for a sec'!"
"Yea… whatever…" said Parakarry feeling a little hurt, "Well… I must be going…" he quickly climbed down the stairs leaving only Bow and Yosh again in the room.
"Ouch! What a bummer! I think you hurt that guy's feelings!" said Yosh before he regretted saying that. "How could you forget his name? You know him for a long time!"
"Yea… well, let's don't get too much into it," said Bow being put a bit down, "Better help me eat this food 'cause I can't eat all by myself".
They made a quick pit stop to have lunchtime and chat a little in the dinning room. The exception was Bow and Yosh, who were still in the third floor, and Kooper and Goombella who were talking down in the first floor.
"Hey, Bella," Kooper said to Goombella from across the table of the first floor. "Close our eyes for a sec',"
"What?" Goombella asked confused.
"Just do it!" Kooper said eagerly.
"Mmm… okay," she agreed not fully convinced and closed her eyes forcefully.
"Okay… now open them…"
Goombella eagerly opened her eyes. Kooper was handing her a thick bright red book titled 'Ancient Magic of The Past' with shining silver letters. An electric blue ribbon was wrapped around the book as a present.
"Ohmigosh!" she exclaimed excitedly, "Thank you so much!"
"Nothing to thank for," said Kooper with a smile, "Hope you liked it, anyway."
"Of course I do!" Goombella gleamed, "Indeed I had been searching for a book of ancient magic for a long time but I was unsuccessful in finding one".
"Oh, well I'm glad then," said Kooper winking.
"When you bought this for me?" Goombella asked still looking quite cheerful.
"In the night after we met," he explained, "I found it in one of Rogueport's libraries. You were so kind to me, so I decided to buy you a small present".
"Aww… How sweet" Goombella said flushing.
The moment was unfortunately spotted by Toadette, who was coming downstairs to reassume her driving.
"Oh! I'm terribly sorry," she squealed dramatically, "I am interrupting something?"
"Yes" said Kooper faking a cold voice.
Toadette merely flinched, as she didn't expect that answer. Goombella gave Kooper a funny disapproving face.
"Hey, I was just kidding, Toadette!" said Kooper laughing who was joined immediately by Toadette herself after realizing it was a joke.
"Okay! Okay!" she said still laughing, "I better go to the front to continue my work, or we will never arrive, heehee".
"How far away we are from Faire Square?" Goombella asked Toadette who was walking to the front of the car.
"I think we are very close now," answered Toadette, "We will arrive like in an hour".
"OK, thanks"
About one hour later, as Toadette had predicted, the travel trailer was in front of the festive town of Faire Square. One by one, the gang exited the travel trailer looking quite excited. The exception was Toadette, who said she would park the trailer somewhere and stay there to watch over it.
"Ohmigosh!" Goombella exclaimed as she had a closer look of the town. Balloons of every color ever imagined were floating over Faire Square buildings and houses. Confetti was flying in the everywhere in the sky in all directions. The gang could hear festive music as they came closer.
When they were about to cross the bridge that was the division between the town and the outsides, someone emerged from the shadows. A rather short old hag was standing near them, wearing a hat with white and blue stripes, which in comparison of her body, it was enormous. Her hair came out of the hat, which was the color of white snow.
Well hidden in a nearby bush, Beldam watched the gang crossing the bridge in front of her. She sank again in the shadows and reappeared several meters in front of the gang, far enough to prevent for any of them to recognize her. She immediately swung her hands forward to magically create a sudden gust of chilly wind directed to them.
"Ahhh!" everyone shouted. The frosty wind blew them all away a few meters. Sight was suddenly blurred for everyone because of the strong wind. Slowly, the gust began to fade as if it had never been there. Beldam was no longer in sight…
"What the HELL was that?!" Goombella shrieked.
"I have no idea…" Peach answered in a confused voice.
Vivian was thinking hard in her mind. Icy wind…cold icy wind…Could it be…? No…Beldam…Nah she wouldn't do such a thing…
"Mmm…Vivian? Are you okay?" Luigi asked approaching her and putting a hand in her shoulder.
She snapped out of her thoughts and gave Luigi a confused look, "Mm? What…? Oh, yea, yea… I'm fine…I'm just a little startled because of the gust that's all…"
"Well, who whoever was the dork that did this to us, they left a note" said Mario holding a letter in his hands standing where Beldam was before she vanished.
