Chapter 4: The Puff to Pure Hearts

Mario, Timpani, and Blumiere had reached the main room of Merlon's house. They needed to leave for Pleasant Path.

"There sure are a lot of stairs," panted Blumiere as he leaned against the wall in the room with the crystal ball.

"Yeah," agreed Timpani, "But I guess it's a secret for a reason." While the couple conversed, Mario turned the sphere and hid the doorway.

"Alright, let's get moving," stated Blumiere. The three were careful when exiting Merlon's home. There were no corrupted Townspeople in sight, so they were clear to head to Pleasant Path. The entrance to the path wasn't too far, but there was an issue when it came to entering. An orange block was in the way. Mario sighed because it wasn't his first time being blocked by an orange block.

"If only Cudge was here," sighed Timpani, "He could have easily smashed the block." Mario felt around his pockets for a few seconds. He realized that he left his hammer at home because who brings a hammer to their own wedding. Mario proceeded to explain the situation to his partners.

"That's okay," comforted Blumiere, "We can just go get it." The trio turned around and started making their way back to the warp pipe. As the group made there way into the area with the warp pipe, Timpani decided to make a comment.

"I haven't heard anything," joked Timpani, "Maybe the council was wrong about the Toads." Suddenly, the shop's door opened. Two toads, who were colored black and white, stumbled out onto the street in front of them.

"Come...with...us...Mario," voiced one of the Toads. Mario scowled at the Toads. A battle had begun.

"The combat here is very different than in other worlds," commented Timpani. Mario noticed that his HP had been reset to 10 and his FP had been reset to 5. The attack from Dimentio must had weakened Mario. Timpani and Blumiere had 15 HP.

"We should tattle them," suggested Blumiere. Timpani and Blumiere stepped in front of Mario. The two pointed directly at the first Toad of two.

Timpani spoke, "This is a Corrupted Toad. They have 2 HP, 1 attack and no defense. Dimentio must have done something horrible to them." After obtaining this information, Mario proceeded to jump on one of the Toads. The Plumber performed an action command to knock out the first Toad in one fell swoop. It was now the Corrupted Toad's turn. It simply ran and jumped at Timpani and Blumiere. They failed the action command, so the couple took one damage. Timpani and Blumiere now performed their attack known as Spear Spike. Blumiere took out his staff, from his time as Count Bleck, and smirked. Timpani jumped in the air as Blumiere threw his staff. With a swift kick, Timpani spiked the crystal pointed staff into the remaining Toad. The attack did three damage, knocking the Toad out immediately. The party gained 10 Star Points from the battle.

"Huzza!" cheered Blumiere. The two corrupted Toads fell to the ground. Their color slowly returned to their bodies.

"Uhhh," groaned one of the Toads.

"What happened," asked the other Toad. Mario helped both of the Toads to their feet and explained what had happened.

"Oh yeah," realized Steve T.

"We were selling our wears when it attacked," explained Barry T.

"Who attacked?" wondered Timpani.

"It was the day after Mario and Peach's wedding," sighed Steve T.

"We were handling shop duties as usual," explained Barry T., "Then a discolored Kirby walked in." Mario's eyes widened. Kirby was somewhere nearby.

"He used some sort of dark electricity to zap us," mumbled Steve T., "That's the last thing we remember.

"Go and hide in your shop," ordered Blumiere, "We're on a quest to save all of the worlds."

"Thanks for uncorrupting us!" waved the Toad brothers as they went into their shop to hide.

"Mario," gasped Timpani, "We have to find and save Kirby!"

"Was he that Pink Puffball?" asked Blumiere. Mario nodded, but before they could truly search for Kirby, the trio had to go retrieve Mario's hammer. They quickly made their way to the warp pipe that led to Mario and Luigi's house. The three jumped onto the piped and warped to the front yard of the Mario Brother's house.

"While we you are grabbing your hammer," suggested Timpani as she stepped off of the pipe, "Do you think you could tell us the story of how you proposed to Peach." Mario smiled and began telling the story as the three started walking up the steps to the plumber's house. Mario opened the door as he talked. He immediately stopped talking as he knew something was not right in his home. He shushed his partners, and looked towards the back of the house. There was some sort of rustling noise coming from Mario and Luigi's bedroom. The trio slowly moved across the house. They eventually reached the door to Mario and Luigi's bedroom. The three peaked inside to see and Purple and Yellow Kirby rummaging through Mario's drawers.

