Chapter 5
The key to pirates
The trip to Keelhaul key wasn't easy. Everyone faced dangers and obstacles. They had to become tougher to survive. We have gathered some pages from Flavio's diary that involve some parts of the journey.
Month: Ѣ day: ґ
Over the protests of my crew the S. S. Flavion has set sail. Is this voyage as impetuous as they say? Ah, I must scoff. Flavio will show them guts.
Month: ϡ day: Ϙ
Another day of good wind and white clouds. They enchant me. It's as if they are blessing our journey. Flavio thanks them most heartily.
Month: Щ day: щ
Things are going smoothly. Yet I'm filled with dread, but also excitement. At this speed we should reach our destination by tomorrow's sunrise.
It was night. The ship was bound to moor at Keelhaul key the next day. Thereafter everything went amiss. Flavio was singing a song.
"Skull captain casts his gaze!
Red jewel shines and plays!
Boom-Bassa-Bom festival!
The 'Stache brothers best of friends!
3 times red 'Stache lands on his end!
Blue 'Stache's belly 4 times is wacked, so let's hear those fireworks go boom!
At the boom-bass-boom festival!"
"How long will this take? I've grown bored of hearing this song." said Bobby
"Yes. It became annoying after the 17th time." said Koops
"I've learnt it by heart." said Mario
Flavio looked at the horizon and said:
"See? I told you there was nothing to be scared of. The island is right before us. It's a mountain of treasure. Now we need to celebrate and I know how. I'll tell you one of my countless stories of raw bravery.
"No, no, no, no, no." said everyone
"Yeah. Don't get yourself in such trouble." said Goombela
"Oh, it's no trouble at all." said Flavio. "There I was, in the cargo hold of the sinking ship, fighting a giant sea serpent…"
Flavio started telling a big story.
"He started again." said a toad
"Yeah. I heard that one yesterday." said the bob-omb with the eye patch. "There's nowhere to escape to. We just have to listen until he's finished."
"Yeah. If you interrupt him midstory he absolutely loses it." said another toad
Suddenly, the ship stopped moving. Everyone but Falvio, who was still telling the story noticed that.
"What's that? The ship has stopped." said Mario
"I don't like this." said Vivian
Mario then turned to the bob-omb with the eye patch and said:
"Hey, Pa-Patch. What's going on?"
"I don't know, but I need to interrupt the captain." said Pa-patch. He then turned to Flavio and said:" Oy, master Flavio. Awfully sorry to interrupt your story, but the ship's stopped."
Falvio stopped talking and said: "Stopped? That's what you have to say after interrupting a story of passion and fury? It's your duty to keep the ship moving, right? Get to it."
"Aye aye captain." said Pa-Patch. "Give me a tick."
Pa-Patch then climbed on the crow's nest and started looking around. Suddenly, a floating flame creature appeared behind him and poked him.
"Yeah yeah. I'm working on it. Wait a moment you scallywag." said Pa-Patch. He then turned around, but the ghost disappeared before he could see it. Pa-Patch was confused, but he kept looking. suddenly, the sky was covered in dark clouds. The ghost reappeared and poked Pa-patch again.
"Now quit shoving. I'm working here." said Pa-Patch. "I said quit shoving!"
He turned around and this time he saw the ghost.
"Uh… Arhgggggggg." He shouted and quickly jumped off the crow's nest and onto the deck.
"Th… th…they are here!" he shouted
"What's all this? Asked Flavio. "Who's here? Can someone tell me what's going on here?"
Suddenly, about a dozen ghosts appeared and surrounded the ship.
"The pirate ghosts. The rumors were true." shouted everyone
"What do we do? Asked Koops
"We need a plan. Mario any ideas?" said Flurrie
"No. Nothing." said Mario
Meanwhile, all the other crew members had panicked and were running on the deck.
"C… calm down everyone." said Flavio who was shaking with fear himself. "This is… just a dream we are all having… awake. Now quickly. Move the boat!"
Suddenly, a hundred ghosts appeared and came closer to the ship. One of them appeared right in front of Flavio who literally turned blue because of his fear.
"Is… is to true? Are you… the merciless pirate king Cortez?" asked Flavio the ghost, but it didn't reply.
"Relax everyone. Remain civilized." said a green toad. "If we stay relaxed everything will be fine."
Suddenly, the ghosts attacked the ship and it started sinking.
"Oh no. My precious ship" said Falvio
"Calm down everyone." said the toad. "If we could just form a proper line… oh forget it. Make a path!
"Every rich, marvelous merchant for himself." said Flavio
All jumped into the water. First Falvio, then Bobbery, then the rest of the crew, then Mario's friends and last Mario.
What happened next is known from some pages from Flavio's diary which he apparently wrote a few days later.
