The team's on hot pursuit! Let's see how they're doing!

Chapter 18: Teamwork, Tablets and Crag, find the way in!

Chasing, that was all the team was doing in order to rescue the kidnapped Cragnons and find some information about the Pure Heart.

Although Bridgette was able to slow the Floro Sapiens down with her Splat Bombs, the foes were able to get underground through a pipe and the last one enchanted a spell that summoned a block.

"Great! What now?!" Heather hissed, Tippi examined the block "It has a Smash logo here… I think one of us can break if a Final Smash is used…" she said.

Bridgette turned her attention upwards and called for the team "Look, something's up there!"

"If only we had some way to reach there…" Peach sighed when Owen noted a block. He struck it and a ladder emerged from it, granting access to the thing in midair.

"That doesn't make any sense!" Courtney shrieked, "We're in another world genius, none of this does" Heather said.

The C.I.T. glared at her but was calmed down by Mario.

The nine reached upwards and saw three monitor-like sculptures carved in stone with only the letters "D", "K" and a Smash Ball on each one.

Duncan noted something else on the sides of the sculptures "Hey, check this out. A drop of water? A fire and a dinosaur-like statue?" "It's not just any dinosaur, it's our friend Yoshi" Mario replied.

"Water drop… Wait, didn't we like passed a river when we were chasing down those freaks?" Heather pointed out.

"Heather's right, but what about the fire and the Yoshi statue?" DJ said.

"We can only solve this by exploring the place, maybe we can find something to break this block" Courtney deduced and turned to the team.

"We're splitting up again. Peach, Owen and DJ, you go back to the river we crossed. Heather, Bowser and Duncan, you take the pipe east from here, I have a feeling there's one of the things lying there.

Mario, Bridgette, you're with me. Let's explore around here, maybe we can find something"

Duncan already didn't care anymore about Courtney being the leader so he agreed. Heather still begrudgingly accepted the plan and everyone parted ways.

As Courtney, Mario, Tippi and Bridgette explored the area, they took down several enemies, earning eighty dollars.

"Mario" Courtney said, "I've always wanted to ask you something after you came back with the second Pure Heart.

How can you manage to tolerate, let alone get along with Heather?" she asked, "Actually, that's something the rest of us have been wondering too" Bridgette added.

Mario smiled "Well, even if what she did was wrong, there's no reason to make her feel bad. She's already received her comeuppance and besides, if I treat her bad, that would only keep the mean streak going.

You see, I know there's good on her. And even if she doesn't want to admit it, she's shown it throughout our battle so far"

Courtney and Bridgette were speechless as they looked at each other.

Confessional: Bridgette

"I always knew from the few videogames I've played that he's a kind person, but I never imagined that he for once: Be real and second, kind to everyone, even Heather.

Maybe that's what we all need, another chance. Don't tell anyone, but since we were assigned as defenders, none of us trusted or wanted to be near Alejandro and always left him the toughest monsters out there. And now I feel bad about it.

Sure, he may have tricked us and got us eliminated but now that we are saving our worlds from Despair and seeing how Mario's treating Heather, it kinda puts things into perspective.

Maybe it's time for a change, if Mario is nice to Heather even with her attitude, then it means I can also change my treatment towards Alejandro"

End Confessional

Mario spotted a strange rock on the horizon and the three quickened their pace to reach it but a voice from the sky caught them off guard.

"Showed at last, did yeh?" O'Chunks landed in front of the heroes. "GRA-BLAGHY!"

I've not been made teh wait like this since that fine lass stood me up long, long ago!"

Yeh did this teh break me concentraion, didn't yeh?! Yeh likes the cheatin', eh?! Sorry teh disappont yeh! Yeh think I'd fall fer a bush-league move like that?!"

"Who the heck is that?" Courtney asked, Mario's eyes glowed with anger "That's O'Chunks… one of Count Bleck's minions!" he glared at the foe.

"Ooh, I'm afraid this fellow is terribly misguided..." Tippi said.

