Paper Andrew & The Thousand-Year Door

by Parent12D

AU. What if someone else went to Rogueport instead of Mario? What if someone explored the region in his place? What if someone else collected the Crystal Stars just to find Princess Peach? This story has the answers as an original character goes on the exact same journey that Mario went on in the Rogueport region in the tale of the Thousand-Year Door.

50. The Pirate's Grotto

OK, fellow readers. Here is the 50th chapter of this story!

Now, there isn't much to this chapter, aside from exploring the Pirate's Grotto in search of the location of the Crystal Star.

So for this chapter, Andrew and his six friends get through the grotto, solving puzzles, collecting some Shine Sprites, and finding a couple of badges, including one that isn't found there in the game. There's a reason for it, which I'll get to later.

Additionally, Andrew finds his fourth black chest that'll curse him, and he and his friends conclude that the spirit in the black chest wasn't so bad, with Andrew sharing his 'own' theory in regards to the four Black Chests that he ran into.

This curse will cause Andrew to get by in the water with his friend, like the Paper Airplane Mode. Andrew will have to rescue some stranded Toads by getting them to a more spacious ground and off a ship that's been left there, along with encountering two Piantas that he remembered seeing before, and a few other things will occur.

How will things go for Andrew and his six friends? Read and find out, now!

---

IN THE PIRATE'S GROTTO:

It took no time for Andrew and his six friends to enter the grotto for themselves. The front entrance mainly had barrels stacked and sitting to the side that were probably brought in by pirates who explored it long ago. There were also a couple of discarded glass bottles lying around. Andrew was more curious about if there was anything good in this grotto.

"Hmmm... So this is the Pirate's Grotto," Andrew had to rub his chin. "I wonder if there's anything good in here..."

"Believe me, Andrew, there's gotta be something good in there," Goombella proclaimed. "Considering how hard it is to get in, there sure as heck BETTER be!"

"No kidding, Goombella," Andrew then saw something behind the southwest barrel.

It was a Ruin Powder, which Andrew walked over and picked it up.

"Huh? Wonder what this could be?" Andrew mused.

"Wowsers. I think that's a bag of Ruin Powder, Andrew," Goombella blinked at it. "I've read somewhere that those can help with confusing people who make contact with its powdery dust."

"Is that so? How amusing," Andrew couldn't help but smirk. "I ought to keep this. It might be useful for us later!"

"That's 'totally' a good idea," Goombella beamed. "Let's start exploring the Pirate's Grotto!"

"Good idea," Andrew then motioned for his friends to follow. "Let's check out the grotto, guys."

Andrew then jumped up onto the ledge that didn't have water flowing through it. Goombella, Koops, Flurrie, Yoshiam, Vivian, and Bobbery all followed suit as they went through the walkway that was right in front of them.

---

As soon as they walked into the next room, they immediately heard a ghastly moan coming out of nowhere.

"...OoOoOoOooOooOoOoOoOoOo... ...oOoOoOoOooOooOoOoOoOoO..." That strange voice moaned all of a sudden.

"Ummm...W-What was that, Andrew!?" Koops yelped. "Gee whiz... It sure sounded spooky... Whatever that was..."

"Oh Koops, I'm pretty sure that's the pirate king himself," Andrew informed him. "He must be deep in the Pirate's Grotto for sure..."

"Mercy me! I do believe you're right, Andrew!" Flurrie had to agree with him. "That shall be the pirate king Cortez himself if I am not mistaken. We shan't turn back now! I daresay, that Crystal Star has to be in the treasure hoard. Wherever it shall be..."

"I'm pretty sure it is, Flurrie," Andrew nodded as he saw that they had to jump down to the lower area of the Pirate's Grotto. "Looks like we'll have to jump down. There's nothing else here, so we better get by here."

None of them argued with him as they jumped down onto a jump pad before they jumped down again onto another jump pad. As soon as they were at the very bottom, they found another pathway, which they decided to check out for themselves.

What they saw next completely mystified them. It was a massive-looking cave with some ocean water flowing through the bottom that surrounded the rocky grounds. By the looks of it, the seven travelers will have to jump onto the sunken boat to press onward to the path ahead of them.

There was a flame ball known as a Lava Bubble; a relative of the Ember, that tried to ambush them. But Andrew was able to fend it off with his Ice Powered fist, and Bobbery used his Bomb attack to blast it away, and it was dispatched in a matter of seconds.

"Woah! That was something, wasn't it Presto," Yoshiam had to comment on that. "What do you suppose that kind of flaming monster was?"

"I think that was a Lava Bubble," Andrew scratched his head. "And they seem to be related to the Ember."

"They are," Goombella confirmed. "And it looks like there are plenty of them here, despite the massive amount of ocean water that's surrounding us. Talk about unsteady footing! You could 'totally' wipe out easily here."

"Yeah," Andrew nodded slowly. "Looks like we're gonna have to watch our step with getting by to the path ahead of us."

"Hey, uh, Andrew?" Vivian tugged on Andrew's shirt. "Look. Up there. On top of the far side of the ship that's floating in the water."

Andrew saw exactly what she was talking about. It was another Shine Sprite, in that clear yellow box.

"Wow. Good eye there, Vivian," Andrew jumped onto the ship and carefully walked onto the bowsprit. "Now I'm gonna claim it."

Andrew then jumped and punched the block, allowing the Shine Sprite to fall into his hand as he carefully jumped over to the other side. Goombella, Koops, Yoshiam, and Bobbery followed suit by jumping onto the boat and making it to the other side, while Flurrie and Vivian floated over the water to reach Andrew.

"By Chowderton's cheeks!" Bobbery had to look at it for himself as he blinked. "Tell me something, dear boy. That wouldn't happen to be a Shine Sprite, the very object that I've given you earlier before we shoved off to Keelhaul Key, would it?"

"Why yes, Bobbery. That's exactly what it is," Andrew nodded to confirm it.

"Ah, I see," Bobbery then commented. "I take it that you must've been collecting these for quite some time, eh? From the looks of it, you seem to be quite adept when it comes to finding those things in a place such as this."

"That's right," Andrew remarked. "I've been collecting these Shine Sprites since I found my first one at Hooktail Castle."

"Ah, that's very delightful if I must say," Bobbery exclaimed.

"There's more," Andrew continued. "There's this wizard in Rogueport named Merlon. He's been powering up my teammates for three Shine Sprites. I've been collecting these to make sure my friends get the power-up that they need. And provided that you continue traveling with me, I would make sure that you'd get one too."

"Why, that sounds smashing, dear boy. It would be most pleasant for a treat," Bobbery had to muse at that. "Charmed, I should say. It's something to look forward to."

"Uh huh," Andrew nodded as he found a Star Piece on a platform surrounded by water.

After having Koops retrieve it for them, and after he dispatched another Lava Bubble, Andrew took a closer look at the cave around them. Some lanterns were dangling on the ship ropes that were left behind by the flotsams of the ships that were shipwrecked there in the past.

There was another sunken ship floating in the water nearby, which seemed to have a handle that he couldn't get to. So that was gonna have to wait for now.

As they got onto the upper path, Andrew couldn't help but notice the spikes that were popping out of the ground ahead of them.

"Yowch!" Andrew winced at this. "Looks at those spikes popping out of the ground ahead of us."

"They... would probably hurt," Goombella cringed at them. "At least they pop out with predictable timing. We can figure out a way across."

"You're right," Andrew sighed. "This looks like a job for Vivian."

"All right, Andrew," Vivian floated over to him. "I'll make sure you guys get by there safely."

"I know," Andrew turned to the rest of his friends. "You guys just make sure you grab onto me before Vivian drags us into the shadows. Otherwise, you guys won't be able to make it."

They all nodded as they used Vivian's Veil move to get by those spikes. After several moments of timing it right, the seven travelers managed to make it across the popping spikes. They then entered the next room in the grotto.

---

There wasn't anything spectacular about it, so to speak, as it was just a bridge heading straight to the walkway on the other side. One thing they did take notice of was the Bill Blasters that were blocking the way.

"Hey," Andrew examined them. "Those are Bill Blasters, aren't they? They're able to shoot out Bullet Bills that can cream right into us."

"You betcha, Andrew! Someone 'really' wants to keep us out!" Goombella declared before rolling her eyes in determination and boasting. "You know what? Who cares! CAN'T STOP US, SUCKERS!"

"You got it," Andrew smirked. "Because we're gonna trash those Bill Blasters."

"Allow me, dear boy," Bobbery was getting ready to light his fuse. "I'll do the honor and blast away these blokes for us to get by, old boy!"

"Let me help out, Bobbery," Yoshiam laid three Mini-Eggs that followed him as he approached the Bill Blasters along with Bobbery. "I've been itching for a fight all day!"

