Treasures of Souls!
Chapter 11-1: The Burning Passion of the Red Tanooki!
After a long voyage, our heroes arrive at the dreaded Pillage Village. It seemed rather low-middle class, with strange weirdos inhabiting the place.
"Wow, I see some people have never heard of a little thing called class." said a rather disgusted Luigi.
Cielia had replied,
"I've heard this place was rather twisted, but this is just ridiculous. Boy am I glad I never came here as a child."
Toad then yelled,
"Hey guys! Check that out!"
Suddenly, a White little Mouser in a red mask was running off with a big box in hand. She was being persued by a woman in a maid's outfit wielding a Machine Gun.
"Come back here you thief!! You won't get away with my Master's Treasure!!"
The Maid started shooting her Machine Gun at the lil' Mouser. But she's able to dodge the gunshots. She then notices the gang and hides behind them. The Maid then comes in the scene, catching her breath.
"pant pant Have any of you seen pant a White Mouser run by?"
Mario points in a random direction, then the Maid says thanks, and runs in that direction.
"You won't get away from me Thief!!"
As the Maid disappears, the white Mouser jumps out and kisses Mario on the cheek.
"Oh Mario, my little cutie-pie, thank you for saving me! I thought I was a goner back there!"
Mario blushed a little, then Cielia asked,
"Mario, do you know this girl?"
Luigi then says,
"Well I'll be! Hey Mario, isn't that your little girl-friend from Rogueport?"
Mario growled at Luigi, then Toad asked the Mouser,
"Who exactly are you?"
The cute little Mouser then said,
"I am known as Ms. Mowz! The greatest Mouser Thief in the world! I've come to Pillage Village on some secret business. But perhaps you guys could help me out, considering what you just witnessed."
Cielia then says,
"Well, we're listening..."
Ms. Mowz then says,
"Okay, here's the thing. Have any of you ever heard of a man named, Count Cannoli?"
The gang shook their heads, meaning they never heard of him. Then Ms. Mowz says,
"You see, about a year ago, Count Cannoli was a T.V. Actor who once played the role of a Thief named the "Silver Zephyr".
Luigi then said,
"Wait! The Silver Zephyr?! That was my favorite show!! It's too bad it got canceled after the 10th Episode..."
Ms. Mowz then proclaims,
"That's because another thief who went by the name "Purple Wind" stole his show and put him out of business. Other than that, I heard the show was canceled due to mediocre reviews. But that's besides the point. Anyways, after giving up on Silver Zephyr, Cannoli returned to being a full-fledged thief, and started many popular heists that even made it into Koopa Kronicle News! One of them involved him finding the so-called "Ultimate Treasure!" So I was hoping maybe you guys could help me find it!"
Cielia sighed and said,
"Well, I wish we could help, but we're busy with something too."
Ms Mowz then says,
"Oh...well that's too bad. I was hoping you'd help me find it, and perhaps spilt the loot 50/50 if we find it..."
Luigi then halted and said,
"Wait! Did you say, split the loot 50/50?!"
Ms Mowz nodded. Then Luigi said,
"If that's the case, then we'll help you find it! Right guys?"
Cielia then says,
"Luigi, are you nuts?! We don't have time to steal treasure from a thief! We need to find that Soul Key and save Fantasia!"
Ms Mowz then asked Cielia,
"Wait! Did you say, Soul Key?"
Cielia then said,
"Yes, why?"
"Well, since you mentioned it, I remember seeing this key like jewel in Cannoli's Treasure Vault while I was snooping inside his huge mansion. I almost took it, but I got caught by that goofy count's maid, and I was forced to leave with this here box."
Toad then says,
"Speaking of boxes, what's in that box anyway?"
Ms. Mowz says,
"I don't know. Cross your fingers it's something good!"
Ms. Mowz then opens the box. Inside it was a strange looking wand with a face on it. Then it awakens and yawns.
"Uuuuwaaaaahh...that was such a good nap."
The gang appeared surprised the thing could talk. The Wand looked at the gang and says,
"What? Haven't you young lads ever seen a talking magic wand before?"
Ms. Mowz then says,
"A magic wand?! You mean you can grant wishes?"
The Wand pulled a rather confused and said,
"Um, well, I can't say I do. Please, allow me to introduce myself. My name, is Goodstyle. I am a Magic Wand capable of changing one's appearence in the blink on an I. Now then, which one of you fine Ladies & Gentlemen is my new master?"
Everyone was silent, then Goodstyle said,
"Hmm? None of you are answering? Very well then, I choose..."
...
"You! The strapping young man in red with raccoon features."
Mario then looked both ways, then he pointed to himself,
"Me?"
"Yes, you. Say, you remind me of my old master."
Mario then asked,
"I do?"
Goodstyle then chuckles and says,
"Why yes. Except he wasn't nearly as thin as you, and he wore yellow instead of red. Infact, I still remember that funny looking nose of his, and his reaking stentch of Garlic all over."
Luigi whispers to Toad, saying,
"Hey Toad, you thinking who I'm thinking?"
Toad then whispers back,
"Unfortunatly, yes..."
Cielia then asks them both,
"Who are you talking about guys?"
Luigi & Toad say altogether,
"Trust us Cielia, you don't wanna know..."
