Review Answering
The Crimson Yinglet: Thank you, friend! as well for allowing me to make this story real! I'm supporting yours stories with great anxiety!
OBgaming: I'm glad you enjoy it so far, and hope that what comes entertains you!
And that's it! Now back to the show, Paisanos!
(The next day, after the defeat of Alrong)
We focus ourselves looking at the sea, where a sheep-faced caravel swiftly floats. In it was a young woman with red hair and pink clothing, looking straight at the Coni Islands, her hometown.
"...I'm back." Nami, master thief, sexy beauty (her words), and expert map maker, said to herself. ('Hope Nojiko won't mind the ship.')
She dock the Going Merry on the shore next to her house tangerine horde. She patted the railing of the ship apologetically. "Sorry for stealing you like this, Merry." She said to the ship. "...I hope the others will accept my apology if we see each other again." She hops off the ship.
She reached her house and knocked on it, "...Nojiko? I'm home." She called her big sister, expecting to hear her.
She didn't.
"Strange…" Nami looked confused as she tried to open the door…finding it open.
Worry overcomes her as she enters inside, seeing nothing damaged but no sign of her sister. She quickly looked around but didn't find her. "Nojiko!" She called out.
The worst thought came to her.
"Please! Oh please, tell me she just went out for a walk!" Nami prayed that nothing happened to her as she left her home and headed to the village, hoping that she wouldn't regret making a deal with Arlong when she was close enough to pay her deal.
Thankfully, reaching the town, she felt relief that everyone was okay.
But her worries became confusing as she saw everyone…having a celebration.
"What the?" Nami asked as she saw everyone in the village partying like no other day.
"Nami!" A local calls out to her, causing everyone to look at her and whistle or welcome her back.
"Y-You guys? What are you all doing?" Nami asked, earning several 'party' responses. "I know that, but what's the occasion? Did Arlong die or something?" She joked out.
"YES!"
…
…
…
She was not expecting that response. "Haha! Nice joke! Almost believe it!" She laughed at them…until she saw that everyone was smiling brightly. "...You…are kidding, right?"
"Look for Genzo and Nojiko! They will tell you everything! They are in the center of the plaza!" Someone said before returning to drink.
Her mind was going through many things, but one simple fact that she could not believe…
Arlong was beaten?!
She quickly went to find her sister and father, and quickly found them…talking to a flying yellow ball fairy?!
"And then, after we defeat that tyrant, Mario and Luigi bust out their hammers and give him the good old whack mole, ending by sending him flying high into the air!" The star sprite excitedly said as her spectators heard in intrigued. "And then, Mario and Luigi saved the princess and the entire Pillo Island from total destruction and annihilation! With yours truly and Prince Dreambert, of course!"
"A-And then?!" An excited kid asked. "W-What happened?!"
"Well, duh! A celebration!" Stralow floats in the air, waving her legs around happily. "Everyone knows that after a long battle and journey we have to celebrate! And boy, oh boy! We enjoy it like there was no tomorrow!"
"...What the Hell…again?" Nami couldn't help but ask out loud, catching everyone's attention.
"Nami!" Nojiko quickly went to her sister and hugged her tightly. "You're back!"
"Y-Yeah." Nami replied as her sister let go. "S-So…What's the occasion? And what is…that?" She asked, pointing at Starlow.
"Oh, that's Starlow." Nojiko explained to her. "She's…a Star Sprite, which is a spirit of…stars, right?"
"Yep!" Starlow flew to the sisters, surprising Nami. "Yelo! Yelo! Name's Starlow! And you must be Nami, Nojiko's sister, right? The one who made a deal with Arlong to buy the island?"
Nami snapped her head at Nojiko, who shrugged. "W-What are you-?!"
"We all knew Nami," Genzo said, shocking the orange haired girl. "Since that day, all of us knew the risk you took. So we pretended not to know so you wouldn't have more pressure."
Nami felt her jaw drop. All her sacrifice to keep this a secret was for nothing?!
