CHAPTER 1
-Trains, Music, and Toys-
Chopper was left dazed as he came out of another red pipe. If there was one thing to note about Rainbow Train, it was the fact that there were nine train carts, with the first two being red while the others were orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet and pink.
"Ooooog… I feel so dizzy… It's a good thing I didn't eat anything before going into the pipe." Chopper moaned as he quickly shook his head and looked to see himself in a red train cart.
"All right… Let's take a look at this map." Chopper pulled the map out and saw the first Crystal Star was in this train, which made him smile as he looked out the window. "Well, what do ya know? I'm in the right train! …But I'm going to have to go through some of these train cars to find where it is. It's a good thing I have this, unlike when searching for the Star Spirits… I was just told where they were!"
Chopper walked over to the Save Block near the doorway and jumped under it to save his game. After that, he headed into the next train car, which was also red. There wasn't much around in the beginning of the room.
Except for three shadowy figures. Or rather, the Shadow Sirens.
"Who are those people?" Chopper gasped as he tried to stay quiet. Thankfully, they didn't seem to notice him as he listened in to their conversation.
"Mmmmwee hee hee hee! It's time we got to work, lovelies!" Beldam grinned. "Vivian! You understand what must do, yesss?"
"Mm-hmm! A) Find that Chopper kid Grodus ordered us to find and B) steal the map to the Crystal Stars." Vivian explained. "That's all we were told, I believe. We can just do away with Chopper, can't we? Or is that actually a bad thing. I don't really know…"
"Oh, you mustn't worry. Bad things happen all the time, Vivian. Of course, you're right about our goals. Thankfully, I can always count on you for reminding me!"
"Uh-huh! You wouldn't be here without me anyway!"
"Now, if my information is correct, Chopper should be coming down through this train in no time. We must ambush him here and get that map!"
"Of course, Beldam! But why did we go back to Grodus after all the events beforehand?"
"You're still wanting to know about that, Vivian? Well… That is a secret just between me and Grodus. But enough about that! Vivian, my dear pack rat… Bring out the sketch of that Chopper kid that you got from Grodus! Mmmmmwee hee hee!"
Vivian froze and jumped up in fear. "Eeep! Wh-What? What are you talking about? I… I don't have that! You said it was way too important for me to hold, so you took it. You should have it…"
"Don't be ridiculous, you twit!" Beldam snapped. "I don't have that thing. You were in charge of it! You wretched little worm! Blaming me for something you probably screwed up!"
"But, I…"
"Strange… These three shadow people are looking for me? How do they know about the map?" Chopper thought. "This…isn't good. I wish I can just run right past them, but then they would think I'm the one."
While Marilyn listened to Beldam yell at Vivian, she looked past them and noticed Chopper, so she tried to get Beldam's attention by jumping up and down frantically.
"Guh! Guh!" Marilyn grunted.
"Oh, what IS it, Marilyn?" Beldam groaned as Marilyn began to explain. "…Huh? What's that? An antennaed fellow? This is no time for nonsense, you great oaf! Save your games for later!"
"Phew! That was a close one!" Chopper sighed.
"Now, now, where was I? Oh, yes. That sketch. You! Vivian! Don't tell me you lost our precious sketch!"
"But… Listen… I… Look, it's not my fault… I never had the sketch…" Vivian trailed as tears began to come down her face. When Chopper noticed this, he couldn't help but feel bad for her, despite her not being on the same side as him.
"SILENCE, YOU DITZ!" Beldam roared. "How dare you talk back to me like some rebellious child?! I guess I was wrong about depending on you when usually you're useless for the most part! Even back home I never found you useful to begin with!"
"But, Beldam..." Vivian trailed before Beldam punched her in the face, making Chopper gape.
"What the heck?! That's not right!" Chopper thought.
"I always wonder why I keep this ugly idiot around me... Well, anyway, I suggest we split up."
