breath20k
Yeah. Very nice to meet two new characters in this story.
LiamTheYoshi
I hope not.
mariobroultimate
I think Grodus may be a mix between a human and a cyborg. As for TEC, he technically is a male as seen on the Super Mario Wiki website. Not all robots have no personalities; some are very special in terms of how they were programmed.
Vortex Lord
I thought I'd make a literal pun on Hooktail's name in that scene. Luigi nailed it.
…
Chapter 13: To Boggly Woods
The time is now 11:50 AM. Koops had just reunited with his girlfriend Koopie Koo while Koopley was given a warm welcome by the Petalburg residents. Before Mario and friends could leave Petalburg one more time, Koops decided to say goodbye again to Koopley and Koopie Koo.
"Are you serious, Koops? You're going with Mario and Luigi?" Koopley asked.
"I made that decision on the way back here," Koops replied. "After we finish our adventure, which I don't know how long it'll take, I'm gonna come back a strong Koopa like you, Dad!"
"Nicely said, my lad!" Koopley gave Koops a high-five. "That's my boy! Just remember that I'm your father and you're my only son."
"Yes, yes. You told me that already," Koops said.
"I know. I just care about you."
"Koops, my sweet… I'll be right here waiting for you to prove yourself," Koopie Koo said.
"You know I will, Koopie Koo. I get why you were upset before we took care of Hooktail. You didn't want me to die. Well, guess what? I made it out alive. So did Dad."
"That's true," Koopie Koo agreed. "But I always worry about you whenever you leave the village."
"Okay. I just want you to understand that if I decide to risk my life, I'm not being reckless," Koops said. "I'm doing it to prove my bravery, but the chances of that are slim."
"All right. Good luck out there, son." Koopley told Koops. He hugged Koops while Koopie Koo gave Koops a quick kiss.
"See you, guys. I'll be back home as soon as possible." Koops ran up to Mario and Luigi, who were waiting next to the archway. "Sorry to keep you waiting, Mario and Luigi. You know, farewells and all that."
"I understand. Before we go back to Rogueport, we have to take a detour at the Thousand-Year Door," Mario said.
"Oh! I remember. The Crystal Star you have with you. Well, I guess we're off!"
Shortly after entering Petal Meadows again, Mario and Luigi's cellphones sounded, indicating a text was sent to them.
"We're in the middle of something! Jesus!" Mario exclaimed with irritation. Nonetheless, he and Luigi took out their phones and saw who texted them. "Never mind. It's Princess Peach."
"Well, let's see what she has to say," Luigi said.
The group text read, "Mario and Luigi, I send you this message in the hope that it reaches you safely. I am being held against my will in some strange place. Though I don't know where I am, I remain unharmed and in relative comfort. Those who have captured me seem to be after the map I sent to you earlier. They may be hoping to use it to find objects they call the 'Crystal Stars'. I don't know what they're planning, but I have a feeling it isn't anything good. Mario and Luigi, please collect these Crystal Stars before they do. You must! They're already aware that you have the map, so please be very careful. And I know you always worry about me, but I'm okay for now unless something else happens. All right. Talk to you later."
"Wow! You got a text from a princess?" Koops gasped. "That's so cool! So, anyway, she's unhurt! That's good, at least… But I didn't like the sound of those kidnappers looking for the Crystal Stars as well."
"Looks like we'd better hurry and get the remaining Crystal Stars," Mario said.
"Yeah. We're literally in deep crap," Luigi agreed.
Mario, Luigi, and Koops decided to run as fast as they could to the Thousand-Year Door, making it there in just seven minutes.
"So, what do we do?" Koops asked after everyone entered the room with the Thousand-Year Door.
"See that pedestal?" Mario pointed to the central platform's pedestal. "I'm gonna step on it and hold the Magical Map in front of the door. This will mark the location of the next Crystal Star."
"We did that already, Mario," Luigi said. "Why don't we try using the Crystal Star this time?"
"All right-y."
