"Come on, it's just this way!" The little ball of cuteness was leading the three giants past the woods.

"Aw, look at his little legs," Goombella fawned quietly to Koops.

"I know," Koops agreed, "It makes me want a stuffed animal one so I can give it to Koopie Koo. She'd love this place!" Koops looked around. "Well… apart from the fact she's got allergies…"

"Really?" Goombella asked with a puzzled face. "How does that work in Petalburg? She looked fine to me. I mean, there's flowers everywhere!"

Koops shrugged, "Well, yeah, but she has to have prescription allergy medication. Otherwise, she'll flare up… Don't… tell her I told you that."

"Secrets safe with me," Goombella assured.

Mario stopped the group and bent over to stop the little Puni from advancing any further. He saw something. Or, more appropriately, someone. Mario looked over the black hills and white tall grass and saw three purple figures ahead. He motioned for the group to follow him.

"You wretched worm! Blaming me for something you probably screwed up!"

"B-but I…"

The largest of the purple figures looked their way and reacted as if she knew him. "Guh! Guh!"

"What is if Marilyn?" The smaller haggardly one asked. The one that was called Marilyn started grunting pointing at them.

"Oh boy," Goombella said stretching out. "We might be up for a fight."

"D-do you think they are looking for us?" Punio asked.

"Just stay low, buddy, we'll handle this," Koops assured, stepping in front of the Puni.

"What? This is no time for such nonsense you great oaf! Save your games for later!"

The group relaxed. "I think we're in the clear," Goombella sighed in relief.

"They do kinda look outta place though," Koops mused, "uh, Punio? Have you seen them before?"

Punio shook his little head, "No, never. I've never seen ANYTHING like them before."

"We'd better keep our guard up then," Goombella advised. "You lead Mario, we've got your back."

"Silence you dits!" The group stopped as the smaller purple figure scolded the pink haired one. "How dare you talk back to me like some rebellious child! It's clear to me the only rationale your type understands if force!" The hag reached out and took a gold necklace from the seemingly younger girl. She drooped down and began to sob as the older, shorter hag stuffed the necklace away. "As punishment, I will be taking your necklace away! Yes, that'll show you!"

The poor girl sobbed and whipped her eyes before replying, "B…but… Beldam…" She gasped a few times between her sobs. "Oh, your horrid!"

Goombella looked pitifully at the younger sister. "Gee, that's harsh… did she really do something that bad?"

Mario seemed pretty sorry for her as well, and Koops was no different. The three looked at each other and without warning Mario started walking towards them. The group reluctantly followed. Punio crawled as close to Koops as he could. And Koops picked him up to hide him in his hoodie to comfort him.

"Now, you are going to be an obedient child and GO BACK THE WAY WE CAME! To find out where YOU dropped it! AWAY!"

"Beldam…" The girl sobbed then took off in a bit of a run. "Why are you so cruel…?"

"Golly…" Koops rubbed his shoulder. "I feel sorry for her…"

"Yeah, like… why does she have to treat her like that. I don't know what she did, but that was way over the top, I think," Goombella agreed.

Mario and the team passed the two from earlier. Mario raised his hand up to greet them with a, "Hey."

Beldam looked up at him with a frustraited, "WHAT DO YOU WANT, MUSTACHE?"

Mario recoiled and shook his head. "Mm mm."

Beldam let out an exasperated sigh. "Then GET LOST!"

Mario fast walked past them as did the rest of the party. Marylin, the larger sister, looked like she was trying to Beldam something, but she knew better than to bother her older sister when she was angry. As the group passed them, they had eventually heard the sobbing of the younger sister. Mario followed it to the source then squatted near her. She sat against the tree and dried her eyes with her hat.

Mario wanted to say something without scarring her, but Koops had beat him to it. "Are you okay?"

She gasped and moved away for them. "Wh-what? Who…who are you?"

The party looked at each other, Punio's little head looked around to see what they'd say. Goombella thought about a few things then answered, "We were… just passing by when we heard that lady insult you. What even happened? No one deserves to be treated like that."

The pink haired girl sniffed and replied, "She thinks I lost something. She always thinks I'm messing up. But I didn't! I didn't loose the sketch, she did! She never trusts me with these things then she blames me for when she messes up!"