With that, the Bill Blasters shot some Bullet Bills that were heading for the travelers. But Yoshiam ended up tossing his Mini-Eggs at them, which made contact and caused them to explode.

This gave Bobbery the opening that he needed as he approached the Bill Blasters and his body was flashing red, meaning it was time for him to Bomb both of them.

At that moment, he blew up onto the Bill Blasters, which did enough damage to dispatch them. Both Bill Blasters exploded as a result, and Bobbery regenerated and landed right next to Andrew, as they could now get across.

"Well done, Bobbery," Andrew smiled. "Now we can get across. Come on, guys!"

"The pleasure was all my, Andrew," Bobbery exclaimed. "Let's see what other traps that there might be for us, eh?"

With a nod, Andrew walked across the bridge and headed into the next room. His Goomba, Koopa, Wind Spirit, Yoshi, Shadow Siren, and Bob-omb friends followed right behind him.

The next room had a bridge down below in which the right end of it had sunken into the water, meaning that they'd have to get over the water to reach the rocky ground on the other side. There was also a sluice gate that was held down by a chained floodgate that was missing a handle.

Andrew then took notice of the giant waterfall that was right in front of them, along with the ground that was right above it that they'd have to explore.

"Wow," Andrew had to blink. "This looks impressive."

"Tell me about it. Pirates must have built the bridges and sluice gate here," Goombella pointed out. "There's also a waterfall flowing from above. Careful not to lose your footing."

"Yeah..." Koops gulped. "That wouldn't be good for us. Especially after what happened the last time I had to hide in my shell as I floated off in the ocean straight to Keelhaul Key. I sure don't want to do that again..."

"Andrew, my darling, I do believe that we'll need little Yoshiam's help to make it to that pathway over there," Flurrie pointed out. "Would that be correct?"

"Yes," Andrew then looked at Yoshiam. "All right, Yoshiam. You know what you need to do."

"I'm on it, Presto," Yoshiam allowed Andrew to get on his back, along with Goombella, Koops, and Bobbery.

He then ferried them over the water and made it to the other side, while Flurrie and Vivian simply floated over the water to regroup with the others.

There was a giant pink Bob-omb known as a Bulky Bob-omb waiting on the other side to ambush them. But Andrew and his six friends were able to dispatch of it right away, as they continued and went through the pathway that led into the next room.

A single Ember was present, ready to ambush them, but Andrew and Bobbery dispatched it fairly quickly as they saw the stairs leading to the area up above. Andrew then saw a gray door that was ahead of them, that was locked with that padlock on it.

"Looks like this door is locked, guys," Andrew then pointed above them. "We better head on upstairs."

They nodded as they went up the stairs. As they did so, Goombella couldn't help but feel the heavies. She knew what this place was based on the books she read about it. She couldn't help but comment on their surroundings.

"It's totally weird to walk around down here..." Goombella exclaimed. "I mean, PIRATES lived here... The scourge of the seas..."

"I guess that's why they called this place Pirate's Grotto," Andrew told her with a smirk.

"Yeah! You got me there, Andrew," Goombella couldn't help but laugh at that. "Still, I wonder where their souls are wandering now..."

"I'm pretty sure that they made up the Lava Bubbles and Embers that we've seen," Andrew pointed out. "Seeing that they're 'basically' flaming ghouls that are haunting this place."

"That doesn't surprise me, to say the least bit," Bobbery had to comment. "I've heard many treacherous tales and stories about all the horrors that I can't possibly fathom, having happened on this very island. But it might be an old sea bomb's intiution, since I've traveled throughout the seven seas, having heard of them all."

"My, my, my! I most certainly would not want to end up perishing on this island like all of those pirate fellows!" Flurrie had to proclaim in worry. "That would be very unfortunate for us!"

"No need to worry, Flurrie. We're not gonna perish on the island," Andrew had to assure her. "We've already been through worse. I do not have any doubts that we can't make it through this grotto and find that Sapphire Star."

"Andrew, dearie, with you here, with all of your brawny muscles, we shan't be cursed by the pirate king himself," Flurrie told him softly, feeling secure with him around. "I am most certain of that."

"Exactly," Andrew then made it to the top of the stairs. "Now let's see what's up here and...huh?"

Andrew trailed off when he saw another Shine Sprite in that clear yellow box above the last few stairs. He realized that he couldn't reach it as it was too high up. He then started thinking about if there was another way to reach it.

"Jeepers, Andrew! There's another Shine Sprite!" Goombella had to yell before noticing something. "Oh but, didja notice how you can't reach it just by jumping to it?!"

"Yes. I have noticed," Andrew nodded as he walked up to the step that was one step below the pathway that they had to take.

It was then Andrew had an idea as he walked to the edge of that step. He then turned to face his Koopa friend and got his attention.

"Hey, Koops? See if you can let me launch you in your shell to that spot underneath the Shine Sprite Block," Andrew suggested.

"Okay doke, Andrew," Koops jumped up and accompanied Andrew on that ledge.

He then got into his shell, Andrew jumped and kicked him forward to that one spot, where he hit a hidden block that appeared out of nowhere. This rewarded Andrew with a single coin as he could now hit the block with his bat.

Jumping to the top, Andrew walked over and stood in front of the block before taking his Super Bat and smashing the block with it. The Shine Sprite was shot out and landed in Andrew's right hand, as he put it with the other Shine Sprites that he had collected so far.

"Right on, Presto!" Yoshiam cheered as he joined Andrew at the top. "That's eight Shine Sprites now, is it?"

"Uh huh," Andrew nodded.

"Wow," Koops blinked at this. "It was 'really' amazing seeing you find a way to get that block, Andrew."

"I must say, it was rather brilliant thinking that aided you, old boy," Bobbery agreed.

"Yeah. I guess so," Andrew said sheepishly. "We better see what else we can find here."

As soon as he walked back up, a Parabuzzy; a Buzzy Beetle with wings, was over there, ready to ambush them. But Andrew and Goombella knocked it down onto the ground before Yoshiam slammed into it five times before it was dispatched. They then had to jump over the gap to reach the other side, where there was a steel door with no handles blocking the path. And there was a blue switch on the ledge above that needed to be activated to open it.

"Well, looks like we have to activate that switch to get by," Andrew then turned to face his Bob-omb friend. "All right Bobbery. I'm gonna need your help with this one."

"No need to worry, dear boy. For I would be honored," Bobbery obliged as he lit his fuse before Andrew picked up him and hoisted him onto the ledge.

Once Bobbery was in front of the switch, his body started flashing red again, indicating that he was about to explode. With his Bomb move, he blasted onto the switch, activating it instantly where it then disappeared.

Bobbery regenerated and landed right next to Andrew, as the steel door lifted, allowing the seven travelers to continue by. Before they could though, they then heard that ominous moan again, which was 'apparently' giving them a warning if they were to continue trekking deeper into the Pirate's Grotto.

"...OoOoOoOooOooOoOoOoOoOo... ...Tuuuuuuuuurn baaaaaack..." That spooky ghastly voice moaned a warning. "...OoOoOoOooOooOoOoOoOoOo... ...Gooo noooooo fuuuurther... ...Or you will never leave..."

"Oh great. The whole 'scaring tactic to force trespassers to flee or they will fall victim to a terrible death' cliche," Andrew deadpanned while rolling his eyes as he said sarcastically. "How original. Like I haven't heard THAT ONE before..."

"I know how you feel, Andrew," Goombella agreed with him. "I've 'totally' seen that several times before."

"I do believe you're onto something there, Andrew," Flurrie also commented. "I've been in many movies that involved using that treacherous tactic to scare folks out of haunted houses, or be met with a rather unpleasant and unfortunate demise..."

"Yeah," Andrew shook his head. "But we aren't gonna be scared by the pirate king himself, right?"

"Gotcha!" Goombella beamed. "We're 'totally' gonna continue through here no matter what the pirate king tries to scare us with. And you know why? Because we're the best team that we could've ever formed together!"

"You got it, Goombella," Andrew smiled while giving her a thumbs up.

"I do believe the lass is onto something," Bobbery needed to comment. "So far on this treacherous journey that we've been on through the Pirate's Grotto, we've been able to brave through these caves with such fortitude. And there'll likely be more impending traps coming our way as well. I daresay, this has been quite the pleasant experience for us, eh wot?"

"That's right," Andrew nodded. "And as long as we stick together, we'll be OK."

"That's good to know, Andrew," Vivian had to admit. "Because if anything bad does happen, I will protect you."

"I know," Andrew nodded. "And we would protect each other as a result."

"Yeah! No pirate ghost is gonna scare us!" Yoshiam declared. "Let's roll!"

"Man, hope we don't get any pirate curses," Koops remarked.

"I doubt that any pirate curses will be placed upon us, Koops," Andrew told him as the seven travelers went through the opened-up walkway.

