animegamefanatic
I haven't read the manga version yet, but maybe I will someday.
breath20k
Nice creatures, indeed.
CVGWJames
Thank you. I like adventures too.
LiamTheYoshi
I hope Team Mario makes it to the Crystal Stars first.
mariobroultimate
Can't agree less.
Nataly Guardado
Not just Punio, but all Punies in general.
…
Chapter 14: Doing a Favor
It's now 12:15 PM. Mario and friends emerged from the other end of the gray wooden Warp Pipe, finding themselves in a vast field of thin black grass with cyan cobblestones. There were also scattered patches of white flowers and black trees with white leaves.
Everyone gazed at their surroundings briefly.
"Hmm… The Boggly Woods…" Mario wondered out loud. "Looks pretty mysterious, right?"
"Yeah. I mean, look at the grass and flowers," Luigi pointed out. "I've never been to a woods like this before." He turned to Mario. "Why don't we find out more about this place?"
Mario nodded and swapped out Koops for Goombella.
"Nice to see you guys again!" Goombella exclaimed. "I heard that you got the first Crystal Star!"
"Thank you," Mario thanked Goombella. "Quick question: what do you know about Boggly Woods?"
"From what I know, this is an unusual forest many haven't heard of," Goombella explained. "Its main inhabitants are the Punies, which reside in the Great Tree. The Great Tree is no ordinary tree because it was constructed from the ground up using spare tree bark and the white flowers surrounding us. Legend has it that a Crystal Star is hidden within the tree, but it's guarded well by the X-Nauts, so take extra precaution when you come face to face with them."
"Thanks, Goombella," Luigi thanked Goombella. "Wish us luck."
With that, Mario swapped Goombella with Koops.
"What'll we run into next?" Mario asked.
"Um… Just a bit further, and we should be able to see the Great Tree," Punio replied. "The elder and his friends are waiting for us there… And my little sister as well!"
"So, straight ahead?" Koops asked.
"Yes."
And so, the group pressed on toward the Great Tree. Pale Piranhas and Dark Puffs roamed the path; they were not much of a challenge when Mario, Luigi, and Koops battled them.
…
Meanwhile, the Shadow Sirens stood in the center of a white flower ring discussing their evil plans.
"Mmmmweeheeheehee! Time to go to work, lovelies!" Beldam cackled. "Vivian! You understand what we've got to do, yes?"
"Mm-hmm! Step 1: Find those Mario and Luigi guys. Step 2: Steal the map to the Crystal Stars. Correct?" Vivian stated. "We can just do away with Mario and his friends, can't we? Or is that bad?"
"Oh, bad things happen all the time, Vivian. But you're right about our goals," Beldam replied. "If my information is correct, Mario and Luigi should be coming down this road quite soon. We must ambush them here and get that map!"
Suddenly, Beldam spotted a gold bead sticking out from under Vivian's hat. "Hmmm? What's this, now? Vivian! What's that you're hiding in your hat?"
"Oh! You mean this?" Vivian pulled out a gold beaded necklace. "I found it near that tree over there a while back. Isn't it a gorgeous necklace? It was so lovely… I just had to pick it up!"
"Hmph! Vivian! For shame! Picking up someone's scraps? Disgusting! Greedy!" Beldam scolded Vivian. "Vivian, my dear packrat... Bring out the sketch of those Mario and Luigi guys that you got from Grodus! Mmmmmweeheehee!"
"Okay."
Vivian took her right glove off, assuming the sketch was hidden in it. She looked in the glove, but couldn't find the sketch. She checked her other glove, which was empty too. "Damn! I don't have it!"
"What do you mean, you don't have it?"
…
Unbeknownst to the Shadow Sirens, Mario and friends spotted the Shadow Sirens and stopped in their tracks to listen to their conversation.
"Who are they?" Luigi whispered.
"I don't know," Mario answered quietly. "Maybe they work for the X-Nauts. Let's listen in."
…
"Well… I guess… No. I don't remember carrying it with me. You said it was way too important, so you took it. You should have it," Vivian said.
"Don't be ridiculous!" Beldam exclaimed. "I don't have that thing! You were in charge of it, you wretched little bitch!"
Vivian teared up at Beldam insulting her.
"Blaming me for something you probably screwed up! How disrespectful of you!"
"But… B-but I…"
Suddenly, Marilyn spotted Mario and friends. "Guh! Guh!"
…
"No! How did they know we were here?" Mario muttered. "We didn't make any noise!"
…
"Oh, what is it, Marilyn?" Beldam asked.