"Gee Golly, that's terrible," Said Koops as he rubbed his arm and shuffled his foot.

Mario agreed and offered her a hand. She looked up at him, with that kind smile, and accepted his hand. He pulled her up and she started cleaning her face the rest of the way.

"Sorry you had to… see me like that. I'm Vivian, it's nice to meeting nice people for a change."

"I'm Goombella, and this is… uh…"

"Marty…" Koops grinned. "His name is Marty."

"Oh, Marty," Vivian smiled, "That's a nice name."

Mario gave Koops an awkward look. He bashfully shrugged back and continued with the introductions. "And this little guy is Punio. He's… our tour guide."

"Your tourists?" Vivian asked with a frown. "You've picked a bad time to visit…"

"Why's that?" Goombella asked rhetorically.

"Well… I shouldn't be telling you this… but there's a group who calls themselves the X-Nauts. They're… looking for something. I can't say what, but it important."

"Well… is it the same thing you're looking for?" Koops asked.

"Do you meant he star thi…" Koops quickly muffled Punio before Vivian heard him.

"No… I'm looking for something smaller… it's just a…stupid drawing…"

"A drawing?" Goombella echoed, "Like a map or…"

Vivian hid her eyes beneath her hat and rubbed her arm. "I can't tell you."

"Well… if you tell us, maybe we can help you find it," Goombella offered. It wasn't as honest as it sounded, but she did plan on them being somewhat true to their word.

Vivian shook her head, however. "No thanks… I think My sister still has it… but I need some time away from them."

Mario nodded then placed a hand on her shoulder. He gave her a reassuring smile that seemed to mean the world to her. His smile was infectious and the whole group seemed to have caught it.

"Chin up, Vivian, things will get better as they go," Goombella smiled.

"Thanks," Vivian smiled back, "Thanks for talking to me. I think I needed it."

Koops nodded with a big grin. "It was no problem." Just then an idea hatched. "Hey, why don't you take a picture with us?"

"Huh?" Vivian watched as Koops dug for his camera. "You want… a picture? With me?"

"Sure, why not?" Koops asked as he prepped the camera.

Goombella came to his side and quietly whispered to him while Mario was getting ready for the photo. "I know we're tying to help her feel better but is it really a good idea to take a picture with her?"

"What's the harm in it?" Koops asked, "I'm sure it'll be okay."

Goombella sighed, "Okay… but I know you well enough Koops. You're going to give her a copy and that's going to bit us in the tail if they figure out who 'Marty' is."

Koops blushed as he finished his camera set up. "Uh… okay… say okeydokey everyone!"

Punio jumped onto Koops's shoulder and with the group smiled with a semi loud, "Okeydokey!"

Koops took the photo then looked it over. He paused and sighed. "Goombella was right… One more guys, it didn't come out right. Vivian… it's okay to smile more. Things are better if you smile."

Vivian looked at the ground then put on a big smile after looking at Goombella and Mario who were both encouraging her. She put on as large a grin as she could without forcing it. Koops took the last photo then gave a content nod. "It looks great. See?"

Koops showed her the photo. She had never seen herself like this before. She loved it so much that she found it hard to give it back. But she still extended her arm to Koops could take it.

"No, it's okay. Keep it. We have one already." Koops smiled, waving the first photo as proof, and sticking it into his journal.

"I can… really keep this?" Vivian asked.

"Of course, it's the least we can do," Koops replied.

Mario gave Koops and approving look and pat his shoulder as he passed him. Goombella wore an I-told-you-so look as she followed Mario. Koops scratched his head and put his camera back in its bag. "I have to get going…"

"Thanks for the picture… I won't forget you guys. Promise."

Koops's face softened more as he watched her fondly stare at the photo. "We won't forget you either… bye."

Koops forced himself to turn around. Punio looked up at him to get a good look at the face he made. "Isn't she one of the bad guys? Why were you guys nice to her?"

Koops sighed and jogged to catch up with Goombella and Mario. "Because it was the right thing to do."

Goombella looked back with a sly grin. "You soft-shelled Koopa.

Koops groaned and scratched his head. "I know." Still, he didn't regret it. Looking back, Koops could still see Vivian examining the photo. There was something about her… Something that just screamed, "I'm not your enemy." But only time would tell if that were true. Until then, they had a Crystal Star to find.