Treasures of Souls!
Chapter 4-1: Raccoon Mario's Fantasian Flight!!
After successfully obtaining the 2nd Soul Key from the seas of Aquatica, Mario & Pals headed on back to Fantasia to tell Cielia's Father about what happened. They arrived back at Nezuma's Office.
"Hello Daddy! We're back!"
Nezuma stopped his paperwork, and noticed the trio had arrived.
"Oh, I see you three are back. How has your journey gone so far?"
Luigi then told him,
"Well, we had a run in with our old nemesis, King Bowser, and we went into these strange waters where we met a whole bunch of mermen & mermaids."
Nezuma then replied,
"You mean the Underwater Utopia of Aquatica?"
Cielia then said,
"Yes, the very one. Oh, and we found another Soul Key! Show him Mario."
Mario took out the second Soul Key, which unlike the last one, which had a red crystal, had a yellow crystal. Nezuma was somewhat amused and said,
"I'm glad to see that."
Nezuma was silent for a second, then remembered,
"Oh, I almost forgot. Mario, a package had just arrived for you."
Nezuma took out a small box from his desk, and gave it to Mario. He opened it and inside was a badge with a leaf on it, and a note from a familiar friend. He read the note which said,
Dear Mario,
I have heard you escaped from the vile thiefs that kidnapped you. I'm so glad you're alright. But I'm terribly sorry you lost your amulet to them. I also heard you were gonna help Fantasia take on these thieves and recover your amulet. I wish I could come with you, but my guards think it's too risky. However, I promise to help you as much as I can.
I wish you the best of luck against the thieves.
Love,
Princess Peach.
P.S. I have enclosed a Special Jewel that'll help you on your journey. Promise me you'll take good care of it. Sayonara for now my sweet Mario!
Mario was relieved that Princess Peach knew about this, and that she was still safe in the Mushroom Kingdom. Then, Mario took a look at the mysterious badge that she had sent him. He took the badge and buttoned it on his shirt. Then, Mario was covered in a strange light,
which blinded the entire room. Then, after the light had cleared,
Mario had obtained raccoon ears, and a tail. Cielia was astounded by the sight and said,
"Mario? A-are those raccoon ears? And a tail?"
Luigi then said,
"Well I'll be darn, Mario transformed into Raccoon Mario! I haven't seen that transformation in years!"
Cielia then looked a Luigi and asked,
"What do you mean Luigi?"
Luigi then said,
"A couple of years back, Bowser & his seven kids had taken over the Mushroom Kingdom's Royal Landmarks, and stolen the 7 Magic Staffs of the Kings. During our quest to free them, Mario & I found Super Leafs, that turned us into flying raccoon-like people. I never knew they had badges that had the same effect."
Mario was thrilled to have his Raccoon Powers back after so long, and started to fly around the room. However, his flight was interrupted as an earthquake had shaken the city. The gang had looked out the window to see that the Soul Thieves are invading Fantasia. Cielia gasped and said,
"The Soul Thieves?! What are they doing here?!"
Nezuma then said,
"They must have found out you guys are here. Quick, find Saria and get her and her goons out of the city!"
Cielia then replied,
"We'll do our best Daddy! Let's go guys!"
And so, Mario flew out of the window, with Luigi & Cielia jumping out of the window. Mario started pummeling some of the bad guys.
Luigi however got captured by one of Saria's biggest soldiers.
"WAHH!! HELP ME!!"
"LUIGI!!"
Cielia had raised her hand, and somehow, a strange magical beam had appeared, defeating the huge soldier & freeing Luigi. Luigi was astounded and asked,
"Cielia? How did you do that?"
Cielia told Luigi,
"While my Mother was still around, she tought me offensive & defensive magic. She told me to only use them at dire situations."
Meanwhile, Mario was bashing more baddies throughout the city.
However, just as he reached Fantasia Square, he found Saria, who was threatening a familiar friend.
"Talk Mushroom! Tell me where Mario is!"
The Mushroom Kid was sweating buckets and said,
"For the last time, I don't know where he is! I just got here!"
Saria was very angry, and took our her sword. Then she told him.
"With a head as big as yours, my men will have a big Mushroom Stew! Say goodbye you miserable Mushroom!"
However, before she decapitated the Mushroom Kid, Mario came in and rammed Saria away from the Kid. She got up and noticed the new Raccoon-like Mario. She smiled and said,
"Well well well. If it isn't Mario. I've been looking everywhere in this futile city for you."
