Dislcaimer: None of the characters from the realm of Nintendo, including Mario characters, belong to me.

Chapter Nine

"I think we're lost." Said Toad finally. They had been wandering around in a desolate grassland (the grass was about waist-high, sometimes higher) for hours, and Toad had the sneaking suspicion that Black Ninjakoopa was leading them around in circles. "Are we lost?" He asked worriedly.

"Yes, definitely." Replied Black Ninjakoopa confidently.

"What?" Asked Toad, stopping. "I thought you said you knew your way around here."

"No," replied Black Ninjakoopa, "you weren't listening properly. I said I knew how to get through here."

"What's the difference?"

"Quite a lot."

"Okay, so how do we get through here?" Toad asked, taking a deep breath. They had known each other for only about a day, and Black Ninjakoopa was steadily driving him crazy.

"Well," Black Ninjakoopa looked around, "basically you have to wander around until a boo finds you and hope it's friendly, otherwise your in trouble. Then you have to convince it to show the way out, and you have to hope it will lead you the way out that you want to go and not the way out that you came in through."

"Oh." Said Toad, the attempted explanation making him dizzy. "Okay, I guess."

The three of them wandered around for about an hour more. "Do you hear that?" Toad asked. He thought he had heard a strange sound.

"Yeah." Said Black Ninjakoopa. "Don't let it know you're afraid."

"Great." Muttered Toad. Wonderful advice.

"BOO!" Yelled a voice.

"AUGH!" Toad panicked.

"HIPPA!" Yoshi agreed.

"Hey Frankie." Black Ninjakoopa called.

"Hey, how'd you know it was me?" A ghost came out of the thicket.

"I didn't. I was hoping it would be."

"Oh. Cool. So were you scared?" It asked.

"Terrified. And so were these guys."

"Oh. Who are they?"

"May I present Toad of Toadstool and Yoshi of Mario?"

"Were you guys scared?"

Behind him, Black Ninjakoopa nodded.

"Definitely." Replied Toad.

"Awesome!" Said Frankie, the boo. "So what brings you here, B.N.?"

"B.N.?" Asked Toad. Black Ninjakoopa shook his head.

"Nickname, Toad. To tell you the truth, Frankie, we're lost."

"Of course you're lost, or you wouldn't be here."

"Right, well, we're trying to get to Bowser's castle. He kidnapped the Princess again and Toad here's trying to rescue her."

"Oh. Well, allow me to show you the way." Frankie said, taking off.

"Thanks, Frankie." Said Black Ninjakoopa. "I don't know what we would have done if you hadn't come along."

Probably wander around till someone else found you." Frankie suggested.

"Well, yeah, probably."

With Frankie leading the way, the four soon found themselves at the edge of the grassland.