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.

57. A Threat, a Mouse and a Detective?

All right, readers. This is the 57th chapter of this story!

Now, this is where we officially begin Chapter 6. I've been looking forward to writing this part of the story out, and I will try not to disappoint. I will make things as interesting as I can.

Anyway, for this chapter, Andrew and his six friends end up getting comfy in their cabin when they find a threat on a paper lying around in their room, which gets them to alert the conductor about it.

This results in them having to solve a couple of train mysteries that take place on the train, they meet some of the other people on the train, including a Bumpty who claims to be a detective.

Additionally, they will meet a few familiar faces on the Excess Express, such as the Bob-omb family, Toodles that fancy Toad woman, and a certain white Little Mouser who returns as having gotten on the train, meeting Andrew for the first time in a while.

Other stuff that'll take place include Andrew claiming responsibility for Ms. Mowz on the train, some depth shall be given to a couple of Andrew's friends like another movie Flurrie starred in, and something about Bobbery that'll be interesting, and some other stuff will occur.

How will this go for them? Read and find out, now!

---

IN ANDREW'S ROOM - ON THE EXCESS EXPRESS:

It took no time at all for Andrew and his six friends to get comfortable in the cabin room that they were given while riding on the Excess Express. They were currently in Cabin #005, which looked cozy and luxurious.

The room was red, as there were plenty of fancy things in the room. There was a large window that allowed the group to get a good view of what was passing by them, with a red curtain shown to the left side.

There was a couch that had two fancy threaded clothes on the head of it. There was a bunk bed to the left with some curtains on both sides and a yellow ladder for those who wanted to sleep in the top bunch.

There was also a fancy lamp with pearls dangling in front of it with pink shades that were to the right side of the window. A desk was shown in the lower left corner with a fancy lamp with a pink lampshade on it.

Then there was a drawer that was next to the bed with fancy red and yellow colored flowers in a blue vase resting atop it. 'Needless to say', the seven of them chose quite the fancy train to take a trip on while heading to Poshley Heights.

"Well guys, you know what this means," Andrew stretched as he sat down on the couch. "This is what they call the good life."

"Tell me about it. This is the Excess Express!" Goombella beamed in agreement as she joined Andrew on the couch. "This is soooo 'totally' luxurious! Omigosh, I'm so PSYCHED!"

"Yeah! This is pretty darn nice!" Koops stretched his arms as he looked out the window. "We could make the most of this trip, for sure!"

"This is rather magnificent!" Flurrie beamed joyously as she floated over to Andrew. "I could get used to this!"

"This is so deluxe, man!" Yoshiam bounced up and down as he jumped up to look out the window. "The three days to Poshley Heights are gonna be over like THAT!"

"I can't argue with that," Andrew agreed. "I think we can all get used to this."

Vivian was nodding before she looked towards the floor and saw a scrap piece of paper lying around.

"Huh?" Vivian scratched her head in confusion. "Andrew, 'something is lying' on the floor, I think."

"Hmm?" Andrew got up and looked at the scrapped piece of paper for himself. "What do you know? Was that piece of paper always there?"

"Well, I'll be bombed!" Bobbery was also confused by this. "What's that on the floor? And when did it get there?"

"Well, we might as well check it out," Andrew got off the couch along with Goombella as he walked over to pick it up. "OK. There's something written on the paper..."

This got his six friends curious as they looked at what it said along with Andrew. This is what was written in its entirety.

"Don't go to Poshley Heights! Get off the train now, or a sticky, yummy doom awaits it!"

"WHAT THE...?!" Andrew jumped and yelled as did his six friends.

"Ummm... That's an odd threat," Koops scratched the back of his head.

"Mercy me!" Flurrie had to agree. "A threat...a very odd one!"

"Whoa! What a freaky threat!" Yoshiam howled before wondering. "You don't think this could be Beldam's work, do you?"

"Seriously, Beldam?" Andrew sneered at no one. "You're resorting to threatening us NOW?!"

"Yeah. I wouldn't be surprised," Vivian frowned at that. "My sister IS a weird one..."

"I can't argue with you there, Vivian," Andrew agreed.

"Well, one way or another, the note's appearance means the culprit's on the train!" Goombella had to declare. "Ooh, I HATE threats!"

"I don't think any of us like threats," Andrew frowned.

"Let's roust this swine before he or she has the chance to cause mischief!" Bobbery had to declare.

"Good idea, Bobbery," Andrew nodded. "We better take a look around and alert the conductor about this and...hmm?"

It was then Andrew found something under the desk where that lamp was. It was a clear yellow block with a Shine Sprite in it.

"Huh? Another Shine Sprite," Andrew blinked at it. "How come I never noticed it there before?"

"Jeepers! It seems so 'totally' lucky for that to have been here this whole time," Goombella agreed as Andrew went over to it and smacked it with his Super Bat.

"Yeah. We sure are," Andrew then claimed the Shine Sprite and put it with the other ones in his backpack. "So I guess I have 12 Shine Sprites again."

"Sure seems like it to me," Koops sighed as he put his hands into his sweatshirt pockets. "Man... Hope we can find out who sent us that threat..."

"If ya ask me, it was probably Beldam," Goombella huffed. "She's trying to intimidate us to make sure we don't get the Crystal Star first."

"Either that or it's someone that she recruited to dispose of us," Andrew proclaimed. "Whoever it might be, we should be on guard and remain on our toes."

"Why, that is an 'absolutely' splendid idea, darling," Flurrie agreed. "Now, I do believe that we shall be leaving our room and exploring the train to see who might've written that threat to the likes of us!"

"Exactly," Andrew nodded as he walked over to the door and opened it up. "Let's get going."

And with that, Andrew left the room, with Goombella, Koops, Flurrie, Yoshiam, Vivian, and Bobbery trailing close behind him. They were all pretty concerned about the sticky yummy threat that they had received. And they hoped to find out more about it soon.

As they were walking through the passenger car that was as fancy outside as it was in their room, Vivian felt the need to say something to Andrew. And it involved her sister Beldam, and how much she appreciates how he's been here for her.

"Hey, Andrew?" Vivian tapped him on the shoulder. "There's something that I'd like to say to you."

"Yeah? What's up, Vivian?" Andrew decided to ask her.

"Listen, I just want to thank you," she then went into further details about it. "For being here for me. And for making sure my sister doesn't do anything bad to me. You don't know how much this means to me. I 'really' appreciate it."

"Aw, it was nothing," Andrew patted her. "As I had said, I would make sure that I'd protect you from her, and that I wouldn't allow her to ever hurt you again. And I'm keeping to my word."

"I know," Vivian smiled. "And for that, I am thankful."

"I can already tell," Andrew smiled back. "Now come on. We better check the room beyond this door!"

Vivian only nodded as she followed Andrew out the door to the left along with the rest of the group.

---

They were now in a dining car, which had a couple of tables that were neatly arranged for anyone planning to eat on the Excess Express.

Additionally, there was a kitchen which was called the galley, and there was a souvenir shop too, called the Sales Stall. Andrew was staring off in amusement at everything that he was seeing.

"Wow. Talk about a fancy setup," Andrew mused while rubbing his chin. "This must be where we can eat our meals during the day."

"Aw yeah! Now we're talking!" Yoshiam beamed in excitement. "I can't wait for us to have our meals here! It's gonna ROCK, Presto!"

"I'm pretty sure it is," Andrew smirked and shook his head.

"No kidding," Goombella felt like adding. "There also seems to be a cute little shop here."

"Yeah," Andrew took notice of it. "How nice. We can stop there and shop for supplies during the day."

"I 'totally' agree," Goombella smiled. "Dining and shopping while watching the scenery go by... Talk about heavenly..."

"I must say, I have to concur with that," Bobbery agreed. "With such a fine and luxurious trip like this, I think it's safe to say that taking a train ride through the region is as smashing and amazing as sailing across the seven seas, if I may add."

"Yeah," Vivian agreed with a smile. "This is very lovely."

"Hey, ummm... Andrew?" Koops then saw someone in the galley cooking some grub. "You have any idea as to who that could be?"

Andrew then looked and saw who it was. It was a Cheep Cheep of some kind who was dull brown, had his eyes closed, and was wearing a light green chef's hat on his head. It didn't take a genius to know who he was supposed to be.

"Well, that must be the cook," Andrew answered. "And he's probably cooking something for dinner."

"Why, I do believe you're right, Andrew!" Flurrie agreed with him. "He must be the one who'll be cooking our meals during the three days that we're on this train if I'm not mistaken."

"Hey, Presto?" Yoshiam came up with a suggestion. "Think it might be a good idea to talk to him to see if he might know anything about the threat? After all, it mentioned it to be sticky and yummy."

"Well, it wouldn't hurt to try," Andrew shrugged. "I guess we can go with it."

And so Andrew walked over to the chef along with his six friends to see if he might know anything without causing a stir on the train.

"Excuse me, sir?" Andrew started to ask him. "But would you happen to be the cook on this train?"

"Hmmm?" The chef turned around before looking at Andrew straight in the eyes. "Oh! HELLO! I am Chef Shimi, the culinary expert! Glad to make your complaintance!"

"Uh, do you happen to mean acquaintance, Chef Shimi?" Andrew raised an eyebrow.

"Right... I meant acquaintance... So sorry!" Chef Shimi corrected himself. "Cheep-Cheep is my first language, you know."

"I can see that," Andrew nodded in understanding. "And I guess it makes sense."

"Today's lunch is so amazing it will make your tongue cry out in shame!" Chef Shimi declared to him. "Please do taste it, so that my passion does not wither alone in a pot of loneliness."

"We'll be sure to do so later," Andrew tugged on his handkerchief.

"All right! We can hardly wait for lunch!" Yoshiam declared with a cheer.

"Yeah. Please forgive my friend Yoshiam," Andrew commented. "He's just really big when it comes to eating, especially fruit. He's a Yoshi after all."

"I see. That is perfectly all light with me... Errr, I mean all right. My apologies again," Chef Shimi told him. "After all, it is such a pleasure to have people enjoy my impressive delicacies."

"Great. Well, we better be going," Andrew told him. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Chef Shimi."

"Yes. Be sure to stop by later for lunch!" Chef Shimi called out as they walked away from him.

"We will!" Andrew called out before saying to his friends in a softer voice. "He didn't do it. I'm pretty sure it wasn't him. He seems so dedicated to cooking the foods here, that he doesn't seem to have time to write threats to us."