Month: Ѱ day: Җ
Fortune from disaster. The kindly sea washed us ashore. One way or the other we made it to our destination. And yet we mourn. Our ship is scrap at the ocean floor and we've lost three crew members including admiral Bobbery. It pains me to think they may be in the hands of Cortez, that filthy pirate king. What will become of us? Will we be lost in this wild island forever?
Month: Ҽ day: Ӥ
We have made a semblance of civilized life here. The flotsam of our ship washed up and now we have salty bread and other salty stuff. We can live for some time in this remote island, but then what?
Month: Ӿ day: Ԅ
We have built a few huts from the washed-up timbers. Poor S. S. Flavion, A least the shanties keep out the wind and rain. We still haven't had any sing of Bobbery and the others and my heart… she doubts. However, despite my fears, I mustn't give up hope. They could be alive somewhere.
Month: ᴔ day: Ӝ
Three days on the isle now and the huts are all finished. We have made out own civilization here. However, we all dream of returning to Rogueport.
Mario and his friends were at the waterfront gazing at the horizon.
"How long will we be stuck in this island?" asked Koops
"Unless a miracle happens, for a very long time." said Mario
"This is very bad." said Ms. Mowz
"I'm worried about admiral Bobbery." said Vivian
"Yeah. We got him back on the water and now he's lost." said Bobby
"We mustn't give up hope." said Mario
"Yeah. He could be alive somewhere." said Goombela
"Along with the other two missing sailors." said Flurrie
A green toad shoed up and said:
"Captain 'Stache. Come quickly. We have a problem."
Mario and his friends followed the toad to the camp area. There the toad said:
"Look. Flavio and Pa-Patch are in a huge fight."
Indeed, the two of them had a big argument.
"And what about you, you squinty?" said Flavio "You turned into jelly whey you saw the ghosts."
"Me? You're the one who was trembling fancy pants." said Pa-Patch
"Wait just a moment." said Flavio. "Did you just call the great Falvio fancy pants?"
"That's right" said Pa-Patch. "Fancy pants! Fancy pants! Fancy pants! Fancy pants!"
"That's not good." said Goombela
"All these days we've been trapped in this island have driven them crazy." said Mario
"You little cyclops!" said Flavio who was wrathful. "Flavio demands satisfaction. You! Me! Hammers! At dawn!"
"Very well. Time to teach you to respect the ones stronger than you." said Pa-Patch and they both left.
"This is going to end badly." said Vivian
"Not if we can help it." said Mario. "We have to talk some sense into both of them."
Suddenly, Falvio and Pa-Patch came back running and shouting:
"They're Heeeeeeere."
When they arrived, they hid behind Mario.
"The ghosts are back." said Falvio trembling
Verily, three ghosts had arrived at the camp area.
"C… C… Captain Mario. D… Defeat these ghosts. That… that's an order" said Flavio
Mario had no other choice. He and his friends fought the ghosts. The ghosts were made of fire so Mario and his friends couldn't touch them, but they didn't need to. Using their weapons and powers they soon defeated the ghosts. Mario destroyed the first with his hammer. Flurrie blew the second with her wind powers until it was extinguished and Koops defeated the third with his fireproof shell.
"Great work. You're a blooming beast." said Pa-Patch
"It's too early to celebrate don't you think?" said Falvio. "There sure are more of them out there. Someone must investigate the rest of the island. Yes, that must be done. As the leader of this expedition I of course, must stay here. On this I brook no argument. Oh yes. Mario. You can do that, right?"
"Sure." said Mario
"Very well. I knew you'd go forth with bravery." said Flavio "Good luck."
And so, Mario and his friends left the camp are and started exploring the jungle.
"Why did you accept?" asked Bobby
"Yeah. We always do the hard work." said Goombela
"Firstly, it's better that we don't create any more tension in the group." said Mario "And secondly, we are the only ones here that can find the treasure and the crystal star."
Mario and his friends walked for a long time. They also avoided deadly traps and fought many enemies. In the end, they arrived at a bridge. There they heard scream
"These cursed ghosts. Blast them all."
They looked and saw Bobbery, a green toad and the mysterious guy in the middle of the bridge surrounded by two ghosts.
"They need help." said Mario
"Time to save the day." said Bobby
The got on the bridge. Bobbery noticed them and said:
"Is that you Mario. You're alive old boy?"
"yes. All of us are." said Mario.
"You came in the nick of time" said Bobbery. Get these two outta here."
"But what about you?" asked the toad. "You have to get out of here too."
"Go! I'll keep these ghouls busy." said Bobbery. "Leave at once!"
