"A plan that will destroy us?!" Bombette thought as she, Kevin, and Nazz peered at the group of Bandits. "I hope Eddy is okay."
"I am definitely not okay!" Eddy thought, not moving his head at all.
"It is with great pleasure to have my fellow Bandits here," the purple Bandit continued. "It is in our blood, our flesh, and our soul to steal anything!"
"Steal!" the Bandits, except Eddy, said.
"But today will be different! Lord Bowser has ordered us to do one thing: ELIMINATE!" Everyone around silently whispered among themselves in confusion. The purple Bandit pressed a button to display four video screens. Each video recording showed the team's actions when they were separated. Bombette, Eddy, Kevin, and Nazz could not believe this. At 7:00 PM, Mario Sarah, and Jimmy were relaxing at an oasis while Double-D, Goombario, Johnny, and Parakarry were eating their dinner. Ed was devouring all the food on the table while the other Koopas and Rolf watched him. The last screen showed an empty rock shelter with the moonlight shining down inside.
"As you all know, we have placed spy cameras around Dry Dry Desert. Many of you know the famous hero called Mario. He has friends that are helping him. Mario and those brats are not to be underestimated, for they rescued the leader of the Star Spirits. We cannot fail Lord Bowser, but we shall not forget our main goal."
"To claim Dry Dry Desert for the Bandits!"
"That's right! This desert holds many treasures long forgotten in ancient times. Think about it: if we control this desert, we can control all of its treasures and riches! It would be the greatest thing we'll steal in Bandit's history!"
"Treasures!"
"And the only way to do that is to succeed in this operation. We've all been informed of the whereabouts of Dry Dry Ruins. It is located in the northwest area. However, the ruins cannot be found because the entrance is sealed by a Pulse Stone. The Pulse Stone can be found somewhere in Dry Dry Outpost; it is believed that a guardian of Dry Dry Ruins is in possession of the Pulse Stone. And what do we do when we find him?"
"Eliminate!"
Eddy could feel sweat rubbing his mask. He was thankful he was wearing an outfit.
"These guys are crazy!"
"Those dudes are frickin' terrorists!" Kevin cursed silently as Nazz nodded in agreement.
"As for Mario and the brats," the purple Bandit continued, "We must find them and obliterate them from existence. One group will head to Dry Dry Outpost while the other group will ambush the camp at the northwest."
"Sir! I have a question, sir!" one of the Bandits said, raising his hand. "What about the fourth screen showing the rock shelter? There's no one inside, sir!"
"You have a point. Some of them should have been there...unless...they are here with us right now!"
Everyone gasped silently, especially Eddy, Kevin, Nazz, and Bombette as the Bandit Leader carried on.
"In any case, those who will remain here must strengthen their defense. The rest of you will use these railroad carts to reach your destination. Begin the operation!"
"Sir!" the Bandits replied.
Everyone started to break up as Eddy's brain started to pulse more. He saw ten Bandits hopping on some of the carts and moving out north from here. Realizing he and his friends were in danger, he had to think of something to sabotage this evil operation. A thought crossed his mind, gasping.
"Hey, fellas!" He exclaimed as everyone looked at him.
Bombette, Nazz, and Kevin peeked through the shaft.
"Is that Eddy's voice?!"
"What in the world is that dork thinking?!"
Eddy pointed to one of the Bandits at the exit. "That guy's the intruder! He looks pretty sus to me!"
The Bandit, who was pointed by Eddy, looked puzzled. "Wait! Wha-?"
"It's a spy!" the purple Bandit said, pointing at the Bandit. "All troops! Capture the intruder!"
All the Bandits in the room ran after the poor Bandit. Once they were gone, it was only the commander and Eddy. The purple Bandit patted Eddy's right shoulder. "Well done, soldier! You deserve a nice promotion to Big Bandit once Dry Dry Desert is ours!"
Eddy rubbed on the back of his head sheepishly. "It was nothing, really!" he replied. "Glad I could save the day, er...sir!"
"By the way, how did you know that Bandit was the intruder?"
Eddy gulped. "Uh... Well... I..."