"I'll admit, the way he talks and uses wrong words could 'totally' use some improvement in that department," Goombella exclaimed. "But other than that, he seems harmless."

"Yeah," Andrew then pointed to the door that was to the left. "Let's continue exploring the train some more."

They all nodded as they went through the door, which led them into another passenger car. This one was blue and brown instead of being red and brown.

"Wow. This one looks impressive too," Andrew said.

"You bet! The blue and brown interior here is 'totally' chic," Goombella exclaimed. "The passenger cabins here are numbered 6, 7, and 8. If it wasn't obvious already."

"I think anyone would've noticed that," Andrew tugged on his handkerchief.

"Gosh..." Koops had to admit. "Sure seems like the people who ride on this train know how to live."

"There's no doubt about that, given how the people here are rich and wealthy," Andrew said as he stopped when he was right in front of the door that led into cabin #008. "Hey, this room seems interesting. Why don't we check this one out."

"A sharp eye you got there, old boy," Bobbery nodded. "There's bound to be someone in there who could 'possibly' be the bloke who dared to threaten us."

"Exactly," Andrew nodded as he approached the door. "Let's check it out."

The seven of them entered the room and saw that the layout looked exactly like theirs, but it was in a completely different color. The group of people who were occupying this room was a family that Andrew recognized. It was the Bob-omb family that he met in Glitzville; consisting of Goldbob, Sylvia, and Bub.

Andrew was rather surprised to be able to see them again on the Excess Express, as he was not expecting to see them. Flurrie was also quite perplexed by their sudden appearance on the train, as she felt the need to point it out to Andrew.

"Hey sweetums," Flurrie started. "Pardon me for saying this, but wouldn't this happen to be that Bob-omb family that we saw before?"

"Yeah. I'm pretty sure they are," Andrew nodded as he then approached Goldbob. "Uh, hello?"

"Oh, you are the champion of the Glitz Pit, are you not?" Goldbob was quick to recognize him. "Yes, the Prevailing Presto!"

"Yes. That would be me, the former champ of the Glitz Pit," Andrew said with a casual smile. "Good to see you again, Mr. Goldbob."

"Yes, and it is a pleasure to see you again as well," Goldbob returned the greeting. "So tell me, what brings you onto a ride on a train such as this?"

"Well, my friends and I are en route to Poshley Heights," Andrew exclaimed. "Since we're looking for the Poshley Sanctum that is located there."

"Ah, I see," Goldbob proclaimed. "Well, it is certainly a fitting place for a celebrity like you!"

"Aw, come on now," Andrew said modestly. "I'm not exactly a celebrity. I was just able to get a ticket for the train and I happen to be the former champion of the Glitz Pit."

"Well, either way, it is a pleasure to meet you again, Mr. Presto," Sylvia exclaimed. "We're heading to Poshley Heights too, just so we can buy a birthday present for little Bub, here."

"That's right. I'm real happy to see you again, Mister," Bub exclaimed.

"Same here," Andrew agreed with a smile. "Happy to know that you guys are riding on the same train as my friends and I are doing."

"Yeah," Vivian uttered shyly. "I'm glad to meet you in person like this..."

Bobbery, meanwhile, was staring at Goldbob for several moments as he observed him. He somehow recognized him and widened his yellow eyes.

"Uh, a thousand pardons for a second," Bobbery approached Goldbob. "But I must query; Goldbob? Would that be you, old boy?"

This caught Goldbob's attention as he looked at Bobbery too. Seconds later, he was able to recognize him on the spot.

"Admiral Bobbery?" Goldbob blinked. "Is that you, you old coot?"

"Who're you calling an old coot?" Bobbery joked. "I knew that I'd recognize you from anywhere."

"Likewise," Goldbob agreed. "It is great to see you again, old friend."

"Old friend?" Andrew blinked at this. "OK. What's this about? How do you two know each other?"

"Yeah," Goombella agreed. "I'm 'totally' wondering the same thing right now."

"Well folks, if you must know, Goldbob here and I go a long way back," Bobbery explained to them. "If you are simply curious, we've been friends since way back during our service days."

"Service days? You mean the military?" Andrew questioned. "Like the army, navy, marines, and air force? That kind of stuff?"

"Aye. That is correct old boy," Bobbery confirmed. "Goldbob and I would always spend our off hours at the pub, chatting like gents and drinking enough Chuckola Cola to our heart's content."

"Yeah. Those sure were the days, weren't they Bobbery," Goldbob agreed as he nudged him in a friendship manner.

"Wow," Koops blinked. "Sure sounds like a nice experience..."

"It was," Goldbob nodded. "For the longest time, I was in the army working with the creation of cannons. After having found the Goldbobbingtons, and becoming rich, well, I was wealthy enough to not have to be in the army. 'In fact', a lot of the funding and materials used in the army were supplied by Goldbobbington's, along with many other services."

The army, huh? Andrew thought. I don't need an expert to tell me that Bobbery was in the Navy if his love for sailing the sea is any indication...

"Yeah. Goldbob and I here may've acted like a couple of blokes, but we most certainly were the best of chums," Bobbery exclaimed.

"Likewise," Goldbob then had to ask. "Anyhow Bobbery, what brings you out here? Whatever may the reason be that you're accompanying Presto here?"

"Well old boy, I happen to be aiding him here on an errand," Bobbery exclaimed. "And it's one errand that I am giving it my all to help him with. So far, it's been a privilege aiding him since we traveled to Keelhaul Key together."

"Ah. I see," Goldbob was satisfied with that. "You sure are lucky. Presto here is a great fighter and is not one to be taken lightly."

"Indeed. The old chap is somewhat of a professional there, eh?" Bobbery exclaimed. "And I've been honored to travel along with him."

"That's quite remarkable," Goldbob then said. "In any case, it's a pleasure to meet you again Presto. And you too Bobbery. Feel free to come into our room anytime you need something."

"We'll be sure to do that," Andrew said as he headed to the door. "We will be seeing you. Nice to see you again, Goldbob. And you too, Sylvia and Bub. We'll be around on the train. See ya!"

"Right. We'll be seeing you, Presto," Goldbob told him as he gave his farewell along with Sylvia and Bub.

As soon as they left the room, they were pretty satisfied with who they had encountered in there. It was evident by the looks on most of their faces, save for Vivian, who didn't seem to know who Goldbob was.

"Well! I must say that that was a rather astounding surprise!" Flurrie admitted with a satisfied huff. "I certainly wasn't expecting to see that Bob-omb family out here on a train such as this one. How remarkable."

"Yeah," Yoshiam agreed with a smile. "It's wicked cool to see them again after Presto left the Glitz Pit!"

"But what surprised me was that Bobbery here happens to know Goldbob," Vivian pointed out. "Back during their service days, no less."

"Yeah. I was kinda curious about that too," Goombella agreed. "Jeepers. I didn't know you two go back a long way, Bobbery."

"Ummm... That's amazing!" Koops nodded. "Didn't expect something like that!"

"Well, if you all must know, I didn't anticipate you folks to know either," Bobbery admitted before sharing. "Still, it sure is smashing to see him again after all this time. And to see that he and his wife are most certainly a charming couple. To say nothing of the fact that they have a healthy young son residing with them. If I must say, Goldbob and Sylvia had been married sometime after I was wedded to my lovely Scarlette. I'm most certainly happy that he's made it big with himself."

"That is pretty nice, Bobbery," Andrew smiled. "And you are doing something that you wanted to do too. Accompany me and my friends to get the last of the Crystal Stars while exploring the region outside of the sea."

"Ah, indeed," Bobbery agreed. "And I shall not regret the decision either."

"That's great to hear," Andrew nodded. "Now that that's all set, maybe we should try to find the conductor and alert him about the threat that I had received in my room."

"Good call there, Andrew. The conductor takes care of passengers' needs," Goombella exclaimed. "If anyone can look out for this culprit, it's gotta be him!"

"Right," Andrew then started looking around. "Now where could he be?"

"Hey, uh, Andrew? Look over there," Koops pointed towards the Toad in front of the door leading to the freight car. "Ummm... Could that be him?"

"You know something, Koops? I think your right," Andrew nodded. "That's gotta be him."

The conductor looked 'exactly' the same as the train owner who let them onto the train in the first place. The only difference was that his spots, shirt, and rims of his gloves were red instead of blue. Convinced that he was the conductor, Andrew approached him and got his attention.

"Hello, sir," Andrew greeted him.

"Hello to you, and welcome to the Excess Express!" The Conductor greeted back. "I am the conductor of this train. And I trust you must be... Mr. Andrew, from room 5?"

"That's right," Andrew nodded.

"Make yourself at home, sir." The Conductor suggested.

"We will. But first, we need to tell you something," Andrew then got to the point. "My friends and I had just received a sticky yummy threat that was written on a paper in our room. I think someone is threatening to kill us or something."

"I-I see! Good gracious me!" The Conductor stuttered in fear upon hearing that. "If I hear anything else, I will let you know immediately!"

"Very good. Thanks for that," Andrew nodded before looking at his friends. "Come on, guys. We better head back to our room."

And with that, Andrew walked away from the conductor, with his Goomba, Koopa, Wind Spirit, Yoshi, Shadow Siren, and Bob-omb friends following right behind him.

---

"OK, guys, here's the plan," Andrew started. "Once we head to our room, we are to remain on guard for anything suspicious and make sure no one pulls forth that horrible act on us. And if we do somehow happen to stumble upon this scumbag who was responsible for the note, then we'll have to drag him over and-oomph!"

Andrew was unable to finish that sentence as he nearly tripped over someone who was in front of him. Just the thought of almost tripping over someone on this train was enough to get him to react with guilt. And from the sound of the squeak he heard, it was a female that he almost tripped up.

"Oh, my! I'm so sorry ma'am," Andrew started to apologize, not looking at the person in the eyes at first. "I didn't see you, so I wasn't looking where I was going..."

"Hmmmm... It's quite alright, dear," a feminine voice that sounded familiar said. "After all, I was looking for something when I didn't see..."

The voice trailed off as the woman saw Andrew for herself. As soon as he noticed this, Andrew looked down to see who he nearly tripped up.

The white color and red high heels and mask were a dead ringer. It was a Little Mouser that Andrew hadn't seen in quite a long time. It was none other, than Ms. Mowz, in the flesh.

