Chapter 8: Boggly Woods
"Hmmmmmmmm…." Frankley hummed while looking at the map and his book.
"Well professor?" Goombella asked. "Where can we find the next Crystal star?"
"The Next crystal Star is in a vast forest known as Boggly Woods, and it seems its in a massive tree." He replied.
"Kind of figured it was a forest of some kind because of the area." I commented. "Do you know where the piper is in this place?"
"Sadly I don't." He replied. "Normally creatures from Boggly Woods don't leave their home unless for good reasons."
"Then uh, how do we find the pipe to get there?" Koops asked.
"I did do some study on this place before you all came in." He replied. "And I found out something interesting. Do you remember that little creature we saw on our way to the thousand-year door for the first time?"
"Yeah it scamped in a hole in the wall when we got close." Maria nodded.
"Well, it just so happens that those little critters are called Punies, and they are some of the species that live in the Boggly woods." He replied. "I bet if you find it, it might help you find the pipe to this place."
"Not gonna be easy if that little guy runs if we tried to get even near it. "Goombella frowned.
I hummed. "Wait, if I remember correctly, there was a doorway next to that hole it ran through blocked by cell bars."
"And since we have that 'Curse' to slip by those tight spaces…" Koops continued. "Which means we can actually get to Boggly woods."
"Let's head to that chamber, maybe that little guy might be around." Goombella suggested.
"Good idea." I nodded.
Taking the pipes to the lower levels of the underground city, we soon made it to the chamber. Upon stepping out of the pipe, we saw the little critter looking around. "There it is." I spoke. "Hey little guy." It turned to us before stiffening and ran back through the small hole. "And there he goes." We went to the doorway with the bars and slipped by with the curse. We found ourselves in another smaller room. The little creature inside saw us and ran to the left side in a panic. Man, poor little guy looks like he might spontaneously explode with how much he is shaking.
We followed it to the end of the room. He turned to us and panicked. "Eeeeeeeek! Please don't eat me!" He yelled in a cute puny male tone.
"Whoa easy we aren't here to eat you." Maria spoke with her hands up.
"R…really?" He asked. "And…you're not bullies?"
"Of course not little guy." I assured him.
The little creature relaxed with a sigh. "Whew, what a relief. For a moment, I thought I had an accident."
"You're one of those creatures from Boggle woods, what are you doing all the way down here?" Goombella asked.
"Wh-what!?" Hee yelped in panic again. "Why do you know of me?" He gasped. "No! You're working for the X-nauts aren't you! You chase me down here!" He backed up to the corner. "Nooooo! Its the end for me!"
"Whoa what are you talking about?" Koops questioned in panic.
I kneeled to the Puni. "You're not making any sense, little guy. Just calm down. We're here to help. Just take a chill pill and tell us what's going on."
He took some breaths before he was calm. "Okay…There's this gang of bady guys who call themselves the X-nauts came to where I live. They bagged inside the great Tree and started tearing it apart and causing trouble. So, I've come all the way here looking for help."
I hummed. "Do you know what they look like? These X-nauts?"
"Y-Yeah." He nodded. "Many of them wear these red uniforms with black 'X's on them with white hats and scarfs. They are led by a big guy with purple colors."
"Crap so it's those loons from Rogueport earlier." Goombella frowned. "Should have known we might run into them again."
"Oh man this means they are already close to the crystal star." Koops groaned.
"Crystal star?" The puni asked. "Yeah, those guys mentioned it. But, we punies don't know anything about crystals or stars."
I hummed before I pulled out the Diamond Star. "Tell me, have you or your punie friends at the tree seen something like this?"
He perked up. "Wait, now that I look at that, the elder of my clan mentioned of some green shiny stone that's been hiding in our tree for generations, at least from what she said."
"Looks like we got an emerald star in this case." Maria spoke.
"Maybe if you guys help us save our tree, i'm sure the elder will give it to you." the puni spoke. "What do you say? I'm begging for your help."
"Hey don't worry bud we will." I assured him.
"Really!? You aren't joking!? You'll do it!?" He asked happily which I nodded as we all did too. "Oh thank you so much! This is great! I'm so happy!"
I gently pick up the puni in my hand. "So, you got a name Little puni?"
"My name is Punio." He introduced himself. "I'll take you all where I live." He jumped down and ran to the right side of the room. "It's this way!" We followed him but we didn't see anything other than another small hole in the wall. "Hold on one sec." He ran into it. "The elder said there's a secret switch around here….AH-HA!" There was a click before the walls moved, revealing a doorway with a path going through.