The gang quickly approached Mario as he unfolded the letter. It was written in the same handwriting as the one of the letter they found in the bathtub where Toadsworth had been kidnapped.
Find the luckiest thing in the luckiest place.
"Oh, awesome, another riddle," Yosh said frustrated, "What do you think we should do, Gonzales?"
But it wasn't Mario, but Peach the one who answered to Yosh question.
"I think we should ask the townsfolk first to see which is the 'luckiest place' in here don't you think?" Peach suggested.
"I think Peach is right, but who we should ask?" Vivian asked.
"What about those gals?" Kooper said eyeing a trio of female Goombas chatting in front of a market not far away from them. They gang thought they were extremely rich for the beautiful jewels and accessories they wore.
"I don't think those girls will talk to people like…us" Parakarry said lowly, "I mean they are all high-class…and well, we aren't".
"Just watch me, Parakarry" Goombella said confidently before starting to walk to the trio of Goombas.
Goombella approached them by walking through the mast of people shopping here and there. But when she finally reached them, instead of talking to them, she started checking jewels that were in a market.
"What the hell is she doing?" Yosh asked looking at Goombella who was just standing there checking the jewels of the market.
"Just wait… she must have a plan, I'm sure" Bow said watching how the girls had noticed Goombella.
The trio approached Goombella, and the one who looked to be the wealthiest, wearing a pretty pink set of robes, decided to talk to her.
"Hi dear, I have never seen you in this town before, are you new?" she said in a classy way.
"Yea," said Goombella in the same kind of voice of the wealthy Goomba, "this place is like totally awesome!".
Without her noticing, Mario and the gang slowly approached her and pretended to be interested in the stuff of a nearby market so they could hear the conversation.
"I know, right?" said a second Goomba wearing a ruby dress giggling stupidly.
"If you are going to buy something my dear, I would totally suggest you this," said the third Goomba, who was wearing a light orange garment, holding a beautiful necklace in her hands and showing it to Goombella.
"Fer sure! It's like so damn gorgeous!" said Goombella gleaming while taking the necklace from the Goomba.
"By the way, my name's Goomlodia" said the pink-wearing Goomba, "And this is Malioomba…" she said looking at the red-wearing Goomba, "And this one here is Goomchelle…" the orange-wearing Goomba smiled.
"Soo pleased to meet you," giggled Goombella, "Mine's Goombella".
"Oh, what a darling name!" exclaimed Goomchelle.
"It's a way better than mine! I'm jealous!" said Malioomba.
"I totally agree myself!" giggled Goombella.
"Hey, why don't you hang around with us? So much to show you!" said Goomlodia excitedly.
"I kinda have some things to do…" said Goombella half heartedly now remembering WHY she was having that conversation with those Goombas.
"Please! Come with us!" exclaimed Malioomba.
"Well… oh right," said Goombella unsure.
"C'mon, let's get audi! I'm getting UVs here!" said Goomlodia dramatically.
"I'm like so sure!" said Goomchelle rolling her eyes, "The day is not even sunny!"
"Yea, but what-EVER, let's just go!" said Goomlodia who had started to walk away. The other two followed after her.
"C'mon, Goombella!" called Goomchelle noticing that Goombella was not following them.
"Okay…" said Goombella as she started to walk behind the trio, giving the gang an apologetic look when she passed by them.
When Goombella and the girls were out of earshot, the gang began discussing what had just happened.
"All that time wasted and we didn't get any information!" scowled Yosh, "And worst, she went away with those rich girls and abandoned us!"
"Don't worry about that," said Mario comprehensively, "I'm sure Goombella will bring back lots of information when she returns."
"If she ever returns…" whispered Yosh under his breath.
"Wow! I didn't know Goombella could speak Valspeak!" Kooper said enthusiastically.
"What's Valspeak?" Parakarry asked confused.
"Oh, c'mon, sheeesshh, Valspeak," Kooper repeated.
"No, honestly, what's Valspeak?" Luigi asked.
"It's a language cool people use, duh," Kooper answered.
Everyone put a are-you-calling-me-a-loser face and glared at Kooper, who made a nervous laugh. The tense moment was immediately interrupted by Peach.
"Hey, why don't we explore around and reserve a room in a NICE hotel in which to spend the night?" Peach suggested.
