Chapter 10: The Great Tree

Heading back to the Great Tree with confidence now that we have Madame Flurrie a part of our team. Though she has a fascination with me which worries me especially with Goombella with how badly she reacted when Ms Mowz kissed me. She didn't seem too peeved, but I can definitely see in her eyes she wasn't pleased about it. Maybe I can talk to her about it later.

We arrived back at the tree as the wind spirit smiled. "Oh, it's been so long since I last seen this marvelous tree."

"Yeah, mind using your power to reveal the secret entrance?" Punio asked.

"But of course." She floated to the front of the tree. Taking a deep breath, she exhaled. A blast of wind gushed out. Above the main entrance, it stated to warp before it faded, revealing a hole with a sign that said "Secret Entrance"

"Wow, you guys actually have a sign that says secret entrance." I sweatdropped at this.

"Ehehe." Punio chuckled sheepishly. "Well anyway, I'll go in." He jumped from the branches before running into the hole.

"Aren't the punies such the most precious little things?" Flurrie asked.

"Yeah." Maria admitted.

I turned to the wind spirit. "So Flurrie, I been meaning to ask. You mentioned before you missed the business of a city. What did you mean by that? Were you rich and famous or something?"

"I was a rather famous actress, Darling." She replied with a smile. "I was a diva on stage, I was known as Madame Flurrie all over the world…But the filthy air outside the spotlight repelled me so I came to these woods."

I blinked. "A famous actress that goes off from a rich elighting career?" Wow….I honestly wasn't expecting this from someone of her status. I mean I thought she may have been a tycoon or something else.

Flurrie smiled. "But, I glimpsed into the beauty of these punies and their pure little hearts. It reminded me of my own innocence as an actress. And that made me realize…I shall ever love the stage. I must feel the spotlight shine on me again."

"You're certainly passionate." Goombella commented.

"Indeed. While I do enjoy the spotlight as an actress, I shall never go astray of how I truly am, for I always care for those to my heart and my newfound friends." The wind spirit smiled. Wow, my family can definitely learn a number of things from this woman. "The little punies helped me find my true self. That's why I must help them however I can before I go on my adventures with you all."

"We can respect that." Maria nodded with her own smile.

"Hey guys!" We turned to the door. The red light overhead turned green before the door opened as Punio came out. "I got the door open! We can get inside."

"Nicely done little guy." I grinned as we quickly came over before entering the tree. The inside was more unique than a modern tree. There as black roots with solid walls that flowed with blue liquid. There were bushes and trees even growing inside the great tree. "Whoa…"

"Wow, I never knew a tree would be so…full of life." Koops marveled.

Punio looked around the room. "Elder, guys? Where are you? Heeeeeelllllloooooooo?"

"Something wrong Punio?" I asked.

"Yeah, normally this is where we punies meet up, and we are huge in numbers." he answered. We heard a door on the other end of the room beep before opening as some familiar grunts came out.

"Ah! Hey it's those snob assholes from the Rogueport docks!" Goombella shouted.

"They call them X-nauts from what Punio said." I replied with a firm look.

The pair noticed us. "Wah! Who are you guys? How did you get in here?"

His buddy then perked up seeing us. "Whoa Dude! Isn't that the Maria chick?"

"Whoa! You're right! And that guy with her must be Ace!" the other grut realized. "We better get them then!"

"But dude, Lord Crump told us to tell him immediately of we see them, remember?" The grunt mentioned.

"You idiot! Use your head! If we capture them then we'll get all the credit man! Duh!" His friend reasoned.

"Oh yeah…right on!" His friend beamed. "Let's rock these chumps!"

"One, two, three, break!" They shouted before rushing at us.

"Allow me ladies." I spoke before rushing them. Both threw their bodies at me befoe I spun my body. My leg swung around before striking them both in the neck, smashing them against the wall. "Standard lackeys, they have numbers but lack skill."

