CVGWJames

The good news is Mario will get better quickly because he's a superhuman.

LiamTheYoshi

Actually, Goombella only saved Mario from the first Fuzzy, and the Bros worked together to get rid of the Fuzzy Horde in the end.

mariobroultimate

I haven't played Super Mario 3D World yet, but I'm bound to when the Nintendo Switch port comes out.

Mario bros fan4ever

You'll see more Bros. Attacks later in this story. They're awesome moves if you ask me.

Nataly Guardado

I hate mosquitos too. Especially after a hard rainstorm.

…

Chapter 9: Avenging Ambition

"I didn't know you had some sort of electric powers, Luigi," Goombella said as she, Mario, and Luigi exited Shhwonk Fortress.

"It's one of my superhuman abilities, which astounded me when I first discovered it," Luigi replied. "I wasn't surprised that Mario's main ability was fire given we used the Fire Flower powerup many times."

Within ten minutes, Mario and friends arrived in Petalburg again but didn't stop for anything. Mario glanced at Mayor Kroop's pink house, making sure the mayor wasn't standing on his front porch. No one was there to his relief.

Don't mind us, sir, Mario said to himself. We're just going about our businesses.

Upon reaching the archway separating Petal Meadows from Petalburg, a familiar voice cried out from behind, "Hey, guys! Wait!"

Mario, Luigi, and Goombella stopped immediately and turned to see Koops run up to them.

"Hi, Koops," Luigi greeted Koops. "Do you need anything? Like, have you thought of what favor you wanted from us?"

"Ummm... Look, I… Well…" Koops hesitated in an anxious tone of voice.

He's just like me, Mario thought. But I'm not sure if his anxiety level is less than mine is.

"See, the thing is, I've been obsessing about the hope of getting to speak with you," Koops finally said. "I have to ask you something, and you can say no, but I'm going to throw it out there."

"Don't worry, Koops," Mario reassured Koops. "We're listening."

"Thanks." Koops let out a sigh. "Now… I was wondering... Would you…" He started to tear up and felt as if his question was making his brain swell up in his skull. With his head aching badly, he couldn't hold it back anymore.

"PLEASE TAKE ME WITH YOU TO FIGHT HOOKTAIL! I'M FREAKING BEGGING YOU!"

"Hey. Take it easy, Koops," Luigi coaxed Koops, who held his head. "No need to scream at us."

"I'm s-sorry…!" Koops cried. "I didn't want…anyone in Petalburg t-to…hear my plea…! I thought they w-would… They…"

"What about the Petalburg residents?" Goombella asked.

"I don't know…!" Koops responded. "I j-just want…to keep it b-between us…! No one else…sh-should hear this…!"

"Why go with us to fight Hooktail?" Mario questioned.

Koops looked back up at the group. "Because… My dad… H-he went off to b-battle…Hooktail by himself... He l-left when I was…seven…" Koops wept. "And Mom didn't w-want him to go…b-but he did…! Dad never came back…th-that day…and I assumed he d-died…! I wasn't able t-to…enjoy school f-for the past…ten years and even my friends…c-couldn't cheer me up…no matter h-how hard they tried…!" Koops went on. "M-Mom didn't know what…to do either…! And I d-don't have…brothers or sisters…which m-made my s-situation worse…!"

Koops tried to take a deep breath, but he instead felt his anger take over his sadness.

"That roaring fiend… He's not going to get away with it…" Koops said with gritted teeth. "I want to avenge Dad's death so badly…"

"But you're a teenager," Mario butted in.

"That doesn't matter… I don't care if I'm a teenager or a crybaby…" Koops grumbled. "I'll show everyone how strong and courageous I am… I'll get my revenge whether I end up dead or alive…"

Koops let out a few muffled growls, worrying the Mario Bros and Goombella.

"And this is about finishing what Dad started… For his sake and everyone's sake… I swear to God I won't run away a coward even if I feel it in me…" Koops said. "Those village people… They think I'm just a weakling and nothing else…"

Finally, Koops couldn't take it anymore and let out a loud, anguished scream. He started punching the archway.

"Koops! Calm down!" Luigi pleaded. "I know your-"

"THAT DRAGON IS DEAD!" Koops yelled. "WHETHER YOU ALLOW ME TO COME OR NOT, I'M GOING INTO THAT DRAGON'S PLACE AND BE THE ONE TO DEFEAT HIM!"

Mario and Goombella could only watch as Koops released his anger with Luigi trying to calm him down.

"Please, Koops! Relax!"

Koops stopped punching the archway, which had a couple of cracks on it. Luigi laid his hand on Koops's shell.

"Deep breath. It's okay," Luigi told Koops.

"How is it okay?" Koops asked with frustration. He lowered his voice, but was still angry. "My mom is all that I have in my family. It's literally just the two of us."

"I know. I'd feel the same way if me and Mario's father went alone to fight Bowser, the Koopa King," Luigi said.

"I've heard about him."