If anything, I'll probably be cursed by another Black Chest before any pirate curses are placed on us... Andrew thought as he saw what was in the next room over.

---

They were now at the top of where that giant waterfall was running, and they had to jump over a gap to get to the other side, where the walkway to another room was located.

A Bulky Bob-omb had tried to attack them, but the seven travelers quickly dispatched it before they moved on. Andrew then saw a Boat Panel near the edge, which he felt he'd have to use later.

Something tells me that I'm gonna wind up needing to use that panel soon... Andrew thought as he motioned his six friends to follow him.

After jumping over the gap where a smaller waterfall was running, the seven travelers made their way down the steps where they then went through the walkway, leading into what looked like a storage room.

There was some ocean water surrounding the single platform that had a red switch on it, but otherwise, the room was mostly filled up with barrels stacked up on the shelves on their side, save for the ones on the top. And there were four barrels, a lantern, and a glass bottle right underneath a shelf that was high up with an orange key on it.

There was a wooden crate moving back and forth in the water to where the red switch was.

Nearby connected to some chains was a scale lift that could be lifted by that red switch being activated. Up above was a crate tied to a chain that went down once the switch had been pressed.

Needless to say, Andrew was quite impressed with this setup.

"Wow," Andrew had to blink. "Is this some kind of storage room that's in the Pirate's Grotto?"

"I would think so. This is a storage area..." Goombella then explained. "Looks like the pirates left tons of stuff here."

"I can see that," Andrew then pointed to the red switch. "What about that switch? What does it do?"

"Well, the switch in front there lifts and lowers cargo," Goombella motioned him to the lift on the ground. "Maybe Bobbery could alter the timing of when the switch gets activated."

"Looks like we need to. Look up there," Andrew pointed to the key that was on the high shelf. "That key must go to that door that we couldn't open earlier. We're gonna need to get it."

"Yeah, Andrew. That would be a great idea," Koops proclaimed. "We better go get it."

"That's exactly what I had in mind," Andrew jumped onto the floating crate while motioning to Bobbery. "All right, Bobbery. I'm gonna need your assistance with this. I would like you to light your fuse as I toss you onto that platform where that red switch is. Then when I get onto the lift over there, you can use your Bomb move to activate it. Does that sound good?"

"Sounds like a splendid plan, dear boy," Bobbery walked over and jumped onto the floating crate to assist Andrew while lighting his fuse. "Just let me know when you're ready to activate this switch, and then I'll give it the ol' heave-ho!"

"Sure thing," Andrew then picked up Bobbery and hoisted him over to where that red switch was as he stood in place, waiting to explode.

Without wasting a second, Andrew jumped off the crate and rushed over to the lift. He then jumped on top of the lift and decided to give Bobbery the signal.

"OK, Bobbery! I'm ready!" Andrew called out to him. "Let 'er RIP!"

With that, Bobbery unleashed his Bomb attack on the switch, which activated it and caused the lift that Andrew was standing on to go up while that chained crate sank. Bobbery regenerated and joined Andrew's other friends as the muscular man quickly jumped onto the shelf and grabbed the Grotto Key.

"All right!" Andrew held it in the air before he pocketed it. "Now we can use this key to unlock that door!"

"'Absolutely' splendid, darling! And not a moment too soon!" Flurrie had to point something out to him that she had just noticed. "Look up there!"

Andrew gazed up to where Flurrie was pointing, where all those barrels were neatly aligned on the top shelf. Sitting right on top of one of the barrels in the high place on the left was yet another Shine Sprite block. Andrew was determined to get it, as he decided to do it before the lift went back down onto the ground.

"Great find there, Flurrie!" Andrew smiled as he raced over to the lift. "Now I'm gonna get it!"

As soon as the lift sank back down and the crate went back up, Andrew jumped onto the crate right when it was within his reach to jump on it. He remained on top of it until he made it to the top.

Once it came to a stop, Andrew jumped on top of the barrel that the Shine Sprite was placed over. He then jumped up and punched the block, which caused the Shine Sprite to fall out and land right into his hand.

After he put it with his other Shine Sprites, he found a Star Piece inside a barrel that was at the end of the shelf. He bent down and grabbed the Star Piece that was in it, which he then pocketed before making his way back down to where his six friends were waiting for them.

Seeing that he claimed everything that was in the storage area, they could take their leave and unlock the door that they came across at the bottom of the room with the stairs leading up above.

"Well, let's go check out that room downstairs now that we have the key to unlock that door," Andrew advised them.

All six of them nodded as the seven of them left the storage area and made their way back down to the room that had that locked door. They would use the key to unlock it so they could explore what was just beyond it.

---

After a bit more traveling, the seven travelers made their way down the stairs until they reached the bottom and approached the door with the padlock on it.

Taking out the Grotto Key, Andrew inserted it into the padlock, turned it, and caused the door to be unlocked. The padlock dropped onto the floor and disappeared afterwards.

Opening the door, Andrew motioned his six friends to follow him into the room beyond the door. The room that they entered had nothing but three Parabuzzies guarding the room, and they tried attacking the seven travelers.

But of course, Andrew managed to dispatch them fairly quickly with the help of his six friends. All three of them were knocked out as they were unable to move. One of them had dropped something that it had possession of.

"Well, that takes care of them," Andrew dusted his hands off. "There doesn't seem to be anything else in this room. So I guess we can just press forward and...hmmm? What's this?"

Andrew then walked over to the object that one of the Parabuzzies had dropped. It was a badge. Specifically, it looked almost exactly like the Attack FX R badge, except this one was blue instead of red. 'Apparently' this badge was known as the Attack FX B badge.

"Huh. It's a badge," Andrew had to pick it up and observe it closely. "I wonder what kind of badge it is..."

"Omigosh! Andrew," Goombella approached him. "That kinda looks like the Attack FX R badge that you found at Hooktail Castle, don'tcha think?"

"Yeah. It does look like it," Andrew squinted his eyes at the badge. "Only it's blue instead of red. Could this badge make a sound similar to the cricket chirp of that Attack FX R badge?"

"I guess," Koops shrugged. "Maybe a good idea to try it out to find out."

"Good thinking," Andrew decided to put the badge on and walked up to the wall. "Here goes nothing."

As soon as he took out his badge, he slammed it right into the wall. When he did, he heard that the attack was accompanied by a mouse squeak noise, which the muscular man took notice of along with his friends.

"Mercy me, sweetums! I daresay, that makes your attacks sound like the squeaking of a mouse," Flurrie gasped. "I don't recall ever seeing a badge capable of fulfilling such a feat before."

"This is only the second badge I got that makes a sound when I attack," Andrew took off the badge and stared at it some more.

"Whoa, Presto. That was some impressive find, dude," Yoshiam rubbed his chin while smiling. "Why do you think these chumps had a badge such as that?"

"Beats me," Andrew shrugged. "They may have found it amongst some of the treasure that was left behind by the pirates that ended up here many years ago. How it got here is a total mystery."

"Wow, Andrew," Vivian said shyly. "I think that is a nice badge that makes a weird but cute sound. I'm glad that we found it."

"I'm glad we found it too," Andrew agreed. "And I'll be keeping it with the rest of my badges."

"By Blubbery's blotches! Perhaps I'm missing something here, eh?" Bobbery was confused by this. "Andrew old boy, do tell. You must have quite the tale to tell if you've also been seeking badges from all over such as that particular one. Is that correct?"

"Yes, Bobbery. It's true," Andrew took out the badge kit. "I've been collecting badges since I started this journey in Rogueport Sewers. Goombella was the one who gave me the kit for my badges."

"He's right," Goombella agreed as she saw Andrew drop the Attack FX B badge into the opened kit. "I 'totally' gave it to him so he wouldn't lose any badges if they were just kept in his backpack."

"Why, that sounds like a fascinating tale, dear boy," Bobbery seemed interested in this. "And I would be very much intrigued to allow you to continue your little search. Provided that there are any more badges out there that you have yet to obtain."

"Trust me. There's probably plenty more out there," Andrew informed him as he put his badge kit into his backpack. "We just gotta look in all areas in this grotto."

"Very well put, old boy," Bobbery admitted. "Very well put, indeed."

"Yeah," Andrew then headed to the pathway that was shown south in the room. "OK. Let's press on, guys."

With a collective nod, all six of them followed Andrew out of the room and went down the pathway to see what they would end up encountering next.

They then ended up in a room where some waves were being pushed in the water, and there was a spike trap to the left that required the seven travelers to go into Tube Mode. And to the right, far from Andrew's reach, was yet another Shine Sprite, in that same block. And Andrew took notice of it when he first entered the room.

"Whoa! Another Shine Sprite!" Andrew pointed out. "We've been running into plenty of these lately, haven't we?"

