After returning to Toad Town, Mario went with Sarah and Goombario to Rowf's Badge Shop to get a new badge. The dog-like being smiled when he saw his favorite mustachioed customer.
"Whaddya want from old Uncle Rowf?" Rowf asked.
Mario pondered for a second. "Something for a-jumping. Like...jumping on multiple enemies without a-tiring yourself."
"Ah! I think I know the right badge for you!" Rowf went around his shop, got the badge, and showed it to Mario. It was a silver boot badge. "This is called the Multibounce Badge. When equipped, you can jump to all of your enemies consecutively."
"Hmmm...who do you think should get it?" Sarah pondered as Mario thought for a moment before snapping his fingers.
"How about-a your brother? He can strike a-multiple enemies with a-jumps and his arrows!"
"Sounds good to me."
After paying for the badge, Mario, Sarah, and Goombario headed to the dojo. The Master noticed them enter and smiled when he saw Mario approach.
"Who would like to face Mario?" The Master asked his students. before a person in a blue sheet with orange hair sticking out of the back, yellow pupil eyes, and black boots stepped up.
"Allow me, Master."
"A Duplighost?" Goombario murmured, surprised to see one here.
"What do you know about 'em?" Sarah asked.
"These guys can turn to anyone they know and copy their abilities."
"I am Lee, and I wish to challenge you, Mario!" The Duplighost introduced himself with a bow.
"Okie-Dokie," Mario replied and nodded.
"Let the battle...Negin!" The Master announced and swung his gong stick to the gong.
Mario's initiative speed was fast as he kicked Lee right in the face. Lee fought back by floating around and zooming to the back of Mario. Mario defended the attack with his hammer. Both competitors faced each other.
"Here comes my secret technique!" Lee declared. His eyes flashed, and he was enveloped in a cloud of smoke. When it was clear, Goombario was there. Mario, surprisingly, thought for a moment that he was actually Goombario, but shrugged off the possibility. Everyone else was not fazed.
"You know," a young Toad said to the real Goombario, "You look kind of pudgy."
"Th-there's just no way I'm that pudgy!" Goombario said. "R-right...? I've worked out..."
"Yeah, I can attest to that. He hits like a brick!" Sarah chimed in for Goombario's defense.
Mario focused more on the fake Goombario and gave a small, sly grin.
"Even though you can copy someone...if it's someone I know, then this is an easy duel. Especially if it's one of my friends!"
Lee leaped up and came down with a Headbonk, but Mario dodged the attack. Mario already activated his Power Jump Badge and jumped to Lee's head. Lee succumbed to Mario's force and decided to use another Headbonk. Instead of evading the attack, Mario slammed back with his hammer. Lee flew across the room as he reverted back to his normal form. Back at the sidelines, Goombario flinched at every attack.
The Master struck the gong. "This battle is over! Mario is the victor!"
Everyone cheered for Mario as he grabbed Lee's hand for him to stand.
"Ugh...It looks like not even my duplication power can overcome you, Mario." Still, he smiled regardless. The Master awarded Mario with the Second-Degree Card as proof of his victory. Mario, Goombario, and Sarah said their goodbyes and left the Dojo.
"I feel weird," Goombario said to Mario. "I felt like I was beaten up by you."
Mario chuckled. "You were, but that wasn't actually you."
"I'm gonna go give the badge to my stupid brother. See you back at your house." Sarah said as she broke off to find Ed. Mario and Goombario then headed back to the Mario Bros. House and saw Luigi playing with Chompy.
"You look like you're having a good time," Mario said to his brother with a smile, glad he managed to befriend Chompy.
"You bet! I thought Chompy here was going to eat me for dinner, but once you get to know him, he's a cool pet." Luigi then perked up as he remembered something. "By the way, I got a message from Twink just after you left!"
"Twink came here?" Mario asked as Luigi handed him a Power Rush Badge, which he decided to give to one of the Peach Creek kids later.
"Yup. He told me that the next Star Spirit is in Forever Forest."
"Hmmm...Forever Forest? Isn't that the home of the Boos?" Mario questioned as Luigi nodded.
"Oh yeah. Twink also told me that the one who was guarding the Star Spirit was the 'Invincible' Tubba Blubba."
"Invincible? There is no way anyone can be that tough."
"Well, Twink did tell me that Tubba Blubba has a weakness because he wasn't as strong as he is now. Also, he told me that he heard Bowser say Tutankoopa was killed!"
