Peach, Goombella, and I made our way down the dirt road heading to Petal Meadows. I could tell we were getting closer as the open fields around Rogueport's eastern exit gave way to grassy fields that then turned into light forests with green trees. As we came over the hill, I could see an expanse of natures; trees, flowers, and green grass that stretched out over the rolling hills.

"This is it!" Goombella spoke up. "Petal Meadows."

"It's so pretty." Peach said her eyes glued to the expanse of green before us. I pulled out the map from my pack. According to the map, we had to find a large castle somewhere in this area. I felt a tug on my arm and looked to see Peach pointing into the distance. She was pointing to a distant town where I could see a few koopas moving about in a hurry.

"That's suspicious." I said pocketing the map.

"That's Petalburg." Goombella informed. "It's mostly a koopa town. Mayor Kroop is the oldest mayor and currently still in office. It's the only town in all of Petal Meadows."

"Interesting." I said feeling my mind move back to the various hills that spotted this place. Some much taller than others.

"If we follow the road, we should hit Petalburg in about an hour and a half."

"Good…"

"Shouldn't we get moving?" Peach asked.

"In a minute. I'm curious if it's possible to slide down the hill." A happy gasp from Peach had me chuckle.

"Unless you brought a board probably not." Goombella said and both Peach and I sighed.

"Fine, we'll walk."

"Boo."

After an hour and a half of not sliding down the hill, we made it to the entrance to Petalburg. Despite the quiet nature we passed, the town seemed panicked and busy. People were rushing into houses and bolting their doors shut. Those already in a house made small quick peeks through their windows before closing their blinds just as quickly.

"What's got everyone in a tizzy?" Peach asked. Suddenly, a shadow rushed over us from the sky. All three of us looked up to see a dragon flying above the small town, circling it slowly. I've seen enough circling birds to know what this means.

"We need to get inside. NOW." I quickly grabbed Peach and Goombella's hands and rushed for the nearest house, rattling the knob and banging against the door trying to get it open. Peach and Goombella joined in to put their weight against the door until it swung open. We rushed in and I shut the door, applying the door lock, for what good it would do. "Whew." As I slid against the door and onto the floor, I opened my eyes and was shocked to find the house we had entered. It looked like a fairly standard house but the overabundance of Peach themed items that were on the shelves and walls had me shocked. I looked over at Peach who was just wide-eyed in surprise.

"Oh my…this is embarrassing."

"For you or the homeowner?" Goombella asked. The house gave a low rattle as a roar ran through the entire town. The follow up of wing beats slowly growing quieter had a dead silence go over the town before an older voice could be heard outside.

"HOOKTAIL'S GONE! EVERYBODY GET YER KEISTERS OUT HERE!" Before any of us moved a pop sound could be heard. IN the corner was a koopa man who gave a heavy sigh.

"Another day of hiding. He almost got me this time!" When he opened his eyes and looked at us he just stared for a minute. "…Hello."

"…Sorry about your boarded-up door…we needed to get off the street." I said trying to keep him calm. His opinion of us was the difference between a desperate hiding move and a home invasion attempt.

"I understand. I wouldn't want to be out there while Hooktail is in the sky." He replied shivering.

"Hooktail?" Peach asked.

"It's a big dragon that terrorizes our town every day. If your outside when it's looking for food, you might as well kiss your shell goodbye." His eyes stayed on Peach for a minute. I could tell he was trying to recognize her but was having trouble…which is probably for the better.

"Know anyone we can ask about a crystal star?" I quickly interjected. Taking his focus off the princess.

"Well, our mayor might be able to give you more information. You'll find his house further into town. It's the pink one with the orange roof." With that information I opened the front door to his house.

"Thanks. That's a lot of help." I quickly ushered Peach and Goombella out of the house. "Good luck with-" I gave a circular motion to all of the princess items in the koopa's house, "-all…this…thing." With that I shut the door.

"What a nice koopa." Peach commented.

"You're lucky he didn't recognize the princess." Goombella added.

"Your telling me." He probably would have asked her to autograph all his stuff.

