Welcome all to another installment of Game Jumpers! Last chapter had our merry band of adventures brave the dangers of Mt. Rugged, the gateway to Dry Dry Desert. It was a rather haphazard climb filled with new obstacles and enemies, but the heroes were able to push through them with minor effort. During their trek, they came across Parakarry, one of the Mailkoopas of the Mushroom Kingdom, who had lost a few letters in the area. Offering their services, the gang combed the mountain in search of the letters. But during their search, they ended up stumbling upon another lost friend named Dylan, who was being watched by Whacka, an endangered species. Dylan reunited with the group, bolstering their numbers as they continued the hunt for the missing letters. Once they found them, they brought them back to Parakarry, who was overjoyed and joined the group on their adventure, informing the group that he had plenty of letters scattered around the Mushroom Kingdom. Embarrassed by the Paratroopa's shameless behavior, they continued along, eventually reaching the edge of the desert after a harrowing meeting with one of Bowser's followers, Buzzar. However, with a silver tongue, Parakarry was able to talk their way out of a potential battle, leaving their path clear. Can the Heroes get through Dry Dry Desert safely, or will the shifting sands swallow them up? Let's find out, shall we?


Chapter 6: To Dune or Not To Dune!

After a short trip down the hill, the gang noticed the landscape becoming more and more sandy and flat, signaling that they were finally entering Dry Dry Desert. Parakarry had mentioned to the group that they should prioritize finding Dry Dry Outpost first to gather information and supplies. Mario nodded before he led his party down the pathway. Further down the path, the gang noticed a small tent next to a palm tree. Kooper squinted his eyes at the Koopas in front of it before an exclamation point appeared over his head. He sprinted over with the rest, following with question marks over their heads. When they got closer, the Koopas glanced at Kooper, giving him a friendly wave. The oldest Koopa, however, walked up and gave Kooper a firm handshake.

"Kooper, old chap! A pleasure to see you again! Did the secrets of Dry Dry Desert call to you as well?"

"No, sir! Or, well... not directly. I'm on an adventure with Mario!" Kooper exclaimed, pointing to Mario as the rest appeared behind him. Kolorodo peeked pasted him.

"Ah! So you are! Mario, old boy! How goes the travels, eh?" He asked. Mario shrugged, mentioning that he was getting past it. He then asked why Kolorodo was posted in this area.

"At the moment, I'm turning Dry Dry Desert upside down to find the Dry Dry Ruins. My assistants have attempted to gather information in Dry Dry Outpost, which is near here. Sadly, as of yet, we're having little success. All we need is a clue and we'll be golden!"

"I know you can do it, Kolorodo!" Kooper piped up.

"Thank you, dear boy!"

"Kolorodo... Ah! I have a letter for you, sir!" Parakarry muttered before an exclamation mark appeared over his head. He dug into his mailbag and handed Kolorodo the letter.

"Oh, thank you... er..."

"The name's Parakarry, sir. I deliver messages. A postman's job is never done,"

"...Oh, good show! It's a letter from my wife. Thank you ever so, old chap. This is just what I needed to give me strength to go on!" He exclaimed. He reached into his shell and handed Parakarry a Star Piece, bringing the party's total to 22.

"Thank you, Sir Kolorodo! ...Say, you mentioned Dry Dry Outpost earlier. Do you know where it is?" Kooper asked.

"Why, of course I do, dear boy! If you stay on the path and head east, it'll lead you to the Outpost... well, post haste! Haha!"

"But Professor Kolorodo. The winds have been unkind as of lately. I believe the main path is blocked," One of the assistants mentioned.

"Oh... Well, phooey..." Goombario muttered.

"Ah, a stroke of bad luck, it seems, but never fear. Mario can easily find a way as can I!... Say, Mario... You're looking for the secret of Dry Dry Desert, correct?"

"You mean Dry Dry Ruins?" Kimani added on. An exclamation point popped over his head.

"That's the one, my young lad! We've been looking for that elusive place for weeks now! Maybe we should combine our efforts for the time being, eh?"

"Wait, like party up?" Jordan asked.

"Of course, my valiant protector! I shall offer my services to the best of my abilities!"

"Well... If Mario doesn't have a problem with it, then neither do I," Kimani answered. Mario nodded rapidly, shaking hands with Kolorodo and temporarily welcoming him to the team.

"Kolorodo, the world-famous Archeologist, has temporarily joined the party! Kolorodo can permanently knock a foe's defense down with his Chisel or Improvise and pull a random item from his pack! On the field, Kolorodo can spend 5 FP to unearth an item for Mario and co to use!"

"Now then, my merry band of explorers. Shall we press into the unknown?"

"Sure! But who are you going to follow?" Dylan innocently asked.

"I believe Mario should be perfectly adequate in utilizing my talents! Isn't that right, old chap?" He answered, looking at Mario afterward. He rapidly nodded, causing Kolorodo to follow behind him.

