animegamefanatic

There's more than one difficult task on Mario and Luigi's to-do-list.

LiamTheYoshi

I'm not a Sonic fan, so I can't talk about the differences between the Chaos Emeralds and the Crystal Stars.

mariobroultimate

We'll discover Peach's whereabouts real soon.

Mariofan4ever

Let's see what awaits Team Mario in Petal Meadows.

Mario bros fan4ever

Mario and Luigi are the only ones that have the power because they're superhumans.

…

Chapter 7: The Flowerful Petalburg

Mario, Luigi, and Goombella exited the other side of the gray Warp Pipe, setting foot on Petal Meadows for the first time. Petal Meadows was essentially a field of flowers similar to Flower Fields from the time the Mario Bros were rescuing the Star Spirits.

"Well, here we are! Petal Meadows, where folks say a Crystal Star hides!" Goombella said with excitement. "It looks like this is the official start of our adventure! So completely awesome!"

"I know, right?" Mario agreed. He smiled, but not as big as Goombella's.

Just ahead was a stone pillar shaped like a Warp Pipe with six rocks surrounding it in the shape of a hexagon. The two outer stones each had a sun and moon indent in the center.

"Why is there a sun and moon hole in these rocks?" Mario asked while looking at the indented rocks.

"I don't know. Maybe-" Goombella started to explain.

Suddenly, a loud roar sounded across the field, getting the group's attention.

"What was that?" Mario asked.

"Bro! Look above us!" Luigi exclaimed as a shadow fell over them.

Everyone looked up and saw a red and cream-colored dragon with a blue tail fly above them.

"Oh my God! Wow!" Goombella said.

The dragon continued to roar as it flew north toward a castle in the distance. Mario and friends watched the dragon until it entered the castle.

"I've never seen a dragon like that before," Mario remarked. "But why in Petal Meadows out of all places?"

"Yeah. Professor Frankly said this place was peaceful," Luigi answered. "I guess he didn't think of any enemies lurking around."

"I know we just started, but there's already intrigue!" Goombella added in. "I thought some time would pass before things get epic."

The group resumed their journey through Petal Meadows. Mario and Luigi admired the flower patches all around, but they didn't have time to stop and take in the beauty; there were multiple Goombas, Spiked Goombas, Red Koopa Troopas, and Paragoombas patrolling the field. Those enemies weren't that much of a challenge as the Mario Bros have defeated them so many times in the past.

15 minutes later, Mario, Luigi, and Goombella arrived at a wood archway that said, "Welcome to Petalburg!".

"You think there might be some people who know about the Crystal Stars?" Mario asked Luigi.

"Probably. I know there should be at least one wise man or someone like that."

The Mario Bros and Goombella entered Petalburg, a medium-sized village inhabited by Koopa Troopas and Toads. There were some flower patches here and there, but not as much as the countless ones in Petal Meadows.

It wasn't long before a Green Koopa Troopa noticed the group and walked up to them.

"Welcome, travelers, to Petalburg!" the Koopa Troopa stated. "It's great to see some visitors like you guys, but there really hasn't been much coming in and out lately. We're, like, remote."

"Remote? Why?" Mario asked.

"There was this dragon called Hooktail, who had been flying around this area, and it didn't help tourism. People just stopped visiting."

"'Hooktail'… That's a cool name for a dragon we saw earlier," Goombella said. "But it sounds kinda scary at the same time."

"What if Hooktail has a hook at the end of its tail and uses it to kill its prey before eating them?" Luigi quipped.

Mario and Goombella laughed at Luigi's joke.

"Good one, bro," Mario said. He turned to the Koopa Troopa and asked, "So, have you ever heard of these items called Crystal Stars? We're on an important quest to find them."

"Crystal Stars, you say? Hmmm..." The Koopa Troopa thought it over for a moment. "Sorry. I can't say that I have. You might want to speak with the mayor, though. He's old. Like, really old. Maybe in his centenarian years. But rest assured, he knows all kinds of stuff we don't. After all, Koopas of his age are…um…really smart."

"I figured," Luigi responded. "All the wise people me and my brother have seen are very old too."

"To tell you where Mayor Kroop lives, he's in the pink house up ahead. You should go check it out."

"A pink house? Sounds totally hideous...but it should be easy to find," Goombella said. "Thanks for your help!"

"You're welcome. I wish you three the best of luck," the Koopa Troopa told the group as they headed off to Mayor Kroop's house. From the spot they met the Koopa Troopa, the pink house was four houses down.

Upon entering through the front door, the Mario Bros and Goombella saw an elderly Koopa with white eyebrows that covered his eyes and a long white chin beard. He also had a brown cane with him.

Mario stepped forward and greeted Mayor Kroop, "Good morning, sir. How's it going?"

"Hmph? Whuzzat?! Someone there?! Who is it?! WHO?! What do you want from me?" Mayor Kroop shouted in a Southern accent, leaping off his couch. Mario got startled and jumped backward.

"Hey. Easy, sir. We just want to talk with you," Mario reassured Mayor Kroop.

"I know! You're thieves! You're here to rob a defenseless old Koopa! Despicable!" Mayor Kroop yelled.

