Near the core of Mt. Lavalava, everyone, except Goombario, found Kolorado hyperventilating and looking around like a mad man.
"We're very close! My treasure-hunting senses is off the chart! It must be over there!" He ran through a cavern, which made most of the group sigh in frustration and chased after him. Bow noticed another path that led to another floor below. While running, they noticed the tracks from the Spiny Tromp on the ground. When they reached the end, they found the Spiny Tromp stuck on the wall.
"It's another dead-end... Forgive me, but I can be wrong on occasion."
"On occasion?" Bow thought, raising an eyebrow.
"I will stay here for a little while. It must be around here somewhere." The team decided to head back with no leads. They found a Thunder Bolt, Super Mushroom, and a Maple Syrup inside the floating blocks.
"We looked everywhere and we haven't found it yet!" Eddy said in frustration.
"Yeah! I'm sweating out of my ears here, man!" Kevin groaned.
"Is it possible the information Twink told us was fake?" Mario said. "Maybe he misheard it."
"Everyone. I believe there's one more path left." Bow said as she pointed to the rocky stairs, next to the Heart Block. "There's a good chance it's down there."
"Let's give it a shot," Sushie said. Everyone recovered their energies with the Heart Block and proceeded down.
A Putrid Piranha spotted the team. "Red alert! Red alert! Mario and the Kids are still approaching! Identified as searching for Star Spirit!"
"Huh, looks like you were right about that, huh Bow?" Sarah said as Bow smirked playfully in response.
Everyone moved forward with caution as they entered a wide area. The area almost resembled the number "8". The space in the "8" was filled with a pool of magma, and the outer edges were filled with magma as well.
"I just remembered something, guys!" Ed said.
"What is it?" Kooper asked.
"Didn't Twink told us about a scary Piranha in here?" Everyone thought up about that for a second.
"Now that you mentioned it...you're right!"
"Oh gee willikers, I've got the shakes now!" Jimmy muttered fearfully as Watt nuzzled up to him.
"It's okay, Jimmy..."
"That boss Twink was referring must be that scary Piranha," Mario added.
"Guys!" Bombette said. "There's something bubbling inside that pool!"
"And from the sound of it, it ain't friendly!" Kevin added.
Everyone scanned closely as the bubbling grew more intense. An enormous Piranha Plant emerged out of the pool while everyone backed away from the scattered magma. Unlike the rest, this one had white ring markings on his head, and its stem was spiky. Two more came out, but there were two smaller versions of it. The Piranha Plant licked his lips with his large red tongue before speaking.
"You've finally made it!" it said in a Jamaican Accent. "Look at those delicious foods!"
"Wh-what are you?" Mario asked, being horrified. "WHO are you?"
"I am Lava Piranha, the last enemy you'll see in your sight! Bad guys come to steal Star Spirit!"
"Bad guys?!" Sushie asked. "We are not the bad guys!"
"You dare claim Rolf is one of the bad members of the guys? You shall hang!" Rolf angrily said, pointing his staff forward.
"Bad guys who come here in my volcano will get burn and eaten! No exceptions! Time to turn on the heat!" The team changed into their fighting stance and broke into smaller groups, surrounding Lava Piranha. Mario and Double-D noticed Goombario was not present, but Mario had to focus on this heated battle. Lava Piranha swept Ed, Sarah, Kooper, and Bow with its giant head, smacking them away to the ground, struggling to stand up. Mario charged forward and pounded Lava Piranha's head vertically followed by Nazz uppercutting its chin. It shrieked in pain and retreated back. The Right Lava Bud fired a fire blast to Mario, but he rolled out-of-the-way.
"I really hate doing this to a plant..." Johnny said, using his Hammer Throw Badge and throwing his hammer to the Right Lava Bud. On impact, it shriveled up, unable to fight back.
"Come and taste this!" Eddy said, gaining Lava Piranha's attention.
"Yo, Lava Dork! We're a pretty good snack, don't ya think?!" Kevin taunted as well.
