Hey! I'm back with another chapter! Party time.
Disclaimer: *holding a flower, picking off the petals one by one* I own them. I own them not. I own them. I own them not. I own them. *picks off the last petal* I own them not. Waaaaaa.
Everyone saw what was on the floor, but no one wanted to believe it. That didn't change the fact that what was supposed to be Life Shroom Extract was now dull, odorless — and likely to be useless — dust.
"Please… no…" Roy murmured.
"Stars forbid," Mario whispered.
Interested, one doctor knelt down next to Mario and ran some of the dust through her fingers. "I've never seen anything like it…"
Roy jumped down from Larry's cot, only to immediately regret it when the landing jarred his shoulder and hip. Ignoring the pain, he pointed at the Toad threateningly, "This isn't some stupid science experiment. My baby brother needs that stuff."
He stormed over to the crate and pulled out another container and crushed it in his hand. The same dust squeezed out.
"No no NO!" Roy screamed in dismay. Larry needed that!
Mario looked at the doctor beside him. "Isn't there any more?"
She nodded. "Yes. It's mandatory for each operation room to have at least two crates-full."
Just then a nurse ran in. He took one look at the pile of dust and grimaced. "Oh no. Not in here, too."
A doctor approached him. "What do you mean?"
The nurse didn't look away from the dust. "All the operation rooms have lost their Life Shroom Extract."
Roy Koopa pounded the floor with his good hand.
Mario looked at the doctors. "There's has to be something we can do."
The doctor beside him nodded. "There is. While they don't work as quickly, normal Mushrooms and other healing items will suffice."
Mario grinned and reached in his pocket. "Great. I always have a Mushroom with… me…" His face fell in confusion.
The nurse who had come in became more frantic. "The entire hospital is reporting that resources have turned to dust. Not just Life Shroom Extract, but anything that could be capable of restoring health. Mushrooms, eggs, even the Cooking Mistakes we keep in storage for the therapy Chomps!"
"WHAT?" Roy cried.
Mario looked at him sadly. I can't imagine what he's feeling right now. He put a hand on the Koopa's shoulder. "Roy, I'm so sorr—"
"Save it," Roy growled, batting Mario's hand off.
"But—" Wait… 'Save it'? What if… Mario looked at the doctors. "Would something other than a healing item work?"
"A healing move would work," one of the Toads explained, "but do you have one?"
Mario's mind focused on one option. "Not with me."
Everyone gave him the same confused look.
"I promise I won't be long," the plumber said as he ran out the door.
*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*
Mario burst into his house. He jumped over the back of Luigi's reading chair to get to the large bookshelf beyond. He brushed his fingers along the various spines until he found what he was looking for.
The plumber pulled out a very thick book. The thickest they had. He hefted it above his head and carried it to the table. The book opened upon being dropped on it. Mario immediately started flipping through the pages.
This book in particular was a designated scrapbook of mementos from the adventures that the Mario brothers had been on over the years. Mario's eyes vaguely processed the various keepsakes as he searched for the one he needed.
Mario's fighting diploma, a Hand Aura badge, a small wad of mansion notes, a few unused carnival cards…
"Yes!"
And the Magical Map from Rogueport. Mario quickly removed it from its place in the album and ran out the door with the ancient parchment in hand.
Wow. This is shorter than I thought it was gonna be.
Oops!
Anyhoo, read, review, warn me about Bowser, eat, sleep, go to school, do your homework, do your chores, pay your taxes. Yadda yadda yadda.