Published on June 16th, 2012.
Replaced (ver.1) on November 28th, 2015.
Chapter 49/60
Kooper and Ed vs. Kent C. Koopa
Friendship Arc (2/8)
Several hours passed since Mario's team left to Goomba's Village, which was now the afternoon in Toad Town. The rest in Mario's house, now fully awake, began to make their moves. During that time, Bow disappeared from the house, and no one has seen her since this morning. Unfortunately, Kooper and Ed were in their own little world, but they eventually realized about Bow's disappearance. It was up to them, as her friends, to find her. However, there was a new and dire problem that required their attention only. It was up to their determination to see if they could go beyond the limit.
"Bow? Bow?" Ed said, emerging from the fountain and scaring a few civilians.
"Bow?" Kooper said, standing on top of the Dojo's roof.
"Bow?" Ed looked inside a trunk of the tree. Three small blue birds tweeted out loudly and began to peck him, which he screamed. "Evil pets from Evil Tim's creation!"
"Bow?" Kooper walked down the streets.
"Ooooh Bow! Where are you?" Ed pressed his face on a window. A few people inside screamed at the hideous face. His eyes were squished, widening the length. The whole face was like looking at an unidentified alien.
"Have any of you seen a Boo with a red bow?" Kooper asked the Badge Shop Owners, Rowf and Rhuff. They shook their heads, though.
"Are you in here, Bow?" Ed said, grabbing and shaking the crystal ball.
"Unhand my sacred ball!" Merlon said, snatching back his crystal ball and attempting to push Ed out of his house.
"Have you seen Bow, Mr. Whale?" Kooper asked him in the Harbor. The Whale did not know either. Kooper sighed, leaving the area and pondering what to do. Kooper almost gave up hope until he had a clue about the whereabouts of Bow. Unaware of himself, he found himself standing in front of the Post Office, seeing his goofy friend and a familiar idol.
"Have you seen Bow, Kolorado?" Ed asked him, who was sitting next to a milky table drinking Koopa Tea.
"I'm afraid not, my boy," Kolorado answered, then saw Kooper and felt happy to see him. "What-ho, old boy!"
"Kolorado?!" Kooper said, walking toward him in a fast pace. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be with your wife?"
Kolorado's expression changed into a serious one. "There...appears to be quite a dilemma. You see, a Gargantua Koopa Troopa is blocking Pleasant Path!" Kooper suddenly felt his head going back by two inches, hearing the word Gargantua.
"Cool name," Ed said with a grin. "Does it have a name?"
"The one blocking the path is called Kent C. Koopa."
"Kent C. Koopa?" Kooper said, thinking about the strange name. Try saying that five times.
Kolorado set down his tea. "Kent C. Koopa appears to be quite strong. I say, a strong brute indeed! This is a bit of a sticky wicket."
Ed laughed. "You say some funny things!" he said. The Koopa Troopas ignored him.
"There's nothing I can do. I am smart enough to know I cannot hope to defeat him on a one-on-one duel. To make things worse, there are people who are stuck in Toad Town because they cannot get through Kent C. Koopa. What folly..." Kooper and Ed looked through a window next to them, which was a small hotel. Just like Kolorado mentioned, there were several Koopas and Bob-ombs living inside the small hotel.
"This is bad," Kooper said with a slight frown.
"They're just like me. We all cannot meet our family and friends. The only course of action is to search for a secret passage to Koopa Village."
"Secret passage to Koopa Village?" Kooper recalled something in the past. "Wait! There is one!" He turned to Ed. "Remember that we fought that Blooper the second time in the sewers?"
"Oh yeah!" Ed said, grinning. "I would never forget that giant hunk of white. I want to meet it again!"
Kooper blinked his eyes, having a faint and bad feeling at Ed's statement. "Well... My point is that we discovered three blue warp pipes. One of them leads straight to Koopa Village. Let's try to take these folks to the sewer."
"Back to Hades!" Ed pumped up his fists into the air. Kolorado decided to tag along with them. Unfortunately, there was a problem when they reached the entrance of the sewers.