"If you eat me, you'll have a bombastic taste!" Bombette said, taunting as well. Lava Piranha could not resist them, so it diverted away from Ed. Lava Piranha slammed his head down to Eddy and Bombette. Bombette rolled out-of-the-way, but Eddy jumped up to avoid it. With his yo-yos in his hands, Eddy pounded hard on Lava Piranha. While immobilized, Bombette lit up her fuse and exploded in front of Lava Piranha's face. Lava Piranha screamed in pain even more. Although Eddy and Bombette celebrated their attacks, the Left Lava Bud seized Eddy.
"Eddy!" She watched him screaming, which felt like the spikes were piercing his body.
"Now drag him down into my pool!" Lava Piranha said to his Left Lava Bud, which began to pull Eddy down. Eddy struggled to set himself free.
"I'm too cool to be burned alive!" Eddy said, then screamed even more.
"LET THE DORK GO!" Kevin said, smacking the vine of the Left Lava Bud with his wrench, making it shake.
"I've got you!" Bow said, grabbing Eddy and veiling away. Both of the enemies tried to eat the air, but Bow had already placed Eddy next to Bombette.
"We've got to help!" Kooper said, retreating back into his shell.
Ed swiped a Modify Card as Kooper spun in place, preparing a Power Shell Shot before noking an ice arrow into his bow.
"Have a taste of our united power!" Ed declared as he fired his arrow while Kooper dashed forward into Lava Piranha. It recoiled in pain as Kooper landed back to Ed. Now the enemy focused its attention to them, allowing Eddy to be tended to.
"You need first aid," Bombette said to Eddy, who was lying on the ground.
"Yeah, Eddy, you're not looking too hot..." Nazz said in worry.
"I...have a better plan" he replied and clasped his hands, focusing his Star Power. "Refresh!" Eldstar, for the first time, finally reappeared above Eddy. Eldstar noticed Eddy clutching his stomach.
"Don't worry, Eddy," Eldstar said in a humble voice. "You'll be in good shape very soon."
He circled around Eddy multiple times as Eddy was enveloped by white mystic sparkles. His injuries around the stomach cleared up, though there were still marks on him.
Eddy put up a weak smile. "Thanks... You're the man, Eldstar."
"Be careful from now on, Eddy." And with that, Eldstar warped away. Meanwhile, Ed and Kooper dodged fire blasts from Lava Piranha and the Left Lava Bud. They eventually retreated back to the other side.
"You can't reach us!" Ed and Kooper said, making funny faces to the enemy. When they closed their eyes for four seconds and opened them up, the Left Lava Bud was nowhere to be found. Suddenly, the Left Lava Bud emerged from the second pool of magma, shocking Ed and Kooper. Lava Piranha and the Left Lava Bud continued to shoot fire blasts at them.
"Dance, you bad guys! Bleck hyuck hyuck yuck!" Lava Piranha said, shooting more fire blasts. Mario jumped forward to the Left Lava Bud, with his Power Jump Badge activated, and landed down on it two times. Just like before, it shriveled up as Mario landed on the ground safely.
"You will pay for that, Mario!"
"We'll see about that!" Mario said as Nazz ran up to the group.
"Guys, I think I got an idea involving me and Sushie!" Nazz said as she showed one of her Modify Cards to the boys, who inspected it and nodded their heads.
"You got it!" they said with thumbs-up, joining the fight with the others
"Come and face Rolf, Plant of Lava!" Rolf roared as he dared the Lava Piranha to attack him and dodged all of its attacks as well.
"It's not doing much!" Jimmy exclaimed, blocking the fire blasts with his shield as Watt flew around him, trying to help in any way she could.
Sushie hopped next to Nazz. "I hope this trick will work..."
"Don't worry too much, Sushie!" Nazz said and swiped the Modify Card across her Star Caller. Sushie began to blow herself up, concentrating her modify move with Nazz.
"Hey, over here!" Ed said, which grabbed Lava Piranha's attention. Bow slapped the Lava Piranha from behind five times.
"Don't take me the wrong way," She scoffed., showing off her red bows. Lava Piranha tried to swallow her, but it was interrupted by another ice arrow from Ed.
"Eat me, instead! I taste like gravy!"
"I had enough of this foolishness!" Lava Piranha said, roaring out.
"Hey, you!" Nazz said, grabbing the enemy's attention. Sushie blew a concentrated water ball out of her mouth. Nazz then grabbed it in her hands "Have you ever tasted water before? Taste Sushie's Hydro Bomb!"