"Would you look at that." Maria mused before we headed through the doorway to the other side.
Punio awaited us as we saw a pipe, but it was made of wood and had a gray color. "That's the pipe we take to Boggly Woods?" I asked.
"Yup but we need to hurry." Punio spoke. We nodded a heard through.
We passed through the pipe and made it to our new destination, Boggly Woods. The forest was…wow. The ground radiated a rainbow glow color. The stems of the flowers and the bark of the trees were black with the petals and leaves puree white. The sky itself had a gentle yellowish orange glow as if it was the setting of the sun. "Talk about contrasting colors." I marveled.
"Oh, I just got butterflies just looking at this place." Goombella shuddered.
Punio hopped a bit to get our attention. "Um okay a bit farther to the great tree, the elder and her friends are waiting there, oh and my little sister too!"
"Lead the way." Maria smiled. Punio led us as we followed through the forest.
"I never imagined this world would have such bizarre, yet beautiful places." I mentioned.
"The world is full of surprises." Maria giggled. "Just wait till you see the mushroom kingdom." I hope this kingdom is filled with nice people.
We came to a clearing before we blinked. Nearby were three purple ghosts with red, blue and yellow hats on. The one in the blue hat laughed. "Time to go to work, lovelies!" She turned to the one with the red hat. "Vivian. You understand what we've got to do, yesss?"
The one in the red hat now named Vivian nodded. "Mhm, A: We find this Maria girl, B: We steal the map to the crystal stars right?" Crap, we got others who are after us and the map now. "We can do away with Maria and her friend right? Or is that bad?"
"Oh, bad things happen all the time Vivian. But you're right about our goals." The blue hat ghost grinned. "If my information is correct, Maria and the others should be coming down this road quite soon. You must ambush them and get that map." Well shit, this complicates things. She then took notice Vivian's attention was on something she was holding. "What's this now? Vivian, what's that you are fawning over there?"
"Oh? What, you mean by this?" She pulled out a gorgeous pearl necklace in her hands. "I found it near a tree a while back." She giggled. "Isn't it a gorgeous necklace? It's so Lovely. I just HAD to pick it up, Beldam."
"Hmph! Vivian! For shame! Picking up someone's scraps? Disgusting, Greedy!" The now named Beldam scolded. This Beldam chick was rubbing me off a bit im the wrong way. "But, enough of that. Now Vivian, my dear pack rat. Bring out the sketch of that maria girl and the boy you got from Grodus." Grodus? Who the hell is Grodus?
Vivian froze up. "W-what? I…I dont have them! You said they were too important for me to hold, so you took them, you should have them."
"Don't be ridiculous! I don't have those things. You were in charge of it!" Beldam shouted. She came closer to her sister. "You wretched little worm! Blaming me for something you screw up with!"
"B-but I…" Vivian whimpered under the blue hatted ghost's gaze.
"Wow, that poor girl." Maria spoke up while we watched the argument go down.
"How much do you want to bet that Beldam had it the whole time?" Goombella asked.
"100 coins." Koops replied.
I was pretty much quiet while seeing how horrible this bitch was treating her own sister. It reminded me so much how my own sister treated me. I was clenching my fists tightly on instinct as it was something I'd do whenever my sister was badmouthing me.
The plump ghost noticed us before turning to Beldam. "Guuuh! Guh!"
Beldam turned to her. "What is it, Marilyn?" she pointed to us. Oh crap. "Hmm? Those two? This is no time for such nonsense, you great oaf! Save your games for later." Wait, seriously? I mean I can understand me but Maria is kind of someone you can definitely recognize since she is world famous.
She hummed. "Now, where was I? Oh yes." She scold. "Vivian! Don't tell me you lost our precious sketches!"
"But..Listen…I…" Vivian stuttered out. "Look it wasn't my fault…I never had the sketches."
"SILENCE YOU DITZ!" She yelled and slapped her across the face. The girls gasped in shock while koops was dumbstruck by her action.
"That is just cruel…" He breathed.
"Such impudence! How dare you talk back to me like some rebellious child!" She snapped. "Its clear to me that the only rationale your type understands is force." She yanked the necklace Vivian found from her hand. "Your punishment, you will no longer hold onto this necklace you found. So sorry." She was grinning…Fucking grinning! My hands clenched tighter as I could feel my nails digging into my palms as I grit my teeth.
I was about to approach before Maria grabbed my shoulder. "Ace, no. We can't get involved."
"But I can't just stand here and let Vivian just get abused like that." I stated in restrained anger.
