Chapter 1: At All Costs
Chapter 3: Cheating Sometimes Wins
"Wait, what?" Goombud squealed after Mario had explained this all to him.
"I know you said the crystal was nearby, but not like this!" Mario yelled, and various passerby stared at him like he was crazy.
It was just after the quiz show. Mario and Goombud had sat on a bench next to the shop, and Mario had filled Goombud in on their predicament.
"So… let me get this straight. This entire competition, which we joined for fun, I might add, has now turned into a mad race to grab the necklace, lest our entire journey fails. We just started this! Cut us a break!"
"… You've been awfully quiet Prince Voib," Mario remarked, and the orb only muttered something incoherent.
"You knew this would happen, didn't you?" Mario exclaimed, his voice rising.
"YES I DID!" Prince Voib cried, causing some old Piranha Plants to pop out of the ground and stare at the two.
"Loons," One muttered, and they both burrowed into the ground again.
Prince Voib was muttering again, "I had a hunch that Guilt would use an item of value to find a good host, and I thought the talent show was a good place to look…"
He stayed silent, and Mario pocketed him, "We need to find a way to get that necklace, or at the very least, the crystal on it. That means that one of us HAS to win."
"Should we tell Perry, Kammy, Koostodian or Rosy?" Goombud asked.
"No!" Prince Voib cried, his voice muffled by Mario's overall pocket, "They'll think you're loons! We don't tell them unless we have to!"
Mario sighed. Were things ever easy for him?
….
"WELCOME TO THE 2nd PART OF THE 118th FLORAL TOWN TALENT SHOW, SPONSORED BY U GOOM UNIVERSITY! IN THIS CHALLENGE, WATCH IN AMAZEMENT AS OUR COMPETITORS DO SOME FIGHTING MANEUVERS!
We have decided to allow teams for this one. Teams, state your names.
"Mario and Goombud!" The two shouted. No one else decided to say anything.
"GREAT! Now then, allow me to make one more thing clear. It does not just matter that you beat the opponent, you must do so in a creative and entertaining fashion! Can you handle that?"
The competitors nodded.
"Now then, Kammy, come this way and relax as you watch everyone fight. If you lose the fight, or are not entertaining enough, you're kicked out. Good luck… First up, it's Mallet vs. Twigs! GO!"
Mallet and Twigs stood (or floated, in Twigs case) on opposite ends of the stage. Twigs began to bring a little leaf up, and was twirling it, when a hammer fell out of the top of the stage and crashed onto his head. He crumpled, and Mallet quickly rushed onto him, juggling him with hammers, before digging a small hole and putting Twigs in it. All that could be seen was a propeller-shaped sprout.
"GREAT! That was entertaining and creative! Next, it is Rosy vs. Perry!"
The two stood against each other.
"GO!"
Rosy began to sing a nice song, but Perry cut her off with a well-timed wing and a kick to the face. Then Rosy started doing her thing.
She faced the sky, and her petals started twirling around. Rosy flew up in the air, and then slammed down, straight onto Perry. Perry crumpled, and Rosy began to sing, causing her to fall asleep. A few jabs and kicks, then it was over, and Rosy cheered.
"GREAT! How creative! I've never seen any Amazy Dayzee fly before!"
Rosy blushed, and walked off the stage.
"We've got Butters and Goombud's group next!"
Goombud looked shocked, "Umm, I think you mean Mario's team…"
James checked his clipboard, with much bouncing involved, "Nope, it says Goombud's team. Do not change."
Goombud stared at Mario, and he gave a wink, "Aw shucks… Thanks Mario."
"Now that the friendship fest is over, you're up against the Wiggler, whose name is Butters! Is that not just adorable!"
Mario, Goombud and Butters all got up on the stage.
"Good luck!" Butters said cheerfully, and the fight began.
….
"That's Butters, the adorable Wiggler. But we all know Wigglers, right? They are pretty much the sweetest things on earth, then you step on a flower and they attempt to bury you deep, deep, deep, deep into the ground…"
"You… you stepped on a flower? BUTTERS WILL AVENGE YOU!"
Butters suddenly grew mad with anger and began slamming the ground, creating large shockwaves. Mario jumped over them, as well as Goombud, who continued reading.
"We have to be creative to beat him, right? Well, Wigglers can grow extra segments if they feel the need to. So, if we make Butters have so many segments and rear up, well… you get the rest…"
Mario nodded and decided to try his new "Jump Smash." He jumped up into the air, pulled out his hammer, and forced himself downward, slamming Butters in the face, and creating a shockwave that dealt extra damage to all of his parts.