Nazz threw the water ball like a professional basketball player, sending it off to Lava Piranha. Ed fired another ice arrow to Lava Piranha's head, which made his mouth open. The concentrated water ball went inside its mouth as it shrieked louder than ever. All three of them began to sink down into the magma.
"All right!" Everyone cheered, celebrating their victory. Their celebration was cut short when the room began to vibrate. All three of them came out of the pool, only this time they were literally fired up. They showed off their red tongues as if they ate spicy foods. Everyone else gasped; some backed away.
"No way!"
"Are you kidding me?!" Sarah asked angrily.
"It's not over yet!" Lava Piranha said. All three of them shot out flamethrowers around the half of the "8". Unfortunately, Ed, Sarah, Kooper, Bow, Kevin, Eddy, and Bombette were located around Lava Piranha. The circle split up into three sections, separated by three streaming flamethrowers. They screamed as they ran around, but if they ran too fast, they will run straight into the flames. If they slowed down, they will be caught by the other flamethrower.
The only ones left were Mario, Double-D, Jimmy, Watt, Rolf, Merlow, Johnny, Parakarry, Nazz, and Sushie.
"Let Rolf assist!" Rolf said as he swiped a Modify Card of his own. Merlow glowed with power and rolled through hand signs.
"TSUNAMI WAVE!" Firing a wave of water, Merlow extinguished the flames, allowing everyone to escape.
"That was crazy!" Eddy said, panting a lot. Everyone remained unburnt from that trap. Both the Lava Buds moved to the other pool, which meant the heroes were trapped both ways.
"I don't like this situation one bit," Bombette said, eying closely at them.
"Never fear! Kolorado to the rescue!" A familiar voice shouted. Everyone turned to the entrance and saw Kolorado charging forward with a flying kick. Unfortunately, the Lava Buds moved out-of-the-way, which caused him to kick straight to Jimmy's face. Jimmy yelped in pain and fell down on the ground unconscious. Kolorado noticed the team staring at him with irritated expressions.
"Uh... Oops?" He chuckled nervously.
"JIMMY!" Sarah and Watt screamed in terror.
"Nice going, Kolorado!" Bow said, resisting the urge to slap as she dodged a flamethrower from the Lava Buds. The inferno continued as the team dodged more flamethrowers. Sarah, Watt, and Bow miraculously took Jimmy behind a rock where they would be safe; the rest "danced" around the "8" shape.
"They just keep on blowing!" Mario said, ducking down to avoid another fire blast.
"Wait!" Sushie said, remembering something as they continue to avoid. "Nazz, surely there's another card!"
"Yeah! Maybe that can turn the tides!"
"Then do it!"
Nazz swiped another card and Sushie hopped behind a rock and inflated herself bigger than before.
"TIDAL WAVE!" She flew around the room with amazing speed while launching water attacks everywhere. It struck the enemies, which they became stunned due to a water attack. The whole room began to fill up with steam, but not completely.
"Everyone, attack!" Mario defeated the Right Lava Bud with his Power Jump. Ed fired more ice arrows at the Left Lava Bud, thus defeating it as well. Sushie, Merlow, Watt, Parakarry, and Bow attacked the Lava Piranha with their powers. Kolorado, however, was making fighting poses in the steam. The steam finally cleared up, but Lava Piranha returned to his flame form. Lava Piranha growled and unleashed his most powerful attack.
"Mega Fire Breath!" Lava Piranha said. The team quickly tried to find a hiding spot. Mario, Nazz, and Sushie, however, could not find them in time. A big flamethrower raced across the room to Mario. Mario widened his eyes as he tried to shield himself. A loud explosion occurred.
"Mario! Sushie! Nazz!" the team said, gasping. Lava Piranha could not help but smirk at this scene. The black smoke started to fill up half the room.
"What...happened? Am I in the Bad Place?" Jimmy asked, finally awake. When the black smoke cleared, everyone gasped again. Mario and Sushie were lying on the ground, surrounded by a Water Block. However, they looked severely injured from the blast.
"So you've both survived," Lava Piranha said, frowning. "No matter. I prefer if I gobble you up."