"If Bobbery thinks it's' the right thing to do, then what are we waiting for?" said the mysterious guy. He then grabbed Mario and left with the toad. Mario's partners followed them. They saw Bobbery being hit fiercely by the ghosts as they ran away and felt sad. Soon they arrived at safety.
"Oh, admiral Bobbery. Please forgive our cowardice." said the toad. "You sacrificed yourself and we abandoned you. Please forgive us."
"I feel sorry for the admiral too." said the mysterious guy
"By the way, what's your name?" asked Flurrie
"My name is four eyes." He said
"Okay. Now let's go back to the camp area." said Mario
And so, Mario and his friends took four eyes and the toad to the camp area.
"You're alive" said Falvio when he saw Mario with the two crew members. "We still have some fortune left. Such a relief for Flavio. We are all accounted for and…"
Flavio stopped, looked around and said: "Wait just a minute. Am I wrong or are we still one man short?"
"That's right." said the toad. "Bobbery sacrificed himself to save us from the ghosts. We have to go back and help him."
"So, the admiral is alive. How wonderful." said Falvio. "Mario, I entrust you with the duty of finding admiral Bobbery. We're counting on you."
Mario and his friends returned to the jungle to find Bobbery. On the way, Koops tripped over a rock on the ground and knocked his head on a tree. This caused a coconut to fall off the tree and land on Koops' head.
"That hurt." said Koops
"Are you okay?" asked Goombela
"Yes." said Koops
"Well, you found a coconut. Good work. I'll keep it in case we get hungry later." said Mario. He then put the coconut in his overalls and kept walking.
Soon, they heard noise from nearby. They approached and saw Bobbery lying at the base of a tree heavily inured while the two ghosts were circling around him.
"We have to stop them." said Bobby
"Yes" said Mario
They attacked at the ghosts and defeated them. Then they looked at Bobbery.
"Are you okay?" asked Mario
"Ughhhh. Phggggg. I guess these poltergeists go me little better than I thought." said Bobbery. "I don't think I'm going to make it. Thank you for taking me out to sea one last time."
"It… it was an honor to travel with you." said Mario
"Yes. We'll never forget you." said Koops
"Me neither. But before I perish, I need something. Chuckola cola." said Bobbery. "It was Scarlette's favourite drink. I had kept one last bottle to remember her. I brough it along to celebrate reaching here. I saw it among the flotsam heading for the island so it must be somewhere. Bring it to me so I can taste it before I go on my last voyage. It is my last request."
"I understand." said Mario
"Mario and his friends left and returned to the camp.
"Back already?" said Flavio. "Did you find anything?"
"Do you have a bottle of Chuckola cola?" asked Mario without answering Flavio's question.
"Chuckola cola? Why would I have that?" said Falvio. "But Flavio is kind of curious. Why do you ask?"
"Well, we found Bobbery, but he's moribund." said Bobby. "He wants to drink it before he dies."
"Really? So, that's a last request we're dealing with, right?" said Flavio and took out a bottle with a colorful drink in it. "Here it is. I found it and decided to keep it, but for such a noble purpose, I yield."
"Thank goodness." said Mario
"However," said Flavio. "This Chuckola coal is part of my… er I mean our supplies which we need to survive. So, you must bring me something to replace it. On that I do not budge. Know that I am a subscriber at the gourmet magazine, so it won be easy to impress me.
"What should we give him?" said Vivian
"I have no idea." said Ms. Mowz.
Suddenly, Mario had a brainstorm and took the coconut out of his overalls.
"Here you go." said Mario
"A coconut huh? Well it's a little cliched, but I have to compromise. Perhaps I set my expectations too high for a non-gourmet like you." said Falvio. "Anyway, take the Chuckola coal and give my regards to the admiral."
Mario and his friends took the Chuckola cola and returned to Bobbery.
"Oh, this delicious bouquet." said bobbery. "You brought It to me."
bobbery quickly drank it and said: "This marvelous taste. It awakens the mouth. The sea was generous enough to deliver to me this last grace. I have nothing left in this world. I can rest in peace. Thank you for granting my last wish. Now I shall be reunited with my dear Scarlete. Farwell… captain… Mario."
Bobbery then fell to the ground.
"It's a pity." said Goombela. "He was such a nice guy. I'll never forget…"
"Quiet!" said Mario "Do you hear that?"
They all listened and heard Bobbery snoring.
"He's not dead." said Koops. "He is just sleeping."
"I'll wake him up." said Mario. He then shook Bobbery until he woke up.
"What? Where? How?" shouted Bobbery in surprise. He then saw Mario and his friends and said:" What's going on?"
"Not quite with it yet huh?" said Bobby
"Oh it's you Mario old boy." said Bobbery. "You have adventures in the afterlife as well?"