"Oh, you step on a flower then hurt Butters' parts? IT IS ON!"
He grew 2 extra segments, then began to circle around Mario and co.
"Wait for it… Wait for it… NOW MARIO!"
Mario jumped, managing to hit Butters' head as he tried to bite Mario, then dealt some extra damage to all of the parts.
"OW-OW WOW!" Butters stopped making a circle and charged back to his end of the stage.
Goombud decided to just do a charge, hitting all of Butters parts, before back flipping back to the center of the stage.
This process continued for some time, before Butters was red with anger, and Mario could swear that the flower on his head was on fire.
"IT'S TIME FOR MY SHOCKWAVE THAT WILL MAKE YOU PAY FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE TO BUTTERS!"
Butters raised all 50 of his segments into the air, and Mario kicked him. He toppled over, and slammed into the ground…
Hard…
All 50 segments flew off, and all that was left was Butters' head.
….
"Ouchy…" He muttered, before his head rolled off the stage.
"… ASTOUNDING! CONGRATULATIONS GOOMBUD'S TEAM!"
The stage clapped.
"Unfortunately, we have had nobody challenge Koostodian yet, so, he gets to fight who he chooses!"
Koostodian examined the participants, and pointed at Mario and Goombud, "Are you ready to fight a warrior of my caliber?"
"You're a janitor," Mario replied.
"… Point taken."
The two lined up on opposite ends of the stage, but not before Koostodian healed him with a mushroom.
"Let's fight honorably…"
The fight begins.
….
Koostodian stood at one end of the stage, quietly mopping it.
"That's Koostodian, the janitor of… wait, you already know this! Anyways, he was, as you should know, once a member of the army, or military, or whatever. You've seen him in action, and know that if he feels as though all of his honor is gone, will do a Clean Sweep, brushing us away like dust. You have two options: Get hit occasionally, or guard that attack with your life! It's not easy though!"
Mario nodded, and bounced off Koostodian's head, forcing him to flop to the ground, before doing another jump.
Koostodian quickly got up, and began mopping the ground, before spinning into his shell and slamming into Goombud, and whacking him with his mop, still hanging outside of his shell.
"Ow… Who knew that a mop could hurt so bad..?"
Goombud proceeded to use the power of Love, healing himself and then doing massive damage to Koostodian. Mario decided to do a Jump Smash, but Koostodian did something shocking. He twirled his mop in the air, grabbing Mario and flinging him off his hammer. He then grabbed it, and proceeded to wail on Mario.
"…OUCH!" James said on the sidelines.
"Mario, are you OK?" Goombud squealed, but Koostodian wasn't done.
He quietly mopped the floor, then doused Goombud in a bucket of water.
"BLAGH! I feel all soggy…"
Indeed, Goombud was soggy, and the wetness caused him to get decreased in attack, speed, and defense.
Koostodian took advantage of this by wailing on Mario again.
Goombud gave Mario a mushroom, as Koostodian quietly twirled his mop upwards.
Mario decided this was a perfect opportunity and slammed Koostodian with his hammer normally, causing him to flop onto his shell.
Koostodian attempted to get up and failed.
Goombud managed to get dry again, and proceeded to trample over Koostodian.
Mario did a Jump Smash, slamming onto Koostodian's belly, and carrying him away with a shockwave. The battle was over.
….
"WINNERS! GOOMBUD'S TEAM!"
Mario and Goombud cheered, throwing their hands, existent or not, up into the air.
"Now then, it's time to get some sleep. The finale will be up soon."
Rosy quickly ran up to Mario as Koostodian nodded to him and walked towards Kammy.
"DID YOU SEE THE WAY HE KNOCKED OUT TWIGS?" grumbled Rosy, "They're stopping the show for a bit to check for other traps. I can't believe Mallet!"
"Wait…" Goombud said, "Did you see Mallet's face when that happened?"
"YES!" Rosy stamped her feet, "He was totally expecting it! You could see recognition in his eyes!"
"Somber recognition though," Goombud countered, "He was expecting it, but he wasn't happy about it."
"WHY WOULDN'T HE BE HAPPY ABOUT IT?" Rosy yelled, jumping angrily up and down.
"That's why," Mario stated, as he pointed at Mallet.
As he was walking off the stage, his head down, the citizens threw empty cups at him, booing the whole time. Mallet entered the inn, where more banging and crashing was heard.
"SO? That's what he gets for being a big cheater!" Rosy puffed out her cheeks.
"What if someone is trying to frame him for cheating though, maybe because they cheated themselves..?" Mario explained, and recognition dawned in Goombud's eyes.
"You think someone cheated in an earlier competition and Mallet was blamed for it?"
