Rogueport (Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door)
"OW!" Worldwalker yelled as he was rubbing his cheek.
"THAT was for not letting me in on your proposal to Mokou!" Yukari growled.
"I was trying to keep it a secret!"
"BUT YOU COULD'VE TOLD ME ABOUT IT!" She yelled as she punched him again.
"She's...quite feisty..." Wendy sweatdropped.
"Tell me about it." Minene said.
"Are you done yet?" Worldwalker asked.
"I am now." Yukari replied.
"Good, now let's just make our way to the Thousand Year Door." He said when suddenly a very loud explosion was heard all the way from Rogueport, causing everyone to stop what they were doing and look around.
"What the heck was that?" Natsu asked.
"Probably someone who blew up a very huge bomb." Worldwalker said. And I have a feeling who blew it up...honestly, he makes Cirno look smarter...
In Twilight Town...
Twilight Town (Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door)
"Ugh...my achin..." Kamek groaned.
"No one tells Mario about this..." Bowser muttered as he got up...and then looked around. Why do I have this thought that someone is thinking I make an idiot look smarter? I'm going to destroy whoever thought of that.
"Has anyone seen my hat?" General Guy asked.
Back with the others...
Rogueport
"Anyway, let's just go to the door." He said as they started walking until Mario's SP mailbox went off. "After Mario reads that message to be exact."
"Let's see..." Mario pulled it out and read it.
Dear Mario, I still have no clue where I am, but...I think I'm close to getting out of here. I have this amazing computer friend named TEC and he's been helping me get used to this weird place. I think he's the key to getting me out of here. I can't wait to see you and Luigi again and meet with Fairy Tail for the first time. Love you! – Peach
"Aww, that's sweet." Lucy grinned and playfully elbowed Mario once she saw him blush a little.
"TEC, huh?" Cloud folded his arms. "Interesting..."
"Well, let's-a go!" Luigi exclaimed as they nodded and took off to the Thousand Year Door.
Thousand Year Door (Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door)
"Hmm..." Bobbery looked at the Thousand Year Door.
"It's totally huge, isn't it?" Yoshi asked. "I think it's unnecessarily big."
"I wouldn't say it's unnecessary..." Bobbery said. "What you guys have told me about those emails that Princess Peach told you about during our travel to Keelhaul Key...it got me thinking."
"Like what?"
"You say it's unnecessarily big, but what if this door is huge for a reason?" Bobbery asked. "The demon soul could've been humongous that they needed a huge door to lock it up." He said. "Since the seal is breaking, the demon could come out and strike at any moment." He continued. "For all we know...the demon could have the proportions of an extinct dinosaur...or perhaps a dragon."
"A dragon?" Natsu asked. "Oh please, why would anyone lock up a dragon? It could just bust out easily."
"I know." Bobbery nodded. "We do not know what the demon actually looks like...except for the ancient heroes. What this demon is...I do not know, but I have a theory it's a big one."
"Wow." Goombella said. "I never really thought of it like that."
"Indeed...because no one senses the bigger picture of this demon." He said as he watched Mario's map go down. "Mario, my boy, where are we headed next?"
"Let's see..." Mario looked as a town popped up on the map. "...A town."
"Huh..." Gray folded his arms. "That doesn't help much."
Professor Frankly (Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door)
"Bobbery might be on to something." Frankly said. "This demon could've been huge for all we know and he has a point. No one knows what this demon looks like except for the four ancient heroes."
"He said something like a dragon...I don't believe for a fact that someone could lock up a dragon just like that." Gajeel said.
"Now I wouldn't be so close minded on that." Frankly said. "The demon could've had a pet to help destroy the once beautiful city of Rogueport. I suggest we have open minds about this until we see the true demon itself."
"Fair enough." Link nodded. "I've faced countless monsters before, so Bobbery's theory isn't too far-fetched."
"Indeed." Frankly nodded. "Anyway, about the Crystal Star...it's in a place called Poshley Heights."
"That sounds like a very cool town." Luigi said.
"Rich and very famous people live in Poshley Heights." Frankly said. "The best part of getting there? The Excess Express. A very luxirous train that takes three days to get there."
"A train?" Natsu asked. "Nuh-uh! I'm not going into that death trap!"
