The team caught up to Mario in the Forever Forest. From their point of view, they thought that it was nighttime. However, They realized it was daylight before they came here. This meant that not even a single ray of sunlight could penetrate the layers of the forest. Seeing the dark trees brought shivers up their spines. There were strange trees and plants growing in the forest. Trunks were blocking the route, so they had to push the trunks to go on.

"This place gives me the creeps," Eddy murmured while looking around too much. "How are we supposed to go through this?"

"If we go east from here, we can make it to the mansion, right?" Parakarry said, pointing with his flashlight. Double-D was the backup in case something happened to Parakarry's flashlight and Jimmy was the extra backup.

"I don't think so," Goombario said. "People said that if you choose the wrong path, you could end up lost in this whole area. That might be the reason why this forest is called Forever Forest."

"Just like with that Spook-E-Ville map my brother made..." Eddy grumbled.

"Yeah, the same map that led to your doofus friend beating the crap out of all of us. I still have a bruise." Kevin concurred.

"Can we go on now?" Kooper asked, huddling closer to someone. "I wanna get this over with."

Double-D took out a marker and marked the tree with a 'D'.

"I've placed this mark on this tree. That way, if we see this mark again, we'll know we're going in circles."

"Good thinking, Double-D!" Nazz said with a smile.

"All righty," Mario said, nodding. "Let's-a just inspect this area around first."

"Come out whatever you are, ghost!" Ed said. As they walked around, they noticed three paths that they could go through. When they reached the mark Double-D placed, Double-D concluded this area was a circle.

"How about if we take the path at the left?" Bombette asked.

"It's worth a shot..." Nazz said.

"Let's try it out," Double-D replied. The team went to that path and walked forward. When they got through, however, they saw the 'D' mark.

"N-no way!" Parakarry gasped. "But we just passed through here!"

"Something isn't right with this forest," Bombette said, scanning everywhere.

"Did you forgot the forest has 'forever' in it?" Goombario asked sarcastically.

"My grandfather warned me about this forest. It seems I am experiencing its tricks firsthand." Merlow muttered.

"Then..." Eddy said, widening his eyes. "How are we supposed to go through this if we end up back to circle one?!"

"We are being bamboozled by the forest!" Rolf exclaimed.

"Hold on, guys. I think there might be clues that'll help us get through here!" Nazz pointed out.

"Rolf's blonde friend is correct. Perhaps we can find something that will lead us to the correct path." Merlow said with a nod.

"Hey, guys!" Ed said, pointing at a bush of flowers. "These flowers laughed whenever I tell a joke! Watch!" He turned to the flowers. "What did zero said to eight? Nice belt!"

The flowers laughed in a "Heh-heh-heh" tone in response to his joke while a few of the other kids chuckled to themselves when they got the joke.

Double-D then noticed the bushes were in front of a path. "Let's try that path. I hope my deduction is right."

Mario pushed the trunk out-of-the-way, and everyone moved forward. This time, they did not teleport back like before. However, someone was right in front of them. It was a weird small guy that was covered in leaves with a beard.

"It's the Belly Button Eater!" Ed cried, jumping on to Eddy's arm. They both fell down. Jimmy screamed and hid behind Sarah, holding up his shield.

"Belly what?" Kooper asked, stifling a laugh. Everyone, except the Eds and Jimmy, laughed out loud. Double-D nervously laughed, remembering the time with the Urban Rangers during their camp-out.

"Ah, good times, says Rolf..." Rolf said with a smirk as he recalled the memory as well. Merlow felt like asking his soul partner about what happened later to get the full story.

"What business do you have in Forever Foreset?" the small guy asked. "I am Oaklie, guardian of Forever Forest. Why are all of you are here in my forest? If you do not have a good reason, then I cannot allow you to pass."

"Look, Oak-leaf-plant whatever," Eddy said, trying to stand up. "If you think we'll be stop by some bizarre guy, then-"

Parakarry and Kooper stopped Eddy from saying anything further as Mario took off his hat and held it to his chest. "Pardon our friend. but we were invited to the mansion by a Boo butler."