"Or the better question would be: are you sure that Bandit is the intruder?"
Eddy bit his lip behind his mask and did the only thing he could think of...He took out his Yo-Yo's and wrapped them around the leader's neck, pulling as hard as he could and choking him into unconsciousness. After checking his pulse to make sure he was still alive, Eddy wiped the sweat off his brow before looking around to make sure nobody was looking.
"Gotta say, dorky, you did a good job there."
Kevin, Nazz, and Bombette hoped out of the vents as Eddy breathed a large sigh of relief. After hiding the purple bandit's body, Eddy noticed he also had a Badge on him and decided to pillage it. The Badge resembled two coins.
"Huh, this is a nice lookin' Badge. I'll take it!"
"Commander! We've apprehended the suspect!" a Bandit said. The four quickly turned around and saw ten Bandits and the captured Bandit that Eddy framed as the 'intruder'.
"See, I was never the imposter!"
"Uh-oh!" Bombette said. "Looks like we're in for a fight."
"Fine by me!" Kevin said, drawing his wrench while Nazz punched her gauntlets together. Eddy spun his Yo-Yo's and Bombette lit her fuse. Kevin tapped his Quake Hammer Badge and slammed his wrench onto the ground, creating a massive tremor that made the Bandits stumble.
"My turn!" Nazz cried as she rushed forward, taking down several of the Bandits with martial arts moves and powerful bone-breaking punches. Bombette body-slammed a Bandit and Eddy grabbed two of them in his Yo-Yos and slammed their heads together.
Soon, all the Bandits were defeated as Eddy and Kevin high-fived each other, Nazz and Bombette doing the same. However, they then remembered that there were more Bandits heading towards their friend's locations and quickly made a move to stop them.
"Come on, let's take one of the railroad carts!"
After running from their camp, as well as obtaining a letter in a tree, Double-D, Goombario, Johnny, and Parakarry finally reached Dry Dry Outpost. It was different from most civilizations because they were some old buildings, few plantations, lots of sand, Toads with desert clothing, and Little Mousers. Of course, the area was full of many lamps.
"What do we do now, Double-D?" Parakarry asked.
"Let's see if we can find our friends here first."
"Plank says we should probably resupply as well, just in case."
The group noticed a shop nearby and when they entered, they saw three familiar faces.
"Mario! Sarah! Jimmy! You guys are okay!" Goombario exclaimed happily.
"We could say the same for you guys!" Sarah said as she and Jimmy hugged both Johnny and Plank as Mario headed over with a smile.
"So, what have you all been up to?" Double-D asked.
"Well, after coming here, we-a met a strange a-green Nomadimouse. When I offered-a my lemon, I asked where Dry Dry Ruins was. He was so happy that he told-a me I have to buy two things here to find Moustafa."
"Who is Moustafa?"
"They say that Moustafa knows where Dry Dry Ruin is. Sarah, Jimmy, and I found out that he lives in the highest place in Dry Dry Outpost."
"Well, it can't be that hard to find," Parakarry said.
"We'll be back soon, okay?"
"Me, Plank, Parakarry, Double-D, and Goombario will continue to explore the town. You guys meet up with this Moustafa fella." Johnny said as everyone nodded. After Mario, Sarah, and Jimmy left the shop, Double-D and Johnny purchased some healing items and a Thunder Bolt. After leaving the shop, they meet a strange character who looked like a multi-colored worm wearing a yellow bow tie and blue top hat. He also had glasses and big orange lips.
"Chuck Quizmo's the name, and quizzes are my game!" He introduced. "You want quizzes, I got 'em! If you can manage to answer my brain-busting questions correctly, I'll give you a Star Piece. Want to play?"
Double-D raised his eyebrow, looking puzzled. "Uh...sure. Why not?"
"Plank loves puzzles!" Johnny cheered.
"Excellent!" Suddenly, the whole area turned black, and they were in an entirely new area. The walls were flashing back and forth, and there was even an audience there. Double-D, Goombario, Johnny, and Parakarry were standing in front of the table with a red button on top of it. Chuck Quizmo and his assistant, Vanna T., was standing at the opposite end. Vanna T. was a Toad who had hearts on her cap, instead of round spots, and blonde hair. The four heroes looked around, more confused than before.