"Sorry, but I cannot allow civilians to pass," a Toad Worker said firmly to the three. The group saw several Toad workers, in full yellow body suits, carrying tool boxes. Most of the workers warped down the Warp Pipe.
"What seems to be the problem?" Kooper asked.
"We've got a report about several pipe leaks that burst this morning. One of my men reported that the pipes were damaged by a great force."
Kooper's body cringed. "Uh..." both Kooper and Ed said. In reality, it was actually the team and the Blooper's fault for the cause of the flood in the sewers.
"The sewers need to be under construction as of right now. It has started to fill up the sewers at a quarter-fourth level."
"Well..." Kooper said. He closed his eyes and grinned widely. "Good luck on that." Kooper motioned his friends to leave the area quickly, walking back to the entrance of the hotel.
"Do you know what happened, chap?" Kolorado asked.
"N-no... N-not really, but... I think if the sewers is currently inaccessible, then our only option is to defeat Kent C. Koopa."
"A-are you mad?! Just the two of you by yourselves?! Kent C. Koopa is a formidable foe! Many have tried, but they all ended up tasting defeat and dirt! There were only two people who fought bravely, but he still defeated both of them easily!"
Kooper had to admit that it was only the two of them instead of the full team. "Normally, we would bring the team, but everyone is trying to rest because we were very tired yesterday. Some of us had already left temporarily."
"I'm ready when you are, Kooper!" Ed said, ready for action. "It's time for termination!"
"Uh...we're not gonna terminate him, Ed," The two started to run. "We just have to stop him." They ran off to Pleasant Path, leaving Kolorado behind.
"Wait up!" Koloardo said. "Don't go! You're fighting a cruel brawl!" Kolorado's shouting was loud enough for everyone in the small hotel to hear.
"Hey, guys!" a Koopa Troopa said, opening the door. "Someone's gonna fight Kent C. Koopa!" This prompted many people inside to go check it out.
Halfway through Pleasant Path, Kooper and Ed encountered Kent C. Koopa. He was a huge Koopa Troopa, almost the same size as Bowser. His shell and boots were red, and he wore swirly light blue glasses. By his appearance, people described him as a semi-old Koopa Troopa.
"Stop right there!" Kent C. Koopa said, which they stopped in front of him. "You've gotta admit: it's a fine weather, isn't it?"
What's with this guy? Kooper thought, tilting his head.
Hello? Ed thought. Hello! Call 9-1-1! Brain failure coming in!
"I'm assuming you two already know my name," Kent C. Koopa said with a tough and scruffy voice. "For a refresher to your simple minds, my name is Kent C. Koopa."
"You're Kent C. Koopa? You can't see Koopas?!" Ed pointed at him with a shocked expression on his face.
"It appears your friend there is...dim-witted," Kent C. Koopa said to Kooper.
"Cut it out," Kooper said, narrowing his eyes.
"Anyway, let's get straight to the point since I can tell I'm wasting your precious time. If you want to use this road, you need to pay me 100 coins...per person."
"I'm getting déjà vu," Ed murmured, remembering the toll scam.
"A toll?!" Kooper said, gaping. "So that's the reason why people cannot pass here! Having 100 coins is expensive to have, but having every person in the group to pay more is too much!"
Kent C. Koopa frowned, crossing his giant arms. "Sorry, but that's how it is," he said in a fake tone. "With the whole town going haywire and people going everywhere, I can make an easy profit with this toll. You don't pay; you don't pass. That's how my world goes. Coins make the world go round! It's all about the money!"
"He's just like Eddy!" Ed said, pointing at him fiercely.
"We refuse!" Kooper answered with the same tone as Ed's. Both of them went into their fighting stance. "Instead, we'll fight till you leave!"
Several people, including Kolorado, began to show up at a safe location behind Kooper and Ed. "Are they crazy?!" one Koopa Troopa whispered to his friend. "They must be fools to challenge Kent C. Koopa."
"Well, we can't be sure until the fight ends," his friend replied.
"I heard that Kent C. Koopa taught those notorious Koopa Bros. how to fight," one Bob-omb whispered to his friend.
"If they were bad enough, then Kent C. Koopa is the worse!" his friend said.
