Published on June 15th, 2011.
Replaced (ver.1) on November 26th, 2015.
Chapter 35/60
Mt. Lavalava
Hot, Hot Times on Lavalava Island Arc (3/5)
Unfortunately, the deeper they went in Mt. Lavalava, the more they started to cough. They eventually retreated due to the volcanic ashes and toxic gases. Everyone breathed in relief, though they were still coughing.
"We can't get in!" Mario said, coughing three times. "If we go deeper, we'll die from the toxic gases!"
"But we have to get in!" Kooper said, coughing. "If only we have a damp cloth or a face mask."
"Did somebody said face mask?" Raphael the Raven asked. The team yelped to see him again in a short amount of time. "I've forgotten to mention one thing. Inside the volcano are filled with volcano ashes, sulfur dioxide, and carbon dioxide, which is bad to breathe in. The Ravens and I made some face masks while we were away." Raphael gave everyone a face mask, which were made out of a leaf and a small vine.
"You sure about this?" Eddy asked, having doubts. Most of the friends reacted the same way as him. "It doesn't appear to be special, if you ask me."
"Have you forgotten about botany? These are special leaves that only grows on this island. They absorbed carbon dioxide through its stomata and give off oxygen; they are way faster than a regular leaf. Think of it as your oxygen supporter in a volcano." Everyone shrugged and equipped their face mask on their face. Raphael bid his farewell and flew away. The team tried one more and entered inside.
"These really do help!" Sushie said, breathing in relief.
Kooper gasped. "Oh-no! We've forgot about Kolorado!" he said. Everyone rushed down the slope until a Putrid Piranha stood in their way.
"Identified as...Mario and the Eds," it said, which shocked the team. "Alert! Report to the Boss!" The Putrid Piranha dug back into the ground.
"That's not good," Bombette said.
"We better move...fast!" Mario said. The team continued down the slope and saw Kolorado wearing his custom white face mask.
"You've finally made it," Kolorado said. "I sense lots of danger up ahead." Everyone else looked ahead and saw the floor filled with magma and floating black rocks. Even with the Ultra Stone's fire resistant, it was still very hot to affect the team's morale. Everyone began to sweat in and out of their clothes (for some). Eddy, for some reason, was not affected by the extreme heat in the air.
"Obvious dangers with common sense," Bow said, wiping her sweat, but Kolorado huffed.
"Nevertheless, we adventurers must face dangers for treasures and discoveries! Follow me, everyone!" Kolorado jumped to the first rock, but it suddenly started to sink down to the magma. Mario reacted quickly by rescuing Kolorado and landing on the next rock, but it was also sinking as well. Mario and Kolorado rushed forward and landed on a big rock that did not sink.
"That was too close," Mario said, panting a bit. The rest carefully crossed over the floating rock without making a single mistake and made it to their position.
"What were you thinking, Kolorado?!" Kooper asked. "We have to analyze this area first before we make a move!"
"I, uh, hate to interrupt, but what are those things?" Eddy asked. Two fire-ball monsters were in front of the team and spotted them.
"Goombario!" Mario said, looking at him. Goombario, however, just admired the hot scenery. "Goombario!"
"H-huh? Wh-what?" he stammered. "I-"
Ed cried in pain. One of the fire-ball monsters blew out a fireball and struck Ed's hammer. Ed, in a desperate state, took out his two hammer badges and threw his hammer into the magma. "Hot! Hot! Hot!" he said.
"I've got this, everyone!" Eddy said, smirking. "Let Eddy show you how to beat them...Eddy-style!" He recklessly charged forward, which caught most people by surprise.
"Eddy! No!" Sushie said.
"Oh, the horror!" Kolorado said, covering his eyes. Eddy jumped forward and landed both of them in a sequence. The fire-ball monsters, Lava Bubbles, disappeared forever. Almost everyone around had gaping mouths.
"But...how..."
Kolorado opened his eyes and saw Eddy unburnt. "Yo-you're supposed to be burnt!"
"No way, Jose!" Eddy replied. "It looks like most of you forgot I had this bad-boy." He showed off his Ice Power Badge, which he could attack fire enemies without taking damage.
"You guys worried too much," Bombette said, smiling at knowing Eddy's badges.
"I'm also feeling fine, thanks to this." Eddy showed off his first badge he had ever received: Feeling Fine Badge.
"Then..." Kooper said, a click turned his light bulb. "That means Mt. Lavalava isn't affecting you?"
"No way a volcano can beat the great Eddy McRich! I'm too cool to be hot!" Eddy's remark made some people laugh.