"I know, but if they are really after the Crystal Stars and the map, we need to avoid them." She mentioned. "Don't put your own emotions over our objective."
"She's right, as cruel as it sounds." Goombella agreed.
"Please Ace, we need you here." Koops pleaded. "We got a bigger picture to worry about."
I glanced back at Vivian silently crying while Beldam was speaking with Marilyn. I just wanted to beat that woman into the ground even if she is a ghost. But….they were right. They were our enemies, and I can't risk putting the others in danger, plus we need to find the crystal star. "...okay."
"Let's walk past them as they are busy." Maria spoke. We snuck by them as they didnt notice. My heart was twisting for Vivian. I hope one day I can help her. She is like me but lacking inner strength.
We walked for a little bit before Punio spoke up. "There! Up ahead!" We looked ahead and saw a massive negative colored tree. "That's the Great Tree. My home."
"Great is right." Koops commented at the sight.
"The tree is also home to other creatures like the Piders and Jabbies." Punio replied. "But uh…not in a good way."
"Guess they aren't good neighbors?" I asked.
"The Jabbies have been the Punies rivals for centuries, even before I was born." Punio explained. "And the Piders…well…"
"They're giant spiders." Goombella shuddered. "The name is basilly spiders but lacking the S."
"But enough of that. The others are waiting." Punio spoke before running ahead.
"Hey wait up!" Maria called as we ran after him.
The tree was way bigger than it was when we got closer. The light from the sky rained against the trees leaves and branches, almost making it look majestic. "Wow it looks so much bigger up close." Koops breathed.
"The Crystal Star could be anywhere in this thing." Goombella replied.
"Uh oh." We turned to Punio at the tree, which was in front of a metal red door.
"This doesn't look right." I spoke. "Wild guess that the X-assholes installed it."
"Yeah, this was not there before when I left." Punio answered.
Maria came up and gave it a knock. "Sounds pretty study, doubt we can simply bust it down."
"How do we get in then? By the light above, it might be locked." Koops mentioned to the red light above the door.
"Hmmmm." Punio hummed out as his humming grew louding as We could see is small face contorting into constipation. He parked up. "Got it!" He ran around and up the tree a bit. It was sturdy and long enough for us to follow him up.
"Wachta got Punio?" I asked.
"Long ago, the puni elder told me about a secret entrance somewhere around the tree." He answered. "By entering through it, I think I can open the door from the other side." He looked around abit. "But uh…finding it is another story, I doubt finding it is as easy as having the words "Secret Entrance" On it."
"So how do we reveal it?" Maria asked.
"Well, from what I remember, the entrance is hidden by a spiritual energy." He answered. "Its like air, it's there, but its not."
"If it's like air then we just have to blow it away." Goombella deduced.
"I doubt our breathing will do that." I spoke. "Maybe someone who understand wind better than any of us."
Punio perked up. "Wait! There is someone who can help! Madame Flurrie!"
"Madam Flurrie?" We blinked in unison.
"Flurrie is a refined and dignified lady who lives to the east of the woods." He explained. "The elder told me she's a wind spirit and can wield the power of the air with ease."
"So we just need to find her and ask for her help." Koops spoke while scratching his head. "Its never straight forward is it?"
"Nothing ever is Koops, that's one of the big lessons with adventures." Maria mused.
"I know where Flurrie Lives. Follow me!" The puni spoke and headed off. We quickly followed him as we had no idea where to go.
On the edge of the Boggly woods was a luxurious but simple house. A figure of a woman looked out from the woods with a smile. "Ahhhhh, these woods are the most wonderful in all the world. Yes indeed." She giggled. "Building a house here was just the finest idea I ever did have. oh my yes!" She lets out a content sigh. "This place is so much different from the bright flashbulbs of the world I'm used to, such peace, this negative image of the real world soothes my body and soul. But even better I, Madame Flurrie, grow ever more lovely here! Plus those squishy, adorable little punies that leave in that tree are so nice to me!"
She floated around the moon and hummed. "but…I suppose if I stay here too long, I'll begin to crave the hustle and bustle before long." She gasped. "Oh my! Is happening even as I speak! Already I feel the need for drama! That moment of exhilaration when the spotlight shines down on the stage….on me!" She gushed. "I was born to be…an actress for the ages!"
She floated over to a dresser with a mirror. "I simply must whip my mind and body into shape, I'll just have to put on some makeup and make my beauty even more beautiful." She raised her hand up to the chest. "...wait a moment…." she gasped. "ITS GONE! GONE I TELL YOU! MY…MY….!"