"Maybe. Rosy, you said the biggest competition was Mallet, right?" Rosy nodded.
"OK. Rosy, you worked on setting up the talent show. Was there any scoring chart?"
"…You can't be serious…"
"Rosy," Goombud explained, "This is our best chance of finding out who the cheater is. We're afraid if he or she gets that necklace, umm… bad things will happen…"
"Like what?" Rosy asked suspiciously.
"Just a gut feeling."
Rosy pondered this for a moment, "I'll see if I can get it."
She walked off.
….
After easily beating Kammy in the next round, Rosy walked up, holding a clipboard.
"You guys are not going to be happy…"
She showed them the scoring chart. All of it was blacked out except for the winner, "Mallet…"
"This just confirms it. We better watch out…"
"Anyways, I'm up against Mallet, then it'll be you against him."
"Have a little faith Rosy."
"Have you seen the guy? Just be careful. The blamer may try to make you mincemeat."
Rosy got on the stage, and Mallet just sighed. Rosy attempted to sing, but hammers and nails fell on top of her, burying her into a pile.
"Mallet wins! Goombud's team, are you ready?"
"… No."
"WELL TOO BAD! GET UP THERE!" James was enthusiastic, but Vanna T. had a worried look on her face.
The two climbed up as Rosy climbed out of the pile.
"I'm going to check for traps up there… Good luck guys…"
She climbed upwards on the stage, until she was hidden by the curtains.
Mallet and Mario both faced each other.
"… Good luck…" The Hammer Bro muttered, and the fight began…
….
"That's Mallet, all-time winner of the talent show. He is harder than a mountain, so I think you're going to have to use trickery to stop him. Since the supposed cheater is attempting to blame their cheating on him, let's see if we can get Mallet cheated on…
That came out wrong…"
Mallet started by throwing three hammers in succession, but Mario dodged it by sliding towards Mallet. A trapdoor opened near where he was standing, and Mario back-flipped to his starting position. He jumped over Mallet, and a ton of hammers and nails just fell on them both, dealing tons of damage. Goombud used the power of Love to heal Mario, and deal damage to Mallet.
Mallet charged at Mario, just as the lights went out, and he got a few free hits.
"Is he smiling Goombud?" Mario asked.
"No. He appears to just be trying to get this over with."
Goombud charged at him, as trapdoors opened around his feet. One opened under Mallet, and he fell. The crowd gasped, and a few people appeared to be looking guilty.
Mario did a jump smash as a nail appeared over him, but Mario did something unexpected, and launched the nail from whence it came. A voice appeared to yell in pain.
"ACK!"
"Wait a minute…" Goombud said, "That voice sounds familiar.
The sounds of chains dangled up top, and lights fell on Mallet and Goombud.
"We have to finish this battle quickly, otherwise we won't catch the cheater. Mario, let me try to do something. Attack Move Koostodian!"
Goombud did a battle cry and charged at Mallet, whose eyes grew wide as Goombud socked him in the stomach. As he fell down, he opened his eyes to find Mario falling down on him, mallet in hand. Silence, and then…
"GOOMBUD'S TEAM WINS THE TALENT SHOW!"
….
The crowd cheered, throwing confetti, and Mario offered Mallet up.
"WAIT! THERE'S A CHEATER UP TOP!" Goombud shouted, "EVERYONE, SURROUND THE STAGE!"
Mallet nodded and jumped off, heading to the back. Twigs planted some seeds in the ground, rubbing the bandage on his head, and some bamboo popped up, spreading around the stage. The crowd created a wide circle as the heroes climbed to the top. All they found was Rosy, sporting several bruises. Mario and Goombud helped her up.
"They got away just when you said 'Attack Move Koostodian.' I was able to get this though."
Rosy handed them the necklace, and Mario held it in the air excitedly. All of the gems set in the necklace glittered beautifully, especially the yellow crystal in the center.
Mario and Goombud jumped down the stage.
…...
"So… this is Guilt's power source?" Mario conferred with Goombud.
"Apparently so. I wouldn't recommend wearing that."
"Definitely."
"There's just one thing that seems off to me."
"What is it Goombud?"
Goombud began to pace in the inn's bedroom, "How did the traitor get away? Why did Rosy not say who it was? Why were they getting the necklace, and why did Rosy hand us it?"
"Goombud, are you saying..?"
Goombud looked up, "I think Rosy is the cheater."
"But then, why would she give us the necklace?"
Goombud shrugged, "I don't know, but I guess we can leave now, right Voib?"
Mario pulled Voib out of his pocket.