"Oh relax, we have Wendy to take care of us." Gajeel said and looked at the young Dragon Slayer. "Right?"
"Um...I dunno...the rough seas kind of made me a bit woozy..." Wendy said.
"The motion sickness is already developing into Wendy." Carla muttered.
"Well...there's an infirmary in the Excess Express that could help with motion sickness." Frankly said.
"How do you know about that?" Minene asked.
"I've been in it once." Frankly chuckled. "Anyway, you need tickets to get into the train and um...it's from Don Pianta again, so...good luck!" He said.
"Oh geez." Happy sweatdropped.
"I'm sure there will be an offer that he can't refuse." Erza smirked sadistically.
Youmu sweatdropped. "Do I even want to know?" She wondered as they walked out and went straight for Don Pianta.
Pianta Parlor (Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door)
"Hey Don...you got a second?" Natsu asked after he opened the door...but then saw the guy in his bed, groaning.
"Francesca..." Don groaned.
"The boss has been worried sick about her." Vinny said. "And adding on to the fact that someone scarred him for life." He said, glancing at Erza.
"Well I uh...it seemed like a good idea at the time." Erza sweatdropped.
"Didn't those two love birds come with us?" Mario asked.
"I did see them go in, yes..." Yukari said. "They could be anywhere in this town."
"We'll go take a look!" Natsu exclaimed. "Come on, Happy!"
"Aye, sir!" Happy said as they took off.
Rogueport
Natsu and Happy were in the air, looking for them. "You think we'd be able to find those two with a birds eye view." Natsu said. "How hard is it to find two dang Piantas in a town like this?"
"Maybe they're back at Keelhaul Key." Happy said.
"I doubt it." Natsu said. "Yukari said that they made it into the gap so they should be here."
"Maybe they're in a building!" Happy said.
"Probably." Natsu said and then he noticed something in the corner of his eye as he looked to see the two love birds coming out of the item shop. "Or maybe they came OUT of a building." He said as they flew down to the two of them.
"Oh!" Frankie exclaimed when Natsu and Happy came down. "What can we do for you?"
"Don's sick." Happy said.
"WHAT?!" Francesca yelled. "HANG ON, DADDY! I'M COMING!" She yelled and ran off, accidentally bumping Frankie and his ring came off as it rolled straight for the docks.
"Oh no! My ring!"
"We'll go get it!" Natsu said as they took off while Frankie took off after Francesca as he flew over to get it, but an oblivious Koopa walked and kicked the ring over to a pile of boxes.
"Talk about inconvenient." Happy said as they landed near the boxes.
"Come on...where are you?" Natsu wondered as they started searching...until Natsu got to the point when he jumped back and used Brilliant Flame on the boxes, causing the ring to go flying into the air after the explosion.
"Oh, now you've done it!" Happy exclaimed.
"What? I thought that would be faster to find it." Natsu said as they took off after it until Happy caught it.
"I got it!" Happy said.
"Let's go take it back!" Natsu grinned as they took off.
Pianta Parlor
"F-Francesca?" Don asked as he hopped back up. "Ah, my daughter! You've come back!" He exclaimed as he then hugged her and then Natsu and Happy walked in and secretly gave Frankie the wedding ring back.
"Thanks...I was worried that I would have to say 'I love you' a hundred times or even worse..." Frankie whispered as he put the ring back on.
"Y'know...i'm thinking about retiring. All this boss work is bad for my health..." He said and looked at Erza. "And swords." He said.
"So who's going to replace you?" Tony asked.
"Frankie." Don replied. "I know you're going to do a good job."
"Um, thanks." Frankie replied.
"As for you guys." Don looked at them. "I assume you came for more tickets?"
"For the Excess Express." Mario replied.
"Ah!" He said as he gave them all. "Here, take them all!" He said and then chuckled. "See you guys later!" He waved and then took off.
"He seemed very chipper than usual." Luigi pointed out.
"Well duh." Natsu said as they walked out and leaving the Piantas alone. "But on the bright side...we're going on that death trap." He sighed.
"Well, it's going to be luxiourious for most of us." Worldwalker said.
"Yes...you guys have a nice cruise." A voice said as they looked to see Beldam appearing in front of them.
Shadow Sirens (Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door)
"A nice cruise for you indeed."
"What are you planning, Beldam?" Vivian asked.