The kid looked at Mario and said,
"It can't be! Mario?"
Mario clenched his fists and started to wag his Raccoon Tail viciously.
Saria laughed and said,
"That dumb get-up of yours doesn't faze me one bit. Now then,
prepare to die, Mario!!"
She dashed for Mario, and Mario dashed for her, and thus, another vicious battle begins.
(Skipping Scene due to intense violence. Sorry kids.)
After a vicious battle, Mario and his raccoon powers were able to put the hurt on Saria. Kamek arrived at the scene and said,
"I can't believe this! You defeated Saria again?! What kind of freak are you?!"
Mario didn't answer that, and demanded his amulet back. Saria got up a bit and said,
"You can have your amulet back after I send you to the pits of hell!!"
And with that, Saria fainted. Kamek was shocked, and picked her up.
He then yelled,
"YOU'VE REALLY DONE IT THIS TIME YOU PASTA LOVING PEST!
NEXT TIME WE MEET YOU'LL WISH YOU WERE NEVER BORN!!"
And with that, Kamek flew away with Saria back to their Airship.
Luigi & Cielia had caught up to see Kamek leaving with Saria.
"We were able to drive those bad-guys away from the city bro!"
"Are you alright Mario?"
Mario proclaimed he was alright, despite a few nasty scratches from Saria's Sword. Then the same Mushroom Kid that Mario saved from Saria approached the trio and said,
"I can't believe what my eyes have just seen! Mario, that was incredible!!"
Mario told him it was nothing really. Cielia then asked the Mushroom,
"And who might you be little fella?"
The Mushroom Kid then told Cielia,
"The name's Toad. I come from the Mushroom Kingdom just like the Mario Brothers. Speaking of the Mario Brothers, I'm glad to see you found them safe and sound."
Then the trio, along with Toad, had returned to Nezuma's Office to discuss some current matters.
"So, Toad is it? We heard from you're friend Luigi that you and he came here to pick up Mario, am I correct?"
Nezuma had asked Toad. Then Toad said,
"That's correct! However, it's going to be a long ride now that the Sky Pop is broken. Sorry about that Mario."
Mario forgave Toad, then Cielia said,
"Well Toad, I'm afraid Mario & Luigi can't come home yet, because we are trying to recover Mario's Amulet that was stolen from the Soul Thieves, and prevent them from finding the Soul Keys."
Toad then asked,
"Soul Keys?"
Mario then showed Toad the two Soul Keys they had retrieved. Then Toad said,
"Oh. So what are these Soul Key's for anyway?"
Luigi then mentioned,
"Yeah Mario. You never told us what these Soul Keys are for."
Cielia then said,
"The Soul Keys, are used to open a gateway where the legendary Staff of Souls lies. Legend has it, he who finds the 7 Soul Keys will be allowed to enter a special path that will take them to the legendary weapon."
Nezuma then said,
"The Soul Thieves are on a mission to find the Keys, and enter the gateway that will take them to the Staff. If they find the staff before us, and kill someone who is in possession of a treasure pure of heart & soul, like Mario's Amulet & Cielia's Necklace, we can kiss the whole world goodbye."
Mario, Luigi, & Toad were scared stiff about the story. Then Nezuma said,
"But for now, we're on the right track. We have 2 of the 7 keys, while the Soul Thieves apparently have none. So count ourselves lucky."
The three sighed in relief. Then Cielia asked Toad,
"Toad, since you have nowhere else to go, why not help us retrieve the next few keys?"
Toad gave it some thought, then he said,
"Well, I always felt like going on a good adventure. HA HA, count me in!!"
After Mario & Toad high-fived, Mario took out the map to see where the next Soul Key can be found. Cielia then pointed to a certain spot and said,
"The next closest key should be here, the Kingdom of Symphonet."
Nezuma then said,
"Ahh, Symphonet. It was quite a beautiful landmark. Perhaps the King & Queen of Symphonet weill help you find the next Soul Key."
Cielia then told the gang,
"Well then, what are we doing just sitting here? Let's head on to Symphonet!!"
Cielia, Luigi, & Toad grabbed on to Raccoon Mario, and he said,
"HERE WE GO!!"
He flew out of the Window, with the trio holding on tight. And thus,
their journey for the Soul Keys continued.
To be contiued...