"What exactly do you mean by splitting up?"
"I wasn't finished yet, squirrel-brain! Now, let me continue. Marilyn and I will go search for the Crystal Star that's somewhere around here, while you, Vivian… YOU will find Chopper, destroy him and get that map from him! Do you understand?!"
"I… Yes, Beldam…" Vivian trailed as she hung her head low.
"You better! I almost feel like I shouldn't send someone as ugly as yourself alone! But, I could care less. If you don't find Chopper and get the map from him… Well, you know what'll happen, don't you?"
"I… I get punished…"
"That's right, you little twit. So let's just get going, my lovelies…or rather, my lovely and ugly! Marilyn! Vivian! Let's get to work!"
"Yes, Sis…" Vivian sighed.
"Guh-huh!" Marilyn grunted.
And at that moment the three Shadow Sirens sank into the shadows, leaving only Chopper in the room.
"That poor girl… She doesn't even deserve to be treated like that." Chopper frowned. "That hag is TERRIBLE! I wish I could've done something to help that girl, but I really can't. I'm a target now, and I have to find that Crystal Star before they do!"
Chopper looked around the train car to find some Goombas and Koopa Troopas with red shells and sunglasses. While he fought against them, he found out that the Koopas hit a little harder than before, doing 2 damage instead of 1.
After defeating some Koopa Troopas, he headed into the next train cart. This one was an orange color and had a lot of Yellow Blocks around. They weren't everywhere, but there were five of them, with one by the entrance, one by the locked door ahead, one to the north by two windows and the other to the south.
"I wonder why the blocks aren't orange. They still got those weird eyes, but whatever." Chopper smashed the first one near him, which revealed a Paragoomba. Luckily he was able to defeat it and smash the others. The one to the south had an Orange Key, so he took that over to the door and unlocked it.
"There we go!" Chopper opened the door and found a yellow room and a couple of treasure chests lying on the ground. Also above the door ahead was a Shine Block with a Shine Sprite inside. Sitting on top of that was a Yellow Key. But there was something else in the room. A white mouse with a tail shaped like a heart, a red mask, and red high heels was opening a treasure chest but stopped when she turned around to see Chopper.
"Huh? Oh, my! Who could you possibly be, small little thing?" the mouse thief gasped. "I can't believe that there are other thieves here besides me. How very strange…".
"What the… You're a talking mouse!" Chopper gaped. "You're…like Moustafa! But seriously, who the heck are you? And just to let you know, I'm not a thief."
"Me? Why, I'm Ms. Mowz, the globe-trotting thief!" Ms. Mowz introduced. "Heard of me, sweetie?"
"Nope, I've never heard of you in my entire life. In fact, I'm not from this world..."
"Oh, I see... I guess that's expected from a young, inexperienced one such as yourself."
"Young... Yeah, I suppose that fits me. Inexperienced? Well... I'm not too sure about that. Anyway, why are you in a place like this?"
"I heard there were rare and valuable badges here in this train. That's why I'm here. But the real question is…why is a small, young, and adorable boy like YOU doing in a place like this?"
"Why would I answer that? I'm not here to find the Crystal Star and avoid those three shadow freaks…though I don't think the one that's the youngest is a freak." Chopper gasped as he realized he let out something. "…Oops!"
"…Crystal Star, you say? Mmmm hmm hmm! I remember those things! It reminds me of when I was traveling with that handsome piece of cheese." Ms. Mowz recalled.
"Handsome piece of cheese?"
"I didn't know you were going after them. But you're going after them first, so I won't interfere with you hunt." Ms. Mowz began to smell something familiar to her. "Hmm hmm? Well now… You smell like you've been with that hunk of cheese. But it's a small one, I must admit. I never knew you were friends of him."
"I don't know who you're talking about..."
"Well, one thing to note about his is his red cap and his handsome-looking mustache."