"Oh...let's just say...a race for the Crystal Star." Beldam smirked. "The winner gets the Crystal Star...sound fair?"
"Are you going on the Excess Express too?" Lucy asked.
"No...we're going to Poshley Heights a different way." Beldam grinned. "See you there." She said and disappeared.
"Oh, it's on." Natsu growled as they all took off to the Excess Express.
Rogueport
"Tickets?" The conductor Toad asked as they showed him the tickets. "Alright, go on in." He said as they all went in. "AAAALL ABOOOARD!" He yelled as the Excess Express took off.
Excess Express at Day (Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door)
Room one: Natsu, Happy, Gajeel, Pantherlily
Room two: Lucy and Erza
Room three: Gray and Juvia
Room four: Yukari and Yuyuko
Room five: Mario and Hades
Room six: Wendy, Carla and Levy
Room seven: Hikari and Youmu
Room eight: Goombella and Flurrie
Room nine: Koops, Yoshi, Bobbery
Room ten: Worldwalker and Mokou
Room eleven: Link and Cloud
Room twelve: Minene and Vivian
Room thirteen: Luigi
"Oh my goodness!" Juvia exclaimed. "I'm in the same room with Gray!" She said. "Oh, this is going to be really romantic!" She said while fangirling. "BEST TRIP EVER!"
This is going to be the longest three days ever... Gray thought as Mario opened the door. "What is it?" He asked.
"I've found this in my room." He said. "I've told the others about this, but you guys are the only ones left." He said as he gave it to Gray so he could read it.
"Let's see here...a very sticky surprise?" Gray asked. "This sounds serious."
"Yeah. Erza, Yuyuko, Youmu and Yukari are going over to the train conductor to discuss about it." Mario said. "Meanwhile, I'm also trying to convince Luigi that thirteen is not an unlucky number and that's just superstition."
"And how's that working out?" Gray asked.
"Not well." Mario sighed. "He'll get over it."
"Can we trade roommates? I'd rather have Hades than her." Gray muttered as Mario looked to see hearts floating above Juvia.
"Nope." He had a sly grin on his face and then took off.
"Hey!"
Meanwhile...
"Well, I'll let you guys know if there's another threat." The conductor said as the girls nodded and walked away where they noticed something going on in the dining room car.
"I can't believe this." The chef sighed. "My soup has been taken away from me! Who could've done this?!"
"Obviously, someone with a humongous appetite." A certain penguin said, causing Erza, Youmu and Yukari to glance at Yuyuko.
"Oh sure, blame the ghost with the bottomless pit of a stomach..." Yuyuko muttered. "I haven't touched the soup."
"For all I know...the culprit is..." The penguin looked at a Toad. "ZIP TOAD!"
"WHAT?! EXCUUUUUUUSE ME?!" A waitress asked. "IT CAN'T BE HIM, NO SIR!"
Erza noticed something on the floor as she knelt down. "What is it?" Youmu asked.
"Someone was careless." She said as she requipped into a detective outfit as Yuyuko knelt down as well and started smelling it.
"...Wait a second." Yuyuko said as she started following her nose.
"I think Yuyuko might be on to something." Yukari said as they followed her and then the trail stopped to room 15 as they opened it up to see a very morbidly obese Toad.
"Oh, what can I do for you?" He asked.
"The soup in the dining car has been taken and it led straight to this room." Erza said.
"Oh sure, the soup goes missing and you come straight to the fat Toad. NOT NICE." He said as Yuyuko walked to the corner and then picked up a pot. "Ah crap..."
"It's been licked clean." Yuyuko said.
"I see...so you licked the pot clean." Erza told him.
"I...uh...couldn't help myself." He said. "My bad." He chuckled.
"Dude..." Yuyuko looked at him. "You could've shared some of the soup with me! I would've helped you clean the pot!" She said, causing the girls to anime fall from this.
"Oh Yuyuko...what are we going to do with you?" Yukari chuckled.
Meanwhile at the infirmary...
"There you go. No more motion sickness." The nurse said.
"Forever?!" Natsu exclaimed.
"Well...no...it lasts for like three days."
"Well, at least the trip won't be so unbearable." Wendy grinned.
"Heh..." Gajeel smirked.
At the item shop...
