Chapter 7

Listen to the music

Rappa tap town the music capital of the mushroom kingdom and the only floating city contained within it. Rappa tap was built on top of Tadpole pond where even today it's frogs can be heard singing all the time there is always a pleasant melody playing save for on the weekends when they break out the rock music and today was Saturday.

"Amazing and this music plays like this all day long?" Goomward asked BK as they walked along the path to town even from the bus stop they could here it already.

"You bet dude it gets me so pumped coming here on the weekend to study!" BK grinned but then rubbed his chin thinking.

"Something wrong?" Goomward asked.

"Oh sorry I'm just curious about that golden page Mario got."

Golden page? Mario didn't remember a golden page pulling out his book he looked inside sure enough there was a golden page in the book that had several glowing stickers in them.

"Are those new badges?" BK asked looking them over curiously.

Mario wasn't sure there was a squad of dark meteo monsters up ahead so they decided to see what these pages did.

Once in battle Mario was pleased to see a few more chairs had been added to the audience.

"Seems instead of everything improving once every 10 levels little things are added every time you level up mario now then try out those stickers." Goomward replied.

Mario pulled the sticker off the golden page and tried to figure out where it goes, he noticed a outlined area near the stage and attached it making a door appear BK not in the battle ran up and checked it out.

"Hey there is a green room back here!" He shouted

Green room? Mario asked had heard of them before but why would one be here?

"I think... Hey BK go inside and come back after our turn." The goomba said.

So BK did and the battle went on once Mario's turn came around he came out.

"Hey guys my health recovered a little I feel great!" He said.

However as the audidence cheered during Mario's attack less star power was collected then before.

"Ah I get it Mario basically by using the green room we can recover our health but we don't get as much star power since party members act like a multiplier.

Made perfect sense they wrapped up the battle and checked the book the golden page was gone but there was two new stickers they were white balls of light.

"Let me see that." BK asked and took one of the stickers putting it on himself he went up a level.

"Amazing level up bubbles these must be a bonus for defeating the Atomic darkness and the green room is for us too but what about you Mario? Don't you usually get a special skill or something?" Goomward noted adjusting his glasses.

Mario was curious himself when his hammer started shaking he let it go and it turned into a viewing screen.

"Hello? Mario? Can you hear me?" a voice spoke as the picture was fuzzy

Mario knew that voice it was Rosalina.

"Oh good hello my old friend I'm glad you were able to find my son's hammer." She said as the picture came in.

"Son? You have a son?" BK asked.

"Yes of course what I'm several 1000 years old is it really that odd?" Rosalina countered.

Mario nodded his head she had a good point.

"Anyway Mario I have come to tell you something important each of the meteor pieces has a special crystal inside that will give it special abilities. You... you did pick up the piece didn't you?"

The 3 boys looked at each other and shrugged Rosalina slapped her forehead.

"You guys defeated a boss how could you not have found something?"

"You know I was wondering about that." BK said.

So after a not so quick detour back to Shell city Rosalina showed them how it works in a fake battle.

"Much like your green room these crystals are very special attach them to the hammer those boots appear to be made in the same process 3 fit on the hammer and 2 on each boot try using it Mario." She said and waited for the results.

Mario put the crystal in the slot and activated it he held the hammer behind his head to charge up making the hammer grow larger then he slammed the ground making it quake.

"As you can see these shards are what power the meteors long after they land that's why they still pump out gas. I hope they come in handy oh and if it's not to much trouble can you save me please?"

The camera zones out a little showing she was held captive by Meteo monsters and her feed was cut off for good.

"Dang she's in trouble too the list goes on we clearly need more help Mario." Bk frowned folding his arms.

BK was right this couldn't go on they really needed help and with the Meteo shard they had a new special attack to aid them in battle but for now they only had one goal. Get to Rappa tap town.

Mario had to agree as he looked around what was once a quiet (relatively) small swamp area. A lot had changed since he was last here but the music put a little pep in his step as they searched from the meteorite piece.