Once Ms. Mowz saw Andrew for herself, she started speaking with a more seductive town with a sly grin on her face.

"Oh! Mmmm hmmm hmmm hmmm... Hello there, Mr. Cutie," Ms. Mowz told him. "It's been quite a while, hasn't it sweetie?"

"It sure has been. Long time no see, Ms. Mowz," Andrew had to say with a smirk. "Good to see you again."

"Mmmm hmmm, the feeling's mutual, my handsome muscular cheese hunk," Ms. Mowz told him slyly while gingerly approaching him.

"Oh no," Goombella frowned and gagged on the spot. "Not you again, Miss Flirt-a-lot... What are you doing here, you total FLOOZY!?"

"Ummm... Wow! H-Hey, Ms. Mowz!" Koops uttered, feeling his heart pound upon seeing her again after a long amount of time had passed. "Fancy running into you here!"

"Well! You certainly have some gall showing yourself in a place like this," Flurrie huffed. "And I certainly do not approve of seeing you on here, running into Andrew like that. As long as it may have been for us."

"Oh. It's you again," Yoshiam said simply. "Well, good to see you again, Ms. Mowz lady."

"Hey, uh, Andrew?" Vivian had to ask as she never met her before. "Who is this girl?"

"I believe I have to concur on that one," Bobbery agreed. "Andrew, old boy, may I ask you who this rather rebellious-looking woman is supposed to be, if you please?"

"Oh right. You two never met her before," Andrew decided to introduce her to them. "Vivian. Bobbery. This happens to be Ms. Mowz, and she's the globe-trotting badge thief. My friends and I have encountered her three times in the past, and I've been on good terms with her. So it's all good."

"It sure is, my sweet muscular man," Ms. Mowz agreed with him.

"Well, it's nice to meet you, Ms. Mowz," Vivian greeted quite shyly.

"Indeed. Forgive my misjudging comment right now, but your appearance does bring to mind the rather rebellious ruffians that I am familiar with," Bobbery admitted.

"Oh. Well, I've been told that plenty of times," Ms. Mowz said rather sleekly.

"Anyway Ms. Mowz, what brings you here?" Andrew decided to ask her while moving on.

"Well, wouldn't you like to know," Ms. Mowz said coyly. "If you must know, Andrew, I happen to be doing what I usually do."

"Hunting for badges?" Andrew blinked. "That's nice."

"Mhmmm," Ms. Mowz nodded. "I heard some were lying around on this train, and perhaps at the station a day and a half from here. Unfortunately, I haven't had any luck."

"Well, I'm sure there's something," Andrew told her.

"Oh, but that's OK. Running into you again is enough of a treat for me," Ms. Mowz admired his build again before seeing something else. "And may I say, you are certainly looking handsome with the mustache that you're growing..."

"Hey! I noticed it too!" Goombella had to comment. "Andrew? Since when did you decide to grow a mustache on you?"

Andrew was confused until he felt the spot above his lips. It felt fuzzy. He's been so busy with adventuring that he didn't notice the mustache that he was growing in the form of some peach fuzz. It wasn't as thick as that of Mario's or Luigi's, but it was still noticeable.

"Wow," Andrew blinked. "I've been adventuring so much, that I didn't even notice it until it was pointed out to me. Especially since I hadn't been shaving in a bit."

"Well, Andrew, my darling," Flurrie told him sweetly. "It certainly looks divine above your lips. And it is splendid."

"Mmmm hmmm hmmm hmmm... Yes, I do admire it," Ms. Mowz agreed coyly as she smirked. "I suggest you don't shave it off. You are 'clearly' the player for having it. 'In fact', I think you look like a chick magnet with it..."

"I-I do?" Andrew asked, blushing profusely at that.

"Mmmm, yes," Ms. Mowz told him seductively. "And what a fine man you are, my handsome cheese hunk."

"Oh, puh-leeasseee!" Goombella groaned. "Don't flatter us with it, you flirt!"

"What? I'm just making Andrew here feel comfortable is all," Ms. Mowz insisted.

"Well, I appreciate that," Andrew smiled. "Thanks, Ms. Mowz."

"Anytime, dear," Ms. Mowz then decided to ask him. "Now if I may ask, what are you doing on a fancy train such as this? I assume that you're still looking for the Crystal Stars, right?"

"Yup. We have five of them now," Andrew nodded before explaining. "My friends and I are heading to Poshley Heights since there's a Crystal Star in the Poshley Sanctum. At least, I hope we can make it there in one piece."

"Oh?" Ms. Mowz seemed curious. "And what do you mean by that?"

"You see, my friends and I have found a note in our room that was a sticky yummy threat telling us not to head to Poshley Heights," Andrew explained to her. "Or else we'll be met with a sticky yummy demise."

"Hmmm... A note, you say?" Ms. Mowz had to ask.

"That's right," Andrew nodded.

"Well, this doesn't sound good," Ms. Mowz shook her head. "And I assume that you have no idea who wrote the note, hmmm?"

"Oh c'mon! Quit acting innocent, will ya, Floozy!" Goombella yelled. "You must've written that note to us, telling us to get off the train! Didn't ya!?"

"I haven't the slightest idea as to what you're saying," Ms. Mowz huffed. "I can assure you that I did no such thing. I've been wandering the train this whole time looking for badges and other items that are lying loose."

"Pfffft! Yeah, right," Goombella spat sarcastically as she rolled her eyes. "Like I'll believe that one!"

"So I guess that you don't know who may have written it," Andrew concluded. "And I doubt that you have any association with Beldam at all."

"Who's Beldam?" Ms. Mowz asked rather curiously, apparently having never heard of her.

Andrew was just about to answer her question. But before he could, the conductor had come over and saw Ms. Mowz right there, which got him on alert and allowed him to react.

"Ah-HA! You there! You little white rat!" The conductor declared, pointing in accusation at her. "I knew that I'd find the stowaway who snuck onto the train. And you happen to be her!"

"Stowaway? Me?" Ms. Mowz said rather slyly. "Why, whatever do you mean by that?"

"Don't play that game with me," the Conductor huffed. "I know for a fact that someone on the train is a stowaway, especially after the threat that Andrew here reported to me."

"You mean a sticky yummy threat?" Ms. Mowz asked coolly.

"That's right!" The Conductor yelled.

"Hmph! I haven't done such a thing as threaten Andrew here," Ms. Mowz had to defend. "Especially since he's quite the sight for sore eyes."

"It doesn't matter if you had," the Conductor told her sharply. "You are still the stowaway on this train. And you're coming with me!"

"Oh? You wouldn't try kicking out little ol' me from this train, would you, hon?" Ms. Mowz asked him in a flirty manner.

"No. But I do plan on kicking you off the moment we reach the Riverside Station," the Conductor said curtly.

Ms. Mowz could only frown at this. She 'clearly' wasn't the one who threatened Andrew, especially since she had taken quite an interest in him. The Conductor said nothing else as he went ahead and started to drag Ms. Mowz away, who was unable to protest against it.

Goombella felt quite a bit of satisfaction from this if the smirk on her face was anything to go by since she was glad that Ms. Mowz was being dragged off. Koops felt disappointed, seeing that he was too nervous to speak to her again after so long and that she was being dragged away by the conductor.

Flurrie could only huff, as she turned away, feeling that she had brought this upon herself. Yoshiam could only frown, seeing that she was leaving them as quickly as she encountered them. Vivian and Bobbery were confused by this, not knowing her well enough to assume that she was doing something like harming the people on the train.

And then there was Andrew, who was a little sad to see her go. Seeing that they were on the train together, perhaps would be as much as any time for him and Ms. Mowz to get comfortable and become acquainted with one another. Especially since she never sticks around for long just to talk with Andrew about herself.

Suddenly, he felt the sudden urge to do something. Having found his voice, he yelled out to the conductor.

"Wait! Mr. Conductor!" Andrew yelled as he approached him, with his friends right behind him.

"What is it, Mr. Andrew?" The Conductor was curious about this.

"Uh, there's no need to get rid of Ms. Mowz. In fact," Andrew cleared his throat before he came out with it. "I'd like to claim responsibility for her on this train. And that I am willing to cover for her."

"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?!" Goombella yelled, not believing her ears.

She did not just hear him say that. He didn't just say that he'd claim responsibility for Ms. Mowz and give her a hand, did he?

The others were rather shocked by this, including Flurrie, whose mouth was agape that Andrew would bother to help this little felon woman of a Little Mouser like this.

Then there was the conductor, who was confused by Andrew's choice of words, and why he would want to look after Ms. Mowz for him.

"Uh, did you 'really' say that?" The Conductor had to double-check. "Did you just tell me that you'll take responsibility for her, and you'll look after her?"

"Uhhhh... Yes," Andrew nodded after gulping. "That's exactly what I said. I can keep my eye on her if that's all right."

"Hrmmmmm... I dunno," the Conductor seemed apprehensive, feeling that Ms. Mowz was someone who shouldn't be trusted. "This woman here seems to be suspicious..."

"Well, not to worry," Andrew insisted. "I've dealt with her in the past. And I can safely say that she is harmless."

"Well... Are you sure that you will look after her and take responsibility for her?" The Conductor had to ask, still not entirely convinced by this. "She seems to be the foxy kind of woman who might do something to you."

"Yes. I'm positive," Andrew nodded. "I'll be sure to look after her."

The conductor looked him straight in the eye and realized that he was completely serious about this. Seeing that he couldn't change his mind and that he seemed capable enough to keep her from stepping out of line, he had no choice but to relent.

"Well...OK. If you say so, Mr. Andrew. I'll leave you in charge of this woman here," the Conductor then had to warn him. "But be careful with her. She's one of those tricky folks that I've heard about..."

"I'll be all right," Andrew assured him. "I should be able to deal with her, no problem. You just leave her to me."

The conductor then shrugged at that as he let go of Ms. Mowz, allowing her to stay with Andrew and his friends as he walked back to his post, which was the door that led to the luggage car.

Once he was gone, his friends and Ms. Mowz were shocked by what he had just done. Andrew was successful in convincing him to hand Ms. Mowz over to him. His friends had to wonder what he was thinking, and in Goombella's case, wondered if he had hit his head on a brick wall recently.

"Wow," Andrew blinked. "I can't believe that I was able to do that."

"Andrew? You didn't need to do that," Ms. Mowz told him. "I am pretty capable of handling myself."