"But guess what?" Genzo raised a cup into the air. "We don't need to hide it, because Arlong is GONE!"
*Wooooooooooooohooooo!*
The crowd cheered in joy as they joined Genzo in their drinking. Nami just…processes the information as slowly as possible.
…
…
…
Before she broke.
"WHAT?! ARLONG IS GONE?!" Nami looks at her sister in disbelief.
"Believe it or not." Nojiko nodded. "And you won't guess the best part of all this."
The navigator quickly sat down. The shock has finally overwhelmed her. ('Arlong…has been beaten?') The monster that has plagued her life since little…was defeated.
Her childish wish was fulfilled! Someone beat Arlong…
"W-Who beat him?" Nami asked.
"That would be Mario!" Starlow said in great pride. "And I will brag in his place! Mario is one of the greatest heroes ever! He has fought God-Level beings and won with nothing short of fist and hammer!"
Nami felt her face pale. She looked at Nojiko and saw that she was surprised by that information. "So cool~!" The majority of the children in the area eagerly shouted.
"Ha! I would believe it, even if he denies it." An old man said. "That fellow has done all of us an act of a savior. I wouldn't mind calling him a God."
"Here! Here!"
Nami couldn't believe what she was hearing. Gratitude and Fear came to her heart; the former for saving her island (and also not needing to pay up and keep the money) and the latter for how powerful he's been described.
"Speaking of, where is he?" Genzo asked.
"Oh, he went to clean up Arlong's place. He should be be back any second now-"
"HE'S HERE!"
Everyone happily turned to the path that led to the former pirate land. Nami breathed heavily as she could make a figure heading their way. Her image of her hometown savior is shown as a tall Herculean-Macho man with a handsome face, chisel abs, muscle arms, and legs.
*Crash*
Her view shattered along with her eyes just popping out and her jaw finally dislocated itself when that macho view vanished to reveal a chubby, short man dressed in a red cap and blue overalls.
Although, she will admit that he had a cool mustache and felt kindness in his baby-blue eyes.
Also, he was CARRYING A HUGE BAG OVER HIS HEAD WITHOUT TROUBLE!
"Hello, everyone!" Mario greeted them.
"Hey Mario." Genzo was the first one to speak. "So, what were you doing? And what is that?" He asked.
"Oh, just making sure Arlong's place was taken down completely." Mario casually said as he dropped the bag down, making a small shake. "And this here? Is everything I could salvage out so you all may use it to repair the village."
"Heh. Already done us a favor without asking and you are still doing more."
"Is what I do." Mario replied with a smile.
('What the hell is going on?!') Nami finally asked the question she needed to ask herself.
"Shocking, isn't it?" Nojiko answered her thoughts. "That there, as hard to believe as it looks, is our hero."
"...This is not what I expected." Nami bluntly said. "When you said savior, I expected a muscular, candy-eye, radiant man…Not a guy I would call to fix my bathroom."
"Snort!" Nojiko snorted, making Nami look at her in confusion. "How accurate of you…by a large margin!"
"...What?" She looked at her older sister in mortified disbelief. Surely she wasn't implying-
"Yep. Mario, or dear Savior and Arlong's slayer…is nothing but a FUCKING Plumber!" Nojiko was loud for everyone to listen….
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
And everyone broke into laughter, Mario bashfully scratching his head.
*Thud!*
"Hahahaha-Ahhhhhhh! Nami!?"
It seems that was the last straw to send the girl into dreamland.
It was some time, don't know how long, she could tell she was placed in a bed if the warmness of her back was any indication. Opening her eyes, she saw the ceiling of her home, the smell of tangerines hit her nose as she stood up. ('Man, what a dream.') she yawned as she began to leave the house.
"Ah, good morning, Nami." Nojiko greeted her, hauling the tangerines.
"Morning," Nami replied. "Man, I had a weird and joyful dream. Some fat short, yet handsome, man that was a plumber beat Arlong." She chuckled, expecting Nojiko to hum or something.
She simply saw her smirk.
