5C - Dry Dry Outpost

After over an hour and a half from the time Mario, Luigi, and Bombette began climbing Mt. Rugged and traversing Dry Dry Desert, they finally came across Dry Dry Outpost: a small town set up by a small tribe of Little Mousers and Dryites.

"Welcome to Dry Dry Outpost, folks!" a Dryite near the outpost entrance said to the group. "We're so pleased to see you."

"Thank you," Mario panted. "We've come a really long way from Toad Town."

"I can tell. Why don't I take you to the Pitstop?" the Dryite proceeded to lead the group toward the Pitstop, which is a small cafe that serves Mexican cuisine-type foods ranging from fajitas to tamales. Mario and Luigi were instantly relieved after entering the air-conditioned cafe.

"I see you've got a couple lemons and limes," the Dryite pointed out. "You want me to juice them up for you?"

"Yes, please," Mario replied while giving the Dryite one lemon and one lime. "I'd like a strawberry lemonade."

"And I'll have a cherry limeade," Luigi added in.

"Great choices. Find yourselves a table and I'll get your drinks going." After sitting down; Mario, Luigi, and Bombette talked a little bit about how to get information about Dry Dry Ruins.

"Who do we ask in this town?" Mario asked Luigi.

"Let's try and talk with as much residents as possible because some might be really rude," Luigi answered.

"I hope they don't steal your Coins like those red guys back there," Bombette commented, referring to the Bandits in the desert.

"All right, folks. One strawberry lemonade and one cherry limeade. You have a nice afternoon," the Dryite said while handing Mario and Luigi their drinks.

"Uh, sir? Before you go, I have a question to ask," Mario requested.

"What is it?"

"We were told by an archaeologist called Dr. Kolorado about this place called Dry Dry Ruins and how there's an artifact hidden inside. Do you know how to find the ruins?" Mario asked.

"I'm sorry. I don't know. But I can tell you that our town leader Mr. Moustafa should know the answer. The problem is, though, Mr. Moustafa has not shown himself lately. I suggest you try finding him first."

"Thanks for the info," Luigi thanked the Dryite.

"Sure thing. I hope you manage to get to the ruins," the Dryite said before walking off.

"This is the first time I had a lemonade in forever," Mario remarked while drinking his lemonade.

Ten minutes later, the Mario Bros. and Bombette wandered around Dry Dry Outpost, hoping to get some answers about Mr. Moustafa's whereabouts. The good news was nearly everyone in the town was nice and pleasant, but they unfortunately did not know where he was. Eventually, they came across a green Little Mouser with a beige-colored cloak and turban at the far end of the outpost.

"Hello. Is there something I can do for you?" the Little Mouser asked.

"We've been going around town asking everyone about your leader Mr. Moustafa," Luigi said. "You seem to be the only guy left."

"If you can give me something nice, I'll tell you about him." Mario took out his second lemon and gave it to the Little Mouser.

"How about this lemon?" Mario offered.

"Oh, thank you so much! This lemon is the nicest of nice things! You've proven you're nice by giving me my favorite thing."

"Before you ask, my name's Sheek, an information trader with a source for gossip," Sheek introduced himself after taking the lemon. "Mr. Moustafa doesn't really come out of his place often, but there is one way to find him. In the shop of this town, you must buy a Dried Shroom and a Dusty Hammer in that order. This is a secret sign known to those loyal to Moustafa. The owner of the shop will let you see Moustafa if you follow my instructions. Understood?"

"We understand," Mario replied.

"Good. Farewell for now," Sheek bid the group goodbye before they set off for the shop; he then quickly ran into the building closest to him and locked the door.

Inside the shop; Mario, Luigi, and Bombette stopped for a second to plan things out.

"I think the Dusty Hammer is in the 'Appliances' aisle," Mario wondered out loud. "Luigi, you go look in the produce section for the Dried Shroom."

It didn't take long for Mario and Bombette to find the Dusty Hammer because it was just around the corner at the end of the "Appliances" aisle. It resembled a smaller version of Mario's hammer with the exception being a small coat of dust covering the hammer and two white bandages in an X-shape on one side.

"Someone must have rushed while building this," Mario said to himself while wiping the dust off the hammer.

Just as Mario and Bombette walked to the produce section, he found Luigi sifting through the portobello mushroom shelf; some of the mushrooms were shriveled up.

"Any luck?" Bombette asked.

"Almost," Luigi answered. "I see some dried ones, but I want the one that's the driest. I mean, that's what the item is called, right?" Before Luigi knew it, he found a mushroom that was completely wilted and had the texture of lightweight wood. "Perfect!"