"Lenny! Marco! I leave the camp in your capable hands! I shall return with news on our troublesome runes!" Kolorodo yelled as the party started walking down the path. Not so far down the path, they saw what Lenny was talking about as a large sand dune blocked their path. In front of it was a Toad wearing a green turban.

"Ah, hello, adventures. Mr. Kolorodo. The road ahead's been swallowed by sand dunes. They're all over the place! How am I going to get home now?"

"We're going to find a way to get there. Once we safely get there, we'll find some people to come and get rid of the sand dunes,"

"Sounds like a plan!"

"I say, dear boy. It's rather blazing out here. You should find some respite at my tent until the deed is done!"

"I shall do that. Safe travels, Adventurers. Mr. Kolorodo," The Toad said before he trotted off towards the tent. The gang looked north and south, seeing a path in both directions. Kooper and Goombario looked at each other and nodded as Kooper pulled out a notepad and agreed to keep track of their location while Goombario would try to guide them in the right direction. Everyone else nodded as they entered the first area, seeing a wall and some sand dunes separating the group. Ignoring the split, they went eastward into the next area, greeted by a large sandy plain filled with ? Blocks and what seemed to be Bandits and walking cacti. Goombario corrected the uninformed, mentioning that they were called Pokeys. One of the bandits saw the group and ran towards them, but Kimani pushed himself to the front and rudely push-kicked him in the jaw, starting the match with the lead Bandit taking three damage overall when Kimani finished his chain. Since Mario was responsible for Kolorodo's safety, Kimani swapped Kooper with Goombario to have him Tattle.

"Let's see... Ah. This is a Bandit. Bandits bump into you hard and shake up your pockets. They can steal up to 20 Coins. Max HP: 6, Attack Power: 3, Defence Power: 0. They'll slyly approach and then slam into you all of a sudden. If you can damage them in an attack, you can get your stolen Coins back. Let's beat 'em before they can make off with our loot!" Goombario told them. Kimani nodded as he took out the first Bandit with another Strike combo.

"Oh. Good show, old sport! Mario, you have some trustworthy fellas at your side, eh?" Kolorodo asked. Mario nodded rapidly as Kimani countered the Bandit's shoulder tackle perfectly, surprising the others as the attack was relatively fast. The Pokey came over and started tipping over, which threw Kimani off and got him bonked for 4, bringing his HP to 11. Mario tapped the Power Stomp Badge (He traded it for his Multibounce badge once he noticed Dylan's attacks cleave through many foes) and bonked the Bandit's head, bringing him to 2. Kolorodo stepped forward and reached into his pack, draining 3 FP from Mario's reserve. He pulled out a shovel and started to rapidly dig into the ground, sending a ton of rocks at the enemy group, dealing two damage to the Bandit and Pokey, which knocked out the Bandit.

"Not bad, Kolorodo!" Kimani called out as Mario blocked the following attack, taking two damage, bringing his HP down to 13. Dylan went next, swapping Bombette with Goombario so he could Tattle.

"This is Pokey, an evil cactus. Pokeys attack by throwing parts of their bodies or by coming up close and falling on you. Max HP: 6, Attack Power depends on how many segments they have, Defense Power: 0. Be careful fighting them! It'll hurt if you jump on their spiky heads! They also have an annoying habit of calling in reinforcements, but they can only do that at max height. Let's beat 'em quickly! Kimani's going to have a rough time fighting as he can't hit them on the sides either! ...You know, being all dried up means that fire will do extra damage to them, so Firebrand would be a good call. Also, ground-based shell attacks will knock off segments as well! You know what that means! Get to work, Kooper!" Goombario rambled as Dylan shocked the Pokey and Alpha followed up with an Ion Beam, ending the battle. The group didn't get too far, however, before another Pokey introduced himself, causing the party to enter another battle with 2 Pokeys in the front, a Bandit in the back, and hovering over it...

"Eh? What's that?" Bombette asked, eying the floating yellow fireball. Jordan offered to go first, allowing Goombario to do his thing.

"Good question... Ah, I got it! This is a Dry Bubble. They're hot burning creatures that thrive in desert climates. Max HP: 5, Attack Power: 5, Defense Power: 0. They don't have too much HP, but you can't get a good jump on them without feeling the heat. You could give them a good what-for with your hammer, but they like to sit up high. We're going to have to find a way to deal with them. Kimani could punch them if he could reach them, and the same with Jordan, only with his hammer. Strangely enough, they aren't affected by the Zap Tap Badge and they'll attack... us!? We gotta be careful! We're not as tough as Kimani and the others, so if we don't block, we'll be out of commission for a few turns! They're so shiny though, I… man, I think the heat is making me delusional..." Goombario muttered towards the end. Jordan sweatdropped. As Goombario said, there wasn't much he could do. Curious, Jordan tried his Revenge Strike, getting into a stance. Once he did, the enemies pounced on him, causing him to wheeze in pain after the onslaught. Overall, he lost 16 HP, dropping his health to 14 and causing the Bandit to swipe 20 coins off of him. In anger, Jordan swung his hammer forward, causing the shockwave from his swing to blow through the enemies, dealing eight damage to everyone and winning the battle for them. Everyone's face went blank as Jordan looked at his hands in confusion.