"How did we end up here?"
"Wait! I'm not ready for this!" Parakarry said in a panic.
"This is so crazy!" Goombario said as he looked around, trying to make sense of what was going on.
"We could win a billion dollars, Plank!" Johnny excitedly said to his wooden pal,
"Ladies and gentlemen, are you ready for some Chuck Quizmo's quizzes?" Chuck asked the audience on the microphone. Everyone cheered loudly. "Question: what is the name of Goombario's younger sister? Goombette, Goombalina, or Goombaria?"
"That's easy! It's Goombaria!" Goombario chimed, hitting the red button. Several dinging sounds came up.
"That's c-c-c-c-correct!" Chuck cheered as his hat popped out a card with a red circle. Everyone in the audience and Vanna T. clapped and cheered. "As for the award, here is your Star Piece!"
Vanna T. approached the four and handed Goombario the Star Piece, which he gave to Double-D to store for safe-keeping.
"Till next time, folks! Nighty-night!"
The four heroes were transported back to their original spots in Dry Dry Outpost.
"Ooookaayyy..." Parakarry said. As they regained their bearings, Double-D saw a nearby alley. For some reason, he had a strange feeling that someone was calling him majestically. He went through the alley as the other three noticed and followed him. They found a dark tent with yellow stripes.
A Shaman girl wore blue robes, brown boots, a round jewel hook in her robes, and yellow hairs sticking out in front of her head in a crescent shape. She bore a similar resemblance to Merlon back in Toad Town.
"Welcome, young travelers," she greeted. "My name is Merlee, the Luck Spellcaster."
"Cool! Can you read our fortunes?" Johnny asked. "Or can you give us a lucky charm for good luck?"
"That's right. When my spell upon you glows you might get lucky, isn't that a delight? Do you dare to watch my cards dance? Do you dare to take your chance?"
"Very well..." Double-D said as Merlee noticed his Star Sword and gasped in delight.
"The Star Sword of Evil's Bane! A heroic blade to stop evil reign! For that, any option is free! Don't worry, I won't break your knee!"
"I see..." Double-D said as he looked at his sword before looking over his options. Soon, he settled for the Special Course.
"Now stand in the center, don't cower," Merlee said. Double D stood in the center while Parakarry watched him on the sidelines. Her hands started to glow as giant cards floated around Double D. One of the cards took Double-D into it as all the cards shuffled each other. Three cards popped out, revealing three Double D's. When they all came together, Double D came out of the cards and sparkled with lights before fading away.
"Good gravy..."
Merlee faced Double D. "I think you'll find this power might get your foes to cower. It will light your darkest hour. Even should you meet a beast, do not fear! Not in the least! My spell makes a famine feast. Best of luck, you hunk!"
Double-D blushed in embarrassment as Johnny, Goombario, and Parakarry giggled playfully. Even Plank's face seemed to shift to the infamous Lenny Face emoticon for a brief second.
"You think we could make it across?" Jimmy nervously asked Mario. They and Sarah were at one of the top buildings in Dry Dry Outpost. There was a gap in front of them, but there was a door at the next building. They believed Moustafa lived in that building.
"The trick is not to look-a down. Watch and a-learn, paisanos!" As he said this, Mario stepped back a couple of steps and ran forward. He leaped forward at a greater distance than normal before landing next to Goombario.
"That was so awesome!"
Jimmy took a deep breath before screaming at the top of his lungs and flinging himself across, landing smack-dab on his face and groaning in pain as Sarah flipped into the air and landed across as well before helping her friend up.
The trio entered a small room filled with antiques, a table, and a couch where the same green Nomadimouse they met was standing there.
"So you finally showed up?" he asked, being covered in his dusty grey robes.
"Huh? Where's Moustafa?" Jimmy asked as he, Sarah, and Mario looked around.
"You're looking at him, my boy." He 'dramatically' took off his robe, revealing his green Little Mouser's body.