"Not so fast, you overgrown desert flower!" Someone said. Everyone turned to the entrance and saw what they had never expected.
"Goombario!" Double-D exclaimed in relief. Goombario's body was flowing with rainbow energy; the air around him looked very destructive. Goombario walked to Lava Piranha and stood in front of it. However, every step he made cracked the ground.
"GOOMBARIO HAS GONE ULTRA INSTINCT, YOU GUYS!" Ed exclaimed in awe.
"Another one?" Lava Piranha asked, but regained its composure. "Like it matters. You're just an itty bitty Goomba. I bet you were being a coward and a stuck-up fool"
"I am not a coward nor a fool!" Goombario replied, narrowing his eyes. "I may have been a foolish person before, but I...have been reborn!"
His aura started to become destructively violent, even his team felt his extreme power.
"Once a fool, always a fool! Your powers are just a bluff!"
"Young Fungus Goombario!" Rolf said from behind the rock the rest of the team hid behind. Goombario turned around and suddenly caught Rolf's Ice Power Badge. He saw the Son of a Shepard give him a smile and a nod as he smirked and equipped it onto himself.
"Prepare to be eaten alive!" Lava Piranha slammed his head down to Goombario, but Goombario leaped up, Double-D acting quickly and tossing his friend his Star Sword, which he caught in his mouth.
"A little extra 'oomph', my fungal fellow!"
"Thanks, Double-D!" Goombario shouted as he twirled around in the air.
"This is it! My true power!"
Goolmbario dove down directly to Lava Piranha's head. "BONK SLASH ULTIMA!"
The blade of the Star Sword was coated in an icy aura and Goombario slashed past Lava Piranha and landed behind him. After a tense moment, the Lava Piranha screamed in unbridled agony.
"THE ICE! IT BURNS! MAKE IT STOP, PLEASE!"
Lava Piranha screamed so loudly that the stalactites, pointy rocks hanging from the ceiling, started to fall down to the ground. It failed around crazily, banging its head on the wall, the ground, and the magma before a stalagmite began falling over his head.
"Oh, Sweet Miyamo-!"
He couldn't finish as the stalagmite pierced through his head and out his jaw, white sap-like blood squirted everywhere as he went limp before slowly sinking back into the magma, his body crumbling into ash.
Everything was silent; the area was calm. Lava Piranha did not come back like last time. Then, everyone cheered loudly. Ed and Kooper grabbed Goombario and threw him up and down while everyone chanted his name. Goombario laughed out loud and was later set down. There were numerous questions about Goombario's disappearance and his power.
"Wait wait wait," Goombario said. "First of all, I was pondering so much before that everyone left me. When I found you all, I saw the whole battle. So...I decided to use my Charge technique 10 times.
"I'll say!" Kooper said, grinning. "That was super powerful, man! You totally rock!"
"I bow down to your skills, o mighty Goomba warrior!" Ed said.
"As does Rolf, for you have proven yourself a man among mushrooms!" Rolf said as he and Ed bowed down to Goombario, which made him laugh. He then turned to Double-D and smiled as he tossed him back his sword.
"Thanks for the helping hand, Double-D."
"No problem, Goombario. That's what partners are for, after all."
Suddenly, a ball of light floated out of the pool and landed on Goombario's hand. It transformed into a card that had a pink star on it.
"Go ahead, Goombario," Mario said, smiling. "You deserve the right to free that card."
Goombario was so eager to release it. He held it up in the air and released it, showing a beautiful pink star with a yellow ribbon on her head. Her amazing looks captivated most of the males while the females were either amazed or jealous.
"Man, she looks AWESOME..." Kevin breathed.
"Man, you've got one hot chick Goombario," Eddy said, still staring at her. Goombario blushed from the compliment. He had to admit it: she made him see stars.
"I'm finally free from that prison," she said, looking at the team. "My name is Misstar. Thank you, everyone, especially you, little one."
She kissed Goombario's forehead, which he blushed twice the amount as before. Eddy and Kevin turned around with jealous expressions but noticed something wrong here.
"Congratulations, you beat that overgrown fireweed..." A snide, gravelly voice said as everyone turned to see Velhallen Beo manifest from shadows. "But his death was only the prelude to your true demise!"
