"What do you mean by punishment?!" Kevin angrily asked.
"I actually agree. What brought this on?" Bow asked more politely.
"This doesn't concern the rest of you all," the Shy Guy replied. "Leave, or suffer the consequences with those two menaces!"
"Then we'll suffer together!" Ed said. The three Shy Guys ran forward, but Mario, Kevin, and Johnny deflected them back with their hammers and wrench. Everyone left to the back room and ran out on the other side of the building. After exiting out and remained hidden next to the building, they saw a bunch of Shy Guys causing havoc in Toad Town.
"What do we do now?" Goombario asked.
"We've got to stop-a them!" Mario replied. "It looks like stealing isn't their only a-goal."
"They're gonna beat us!" Eddy said in a panic as Bow looked at him, Kevin, Nazz, and Bombette.
"What did you four even do to provoke them?" Bow asked.
The four pondered until Bombette spoke up. "That guy...Come to think of it, Shy Guys resembled the Bandits in Dry Dry Desert."
Eddy widened his eyes. "No way..."I think I know why! Those guys want to beat us because of that incident with the Bandits!"
"Are you kidding me?! You serious?!" Kevin asked as Eddy nervously nodded his head.
"You're referring to the one where you, Kevin, Nazz, and Bombette defeated all the Bandits in Dry Dry Desert?" Double-D asked.
"In any case," Parakarry said, "We have to stop them before they create more damage."
"Right," Mario said, facing his friends. "Shy Guys are roaming around Toad Town, stealing items and hunting Eddy, Kevin, Nazz, and Bombette. We shall split into a-groups and fight all-a the Shy Guys in Toad Town before finding their a-hideout."
"Parakarry and I will go with Eddy, Nazz, and Kevin," Double-D said. "If they were out in the opening, they will catch them for sure."
"Then Goombario, Johnny, and I will take the north along with Double-D's group. Goombario and I will split up after that. Ed, Rolf, Sarah, Jimmy, Kooper, Merlow, and Bow can fight in the south and west area. Let's-a-go, everyone!" Everyone broke out from their hiding spot and went to their destination.
Ed, Rolf, Sarah, Jimmy, Kooper, Merlow, and Bow saw Shy Guys stealing to the point of robbing clothes. Rolf charged ahead and gave a staff smack to one of them. Then, three Shy Guys flew up in the air due to the impact of Kooper's spinning shell and Jimmy's charging shield attack before being shot out of the sky by Ed's bow and Merlow's magic blasts. As for the last Shy Guy, someone tapped his shoulder. He turned around and saw Bow performing her Spook attack with Sarah joining in. She was four times bigger and scarier than before. The Shy Guy fainted from sheer fright.
Bow cackled, fanning herself. "Never mess with a Boo!" she said as Ed and Kooper rejoined with her.
"It looks like there are more Shy Guys at the train station, guys!" Sarah pointed out.
"Let's head over there, then," Merlow said. Ed's group ran to the train station where three Shy Guys were stealing parts of the railroad track. Ed and Kooper lined up on the track.
"Modify: DRAGON'S WRATH!"
Kooper shot the mighty blast of green energy from his mouth as the attack defeated all the Shy Guys. When they went to inspect them, one of them was a robot. Kooper gasped at this. "A robot?! Some of them are actually robots?!"
"Machines? Intriguing..." Merlow said as Rolf poked one of the robots with his staff cautiously.
"This is just like the comics I read!" Ed said. "They disguised themselves as humans in the society. When the time was right, the robots took off their disguise and wreak havoc in the world. All the humans would end up as slaves to the new society ruled by robots!"
Bow frowned with a bored look. "I think that brain of yours is too small, darling."
"Now that we've got the south side, let's check at the west, comrades!" Rolf declared.
"There they are!" one of the Shy Guys said. "Get 'em!"
Mario's group was surrounded in the center of Toad Town. Twelve Shy Guys already surrounded the team.
"This is not good," Goombario murmured as all the Shy Guys charged forward at the same time. Mario and Goombario fought and defeated two, but two more landed a blow against their back. While Mario and Goombario rolled forward in pain, Parakarry shot himself forward at the third Shy Guy. He lifted the fourth Shy Guy. With his great upper body strength, he threw the Shy Guy out of town.
"Coming your way, Kev!" Nazz said as she picked up a Shy Guy and pitched it like a football towards Kevin, who reeled back with his wrench.
"And he's OUTTA HERE!" With a sweet spot strike, Kevin sent the Shy Guy flying into the ionosphere.
A group composed of four Shy Guys charged straight to Eddy. Eddy pulled out a Mystery (which he "borrowed" from Double D) and took out a mysterious item. It was actually a cap made out of stone, so he put it on with no hesitation. Suddenly, his whole body transformed into stone. All the Shy Guys' attacks were repelled back by its indestructible hardness.
"Not too shabby!" Eddy said with a smirk before using a Modify Card. "Modify: POWER BOMB!"
