Hello, all, to another chapter of Game Jumpers! Last chapter, our merry band of heroes braved the mysterious ruins of Dry Dry Desert, facing a multitude of challenges such as tough enemies, cunning traps and various puzzles. Their final hurdle was Tutankoopa, the self-proclaimed king of Dry Dry Ruins and faithful follower of Bowser. It was a rather grueling battle, but the team was able to push through, finally defeating the pharaoh and freeing the second Star Spirit, Mamar, from his clutches. With the boss defeated and Star Spirit freed, our heroes are free to move on to the next Star Spirit. What obstacles block their paths this time? Only time will tell...
Chapter 9: Side Quest Squabbles 2: Electric Boogaloo
By now, the party was located outside the ruins, with Mamar floating in front of the party.
"Thank you, Mario and friends. At last, I can head home to Star Haven. My name is Mamar. So nice to meet you all in person!❤️ " Mamar greeted, giving them all a thankful nod. Everyone responded in their own ways before she continued.
"I'll do my best to help you!❤️ Here's a present for you," Mamar said before she threw her... hands up, surrounding Kimani, Jordan, Dylan, and Mario in a rainbow glow. She told them that she bestowed the power known as Lullaby upon them and raised their max Star Energy to 2. She then gave them one more nod before she took off into the sky. Once she left, the group turned and looked at the Chomp, which had followed them outside.
"Uh... so what should we do with this guy?" Parakarry asked. The Chomp sat there, wagging its chain in happiness.
"No idea... I guess he's really happy to be free of Tutankoopa..." Goombario answer. Mario put his finger on his chin. He didn't want to shoo it off, but he didn't know where else it would be safe from further harm.
"You know... Luigi does have to guard the house by himself nowadays... Maybe he could offer him some much-needed company and protection?" Jordan put together. Mario thought about it. Luigi has always begged him for a pet but due to their dangerous lifestyle, he always turned it down. The Chomp was showing multiple signs of friendliness and Mario knew firsthand how tough and dangerous the Chomp could be during times of trouble. Once he finished thinking, Mario nodded, agreeing with Jordan's plan.
"Seriously? You think Luigi will be fine with it?" Kimani asked. Mario nodded rapidly. Besides, if Luigi really had a problem with it, he was certain Kolorodo would enjoy the Chomp's company, seeing as how he was currently scratching the bottom of his chin.
"A novel idea, dear chap! I can also take the Chomp off your hands whenever you need me to! I would be more than happy to have his loving company!" Kolorodo exclaimed, causing the Chomp to bark in return.
"Well, that's settled... but Chomp is a basic name for it... We should name it!" Bombette exclaimed.
"To what?" Goombario asked. Everyone thought about it for a moment before they turned toward Dylan, who was already deep in thought.
"Wait for it..." Kimani muttered before Dylan let out a loud "Oh, I know!"
"What's up?" Jordan asked.
"Chainston!"
"...Alright, imma need some context,"
"Because of the chain on his back! Also, he weighs a ton!"
"Oh, Dylan..." Jordan sighed as 'Chainston' started barking rapidly while running around the group.
"Well... Chainston seems to like the name, so I guess that's it," Kimani said as Chainston stopped by his side, allowing him to pet him on the head.
"Chainston, the freed Chomp, has temporarily joined your party! Chainston can Chomp foes for a large chunk of damage or bite opponents who try and attack his current leader using Guard Dog! On the field, Chainston can be used as a ride, allowing for faster traversal! He can even clear gaps that Parakarry can carry friends over as well!"
"Wow, you got the whole package, eh Chainston?" Kimani asked. Chainston barked as a result. Mario offered to have Chainston follow him on the field, which he did so happily. Mario then started to lead his party back to the Dry Dry Outpost. On the way, they ran into a party consisting of a Pokey, Bandito, and Dry Bubble. Mario decided to use this moment to test a few things. For starters, instead of Kolorodo, Chainston was behind Mario, growling at the enemies. Mario first clapped his hands together, summoning Mamar to use Lullaby. When she came down, she started to sing. Once she was done, the Pokey and Bandito fell asleep for 3 turns. The Dry Bubble's lack of ears prevented it from working on it. Chainston used 3 of Mario's FP to trigger Guard Dog, causing him to shift in front of Mario. When the Dry Bubble floated over, Chainston snarled at it before he bit it, dealing 7 damage and defeating it. Mario petted Chainston as thanks before Dylan went next. He just zapped the Pokey twice, defeating it while Bombette Bombed the Bandito away. With the test complete, Mario nodded his head in satisfaction before Chainston nudged Mario. When he turned around, Chainston placed him on his head before he started taking off toward Dry Dry Outpost with the rest of the team mysteriously keeping pace. Eventually, they reached...
Dry Dry Outpost
...Dry Dry Outpost. Mario dismounted Chainston before he started walking around, making sure the Chomp was close by his side so as not to freak out the locals and tourists that were around. Dylan walked up to a group of Toads, who were red and had a few locks of hair peeking out from their caps.
"We came all the way here to look for mystery and excitement and adventure! But it's too hot. I feel like I'm drying up..." She moaned. Jordan overheard the conversation and asked Typhoon to help her out. He grunted but materialized anyway, walking behind Dylan and kneeling. When the four looked at him, he took his hammer and slammed the hilt into the sand before he made water shoot out of it like a sprinkler, causing them to squeal and start to play in it. A few of the younger members, such as Goombario and Bombette, joined them as well, while Kolorodo located Owen and filled him in on everything, with Kimani adding his own colorful commentary. Mario, Jordan, Kooper, Parakarry and Chainston saw Chuck Quizmo in the distance, so they decided to see what questions he had for them this time. When Chuck spotted them, he gave them a beaming smile.
"Ah, my dear friends! Nice to see you again!" He greeted. Mario gave him a friendly wave before he asked why he was here. Chuck... chuckled at the question.
"Ah, I can't gather questions from being stagnant, now can I? Life is ever in motion, so I, too, must be in motion! But I don't wish to bore you with my ramblings. Shall we get started with our Quiz?" He asked. Mario asked everyone if that was OK, to which they nodded before Chuck whisked them away to his game room.
"Alright... checking my list... we have 6 questions that need to be answered!"
"Lay it on us," Jordan said. Chuck nodded before he started.
"Question 21! Where is the house of the explorer, Kolorodo?"
"Koopa Village... Isn't he Kooper's neighbor?" Jordan answered. Mario, Kooper, and Chuck nodded.
"Correct! Question 22: What is the destination of the train that departs from Toad Town Station?"
"Mt. Rugged," Parakarry said next.
"Correct! Moving on to 23! What is the name of the fellow who sells Badges in Toad Town?" Chuck asked. Mario answered this time before Chuck grinned.
"That's right! 24! What treasure did Bowser steal from Star Haven?"
"The Star Rod, obviously!" Kooper exclaimed. Everyone sweatdropped.
"Yes... that's correct! What is the color of the roof of the house in Koopa Village where you can listen to the radio?"
"Ooh... wait, isn't that just my house? I have a radio in there," Kooper asked. Mario shook his head before he mentioned a blue-shelled house that had a Koopa and two Cherry Bob-ombs. He then answered Blue, which caused Chuck to nod.
"Well done! That was the last question, and you got them all correct!" Chuck congratulated, showering the group in confetti. Everyone smiled while Chainston circled the group rapidly. They were then brought back to the Outpost, where Chuck gave Mario 6 Star Pieces, bringing their total up to 29. Mario noted that was enough for the Power Plus, which caused him to snicker at Kimani's future reaction. He didn't want him to rush the group, so he decided to keep that information to himself as the rest of the group finally regrouped.
"Well, what's next?" Kimani asked, petting Chainston when he got close again. Mario quirked an eyebrow and asked if he liked Chomps.
"We don't have Chomps in our area, so I assume you're asking if I like dogs, which I do. A lot, actually. Me and my mom were actually thinking of getting one in the near future..." Kimani rambled. Mario smiled at the answer before he mentioned that they should start heading back to Toad Town. From there, they could meet up with Merlin to get some insight on their next move, knock out some side quests, and ultimately go back to Mario's house for food and a much-needed break. Everyone agreed with the game plan as they started their trek back to the train station.
Dry Dry Desert- Near Mt. Rugged's Entrance
The trip back to the entrance was a piece of cake, considering the fact that Mario's Super Hammer and most of the sand dunes were cleared up, allowing a straight shot back toward Kolorodo's Camp.