"Sure looks like it," Goombella had to admit. "Might as well claim that one too, Andrew."

"Good idea," Andrew then turned to face Koops. "Koops, would you do the honor?"

"Uh, right Andrew." Koops went into his shell for Andrew to jump-kick him straight toward the Shine Sprite.

In one swift movement, Koops was launched into the Shine Sprite Block, plowing into it before going back to Andrew with the Shine Sprite with him.

"Thank you," Andrew thanked him as he took the Shine Sprite and put it into his backpack with the other Shine Sprites that he had collected. "Well, that takes care of that."

"Good. Cause look what's in front of us," Goombella motioned him towards the spike trap that was popping out of the wall. "Watch out for those spikes! Yeah, the thing about spikes is...they 'really' hurt."

"I don't think there are any spikes that don't hurt," Andrew told her.

"Forget using an ally's power here..." Goombella then made a rather subtle suggestion. "Trust yourself and let's roll! You know what I mean!"

"I do!" Andrew then declared. "Time for all seven of us to go into Tube Mode."

"I beg your pardon," Bobbery was confused by this. "Whatever do you mean when you say something about Tube Mode?"

"Come on! I'll show you for yourself, Bobbery," Andrew then thought of himself as a flat piece of cardboard.

All six of his friends ended up doing the same thing before they spun around repeatedly. In a matter of seconds, they all turned into paper tubes, essentially entering Tube Mode.

Bobbery was curious about how he was able to achieve this. And he would find out for himself. But for now, Andrew rolled underneath the spikes that were popping out, with his six friends rolling close behind him.

After a couple of minutes of careful navigation and not getting skewered by them, they made it to the other side, where there was a pathway leading to the next room. Shortly afterwards, the seven of them returned to normal.

"Ahem. A thousand pardons, dear boy, but I do believe that you owe me an explanation," Bobbery had to ask him. "However did you learn to do something as spectacular as that, eh?"

"Well, you see Bobbery, that was the result of being cursed by a Black Chest," Andrew then decided to explain it further. "It was from a Black Chest that my friends and I encountered in the storage room in the shop in Twilight Town."

"Yes. You...You mentioned something about that, Andrew," Vivian remembered how Andrew told her about that Black Chest.

"That's right, Vivian. That curse allows me to go into Tube Mode. But that's not all, Bobbery," Andrew continued to explain to Bobbery. "I had been cursed by two other Black Chests before that; in Rogueport Sewers and Hooktail Castle. The one in the Rogueport Sewers allows me to turn into a Paper Airplane when I stand on a Paper Airplane Panel. And the one in Hooktail Castle allows me to go into Paper Mode where I become as flat as cardboard to slip through cracks along with you guys."

"Ah. Well, I see. Very good. That is rather intriguing, old boy," Bobbery had to admit. "It pleases me to know that you are very willing to discuss this with me. These have been very marvelous tales that you've told. I most certainly look forward to experiencing more, provided that it might happen again."

"I'm pretty sure it will happen," Andrew then rubbed his chin. "Come to think of it, I have this feeling that I'm gonna meet my fourth Black Chest here...I don't know why though..."

"Why, I do believe that you must have some intuition of some kind," Flurrie had to exclaim. "Either way, I daresay that this adventure shall continue to be full of surprises."

"I know it will be," Andrew smiled at Flurrie. "Well, let's continue. Shall we?"

"You said it, Presto," Yoshiam jumped up and pointed towards the path ahead.

---

With no hesitation, they ended up in the next room, which had some barrels floating in the water, along with a sunken ship, which the seven of them would have to jump across just to reach the other side.

But right in front of Andrew, hanging above him, was yet again, another Shine Sprite in that clear yellow block. By this point, Andrew wasn't surprised, since these were probably left behind by the pirates that got stranded in this cave years ago.

The only problem is that it was too high up for him to jump alone. He could sense that a hidden block was right below it. With his bat, Andrew slammed into the ground below it, to reveal a brick block that gave him 10 coins before it turned yellow.

Seeing that he had something to stand on, Andrew jumped on top of it and then jumped and punched the block, causing the Shine Sprite to fall out of the block and it fell into Andrew's hand again.

"Whoa. Dude, this is so rad," Yoshiam had to comment. "How many Shine Sprites does that make? Eleven?"

"Yes. I've got eleven Shine Sprites as of right now," Andrew counted as he put the Shine Sprite into his backpack with the other Shine Sprites. "It makes me wonder if these were always here, or if those pirates that were stranded here left these behind many years ago."

"It's possible, Andrew," Goombella proclaimed. "It's likely that these pirates left these treasures here in the open because they didn't want any scavengers wanting to steal their loot. Or something like that. I'm 'totally' sure of it."

"I guess your right, Goombella," Andrew then looked ahead and saw the path ahead.

Not only did the seven of them have to jump off the barrels and the sunken ship to get by. They'd also have to get by the taken-out bridge while fending off an Ember and a Lava Bubble. On top of that, the way out of the room was boarded up, which meant Bobbery had to blow it up with his Bomb ability.

"Well guys, it looks like we have to make our way over to the other side of this room," Andrew pointed out.

"Yeah. Jumping around on barrels and sinking ship fragments... This is pretty gnarly," Goombella had to admit. "So let's take it easy and not get too careless, OK?"

"Right," Andrew nodded. "Looks like we better get going."

All seven of them nodded as they started making their way to the taken-out bridge beyond all this ocean water.

Andrew, Goombella, Koops, Yoshiam, and Bobbery had to jump on the three barrels and the sunken ship fragment to reach the ground on the other side, while Flurrie and Vivian floated over the seawater as they regrouped with the others.

Andrew then swung his bat into the Ember while Bobbery used his Bomb attack to blast away the Lava Bubble. They were dispatched in a matter of seconds. They then jumped across the gap in the bridge as they made it to the other side. They then went up and approached the boarded-up hole.

"Gee whiz," Koops had to scratch his head. "Looks like someone didn't want us around... You know what I mean?"

"I know what you mean. But we're gonna have to blast through these boards," Andrew turned to Bobbery. "Well Bobbery, you know what you need to do."

"Aye. I do know what must be done here," Bobbery lit his fuse as Andrew tossed him over to where the boarded-up pathway was.

In a matter of seconds, Bobbery's body flashed red before he went ahead and exploded. His Bomb ability managed to blast away the boards from the walkway, allowing the seven travelers to continue forward, as Bobbery regenerated right next to Andrew.

"Well, looks like we're able to continue," Andrew then motioned his team to follow. "Let's see what's ahead of us."

And so the seven of them went through the walkway to see what they would have to deal with now. The next room they went through was a long corridor in the cave. 'In fact', there was barely anything noteworthy there.

The only noticeable thing was the 4 sets of Bill Blasters that were shooting Bullet Bills, which were blocking their path and forbidding them from continuing onward. Of course, Andrew and his six friends managed to dispatch all four Bill Blasters, which exploded upon being defeated.

From there, the seven travelers made their way into the next room of the grotto. There was a waterfall in the background of the cave, and a Bulky Bob-omb was there to ambush them. But Andrew was able to make quick work out of it along with his friends. Andrew then took notice of the sunken ship that was ahead of them.

"Wow," Andrew remarked. "That's a sunken ship over there, right?"

"Sure looks like one," Goombella blinked. "Something good inside? 'Cause that's how it always is when it comes to adventures...right?"

"Well, there's only one way to find out for sure," Andrew then walked towards the edge of the rocky path. "Let's go check it out."

Andrew jumped across the gap and landed on the Boat Panel in front of him. Goombella, Koops, Yoshiam, and Bobbery jumped after him, and Flurrie and Vivian floated after them.

From there, they had to follow the path of planks and boardways that led to the hole in the side of the ship. All seven of them were rather intrigued by this. They had this feeling that there was something good inside of this ship that they could use.

"Well, I guess that we can enter the ship through this hole," Andrew mused.

"Sure seems like it to me, old boy," Bobbery proclaimed. "If I'm not mistaken, my sea bomb intuition is telling me that there's something good in there that would prove to be beneficial to us, eh?"

"There's no doubt about that," Andrew smiled. "Let's go check it out for ourselves."

And with that, the muscular man entered the hole in the ship, with his Goomba, Koopa, Wind Spirit, Yoshi, Shadow Siren, and Bob-omb friends following right behind him.

---

Inside the abandoned ship, they saw nothing but lanterns hanging on the ceiling, some ropes dangling, some barrels, crates, glass bottles, and a couple of wooden desks and tables lying around, with one of them being tipped over.

Part of the inside was submerged slightly with some water. And behind the tipped-over desk was a badge that caught Andrew's attention. It was a P-Down, D-Up badge, which Andrew walked over to and grabbed it.