"Wait, that wasn't in the description..." Jordan muttered.

"Do me a favor and recheck it..." Kimani deadpanned. Jordan did just that, sweatdropping when he reread the description.

"...Whoops, misread it. Apparently, it hits everyone for half the damage I take, which makes it a lot more worth it... How do y'all deal with having no defense? This hurts!" Jordan complained, causing Kimani, Firebrand, Bombette, and, surprisingly, Mario to glare at him. He went quiet afterward, allowing the party to scramble toward the ? Blocks. Most of them were filled with coins, but the middle one had a Fire Flower in it.

"Hmm. If I were a betting man, I'd say south next, my dear lads," Kolorodo suggested, pointing to the south-most path, putting away his compass. Everyone shrugged, not seeing the harm in checking. They walked through the path, being greeted by another large area filled with enemies. After noting the heat and relatively strong enemies, they decided to avoid fighting for now, staying on the area's outskirts. A Stone Block blocked the path to the east so that was out of the question. The gang retreated back to the ? Block area, heading East, only to find the next area blocked by some more dunes. Sighing, Mario led his team back and tried to head even further north. This area was void of any enemies, but strangely enough, a lone rock was sitting in the middle of the area with a circle indention on top of it. Both Kolorodo and Kooper walked up to it. Goombario came along out of curiosity as well.

"Ah, well, color me surprised, my dear chaps. This is rather interesting, isn't it?" Kolorodo asked, pulling out a notepad and turning to a significantly marked section. Kooper pulled his own notebook out, making a quick sketch of the stone.

"Yeah... See the indention? I'd bet my shell if we put the correct item here; something's bound to happen!" Kooper exclaimed.

"I see your shell and raise you my hat that it has something to do with Dry Dry Ruins. " Goombario piggybacked. The three scholars shared looks before they nodded, shaking hands, solidifying their bets, and rejoining the party, who were taking a slight breather and allowing Typhoon to slam his hammer on the ground, causing a small jet of water to shoot from his hammer. Everyone either took a sip of water, splashed some on their faces, or ran their hands through the water momentarily. Kolorodo came over and refilled his flask while Kooper stuck his whole face into the stream, pulling it out and shaking rapidly, drying off. Goombario removed his hat and dashed through it, copying Kooper and shaking the water off him.

"By Jove, my massive companion! Where did you come from, and how are you producing this life-saving fluid?!"

"That's Typhoon. Jordan, Dylan, and I have spirits in our amulets, which allow us to borrow their powers and allow them to exist physically for a set period of time. Typhoon has the element of water on his side. I have fire, hence why I'm not dying, and Sparkplug over there has electricity," Kimani explained. Dylan giggled at his nickname while Jordan grunted, confirming Kimani's explanation.

"...Absolutely fascinating. I'd love to divulge more into this mystery, but perhaps we should focus on one at a time. Onwards, my dear friends! Adventure awaits!" Kolorodo exclaimed, pointing to the east and leading everyone in that direction. Mario smiled and allowed him to take the lead, entering another area with four Pokeys messing around in the area. The gang still decided against fighting, so they simply went north before they noticed the area was getting a bit dustier and harder to see.

"Eh? This area wasn't on my current maps... Let me check my older collection... I must say, Mario! You're a beacon for the unnatural!" Kolorodo exclaimed as he started searching his bag. Mario wasn't too sure if that was a compliment or not, so he simply shrugged and asked Goombario if they had any idea where they were.

"Uh, can't say I'm too familiar with this area... Give me a second to think," He answered. Parakarry took a second to look around.

"Oh, I know this place. Gusty Gulch is the name of this area," He told everyone. An exclamation mark appeared over his head as he pulled out an older map and showed Goombario.

"Oh yeah... The Desert and Gulch are so similar. Both are hot and dry, and I just would like to see some water,"

"Mr. Typhoon just got us water a few moments ago!" Bombette exclaimed.

"I know!... I'm just saying," He timidly answered, causing everyone to snort as they continued north, noting a large cliff in front of them. A spring was located in front of them but the rock above stopped them from actually proceeding. They were able to go right, however. As Mario reached a chest, getting a Group Focus Badge and a green shard, he overheard the group commenting on the irony of Gusty Gulch's name.

"The map says Gusty Gulch is above Dry Dry Desert... But then, how is it a gulch at all?!"