Meanwhile, Kolorado was listening to everyone's doubts. If I remember correctly, two people fought and lost against him, he thought. He used his peripheral vision, looking at the two figures to his left. Well, well... They're here.
"You want to fight me?" Kent C. Koopa continued. "I'll cream you two because, to be frank, I'm very, very, very strong. Last chance before it's too late."
"Bring it on, chump!" Koopa and Ed replied.
Kent C. Koopa smirked. "I warned you two." He began to stretch his body. "This may hurt a little bit... Actually, no... It's gonna hurt till you both squirm!" At the very last word, the Gargantua Koopa Troopa suddenly dashed suddenly. They tried to dodge, but Kent C. Koopa smashed them both in a pose of an airplane. Both of his arms sent the two behind while they were grunting in pain. They quickly stood up as Kent C. Koopa turned around.
What the?! Kooper thought with a hint of fear. He's big, but he moves fast!
"Feel my pain from me: Ultra Lothar!" Ed said, tapping his Hammer Throw Badge and throwing his hammer at the enemy. Kent C. Koopa smirked, turning his body so that the Ultra Hammer hit the back of the shell. The hammer bounced back, causing everyone around to gasp in disbelief.
What a sturdy shell! Kooper saw Ed grabbing his hammer. Kent C. Koopa went inside his shell and flung himself forward. It was semi-fast, so Ed planted his feet firmly on the ground and tapped his Power Smash Badge. He smashed Kent C. Koopa, stopping the rotation and pushing him back only by a couple of inches. As he got out of his shell, he inspected his right side of his shell and saw a tiny crack on it.
"Boy, you've got strength," Kent C. Koopa said, but turned serious, "but only decent!" Without warning, Kent C. Koopa jumped above Ed's head and dropped down. He slammed his body on Ed's full body. Ed screamed in utter pain, suffering from a monstrous blow. Normally, it would have been bad, but his P-Up, D-Down Badge made it worse for him.
"Ed!" Kooper went inside his shell and revving up his charge to generate flames around his entire shell. Kent C. Koopa foresaw Kooper's move, though he was a bit surprised to see Kooper's Fire Shell attack. Kooper shot himself forward with a blazing streak, but Kent C. Koopa quickly grabbed Ed and used him as a shield. Everyone in the crowd gasped even more, seeing Kooper knocking off Ed from Kent C. Koopa's grip. Kooper got out of his shell and saw Ed lying on the ground next to him. "Oh no! Ed!"
"Seeing...many...Koopa...heads..." Ed said as his body was covered in some black ashes. If he did not wear his Fire Shield Badge, that would have finished him out. Despite this miracle, Ed's Close Call Badge began to glow.
Ed is strong...but he won't last at this rate! Kooper panicked inside, realizing without Ed's strength, their chances of winning were extremely low. Kent C. Koopa used this opportunity to smash both of them with a downward strike. Kooper immediately reacted by grabbing Ed and jumping backward. The force from two fists was so formidable that it broke the ground, sending bits of rocks everywhere. One sharp rock grazed through Kooper's undamaged cheek, making him flinch in pain. Although they dodged it, Kent C. Koopa did not want them to fight back. He jumped in the air in an attempted to smash both of them with a ground pound attack. Kooper, however, could not react at Kent C. Koopa's sudden attack. When he slammed the ground, he saw Ed and Kooper rolling down to the side. It was the Close Call Badge that saved both of them from a fatal slam.
"Tch! I missed," Kent C. Koopa said, frowning.
"That's it!" Kooper retreated inside his shell and shot himself forward. He suddenly stopped when Kent C. Koopa grabbed Kooper with his bare hands. Kooper tried to break free, but Kent C. Koopa's strength was too much. A frightened Koopa Troopa frantically stared straight at the swirly glasses.
"You're too weak. A fragile body like yours can never pierce me." All of Kooper's breath did not come out as he saw fast images that his vision could not handle. Next, he felt himself flying back, hitting someone from behind. The throw was powerful enough to send both him and Ed flying to the crowd. A few people were taken down by the propelling duo. "Nice try...but no dice!"
"Kooper! Ed!" Kolorado said, lifting Kooper off the ground. Ed was helped by two unknown figures, too.