They got up as one of the groaned. "Ow…man that hurt."

"Uh dude maybe informing Crump wasn't such a bad idea after all." The second one spoke.

"Tell you master we're gonna clobber his sorry ass outta here." I added. The pair quickly left, locking the door behind them. "And they call us chumps."

"That was awesome Ace!" Punio cheered. "Nice work."

"Eh it wasn't much." I simply shrugged.

Something moved from a Puni statue, catching Punios attention. He ran to it as we saw another puni like him with a yellow fluff ball on its antenna. "Finally, somebody shows up! What are you doing back here? Come on out, I found us a powerful ally."

He pulled the Puni out to face me as I kneeled to it. "Hey little guy."

"He's…He's huge." The puni breathed. "Uh are you sure he won't eat us?"

"Not at all." The green puff ball puni replied before noting another puni hiding behind the statue. "Huh? Hey. Who is that? Who else is back there?" Many other punies poked their heads out making comments on us. "Hey, don't worry everyone. This is Ace, Maria and their friends. They're our allies. They're here to help. All those bad guys? Ace'll stomp every one of them just like the other goons." They soon came out of hiding revealing a small number of them as they all head yellow puff antenni instead of green.

Punio blinked. "Is this it? There are so few…Well, we have to make do. Now lets formally introduce-"

"Hold on!" A guff voice snapped. Coming out from the statue is another Puni…only this one was a bit bigger and chubby than the others. The puff antenna on his head was an orange color. "How do you really know these…strangers are our allies? They might be one of them!"

Punio came up to the chubby Puni. "Puniper! What are you saying?! They are not with them! Listen we can fight alongside them and chase those goons out of here!"

The chubby puni named Puniper scoffed. "Big bag Punio. Listen to yourself. Trying to sound all important like." he came closer. "You have no idea th kind of troubles we;ve been through while you were gone!"

"Huh? What are you talking about Puniper?" Punio questioned before looking at his fellow Puni "And why are there so few of you here? What happened to everyone?"

"They've been captured by those goons. The elder, everybody. even your sister." The chubby puni stated.

"WHAT!? Petuni?! Say it isn't so!" The green antenna Puni shouted in shock.

"Oh it's so all right! She was taken off somewhere with the rest of them." Puniper answered. "They said it was because we wouldn't tell them where to find some crystal thing. We told them we'd never heard of it."

"Poor Petuni." Punio dropped before he growled in anger. "Oh that absolutely tears it! We're all gonna be looking out for them right away!"

"What are you saying, Punio!?" The larger puni snapped. "Have you not been paying attention!? We can't do anything to those giant goons! And it's only gotten worse. The Jabbi Tribe is in league with them. They plan to make our tree their home once we;ve been all driven from it. Already there are two hives made." He turned to us. "This is it for us. The end! And adding these strangers to our ranks wont help a bit!"

"How can you say that?! We have to try don't you see?" Punio questioned. "Think about it if we all get together we can take of any Jabbies! So who is with me huh? Come on everyone, let's pool our strength!"

The others were quiet as Puniper laughed. "Punio Punio Punio. You'll have to convince me, because I think you're nuts."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Thee puni demanded.

"We will convince you." they turned to me when I spoke up. "If you dont believe we are not your allies, then let us prove to you that we are."

"Alright fine, if you can rescue our friends who are locked up somewhere in this tree then I'll join your letting crusade, HA! Like that would ever happen! Please." Puniper scoffed.

"Oh yeah? We'll show you." Punio stated. "Come on guys, let's free the others!" He turned and ran off. That little jerk is lucky I don't punt him like the football he is.

We followed through the tree in hopes to find the others that are trapped. We don't know for certain where, but we start by heading upwards to the upper levels. "So Punio." Maria spoke up as the puni turned to her. "Why are you so determined to do all this? I know part of it is to help your people, but I think there's more to it."

