I'm almost at the halfway mark with this story, I feel so happy! Anyways this chapter maybe a bit short, but enjoy the heroes in space!

Chapter 20: Out of This World (World 4 Pt. 1)

The heroes had their helmets already on when they arrived back in space, and after floating around aimlessly for a few minutes, they noticed multiple letterings of the word 'SOS' floating around. The group went to the source and saw a small spaceship where they found an annoying, green alien.

The alien greeted the heroes. "Squirple squeeple squinks! 'Morning, SQUIRP!"

Feeling confused, Tippi asked "Oh, dear. Who are you? An...alien, perhaps?"

Ignoring her question, he asked them "You're the ones looking for the Pure Heart, squirple? Hm! Cuter than I thought!"

"How do you know about the Pure Heart? And about us? Are you allied with Count Bleck? I demand answers...," Tippi spoke aggressively, confused by the alien's comment.

The alien was taken aback. "Noooooo! No scary faces! You can call me Squirps! I'm your captain, squooork! And if you want the Pure Heart, we need to work together, squoop!"

Tippi was feeling restless at this point. "Whatever do you mean? Please, explain yourself..."

He replied "Squirps can't tell much now, but you must trust Squirps. Now, follow me, squiiiinks!"

"We won't be doing that..." She told him.

"SQUAAAACK!" The alien screeched very loudly, startling the group. "You! You heed the captain! You are a space grunt now, and that is the ONLY rule! Your only responses should be "Yes, sir!" and "Gotcha!" Understand, squirkle?"

"Why you little-" Bowser was about to burst before Daisy interrupted him. She saluted to the alien and replied "Yes, sir!"

"Daisy?" Tippi wondered what the brunette was thinking.

Excusing herself for a moment, Daisy huddled everyone away from Squirps and whispered to the group "Look, here me out," she began explaining "We're literally in the middle of space with no directions as to where the next Pure Heart is."

"So you are saying that we must rely on this 'Squirps' to take us there?" Peach asked Daisy, starting to see her point of view.

"Exactly," she replied.

"Are you kiddn' me!?" Bowser whispered loudly, nearly shouted at her. "There ain't no way I'm gonna let that peewee, green alien midget boss me like I do with my minions."

Daisy rolled her eyes at the koopa's ego. "This is only temporary, Bowser. As soon as we get the heart, we'll part ways with him like any other guy."

Bowser grumbled, but ultimately agreed. Tippi, who still had her doubts, asked Mario "Are you OK with this?" Everyone looked at Mario, who pondered for a moment, before nodding his head in agreement. "If you say so..."

They all floated towards Squirps, who waited paitently, and agreed to his offer.

Squirps was happy. "Great! Let's get ready, then... Squarp formation, squooogle!"

The group ended up at a small planet after following their new 'friend', Squirps. Tippi was the most suspicious of the green alien when they met, kept asking him multiple questions, all of which he either denied or tried to change the subject. Right now, everyone are looking around their surroundings in hopes of finding any clues of where the next heart is.

Tippi flew closer to Squirps and asked him "This planet really seems...on the small side... Just where do you intend to take us?"

He replied "Somewhere on this planet should be an entrance to the Space Byway, squeeeork! Yup! It's a shortcut to the Pure Heart!"

She was skeptical by that answer. "Really... You don't say... And where might that entrance be?"

The other four turned their heads and went closer to the octopus alien, eager for his answer. "Squeh squeh squeh squeh... You're gonna laugh, squaag! IT'S... Squirps forgot!"

Everyone fell over, anime style, while Tippi fluttered in silence. Everyone came back up and were angry at Squirps.

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?" Bowser yelled at him.

"Don't look at Squirps like that!" Squirps replied. "Everything's fine! I think there probably should be some clues around here somewhere, squirple..."

"What a wretch...," Tippi muttered.

"Um, are you sure of the way, Squirps?" Peach asked.

"Of course I-HNNNNGH!"

Squirps suddenly wasn't feeling well, concerning Tippi. She asked him "What is it?! Do you remember something?"

"No!" He replied. "I... I have to go potty! I REALLY have to go, squirk! I can't hold it anymore!"

He ran off who knows where, leaving the heroes behind. "...Let's...look for some clues ourselves...," Peach said out loud, the others nodding their heads in agreement.

They walked along a dirt path as they searched high and low for anything that lead to the heart. Peach was getting tired, and the boys offer to carry her. Before a fight ensues, Daisy gave her cousin a piggyback, ignoring the boy's sad pout. After a couple of minutes, they've found Squirps waiting outside of a unisex portapotty. Mario proceeded to knock on the door, not expecting an answer. However, someone did respond behind the door. "Heeeere I seeeeeet, amore! Awaiting youuuuuu, amore! No more, no more, amore!"

Squirps angrily responded "This is no time for some silly song, squirple! I've got a bathroom emergency here!"

Ignoring the alien, the voice continued to speak. "100 years agoooooo, amore! I came in here to go, amore! So bored, so bored, amore! No toilet paper here, amore! I wait 100 yeeeears, amore! What for, what for, amore? Any paaaper, please, amore? Just a sheet for me, amore! Implore, implore, amore!"

"Seriously...," Mario muttered.

Not having much of a choice, everyone split up and looked for some paper. Eventually Mario found an explorer behind a green door. In exchange for an Ancient paper clue, he asked for money. Mario gave the money to him and got the clue, hurrying back to the others. He saw the others waiting for him and told the disembodied voice he has the paper.

The voice sounded delighted. "Any paaaper, please, amore? Just a sheet for me, amore! Implore, implore, amore! Paaapes, paaapes, amore! Looove the paaapes, amore! Oh more, oh more, amore!"