"If we're done talking, I would like to resume," Bow said. When everyone crossed over the magma by more floating rock to the other side, Mario had a private conversation with Goombario.
"What's the matter, Goombario?" Mario asked in concern. Goombario responded with a grunt. "Why were you not focused back then?"
"Why bother?" he said. "It's obviously a fire monster. It's common sense to use a water or an ice attack on them."
"That's...true, but there's something else you're hiding. You've been acting...different ever since the accident."
"It doesn't matter. Look, we have to focus here. I don't want to stay in this blistering hot volcano for a long time." Goombario picked up the pace, leaving Mario behind with a sad expression.
"Why are you so...resenting to me? Did I do something wrong?" The team continued down and found two paths to take. One led to a cave while the other led to the lower levels. They decided to take the one with the cave. After jumping over three spinning flames, they found a Blue Star Kid.
"I want Bombette to level up into an Ultra-rank!" Eddy said.
"Sorry, Eddy," Ed said. "But you know the rules: Ladies go first." Everyone around slapped their foreheads.
"Bombette is a girl, you dummy!"
"A royal princess goes first."
"Who cares! Me and Bombette can handle this!"
"Yeah right!"
"Yeah?"
"Yeah!"
"Can I upgrade?" Kolorado asked, but no one listened to him. Ed and Eddy continued arguing back and forth until Mario's team secretly went to the Super Block.
"I think the first one to upgrade for the first time is," Mario began, "Sushie."
"What do you mean her?!" Goombario asked, gaping.
Mario blinked his eyes. "Sushie is a water type, and we're in a volcano. Sushie can help us a lot in here."
"But... But... Argh!" Goombario gave up, knowing that Mario was right. Sushie remained oblivious, and was happy to take her new power. Mario inserted the Ultra Stone in the block. The inside of the box turned into red as the Star Kid transformed into a Red Star Kid. It popped out of the Super Block and entered inside Sushie. The Ultra Stone, in the block, fell down to Mario's hand.
"I can feel so much power within me!" Sushie said, chuckling.
"What's your new power?" Mario asked.
"I tell you later when the time is right." Mario managed to settle down Ed and Eddy, who noticed the Star Kid was nowhere in sight.
"Aw, come on!" Eddy said, crossing his arms and looking at his right.
"Maybe next time, you guys won't have an argument." Everyone returned back to the previous area, but stopped when they saw four small red beetles with a spike on top. Bow quickly noticed a POW Block on top of a brick block. She quickly grabbed it and threw it to them. All of the Spike Tops flipped over from the sudden impact. "Take them out quick!" Ed and Eddy jumped on their opponents while Kooper flung himself to the third one with a Shell Shot. Sushie used her Belly Flop and slammed down on the last Spiny Top. Everyone resumed down until they saw a new type of block. It was a shiny metal block with gold edges.
"I wish we have a hammer," Ed said, pouting.
"It's must be more durable than those Stone Blocks," Kooper said.
"Let's continue down further," Mario said.
"Pardon me, but I'll stay here," Kolorado said, which made everyone look at him. "My adventure senses tell me that the treasure is located behind this Metal Block."
"Fine by me," Eddy said, putting his hand behind his head. "We don't really need you anyway."
"That was...harsh, Eddy," Kooper murmured with a sad expression. Without Kolorado, the team finally reached the lower levels. Ed noticed a shiny object embedded on the wall. Ed quickly took it off, but it was steaming off. He tossed it to Eddy, which the badge cooled off. The badge was shaped like a flame with two black dots.
"What's this?" Eddy asked, examining it with his right eye.
Mario looked down at Goombario. "Goombario," Mario said, "for our sake, please tell us what is that badge." Some of the members noticed their strange behaviors.
"Is something the matter?" Bombette asked.
Goombario remained silent for a few seconds. "That's a Fire Shield Badge," he answered. "It reduces fire attacks."
"Pretty convenient for this type of badge here in this volcano," Eddy said, tossing back to Ed. "You keep it, Ed. I don't want to waste my four Badge Points."
"You got that one, Eddy," Ed said, equipping his Fire Shield Badge. The team went down the gradient, or a ramp, and found a giant treasure chest at the other side. The center was a pool of magma, but the team could go around it. However, it was guarded by eight Lava Bubbles in this room.
"Here comes another battle!" Mario said with everyone in their fighting stance. Ed's team stayed behind while Mario's team went to the right and Eddy and Bombette to the left.
"I don't have a hammer, guys!" Ed said, though he was ready to punch one of the Lava Bubbles.