"Well…you'd be right on that." He answered. "You see, the elder is planning for me to be the next tribe leader when she passes."

"Wow those are some big shoes to fill if you guys ever wear shoes that is." Koops commented.

"Yeah…and it's not easy either." He added. "Many of the Punis think I can't do it considering I mess things up a lot and I get into trouble."

"Hey, I'm sure the Elder sees something in you the others can't." I assured him.

"Which is why I am determined to prove myself to them, and when I save them, maybe they will see me more as a leader." He declared.

"Certainly something very admiral My dear adorable Puni." Flurrie cooed.

"Hehe." He chuckled sheepishly.

We kept going upwards in the tree before seeing more of those X-Naut bastards. But they were with 'X' shaped creatures with faces. "What the hell are those?" I questioned.

"Im not sure. I never seen those before." Punio spoke.

I turned to Goombella. "Bella?"

She took out her book and looked through. "Lets see…here." She smiled. "It says its called a Yux. Some kind of prototype weapon creature."

"Wow that book got everything." Koops whistled.

"It says they also create these little mini yux to form shields around them, they're impenetrable." She added. "So by that logic we take out the mini Yux first before going after the big one."

I turned back to them. "They don't seem to notice us now. Maybe if we take them out by surprise, they won't have time to react."

"Good idea." Maria nodded.

"Koops, get ready for launch." I spoke. He retracted into his shell before spinning quickly. "Maria, on my mark." She nodded and took her hammer out. The Yux's floated around near one another. "Wait….not yet….almost…" I saw them line up. "Now!"

"Here-we-go!" She shouted and hit Koops' shell like a golf club causing him to bolt right at the Yux. It was a direct shot as they were slammed ito the wall.

"What the!?" The grunts yelled in shock. I was behind them and tapped their shoulders. When they turned I grabbed their heads and bashed them together, knocking them out.

"Tango taken care of." I mused.

The others came up. "Marvelous work darling." Flurrie praised. "Such persistent. Very alluring.~"

"Uh…T-thanks." I flushed rubbing the back of my head. Goombella puffs her cheeks out before she walks past me, and even flicked my forehead. "Ow! Dammit not again."

"What's her deal?" Punio asked.

"Hell if I know, she was like this before only she bonked me on the head after an encounter with thief." I replied rubbing where I was flicked.

Maria giggled. "I only think she wants your attention Ace."

"Uh…can you clarify?" I asked.

"Oh you'll find out soon." She winked as they walked past me with mused laughs and chuckles.

"I would prefer now." I grumbled as I followed them.

We took a pipe that lead us into a large room. We were greeted by a large red cage. "Whoa, i'm guessing that wasn't there before." Koops blinked.

"No, this is new." Punio spoke before noticing something in the red cage. "Elder!"

Inside said cage was a Puni, but looked to be in her golden years with purple puff antenna and blak scarf. "Punio, is that you? You're looking well." She greeted with a calm elderly voice.

"How are you so calm, elder? You're trapped!" Punio exclaimed. "And this is a daring rescue for you!"

"Oh? A rescue is it? Well, thanks I suppose. Those are quite exciting." She replied with a bit of amusement. "But you ought to help the other Puni's before rescuing me."

"Where are the others?" He asked.

She then started rambling on for a cute voice spoke out. "Big Brother!? Is that my Punio?!" We looked and beside the red cage was a matching blue cage with a large number of Puni inside.

"How did we miss that?" Koops asked no one in particle.

Punio ran to the cage and to a little puni with freckles and a pink puff antenna. "Petunia! Thank heavens! You're alright."

"I knew you'd come for me, Punio! I just knew it!" Petunia beamed.

"Of course I would dear sister." Punio spoke happily. Wow, first Koops with his girlfriend, Flurrie with her adoring kind heart, and Punio's brotherhood with his sister. Why couldn't I be that fortunate? "And I found us powerful allies." He motioned to us. "Wee're gonna get you outta there right away. Just hold on tight for a second."