"I know," Andrew nodded before saying. "But since we'll be on the train together, perhaps it would be best if you tag along with me and my friends."

"Oh, my handsome star. You have a way with words," Ms. Mowz rubbed her finger on his leg before saying slyly. "And I would love to accept this little invitation that you have given me. I shall stay with you until we get off the train since I've been such a bad girl to be stuck with you."

"Well, I DON'T approve of this!" Goombella yelled furiously. "Andrew?! We're not gonna have her tag with us! I REFUSE to have it!"

"Oh, knock it off, Goombella," Andrew told her. "It's just until the train ride is over! Then she can be on her way."

"But...But..." Goombella tried telling him.

"But nothing. We're all stuck on this train together, so we're gonna have to deal with it," Andrew said sharply. "Besides, I think it's best if I keep her with us for now."

"Ummm... Good idea, Andrew," Koops said shyly. "Better to play it cool so that nothing happens to us thanks to that threat. Of 'course' she can come with us."

"Well, Andrew? I daresay, you seem brave and bold for allowing this young lady felon to accompany us for the duration of the train ride," Flurrie sighed. "But I suppose that I am willing to tolerate it for the moment."

"Yeah. I'm cool with having her with us, Presto," Yoshiam nodded. "Maybe we can see if she can help us find the real culprit!"

"I'm fine with it too, Andrew," Vivian said meekly. "I wouldn't mind having her around for a while. I... I think it would be nice."

"Well, I am most certain that we'll have plenty of time to get to know one another," Bobbery proclaimed. "So until the end of this train ride, I am willing to tolerate it, provided that she isn't the scoundrel who wrote that note if you will."

"Very good, guys," Andrew nodded with a smile. "Well, Ms. Mowz? Looks like my friends and I will be happy to have you tag with us for a while."

"Mmmm hmmm hmmm hmmm," Ms. Mowz smirked slyly. "I am sure that we'll know more about each other before long. Isn't that right Andrew, my handsome cheese hunk?"

"Absolutely," Andrew nodded with a blush. "Now uh, shall we head back to my room, which is cabin #005?"

"As you wish, you marvelous man," Ms. Mowz proclaimed. "Now lead the way."

Andrew nodded as he led the seven of them through the door that led to the dining car. Goombella was still not thrilled about having Ms. Mowz accompany them. Nonetheless, she was willing to put up with it for now, until she had to leave the train.

"Anyhow Andrew, I believe we were interrupted before," Ms. Mowz decided to ask him again as they entered the dining car. "Who is Beldam?"

"Oh. Well, Beldam happens to be the leader of the Shadow Sirens, and she looks like a typical crone," Andrew explained to her. "She also happens to be in league with the X-Nauts."

"Hmmm... X-Nauts, you say?" Ms. Mowz then wondered. "Tell me, where they those guys that raided through the Great Tree in the Boggly Woods?"

"That's correct," Andrew confirmed before he shared it with her. "She also happens to be Vivian's sister."

"Uh, that's right," Vivian spoke up. "Beldam happens to be my sister, who has done nothing but bully me, which is why I left her for Andrew. And... And she's trying to get the Crystal Star before Andrew does!"

"She's right," Andrew agreed with her. "And I am certain that Beldam may have had some involvement with that note. Or she had recruited someone to board the train and sneak that note under my door. I can't tell if it's a bluff or not, but my friends and I have to remain on guard in case anything messy happens."

"Well, well, well, I see. That is rather unpleasant," Ms. Mowz had to admit. "I guess you can count on me to look after you since you look like you could use it."

"Yeah," Andrew tugged on his handkerchief. "I 'really' appreciate that, Ms. Mowz."

Ms. Mowz said nothing as she gave him a wink, which got him to blush again. Goombella huffed and gave a jealous look before looking away.

---

Koops, meanwhile, saw something going on in the galley nearby. He felt that it was best for Andrew to take notice of it.

"Ummm... Hey Andrew? Look there," Koops pointed out for him. "In the kitchen! Something's going on over there. Wonder what it's about..."

"Hmmm..." Andrew rubbed his chin and got a good look at the five people over there.

Chef Shimi was among the five of them. But there were four other people that Andrew had never seen before.

One of them happened to be a rather cute female Toad who was wearing a maid's headpiece under her white cap. She also had purple hair which was being worn in pigtails, and the red-violet spot in the center of her cap took the shape of a heart instead of a circle. She was also wearing an apron, a blue dress, and pink shoes. It was apparent that she was the waitress of the Excess Express.

Another one happened to be a Ratooey; a strange and obscure humanoid rat species that people in the Mushroom Kingdom don't see very often. This one was purple with a pink orb on his tail, wore dull purple shoes, and wore a blue-violet tie and glasses. He looked like some kind of Businessman, judging by his appearance.

There was also a snazzy-looking Toad who was wearing a white cap with red spots on it, wore shades, had blonde hair shown on both sides of his head, and wore a fancy pink shiore white pants and white shoes. 'Clearly', he must've been some famous actor from somewhere, especially since Andrew thought he looked very familiar.

The last one amongst them was revealed to be a blue Bumpty who wore a red bowtie, wore a detective cap on his head, carrying a messenger bag around his left shoulder, and had a magnifying glass in his left hand. Was he supposed to be some kind of detective, judging by his appearance?

"Huh? This seems peculiar," Andrew was curious about this. "Maybe we should go check this out."

"Wait Andrew," Goombella decided to get his attention. "Doesn't that Toad right there look familiar to you?"

"The one wearing the sunglasses?" Andrew pointed. "I think so. Isn't he some kind of movie star?"

"Duuuuuuuh! That's because he is! That's Zip Toad, the movie star!" Goombella told him.

"Ah, I thought he looked familiar," Andrew admitted.

"Yeah! Y'know? Women go NUTS for him!" Goombella admitted.

"I daresay, he is quite the charmer on the big screen when it comes to swooning ladies," Flurrie had to admit before sighing. "He's handsome and all, but he's nothing compared to our dashingly handsome muscular man over here."

"Hmmm mmmm mmmm mmmm, yes," Ms. Mowz had to agree with what Flurrie just said. "Andrew is quite the handsome muscular hunk."

"Hmph," Goombella huffed before adding. "There's also the fact that he seems pretty stuck up about being famous. I guess all celebrities are kinda like that."

"Yeah. Well, you know what they say," Andrew reminded her. "Too much fame can get to your head, and then you become completely stuck up and snotty about it. It's like you develop an ego upon becoming a 'famous' celebrity."

"That's 'totally' what I meant, Andrew," Goombella beamed before rubbing against his left leg. "It's too bad, 'cause I kinda liked him..."

"Yeah. He isn't a bad movie star," Andrew admitted before frowning. "Of course, I don't think there's any actor or actress who is better than Flurrie."

"Oh, Andrew my darling, you're just too kind," Flurrie told him out of flatterly. "I am flattered by that comment. Truly."

"Well, in any case, it might be best for us to investigate what's going on amongst this crowd of people," Bobbery suggested. "Perhaps it might be our first lead to finding out who this hooligan who wrote that threat might be."

"Great idea, Bobbery," Andrew nodded. "Let's go check it out."

"You said it, Presto," Yoshiam cheered.

"Good idea, Andrew," Vivian nodded. "Maybe we can find out if someone on the train is in league with my sister."

With that, the eight of them went over to the crowd of people in the galley. Once they were right near them, they had heard the detective Bumpty talking to the people in the group, and all eight of them were able to overhear him.

"Hmm. Yes. I can say without the slightest hesitation that this smells like a case to me," the Bumpty had proclaimed. "But what shall we call it, that is the question before us."

The Bumpty tapped his right fin underneath his beak as he pondered what it should be referred to as.

"Yes, what to call it?" The Bumpty then came up with a perfect name for it. "Yes! 'The Case of the Pot of Supper Stew That Vanished Suddenly and Mysteriously'! Indeed. That will do nicely."

Huh, a pot of stew vanished somehow from the galley? Andrew thought. Now, who would be so willing to make off with the lunch that Chef Shimi made for everyone?

Awww man! Dang! Yoshiam thought in disappointment. And I was 'really' looking forward to lunch too!

Both of them were gotten out of their thoughts when the detective Bumpty said something else that caught their attention.

"Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm... My dear train passengers..." The Bumpty then declared before pointing towards all of them in accusation. "This is a full-fledged mystery, one that impacts you all!"

"WHAT? A MYSTERY?" All of them shouted in unison while sounding suspenseful and jumping in fright.

"A mystery, you just said?" Chef Shimi was entirely confused by this. "...And, uh, um, er, exactly...what kind of dish is that?"

Everyone had to give Chef Shimi a blank look since it being a dish was not possible. It was at that moment that the Bumpty decided to announce his identity to them.

"I am known as Pennington," the Bumpty, known as Pennington, introduced before proclaiming proudly. "You likely would not guess it, but I am a detective. At the risk of immodesty, you might say I have a certain nose for these things."

Pennington then proceeded to point out to all of them. "And this little conundrum, my dear fellow passengers...poses no challenge...to me."

"Ooooooooooooooooh..." All of them nodded in understanding. They felt that Pennington could wrap this case up in a matter of seconds.

"The central clue of this case, and also the most vital one, as it happens..." Pennington then points out the obvious. "Is that our perpetrator took the whole pot, stew and all! And this...esteemed friends... Leads me to believe that the one responsible..."

Pennington then pointed in an accusation towards the Excess Express Waitress.

"Is YOU, you gluttonous woman!" Pennington declared.

The Excess Express Waitress jumped up and yelped in shock.

"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?! ME?!" The waitress squealed, speaking with a valley girl accent. "Are you 'totally' koo-koo? I have like, NO idea what you're talking about..."

"Errm... Pardon me... Sorry," Pennington then decided to reveal to them. "Please accept my apologies, my dear woman. I felt I needed to practice my accusation skills, you understand. Yes, sorry."

It was then everyone gave him a blank look that said 'seriously' on it. Why would Pennington have to practice his accusation skills when he claims to be a professional detective?

To the eyes of an average person, that didn't seem like good detective skills at all. The waitress now had an angry look on her face as she was glaring at Pennington, not impressed by what he had just done.

"...Ahem. Very good. Now, let us get serious, shall we?" Pennington then got down to business. "This, I believe, will be a case worthy of my intellect! Hmm... Yes..."