"...you know, he has a point..." Firebrand agreed after a moment.

"If that's the case, what should we call it then?" Typhoon asked. There was a beat of silence before sweatdrops appeared on everyone's head. Dylan was the exception, however. In fact, he stepped forward with stars in his eyes.

"Sunbaked Summit!" He exclaimed. Goombario and Kimani looked at him with a hint of jealousy and amazement as Kolorodo quickly scratched out the name and wrote Dylan's suggestion.

"Alright, seriously? How are you so good at that?!" "Hey, way to steal my thunder, buddy!" The two of them exclaimed. Mario rolled his eyes playfully as he showed the badge and shard to the group and handed it to Kimani.

"Eh? You want me to wear it?" Kimani asked. Mario nodded rapidly before mentioning for now, since he knew he still wanted the Power Plus Badge. Kimani shrugged, placing the badge on his shirt. Goombario mentioned that all of the partners in the party could now Focus and get them Star Energy during battle. The group nodded before they exited Gus- Uh, I mean Sunbaked Summit and sprinted past the group of enemies, heading to the south exit of the area and arriving at another exit. There wasn't much interest in this room—just a small party of enemies. Mario started the battle this time, leaping and clonking the Bandit in the head, starting the fight with two damage already inflicted on him. When Mario's turn started, he quickly pulled out the Fire Flower he snagged earlier, causing it to shoot out fireballs at the enemy party. The Bandits took three damage while the Pokey that slid into the scene took four due to its fire weakness. Kolorodo drained three more of Mario's FP, placing him at 4, as he reached into his pack and pulled out his notebook and pencil. After some calculations, Kolorodo walked over to a cactus and pulled back on it before he let it go, causing the spikes to fly off and puncture the enemy party for five damage, finishing the battle. The group continued to the south, seeing no enemies but they did see a twister with a face moving around.

"Oh, a Tweester! They aren't hostile, but that doesn't mean we should approach them. If we get sucked up, they'll send us flying somewhere in the desert!" Goombario told everyone.

"That they will, my dear lad. It's not too bad if I say so! After some experimentation, this one sends you a few paces Northwest!" Kolorodo told them as they moved past it.

"Experimented?"

"Why yes! How else will we know these things if we don't occasionally grab life by the horns!?"

"Heh, Kolorodo's growing on me. Can we keep him as a long term partner?" Kimani chuckled.

"I'd love to, my dear boy, but untold mysteries are always calling my name! Besides, I'm sure Mario is in great hands with you all by his side!" Kolorodo said, noticed that they had found both the path and a stone cactus.

"A stone cactus?" Typhoon asked.

"A landmark! That means we're halfway to Dry Dry Outpost!"

"Oh, sweet! Should we test our luck and see if the path is clear for now?" Kimani asked. Everyone nodded before they followed the path, eventually reaching another area that held a Save Block. There were some walls nearby and a Mouser under a tree. He waved to the group as they passed by (Mario hit the Save Block on the way) and tried to continue east, but they were stopped by another sand dune, causing everyone to sigh as they walked back to the group. Dylan politely asked the traveler if he knew of a path leading to Dry Dry Outpost, causing the traveler to mention a pathway north that would lead them there. However, they had to pass a Pokey army to reach it, causing some people to gain question marks over their heads before they backtracked to the stone cactus and headed north. Once in the area again, they headed east, then south due to some more sand dunes, but all they did was end up behind the wall near the Save Block. Sighing, they went back to the previous room, headed to the west, then north. Once there, they went to the east, where another Tweester roamed around. They headed south, ending on top of some sand dunes. Mario looked at the triangle of trees nearby, getting a gut feeling before he walked into the center of them and jumped up, hitting a hidden Badge Block. Goombario identified the badge as the Runaway Pay Badge. Mario also found a green shard and showed it to Kimani, who took it and pocketed it. They then headed east, where a bunch of Bandits and Brick Blocks were located.

"Well, enemies, so we may be on the right track..." Bombette noted. Kimani nodded before he punched the Bandit in the face, starting the battle with a perfect Strike Command. Rather than attack again, Kimani slapped his hands together and uttered a quick prayer, calling on Eldstar and allowing him to Refresh him, putting his HP and FP back to full.

"Oh. That was smart!" Goombario told him as he sent Kooper after the lead Bandit, dealing two and leaving it with 1 HP. He didn't last too long, however, as he attempted to bash Kimani but got elbowed in the jaw afterward. His partner did worse, catching a knee to the throat when he tried, losing 2 HP and leaving him with four after Kimani's Counter. Mario went next, stomping on the Bandit twice before Kolorodo walked over and carefully chiseled the enemy to submission. After the battle was won, they ventured east, got blocked by a Stone Block, headed south, and saw that the road was blocked both ways, leaving only south again. They did a bit of platforming, and Kooper was used to grab a Stopwatch for the team before they headed north, avoiding some Pokeys before they went even further north and sa-

"What's with all the Pokeys!?" Kimani interrupted, which was warranted since there were 7 of them.