The group walked up to the platform and Mario stood on the pedestal. He then took out the Crystal Star and held it in front, turning on the cyan light display. Then, the Crystal Star floated to the top open star and the Magical Map rose out of Mario's overalls pocket, glowing white.
Star-shaped glitter also appeared within the glow. A thin cyan circle faded in and lowered until it touched the Magical Map. The room then brightened up, causing everyone to shield their eyes.
Three seconds later, a star-shaped orb exploded outward and a bang sounded across the room with a final white flash. The room darkened to its normal state and the cyan lights disappeared along with the Crystal Star. The Magical Map dropped into Mario's hands again.
On the center of the map was a white-leafed tree atop a black and purple platform. There were four smaller trees surrounding the larger tree.
"That's a weird-looking forest," Koops remarked. "But I don't know where that is exactly."
"Well, the only way to find out is to talk to Professor Frankly," Luigi said. "He's a nice guy."
…
Mario and friends walked into Professor Frankly's office; the professor was dusting his bookshelf.
"Hi, Professor. How's it going?" Mario greeted Professor Frankly.
"Oh! Nice to see you again!" Professor Frankly replied after turning to see Mario with Luigi and Koops. "Did you find the Crystal Star?"
"Yes, we did. It's actually on the platform next to the Thousand-Year Door, so I don't have it in my possession."
"The good news is a white forest appeared on the map, which should mean that the next Crystal Star is there," Luigi added in.
"Very well. Let me see."
Professor Frankly took the Magical Map and a nearby book and started reading both. After a couple of minutes, he found the answer.
"I see, I see. Crystal clear!"
"Um... So, can you tell us where the next Crystal Star is or not?" Koops asked.
"Oh! I forgot to introduce you to our new partner Koops," Luigi stated.
"Good to meet you, Koops," Professor Frankly greeted Koops.
"Thanks. You too," Koops replied.
Professor Frankly turned back to the Magical Map and his book. "Anyway, where the second Crystal Star is… It's in the Boggly Woods, which is what the white forest represents. There's a great tree in the middle; the Crystal Star should be inside it."
"In addition, there are some odd creatures that reside in the tree," Professor Frankly continued. "And if memory serves, there's a pipe beneath town that leads to those woods."
"Can I butt in for a second?" Mario asked.
"Yes, Mario."
"About Princess Peach… She sent me and Luigi a text earlier and she said that the guys who kidnapped her are also hunting Crystal Stars. But she doesn't even know where she's being held," Mario said.
"Oh, dang it. If Princess Peach's kidnappers are also looking for the Crystal Stars, what could they hope to achieve?" Professor Frankly asked. "Could the treasure be... Ugh! Too many unknowns! Unfortunately, the only clues we can rely on are the Crystal Stars and that map."
Professor Frankly gave Mario back the Magical Map and closed his book.
"There's one other thing I have to tell you regarding the first Crystal Star."
"Is it one of those Star Spells?" Luigi asked.
"Exactly! The first Crystal Star is called the Diamond Star, and what it does is create a giant earthquake to immobilize enemies during a battle. Essentially, they flip over, making them vulnerable to any of your attacks. The spell is called, 'Earth Tremor'."
"How do we say the spell?" Mario questioned.
"I wouldn't do this in my office because it'll destroy everything, but what you should do is clench your fists…" Professor Frankly explained. "…raise your arms up, and yell, 'Tremorus Terra!'"
Mario and friends giggled at the spell's words.
"Right as you say 'Terra', throw your arms down at the ground. That'll create the earthquake. Finally, 'Earth Tremor' costs two units of Star Power, and either you or Luigi can recite the spell if needed."
"Understood," Mario and Luigi said in unison.
"So, I guess we should go to Boggly Woods to find that next Crystal Star, and fast!" Koops declared.
"Yes, I recommend you do just that. And find it before Princess Peach's captors do! I'll keep researching to learn more about the Crystal Stars and the ancient treasure," Professor Frankly said.
With that, Mario and friends exited Professor Frankly's office and went back to Rogueport Sewers.