"Ah, home away from home... it hardens my heart, dear lads and lass, but I must end our partnership here for the time being..." Kolorodo told them. Kooper and Goombario instantly started begging him to stay.
"Please! Just for a bit longer? There's so much I want to ask you!" Kooper whined.
"Yeah! It was such a pleasure working with you! I don't want it to end!" Goombario piggybacked. Kolorodo smiled at the two before he put a hand on their heads.
"None of that now. We'll work together in the future again. I know it, but I must continue my research on Dry Dry Ruins, and I can't ask you fine chaps to halt your adventure for an old Koopa's sake. Right now, Mario is in need of your help, and he'll need both of your capable brains to help him out. So chin up, dear boys! This is not goodbye! Merely a 'see you later!'" Kolorodo told the two of them. They both pouted slightly but smiled afterward, seeing his point. Mario waited until the two were done before he dug into his pocket and pulled out the Artifact, causing Kolorodo to gasp.
"Did you find this in the ruins!? Excellent find, my dear boy! Ah, this alone will answer many questions and ask even more! Mario, my dear boy, thank you so much for humoring a daft archeologist during your adventure. I wish you the utmost luck in your adventure! Who knows? We might cross paths again in the near future!" Kolorodo exclaimed, taking the Artifact and looking it over with his magnifying glass. He pocketed it afterward and shook Mario's hand rapidly before he reached back into his pockets and gave Mario a Star Piece.
"Please, a very small token of my appreciation for both the adventure and Artifact. I wish I could do more, but this is all I can muster for now. If you have any questions that need answering, my tent is always open to you! Best wishes and safe travel, my faithful companions!" Kolorodo exclaimed one more time as the group started walking away, waving/shouting/barking as they started up the mountain.
"Kolorodo has left the party!"
"Stop, Dylan! I'm going to cry!"
Mt. Rugged- Near the Entrance to Dry Dry Desert
The group was now back in the mountains and climbing the windy road leading to the long, rickety bridge from before.
"...Wait, wasn't there something we should be worrying about?" Goombario asked. Before anyone could answer, a loud "Hey there!" stopped everyone in their tracks as Buzzar came back.
"...Oh, hey, Buzzar. What's up?" Kimani casually asked, a sweatdrop hiding on the back of his head.
"Nothing much, Pardner. I wasn't able to find that Mario fella... and I really think he might be that red-cladded one right there. I reckon you folks are lying to me,"
"Us? To you? Noooooooooo..." Kimani feigned, dying off afterward. Mario facepalmed as Parakarry mentioned seeing him in Dry Dry Outpost.
"The Outpost, huh? Well, I guess I c- Hey, wait a minute! That's what you said last time! Nice try, but yer not foolin' me again!" Buzzar said as he dove at the group, making them yell in panic and enter battle against Buzzar.
"Well, so much for that!" Jordan yelled as Buzzar hovered a good distance away from them. Due to his Peekaboo Badge, he could see Buzzar had 55 HP, which didn't spark much confidence in him. Kimani volunteered to go first and allowed Goombario to Tattle on him.
"Man, I really didn't want to fight him, but here we are... This is Buzzar. He guards Mt. Rugged. Wow! That's one big bird! Max HP: 55!? Sheesh... Attack Power: 6, Defense Power: 0. This is going to be painful. Buzzar has 3 moves he can do and a fourth one he'll add to his moves once he reaches 30 HP. He can grab a party leader and partner with his claws and deal 6 damage per turn if we don't rescue them, create a maelstrom of wind to stun a team for up to 3 turns if we don't fight it enough, or swoop at the entire party for 8 damage and Shrink whoever doesn't block! His final attack is throwing feathers at a Party Leader and Partner, which will stun them! If he hits this, he'll immediately follow up with a mini swoop that'll deal 6 damage! Guys, we gotta be on our A-game when it comes to both attacking and blocking! Don't hold anything back! Hit 'em with your strongest moves!" Goombario told everyone.
"Holy hell! Uh... alright! I'll need Firebrand to fire me up then next turn!" Kimani exclaimed, choosing to block this time around. Buzzar tried to grab Goombario and Kimani in his claws, but Kimani dodged and uppercutted Buzzar away from them for 2 damage, putting him at 53 HP. Jordan went next and immediately used Defensive Shout to give his team a buff in defense. Parakarry, who traded spots with Typhoon, used more of Jordan's FP to Shell Shot Buzzar in the face for 5, dropping his HP to 48 and Jordan's FP to 7. Buzzar didn't like that, so he tried to blow Jordan and Parakarry off the mountain. Jordan and Parakarry held their ground to the best of their abilities and got different results. Jordan was able to fight off a good portion of the wind and only got stunned for a turn because of it. Parakarry's wings and overall aerial dependence ended up working against him and got him stunned for 3 turns, effectively taking him out of the battle.
"Parakarry's out of the battle for the most part, so Jordan can't swap partners! We have to be careful of that move doing the same to us!" Goombario told everyone else. Everyone nodded before Dylan went next. He first used 5 FP to give Kimani a jolt of energy, giving him an extra turn for next time before he had Alpha Scan Buzzar. He nailed the action command, which dropped Buzzar's attack by 3 for 2 turns, which wasn't a lot, but it was a great call as Bombette just focused, giving the team some Star Energy back. Buzzar flew back a bit before he darted forward, swooping through everyone. Luckily, due to Jordan's Defensive Shout and Dylan's Scan, the party took minimum damage. Everyone, minus Jordan and Parakarry, guarded, so people such as the partners and Dylan took only 2 damage, which knocked them out for a moment, but it was only for a turn, so it could have been worse. Chainston's defense of 6 (the extra 2 being from Jordan's Defensive Shout) kept him perfectly fine. Kimani took no damage, and both protected Goombario and lowered Buzzar's HP to 46, while Mario, due to Damage Dodge, and Jordan, due to his 4 points of defense at the moment, only took 1 point of damage, dropping their HP to 24 and 34, respectively while Dylan was sitting at 23. However, since Jordan and Parakarry couldn't block, they were Shrunken as a result for 3 turns. Mario went next, simply hopping on Buzzar twice, dealing 3 damage, dropping his HP to 43. Chainston got ready to guard Mario from the next attack. Buzzar started his normal rotation of attacks again, trying to grab Mario and Chainston, but he got bit in the ankle by Chainston for 7, putting Buzzar at 36 HP.
"Good boy, Chainston. Now it's our turn. Fire, hit me!" Kimani told him, causing Firebrand to swap with Goombario and set him on fire. With his attack increased by 2, Kimani unleashed a Dragon Uppercut and Decent upon Buzzar, dealing a fantastic 14 damage to him and leaving him with 22. Since Dylan gave him an extra turn afterward, he did it again, burning through all of his FP and dealing another 14, leaving him with 8 HP. Mario almost fainted from surprise while Dylan just cheered and whooped for Kimani.
"Thank you, thank you! I'll take my thanks in cash, cash or cash!" Kimani bowed. He got distracted, so he didn't block the wind attack at all and got Stunned for 3 turns, causing Mario to sigh in return. The turns rotated again and since Kimani and Jordan were Stunned, Buzzar was free to throw feathers at both of them. At this point, Buzzar's attack went back to normal, as did everyone's defense, so the feathers did 4 damage to Kimani and 2 to Jordan and paralyzed them, opening them up for a swoop attack afterward. Altogether, Kimani took 10 damage while Jordan took a reduced 6 damage, placing Kimani's HP to 15 and Jordan's to 28. Dylan's turn went next, Jolting him twice for a total of 6 damage and leaving him at 2. Bombette was still injured, so Buzzar used his party-wide swoop attack to assault everyone. Dylan blotched the guard as did Mario, leaving them both shrunken and with 8 less HP, meaning Mario was at 16 and Dylan at 15. Chainston got injured and shrunken as did Bombette. Mario went next, ending the battle with two simple hops, defeating Buzzar and winning the battle.
"Yow! I got whupped! Ok, folks! You've made your point! I won't bother you anymore!" Buzzar squawked, flying to who knows where. Everyone sighed before they flopped to the ground in pain and exhaustion.
"Everything hurts..." Kimani moaned. Jordan, Dylan and Mario groaned in agreement before they limped back to the Heart Block and hit it, healing their injuries before they headed back to the train station. On their way back, they saw an untouched Stone Block. When they broke it, they found a Super Block, opting to level up Goombario this time around.