The one behind the door opened it to take the paper before closing it. A flush was heard a couple seconds later, and Squirps couldn't take it anymore. "Sq-Squirps can't take it anymore! Squirps will burst! Evacuate all personnel!" He ran inside just as a pixl came out of it. It introduced itself as Fleep, and is able to turn over sections of areas that aren't visible for others. After Squirps was done, he continued to lead the heroes across the moon. He lead the heroes through a secret passage, which made Tippi even more suspicious. How did he know about this route? Is he leading them to a trap? That was what the butterfly thought the whole way through the route. They've entered a place called the Space Bypass, which will lead them to a place known as The Whoa Zone, according to Squirps. Daisy thought he was joking, especially about the name, but Squirps was serious. It's a very complicated maze that no one can get out of, but it might lead them to the Pure heart. As they went through the bypass, they went through holes in which they had keyholes the same shape as the alien. No one knew what to think, it was convenient in their case, but it raised more suspicion. Thanks to Squirps, they've made it through and entered The Whoa Zone. Everyone took precaution as they entered, hoping to not get lost.

Squirps stopped everyone, feeling excited. "We're here, squeeegle! This is the Whoa Zone! Squirps has finally arrived, squooodly! SQUIRPS IS HERE! ...Squirps can't wait! Squirps is going to scurry ahead. Follow Squirps when you can. But remember, space grunts, this place is super-complicated maze... You'll get lost before you know it, so pay attention to where you're going, squeerp! Well, Squirps will see you guys later...at the spot where the Pure Heart awaits!"

Before anyone could stop him, he ran off super fast, as if he had the star power or something. Tippi was upset. "I can't believe that creature left us at a time like this... But I must say, I do feel the presence of the Pure Heart... It's somewhere in this zone..."

"On the bright side," Daisy pointed out " At least we have the return pipe to Flipside in case we do get lost, y'know?"

"That's a good point," Mario agreed, both hands behind his head. "I don't want-a-to get lost in this place."

They went through multiple doors that made them go upside down or sideways, making Bowser feel motion sickness, though he'll never admit that. Daisy wasn't feeling sick, however she did have a weird feeling someone was following them. Peach noticed her distress and asked if she was alright. The brunette brushed it off and told her cousin she's fine, but Daisy did turn her head to look around, feeling paranoid. They've made it past another door that had normal gravity. They came in the door and saw Squirps waiting. He noticed the heroes walking towards them, annoyed expressions on their faces.

"SLOWPOKES!" Squirps shouts. "SQUAAAAAAAACKLES! Squirps was tiring of waiting! Squirps almost gave up! The Pure Heart that you're looking for is just ahead, space grunts!"

"Squirps. You've done well. You're a smart kid..."

Everyone, except Squirps and Tippi, stood silently still, recognizing that voice.

'Oh no...' Mario and Daisy thought with dread.

Squirps blushed, ignoring the group's worry. "Squirple squeee! Stop it! Squirps is embarrassed!" He, then, noticed the look on Mario's face and realized none of them said that. "Wait... Whose voice was that, squoh?" Out of nowhere, someone came from above and kicked Squirps out of the way. Squirps shout in pain and surprise. "SQUIRP!"

"Heh heh heh..." The person laughed, their back facing the heroes.

Peach looked at them, wide eyed in shock. "Is that whom I think it is?"

Bowser growled in anger. "Are you serious!?"

Daisy cracked her knuckles, pissed at seeing this person. "It's him, alright."

Mario had a terribly concealed, terrified look on his face, his fists opening and closing on his sides.

Tippi shouted "Wh-Who are you?!"

The one in question turned their head to look over their right shoulder, and squinted their eyes in joy. They answered "Oh, me? Just one of Count Bleck's more promising minions. The Green Thunder..." He spun around to face the heroes, got into his L stance, and shouted "MR. L!" He had a wide smile that would terrify many people. He let go of his pose and stared at the heroes. "I don't need you to tell me it's a cool name. I know it. Don't bother memorizing it. Why? Because I'm about to give you a burial at sea... I mean, a burial in space."

"Mr. L?" Tippi questioned.

"The hell do you think you're doin' here, L-oser!?" Daisy shouted at him, still upset he's here.

Mr. L had his right hand on his hip, staring at the orange princess. He teased her a little. "Wow, we're really going with nicknames? You must really be interested, huh," he gestured his whole appearance.

Daisy blushed, CLEARLY from anger, crossed her arms and said "In your dreams, pal!"

"Unless you wanna get pummeled by me, you better run while you still can," Bowser warned the masked man.

L replied, looking at his left fingernails. "Funny, because last time I checked, you, as well as the plumber and pink princess, got your stupid backsides kicked by yours truly."

Bowser growled, and was held back by Peach. L looked up at the heroes and sighed. He put his left hand back down and explained. "If you all must know, I'm following the Count's orders to retrieve the next Pure Heart. Unfortunately, you're all in my way in doing that. So if I'm going to complete my mission, I'll just have-a-to beat you all again."

"You must be delusional if you think we'll let you get away with this," Peach told him, Bowser shouting 'YA' in the background.

Mr. L was amused by her response. "HA! Did you forget the last time I fought you all, or did I really hit your head that hard, princess?" He got onto his battle stance. "Looks like you all need a reminder..."

Mario stood silently, not as aware as he should be. Before anyone could react, Mr. L sped forward, passing everyone in a split second and went towards the red plumber. He had his right fist raised, flickering with green electricity, closed in on Mario and shouts "Just because you're in red doesn't mean you're strong. Have at you!"

Welp, the heroes are in for a doozy, but they'll be fine... hopefully. It's a short chapter, but that's because I had a hard time writing out the fight scene and wanted it to be cool, y'know? So that'll be in the next chapter!