Chapter XXIII: A Storybook Ending Part I
Sora, Luigi, and Yoshi were on board the Toad Express flying back towards Isle Delfino. Sora was still thinking about what happened with Riku. He wondered why he became this way. Although the two have always had a rivalry, they were the best of friends. It just wasn't clear as to why this had happened.
Tails came up over the intercom. "Guys, we're going to be in Isle Delfino's atmosphere in a few minutes so, I suggest putting your seatbelt on."
The foursome did so and Sora turned to Luigi.
"Tails is a great pilot." Sora told Luigi. "I'm so glad he came with us to help."
"Yeah, he's pretty good." Luigi commented. "Hey, Sora, are you still bummed out about Kairi?"
"Yeah, a little bit." Sora sighed. He then made a determined look. "But that doesn't mean I'll give up hope. Her heart is out there somewhere and I won't stop until I find it."
"Right on!" Yoshi cheered. "And Yoshi help too."
Sora just chuckled. "Thanks, buddy." He then turned back to Luigi. "You know there is one thing I've always wanted to know. How did you meet Yoshi anyway?"
"Oh." Luigi chuckled. "It's a long story, but since we have a few minutes I'll tell you the shortened version. You see, after we defeated Bowser we celebrated by going to a world called Dinosaur Island. Upon our arrival we were ambushed by Bowser's troops and they kidnaped Peach.. My brother and I chased after Bowser's troops through a warp pipe and arrived at a block room..."
"Luigi bash blocks." Yoshi interrupted.
"Okay wise guy." Luigi chuckled. "So, what happened next?"
Yoshi just giggled. "Luigi find Yoshi egg. Then it hatched and Yoshi born." Yoshi then started laughing. "Remember? Yoshi thought Luigi was mama."
"Oh, I remember." Luigi groaned.
"Mama?" Sora snickered. "Mama Luigi?"
"Well, I was the first person he saw!" Luigi snapped. "What did you expect?"
"I'm only kidding, buddy." Sora smiled. "That's cool. So, Yoshi had no parents?"
"We never found them." Luigi explained. "Green Yoshis barely exist anymore. No one knows where he came from? We found out later on though that the egg he was born in came from another world."
"You mean Yoshi is from another world?" Sora exclaimed.
"That's what everyone say." Yoshi explained. "Yoshi not sure."
"People believe that all Yoshis came from another world." Luigi continued. "Perhaps, he came from there."
"Then let's go find it!" Sora said with confidence.
"Sora do that for Yoshi?" Yoshi gasped in surprise.
"Of course." Sora nodded. "We're best buddies. We have to look out for each other."
"Thanks, Sora!" Yoshi cried jumping into Sora's arms and licking his face.
"Cut it out!" Sora laughed.
"Kid, sit back down!" Luigi called to Yoshi.
"Oops, sorry." Yoshi giggled
"When we arrive at Isle Delfino let's go find Captain Olimar and Louie." Sora announced. "Toadsworth, how long do we have left before their air tank expires?"
Toadsworth made a sad look. "Not much time. I'd say about three days left!"
"Whoa!" Sora exclaimed. "We got to get moving then!" He then shouted. "Tails, can you drop us off right next to the harbor?"
"Kid, are you crazy?" Luigi panicked. "We'll never make it! It's too tight a landing!"
"Ha! I heard that!" Tails laughed. "No landing has ever been too tight for me! I'll give it a shot!"
"We're doomed." Luigi gulped under his breath.
"You worry too much, dude." Sora said making his famous smile. "I swear I think of you two as Scooby-Doo and Shaggy. Both of you eat too much and once Yoshi stole food from you. And both of you together get scared easily. And remember the persuasion of the Yoshi Cookies."
"Hey! At least I'm not as thin as him and I don't say that ridicules phrase zoinks!" Luigi responded. Just then the plane took a fast dip and Luigi shouted. "Zoinks!"
The plane went in fast and Tails was sweating as he tried to gain control of the plane. The plane final made it to Plaza Delfino and it landed right on the side of it in the water. Tails turned the engine off and sat back in his seat with a sigh.
"Guess I'm not used to flying passenger planes." Tails thought with a sigh.
The group were pushed back in their seats and they were all in shock.
"Wow! He's got talent!" Sora said astonished.
"Yeah...talent that could have killed us." Luigi sighed with relief. "But then again, the kid does have good skill. I guess I shouldn't worry then."
"See, it's all good." Sora said. "Tails knows exactly what he's doing."
"Sora, Luigi, and Yoshi need to move!" Yoshi shouted.
"You're right." Sora nodded. "Come on! Captain Olimar and Louie shouldn't be too far."
Little did Sora know that Captain Olimar and Louie were right outside observing the Toad Express.
"Remarkable!" Captain Olimar said astonished. "Louie, what do you suppose this thing is?"
"A giant bird of some sort, but it appears to be made of the same material as our space ship." Louie said observing the plane.
Tails then peaked his head out of the window to see Olimar and Louie. "It's an airplane. It's used to travel to other worlds."
"Louie, look!" Olimar exclaimed. "A talking bandicoot is flying that plane thing."
"I'm a fox." Tails said in monotone voice.
"No, he's more of a racoon." Louie disagreed.
"Now listen, Louie!" Olimar barked. "I know a bandicoot when I see one!"