Mario and Goombario paled in shock. Sure Chompy had scared Tutankoopa off after turning against him but who killed him? That was something that left them in a state of unease.
"Yeah, I know, creepy, right?" Luigi said nervously as Mario and Goombario hoped the rest of the crew were doing alright.
"Looks like we got mail for Bombette and for me," Parakarry said as he was with Double-D and Rolf, who were all heading over to Shooting Star Summit for a walk.
"What is your written message about, Winged-Turtle-Parakarry?" Rolf asked.
Parakarry scratched his head. "It's from someone named Whacka in Mt. Rugged. He's saying that he enjoyed the flapping of my wings when I delivered mail."
"You know him, right? He must've known you somehow." Double-D asked.
"I think so. I don't bother knowing their names anyway." They reached Shooting Star Summit and found some Star Pieces around the area. After they were done, they noticed a house.
"Who lives there?"
"Perhaps a Shaman who will provide us aid!" Rolf said, rubbing his chin in thought.
"Let's check it out."
When they entered inside, it was what they would expect from a normal house. In the living room was a table covered in purple sheets. A Shaman female that had a lot of yellow hair showing off perked up.
"Oh? Visitors? Welcome to my home. My name is Merluvlee, the stunning fortuneteller."
"Another Shaman?" Double D asked.
"Oh? I believe you know my family, correct?"
"Right. So far, I've met Merlon from Toad Town, and Merlee from Dry Dry Outpost."
Merluvlee's eyes lit up. "Ah... No wonder you're giving off such radiant energy. It's from Merlee. I see you have some Star Pieces on you."
"Of course. We traveled here to collect some Star Pieces, though I still don't know the value of these."
"Perhaps they are good for trade, Edd-Boy."
"My brother, Merlow, lives on the second floor. You should meet him because he's a collector of Star Pieces. You can visit him if you like."
Rolf didn't know why, but he suddenly felt a resonation inside him and saw his Star Caller was blinking slowly. Deciding to follow his curiosity, he went up the stairs and entered the room to see a young Shaman boy with a tuft of blonde hair peeking out and a bulky blue cloak.
"Who are you?" The boy that Rolf could guess was Merlow, asked.
"I am Rolf, Son of a Shepard. I have come bearing the pieces of the fallen stars for you to collect."
As Rolf said this, his Star Caller began blinking like crazy. Merlow noticed and looked Rolf in the eye as he got closer to him.
"You're one of the chosen ones from the prophecy my Grandfather Merlon talked about once."
Rolf perked up in amazement." Ah, yes, the Star Spirits told Rolf and his comrades of Peach Creek about our destiny in these lands. You know as well?"
"Well, a little. My grandfather told me that I would have a bond with one of those warriors...and judging by your Star Caller, the device crafted by the Star Spirits to signify a bond between its holder and another, you are that warrior."
Rolf then noticed a sparkle of light flow out of his Star Caller and into Merlow, who closed his eyes and let out a calm breath before opening them up and looking up to the Son of a Shepard with a smile.
"The prophecy is true! Allow me to come with you, Shepard Rolf!"
Rolf smiled, glad to see that he had found his Soul Partner. He also had some Star Pieces on hand and gave them to Merlow for his collection and in return, Merlow gave him a Badge known as the Zap Tap Badge, which allowed the wearer to coat their body in an aura of electricity.
As Rolf and Merlow headed downstairs, Merluvlee had a proud look on her face, glad that her younger brother was about to embark on an adventure just like the prophecy foretold.
"I'll collect any Star Pieces you have in Merlow's stead so that you can get some rare badges in return when you come back!" Merluvlee said, giving a wink to Double-D, who once again blushed in embarrassment as Rolf, Parakarry, and Merlow all smirked playfully at him.
"Here comes part two in the sewers of Hades!" Ed said as he and Kooper returned back to the Toad Town Tunnels with Sarah, Johnny, and Nazz. Sarah had also given Ed the Multibounce Badge she got with Mario and Goombario. Previously, there was a Stone Block when they first explored here but with Johnny's new Super Hammer, it was reduced to pebbles in an instant. In the room beyond, there were three orange spots next to the wall.
As they got closer, they heard a voice that was supposed to be their last worries.
"Blooper!" Something said as a Blooper came out of the sewer waters. However, it was much bigger than before.