"What do you mean?" Double-D asked, readying his sword as Ed pulled back an arrow and Eddy spun his yo-yos around.
"You'll see..." With that, Beo vanished as soon as he had appeared and the whole room suddenly started to shake violently. The team thought Lava Piranha was back, but this shaking was different from before. The entrance which the team came through was blocked by intense magma. Rocks started to fall, and the magma bubbled furiously.
"What's going on?!" Sushie asked, struggling to stand up straight.
"It must have been Lava Piranha!" Goombario answered. "By defeating him in this magma chamber, we triggered a volcanic eruption!"
"Eruption?!" Everyone said in fear.
"IT'S ABOUT TO BE MT. FIJI UP IN HERE, GUYS!" Johnny cried, hugging Plank close.
"WE'RE GOING TO BE TURNED INTO FRENCH CREME BRULEE!" Jimmy screamed, hugging Watt and Sarah close.
"Quickly, everyone!" Misstar said. "Through that other cavern!"
While the team rushed through the collapsed area, Kooper noticed something off.
"Wait...Where's Kolorado?!" he asked. When they reached the next area, Kolorado was already there. The team ran up the rocky stairs while Kooper seized Kolorado.
"What are you doing, ya old chap?" Kolorado asked as the Koopas jumped up the stairs. Kolorado saw Misstar next to the team, though he ignored the earthquake. "Is that Mt. Lavalava's sacred treasure? I must say, she looks stunning but she won't replace my beloved wife so easily!"
"Sorry, but your treasure exhibition is over! We have to get out of here or the magma will consume us!"
"Never! The adventure's never over until the real treasure is found! I must have overlooked it somewhere!" Kolorado headed back down the stairs until he gasped. The magma has already begun to rise, consuming the lower level.
"We're trapped!" Ed said, hands on his cheeks.
"We're stranded!" Kooper added, but then they looked at each other with big goofy smiles.
"Now this is an adventure!" They said at the same time.
"Can you both quit fooling around?!" Bow snapped as she smacked both of them across the head.
Misstar saw a crack in the wall. "I could feel a draft through this wall! There must be another room. We need to destroy it!"
"Go, Bombette!" Eddy said, pointing at the cracked wall. Bombette lit up her fuse and blew up the wall. Misstar was right; there was another room beyond. Everyone rushed through and up another flight of stairs, but reached the final dead end. However, Kolorado quickly saw a treasure chest on top of a pillar.
"There it is!" he said, frantically jumping to reach it. Eddy had always seen Kolorado how he was desperate to gain it. Seeing that, Eddy felt that it belonged to him and no one else.
"It's mine!" Eddy said, using his yo-yos to pull the treasure chest to the ground. Both Kolorado and Eddy grabbed the treasure chest. "Hands off, pal! I did all the hard work!"
"No fair! I've been searching for this since Day 1! I'd risked my life for this!"
"Knock it off, you greedy miscreants!" Misstar said. The magma from before started to flow up faster.
"Once a Greedy Dork, always a Greedy Dork!" Kevin sighed, slapping his palm to his forehead.
"What do we do, now?!" Bombette asked. Everyone tried to find anything they could escape to, minus Eddy and Kolorado who were still arguing.
"Is this truly the end of the journey?!" Rolf cried.
Goomarbio quickly looked up and saw their last hope out, pointing to a narrow pipe. "We can escape through the conduit!"
"We can't fly up!" Sushie said. The team started to back away from the stairs, due to the rising magma increasingly flowing up. Goombario suddenly tried to think of anything they could fly up faster until he spotted Misstar.
"We need to call the other Star Spirits we'd saved!" With that, Misstar comprehended Goombario's plan and called the Star Spirit telepathically. With the hot magma eating half the stairs, all five Star Spirits reported for duty. Eldstar took Mario, Parakarry, Nazz, and Sushie, Mamar took Kooper, Johnny, Merlow, and Sarah, Skolar took Ed, Double-D, and Bow, Muskular took Eddy, Rolf, and Bombette, and Misstar took Goombario, Watt, Kevin, and Kolorado. Kolorado cried out as Misstar carried him and Goombario through the conduit. Eldstar, Skolar, and Muskular followed behind Misstar.