"Wow. This was a lucky find," Andrew had taken out his badge kit and placed the badge in there. "I didn't know that there was a badge in this ship. Well, this ship does look abandoned."

"No duh. We're inside one of the abandoned ships," Goombella then noticed the elephant that was in the room of the abandoned ship; placed right in the center. "There's a black chest here."

"What? You're serious?" Andrew had to walk around to where Goombella was pointing as he saw it for himself. "Oh great. I should've known. This is our fourth black chest that we've encountered."

"I know how you feel, Andrew," Goombella then had to admit dryly. "Now that I mention it... Why do we keep running into these black chests? Weird."

"Ummm... Gosh..." Koops frowned. "Man...looks like you're gonna get another curse from a black chest..."

"Oh my, my! Mercy me! I don't believe my eyes!" Flurrie yelled dramatically. "This shall be our fourth black chest that our handsome muscular man has encountered on his perilous adventure thus far!"

"No kidding," Yoshiam remarked with a snarky tone. "Wonder what kind of a nasty curse will be given to you this time?"

"I dunno," Andrew rubbed his chin. "But I bet it has something to do with those wooden panels we saw. And that we could navigate through the water."

"Andrew? This is the same Black Chest you told me about before, right?" Vivian had to ask. "The one that you encountered in Twilight Town, is that right?"

"I have to concur with our Vivian lass here," Bobbery spoke up. "I take it that this happens to be the Black Chest that you have spoken of quite some time ago, eh wot?"

"That's right, Vivian, and Bobbery. This is the 'exact' same chest," Andrew confirmed. "And I bet we're gonna have to listen to some sob story about wanting to be let out, and I'll have to find a Black Key to release it."

"Only for it to place a horrible curse on you," Goombella continued as she rolled her eyes. "And it somehow manages to be beneficial to us."

"Exactly," Andrew nodded before sighing as he looked at the Black Chest. "Well, shall we try talking to the black chest?"

"Sure. That's a good idea," Koops sighed. "Better get this done and over with."

"Right, Koops," Andrew then walked over to the Black Chest, knocked on it, and then said. "Hello? Anyone in there?"

"YORK!" The Black Chest yelped before wiggling slightly. "Oh, sweet, sweet salvation! I thought no one would ever come! I had given up!"

"Oh, knock it off already," Andrew wasted no time in being snarky before telling it. "Spare me the prologue and just curse me already."

"...Huh?" The Black Chest sounded confused. "You want me to do that to you?"

"That's right," Andrew nodded.

"Now... How did you know I was gonna do that?" The Black Chest had to ask.

"Well..." Andrew started before he was interrupted by the Black Chest.

"No seriously, hang on a sec'! Can't you just listen to my spiel for a little bit?" The Black Chest then went off. "I've been locked here forever, bored stiff, doing NOTHING but practice this speech!"

"Well you might as well forget about it, bub," Andrew told him sharply. "You happen to be the fourth cursing chest that I've met so far."

"Are you serious?" The Black Chest had to ask.

"I've never been more serious in my entire life," Andrew deadpanned in annoyance. "And so, I already know exactly how this is all going to turn out. You'll place a curse on me once I let you out, and it'll be a terrible fate. I've heard it all before."

"Man, talk about a raw deal!" The Black Chest had to complain. "You're a twisted little guy, you know that?"

"I've been told that," Andrew said dryly as he rolled his eyes. "In any case, let's just get through with this already."

"OK, fine, fine, fine, FINE! I get the picture, OK?" The Black Chest was complaining. "Sheesh! All I wanted was to see the face of some unlucky soul when I popped out... Is that so much to ask?"

"Not since the three other Black Chests I've encountered have pulled the same charade that you've been pulling," Andrew retorted.

"Anyway, what are you waiting for? Just open it, already," the Black Chest then huffed. "You know what the key looks like, Mr. Seen-It-All-Already!"

"Yes. I have," Andrew sighed. "Do you know where it is?"

"Some ghost here has it..." The Black Chest then said. "So just beat him, get it, and we'll get this farce over with. Come now, I'm waiting!"

It was then an Ember had appeared in the sunken ship, which caught their attention.

"All right. Let's just beat this Ember and get that Black Key," Andrew then looked towards Bobbery. "Bobbery, would you give me a hand with this one?"

"Why certainly," Bobbery nodded. "I'd be more than obligated to spare some assistance with dealing with this ghastly flaming ghoul."

Without saying anything else, Andrew went over and punched the Ember in the face, before jumping on it and then slamming his bat onto its head.

Bobbery decided to wrap things up as he lit his fuse and approached the Ember. Moments after he was flashing red, Bobbery used his Bomb attack on the Ember, blasting it away before he regenerated and landed right next to Andrew.

At that moment, the Ember was dispatched as it disappeared, dropping that Black Key as a result. Andrew then went ahead and picked up the Black Key and held it up.

"Well, I got the key," Andrew then sighed. "Now let's just open this Black Chest."

"Good thinking," Goombella nodded. "Might as well get it opened and get this curse done and over with, y'know what I mean?"

"Yup," Andrew nodded as he approached the Black Chest with the Black Key in his hand. "All right. We got the Black Key that we needed to get to set you free."

"Yeah, yeah. Whoop-dee-doo. You got the key," the Black Chest then begged to be released. "Party time. Now let me out, already."

"Fine," Andrew moaned as he then unlocked the Black Chest.

"All right. Here we go... Since you're just itching to get this over with... A-HEM!" The Black Chest declared before clearing its throat and then cackled more maliciously. "WHEE HEE! FOOOOOLS!"

The Black Chest opened up as Andrew then rolled his eyes.

Let's get this over with... Andrew thought in apathy as he allowed the curse to take place.

Right on cue, Andrew was then engulfed by the ominous smog that he was clouded by the past three times. Then popping up in front of him was a ghost, that looked 'exactly' like the first three ghosts that he encountered in Rogueport Sewers, Hooktail Castle, and Twilight Town, respectively.

"You dopes fell right into my 'absolutely' brilliant trap!" The Ghost declared sinisterly. "And now you will SUFFER!"

"Oh gee. I should've seen it coming," Andrew retorted as he rolled his eyes.

"Oh, yeah! I am so EVIL!" The Ghost proclaimed. "Bathe in the foul, awful... ...Wait, what was next?"

"Uh, the curse?" Andrew reminded him in such a deadpanned manner.

"Oh, yeah! You fools will be cursed forever for your appalling stupidity!" The Ghost bellowed quite maliciously. "You will rue the day you opened this chest of DOOM!"

"Wow. I can already feel the agony and tyranny of the curse," Andrew said sarcastically.

"Now, you wretched guy!" The Ghost howled. "B-E C-U-R-S-E-D!"

Then just the past three times that he dealt with a Black Chest, Andrew got struck by a bolt that was filled with some unlimited magical powers, in which its force overcame part of his body afterwards.

"Whee hee hee hee hee! Now you're cursed, but good! SUFFER! SUFFER! SUFFER!" The Ghost then decided to ask in a concerned tone, feeling that maybe he was going too far. "Wait, that's maybe too much. Are you all right? That didn't 'really' hurt, did it?"

"No. I'm fine. Really," Andrew insisted.

"Whee hee hee hee hee! Good!" The Ghost then resumed speaking in its malicious tone. "Squirm and suffer like socially awkward worms!"

"Oh goodie," Andrew deadpanned. "Tell me, what is the curse exactly?"

"From now on, in certain places, if you try focusing hard enough, you'll turn into a paper boat!" The Ghost exclaimed madly. "Isn't that just GRUESOME?!"

"Oh wow. A paper boat. I wonder what they'll think of next," Andrew snorted. "Am I to be cursed to transform into a paper crane for my next curse?"

"Your comments simply amuse me. It makes me delighted to see you feeling tortured inside," the Ghost exclaimed as that boat panel appeared. "For that, just try it out so I can see the depth of your humiliation! Feel the terror of your fate!"

"OK," Andrew sighed. "What do I have to do?"

"When you stand on one of these Boat Panels, the panel will feel your curse and glow!" The Ghost declared.

"I see," Andrew said dryly as he stood on the boat panel, which started glowing.

"Yes, stand here, slime! Feel the pain!" The Ghost howled in pleasure. "And try focusing hard enough! Become a paper boat!"

"Right," Andrew then focused hard enough, and in a matter of seconds, he transformed into a paper boat.

He was then surfing on water that wasn't there, moving back and forth as the Ghost was feeling some sadistic pleasure from watching this.

"Whee hee hee hee hee! Oh, yes, such suffering! Do you feel the horror? Now you're a piddly little boat!" The Ghost couldn't help but cackle. "Whee hee hee hee! You float on the water! People will laugh at you! You will be spit upon!"