"No, we're not! We never steal from anybody!"

"Go on, do what you will...but as you can plainly see, there's nothing to steal here," Mayor Kroop went on. "Oh, I guess I have a little money... Take it, you fiends. And my antique shell, too. Just-"

"Okay. That's enough. I understand what you're feeling right now, but we're not thieves. I swear," Mario interrupted. He was starting to get agitated.

"What? You're not thieves, you say? Well, what's your story, then?" Just as Mario started to speak again, Mayor Kroop butted in, "Oh, wait... You folks looking for Crystal Stars?"

"Yeah. You knew already?"

"Well, why didn't you pipe up before, you ijit! We're just wasting time here!"

"I tried to explain, sir," Mario confessed.

"The Crystal Stars you say you're hunting... Errrmm..." Mayor Kroop tried to remember what to say about the Crystal Stars but forgot about them briefly. "Wait... What did I hear about those dang things, again?"

"They-"

Again, Mayor Kroop interrupted Mario, "Aha! Got it! Hooktail! Hooktail's got what you're looking for! It's this enormous, ornery dragon. Eats folks, they say. You know Hooktail, right?"

"That's what this Koopa Troopa said when we walked into Petalburg," Luigi answered. "We even saw Hooktail fly above us."

"Well, this Hooktail's brutal flyby snackings have all of us on pins and needles. So, are you reckless fools... I mean..."

"We're not-" Mario started to say.

"Are you gallant heroes off to rough it up?" Mayor Kroop asked.

"We… We are… Yes…" Mario answered in an anxious tone of voice.

"This does sound promising! Why, if you can rid us of Hooktail, we'll shower you with gratitude and rewards."

"We'll take the gratitude… But-"

"Wait, what's that I hear? You'll accept no reward?" Mayor Kroop interrupted Mario.

"I didn't say that… What I meant was-"

"What unselfish men! You're noble, indeed... Yup, good eggs. Now… What did you say your names were, again?" Mayor Kroop asked.

"I'm… I'm Mario… And with me is my brother Luigi and our new friend Goombella…" Mario hesitantly answered.

"Hmm… Murphy and Luis? Those are fine names. Yes, fine names, indeed. Well now, Murphy and-"

"It's 'Mario' and 'Luigi', sir…" Mario corrected Mayor Kroop. "They're not that hard to remember…"

"I appreciate that, Murphy! You and Luis have nice eyebrows," Mayor Kroop remarked.

"I never said anything about-"

"He's just an old man, Mario," Luigi told Mario.

"All right. Now listen up," Mayor Kroop began. "If you're intent on going to Hooktail's castle, find the secret pipe near this village. I don't know where it's at, but I know you need Stone Keys to use that pipe. The keys are somewhere in Shhwonk Fortress, just past the village. Get them first."

"Okay…" Mario replied.

"No problem, sir. We'll get the job done quickly," Luigi added in.

"Well then, Murphy and-"

Suddenly, Mario stormed out of Mayor Kroop's house but left the door open on the way out. Luigi briefly looked at Mario walking away before Mayor Kroop got his attention.

"As I was saying, Luis, you and Murphy… Get going and take care of that Hooktail monster!"

"Got it," Luigi said. "Let's-a go, Goombella."

Luigi and Goombella walked out of Mayor Kroop's house; Luigi closed the door as he stepped out.

…

"I can't believe it…" Mario mumbled. He was about to cry, having been riled up by Mayor Kroop's constant interruptions and misnaming him and Luigi.

Mario stopped next to a ledge leading to the eastmost house of Petalburg. The good news was that he held back his tears within seconds.

"Mario? Are you okay?" Luigi asked as he and Goombella approached Mario.

"Um... I guess so…" Mario answered as he took a deep breath. "Let's-a go get the Stone Keys."

Without further ado, Mario and friends started to walk out of Petalburg until a male teenage voice called out from behind, "Excuse me! Err... I beg your pardon! Wait a moment, PLEASE!"

A Koopa Troopa with a pale blue sweater and a bandage on his nose came up to Mario, Luigi, and Goombella.

"Pardon me for yelling like that... I was panicking. Umm... How to begin? M-my name's...Koops. I heard you're traveling to Hooktail's castle."

"What's wrong, Koops? Do you need anything?" Mario asked.

"I… Uh… Yes, I do have a favor to ask…"

Koops tried his hardest to think of the favor he wanted to bring up, but he hesitated for a few seconds.

"Well... Ummmm... Oh, just..." Finally, Koops made his decision. "No. Just forget it. Never mind. Ignore me. Um… Goodbye." Koops walked away to the west.

"Okay... That was weird... What do you think that was all about?" Goombella commented.

"Koops just wanted to ask a question, but he couldn't get himself to answer," Luigi said. "I understand his feelings just like Mario's."

"Can we worry about that later?" Mario asked. "I thought we were getting the Stone Keys."

"We are, bro," Luigi answered. "I just feel bad for Koops. That's all."

Mario let out a sigh before leading Luigi and Goombella out of Petalburg toward Shhwonk Fortress.

…

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Edited to tone down Mario's mood after the scene with Mayor Kroop.