"...It…was a dream, right?" Nami asked again.
"Hello there!"
Nami yelped in surprise as Mario and Starlow came from one of the trees, holding a basket of tangerines in hand. "It seems you're feeling well. I was concerned when you suddenly passed out."
"...Uh…yeah…D-Don't worry…" Nami awkwardly said. "...So…You're Mario, right?"
"Yep." Mario nodded.
"And…you defeated Arlong?"
"Yes."
…
…
…
"I-I'm sorry, but I'm having a hard time believing this-"
"Allow me!" Starlow suddenly said as her star antenna. Suddenly, a screen appeared above her, surprising Nami. "Feast your eyes on the Fall of Arlong Park!"
For the next ten minutes, Nami watched in shock at the battle Mario had with Arlong and his crew, how he decimated everyone and showed power like no other, including seeing Arlong's power-up form that did nothing to save him.
After all was said and done, Nami was in tears. "H-He's gone…He's gone for good…!" She fell as overwhelming joy came out, "M-Mom was avenged…and everyone's safe…!"
She wasted years of childhood away from Arlong. She stopped crying for the sake of a strong expression.
Everything is over. Without her to see anyone else die or waste a single berry…
*Nami.exe is currently overflowing with water.*
Nojiko quickly went and hugged her, understanding the heavy release burden her little sister had chosen to bear.
Mario watched as the two shared a moment, quickly making him look at the ocean and wondering if Luigi was alright.
His tall and younger brother had improved in his emotions after his mansion adventure, and they both had been separated before.
That doesn't mean he doesn't worry about him. After all, they were separated when they were supposed to be together to collect the stars. ('I only hope he didn't land in a troublesome place.')
(Meanwhile)
"Mama Mia! It's so hot!"
Luigi groaned as he shook sweat off his forehead. After separating from his brother, he had landed in a land of desert. He could only see sand as far as the eye could see.
It was a single day and he had walked for so long with no sign of civilization. Thankfully, Stunnel brought a lot of space to store; so water, food, and shelter were no problem.
He just wishes he found a town, or had someone to talk to.
"Bark! Bark!"
Other than his ghost puppy, of course.
"Yeah, I know Polterpup." Luigi said to his flying dog, who was patting and floating (So lucky! No need to feel tired from heat) "We started bad. I'm separated from Mario and have no idea where we are…" He would be mad at his dog, but he couldn't find it in himself to get mad at that happy face.
"Bark!" Polterpup braked before skywalking in the air.
"I know. Not new, but even so…" Luigi over his eyes as he looked up at the sun. "I hope he's okay."
"Bark! Bark! Bark!"
"Huh?" Luigi notices the tone of his puppy and looks at it, seeing him point with his tail in a direction. He looks at it and gasps. He quickly brought out a binocular to see far away, "...That's a town!" Relief took over him as she saw a town, with people in it. "Oh thank the Heavens! Come on, Polt! We might get some shade!"
Eagerly both of them quickly make their way to the town. Never knowing that he was being watched by a man who sported some sort of skull with purple wings and crossed swords as a tattoo.
"Huh? What's up with this guy? And that dog?"
(Back with Mario)
When we last saw Mario, he was with the sisters at their home. Now, he was standing in front of the entrance of the village, along with Genzo, Nami, Nojiko, and everyone else.
In front of them, where several men dressed in marine uniforms, were led by a man with a mouse face.
One look and Mario knew he wasn't going to like this guy. He smells like Wario.
"Nyuk. Nyuk. I'm Lieutenant Nezumi, head of the 16th Marine Branch." Nezumi introduced himself. "I'm sorry for this sudden visit, but I got information that a dangerous pirate was spotted around here."
('Spotted?') Mario smells something fishy. Genzo had told him that Arlong stationed himself here and even rebuilt his ship into his park. There's no way they would 'spot' a Fishman.
"...I'm Genzo. The head of this village." Genzo introduced himself. "You are correct in regards to a pirate here. 'Saw-Tooth' Arlong had come here eight years ago and declared this place his territory."