"Anyone else?!" The crowd stepped back from Kent C. Koopa's roar. "If not, you either pay my toll or scram!" Everyone left the area in a hustle, leaving Kent C. Koopa to sit down on the ground and wait for the next victim.
It was nighttime in the hotel. Kooper scowled his face in pain as a Toad applied a white bandage on his grazed cheek. Ed showed no expression as two Toads wrapped white bandages around Ed's burnt parts. When some rations came, however, Ed went back to his usual self. "Food!" Ed said, startling the people around. "No napkins, please." As Ed gorged his food, Kooper started to listen closely.
"Those guys were a joke," one Koopa Troopa whispered.
"I had confidence in the beginning until they lost," a Bob-omb said, sneering.
"How am I supposed to meet my girlfriend now?! I can't take it!" a different Koopa Troopa said.
"Deal with it," his friend said. "As long as that brute controls Pleasant Path, it's futile to fight him."
More and more hurtful statements began to haunt Kooper's mind. Wh-what was I thinking?" Kooper thought. I was overconfident...and I failed to protect my friend...and to help these people. Everything that happened him today sank in his mind, feeling helpless to help everyone.
"Karen! Karen! Hang on, Karen!" a Koopa Troopa mother said in a worried tone while holding her daughter. Everyone saw the female Koopa Troopa, the same age as Kooper, with wavy auburn long hair and dark blue boots. Her back hair covered the half of her sapphire shell while some of hair on her left side was in front of her left side. Karen appeared to be suffering from a stomach ache as she was holding her stomach.
"Oh no! Not again!" a Koopa Troopa's voice said, who appeared to be a doctor. He pulled out a white tablet and gave Karen the tablet, which she swallowed it whole. She was struggling for a couple of minutes until her breathing was normal. The doctor sighed, but groaned in frustration. "I'm running out of medicine. If this keeps up, she could be in a fatal situation."
"Doctor, is there any permanent cure anywhere?!"
"I told you before. Only the freshest of Koopa Leaves in Koopa Village can stop her gastroenteritis."
"However, that is nigh impossible," Kolorado added. "Kent C. Koopa is blocking the path, and an alternate route is submerged in water. Plus, we don't have all the coins we need to pay him."
The doctor sighed. "And because of that, I will run out of medicine for her." The doctor paused. "She only has until next afternoon before her gastroenteritis sparks up uncontrollably." All Karen's mother could do was to sob herself; her tears landed on Karen's hair. Karen had a terrifying look; her face expressing of losing hope.
"She's gonna live!" Kooper said, standing up fully. "Ed!"
Ed swallowed his food and stood up hastily. "Private Ed ready to shoe you!" he said, putting his right hand on his right head. Kooper sighed in response.
"Has your brain been damaged, too?!" a Koopa Troopa asked with a semi-irritated face. "You guys lost to him...badly!"
"You two were the closest to win, but you're 30 years behind!" a Bob-omb added, tired of seeing the two's stupidity. "Come on, guys!" Most people in the room went to do something else as long as they did not want to see Kooper and Ed.
"Plus," the doctor said, "I highly recommend you rest for a week before you strain your body. Expressing my opinion, you're too weak to hurt him."
Kooper screamed at the top of his lungs. "I can pierce him! I'll prove it!" Everyone, even Ed, was surprised to hear him shout.
The two figures glanced at each other before stepping in front of Kooper and Ed. A green Buzzy Beetle with a thin tied up hair and a Duplighost in blue sheet stood proudly in front of them. "Then we shall help you," they said. Kooper and Ed had their mouths opened a tiny bit.
The two people took Kooper and Ed out of the hotel, taking them to the back of the Dojo. It was a wide area with logs and small brink walls in stationary position.
"I can tell you both are friends with Mario. I am Chan," the green Buzzy Beetle said.
"And I am Lee," the blue Duplighost said. They both bowed down, which Kooper and Ed hesitantly bowed down, too.
"Our reason for helping you two is simple. Your determination is what makes you strong. I can tell you want to help the people in the hotel and that elegant Koopa." Kooper's brain stopped for a second.
"It is because you have a goal to aim," Lee added. "By reaching your goal, you can defeat Kent C. Koopa."
