Hey there guys, this will be the last part to Chapter 2.

Now our heroes will be storming through the Great Tree. How will they do, and will they succeed? Find out now.

PINGAS


Mario and his friends then went back to the Great Tree. When they got there, Flurrie did the honor of blowing that fake paper-like object away and revealing a secret entrance, which caught Punio's attention.

Punio: That's the secret entrance! We can finally get inside! Here I gooooooooo!

Punio then goes inside the hole. Flurrie and the others then chatted up a storm.

Flurrie: Aren't Punies just the most precious little things?

Dexter: They actually the coolest little things around.

Flurrie: Mario, I feel I must ask... Did you know that I used to be a rather famous actress? I was a diva of the stage! I was known as Madame Flurrie the world over... But...the filthy air outside the spotlight repelled me. So I came to the woods.

Mario: Oooh.

Flurrie: And soon enough, I glimpsed the beauty of these Punies and their pure little hearts... It reminded me of my own innocence as an actress. And that made me realize... I shall ever love the stage! I must feel the spotlight shine on me again! I MUST! As you can see, these dear little Punies helped me find my true self... That's why I must help them however I can before I go on my own adventures.

Sonic: That's really amazing Flurrie.

Billy: Duh... hmm.

Punio: Mario! Can you hear me?

Punio came out from the door unlocking it and everything.

Punio: Check it out! I was able to open it from the inside! C'mon! Over here!

Flurrie: The time has come for me to repay my debt to the Punies. Come along, Mario!

Dexter: IT'S GO TIME!

Billy: You said it duuuuude.

Dexter had his camera out and everything as they then entered the tree.


Meanwhile, in another part of the tree, Lord Crump was counting the punies he captured. He then called out two of his X-Naut henchmen; Johnson and Earl.

Crump: Yo dudes, mind capturing some more Punies for me will ya? AND BRING ME A CHEESEBURGER AND A SHAKE TOO!

Johnson: Right away sir!

Earl: Oh but first, y'all want any fries with that?

Crump then tossed a wrench at him, forcing the two X-Nauts to retreat.


Back with the heroes, they already entered the tree with Punio calling out for the others. Dexter on the other hand, was taking pictures of the tree and everything else.

Punio: Uh... Hmmm? Weird... Normally, everyone's right here... What the hey? Hey! Elder! Everybody! Come out! HELLOOOOOOOOOO?

Billy: Durrr... these Punies seem to be weird.

Dexter: Eh... let's hope they're better than those stoopid ants back in my laboratory. I mean, they didn't seem too bad to me at first, but my opinion changed when I found out the shocking truth behind them.

Sonic: Right.

Suddenly the door opened and from it, were Johnson and Earl (the two X-Nauts from before) and they saw the heroes as intruders and went up to them.

Earl: Wah! Who are YOU guys?! How'd you get in here?

Johnson then noticed they were the enemies.

Johnson: Whoa! Dude! Is that... Isn't he that Mario guy?

Earl: WHAAAAT?! He IS? We'd better get him, then!

Johnson: But, dude, Lord Crump told us to tell him IMMEDIATELY if we found Mario. Remember?

Earl: You idiot! Use your head! If we capture him, we'll get all the credit, man! Duhhh!

Johnson: RIGHT! LET'S GET THEM!

Earl: YAH!

They went charging for the heroes. Dexter stepped up.

Dexter: Not if I can help it.

Dexter got out a laser gun and zapped the two X-Nauts.

Mario: My turn.

Mario swings his hammer into an X-Naut, flinging him into the other X-Naut.

Sonic: Now get a whip of this.

Sonic did a tornado spin, making the X-Nauts dizzy. Billy then sneezed on them, causing them to be covered in boogers.

Flurrie: Aww, is that too disgusting for you guys? WELL HAVE A TASTE OF THIS!

Flurrie then started blowing powerful wind at the X-Nauts, sending them crashing towards a wall, painfully. They then gave up.

Johnson: C-Crud! That stung, man!

Earl: Dude, maybe reporting back to Lord Crump isn't such a bad idea, after all!

They then fled for their lives. Punio was still thinking where the heck the other Punies are. Suddenly he saw a Puni behind a rock. He got the Puni in front of our heroes, who was frightened by them. Several other punies appeared, expressing their fear towards them, one of which made a comment on how sexy Mario's mustache is. Punio convinces them to come out.

