Mario, Goombella, and Frankly headed back to Petalburger and were cheered by the residents.

JACKSON: You got the stone keys back, how did you do that!?

MARIO: We've correctly answered the Thwomp's questions. Now we gotta show these Sun and Moon stones to Mayor Kroop.

JACKSON: Sure thing, man!

Mayor Kroop was sleeping on his couch until Jackson knocked on the door.

KROOP: AAAAHHHH!!!! Who's there!?!

MARIO: It's-a me.

KROOP: Oh, it's you, Murphy.

MARIO: We found the stone keys.

KROOP: Great! Let us examine this, shall we?

Mario placed the stone keys on Kroop's desk.

KROOP: Very interesting, they actually fit the pedestals that are hidden somewhere in the Petal Meadows!

GOOMBELLA: And once you place the keys on the pedestal, a warp pipe will show up!

KROOP: Alright, you two brave men, off to Hooktail's Lair you go!

MARIO: Thanks!

And so Mario, Goombella, and Frankly left Petalburger and made it back to the Petal Meadows.

GOOMBELLA: Well, Mario… I guess this is goodbye… for now.

MARIO: I'm gonna miss you.

GOOMBELLA: Hey, I'll see you again soon, so, uh… put 'er there, partner!

Goombella lifts her foot and Mario shakes her foot since she doesn't have any hands.

MARIO: See you later, Goombella.

FRANKLY: I am so gonna miss you!

Goombella smiled at Mario until someone with a familiar young teen voice called out for Mario.

???: Umm, excuse me, Mario?

GOOMBELLA: Wait, is that… Koops!?

MARIO: Koops!? What the mama mia are you doing out here?

KOOPS: Can I… ask you something if you don't mind? And you can just say "no" but, here goes.

MARIO: Uh, okay.

KOOPS: Would you… can I… I wanna…

FRANKLY: Mario, look, we gotta get to Hooktail's lair and get that Chaos Emerald!

MARIO: I'm sorry, Koops, but… can you please save your thought for later, we gotta go to Hooktail's Lair and get that Emerald.

But just as Mario and Frankly were heading for the pedestals, Koops finally spoke up.

KOOPS: PLEASE TAKE ME WITH YOU TO FIGHT HOOKTAIL! PLEASE! I BEG OF YOU!

FRANKLY: Now what?

MARIO: Y-You wanna… go with us?

KOOPS: Sorry about the yelling, it's just… my dad went off to fight Hooktail a decade ago… but he never returned.

GOOMBELLA: Poor teenager, he told that story about his dad before.

Koops started having tears in his eyes.

KOOPS: He and mom had a fight… and they filed for a divorce… and they had to split me up from my big brothers, my mom having Kooper and Parakarry, and I was stuck with my dad for a short time… until he left to go to Hooktail's Lair.

MARIO: So, that's why you wanna go with us?

KOOPS: So I can avenge my dad, I am going to his lair and kill that dragon!

GOOMBELLA: But Koops, you're too young for this, and not to mention, it's really dangerous with all those booby traps, I suggest you stay home and not worry about some dragon.

KOOPS: I don't care if it's dangerous! Mario, can I please go with you?

GOOMBELLA: Mario, please don't let him go!

MARIO: But…

KOOPS: She's right, Mario, I'm not going with you, I'm nothing but a stupid crybaby!

Koops was about to walk back home until Mario stopped him.

MARIO: Now hold on a second, Koops!

Koops turned around to face Mario.

KOOPS: What?

MARIO: Since this whole journey to the castle to avenge your dad means a lot to you and since you're not a stupid crybaby, you're coming with me.

KOOPS: For real!?

Mario nods his head.

MARIO: Mmm-hmm.

KOOPS: Yes!

Koops gave Mario a hug.

KOOPS: Thank you so much, Italian Paisano!

MARIO: *chuckles* No problem, Koops. Now… onward to that Dragon!

GOOMBELLA: Please be careful, and please don't let him get killed!

FRANKLY: We won't Goombella!

MARIO: You will not regret this!

Goombella went back to Petalburg to help the Koopas with the party in case Hooktail was defeated.

MARIO: Anyway, let's-a get-a going, shall we?

Just then, Koopie Koo showed up out of nowhere.

KOOPIE KOO: Koops, where do you think you're going!?

KOOPS: Uhh…

KOOPIE KOO: Oh, don't you dare come up with any excuses, young man! I overheard you saying you wanna go to Hooktail's lair!

KOOPS: *sighs* Yes, and I am going there to kill Hooktail to avenge my father's death!

KOOPIE KOO: Oh no you're not, Koops! I am your legal guardian, and I know what's best for you!

MARIO: Look Koopie Koo, Kooper was so reliable at the Koopa Bros. Fortress, and I believe that Koops can be reliable just like his big brother.

KOOPIE KOO: Oh, so now you wanna take a teenager's side and let him get killed by a dragon!?!

MARIO: Look, he'll-a prevail!

KOOPIE KOO: "Look, he'll-a prevail!" I don't care! Let's go, Koops!

MARIO: Oh, you ain't taking that-a dreamer!

Koopie Koo retreats into her shell.

KOOPIE KOO: FINE! IGNORE ME!!!

MARIO: Oh…

KOOPS: Shoot!!

She rams herself into Mario and Koops.

KOOPS: Oh, not again!

She rams herself into Mario and Koops again.

KOOPIE KOO: Stubborn guys!!!

FRANKLY: Is it over?

MARIO: Yes, I believe so.

FRANKLY: Well, in that case, to Hooktail's lair!

Once Mario, Koops, and Frankly finally made it to the pedestals and inserted the stone keys, an ancient scroll shows up followed by two switches.

MARIO: Ah, an interesting scroll!

FRANKLY: Very interesting.

MARIO: Ahem! "Here beginneth the path to dread Hooktail Castle. Weaklings, retreateth! Ye who seeketh to proceed: a power of two must hitteth both switches simultaneously. If ye are a Petalburg Koopa, huzzah! Your HOLD ability maketh this chore a snap!"

KOOPS: I think the scroll's talking about me.

Mario looks into the scroll again

MARIO: That it does. Okay, Koops, these two switches are far away from each other, I'll need you to ram your shell into the switch while I whack the other one with my hammer.

KOOPS: Okay, Mario.

Koops gets into his shell and rams himself into the switch while Mario whacks the other switch with his Ultra Hammer. The pipe emerges out of the ground.

KOOPS: What do you know, a warp pipe! I've never gotten into a warp pipe before.

MARIO: And this, my friend, is your first time.

Mario enters the pipe.

KOOPS: Whoo, Hooktail, here I come!

Koops jumps down the pipe.

FRANKLY: Oh boy, here I go!

Frankly jumps down the pipe.

To Be Continued

Note: Koopie Koo in this version is older than Koops and became his legal guardian after his dad got eaten by Hooktail. And also, Kooper, Parakarry, and Koops are brothers in this version as well. So if you don't like those ideas that much, I totally respect your opinions.