As we made our way through the town I noticed most, if not all, of the houses were boarded up even as villagers wandered around. Seems like Hooktail showing up is a regular occurrence. At one of the bigger houses I could see two koopas, one boy and one girl talking. The guy seemed visibly shaken as the girl comforted him.

"Soren, over there." Goombella moved my attention to the very distinct pink house. I rapt my knuckles against the door and waited for someone to respond.

"…"

"…"

"Is anyone home?" Peach asked. I grabbed the doorknob and gave it a turn, finding it unlocked. The inside lid straight to a living room where a very old koopa sat in a reclined chair, snoring away.

"This is the mayor?" Goombella asked in amazement. I shrugged.

"I mean…with age comes wisdom, right?" I gave him a small shake and found myself on the wrong side of a cane as he smacked me on the face and shook himself away.

"Whatza- who's there!? I warn ya, I pack a mean wallop with my cane!"

"Noticed." I nazily replied, rubbing my bruised nose. Peach quickly helped me up as the old man got up from his seat.

"Who are you people and what are you doing in my house?"

"We were looking for the mayor." Goombella said.

"Well you're looking at him. Names Kroops." Now that I think about it…that's the voice that announced Hooktail had left…how did he fall asleep so quickly!? "Now what can I do for you fine ladies?"

"I'm a guy." I clarified.

"Of course, sweetie."

"Hmmm…"

"We're looking for something called the Crystal Star. Do you know where we can find it?"

"Crystal Star? Don't know much about that to be honest. We don't have much after Hooktail started terrorizing our town."

"That dragon seems to be a big problem for this town." I said.

"Everyone is so scared of it." Peach added. Kroops sighed.

"That dragon has been nothing but trouble! It set itself up in that big castle and started terrorizing our village. Eating our people and stealing our stuff. If it's shiny then that dragon might have taken it."

"Probably sitting on a dragon's hoard of treasure." I said. "Sitting on riches and treasures from all over. Untold wealth that can only be imagined by us." Feeling someone looking at me, I looked down slightly to see Goombella looking up with eyes full of wonder and amazement.

"Are you serious?"

"That's how most dragons I've heard about act." She shook slightly in excitement. "…So, we'll probably find what we're looking for at Hooktail castle?"

"Most likely. The castle is filled with treasure-"

"No need for more convincing, let's get moving!" Goombella pushed us toward the door eager to get moving.

"We'll try to deal with that nasty Hooktail while we're there." Peach offered as we made our way out the Mayor's house.

"Don't get eaten!"

Goombella was hopping around happily as we made our way to the east end of town.

"Treasure. ACTUAL treasure! It's so exciting!" I couldn't help but chuckle at her enthusiasm. It was like I was watching Lily jump at the idea of seeing something spectacular for the first time.

"She's like a little kid." Peach commented giggling.

"Well, don't tell her but the treasure hoard might not be as big as she's thinking." If the dragon really did show up a few years ago then I would only expect a small pile of gold out of the beast. Takes them decades to amass any kind of wealth. "But they should have the crystal star, at least that's what the map says."

"U-Um…excuse me." We all stopped and turned to see a koopa looking at us. He had pale skin and blonde hair with blue eyes. He wore a light blue hoodie with a small green shell hood poking out of the back of it and blue shorts with white boots. On his nose was a bandage that only seem to drive home his wimpish nature as he wriggled in place. "Y-You're going to take on Hooktail right?"

"Yeah?" I said curious to what he wanted.

"W-Well…um…n-never mind." He gave a quick turn and ran away, tripping onto his face a few feet away from us before getting up and running away.

"What was that about?" Peach asked and I shrugged.

"Hey!" We both turned to see Goombella much farther ahead of us, "Hurry up! We've got treasure to find!"

Hooktail castle. An imposing dark fortress over Petal Meadows that sits in stark contrast with the bright flowery fields. It truly stood as a powerful fortress where a might dragon lived and thrived…a shame it was behind a large moat of water with a raised drawbridge.