"You're wrong sir." Louie objected. "Have you ever even seen a bandicoot?"
"Would the one on a Playstaion count?" Olimar asked with coy. He then got mad again. "It doesn't matter! He's a bandicoot!"
"Racoon!"
"Bandicoot!"
"Racoon!"
Tails got so annoyed that he shouted at the top of his lungs. "I'M A FOX, GOSH DARN IT!"
The two then just looked at him with dropped mouths. Sora's group upon exiting also heard Tails and were in complete shock. Yoshi just giggled mockingly.
"Tails almost say naughty word." Yoshi giggled
"I am so sorry." Tails apologized wholeheartedly. "I didn't mean to shout like that."
"Um, quite alright son." Olimar said still in shock. "I forgot my glasses so I couldn't tell what you were."
"Tails, why don't you go to the hotel and rest for a little bit, huh?" Sora suggested. "You seem a bit under pressure."
"Good idea, Sora." Tails responded with a nod. "I'll see you later."
Tails walked out the door and left in silence. Sora turned his attention to Captain Olimar and Louie.
"Hey, guys!" Sora said greeting the two.
"Sora!" Olimar cried. He then ran and shook Sora's hand. "Thank goodness you're here! Any Pikmin for us?"
Sora took the cube out of his pocket and opened it revealing more Pikmin. As soon as they appeared they all walked over and began working on the ship.
"Sir, we're very, very, close now!" Louie said excitedly. "According to my calculations we need only twelve more."
"That's good." Olimar said with joy.
"But we only have three days left untilour oxygen supply runs out." Louie said in dismay.
"That's bad." Olimar said with sorrow.
"We could double our efforts." Sora said.
"That's good." Olimar said with joy.
"But we may get sidetracked by the heartless." Luigi pointed out.
"That's bad." Olimar said with sorrow.
"Hey, we'll beat them so fast that we'll have the Pikmin back in no time." Sora reassured.
"That's good." Olimar said with joy.
"But they've gotten a lot stronger." Luigi said countering what Sora said.
"That's bad." Olimar said with sorrow.
"Would you stop doing that?" Luigi asked Olimar annoyed.
"Oh, sorry." Olimar said sheepishly. "Well, as I promised for brining us more Pikmin, I will reward you handsomely. Plus, I got a special for you." He then handed Sora a torn page. "Some strange torn page I found on my travels."
"Torn page?" Yoshi exclaimed.
"Yes." He nodded. "And it looks like some sort of collectors item. I find it of no use to me, so do what you want with it."
"Thanks." Yoshi smiled.
"Guys, let's go see Wiseman and show him the five pages we found." Sora told his party. "Maybe now we can find out what kind of story this is."
"I hope it's not a horror story." Luigi gulped nervously to himself.
"Sora, please, we're running out of time." Olimar told Sora. "If the remaining twelve Pikmin aren't found in three days we'll..."
"Try not to think that." Sora said with determination. "We will find the last twelve! We'll search high and low and leave no stone unturned."
"Such a good boy." Olimar said. "I can't thank you for all the kindness. In fact I've become emotional, I think I'm going to cry." He then bursted into tears. "Oh, Louie! I need a tissue!"
He then ran off crying leaving Louie rolling his eyes.
"He forgot to take his pills again." He groaned. "We can't thank you enough for all your help. Please, Sora, we're counting on you and your friends."
"Okay." Sora nodded. "For now try not to panic and have faith. I always keep my promise." He then thought about something. "Just like a promise I kept to you, Kairi. I will save you from all this."
Sora's group said good-bye and left for the theme park. The trio got into the giant cannon and were launched to the island. However, the cannon turned a little to the right and fired the group straight at Wiseman's House. Meanwhile, Wiseman just brought in a bowl of soup and put it on the roundtable. Mumbo was on the other side of the table holding a soup spoon.
"Mumbo can't wait." Mumbo said thrilled. "Mumbo always wanted to try Wiseman's world famous stew."
"Ho, ho!" Wiseman chortled. "My stew is pretty famous. All of my students enjoyed my stew. I bet you're wondering what it is called."
"What do Wiseman call it?"
"It's called..."
Before Wiseman could finish his sentence, Sora's group crashed through the ceiling and landed on the table causing it to collapse from the combined weight of them.
"Mama-mia!" Luigi cried out.
Luigi ended up on top of Sora while Yoshi landed in the bowl of stew. Wiseman looked disappointed and sighed but was a bit confused.
"...a Yoshi Stew?" Wiseman finished confused.
Yoshi began to lick the plate clean. "Mmm, and Yoshi taste good, too."
"Man, we can never stop dropping in enough, huh, Luigi?" Sora groaned while standing up.
"Mama-mia, what a landing. " Luigi groaned while standing up.
"Well, there goes my perfectly good roof." Wiseman sighed.
"Sorry." Sora apologized. "The cannon launched us a bit off."
"It's alright." Wiseman chortled. "They tend to screw up now and then. One time one person got injured and could never walk again, so you three should be lucky."
"Thanks, I feel so much better." Luigi said sarcastically.
"Impact will take care of the clean up job." Wiseman said assuring the group.
"What brings boy, dinosaur, and plumber by?" Mumbo asked our heros.
"We found five pieces of the torn pages." Sora responded holding up the pages.