"You're still alive you nutcase." said Bobby
"Yeah. You just fell asleep." said Vivian
"Oh really? This isn't a paradise for fallen sailors? All right." said Bobbery. "Then I recall. We still have work to do. You better take me with you."
"Of course." said Mario. "You are in with us."
"Great. Let's go now. We have a treasure to find."
"Actually, we are here for the crystal star." Said Mario
"What's that?" asked Bobbery
On the way to the camp area, they explained the whole story to Bobbery.
"Good. A mission to save the world is just what I need." said Bobbery. "Let's go."
And so, Mario with his partners and his new friend, Bobbery kept exploring the island. Eventually they arrived at a dead end. There they found a really shallow lake. It was so shallow Mario and his friends could literally walk on it. At the end of it, there was a giant mountain.
"The treasure could be in there." said Koops
"Yeah, but how do we get in?" asked Bobby
Indeed, a giant rock carved in the shape of a skull was blocking the way.
"Look at it." said Mario. "There's a space on his left eye where we could possibly place something."
"But what?" asked Vivian
"I don't know… yet." said Mario
He looked around. Apart from the skull rock there were also two statues in the lake. The one was small and had a red mustache. The other was bigger and had a blue mustache.
"Let's go back at the camp area. We'll regroup there." said Mario
They returned to the camp area.
"Oh, Bobbery. You're safe. How relieving." said Flavio when he saw them. "We were all very worried. My stomach has been very upset. I was about to go and look for you, but thankfully I reconsidered it. Who knows what nasty jungle beast is waiting to snack on me. Besides I'm already working hard. You have no idea how hard it is to sit here in safety and worry about everyone. I worry about everyone here, but who worries about Falvio? No one."
"Flavio, old boy. I must say you talk too much." said Bobbery.
"I agree." said Koops
"However, let's get serious" said Bobbery. "Me and the others found a rock shaped like a skull at the far east of the island. Call it an old sea dog's intuition, but that rock smells suspicious."
"You know what else smells suspicious?" said Pa-Patch. "Flavio's armpit"
Everyone laughed except for Flavio who didn't find it funny.
"But seriously, you may be on to something." said Pa-Patch
"Of course, you mutinous joker." said Falvio. "Anyone could figure this out. I was just telling to myself that the treasure is definitely behind that skull rock. Captain Mario. Take care. Sorry to ask you so many requests, but…"
"Flavio, you unregenerate loafer." said Bobbery. "if you want the treasure why don't you go get it yourself?"
"Well… I… you see…" said Flavio. "Well, you have a point there. Let's decide that fair and square. Who thinks I should go to investigate the skull rock?"
"Great idea."
"Yes."
"I agree."
"Good luck sucker."
"See? There you go. Fair and square." said Bobbery
"No. Not fair. Falvio hates you all." said Flavio
Flavio went with Mario and his partners to the skull rock. They examined it for some time, but didn't find anything.
"I don't understand." said Mario
"Yeah. We only have a skull rock that something could fit in his left eye, two statues with blue and red mustaches and…" said Goombela
Suddenly, it all became clear to Mario. He quickly ran to Flavio and said:
"I need you to lend me something."
"What? What could I have that you need with such anxiousness?" asked Flavio
"I need your skull gem." said Mario
"My skull gem? But It's been heirloom of the house of Flavio for many generations. Anyway, I suppose I can part with it, because I'm Flavio. The one with the untold riches. I'm only lending it though. Don't you dare run away with it. Don't make me dock pay.
"I won't." said Mario. He then took the skull gem and placed it in the eye of the skull rock. Then the eyes of the two statues shined.
"Mario, how did you figure it out?" asked Vivian
"The answer was in the song all along." said Mario
"What song?" asked Flurrie
"Flavio's song" said Mario. "it said "Red captain cast his gaze. Red skull shines and plays."
He then jumped and landed on the head of the red statue three times.
"Red 'Stache three times lands on his end." said Mario. He then hit the blue statue's belly four times with his hammer. "Blue 'Stache's belly four times is wacked."
After that a passage opened above the skull rock.
"That's our way in." said Ms. Mowz
"Not yet. There's more to the song" said Mario. "Bobbery, can you go in there and explode?"
"Sure thing" said Bobbery. He then jumped in the passage and exploded, destroying the entire skull rock and revealing the entrance of the cave.
"That's it." said Flavio. "The entrance to the cave. The treasure is almost mine. But… oh no! my skull gem! Mario, what were you thinking?"
Suddenly, the skull gem landed intact on the ground next to Flavio.
"Thank goodness! It's safe and sound." said Flavio. "Now if you'll excuse me, I must return to the camp area. I can't let everyone worry about me any longer. You understand yes? Let me know when you find the treasure."
With these words Falvio left and returned to the camp area. Mario and his friends entered the cave.