"Guh! Guh!" Marilyn responded.
"Two mustachioed fellows? This is no time for such nonsense, you great fatty!" Beldam said. "Save your games for later!"
…
"Thank God!" Mario sighed quietly. "Please don't pay mind to us…"
…
"Now, now, where was I?" Beldam thought it over for a brief moment. "You! Vivian! Don't tell me you lost our precious sketch!"
"But... Listen... I... L-look, it's n-not my fault..." Vivian cried. Her tears were flowing more. "I never had the sketch..."
"SHUT THE HELL UP, YOU JACKASS!" Beldam yelled.
…
By now, Mario was tearing up at the sight of Beldam mistreating Vivian. "I feel sorry f-for her… Poor girl…"
Luigi laid his hand on Mario's shoulder. "Me too, bro. You're not alone."
"I want to g-give her a big hug right now…"
…
"Such disrespect! How dare you talk back to me like some rebellious child?! It's clear to me that the only rationale your type understands is force…"
Beldam snatched the necklace from Vivian, making her cry even more.
"This is what you get! Do you understand that?! You don't deserve this necklace!"
"But… B-but Beldam… Oh, you monster…!" Vivian sobbed.
…
"Let's worry about them later," Luigi told Mario.
"F-fine…" Mario trembled. He, Luigi, Koops, and Punio walked by the Shadow Sirens, making sure to not make eye contact with them. Mario wiped his tears with his left sleeve.
A few minutes later, Punio noticed a distant black tree with flowery leaves to his left. He immediately became excited. "There it is! Look!"
Everyone turned to see the tree.
"That's what I was telling you about. That's where we Punies live. That's home."
"Wow. That's very big for creatures like you," Luigi remarked.
"Uh… Of course, it's not just us in the tree. Lots of Jabbies and Piders too," Punio went on.
"Jabbies and Piders?" Mario asked.
"Yes, their names sound strange. But if we happen to come upon those bugs, I'll tell you more about them," Punio said. "Anyway, follow me!" He found another gray wooden Warp Pipe, which was partially concealed in a black bush.
The group went down the Warp Pipe and ended up at the Great Tree's entrance. Mario, Luigi, and Koops looked up and felt surprised at how high it was.
"Jeezums… This kinda looks like one of those Sequoia trees, but it's black and white and the trunk is wider than normal," Luigi said.
"Uh… Guys?" Punio asked, looking at a red electronic door with a red light above it. Mario, Luigi, and Koops saw the door too.
"What? What's with the door?" Koops asked.
"It wasn't here before! Someone just installed it!" Punio replied. He hurried to the door and tried to find a hidden switch to no avail. "I can't open this door either. I thought I could finally save everyone, but no. Turns out I'm an idiot."
"Hey. Don't take it so hard," Luigi said. "You're not an idiot."
"Thank you. Now, what do we do…?" Punio mulled it over for a short while, wondering how else to get into the tree. He suddenly figured out the answer. "Wait! I got it!"
"What's your idea?" Mario asked.
Punio walked up a giant root on the left side and stopped at the trunk. "Long ago, the Puni elder told me about a secret entrance somewhere around here. We can get in through there! I'm completely sure of it!"
"But there's nothing in front of us!" Mario said.
"I understand what it looks like, Mario," Punio responded. "And I doubt finding it is gonna be very hard. I mean, it won't be labeled 'Secret Entrance'! Also, it's hidden by this invisible…thingy."
"What 'invisible thingy'?" Mario asked. "You're not making sense."
"I really don't know what it's called, but we need to find and remove it now." Punio went back to thinking again. "Hold on a second."
"Take your time," Luigi reassured Punio.
Seconds later, Punio came up with another idea. "Oh! Got it! Flurrie! Surely, Madame Flurrie's powers can help us!"
"Madame Flurrie?" Mario asked. "Who is she?"
"Flurrie is a refined and dignified lady who lives in these woods. The elder says she's a wind spirit who can wield the powers of air with ease. You see where I'm going with this?"
"Um… Yeah…"
"She can use her wind power to blow the thingy away! Well, it won't hurt to try," Punio continued.
"But what is the 'thingy'?!" Mario demanded.
"Hey. Easy, Mario," Punio coaxed Mario. "We'll see what it is after we find Flurrie and bring her with us."
"All right-y," Mario sighed. "Where's Flurrie?"
"She lives in the deepest corner of the woods," Punio replied. "After we go back through the pipe, we'll keep going straight until we see her house."