Wiseman put on his reading glasses and walked over to the pages and observed it. "Interesting." He then touched the pages. "These pages are all connected and somehow they have a special power. We need to get them back into the book somehow."
The group began to figure out a way to get the pages back in. Yoshi curiously approached the book and looked at it funny. He felt a strange feeling in his stomach and something in his mind was telling him to touch it. For a moment in time, he thought he lost all control of his body as he gently tapped the page. All of a sudden, the pages began to glow, which caused Sora to startle. The group looked to see that the book was responding to the pages at it began shaking. Sora could feel the pages pulling him towards the book. He gasped as he saw this and tried to let go of the papers but they somehow held onto him. Everyone else tried to pull Sora back but the force was too strong and the book flew open revealing its pages.
"What's that book doing?" Luigi exclaimed.
"In all of my years in science, I have never seen something like this!" Wiseman said in shock.
The book then began to pull Sora into it as he tried to push back. The force was too strong for the keyblade master to push back. As a last effort, Yoshi grabbed Sora's leg and tried to hold him back but the force pulled both of them into the book. They both shut their eyes as they got sucked into the book. The book closed its pages and Luigi ran up to the book and tried to open it, but it wouldn't open.
"Struggling sausages!" Luigi struggled. "Why...won't...this...book...open?"
"It's locked." Wiseman said observing the book. "We need a key to this thing."
"So, where is it then?" Luigi asked Wiseman with hope.
"Um, I need to check my storage for the key." Wiseman gulped. "But, I'm not sure there was a key when I found the book. They could be lost in there forever." He then walked off.
Luigi looked a bit nervous wondering if his friends were lost forever. He then turned to Mumbo with a shrug.
"Um, want to play poker?" Luigi asked Mumbo.
"Har! Har! Har!" Mumbo guffawed. "Mumbo play and kick butt."
"We'll see about that, skull man." Luigi smirked with confidence.
Meanwhile, inside the storybook, Sora landed in a small pond in a jungle. He slowly say up and walked out of the water. His new surroundings looked very calm and peaceful as he was observing the area. He felt the warm breeze enter his face as it reminded him of his island. As he arrived on the beach, he saw giant palm trees all around the area with different kinds of fruit. Sora wondered what happened and was postulating if he was dreaming. He then walked into a palm tree and a coconut fell and landed on his head.
"Ouch!" Sora shouted in pain. "That hurt!" He then noticed a book lying on the ground. He walked over to it and picked it up. As he opened it, he thought he could feel his entire body being pulled by a force of gravity. As he looked up, he saw that he was in an empty part of the beach. It was quite, Sora thought to himself as he heard the soft sounds of the waves hitting the edge of the beach. A bit too quite.
He then heard the sounds of someone crying. Sora identified the voice as high pitched and a bit immature, meaning it was a baby. At first he thought it was Yoshi, but it sounded a bit younger. He then looked to a lone palm tree and down below it, he saw a baby probably younger then Yoshi crying a little bit, maybe even pouting. The only clothing the baby wore was a diaper and a red hat with the letter "M" on it.
Sora wondered why a baby was all alone on the island. He looked around to see if the baby's parents were near by or any adults were around, but to his dismay saw no one around. Finally, he walked over to the baby slowly, so he didn't alarm him.
He bent down to the baby and smiled warmly. "Hey, little guy, something wrong?"
The baby looked up at Sora and sniffed his tears away. Normally, a baby may get a little scared upon seeing someone he doesn't know, but this one already seemed to trust this older stranger with big yellow shoes. He wiped his tears away and looked at the stranger.
"Nothing." The baby responded with an Italian accent. "I'm-a-just upset."
"Okay." Sora said a bit confused. "Are you lost? Do you need help?"
"Oh, no." The baby responded. "I-a-just got sad because I'm-a-trying to figure out how to say good-bye to Mario."
"Mario?" Sora exclaimed. He was shocked. The same Mario they have been searching for, it couldn't be, could it?
Upon hearing the name Mario, the baby smiled and giggled. "That's-a-me."
"So, you're Mario then?" Sora said sitting down next to the baby.
"That's-a-right." The baby nodded. "I'm-a-Mario and my last name is Mario, too."
"This can't be right!" Sora thought. "The same Mario that Luigi, Yoshi, and myself have been searching for. Something is wrong here. Maybe, this is just a dream and I'll wake up soon." He then rubbed his head upon remembering the incident with the coconut earlier on. "Okay, scrap that theory. Or maybe I'm in that sc-fi show where weird things happen, like how they suddenly travel through time."
"Who are you, mister?" Baby Mario asked Sora.
"My name is Sora." He responded. "Wow! He has better grammar then Yoshi."
"Hi, Sora." Baby Mario said with a smile. He then made a depressed look and sighed. "So, have you come to-a-say good-bye to Mario, too?"
"Now why would I do that?" Sora chuckled sweetly. "When you first meet someone, aren't you suppose to say hello? I've never had to meet someone and say good-bye to someone."
"Everyone else has though." Baby Mario said sadly. "They all go bye-bye."
"What do you mean?" Sora asked curiously.
"Well, we all lived together here on Yoshi's Island." Baby Mario explained. Sora gasped upon hearing Yoshi's Island.