"Hold on a minute," Kooper said. "Are you...the ones that fought him previously?"
"That is correct," Chan answered. "We fought, but his skills were advanced. We lost in shame as he stomped on our prides. When he heard about Karen's gastroenteritis, we wanted The Master's help. It is a pity, but The Master's condition has fallen ill."
"The Master, unfortunately, cannot fight at full strength," Lee added. "Someone like Kent C. Koopa would defeat him in The Master's current condition."
"Poop!" Ed said with a somewhat frown. Nevertheless, he nodded.
"I see..." Kooper said. "So where do we start?"
"Kent C. Koopa's body is very sturdy," Lee said, showing several stone walls scattered around the area. "Therefore, we designed this course to break these walls as if they were his shell."
"But...none of them are broken," Ed said. His surprising perspective brought up a good point. Chan and Lee sighed in defeat.
"To be fairly honest, we lacked the power compared to you guys," Chan said flatly. "I am not as strong as Kooper's Shell Shot attack."
"Although I can turn into Kent C. Koopa," Lee said, "the concept of the Duplighosts is different than you think. Duplighost can transform into their opponent, but the stronger they are, the harder it is to concentrate. Kent C. Koopa is indeed stronger than I am."
"Whoa..." Kooper said. So not even they can win against Kent C. Koopa.
"We must begin. The longer we wait, the shorter Karen's life span will deplete." Kooper and Ed looked and nodded each other before separating into their course. Ed easily broke several brick walls with his potent strength. His Power Smash Badge, his D-Down Jump Badge, and his P-Up, D-Down Badge allowed him to obliterate his brick walls into smithereens. "Very nice, Ed. Just remember that Kent C. Koopa's defense is slightly durable than these brick walls."
"Ultra Lothar shall get his revenge!" Ed said, standing on top of one of the rumbles doing weird poses. Lee felt awkward seeing him.
On Kooper's side, Kooper had to hit one brick wall around five to seven times before it could break. Kooper's progress was slower than Ed's progress. "There is something I want to tell you, Kooper," Chan said, grabbing Kooper's attention. "I've heard a rumor about a famous technique."
"A technique?" Kooper asked.
"This technique is called Shell Slam. It is a special technique that can pierce defense easily."
"Pierce defense?" Kooper recalled his allies having attacks that broke through many opponents' bodies. "That could actually help me! How do I learn it?!"
Chan looked down. "I do not know the proper instructions." Kooper lowered his shoulders. "However, I do have a hunch. You need a high propulsion with greater rotation than normal. Afterwards, keep pushing your opponent with the same rotation."
"I... I guess you're right. I can go a little bit faster." As training continued on, a mysterious figure was watching the four. Karen was seeing through a wide hole on the wall, watching Kooper destroying more brick walls at a good pace. In a couple of minutes, all the small walls were broken down.
"Excellent work," Lee said to the two. "Here's the last test before you can face him. You will have to defeat me in combat!" Lee's eyes flashed as he transformed into none other than Kent C. Koopa. Ed was ready to take him on, but Kooper's body began to shake. Without warning, Lee grabbed the shivering Koopa and threw him away. Ed saw Kooper thrown away and began his assault on Lee.
"Kooper! Pay attention!" Chan said. "Don't let fear overtake your battle!"
Kooper grunted. "I... I know..." he said as he saw Ed's fight. Ed was doing a good job until he was punched back by Lee.
Chan, with his sharp eyes, saw Kooper cringed. "Kooper, are you gonna stand there and watch your partner suffer?! He may be strong, but he can't do it alone!"
"I-"
"Kooper, look at me!" Kooper did as he was told. "Do not let circumstances control you. You control the circumstances. The one who controls the battle will win!" Ed was knocked back by Lee, sending Ed to Kooper's position.
Ed grunted, standing up despite the scratches on him. "Uh... I need help, Kooper!" he said.
"Ed..." Kooper said, staring at Ed's strong determination. "How can you fight like that?"
Ed scratched his head with his hammer. "Huh? Uh... I don't know. Most of the time, I feel like an almighty monster of doom and destruction and death when I help or protect someone. It...um... Oh yeah! It brings me courage!"