"Thanks, guys! I can now Charge my attacks, so it might be wise to charge me with a few Party Leaders and then sic me on whoever gives us a hard time!" Goombario told them. They nodded before they continued towards the train station. As the Conductoad promised, they saw that the train had an additional car on it. When the Conductoad saw the group, he waved to them.
"Howdy, Mario! Friends! Hope you enjoyed your trip!... Hey, is that Chomp trained?" The Conductoad asked, pointing warily at Chainston.
"Chainston wouldn't hurt a fly... unless it actively deemed itself as a threat..." Kimani started, dying off with that last part and causing Chainston to bark in agreement. The Conductoad gave him one more look before he shrugged his shoulders.
"Fine by me! You guys ready to head back to Toad Town?"
"Yes, please!" Dylan piped up, already on the train and putting half his body out the window. Kimani harshly told him to get back inside as he climbed aboard with Chainston following. Mario sweatdropped as the rest of the party got into the back cab while Mario joined the Conductoad in the front.
"Next stop, Toad Town Station!" The Conductoad yelled, making the train start moving and the horn sound. Mario decided that a bit of shut-eye might do him some justice, so he got cozy and flipped his hat down so his eyes were covered and dozed off.
Toad Town Station
Mario jolted awake when the train brakes squealed, and the train lurched forward slightly, almost making him slide out of his seat. Mario stretched slightly before he waited for the train to come to a complete stop.
"Here we are, Folks. Toad Town!" He exclaimed. Mario thanked him for his services before he exited the train. The others followed afterwards with some of them looking groggy themselves. Mario chuckled and asked if they got any sleep on the train.
"Yeah... I think we all crashed, honestly. Didn't realize how tired I was until I got off my feet!" Goombario answered. Mario nodded, feeling the same way. He shook himself a bit before he asked what their next plan was.
"Beats me. Twink hasn't come by and bludgeoned one of us yet so I guess we're on our own until we get a lead," Kimani guessed. Mario pouted but nodded. Besides, they had to drop off Chainston to Luigi anyway. Mario led them all the way to the pipe leading to his house before they jumped down it...
Mario's House
...and ended up at Mario's House. Outside, Luigi was hanging some clothes on a clothesline, humming to himself quietly. When he noticed the footsteps, he turned and saw the group.
"Oh! Hey guys! How goes it!?" Luigi greeted. Mario raised a hand, informing him of everything they went through. When he was done, Luigi jumped in surprise.
"Really? Hidden Ruins? And you got to adventure with Kolorodo? Wow, Bro! You guys must have had a blast! Glad you were able to save another Star Spirit! But, if you don't mind me asking. What are you guys doing here so early? Usually, I don't see you guys until it gets dark. I haven't even had time to make dinner!"
"Just making a quick pit stop. Mario got you a present," Jordan told him. Luigi gave Mario a quizzical look before Mario grinned and whistled, causing Chainston to appear from behind the pipe he was asked to hide behind. He bolted towards Luigi and tackled him, knocking him over with a surprised "OOMP!"
"...Wait, is this a Chomp?" He asked as Chainston licked him a few times before he let him up.
"Yep. Tutankoopa was mistreating him so when we took him out, this Chomp followed us. We named him Chainston by the way," Kimani informed him.
"Because of the chain on his back and the fact he weighs a ton?" Luigi guessed. Kimani sputtered for a moment while Dylan simply giggled. Everyone else just sweatdropped. Mario shook it away before he told Luigi that Chainston would be better off with him. That way, he had someone with him while they were away. Luigi nodded before he looked at Chainston, who sat in front of him, wagging his chain.
"Well, I can't turn my back on something as cute as this! Thanks, Bro! Guess I gotta make a Chainhouse for him... and figure out what Chain Chomps eat... Hmmm... Well, we can get into the nitty-gritty later. C'mon Chainston! I still have to finish some chores!" Luigi pondered for a moment before he shook his head and started walking back to the house with Chainston eagerly by his side. He broke off for a moment, rushing back to the group and saying goodbye.
"Don't worry, Chainston. We'll be back later today. Just gotta finish a few things on our end," Kimani told him. Chainston barked in response before he ran back to Luigi, who was holding the door open for him. As soon as he dashed past, Luigi waved to the group before he closed the door.
"Chainston has left the party! He'll be waiting at Mario's House and will be available to recruit at later times!"
Everyone gave Dylan a look before they went back to...
Toad Town
...Toad Town. A Toad walked up to him and informed him that there was some drama brewing at Club 64, causing him to raise an eyebrow at this. He went there anyway with his party in tow before he went inside, instantly being glomped by an old Toad. Once Mario calmed him down, (that and Jordan pried him off and dangled him in front of Mario as punishment), the Toad explained that the Diva he was working with lost her confidence due to the kidnapping of Peach and he was in need of the perfect music to go with it. Kimani bluntly asked what did they have to do with it, causing Jordan to dangle him as well. Mario sweatdropped before he mentioned that he would keep an eye out for any musically inclined individuals, but saving Peach came first. He nodded in understatement before the group exited the club.
Just then, Rouf's son appeared, poking Kimani in the side.
"Eh? Oh, hey, kid. How's business?" Kimani asked, looking down and seeing Rouf's kid.
"It's been going well! My dad has a new collection of badges if you guys have time to check them out,"
"Sure thing, little dude," Kimani answered, causing Jordan to snicker from the irony of the nickname. While Kimani was choking out Jordan, the gang followed Rouf's son to his shop where Rouf saw and waved to them.
"Nice to see you again, Mar! We got some more badges in stock! Take a look and see if anything catches your eye," Rouf said before he opened the carpet wall again and showed the group his badges. Everyone eyed them before they turned to Goombario, who was puzzled.
"Huh... Those last two badges are new ones... I've never seen those ones. The first one is the Sleep Stomp, which puts foes to sleep. As for the other two..."
"The middle one is the Gambler's Smash, which has a random chance to deal bonus damage or just 1 damage, while the last badge, Truth Stomp, can hit invisible foes,"
"Huh... Ok... Mario, the Truth Stomp may be better on you since you excel in jump attacks. Kimani could do justice with the Sleep Stomp since it's 5 FP, and he has the most out of all of us, excluding Dylan, while Jordan could run Gambler's Smash. He's not damage-focused anyway, so giving him a chance to deal large amounts of damage wouldn't hurt." Goombario rambled. Mario nodded before he asked to purchase all 3 badges.
"All three, huh? Nice choice. For you, I'll part with them for 175. Consider it a Heroes discount, if you will," Rouf told him. Mario nodded before he handed over the coins. Once he counted them, he gave Mario the three badges.
"Well, that's all I have for now! Come back another time, and I'll have some new ones available!"
"Thanks, Rouf. Alright, next up is..." Kimani thanked him before he asked again.
"We could stop by Merlin's house. I have a letter for him anyway and we can ask him if he has an idea of where to go next," Parakarry offered. Mario nodded before they rushed over to Merlin's spot and walked inside after knocking.
"Ah... Fate has brought you to my humble abode yet again... And I see you've found two of your missing friends, Kimario," Merlin greeted.
"Alright, I gotta fix this. It's Kimani, and that's Mario," Kimani gruffly said, socking Jordan in the ribs and opting to just lightly swatting Dylan in the head when they laughed.
"...Ah, my apologies. But a pleasure to meet your acquaintance, you two. Now, how can I be of assistance?"
"Ah. My name is Parakarry, sir. I deliver messages. I have one here for you," Parakarry said, digging into his mailbag and grabbing a letter before he handed it to Merlin.
"Another letter delivered. A postman's job is never done,"
"That's my line!" Parakarry squawked, causing Kooper to snicker. Merlin read the message real quick before he nodded.
"A letter from my granddaughter, Merlee. She has a tent set up in Dry Dry Outpost where she bestows blessings on whoever needs it. She mentioned that she has it in one of the alleyways to avoid the heat, but she's been keeping busy. That's good to hear. Thank you for the message, Parakarry. Please take this as thanks," Merlin explained, handing Parakarry a Star Piece. He handed it to Mario, who pocketed it and asked Merlin if he had any fortunes for them.
"...As a matter of fact, yes. As this is an important fortune, I shall not charge you for hearing it. The subject is the last of Kimar- I mean, Kimani's friends. I believe his name is Austin?"
"That's our friend! Do you know where he is?!" Dylan asked, leaning forward. Kimani and Jordan were behind him, rapidly nodding. Mario scooted them back before he softly asked if he had an idea of where he was located and if he was OK.
