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"I'm-a Luigi, Number One!"
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Part 7
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Upon entering Fungi Valley and looking at the little town that was nestled within it, only one word came to Luigi's mind— Havoc.

Around the little town, several trees had caught fire or had been torn down, and that was nothing compared to the village itself. Luigi could have sworn that a hurricane had just swept through, and, worriedly, he and Shroom looked around for any survivors.

It turned out that many of them— Mushroom people— were hiding away behind the ruins. They were obviously shaken; many were crying, some yelling, while others tried to salvage what they could of their belongings from the town's rubble. Luigi and Shroom made their way to the small gathering, quite astounded and altogether confused about the grim situation that they were in the middle of.

They shuffled past busy people, but none of them even seemed to notice that they were there. Luigi walked up to one of the Mushrooms.

"E— excuse me, but—"

"Outta my way!! Outta my way!!" The Mushroom yelled, and ran off.

"Um," Shroom asked someone else, "could yooooou tell us what juuust—"

"You're in the way!!!"

Luigi again tried to ask other people their simple question, but they all brushed him off or ignored him in their fearful haste. Luigi and Shroom gave up, and dispersed from the busy crowd.

They walked off a bit, still hoping to find the answers they were so eager to have.

A young lady Mushroom sat alone on a log, her light brown hair bouncing softly as she nervously swayed back and forth. She barely noticed Shroom and Luigi as they approached her.

"Uh...miss?" Luigi ventured, taking another step forward.

The young Mushroom sniffled, and glanced up tearily at the man in green. "He..hello..."

Luigi was starting to feel a little guilty for bothering the poor little Mushroom, but he still went on. "Er— I was just wondering...what-a happened to your little village, just now?" He leaned down as to seem less intimidating.

"Well..." the girl breathed in shakily, "I'm...I'm afraid that it was a huge Koopa."

Luigi bit his lip. "You don't mean— Bowser, by any chance?"

She nodded. "Yes, I think so. I mean, I didn't really *see* him...but I did hear him rage through."

"Did he haaave the priiiiincess?" Shroom questioned.

"I really don't know that," said the lady, "but I can only assume...I escaped from my home just in time to watch him run off into the shadows." She buried her head in her little hands.

Luigi sat down next to her. "It's...it's-a alright..." He patted her gently on the back. "By the way...what is your name?"

She looked up again, wiping tears away from her eyes. "Me...my name is Amanita, and I've lived here for a few years.. My house was completely destroyed just now...and I need a place to stay, because like all these other people, everything I had is gone ..." She sniffled again.

"Toooo baaaad we can't heeeelp you," Shroom pipped up from Luigi's side.

"Well," Amanita went on, "my old friend lives not too far away, and I could go see her for a place to stay, but. . .after all this happening, I'm too scared to go into the woods by myself. Maybe...maybe that Bowser will get me out there!!" She shuddered, squeezing her hands together. "Oh, I don't know what to *do*!"

Luigi opened his mouth, but Shroom jumped out suddenly. "Well, tooooo bad," he said hastily. "We haaaave to get goooing, Luigi..."

"No, wait," Luigi said. "Which-a way did you say Bowser went?"

Amanita pointed to the east road. "That way— the same way I have to go to see my friend."

Luigi barely needed to think about it. "Well, why don't-a you come with us?" he suggested openly. "We could help you get to your destination safely, and we'd still'a be going the right way."

Amanita's face brightened. "Really?! You *mean* it?"

"Why-a, sure!" Luigi told her, "we wouldn't-a mind a bit!" He heard from Shroom what sounded like grumbling, but he ignored it.

"Well... OK, I'll go!" Amanita exclaimed joyfully. She hopped up from the log. "It's this way," she stated, pointing and walking in the direction of the east road.

"OK!" said Luigi, and he followed her, Shroom trudging gloomily behind him.



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...To Be Continued....
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