"Kirby!" whisper screamed Timpani. Somehow the Corrupted Kirby heard Timpani and whipped his head to the door.

"Master Dimentio will be pleased to have more subjects," remarked the Corrupted Kirby. Mario, Timpani, and Blumiere stepped into the bedroom, prepared to face their corrupted Kirby. Mario started off the fight by jumping on Kirby twice, doing two damage. Next Timpani and Blumiere tattled on the Purple and Yellow Puffball.

"That is Corrupted Kirby," explained Blumiere, "He has 10 HP, 2 Attack, and No Defense. From what I've heard from Timpani, Kirby is usually a sweet guy. We better fix him." Now it was the evil Kirby's turn. He performed his Final Cutter attack on Mario, dealing two damage. Since it was Mario's turn again, Mario jumped on his corrupted friend, dealing two more damage. Timpani and Blumiere performed a Spear Spike, taking away three HP. Kirby jumped on Blumiere and Timpani, who guarded and took only one damage. Mario jumped once again leaving Kirby with one HP left.

"This cannot be!" panted Corrupted Kirby. Timpani and Blumiere performed one more Spear Spike, which defeated the Corrupted Kirby, and rewarded the party with 30 Star Points. Just like the Toads, Kirby fell to the floor and his colors slowly reverted back to pink. The Pink Puffball rubbed his head and sat up.

"Where am I?," groaned Kirby as he rubbed his eyes. Kirby noticed Mario and his partners, "Oh! Mario! You're alright!" Mario ran over to his friend and helped him to his feet. "All I remember was being blasted by Dimentio, now I'm in your house," explained Kirby. The pink puffball noticed the people standing near the door way. "You two seem vaguely familiar," stated Kirby, "Do I know you from somewhere?"

"Does this ring a bell," asked Blumiere. He let out a cackle, "Bleh Heh Heh Heh!" Kirby's eyes widened in an instant.

"What in the what!" exclaimed Kirby, "Count Bleck!" Kirby paused as he thought about his previous adventure with Mario. "Wait...Or should I say Blumiere," thought Kirby.

"Correct," chuckled Blumiere.

"Does that mean," said Kirby as he pointed to the Count's wife, "Are you who I think you are?"

"Yes Kirby," smiled Timpani, "It's me."

"Oh my gosh!" grinned Kirby, "Tippi! Or I mean Timpani! You're a human! Last time I saw you, you were a rainbow butterfly!" Timpani smiled at her pink friend.

"It's a long story," smiled Timpani. The trio proceeded to explain what had happened over the past few days. While Blumiere and Timpani were telling Kirby the events, Mario realized what Corrupted Kirby had been searching for. Mario's drawers were ripped apart, but the corrupted puffball was not looking in the right place. Mario tapped a floor board, moved it aside, and pulled out his trusty hammer.

"So that's why you came here," chuckled Kirby, "I wonder what I was looking for." Mario came over to the group and held up his trusty hammer.

"Probably that," laughed Blumiere.

"Now that we have the hammer," explained Timpani, "We can get to Pleasant Path and start heading to the yellow Pure Heart."

"I'm coming with you guys!" announced Kirby, "I've got to find Meta Knight and Lady Bow! I hope they're alright." Mario had no complaints with Kirby joining the party, and Timpani giggled cheerfully. Blumiere just rolled his eyes.

"I hope you can help us," remarked Blumiere.

"I have a hammer too, you know," objected Kirby.

"At least you're excited," smirked Blumiere. The four cleaned up Mario's room and headed back outside. Timpani made sure to explain that they had to be careful when walking through Toad Town. The four ventured down the warp pipe and made their way through Toad Town. The team eventually reached the orange block that was denying access to Pleasant Path. Mario and Kirby worked together to break the block with a swing of their hammers.

"Let's get this show on the road," cheered Timpani.

"For the Pure Hearts!" added Kirby as he trotted along. Mario laughed with his friends as they entered the path. The quest would be arduous, but rewarding. While many thoughts about the trials to come appeared in Mario's head, one thought was always on the plumber's mind. Where was his wife?