We've entered the Floro Caverns! Let's keep our guards up!
Chapter 19: A Crag in the Dark, another host to deal with!
A dark and humid cave was the place the team ended up after losing track of the Floro Sapiens.
"Just where did those plant freaks go?" Heather groaned. The team kept their pace until they ran into someone.
"Coming to you live...from the foul darkness; the home of the Floro Sapiens.
Lesser Cragnons would weep softly. No one has set foot in this cave and emerged alive.
But some make history with sheer gall and will power...and Flint Cragley is such a man!" the Cragnon said.
"'Into the Floro Sapien Cave of Doom! A Flint Cragley Cragtrotting Adventure!'"
...No, no, wait a second. That'll never play well in the sticks. How about..."
Taste Danger! Flint Cragley Vs. a Recragginated Mummy in Floro Sapien Central!'"
I wonder if that'll test well with the weekend audience... Those Cragnons are fickle..."
The team stared at him confused, "Who are you and why are you talking to the darkness?" Bowser asked, catching his attention.
"Suddenly...out of the cave mists...mysterious, slavering creatures lurched into view! Did they hope to dine on fillet of Cragley? Would our hero meet their mandibles? Tune in after this brief commercial break to witness the torrid conclusion!"
"Are you nuts?" Courtney asked.
"...Great, cut, print, wrap it. Now what do you dolts want? What are you doing here?"
Bridgette gave him a quick explanation.
"Huh? You're on a quest to find a treasure called the Pure Heart? Spectacular. Just fabulous! All-time coincidence, that's what this is!"
"Just great to meet fellow adventurers, really, it is. I'm ecstatic about this.
Listen, call me Flint. I'm a heck of a guy to know! Best cragtrotter of our time!. You may know me from 'Flint Cragley, Cragtrotter,' which airs weekly on crag-vision"
"A host?" Owen asked.
Confessional: DJ
"This one at least looks saner than Chris and Chef" he smiles awkwardly.
End Confessional
"That's why I pretended to be kidnapped! I'm filming another epic show!
Unfortunately, my idiot crew wandered off somewhere... So unprofessional. I turned away for a second, and they vanished into the foul blackness of this cave...
The worst part is, they have the key that'll get me deeper into this infernal abyss!
You there! If you run into my crew, tell them I'm waiting and stomping impatiently!" he requested.
The team nodded since they need to explore the caverns anyways.
"Pure adventure personified thanks you kindly!" Flint said, "Don't mention personified" Heather sighed.
The team took the warp pipe near him and explored the immense cavern.
The gang took out enemies on their way, earning two hundred and fifty dollars until they reached a branch.
"Not this time Courtney, we're sticking together" Heather said, the leader glared at her.
They took the branch and kept adventuring. Eventually, they ran into one of the staff members, the boomer.
After Mario explained him the situation he recalled how he got lost and thanked the heroes before returning to Flint.
The heroes returned to the branch as well and continued exploring the rest of the cavern. On their way, they defeated more enemies and gained another hundred dollars.
Once they reached two doors, one with a lock, they opened the lockless one and traversed a mine cart course.
"Now I get why Donkey, Diddy and Dixie Kong are a bit scared yet thrilled by this" Mario chirped, making Peach giggle.
The team managed to find the camera man and told him the situation, he thanked them and rushed the host.
The ten returned to Flint Cragley, who had a big grin on his face.
Turns out they've been arguing about the key needed to unlock the door the crew found earlier but Flint was sure one of his staff members lost it.
After so much yelling, Flint felt the key in his pocket and made a rant of a supposed miracle.
He handed the key to Duncan and the three left.
Confessional: Mario
"For what they've told me about Chris, I guess Flint is a better host, a bit klutz but still better"
End Confessional
The team reached the locked door and opened it, revealing a way that led deeper into the caverns.
All of them looked at each other before continuing. They nodded and walked down the road.
"You want REAL danger?! How about my duel with the foul Rainbowzilla?!"
As the heroes descended into the Floro Caverns, Flint Cragley entertained them all, this host already proved to be a better one than Chris McLean by large margin.
"Boss. BOSS! Cragnons heard that story 255 times, brah... You making my crag hurt.
"Brah, if you count time we weren't tied up, then it 256 times."
Mario, Heather and Co. glanced over at the weary faces of Flint's crew as they delved deeper.
But a light grew... Was it a ray of hope from the Pure Heart, or an evil illusion?
Another host?! Well, this one is at least fairer with his staff, unlike Chris. Let me know what you think of the adventure so far.