12C - Clearing the Skies
While Mario and friends passed through the central section to head northeast, all the Bub-ulbs and flowers eyeballed Spike and wondered why he was accompanying Mario and Luigi. They always assumed that Lakitus were their worst enemies, given that they've been assisting Huff N. Puff with darkening Flower Fields.
"I feel a bit uncomfortable," Spike said while looking everyone staring at him. "I mean, look at the Bub-ulbs. They don't think I'm trustworthy."
"Don't worry about them," Luigi reassured Spike. "By the time we get rid of the clouds, you'll no doubt be given the Bub-ulbs' respect." Along the way, the group encountered multiple Lakitus that frowned with anger upon seeing Spike.
"Spike?! What have you done?!" one of the Lakitus exclaimed.
"Are you out of your mind?!" another Lakitu questioned.
"I did nothing wrong. I've been innocent for-" Spike started to explain before the Lakitus began bombarding him with Spiny Eggs. Luckily, Mario and Luigi helped Spike take down the Lakitus, knowing that he can't battle anyone by himself.
"Thanks, guys," Spike thanked the Mario Bros. "That'll teach my former partners to not mess with me." With nothing else in their way, the group continued down the path for 15 minutes before stopping short of the Puff-Puff Machine guarded by three Lakitus and a Yellow Magikoopa. The Puff-Puff Machine was spewing dark smoke out of its pipe into the sky.
"Let's go! Come on!" the Magikoopa ordered the Lakitus. "We need more clouds! I wanna see this land covered! We'll make them fear the power of my Puff-Puff Machine! Haha!"
"I never knew a Magikoopa would've built that machine," Mario whispered. "I thought it was those brown clouds back there."
"Let me go ahead," Spike said softly. "I'll try to distract those Lakitus while you sneak up from behind and hammer away." Spike floated slowly toward the back of the machine and hid himself for half a minute. He then appeared from the other side and got the Lakitus' and the Magikoopa's attention. "Yo!"
"Spike! What are you doing here?" the Magikoopa asked.
"Oh, nothing. Just seeing how cool this machine is. I mean, look at the dials and gauges showing how the clouds are made."
"What is he saying?" one of the Lakitus whispered to another. "I'm feeling suspicious."
"You're not up to something, are you?" the Magikoopa asked.
"No. I thought I'd check in with my friends, see how much progress has been made." While Spike was talking with the Magikoopa and his Lakitu partners, Mario and Luigi crept up silently to the back of the Puff-Puff Machine. Mario got his hammer out, ready to pound the machine to bits.
"All right. Whatever. You want to do us a favor?"
"I'll do anything," Spike replied. "Actually, I was thinking about a bigger favor than you could ever think of."
As soon as Spike lied to help the Magikoopa and his Lakitus, Mario struck the Puff-Puff Machine with his hammer, causing warning alarms to go off.
"What the heck is that?!" one of the Lakitus demanded, having heard the alarms and Mario beating the machine. "Who's hitting the machine back there?!"
"Nobody. Must be some sort of glitch or something," Spike lied. "Don't worry. It'll return to normal." Suddenly, Luigi quickly lunged at the Magikoopa and kicked him so hard that he flew off to the south.
"It's Greenie!" the Lakitus cried. "Get him!" As Mario continued to break the Puff-Puff Machine, Spike and Luigi battled the Lakitus. Spike threw as many Spiny Eggs as possible to immobilize the Lakitus before Luigi hurtled them to oblivion.
By the time all the Lakitus were defeated, the Puff-Puff Machine was already in large bits and pieces, unable to function.
"All right-y," Mario sighed. "Now let's see how Flower Fields will be lit up again." Mario, Luigi, and Spike stood in a horizontal line, anticipating what'll happen next. Within five minutes, all the dark clouds dissipated, revealing the blue skies and the sun shining above.
Just earlier, the sun saw the clouds fading and declared, "Wow! The clouds are gone! It's time for a little sunshine!" The sun quickly rose into the sky without hesitation. In the meantime, all the flowers and Bub-ulbs gasped with awe and cheered shortly thereafter.
"Oh, precious sunlight! Hohoho! Mario and Luigi did it! They saved Flower Fields!" Wise Wisterwood called out with joy.
At Petunia's place, she felt the sun warming her up again and squealed, "It's the sun, it's the sun! Oh, that heat feels so good! Maybe being stuck in one place isn't so bad after all. I feel full of life again!"
Posie also felt the sun's warmth and cheered, "Ohhh, yes! The sun! Yay! Yippee! The sun's back!" Suddenly, she realized something else. "Oops... Teeheehee! Losing control like that... It's so unlike me..."
At Lily's spring, she noticed the sun making the water sparkle here and there. "Ah, the bright rays of the sun... Once again, I can gaze at the sparkles of light on the water..."
Finally, at Rosie's gazebo, she looked up at the sky and said, "Ohh, it's about time. The sun! Flower Fields is saved! And, of course, the sun can only add to my beauty..." In addition, Rosie pictured Mario's head in the sky. "Thank you, man in red. You're my one and only saving grace."
Back at where the Puff-Puff Machine was destroyed, Mario and friends stared at the sky clearing up.
"Wow. That's so pretty." "I know, right? Helping folks feels good! I could get used to this, Luigi," Luigi and Spike said, respectively. Suddenly, Luigi saw Mario tearing up and his lips quivering.
"Mario? What's wrong?" Luigi asked with concern.
"I-It's b-beautiful..." Mario trembled, having been overwhelmed by Flower Fields going back to normal. Not to mention the flowers blooming vibrantly at the same time the sun reappeared. Seconds later, a bright rainbow faded into view, causing Mario to cry harder. He dropped to his knees and sobbed uncontrollably.
"I've never seen someone get so emotional at the sight of blooming flowers," Spike said while Luigi kneeled next to Mario.
"It's okay, bro," Luigi coaxed Mario. "I know all the beauty got you worked up." But Mario couldn't acknowledge Luigi as he blocked out everything around him while crying. "Oh, Mario..." Luigi went and hugged Mario.
"Looks like this is gonna take a while," Spike said to himself after seeing Luigi comforting Mario; he decided to stare at the flowers and the rainbow for the time being.