Oaklie's yellow eyes widened a bit, then he nodded. "Um-kay. I see. Then all of you can access to my forest. As you all know, there are clues inside this forest. Each area you enter is a circular area with four different paths. Choosing the wrong one will lead you back to the entrance."

"And if may I add," Double-D said, "the solution of solving this puzzle is to find things that are different, right?"

"You, young boy, are very perceptive. It is just as your friend said. Out of all the four paths to choose, one path will be slightly different. In this area, try to look closely at the trees. On one of them, you'll spot strange glowing red eyes. Once you find that, that path will lead you closer to Boo's Mansion. Repeat the process until you find the mansion."

"Thanks for the help, Oaklie," Mario said. Oaklie jumped away from them and headed deep inside the forest. Everyone pushed the trunk and looked at all the trees as they walked around.

"That beard looked like prime yanking material, Plank!" Johnny said to his wooden pal as everyone looked at him in confusion but shrugged it off.

As they walked closer to the first path, the tree suddenly showed a red scary face on it, causing everyone to gasp.

"Oh my gosh! That's creepy!" Parakarry said, hiding behind Double-D. Jimmy did the same with Rolf

"I don't like this forest already!" Bombette said behind Eddy. Apparently, all the partners were cowering behind their soul partners except for Merlow.

"Attack the curse of Evil Tim!" Ed said, jumping and hammering the tree.

"Stop, Ed! Trees have feelings!" Double-D and Johnny both said. Unfortunately, the impact caused three small creatures to jump out of the tree.

"I can't see what they are! Someone shine the light to one of them!" Goombario said. Double-D quickly pointed his flashlight to a green Fuzzy. "Those are Forest Fuzzies! That can duplicate themselves when they're hit!"

"They've already got me!" Eddy said, struggling with the Forest Fuzzy on his head. Parakarry flew and dove down with a kick, striking the Fuzzy on Eddy's head. However, the Forest Fuzzy duplicated themselves to two.

"We have to hit them with a powerful attack!" Double-D said, dodging the attack and cutting a Forest Fuzzy with his sword. Merlow made a magic star-shaped barrier in front of him to shield Rolf and Johnny.

"Everyone, get behind me!" Mario exclaimed, which the group did. As Mario faced the Forest Fuzzies, he clasped his hands and started to focus his Star Power.

"Lullaby!" Mamar appeared right before them as the team awed at her appearance. Mamar sang her sweet lullaby to the Fuzzies as they all dozed off into sleep.

Goombario hoped up and down. "Good thinking, Mario!"

"Now everyone! Attack!" Mario pointed at the drowsy Fuzzies. Kevin tapped his Quake Hammer Badge and slammed his wrench to the ground. All the Fuzzies divided themselves into eight from the shock force. Goombario jumped and bonked one, defeating it. Kooper's shell spun forward and struck all the enemies, leaving three Fuzzies left. Rolf took out a Modify Card and looked to Merlow, who nodded.

"Modify!"

"BLACK FIRE!"

A surge of black flames shot from Merlow's outstretched palms as the last few Forest Fuzzies were incinerated, squealing in agony as they perished.

"We've won!" Bombette said. Everyone lowered their guards and resumed on.

"That was quite a spectacular finish, Rolf!" Merlow said as the Son of a Shepard smiled and nodded.

"Indeed. We are quite the dynamic duo as Ed-Boy's comics would say!"

In the next area, one path had flowers different from the rest. As they progress forward to the next area, they stumbled to the center of the area. Two red Piranhas Plants, with white polka dots, were guarding a Bub-ulb stem.

"Piranha Plants..." Mario said, recalling his past adventure with narrowed eyes. "Be careful when they bite you, paisanos! Those teeth are sharp!"

One of the Piranha Plants burrowed down and attempted to bite Ed. Ed jumped to one of the branches. Bombette exploded the second one while Eddy slammed the Piranha Plant with his Yo-Yos. A chunk of cheese fell down from Ed's pocket.