"Wait! Take the treasure chest, too!" Kooper said to Mamar, which she stared back. "It's not for greed! It's to fix someone's senses."
"Yes, I understand!" She said, taking the small treasure chest. All the Star Spirits raced through the conduit and finally made it out of Mt. Lavalava. They set the team on the crater as the five Star Spirits positioned themselves around the vent.
"Man, you guys are really strong!" Johnny pointed out.
Eddy sighed in relief. "Whew! Finally..."
"I don't think you should relax," Bow said.
"Why? We're out of the volcano, anyways."
"Don't you know what will happen after a volcano erupts?" Goombario asked. "The lava will flow here to-"
"To the village!" Sushie said in horror, looking afar. "We've got to evacuate everyone off this island!"
"It's okay. The Star Spirits will take of this once and for all." Eldstar reassured.
"You mean...?" Mario said but saw the Star Spirits forming a rainbow barrier over the vent. The lava tried to escape through the vent, but the barrier stopped it. The five Star Spirit struggled in containing the extreme lava.
"That's nice and all," Bombette said, "but it looks like Mt. Lavalava will erupt any second!"
"Never doubt the Star Spirits' power!" Goombario said over the rumbling. The steam started to leak out of the barrier.
"This is it! Do it!" Eldstar cried. The vent around began to lit up with white light, causing the others to shield their eyes. After ten seconds, the whole shaking decreased, and there was no trace of the lava. The team came out of their hiding spots, baffled about this phenomenon.
"Wh-what happened?" Sushie asked.
Goombairo looked over the seas. "I think that will answer your question," he said. Everyone saw an intense amount of steam near Lavalava Island.
"Okay," Eddy said. "Could someone tell me what's going on?!"
"When lava touches the ocean, it hardens instantly," Goombario explained to Eddy. "The Star Spirits teleported all the lava that was in the conduit to the sea."
"Couldn't have said it better myself, Goombario!" Double-D said proudly.
"Unreal..." Nazz, Sarah, Jimmy, Bow, Bombette, Watt, and Sushie said in awe.
"Goombario..." Mario said in astonishment. "Do you mean that you'd already thought up about this before?"
"Of course," Goombario replied with a smile.
While everyone finally sighed in relief, Kooper was still hiding a little further away from them. He finally had the treasure chest Kolorado was desperate enough to obtain it. Kooper opened it up, being the first one to see what was inside.
"I knew it..."
Back at Peach's Castle in the sky, Peach and Twink wandered around her room, still wondering about Mario and the Peach Creek Kids.
"Hey, Twink..." Peach said. "Let's try sneaking out again."
"Right now? You know...they're gonna eventually find out about our secret passage. I mean, what about Velhallen Beo? I've been seeing the way he looks at you!"
"It doesn't matter! I want to get out of here fast!"
Twink couldn't help but gape. "Princess Peach! You've gotten so bold! And here I thought you were gentle and delicate."
"I am delicate! I'm behaving like a delicate princess, just like the Ministers taught me to! I love to be delicate!"
"Yikes! What do princesses learn these days?" Twink shuddered from the vociferous princess. "Okay, Peach. You're the princess."
"Excellent. Shall we proceed?" As always, they used the secret passage like before. Peach and Twink carefully navigated through the dark castle, eventually reaching the first floor like their last adventure. They entered a new room but suddenly stopped in front of a Koopatrol. He yelped when, of all people, Peach entered here. He did not notice Twink hiding in Peach's hair.
"What the?!" he said. "How did you get out of your room?! You can't leave your room!"
Peach began to back away but realized it would be too late as a Hammer Bro. quickly entered the scene. "Hang on just a second! Princess Peach... This is actually perfect timing for you to show up."
"And what do you mean?" Peach asked.
"Why...you're the last person we need in our game!"
"Oh yeah!" the Koopatrol agreed, completely forgotten about that part. "You're perfect for this!"
They took Peach down further, much to her dismay and confusion. They gently placed Peach in the middle of the booth, along with two Koopatrols between her. Peach took a look around and saw colorful booths, ribbons, and flowers. They were staring straight at the red curtain.