Nezumi twitches his eyes a bit. "I see…I must apologize then for making you all wait. As this area is under my jurisdiction." He said.
But everyone, yes all of them, could tell his words weren't genuine.
"So, what happened to the pirates?" Nezumi asked. "Not to offend any of you, but I'm sure it would be very unlikely you all beat him and his fair crew."
Before Genzo could speak, Mario walked forward. "That would be correct. It was me who took down Arlong."
Nezumi looks at him in surprise, before snickering. An action followed by his men. "You? Young man, your mustache might be impressive but please forgive me if I don't believe-"
Mario proceeds to take out something from his overalls and show it to the rat, whose mouth clamps up, along with his crew.
Arlong's saw nose.
"...I-I see." Any mocking tone Nezumi had drowned in slight fear before shaking it off and standing serious. "Anyhow, as Marine head of this part of the island, I must make sure that any pirate alive will be captured, and their belongings should be confiscated."
"...So you want to go to Arlong Park and investigate its remains?" Nami asked.
"That is correct." Nezumi nodded.
"Well, you're out of luck." Nami smiles as she walks to Mario and patts the top of his hat. "This guy here demolished everything in Arlong Park already."
The rat's eyes open up in horror as he looks at Mario. Which quickly made him focus, not without making a snarl. "Then, Mr. Mario. As Marine Head of this division, I must order you to relinquish any belongings the pirates have left out."
Mario raised an eyebrow while the villagers looked astonished by the sudden action. "When you say belongings, what do you mean?"
"Do not treat me like a fool." Nezumi was losing grip of his charade mask. "I mean everything that the pirates had taken under their name."
"Does that include the stolen money they got from the villagers?"
"Yes!"
…
…
…
"Strike three."
"Eh?" Nezumi blinked in confusion when Mario shook his head.
Starlow came out of Mario's hat, surprising the Marines, as she also felt disappointed. "Man! You are worse than Wario."
"That-a would be very insulting to Wario. At least he doesn't lie when it comes to his desires." Mario defends his rival/enemy/stalker.
"What, in good God, is that?!" Nezumi asked, pointing at Starlow. "And what do you mean three strikes?!"
"It means that you, my dear sir, are a scoundrel." Mario harshly spoke, making him and his men flinch in anger. "It's clear to me…You were in cahoots with Arlong, weren't you?"
"WHAT?!" Genzo, Nami, Nojiko and everyone scream in disbelief. They knew something was wrong but the Marines were helping Arlong all this time?!
"How dare you accuse me! On what evidence do you say this slander?!" Nezumi shouted, but one could see sweat falling off.
"The fact that your first concern was to confiscate the belongings of the pirates and not ask if everyone here was okay, or was there any injuries to be treated?" Starlow asked.
Strike one.
"Also, these people have been suffering for eight years from a tyrant, and it so happens that today, off all days, a marine 'spotted' a fishman pirate? That sounds very fishy. No pun intended." Mario continued.
Strike two.
"But the biggest factor is the money."
Strike Three. You're out!
"The money?!" Nami looked at him in shock.
"Think about it. Nobody came to help you, and anyone who tries either dies or loses something. But what about outside? No way Arlong's rule could be kept this quiet for eight years…unless he was paying someone to ignore his actions." Mario pointed out, making the villagers gasp in realization. "After all, tax money has to go somewhere."
"...You dirty rat bastard!" Nojiko glared at Nezumi, who flinched. "Everyone has been suffering here thanks to Arlong and no Marine came because of you?!" She should have known Arlong had a greedy Marine on his side.
"Tch! So what?!" Seeing no choice nor reason, Nezumi finally snarls. "Money is money! You think I could defeat Arlong?! He'll kill me! I would rather be alive than dead!"
"You bastard!" Genzo growled, as the villagers also growled and took their weapons, already showing hostility. "We suffered because of your greed! Get off our island!"
"I'm not leaving without MY money!" Nezumi shouted as the Marines aimed their guns at the villagers.