Punio: See guys, they aren't so bad right?

Voice: WAIT!

Another Puni comes out. It was a fat chubby looking Puni.

Fat Puni: THEY COULD BE THE ENEMIES!

Dexter: A FAT PUNI! I GOTTA SNAPSHOT THIS ONE!

Dexter then took a picture of it.

Punio: Puniper! What're you saying? They aren't one of them! Listen, we can all fight alongside Mario and his allies and chase those goons out of here! We can take back our tree. We can take back our homes!

Puniper: How should we know that for sure? For all we know, they could possibly be X-Nauts disguised as heroes to try to trick us all.

Punio: What are you talking about... and why are there so very little of you... what happened to everyone...?

Puniper: They've been captured, by the X-Nauts... This includes... YOUR SISTER!

Punio: NOOOOOOOOOOO! NOT PETUNI! WE GOTTA SAVE HER!

Puniper: Listen, the X-Nauts are unstoppable. Besides, the Jabbies are joining forces with them, being told that they'll get their share of the tree if they help them out. Now if this Mario fellow and his friends thinks they are the heroes, then they're gonna have to prove it to us.

Punio: Fine. Come on guys, let's go.

Mario: Right.

The heroes then went upstairs.


Meanwhile, in a nearby treasure room, an X-Naut was standing all alone.

X-Naut: Man, this is brutal. Are we ever gonna find that Crystal Star?

Suddenly, a silhouette of a familiar looking figure appeared and knocked the X-Naut out cold.


The heroes then made it into a room with two prison cells. The elder was in the red cell while the other 90 Punies were in the blue cell.

Punio: Elder, can you here me?

Elder: Punio... So you are alive? Yes I can hear you.

Punio: Where are the other Punies?

Elder: In the other prison cell.

Punio checks the other prison cell, and saw Petuni.

Punio: Petuni! Your okay!

Petuni: Punio! Your alive as well!

Punio: Don't worry! We'll free you guys! Mario and friends, let's go find the key.

Mario: LET'S A GO!

The heroes then went into a nearby treasure room. When they went inside, they saw a familiar face. It was Ms. Mowz, their favorite badge thief.

Ms. Mowz: Oh, well, isn't this a treat! We must stop meeting like this, don't you think?

Dexter: Hey... you're... Ms. Mowz... the badge thief?

Ms. Mowz: Sure am.

Dexter: CAN I TAKE A PICTURE OF YOU!?

Ms. Mowz: Okay.

Dexter took a picture of Ms. Mowz. She then went up to both Mario and Sonic, and kissed them both.

Ms. Mowz: LOVELY to see you guys again!

Billy, Sonic, Koops, Mario: LOVELY to see you too Ms. Mowz.

Flurrie: My, my... Mario! You're popular with all the girls, aren't you?

Ms. Mowz: The Crystal Star your looking for is at the bottom of this tree. Good luck finding it before the X-Nauts do. Take care guys. I hope to see you all again.

Ms. Mowz then departed... again.

Mario, Koops, Billy, Sonic: BYE MS. MOWZ!

Dexter: AND THANKS FOR THE PICTURE!

Goombella: I still think she's a huge flirt.

Flurrie: Uh... don't worry Mario. I'm not too jealous...

The X-Naut got back up and noticed the heroes.

X-Naut: Grr... You guys knocked me out before, have you? WELL... HEY CAN I HAVE A PICTURE!?

Dexter: Sorry. NO PICTURE FOR YOU!

Dexter threw a chemical at the X-Naut, setting his head on fire.

X-Naut: I'M ON FIRE DUDES!

Flurrie: I'll fix that.

Flurrie then used Gale Force to send him flying out of the tree, dropping a red key in the tree while at it.

Punio: That's a key. Let's free the elder.

The heroes then went and freed the elder, they went inside, but they weren't excepting a huge shock.

Elder: FOOLISH PUNIO! What on earth were you thinking? Leaving us like that, I'm disappointed.

Punio: Elder, I went to get help, so we can free this tree.

Elder: Quit the complaining. I'm going over the rule book with you again. Now first off...

SEVERAL HOURS LATER...