"Step right up ladies and gentlemen come and get your very own Fire bar bandits T-shirts, hats stickers and more and if you buy now we'll even throw in a ticket for tonight's show but you better hurry supplies are running out!" Called a Piranha plant with a backstage pass around it's neck in a golden pot passing out items to a bustling crowd.

"Fire bar bandits is in town oh Mario we got to see that show!" BK yelped as he quickly digged out coins that he had collected on his way to town buying up a T-shirt and autographed picture of the band and putting it on.

"Indeed Mario their music is legendary the Fire bar bandits are the oldest band in the world it's over 100 years old and is passed down by each of the member's own families there has never been an outside member. They aren't in Rappa tap often we should see that show." Goomward urged buying a hat for Mario who politely declined but instead wore it himself.

Mario thought it over as he bought a sticker sheet maybe they might have a use in battle as well. They did need to hurry but then he got an idea that would please everyone. He suggested they do go to the show and afterwards talk with the band they've been traveling perhaps they have seen other places there the fragments where.

"Ah sweet Mario that's the perfect plan!" BK agreed.

"Whoa boys hold up you almost left without your tickets." The plant reminded them and handed each of them a ticket.

"Now don't lose those we are now officially sold out of tickets that place is going to be packed in about an hour I suggest you do any other shopping you need done now. I got to get going myself I'm doing lights tonight."

With that the plant disappeared into the pot traveling underground to the concert hall on the other side of town.

"Do we have more shopping to do?" Goomward asked Mario who thought it over.

Mario decided that for they do any shopping they get a room if the band was as big as he was told chances are they wouldn't get a chance to see them today so they needed to get a room first after all going to shell city and back in one day had exhausted them it was a 3 hour ride both ways.

They were lucky there was a room left but it was the most expensive too.

"I guess it's a good thing we didn't buy anything yet." BK sighed taking his boots off.

"Jeez we're wiped out though I'll call my prof. and see if he can wire us some coins he owns his own business after all." Goomward said waddling off.

While Goomward did that Mario explained to BK about the dream room.

"Whoa pretty far fetched bro but maybe we can learn more about what we are suppose to do. I mean I don't have a clue were to look and the concert isn't for a few more hours."

So it was agreed after Goomward finished the call. (Successfully getting 50 coins wired to their account every 3 days) They took a nap to see if the dream room had anything new to offer. Once again the room had changed it looked a bit like Mario's bedroom only was mostly empty.

"Dang I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes." BK said amazed

"Look." Goomward said pointing to something.

There was a chalk board up now that showed each of their names including their stats and how much experience or star points they had.

"Oh good I won't have to keep track of this from now on." the goomba smiled and cleared it from his DS sized computer.

"Hmm... we are all only level 2 we really should do some training when we wake up that last battle was by the skin of our teeth what good are heroes that can't even save themselves?" BK pointed out.

While his friends looked that over Mario noticed something else in the room. Moving over to it he realized it was a poster of the shell squad perhaps it was a reward for saving shell city.

"Well not much else in here for now mario lets head back. I haven't figured out how quickly time flows in this space yet." Goomward said and pulled out the dream flower to wake them up.

The boys woke up no new leads but the mystery was thickening all the time. They voted to split up and look for any place that would be big enough to hide the meteor piece before heading to see the show. BK traveled across town and found himself before the theater hall.

"Hmm... I wonder if my old master is here I do need to brush up on my timing skills." He considered rubbing his chin.

Stepping inside BK finds the place in a panic.

"What's going on?" he asked a stage toad.

"Ah it's horrible Brian has gone missing!"

"Brian... You don't mean Beat bobbing Brian. The lead singer of the Fire bar bandits Brian!?" He said panicking as well.

"Yes it's him he's missing oh this is terrible!" The toad sobbed and ran off to keep looking everyone was looking for him *runs off*

"Mario!" BK yelled running off as well.