"Let me get this straight..." The Ratooey Businessman spoke up, sounding like a typical businessman. "So, what we know so far... Is that we don't know who the culprit is... And, uh... I guess that's about it, right?"

"Aw, this scene is for total squares!" Zip Toad was heard whining. It's as if he was bored with this whole setup. "Forget you guys! I'm going back to my room."

This didn't sit well with Pennington at all. If Zip Toad was so eager to get back to his room so quickly, then he must know something about the missing Galley Pot that had the stew in it.

"Hrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrmph! You there!" Pennington pointed towards him. "In a bit of a hurry to get back to your room, eh! You, sir, are highly suspicious!"

It was then Pennington managed to make a snapping sound with his right fin before he abruptly declared. "I have just broken this case! The true culprit, I believe...is Zip Toad, the actor!"

This didn't sit well with the waitress at all, as she could only sneer at Pennington in a way that a valley girl would.

"Zip Toad? THE Zip Toad? Nooooooooooooooooooooo way, Mr. Detective- Person!" The Waitress refused to believe it. "You're just making stuff up! You... You tweedy geezer!"

"Tweedy... Geezer... GEEZER?!" Pennington blinked at this. "I can't say I deserved such a verbal thrashing, but..."

He then adjusted his red bowtie before he continued. "Well, then...who DID do it, hm? Hrrrrrrrrrrrmph! This puzzle deepens with every confounding step..."

Andrew could only stand there as he had a blank expression at this. Didn't this Pennington fellow know how to be a real detective? Has he even tried looking for clues as to figuring out who stole the pot, which would help with cracking down on this case? Judging by what he had witnessed, it seemed rather unlikely.

At that moment, Pennington took notice of the fact that Andrew was standing there, watching him the entire time he tried cracking down on this case. As such, he decided to get his attention.

"You, my brawny friend, have been hovering rather suspiciously, haven't you?" Pennington paused for a second before adding to it. "I find that rather...suspect. Highly suspect, indeed!"

"Huh?" Andrew jumped and looked confused as Goombella, Koops, Flurrie, Yoshiam, Vivian, Bobbery, and even Ms. Mowz stayed close to him.

"People! I have apprehended the rogue!" Pennington announced to everyone. "Yes, I have broken the case wide open! He had been skulking about this area the whole time, under our very noses!"

"Uhhhh...What? What's he talking about?" Goombella queried in confusion at this. "I guess we're about to find out in a minute."

"The Pot of Supper Stew That Vanished Suddenly and Mysteriously Bandit..." It was then Pennington pointed directly at Andrew. "...is YOU!"

"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATT!?" Andrew yelled at that as he jumped and tried to defend himself. "Listen, sir. I wasn't the one who did it. I have no idea who stole it, but it wasn't me! Honest! I've been dealing with something else when I overheard something happening here! I swear!"

"C'mon! You can't just frame Andrew for something he didn't do," Goombella didn't waste time with coming to his aid. "I was with him the entire time! Andrew is 'totally' innocent!"

"Yeah... Why would Andrew steal the pot of stew, anyway?" Koops wondered before defending him. "Either way, Andrew is a nice guy and a cool man! He didn't do it! I know he didn't..."

"Dear man, I do declare that you've gone batty if you think our darling Andrew here had done it," Flurrie huffed and came to Andrew's aid. "He is honest and as hardworking as the rest of us. So I hereby digress and claim that Andrew is innocent. And I happen to be his alibi!"

"Yo, man! You must be off your rocker if you think Presto stole it!" Yoshiam yelled. "You're saying Presto stole the pot? Are you NUTS!? He didn't steal anything! He's one cool dude who never stole from anyone! So don't accuse him of doing something he didn't do! That is wicked uncool!"

"Please mister, don't try pinning it on Andrew. He's innocent," Vivian spoke up, floating over to his side and defending him. "He is a sweet man who wouldn't steal anything. I was with him the whole time. You have to believe me when I say that he didn't do it."

"I must say, it is rather treacherous of you to just be making accusations that Andrew here stole the pot," Bobbery commented, coming to Andrew's aid. "Dear man, the boy was busy taking care of something else the entire time. When would he even possibly have time to sneak in and swipe the pot like some ruffian? I think you are mistaken when you say that he did it. That much I do know. As a witness who's been with him this entire time, Andrew is most certainly innocent indeed."

"Hmmm, honestly... You must have lost it if you think Andrew has done it," Ms. Mowz spoke up, willing to come to Andrew's aid. "I know Andrew wouldn't commit something like this. He didn't do it. He's innocent. And this is coming from a thief such as myself. Don't frame him for something he didn't do."

"What we're saying is that I'm not the bandit," Andrew told him.

"...You are not the bandit, you say? Hmm..." Pennington proclaimed. "Indeed, you WOULD say that!"

"I'M NOT!" Andrew yelled in defense.

"HE'S NOT!" Goombella, Koops, Flurrie, Yoshiam, Vivian, Bobbery, and Ms. Mowz all yelled in unison at the same time that Andrew yelled.

"Well, if you are not, in fact, the crook, then perhaps you could prove your innocence..." Pennington told him. "By searching for the real perpetrator! Then we will know that it is not you. Fair?"

"Very well then," Andrew looked towards the others. "Come on, guys! We have a galley pot thief to catch!"

"Only one problem, Andrew. How are we going to find whoever stole it?" Goombella had to ask as they walked away from the kitchen. "The perpetrator could be anywhere on the train."

"That's true," Andrew rubbed his chin. "But as long as we look for clues that stick out, then maybe we might have a chance to find this crook."

"Oh, my! How suspenseful, darling!" Flurrie yelled. "I do believe that solving a mystery on a train reminds me of a movie that I once starred in. It was truly a classic."

"And I know which one it was," Andrew snapped his fingers. "It's called Massacre on the Situate Express! And it's the one where the lead character has to figure out who committed a heinous crime on the Situate Express! Of which the crime was considered to be murder!"

"Absolutely! That's 'absolutely' it, dearie," Flurrie beamed. "And I was the woman who helped the handsome detective solve the crime and bring the killer to justice!"

"And we're about to do just that," Andrew declared.

"Ummm... What kinda clues are we looking for, you think?" Koops seemed confused as he scratched his head. "I dunno what we're looking for at the moment..."

"Hmmm... What's this I see? Did I just spot a clue on the carpeted floor?" Ms. Mowz pointed out towards the trail. "Now wouldn't this be a trace of spilled stew on the floor over here, hmm?"

"No one asked you, Floozy," Goombella sneered at her.

"Wait Goombella! I think she might be onto something!" Andrew then ran over to where Ms. Mowz was pointing and smelled it. "Oh yeah. That 'definitely' smells like stew."

"Hey, this 'totally' looks like spilled stew on the carpet!" Goombella realized it for herself as she and the others ran over to see it for themselves.

"I bet we can just follow the drops to the thief!" Koops agreed as he proclaimed.

"And you know what? It might just be the same person who wrote that sticky yummy threat to us," Andrew then turned around to face them as he had his right index finger pointing up while his left hand was resting on his hip, as he then proudly asked them. "And what makes us say that?!"

"A Goomba's intuition!" Goombella beamed in such a preppy manner while jumping and doing a backflip.

"Well, uh, nothing, I guess..." Koops shrugged awkwardly, clearly not having anything that he could add to it.

"Stew is a notoriously good prebattle meal!" Flurrie yelled dramatically as if she was singing for the opera with her left hand reaching upward.

"If you steal, you probably do other bad stuff, right?" Yoshiam guessed as he pounded his right fist into the palm of his left hand as he made that comment.

"If they're with my sister, she gives no lunch breaks!" Vivian stated while putting her hands on her hips while shaking her head.

"I've got a sea lion's nose for scoundrels, old boy!" Bobbery declared, looking upwards as his mustache twitched a little bit.

"It takes a thief to find a thief, sweetie!" Ms. Mowz added with her tail twitching while she winked at him.

"All of those are good guesses," Andrew told them. "But what I had in mind is that we're a pretty awesome team! Now let's go find that culprit!"

It was apparent that all seven of them were jumping for joy at that. Andrew rushed back to the passenger car that had Andrew's room in it since the trail of soup was leading into it.

---

They continued to follow it until it came to a stop right in front of cabin #003.

"The culprit must be in here," Andrew then motioned. "Let's go."

They all agreed as the eight of them entered the cabin, and saw that the room looked kinda liked Andrew's room.

The person who took up the residence in the cabin was a Toad. Specifically a morbidly obese Toad. He was 'really' fat. Aside from the typical cap that most Toads wear, the only other thing he was wearing was a blue striped overalls which were big enough to fit his size, and the brown shoes that were on his feet.

Andrew had to give him a confused look before shaking his head as he then approached him.

"Uh, excuse me?" Andrew queried.

"Whoawhoawhoawhoa!" The fat Toad, known as Heff T, panicked before asking. "What do you want?!"

Before Andrew could come out with it, Heff T let out a rather loud belch from his oversized gut. "BUUUUUUUUURP!"

"Gosh," Andrew shook his head at that as did his six friends and Ms. Mowz. "That smelled an awful lot like some stew that came from a pot that was stolen."

"Sorry about that," Heff T then queried. "Now... What were you just saying?"

"I'm gonna get to the point," Andrew sighed. "A pot from the kitchen that had stew in it has gone missing. And we have concluded that you stole it from Chef Shimi."

"Oh, I get it!" Heff T then tried to protest against this. "Food gets stolen and you blame the chubby guy! NOT NICE!"

"Uh," Andrew pinched the bridge of his nose before he deadpanned in annoyance. "There was a trail consisting of drops of stew on the floor outside that led us directly to this room."

"N-No... I wouldn't know anything about that!" Heff T then tried to defend himself.

"Do you want us to show you the stain that we're talking about?" Andrew deadpanned yet again.

"No! People spill stuff!" Heff T cried before giving something away. "And there's nothing in the drawer, so no need to look! You won't find a thing!"

"I'll be the judge of that," Andrew crossed his arms before he looked towards his Goomba friend. "Goombella? Would you mind searching through his drawer for a second?"

"I'm 'totally' on it, Andrew!" Goombella beamed with a smirk as she rushed over to the drawer, opened it, and checked to see what was inside of it.

"Did you find anything?" Andrew queried.

"Well, there are several gourmet food magazines here," Goombella answered. "And one of them is an issue devoted to the food of the Excess Express! Wowsers! There is a large photo of Chef Shimi on the cover... His smile is just blinding."