"Yes. He's OK and safe so no worries there... As for the location, I believe he's located in what seems to be a manor. I'm not sure about the location, however, as energy seems to be masking the whereabouts of it... Hmm... If I were to cross-reference it with another area that has been muddling my readings, that would be Forever Forest. If I were you, my young ones, I would set my sights on that location next,"
"A manor and Forever Forest... OK. Got it. Thanks, Merlin, that helps a lot," Jordan thanked.
"Of course... Hmm? Ah, as a matter of fact, I have them here with me now... Mmm-hmm... Ah, I see. I shall pass the message to them,"
"What was that?"
"Ah, I got a message from Merlow. He has sensed that you have a substantial amount of Star Pieces on your person. That and he has found some... what did he call them? Smash Shards?"
"Oh, nice. I guess we'll head over there next,"
"Take care, young ones. I wish you luck on your quest," Merlin told them before they walked out. Mario shared a look with the group before they nodded and headed straight for...
Shooting Star Summit- Merlin's House
...Merlin's house, where Merluvlee was seen, sitting behind her table. She was currently taking a short nap. When they walked into the house, Merluvlee woke up. She rubbed her eyes before she nodded to the group.
"Ah. I'm guessing Merlow's message reached Merlin just fine?" She asked.
"Yep. How are you?" Kimani asked.
"Great... And I see that you've found Jordan and Dylan. Well met, you two. My name is Merluvlee, daughter to Merlin, who you just met,"
"Pleasure," "Hello!" The two of them greeted each other. Merluvlee nodded before she turned to Mario.
"Mario, I must inform you of something. A while ago, I gave Princess Peach a two-way chest that she keeps in her castle as a way to stay in touch with me easily and for us to share things even with the staggering distance,"
"...Wait, if she has that, why didn't Peach just climb in and be whisked away to here?" Kimani deadpanned. Mario wondered the same thing.
"A grand idea... if it wasn't for the fact that the magic doesn't work on anything living..." Merluvlee deadpanned back, causing Kimani to sweatdrop and for Mario to pout.
"Well... So much for that idea... So could we send her something to help her out?"
"Too risky. Should anyone besides Peach find out that she's receiving help through it, they might destroy it, and then that would mean the end of any type of link to her. However, as I said, it's two-way, and it seems like Peach hasn't been idling during this time. She placed two items inside for you, Mario. Please take them," she finished explaining. Mario eagerly ran to the box and looked inside, pulling out two badges.
"...Oh? A Power Rush Badge and a Deep Focus Badge? Nice! Peach must have found those badges in the castle!" Goombario exclaimed.
"What do they do?" Kimani asked, scratching his head.
"Power Rush raises your attack by 2 when you're in Danger, and Deep Focus makes our focus charge more Star Energy!"
"I heard more damage, and that's enough for me. Mario, can I have Power Rush?" Kimani instantly said, causing Jordan to sigh in response and Dylan to giggle. Mario nodded, handing him the badge and the Sleep Stomp Badge since it was on his mind as well before he pocketed the Deep Focus Badge, not wanting to sort badges just yet. He then walked upstairs, with everyone following before they entered Merlow's room.
"Hey guys! I knew I'd see you guys again! Oh, by the way, I did a bit of looking myself and found these!" Merlow exclaimed, reaching into his robe and pulling out a red and blue shard.
"Nice find, Merlow!" Kimani said, using his shard immediately as did Jordan. They glowed before it died down.
"...Aw, yeah! I got Dragon's Dance back and Dragon's Fury!"
"What's that?" Goombario asked.
"I can unleash 5 strong attacks, and if I do it perfectly, I can attack 5 more times... Sheesh, the FP cost is high, and the timing is strict as all hell... I'll even be Winded for a turn for even trying it..."
"How much FP?"
"Er... 20,"
"20?!"
"Fair trade for potentially 20 damage... And it pierces defense? Nice! What did you get, Big Guy?"
"My Dome of Protection. Remember when I made that giant shield around us, Mario?" Jordan started. Mario thought back to the desert and nodded.
"This is that ability. Since I actually have it now, I can make a shield surround our entire party, keeping us safe... Oh. It does drain all of my FP, and I do have to take 2 turns to get my breath back,"
"Oh, wow. You guys got some really strong moves!"
"Glad to have been of assistance. Now, on to business. I sense that you guys have a lot of Star Pieces on hand," Merlow said, folding his hands together.
"...How many shards do we have?" Kimani asked. Mario checked his pockets before he counted 31.
"31!? Since when?"
"We ran into Chuck in the Outpost, who gave us six, then Parakarry delivered a letter and got one, and then Sir Kolorodo gave us one for the Artifact," Kooper recited.
"Huh... OK... So about that Power Plus Badge..." Kimani muttered before he immediately spun and started talking to Merlow. Everyone sweatdropped as a result.
"Still interested in that badge? I don't blame you! As I mentioned before, I'm really attached to this badge, but I could be persuaded for 25 Star Pieces,"
"Easy. Mario, give the man his Star Pieces," Kimani bluntly said. When he noticed Mario didn't budge and was giving him a sour look, he sweatdropped and added "please" to the back of it, causing him to smile and hand the Star Pieces over, dropping their total to 6. Merlow handed over the Power Plus Badge to Kimani, who squealed and immediately put it it on after pulling off every other badge but FP Plus and Power Rush.
"Well... Kimani's dangerous now..." Jordan deadpanned.
"Now? Bitch, I've been dangerous!" Kimani exclaimed, being swatted by Mario for cursing in front of members such as Goombario and Merlow. He then sent him to the corner, where Kimani stood with a sweatdrop on the back of his head before Mario apologized for his companion's behavior.
"It's fine. I'm happy I was able to make him so excited! You see anything you want, Mario?" Merlow asked him. Mario pursed his lips. Honestly? He was pretty set on badges at the moment, and due to Kimani's purchase, they didn't have much to work with. He did spot 2 badges that caught his attention and pointed at them.
"Hmm? Ah, the Chill Out and Pay-Off Badge? The Chill Out Badge makes it so you can't be hit with First Strikes, while the Pay-Off Badge will make it so the more damage you receive, the more coins you earn at the end," He explained. Mario nodded before he asked how many he'd want for those two.
"Eh, these ones are throwaways, if I'm being honest. You can have both for 4 Star Pieces," Merlow said. Mario nodded, appreciating the honesty, and handing him the Star Pieces.
"You got some use for those?" Jordan asked. Mario nodded, noting that those badges could prove to be useful. To this thought, he handed Jordan the Pay-Off Badge, seeing as how he took the most damage out of everyone. Jordan shrugged before he equipped it. With that done, Mario thanked Merlow for his time and ushed his team out of the room. Once they exited the room and house altogether, Mario immediately rounded on Kimani for his language earlier, rapidly wagging his finger and causing Kimani to wince slightly.
"Sorry, Mar. Was excited... Also, Goombario has heard me curse before... What's the problem? Ow! Ok, my fault!" Kimani apologized, asking that question and being swatted by Mario's glove once more. Mario crossed his arms and sternly told him to watch his mouth around the younger members or, at the very least, refrain from using the stronger curse words should the former idea be too daunting of a task. Kimani raised his arm and offered a scout's honor to not curse in front of children anymore, causing both Jordan to mention he's never been a scout in his life to Goombario to counter that he's old enough to hear curses. While Kimani strangled Jordan and rapidly tried to stomp on Goombario, Mario (with a sweatdrop on his head) discussed with the party on their next plans.
"...Oh, I know! Remember when it was just me, you, Pint, and Jordan, and we were exploring the sewers? I do remember seeing a Stone Block down there. That and we're tough enough to deal with those Gloombas now!" Kooper told him. Mario put a finger on his chin, seeing his point. Mario nodded before he clapped his hands and told the group that's where they would head next. Everyone cheered before Mario told Kimani to stop strangling Jordan, but it fell on deaf ears. Typhoon appeared and separated the two by picking them up by the scruffs of their shirt. Mario sighed but led his team towards...
Toad Town
...Toad Town, where they found the pipe leading to the Sewers.
"So... We're here... why?" Typhoon muttered, still carrying Jordan and Kimani under his arm. As punishment for disobeying Mario, he squeezed a bit, cutting off their air.
"Remember? Strong enemies? Unexplored territory? Stone Block? Stay with the program, Ty!" Kooper exclaimed. When Typhoon shot him a look, Kooper sheepishly chuckled and backed off with his hands raised. Mario told them to focus before he asked Typhoon to let the two go, which he did, causing them to inhale loudly and cough. Once everyone got themselves together, they leaped down into the pipe...
