Hi again! J here.

Siph: And Siph!

And we're here to answer your questions!

Siph: Yeah, we… What?

Sorry, I couldn't resist. Other fandom. Not important. Anyhoo, let's get this show on the road, shall we?

Siph: Can I do the disclaimer? Please?

Well… I don't see why not.

Siph: Sweet! Okay, so J is a poor sap who doesn't get any money, power, or tv interviews from this story.

… Siph…

Chapter 26: Timing is Everything

"Perhaps I can be of assistance!"

Everyone snapped their heads to the hospital entrance. A small, round figure stood boldly.

Before anyone could react, something star-shaped materialized above him. "Sorry I'm late, chaps."

Each member of the party beamed at his arrival. "Bobbery!"

Vivian was so happy, she floated over and hugged the Bob-omb. "Thank goodness you're here!"

The admiral nodded in acknowledgement. Then he wriggled out of the embrace and looked at the group of doctors. "The patient is in back, I gather?" he inquired.

The head Koopa nodded. "Yes, he is, but do you have anything to offer? All our healing items have been destroyed."

As if in response, the Sapphire Star lowered itself next to Bobbery. The sailor gazed at it fondly. "As a matter of fact, I do." The artifact pulsed.

The doctors' eyes widened in awe at the sight of the glittering object. "What is that?"

Goombella walked over to them. "Something way better than a healing item."

Bobbery beamed at his companion. Then he headed to the back.

"Wait!" said one of the doctors. "You can't go back there!" He ran over and blocked the Bob-omb's path.

Admiral Bobbery huffed, "I'm terribly sorry, old boy, but I don't think you know how to use this amount of Star Power."

"Star Power…?" the Koopa repeated.

Another Koopa pulled the doctor back, then nodded at Bobbery. "Whatever you have to do, please, do it quickly; time is of the essence."

The sailor stood up straight. "Aye aye, good sir." Then, he ran behind the partition curtain that concealed Lemuel Koopa.

From the main area, the group saw the glow from the Sapphire Star's power. Thirty seconds later, the glow subsided, and the admiral stepped back out.

"That ought to do it," he declared as the medical staff reentered the operation area to evaluate the effects.

"We can only hope," said the head doctor before he, too, disappeared behind the partition.

The group stood in silence, looking anxiously towards the curtain. As if sensing the tension, a Toad came back out, a sympathetic look on her face.

"If it's okay with you," she said gently, "I think it would be best if you could wait outside."

Gonzales Jr. stepped forward defiantly. "No way! I wanna know what —"

A hand fell on the Mini-Yoshi's shoulder, causing him to jump. He looked back to see Koops' gentle gaze.

"I think she's right," the Koopa said softly.

The young champion's shoulders sagged as Koops ushered him out with the rest of the group.

"I'll come out and tell you the final diagnosis!" the Toad called after them.

Koopley nodded in affirmation. "Thank you, miss," he said, before following his son and his friends out the door.

Outside, Bobbery had started to explain how he had gotten to Petalburg.

"Luckily, Cortez and I had already set sail for Keelhaul Key moments before I received your email, Koops," the Bob-omb said.

Goombella chimed in. "You used the blue pipes, didn't you?"

"Indeed."

"Was it smooth sailing?" Koopie Koo asked.

"You would think," Bobbery answered, "but those blasted Bullet Bills stirred up a monsoon before we were able to reach the key!"

The group reacted in the way Bobbery expected: horrified.

He cut off their concern, though, "I thought we would have to anchor the ship and ride the storm out. But just as soon as the storm formed, it dissipated!"

Gonzales Jr. furrowed his brow in confusion. "It wasn't not there to begin with, right? Cuz you thought you needed to drop the anchor."

The Bob-omb nodded. "Aye. After we landed, we found out who stopped the great tempest."

"'Who'?"

Bobbery beamed. "It turns out, there was a movie shoot happening on Keelhaul Key at the time, and the star of the show was worried about her crew. So she took matters into her own hands."

Realization hit them all at once.

"Flurrie!" the group chorused.

"Aye," the Bob-omb confirmed. "Were we ever surprised to run into each other!"

A round of "Thank the Stars!" followed quickly.

Ms. Mowz sniffed the air. "Where is Flurrie?"

"Ah," Bobbery started, as if suddenly remembering that the wind spirit was absent, "she was worried for the Punis; we split up in Rogueport Sewers, and she took the pipe to the Great Tree as I took the pipe here."

The group was silent for a moment. For the first time, though, the silence was almost comfortable, as each member looked at one another.

Goombella broke the silence when she realized something. "Oh my gosh! Wait a minute!"

"What?"

"Bobbery, didn't you say that Flurrie blew the storm away?" the archaeologist asked excitedly.

"Aye."

"Well, what if she also blew away that yellow smoke?"

Everyone's eyes widened.

"You mean before it even set in?"

Koopley looked down the road at the blue Warp Pipe. "You're saying that there might still be healing items on Keelhaul Key."

"Yeah!" the Goomba said.

Gonzales Jr. started forward. "Well, what are we standing here for? Let's go to Keelhaul Key!"