Andrew was wondering if he was hiding the Galley Pot somewhere else. Before he could say anything else, Goombella let out a loud gasp and then got Andrew's attention.

"Omigosh!" Goombella yelled. "There is something under the magazines!"

"What is it?" Andrew had a feeling as to what it was, but he wanted to see it for himself.

Goombella then pulled herself away from the drawer. And in her possession was the Galley Pot, which looked like any ordinary cooking pot.

"Ah-HA! This must be the Galley Pot!" Goombella cheered and laughed.

"I knew it," Andrew then gave Heff T a look before asking. "There's nothing in the drawer, huh?"

Heff T then realized what this meant. He'd been had. He couldn't keep it a secret any longer. Because the jig was up, he had no other choice but to confess to the crime that he had committed.

"Doh!" Heff T sighed before confessing. "I'm sorry! I ate it all! It was MEEEEEEEE!"

"Uh huh," Andrew nodded. "Just as I thought."

---

Shortly after that, Pennington came into the room. He must've heard the commotion from inside the room when Andrew found the Galley Pot with some help from Goombella. Pennington took notice of it as he was quick to piece it together.

"Ah. I see that you managed to find the perpetrator responsible for stealing the Galley Pot," Pennington deduced. "Is that correct?'

"Yes. That's right," Andrew then pointed to Heff T. "This guy right here was the one who stole it, and uhhhh... what is your name anyway?"

"Heff T! My name is Heff T!" He yelled.

"Right. Heff T was the culprit behind the missing Galley Pot," Andrew proclaimed. "He must've swiped it when Chef Shimi wasn't looking and he managed to hide it in his drawer under his magazines so that no one would be able to find it."

"Hmm? I mean, ah-ha! Just as I suspected!" Pennington then turned his attention towards Heff T. "So! You were so enamored of the stew that you wanted to steal it to devour more? And you stole the entire pot when the chef was chopping shallots? Answer!

"Yes... Yes, that's right," Heff T sighed in defeat. "I'm so sorry, but it was a brief moment of weakness... Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!"

"Justice has been served! Very satisfying! May this terrible crime never recur!" Pennington then turned to face Andrew and got his attention. "And you, my dear sir... Yes, you with the brawny build!"

"Yes?" Andrew looked at him curiously.

"My keen sleuthing instincts identified you as the correct person to collar the ruffian!" Pennington informed him.

"Well, it was nothing," Andrew rubbed the back of his neck out of flattery.

"Now, about that note in your room..." Pennington brought up.

"Wait a minute," Andrew had to double-check. "How did you find out about that?"

"As the lone detective on this train, the conductor confided in me," Pennington answered.

"Oh," Andrew blinked. "I guess that makes sense."

"But we cannot speak here," Pennington then informed him. "Find me in room 6 so that we may discuss this in private..."

"All right," Andrew nodded as Pennington went to the door.

Before he left, though, he looked at Andrew and made one last request for him. "Oh, and please return the pot to the chef, if you could..."

"Will do," Andrew smiled. "We'll be there shortly."

As soon as Pennington was gone, Andrew turned to face his group. "Well, guys? Looks like we gotta return the Galley Pot to Chef Shimi first. Then we can go to Pennington's room to see what he has to tell us."

"Gotcha, Andrew," Goombella nodded. "Might wanna get cracking by getting Chef Shimi his Galley Pot first, don'tcha think?"

"Right," Andrew nodded as he left Heff T's room, along with Goombella, Koops, Flurrie, Yoshiam, Vivian, Bobbery, and Ms. Mowz as they went back into the dining car.

It didn't take him long at all for all eight of them to make it back to Chef Shimi with the Galley Pot in their possession.

"Hello," Andrew greeted. "We're back."

"So, you found the beef!" Chef Shimi then corrected himself. "Or, wait, I mean...the thief! I am joyful!"

"We sure did. The thief was Heff T from cabin room #003, and he had the Galley Pot in his drawer," Andrew then handed the pot over to him. "I believe this belongs to you."

"Ah, sir, you are the hero of my world!" Chef Shimi declared as he gladly took back the Galley Pot and checked the inside of it. "You have even brought my pot!"

"Ah, it was nothing," Andrew said sheepishly.

"It is empty, of course, but it is mine and I LOVE IT! Thanks to you...from me!" Chef Shimi didn't seem bothered by the fact that it was emptied. "Here is just a little taste of my powerful gratitude! Please fake it."

"Take it, you mean?" Andrew raised an eyebrow.

"Ah, why must I butcher this language so? So shameful!" Chef Shimi then corrected himself. "Please TAKE it, I mean!"

With that, Chef Shimi gave him a Star Piece, which Andrew graciously accepted from him.

"Thank you," Andrew thanked him. "We'll be going now!"

"You're quite welcome," Chef Shimi exclaimed. "Please look forward to the dinner specials for tonight! They'll melt your tongues away!"

"Sure," Andrew said before walking away with his seven companions. "Well, guys? You know what this means, right? Let's head to Pennington's room."

"I'm 'totally' with you on that, Andrew," Goombella beamed. "Let's see what he needs to tell us!"

"Good idea, Andrew," Koops agreed. "Man, wonder what it is that he needs to tell us... Guess we're just gonna find out for ourselves..."

"My, my! I do believe we shan't keep the fellow waiting," Flurrie exclaimed. "Come along, Andrew! Let's see what he may have for us!"

"You got it, Presto!" Yoshiam cheered. "Let's see what that Pennington guy has to tell us. I hope that it's cool and will help us find this punk that wrote that threat to us!"

"I agree, Andrew," Vivian nodded. "We better go see what this is about, and fast!"

"Capital thinking there, dear boy!" Bobbery remarked. "Come now, Andrew! I believe it wouldn't be right for us to be fashionably late for this dear Pennington fellow, eh wot?"

"Hmmm mmmm mmmm... Good idea, my handsome cheese hunk," Ms. Mowz agreed slyly. "Let's see if he has anything that might help us find the culprit who wrote that nasty threat to you, big boy."

"Great. It's settled," Andrew opened the door, leading to the blue and brown colored passenger car. "Let's go see him."

They all nodded as they went through the door and made their way to cabin #006...

---

It didn't take long for them to get there, as they found their way into the correct cabin. The room looked the same as the other rooms on the Excess Express. And taking up the residence there was Pennington himself. Andrew was relieved to see that he was still there.

"All right," Andrew got his attention. "We're here."

"Ah-ha! I have been waiting!" Pennington proclaimed as Andrew and his seven companions went up to him. "I was rather impressed with your work on this last case, I must admit."

"Well, you know," Andrew said modestly. "All it took was finding a clue that led us to the culprit that helped out."

"Yes. That may be true," Pennington then pointed out. "However, I do not think the one you apprehended is our sticky, yummy malcontent... I have deduced this from the lack of any incriminating clues in his room..."

"Yeah. I don't think he would've been able to do it anyway," Andrew exclaimed. "I mean, Heff T's worse crime is being a glutton."

"So he is," Pennington cleared his throat before he told him. "In any case, I must say... I believe you have a certain knack for detective work."

"Oh, well, I just happen to be resourceful is all," Andrew chuckled lightly while scratching the back of his neck.

"So it is decided, then," Pennington made a big decision as he pointed towards the muscular man. "I shall take you on as my new assistant!"

"Me?" Andrew was surprised to hear that from him. "You're picking me as your new assistant?"

Pennington nodded before he decided to share who he was. "To reiterate... My name is Pennington. I am a detective from Poshley Heights. I am known in some circles as 'The Penguin With the Improbably Large Brain'."

"I see," Andrew said with a rather awkward smile.

"I am sure you have heard of me, so that is all I will say on the subject," Pennington said.

"I'm sorry," Andrew then frowned. "I never even heard of you until I boarded the Excess Express."

"And as for your name..." Pennington ignored what Andrew said.

"Oh, me? Well, the name's..." Andrew started to say.

"Wait! I demand you do not tell me," Pennington insisted while he held his right fin up. "I shall deduce your identity!"

"Uh, I don't think that's possible," Andrew said sheepishly. "I'm not 'really' popular."

Pennington ignored his comment as he approached him and used his magnifying glass to observe every part of Andrew's body and facial expression.

"Hmmm... Those overalls... That cap... That growing mustache, even..." It was then Pennington figured out his identity, or so he thought, as he beamed. "Ho ho ho! All too easy!"

It was then Pennington pointed and revealed who he thought Andrew was. "You, sir, are quite obviously the famed Mario, are you not?"

"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?!" Andrew jumped at that.

He did not just hear that. Did Pennington 'really' think that he was Mario? As in Super Mario? The famous hero of the Mushroom Kingdom himself? THAT Mario?

"Uh, Pennington? I'm afraid that you have me confused with someone else," Andrew had to explain. "My name is Andrew. I'm not Mario. I'm nothing like Mario. Honestly, Mario is not my name."

"No need to introduce yourself!" Pennington disregarded his comment. "I know all about the famous Mario!"

"Uh, right," Andrew sighed as he decided to forget it.

If Mayor Kroop could call him Audrey, the Puni Elder could call him Andi-Roo, the entire Glitz Pit knew him as Presto, Doopliss called him Slick, and Pa-Patch refers to him as Captain 'Uscles, then he might as well accept this one too.

"Now, about this threat..." Pennington decided to move on. "Our man has declared his intent to yummify the train... A sticky, tasty explosion..."

"So you think that this culprit might used a bomb filled with Maple Syrup just to blow up the train and leave it in a sticky yummy wake?" Andrew asked in confusion, tilting his head at that.

"Mhmm," Pennington then realized something. "That family of Bob-ombs! They are 'definitely' suspect!"

"You mean Goldbob, Sylvia, and Bub?" Andrew asked. "I dunno. They don't seem like the kind of people that would terrorize others on a train. They seem completely harmless."

"I have to concur with him there," Bobbery agreed. "My good man, Goldbob and I have been friends for ages, since our service years. And while Goldbob might've been a hooligan with some of the practical jokes that he pulled on the boys during our off hours, I'm afraid to say that he wouldn't dare to resort to bombing a train with a sticky yummy fate. Therefore, I hereby declare that the chances of them being culprits are rather slim, if I may add."

Of course, Pennington ignored both Andrew and Bobbery as he then made the declaration.

"Now, Mario!" Pennington declared. "We will reduce this case to rudimentary facts and deduce the truth!"