Kooper gasped and backed away. "Oh no! It must be related to the Blooper we blew up!"
"Well, that is one angry big sibling!" Nazz said as she got on guard. The Blooper floated forward and spiraled down to Ed, who was the closest. He dove forward to avoid the attack. He then turned and fired an arrow at the Blooper, but its body became electrified as it reduced the arrow to ash before it could even hit it.
"Shoot, that's bad! We can't even touch it!" Nazz cursed as the group tried to come up with a plan as the Blooper squirted ink everywhere. Kooper saw some ink on the ground and got an idea.
"Ed! Do you have an arrow with a glass bottle head or something?"
Ed reached into his quiver and pulled out an arrow that had a glass bottle head that could be filled with any substance. Kooper scooped up some ink and poured it into the bottle as Ed took aim and fired it at the Blooper's eyes, blinding it as it began jerking left and right in distress.
"Alright! We got him!" Nazz shouted as she tapped her Power Bounce Badge and jumped onto the Blooper, jumping off of it as she punched it multiple times in rapid succession with her gauntlets, leaving bruises on its white skin and she was safe since the Blooper couldn't see her and thus couldn't electrify itself.
"OH YEAH! TIME TO TEST OUT ME AND PLANK'S NEW BADGE!" Johnny cheered as he tapped his Spin Smash Badge and spun rapidly before smacking his hammer into the Blooper, launching it into a wall as Ed and Kooper decided to finish it off.
"MODIFICATION POWER ACTIVATE!" Ed declared like he was in the Power Rangers.
"BOMB SHELL!" Kooper roared as his shell became black with orange volcanic lines before tucking inside it and flying towards the Blooper. As soon as he made contact, the Blooper was engulfed in a mighty explosion that killed it.
"JOIN YOUR BROTHER IN THE BOWELS OF HELL WHERE YOU BELONG!" Ed roared, holding up his bow and chanting like a tribal warrior as Kooper joined him, circling him while doing a tribal dance and hooting and hollering alongside him.
"Man, I didn't even get to do anything!" Sarah whined as Nazz flicked her on the side of the head to shut her up. Suddenly, a blue switch fell down from the ceiling and upon being activated, three blue Warp Pipes rose from the orange spots next to the wall. Kooper stopped doing his victory dance with Ed and noticed some names on the pipes.
"These pipes are shortcuts to my home, Goombario's home, and Dry Dry Outpost. This will be useful if we need to go back."
The group continued inside the sewers. They found a Snowman Doll along the way, so they decided to give it to Double-D or Jimmy. They passed through a moving platform, used a Warp Pipe, defeated Spiky Gloombas, jumped to a new area with a spring, and found a treasure chest. When Ed opened the chest, it contained a silver hammer badge with a spike top called a Power Smash Badge.
"DIBS!" Sarah shouted as she snagged the badge and stuck her tongue out at the others. Ed just laughed it off.
"Okay, Baby Sister!"
Eddy let out a heavy sigh as he looked around aimlessly. "Man, I can't think up a scam."
"Why are you thinking up a scam?" Bombette asked. "Just relax, especially since you have tons of coins."
"Well, I want to be the richest kid in the entire world here!"
"What about your world? Your homeworld?"
"That applies there, too!" Bombette could not help but sigh and chuckled while Kevin just groaned and Jimmy kept his mouth shut. For hours, the four walked around Toad Town. Although they were all new to Toad Town, it was quite boring to them after the second visit. They were strolling around the train station. Bombette saw a statue of a pig on top of a strange house. A round thing could be slide down to a table; a farm was behind it.
"Look at this, guys! This must be a Li'l Oinks' farm."
"A what?"
"Li'l Oinks. They're cute adorable pigs."
"Pigs, huh?" Kevin stared at it for a bit. "I bet Rolf would love this."
Bombette examined the sign on the house. "'Pay 10 coins to hatch a Li'l Oink. Yours to keep. Have fun!'"
Eddy raised an eyebrow. "10 coins for a pig?! That expensive?!"
"Come on, Eddy. Put 10 coins inside the slot."
He stared at her with uncertainty. So far, he valued the special bond with her. It was probably bigger than his friends; it would be a shame to turn down his friend.
"All right. But just for you, okay?" He inserted 10 coins inside the house and pulled down the lever. A pink egg rolled down the slide and into the table. The two walked to the table and saw another sign.
"'Smash the egg to hatch.'"