"Your money?!" Nami took her staff out. "That money belongs to the villagers that YOU left in Arlong's clutch! You're getting shit!"
"I don't care!" Nezumi took his gun and aimed at Mario, who stood neutral through all this. "Relinquish all the treasure right now, fatso! Or be ready to become short permanently!" Hundreds of muskets got ready to fire.
Mario, for most of his curiosity, stood neutral yet again…as his face began to morph into a serious glare. "Short permanently, eh?"
"Oh~" Starlow cooed in a fake gasp. "You all are so screwed!~" She then began to glow and a protective wall blocked in front of the villagers.
"What the?!" Nojiko was shocked as she quickly went to Nami's side.
"Go ahead, Mario! I have them all well protected!" Starlow shouted.
"Thank you, Starlow." Mario didn't need to look back, but he was grateful for his companion's help. ('I think I will try this now.') He thought as he prepared himself to pull his glove cuff.
"Hah?! You dare try to defy me?!" Nezumi threatened. "I don't know what you did to beat Arlong but you're nothing against us! And even if you try to hurt me, I will report to the Navy about this! I will have your name in a wanted poster and make you a criminal!"
"Not the first time the law has mistakenly accused-a me of being a criminal." Mario simply states, shocking everyone. "And honestly, I-a do not care right now over the words of a greedy man like you…you said I'm short, right?" Mario smiled. "How about we change that?!" And he pulled his cuff.
"And what?! Is that supposed-"
*Bwoom!*
"To…be…"
*Bwoom!*
"...A-A…threat?"
*Bwoom!*
Everyone, literally, everyone, stared in absolute astonishment as Mario had grown ten times his size, almost reaching the size of the three biggest emperors of the New World. Mega Mario stared down at the Marines, who all had lost their bravado and were now shaking their boots.
"I may be small in stature." Mega Mario spoke in a booming voice. "But I'm-a still ten times the man you-a will never be. Now, do a favor for Mario…" He took one step, and the impact shook the earth, making everyone almost, and did, lose their balance. "AND GET OFF THIS ISLAND!"
Nezumi and his men screech in terror as they start to run away with legs behind their tails. "YOU WON'T GET AWAY FROM THIS! MARK MY WORD!" Nezumi promised as they left.
Mega Mario huffed. While this might be a problem, he will not regret it.
The claps behind him echoed in his ears, along with cheers. Mario turned to look at them and simply raised a thumb.
"WOW! THAT WAS SO COOL!"
Mario blinked in confusion when he heard the childish voice of a young man. Looking at the side, he found three men looking at his tall size in shock, while one had amazement in his eyes. One was a black-haired boy with a straw hat, his eyes were glowing like stars. The second one was a green-haired man, holding a white sheathed katana, staring in surprise. The last one was a blonde young man in a tuxedo, sporting a curly eyebrow and also staring in surprise.
"Luffy! Zoro!" Nami shouted as she went to them.
"Nami!" The blonde was greeting with open arms…which Nami zooms passes as she hugged the other two boys, leaving him depressed.
"Thank God you both are okay!" Nami said before moving back and gasping in horror, "Zoro! What is that?!" She pointed at his chest scar, which was horribly patched.
"Shit happened." The green-haired swordsman growled. "Important shit, you."
"Yeah!" The straw hat boy pointed at Mega Mario, "Like, who is that awesome giant!?"
"That's not important right now, Luffy!" Zoro shouted at him, before grunting in pain at his chest.
"Stop moving so much, Big Bro!" A pair of voices shouted from behind some bushes.
"You guys can stop hiding!" Zoro yelled at them.
"We are…backup in case the Giant that you probably haven't seen decides to kill us!" Shouted a third voice.
For a few minutes, the new faces began to argue with each other, soon for Nami to start laughing at their antics.
"...Haven't seen her laugh in a long time." Nojiko felt relief at seeing her little sister go back to how she used to be.
*BWEEEOOOoooooo!*
Mario's giant form ended as he began to shrink down to his normal size.