"Oh, my. I can already the walls closing in as I become a laughing stock in becoming a paper boat," Andrew was snarking up a storm. "I'm feeling spat on already by everyone that's around me."

"...But it only works in certain places, so don't worry, it's not too bad," the Ghost advised him.

"Oh. OK," Andrew said nonchalantly as he sailed back to the boat panel.

"When you want to return to normal, approach the panel, and focus hard enough to achieve it," the Ghost then instructed. "Now! Try it, worm!"

"Oh, sure," Andrew then did just that as he got out of the invisible water and returned to normal, standing on solid ground again.

"Yes! Your pain is like a tasty banquet to me!" The Ghost cackled yet again before asking him. "Now, do you understand your doom?"

"Yeah, I get it," Andrew said in a bored tone. "I shall suffer the rest of my life with the ability to turn into a paper boat whenever I'm standing on a Boat Panel."

"Then off with you, you jaded, cursed, boat guy!" The Ghost then had to tell him in a rather sincere manner. "Oh, and hey, listen... Thanks for letting me do my thing. I feel better."

"Yeah. Sure. Anytime," Andrew then sighed. "Now, I think we're done here."

The Ghost said nothing else as it decided to take its leave. Just like the past three times, the ghost that cursed Andrew vanished into thin air, as the ominous smog that surrounded Andrew also disappeared from plain sight.

There was no doubt about it. Goombella, Koops, Flurrie, Yoshiam, Vivian, and Bobbery had witnessed the whole thing taking place. Goombella, Koops, Flurrie, and Yoshiam weren't surprised by this, as they had witnessed it happen before, even though it still gave them the heebie-jeebies just from watching it happen to Andrew.

Vivian and Bobbery, meanwhile, were a little shocked by what they had just witnessed. And more importantly, they took notice of the Ghost's tone of voice occasionally when it wasn't being malicious about the curse.

Not to mention the value that came with the curse and how they could get by bodies of water that harbor Nibbles, as long as they stood onto a Boat Panel.

"Uh... Is that curse person 'actually' on our side?" Vivian had to ask.

"Ah... Well, I say, that curse chap seems rather a bit of all right, eh?" Bobbery agreed with a questionable look.

"I believe the 'curse' ghost was on our side," Andrew said as he looked at his gloved hands again. "After all, I was granted another special ability that was disguised as a curse..."

"That's what you said the past three times we encountered a Black Chest," Goombella had to point out. "And y'know what? I get the feeling that all four of them were trying to help us get by obstacles by disguising them as curses."

"I know. And you know something? I've been getting a theory as to why we've been encountering these Black Chests," Andrew had to rub his chin. "Since we've been told about it, I like to assume that the ghosts that were inside these Black Chests might've been the four heroes who had vanquished that ancient demon that destroyed the town a thousand years ago, which is where Rogueport stands today..."

"Omigosh! Andrew, you might be onto something!" Goombella felt like sharing. "In some of the books that I've read recently, it would appear that this ancient demon who had brought forth the cataclysm that destroyed the ancient town had placed an awful curse on the four heroes. They didn't take effect until AFTER they had gotten rid of the Crystal Star that each of them had. That's just a theory that I read up on in one of my books."

"Yeah. I don't think that's far off either. It's possible," Andrew said thoughtfully. "Either way, I've been cursed four times, and this latest curse can help us get by bodies of water just by standing on that Boat Panel."

"Ummm... That sounds great, Andrew," Koops claimed. "Now we have a way to get by this area without becoming food for the Nibbles..."

"Mercy me! I daresay, this is rather delightful!" Flurrie beamed joyously. "We shall give this curse a try that this cursing-fellow had placed on you Andrew, my handsome muscular man you."

"Rock on, Presto! We can give it a try," Yoshiam cheered before having to admit something about that latest curse ghost. "Y'know... That curse dude ain't half bad."

"Yeah. That ghost did seem courteous at least," Andrew tugged on his yellow-orange handkerchief. "Well, now that that's all set, let's get out of here and try my new curse on the Boat Panel outside. What do you guys say?"

"I think it's a great idea, Andrew!" Vivian couldn't help but beam while clapping excitedly at this. "We can finally get our way around this grotto without drowning and becoming a snack for the Nibbles!"

"I must say, that sounds like a terrific plan, old boy," Bobbery agreed. "Very well. Let's make haste!"

"Right," Andrew then walked out of the abandoned ship, with his six friends following him.

Once they were outside, Andrew walked over to the Boat Panel, as he then watched it glow. This meant that he could turn into a paper boat. And he wanted his friends to be able to get ferried by him, and there was only one way to do that.

"OK guys," Andrew instructed. "I need you to grab a hold of me before I turn into a paper boat. That way I can ferry you guys over the water until I reach another Boat Panel, so you guys can get by safely."

"Gotcha, Andrew!" Goombella beamed as she jumped up onto his right shoulder. "I'm 'totally' ready for this!"

"Sure, Andrew," Koops went ahead and grabbed Andrew's left hand. "Man, this should go well for us. But I'm ready anyway."

"Absolutely! I'd be delighted, dearie," Flurrie went ahead and wrapped her arms around his back. "I shall be ready to be ferried away through the water as well, Andrew."

"You got it, Presto!" Yoshiam cheered as he flutter-jumped onto Andrew's head. "All set and ready for action, dude! Let's rock!"

"OK, Andrew," Vivian told him meekly as she grabbed his stomach. "I'm ready for this too."

"Splendid idea, dear boy," Bobbery then went over as Andrew allowed him to be in his right arm. "I say, this ought to be quite the smashing experience for us, eh? That said, I happen to be prepared for this too, old boy."

"Great!" Andrew then focused hard enough. "Let's do this!"

In a matter of seconds, Andrew turned into a paper boat with his friends being ferried in him as he sailed across the ocean water. This didn't take long as he reached a nearby Boat Panel, where he put more focus on returning to normal.

He then floated out of the water and hovered over the Boat Panel. He then returned to normal, allowing his friends to let go of him as they were quite shocked by the experience that they went through, as short-lived as it was.

"Wowsers! That felt AWESOME!" Goombella had to beam in a preppy manner. "That 'totally' felt as awesome as the paper airplane curse!"

"Golly...Wow...That was something," Koops blinked as he admitted. "Man, that seemed pretty satisfying...Sure glad that I didn't get nauseous..."

"By the stars, I don't think I have ever experienced such a need for excitement like that! It was fabulous!" Flurrie boomed excitedly. "I do believe that was quite an intriguing curse that has been placed on you, sweetums! It shall PROVE to be useful for the duration of our exploration of these massive grottos!"

"Yeah! That was wicked cool," Yoshiam cheered. "Never would've thought that adventurers would do something so awesome like that! I sure look forward to more excitement, Presto!"

"Wow, Andrew. Wow. That was kinda fun," Vivian admitted in such an introverted manner. "I 'actually' love it. That was kind of a sweet curse that you were given. And I agree that it should help you when dealing with traveling through water. With those Boat Panels around, that is..."

"Yes. Indeed, I do think that was nothing short of terrific, dear boy," Bobbery confessed. "I believe that it'll provide more aid to you to get through these perilous grottos. Truly that curse is the cat's meow. The bee's knees, even. Surely, we should make good use of that curse, eh old boy?"

"Yes, guys. I enjoyed it too. And it will help us with transversing through the Pirate Grotto," Andrew then pointed up. "Now, let's go back up. Something tells me that we'll need to do some backtracking. Let's go."

All six of them nodded in agreement as they followed Andrew back up the steps and back onto the rocky pathway. They then went back to the direction they came from...

---

Then just as Andrew had feared, the seven travelers had to backtrack quite a bit around the Pirate's Grotto. Using the Boat Mode to his advantage, Andrew sailed behind a waterfall that was flowing a river to the north of the stairs.

To the right of the river source was a brown treasure chest, and in it was a badge. Specifically, it was a Defend Plus P badge, which worked similarly to the Attack Plus P badge that he had gotten previously.

Hmmm...I think this badge will prove to be important later on... Andrew thought as he put the badge in his badge kit.

He then put it back into his backpack before he went back into Boat Mode with his six friends holding onto him before he turned into a paper boat.

Sailing around in the salty water in Boat Mode, Andrew and his friends did some more backtracking that brought them back to the room where the first spike trap was located; the one that Vivian helped them navigate through.

Andrew ended up turning back to normal on a nearby Boat Panel, where he ended up on that floating sunken ship that he couldn't get to earlier. He then grabbed the Gate Handle and examined it carefully.

"Huh," Andrew blinked. "I wonder what this handle goes to..."

"Hey Andrew," Goombella then advised him. "I think maybe that handle goes to the switch of the sluice gate that opens it up. Maybe we oughta go back and see if it goes there, don'tcha think?"