"Remember that grate next to the staircase leading to the black chest?" Luigi asked. "I think there's something behind it."
The group went down two more stories, arriving at the metal grate. Suddenly, the same creature Mario and Luigi saw earlier popped out of the grate, startling everyone. This time, Luigi didn't overreact.
"Was that one of the creatures Professor Frankly mentioned?" Koops asked as the creature ran through the small hole next to the grate.
"I think so," Mario answered. "It might have been the same one me and Luigi saw earlier this morning." He walked up to the grate and pushed two of the bars outward, bending them in process. "Let's find that creature."
The next area had a tall ledge with a staircase on one end and a small hole on the right-hand side. The creature was standing next to the staircase. Mario held his arm out, stopping Luigi and Koops.
"Everyone shut up," Mario whispered. "He might be very skittish."
Mario tiptoed toward the creature with Luigi and Koops trailing behind. The creature suddenly fled to the left after he took three steps toward it.
"Eeeeeeeeeeeeek! D-don't eat me!" the creature cried, not knowing where to go now. Mario slowly approached the creature again.
"Hey. Easy, my friend. We're not here to eat you," Mario said in a soft voice. "It's okay."
"Y-you're not tricking me, r-right…?" the creature asked.
"No. I'm being sincere," Mario replied. "Believe me: I would never eat or hurt anyone like you."
"Whew! Boy, that's good. I thought for a second I might have an accident."
Mario beckoned Luigi and Koops to rejoin him.
"Say, aren't you one of the creatures from Boggly Woods? Why are you down here?" Mario asked. The creature got scared again.
"What?! You know about me?! Y-you must be... You guys are working for those X-Nauts, aren't you?! You chased me here!"
"Nononono! We're not like them!" Mario protested. "Look at us! We're not wearing their uniforms or whatever they look like!"
"We're not here to do anythingto you, okay?" Koops told the creature. "Why don't you tell us what's going on?"
"All right, then," the creature began. "This gang of bad guys who call themselves X-Nauts came to where I live. They came inside our Great Tree and started tearing it apart and causing trouble. So... I've come all the way here looking for help."
"A bunch of bad guys in the Great Tree? If those are the same guys who kidnapped Princess Peach, they want the Crystal Star!" Luigi said.
"Hmm… Now that you mention it, they did say something about some Crystal Star thingy... But we Punies don't know anything about any crystals or stars..."
"Punies? That's what your species is?" Mario asked.
"Yeah. We're very small. About the same size as mice," the creature replied. "Anyway, could you guys help us out? Maybe chase them off? If you do, we'll give you, uh... What was it? The Crystal Star?"
"Yes," Mario responded.
"If you three will help us, we'll have the Puni elder give you that! I don't know what it is, but if it'll help us reclaim our tree, I'm sure he will agree!"
"You know, I'd feel pretty bad if we didn't do anything. Plus, we do need to get the Crystal Stars before the X-Nauts do," Koops said.
"Really?! You aren't joking?! You'll do it?!" the creature gasped.
"We always help those in need," Mario answered with a smile.
"Oh, thank you so much! This is great! I'm so happy!" the creature exclaimed. "Before we get going, my name is Punio. I'm glad to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too. I'm Mario…" Mario pointed to Luigi and Koops. "…and this is my bro Luigi and our partner Koops."
Luigi and Koops waved hello.
"Allow me to take you where I live," Punio stated. "Follow me." He hurried over to a crack in the right-side wall. "Over here!"
Right as Mario, Luigi, and Koops approached the crack too, Punio ran inside it.
"Hold on! I'm sure the Puni elder said some button around here opens the secret entrance!" Punio called out. A few seconds later, a hidden door in the middle of the ledge opened, revealing a staircase. "There we go!"
Mario and friends ran up the staircase, entering a small room with a gray wood Warp Pipe in front. Punio stood next to the Warp Pipe.
"We can get to the woods we Punies live in by going through this pipe here," Punio said. "Let's go!"
Punio entered the pipe before the group followed him.