"The Pokey Army?" Dylan guessed, which caused everyone to nod.

"Well, the Mouser said we have to pass them to get to the Outpost. My guess? That east pathway over there," Kooper pointed out. Mario did spot a Fire Flower in the distance, so he told the others to make their way eastward as he sprinted towards the flower, catching the attention of the Pokeys. Mario yelped as he avoided the thrown body parts. As he drifted around the bush it was hidden behind, snagging it and running back to the group. He had to prevent more body parts, but he unfortunately got clipped in his heel, making him lose his footing and tumble into the sand, spitting out some sand. He turned around and saw the Pokey's barring on him and covered his face in protection. However, a shield erupted around him, taking the hits for him. When he felt no pain, he uncovered his face and saw Jordan's shield around him.

"Ty!" Jordan exclaimed, holding a hand in focus as a large stream of water flowed out of Jordan's amulet and ended above Mario. Moments later, it turned into Typhoon.

"Yep! On it!" He announced, slamming his fist powerfully on the ground, causing a large amount of sand to fly into the area along with the Pokeys. Jordan dropped the shield, which allowed Typhoon to grab Mario and turn them into a puddle of water. They then flowed over to the group as they exited the area. Once they were clear, Typhoon and Mario turned back to normal, and Typhoon put Mario down softly.

"Thanks for the assist, Ty," Jordan thanked, breathing a bit heavily.

"No problem. That was kinda fun!" He answered, uttering a hearty laugh as he fist-bumped Jordan and disappeared back into his amulet. Mario brushed himself off and thanked him for the assist. He eyed Jordan's HP and saw that moment of shielding brought his HP to 2. Mario apologized for his incompetence getting him hurt, causing Jordan to shake his head.

"It's alright. Besides, it's my job to take a hit for you guys anyway," Jordan told him. Mario frowned before telling his party they were gunning straight for the Outpost and would avoid fights. Everyone nodded before Mario proudly led his party south, as that was the only way they could go. As he said, Mario and co. avoided enemies like the plague until they found the path again, leading east.

"Hmm.. I say, my companions. I believe we found our way to Dry Dry Outpost!" Kolorodo told them. The party cheered as they started walking towards the Outpost, but not before Mario hit a tree holding a letter, which Parakarry swiped before it hit the ground. Mario then eyed the Outpost, fixed his hat, and proceeded forward, his party one step closer to finding the next Star Spirit and, more importantly, Peach.

File Saved!


Current Party Overview:

Mario:

Starting Stats: 10 HP, 5 FP, 3 BP

Current Stats: 15 HP, 10 FP, 9 BP (Level 5)

Equipped Badges: Close Call (1), Power Stomp (1), Attack FX B, Zap Tap (4), Damage Dodge (3)

Main Partners: Parakarry

Items: Mushroom x5, Super Shroom, Fried Egg, Koopa Tea x4, Super Soda, Nutty Cake, Spicy Soup, Pow Block, Sleepy Sheep, Fright Jar x2, Egg, Whacka's Bump, Hustle Drink, Maple Syrup, Stopwatch, Fire Flower

Current Star Pieces: 22

Current Badges: Peekaboo, Speedy Spin (1), Close Call (1), Hammer Throw (2), Dizzy Attack (2), Multibounce (1), Smash Charge (1), Power Bounce (2), Refund (1), Attack FX B, Power Stomp (1), HP Up (2), FP Up (2), First Attack (1), Smash Charge (1), D-Down Pound (2), Zap Tap (4), Feeling Fine (3), Starman (1), Damage Dodge (3), Quake Hammer (1), Group Focus (1), Runaway Pay (1)


Kimani:

Area of Expertise: Grounded Combat, Single Target Damage, Countering

Starting Stats: 10 HP, 10 FP, 3 BP

Current Stats: 15 HP, 20 (25) FP, 6 BP (Level 5)

Equipped Badges: FP UP (2), First Attack (1), Group Focus (1)

Main Battle Partners: Firebrand, Kooper

Idle animation: Crosses arms after a moment and looks around. Will keep arms crossed until input is pressed.

Battle Stance: Mix of a Boxer's stance and his own improv stance. Occasionally throws a few jabs and bounces on his feet.

Battle Talent: Stronger Attack Action Commands (can input one more action command, dealing more hits/damage) but stricter timing on ALL Action Commands.

Field Actions: Can strike enemies in the field with his fist, allowing him to perform his action commands for Strike early. (Basically, his first strikes have the potential to do 3 damage should he time the commands right) He can also help Mario break Super Blocks on the field.