"Ehhhhhhhh?! He shrunk?!" A long-nosed man, a third voice, finally pops out from the bush, along with two men.
"Awesome! A transforming Giant!" Luffy quickly went to Mario and grabbed his shoulder and began to shake him. "Hey, you are awesome! Join my crew!"
"Crew?" Mario asked.
"Hey!" Starlow had quickly tackled Luffy's head, pushing him off Mario…with no success. "Don't grab Mario like that!"
"Ah! A fairy!" Luffy eyes glow like stars.
"Fairy?! I'll have you know I'm nothing like that!" Starlow began to tackle Luffy's head multiple times…only getting nothing from the amazed guy.
"Alright! Break it up!" Nami quickly went and pushed Luffy off Mario. "How about we all go to my house so we can talk privately."
Her suggestion wasn't even questioned.
…
…
…
So here we are, at Nami's house with her, Nojiko, Genzo, Luffy, Zoro, Sanji (blonde guy), Usopp (long nose guy) Mario, and Starlow. The two swordsmen (Johnny and Yosaku) stood outside to guard.
"EH?! You were in a pirate crew already?!"
Nami flinched at Luffy's outburst and shock. After everyone was introduced, and got Nami's seal of approval of these guys being nice pirates, she confessed and explained everything; how she was a member of Arlong's crew, her deal with the Fishman, and her story of why she hates pirates.
"Nami! Why didn't you say anything?!" Luffy shouted at her. "If he was making you suffer, you should have told me! I would have kicked his ass out of here!" She was touched by the idiot's words, even if she would have laughed about it.
"That's what you're concerned about!?" Usopp screamed at him with shark teeth. "I mean, I get why she stole Merry and ditches us back in Baratie but hello?! Am I the only one that was concerned for our ship as well?!"
"Silence!" Sanji glared at Usopp, "The ship is important, but so was the emotional state our dear Nami was suffering through! Besides, she has explained and apologized for her actions!"
That led Usopp to grumble in acceptance. "I'm not saying I wasn't concerned…"
"...Moving to another fact," Zoro brought the attention as he looked at Mario, who was sitting on a chair and swinging his feet like a child. "This guy over here, who I am still trying to believe that's only a plumber, came from nowhere, looking for something that Arlong had and decided to save you all in the process."
"That's correct!" Starlow nodded.
"And…aside from the item, you get nothing out of it?"
"No need." Mario replied. "I heard how everyone was suffering, so I did what I felt was right."
"So cool~!" Luffy and Usopp look at him in admiration.
"And…what exactly did Arlong have that you needed?" Sanji asked, curious as to his actions.
"This." Mario took out the now wake-up Power Star, catching everyone's attention and mesmerizing its radiant glow. "This is a Power Star, an artifact from my home world. If anyone grabs this, they will have an incredible boost of power. Know how to use it well, and you could create a new world."
"Create a new world?!" Usopp looked amazed and horrified, an example shown by the crew.
"And Arlong had this?!" Nami felt like her life was truly going to end if his former tyrant boss had it in hand.
Unrelated note, she wonders how much would it cost.
"Is true." Nojiko nodded. "When Arlong saw how Mario was beating them all, he angrily absorbed the power of that star and got huge, almost the size of his building. Me and Genzo saw it first hand." She then proceeded to place her hand on Mario's shoulder. "And this guy, this handsome man, easily bested Arlong without even a sweat."
The look of shock from the four men was something else, even if Sanji was glaring at him in…jealousy.
"Ah, it was nothing."
"And he's humble too." Genzo said, "He even went as far as to give all of us the money Arlong stole and fix the villages that were destroyed by Arlong and his crew."
"What?!" Nami looked surprised at this. "But wasn't that just yesterday?!"
"Mario works fast." Starlow said.
"Way too fast." Nojiko and Genzo both nodded, still trying to believe it.
"...A-And what happened to Arlong?" Usopp asked. "B-Because I know there's no way you gave him to that marine."
