The team is about to storm the mansion! Let's see what happens!
Chapter 6: Tricks, Treats, Traps! The mysterious maid
The group in front of the mansion stared at it and formed a circle to discuss a strategy.
"Let's get to Merlee" Tippi said. "Wait, are you sure the house isn't protected by something? Usually this type of places are secured in every corner" Duncan objected.
"Hate to say it, but I agree with punk boy here" Heather said. "Most of time, but seeing how peaceful it doesn't have a fence or anything, I'd say it's pretty safe to enter" Peach said.
Mario proved this right when he opened the door with ease. "All right! Let's find Merlee!" he chirped.
The six got into an apparently empty corridor and walked it with no problem, until a strange squared, dog-like creature ran towards them.
"This is a Gnip, likely guarding the house" Tippi advised the heroes to sneak around it, but when Duncan tried to take on it, he was caught by the creature's jaws and launched upwards, he yelled as he tumbled in the skies and disappeared as a star.
Duncan returned to the team via the revival platform, "Nice going, punk" Heather mocked him. Leshawna snickered in agreement.
"I think we should sneak around those things" Peach suggested.
The five continued exploring the mansion, while they were at it, Peach lectured Heather and Leshawna of not making fun of other people's misfortunes.
All ended up in a corridor with several rooms and stairs leading to more in the second floor.
"Ok let's…" Duncan was interrupted by a girl with green skin dressed in a maid outfit.
"Well, hi there! Big welcome! Welcome to Merlee's Mansion! I'm Lady Merlee's handmaid. My name's Mimi! But you can call me Mimikins if you want!" the girl smiled.
"We're looking for Merlee" Peach said, "Well, Lady Merlee is on the first floor, in the farthest room. Just head on up there whenever you're ready! Oh, golly, but listen... DON'T YOU DARE GO INTO ANY OTHER ROOMS BY ACCIDENT, OR ELSE!" Mimi warned.
Confessional: Duncan
"That girl is hiding something. What? I don't know, yet. We better keep an eye on her" the boy crossed his arms.
End Confessional
The team went upstairs, along the way they spotted a giant version of the creatures they've encountered at the entrance.
"As I was saying, we should split up and check all the rooms, Peach and Tippi are with me!" Duncan said.
Mario gulped as he felt sparks between the two girls.
Mario, Heather and Leshawna went to where Mimi claimed Merlee was while Peach and Duncan went to the room next to it.
The group of four found an empty room with a button at the end of it. "I wouldn't do it if I were you" Mario warned the girls, but he was ignored and both girls pressed the button.
A tremble was felt and from the ceiling a spiky trap began to fall. The heroes quickly reached to the door but it was locked.
In panic, Heather double-kicked the door, followed by a side smash attack from Leshawna and Mario's punches as well.
The door broke and the three got out just in them the spike fell completely.
"That… was a close one" Mario sighed. He noted that both girls were arguing "It was you fault for pressing the button!" Heather glared at Leshawna, "My fault? You were the one who insisted on pressing it!" the girl snapped back.
The two pulled out their weapons and pointed at each other.
"Hold on!" Mario shouted as he stepped in between the teens. The three were locked in a tense stand-off.
Meanwhile with Peach, Duncan and Tippi
The three found a key after falling to several traps full of money from Duncan's world, thirty dollars in total were found. The boy stashed the cash on his pockets and along with the princess, they found a key at the end of the corridor.
"I have a feeling this is the key to the farthest room of downstairs" Tippi said. Peach and Duncan said nothing and left the room.
The three were greeted by a face-off between Heather and Leshawna with Mario in the middle to stop the fight.
"I knew this would happen" Duncan rolled his eyes.
Mario knew it was late and got out of the way as Heather grabbed Leshawna, kneed her and threw her down. She then proceeded to use her Boost Kick on her rival. Leshawna was again caught in a combo of a side smash and a Plasma Whip.
Confessional: Heather
"That… felt great! You didn't think I forgot what she's done to me in Germany did you? While I'm at it, Lindsay, DJ, Courtney and Geoff will also pay! And I'll punish them with this new powers!
The first three since they cheered for my beat down while Geoff asked her how the first slap felt. I know this since Chris always airs the Aftermath shows on the plane.
Maybe I can answer that question to him once we come back to Flipside" she smirks and toys with her gun.
"But no way I'm hurting or backstabbing Mario, Peach or even Duncan. Once I've made the other four pay, I'll fully focus on getting my money back" she calmly adds.
End Confessional
The girl got up mad and just as Leshawna charged her giant punch while Heather pointed her gun, Mario, not wanting for a tragedy to happen, got between the two and knocked them to the ground with his down smash.
"Don't do something you may regret!" Mario pleaded. "Forget it Mario! This girl needs to learn she won't always exact revenge!" Heather growled.
"Step aside Mario! I need to knock another tooth out of this bitch!" Leshawna yelled.
Peach stepped into the duel "Enough! Do you really have time for this? We have to save our worlds right now!" she sternly turned to the teens.
"Mind your business, Peach!" Heather hissed, "It's time I teach this idiot another lesson!" Leshawna glared.
"If you keep fighting, our worlds will die! Do you really want to lose your home and your families only because of this!?" Peach said.
Both girls glared at each other, agreed and downed their weapons.
Confessional: Mario
He lets a heavy sigh of relief.
End Confessional
"Look, we found a key" the punk pulled out said item and showed it to the others. "Interesting. Maybe we can use it somewhere" Mario wondered.
"I think we can use it on the last door of downstairs" Peach suggested.
Everyone seconded her and headed towards said area. They went pale as they had to sneak around the giant creature but eventually Leshawna used the key and the lock opened as the Gnaw was set free.
It then began to chase Mimi around while ignoring the heroes, much to the horror of the maid and the confusion of the heroes.
The six dismissed this, entered the previously locked room and continued their search.
Mario, Heather and friends kept up their search, delving ever deeper into the mansion. Wherever they looked, though, they found no sign of Merlee.
Where was this mysterious woman? "Ah, maybe...this way..." said Tippi, trying to sense the Pure Heart's location...
With dread dangling like a broken chandelier, our heroes hurried through corridors...
Did Heather and Leshawna really had the time to fight just when their world and Mario's are at stake?!
We'll see how the team manage to stick together next chapter!