Toad Town Sewers
...And appeared back in the Sewers. True to Kooper's word, there was a Stone Block to their left, so Kimani, Mario, and Dylan shattered the block before they went through. Before they got too far, a loud cry of "BLOOPER!" cut everyone off as a Giant Blooper floated down from the ceiling.
"Oh.. well... that's something..." Kimani meekly said as the Blooper dashed at them, starting the battle. Once in, Jordan could see he had 45 HP. Mario started the battle, allowing Goombario to Tattle.
"I'm glad we didn't run into this earlier in our journey... This is a Blooper. Bloopers lurk in the dank pools of Toad Town Tunnels. Max HP: 45, Attack Power: 6, Defense Power: 0. They seem pretty unremarkable... Although... you have to wonder how they float in the air like that... They'll ram us or shoot ink, which is poisonous to us. That's all he does, so just watch those two attacks, and we'll be fine. " He told everyone. Mario nodded before he simply jumped on it, dealing 2 damage and leaving it with 43. The Blooper corkscrewed towards him, but he was able to block it, taking a reduced 4 damage, dropping him to 21. The team had Dylan go next since Kimani didn't want to spend FP just yet, and Jordan didn't have a normal way to reach him. Dylan smirked before he first had Alpha Safeguard, raising his defense by 1 before he Copycatted Mario. He crumbled into a paper ball before he reappeared. Unlike other copycats, Dylan looked fairly normal form-wise, but he was now wearing blue overalls over a black shirt. On his head was a black cap like Mario's, and he even had his mustache. Mario was a bit flattered he was Dylan's choice as Dylan used his copy of Mario's Hammer Throw Badge to hurl his Super Hammer at the Blooper, dealing 4 damage and leaving it with 39. Parakarry flew over and drained more of Dylan's FP to do Shell Shot, hitting him for another 6 and taking both Dylan's FP to 25 and the Blooper's HP to 33. The Blooper wasn't amused with that one so he squirted some ink at Dylan, who blotched the command and got hit with the full attack, leaving him with 19. He didn't get Poisoned since Mario had the Feeling Fine Badge on when he got copied.
"You can copy Badge effects as well? Dylan, have I ever told you how great your powers are?" Kimani exclaimed as he tapped his Sleep Stomp and stomped twice on the Blooper. He ended up spending an extra 5 FP to do one more stomp, dealing a total of 9 damage and leaving him with 34 and putting it to Sleep for 3 turns.
"3 turns? Bloopers must be weak to Sleep... I'll keep that in mind in the future," Goombario muttered. Since the Blooper was asleep and he was the only enemy here, the turn penalty was lifted for the time being, so the party had Kimani and Goombario spend two turns to charge their Focus Blast and Charge in general. This meant Goombario's attack was sitting at a +4 for his next attack, while Kimani had a 7 damage Focus Blast ready. They unleashed their attacks, causing Kimani to deal 7 damage and for Goombario to hit with a meaty 12 double Headbonk. The Blooper's HP dropped heavily, stopping at 15 and waking it up. The Blooper wiggled violently before he torpedoed into Kimani's gut, winding him and dealing 6 damage, dropping his HP to 19. Jordan went next, tapping his Power Stomp badge and leaping twice on the Blooper for a total of 5 damage, placing it at 14. Typhoon couldn't do anything, so he just swapped spots with Parakarry, allowing him to deal another 6 damage with his Shell Shot, putting him at 8 HP. The Blooper frowned before he spat some more ink out. Jordan's shield starved off the attack, however, making him lose 3 HP instead, putting his HP at 32. The turns rolled back again and Dylan ended it with a combo of another Hammer Throw/Sky Dive combo with Parakarry. The Blooper went down and the party got another Level Up, causing everyone to cheer.
"We're flying through these levels, aren't we?" Jordan asked as he picked FP this time, raising it to 20. Kimani shrugged as he brought his FP up, putting it at 25 naturally and 30 with his FP Up Badge on. Dylan was also on the FP train, raising it to 40 FP while Mario played it safe and went with HP, bringing it up to 25 naturally with the badge, putting it at 30.
"Alright, I gotta do this before I forget. This is Dylan. He's currently copying... Mario?! Is that even possible? I mean, I guess it is... Since he's copying Mario, he's got his outfit, jumping powers, hammer, and last but not least, his awesome mustache! He can even copy whatever badges Mario has on as well, so this is easily one of Dylan's more dynamic Copycats! I'd fanboy over Dylan, but I only have room for one hero, and that's the real Mario!"
With the Blooper gone, the group saw a blue button, so Mario hit it, causing 3 Blue Warp Pipes to appear. A question mark appeared over everyone's head before Kimani went over to the left pipe while Mario peeked into the middle one. Dylan skipped over to the right one and leaped inside without warning. Kimani choked on his spit before he dashed over and leaped headfirst into it. Mario sweatdropped before he jumped into the middle one while Jordan tested the left one. The partners stood there for a moment with sweatdrops on their heads before they all appeared back moments later. While Kimani was dragging Dylan by the ear and cursing up a storm, Mario mentioned that the middle pile led to Koopa Village, while Jordan mentioned his went to Dry Dry Outpost. Once Kimani was done verbally abusing Dylan for his recklessness, he said his pipe went to Goomba Village.
"Irony aside... That's huge! These shortcuts will be a great help!" Kooper exclaimed. Kimani almost marched over and assaulted Kooper next, but he got scooped up by Typhoon. As Typhoon and Jordan, once he came over, wrestled with Kimani, who was surprisingly giving the two a tough battle, Mario pondered on their next plan. These shortcuts certainly made traveling a lot more plausible, and his next stop was Koopa Koot anyway. He clapped his hands again, stopping the battle between the three, which somehow had Jordan on the ground with his leg twitching at random intervals and Typhoon currently dangling Kimani by his ankle, a small knot on his head. Kimani's eyes had swirls in it, and he had a few more lumps on his head. Mario gave them a flat look before he sighed loudly and walked over, poking everyone back to normal. Mario then asked Kimani why he was reverting to his old ways.
"Old ways? This is me normally. I'm just not always a monster, is all. Depends on how I feel, and I've been getting a bit hype lately," Kimani told him, brushing himself off. Mario gave him a look for a moment before he simply sighed. Once he was done questioning how Kimani functioned, he informed them that they were heading toward Koopa Village to help out Koopa Koot. Kimani nodded before he ushered towards the pipe, causing Mario to snort in amusement as he leaped inside with the others following.
Koopa Village
The party appeared back in Koopa Village, near the red house, before they went straight towards the Mayor's house. Upon walking in, Koopa Koot immediately greeted the team with welcome arms.
"If it isn't Mario and Co! Welcome boys! Oh, and Ms. Bombette," He greeted, adding that last part afterward, causing Bombette to giggle.
"Hiya, Mayor. Got any favors for us to do?" Kooper asked. Koopa Koot thought about it.
"As a matter of fact, yes. I'm sure my wallet was with me then, but after I got home, I realized it was gone,"
"Last place you saw it?" Bombette asked next.
"Here in the Village!"
"You heard the man. Everyone split up and search!" Kimani exclaimed. Everyone, minus Mario, answered with a rousing yell before they sprinted out of the house. Mario buried his face into his hat in embarrassment while Koopa Koot just snickered. Not even a minute passed before the group came back. In Firebrand's hands was the wallet.
"One wallet, snatched from a thieving bush," He said. Koopa Koot took the wallet.
"Ah, thank you so much. Now I have a spot to put my coins! Speaking of which," Koopa Koot told them, dropping a single coin in Firebrand's awaiting palm. While Firebrand dully looked at the coin, going so far as to bite it just to make sure it was real, he also mentioned that he was craving a Tasty Tonic. Mario didn't have one on him, so he told the others to wait there for a moment before he stepped outside.
5 Minutes Later...
Mario walked back inside, earning looks from his party. Mario quickly mentioned that he stopped by Tayce T's and had her make a few for him. He then gave one to Koopa Koot, who paid one more coin before he asked for Merluvlee's autograph. Mario questioned the need for so many autographs in his head but led his party outside the house and made their way back to...
Merlin's House- Shooting Star Summit
"...Excuse me? You want... My autograph," Merluvlee asked.
"Well... More so, the mayor of Koopa Village wants it," Kooper corrected.
"Mmm... I don't mean to be a stick-in-the-mud..."
"Which makes you one by default..." Kimani deadpanned. Mario kinda had to agree with him on that one.