FP Moves:

Strike: (0 FP) Strikes a foe with a punch or kick. Pressing the A button with correct timing allows up to 2 follow-ups. Pow: 1 (up to 3). Style: Timed. Can hit Top-Spike enemies, can't target flying enemies

Power Strike: (2 FP) Strikes a foe with a stronger punch or kick. Can press A at the right time to execute another Power Strike but will cost an additional 2 FP. Pow: 3, Style: Timed: Can hit Top-Spiky enemies, can't target flying enemies

Focus Blast: (3 FP) Charges up a devastating blast of energy. Gets stronger with each turn spent charging. Maxes at 12 damage. Pow: 3, (1 turn) 6, (2 turns) 12 (3 turns)

Dragon Uppercut: (5 FP) Launches a devastating uppercut that launches foes into others! Pressing A at the correct time allows Kimani to follow up with a Dragon's Descent, spiking the enemy back down for extra damage! DU: Pow: 5 (Enemy projectile pow: 3), Style: Timed, Can hit flying and Spiky enemies. DD: (5 FP) Pow: 5 (Enemy projectile pow: 3)

Passives:

Counter: Can't guard normally but can Counter attacks. Has stricter timing than the normal guard but will null ALL damage and damage the attacker for 1 damage.

Master's Potential Unlock: Kimani's Counter has been enhanced! Now, it can do 2 damage to whoever he hits!

Second Chance: Will survive a singular fatal hit with 1 HP. Will be available to use again once 10 HP is reached.

In The Zone: If Kimani goes undamaged for 2 turns, he'll enter The Zone, which is a focused state for Kimani. During The Zone, Kimani's attack and defense rise by 1 and the number of Action Commands he can input goes up by one as well! (For example, his normal Strike command can be followed up by 3 extra attacks and his Power Strike can attack up to 3 times!) Taking damage twice will knock him out of it.


Firebrand:

Area of Focus: Versatile, Ice Enemies, Single Target Damage

Field Actions: Can spend 1 FP to launch a fireball. Fireballs will ignite flammable sources and can First Strike enemies at a distance.

Idle Animation: Firebrand raises his body to the tallest and looks around for a moment before slinking back down to normal height. He occasionally makes his mohawk flare up.

Battle Stance: Draconic Stance (just think of some kung fu type of deal)

FP Moves:

Swipe: Lashes out with a quick claw swipe. Pressing the A button at the right time launches another swipe. Pow: 1 (2), Style: Timed, Can't target flying enemies. Can hit Spiky Enemies.

Fireball: (2 FP) Launches a fireball at an opponent. Can hit all enemies. Deals double damage to Icy enemies but will heal Fiery enemies. Pow: 3, Style: Charge

Fire Form: (5 FP) Firebrand disappears into Kimani's amulet, allowing Kimani to flare up. Kimani's attacks deal fire damage for the duration, and enemies will take 1 damage from hitting him physically. His attack goes up by 1 as well. After 3 turns, Kimani will take 1 point of damage after every turn until he uses the Cool Off ability.


Jordan:

Area of Expertise: Defense and Damage Mitigation

Starting Stats: 20 HP, 5 FP, 3 BP

Current Stats: 25 (30) HP, 10 FP, 9 BP (Level 5)

Equipped Badges: HP Plus (2), Smash Charge (1), D-Down Pound (2)

Main Battle Partners: Typhoon, Goombario

Idle Stance: Pulls out his hammer and plants it into the ground before leaning on it. Will keep this stance until an input.

Battle Stance: (Normal) has hammer out and ready to swing. Will occasionally twirl the hammer in his hands. (Berserk) Holds hammer in one hand and has a more aggressive stance. Will occasionally roar into the air.

Battle Talent: Guard Action Command is more forgiving and will block up to 3 points of damage. Doesn't have any Attack Action Commands outside of Smash, however.

Field Talent: Can raise his shield, preventing foes from first striking him. He also turns into a platform during this stance. This allows his friends to reach high switches and enemies. Mario can perform an Enhanced Spin Jump from this position in order to break weak floor panels. (Once Mario acquires the Super Boots)

FP Moves:

Smash: Bonks foes with a downward swing. Pow: 1(2) Style: Charge, Can flip enemies. Can't target flying enemies

Berserk: (1 FP per attack) Jordan sacrifices his defense for more attack power! Effects: +2 to Jordan's Attack Power and +1 to all FP Cost, Defence Power drops to 0, can't Guard, Doesn't cost an action or FP to use or deactivate.

Defensive Shout: (5 FP) Unleash a rousing roar that increases everyone's defense by 2 for 3 turns. This stacks with Jordan's Stand Strong passive and enhanced guard.

Cyclone: (2 FP) Jordan spins forward with his hammer outstretched, plowing through all grounded enemies. Pow: 2, Style: None, Can't hit flying enemies.