Elder: ….or else. You got that? You shall act as the leader of the tribe from now on.

Punio: Yes, yes I understand.

Elder: Only answer once, now what are you doing in here?

Punio: We told you, we came to set you free. NOW GO!

Elder: Don't rush me. I'm pretty old.

The elder then left the cell.

Punio: Now Petuni, we'll be back with that other key.

Petuni: I'll be waiting big brother.

The heroes then left the area, and went back downstairs to see Puniper. Puniper was still being deviant with the heroes and decided not to help them until they act first.

Elder: YOU STUBBORN MULE! Do you know what we're up against!? NOW GO AND HELP THOSE GUYS!

Puniper: But... elder...

Elder: Stop it... And mind me, you hear? You'll help Mustachio here... What'd you say your name was again? It was, er... It was Marty-o, wasn't it?

Punio: It's "Mario"! He's Mario! I mean sheesh! He's only world-famous! Come on!

Elder: Well whatever. Now go join the heroes Punies.

Punies: YES MA'AM!

Elder: Good job.

10 PUNIES HAVE JOINED YOUR TEAM!

Flurrie: Say, if you have a moment... Might I ask you a question? We're looking for a lovely gem called a Crystal Star... Do you know of it?

Dexter: Yeah, do you know?

Puni Elder: The Crystal Star, eh? Hrrrrrmmmmmmm... Yes, perhaps... Hidden down, down, down at the bottom of this tree is a funny-colored stone. But what do we do with it? Oh, right: "Guard it from evil and give it to a pure heart..." That's what generations of elders have been taught. Might be the Crystal Star...

Puni Elder: Marty! Or...Marty-o! I'm thinking you better get it before those goons do. I don't quite see how just yet, but I bet it's connected to us getting our tree back. You got all that, Marty-o? Crystal Star. Bottom part of the tree. Go to it. And take this Puni Stone too. One more thing, if you lose any of the punies, come see me and I can call them all back for you, got that?

Mario: Okay Dokey.

They then continued through the tree. After using the Puni Stone, getting assistance from Flurrie, beating up X-Nauts, and fighting off mosquito like creatures called Jabbies, and Dexter taking more pictures of the tree, the heroes made it into a weird room, and they found a blue key in that room.

Punio: Let's go back to that cell. HERE I COME PETUNI!

The heroes then headed to the cell. A few minutes later, the heroes made it. Mario unlocked the prison cell, and freed all the Punies.

Punio: Petuni, you're safe.

Petuni: So are you. I wanna give you something. I wanted to give you this sooner but... I know you love mushrooms, but... this one kinda dried up...

Punio then ate it, even though he didn't like it much.

Petuni: I'm sorry big brother.

Punio: It's... it's not that bad, but seriously, give me a hug sis.

The two then hugged.

Petuni: I missed you big brother.

Punio: I missed you too sis.

Then the real fun began...

90 PUNIES HAVE JOINED YOUR TEAM! NOW THERE ARE 101!

Dexter: YEAH! LET'S DO THIS!

The heroes then continued through the tree when suddenly, they came across a spider-like creature known as a Pider.

Dexter: I must... take picture!

Dexter then took a picture of the Pider.

Dexter: There we go.

Then suddenly, Billy then got all frightened.

Billy: EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKK! SPIDERS! I HATE SPIDERS! DIE!

Billy then grabs a giant rock and tosses it at the Piders, allowing the Punies to go on by, for they are afraid of them as well.

Billy: Man, those spiders are even worse than that stupid spider Jeff.

Jeff: I HEARD THAT DAD!

Billy: ACCCCKKKK! GET LOST YOU STUPID SPIDER!

Billy starts attacking Jeff.

Jeff: WHY WON'T YOU LOVE ME DAD! I'LL BE WHATEVER YOU WANT ME TO BE!

Billy: I WANT YOU TO BE DEAD!

While Billy was trying to fight off Jeff, the Punies had just finished beating up a 100 Jabbies, allowing them to continue.

Punio: LET'S GO GUYS!

Mario: RIGHT ON!

The heroes then continued. They then got to a stand in which Mario placed the Puni Stone on, only to find out... A HUGE PRISON CELL FELL ON TOP OF THEM!

Punio: Uh... Mario... what's going on...?

?: BUH HUH HUH!