Month: Ӻ day: ᴥ
Scoffing at danger, my brave explorers entered the cave. Will they actually find the pirate king's treasure? All I can do is wait.
Mario and his friends had just entered the cave. they were about to explore it deeper when they heard an unearthly voice.
"Ooooooooooooooooooooo. Stop intruders. If you are here it means you want my treasure. Leave at once or suffer the consequences."
"W… What was that?" asked Goombela
"That must be Cortez" said Mario
"What will we do?" asked Vivian
"We'll move on if course. We didn't come all this way just to get scared away by a ghost pirate." said Mario
"Sure." said Koops
"if someone is afraid, he can stay here all by himself." said Mario
Of course, no one wanted to stay by himself so they all followed Mario deeper into the grotto. After a lot of wandering and fighting ghosts, they ended up at a dead end.
"This rock is blocking the way" said Bobbery
"How can we get through?" though Mario. "It's too thick so an explosion wouldn't work, my hammer would do nothing and it appears to be fireproof. Maybe we could hit it all at the same time or…"
Suddenly, Koops noticed a switch hidden behind another rock nearby. He pulled it and the rock moved revealing a passage.
"Or something like that." said Mario
As they are about to enter the passage, they heard the same voice
"Ooooooooooooooooooooo. Tuuuuuuuuuurn baaaaaaaack. Go no further or you'll never leave."
They ignored it and entered the passage.
After a lot of walking, they found a small river and a boat.
"We can use this to cross the river." said Mario
"Are you sure it will withstand such weight. It seems old." said Ms. Mowz
"There's one way to find out." said Bobby
Soon, our friends were crossing the river with the boat.
"I can't believe it's working." said Goombela
"I knew it would." said Mario
Soon, they reached another part of the cavern. There they were surprised to see a raft and on it about a hundred toads.
"Look. Someone's coming." said one toad
"It's Mario." said another toad
"He's here to save us." said another toad
"it appears we are not the only shipwrecked after all." said Flurrie
"we need to help them." said Bobbery
"But how? Our boat will definitely not stand so much weight." said Mario. He then saw the land was not very far away.
"Why don't you swim to the land? It's not very far." said Mario to the toads
"We cannot. The water is filled with dangerous man-eating fish ready to devour us." said the toads
Then Mario noticed some old barrels on the land.
"I got an idea. Wait here." he said. When the boat reached the land, Mario started throwing the barrels in the water in a row. They floated creating a bridge for the toads
"That's a brilliant idea." said Koops
"Yeah. You're a genius Gonzales." said Bobby
They all started helping him. Soon, the bridge was complete.
"We're free. Let's go." shouted all the toads and started jumping from barrel to barrel. Soon, two persons who all that time were lying on the raft, sleeping got up. Mario recognized them immediately, and so did his partners. They were Francesca and Frankie, Don Pianta's Daughter and son-in-law.
"We're free." said Francesca
"Let's go." said Frankie
Soon, Francesca, Frankie and all the toads were safe on land
"Finally." said a toad. "It was very cramped in that raft."
"What happened?" asked Goombela
"Well, we came here to find the pirate king's treasure." said a toad. "Unfortunately, our ship got attacked by ghosts. We were able to escape with that raft, but we ended up here with no way to escape. Thank you for saving us."
Suddenly, Francesca noticed Mario and said:
"Mario. It's me. You remember me? I'm Francesca. Don Pianta's daughter. And Frankie is here too."
"Of course, we remember you" said Mario. "Why are you here?"
"Well, after my daddy forgave us, we set out on a cruise." said Francesca. "However, our ship got a little too close to this island and the next thing I know is we ended up here with these guys. By the way, why are you here? Don' tell me daddy sent you to take us back to him."
"No. We are here for the treasure too. We think it has the crystal star we want." said Mario
"Really? Then you're lucky. The treasure is right on the next room guarded by Cortez's spirit." said Francesca pointing at a passage next to them. "I'm sure you can defeat him. You look tough."
"We sure can." said Vivian
"And since Cortez trapped us on this raft, teach him a lesson." said Francesca
"We will." said Bobbery
Mario and his friends left Francesca, Frankie and the toads and went to the next room. There they saw a big and old pirate ship floating on water.
"The treasure must be in there." said Ms. Mowz. "It must be full of jewelry and gold."
"That's not what we're here for." said Mario "We are here for the crystal star."
"That's right. We'll defeat that ghost and take the crystal star." said Flurrie
They were about to go into the ship when they heard a voice behind them.
"Buh-whoa."
They turned around and saw four-eyes.