"Okay." His sister nodded.

"I doubt we can pick the locks, so we're gonna have to find the cage keys." I spoke as I exclaimed the lock on the door.

"Lets try the next room." Koops pointed to a room nearby. Nodding, we head into it. It was a clear storage room. On the ground was a knocked out grunt.

"Maybe ee might have a key." I theorized so we approached him.

"Oh, well isn't this a treat?~" A familiar voice purred. Snapping up, we saw a familiar red tight skinned mouse lady sitting on a box with a grin. "We must stop meeting up like this, don't you think?~"

"Ms Mowz?!" I blanched in surprise.

"Not this bitch again." Goombella scowled. "What are you doing here anyways?"

"I heard there were some nice badges here, so I came looking. Only problem is I've been running into more trouble than expected." She replied.

"Well this place is currently under X-naut control." Maria replied.

"But, it makes up that I get to see my favorite cheese hunk again.~~" Ms Mowz grinned as she jumped down. She approached me, adding some sways to her hips. I'm getting some deja-vu right now.

"Uh, look I-mph!" I was cut off when the mouse lady kissed me on the lips again.

"Mmmmmmmmmmm.~~~~~~~" She moaned in glee while making out with me.

"Well this is happening." Koops spoke with a flush of his cheeks.

"My word, I never knew Ace was attracted to so many women." Flurrie mused. Oh come on why me?!

"Mmmmmwah.~~~~~~" She pulled back from thee kiss with a smack as she grinned. "Lovely as always. Charming to see you again.~~~" She jumped back with a flip to the window.

Goombella growled. "Seriously, you kissed him again? Who do you think you are, you total Floozy?!"

"Oh and by the way." Mowz museed. "I have been researching a bit on the Crystal Stars. And from what I gathered, it's hidden deep beneath this Tree."

"Good to know." Maria nodded.

The mouse grinned. "Take care everyone…and you to my handsome superstar. Let's get together soon.~~~~" blowing me a kiss, she fell backwards.

"That was weird." Punio commented.

I snapped from my daze and smacked my lips. "Well uh…that was certainly something."

*whack!*

"Ow!" I yelped when I saw Goombella storming out with a huff. "It's Hooktail castle all over again. This better not become a thing." I kneeled to the grunt and searched his pockets. I felt a key and pulled it out showing it to be a red colored one. "Well at least we found the key to the elder's cage." Wee ran out of the roo and back to the cell room.

I unlocked the door and open it as Punio went in. "Elder! We're back! We're her to rescue you!"

We all came in as well before….

"FOOLISH CHILD!" The elder boomed and grew as big as me. This surprised us before she shrunk back down. "Punio! Sit down this instant and keep your mouth shut!" Whoa…guess she has mood swings.

"What? Why?" Punio blinked. "What did I do…?" he shook his head. "Listen Elder, I dont know why you're mad, but we came here to help you."

"Stop your mumbling you! And mind your elders you welp!" She scolded him. "How could you abandon your poor sister and run off like that? Absolutely Shameful!"

"But…but elder…I just went to find help…to help rescue you." Punio spoke a bit ashamed and hurt.

"Oh stop with the Whining! You never interrupt an elder Mid-lecture! Never!" The elder shouted. "This is why the punis always call you Doofus sometimes. But, that time is OVER! Because you have to lead the tribe someday! That is not far off! And THAT'S why you need to listen! Now, first of all…"

All of us were laying back against a wall with blunt expressions while the elder was biting Punio's ears off while he listened to her. I think at some point we almost fell asleep a few times during her rant.

"Ugh, how long has she been rambling on for?" I groaned.

"I lost count at 3 hours.." Koops groaned. "Glad the mayor or my Koopie never scolded me that much."

"...Or else!" The elder snapped. "You Got that Punio? From now on, you got to get your act together!"