Mario simply put his hands on his overalls and pulled out…a jar. Everyone, except Nojiko and Genzo, looked confused before Mario took a magnifying glass. "Have a look."
Nami was the first as she took the item and looked inside. She gasps. "H-How?"
Inside the jar were all the Fishman, frozen inside cubes of ice that weren't melting. In them, Nami saw Kuroobi, Chew, who had a gaze over his stomach, and Arlong, his nose missing for obvious reasons.
"Holy shit!" Usopp, having taken out his magnifying glass, looked in shock. "They're in there?! And frozen?! How?!"
Luffy and Sanji quickly take in and we're left in surprise. "How?!"
"Easy." Mario proceeds to raise his finger, a misty smoke coming out. "These gloves sport a few of my power-ups, one which includes ice powers."
"Wow~"
"As for them being tiny," Mario took out a mushroom, a very small blue mushroom with eyes. "I gave them a dose from this mushroom, which is a Mini Mushroom. As the name suggests, those who eat it will become small."
"Wow." Everyone stares at the mushroom in amazement…Before Luffy took it from Mario's hand and ate it.
"LUFFY!?"
"Huh…It tastes like-" In the blink of an eye, Luffy began to shrink down, making everyone stare in disbelief. "Cloudy candy-Hey? Why is my voice so squeaky-Eh?! I'm small!" Luffy was saying before looking at himself and seeing his body had indeed shrunk. "So cool!"
"I can't believe it." Sanji drops down to inspect the Tiny Luffy. "He could fit in my hand so easily."
"A mushroom that could make enemies tiny or even use one to infiltrate enemy ships." Usopp said, there are many possibilities with this kind of item.
"...While I can see how useful this is." Nami would admit that having a mushroom like that would be good, she had one concern. "How exactly does one return to normal?"
"Oh easy! Just-a whack him hard and he should be back to normal!" Mario said.
"...Damn. That's a problem." Zoro cursed, making Mario look confused. "Luffy ate a devil fruit that makes him a rubber man.
"Devil Fruit?"
"Ah!" Starlow perks up. "I had Genzo and Nojiko tell me about that. Apparently, there are these powerful fruits with swirly patterns that grants power to anyone who eats it." The red plumber hummed in interest. "But they lose the ability to swim."
"Hmm. Then brute force isn't enough to get him back to normal…on the other hand, good thing I don't need that then." Mario said.
"Wait! Are you saying that the giant form wasn't a Devil Fruit?!" Usopp snapped his neck at him in surprise, which Mario nodded.
"...More importantly," Zoro narrowed his eyes on him. "There's something you said that had me curious…You mentioned that the mushroom comes from your home world." Mario nodded. "...Emphasis on the 'world' part."
"That's right."
…
…
…
"You…just going to admit that you're from another world?" Zoro's words finally registered.
"WHAT?!" Everyone screamed at the information before turning to Mario in shock.
"Yep." He just…plainly replied as if it wasn't a grand thing for him. "I'm from another world."
"...WHAAAAAAAAAT?!"
"You know what?" Genzo, surprisingly, took the news well. "At this point, I'm not going to get surprised."
"AWESOME!" The squeaky voice of Luffy reached everyone as the tiny rubber man stretched his arm at Mario, who was surprised by this, and he landed on his big round nose. "You're a good guy! You help Nami! You have awesome powers! You can grow into a giant! And you're from another world! Please, please, join my crew!"
"...Okie dokie."
"Luffy, you can't just ignore….Wait, what?" Sanji was about to say when his mind just shut down inside.
So many brains were shut down.
"I can see you people aren't malice nor seem to be evil pirates." Mario said as he grabbed Luffy, "Besides, I need a guide in this world. So I'll join you for the time being."
"WOOOOOOOO! NEW CREWMATE!" Luffy rejoices.
"What the fuck?!" Everyone else shouted in disbelief at how easily Mario accepted to join.