"Oh, Mario!" Chopper gaped. "I met him in the Mushroom Kingdom two years ago! However, I REALLY don't have time for this. I need to find the Crystal Star before the hag and the fat-looking one. Plus, another girl is after me, so I'm not safe ANYWHERE."
"I see. Well I better be off then. Perhaps we may see each other another time? Well we'll see if that's entirely true. Good luck with your little hunt, sweetie!" Ms. Mowz gave one last wave as she jumped out the window and left Rainbow Train. Chopper wondered if she got hurt, but he didn't hear any screaming, so she must've been fine.
"She's left a lot of things behind. Hmmm… I suppose I can grab a few things from here." Chopper found a Mushroom, and a Honey Syrup. After that, he struck the Shine Block to obtain a Shine Sprite. With the block gone, the Yellow Key fell into his hands. Not only that, but a light brown piece of paper slowly floated onto the ground after grabbing the key. Chopper walked over to the piece of paper and picked it up to inspect it.
"Hey… This is a sketch of me! Who the heck was able to get THIS?" he gasped. "Hold on… I think those three shadow ghost people were looking for this! Hmmmm... If I hold onto this, then that girl won't even find out who I am. I might just be in luck! ...And I'm seriously talking to myself again!"
After unlocking the door, he went into another room that was green and could see some more Goombas, Spiky Goombas and also Koopa Troopas. He had to take care of them so he could get some Star Points and also a Mushroom.
"Great! I've gotten some Mushrooms and Honey Syrup! …Wait, do I even like syrup? Eh… I'll eat anything really." Chopper continued to look at the sketch, noticing that it didn't look too bad.
Unfortunately, his thoughts were interrupted by a scream and a robotic voice.
"Located! Located!"
"Get away from me!"
"Whoa! Someone's in trouble!" Chopper gasped. "I can't just sit around here! I gotta go help that girl who's in trouble!"
Chopper ran toward the door and opened it when he saw a robot with a light gray head, brown eyes, a dark gray hue and a gray, robotic body with the arms, legs, and hands being black. Missiles and a jetpack were equipped to this robot, which was known as an E-121 Phi.
"Located! Located!" the Phi shouted as it aimed its weapon at a familiar face.
It was Vivian.
Though she had been screaming before, she was actually fighting off the Phi. However, she didn't feel as confident after what her sister said to her, and she was not doing so well in the fight. She tried aiming her finger at it the Phi and burning it, but it didn't appear to be too fazed by it.
"Attack! Attack!" the Phi exclaimed.
"I'm not having luck… I guess this is how things were supposed to end for me." Vivian sniffled. "Beldam doesn't really need me anyway. She was right..."
"Destroy! I will destroy you! I will destroy you for Master Gemerl!" the Phi chanted as it changed to its machine gun. Chopper clenched his fists in anger and made his way over to the Phi.
"Hey! You! Leave her alone!" Chopper shouted, making Vivian notice him while the Phi turned around to face him.
"Huh? Who is he?" Vivian thought. "And why does he seem so...familiar?"
"Located! New target has been located!" the Phi stated. "Attack! Attack! Master Gemerl will be pleased!"
"Look, I don't know who this 'Master Gemerl' is, but right now I'm here to stop you!"
"Target: unknown! But, target will still be destroyed!" the Phi was starting to annoy Chopper, so he stomped on its head twice, performing a Stylish move while he jumped. As for the Phi, it was able to fire missiles at Chopper, which took 2 out of him.
"Hey, maybe I can use that Power Smash attack on this robot! That'll do a lot of damage!" Chopper walked over to the Phi and brought his hammer up and slammed it down hard on the robot, which did 4 damage.
"Wow… I don't know who he is, but he seems to know what he's doing right now. At least I'm safe." Vivian sighed as sparks flew around the Phi.
"…Destroy! Destroy! Master Gemerl will hurt me if I lose to you! The Crystal Star belongs to him!" the Phi shouted, making Chopper's antennae spring up and making Vivian gape.