"Peach, where are we?" Twink whispered through Peach's hair.
Peach tried to remember the layouts of her castle. "I know this room. This is where-"
"Hello, villains and evildoers!" the Hammer Bro. said. The red curtain was lifted up, revealing Koopas, Goombas, Magikoopas, Shy Guys, and many more in the audience. "Welcome to the 64th Trivia Quiz-Off!"
The audience, or more specifically Bowser's troops, cheered while Peach and Twink wondered about the other 63. Peach believed the Koopa Troops already done this before. "I am your host, Mr. Hammer! Today, we have three lucky contestants: Koopatrol Number 1, our lovely captured Princess Peach, and Koopatrol Number 2!"
Everyone cheered again while some muttered to one another about Peach. Unbeknownst to everyone, Velhallen Beo was watching from the shadows with annoyance. He already knew the Peach Creek Kids and Mario escaped the erupting volcano and he came back to see this?!
"Whoa..." Peach murmured as Mr. Hammer cleared his throat before speaking.
"Here are the rules: there are ten questions. The one who answers the most correct at the end is our winner. The first to press their buzzer will answer first with one of the three options. The winner will win a fabulous prize!"
Prize?
"Even if you lose, everyone will receive a prize, so everybody is a winner! That's just the kind of show we are!"
"What's with these people?" Peach and Twink thought, knowing the Koopa Troops were to be feared, but this was ridiculous to them.
"Question 1! What's the name of the boss inside the volcano of Lavalava Island?" Peach knew the answer and quickly pressed her buzzer. She looked down her screen and saw three options: Koopa Bros., Lava Piranha, and Goompa. "Princess Peach, your answer?"
"Lava Piranha!" She answered. Her booth shined, meaning the answer was correct. The audience cheered for her, even though she was the hostage.
"Question 2! Where did Master Huff N. Puff imprison the sixth Star Spirit?" Peach and Twink had absolutely no clue, so Koopatrol Number 1 answered.
"Flower Fields!" He said. His answer was correct as they move along to the third question.
"Those idiots...!" Velhallen Beo cursed internally as he saw this.
"Question 3! What is the name of the scary round monster living in Dry Dry Ruins?" Peach had a hunch, but Koopatrol Number 2 smacked his buzzer first.
"Um...Chomp?" Koopatrol Number 2 answered. Nevertheless, his answer was correct.
"Nice job, contestants!" Mr. Hammer said. "All of you are even, so here comes the fourth question! How would you get to Flower Fields?"
Koopatrol Number 1 answered quickly. "By passing through the Flower Gate!"
The answer was correct as the audience cheered loudly. Peach grumbled silently while Twink was collecting information from the questions and answers.
"Question 5! What is the name of the person who King Bowser really loves?"
Peach immediately pounded her buzzer after he had finished his sentence. She slapped herself mentally, wishing for a different question other than that.
"Ugh...me," She answered. Her answer was correct. The audience cheered with a mixture of laughter.
"Question 6! What thing is most deeply related to Flower Fields?" Peach, again, had a good guess, but Koopatrol Number 1 clicked his buzzer first.
"Flowers!" he answered, which was correct.
"Question 7! What's the name of the most admirable, invincible, most downright cool guy around?"
Peach hit her buzzer and again slapped herself mentally.
"I can't believe I'm gonna say this!" She groaned internally. "B-Bowser?"
The audience cheered even louder than before.
"Let's take a look at the results! Koopatrol Number 1 and Princess Peach are already tied up with three points. Sadly, Koopatrol Number 2 only has one measly point. You can still stay in the game with this eighth question! What's the name of the ghosts who live in and around Forever Forest?"
Unfortunately, Koopatrol Number 1 responded first. "Boo!" he said, playfully scaring the audience. Koopatrol Number 1 now had four points.
"I'm so sorry, Koopatrol Number 2. There's no way for you to win the game, even if you answer the last two. You know what means, audience?"
"Bucket in the head!" the audience answered.
"Say what?!" Koopatrol number 2 said as a gray bucket dropped down on his head. "Ow! Where did everyone go?! Oof!"
He tripped down to the ground, making everyone laugh. Peach couldn't help but look at his plight in sympathy.