"Courage? Courage..." Kooper processed that word into his brain, then recalled all the times Ed fought. Truth be told, Ed was right. Kooper not only saw Ed as a friend, but a warrior with hidden strength. Kooper gasped, remembering that Ed fought so much for his friends. In certain cases, even if Ed was afraid, he would fight with all of his soul. All of the sudden, his fear of Kent C. Koopa slowly diminished. He showed a serious and confident look on his face as he stood up. Ed grinned, seeing Kooper's fighting spirit.
As they continued their practice, Karen could not help but be amazed to see them fight. They were really determined to save Karen. No matter how many times they fell, they kept fighting back by having a strong will to succeed.
Around 30 minutes have passed, and the fight was over. Kooper and Ed panted hard, seeing Lee on the ground. He transformed back into his original form, which he was barely conscious.
"That's...enough..." Lee said, panting harder than the two. "I can no longer concentrate my powers." Kooper and Ed picked up Lee off the ground. "Just one more advice."
"Yes?" Kooper asked.
"Always be yourself, express yourself, and have faith in yourself."
"Thank you, Lee. Thank you, Chan."
Chan nodded at Kooper's response. "Let's go inside the Dojo so you can rest up and patch up your wounds. You two shall fight the first thing in the morning." Karen could barely see the four going in the Dojo until they were out of her sight. Karen smiled, but her smile faded when her stomach ache started to came back slowly. She quickly rushed back to the hotel to take her last treatment.
A new day came faster than Kent C. Koopa thought. He was, admittedly, getting tired of standing here. He has not eaten anything for a couple of days. He suddenly noticed two figures coming to his direction, so he got up and acted tough. The Gargantua Koopa Troopa gasped when he saw Kooper and Ed looking at him fiercely. They were followed by Chan, Lee, Kolorado, and everyone that was stuck in the hotel. Most people from the hotel were skeptical, unfortunately. "Didn't I already told you guys?" Kent C. Koopa said, grinning. "You can't pierce me because you're too weak."
"Oh really?" Kooper said. "I have a strong feeling I can."
"Oh really? Then prove it to me!" Kent C. Koopa started the fight by charging forward like last time.
Ed stepped in front of Kooper and tapped his Power Quake Badge. "My anger shall shake the earth!" he said, slamming his hammer down on the ground. The tremor caused Kent C. Koopa to fall down on the ground. He stood up, but he saw Kooper launched himself with a Shell Shot attack. It hit Kent C. Koopa's chin, thus knocking him back. Once Kooper ricocheted back, still in shell form, he did a U-turn while creating flames on his shell. He shot himself forward directly on Kent C. Koopa's tail.
"Yeoww!" Kent C. Koopa screamed in pain as the force flipped him back. Before he stood up, Ed landed on Kent C. Koopa's shell with a piercing effect. His D-Down Jump Badge made few tiny cracks on his shell. Ed landed next to Kooper as everyone saw Kent C. Koopa struggling to stand up. What's going on?! Their powers are superb! No... It's not that... They're working together as a team! They're controlling this battle!
"Had enough?" both Kooper and Ed asked.
Kent C. Koopa felt his anger boiling inside of him, seeing the two humiliating him. "You'll pay for his!" He charged forward. Kooper went inside his shell, preparing the duo's signature move.
"Power Ed Shot!" Ed said, smashing Kooper with his hammer. Kent C. Koopa gasped and took a powerful direct hit directly. His lower part of his shell has a small crack on it. Both Koopa Troopas went to their opposite direction.
"Why...you..." As he tried to stand up, he heard a beautiful melody that made him want to go to sleep. He saw the Star Spirit, Mamar, singing her lullaby toward him until she went away. His eyes were getting heavy, but he was still focused.
"Just remember, Kent C. Koopa!" Kooper said, pointing at the swaying enemy. "Never put someone's life in danger when you don't know!" He went inside his shell, but he was spinning still at a faster pace. Ed tapped his Power Smash Badge and readied his hammer. "Here's my Shell Slam!"