Guardian Angel : (2 FP) Dedicates a turn blocking attacks for the next party member. Will take full damage from attacks, however. Guarded characters can guard, reducing the amount of damage Jordan takes.

Passives:

Stand Strong: Gains a defense of 1, which automatically reduces damage by one. Doesn't stack with his Action Command, however.

Master's Potential Unlock: Jordan's defensive nature has been enhanced! His defense rises to 2! Still doesn't stack with his Action Command, however...


Typhoon:

Area of Expertise: Area of Effect, Ground Enemies, Ceiling Enemies, Displacement

Field Ability: Typhoon lets out a roar, taunting enemies towards them. Any enemy that attacks at this time will be twice as strong but they'll give twice the amount of Coins, Hearts, Flowers, and items upon defeat. Star Points aren't affected.

Idle Animation: Typhoon will start flexing for a moment before uttering a hearty laugh.

Battle Stance: Typhoon stands proudly and will occasionally readjust his belt and helmet.

FP Moves:

Slam: Hits the ground with a powerful swing of his fist. The shockwave will damage all grounded foes. Deals less damage per enemy. Pow: 2, (To front enemy) decreases by 1 with each enemy. Can't target flying enemies. Will flip flippable enemies. Can hit enemies on the ceiling.

Disrupting Wave (2 FP): Summons a wave of water to wash over foes. Will shuffle the enemy formation. Pow: 2, can't target flying foes. Deals double damage to Fiery enemies.

Liquify (3 FP): Drag a foe to the depths of the ocean, temporarily taking them out of the battle! Typhoon will also be unavailable for the time being as well.


Dylan:

Starting Stats: 10 HP, 20 FP, 0 BP

Current Stats: 20 HP, 30 FP, 0 BP (Level 5)

Area of Expertise: Area of Effect, Healing and Buffing, Versatile

Equipped Badges: N/A

Main Battle Partners: Alpha, Bombette

Idle Animation: Dylan will rock on his heels and swing his arms idly while looking around. After a moment, he'll start to dance. He'll actually dance to whatever background music is playing (Will match the tempo of whatever song is playing) until an input is pushed.

Battle Animation: Dylan will have a hand on his ear and snap his fingers to the beat of the music. When it's his turn, he'll upgrade into a mini two-step.

Battle Talent: Passively regenerates FP over time (5 FP every turn) and doesn't take lightning damage, but he takes double damage from Water attacks, and he can't use FP items or badges.

Field Ability: Dylan can give Mario and Kimani a jolt in order to strengthen their attacks, allowing them to break Stone Blocks. (Mario does need the Super Hammer, at least) Will also give whoever he jolts a free Charge (+2 to their next attack) if they enter battle.

Jolt: Dylan launches a Lightning Bolt at a target of his choice. The bolt will jump to other targets if he's Charged Up. Pow: 1, (2 if he does the action command correctly) Can't hurt electric enemies. Style: Charge

Copycat: (5 FP, Cost 0 if he's Charged Up) Dylan scans a target, copying their moves and attributes for 2 turns. Alpha becomes unavailable during the Copycat. Pow: 0, changes Dylan's appearance and attributes after usage. Doesn't work on bosses or enemies with more than 5 Pow or 10 HP (Subject to change. Might just allow Dylan's Smash Shards to upgrade the threshold) Style: Aim, doesn't end Dylan's turn.

Quicken: (5 FP) Give your buddy an energizing zap, giving them an extra turn for 2 turns! Should Dylan be charged up, Quicken will also restore 5 FP!

Jump Start: (7 FP) Dylan sends a large amount of electricity into a friend of his choice, healing them for 5 HP and giving them the Zap Tap status for 1, 2, or 3 turns! If Charged, the HP goes up to 10, and the Zap Tap status will be 3 regardless of success or failure.

Passives:

Static Charge: Dylan passively builds up static as he fights. After 2 turns, Dylan becomes Charged Up, giving him the Zap Tap status and empowering one of his moves. The charge goes away after attacking or getting hit twice, however. Guarding doesn't count as being hit.

Copycat MK.1: Alpha's processors have been upgraded! He can now copy foes up to 12 HP!

Copycat MK.2: Alpha's processors have been upgraded! He can now copy foes with Attack Power as high as 7!

Copycat MK.3: Alpha's processors have been upgraded! He can now use a copied foe's second attack! (if they have one)


Alpha:

Area of Expertise: Debuffing, Area Of Effect

Field Ability: Alpha can scan nearby enemies, exposing their weaknesses and lowering the frontmost foes' defense by 2 when they enter combat. He can also spend 5 FP to Copycat a friend or foe, and allow Dylan to start in said form.

Special Characterises: Alpha doesn't physically appear. Instead, Alpha will digistruct his tools for Dylan to use during his turn. Should Dylan take more than 10 HP damage in one turn or get hit by a water attack or fire attack, Alpha will Overheat or Short Circuit, which is his variation of being Injured for 1 turn.