This was a terrible stroke of luck the lead singer of the band was missing if he wasn't found then there would be no show no show means no leads at the very least! They searched fruitlessly for a half hour when Goomward's backpack began to rumble and he pulled out his Mailbox sp which had been updated to have a video phone feature. (E. Gadd loved recycling old tech that plus he hadn't figured out how to work a DS yet two screens is a bit much for a scientist as eccentric as him.)

"Oh boys there you are I've been trying to contact you!" He sighed in relief.

"What is it Professor?" Goomward asked getting squished between Mario and BK so they could see as well.

Professor Frankly shoves E. Gadd out of the way so he can be seen.

"My new patented Meteo monster detector is going wild you must be on top of another shard!" He said.

E. Gadd returns after shoving Frankly out of the way rougher.

"Forget the Meteor my ghost scanner is going wild it must be one of my portrit ghosts!" said giddy.

"Professor I thought you caught them all!" Goomward yelped.

"Well Luigi caught all of the old batch folks die every day you know, so I've been busy rounding up new ones but this ghost has always eluded me I don't even know what he looks like!" He said wiping his forehead off.

"Wait if you don't know what he looks like how do you know it's him?" Goomward asked as BK and mario squeeze him a bit harder he growls a bit and they scoot back a little.

"Because he always shows up where famous rock and roll type fellers appear, you got to find this Brian guy before he finds him I call this ghost *dramatic pause* The music ghost!"

Dead silence

"The... music ghost?" BK asked rising his eyebrow a bit.

"Frightfully clever eh? Now then go get him boys I'll send you one of my old Poltergusts to snatch him up good luck!" says waving before getting knocked across the room by Professor frankly with a extendo punch.

"Boys don't forget the Meteor shard is there as well it might be related to this so keep an eye out for it. I'm sending something to help you find it good luck!" Gets tackled again by and the camera shuts off.

"So now we're ghost hunters? Great..." BK sighs standing up straight and cracking his back from crouching down to see.

"hmm... *flips through his log* According to this ghosts only show up in dark areas and areas they either really like or really hate. lets look for the darkest spots right now maybe it's got Brian trapped somewhere. Since it's a music ghost it's most likely in the theather somewhere." Goomward said.

After a team high five they split up once more each searching for the darkest area in the theater. Mario soon found himself on the stage it was like stepping into the Twilight zone it looked exactly like the magic stage did during his final battle in the 1000 year door adventure big glamorous and breath taking. This was the perfect place to look for a ghost but the lights were still on He'd need to turn them off. He found another stage toad this one blue working on some sandbags.

"Oh hello there can I help you?"

Mario queried about the lights.

"The lights? The controls are up in the rafters but there isn't a way up there right now. the fire bar band has an Ukki stage manager and he folds up the rope ladders so no one messes with the lights or anything." The toad said then resumes working on the sand bags.

No way up? Guess Mario would have to find one and sets off to do so.

Meanwhile BK has found his old style master Sargent swag a parakoopa in a Black and white outfit that inspired his own costume.

"Well, well back for more training eh? Outstanding drop and give me 20!" Swag ordered.

"No, no I'm not here for that kind of training I need a refresher on how to pull of stylish moves." BK confessed.

"Hmm rusty eh? *adjusts his sun glasses* Well okay then boy lets begin."

BK found himself in battle against Sargent Swag.

"Now look here boy style is the key to victory, if your fans aren't behind you then you won't get far watch this. *Curls up in his shell and slams into BK doing a break dance spin then slides into a standing snap that makes the crowd cheer* See boy? It's all about confidence if you think you can't pull off a stylish move it's best to bow out gracefully then be disappointed."

"Yes sir! *He gives it his best shot and finishes the first step but misses the timing on the second.

"There you go boy now again until you get it right!"

As that was going on Goomward looked for the Meterorite piece. But as he did so he noticed a mowser and recongized him as the Bandit's manager.

"Excuse me sir." Goomward said waddling up to him.

The mowser jumped a bit and put a photo he was looking at away.

"What do ya want kid I'm busy." He said.

"Sorry to bother you but I was wondering if the concert was still on."