Bombette ran forward and performed the Power Bomb, which defeated all of the Shy Guys in one explosion. The effects of Eddy's cap soon wore off.
Double-D checked up Mario and Goombario's back. It was not too serious, so they were able to continue.
"This is getting chaotic!" Double-D said. Even though the team won, there was still more Shy Guys roaming around.
"Help!" Rowf said. A Shy Guy stole Rowf's calculator from his shop.
"My mailbag!" someone from the Post Office said.
"Stop! Thief!" Russ T. said at the Shy Guy who stole his dictionary.
"It IS chaotic!" Eddy said.
"We'll split up from here," Mario said. "Good luck, everyone!"
Mario and Goombario ran toward the Dojo, leaving Eddy, Bombette, Double-D, Johnny, and Parakarry behind. The four heard Minh T.'s screamed nearby. Two Shy Guys were wrecking her garden.
"Stop right there, you heathens!" Double-D said. He pulled out a POW Block from his light blue bag. "Minh T., get out of here!"
Minh T. ran on Double-D's order. He threw his POW Block near the Shy Guys. When the item impacted the ground, the two Shy Guys flipped and fell down to the ground. Parakarry threw the first while Eddy smashed the second one with his yo-yos.
"Thank you so much!" Minh T. said in joy, hugging them all. "Luckily, they didn't destroy the seeds you planted."
Double-D smiled and nodded. "You're welcome. Everyone, let's go and meet Merlon. He will inform us about the location of the Shy Guy's hideout."
It was a short run from the garden to Merlon's house. They entered inside to see Merlon on the other side of the table.
"I knew you four would come," Merlon said. "If you seek my advice, then offer me 5 coins for your future." Double D paid his own money instead of Eddy's. Merlon's crystal ball began to shine as it created a light show. Soon, the light dimmed away while Merlon opened his eyes. "I see an abandoned house where the Shy Guys come from endlessly. Though the interior deceives the eye, one must look closely to see what lies behind."
"Where is the abandoned house?" Bombette asked.
"It is located at the west side where it is near the docking ports."
"Thank you for sharing your wisdom, Merlon," Double D said as the team exited out Merlon's house.
"Just be sure to watch over my grandson. Though I have faith your friend Rolf is doing his best as we speak." Merlon said as they left.
"It's time to begin the counterattack," Eddy growled with a serious look on his face. They headed to the west.
"It's pounding time!" Kevin snarled, slamming his wrench into his palm.
Mario and Goombario saw the Dojo being invaded. Some of the students fought bravely, but could not win against their enemies. The Master was behind, watching his students getting beat up.
"Enough!" The Master said. He slowly stepped forward in front of his students. He turned his head to glance at his disciples. "All of you have much to learn. Now watch closely." He got into his fighting stance, then coughed loudly. The six Shy Guys ran forward at the same time, but Mario and Goombario jumped in and defeated two Shy Guys. While the Shy Guys were in a state of confusion, The Master swiftly punched one straight to the air. The other three surrounded The Master and attacked at the same time. The Master punched the one in the front while he used his two fists to slam against the other two. The force from each punch was so powerful because the Shy Guys' faces were revealed to be robots.
Mario and Goombario gaped in awe. "Mama-Mia..."
"He's so powerful," Goombario said. "No wonder he's the master of this Dojo."
The Master coughed out loudly before turning to his students. "And that was only one-third of my true power." All the students bowed down to him. Mario and Goombario realized The Master's group could handle things here.
The two heroes went inside a shop and saw a Shy Guy as the manager of the store.
"Whoa! It's Mario!" he said in shock, then he cleared out his throat. "Look, if you want to buy something, you're gonna have to pay all of your coins!"
"Wh-what?!" Mario asked, narrowing his eyes. "That's a rip-off! I suggest you leave before I smack you with my hammer." He took out his hammer and immediately slammed the Shy Guy out of the store. The real owner of the store came by shortly.
"Thank you so much!" the Toad owner said.
"It was no big deal," Goombario said. "Mario, we should regroup with the others and find the Shy Guy's Toy Box."
"Right," Mario answered. However, when they exited the store, eight more Shy Guys surrounded them. "Oh no!"
"We've finally found you, Mario!" one of them said. "We'll let you live...if you tell us where your four friends are."
Mario and Goombario narrowed their eyes. "And what are you going to do? Beat them up to a pulp?"
The rest of the Shy Guys laughed in an evil tone "That's exactly correct! Those four heartlessly slaughtered the whole Bandit camp in Dry Dry Desert; we want revenge for our fallen brothers. It is an order from General Guy, a best friend to the leader of the Bandits."
"If you want to find them, then that's a-too bad for you! There is no-a way I'm-a gonna let any of you hurt-a my friends. You tell your a-leader that!" Mario growled.
"It looks like we have no choice! Get them!" Before anyone could respond, a huge black ball with a person on top crushed down a Shy Guy with its weight. It crushed and scared all the Shy Guys with its mighty weight and roar. Mario and Goombario realized it was Chompy with Luigi riding on top of him.