"But at the same time, the thought of a father sacrificing his life to stop a destructive villain can make his son feel proud of him. Your father basically served a purpose for Petalburg despite the village staying in its remote state."

"Me and my brother completely understand you and your mother are feeling depressed about your father's death," Luigi went on. "And if you want to tag along with us, we'll be more than glad to take you into our team."

"Really?!" Koops gasped.

"Yes," Luigi answered with a smile. "Me and Mario will for sure help you defeat Hooktail once and for all. I feel that three against one is better than you yourself against a powerful dragon."

"Oh, thank you, Luigi!" Koops hugged Luigi as a sign of gratitude.

Having seen Luigi allow Koops to join the team, Mario sent Goombella into his Partner Collection Band.

"You're welcome, Koops," Luigi replied. "We're very proud of your courage. Don't listen to anyone who makes fun of your sadness. That's what Mario told me back then; it helped motivate me to not only defeat Bowser but also save Mario from this evil Boo in a haunted mansion."

"Wow. That's wild," Koops remarked. "What guts you had."

"Koops!" a female voice called out from beyond the archway. The group turned to see a girl Koopa Troopa with a pink shirt within her shell, a pink ponytail holder, pink shorts, and white sneakers with pink soles.

"Whoa… Uh… Hi, Koopie Koo…" Koops hesitantly greeted Koopie Koo. "You didn't overhear all that, right?"

"Well, part of it," Koopie Koo replied.

"Do you remember me telling you not to spy on anyone I talk to? You know that's darn rude."

"But I thought I heard you say you're off to fight Hooktail!" Koopie Koo protested. "You gotta be joking me! Like, you're not a powerhouse!"

"Yes, I am!" Koops argued. "If you decided to eavesdrop on me, you should've at least listened to me saying I'm brave enough to go!"

"Well, that, I didn't hear! All I heard was you wanting to fight Hooktail! That's it!"

Meanwhile, Mario glanced at Luigi, who shrugged. Boyfriend and girlfriend relationship. Fricking typical.

"Nothing's going to happen, Koopie Koo!" Koops said. "Don't worry about me!"

"Dude, he'll eat you up!" Koopie Koo responded. "The minute you step into Hooktail's castle or wherever that dragon lives, you're literally dead!"

"Just stop it! I want to be tougher this time! I'm done retreating into my shell and isolating myself! I have to do this for you!"

"No, you don't!" Koopie Koo yelled. "You're making a dumb decision, Koops! We've known each other since 9th grade, and I've seen you act like a crybaby all the time! And I've had to coddle you every time you-"

"Don't," Koops interrupted, pointing his finger at Koopie Koo's face. "You bring up that time when everyone laughed at us in the cafeteria one more time…"

"I'm just giving an example! I'm not trying to offend you, but it's all true! I just want you to be you, okay?"

"For the last time, I am not being my old self again," Koops said angrily. "I've thought it over for weeks and today's the day. You're not gonna pull me back into the village."

"Wow. You really are a tough Koopa," Koopie Koo remarked with sarcasm. "I can't believe you just said all that to me."

"I did, Koopie Koo. And guess what? I'm going with Mario and Luigi. They're the best, you know."

"Oh, Mario and Luigi are the best? What if they're not able to save you?"

As Mario watched Koops and Koopie Koo argue, he kept telling himself not to get involved. But he was starting to get impatient, thinking that the argument was wasting time.

"I'm done talking about this! You're not forcing me to second guess my decision!" Koops yelled.

"FINE! THEN IGNORE ME, YOU FLIPPING IMBECILE!" Koopie Koo stormed back into the village, fuming steam.

Mario let out a sigh, relieved that it was over.

"I'm sorry, Koopie Koo," Koops said while watching Koopie Koo walk away. "It didn't have to go this far. But I swear I'll come back to you a stronger Koopa."

"You sure will," Mario agreed. "Me and Luigi have faith in you. You'll get everyone's respect after Hooktail's been dealt with."

"I hope so."

"Well, no turning back now," Luigi said. "Hooktail's castle awaits."

Mario led Luigi and Koops to the stone pillar and the rock hexagon. He took out the Sun Stone and Moon Stone.

"I wonder what'll happen once we insert the Stone Keys," Mario said.

"Maybe a hidden passage will open," Koops answered. Mario placed the Stone Keys in their respective rocks and two Blue Exclamation Point Switches rose next to the leftmost and rightmost rocks.

Mario walked to the left switch while Luigi and Koops stood next to the right switch.

"I'll hammer this blue switch while you and Luigi hit the other switch at the same time," Mario told Koops, who hid in his shell.

Luigi threw Koops at the right switch while Mario hit the left switch with his hammer. The stone pillar crumbled, revealing a dark green Warp Pipe.

"What did I tell you?" Koops asked.

"You're a smart Koopa, Koops," Mario chuckled. "Now let's-a go!"

Mario went down the Warp Pipe first followed by Luigi and Koops.