"Wait, this place is called Yoshi's Island?" Sora interrupted quickly.
Baby Mario nodded and continued. "We would always play on the beach or in the jungle. Me and my brother would ride the backs of the Yoshis and go on many adventures. We would get fruit from the Super Happy Tree and I would get my daily pasta from a pasta tree."
"Wow, how ironic."
"A nice bowl would taste really good." Baby Mario said rubbing his stomach. "Now, everyone has gone away. Maybe, they went away while I was taking my afternoon nap or when I was eating a bowl pasta."
"Yeah, that's Luigi's brother alright." Sora thought with a chuckle.
"I guess that means I shall go away as well." Baby Mario sighed sadly. He then stood up and looked out at the water. "So, if they go bye-bye then how do I say good-bye to myself?"
The baby walked away and Sora just watched him walk off. He felt a bit excited considering that this could be Yoshi's world. But he then felt sorry for the baby sensing his loneliness and sadness. Sora wondered what could have happened to the baby's friends. He was about to leave when he heard a familiar voice.
"Sora!"
Sora turned to see Yoshi running up to him. "Yoshi!" Yoshi ran up to Sora and jumped into his arms and licked his face. "I'm glad you're okay."
"Yoshi, glad that, Sora is okay." Yoshi said happily. He then looked around at the beautiful surroundings. "Where are Sora and Yoshi, anyway?"
"You're not going to believe this, but I was talking to a baby version of Luigi's brother." Sora told Yoshi.
Yoshi's mouth dropped in shock. "Is Sora serious?"
"Yeah." Sora nodded. "It was weird. Also, he said this place is called Yoshi's Island. Could this be your home world?"
"Sora think so?" Yoshi asked excited.
"Maybe." Sora shrugged. "We should go after Mario."
"But where did Mario go?"
Sora then looked down to see the book he found. He noticed that it was glowing with a not very bright light. He picked up the book and opened it. He and Yoshi both noticed a small cave appeared in the book.
"Hm, I don't remember this being here." Sora said to himself. Just then, the two could feel as if their bodies were being pulled by a force of gravity. They looked up again to see there were standing in front of the small cave. "Okay, what just happened? Did that book just warp us to this cave?"
"Well, Sora and Yoshi didn't just walk here now did we?" Yoshi asked rhetorically.
"You got a point." Sora nodded. He bravely walked into the cave with Yoshi at his side and looked around the area.
Surprisingly, the room was exactly like a normal home. It had a small bed, a refrigerator, a small cabinet, a hat rack, and a clock on the wall. Sora saw Baby Mario in the corner of the room looking at a small wooden bowl.
"It is Mario!" Yoshi exclaimed.
"Shh." Sora said shushing Yoshi softly.
Baby Mario was a bit disappointed as he looked into the bowl with a soft sigh. "Mama-mia! All empty." He then stood up and spoke to himself. "I'm-a-out of a pasta. Maybe, I can send a letter to the pasta tree. Then it would bring me some pasta." He then walked over to his cabinet and went to the bottom drawer and opened it. He then pulled out a crayon and a yellow piece of paper and wrote on it for a few seconds and then looked up with a giggled. "All done."
Baby Mario then got up and left the area without noticing Sora and Yoshi. Curious, the duo walked over to the letter and observed it, only to see that the paper had little scribbles on it.
"Well, if the tree was to get this letter, I'd say he wouldn't no what it meant." Sora said looking at the letter.
The two left the cave, trying to find out where Baby Mario ran off too. As they walked out, they gasped upon who they saw. It was another Yoshi, but this one was different. He was a bit taller then Green Yoshi, but his skin was colored yellow.
"Greetings." He said with an elderly voice. "I welcome you to Yoshi's Island."
"Yoshi really am home!" An excited Yoshi said.
"Well, you must be a green Yoshi." Yellow said, observing Green. "I haven't seen one in ages."
"How come?" Green asked.
"Ever since the Torn Pages were lost, a mother and father green Yoshis were separated from us." Yellow explained.
"Yoshi!" Sora cried turning to his Yoshi. "Those were probably your parents. This really is your home world!"
Green then cheered and jumped for joy. "Yoshi home! Yoshi home! Thank you, Sora, for finding Yoshi's home."
"Whoa! Calm down!" Sora said trying to keep Green under control. He then turned to Yellow. "Excuse me, sir. But if you would..."
"I know." Yellow interrupted. "You have many questions and you'd like them answered. Well, this should straighten everything out. This is a world of memory, created from the memories of the real Yoshi's Island.
"What do you mean real?"
"Once, Yoshi's Island was in fact a real world." Yellow explained. "But, nine years ago, the world was destroyed by a group of dark creatures."
"The heartless." Green muttered, under his breath.
"Before then, the tribe used the power of the Super Happy Tree to create a book to carry on fond memories." Yellow continued. "With the biggest memory of that day that happened a long time ago, when that baby fell out of the sky.
"I get it!" Sora realized. "Luigi told me that ancestors of Yoshi's saved him and his brother. I guess they must have landed in that world. So, that means that this world is just a memory of what Mario and Luigi were like."
"Exactly." Yellow responded.
"So, where are Yoshi's parents?" Green asked, with hope in his eyes.
"They just popped out a Yoshi egg the day the five pages were torn apart." Yellow said with sorrow. "No one ever saw them again."
