Chapter 10: The Jungle Book
(A/N: FINALLY SUMMER VACATION. HOLY JALAPEÑO. Finals have been pressuring me really bad, and now I'm glad to say updates will be slightly more often and interesting! Also, here we meet a new character! She's my oc, and she plays a huge role in the story. I won't say what, but she does.)
The heroes made their ways through the thick underbrush, cutting through the vines using Kersti's sharp crown as a way. For the first time in a while, they found colorless spots, which they had to restore.
They walked around, searching for the source of the poison and the vines that took the green mega paint star.
They then found a giant door, with a giant lock.
Unsure of what to do, Trash suggested they search for clues around the jungle. He said he found a book that said there was a maze with a powerful Dry Bones at the end of it, but they were progressing fairly well.
"It says he comes out when he's hungry, so we've got to be careful."
Huey looked him right in the eye.
"And just what makes you think we'll listen to you just like that?"
Trash and Huey had a sort of staring contest, and Trash broke it.
"Never mind, aluminum-head."
Huey almost screamed, but Kersti put a "hand" on his shoulder, after which he relaxed.
"We ought to split-a up," Mario said. "It might help us find the clues."
Suddenly, they heard a girl scream, and it came from somewhere nearby.
They took off to the east of the door. As they ran off to investigate, they found a little bit of colored ink. Mario bent down to check it out, and found it was harmless.
They then heard more screams, this time much louder.
"HELP ME!"
Mario pushed his way past the thick jungle vines blocking his path, and saw a pen the size of Huey wrapped up in vines, with a Creeper Piranha staring hungrily at it. The screams originated from the pen.
"Uh, hello?! Can any of you idiots help me?!"
Mario jumped up and whacked the Creeper Piranha in the lower jaw, causing it to release the pen.
"Whew... thank you..."
Mario helped her up.
After a few minutes of awkward silence, the pen realized something.
"Oh, sorry! Forgot to introduce myself!" She giggled. "I'm Penny!"
"Penny, eh...? Well, nice to meet you. I'm Huey," Huey said.
"Huey..."
Kersti introduced herself to Penny, and Mario introduced himself to her. Trash didn't talk, so Mario introduced him to her. He then asked what a dainty lady like her was doing in the middle of a humid jungle.
Penny blushed a little. "Well, for starters, I'm trying to stop Inky and his gang," she explained. "They're wreaking havoc on the Inky Kingdom!"
She materialized a short sword from ink, grabbed it, and started cutting the vines.
Mario and the others stared in silence, Trash taking small steps towards her.
Upon finishing the cuts, she sheathed the sword.
"You ready?"
They all nodded.
While going through the jungle, Trash asked her a series of questions.
"So, where you from?"
"A place called the Inky Kingdom."
"Alright. What are your hobbies?"
She looked at him. "Writing letters using my feet, gardening, building."
"Alright."
They looked each other in the eye. "Oops, looks like we're here!" Kersti said right in the nick of time. "Sorry to cut this sweet moment short."
They found what appeared to be the ruins of an old castle, which had long since crumbled away.
"Let's hope whatever you're looking for is here."
They traversed the boggy soil, and occasionally had to fight a Piranha Plant here and there. When they finally made it through, they found a giant key, which they took.
"Now we can-a get through that door!"
They returned, and upon reaching the door, they unlocked it. They walked through, unaware of what was about to go down.
Traversing the maze, they hit a dead end many times, and thus were losing time. On the way, they fought many purple Dry Bones, which were expected to be there as this was their territory.
Penny saw something at the end of a path. "I see some light!" she exclaimed.
They suddenly found themselves at a large river of purple poison, and it seemed to be mingling with black paint.
"LOOK OUT, 'CAUSE HERE COMES THE TRASH COMPACTOR!"
Trash charged out, unaware of what he fell into.
Mario and the others stared in shock as Trash climbed out of the river absolutely covered by black paint.
Mario had to engage him in battle yet again, this time to free him.
Trash pulled out his book and unleashed a spear guy who was locked up.
"WHAT THE?!"
Penny decided to float forward and jab Trash's foot with hers. This knocked him off balance, and Huey stepped in and slapped him with his handle.
The spear guys that flew out still fought alongside him. They were loyal to their savior.
Suddenly, the ground rumbled, and ripples on the surface of the water began to form.
Suddenly, a humongous purple Dry Bones emerged, opening its ribcage and slammed it shut, pulling Trash into its body.
Mario had to save his friend, so he engaged the monster in battle.
"I AM KUPOS DU LAVANO THE SECOND... ANCIENT KING OF LAVANO! AND YOU ARE TOAST!"
Mario jumped on his head and Penny did Foot Jab, which made him fall over. Huey used Color Splash, which made Kupos get covered with yellow paint.
Kersti used stick and got him stuck where he was.
"N-NO! I CAN'T LOSE!"
He tore trees up and threw them at them.
Huey was hit by one, and Kersti rushed to help.
Penny used Foot Jab again, causing the monster to fall over again.
After Mario began a victory dance, the water rippled again and a much larger purple Dry Bones emerged.
They hit with everything they had, but to no avail.
He pulled out a scepter and swung it, whacking Mario into the wall and poisoning him.
Mario seized his opportunity and whacked Kupos over the head with his hammer, breaking the skull and releasing the spirit trapped inside. Trash also climbed out.
"Hey, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have rushed in."
"Hey, it's fine, man," Huey said.
Trash looked up and saw something.
"Hey, guys! There's a mansion!"
They all looked at it, with Mario stating that they'd go explore it.
"Alright, let's-a- WHOA!"
Mario and the gang fell down a through a tarp, falling into a cavern, the light fading away slowly.
(A/N: Insert a trollish statement here. But regardless, you've been trolled by this cliffhanger. Remember to review what you thought about Penny!)