"...Fair enough. I'll give you the autograph on one condition. A small favor… I want you to visit my twin sister and fetch a rare stone from her,"
"Stone, huh? Sounds simple enough. Where is your sister?"
"Dry Dry Outpost. You might have met her before. Her name is Merlee. Her tent should be located in one of the alleyways,"
"...well, since you asked nicely and admitted that you're being a bit difficult, I don't see why not,"
"...You know, I'm actually content with your bluntness,"
"I get that a lot, actually,"
Dry Dry Outpost
The group had arrived back at Dry Dry Outpost, and after some searching and asking around, they found Merlee's tent.
"Hello, welcome, how are you? Feeling jolly? Feeling blue?" Merlee exclaimed, dancing around the group.
"Oh no..." Kimani started.
"I'm Merlee, you see? That's me! A cuter gal you'll never see. I have powers, but not for free. You've come for assistance, right? My spells help you fight! I got damage, defense, and all the rest! Mystic powers are the best!"
"...On second thought, if I have to listen to rhyme to get stronger again, that's a fair trade,"
"I think you've gotten enough power-ups, so no, you're not allowed," Jordan deadpanned, picking him up by the scruff of his shirt. Kimani whined in response.
"He has a point, Kimani. We can't have you steamroll through everything. Otherwise, there wouldn't be any suspense in the plot!" Dylan exclaimed.
"What did I say about breaking the 4th wall, Dylan?"
"Don't do it unless it's funny?"
"Exactly!"
Mario ignored them as he asked Merlee how they'd go through with it.
"A bit of magic chants and incantations, and you'll be covered for every situation!"
"...Ok, that was a good one," Kimani said from the background. Mario snorted before he agreed.
"Oh, how lovely! Very good! Pick just one now, if you would! I'd pay as much as I could..." She slyly said. Mario looked at her options before he shrugged and went with the Special Course, which cost 80 coins. He forked over the money before Merlee danced around. Once she started, the area got dark, and everyone took a giant step back from Mario as cards rained down on him before they covered him. The cards then started to shuffle around at a rapid pace before 3 cards were placed in front of them. When they flipped around briefly, Mario was seen making a pose on each one. The first one had him in a fight-ready pose, the second one had him jumping, and the last one had him with his arms raised. Once they flipped back over, the cards shuffled before one card appeared above Merlee, unfolding back up and releasing Mario as Merlee charged up one more burst of magic before she unleashed it, covering Mario in a veil of Star Energy.
"These spells may be fickle, but they'll get you out of a pickle. Even should you meet a beast... Do not fear! Not in the least! My spells make a famine feast. See you, then. Please come again. Good-bye, my friend!" Merlee said, nodding her head. Mario thanked her before he told her that Merluvlee needed a stone that she held. Merlee thought about it for a moment before she made a noise and ran into her tent before she pulled out...
"WAIT, IS THAT AN ULTRA STONE!?"
"Goombario, I'm right here!" Kimani yelled, picking his ear.
"Sorry, but what does she need with this?"
"Not our business. Let's just get it to her,"
"...Yeah, alright. She'll explain it to us anyway,"
Merlin's House
"Hmm? Oh, this? I'm selling it,"
"HMM?" Goombario grunted loudly.
"Exactly that. But enough about that business. Here's my autograph, as promised. Thank you for your help," Merluvlee told him, handing Mario the autograph. Mario thanked her before he picked up Goombario, who was frozen in shock and led the group back to...
Koopa Village
...Koopa Village, where the gang was located in Koopa Koot's house. Mario handed the autograph to Koopa Koot, who looked at it and almost fell into cardiac arrest at the sight of it. Kooper ran over and gave him a shoulder to fan girl on as everyone else just sweatdropped.
"Be still, my heart... Uh... That is... This will be the heart of my collection! A favor this grand needs to be properly paid!" Koopa Koot exclaimed, reaching into his shell and handing Mario 3 Star Pieces, bringing it up to 5. He told the group he was out of favors for the moment. Mario thanked him before he led his group outside, asking if there was anything else they needed to do. Kooper checked his inhalers, making sure he had enough pumps for the journey ahead before he nodded. Parakarry checked his bag, noting that one of the letters was for a Toad here. Parakarry flew over to the house in question, walked inside, and, after a moment, came out with a Star Piece in his hand. He gave it to Mario afterward.
"Oh, I'm not sure why he told me this, but apparently, there's a famous composer in Dry Dry Outpost. He can probably do something with the lyrics we got,"
"Holy sh- I mean, heck. I'm glad we found those warp pipes..." Kimani deadpanned. Mario agreed with him as they walked back to the blue Warp Pipe.
Some Time Later...
...The group was currently walking out of Club 64 with another Sound FX badge in Mario's hands. Kooper was reading his notebook and checked something off.
"Now what?" Kooper asked.
"Uh... hmm... You know, Mar? You and I saw a bunch of Stone Blocks in earlier spots. Should we crack them open?" Kimani brought up. Mario shrugged, not seeing the harm in it. He remembered seeing one near King Goomba's fortress, so he led his team back...
Goomba Road
...To where the fortress used to exist. Mario led his team to an archway hidden behind some bushes where a Stone Block sat. Dylan lightly tazed Kimani and Mario, causing them to assault the block and knock it out of the way. When they walked through, they saw a lone house sitting there.
"What a dilapidated house! The door doesn't look remotely usable… Just think of the secret base you could have with just a little work... Okay, maybe a lot of work,"
"Dilapidated? Great ass word choice, dude," Kimani commented. Goombario beamed in pride while Mario playfully rolled his eyes as he went over to the lone Goomba and stomped on it, starting the battle with the Goomba defeated and leaving them with...
"Why are Chomps here?!" Kooper exclaimed. Mario couldn't give him a solid answer but he was already sweating from the thought of getting bit again. Jordan could see Mario's brain working overdrive, so he offered to go first, but Kimani insisted he and Firebrand go since Firebrand could one-shot the Chomps. Jordan shrugged, stepping back and letting Firebrand unleash a Dragon's Roar. Not only did the initial punch take out the lead Chomp, but the excess energy that shot behind him took out the other Chomp.
"...Whoops?" Firebrand muttered as the battle ended. Mario thanked Firebrand for his service before he walked up to the door. As Goombario mentioned, the door was unable to be opened, and there wasn't much space for him to peek through, so he just hit the nearby ? Block, earning a Super Shroom for the party. They headed back to the area where Goompapa, Mario, and Kimani fell earlier in their adventure and broke the Stone Block, getting an Ultra Shroom from the hidden ? Block. While they were in the area, Goombario and Parakarry went over to Goompa to both talk to him as well as deliver a message he had for him via Parakarry. Apparently, it was for a fishing trip that a friend was planning soon. Goombario's pops asked if he could deliver a message to Muss T. Parakarry nodded before he told the group where he had to go next. The group nodded before they did so...
Toad Town
...And went back to Toad Town, where they found Muss T. Parakarry gave him the letter, but was asked to deliver another message to another person.
"Ok, I can already see where this is going. Mario, just so we're not all wasting our time with this, I'll handle these messages. I'll meet you guys here in Toad Town when I'm done. Might take me a while, so I'd advise doing something here to pass the time," Parakarry said, putting the message in his bag. Mario nodded, wishing him luck on the journey.
"Parakarry has temporarily left the party!"
"Should we go get Chainston while we're in town?" Kimani asked. Mario shook his head. He wanted Chainston to have some time to settle in his new home and for Luigi to have time to bond with him. Mario then pointed to the Dojo, remembering that Kimani and Jordan could get some much-needed upgrades from the Master. Kimani immediately nodded rapidly while Jordan nodded. The group headed over to the Master's Dojo, gaining a bow from the Master.
"Ah... Greetings, my young pupils... A pleasure to see you again... and I sense much power within you... Good. You took my words to heart. Are you here to challenge the dojo again?
"Yeah! We'll mop Chan this time!" Kimani heckled, causing Chan to sweatdrop from the call out. The Master nodded.
"Chan! Please offer our guest a battle!"
"Yes, Master!" Chan exclaimed, moving to one side of the room. The others went to the other side. The Master looked at the group before he frowned, causing the others to gain question marks.
"Did we offend you?" Dylan timidly asked. The Master noticed his face and quickly fixed it.
"No, but I won't allow my students to fight such uneven matches... Mario. I'm well aware of your strength and potential, and I don't detect any dormant potential from you, Tall One, but I wish to test Kimani-San and Jordan-San. Chan. Your opponents will be Kimani-San and Jordan-San!" The Master told everyone. Kimani and Jordan shared a look before they nodded.