The group quickly went to the cash register, where the shop owner served as the clerk.

"You found everything you needed?" the owner asked.

"Yes, sir," Mario answered before handing the owner the Dried Shroom first before the Dusty Hammer. Immediately after ringing up both items in that order, the owner's eyes widened a bit.

"What ho! Buying a Dusty Hammer after a Dried Shroom... That's the secret sign that only friends of Mr. Moustafa know!" the owner exclaimed. "That means you three are in with Moustafa!"

"We're not friends with him, but we'd like to know where he is," Mario said.

"I'll tell you right now. He's usually up on the roofs of Dry Dry Outpost; his house is on the westernmost building of the town."

"Thank you so much," Mario thanked the owner.

"No problem. That'll be fifteen Coins all together."

While Mario paid for the two items, Luigi requested as he took out his second lime, "I'd like to sell this lime, please."

"Sure, you may. I'll give you five in return for that." The owner took the lime before giving Luigi five Coins and bagging the Dried Shroom and Dusty Hammer for Mario. "Have a good afternoon."

After the group left the store, they went back to the far end of the outpost and found a tall pile of crates just outside the perimeter and right next to the eastmost building. They then scaled the crates onto the rooftops and backtracked to the west before coming across a small house above the entrance. Mario left the bagged Dried Shroom and Dusty Hammer to the right of the front door.

Mario knocked on the door before it opened a couple seconds later. Sheek was standing in front of him.

"Well, we meet again, nice guys," Sheek said, leading everyone inside. "I'm glad you found me."

"Have you been-" Mario started to ask before Sheek took off his cloak.

"Yes, I am Moustafa. I use the name 'Sheek' while I walk around the outpost," Moustafa said. "I meet people all the time, but you are by far the nicest guys I've met in my life. Actually, you look very familiar... You're Mario and Luigi, correct?"

"That's us, Mr. Moustafa," Mario answered. "Can you tell us about Dry Dry Ruins?"

"If you're on an important journey there, I will tell you the secret," Moustafa began. "Dry Dry Ruins is a very important place. My ancestors have watched over it for many generations. If I do not keep evil folk out of the ruins, who will? You must promise me not to tell anyone this secret."

"We promise," Mario said.

"First off, let me give you this." Moustafa went to his cabinet and took out a pink gem before handing it to Mario. "This gem is called the Pulse Stone. It's the key to finding Dry Dry Ruins. Take it to the desert, and it will vibrate and flash as you get close to the ruins. The closer you get to the ruins, the faster the Pulse Stone will vibrate and flash. Follow where it leads you. You'll see a big boulder with a hole in it; it's at that point the Pulse Stone will vibrate and flash the fastest. Once at the boulder, put it into the hole to open the way."

"Thanks for your help, Moustafa," Mario told Moustafa before he, Luigi, and Bombette left his house. "Ready to go all the way back to Dr. Kolorado?" he asked Luigi and Bombette. Both nodded in agreement before they followed Mario off the rooftops and out the outpost's entrance.

It was 1 PM when the group left Dry Dry Outpost for the long walk back to Dr. Kolorado's campsite. By the time they arrived at the campsite, the Pulse Stone was vibrating and flashing every two seconds.

"Welcome back, old boys," Dr. Kolorado greeted Mario and Luigi. "Did you find any good info?"

"We got to meet the outpost leader Mr. Moustafa and he gave us this Pulse Stone," Mario said before showing Dr. Kolorado the Pulse Stone.

"What does it do?"

"I think it's like a compass that'll show us to where Dry Dry Ruins is. It'll flash and vibrate more and more if we're close," Mario explained.

"That's brilliant!" Dr. Kolorado exclaimed. "I can't wait to see what's inside the ruins! It's been one of my recent dreams."

"Well, let's-a go there right now," Mario said. "Luigi, take the Pulse Stone and tell us how close we are." Mario handed Luigi the Pulse Stone before leading him, Bombette, and Dr. Kolorado off into the desert again.

The group wandered aimlessly for about twenty-five minutes while Luigi glanced at the Pulse Stone every few seconds. Finally, he saw the holed boulder at the same time the Pulse Stone vibrated and flashed at a constant pace.

"There it is," Luigi said while pointing at the boulder. "Here you go, bro."

Mario took the Pulse Stone and speed-walked to the boulder before inserting the Pulse Stone into the hole. Nothing happened, though. Everything stayed quiet before Dr. Kolorado broke the silence.

"Why is everything quiet? I thought the ruins would rise in front of us," Dr. Kolorado said.

Before Mario could answer Dr. Kolorado's question, the boulder sunk into the sand and the ground shook violently, knocking the group over.