"Of course it's still on this isn't the first time that dead beat has gone missing and it won't be the last! Now if you'll excuse me." he grumbled pushing Goomward out of the way as he moves past him.

"Hmm..." goomward though then heard BK call him over it seems the mystery of the missing singer was just getting started.


This is the start of many updates to come this story is now back on track. Oh yes I got a little gift to share with you. I whipped these profiles up while I was away a new one will be added at the end of the chapter for reach new partner Mario scoops up. For now here are Goomward and BK's note these are the complete profiles they will gain these moves over time but adding an update every time they do would be tedious plus the moves might differer rom what is listed if a change happens a note will be added saying so that's all.

Goomward: A young inventor who keeps to himself on the outskirts of Toad town in boo woods. Working as Professor 's assistant and test subject he has learned a great deal about the world and is the perfect assistant to Mario on his adventure. (Even if he is accident prone but that doesn't slow him down for long.)

Goombella and he fought for the top spot in Professor Frankly's classes at the university but she won out.

moves

Head bonk: Using the bonk-a-tron 9000 he head butts his foes (This helmet lets him head bond spiked monsters after he creates it.)

Analyze: Same as Tattle by accessing E. Gadds computer he can bring up data on any monster you encounter.

Mysterious potion: Casts a random effect on anyone. (Can poison freeze heal etc to everyone no one or just one person.) Once he invents the compound stabilizer the effect of the potions doing something good to you and bad to the enemies doubles. )

Note: the compound stabilizer is used to make attack items, badges and armor.

Poltergust 4000 EX!: Use the latest version of the Polstergust on your enemies (Has the same effect as Flurries Gust power only in reverse sucked up enemies are turned into coins it may not always work however just like her attack.) After it's upgraded to EX mode all enemies are sucked in however those it doesn't instakill are spit back out with their attack power lowered by 2 for 3 turns. costs 6 flower points.

Frankenmario: Goomward uses a potion on Mario turning him into a monster for a rush attack that hits every foe on the stage for 10 points of damage. (Mario's over all size increases if you have the monster manual equiped onto Goomward.

Fire flower X: Goomward plants a fireflower X and Mario uses it doing double the normal damage a fire flower would.

Monster manual: A book recently finished by professor E. Gadd on the Dark meteor monsters. personal item for Goomward boosts his attack and defense against dark meteor monsters by one.

Special move: primer tells you about people and objects nearby by holding down the special button he'll offer a hint on how to move on however it won't be as detail as if you asked the fortune teller.

Blue Koopa BK for short: Blue Koopa was originally one of the koopa ninja brothers however when his brothers went off to join bowser he decided it was to much work and left to form a team of his own. He formed the Shell Squad in another town and became their defenders but when the Dark Meteor fragment fell in his town he was infected just like his team. After Mario uses the Luma hammer to free him he joins his team to help take down the rest of the Shell squad.

Moves

Shell toss: Tosses shell forward hitting one enemy (Does an extra point of damage to spiked creatures thanks to the extra spin he puts into his dash.)

Spin out kick: Spins in place in shell then flips out to spin on his hands much like Sanji from one piece special attack blowing past all enemies on the ground. (Charged by rotating the wii remote in a circle but if you spin into the red the attack will lose power and he'll be dizzy his next turn making him unable to defend himself.)

Shell signal: Call out the shell squad strike a single target multiple times. (The attack is charged up by shaking the remote the more it's charged the more shell squad members will appear becomes easier as BK levels up.)

Shell cannon: Manned by Mario the shell cannon fires BK at an foe ignoring defense +2 to maximum normal attack power.

Shelltron!: Call in the Shell squad to form Shelltron using Mario to fill in the slot for radical red (The betrayer.) Fires the Shell laser which is just what it sounds like a shell shaped laser costs 3 star points to use.

Racket shell: Mario and BK's tag team move Mario hit's BK as he spins along the ground back and forth until he misses him.

Support move: Same as Koops for now kicking his shell forward to hit switches or to spin out in the air if needed then zipping back past Mario to hit a switch behind them.