"Hey, Bro!" Luigi said, waving at him with his green hat. "Boy, are you a-lucky I came-a here just in time! I chased after a Shy Guy when he invaded our a-home. Chompy and I chased him here and...you know the rest."
Mario smiled proudly at his brother. "Thanks, Bro."
"We'll protect Toad Town until the situation is taken care of. With Chompy by my side, I don't fear a thing!" Chompy noticed a bone flying past him. He immediately barked, threw Luigi off, and chased after the bone, leaving poor Luigi behind. "Chompy! Come back! I can't do a thing without you!" He ran after Chompy while Mario just let out a good-natured chuckle and Goombario stared awkwardly.
"Never change, Luigi."
"Well, that takes care of that," Kooper said. Ed's group finished off all the Shy Guys in the docking area. Some were real while the others were robots.
"You are the pawns; I am the king!" Ed said with his hammer shining over his head.
"Then I must be the queen," Bow added, dusting off her bows.
"Rolf is the stalwart Knight!"
Merlow nodded. "And I am the humble Rook."
"Then I'm..." Kooper said, then paused. "What pieces are there again?"
"You're my lowly pawn."
Kooper gaped. "Wh-what?! I'm no weakling, Bow! I took down more Shy Guys than you!"
"Well, then you're a useful pawn who will eventually fall." Before Kooper could rebuttal, Eddy's group joined in.
"What's the status, fellows?" Double-D asked.
"We have accomplished our mission!" Ed replied with a salute.
"Why, Ed..." Eddy said in a sarcastic tone. "You've used a very complicated long word."
"I, uh, what now?"
Mario and Goombairo came by next. "Thank goodness everyone is safe!"
"Everyone," Double-D said, "We now know the location of Shy Guy's Toy Box."
"Really?" Goombario asked. "That's good. We can stop them from causing any more havoc."
Double D led everyone to a normal plain house. When they went inside, it was vacant.
"I don't see any box, Double-D," Eddy said while looking around.
Double D remembered Merlon's words a while back.
"'Though the interior deceives the eye, one must look closely to see what lies...behind.'"
He stared at a plain white wall in front of him. He slowly put his right hand on it and pushed it. With enough strength, he fell forward into a new room and saw the Shy Guy's Toy Box. The box was the size of a normal block they had encountered before. It had green and yellow stripes in a checkerboard style with red, blue, and green spots. In this room. there were many different kinds of drawings by crayons. Everybody could deduce a child drew all that, or they could be wrong because this was the Shy Guy's territory. Double-D thought that maybe the Shy Guys were actually children. He noticed a springboard next to him.
The rest pushed through the twirling fake wall. "Nice work, Double-D!" Eddy said with a smile.
"But...is this their hideout?" Nazz asked, looking around.
"It looks...small," Parakarry said while examining it.
"How are we all fitting in here, we're like sixteen people."
"Small or not, let's play!" Mario said as he jumped on the springboard and leaped into the box. While in midair, he began to shrink down into the box. The others gaped at this, but they all joined in.
"Here we go!" Goombario said, entering inside the box.
"I'm a helicopter!" Ed said with joy, acting like a train instead while following behind Goombario.
"Adventure!" Kooper said, jumping into the box.
"Gwah hee haha!" Bow said with her pink fan. "This should be interesting." She floated down inside the box.
"All this shrinking and crazy logic are giving a headache," Double-D said, climbing inside the box and screaming down.
"I shall carry my duty and retrieve the mailbag!" Parakarry said, zooming into the cube.
"ROLF WELCOMES THE CHALLENGE!" Rolf exclaimed as he dove right in.
"Wait for me, Rolf!" Merlow cried as he followed after him.
"PLANK SAYS 'HOT SOUP IS COMING THROUGH'!" Johnny cheered as he and Plank cannonballed in.
"Hang on, Jimmy!" Sarah said as she grabbed Jimmy's hand and both pre-teens leaped into the box.
After Johnny's departure, Eddy, Kevin, Nazz, and Bombette all looked at each other. Eddy decided to speak first.
"As long as I'm here, I won't let those deranged jerks get to you!" He said, clenching his fist.
"Same thing here," Bombette replied before smirking. "This should be a piece of cake, right?"
"Oh yeah! I've got some aggression to work out on those adorable little twerps!" Nazz said, punching her gauntleted fist into her palm.
"Same here!" Kevin grinned, twirling his wrench.
Eddy nodded and smirked back as he took Bombette into his arms. "Geronimo!" He jumped into the springboard and leaped into a new world. Kevin and Nazz linked arms and followed in last.
"AND END CHAPTER AND FADE TO BLACK!"
Next Time: Toy Box Trials!
-Current Badge Collection-
Mario: Power Jump, Shrink Stomp
Ed: Close Call, Multibounce, Mega Rush
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, D-Down Jump
Sarah: D-Down Pound, Power Smash
Jimmy: Pretty Lucky, Spike Shield