"However," Mario quickly raised his finger, stopping Luffy's rant. "I have a few conditions for me to join." The small captain tilted his head. "First, I wish to find my brother."
"You have a brother?" Luffy asked in surprise.
"Yep. I came to this world with him to collect the missing Power Stars, but we got separated." Mario explained. "He's strong, so I'm not concerned that he can handle himself, but I must find him." He raised his second finger. "Which brings me to my second conditioning; I will be on the search for these stars and I will have nobody using them, that includes any of you." He looked at the rest, "They are too powerful to be left here, and with pirates? I don't want to take chances."
"Hmm. That sounds fair." Luffy (shockingly) said, earning a nod from everyone.
"Third conditioning is to allow a few people to join us." Mario said.
"Oh, you mean your brother?"
"Not just him, but Starlow here."
"Duh! Did you think I would be left behind?" Starlow said. "I'll be quite capable in battle! I can buff allies and have aerial support!"
"Well, that's handy." Usopp muttered.
"Sure! Anybody else?"
"For now, just one more." To the confusion of everyone, Mario took his hat off and tapped on it. "Cappy? Are you awake?"
In an instant, the M in the hat morphs into two eyes that blink before it begins to float in the air. "Yoh! Yoh! About time I make an appearance!"
"HUUUUUUUUUUUUH?! A FLYING, TALKING HAT!?"
"Nope. Still not going to freak out." Genzo chose to drink from his cup.
"Hi everyone! I'm Cappy! I helped Mario with his adventures!" Cappy introduced himself. "I apologize for the late introduction. I was too tired after pulling out my friends from getting stuck inside a black hole."
SPIT!*
Ah, look at that water spit from Genzo.
"Black hole?!" Usopp fell back, finally giving up on making sense.
Nami and Nojiko follow through, to their knees at least.
"Okay. That's taking reality way too far." Sanji growled. "I don't want to sound like an asshole or name you a liar, but black hole pulling? That's impossible-" Starlow proceeds to turn her screen on and show everyone the scene that Cappy informed, clearing Sanji's doubt in the air as his cigarette fell from his mouth.
"...Damn." Zoro said, affected by the sheer power that hat had for pulling Mario.
"Yes!" Tiny Luffy didn't even hesitate, "The Hat and the Star can join! They are awesome!" Such compliments made Starlow and Cappy blush.
"Good. And last condition…This journey with your crew is temporary." Mario finished saying.
"Eh? Temporary?"
"He means that he isn't staying forever as a crew member." Zoro explained.
"Eh?!" Poor boy felt heartbroken as he stared at Mario. "You're going to leave?! Why?!"
"I have friends and family that need me back home." Mario explained as he took out a mushroom, this one was red. "I cannot leave them alone, especially when you have a Tyrant that no matter what you do, will not stand down."
"Then-"
"Look Luffy," Mario simply squash Luffy under the mushroom…before the rubber captain returns to his size. "My decision in the matter won't change. You have reasons to become pirates and I won't question them. So please, respect my decision." Luffy pouted. "Besides, it's not like I'm leaving anytime soon, and even if I do finish my mission, it doesn't mean I will not see you again. Trust me, I don't like separating from my friends either."
"...Well, when you say it like that, I guess I can't do anything." Luffy's sighs…before smiling, "Fine! Then let us enjoy this adventure as much as we can together! Welcome to my crew, Mario! Starlow! Cappy!" He stretched his hand.
Mario happily accepted it. "Likewise, Luffy! Let us have a great adventure!"
"Same!" Starlow and Cappy cheered before the hat returned to his friend's head.
The crew stares in shock at the scene, never seeing anyone, including them, have a rational conversation with Luffy without any sort of extortion or problem.
They would sound their concern about the captain's lack of consent…but given he has done a lot, they have no objections.
"Now then!" Mario jumped down from the chair and quickly walked up to Zoro. "Zoro, right? Come along. We need to threat that wound."
"Huh? You are a doctor as well?" Zoro jokes.
"Yes."
"…Is there anything you aren't?"
"Truthfully? No."