"Alright, then," Kevin said as he raised his wrench, looking like he was about to smash it.
"HAVE MERCY!" Jimmy sobbed, covering his eyes in terror but then Kevin gently lowered his wrench and tapped the egg, causing it to crack. A pink Li'l Oink with a question mark pattern leaped out of the egg and landed in its pen. Eddy and Kevin both stared at it in disbelief.
"Man, I bet even Rolf would get a kick outta that."
"It's so cute! It even has the same color as me!" Bombette squealed as she and Jimmy entered the pen, the pig suddenly ran away out of the pen. "Come back! Wait!"
"What gives?! We paid 10 coins for that egg and the pig just runs away?!" Eddy complained before Kevin noticed a sign.
"Oh, it says here that Li'l Oinks are very easily scared and will bolt out of the pen if someone gets in. How these people stay in business, I'll never know."
Bombette and Jimmy both hung their heads in disappointment until Eddy noticed that the Li'l Oink left something behind when it fled. It was a red and white container with a blue handle. Walking over to pick it up, he inspected it.
"Repel Gel?"
Bombette perked up. "I heard those items can make you invisible!"
"Sweet! I could do all sorts of stuff with this baby!" Eddy cackled as Kevin sweat-dropped.
"Oh man, I'm so glad nothing like this is on our world or the Dork would surely creep in the showers..."
When it was nighttime in Mario's home, everyone already finished up dinner. Everyone had their own free time in the house. Merlow introduced himself to the others as Rolf's Soul Partner while Nazz was given the Zap Tap Badge and Rolf got the Power Rush Badge.
"Mail call for Goombario, Kooper, and Bombette!" Parakarry said, waving three letters. The trio came by and took their respective letters. Goombario read the contents of his letter.
"What does your letter say, Goombario?" Mario asked, drinking a bottle of water.
Goombario bit his lips. "Remember that time we fought the Goomba Bro.?"
"Yeah, we kicked their butts!" Sarah said while punching her fist into her palm. Mario lowered down his bottle slowly with widening eyes.
"You don't mean...?"
Goombario nodded. "That's right. They say that they were sorry for their actions and want to be friends with me. You think I can trust them?"
Mario pondered. "It's-a your choice. If they truly redeemed themselves, I'm sure they were really once good guys."
"Let us forgive each other; only then will we live in peace," Double-D said, quoting Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy.
Kooper was reading his letter by himself on a chair in the dining room. It was about his mother and Kolorado's mom talking about his village. Bombette read hers outside while sitting on the small stairs with Eddy. Double D and Ed were playing with Chompy by throwing a bone. Apparently, Ed and Chompy soon became dogs to Double D.
"Oh, brother..." Bombette said, sighing.
"What is it?" Eddy asked.
"It's this letter. It's from my ex-boyfriend: Bruce."
Eddy widened his eyes, a twinge of jealousy running through him. "What?! You had a boyfriend?!"
"Back then, we started dating just like most people do, but it turned out unsuccessful because I just didn't feel the 'spark'. Now he desperately wants us to go back together."
"Geez... Tough love." Nazz said, wincing in sympathy.
Mario and Luigi came out of the house and sat down with the chair they brought. They popped out their Super Soda and took a couple of gulps.
"So you and your friends are going to the Forever Forest tomorrow, right?" Luigi asked his brother.
"Yup," Mario replied with a nod. "It'll be another chapter in this adventure. But at least you'll have Chompy to keep you company."
Luigi had a worried look. "But you do remember the rumors of that forest, right? They say that scary Boos lived inside a huge mansion, mazes in the forest that seems to be forever and dark, and that 'invincible' Tubba Blubba."
"I know about that. But my friends and I will overcome the Forever Forest. It's not like I'm gonna get captured like last time!"
Luigi let out a nervous laugh. "If that ever happens, I might need a vacuum cleaner for the job."
"What does that mean?" Jimmy asked as Luigi chuckled.
"It's a long story."
The next morning, the team prepared to set out. Once everyone was ready, Mario led out his team to Toad Town. After passing the Dojo, Merlon's house, and Rowf's store, they heard someone screaming nearby.
"What was that?!" Eddy asked, looking around while being nervous.
"It's like someone being murdered!" Ed said.
"Let's not jump to conclusion so hastily, Ed," Double-D said, comforting him.
"It's near the Forever Forest! Let's-a-go!" Mario said as the team ran across the badge and saw a Toad guard with a spear shaking like a leaf.