Then Goodstyle tells Mario,
"It is official. You are now my new Master. Go on, wave me and say the magic words, Ravioli-Presturoni!"
Mario was silent, then Ms. Mowz says,
"Go on Mario! Do what he says."
Mario then grabs the floating Wand, and chants the Magic Spell,
"...Ravioli-PRESTURONI!!"
And with that, Mario is shaded in a puff of red smoke. As soon as the smoke disappears, Mario is seen in a completely different attire. He is seen wearing a red mask with a yellow M on it, his raccoon ears are visible, and the mask sports a Gem on the top fore-head holding a feather on it. He's wearing a shirt with yellow & blue strips & a red vest over it. The Gang was astounished at the sight. Cielia tells Mario,
"Mario, look at you! You've been transformed into a thief like identity!"
Goodstyle, who was being held by Mario says,
"Indeed. This is the my most basic disguise. You are now looking at what is called, Thief Mario!"
Luigi then says,
"Wow! You kinda look like that one Thief dude from Silver Zepyhr. What was his name again? Purple Cloud was it? No...Violet Wind? No..."
Toad then tells Mario,
"Hey Mario! Now that you're a thief, you should have your own thief name!!"
Cielia tells Toad,
"Toad, this is no time for names! We have to..."
Goodstyle interrupts by saying,
"I have a suggestion. Why don't we call you, The Red Tanooki!! It certainly fits those raccoon-like qualities you have."
Mario didn't really mind, and let it be.
"Then it's settled! As of now, your new name is, The Red Tanooki!"
Ms. Mowz then comes in and says,
"Hey Mario! Now that you're a Thief, it's time we see if you're capable of being a thief. So, I'll give you the honor of finishing what I started! Follow me guys!"
The Gang follow Ms. Mowz through the harsh terrains of Pillage Village. They eventually reach a huge Mansion within the heart of the Village.
"Here it is fellas, Count Cannoli's Private Mansion! This is where the Ultimate Treasures is said to be hidden. Mario, it will be your job to find the Treasure and make an escape with it!"
Cielia then questions, saying,
"Ms. Mowz, isn't that rather harsh to make Mario do all the work himself?"
Goodstyle then says,
"Not to worry M'lady. I've been through this Mansion before. I'll be of good use to my new master."
Ms. Mowz then tells R.T. Mario,
"Listen Red T; the Mansion is filled with many of Cannoli's Maids, and they all have machine guns like that one chick that tried to turn me into swiss cheese earlier! Stay away from their sight, and you'll be just fine."
R.T. Mario takes her word, then she says,
"Now, if you want to get into the mansion, you'll have to take that route over there to the left. You'll find vines on the wall that lead to an open window, climb it and you're in. Right about now, the Maids inside should be taking a swimming pool break, so you'll be safe for the time being. We're counting on you Mario. Get that treasure and make me proud!"
R.T. Mario then rushes to the area and jumps up the window without having to climb the vines. As they watch him enter, Luigi thinks to himself,
"Hmm...Maids taking a swimming pool break...is it dumb luck that I brought my camera along? Oh well, I felt like taking some photos anyway..."
And so, Luigi sneaks away from the gang, and immediatly hops for the mansion with his Frog Suit in search of a secret passage, in order to spy on the un-suspecting Maids.
Meanwhile, Mario & Goodstyle are seen traversing through the Mansion. They search from door to door, but it appears that all they found were bedrooms, living rooms, they even entered a bathroom where they saw an unsuspecting maid humming and bathing herself in the shower. Mario actually got a glimps of the maid's...magumbos (line stolen from a friend of mine on deviantART), only to get a nosebleed and slowly shutting the door. Goodstyle, who didn't see through the bathroom asked Mario,
"What is it master? What did you find?"
With his face red and legs shaking, Mario said,
"...big...watermelons..."
Goodstyle then says,
"Watermelons? In a Bathroom? That's preposterous! Let me see..."
But as Goodstyle peeked through the door, only to end up in the same state of shock Mario is. He then says,
"F-F-Forget I said anything. L-Let's keep going!"
Mario instantly dashed away of the area. However, luck was not on his side this time, as another pair of "big watermelons" pushed him back and made him land on his butt. He then looks up, only to find what looks to be the same Maid who chased after Ms. Mowz earlier.
"Well now, another thief attempts to steal from my master, eh? Well, I'll make sure you won't get away."
The Maid takes out her Machine gun, and get's it ready. Mario with big puppy dog eyes as if he were scared, started trembling. Then Goodstyle yells,
"RUN MASTER!! RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!!"
Mario gets up in a hurry and starts running for his life. The Woman starts chasing after him and yells out,
"You can run Raccoon Boy, but you can't hide from Master Cannoli's #1 Sharp Shooter, Lady Millie!!
She starts shooting her Machine Gun at Mario, who yells like crazy and runs like a crazy blue hedgehog! Lady Millie then turns on her Speaker Phone,
"Master Cannoli, this is Lady Millie! We have an intruder! Repeat, we have an intruder!"
Meanwhile, in another room, there is a strange looking man on his chair.
"Very well, dispose of him at once!"
"Understood."
As the man turns of his speakers, he looks through his monitors.
"Hmph, I see this rascal is in possession of my wand. No matter. In a matter of seconds, that Raccoon is going to be one Tail short, and his body will be filled with more holes than swiss cheese!"
To be continued...