"Great idea, Goombella," Andrew then pointed forward. "Let's head there and see if this Gate Handle fits!"

And with that, the seven travelers did some more backtracking to where that sluice gate was located. Once they made it by the gap with Yoshiam's assistance, Andrew approached the turn switch and took the Gate Handle out from his pocket.

"Hmmm...I wonder if it'll fit," Andrew wondered as he looked at the 'x' shaped hole where it supposedly was. "Well, only one way to find out."

From there, Andrew then pushed the Gate Handle into the hole. Once it was in there tight enough, he started turning it a little. What ended up happening was that the sluice gate was lifted, causing the barrel and glass bottle that was in front of it to float onward past the gate.

Andrew and his six friends were rather intrigued by this, as they felt that going through ala Boat Mode would lead them closer to the pirate treasure, where the Crystal Star was.

Before they could say anything, they then heard that ghostly moan coming from nowhere again.

"...OoOoOoOoOooOooOoOoOoOoOoO... ...oOoOoOoOooOooOoOoOoOoO..." That voice was as ominous as after, which caught their attention.

"Guys? Did you hear that?" Andrew asked them.

"Yes," Goombella winced. "There's that 'totally' spooky voice again... Those ghosts must be nearby..."

"Yikes! That scary voice again..." Koops couldn't help but shiver at this. "I bet those ghosts are n-n-n-nearby..."

"Oh, mercy... That awful voice is caterwauling again..." Flurrie had to admit with a gulp. "Those ghosts must be near..."

"Whoa, that freaky voice is making noise again..." Yoshiam flinched as he frowned. "The ghosts must be nearby..."

"There's that voice again..." Vivian crossed her arms nervously. "The ghosts must be near us somewhere..."

"By Chowderton's cheeks! That dreadful voice again..." Bobbery had to declare. "Those ghosts must be near..."

"There's no doubt about it. We must be getting closer to the pirate king," Andrew proclaimed. "And I bet it must be beyond that gate we opened up. If we sail on the water via Boat Mode, we might be able to find the ship of the pirate king himself. Let's go check it out."

Giving him a collective nod, the seven travelers went back up to the top of the waterfall and Andrew went into Boat Mode with his six friends hanging onto him. Going down the waterfall, Andrew was able to get past the open gate, as it led him into a familiar area.

Andrew managed to sail past the three barrels and the sunken ship that they had to jump over earlier to get to the fourth Black Chest. With that, Andrew continued floating forward with his friends being ferried on him, as he sailed through a hole that led to the area with the second spike traps that they had to get through via Tube Mode.

Of course, getting by the next area was easier said than done. The waves that were heading in Andrew's direction had attempted to cream right into him and plow through him. Trying his best to navigate, Andrew had to time out how to avoid which waves were heading right for him. Needless to say, Andrew was getting rather anxious by the end of it.

---

"Finally!" Andrew yelled in the paper boat as they made their way into the next room after avoiding those waves. "We made it! Those waves were a complete nightmare to navigate around!"

"Tell me about it, Andrew," Goombella agreed. "Those waves are 'totally' gnarly! They could've left us shipwrecked in the form of paper too. Glad that didn't happen though."

"Ummm... [Gee] whiz... Yeah," Koops had agreed. "Man... That was nuts..."

"Dearie me, I do believe there was some unnecessary drama in that little scenario," Flurrie admitted. "But it's all behind us. And we shall press forward and hope to find that Crystal Star too!"

"I feel ya, Presto!" Yoshiam bellowed. "Those waves looked like they could've wiped out us and left us drowning! That would've been uncool for all of us!"

"Well, Andrew, let's be glad that we made it," Vivian had to reassure him. "Sure, that wasn't fun to deal with. But at least we can put them behind us now."

"I have to concur, I've never experienced waves that are as treacherous on any of the ships that I have sailed on," Bobbery voiced himself. "But of course, well played, dear boy. We managed to succeed in navigating through them. And now we can put them behind us."

"Yeah. Now it looks like we are in a massive cave," Andrew had commented while still in Boat Mode. "I wonder if we're gonna find something soon..."

Then to answer his plea, he heard someone speaking in the distance.

"Hey! Something's coming! There! Floating on the water!" That voice was coming from a nearby boat that's been shipwrecked in the Pirate's Grotto.

It was revealed to be a bunch of stranded Toads, all wearing yellow overalls and having yellow spots on their caps. They were also covered in dirt marks, indicating that they got dirty upon being shipwrecked on the island.

One of the Toads had seen that Andrew had taken the form of a boat, and he then called out to him.

"Is that a... Is that a boat?" That Toad wondered before pleading. "HEY! OVER HEEEEEEEEERE! SAVE US, PLEASE!"

"Huh? I wonder who that could be," Andrew was curious. "Sounds like it's coming from nearby."

With that, Andrew floated over to where the voice was coming from. He got his answer as he saw a whole bunch of stranded Toads on the boat, even though he was still in Boat Mode.

Seeing that the best thing to do was to save them and get them to the larger land ahead, Andrew went over to the Boat Panel and then returned to normal while standing on it, with his six friends letting go of him.

"Guys? I think maybe we should save those stranded Toads and get them to that land over there," Andrew suggested, pointing to the land that was to the right. "It might be the right thing for us to do."

"My, my, my! I shan't agree with you more, Andrew my darling man! We must save them!" Flurrie said in a joyful tone before asking in confusion. "But how can we save them? I don't suppose we could carry all of them while in Boat Mode. That would be unfortunate for all of us, dearie."

"No kidding, Flurrie," Andrew shivered in agreement. "I couldn't be able to carry all of them while in Boat Mode. We'll have to find another way."

"Ahem. Pardon me for intervening, but perhaps I could provide a suggestion to our dilemma," Bobbery decided to share with him. "Upon arriving in this massive cave some time ago, while we were still in that paper boat, I happened to have taken notice of two blue switches that were surprisingly in the background. Along with that pirate ship that's rocking back and forth in the water."

Bobbery then cleared his throat before adding. "I do believe that that would be our best course of action to rescue those stranded Toads. Provided that we can hit the switches first, if you may."

"Say wuh?" Andrew then looked in the background and saw that pirate ship, those two blue switches, and several pipes that they'd have to go through to reach the switches in the background. "Hey! You're right! That does look like something that we should explore!"

"And it looks like we'll have to use Paper Airplane Mode to get to those two pipes in the distance Andrew," Goombella pointed to how they were on high platforms surrounded by water, and then to the paper airplane panel. "Might be a good idea to get started, don'tcha think?"

"Of course," Andrew jumped onto the pipe that was in front of the boat panel. "Let's get going."

All six of them joined Andrew on the pipe as they all went down and came out of the pipe that was in the background. From there, they jumped on the pirate ship and timed it out perfectly as to when to jump onto the ground ahead over the water.

With any amount of luck, the seven of them made it to the ground. After jumping over two small gaps, the seven travelers climbed up a rocky mountain where a green pipe was resting. Getting on top of it, they went down through it, as they came out of the pipe that was close to the Paper Airplane Panel.

After popping out of it, the seven travelers jumped up onto the Paper Airplane Panel, where it started glowing. After Andrew suggested that his friends hang onto him as they did on the Boat Panel, he went into Paper Airplane Mode, where he started soaring in the air until he landed on the one pipe closest to where he was on that high platform surrounded by water.

Once he hit it, Andrew returned to normal as his friends let go of him. Andrew wiped his forehead, seeing how long it's been since he's had to do that.

"Wow. It's been a long time since I had to go into Paper Airplane Mode," Andrew admitted as he stood on the pipe. "Now, let's use this pipe to get to that switch."

From there, Andrew and his six friends went through that pipe, which led them out to the pipe in the background, near one of the blue switches. Without hesitation, Andrew slammed on the switch with his bat, activating it as it disappeared.

This caused two barrels to surface up in between the boat that the Toads were stranded on and the boat panel. Andrew had to smile at this, seeing that he was making progress. And that those Toads would be out of there in no time.

Seeing that they had to hit the other switch, the seven travelers made their way down and headed back through the pipe that led right to the pipe where the paper airplane panel was located. They went right through it, popping out of the pipe that was close to the panel.

Then they did the same thing that they'd done before, by climbing up and standing on the paper airplane panel that started glowing. After his friends hung onto him, Andrew went into Paper Airplane Mode, in which he soared through the air until he landed on the second pipe on the high platform surrounded by water.

As soon as they landed, they returned to normal before going down the pipe. Coming out of the pipe that was in the background that was close to the other blue switch that needed to be hit, Andrew jumped off and then took out his bat again. He then hit that blue switch, activating it as it disappeared.

This caused two more barrels to surface in between the boat panel and the higher rocky path that they needed to get to. Andrew has officially provided them with a way to get off of the stranded ship, as one of the stranded Toads took notice of this.

