Goombella asked, "Aren't you coming, professor?"

Professor Frankly shook his head, "No, I'll stay in town and ask around about Princess Peach, Violet, and that suspicious gang. Besides, I doubt a shriveled old Goomba like me could handle the trials of the road. Of course, if anything happens and you need some advice, come see me, okay?"

Goombella cheerfully replied, "You got it, Professor!" She turned to the brothers, "Shall we?"

Mario chuckled, "We shall."

Luigi waved to the professor, "We'll see you soon!"

The group then headed out of the professor's house and went down the pipe in front of his house. As they explored the lower levels, Mario saw a tentacle. He had used a hammer and it had gone back into the water briefly. That's when a giant Blooper came out of the water, almost dropping itself onto Goombella. Mario pushed her out of the way, activating his Firebrand. Luigi went over to Goombella, making sure that she was okay. Once he had confirmed that, he went into the battle with her, his Thunderhand active. Goombella helped the boys as much as she could. They even tried out their new special attack, Sweet Treat. It took a bit but eventually the group won against the giant Blooper. The giant Blooper then went up, creating a way for the heroes to keep going.

Goombella commented, "Well, that's one way of doing it."

Mario joked, "Yeah I wasn't feeling calamari anyways."

Luigi started to say, "Hey, doing jokes is Violet's…" That's when he had a worried look on his face. He added, "Oh…right."

Mario went over to him and placed his hand on Luigi's shoulder, reassuringly. Luigi sniffled, looking at his brother. Mario gave him a reassuring smile.

Mario told him, "Hey, I'm sure that she and Peach are okay."

Goombella added, "Me too! They both sound like lovely girls."

Luigi wiped his eyes, "Y - you are right but I can't help but worry. We've been separated once before."

Goombella asked, "You have? How?" That's when the brothers both paled. Goombella read the room and sweatdropped. She started to say, "Uh…you know what…"

Luigi interrupted, "N - no, it's fine… We can tell you."

Mario nodded, "It all started when Weegie won this 'free mansion'..."

As they continued to walk across, they told Goombella about the horror of that night.

Goombella was shivering by the end of it, "K - King Boo huh? I have heard of him once before but to actually hear about something like that is just…intense."

Mario admitted, "Oh, you have no idea…"

Goombella asked, "So what's Professor E. Gadd doing now?"

Luigi answered, "I'm not sure myself but I'm sure he's probably doing okay."

The group went down a brown pipe, arriving in Petal Meadows.

Goombella looked around, grateful for the subject change. She commented, "Well, here we are! The Petal Meadows, where folks say a Crystal Star resides. Woo hoo! Here we go, Mario and Luigi! The start of our adventure! This is completely awesome!"

They were starting to walk when they heard something and it got oddly cloudy.

Luigi asked, "W - what was that?"

Mario admitted, "Not sure."

Goombella commented, "Ooh! Is that a… Mario! Luigi! Look!" That's when they saw a creature flying towards a castle. She added, "Totally incredible! I've never seen anything humongous before."

Mario stated, "It does look rather big. I think we can handle it. We should keep moving."

Luigi gulped, "I - I was afraid you were going to say that."

Goombella thought for a moment, "Yeah but it looked scary too. Weird, the professor said that this place was peaceful. Wow! Crazy! We just started and there's already intrigue! C'mon, let's go!"

Goombella took the lead with the brothers right on her heels. It didn't take long for the group to enter Petalburg. A Koopa saw them and walked over.

The Koopa greeted, "Welcome, travelers!"

Mario asked, "Hey thanks! Where are we?"

The Koopa answered, "Why this is Petalburg! Sorry, it's been a long time since we've had visitors here. We're kind of remote. Yeppity once that dragon Hooktail was spotted flying around the area…"

Luigi stammered, "D - Dragon?"

The Koopa stated, "Yep, it didn't help tourism, put it that way. People just stopped visiting."

Goombella perked up, "That must've been what we saw earlier! So, it's called Hooktail, huh? Oohh scary name! Pfft! So anyway, Mr. Green Boots, have you heard of these things called Crystal Stars? We're on this quest for them. It's very important!"

The Koopa frowned, "Crystal Stars, you say? Hmm… Nope, can't say that I have. Sorry about that. You might want to speak with the mayor, though. He's old… Really, really old. As such, he knows all kinds of stuff we don't. Koopas of his age, are…um…really smart. Anyway, the mayor lives in that pink house up ahead. You should go check it out."

Goombella commented, "Pink house? Sounds totally hideous but it should be easy to find. Thanks for your help!"

The Koopa nodded as the group started to look around for the mayor's house. When the group found the mayor's house, they entered and saw him there.

The mayor (Kroop) shouted, "Hmph? Whuzzat? Someone there? Who is it? Who?! What do you want from me?! I know! You're thieves! Here to rob a defenseless old Koopa! Despicable!"

Mario protested, "But we're not going to steal anything!"

Kroop didn't hear Mario as he shouted, "Go on, do what you will…but you can plainly see, there's nothing to steal here. Oh, I guess I have a little money… Take it you, fiends. And my antique shell, too! Just leave the photos of me and the missus. Can't do without those memories…"

Luigi tried, "Like my fratello said, we're not going to steal anything."

Kroop perked up, "What? Not thieves you say? Well, what's your story, then? Oh, wait… You folks looking for Crystal Stars?"

Goombella confirmed, "Yes, that's right Mr. Mayor."

Kroop told them, "Well, why didn't you pipe up before, you ijit? We're just wasting time here!" The group just sweatdropped at that. He added, "The Crystal Stars you say you're hunting… Err… Wait… What did I hear about those dang things, again? Aha! Got it! Hooktail! Hooktail's got what you are looking for! It's this enormous, ornery dragon. Eats folks, they say. You know Hooktail, right?"

Goombella responded, "Yeah, we've heard his name."

Mario perked up while Luigi was shaking in his shoes.

Kroop explained, "Well, this Hooktail's brutal fly-by snackings have us all on pins and needles. So, are you reckless fools…I mean… Are you the gallant heroes off to rough it up!"

Mario replied, confident, "You bet we are!"

Luigi stammered, "M - Malleo, are you nuts?!

Mario turned to Luigi and reasoned, "C'mon, Weegie. It'll be a cakewalk for us to take on Fracktail! You and I always have each other's backs. Plus we have Goombella and our new special move, Sweet Treat. Plus our powers themselves. We've faced worse and lived to tell!"

Luigi started to say, "S - si but…"

Kroop interrupted them, "This does sound promising. Why, if you can get rid of Hooktail, we'll shower you with gratitude and rewards!"

Goombella said, "We won't take one."

Kroop perked up, "Wait, what's that? You'll accept no reward?"

Mario nodded, "That's right, no reward needed!"

Kroop was touched, "What a delight to have a group of unselfish people! You're noble, indeed… Yup, you are some good eggs! Now… What did you say your names were again?"

Luigi started to say, "M - Mario, please you can't be…"

Mario introduced, interrupting Luigi, "I'm Mario. This is my younger brother, Luigi. And this is our friend, Goombella."

Luigi hung his head. He knew better than to talk Mario out of something. Especially when he had his mind made up.

...

Wishmaker1028: Ain't that the truth! Chapter 6 is done now! It has snowed here so our daughter has been having a lot of fun today. Please read and review! And always think outside of the box!