"Yea, Peach's right, c'mon let's get going!" Bow said.
"Wow, your house is so wickedly awesome and stuff!" Goombella said with her eyes feasted on the beautiful inner decor of the foyer in Goomlodia's house.
"Oh, believe me, you haven't seen anything yet," Goomlodia giggled stupidly while she guided her and her friends to a rather big sitting room.
"Let's see… what we have scheduled for today, Goomchelle?" Goomlodia said distractingly while she invited her friends to sit in one of the classy sofas.
"Let's see…" Goomchelle said while picking a pink list from the table in front of her, "just a few things today… first do some shopping in Faire Square's downtown at four and assist Grandon's formal party at seven.
"Wow! Who ever thought these rich girls' life was even more complicated and scheduled than the girls back in the University…" Goombella thought in her mind.
"Well, we have one hour before going shopping," said Goomlodia, "Want some drinks meanwhile?"
"I would be delighted," giggled Goombella followed by the other two who nodded.
Goomlodia left the sitting room and returned a minute after with some goblets and a bottle of wine in hand. She deposited the goblets in front of each of the girls and then served a healthy measure of wine in each.
Goombella muttered a 'thank you' and drank some of her wine. Goomlodia sat beside Malioomba with her own goblet in hand and immediately the three girls started discussing the fashions of this month.
Goombella, who thought there won't be perfect moment to ask it, she interrupted the girls talk.
"Which is the luckiest place in here?" she asked.
"Why, is the Star Sanctum, of course," replied Malioomba.
"Oh, OK," Goombella giggled, "thanks."
"What a weird question, dear," Goomchelle said analyzing the question, "Why did you ask that?"
"I don't know, for curiosity I guess," Goombella said, "And…where this um… Star Sanctum is located?"
"Weird that you ask, is in the very, very center of the town," said Malioomba mysteriously while giving a sip of her wine.
"We can totally take you there when we go shopping if you want to," said Goomlodia.
"Thanks" Goombella replied with a smile.
"Well, the thing I can say is that this hotel is a WAY better than the one in Rogueport," said Peach eyeing the beautiful foyer of the 'Lucky 7 Hotel'. It was decorated with bright blue and yellow furniture, with some small light bulbs placed practically everywhere turning on and off, making the hotel look like a casino.
"I agree with you, Peach," said Mario with a smirk.
"Why don't we go upstairs to check our room, guys?" Luigi suggested after returning with a key in hand.
"Actually, I wanted to explore around and find some stuff that could be useful in our trip," Yosh said.
"And I totally want to check the clothing shops in here," said Bow grinning.
"Okay, okay… why we don't better all go on our own and then meet here at um…six o'clock?" suggested Vivian. "And then tomorrow we can reassume our duties of finding Toadsworth? Plus, Goombella can give us useful information after she returns, so is useless to start without her."
"I totally agree," said Peach, and there was an approving murmur among the gang.
Everyone left in their separate ways. Lady Bow and Vivian were the first to go saying that they will check some of the stores. Yosh, Parakarry and Kooper followed. Mario, Peach and Luigi stayed in the hotel to enjoy the great service it had to offer.
Meanwhile, Goombella was walking down the streets of Faire Square with Goomlodia, Goomchelle and Malioomba by her side. She had already bought some perfumes, dresses and accessories. The enormous bags of different stores she was carrying around were the proof of it.
The girls guided Goombella through several streets without stopping on any shop or store. When Goombella was about to ask Goomchelle where they were going, Goomlodia read her mind.
"Here we are," she said airily, "the Star Sanctum". She stepped away so Goombella could have a clear view of the old, yet beautiful circle made of stone of the color of gold in front of her. Rocks shaped like stars surrounded it, giving it a mysterious look. In the middle of the sacred circle was a big stone statue of a shining yellow star.
"Wow…" was the only thing Goombella managed to said under her breath.
End of chapter.
Just to clear doubts, Valspeak is a sociolect talked by some people of California. It is mainly spoken by girls, but boys also talk it a little. It has some elements and phrases of surfer slang and skateboarder slang. The words of this socialect includes the ones such as "gross", "awesome", "fer sure", "totally", and many more. If you haven't noticed, Goombella speaks Valspeak a lot during PMTTYD.