"Gasp! What a plot twist!" Jimmy exclaimed.
"My name is Moustafa. Earlier, I sensed great potential in you two. I think you wanted to know where Dry Dry Ruins is, correct?" The three nodded. "I believe you are needed to go there, so I will tell you a secret."
"All righty," Mario said.
"I am the guardian of Dry Dry Ruins. My ancestors have watched over it for many generations. I beg you three from the bottom of my heart to never reveal the location of Dry Dry Ruins."
"These lips are sealed, pally." Sarah said as Jimmy nodded and made a zipping motion over his mouth.
"Very good. I'll give you this." Moustafa gave Mario a strange pink circular diamond stone. "This Pulse Stone will guide you to Dry Dry Ruins. The closer you are to Dry Dry Ruins, the faster it will blink. You will need that to unlock the seal of Dry Dry Ruins."
Mario nodded. "Okay. I think that's all we-a need to know. Thank you for your a-wisdom."
"May the sand guide you to destiny, my friends."
Mario, Sarah, and Jimmy exited out of his room and jumped down to the ground. As they were looking for Double-D, Johnny, Goomario, and Parakarry, they saw them at the entrance of Dry Dry Outpost.
"Hey, guys!" Sarah said. "We can finally find Dry Dry Ruins!"
"For real?" Parakarry asked with a gasp. "That's wonderful!"
"Alrighty! Now we're talking!" Johnny cheered as he tossed Plank up into the air.
"So what do we do now?" Double-D asked. They furrowed their brows in thought until they heard something out in the distance.
"Do you all a-hear that?" Mario asked. They exited the town and listened to the source.
"It sounds like metals clanking against each other..." Parakarry said.
"More like the sound of the train,"
"Nah, it sounds like a minecart." Sarah said, holding a hand to her ear. Looking at their left, the group saw a railroad cart coming straight toward them. As it came to a halt, four people popped out. "Eddy? Kevin? Nazz? Bombette?"
"Guys! Get on! Quick!" Bombette said.
"Wh-what's wrong?" Jimmy nervously asked.
"No time! Ed, Rolf, and Kooper are in danger!" Eddy said. "Get on or we're gonna leave you!"
Everyone else crammed themselves inside the cart. With everyone ready, Eddy pushed the lever forward as they were heading where the tracks would lead them.
"IT'S INDIANA JONES UP IN HERE, PLANK!" Johnny cackled in delight.
Kolorado's group was relaxing in the tents. Kolorado was looking at the sky with a pair of binoculars. As he looked around, he saw several railroad carts heading directly to them. "Huh? What are those doing there?"
"Can I take a look?" Ed asked. He grabbed the binoculars and looked though the objective lens. "Don't worry, sir. Whatever they are, they're really far from here."
You're holding that backward, old bean" Kolorado helped flip the binoculars to the correct position. Ed looked inside once more to get a clear picture. He saw railroad carts in a single line. Bandits were riding on the carts. Ed yelled in horror and threw up the binoculars.
"It's an invasion!" Ed's yell alerted the other Koopas inside the tent as well as Kooper and Rolf, who ran out of the tents and saw the Bandits approaching.
"Well, this is unexpected."
"Rolf shall not let the bandits take his livestock!" The Son of a Shepard scowled as he drew his staff while Ed put on a pair of goggles with scope lenses from seemingly nowhere and aimed his bow and arrow forward.
"Time to go Team Fortress 2 on these motherfuckers!"
"Language, old boy!" Kolorado gasped as Kooper nodded in agreement with his idol. Ed let loose a flurry of arrows with boxing gloves that had stars on the fists. With ungodly precision, the Bandits were punched and knocked off their railcars, tumbling across the sand in heaps.
"How embarrassing..." One of the Bandits groaned as he got up before suddenly being run over by another railcar that had the rest of the heroes riding in it.
"BANZAI!" Johnny laughed as the Bandit was dragged along before coming out the other side and getting smacked by the wood-loving boy's hammer for good measure.
"Guys! You're here!" Kooper cried in relief.
"Rolf is relieved the twister of tweets did not send you to the fiery graves!" Rolf said, also smiling in relief.
