Reunited

Chapter 25: Glitz & Glamour

The heroes all stand behind the pilot of the ship, Flavio, looking out to shore.

"She's still here," Koops remarks seeing the S.S. Teacup. "I guess Yoshi failed."

"Well, we'd better hurry up and find that jewel then," Goombella muses, all while continuing to stare, "Perhaps they are asleep?"

"No, I can see a fire from here," Vivian remarks. "They're awake, and it looks like they're feeling pretty jovial."

"You know," Flavio says, "I've met Syrup a few times myself. She likes Flavio pretty well, so she might treat you five better if I come along."

"Sounds like it'd be better off to go with that than risk confrontation," Eggo replies. Suddenly Ms. Mowz gasps.

"Those four jewels Cackletta had," she suddenly begins to shout, "They moved! They're just a few islands away now!"

"Could someone have taken them from her?" Vivian wonders.

"Maybe her and her minions are on the move," Goombella answers. She then looks the mouse of the party directly in the eyes. "By the way, how do I keep failing to notice you slipping into my knapsack?"

"Pickpocket's skill," the Little Mouser answers before reaching into the pocket of the green cloak she is still wearing and handing Goombella a wallet from within it as well. Goombella looks dumbfounded seeing this.

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The small green ship pulls into the harbor of Serena Beach and anchors, the six people onboard stepping off and seeing the Sugar Pirates having a festival of sorts. Once they step off, Syrup approaches them with a glass, presumably filled with rum.

"Hey, look who it is!" she remarks upon seeing Flavio. "What's the occasion for you being here? Wanting to help out with the plan to get some "protection" from Popple?"

"These five payed Flavio to bring them here."

"Ah!" she laughs before turning to the other five, "What's your business here?"

"We're here for that jewel underneath the hotel," Goombella answers for the party, occasionally looking back to make sure Ms. Mowz isn't robbing her again, "We need it to stop an evil tyrant from-"

"Ah, so we've got the same idea, huh? You wanna beat Popple too?"

"Who?" Vivian asks for the group.

"Maybe you know him by his alias, C.P. Cornello. Here's a word of advice: the C.P. stands for Captain Popple."

"Never heard of him."

"Maybe you know him by appearance then?" Syrup wonders before pulling a folded up sheet of paper out from her pocket and showing it to them. "Recognize him now?"

"Hey, that's the guy we saw at the train station the other day," Eggo answers. "Don't worry 'bout it, he's dead. Let's just say he... caught the wrong train."

"Dead? Great work! I suppose him being dead works just dandy then!" Syrup chirps before guzzling down her drink. "Help yourselves to the jewel then!" Syrup turns and shouts to her crew, "Boys, I have an announcement! Thanks to these five people, as well as my good buddy Flavio, Popple's out of our lives forever! They offed him!" This stirs a loud cry of rejoicement from the crew, who begins to party that much harder.

"By the way," Koops asks, "Did a green Yoshi happen to show up recently?"

"Aye!" Syrup answers, "He wanted the jewel. We locked 'im up, but we were plannin' to let him go as soon as we got the jewel."

"Could you go do that right now then?" Eggo asks,

"Sure, why not!" Syrup turns and runs back towards the ship, and seeing this Vivian goes into the ground suddenly, coming back up a few minutes later jewel in hand.

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The Glitz-Pit promoter sits at his desk, tapping a pencil on it and anxiously awaiting the man he sent out's return. Suddenly his phone rings, and he answers it expecting an offer from someone interested in paying for some ads around the Glitz Pit.

"Hello. This is-"

"Hey, it's me. Just got let go by Syrup."

"How did things go?"

"I failed, but those other five showed up. Turns out they killed her target, so she let them have it and then let me go."

"Good, good. So how many does that make it total?"

"All 7. Cackletta's got four, those five have three."

"You mean-"

"It's time. I'm going with them at the moment. Going to help out in the final confrontation, if you know what I mean."

"Got it. I'll be there A.S.A.P. Talk to you later."

"Bye."

Both hang up, and the Glitz Pit promoter stands up and walks over to a closet in the corner. He opens it up and first takes out the letter from Daisy that had been sent just before she handed over the throne, suggesting he hide to avoid meeting the same fate and giving his current position as a good way to do so. He then takes out a familiar outfit he hadn't worn in about a month and a half.

It's time, he tells himself, It's time, Luigi.