"Hey guys? So, are you getting the necklace tomorrow or what?"
"…Voib, what do you mean?" Mario asked.
"Well obviously you don't have it right now. That thing radiates intense guilt! We would all feel pretty, well, guilty, about our past mistakes and mishaps."
Mario pulled off the crystal from the necklace, and inspected his gloves. Yellow smudges were on his hand.
"IT'S A FAKE! WE HAVE TO GET ROSY!"
Mario pocketed Voib and rushed outside, where a celebration was going on.
Mallet waved to the two and walked up, "Hey, I just want to thank you for clearing my name. Also, good game guys. It's nice to see someone else win. I only kept coming because-"
"Sorry! No time!" Goombud interrupted Mallet before pushing him out of the way.
Mario and Goombud ran towards the stage, past the springy James.
"OH! Our winners would like to say something!"
The crowd began chanting, "SPEECH! SPEECH! SPEECH… huh?"
Mario and Goombud were climbing up the stage, onto a catwalk. There was Rosy, holding a necklace with an orange crystal.
"ROSY!"
She quickly stared at the two, and her face switched to so many looks in a few seconds: Curiosity, shock, anger, sadness, then a look of… guilt.
"I'm sorry…" She said wistfully, and she put on the necklace.
The stage promptly exploded.
….
"Are you OK?" A voice asked Mario. He groaned, and for the second time in a week, opened his eyes in a bed, feeling as though Tubba Blubba just sat on him.
The array of people standing over his bedside were Koostodian, Perry, Kammy, Mallet, Twigs, a Flutter and Goombud. Somebody felt missing, and Mario immediately sat upright,
"Rosy's the cheater!"
Perry looked crestfallen, "We know. I think we need to show you something."
Leaning on Perry, Mario walked slowly out of the inn, Kammy and Koostodian behind. The stage was gone, and in its place was a smoking wreck. Words were burned in the ground, and Mario could almost hear the mask's voice after the bridge had fallen, and Rosy's voice as she gripped the necklace.
Two words burned into the ground, that before had been used as a throw-away apology.
"That's not all she did…" Kammy said, pointing at several buildings all smoking. The amount of injured people on the ground were astronomical, and as soon as Mario had left the inn, a springy-host took his place, his hat burned at several marks. Other people were crying uncontrollably, crying out names or wearing fake smiles as tears fell down their cheeks.
"Guilt…" Prince Voib said, not even caring about being secret anymore.
"How did Rosy do this?" Perry asked, flabbergasted, "She was just a flower… Why did she do this?"
"I'd like to introduce you guys to someone, and you must keep it secret."
Mario pulled out Prince Voib, who explained everything. In the end, Koostodian, Kammy and Perry's jaws were dropped.
"So… the emotions are back. Rosy got… guilt…" Perry sat down, "I would never have thought that… she would never cheat…"
"That explains the scoring chart too…" Goombud said.
"Mallet was blamed for Rosy attempting to cheat… I can't believe it…"
"How could she..?"
"Why did she..?"
"What did she..?"
As the group just sat on the ground, utterly shocked, Goombud had looked at a map.
"Guys… You might want to look at this."
The map was of Firm Fields, that was obvious, but a new place had popped up.
"Voib, didn't you say that some emotions didn't hide in large "get me!" spots?"
"…Yeah?"
On the map, a new landmark had popped up. A grey castle, with vines growing all around it. It was marked in black as night ink, "Chateau Shadow."
….
"Guys, we're going to have to go if we want to save Rosy."
Mario and Goombud were standing at Floral Town's exit.
"Please guys, try and help this town…"
"You can count on me," Mallet said.
"With honor," Koostodian saluted.
"I will, then maybe we'll see each other soon," Kammy replied, "But not too soon."
She and Koostodian shared a chuckle. Koostodian blushed, and Mario caught on.
"You can count on us!" said Butters, who apparently molted into a Flutter.
"…" Twigs replied.
"Well then, I guess this is-"
"Wait."
Perry walked towards the group, "If you guys are going to help Rosy, you're going to need me. I'm her best friend…"
She stayed silent for a moment, then her face twisted into pure determination, "Plus, I want to kick the butt of whatever monster dared do this to her! No one touches Rosy without getting smacked by me!"
Mario nodded, "OK, then let's get a move on."
[Perry rejoined your party, and shall kick the butt of Guilt!]
PaintBrushJr: This is definitely not a strong chapter, more filler than anything, but yeah. By the way, fun fact: Mallet was originally called Nails and was actually going to be the boss of this area. I'll explain more when I complete this story, as I'm going to have a "concept" chapter. Anyways, stay creative!
