12B - Meet Spike

The time is now 10:20 AM. At this point; Mario, Luigi, and Watt had explored most of Flower Fields and continued to search for whatever is casting the dark clouds in the sky.

"I hope there's another berry tree nearby," Luigi said. "To be honest, the fruit here is so tasty." True to Luigi's word, the group came across two trees with blue green leaves. Mario struck the rightmost tree with his hammer, dropping two Blue Berries.

"Yup. This is a blueberry. Like, an ACTUAL blueberry," Mario remarked after he and Luigi ate their berries. After another 8 minutes, the group arrived at a tan-colored stone tower with red thorned vines surrounding the base.

"I think I know what's on the roof," Mario said before beckoning Luigi and Watt to go inside the tower and climb a spiral staircase to the roof, on which the sun hovered a couple feet above. The sun had its eyes closed and it was dark orange colored.

"Hi, sun," Mario greeted the sun, who slowly opened its eyes.

"Hey... Hello. I never thought anybody would come all the way up here. I'm the sun," the sun introduced itself before realizing what it had become. "No... That's not entirely true. I should say, I WAS the sun. The clouds that came out of the Puff-Puff Machine that Huff N. Puff built... Those clouds keep me from climbing into the sky."

"The Puff-Puff Machine?" Luigi asked.

"Yes. And that makes me a complete failure as a sun," the sun replied. "All of those flowers and plants in Flower Fields are suffering..."

"Do you know where the Puff-Puff Machine is, sun?" Mario questioned.

"Hmm... I think it's east of here. The clouds seem to come from over there."

"If that's the case, all me and my brother need to do is destroy that machine and everything will clear up. No pun intended," Luigi said.

"I was about to say not to strain yourself and go home, but you do look fit enough to break the Puff-Puff Machine."

"Thanks. I guarantee you that you'll be up in the sky in no time," Mario promised the sun.

"Very good. I hope you succeed in your task," the sun stated before Mario and friends went back down the tower to ground level.

However, moments after they left the tower's base, a male teen voice called out, "Hey hey hey! Hold up! Wait, guys!" Within a few seconds, a Lakitu with sunglasses and a green mohawk flew in front of the group.

"Hey there. I don't think we've ever met, have we? I mean, you're Mario and Luigi, right?" the Lakitu asked.

"Yeah. Who are you?" Mario responded.

"My name is Lakilester... Er, no, it's Isaac... No, um... Oh, yeah... Spike. Yeah yeah, I'm Spike... Well, whatever. Never mind."

"It's okay. We'll call you Spike," Luigi reassured Spike.

"Look, I don't have a problem with you personally, but I've got orders from Huff N. Puff," Spike said. "I'm sorry, but I have to give you a bit of a beat down."

"What? We just met you!" Watt protested before Spike held up a Spiny Egg.

"Like I said, guys-"

"Wait! Hold everything!" Mario stopped Spike from throwing the Spiny Egg. "We can talk about this!"

"I don't have time for this, Mario," Spike said before he tried to throw the egg again.

"No! Put the Spiny down!"

"I'm not supposed-"

"NOW!" Mario roared really loud, causing Spike to flinch; the smiling cloud he was sitting on became scared. Spike slowly put the Spiny Egg back.

"Fine. What is it?" Spike asked.

"First off, don't say a word. I'm the one who has the floor," Mario began. "You said you're a follower of Huff N. Puff?" Spike nodded in response. "Do you even understand why he made Flower Fields really dreary? Because he hates the beautiful nature! Because that's what he thinks is the right choice! And you agree with that?"

"How could someone like you rather enjoy sad and dark days when there's nothing to be upset about?" Mario continued. "You don't look like an evil Lakitu to me. Your sunglasses and mohawk, they tell me you're capable of helping those around you like me and Luigi are doing right now. You know what else? Huff N. Puff's probably doing this to impress Bowser and his minions! Not to mention him helping capture the seven Star Spirits! Speaking of which, we were told that one of the Star Spirits is being held captive up there." Mario pointed to the clouds above.

"But Huff N. Puff-" Spike started to say.

"SHUT UP!" Mario yelled. "SHUT UP! Nothing from you!" Mario took a deep breath. "You should be aware that not only did Bowser capture the Star Spirits, but he also stole the Star Rod: the Star Road's sacred treasure that grants everybody's wishes whether they're good or evil. You know what the flowers' wishes are? To bask in the sunlight and grow up to be pretty living things. Yes. The flowers are human like us. They deserve to be happy and enjoy life. Not to be sad and dread the worst."

During Mario's talk, Spike slowly lowered his head and teared up, having realized his mistakes. But that made Mario angry again.

"Hey! Look at me! There's no pouting while I'm talking!" Mario ordered Spike. "You're making the worst mistake of your life, Spike! I swear to God, you'll be regretting this at the wrong time! Who even are you to not let anyone get their wishes granted?! Did your parents raise you this way?! Huh?! DID THEY?!"

"No..." Spike muttered. "They told me to be a good son..."

"Then why did you side with Huff N. Puff?" Mario asked.

"Because he promised me everything... He offered me to be a part of something big, but all I've been doing is picking pointless fights... This isn't what I wanted in life..." Spike explained.

"Oh, so NOW you realize you screwed up?"

"I did... I shouldn't have ignored my girlfriend's pleas when I was given that offer..."

"If you're gonna apologize now, it's not gonna make things better," Mario stated. "You have to prove to us that you'll turn over a new leaf. Do you understand?"

"Yeah. I must admit there's a certain manly charm to having such a noble purpose of granting everyone's wishes," Spike said, having calmed down.

"Can I butt in?" Luigi asked while stepping in front of Spike. "If we work together to take back the Star Rod and defeat Bowser, me and Mario will give you a chance to wish for world peace. I'm sorry Mario got angry with you, but he does have a point." While Luigi offered Spike to help out, Mario sent Watt into his Partner Companion Band.

"All right. I promise I'll make a change," Spike said. "How about I be the one to destroy the Puff-Puff Machine? You don't have to do it with me."

"That's too much for you, Spike," Luigi responded. "We'll help you destroy the machine. Just stay positive for everyone. Not just me and Mario."

"Okay. Are we cool, guys?"

"We're good," Luigi replied before turning to Mario. "How about you, bro?"

"Sure."

"Ready, Spike?" Luigi asked.

"Let's go," Spike declared. And so, Mario walked ahead, prompting Luigi and Spike to follow him back to the central section; they were one step closer to restoring Flower Fields to its original glory.