Author's Note: The next chapter, 'The Manta Storm', will be very lengthy. It'll be posted next week, hopefully. I finished all of Serena Beach episodes, but I didn't start the Noki Bay episodes yet! :(

Super Mario Sunshine Adventure

Episode 8: The Watermelon Festival

"The Watermelon Festival is now OOOOOOOOOOOPEN!" yowled the brown Pianta that always greeted them whenever they arrived back in Gelato Beach. He was dancing around in a very jubilant glee. "Why must I stand here? I'd rather be drinking a smoothie!"

A smile formed on Silver's lips and he sighed, imagining a delicious smoothie. "Oh, that sounds so good right now! I really want a smoothie!" Silver tugged on Mario's overalls. "Mario, can we go get a smoothie, please? I bet it'll be all fruity and tasty with all of its wonderful deliciousness!"

"How about a watermelon smoothie?" questioned Pauline, thinking that sounded good right about now. "Or we could have an apple smoothie!"

"An apple smoothie?" Sonic looked at her.

"Yeah!"

"Doesn't sound so tasty to me…"

Blaze gave them all a look and so did Mario. "Well, guys, I am more interested in this Watermelon Festival," she chattered. "I think we should go see what this is all about."

"I'm with ya, Blaze!" Sonic talked as he eyed the Cataquacks walking around the beach. He splashed water at them and they fell backwards, dizzy from the water. After that, the blue hedgehog splashed water upon a Dune Bud, sending the two Cataquacks into the air from the sand that had lurched upwards. They dispersed instantly after that. "Hey!" Sonic laughed. "I found a way on how to kill those annoying Cataquacks!"

Silver clapped his hands. "Alrighty then! Let's get rid of these Cataquacks first and then see what's up with the Watermelon Festival!"

"Why do we have to get rid of the Cataquacks?" Mario wanted to know.

"They're in the way! Duh!" answered Pauline as if it was the most obvious thing in the whole world. She hurried over to go help the blue hedgehog and Silver annihilate the Cataquacks.

Blaze and Mario stood back and watched. "Mario?" the purple feline spoke.

"Yeah?" Mario looked at her.

"Let's let them handle that while we go see what's up with the Watermelon Festival, yeah?" Blaze conveyed her thoughts that were dancing around her mind.

Mario ruminated about that for a few seconds before nodding his head. "Sure!"

So the plumber and cat left the others and made their way over where some Piantas were standing at. They found out that the Watermelon Festival was some sort of competition. Whoever had the biggest watermelon would be the winner. So far, some competitors had some REALLY big watermelons! It was up to Blaze and Mario to find an even bigger one because the prize for winning the Watermelon Festival was none other than a Shine Sprite!

"Well, it looks like we have to find an even bigger watermelon!" Blaze declared while moving away from the place, peering around with her eyes. She could see Sonic, Pauline, and Silver all scattering around the beach and desperately trying to get rid of all of the vexing Cataquacks. They weren't going to be done any time soon!

"Let's check up the hill," suggested Mario.

And that's exactly what they did. The duo made it up the hill with complete ease and without being tossed around by the Cataquacks up there. They found an enormous watermelon just sitting up there waiting for them! It was HUGE! Now all they had to do was figure out how they were going to get it down without smashing it or anything.

"How in the world do we even get this gigantic thing down there?!" gaped Mario.

Blaze eyed a path that lead back to the Watermelon Festival, but it appeared to be difficult if they were to roll the giant watermelon along it. Well, there was no other way, so they had to do it. "We could have Silver use his psychokinesis to move the watermelon, but he's currently busy at the moment…"

"I guess there's no way around it then…" Mario sighed while shrugging his shoulders. He placed his gloved hands upon the big watermelon and started rolling it along the path in front of them, making sure not to roll it too fast. Blaze was in front of him while walking backwards, just in case Mario lost a hold on it and it went rolling about on its own.

It took quite some time and the watermelon kept trying to roll away from them. It was like it had a mind of its own! However, Blaze and Mario, due to their awesome teamwork, managed to get the overgrown watermelon down below and to the Watermelon Festival. Now all they had to do was get it across the bridge and stuff.

"The Watermelon Festival is about to end! Hurry, hurry!" a pink Pianta woman informed them while doing some kind of slow dance. "Good luck and…doo doo!"

"I think I have the biggest watermelon right now…" bragged a Noki man. "But what'll I do if someone brings a bigger one?! Oh no!"

"So how's about it?" asked a blue Pianta. "Mine's the biggest, right? I mean, right?" he was standing next to his own big watermelon, but it wasn't as big as the one Mario and Blaze found. "This thing is in the bag, man! I'm in the bag! Wah ha ha har!"

A pink Pianta lady peered at them. "The guy next to me forced a coin on me, and then…" she frowned. "Well, he made me switch watermelons with him. Yeah! Mine was so much bigger than his! What a meanie!"

"Why did you do it then…?" Mario wondered, thinking that to be a little silly.

Blaze shrugged. "Let's just get this thing over there so we can win."

Mario complied with the female's wishes and started rolling the giant watermelon across the bridge with Blaze's help. When they got it over there, a brown Pianta guy stared in complete shock and awe.

"Whoa! Now that's a big ol' watermelon like I've never seen!" he shouted out in surprise while staring at the hug watermelon. "I don't even need to get out the caliper for this one! You win!" he finished.

Then…Mario and Blaze's beautiful watermelon was suddenly shredded up and made into a smoothie where everyone drank and frolicked about. A Shine Sprite was given to them and Blaze took it in both hands, sighing sullenly.

"What's the matter?" Mario questioned her. "Aren't you happy that we got a shine Sprite?"

"I am…it's just…" Blaze sighed again.

"Just what?"

"Our beautiful watermelon was shredded up and made into a smoothie!" responded Blaze in a very disappointed manner. "That was such a beautiful watermelon, Mario!"

Mario raised his eyebrows at her.