"Oh, hi. Did I scare you? Yeah, sorry." he said
"What are you doing here?" asked Koops
"Well, I followed you here, but I got lost along the way." said four-eyes. "Yeah… And then I followed this path and I caught up to you. Yeah. Anyway, I'm sure the crystal star is on this ship. And so is Cortez's spirit, guarding the treasure. No big deal though. I'm sure you can best him."
He then turned to himself and whispered:
"Boy, I know I sure am. And so is Grodus."
He then left.
"Is it just me or is there something really suspicious about this guy?" asked Bobby
"I agree." said Vivian
"We'll see. For now we've got work to do." said Mario
"Right." said everyone. Then they all entered the ship. When they did, they found themselves in a room with old boxes and barrels and they heard the voice again.
"Ooooooooooooooooooooooooo. You ignored my warning. Come inside the rooooooooooom and be lost in darkness."
Mario and his friends opened another door and entered a room filled with treasure. Mario suddenly, saw the crystal star on top of a pile of gold.
"Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo." Said the voice. "Prepare to… hack, oooof, hrmmf…"
Suddenly, a giant floating skull with a pirate hat appeared. It was Cortez, the pirate king
"Enough!" he said. "I'm tired of this spooky "Ooooooooooo" business. I am pirate darn it. Pirates do not moan. I'm a cold-blooded corsair who robs innocents of fortune and life. Not a crying spirit. And you are after… MY TREASURE! And you're on my ship. I'll turn your mustache into a gold-polisher amigo."
Cortez suddenly, transformed into a giant serpentine skeleton with four arms. He then grabbed a bronze sword, a cutlass, a rapier and a rusty hook and got ready to fight. Mario and his friends fought bravely. They attacked Cortez with all their might.
"Hit him on the head." said Mario
They all did so and it was very effective. Cortez tried to hit them with his weapons, but they were too fast for him. In the end his body fell to pieces and his weapons fell on the ground
"That was easy Gonzales." said Bobby. "We rock."
"Not so fast." said Goombela "Look."
Cortez's body rebuilt itself. This time it had green gem on its centre.
"That's what we need to focus on." said Mario
Mario and his partners tried to attack the gem, but it was protected by Cortez's body.
"Alright. Plan B" said Mario.
Cortez's body had some holes on it and Mario threw his hammer through one of them hitting the gem.
"That's not fair." said Cortez
Mario and his friends sent their attacks through the holes until the gem broke and Cortez's body was destroyed again and only his head remained standing
"No" he said. "You broke my body and forced me to form it in a way that the gem was exposed and now you destroyed it. I cannot form a body without it. But it doesn't matter. I still have a few tricks up my sleeve."
He immediately made his four weapons float and prepared to fight again.
"This is getting annoying. Let's end it." said Mario
"I agree" said Bobby
Cortez sent his weapons to attack. Mario and his friends avoided them again and again.
"We're getting nowhere." said Koops
"I have an idea." said Goombela. She then made one of the weapons come after her and she headed towards Cortez. Then she stepped aside and the weapon hits Cortez.
"That's a great idea." said Mario. "Everyone do that."
They all did and soon Cortez was defeated.
"Nooooooooooooooooo. My treasure." he shouted as he shrunk and became a tiny floating skull.
"I am done for." he said
"We did it." said Ms. Mowz
Suddenly, Cortez returned to his original size.
"Yohohohohohohohohoho. You are foolish amigo." he said. "I am not dead. Well, technically I was already dead, but my sprit endures tied to my treasure. So, you cannot do anything to me. I do not live. Still, guarding this treasure for hundreds of years is almost as boring as death."
"But we don't even want your treasure." said Mario
"What?" said Cortez. "Then why are you here?"
"For the crystal star." said Mario pointing at it.
Cortez looked at the crystal star. "That's what you want?" He asked
"Yes" said Flurrie
"This little rock over here? Are you serious?" Cortez thought and said: "Well, that's no big deal. You can have it. What do I need one or two extra gems for? I didn't like that one anyway."
Cortez gave the crystal star to Mario. Right then all of Mario's wounds healed and he felt even stronger. He had defeated Cortez, the terror of the seas and claimed the sapphire star, the fifth crystal star. Perhaps the sailors no longer need to fear Cortez and his fell ship. However, this part of the story is not over. Our heroes still need to find a way to leave the island. And there's still another problem hiding beneath Mario's nose.
"Here you go. If you don't need anything else, away with you amigo." said Cortez.
"Okay." said Mario and left the ship with his friends.
Month: ﻊ day: ﷲ
Our fellow travelers returned from the caves and I heard something my ears couldn't believe. They had discovered the treasure of the pirate king Cortez.
Mario and his friends left the room with the ship and returned to Francesca, Frankie and the toads.
"Are you alright?" asked Frankie. "It was like an earthquake in there."
"We're all perfect." said Mario. "We just taught Cortez a lesson he'll never forget."