"Well, I suppose we could go see them and see if they know anything about it," Andrew crossed his arms at that. "What do you guys think?"

"I say we got nothing to lose," Goombella said. "We aren't going anywhere anytime soon if ya know what I mean."

"Yeah. I think we should go visit them," Koops agreed. "Man, I sure hope that they aren't the culprits. They seem like nice people."

"I daresay, we ought to check up on them, just to be safe," Flurrie sighed. "I do believe that the family is innocent. But just in case, we shall check on them anyway."

"Yeah! I guess it's a great idea too," Yoshiam nodded. "Heff T pretty much ate all the lunch anyway. So I'm just gonna wait for dinner. In the meantime, let's pay the Bob-omb family another visit."

"Good idea," Vivian nodded. "We should check and see if they know anything about the threat that we got in our bedroom."

"A very smashing idea, old boy," Bobbery agreed. "Even though I do not doubt my good friend Goldbob for a second, I do concur that we should check and see if he's heard about anything regarding the threat we were given."

"Hmm mmm, I should think we should too," Ms. Mowz added. "Better to play it safe while the culprit is still on the train if we know what's good for us, huh handsome muscular star?"

"Great! I'm happy to hear that," Andrew gave all of them a thumbs up. "Let's get going."

All seven of them nodded as the eight of them left Pennington's room, intending to check on the Bob-omb family to see if they knew anything about the sticky yummy threat that was left behind in Andrew's room...

---

LATER ON THAT EVENING - ON THE EXCESS EXPRESS DURING SUNSET:

Andrew was surprised to have found out that it was already sunset, and so were his friends and Ms. Mowz. Time suddenly flew by just like that. Dinner wouldn't be ready for another hour or so. So they thought that the best way to spend their time was to find out something from the Bob-omb family, in regards to if they knew anything about the threat Andrew got earlier.

Unfortunately, by the time they went into their cabin, they saw that they were too busy arguing with each other to give anything to Andrew, Goombella, Koops, Flurrie, Yoshiam, Vivian, Bobbery, or Ms. Mowz. And by the expression on their faces, it looked like it was rather heated.

Seeing the tension coming from both of them, Andrew decided to ask Bub, who was standing there all confused, exactly what was wrong.

"Hey Bub," Andrew started. "What seems to be the problem? Why are you parents arguing with each other?"

"Mom and Dad are fighting about what to get me for my birthday..." Bub got to the point. "I'm so bored... I wish I'd brought my GBA."

"GBA? You mean Game Boy Advance?" Andrew queried, to which Bub nodded to confirm it. "Hmmmm..."

Andrew then looked at the parents and heard what they were saying loud and clear.

"I think we should get little Bub the Advanced Learners Classic Series of Bob-ombery!" Sylvia argued with Goldbob about what they should get him.

"Two words: cheap and boring!" Goldbob countered. "Think more luxurious, dear! Perhaps a car, or a house!"

"Bub is too small for such things, Goldbob!" Sylvia protested furiously. "Stop thinking of your 'own' social status! He needs something that will further his education, not spoil him! Honestly!"

"If you ask me, I am not too surprised," Bobbery proclaimed. "Goldbob was always the kind of person who'd spend all the moolah that he could quite possibly earn in his life on such luxurious items, such as a mansion or a limousine. And not it would appear that he's trying to do the same for little Bub, eh?"

"Yeah," Andrew nodded while crossing his arms. "But the only issue is, does Bub even want any of that stuff?"

"Pfffffffffft! I don't want any of that stuff they're talking about..." Bub had to exclaim while rolling his eyes.

"Hmm?" Andrew looked at him before approaching him.

"Hey, Mister... Are you a detective now that you quit being a champion?" Bub queried.

"I guess so," Andrew shrugged. "Pennington seems to think that I am."

"Well, so..." Bub then started to ask him. "Think you can detect what I 'really' want for my birthday?"

"Why sure. I'd love to," Andrew nodded. "I'm kinda good at that kind of stuff."

"Really? Cool!" Bub couldn't help but beam. "OK, if you bring me what I 'really' want, then I'll give you something in return!"

"We'll be sure to do so right away," Andrew nodded as he started heading for the door.

"Before you go, I'll give you two hints as to what it could be," Bub then shared. "It starts with an 'A', and it's a certain person's au-to-graph! Now you've got it, don'tcha?"

"Sure. I get it," Andrew then opened the door leading out of the room. "We'll be back soon."

With that, Andrew left the room, with his friends and Ms. Mowz following right behind him.

"Jeepers, Andrew," Goombella wondered. "Don'tcha think that he wants someone's autograph?"

"Probably," Andrew shrugged. "I doubt it's my autograph since I already gave him one back in Glitzville."

"Gee... Ummm... Who do you think he wants an autograph from?" Koops queried.

"Perhaps we should ask around the train for some advice from some of the people," Andrew suggested. "We better get going."

And so the eight of them started asking around the train for answers. Andrew started with the conductor, who gave him somewhat of a clear hint as to who he wanted it from, which flew over the heads of the seven people who were following him.

"Say Mr. Conductor," Andrew had started asking. "Do you know anything about what Bub would like for his birthday?"

"I can hear everything that family's fighting about loud and clear from out here..." The Conductor then shared with him. "One thing I heard was cute... That boy dreams of being a train engineer someday! What an interesting dream for a rich little kid like that! Heh heh heh heh..."

"That's some dream. He 'really' has quite a big one," Andrew had to sigh and was reminded of something from his boyhood before he walked away from the conductor and told his friends and Ms. Mowz. "You know guys? I always wanted to ride on trains when I was younger."

"You don't say," Goombella was curious. "Didja really, Andrew? Didja?"

"Yeah," Andrew nodded. "One train that I always wanted to ride on was the one in the Kalimari Desert. That one was one heck of a locomotive. And it was the best from what I've heard."

"Gee whiz... Man... That must've been cool," Koops said in awe.

"My, I do believe that seems fascinating," Flurrie agreed. "'Pray' tell, darling, did you ever get to ride on it?"

"Unfortunately, no. It was too far away, and I didn't have the money for it," Andrew shook his head. "Even when I moved to the Mushroom Kingdom, I wasn't able to ride the train to Mt. Rugged."

"Whoa. That must've stunk," Yoshiam blinked. "Well, it's awesome that you're finally riding on one. Which happens to be the Excess Express."

"Yeah," Andrew decided to move on. "Anyway, we still need to find out what Bub wants for his birthday."

"Hey, Andrew," Vivian started to suggest. "Think maybe we should ask Pennington as to what he could 'possibly' want?"

"It couldn't hurt to try," Andrew mused. "Let's go for it."

And so the eight of them agreed as they went into Pennington's room, as Andrew gave him the scoop of what they were dealing with. He had hoped that he had some sort of an idea as to what he wanted.

"The thing that young master Bub wants most? Well, let us deduce, shall we?" Pennington suggested upon being told about it.

"OK. What could it be?" Andrew queried.

"Why, it is rudimentary!" Pennington gave him the answer. "He wants a Game Boy Advance, my dear Mario... Because that, my friend, is what young children his age crave above all things!"

"I think he already has one of those," Andrew tugged on his handkerchief. "'In fact', knowing his father, he probably owns the company that manufactures them. So he probably has several dozen of them."

"With the amount of money old Goldbob makes, I'm almost certain that little Bub has a bunch of them if I do say so myself," Bobbery exclaimed.

"Hmmmm... Perhaps we should look elsewhere for an answer, right sweetie?" Ms. Mowz suggested.

"Good idea, Ms. Mowz," Andrew agreed. "Let's go."

They then left Pennington's cabin before walking back into the dining car, where Chef Shimi was shown cooking several meals and recipes for dinner.

---

As they were walking, the Excess Express Waitress couldn't help but gingerly walk over to Andrew to get his attention.

"Yes?" Andrew looked at her curiously. "What can I do for you, ma'am?"

"You so totally bagged that chubby guy in record time..." The Waitress told him with that cute valley girl accent. "I was way impressed!"

"Oh, well, that was nothing," Andrew said sheepishly. "I was just resourceful with following the trail of stew on the floor that led to his cabin room."

"Yeah. Well, I was like, so 'totally' impressed, you handsome man," the Waitress then decided to ask him. "Hey, come to think of it... I could use your skills... Could you help me?"

"Well, sure," Andrew was curious. "What do you need help with?"

"Really?" The Waitress wanted to confirm and Andrew nodded to confirm it. "Wow, OK, so I lost these Shell Earrings that my ex-boyfriend gave me... And they're like, all full of memories and stuff. I 'really' need them back."

"And you have no idea what happened to them, right?" Andrew wondered.

"Yes! Omigosh! Wow! You're like, so good at this stuff, y'know?" The Waitress then asked. "Could you maybe look for them or something? Please?"

"Well, of 'course' we'll find them, sweetheart," Andrew promised her in a suave voice. "We'll keep our eyes open for your Shell Earrings."

"Oh! Wow! Like, thank you, Mr. Detective Guy!" The Waitress thanked him. "You're like, so much smarter than that penguin detective."

"Well, I'm flattered. Really," Andrew then motioned the others to follow. "Well guys, let's keep going."

They nodded as they walked away from her. Goombella couldn't help but comment on her a little bit.

"Jeepers. She's kinda spacey, don'tcha think?" Goombella proclaimed. "Think she's an OK waitress? Probably not... but guys always go for girls like this, don't they? Why is that, Andrew?"

"Probably because she's cute," Andrew said with a blush. "And the way she speaks is pretty adorable."

"It's likely," Goombella accepted that as an answer. "Well, it's her profession. She does what she wants to do."

"That's right," Andrew nodded. "Let's continue looking through the train to find more clues as to what Bub wants. As well as find those Shell Earrings that the Waitress is looking for."

"Good idea, Andrew," Koops agreed. "We'd best get going..."

The eight of them left the dining car and walked past the passenger car that had their room in it.

---

They ended up in another passenger car that had green and brown colored decors instead of the red and brown, and blue and brown of the other two passenger cars.

"Huh?" Andrew blinked at this. "Wonder why we haven't been through here yet?"

"Beats me," Goombella proclaimed. "The green and brown colors 'actually' work here. Wow. There are two passenger cabins here, numbers 1 and 2."

"Only two cabins," Andrew was now standing in front of the cabin #002. "Hey, let's check this room out first."

