Author's Note: Sorry 'bout the late update. School's coming up and all that, so we've been cramming things into the last few school-free days. Seeing as school's almost upon us, I will be updating much less than usual. See ya, and enjoy!
Bolt was in hot pursuit of a Goomba. He had never seen one before, and he wanted to know how it tasted like. Xena had pecked a few in the past and had reported they tasted like sour milk, but Bolt figured that bird's had no sense of taste anyway.
The brown enemy toddled away on its small stubby legs. Bolt stretched his long green legs and quickly caught up to it.
"What's up?" he said to the Goomba.
The Goomba shrugged. Or at least attempted to. "Nothing much, man."
"Could I see what you taste like?"
"Sure. I taste like sour milk, though."
"And there I was thinking that bird's had no sense of taste," muttered Bolt.
"What was that, man?" asked the Goomba.
"Nothing," said Bolt hurriedly.
"Hey, man, see the little green girl and tall green guy?" the Goomba suddenly said.
"What girl? What guy?"
"They were both green, man. Nothing else."
"Was one of them... kinda like Luigi? With a green cap and black overalls and stuff?"
"Dunno, man."
"You really like saying 'man'," commented Bolt.
"Thanks, man."
Bolt sighed and, figuring that he was going to get nowhere with this Goomba, decided to change the subject. "Have you seen a castle? Kinda big, known as Castle Bleck?"
"Naw, man. but I had a friend who has a friend called Gary. He might know some stuff."
"Gary?" repeated Bolt, frowning.
"Gary," said the Goomba.
"Kind of a common name 'round this kingdom."
"Yeah, man."
"Uh-huh."
Suddenly, there was an impatient caw from above, and Xena came fluttering down, looking very annoyed. A pink worm was squirming in her beak.
"Lemme go! I have a wife and kids, you know!" the worm was screaming.
"Aw, shut up," muttered Xena, though she said it with difficulty, owing to the flailing worm in her beak.
"Do animals always talk in this place, man?" asked the Goomba.
"Yes," said Bolt bluntly. "Xena, I think this Goomba knows about L and Mimi."
Xena spat the worm out onto the ground and clamped it down with a foot. "So? We can see them any day."
"Yeah, but it might be important."
"Lemme eat this worm first."
"No."
"Yo, man?" interrupted the Goomba.
"What?" growled Bolt.
"There's the green people you're looking for, man."
"Thanks, man."
"It's cool, man."
"For the love of Grambi, would you two stop with the 'man' stuff and get going?" exclaimed Xena.
"Right," said the Goomba. "Nice meeting you, man."
And he lumbered off into the trees.