Green put his head down in sadness while Sora pat his head. "Don't worry. I'm sure they're alive somewhere. We already found your home world, so who knows."
Green smiled and looked up at Sora.
"Young one." Yellow addressed Green. "Would you care for a tour?"
"That be great." Green nodded.
"However, I'm guessing since this is a story, you're expecting end ending, right?" Yellow asked. Sora and Green both nodded. "Well, although you've managed to put the missing pages back in, you must fill in the pages."
"What?" Sora exclaimed with shock. "You're expecting me to write an ending for this story?"
"You must use your heart, not your hands." Yellow said in riddle.
"Was that a metaphor or have you been watching too many commercials?" Sora asked, raising his eyebrow in quirk.
"You shall find out it time." Yellow smiled. "Now, to finish this book, you must use the book you currently hold in your hands." Sora looked down at the book and looked into it. He noticed a giant tree filled with pasta appeared. "Each part you see is part of the story. You must fill in the page, but only a human must make the journey."
"I can't have Yoshi with me?" A disappointed Sora asked.
"You can, but he can't help." Yellow explained. "But, I'm sure your friend wouldn't mind a tour of the world so far."
Green turned to Sora with excitement in his eyes."Can Yoshi go, Sora?"
Sora smiled warmly at his Yoshi and said. "Have a ball."
Green smiled at Sora with happiness and walked over to Yellow.
"Be careful, Sora." Green said. "Yoshi see Sora later."
The two Yoshis left to begin their tour of the island, while Sora looked back at the book. He saw the pasta tree in the book and could feel his body being pulled by gravity again. Upon looking up after the force stopped, he could see that he was in front of the tree he just saw.
"That's going to take some getting used to." Sora thought. He then looked around at his surroundings. He was in a green area where he saw bushes all over and the tree was very big. Around it, Sora noticed little raven like creatures walking on the branches. They were round creatures that had no feet. As Sora began to figure out a way to complete the story, he heard a small, feeble voice.
"Oh, Mario!" The voice called.
Sora just froze upon hearing the voice. He somehow recognized it and it sounded familiar to him. He turned to see another baby human crawling out from a wooden log. The baby looked exactly liked Baby Mario except his hat was green and it had the letter "L" on it. Sora was in complete shock upon seeing the baby.
"Is that..." Sora began.
"Mario!" The baby called. "Mario! It's-a-me, Luigi."
Sora then snickered. "Oh, man! I can't believe it! It is Luigi! Wow!" Sora then cooed. "He's so cute as a baby."
"Hello?" Baby Luigi asked nervously. "Mario?" He then sighed. "Lonely, linguine, I'm all alone. And when I'm alone, I get scared." He then got really scared and backed up with caution. "Maybe, a Boo will try and scare me or worse..." He then backed up into Sora who was looking down at him. He looked up at Sora and gasped in horror. "Bigfoot! Don't eat me!"
Sora rolled his eyes as Baby Luigi ran for the tree. On the way he tripped over the branch and rolled down a small hill and crashed into a bush.
"Heh, heh." Sora snicked. "I guess some things never change."
Sora walked over to the bush and opened it to see Luigi backing away our hero. Sora tried to reach for the baby but the baby snapped his mouth almost biting Sora. The keyblade master got upset from this which got Baby Luigi more nervous.
"I'm sorry!" Baby Luigi panicked. "I didn't mean it! Someone forced me to do it!"
"Calm down." Sora said warmly. "I'm not going to hurt you, Luigi." He then smacked his hand onto his mouth upon realizing what he said. "Oops."
"H-how do you know my name?" Baby Luigi asked nervously.
"Um...well...because..." Sora said thinking of an excuse. He then got an idea. "Because you're brother told me about you."
"You know my brother?"
"Yep." Sora smiled. "Come on, kid. Let's get you out of here." As he picked up the baby who was a little more calm, Sora thought. "Well, I never thought that I would be calling Luigi kid. After the number of times he called me kid, I'm going to enjoy this."
Sora put the baby down on the ground and put his hand on his head.
"Thank you, mister..." Baby Luigi began to say. "What is your name?"
"My name is Sora, and you're looking for Mario, right?"
"Yes, I am looking for him." Baby Luigi nodded. "I have something very important to give to my big brother. Do you know where he is?"
Before Sora could respond, he could hear footsteps coming from behind him. He looked to see that Baby Mario walked into the area and noticed his younger sibling.
"Hi, Luigi." Baby Mario said, greeting his brother.
"Mario!" Baby Luigi cried with glee. He then ran over to his brother and stopped in front of him. "I'm so glad you're here."
"I'm glad you're here, too, little bro." Baby Mario smiled in response. Baby Mario then began to smell a delicious sensation. "I-a-smell pasta. Coming from a pasta tree."
"Mario!" Baby Luigi shouted. "I couldn't find you. I thought you were lost. I looked everywhere."
"Everywhere as in the inside of your hiding spot?" Baby Mario giggled.
"That's not true!" Baby Luigi snapped.
"Ha! Ha!" Baby Mario laughed. "I'm-a-just kidding. Did you bring what I asked for?"
Baby Luigi nodded and walked over his log. He then came out with three balloons and crawled over to Baby Mario.