"Wow! You defeated him? You really are something." said a toad
"Yes. It's all in a day's work for us." said Bobby
"Still, how will we get out of here?" asked Goombela
"Hey." said a toad pointing at a cracked wall. "All this shaking caused this wall to crack a bit. I can feel a breeze."
"Really? That's great." said Francesca. "Still, how will we break it?"
"Leave it to me." Said Bobbery. He then went right in front of the crack on the wall and exploded, opening a big passage.
"We're free" said a toad and ran out.
"Finally. The humidity in this cave is bad for my skin." said Francesca. "let's go Frankie."
They both left the cave followed by all the toads. The last toad stopped and said: "Thanks for saving all our lives man. I'll never forget you." He then left too.
"Our turn." said Mario and left the cave with his partners.
They found themselves out with Francesca, Frankie and the toads. They also met with their crew including Flavio and Pa-Patch. Only four-eyes was missing.
"Welcome back Mario, my stalwart captain." said Flavio. "So, did you find the treasure? How's our little expedition going huh?"
"Well, we found the treasure, but it was on Cortez's ship guarded by his spirit." said Vivian
"Really? And what happened?" asked Pa-Patch
"We managed to defeat him but we left all the treasure there." said Bobbery
"You what? Arghhhhhhhhhhh. What were you thinking? Were you trying to be nice?" said Pa-Patch in shock. "Well, that's what I like about you I guess."
Suddenly, one green toad from Flavio's crew noticed an orange toad from the other crew and said:
"Could it be? Br... Brother?"
"The orange toad looked at him and said:
"Hey, it's you bro. What are you doing here?"
"I came looking for you brother." said the green toad. "You got lost when you traveled here, so I joined Flavio's expedition to come here and find you, but our ship got attacked by ghosts and shank. But now I found you."
"What? Your ship shank too?" said another orange toad. "So, we're all stranded here."
"Yes. What will we do?" asked Koops
Everyone thought, but they couldn't come up with anything. Suddenly, the island starting shaking. Everyone panicked.
"Earthquake." shouted Flavio
"No. It's coming from the sea." said Mario
They all looked and saw a ship. Cannons were shooting the island causing it to shake. It had the x-naut symbol on the sail.
"Look at that." said Goombela
"It's the x-nauts." said Bobby
Suddenly, they heard a voice from the ship.
"Pardon me guys. No, I mean… Buh buh buh buh buh buh!"
Then Four-eyes appeared on the prow.
"Sorry to surprise you" he said. "No. No need for that fake politeness anymore. Good job getting the crystal star. Oh really. Good job getting it for ME!"
"Hey. Isn't that four-eyes?" said Pa-Patch
"Yes, it is four-eyes. What is he doing there?" said Flavio. "Hey. Four-eyes. It's dangerous up there."
Then another cannon shot.
"Hey, what's with this lukewarm reception? Dramatic entrance here." said Four-eyes. "Fine. I'll spell it out for you idiots. You may have known me as four-eyes, but I'm actually…"
He then threw of his costume and revealed himself to have been lord Crump.
"Buh! Buh! Buh buh buh. The great lord Crump. Oh man did I fool you."
"Lord Crump." said Flurrie
"I knew I had seen him somewhere." said Mario
"Yes. I was the evil mastermind that boarded your voyage." said lord Crump. "Now, I'm on a schedule, so give me the crystal star. Because you know what will happen if you don't"
Immediately, another cannon shot and the island shook again.
"The island can't take this much longer." said Pa-Patch. "If we don't do something it'll go to the sea bed."
"Starboard cannons! Port cannon! Fire, fire, fire!" shouted lord Crump
"Yikes! Four-eyes was a pirate all along? I can't believe it." said Falvio. "Well then, why are we sitting here? Load the cannons. We must fight back."
"Look, we are sailors. We are no good without a ship" said Pa-Patch.
"Wait." said Flavio. "We have a ship. And a perfect one I must say. Mario. Take me to Cortez."
"What?" shouted everyone at the same time.
"Yes. Mario, you said Cortez had a ship." said Falvio
"Yes." said Mario
"Then we must use it. If the legend is true, we'll be unbeatable in this cursed ship."
"Are you mad? said a toad. "It's Cortez the pirate king you're talking about. Even if Mario defeated him, why would he lend you his ship? He'll cream you!
"I may be a coward and a cad, but I still lead you" said Falvio. "I need to protect you. On this I don't budge. Now Mario take me to this pirate scum at once."
"Okay. said Mario and he and his friends took Flavio to the ship. There they entered the treasure room. There Cortez appeared.
"Oooooooooooooooooo. Oh, it's you. Did you forget something? He said when he saw Mario.