"No…my treasure." Goombella whined trying to reach to the other end with her hand.

"AND the crystal star." I brought up.

"Look at this." Peach said turning our attention to two stone slabs with indents in them. One in the shape of the sun and the other in the shape of a crescent moon. "Think it has something to do with the drawbridge."

"Probably." I said with a sigh. "Might have been better to learn about this BEFORE we came here."

Back at the mayor's house we found him asleep in his reclining chair again. I gave him another quick shake and was met again by a cane to the face.

"You should dodge next time." Peach offered as she helped me up.

"Hooligans! Here to rob me are you!?"

"Mayor Kroops, it's us again." Goombella said and Kroops calmed down.

"A yes the three young maidens." Blind old coot. "You left before I could tell you about the stones." I threw a sly eye at Goombella who avoided looking at me. "In order to get into Hooktail castle, you need the day and night stone."

"Where are those?" I asked.

"Well, normally you'd find them in the ruins to the south of town." Guess we've got another detour. "Unfortunately-" Huh? "-they're not there anymore."

"What happened to them?" Peach asked.

"Well…a couple of years back we had another koopa try to take on the beast. He was determined to take on the beast come hell or highwater!"

"What happened to him?" Goombella asked.

"Don't know. But we haven't seen him since."

"Guess he took on hell and highwater and lost." I commented.

"After he didn't come back, we had someone go to collect the orbs. But they were stolen already!"

"Why would someone take the orbs from the gate? It's the only thing that can get people to the castle." I asked.

"Maybe someone was scared of Hooktail." Peach offered.

"That describes most of the village." My mind drifted back to that scared koopa who was being comforted, he was also the koopa who tried to approach us for some reason. "…Hey, know any koopas that are kind of wimpy…blue hoodie."

"You must mean Koops. Lives in the big house right next to me." Kroops said.

"Thanks. Come on girls."

"Figure something out?" Peach asked.

"I think. I at least have a lead."

I gave a knock on the door, enough to get whoever was insides attention but not come off as angry. After a few seconds someone cracked the door open and looked out at us. It was unmistakably the same koopa who approached us earlier.

"Y-Yes?" He asked in a meek voice.

"Are you Koops?" I asked and he looked a bit pensive.

"Y-Yes." I wasn't sure where to go from here. I wanted to ask him about the orbs but it felt like just accusing him was the wrong move. Peach moved in to talk to Koops.

"May we come in?" Koops looked slightly frazzled at Peach's question before stepping back and opening the door for us.

We sat down in his den. The entire house was darker than the other houses, even with the boarded-up windows something about it felt…darker. The three of us sat on one couch while Koops sat in a chair across from us. Next to him was the girl koopa from earlier. She had rosy skin and lilac eyes; she wore a nice sweater with her shell poking out the back like the other koopa, her hair was up in a ponytail being held by a pink band and she wore pink shorts with white boots.

"W-Would you like a drink?" Koops asked.

"No thank-"

"Some tea would be nice." Peach interrupted.

"I'll go make some for everyone." The girl koopa said.

"Thanks Koopie Koo." Koopie Koo? Come back to that Soren. We sat there in silence for a few minutes, just waiting for someone to speak. I figured since the princess had taken the initiative she would drive the conversation but she sat quietly, waiting for her tea to be brought out. When Koopie Koo did come back out with a few cups of tea, she placed one in front of everyone and sat down next to Koops.

"Thank you." Peach said bringing the tea cup to her lips taking a small sip before setting it back down. Goombella leaned in to whisper.

"What is she doing?"

"I'm not sure." I replied.

"Koops." Peach spoke up making both me and Goombella, along with Koops, sit up straight. "Why did you approach us when we were headed to Hooktail castle?"

"I…uh…well…" He stammered relentlessly.

"Did you want to stop us from going to Hooktail castle?"

"No! I just wanted to…"

"You wanted to go find your father didn't you."

"…Yes." To our surprise, Koopie Koo rose from her seat and stared daggers at Peach.

"Stop this. If you came here just to torture poor Koops then you can leave! I won't let you hurt him."