"Attack! Attack!" the Phi copied a move from Chopper and used its jetpack to hover over to Chopper and stomp on his head. Luckily, Chopper guarded both stomps to avoid taking 2 damage.
"Whoa... Did that thing just copy my ability?!" Chopper gaped as he whacked the Phi in the face with his hammer and make it malfunction, giving Chopper 10 Star Points.
"Retreat! Retreat!" the Phi cried as it got up and flew out of Rainbow Train, making Vivian relieved.
"Odd… Did that robot say that it's looking for the Crystal Stars?" Chopper thought. "And who is this 'Master Gemerl' it spoke of? Hmmm… This is really confusing. First some shadow ghosts are after the Crystal Stars, and now some robots?"
"Thank you very much," Vivian thanked as she trailed over to Chopper. "I thought I was going to be a goner for a second... Though… Sometimes I feel that it would've been a little better if I was just put out of my misery because of my sister… But I guess it's great that you saved me..."
"What's wrong? You seem a little upset." Chopper noticed.
Vivian turned away with a frown. "Oh, you really wouldn't care. I don't think I should tell you... It's probably not important either."
"Don't say that! You shouldn't let your sister take control over you! You can make your own decisions! She shouldn't decide for you! Why would she ever treat you badly?"
"Well… I don't know. She always says that she's prettier than me and always tells me how ugly I am. Honestly, I don't know why she does this to me. I never did anything to her... Right now, she wanted me to go find someone named Chopper and steal his map, but I don't know where the sketch is! I can't believe she blamed me for losing the sketch when she was holding it. What'll I do? Poor me…"
Vivian began to cry, making Chopper feel a little sorry for her.
"I can't let her suffer like this! Although, I don't want to be revealed as the one she needs to stop..." Chopper thought as he slowly pulled the sketch out and looked at it while looking up at her. Never had he seen someone get poor treatment from their own sibling. Well, not as much as her anyway. "OK... I'll give her the sketch. It's a big risk, but I can't always think of myself all the time..."
"You...don't look ugly..." Chopper brought the sketch in front of her, which Vivian happened to noticed. "Plus, I have this."
"What? You found it? Oh… Oh, thank you so much… Thank goodness… At least I won't get punished now…" Vivian sighed as she took the sketch from him and looked at it. "This is Chopper? He looks pretty small for someone going after the Crystal Stars!"
"Yeah… I get that all the time." Chopper nodded, until he realized he let out something. "…Eep!"
"What? You're actually Chopper? Then… I guess I have to do what my sister said..." Vivian trailed, aiming her index finger at Chopper, who immediately crossed his arms up to his face.
But when he noticed Vivian lowered her finger, he slowly lowered his arms.
"…I can't do it," Vivian frowned. "I just… I just can't do it. I don't have the willpower to hurt an innocent person such as yourself. And also after what you did for me, it doesn't feel right. You seem rather nice... But I have a question. Why are you collecting the twenty Crystal Stars? I mean, you're nothing I've seen before... Is there a reason why you're collecting them?"
"Well it's because darkness will come here and destroy the entire universe! I don't know who's behind all of this though. That's the problem."
"I don't know either. I don't even know why darkness will come either. I think… I think my sister knows something about it! But I feel like going back on her side was wrong this whole time..."
"Not to mention she was treating you horribly. You don't deserve that treatment!"
"You were worried about me that whole time?" Vivian gasped as her frown turned into a sweet smile. "Wow… That's…so kind. All right, that's IT! I'm going to help you get those Crystal Stars! I love this world and I don't want it to be destroyed!"
"What? You want to join me? But… I can handle this on my own! You don't need to worry about joining me!"
"Hey, that's OK! Don't worry about me or my problems… I don't think I really want to stay with my sisters anymore, anyway... Especially the way my sister is treating me. And I feel like I need to repay your earlier kindness and for being so kind. I think it's the right thing to do."