Ion Beam (5 FP): Alpha digistructs an Ion Cannon onto Dylan's arm, allowing him to fire an Ion Beam at a target of Dylan's choice. The beam will cleave through a line, so if he aims at a grounded foe, all grounded foes will be hit. Pow: 2 (3) Ignores defense and lowers it by one point for 2 turns. Doesn't stack with itself. Style: Charge

Safeguard (2 FP): Alpha locks his systems, preventing him from being Overheated or Short Circuit next turn should Dylan take 10 damage or be hit by a Fire or Water attack. This will also raise Dylan's defense by 1 for this turn.

Scan: (10 FP) Alpha scans the enemies and gives his team pointers on their attacks and weaknesses, decreasing their Attack Power and Defense Power by 1, 2, or 3 depending on Dylan's success with the Action Command. This can cause an enemy to fall into Dylan's Copycat threshold. Style: Memory

Assist: Alpha forgoes his turn, allowing Dylan to get an extra turn.


Temporary Party Members:

(From the previous chapter)

Luigi:

Position: Party Leader

Area of Expertise: Healing and Buffing

Starting Stats: 15 HP, 40 FP, 0 BP

Field Ability: Can set up a Picnic for 5 FP, which will heal everyone sans Luigi for 10 HP and FP. Has a naturally higher jump than any party leader.

Battle Talent: Easier Action Commands for everything but takes +2 damage from all sources of damage unless blocked.

Moves:

Leap: Luigi performs an impressive leap that can bounce on an enemy three times! Pow: 1 (3 if both commands are inputted) Can't hit Spiky Enemies. Style: Timing.

Words of Encouragement: (5 FP) By complimenting a party member or cheering them on, you fill them with vigor! Raises target's Pow by 1, 2, or 3 for 2 turns depending on the success of the Action Command. Style: Memory

Emergency Snack: (5 FP) Luigi pulls out a snack from his personal stash! Heals 10 HP to the selected target. Can target himself with this move. Style: None

Banquet: (20 FP) Luigi whips up a grand feast for his party! If performed perfectly, it will heal all party members to full HP and FP, Raise everyone's defense by 2 and their Pow by 2! Luigi will also get the HP heal, attack, and defense buff but won't get the FP heal. Will only heal 10 HP and FP if the command is blotched. Style: Memory, Charge, and Timing. Will randomize the order of commands every time.


Kolorodo

Position: Partner

Area Of Expertise: Defense Piercing, Debuffing.

Field Ability: Kolorodo can spend 5 FP to dig up an item for the party. The item will be either a Super Mushroom, Honey Syrup, or Fire Flower.

FP Moves:

Chisel: Kolorodo carefully chips away at an enemy, dealing damage and permanently lowering a foe's defense by 1 for the entire battle. This can stack with other defense-lowering skills and the permanent debuff as well. Pow: 1 (2) Can't target flying, front-spiky or fiery enemies. Style: Charge

Improvise (3 FP): Kolorodo rummages through his pack and randomly selects one of five items to use instantly.

Stone: Kolorodo pulls out a random stone and chucks it at an enemy. Pow: 2

Shovel: Kolorodo pulls out a shovel and digs rapidly, sending stones at the entire enemy party. Pow: 2

Camera: Kolorodo pulls out his camera and takes a picture of the enemies. The bright flash will Blind (Dizzy) foes for 2 turns.

Dustpan: Kolorodo pulls out a dustpan before sneezing and covering the party in a large cloud of dust, raising their evasion for 2 turns.

Pencil: Kolorodo pulls out a pencil and notepad, calculating the angles before he uses something from the environment to attack. (For instance, if a pillar is nearby, he'll calculate the right angle and whatnot to tip it on them) Pow: 5 to all enemies.


Changes from Main Game:

-Dry Dry Desert turns into Dry Dry Labyrinth! (Main path is blocked and many rooms will have Sand Dunes blocking paths)

-Bandits stole a workout manual! (+1 HP, +1 Attack, Will steal 20 coins if they attack)

-The sands have made the Pokeys more... uh, pokey! (+2 HP, +2 Attack, A Pokey's fall attack will now deal as much damage as they have sections. Weak to fire now (will take +1 damage from fire sources))

-Flying Fire Furiously Flames Friends! (Dry Bubbles: 5 HP, 5 Attack, Fiery status at all times, Unaffected by Zap Tap, can target a party leader's partner)

-He's right. It's not really a gulch after all... (A new pathway to Gusty Gulch is now located above Dry Dry Desert.)

-Group Focus and Runaway Pay Badges cost less BP! (I'll use the Master Quest Badge changes sparingly since the others can use badges as well, defeating the purpose of the many badge point changes)