Koops' Big Burger Challenge

It was a bustling afternoon in the heart of Rogueport, the kind of day where the salty sea breeze mixed with the lively chatter of the townsfolk. Tucked between a weapon shop and a fortune teller's tent, there stood a modest burger joint—Rogueport Bites, famous for its legendary food challenges. Today, Koops, the brave yet shy Koopa Troopa from Petalburg, was ready to take on a feat of courage and hunger to mark his own 20 years since stepping out into the world.

Inside, the atmosphere was electric. Banners adorned with "20 Years of Paper Mario: TTYD" hung across the room, and a shiny new go-kart sat on a pedestal, glimmering as a prize for whoever could conquer the Burger Challenge. But this wasn't just any burger challenge. It was The Beast Burger, a monster of a meal known to have defeated many brave souls. The rules were simple: pull a number from the box, and whichever burger it corresponded to, that would be your challenge. Koops wasn't allowed to look at the name or size until it was in front of him. And of course, there was the countdown—20 minutes to finish it all, with a massive scoreboard keeping track of his time.

Koops approached the counter, his heart pounding but his eyes fixed on the go-kart. He'd been practicing bravery for years now, ever since his adventures with Mario, and this was just one more test. After all, how hard could it be to eat a burger?

The cashier, a grumpy-looking Bob-omb, gestured toward the gleaming box filled with numbered balls. "You ready, kid? Just pull a number. No peeking. Then we'll see if you've got what it takes."

Koops gulped and nodded. With trembling hands, he reached into the box and fished around for a ball. His fingers wrapped around one, and he pulled it out. "Number 7," he said, handing it to the cashier.

The Bob-omb smirked and disappeared into the kitchen. Moments later, the chef—a giant Pianta—emerged with a tray that made Koops' eyes widen. On the tray was a burger that towered over him, stacked with layers of cheese, patties, onions, mushrooms, and an unsettling amount of special sauce. It was easily the size of his shell.

"Number 7… the Mount Mushroom Supreme," the Pianta chef announced, setting it down in front of Koops. "You've got 20 minutes. Finish it, and that go-kart's yours."

The crowd gathered around, some cheering, others gasping at the sheer size of the challenge. Behind Koops, the scoreboard flashed with bright red numbers: 20:00.

And then, with a loud gong, the challenge began.

Koops dove into the burger with determination. His jaw worked overtime, munching through the thick layers of mushroom, cheese, and beef. Each bite seemed bigger than the last, and with every chew, he could feel the weight of the burger bearing down on him. But Koops was no stranger to big battles. He had faced Hooktail, Lord Crump, and even the Shadow Queen. This was just another kind of battle—a battle of stomach and will.

The crowd roared, some chanting his name. "Go, Koops, go!" Goombella shouted from the back, waving her arms.

Halfway through, Koops' energy started to wane. His stomach felt heavy, his jaw was sore, and the burger didn't seem to be getting any smaller. The scoreboard now read 10:00—half the time had already passed, and he had barely made a dent in the massive burger.

But then, he remembered why he was doing this. It wasn't just for the go-kart, though the idea of racing around Rogueport sounded pretty awesome. No, this was for the honor of Petalburg, for all the times he'd hesitated in the past. He had to be brave.

With a new surge of energy, Koops powered through the burger, biting with renewed ferocity. His hands were messy with sauce, bits of bun stuck to his shell, and his cheeks were puffed like balloons, but he pressed on. The crowd's cheers fueled him as the time ticked away.

5:00… 3:00… 1:00…

With just 30 seconds left, Koops shoved the last bite of the burger into his mouth. His face was red, and sweat dripped down his brow, but he had done it. He chewed, swallowed, and threw his hands in the air just as the final gong sounded.

The room erupted into applause, the scoreboard flashing 00:00, and Koops, victorious, sat back with a huge grin on his face, barely able to move from his seat.

"You did it, Koops!" Goombella shouted, rushing over to high-five him. Even the usually grumpy Bob-omb gave him a nod of respect.

The Pianta chef wiped a tear from his eye. "In all my years, I've never seen anyone take down the Mount Mushroom Supreme like that," he said, motioning toward the shiny go-kart. "It's yours, champ."

Koops, still dazed and full of burger, could barely believe it. He had done it. Not only had he taken on the challenge, but he had won—just like he had when adventuring with Mario. Rogueport had a new burger champion, and Koops had a new ride to show for it.

As he climbed into the go-kart, the crowd cheered, and for the first time in a long time, Koops didn't feel like the shy Koopa from Petalburg. He was a hero in his own right—and now, he had a trophy to prove it.