"I've not been made teh wait like this since that fine lass stood me up long, long ago!"

Yeh did this teh break me concentraion, didn't yeh?! Yeh likes the cheatin', eh?! Sorry teh disappont yeh! Yeh think I'd fall fer a bush-league move like that?!" O'Chunks yelled.

"Ugh... Haven't you learned? No matter how often we fight, it will end the same... Just step aside!" the Pixl warned.

"Grah har har har har! Big talk fer a wee li'l weird-lookin' butterfly! I'll be wantin' an apology! In writin'! An' I want it written with yer FACE!" O'Chunks mocked.

"Salutations, O'Chunks" Dimentio greeted as he appeared.

"You…" Tippi said, "

"Ah, once again we meet, like two large, hairy vikings on a storm-tossed schooner!" he teased.

"What d'yeh want, Dimentio?! I don't be needin' any help! Yeh'll just get in the way!" O'Chunks complained.

"Ah, a quadrillion pardons! Far be it from me to be a hindrance. Far, FAR be it!

As it happens, I merely have an acquaintance in this land. I was just saying hello!" Dimentio apologized.

"Yes, truly! And I saw you, and I thought, 'Perhaps my magic can aid in this fight!" he chuckled and took them to Dimension D.

"Ah, rest assured, I'll hardly be underfoot! You fight to your heart's content! Ciao!" Dimentio left them.

"Wuh... That doesn't sound too bad, I guess. Maybe I misunderstood that weirdo...

Well, anyway, you lot are in fer it now! Meet the new-an'-improved O'Chunks!" the brute said.

Bridgette pulled out her Splat Roller and rammed O'Chunks, burying him to the ground. Mario used his side smash attack and sent O'Chunks flying.

Courtney tried to strike him with her up smash but O'Chunks dodged her and managed to grab the C.I.T.

He then used the same throw Mario's known for and hurled Courtney towards Mario and Bridgette, the two were struck and fell to the ground.

O'Chunks grinned as he curled up Mario and Courtney and launched them upwards. The two yelled and disappeared as a star.

Angered, Bridgette lunged at O'Chunks with a Splat Bomb, covering him in ink. He punched her in retaliation but was grabbed and thrown to the ground by a returning Mario, who had an intense glare.

"Return him… The same with the girl as well!" he shouted and proceeded to combo O'Chunks with a down throw, a forward air and an up smash attack.

"Nah…" O'Chunks said, Courtney and Bridgette gasped and the latter stepped aside.

Mario's eyes went dark and he along with Courtney, submitted O'Chunks to a savage combo of Smash attacks that culminated with Mario drop-kicking the brute, defeating him.

All of them were returned to the wildlands.

O'Chunks got on his knee "BLARGH IT ALL! Bad enough that yeh beat me once, but twice is too much teh bear! How can I show me face teh the count now, eh? I CAN'T! Put me out o' me misery!"

Get on with it! I'm serious! I've no regrets! Well... No... Perhaps I do regret not confessin' me love teh that sweet lass. BUT NO! That's no way fer a brave warrior teh talk when 'is time comes 'round at last! So... Do it! Now! NOW! Finish me! End me game!" he yelled. Dimentio suddenly appeared.

"D-Dimentio! Look, honestly, this is kind o' important! How 'bout some privacy, eh?" the brute groaned.

"Yes, yes, of course, I understand. Your honor must be satisfied...

But, O'Chunks, before you let your game be over, humor poor little me for a bit. I have something I'd rather think you'll enjoy. I DO wish you would try it out for me" Dimentio giggled.

"YEH CRAZED LOON! It's not the time fer..." O'Chunks roared.

"Oh...It's not the time, hmm? Not the time for something that will aid Count Bleck?

"Ooh... Fer the count, eh? Well that do change a thing or two..." he said and turned to the heroes.

"You lots! Yeh took enough of a beatin' fer today, so I'll let yeh off easy-like! I tell yeh this, though: yeh better work on yer skills by the next time we meet!"