Before anyone could take another step, though, the Toad from earlier came out of the hospital.

She smiled and said, "I have news on the Koopas."

The Yoshi stopped, bouncing anxiously on the balls of his feet and looking from the pipe to the doctor.

Vivian floated over to the doctor and clasped her hands together. "It's good news, I hope."

The Toad nodded. "Don't worry. Whatever your sailor friend," she gestured to Admiral Bobbery, "did for the little one, it worked wonderfully. He's expected to make a complete recovery."

Koopley stepped forward, pressing, "What about the others?"

The doctor nodded understandingly. "The green one is completely fine. He'll just be asleep for the next hour because of the Sleepy Sheep we administered."

Bobbery nodded. "And what of the big fellow?"

The Toad glanced inside. "The poor thing swallowed a lot of river water. We got most of it out of his lungs. He shouldn't wake for more than an hour also."

Goombella jumped up onto the step next to her, "How long will Lemuel be out of it?"

The doctor furrowed her brow in contemplation. "I estimate he will not be conscious for at least 80 minutes."

Goombella frowned, disappointed.

Gonzales Jr. scampered from his spot on the path to the middle of the group. "Don't let that get you guys down! They're all gonna be fine!" The Mini-Yoshi ran back to where he was originally and turned his head back. "Let's go see if Keelhaul Key has any healing items!"

Vivian followed him. "I think that sounds like a good idea."

The Yoshi grinned triumphantly. "Who's coming with us?"

Ms. Mowz walked up next to the duo. "You'll need me to find them."

Goombella jumped down from the stoop. "I'll go, too. I still have my notes on the jungle there, so I'll help with finding any shrubs that might help us."

Koopie Koo looked at Koops. "Should we go, too?" she asked her boyfriend.

He shook his head. "I'm going to Niff T.'s shop to see if he has any Point Swaps. We can use those to turn any energizing items into healing items."

Koopley spoke up, "Good idea, son. I'll go do that."

"Me, too," Koopie Koo volunteered.

Koopley nodded in agreement, then continued, "I think you and the admiral should stay here, Koops, in case anything else comes up."

"Um…" Koops thought about his dad's plan for a moment. Finally, he voiced his opinion with a firm, "No."

The others looked at him in confusion. "What?"

"I want Koopie to stay with me." Koops took his girlfriend by the hand. "After what we've all been through today, I want to make sure nothing bad happens to her."

"Aww!" Goombella commented, causing Koops to blush. "That's so sweet!"

Koopie Koo didn't seem to share the sentiment completely. "Don't I get a say in this?" she argued, surprising everybody. "Don't get me wrong, I think it's cute and all that you care, but I'll be fine!"

Koops deflated, looking down at his feet.

Koopie Koo's eyes widened. Was I too harsh? "Koops, I'm sorry."

"No." Koops suddenly regained his resolve.

"'No'?" she repeated.

Koops shook his head. "No. I want you to stay here." He paused, building up the courage to continue. "You can't change my mind."

"Okay, okay! Fine!" Koopie Koo yelled, throwing her hands in the air. "Stubborn Koopa!"

Admiral Bobbery nudged the Koopa girl, getting her attention.

"I wouldn't be too upset with him, lass," the Bob-omb informed her. "I would do the same thing if my Scarlette and I were in your place."

Koops smiled thankfully at his explosive friend. "Dad at least knows how to fight, so I don't have to worry too much about him. But… I want to know that I can protect you." The Koopa put his hands on his girlfriend's shoulders, looking into her eyes. "And I don't know how to protect you without being by your side."

Koopie Koo simply stared back at him, too touched to speak. Tears formed in her eyes as she murmured, "I understand," and she placed a soft peck on his cheek.

Gonzales Jr. suddenly disrupted the scene. "Can we go to Keelhaul Key NOW?" he complained loudly, running off by himself.

Goombella sighed and followed him. "Sheesh, somebody's impatient," she muttered.

Ms. Mowz glanced at the group. "If you need us at all, I'll keep my Mailbox SP on," she promised, before following with Vivian.

Koopley clapped a hand on Koops' shoulder, commenting, "I'm proud of you, son," before he, too, went out to fulfill his task.

Now all the trio had to do was wait for their friends to return.

*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*

Meanwhile, in the operating room, the medical team had all left. All was still in the room.

Slowly, two obsidian eyes fluttered open.

Siph: Is that Bowser over there?

WHERE!? *runs*

Siph: *makes sure I'm gone* Okay, J didn't want you guys to know this, but today is his birthday! Number 18, too. Golden birthday. He's a legal adult now! And, just like last year with Chapter 18, he's giving you guys a new chapter as a birthday present! And don't tell J this, but I'm staying on my best behavior for his birthday present. Except for tricking him into thinking Bowser was here and telling you that it's his birthday. Can you not tell him that, either? Please? *puppy-dog eyes* … *looks around* Uh-oh. Where'd J go? He's supposed to be my ride. Uh… Whoops! I guess I'd better go after him. Did one of you guys see which way he went?