Suddenly, out of nowhere came... LORD CRUMP AND HIS TWO X-NAUT HENCHMEN; JOHNSON AND EARL!

Crump: You guys fell right into my trap! Now that you guys are out of the way, I'm gonna search for that Crystal Star now. FAREWELL!

Lord Crump and his X-Nauts left them there. Mario and friends got out by turning into flat paper.

Punio: Mario, think of something, I'm counting on you.

Mario: Okay.

They then went downstairs. They saw a fishy pattern. Mario then hit the switch which causes a shaking to occur. The heroes then left the room. They decided to head to the room where they found the blue key in. There were four switches. Mario then matched the pictures to the fishy pattern they saw earlier, which cause the pictures to reveal an entrance. Mario then went on in and found a giant treasure chest.

Koops: Um... go ahead and open it Mario.

Mario then goes to open it, and out from the chest came... THE SPIN BOOTS! YEAH!

Mario: YAHOO!

YOU GOT THE SPIN BOOTS! MARIO CAN NOW PERFORM THE SPIN JUMP WHILE IN THE AIR! USE IT TO BREAK WOODEN PLATFORMS ON THE FLOOR!

Sonic: WAY PASS COOL!

Mario: LET'S A GO!

Dexter: YEAH! LET'S FREE THE PUNIES NOW!

The heroes went back to the Punies, which Mario used a spin jump on a wooden platform in the cell, causing the Punies to fall out one by one.

Punio: YES, WE'RE FREE! LET'S GO!

The Punies and the Heroes then continued downward. With the power of the Spin Boots, Flurrie's assistance, the Puni Stone, and even help from his other partners, Mario and his pals were then on the lowest floor possible. Mario then traveled to the other room with his pals. Meanwhile, Crump was looking for the Crystal Star.

Crump: Where could it be? Must be here somewhere...

Crump then hears footsteps.

Crump: Huh? Crap, sounds like a mob, better clear out.

Crump then escaped the room. Mario and pals then made their way into the room. They then noticed the statues. Mario then saw a stand, and placed the Puni Stone on it. Suddenly, a shaking occurred. From the pot in the center, the Crystal Star came out. The heroes were astounded by its look.

Flurrie: Mario, there's the Crystal Star!

Dexter: We got it now.

Crump then went and snatched the Crystal Star, leaving the heroes frustrated.

Flurrie: Not him again.

Crump: YEAH! Today's my lucky day. "Oh Crump, you manage to get the Crystal Star?" What luck?

Crump then looked shocked.

Crump: Still, this is humiliating. You guys escaped that cell? Well I'll make up for that... BY BLOWING UP THIS TREE WITH THIS TIME BOMB!

Heroes: HUH!?

Crump: That's right, I'm planning on taking down this place and you guys with it... Well, enjoy your last minutes in this dank old tree and with that... POW! I'm gone.

Crump then starts the timer, and escapes into a pipe.

Dexter: GUYS! HE'S ESCAPING!

Sonic: LET'S GO AFTER HIM!

Others: YEAH!

The heroes took the puni stone and took off, like lightning (thanks to Sonic). Flurrie managed to blow 2 X-Nauts who stopped the heroes and rammed them painfully into a wall. It only took our heroes a few seconds to get to the entrance, all thanks to Sonic. We now see the Puni Elder blocking Crump's way.

Crump: Come on! Move it, you old hag!

Elder: WHAT! Did you just call me an old hag! You got no respect brat! SO NOW IT'S TIME TO GO SUPER FOR ME!

The elder then cracked her back out.

Elder: Can't... let... fiend... escape...

Crump: YOU HOTHEADED OLD COOT! YOU DARE DEFY ME! I'LL SQUISH EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU!

Dexter: I DON'T THINK SO PUNK!

Crump then looks and sees the heroes right behind him.

Flurrie: You didn't expect us to letting you escape with that Crystal Star, do you?

Sonic: YEAH, YOU BETTER GIVE US THAT CRYSTAL STAR NOW!

Dexter: Or else I'm gonna give you a beating; Dexter Boy Genius-style.

Dexter started approaching Crump.

Crump: YOU CREEPS WON'T GIVE UP! WELL BETTER STOP THE TIMER!

Crump then stops the time bomb.