"I got it, Mario." Baby Luigi said. "Why did you want the balloons?"
"I shall hold onto the balloons, and float up to get me some-a-pasta." Baby Mario explained. He then closed his eyes and began to fantasias it. "Mmm, I can already taste it down my throat."
"But Mario." Baby Luigi began. "Remember what the elder Yoshi said? The ravens protect the pasta, so they would get mad at you and attack." Baby Luigi then began to turn away. "So, we should just go home and take a nap."
"Wait, Luigi!" Baby Mario said, stopping his brother. "I have an idea."
Baby Luigi just sighed sadly. "I wish he wouldn't say that."
"Mr. Sora!" Baby Mario called to Sora.
"Huh? What is it Mario?" Sora asked Mario, bending down to his level.
"Do you think you can chase those mean old ravens away?" Baby Mario pleaded. "Then, I could get some pasta. Please!"
Sora thought about it for a moment. He wondered if this is what yellow meant by completing the story. When a certain event is started and finished that will recover the page. Smiling, Sora stood back up.
"Sure, why not?" Sora smiled.
"Oh, thank you, Mr. Sora." Baby Mario cheered.
Just then, Yellow and Green Yoshi appeared.
"Hey, Yoshi!" Sora said, greeting his Yoshi. "How was the tour?"
"It was amazing!" Green said with excitement. "Yoshi saw so much! Yoshi want to stay here forever!"
Sora felt a bit disappointed by the comment. Sure, he felt happy for his pal for finding his home but, he was a bit worried that Green may grow to attached to it and want to live there. Sora didn't know how to deal with his predicament though.
"Hello, Mario." Yellow greeted Baby Mario. "Using a balloon to get your pasta I see. Excellent idea. Perhaps, I can lend you a little advice, Sora." Sora turned his attention to Yellow as he cleared his throat. "Now then...Mario can get the pasta and his pasta bowl, while he floats on the balloons. Be warned, the ravens are watching every move you make. Try to touch the pasta and they shall peck off the balloons off and cause Mario to fall."
"So, do you want me to shoo off the ravens?" asked Sora.
"Exactly." Yellow nodded. "Do what you can to keep the bees away from him. Also, the higher he goes, the more pasta he can get."
Sora took the three balloons and wrapped them around Baby Mario's waist.
"There." Sora said finishing. "Nice and tight."
"Remember, balance is the key and if you wish to finish the story you must complete the game." Yellow concluded.
"Okay." Sora nodded. "Ready, Mario?"
Baby Mario gave a thumbs up. "Roger!"
"Who is Roger?" Green and Baby Luigi asked confused.
Sora released Baby Mario into the sky and he slowly made his way up collecting pasta as he went. The ravens got mad upon seeing this and tried to peck the balloons. Sora quickly jumped up and swat away at the ravens, while Baby Mario gathered the pasta. At one point the ravens tried a strategy as three kept Sora busy, while the other one popped one of the balloons. Sora noticed this and quickly jumped up and swatted it away. Baby Mario continued to travel up getting pasta as he went. Finally, the ravens were fed up with Sora's meddling that they all tackled him at once. Another raven got to the top and pecked another balloon leaving one left. Sora quickly struggled through the other ravens and swatted the one on top away. Baby Mario's bowl filled right to the top as his last balloon hit the branches, causing him to remain stuck.
"Help! Help!" Baby Mario cried.
Sora reached up and slowly grabbed Baby Mario and the pasta and they made their way back down the tree. The ravens tried to attack but, Sora kept them away with his keyblade. The two finally made it down as the Yoshis and Baby Luigi sighed with relief.
"Good work." Yellow said impressed.
The brothers sat down right next to the bowl and began eating away at it with their hands.
"Mmm, I'd do anything for pasta." Baby Mario said, wolfing down the pasta.
"Hey!" Baby Luigi said angrily. "You're eating all my fill. You're tummy will get too big."
Baby Mario just giggled. "Silly Luigi, I'll never get a big belly."
Sora and Green both rolled their eyes with a chuckle. All of a sudden, they felt the room spinning and they arrived back in the beach area.
"What just happened?" Sora asked Green Yoshi.
"Yoshi not sure." Green shrugged.
Just then, the two saw a summon gem lying on the beach with a note attached to it. Sora picked up the note and read it.
"You've finished the first page, meaning you have four more to go." Sora dictated. "Use your book to go to the next location. The item that is attached to this note is a reward for doing a good deed." He then put the note down and turned to Green. "That's one down and four to go."
"Then what are Sora and Yoshi waiting for?" Green cried. "Let's go!"
Sora grabbed the summon gem and pocketed it for later. He then opened the book and noticed that a another round small cave. Tapping it with his finger, the two could feel themselves being pulled again by a powerful force and as soon as they knew it, they were in front a small bridge that led to the cave. Sora noticed that the bridge was over a small stream and sounded softly as it moved down to the left. He saw to his left a garden that had carrots and tomatoes and were labeled.
The two walked across the bridge and noticed that the cave had a mailbox and a door. Sora tried knocking on the door but the only response he got was a negative response.
"Nobody's home!" The voice said. "Come again another time!"
"Aw." Green moaned. "But, Yoshi want to meet someone."
"Um, Yoshi, if no one was home they wouldn't have responded to us." Sora chuckled.