"Why, that is a most astounding idea, sweetums," Flurrie nodded. "I daresay, I wonder what kind of wealthy person is taking up residency in this room."

"We're about to find out," Andrew grabbed the doorknob to the door. "Let's head inside."

All seven of them nodded as they entered the cabin to see who was in there. It looked pretty much like the other cabins on the train, except it was green instead of red or blue. But the person who was in there shocked Andrew to no end.

The person was a wealthy-looking Toad woman who was aristocratic. Andrew was in awe at who he was seeing. He couldn't believe it. He has seen her before. Could she be who he thinks she is?

"Uhhhhh..." Andrew gawked before shaking his head, as the Toad woman stared in amusement. "Pardon me, madame. But would your name happen to be Toodles?"

"Why yes, that's exactly who I am, darling," Toodles confirmed as she then asked him. "And my, fancy seeing a dashingly handsome man such as you here on a train like this. You happen to be the former champ of the Glitz Pit. The Prevailing Presto?"

"Yes. That would be me," Andrew sounded happy when he said that before he insisted. "But please, you may call me by my birth name. Just call me Andrew."

"Well, whatever you're more comfortable with, Andrew," Toodles smiled. "Anyhow, you are a fine, fine specimen of a man, you. You're marvelous, dear."

"Is that so?" Andrew wondered.

"Mhmm," she nodded. "You solved a rather tough little mystery, didn't you? Yes, VERY well done."

"Well, I try my best, you know," Andrew said shyly while blushing.

"You're so ruggedly smart..." Toodles complimented him in a seductive voice, getting his blush to deepen into a bright red. "Perhaps you could help me with something, as well?"

"Oh yes. Sure. I'd uh...I'd love to help out," Andrew said with an awkward stutter.

"Oh, how 'absolutely' lovely!" Toodles beamed in joy.

"Isn't it?" Andrew asked before shaking his head and correcting himself. "Er, I mean, uh...what do you need?"

"Now, listen well..." Toodles got to the point. "I'm looking for a Gold Ring that I lost somewhere on this very train."

"You lost something too?" Andrew realized.

"Mhmm," Toodles nodded. "Could you please hasten the search along for me...you boldly brilliant man, you?"

"Of course!" Andrew beamed in a declaring manner. "I'll be happy to find your Gold Ring for you, Toodles."

"Oh, why, that would be simply marvelous, honey. Oh thanks ever so much," Toodles winked at him. "I'll be waiting here, patiently, for the moment you do return with my fabulous ring, you handsome muscular man, you."

"I will," Andrew bowed. "And I will do it in such a graceful manner too."

"OK. OK. I've seen enough," Goombella rolled her eyes as she pushed Andrew out of the room. "We'll be back with the ring in no time."

Toodles couldn't help but giggle at Andrew's intentions and politeness, as well as the displays that he was showcasing.

"Jeepers, Andrew. What's with that?" Goombella asked after they left the room. "You sounded like you were crushing on her or something, y'know?"

"Yeah. I don't know what came over me," Andrew sighed. "I guess she's so beautiful. I kinda felt something for a moment there."

"Well, you can't blame a woman for trying, now can you," Flurrie admitted. "That Toodles woman has such great taste in fashion, I almost envy her for it. Almost."

"Hmmm, I don't blame her either," Ms. Mowz agreed with a sly smirk. "She clearly shows just how much of a chick magnet that Andrew is, and that he's a muscular superstar through my eyes, and the eyes of many women such as her."

"Wow," Koops blinked at this. "You ain't kidding."

"Anyway, why don't we check cabin #001 over here," Yoshiam pointed out. "It's almost dinner time, and I want to be there before all of the grub is gone!"

"Patience, Yoshiam. We will make it to dinner in no time," Andrew assured him. "Let's see who resides in here."

Andrew opened the door, as he entered along with his friends and Ms. Mowz. They then saw that the person in there was Zip Toad, which surprised him a little bit.

"Huh? Zip Toad?" Andrew blinked. "Is that you?"

"Yes. I am Zip Toad, Sl-errrr, guy," Zip Toad shook his head. "What can I do for you?"

"Well, I'll get to the point," Andrew sighed. "We're looking for someone to give an autograph for the little Bub kid of the Bob-omb family."

"What does that little Bub kid want as a present? An autograph? Uh..." Zip Toad was reluctant to answer before he shook his head. "Well, I'm sure he'd be stoked to have an autograph of mine, right, guy?"

"I think so," Andrew blinked before nodding. "Don't you agree?"

"Oh, man, don't they all?" Zip Toad then shook his head. "I can't do it, unfortunately. I only sign for chicks."

"Right," Andrew then sighed. "Well, sorry for asking then..."

"Hey..." Goombella decided to get his attention. "You don't think Bub might want something from someone he admires, do you?"

"Yeah. It's possible," Andrew nodded as he trailed off in his thoughts. Putting all the pieces together, he was able to figure it out. He now knew what Bub wanted an autograph from.

"Well, we'd better find whatever it is soon, or we'll meet a yummy, sticky end!" Goombella suggested.

"Whatever it is, we have to find it quickly or we'll end up yummy and sticky!" Koops agreed with her.

"We must find it before the train goes yummy and sticky!" Flurrie declared dramatically.

"No kidding. Presto, we gotta find it soon, or else BOOM! Yummy and sticky!" Yoshiam reminded him.

"Well, we'd better find it before we meet a yummy, sticky end!" Vivian added quite hastily.

"Aye! The train is in danger!" Bobbery nodded.

"Yes! A yummy, sticky danger is out there!" Ms. Mowz remarked.

"Well guys, luckily for you I happened to have figured it out," Andrew snapped his fingers and revealed to him. "He would like to have an autograph from the engineer who is driving this train. The conductor told me earlier that Bub had a dream of becoming a train engineer who drives it! Combining that with an autograph, and you get the picture. Bub wants an autograph from the Excess Express Engineer."

"Omigosh! Andrew, I had never thought of that!" Goombella blinked in amazement at how Andrew figured it out. "Wow. You're good. You're very good."

"Well, I do what I can, Goombella," Andrew then walked to the door and opened it up. "Now, let's go see the engineer and ask him to sign an autograph for Bub, shall we?"

"Totally!" Goombella said as they walked out of the room. "Let's get that autograph signed and delivered to Bub, FAST!"

"Good idea," Koops had commented. "It'll be great to see things turn out all right with the train not blowing up."

"Well, I am simply overjoyed by that decision," Flurrie remarked. "Even though the Bub cutie is simply harmless, I daresay that it's better to play it safe than sorry."

"No kidding," Yoshiam said. "If Bub wants an autograph from the engineer, then he's gonna get it. Just like Presto says."

"Yeah," Vivian uttered shyly. "I think that it'll be sweet for the kid to get an autograph from the engineer that he admires."

"Very smashing thinking, dear boy," Bobbery commented. "The little Bub tyke who just happens to be Goldbob's son will be most impressed by what he shall be receiving from us once the engineer signs an autograph for him."

"Hmmm mmmm mmmm mmmm, yes. Indeed, my muscular superstar," Ms. Mowz said suggestively. "The Bub kid will be so overjoyed when we get him that autograph that he wants from the engineer."

"Exactly," Andrew was heard one last time as they headed for the engineer's car that was up ahead to the right. "Let's go get this squared away."

But what Andrew and the others didn't notice was that after they had left Zip Toad's room, the movie star suddenly grew a smug and rather sadistic grin on his face. It looked as if Zip Toad had some dastardly deed in store for Andrew and his crew.

And he would be ready to pull it off by tomorrow morning. He could only wait until then before he pulled his plan off. That's for sure...

---

END OF CHAPTER 57...

Well, that's it for this chapter. Whew. This chapter was pretty long, based on how much I added to it. Still, I hope you all enjoyed the chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it out!

Now, I decided to have Pennington call Andrew 'Mario' because, in the game, he calls Mario Luigi, and Mario isn't taking the lead role in this story. So I thought it'd be fitting for Andrew to be called Mario by Pennington, which is why he's wearing the overalls and why he started to grow a mustache in the form of some peach fuzz. I just wanted to fill you guys in on it.

As for how Ms. Mowz stumbled upon Andrew and his friends, I decided to do something creative here. The conductor thought that Ms. Mowz was the stowaway, which he started taking seriously after Andrew reported the threat that he received. Andrew decides to take responsibility for her and to keep his eye on her during the whole train trip, which the conductor concedes to reluctantly.

Keep in mind that Ms. Mowz hasn't officially joined Andrew's team just yet. She's just tagging along with him for now. It won't be until they reach Riverside Station does she decides to join after she sees the badges he's collected. And that's a couple of chapters from now. Nonetheless, Andrew will treat her as if she were a part of his team, like how he treats everyone else who is traveling with him.

Also, I decided to include the fact that Goldbob and Bobbery have been friends since their service days in the military. And that they always used to hang out during their off hours, chatting and sharing drinks.

I thought that having Goldbob as a close friend of Bobbery was a good idea, along with another important Bob-omb character that Andrew would have to go on a wild goose chase to find during Chapter 7. All of this makes sense in context, considering they're Bob-ombs and the reputation that revolves around Fahr Outpost.

One other thing, I thought that Andrew having these fuzzy feelings for Toodles is kind of cute, with how awkward he speaks to her. It also helps that Toodles is trying to flirt with him, make advances towards him, and attempt to get into his pants, which will be after he returns her Gold Ring to her. Considering how Toodles and the Waitress are acting towards Andrew, Ms. Mowz might be onto something when she says that he's become a chick magnet, whether he realizes it or not.

Anyway, next time the group gets the autograph the engineer signs to Bub, and then it'll be dinnertime. All eight of them will order something unique that fits their characteristic perfectly, with Bobbery making comments about how it's better than what was served to him in the Navy. There is also a rather sightful fact about how Vivian used to eat when she was with Beldam, and how she was barely given anything good to eat.

Aside from that, the conductor asks Andrew to get a blanket from Cabin #004, the eight of them have to make a deal with a ghost, they have to retrieve a diary from the luggage car, and a few other things will occur. How will this go for them? Read and find out next time, readers!

For now, only if you like, you can leave a review and let me know what you thought of the chapter overall.

Otherwise, I have nothing else to say. So until next time, I do hope you'll all remain hyped for the remainder of Chapter 6. And on that note, thanks again for reading, everyone!