"Oh... Well, if you really want to help me, then I guess that's all right." Chopper decided. "So... Here we go!"
Vivian has joined your party! Press X to have Vivian pull Chopper into the shadows, where they can hide! When hiding in the shadows, press X to reemerge! Press Y to have her light up her flames in order to make Chopper rush towards something and smash right into something they can't break themselves, like glass! In battle, Vivian can set enemies on fire with her Shade Fist… Or she and Chopper can hide in the shadows to avoid damage with her Veil move!
"All right, we should probably find the Crystal Star before my sisters," Vivian suggested. They headed through the blue door and into an indigo room. They could see many glass windows in the way.
"Wait, WHO put this here? How on earth can there be GLASS in a place like this? How did they carry it? It makes no sense at all!" the pale green boy gawked.
"I think I might have an idea..." Vivian trailed, a frown forming on her face as her hand lit up with fire. "But... I might end up hurting you."
"Let's try it," Chopper suggested until he realized he was literally on fire, making his eyes widen as he ran through the glass, shattering it. He smashed right into a block with a fire symbol embossed on it called a Fire Block, destroying it.
"Are you OK?" the Shadow Siren asked.
"Yeah... I get hit with fire a lot, so it's not too big of a deal."
"Let's hurry!" Vivian suggested as she opened the door, allowing them to run into the violet train car to find a bunch of cargo around. There were some Goombas, Paragoombas and also some Paratroopas around. Vivian's Shade Fist let her punch the enemies and burn them.
After defeating the enemies, Chopper found a chest by one of the cargo, which contained a Violet Key, so he took it and unlocked the door ahead to a pink room. From what they could tell, this was the front of the train. It was also strange that no one was driving it either, which made things a little strange. However, there was one thing of interest around.
The Crystal Star.
"You were right, Vivian! The Crystal Star is up at the front! I'm glad you're here!" Chopper smiled as he ran over to the star.
"Mmmmwee hee hee hee! So, you decided to betray us like before, Vivian? How shameful!" Beldam cackled as she rose from the shadows, along with Marilyn. "I had a feeling that you would leave us again and join the hero! That's what you did before, and now you've done it again, Vivian! As for you, Chopper… I'll be taking that map of yours just as soon as I'm done with you and Vivian!"
"OK, first of all, who ARE you, you hag?! And how do you know about the Crystal Stars?"
"Mmmmmmwee hee hee hee! That is none of your business, Chopper! And those who seek our names are often disappointed, but if you insist, we'll tell you. We are the Three Shadow Sirens... Well, we'd call ourselves three had Vivian not joined your side!"
"Well... OK, Shadow Sirens!" Chopper began. "We've come for the Crystal Star and that's what we're going to be doing! If you're going to try to take it from us, then I won't be afraid to take it by force!"
"If it's a fight you want, then it's a fight you'll get! Mmmmwee hee hee hee! Come, Marilyn! We shall squash this little fool and then I will give you a big punishment for what you've done, Vivian!"
Before they could even fight, the train came to a sudden stop, which made the Crystal Star fall out the window.
"NOOO!"
"The Crystal Star! Marilyn! We must go after it this instant!" cried.
"Guhhhh…" Marilyn grunted as the two Shadow Sirens sank into the shadows.
"We can't let them get it either! Let's go, Vivian!" Chopper cried. Vivian gave him a nod as he broke through the glass and jumped out the window...only to notice he was a little too high up.
"...Bad idea!" At that moment, Chopper began to plummet to certain doom.
One thing I should note is the secondary ability on the field. I decided to add that because I thought it would give some of the partners a little more variety on the field. That said, not ALL the partners have secondary abilities outside. But, anyway, next chapter, we meet someone else that we've never seen in the stories before (but was mentioned) and see where Chopper falls.
...And also, Vivian has 15 HP at the start, just like in Paper Mario 2.