"Fore!" Ed said, smashing Kooper straight at the enemy. With great power, speed, and rotation, Kooper delivered a mighty piercing blow that severely destroyed Kent C. Koopa's shell. Kent C. Koopa hollered in pain as he was sent flying off into the air, never to be seen again. The crowd cheered loudly, running to the heroes and lifting them up. It took a couple of seconds to lift Ed, though.
"I can't believe it! Kent C. Koopa is gone!" a Bob-omb said.
"You guys did it!" a Koopa Troopa said. "You guys are so amazing!"
"That was so smashing, my boy!" Kolorado said to Kooper. Everyone around praised Kooper and Ed for defeating the evil entrepreneur that held back reunions. All the cheering stopped when Karen screamed out loud. Everyone saw her clutching her stomach in pain.
"We must take her to Koopa Village! Quick!" the Toad doctor said. The people from the hotel quickly grabbed their belongings in the hotel. At the same time, the small group traveled with Karen's mother and her daughter. Karen, carried by her mom and the doctor, noticed Kooper's shell with a big crack on it.
After 20 minutes passed in Koopa Village, Karen's gastroenteritis dissolved away by the freshly brewed Koopa Tea. She was told to rest at the Toad's house for a day. Everyone that wanted to come to the village finally came in. Most of the residents were so happy to see their friends or relatives. With the exception of Kolorado's wife scolding his husband, everyone was in happy spirits. Kooper, Ed, Chan, Lee, and Karen's mother stayed in the house to take care of Karen.
"Thank you so much for your help!" Karen's mother said, smiling with bless. "Without you guys, I don't want to think about Karen's condition."
"Always helping the need, my lady!" Ed said, putting his right hand on his heart. "Before, I was a moose. Always in the happy place until destiny came! Now...I'm the defender of tea!" He grabbed the extra Koopa Teas off the table and swallowed everything inside.
"How disturbing..." Chan said.
"Quite," Lee agreed.
Kooper chuckled, then turned to Karen who was lying in bed. "How're you feeling now?" he asked.
"Much better, Kooper," Karen replied with a smile. "You've saved my life."
"I had to do it before it was too late. I needed the will to help those in need. As long as I have someone with me, we're unstoppable!" Karen chuckled at Kooper's words. "By the way, I like the color of your shell. It's just like my shell. Kinda like...uh...true sapphire, huh?"
"Why thank you, Kooper. But...speaking of shells, I saw your shell with a crack on it."
Kooper tried hard to inspect his shell. "You're right. I was smashed by Ed's hammer a lot. That last attack must have really did it. Don't worry, Karen. I have a spare at my place."
"So... What are you going to do now?"
"I have to save the Mushroom Kingdom from Bowser."
Karen gasped, hearing Bowser's name. "A-are you sure you're gonna be okay?!"
"I'll be okay as long as I have my friends and courage. We can accomplish anything."
"In that case...can you come close to my face?" Kooper blinked in confusion, but he did as he was told. Karen gave Kooper a kiss on his left cheek. "That's my good luck kiss. Hope it doesn't go to waste, Kooper."
Kooper cheeks turned into bright pink, touching his left cheek. Speaking of friends, Kooper forgot about Bow. We'll definitively find you, Bow. With Ed here, finding a Boo in the dark is a thrill of an adventure! After all, you're my friend, Bow!
In the original, there is no hotel in Toad Town. Karen does not exist in the game (but she represents Kooper's fan). Kooper cannot learn Shell Slam.
Level 13
Mario [25 HP | 25 FP | 21 BP]
Badge Points left [2]
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 (1), Mega Jump (3)]
Ed [40 HP | 20 FP | 15 BP]
Badge Points left [1]
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), P-Up, D-Down (2)]
Double D [35 HP | 15 FP | 21 BP]
Badge Points left [7]
Badges equipped [Pretty Lucky (2), Refund Badge (1), Zap Tap (4), Defend Plus (5), P-Down, D-Up (2)]
Eddy [15 HP | 20 FP | 30 BP]
Badge Points left [2]
Badge equipped [Feeling Fine (3), Dizzy Attack (2), Power Bounce (2), Quake Hammer (1), Money Money (7), Power Plus (6), Ice Power (2), Mega Smash (3), Super Jump Charged (2)]