"Hey! We can cross over now!" One of the stranded Toads pointed out in excitement.

"Hey! Hey! What are we waiting for?" Another stranded Toad decided that they should take advantage of this. "Let's go!"

And with that, all of the stranded Toads made their way off the boat, jumping off of the barrels in front of them before getting onto the boat panel, jumping through the other two barrels before they could make it back to dry land.

As more Toads were getting off the boat and making their way to safety, it was revealed that two more people were amongst them, and they weren't even Toads. They were two Piantas that were 'awfully' familiar. Yes. They happened to be Francesca and Frankie as they joined the stranded Toads in getting back to the higher dry land ahead of them.

---

As soon as they were all off the shipwrecked boat, Andrew decided to make his way back, along with Goombella, Koops, Flurrie, Yoshiam, Vivian, and Bobbery.

They navigated their way around the area until they made it back to that Boat Panel, where they then jumped over the two barrels in front of them. Well, all of them except for Flurrie and Vivian, who simply floated over them.

As soon as all seven of them reached the land where all those stranded Toads were, along with Francesca and Frankie, Andrew got a good look at the Toads. They didn't know who he was, but they seemed grateful for the rescue that he provided for them.

"I don't know how you did it, but you saved us!" One of the stranded Toads had to admit.

"Ah, well, it was nothing, really," Andrew rubbed the back of his neck modestly. "It's all amounted to some good navigation is all. In any case, how did you guys get in here?"

"We came here looking for that pirate treasure, and then, well..." Another stranded Toad had to explain. "Our ship got surrounded by ghosts out on the ocean... And we all ended up here!"

"Well, that's kinda what happened to my friends and me here," Andrew pointed out sheepishly. "Except we ended up on the outside part of the island. And several others are waiting for us outside."

It was then Francesca got a good look at Andrew from a distance and she instantly recognized him. She knew that he had done her father a favor by getting her and her newly wedded husband back to his office when he needed a ticket for the blimp in Rogueport to get to Glitzville. With that fresh on her mind, she decided to get his attention.

"Hey! Aren't you Andrew?!" Francesca scurried through the crowd to face Andrew along with Frankie. "It's me! Me! Don Pianta's daughter! Francesca! And Frankie's here, too!"

"Oh yes. I remember you two," Andrew had recalled meeting them quite a while ago. "And uh, what brings you two here? How did you get here?"

"After my dad forgave us, we set out on a trip..." Francesca had to explain. "The ship we were on got a little too close to this island...and now look at us!"

"Yeah. I guess it's a small world that this happened to all of us," Andrew admitted awkwardly.

"Still, I'm amazed the rumors about Cortez were all true!" Francesca continued. "...Which means... he's nearby!"

"I think it's been proven to everyone here on Keelhaul Key, what with all the Embers that were roaming around the island," Andrew said.

And that means Cortez's ship is nearby, along with the Sapphire Star that we need to claim... Andrew thought as he kept that to himself.

"Hey, so, by the way... Why are YOU here?" Francesca had to ask before hoping that he wasn't here for the reason she was dreading. "Don't tell me Daddy had you come here to take us back!"

"Uh no. That's not our intention for being here this time," Andrew shook his head before he explained. "We're here looking for the pirate's treasure because we're looking for a Crystal Star that's rumored to be in his treasure hoard."

"Well, I think the treasure is right in there, watched by Cortez's spirit..." Francesca pointed to the walkway ahead of them. "Yeah... I'm sure you'll be able to take care of him, though! You look tough!"

"Yeah. Well, I have worked out a lot, so that's why I look strong," Andrew said out of flattery while rubbing the back of his neck. "And I've dealt with worse. So Cortez shouldn't be any tougher than what I faced previously."

"I see," Francesca then decided to add. "Besides, Cortez is the one that trapped us on that raft, so smack him one for me!"

"I'll be glad to," Andrew nodded as he jumped up and started walking for the opening leading to the area where Cortez's ship was located. "We should be back soon."

"Uh, a thousand pardons for just a moment, dear boy," Bobbery decided to ask. "Did I hear that lass correctly, or did she say that she happens to be the daughter of Don Pianta? As in, the head of the Pianta Syndicate mafia that runs the West Side of Rogueport, according to all the rumors and hoo-haw that I've heard of, eh?"

"Yes, Bobbery. Don Pianta is the head of the Pianta Syndicate mafia that runs the west side of Rogueport. I had to deal with him once to get a Blimp Ticket to get to Glitzville," Andrew then wondered. "You've heard of him, haven't you?"

"Aye. Only from the rumors. Brrrr... Pretty bold of you to negotiate with someone such as that Don Pianta person," Bobbery had to admit. "From all that I've heard, Don Pianta is not to be taken likely in the slightest. And his demeanor and attitude are oftentimes most unbecoming to anyone who DARES to set foot in the West Side of Rogueport. Particularly those who want to reach them, if you will. He's 'definitely' the kind of ruffian that most folks wouldn't want to associate with. That much I can say."

"Yeah. I've heard about Don Pianta too, Andrew," Vivian spoke up. "And they aren't good. I'm just surprised that you weren't killed when negotiating with a fearless man such as him. And I'm glad that he didn't extort you either."

"I get it you two. But I've already got done with it, and that's behind us now," Andrew exclaimed. "I don't think that we'll be dealing with him anytime soon..."

However, something tells me that we'll have to deal with Don Pianta one more time before I can collect all seven Crystal Stars. Andrew thought before he shook his head and decided to get back on topic.

"Anyway, from what we were told, Cortez's ship should be straight ahead of us," Andrew pointed to the pathway up ahead. "Now, what do you guys say we check out Cortez's ship for ourselves, huh?"

"I'm 'totally' with you on that, Andrew!" Goombella beamed. "Let's show this Cortez that we're a fearless team!"

"All 'righty', Andrew," Koops nodded while putting on a brave face. "Man, can't believe we're gonna face a ghostly pirate king. Still, I'll be willing to help you out too."

"I would be delighted to do so, darling," Flurrie proclaimed proudly. "I do believe it's finally time for us to show this Cortez cad that we aren't to be taken likely, and that we SHALL prevail forward to get that precious Crystal Star! Come along, now."

"Aw yeah! Now we're talking, Presto! Finally, some action!" Yoshiam cheered as he was raring to fight as well. "Let's go see this Cortez, kick his butt, and claim that Crystal Star for ourselves!"

"All right, Andrew. I'm more than ready to help you out," Vivian said while smiling. "Let's go take care of this Cortez ghost and teach him a lesson or two for stranding us on this island!"

"Capital thinking, old boy! I couldn't have said any better myself," Bobbery also seemed ready for this. "We can show this Cortez the old one-two, and have at it with the lout while we can, eh?"

"That's the fighting spirit, guys," Andrew gave them a thumbs up. "Let's get going!"

And so Andrew headed down the pathway, with Goombella, Koops, Flurrie, Yoshiam, Vivian, and Bobbery following right behind him as the ship that Cortez resides in was just straight ahead.

They could only wonder what would be in store for them once they faced the pirate king for themselves. 'Needless to say', they were gonna be in for the biggest surprise of a lifetime once they engaged in a fight with Cortez. That was for certain...

---

END OF CHAPTER 50...

Whew. I did expect this chapter to be long, but not this long. It took me a while to write this chapter out, especially with all the tedious backtracking that was done. Still, I did the best that I could with writing it, and I hope you all enjoyed it too.

Now, for the Attack FX B badge that Andrew claimed here, even though it's not found there in the game. There's a reason for why I did this, and it involves Ms. Mowz. In the game, the badge can only be claimed upon taking Ms. Mowz's trouble which is required to gain her as a party member.

The thing is, I plan on Andrew obtaining Ms. Mowz differently in this story during Chapter 6. And how he meets her again will integrate well with the plot of Chapter 6 and all the badges he's been collecting will earn him the greatest respect from the badge thief herself. But anyway, that's for later. Right now, I need to finish up Chapter 5.

So anyway, the next chapter will be when we reach the climax of Chapter 5 or start to. In that chapter, Andrew and his six friends make it to the Black Ship and encounter Cortez himself, after they encounter Four Eyes outside the ship, who caught up with them for reasons involving wanting to put his plan into action once Andrew claims the Sapphire Star.

The only other thing that'll be shown is the battle against Cortez, which I look forward to writing out, and even though it'll be pointless, it'll remain awesome. And then Andrew tries a more rational approach with negotiating with Cortez before leaving his ship with something in his possession, and some other stuff will occur too. How will this go for them? Find out next time, readers.

For now, only if you want, you can review this chapter and let me know what you think of it.

Aside from that, I have nothing else to say. So until next time, I hope you look forward to Chapter 5 wrapping up. And on that note, thanks again for reading, everyone!