"Oh, yeah." realized Green. "Yoshi forgot."
Sora then peaked his head behind a corner of the cave and saw the Baby Mario Brothers. They were looking at a hole in confusion. Sora and Green walked over to the side and greeted the brothers.
"Hey, Mario. Hey, Luigi." Sora greeted. "What are you guys doing over here?"
"It's the cave." Baby Luigi responded. "Red's cave has return but it appears that no one is home. Mario tried calling to him but the cave said that no one was home."
"Um, actually..." Sora began. He then paused and shrugged off what he was going to say. "Never mind, Yoshi and I will try to find away in. I just have a good feeling they're home."
Sora and Green walked back to the door as quickly as they could. Normally, it would be rude to just walk in without knocking but it was also rude to not let a friend come in. Sora opened the door and the duo walked in. Baby Mario was getting too impatience and curious so, he began to crawl through the hole.
"Mr. Nobody?" Baby Mario asked the cave. "Have you seen our friend? He's a red Yoshi."
"No red Yoshi here." The voice panicked. "There's nobody here!"
Inside the cave was another Yoshi. This one was way younger then the elder but he appeared a bit older then Green. He had red skin and wore blue shoes. He paced back and forth through his house, hoping that Baby Mario would leave. Do his dismay, Baby Mario and Baby Luigi crawled.
"Hi, Red." Baby Mario said, greeting the Yoshi.
"Oh, hello Mario." Red sighed. "Um, what a pleasant surprise? Oh, and you too, Luigi." He then was startled to see Sora and Green walk up. "Oh, my! Are these new friends of yours?"
Green excitedly ran up to his fellow Yoshi and shook his hand. "Hi! I Yoshi! It nice to meet other Yoshi because Yoshi want to meet other Yoshis."
"I can never get enough Yoshis." Sora chuckled.
"Well...it's nice to meet you both." Red responded. He then turned to Baby Mario. "Listen Mario, I always enjoy company and I know you're just dying to have some pasta but, sadly I ran out."
"No!" Baby Mario cried. "You can't you just can't!"
"Are you sure?" Baby Luigi asked in aw.
"P-positive!" Red said nervously.
"Really?" a suspicious Sora asked. "Then what's in that bowl on the top shelf of that cabinet?"
Everyone looked up to see a lone pasta bowl on top of Red's cabinet. Red began sweating nervously while he noticed Sora eyeing him.
"Well...how about that?" a nervous Red said. "How unexpected." Sora just rolled his eyes. "Would you like some, Mario? Of course, you don't have to if you want to..."
"Hoohoo!" Baby Mario cheered. "I'll just have a little bit."
Sora reached up and grabbed the bowl and sat it down at the table. Baby Mario crawled up onto the chair and began eating it with his hands. Red got really nervous and looked upset.
"Mario? By any chance are you eating the whole thing?" Red asked. "Once you start, you know you can't stop."
Sora was shocked to see Baby Mario ate the whole thing in about 30 seconds. Red just sighed sadly and looked.
"Oh, no." He sighed. "I'm out again."
Sora then put his hands in his pocket and made a guilty look. "I guess he was just trying to prevent Mario from eating the pasta. Man, I guess it runs in the family of Mario Brothers."
Thinking as though there was nothing more to do, Sora gestured Green telling him that they should leave. Green nodded and the two left, thinking that they finished the next page. The duo arrived outside and walked across the bridge. They were about to leave when they heard a cry for help.
"Help! Help!" Baby Luigi cried. "Someone help Mario!"
Sora and Green turned around to see Baby Luigi running up to them as fast as he could. He then trip and fell over.
"Luigi, what's wrong with Mario?" Sora asked, taking his keyblade out sensing there may be danger.
"He's in trouble!" Baby Luigi panicked. "Come with me, quickly!"
The trio ran back to the cave as fast as they could. Upon arriving, Baby Luigi led the group to the door where Red was waiting for them.
"It's terrible!" Red panicked. "Just terrible!"
"What is it?" Green asked.
"Well, he began to leave when...when..."
"Let it out!" Sora said getting annoyed. "What happened?"
"He's stuck in a hole!"
"We went through all this panic for nothing." Sora thought with a groan.
Sora looked over to notice Baby Mario's bottom was stuck in the hole he crawled into earlier.
"Mama-mia!" Baby Mario cried through the other side. "I'm-a-stuck again. I came through this hole just fine but, it must have shrunken on me."
Sora chuckled and rolled his eyes at the comment.
"How did Mario get stuck?" Green wondered.
"I guess all that pasta got to his stomach." Sora assumed. "Come on! Let's try pushing him out!" Everyone pushed their bodies up against Baby Mario's behind and tried to push him out but, they had no luck. "Boy, looks like that pasta really got to him. Maybe, we could try pulling him out! Let's go!"
Sora, Baby Luigi, and Green arrived outside and ran over to the side of the cave. There, they saw the front of Baby Mario's body and he was sad.
"Oh, now how am I going to-a-enjoy my pasta from here?" Baby Mario sighed, sadly. He then made a smile with hope and turned to Sora. "I know! Every day during lunch, could you bring me a bowl of pasta with some meatballs?"
"Um..." Sora began.
"No pasta until you get out!" Red said walking over to the group. "I'm afraid pulling may not help either." He then panicked "I don't deserve this! He'll eat all of my pasta! I can't go on! I can't..."