"I hope it doesn't happen to Twink...or my hair!" she thought with fear.
"Our remaining two contestants are Koopatrol Number 1 and Princess Peach! Who will win? Question 9! What's the name of the area just to the south of the post office in Toad Town?"
Peach knew the answer straight from her head, so she slammed the button. "The Flower Garden!" she answered. Peach received one point, making the total of four.
"This is it, ladies and gentlemen! Only one of them will win the game with this...final...question! Final question! Where is Peach's Cast-" A buzzer sounded.
It was Peach who had sounded it off without thinking in which she then realized her mistake. "Oh no! I must have pressed it without hesitation...but maybe...I can...deduce from his question. It's about my castle's location...so..."
She looked down to her three options: on Bower's Castle, in the Ground Water, and Farthest Shiver City.
"That's it! It's so obvious!"
"Your response, Princess Peach, before time is up."
"It's on Bowser's Castle!" A loud "ding ding ding" echoed the area as the audience cheered the loudest as possible, much to their ears and vocals. Mr. Hammer also applauded.
"Congratulations, Princess Peach!" Koopatrol Number 1 gave a weak clap while the other one was still having trouble taking off the bucket. "You are the winner of the 64th Trivia Quiz-Off! Today will mark history as the first person, other than the Koopa Troops, to win this game! Accept this prize!"
Mr. Hammer gave Peach an orange jar. It was labeled 'Jammin' Jelly'. "It's a highly nutritious snack, Princess Peach... Aha! I almost forgot! Here is your prize for participating."
Peach gasped when she saw her pink parasol with gold edges on his hands. She accepted the prize, remembering its secret power.
"My Sneaky Parasol!" She examined it closely. It was still in perfect shape while Mr. Hammer faced the audience.
"Well, everyone, today's show has been grand! We'll come back together in the next Quiz-Off!"
"I CANNOT IN GOOD CONSCIENCE LET THIS STAND!" Velhallen Beo roared, making his presence known as Peach gasped, quickly making her escape as Twink flew off to help inform the heroes. All the Koopa Troop looked at the demon as he glared furiously at them.
"L-Lord Beo-?" Mr. Hammer couldn't finish as Beo grabbed his face and ripped it off. The poor Hammer Bro screamed in agony as blood spilled everywhere while everyone else screamed in terror. Peach covered her mouth, resisting the urge to vomit as Beo then ripped off Mr. Hammer's faceplate, then stabbed his claws into his exposed brain and ripped it out, taking a juicy bite out of it.
"YOU MONSTER!" Cried a Shy Guy as Beo turned and fired seeing beams of heat from his eyes, which reduced the poor Shy Guy to ash, leaving only his mask behind.
"ALL OF YOU IMBECILES, GET OUT OF MY SIGHT!" The Koopa Troop all scattered as Peach ran back to her room, tears in her eyes after having witnessed such brutality. Beo scoffed, casually wiping the blood from his lips and walking off. However, Koopatrol Number 2 was left behind, having been unable to hear what happened due to the bucket on his head.
"Can somebody help me?!"
Next Time: Jr. Troopa...SERIOUSLY?!
[The Heroes rescued Misstar!]
Modify Technique: Hydro Bomb!: Sushie fills up and spits out and concentrated ball of water that then explodes, drenching and dousing enemies!
Modify Technique: Tsunami Wave!: Merlow unleashes a powerful wave of water that sweeps up any enemies caught in its path!
Modify Technique: Tidal Wave!: Sushie fills up with water then shoots herself around while spitting it out, splashing everything around her!
-Current Badge Collection-
Mario: Power Jump, Shrink Stomp, I Spy
Ed: Close Call, Mega Rush, Fire Shield
Double-D: Refund, Damage Dodge, Power Plus
Eddy: Feeling Fine, Money Money, Multibounce
Kevin: Smash Charge, Quake Hammer, Defend Plus
Rolf: Dizzy Attack, Power Rush, Ice Power
Johnny: Hammer Throw, Spin Smash, Power Quake
Nazz: Power Bounce, D-Down Jump, Spike Shield
Sarah: D-Down Pound, Power Smash, Happy Heart
Jimmy: Pretty Lucky, Zap Tap, Dizzy Stomp