Author's Notes: Here's another chapter! Enjoy!
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Chapter 9: Two more Stalkers and a forced Train Ride
"And so, Mario and friends beat the Koopa Bros. at their fortress and rescued the first Star Spirit. Still, six Star Spirits remain imprisoned, and they must save them as quickly as they can. The future of the Mushroom Kingdom, Star Haven and, of course, Princess Peach-"
"Will you shut up already!?" I shouted at Goompa, who was saying the things above.
The 5 of us were now outside the Koopa Bros. fortress. I have no idea how Goompa managed to catch up to us, but I thought better then to ask.
"So," Kooper said, looking at the Star Card, "this thing holds one of the seven revered Star Spirits?"
"And we're on a quest to save them all from Bowser and save the Mushroom Kingdom?" Bombette asked.
"Yeah actu-what do you mean, 'we'?" I asked. "You don't have any reason to continue with us. You've already done what you wanted to do."
"Perfect!" Goombario said, shoving us along and leaving Bombette behind. "So sorry to do this, feel free to write, don't let the door hit you on the way out, bye!"
"Hold your horses!" Bombette shouted, running up in front of us. "You honestly think you can get rid of me now? I've had more fun in this one afternoon than I have all my life! I'm coming with you guys!"
"M-maybe we should take a vote!" Goombario said. "Who wants her with us?"
Both Kooper and I raised our hands.
"Let's go then," I said.
"Aren't you forgetting something?" Bombette asked. "How do we get the Star Spirit out of the card."
"Not sure," I said, taking the Star Card. I turned it upside-down and began shaking it. As expected, nothing happened.
"Come on..." I muttered. "How am I supposed to make this Star Card Activate any-WHOA!"
The Star Card glowed very brightly. Suddenly, in a bright flash of light, the Star with the mustache appeared over the card.
"...that's all I had to say?" I asked. "'Star Card Activate'? It's that simple?"
"I would be thankful if I were you," Bombette said. "It could be a highly complex code phrase."
"Good point," I said.
"Mario," the Star said, "I believe you'll save us all... From the bottom of my heart, I appreciate all you've done. Thank you."
"Don't mention it!" I said.
"Since you have freed me from my prison," the Star said, "the seal on my power is broken, and I will recover it little by little. As long as an ounce of power remains in me, I shall help you. However, there is one catch..."
"Isn't there always..." I muttered.
"You see," the Star said, "I am still trapped to that card. I cannot return to Star Haven yet. But, you can call upon my power at any time."
"Cool," I said. "I mean, not to you, of course, but it's cool that I can use your power in battle and stuff."
"Using my power requires energy," the Star continued.
"Star Energy that is!" Goompa said.
"Oh good freaking lord..." I said. "Is this going to be another stupid demonstration about how I have to push the A button when a magic light bulb lights up again!?"
"No!" Goompa said. "It's about selecting the Star Command from the battle menu-"
BOOM!!!
Bombette exploded right next to Goompa, sending him flying.
"Thank you!" I said to her.
"You're quite welcome," Bombette said. "To tell you the truth, I've wanted to do that ever since I first met him."
"Tell me about it," I said.
"Mario..." the Star said, turning back to me. "Listen carefully. You must save the other Star Spirits quickly! If the seven of us come together, we'll be able to bestow upon you a Star Power called the Star Beam."
"Sounds cool," Bombette said.
"Oh," the Star said, "it is. The Star Beam is the only thing that can counteract the Star Rod that Bowser wields."
"On it," I said. "Thanks for the info!"
"I feel my energy leaving me..." the Star said. "I must return to the Star Card before all my energy is completely depleted. Save us all, Mario..."
Then, in a flash of light, the Star was back in his card.
"Cool," I said, looking at the card. "Hey, check this out! It even has his name on it! 'Eldstar'. Cool."
"Shouldn't we be going now?" Kooper asked.
"Good point," I said, pocketing the card. "Maybe we can get some lunch when we get back to Toad Town. I haven't had anything to eat for awhile now."
My growling stomach confirmed it.
"Let's go," I said, walking ahead, followed by Bombette and Kooper. Goombario, once again in the rear, glared at Bombette before following. We walked for awhile before we heard a voice cry out: "Bombette!!!"
"Oh please no," Bombette sighed. We turned around to see a blue Bob-omb behind us.
"Bombette," he said, "my love, where have you been? I've been looking all over for you!"
"I'm leaving on a quest," Bombette said. "And I'm not your love!"
"Who is he?" I asked. "Your boyfriend?"
"He likes to think he is," Bombette replied.
"Bombette," the blue Bob-omb said, "can't you see we were meant for each other? You are my love, my life, my-"
"Would you just go away already?" Bombette asked, annoyed. "Why can't you just leave me alone for one day?"
"But my heart aches every second I'm away from you!" the blue Bob-omb said. "I love you, Bombette! I lo-"
Suddenly, Coron ran up to us, hitting the blue Bob-omb and causing him to fly into the sky.
"This must be a 'mixed blessing'," Bombette said. "What is that thing?"