Green then grabbed him and shook him. "Snap out of it! Sora and Yoshi figure out way."
Sora then thought about it for a minute when he came up with an idea. "I got it! This situation is somewhat similar to a book I read once about a teddy bear who got stuck in a rabbit hole."
"Did bear get out?" Green asked, with hope.
"Yeah, but he needed carrot juice to be spread around the sides of his body." Sora explained. "This caused him to slide out more easily."
"Of course!" Red said with excitement. "Why didn't I think of it before? We give him a bit of carrot juice and he'll be out of there in no time." He then turned and was ready to get the carrots when he gasped in horror "Oh, no!"
The group turned to see another Yoshi coming up to them. This one was a pink Yoshi with yellow shoes and she was about the same age as Yoshi and was hoping around. She was a bit careless and ran into Sora, knocking him over. Everyone else started giggling at this. The pink Yoshi looked down at Sora and talked with enthusiasm in her voice.
"Hi there!" She said with a similar baby voice to Yoshi. "I Pinkie! I spell it P-i-n-kie! That's how boy spell Pinkie." She then curiously sniffed Sora around. "Hm, Pinkie never seen boy before." She then noticed Green. "And Pinkie never noticed other Yoshi before who looks cute."
"Hello, Pinkie." Baby Mario said, greeting the Yoshi. "You've ran into my new friend Sora."
"Hiya, Mario!" Pinkie greeted back. "Mario look a bit uncomfortable. Is that a new exercise to help Mario lose that big belly? Why, hopping around is much more fun!"
She then got off Sora and jumped in front of him. Sora stood up and brushed himself off.
"Ugh!" Sora groaned. "I just had these washed, too." He then turned to Pinkie. "Why do you hop around so much?"
Pinkie gasped in horror upon hearing that. "Why? Why? Because Pinkie love to hop! It best thing since...ever!" She then looked around the area. "But, Pinkie's hopping spot some how went poof. So until it unpoofes, this place Pinkie's new spot!" She then ran off into the garden to play.
"My garden!" Red exclaimed. "Pinkie will ruin my vegetables unless we don't stop her! But she is too stubborn to even listen!"
"I have a new idea!" Sora said snapping his finger. "What if I try to stop her from stepping on your vegetables?"
"How will Sora do that?" Green asked.
"Perhaps I could help." Called a voice. The group turned to see the elder Yoshi walk up to them. "I see you're in quite a fix Sora so, you could use some help. Perhaps you can tire her out. The carrots will become completely squished if she manages to step on it twice. How are you going to that? Quite, elementary. Just reach the spot before she does and stop her. Speed is the key in this conflict so, be careful. "
Sora ran onto the garden and jumped in front of a carrot. Pinkie was about to land on it when Sora put his hands up and bounced her up. Thinking it was a game, she quickly hopped to the next one and squashed it once. Sora concentrated and watched the position her body made before she jumped. Sora quickly got to the next carrot and bounced her off again. She then hopped to the next one and was about to stomp on it when Sora quickly slid across the ground and stopped her again. The two want at it for five minutes with everyone watching a bit nervous. Finally, Pinkie got exhausted and sat down on the floor. Sora panted for air as did Pinkie. She then stood up and sighed.
"Wow!" She panted, tiredly. "Sora do pretty good. Pinkie want to play again some other time."
"Sure." Sora nodded. "That was fun. I'd like to play again too."
"Then Pinkie be seeing you." Pinkie said waving good-bye. She then ran off and red ran over to Sora.
"Thank you." He said. "You saved my garden. Now we should have enough carrots to pop Mario out of there. I shall make the carrot juice so please wait inside." Sora nodded and the trio went into Red's house. After a few minutes of waiting, Red walked back in the house rubbing his hands. "Well, what a day this has been. I just gave Mario the carrot juice and this was all over a bowl of pasta."
"So, can I push him out know?" Sora asked.
"Lightly, though." Red said with caution. "Don't over due it!"
Sora ran up to the hole where Baby Mario is and pushed against him, sending him flying out of the hole and crashing into pasta bowls which were on the ground.
Sora rubbed his head nervously upon realizing he overdid it. "Oops."
Red walked up to the hole and sighed. "This is terrible! First the hole and now this? I need to lie down."
Meanwhile, Baby Mario's head was stuck in a small pasta bowl.
"Mama-mia!" Baby Mario cried. "Who turned out the lights?" He then giggled. "Oh, well, at least I've got enough pasta in here to hold me till dinner."
Sora chuckled at the comment and he returned with Green to the beach area where they got another item.
"Well..." Sora began. "Two down and three to go! Right, Yoshi?"
Sora turned to see that Green was talking to other Yoshis near by. Sora began to felt nervous again wondering if Green would want to stay here. Sure, he would feel very happy but, Green had a major impact on Sora's life. He was there for Sora throughout the good and bad times. They would always have fun together and have always fought together at each other's side. Now it seems that their bond was getting weaker. Sora tried to call Green but, he wouldn't respond. He was too busy talking with his fellow Yoshis. Deciding it was for the best, Sora opened the book and looked at the next page. As he looked down, he felt a tear streaming down his eye and the tear gently dropped onto the book.
To Be Continued...