…
Meanwhile, in a distant house, a beautiful female voice echoed through the fancy foyer, "Ah, these woods are the most wonderful in all the world. Yes, indeed! Building a house here was just the finestidea I ever did have. Oh my, yes!"
"This place is so different from the bright flashbulbs of the world I'm used to... Such peace... This negative image of the real world soothes my body and soul," the voice said. "But what's even better... Is that I, Madame Flurrie, grow ever more lovely here! Plus, those squishy, adorable little Punies that live in that tree are so nice to me!"
"But...I suppose if I stay here too long, I'll begin to crave and hustle before long! Oh! Oh my! It's happening even as I speak! Already I feel the need for drama! That moment of exhilaration when the spotlight shines down on the stage...on me! Surely I was born to be...an actress for the ages! It's settled, then. I shall rise again! But...before I make my stage comeback... I simply must whip my body and mind into shape. I'll just have to put on some makeup and make my beauty even more beautiful."
A moment passed before Flurrie's voice said, "Wait a moment…"
Suddenly, she cried out with sadness, "Noooooooooooooooo! It's gone! Gone, I tell you! My... My..."
…
Back in Boggly Woods, Mario and friends were back on the main path bound for Flurrie's house. There were more Pale Piranhas and Dark Puffs in the way, but the group plowed through them easily. Ten minutes later, they arrived at a one-story house with yellow bricks, a pink roof and door, and small green bushes on either side of the front stairs.
"Here we are, guys. This is what I was telling you about. Flurrie's place," Punio stated.
"Looks beautiful," Mario said while gazing at the house's exterior. "Um, is the door unlocked?"
"It should be." Punio approached the front door and managed to push it open. "Come on in."
Mario, Luigi, and Koops followed Punio inside Flurrie's house. But no one was inside the foyer.
"Doesn't look like she's here," Punio said. "I wonder if she went for a walk in the woods." He saw a door on the back end of the foyer. "Or maybe she's in her room."
Punio walked up to the bedroom door and shouted, "Madame Flurrie! Hello? If you're here, say something!"
"No! Out of the question! You mustn't come in here!" Flurrie's voice answered frantically.
"Uh...Madame Flurrie? Are you there? Is that you? What are you doing?"
"Oh! Wait a moment... Those darling, squishy little footsteps..." Flurrie realized who was at her door. "Is that you, Punio? Oh, it's been an age since I saw you last! You poor dear! Is there something you need?"
"Uh, well, the thing is... We have a problem that only you can help us with, ma'am. The Great Tree's entry hole is blocked. There's this stupid door we can't seem to open," Punio said. "My Puni friends are inside, so they're in a pickle, and Mario and Luigi need these Crystal Stars... It's a train wreck, really. If you can't find the secret entrance for us, we're done."
"Oh... Is that all, dearie? You came all the way here just for that? My adorable little Punio... You know I would do anything in my power to help you. However, lamentably... I'm in a bit of a bind myself. I just cannot come out."
"Why? What's wrong?" Punio asked.
"It's somewhat embarrassing...but I never go out without my favorite necklace. I just can't find the blessed thing!" Flurrie replied. "I suspect I dropped it on my daily constitutional. I'd be simply scandalizedif anyone saw me without it, so I shan't be going out. I absolutely musthave that necklace to highlight my beauty, and that's that!"
…
"That must be some nice necklace, huh?" Koops wondered out loud. "Hang on…"
"What is it, Koops?" Luigi asked.
"You know what? It's weird... I'm sure I just heard someone talking about a necklace..."
"You mean those purple witches?" Mario questioned.
"Yeah. Them," Koops replied.
…
"What's that? Do speak up! You! Whoever just spoke!" Flurrie ordered, having heard the conversation from the foyer. "Do you have some clue as to my necklace's whereabouts? If you do, you must help me! Please! Be a dear! Find it and bring it back to me! If you could, then I'd be delighted to help my squishy little friend, Punio."
"Don't worry, Madame Flurrie! I'm sure Mario and Luigi can find your necklace. Word is, they are super!" Punio said.
"We're the Super Mario Bros," Luigi corrected Punio.
"Yes, that's right. The Super Mario Bros. We'll be back soon."
"All right. I'm sorry to trouble you so," Flurrie apologized.
Punio rejoined Mario, Luigi, and Koops.
"Did Flurrie just call you 'squishy'?" Mario asked Punio. "That's a bit inappropriate."
"I'll admit, it's the term of endearment she came up with," Punio answered. "But I'm cool with it."
Without further ado, the group exited Flurrie's house and started to go back the way they came.