"I am Coron," Coron replied, slightly irritated. "That stupid Goomba may have put me behind schedule, but I will still kill you, Dream Keeper."
He held out his hand. It shot out like a hook-shot, straight at me. I managed to dive out of the way in time, however, and rolled onto my feet.
"This is just perfect," I said. "Can today get any worse!?"
My question was answered as a white, egg-like person jumped from behind the bushes.
"Hold it right there, Mario!" Jr. Troopa shouted. "I've been waiting for you! I told you I'd be back! Now I'll get my revenge! Here it comes, baby! Check it out!"
"...what are you doing here?" Coron asked, turning to him.
"I'm here to kill Mario!" Jr. Troopa shouted.
"Listen kid," Coron said, turning so he faced Jr. Troopa, "I've been given strict orders from the Lord of Nightmares himself for me personally to kill the Dream Keeper. I can't let some kid just jump on in and waste my precious time."
"KID!?" Jr. Troopa shouted. "I'll have you know I'm a very successful gang leader!"
"Let me guess," Coron said, rolling his pure white eyes, "you're the only member in a 'gang' in a very small village?"
"...shut up!" Jr. Troopa shouted at Coron.
"I thought so," Coron said, turning back around. "Now if you'll excuse me, I-"
He stopped in his tracks when he saw that my group and I were gone. We managed to sneak away while those two were arguing.
Slowly, Coron turned back to Jr. Troopa.
"...you do realize now that now neither of us can kill the Dream Keeper now, right?" he asked Jr. Troopa.
"What's a Dream Keeper?" Jr. Troopa asked.
Coron sighed.
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"Phew!" I said, slowing down. "I think we lost them."
"Good," Bombette sighed. "Now, how about we head on over to a Toad House and get some well-deserved rest and food?"
"You took the words right out of my mouth," I said, turning to the Toad House.
"Mario!!!" A voice shouted. Instinctively, I ducked down and covered my head. Twink then flew from the sky and hovered in front of me.
"...why are you covering your head?" he asked me.
"You would too if every time you heard someone shout your name, you get hit in the head," I said, getting back up. "What's up, Twink?"
"I heard you saved the honorable Star Spirit who was captured by the Koopa Bros.!" Twink said excitedly.
"Yup," I said, showing him the Star Card as proof.
"Wow!" Twink said, staring at the Star Card. "Anyway, Bowser and his gang are so angry about it!"
"That just makes you wonder how he gets any news from space," I said as I pocketed the card again.
"I knew you could do it, Mario!" Twink said. "You're on your way!"
"Aw, it was nothing," I said. "Those Koopa Bros. weren't very bright or tough. Not a good combination."
"But enough celebration for now," Twink said. "I come bearing important information for you."
"Really?" I asked. "What is it?"
"It seems that one of the Star Spirits is being held captive somewhere in Dry Dry Desert," Twink said.
"...Dry Dry Desert?" I asked. "Seriously, who names this stuff?"
"Bowser wrote it in his diary," Twink said. "Some place called Dry Dry Ruins."
I couldn't decide whether to comment on the ruins' name or the fact that Bowser had a diary, so I kept my mouth shut.
"The princess braved the dangers of the castle to get you this clue, Mario!" Twink said.
"Really?" I asked. "So, she didn't just take some secret passage that conveniently led her to Bowser's Diary?"
"Uh..." Twink said, "...no?"
"Okay," I said. "Just checking. Go on."
"Anyway," Twink said, "if we find out anything else, I'll hurry back to tell you. I have to go back to Her Highness now. She's so brave! I hope this news helps!"
"It does," I said. "Thanks, and good luck!"
Twink flew off with a grin.
"Okay," I said, walking to the Toad House, "what do you say we rest up for the night and head to the desert first thing in the morning?"
"Mario!" a random Toad shouted, running up to me. "You have to come quick!"
"But I-" I started, but was dragged away by the Toad.
"We should probably follow him," Bombette said, running after me. Kooper and Goombario followed suit. The Toad dragged me south to an area that looked like a train station. On the tracks in front of the train was a boulder.
"We need this boulder moved!" the Toad said. "Please help, Mario!"
"Uh..." I said. "Okay. Bombette?"
Bombette walked up to the boulder, and with a quick explosion, the boulder was blown to pieces.
"Oh," a Toad that looked like a conductor said, "thank you, Mario!!! The train's back on track!"
"You're welcome," I said, turning around. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'll be having some well-deserved rest and-"
"All aboard!!!" the Toad said, grabbing my arm. "This train is bound for Mt. Rugged. Are you coming, Mario?"
"Actually I-" I started.
"Great!" the Toad said, shoving me onto the train. "Let's go!"
"But I-" I started, but I was strapped down, preventing escape. Luckily, my friends managed to jump onto the train as it took off.
That's how, against my will, I traveled to Mt. Rugged.
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Author's Notes: And now we have four stalkers; Goompa, Jr. Troopa, the blue Bob-omb, and Coron. What's gonna happen, you ask? Find out next time! Just remember to review, everyone!