"Fair enough. Don't go easy on us, Chan!" Jordan heckled. Chan grinned before he got ready to fight. The Master shuffled to the middle of the room.
"Excellent. Choose your helpers,"
"Uh... What's the best play here..." Kimani muttered.
"Ty will be enough for me," Jordan said as Typhoon appeared behind him.
"Remember his electric current? I can't hit him without taking damage, so I'm out," Firebrand said.
"Mmmm... Bombette. Mind helping me out with this fight? Could use your bomb attacks to flip Chan," Kimani said after a moment. Bombette nodded. Goombario stepped forward for a second.
"Reminder that Buzzy Beetles are immune to explosions when they're standing upright, so Bombette is going to be on flipping duty this fight. Also, Chan will retain his electricity when flipped over," He told the two. They nodded before they turned and readied their weapons.
"Now... BEGIN!" The Master shouted, starting the battle. Jordan went first, knocking Chan over with his hammer, while Typhoon wasted no time and activated Njǫrd's Fury, draining half of Jordan's FP and causing 4 water tentacles to jet off his back. They flew after Chan, smacking him afterward. The first hit did 3, the second did 2, and then the final 2 strikes did 1 each for a total of 7 damage, dropping his HP to 23. Chan got up and blazed towards Jordan, who didn't catch the motion and got hit dead in his mouth. The electricity did extra damage to him as well and pieced his defense, causing Jordan to take a deadly 11 damage (The jolt did 3 extra damage due to Jordan's water element), dropping his HP to 24.
"Well... I'm annoyed..." Jordan mumbled.
"At least we learn electric attacks are still your weakness... I wonder if water attacks disable my powers like before..." Kimani answered, sending Bombette to Bomb Chan. The attack didn't do any damage, but it did flip him, allowing Kimani to use Dragon Uppercut to launch Chan in the air for 5 damage. He followed it up with a dive kick, dealing another 5 to both Chan's HP and Kimani's FP reserves, putting Chan at 14 and Kimani's FP at 17. Chan rocked to his feet and dashed forward, but Kimani barely parried it with his knee and elbow.
"Love blocking like that,"
"When you'd learn Muay Thai?" Firebrand asked as Jordan flipped Chan again and allowed Typhoon to assault him with another wave of tentacle slaps, dropping Chan's HP to 7.
"I don't. Remember? Before I met you, I just put together multiple techniques I watched on YouTube,"
"You're a sham to every martial artist everywhere..."
"It's not my fault we don't have any dojos or anything nearby!" Kimani retorted, allowing Bombette to flip Chan once more and allow Kimani to finish him off.
"Enough! Kimani and Jordan win!" The Master said. Kimani and Jordan cheered as The Master walked over to Mario.
"You've been leading these boys well. Please take this," He said, handing Mario a certificate.
"So... about that potential..." Kimani asked, sliding next to the Master. He glared at Kimani, causing him to shrink slightly and back off.
"Overconfidence will be your downfall. Never forget that..."
"Yes, sir,"
"...Good. Now, let's see what we can do..." The Master said as he placed a hand on Kimani and Jordan's chest this time. He surrounded them with an aura before it spiked again.
"...Ahh... excellent. Jordan-San, your Defensive Action Commands have improved. You can now block up to 4 points of damage per block. Kimani-San, your focus has improved. You can now endure a hit without ruining your progress towards getting In The Zone,"
"Oh, sweet! I'm always messing up at least one of my parries anyway..." Kimani exclaimed, muttering that last part. Jordan just smirked.
"Now... If you're still feeling it. Lee is the next challenge. For him, I'll allow the 4 of you to challenge him due to his... unique properties,"
"Sure, let's give it a try at least,"
"Lee. Please give our friends a grand battle!"
"Yes, Master. Prepare yourselves, for I won't go easy on you," Lee calmly said, walking to one side of the room. The other four stood on the other side as the Master started the battle, healing the group as well. Unlike other battles, Lee had the first move.
"I bet you've never seen a move like this before!" Lee exclaimed before he surrounded himself in a purple orb of energy before he morphed into... Firebrand!?
"Wait, he has Copycat!?" Dylan exclaimed. Everyone sweatdropped in response with Jordan almost losing his mind at the 75 HP Lee was currently rocking. The party let Mario go first as he let Goombario go first.
"Not quite, Dylan. Lee's a Duplighost, a special species that can Disguise themselves as someone else. I can tell this is going to be a hassle. Ok, This is Lee, disguised as Firebrand. Lee has disguised himself as Firebrand perfectly, so his attacks are the same as Firebrand's usual moves. Max HP: 75, Attack Power depends on who Lee is disguising as and the same reasoning for Defense Power. Firebrand has some pretty strong moves, and his Dragon's Roar attack is especially scary since we can't Guard against it! It'll even hit all the party leaders! To tell you the truth, I think Firebrand's the most intimidating one on our team!" Goombario said, causing everyone to wince in return. Mario simply hammered the fake, dealing 4 damage and leaving Lee with 71 HP. Lee ran forward and socked Mario in the gut hard, blasting him with Dragon's Roar and dealing an unblockable 8 damage, leaving him with 22. The energy blast that came from Mario's back hit everyone else, leaving Kimani at 19, Jordan at 29, and Dylan at 19 as well. Mario wheezed out something, causing Kimani to go next, opting for a normal Power Strike Combo, dealing a total of 8 damage, thanks to his Power Plus Badge giving him a natural Attack Power of 2. Firebrand just swiped himself twice, tacking on an extra 4 damage, dropping Lee's health to 59. Lee dropped his form before he dashed at Kimani, but he got parried for his trouble, taking 2 damage and dropping it to 57. Despite parrying him, Kimani's body dimmed slightly before going back to normal.
"Oooohhh... Ok.. I feel weaker..." Kimani muttered, looking himself over.
"Uh... From what I can tell? I think Lee can lower your defense... and from what I'm seeing, it's permanent until the battle's over... and it can go lower than zero, so Kimani's at... -1, meaning he'll take an extra point of damage from attacks..." Goombario meekly said as Lee instantly disguised as Typhoon next.
"So, he's better Kolorodo... I hate everything about this..."
"Well, suck it up! Let's keep going until we drop! Lee's disguised as Typhoon now. Ok, I'm really scared of Typhoon. He can attack all of us with his moves so we partners have to be ready to block his hits. The scariest part is that Lee can use Typhoon's Liquify ability to take a Party Leader out for 3 turns. This will persist, even if Lee swaps from Typhoon's form, so we're going to have to work around that should someone get stolen. On the plus side, he can only steal one Party Leader at a time, so we won't have to worry about being down to one Leader or anything of that sort." Goombario said as Jordan conked Fake Typhoon in the head for 2 damage, leaving him with 57 HP. 'Typhoon' pointed at Jordan, making a puddle appear from under him. Jordan had no idea what the timing was to block it, so he was yanked under, effectively being taken out for 3 turns. This also meant Goombario was forced to leave the battle, so swapping him in would take a turn.
"Ok, that's bad," Dylan squeaked.
"It's been bad!" Kimani shot back, almost frothing at the mouth. He saw that it was upsetting Dylan, so he immediately stopped and apologized. Dylan went next, asking Bombette to swap with Goombario for the time being. She nodded before she stepped out of battle and swapped with Goombario. He couldn't act this turn but this at least got him back into the rotation. Dylan thought about his options before he went with using Quicken on Kimani, giving him an extra turn for next time around. He then had Alpha zap Lee with an Ion Beam, dealing 4 damage and dropping his HP to 53 HP. Lee transformed back before he rushed Dylan, but he was able to block it, only taking 4 damage, leaving him with 15 HP. He still got his defense lowered so he was sitting at -1 currently.
"This is going to be a close one. Mind if I start the turn order this time, Mar? Wanna get started with Dyl's Quicken Buff while we have the time," Kimani asked. Mario shook his head, pointing to Goombario before he pointed again to the now transformed Lee, only this time he was Alpha.
"...Oh, I get it. You want me and whoever to get maximum damage next turn around. I'm with it," Kimani responded, understanding Mario's reasoning. Mario thanked him for understanding before he had Goombario Tattle.