"Wait, what about all that drivel about not showing your face to the count and such" Tippi mocked him.

"EY! SHUT IT! I live fer the count! I couldn't end me game without 'is say-so!

My heart is weak, sure, so I'm done with it! From now on, I'm all brawn, no brain!

The past be nothin' teh me! All that matters is Count Bleck's future! All fer 'im!" O'Chunks protested.

"Ah, it is time to part... Ciao!" Dimentio said and warped himself and O'Chunks out of there.

Mario just huffed and starts walking, "Are you all right?" Bridgette asked, "No… That count made this personal the moment he captured him, the girl as well…" he sighed.

Courtney and Bridgette felt awkward and resumed their tracks.

The three came across the Yoshi-statue, "Hey look, something's on the statue's nose" the C.I.T. said.

Courtney used her Warp to get next to the object, upon further examination, she took it and showed it to Mario and Bridgette. "It's the Smash Ball! Way to go Courtney!" the plumber praised her.

Since Mario was one of the few who respected her role as leader, she sincerely thanked him and the trio returned to the rendezvous point, with Tippi leaving to check on Peach, Owen and DJ.

With those three

Owen offered to explore the river's depth in order to help his team. He successfully held his breath and with the help of his farts, he reached a part of the bottom where no water was present.

He opened a chest and revealed a letter "D".

"That's all? Bummer…" he groaned and returned to the other two. Owen showed what found, "Well done Owen. Let's returns now" Peach praised him, just in time as Tippi reached them.

Owen asked to use the confessional.

Confessional: Owen

"Cool! It was possible with my farts!" he grins and let loose one.

End Confessional

DJ, Peach and Owen returned to rendezvous point as well, Tippi left them to check on Heather, Duncan and Bowser.

With the three last heroes

After an awkward encounter with several enemies, the team managed to earn fifty dollars and get to a strange underground. There, a strange stone in the shape of a fire was found.

Duncan used his side smash and destroyed the stone, revealing a letter "K".

"Now how do we get back?" Heather asked. Bowser and Duncan didn't count on that and face-palmed.

Out of frustration, Heather performed a Boost Kick on them, sending to them to the place where they got underground in the first place.

"Of course…" the queen bee groaned and did her up special move again, reaching to the other who just had unamused looks.

"Whatever" Bowser said as Tippi arrived "I sense you already found the other item…" she said.

Duncan pulled out the object and nodded. The four decided to return to the rendezvous point.

As they arrived, they've noticed the other six at the sculptures trying to place the two items in order, the three quickly reached them and placed the "K" in the middle.

The three sculptures trembled and a Smash Ball appeared, infusing instantly into DJ.

"I think we need to get to the block" Peach said. The others agreed and rushed to it. "D, K and a Smash Ball. I think DJ it's the only one who can break this thing, giving his fighting style" Heather said, "For once, we agree, Heather" Courtney added.

"DJ, I think you need to use your Final Smash" Mario deduced, "All right, but please step aside, I don't want to hurt you guys" the gentle giant replied.

They complied and DJ unleashed his Final Smash: Jungle Rush. He punched the block several times and finished with an uppercut. The block exploded into smithereens.

From the ground, a pipe emerged.

"Not bad kiddo!" Bowser smirked. "Excellent work, now let's get those Floro Sapiens!" Tippi said. Everyone nodded and entered the pipe.

After repelling O'Chunks, Mario, Heather and Co. followed the Floro Sapiens underground...

Was the hideout of the Floro Sapiens just up ahead?

"Wow, it's dark! And narrow!" "Hey, who just kicked me?!" "Sorry!" All of them said

Our heroes followed the long, dark corridor, listening to echoes of their own voices. As they groped their way along, the light at the end of the tunnel grew brighter...

They had finally arrived at the inner sanctums of the Floro Sapiens...

The Cragnons kidnapped from Downtown of Crag had to be around somewhere...

They entered a cavern, what kind of danger will await for them? Next chapter we'll find out!