"...Yes elder. Yes I understand." Punio nodded slowly.

"Only answer ONCE!" She snapped. "...By the way what are you doing here anyway?" This caused us to facepalm at her bad short term memory.

"Uh..I was trying to tell you Elder." Punio repealed. "We came here to rescue everybody. Wee started with you."

"Oh! Is that so? Well good! In that case get me out of here already! Crimney!" She shouted. "This cell is cold which isn't good for the old back and there's this damp stench." she waddled out of the cell and went down the pipe we came in from.

"Finally that's over." Goombella sighed in relief as we got up. "Any longer and my butt would have fallen asleep."

Punio ran out of the cell to the blue one. "Hang in there Petuni. I'll be back for you."

"Okay big brother." She replied. "Don't take too long."

"I won't." He promised and turned to us. "Okay, let's go."

"Alright." We nodded before we headed back down the pipe.

We got back to the main floor of the tree. The other punis awaited with the elder. The others were relieved she was okay. Puniper saw us approaching. "Well well, if it isn't Punio and his friends." Oh here we go. "Hmph! You heard me! Hmph! I can't say I expected you to manage to rescue the elder."

"I told you I could do it." Punio stated proudly.

"Don't get a swelled head fool. This doesn't mean I'll accept you as our leader." He stated. "And it definitely doest mea I trust your band of misfits either." The gonads on this one. "For starters you still haven't rescued the others yet, so i'm not lifting an antenna to help until you do."

I glared and was about to clobber this prick.

"YOU STUBBORN MULE!" The elder shouted, growing big again as it startled us all. "Deplorable! How DARE you talk like that, knowing what we're up against!? We must stand together now! We must take back our tree! Do you understand that?!"

Puniper blinked. "But…but Elder…"

"Shut your trap Puniper! And mind me you hear!" She snapped, shutting him up. Daaaaaamn, you go grandma. "You help those youngins! Everyone present will help them take back this tree, am I clear!?"

The chubby puni sighed. "Oh alright, whatever you say, elder. I'm not heartless or anything. I'm just worried about the others." at least now he has some sense knocked into him. "And your right we have no choice, we must fight! Right everybody?"

"Right!" The other cheered.

The elder chuckled. "There you go my punis, that's the spirit!"

"Thanks guys." Punio thanked them as they gathered around us.

Goombella then walked up to the elder. "Hey if you're done rallying everyone, I have a question, we are looking for something called the Crystal star, ever heard of it?"

"The crystal star eh?" The elder hummed. "Yes…perhaps…hidden deep down in the tree is a funny colored stone."

"So Miss Mowz's intel was right." I spoke.

"She is surprisingly informed." Koops added.

"Will you two shut up about her?" Goombella stated to us. We both gulped seeing she wasn't in the mood when we mentioned her.

"Now uh…what do we do with it?" The elder puni hummed before perking up. "Oh right. Guard it from evil and give it to a pure heart. That's what the generations of elders have been taught. The crystal star."

"So we have to figure out how to get to the lower level of the tree and find it before the X-naughts do." Maria spoke.

"Yes indeed." The elder nodded. "But in order to get to it, you will need the punis help. You'll have to save the others locked up."

"Well all we have to do is find the blue cage key." I replied.

"If I have to take a wild guess, the Jabbis must have it." Punio spoke up. "So if we find a hive then we might find it."

"Oh and one other thing." We turned to the elder an she rolled out an orange sphere. "You'll need this as well." I took it and held it up. "Its the Puni orb a sign of leadership., and if you place it on the pedestals you see around the tree, the Puni's will gather close to it, just remember to take it when you're done with it."

"Right. Thank you Elder." I smiled as I stashed the orb away. "Okay guys, lets get going." We nodded and walked off. So far we're learning more about our enemies. Whoever these guys ae, we can't let them get the crystal stars. And I must know more about these gems, and what I saw form before.