"C… C... Cortez. I… I have… to speak to you" said Falvio trembling. "C… Could you…lend us… your ship?"
"What? Why what I lend my ship to you?" asked Cortez. "And who are you anyway?"
"M… My name is Flavio and we… really need your… sh… ship. We must… protect our crew from… e… evil pirates who are blasting… us to bits. We need to borrow your… ship… f… for the teeniest little while"
"What are you blabbering about? I don't lend my ship for pleasure cruises. And even if I did, this ship is magical and it cannot move right now. The key to powering the ship is the mystical skull gem." said Cortez
"The skull gem? You mean this?' said Falvio and took out the skull gem.
"Arghhhhhhhhhhhhh. You have the skull gem." shouted Cortez.
"Yes. So, how about this proposition." said Flavio. "Il l give you this skull gem that has been passed down through generations in my family and you'll lend us your ship so we can defeat the pirates. That's a pretty fair deal. What do you say Cortez, old friend?"
"Old friend? You ancestors stole that gem from me you strutting peacock. You must be very brave or very, very foolish to ask such a thing from me. I should turn you into a piñata and throw a party at the beach."
"W… Wait just a minute." said Flavio. "Don't make me have Mario trounce you again. He's strong and he can do it. And while he's fighting you, I'll throw this gem at sea where you'll never find it. How'd that be?
"Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. You make my bones rattle peacock." said Cortez. He then thought and said: "Very well. I accept your bargain amigo. Now be careful with that gem."
"Checkmate." said Falvio. "That's how it works. I didn't make my fortune by failing in negotiation. Here, take the gem."
He then gave the gem to Cortez.
"Finally, the skull gem is mine again." said Cortez. "Now my black skull shall sail the seven seas again. I was getting annoyed by the sound of cannons from outside anyway. Now I can stretch my bones and terrorize sailors like the old days."
"You can thank me later for saving us all, but for now we sail." said Flavio. He then went to the deck and Cortez disappeared.
"I never thought I'd say this, but Flavio is a hero." said Bobbery
"Yeah. He sure is a truant and a poser, but he proved to also be brave and caring." said Goombela
"Let's go. We'll teach those lamebrain phonies a lesson." said Mario
They all went to the deck and they were surprised to see everyone there. Even Francesca and Frankie."
"We're coming with you." said a toad
"Yeah. Come on. All for one." said Francesca
"We won't let fancy pants get all the glory." said Pa-Patch.
"Great. All together, we can prevail." said Mario
Then Cortez appeared.
"I haven't gazed out at sea for a millennium." he said. "It's time to sail the open waters once again. Prepare to fight to the death my loyal followers."
Immediately, a lot of ghosts appeared on the ship. Meanwhile, the x-naut ship was till outside shooting and lord Crump was standing at the prow.
"Hey, suckers. I've got ammo to spare." he shouted. "I don't mind wasting it to tear your pathetic island apart."
Suddenly, he heard a voice.
"You fire cannons here… without my permission? You've got nerve mortal."
Then part of the island broke and Cortez's ship came out of the hole.
"What the…?" shouted lord Crump
The two ships started sailing opposite each other. In the end they bumped into each other.
"Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. I'll sink this ratty old ship to the bottom of the ocean" said lord Crump
"Sprits, hear my voice." said Cortez. "Teach them the meaning of fear."
The ghosts and the x-nauts started fighting.
"Now's our turn" said Mario
"Yeah. Let's get that grotty sailor." said Bobby
Mario and his partners got on the x-naut ship and battled lord Crump. He tried to jump on Mario, but Mario avoided his attack and hit him with his hammer. Then he kicked him. Lord Crump rolled and threw a bunch of x-nauts off the ship.
"I'll turn you into seaweed." he said
"Not today." said Mario. He then hit a few x-nauts, causing them to land on lord Crump.
"Let's do that." said Ms. Mowz
They all did that. Soon, lord crump fell on the deck. Meanwhile, the other x-nauts had been defeated by the ghosts.
"This is getting old." said lord Crump. "How could I lose again? I hate losing. Now I have to think another excuse for Grodus. And with that… Pow. I'm gone."
Then the x-naut ship turned around and left.
"We did it." said Koops
Yeah. We defeated that purple freak." said Bobby
"I knew we could do it." said Vivian
"Yes. You're good at this, old boy." said Bobbery
"It was nothing." said Mario
Then everyone started congratulating and praising him.
Mario defeated lord Crump who had boarded their ship with a fake identity and secured the fifth crystal star, the sapphire star. However the thousand- year door was still weakening. Could Mario and his friends find the remaining two crystal stars in time and seal away the demon once and for all or would the world get covered in darkness forever?
So, I' m done with chapter 5. Next will be interlude 5. Please write reviews to let me know what you think of my work.