"On the contrary." Peach looked a Koopie Koo and Koops calmly, with a strange energy that had me remember the first time I had met her and she was in her regal and queen-like persona. She exuded a confident energy that had everyone waiting for what she would say next. "I believe we can help each other."

"I-If you want the gate stones, I can give them to you."

"Koops." Peach said making him shut up. "Say what you actually want to do." He visibly shook before falling to his knees.

"Please please please pleeeeeaaaaaaaassssseeeee let me come with you to Hooktail Castle!"

"Wh-What!?" Koopie Koo said in complete shock.

"I…I want to avenge my dad…maybe even find him if he's alive. I want to be the person who puts an end to the terror we've faced for years…so please let me come with you! I'm begging you!"

"Calm down dude!" I quickly said as he banged his head into the wood floor. I quickly lifted him onto his feet. "We want to take Hooktail down to and retrieve the crystal star they've got."

"Yeah!" Goombella added. "Hooktail doesn't scare us, let's take it down and get all that treasure!"

"And we'll find your father." Peach added in her regal tone.

"Th-Thank you." Koops replied bashfully. Looks like we've made a new friend.

"Excuse me." We all turned to see Koopie Koo with a noticeable pout on her face.

"I don't agree with this at all! Koops, I don't want you doing something so dangerous. You don't have to prove anything to me. I don't want to see you get hurt, or worse!" She was tugging at his hoodie desperately, "Please, don't do this."

"Koopie Koo…I'm sorry, but this is something I have to do. Not just for myself…but for the village too. So please, just let me do this." Almost on a dime, I watched Koopie Koo's face change from fear to outright anger. She gave him a harsh slap across the face.

"FINE!" Receding into her shell, she rushed out the door, tripping me to the floor as she rocketed out the door with a final line, "STUBBORN KOOPA!"

"I'm sorry Koopie Koo. I promise I'll come back to you a stronger Koopa."

"Mind helping me up before you do that." I asked grasping at the air in front of him for his arm.

We approached the drawbridge to Hooktail Castle once more. This time with Koops in tow, holding the moon and sun stones. Placing them into the chamber, the drawbridge came to life, rattling wildly before dropping and creating a pathway across the moat, towards the entrance to the massive castle. I looked over at Koops who was visibly shaking in fear. Taking a page from Gareth's book, I gave him a hard slap on the back, making him stand up straight.

"Don't worry Koops, we've got your back."

"Th-Thanks Soren…I'm just worried about what we'll find in there."

"Can't be anything too bad right?"

"Well-" Goombella spoke up. "If Hooktail has been eating Koopas then we might encounter their bones."

"How horrifying." Peach said with a hint of sadness in her voice.

"Unless they're fresh we should be fine."

"Why would freshness effect a drybones?" Goombella asked. Drybones? Suddenly, the sound of something rattling had us all turn to the large entryway as the sound became louder and louder. What stepped out of the entryway was a shambling pile of koopa bones that came towards us slowly. Koops gave out a yell in horror as I drew my wooden blade. When it came close enough, I smacked it back with a single strike making it skid back. It rattled slightly before receding into its pale shell and launching at me. I took a step back as Peach rushed forward and swung her parasol to the left, colliding with the shell and sending the Drybones into the nearby moat water with a splash before it sunk to the bottom like a stone.

"…There are more like that in there, aren't there?" I asked Goombella and she nodded. I figured this world wouldn't throw undead horrors at until at least the third star…oh well.

"M-M-More like that!?" Koops asked in horror. Considering how long Hooktail has been terrorizing the group, I can only imagine how many are in there…think I'll keep that to myself for now.

"Well gang, let's keep moving!" With that I confidently strode into the castle to hopefully alleviate any fear in the group. Considering Peach was happily humming as we walked and Goombella eagerly followed behind I felt it was a good move. Of course, Koops was still shivering in fear but given that he was a coward by nature I just took the fact that he was following as a good sign. After all, this was a large castle to get through, he was going to need all the courage he could muster.