"O-oh! M-Mario!" he stammered
"You screamed? What happened?"
"A-a-a g-ghost passed i-in front o-of m-me..."
"I believe the correct term is 'Boo' since they're the only ghosts I know," Goombario said.
"Spectres exist?!" Rolf gasped before composing himself, remembering that if magic existed, so could ghosts.
Suddenly, a Boo with facial white hair, a beard, and a white towel on his arms appeared behind the team. The guard saw the Boo sticking out his large red tongue with a scary expression.
"He's over there!" Everyone turned around but saw no Boo, so they looked back at the guard. The Boo revealed himself again at the back of the team. "Turn around! Turn around!" Again, the same result.
"You must be trippin'!" Eddy said, pointing at the guard. "If this is some sort of joke, I'll-"
"I'm not joking!" He saw the Boo but was heading to the Forever Forest. "T-that Boo went to F-F-Forever Forest!"
"I am Ed, Ghostbuster!" Ed said.
"'Boo' buster, you mean?" Bombette said, which made Eddy, Sarah, Nazz, and Jimmy laugh.
"Good one, Bombette!" Eddy said. The team walked down the road and stood in front of the Forever Forest. As they walked further inside, the area was getting darker with every step. The Boo, who was terrorizing the poor guard, emerged to everyone.
"It's a Boo..." Double D murmured while staring.
"Oh my gosh!" Ed said as if he was frightened. "He's so...so...cool!"
Everyone else, except the Boo, either gave him an odd look or shook their head while sighing.
"What do you wish to tell us, O' specter of the forest?" Rolf asked as he bowed on one knee.
"Pardon me, sirs and madames... Would the one with the red hat happen to be Mario?" The Boo asked in a butler-voice style.
"That's-a-me!" Mario replied, pointing to himself.
"Excellent. My master wishes to see you and your friends, if I may add. Please go to the mansion at the far end of the Forever Forest. My master is in possession of an item that regards the Star Spirits. We shall wait for you...with a warm welcome." The Boo disappeared from their sight.
"Wh-what did he meant by that?" Double D asked.
"Well, that wasn't too bad," Parakarry said, sighing in relief. "He wasn't that scary."
The Boo came out with the biggest, scariest face the team ever faced as he raised his voice. "And if you all don't come, we'll get you! Boo!"
Everyone screamed or flinched and both Jimmy and Double-D looked close to having a heart attack, but Ed just laughed as usual.
"Heart attack! Heart attack!" Double D said, breathing and gripping his chest while Jimmy looked like he had gone comatose as Sarah began desperately trying to revive him.
"I think I forgot how I was born!" Eddy said with fear in his voice.
"I think I tinkled, Plank!" Johnny whimpered out.
"Even cooler!" Ed said, gaping widely.
"I'm going to have n-nightmares after this..." Goombario said, still afraid. The rest of the partners agreed with him except for Merlow.
"Not all Boos are inherently malevolent, my friends."
"Well...I guess we'll just have to face our doom, then." Mario said with a sigh as he entered deep into the Forever Forest. Everyone stared at Mario as if he was either crazy or had just lost his mind.
"W-what do you mean by that?! Come back, Mario!" Goombario chased after Mario inside the dark.
"Ed shall hunt down all the ghosts!" Ed said, following after them. Everyone else regained themselves from the fright and followed behind in the ominous Forever Forest.
"Oh man, oh man, oh man, oh man..." Kevin muttered worriedly, holding his wrench protectively to himself.
Next Time: The Ominous Forever Forest!
Merlow becoming Rolf's Soul Partner is based on PaperEd by KeybladeMaster09.
[Soul Partnership Unlocked: Rolf & Merlow!]
Modify Technique: Bomb Shell!-Kooper's shell becomes explosive as he delivers a super powerful exploding Shell Shot to his enemies!
-Current Badge Collection-
Mario: Power Jump, Shrink Stomp
Ed: Close Call, Multibounce
Double-D: Refund, Damage Dodge
Eddy: Feeling Fine, Money Money
Rolf: Dizzy Attack, Power Rush
Kevin: Smash Charge, Quake Hammer
Johnny: Hammer Throw, Spin Smash
Nazz: Power Bounce, Zap Tap
Sarah: D-Down Pound, Power Smash
Jimmy: Pretty Lucky, Spike Shield