"I'm here to help you, Ed!" Kooper said, going inside his shell.
"Don't forget me!" Bow said. One of the first Lava Bubble charged for Ed, but Bow veiled him and herself. Kooper's shell zoomed through two Lava Bubbles, which destroyed them.
Three Lava Bubbles encountered Eddy and Bombette. Eddy landed on the first one, destroying it in the process. Bombette blew up the second, which instantly vaporized into nothingness. The final one blew out two fireballs to Bombette, but Eddy grabbed her out.
Eddy growled. "No one lits up Bombette!" he said, running and punching several times until it died. Mario, Sushie, and Goombario fought off the last two. Mario snatched one rock and hurled it at the Lava Bubble. With that impact, the Lava Bubble grew angry and fired a flamethrower, but Sushie responded with her Squirt attack. The two opposite forces clashed for a few seconds, but Sushie's force pushed further. She took out both of them with one attack. With the battle finished, everyone made it to the treasure chest. Mario lifted it open and gasped what he saw. There were several golden hammers. Mario, Ed, and Eddy grabbed their new hammers and awed at its masterpiece.
"This must be an Ultra Hammer," Mario said, still being in awe.
"Why would several hammers be in this place?" Sushie asked.
Kooper looked at them. "They looked like you use them to smash through rocks like this place," he said. "They could be hammers for mining."
"Whatever it may be, this looks awesome!" Eddy said, grinning.
"Lothar has been resurrect from the dead! I am the Ultra Lothar!" Ed said, swinging his hammer around, which resonating booming sounds. They equipped back their hammer badges onto their hammer. The team headed back up at the slope and encountered three Putrid Piranhas, four Spiky Tops, and four Lava Bubbles.
"We're outnumbered!" Sushie said.
"I know how to deal with this!" Mario said, clasping his hands and concentrating. "Lullaby!" Mamar appeared above Mario's head and sung a sweet melody that made half of them sleepy; Mamar disappeared after that.
"Here we come!" the team said, which made the enemies back away. Several clashes, bashing, booming, and cries of pain later, the team won this battle. Their award were two things behind the enemies. It was a treasure chest with a grey shoe badge called the Dizzy Stomp Badge and another Blue Star Kid.
"I'll take this badge," Mario said, but he could not equip it at this time. With that settled, Mario, Ed, and Eddy prepared Rock, Paper, and Scissor. Eddy and Ed had scissor while Mario had rock.
"That's no fair!" Eddy said as Ed nodded with him.
"I won fair and square. We made a deal, right?" Eddy growled while Ed lowered his head in defeat. Mario crouched down to Goombario's height. "Goombario, I don't know what you're feeling, but let me upgrade you as an apology."
Goombario blinked his eyes, moving his head around a little while remember what has happened. "Okay," he said. Mario repeated the same process as before, and the Red Star Kid went inside Goombario. Goombario glittered with rainbow colors until it vanished.
"How do you feel?"
"Better..." The team went back up to Kolorado's position.
"So have you found anything?" Kolorado asked.
"Check these out!" Eddy said, revealing his Ultra Hammer. Kolorado took out his magnifying glass and examined it.
"My, my. It looks like these hammers are so strong. The miners must have use these to create paths."
"Told ya," Kooper said to his team, smirking.
"Since the hammer is made of metal, you can destroy that Metal Block."
"Well, let's do it," Mario said, taking out his hammer. Mario smacked the Metal Block, which had a huge dent on it. Eddy came in and delivered a down-strike blow on top it. With the Metal Block severely damaged, Ed pounded the last blow. The Metal Block burst out, revealing a new corridor.
"All right!" most of the members said. When everyone went through, they was another slope to travel down. Suddenly, there was a loud boom behind them. It was a large circular stone with spikes and a surly face. It started to move forward.
"Run!" Mario said. Everyone ran down the slope as the Spiny Tromp gained more speed due to gravity on a slope. The team yelled as it gained even more speed, but they were going to reach the end.
"We're not gonna make it!" Kooper said as Ed's team as behind.
"Quick! Grab on to me!" Bow said. Ed and Kooper touched Bow and they both veiled away. The Spiny Tromp passed by them, but it blocked the exit. The rest of the team hyperventilated from the run, but noticed Ed's team was not here.
"Ed!" Eddy said through the Spiny Tromp.
"Yes, Eddy?" Ed said, seeing the team through the space.
"Whew... They're alive," Sushie said. Mario, Ed, and Eddy pounded the Spiny Tromp until it was ultimately destroyed.