"Drat!" one of the Bandit cursed as he and his remaining allies regrouped. "How did they know we were going to be here?!"
Kolorado and his two companions retreated back to their tent while the team was ready to fight. Two Bandits charged straight to Kooper, but his shell struck both of them. Kevin tapped his Quake Hammer Badge and slammed his wrench to the sand. The force shook the whole Bandits as they crashed into the sand. Mario, Nazz, and Goombario jumped on each Bandit they could find before they could recover. As the last Bandit fled, Eddy chucked Bombette at the last Bandit while she lit up her fuse. As she made contact, the explosion sent the Bandit flying.
"Help! Help!" Everyone turned to the source and saw the true last Bandit holding Jimmy hostage.
"JIMMY!" Sarah cried as she readied her Chomp Flail angrily but the Bandit held his hands over the shivering boy's neck.
"Take one step and this brat gets it!"
"NOT TODAY, GOOD SIR!" Double- D snarled as he rushed forward, Time seemed to suddenly freeze around him as he made his way towards the Bandit.
"What's going on? Could this be Merlee's spell?"
Pushing those thoughts aside, Double-D removed Jimmy from the Bandit's hold and then, in a moment of anger that his friend's life would be threatened by this scum, drew his Star Sword and stabbed it through the Bandit's torso.
Time resumed as the Bandit choked up blood and looked at the sword in his chest. Looking at Double-D with shock and fear, the life slowly left him as Double-D pulled the blade out of his enemy, a look of remorse on his face.
"It shouldn't have come to this..."
After making sure Jimmy was alright, everyone used the railcar to drive through the desert, Mario using the Pulse Stone given to him by Moustafa in order to home in on the location of Dry Dry Desert. The group stopped at a rock and saw the stone was blinking rapidly.
"Mario, this has to be it!" Goombario said.
"Indeed," Mario replied. "I hope this works."
The Plumber inserted the Pulse Stone into the rock. Just as he did that, the whole area, and even the whole desert, began shaking violently. The rock, along with the Pulse Stone, sank down into the sand as a sandstorm began.
"I can't see!" Eddy said while blocking his eyes.
"Dude! I just got these clothes!" Nazz complained.
"Sarah! I might get an infection!"
"Quickly!" Double D said. "Get inside the cart!"
Ed was too blind to find the cart, but he somehow managed to tip over it. Everyone ran into the cart as they pulled it down so the sand would not get inside.
As soon as the earthquake stopped, the team got out of the cart and marveled at the sight before them. There was a giant stone building with pillars. Each pillar had a stone Chain Chomp on top. There was also a stairway in front of the entrance.
"Magnificent..." Kooper and Double-D said in awe.
"It's Dry Dry Ruins..." Goombario said, also amazed.
"Giant rock..." Ed said.
"Choice..." Kevin breathed.
"Plank says that's one hot looking Illuminati!" Johnny exclaimed.
"Now we can find-a the second Star Spirit, paisanos!" Mario said.
"Do we have to go in?" Eddy said, letting out a yawn. "I'm already tired after what Bombette, Nazz, Kevin, and I've been through."
"We have to. Everyone around felt the earthquake in this desert. It's best if we go through Dry Dry Ruins as fast as possible."
"Yeah, so suck it up, fish-face." Sarah sneered as Eddy flipped her off in response.
"All right, everyone!" Kooper said with excitement. "It's time to begin the exploration! Let's move it!" And so, everyone walked up the stairway and entered inside Dry Dry Ruins.
Back in Dry Dry Outpost, Moustafa was looking to the heroes' position with his telescope and gave a sagely nod.
"The time has come."
Next Time: Entering the Tombs!
-Current Badge Collection-
Mario: Power Jump, Shrink Stomp
Ed: Close Call
Double-D: Refund, Damage Dodge
Eddy: Feeling Fine, Money Money
Kevin: Smash Charge, Quake Hammer
Rolf: Dizzy Attack
Johnny: Hammer Throw
Nazz: Power Bounce
Sarah: D-Down Pound
Jimmy: Pretty Lucky