"Sheldon Jr.! No!" Ed said, extending out his free hand. The cheese fell down inside the Piranha's mouth. It coughed out loudly and tried to spit it out, but it shook violently. The Piranha whizzed itself and dropped to the ground.

"Now that's one way to lose," Eddy said with slightly wide eyes.

Ed let go of the branch. "Why is this world so cruel?!" He placed his hands on his teary eyes as Sarah shrugged.

"Well, it might get you to finally start bathing, doofus."

Mario checked the Bub-ulb, who was safe from harm. The Bub-ulb thanked the team for rescuing him. Mario accepted a Magical Seed as a token of gratitude, but the Bub-ulb warned him to plant it in the safe place or he would be cursed. Mario had no problem with that. Ed cried all the way until there was another tree with a scary face on it. They went to the next area as Ed finally stopped crying.

"Oh well! At least I have Angus."

"Who's Angus?" Kooper asked.

"Angus, my more lucky fish!" Ed showed everyone his necklace with a skeleton fish attached. It had a horrible smell that made the others cringe in disgust.

"Good lord!" Double-D said while pinching his nose. "It smells like sardines from the 1950s!"

"So that's the source of Ed's smell," Kooper said in a pinched voice.

"You don't know the half of it..." Sarah sighed.

"Can we get this story on the roll?!" Eddy asked, far away from the vile odor. This area had blue mushrooms growing around. It sparked up when they walked around. One path has more mushrooms than the rest, so they went to that direction. The puzzle here was the flowers, but it was an easy one because all the flowers wilted away on touch. The bushes with the flowers did not wilt away; the team went toward that path. After navigating through Forever Forest and battling Forest Fuzzies and Piranhas Plants, everyone sighed in relief when they found the sign that pointed to Boo's Mansion.

Boo's Mansion was gigantic than they thought. It had several windows and stone bricks as its structure. A black gate with stone walls was blocking the route.

"We're here," Mario murmured as he stared at the mansion.

"It's about time," Eddy said with a huff. "I was getting sick of that forest."

"Me too. I was starting to invent life origins for my eyebags." Kevin groaned.

"Guys, we're still in the forest," Nazz said. Mario, Ed, and Rolf pushed the gates open as everyone slowly walked forward. The gate suddenly crashed to its original position, which startled everyone.

"I-it's locked!" Parakarry said. All the partners tried to open the gate, but the gate would not open up.

"We can't get out! It's no use!" Bombette said.

"If only I had mastered that Door Unlocking Spell..." Merlow sighed.

"It's like someone is blocking the gate!" Goombario said.

The Boo butler materialized in front of the mansion as everybody got on guard.

"Welcome, sirs and madams," he said before bowing. "I'm pleased that you all made it through Forever Forest."

"Let us out already!" Eddy growled, readying his Yo-Yos.

"I'm afraid I cannot allow you to do so. My master awaits you on the highest floor in this lovely mansion."

"More like a haunted mansion..."

"Thank you for the generous compliment, sir. Please go to the third floor. There you will hear all the news of the Star Spirits. I'll see you all there...hopefully." The Boo entered inside the mansion while the team decided they had no choice but to go in. Mario turned the knob of the entrance and opened it up. One by one, the team advanced forward with caution.

"I REALLY hope the author doesn't lose interest in this story, Plank. It's getting to the good part!: Johnny said as he swallowed hard.

Next Time: Sarah's Ghostly Companion

Modify Technique: Black Fire!-Merlow unleashes a blast of black fire that incinerates all enemies in its path!

-Current Badge Collection-

Mario: Power Jump, Shrink Stomp

Ed: Close Call, Multibounce

Double-D: Refund, Damage Dodge

Eddy: Feeling Fine, Money Money

Kevin: Smash Charge, Quake Hammer

Rolf: Dizzy Attack, Power Rush

Johnny: Hammer Throw, Spin Smash

Nazz: Power Bounce, Zap Tap

Sarah: D-Down Pound, Power Smash

Jimmy: Pretty Lucky, Spike Shield