"Let's see..." Lucy looked around. "What looks good?" She wondered.
"Lucy?" A voice asked as Lucy turned her head to see a friend.
"Yukino? What are you doing here?" Lucy asked.
"I'm going to Poshley Heights to meet Sting and Rogue."
"Why did they go there?"
"Because they thought it'd be cool to go there and they've invited me over so I'm currently travelling to meet them." Yukino replied. "What about you?"
"Have you heard of the Crystal Star?" Lucy asked.
"Hmm? No, not really..."
"Well you see..." She began and explained everything about her adventures to Yukino.
Later that night...
Excess Express at Night (Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door)
"Gray! The dining car has candle lit dinners!" Juvia exclaimed. "We should totally go and have a date!"
"No thanks, I'm not hungry." Gray said.
"Are you sure?" Juvia asked as she put his hand on his shoulder. "Are you feeling alright?"
"Yes, I'm fine. Just leave me alone, I need some sleep." He said very coldly and then hopped right into bed.
"Oh...are you sure you're okay?"
"YES...i'm TOTALLY fine! Just shut up, alright?!" Gray exclaimed and then closed his eyes.
"...Okay..." Juvia said, tears forming in her eyes and she walked out of the room, trying her hardest not to cry out loud as she slowly made her way to the dining car, unaware that Gray watched her walking out as he sighed.
Was I too hard on her? She can be annoying on occasion, but... Gray thought.
"AAAAAH!" Luigi suddenly screamed as Mario and Minene immediately entered his room.
"What's wrong? You had a nightmare?" Minene asked.
"N-no! I saw a ghost!"
Mario blinked. "Vivian, Flurrie and Yuyuko are ghosts. You probably saw them just checking on you."
"N-no! It was different!" Luigi exclaimed.
"Oh brother..." Minene sighed. "I can't believe I was awakened to this..." She muttered as she and Mario went back to their rooms...and then Luigi screamed again. "Oh for crying out loud!" She exclaimed and opened the door. "What is it this ti-...Mario...I don't think he was going crazy."
"What makes you say that?" Mario asked as he peeked in to see a ghostly Toad in the room. "Oh."
"Oh, hello." The ghost waved. "I'm Ghost T." He said.
"What are you doing in my room?" Luigi asked.
"Well you see, for some mysterious reason...I died in this very room a long time ago. I should've been at the other side by now but...there's a problem. My diary's missing."
"So why don't you just go get it?" Minene asked.
"I could, but...I can't pick it up. I'm a ghost."
Minene sighed. "Fine, I'll go get it. Where is it?"
"Luggage car." Ghost T. said.
"Alright." She nodded and took off after it.
"So uh...what's new?" Ghost T. asked.
"Besides giving me a heart attack?" Luigi asked. "Not much."
"You mean there's a ghost on this train and he refuses to leave until you get his diary?" The conductor asked.
"Right." Minene nodded.
"Well, you don't say no to ghosts, so go right on in." He said as she went in and found the diary a few seconds later.
"There you are." She said as she picked it up and walked out, waving goodbye to the conductor and taking off, then glancing at Juvia moping at the dining table. Poor girl... She thought as she then got to Luigi's room. "Here you go."
"Yes! Thank you!" Ghost T. exclaimed as he put it away. "Now I can go away peacefully! See you later!" He said as he floated up...but then came back down. "Eh, I grew attached to this room, so I'll be staying here just a bit longer."
Luigi sweatdropped. "Oh great..."
"Well, have fun." Minene said as she and Mario walked away.
"Hey! Don't leave me here!" Luigi exclaimed before glancing at Ghost T.
"Don't worry, I don't bite." He grinned.
Meanwhile...
Juvia sighed. "What am I doing?" She asked as she looked outside. "He's not going to come." She told herself.
"Excuse me...is this seat taken?" A voice asked as she turned to see Gray standing right there.
"Gray!" She exclaimed. "No, this seat isn't taken."
"Good." Gray said as he sat down. "Look...sorry if I snapped earlier."
"It's fine." Juvia said as she wiped the tears from her eyes.
Gray looked at the waitress. "Hey, we could use some menus over here!"
"Coming right up!" The waitress took off.
"Oh, Gray..." Juvia smiled at him.
Ending the chapter with a little Gruvia? YOU BETCHA!