"Those are very strong hammers," Bombette said. The team was in a room where a rocky bridge leads to the next area. They jumped through spinning flames along the way.
"It's getting so hot," Bow said, wiping more sweat. "If it wasn't for that Ultra Stone, we wouldn't make it."
Bombette grunted. "Of all the places to put a Star Spirit, it has to be in a volcano." In the next room, there were several Metal Blocks lined up on the rocky stairs. Mario, Ed, and Eddy could not reach from their position. They walked forward on the smooth bridge, but stopped when they reached a dead-end.
"A dead-end?!" Eddy asked, then growled. "What are we going to do now?!"
"Ho hoh hoh," Kolorado said. "It seems you need more experiences to grasp this."
Eddy narrowed his eyes. "What was that?!"
"According to the information I've gathered, the treasure should be right around here. The wall must be blocking our path."
"We'll need something stronger to break that wall," Kooper said. "Those Ultra Hammers might take a while."
"Look at this, everyone!" Ed said, standing on top of a blue block and doing poses.
"Hey...we could use those to get to those Metal Blocks. We'll leave it to the Hammer Bros."
"We have to do more work?!" Eddy asked, gaping. Mario, Ed, and Eddy successfully rolled the blue block to the other side. They climbed up and started to destroy all the Metal Blocks. With one more left, Ed finished off the last one. They celebrated for a second until they gasped. There was another Spiny Tromp, and they were on a slope.
"Not another one!" they said, running down the slope as the Spiny Tromp began to move. The Hammer Bros. managed to dodge it to the side, but the Spiny Tromp kept on rolling to the others.
"Watch out!" Sushie said. Most of them stepped aside, but Kolorado was in the way. He was examining the wall intensely.
"Kolorado, move!" Kooper said, running to him.
"Pipe down, chap!" Kolorado said. "I'm busy here!" Kooper quickly took Kolorado and moved away from the Tromp's path. It destroyed the wall, and revealed the secret path which was thought to be a dead end. Everyone regrouped together.
"Are you all right?" Mario asked the Koopas.
"Treasure! Treasure!" Kolorado said, moving Kooper out and went through.
"Wait up!" Eddy said. Everyone, except Ed's team and Goombario, ran after Kolorado. Kooper was still sitting on the floor.
"Get up, Koopa," Bow said, but noticed Kooper's solemn expression. "What's the problem, now?"
"I..." Kooper said, not making eye contact. "I've always admired the amazing Kolorado...but when I'm with him...he's a totally different person."
"Like Double D would say," Ed said, with his finger pointing up and wiggling, "you've got to move on."
"That's...probably the smartest thing you said," Bow said. "But I agree with him. It's okay to like him as your role model, but when you get to see the truth, it can change your life."
"Maybe you're right..." Kooper said, standing up. "When I have the chance, I'll talk to Kolorado privately." Ed's team continued forward, leaving behind Goombario with some serious thinking.
I think I'm too clung up with Mario as his biggest fan, Goombario thought. All of this started with Mario...I guess I was such a jerk. I should start changing myself first. With that out-of-the-way, Goombario gathered all his thoughts that had happened and started over again as a clean slate. It's time to meet your new Goomba!
In the original, the hazards inside did not affect Mario and his partners. Leaf face masks does not exist. The capitalization was included when the Piranhas speak. The zip-line in Mt. Lavalava does not exist. Two rooms were cut in this story.
Level 9
Mario [20 HP | 20 FP | 15 BP]
Badge Points left [0]
Badges equipped [Power Jump (1), Smash Charged (1), D-Down Pound (2), Damage Dodge (3), Spike Shield (2), Multibounce (1), Power Rush (1), I Spy (1), Happy Heart (3), Dizzy Stomp (unequipped)]
Ed [25 HP | 20 FP | 12 BP]
Badge Points left [0]
Badges equipped [Hammer Throw (2), Close Call (1), Shrink Stomp (1), Power Smash (1), D-Down Jump (2), Mega Rush (1), Power Quake (2), Fire Shield (2)]
Double D [20 HP | 15 FP | 18 BP]
Badge Points left [6]
Badges equipped [Pretty Lucky (2), Refund Badge (1), Zap Tap (4), Defend Plus (5)]
Eddy [15 HP | 15 FP | 21 BP]
Badge Points left [4]
Badge equipped [Feeling Fine (3), Dizzy Attack (2), Power Bounce (2), Quake Hammer (1), Money Money (7), Power Plus (unequipped), Ice Power (2)]