Crump: Now I hope you like big fists, ones that are made of metal, and are part of a fighting robot machine.

Crump then summons a giant fighting robot to his side. He gets inside of it.

Crump: Like it? I call it the Magnus Von Grapple. I will squash you fools now.

Dexter: Not if I can help it. I've been waiting for this moment. Now get a whip of my own fighting robot machine.

Dexter then activates his wrist watch which then caused another fighting robot to appear. This one was actually made of real metal, and not out of cardboard paper.

Dexter: How do you like that huh? I call it the "Giant Robo-Dexter". I made it myself.

Crump: BUH HUH HUH! It looks so cheap, like it's a waste from the trash!

Dexter: OH YEAH! THIS MACHINE IS ACTUALLY MADE OF PURE HARDCORE METAL! Nothing like yours, which appears to be made of only cardboard paper.

Billy: Duurrrr heeheehee... he said cardboard.

Crump: NOW YOU'RE ASKING FOR IT! TAKE THIS! MAGNUS VON PUNISH!

Crump then tries to attack Dexter in his machine but, THE ATTACK WAS USELESS!

Crump: WHAT!?

Dexter: HA HA HA HA HA HA! YOU JUST NEVER LEARN DO YOU!? That attack was just a breeze to me! NOW LET ME SHOW YOU WHAT A REAL FIGHTING ROBOT CAN DO!

Dexter then punched Magnus, causing some severe damage.

Crump: NUTS! THIS ISN'T OVER!

Dexter: NOW LETS DANCE!

The fight was on, between Dexter and Crump. The other heroes helped out too.

Crump: NOW HAVE A TASTE OF MY FISTS!

Crump then launches his fists out to attack the fighting robot.

Dexter: Time to counterattack.

Dexter then launches actual rockets from the hands and took out the fists, and then caused severe damage to Magnus.

Flurrie: NOW WE'RE TALKING!

Flurrie body slams the robot, and Billy sneezes on it, Sonic does the spin tornado, Mario whacks it with his hammer, Koops does a power shell to it. Goombella kept tattling about how stupid Magnus Von Grapple is and how awesome Dexter's fighting robot is.

Dexter: ALRIGHT! LET'S FINISH THIS!

Dexter then launches powerful laser beams at Magnus, causing it to malfunction... which is weird for a robot that's made of cardboard paper.

Crump: Bleeeeee-harrrrgh... This could be the end...

The robot then starts to explode as Lord Crump is sent flying to the ground, dropping the Crystal Star while at it.

Lord Crump: Buh! Bu-AAAAAARGH! No! Magnus von Grapple! How could we lose?!

Dexter: Face it, you cannot beat DEXTER; BOY GENIUS!

Crump then gets up.

Lord Crump: Hurff... Hurfff... Hurffff... I'll remember this, losers!

He then flees. The other X-Nauts follow right behind him and one even trips and falls, and then gets back up, running off. The tree was saved, as Dexter then made his fighting robot disappear into his wrist watch.

Sonic: WE DID IT MARIO!

Koops: UM... WAY TO GO!

Goombella: TOTALLY AWESOME!

Flurrie: How delightful!

Billy: Deeheeheeheehee... Too cool.

Punio: Nice job Mario.

Mario: Yes, I did good saving you guys, but I would like to congratulate the guy who was a big help today, Dexter Boy Genius!

Dexter: Thanks very much guys. I was a big help after all.

Puni Elder: All right, there, Marty-o. You can have the Emerald Star...the Crystal Star that resided in this tree! IT'S ALL YOURS NOW!

Mario: YAHOO!

Mario then went and grabbed the Crystal Star, causing the heroes to do a victory stance, which then in turn, ended Chapter 2.

And so, after pummeling Lord Crump, with assistance from Dexter Boy Genius, Mario obtained the second Crystal Star... With the X-Nauts gone, peace once again prevailed throughout the Great Tree. The Boggly Woods echoed with the Puni songs of joy. But... this may not be the last our hero hears from the vile X-Nauts. They will surely continue to stand in Mario's way and try to put a stop to his efforts...

Well, that's that. Hope you enjoyed it. Next time, we go back to Peach. Just what is she up too? Find out next time.

R.E.V.I.E.W & C.O.M.M.E.N.T.