"On it! This is Lee as Alpha currently. You know? Not sure how he's disguised as a Hologram... Guess that's why Lee's the strongest student. Anyway, Alpha is a problem for multiple reasons. First off, his Ion Beam can't be guarded, and it'll hit all Party Leaders like Fake Firebrand's Dragon's Roar, but he can also Scan us, which will tank our defense and attack power by 3 for 2 turns. Unlike regular Alpha, his Scan and Ion Beams will follow the same defensive drop his tackle does, so to put it in layman's terms, we'll be taking an additional 3 damage afterward or however much we're missing defense-wise. This hits everyone, by the way, and we don't have a way to guard it, so we're going to have to counter it somehow. One option is to use Jordan's Defensive Shout to mitigate the defense drop or flat-out block the attempt with Dome of Protection. I take back everything I said. Alpha's the most dangerous person on our team," Goombario informed everyone. that last tidbit caused both Kimani and Mario to sweatdrop. Mario whacked 'Alpha' with a Hammer Strike, dealing 4 damage and dropping his HP to 49. Lee used Alpha's Scan to lower everyone's attack and defense by 3 for 2 turns, effectively messing up Kimani and Dylan's plan.
"Damn it! He countered us!" Kimani yelled. His turn went next. Despite the nerfs, he still went with his previous strategy. He had Firebrand heat him up before he came after him twice with a Dragon Uppercut and Decent Combo. Since he technically went two turns without getting hit, Kimani inhaled slightly before he got In The Zone, causing his stance to tighten up and for Kimani's eyes to become even sharper. Even with the -3 to his attack, he was still able to deal a total of 20 damage to Lee, placing him at 29. This drained all but 5 of Kimani's FP, however.
"Oof! Well fought! Allow me to acknowledge your strength!" Lee said as he turned back to normal before he made a sign with his hands, causing two smoke clouds to appear beside him. When it cleared, they saw that Lee made copies of... well, himself. The Lees then transformed into the previous forms again. The front one was Typhoon, the middle one was Firebrand, and the rear one was Alpha. They all had Lee's health before he split, meaning they were sitting at 29 HP a pop. Mario gave them an exasperated look.
"See. Now, I would have been fine with him not doing that..." Kimani deadpanned. Mario agreed with his retort. When they were done with this, Mario was heading straight for the house, no questions asked. Dylan's turn went next as he sparked slightly, restoring 5 of his FP before he immediately spent it on an Ion Beam, cleaving through the Lees and dropping their HP to 25. He used his action to jolt Typhoon, dealing an extra 3 damage due to his watery nature, bringing his HP to 19. The clones went next as 'Firebrand' socked Dylan with a Dragon's Roar, dealing an increased 12 damage since his Defense was at -4, leaving Dylan in danger with 3 HP. The blast hit Mario as well while Kimani was paying attention and was able to parry the attack with a deft swipe of his arm, which deflected it back to 'Firebrand' dealing only 1 damage due to the Scan, putting him at 24. Mario, being at -3 defense, took a total of 9 damage, lowering his HP to 13. Fake Typhoon went next, using Slam to cause a quake to rumble through the floor. Mario was able to block the attack, as was Dylan, but Kimani blotched his parry, taking the full damage. This meant Mario took 4 damage, Dylan got knocked out, and Kimani took 7 damage, leaving him with 12 HP. Goombario and Kooper (who had been getting traded around this whole time) were able to block so they were fine. Fake Alpha added to the pain and frustrations with an Ion Beam, dealing 8 damage to Kimani and 7 damage to Mario, leaving both of them with 4 HP and 6 HP, placing them both in Danger. It even lowered their defense again, putting Kimani at -5 and Mario at -4.
"This is insane..." Kimani croaked out. Mario huffed and panted alongside him. He was right. Mario wasn't prepared for the Duplighost's tricks and talent and it was currently kicking him, or rather punching him in the gut. The party's turn came back around, meaning they had 1 more turn before the Scan debuff ran off and 1 more turn before Jordan was freed. Kimani's Power Rush Badge was currently glowing, so his attack was raised by 2, placing him at 4 Attack Power. However, he didn't have much FP to spare so he was forced to just use his Strike action. Since he was currently In The Zone, he was able to attack 'Typhoon' 4 times for a total of 16 damage, dropping his HP to 3. The wave of attacks came once more, causing Kimani to falter for a moment before he fell on his face while Mario dramatically spun before he fell on his side.
"Enough! Lee wins," The Master announced as he surrounded the 4 downed heroes in his aura, reviving them and causing them to sit back up.
"...Did we lose?" Jordan muttered, holding his head in minor pain.
"I'm afraid so. It was a valiant effort, however. Please come back after you've gotten some training," The Master told them. The group sighed before they walked out of the Dojo.
"Well, that sucked..." Kooper dejectedly said. Everyone agreed with him.
"I'm impressed with Lee, however. Never would have thought he'd use our moves against us," Firebrand admitted.
"True... If anything, I'm surprised he didn't copy Goombario or the others," Typhoon mentioned as well.
"Well... I don't know about you guys, but that loss kind of took the wind out of my sails. Should we call it a day?" Kimani asked. Mario looked into the sky, seeing that the sun was starting to set anyway. He also saw Parakarry in the distance. Mario nodded, rubbing his aching back before they waited for Parakarry to reach them.
"Howdy, folks! Sorry to keep ya waiting! How'd everything go here?" He asked.
"Ass. We challenged the Dojo again and beat up Chan but got dog-walked by Lee," Kimani deadpanned. Parakarry sweatdropped in response.
"Sorry to hear... Oh, this might cheer you up, however. I was doing that chain of deliveries, and I found out that there's a Boo named Franky that lives in a manor in Forever Forest. I'm not a Shaman like Merlin, but I'm pretty sure that's our next stop," He told them. That did cause everyone to give him a small smile before Mario informed them that they were calling it a day for now. Parakarry nodded before he rejoined the party.
"Parakarry has rejoined the party!"
"Thanks, Dylan. Must have really missed me, eh?" Parakarry joked, causing Dylan to giggle as the group leaped into the green warp pipe...
Mario's House
...Landing in front of Mario's House. The group saw that there was a Chomp-sized dog/chomp house next to Mario's House. Sleeping in front of it was Chainston. When the group started walking up to the house, Chainston immediately woke up and darted toward the noise, followed by some angry barks, causing Jordan to use Berserk simply to hold the gang of heroes and partners that leaped into his arms in fear.
"Down, Chainston! It's us!" Goombario yelped from the top of the impromptu tower of members. Chainston, now awake and recognizing the voice, instantly stopped, replacing his barks with happier ones. Luigi rushed out of the house, armed with a frying pan and his apron on.
"Stay back! This pan is hot!" He exclaimed. When he realized that he indeed was not getting robbed and his brother was on Jordan's shoulders with his hammer in the ready position, he sweatdropped.
"Oh, hey, Luigi. I see Chainston is already performing his job with flying colors," Kimani deadpanned.
"Yeah... He's a fast learner... Chainston, come inside. I have your food ready," Luigi answered in an equal tone before he ushered towards the door. Chainston obeyed instantly, darting inside the door Luigi was currently holding up. Everyone climbed off Jordan, who deactivated Berserk, and started walking inside, thanking Luigi as they passed. When the last person came inside, he checked around one last time before he closed the door. Inside, Chainston was digging into a rather large bowl in the corner while everyone sat at the table. Mario noticed the table had been extended and more chairs were around it, meaning Luigi took account of the members when he popped up to drop Chainston off. He let a small smile appear on his face as Luigi was humming softly as he was finishing cooking dinner, which seemed to be Shroom Steaks this time around.
"So, what did you guys get done in Toad Town today?" Luigi asked as he reached for some pepper and seasoning, twirling them around and applying them to the steaks without missing a beat. Kooper gave Luigi a breakdown this time around as he listened while his hands were a blur. When he was done, Luigi whistled.
"Man... That's a lot! Sorry about the Dojo, however. That sounded tough,"
"Yeah, your healing and buffs would really come in handy for that fight,"
"Heh. Appreciate the compliment, but I'd be in the way if I went,"
"Nonsense!" Kooper exclaimed. Luigi chuckled again before he gathered the plates, placing them on his arms and one on his head before he glided around the table and dropped the plates in front of everyone masterfully.
"I present to you, Shroom Steak! Seasoned and sauteed to perfection!" Luigi announced, flourishing his hat. Everyone dug into the food as a wave of approving moans rang through the kitchen.
"Holy... This makes getting my ass beat worth it..." Kimani said, past the food in his mouth. Everyone else agreed with him as Luigi just chuckled. Once everyone was done, Luigi ushered them to the bedroom, which had more hammocks and sleeping bags set up everywhere.
"I went to the store and grabbed some more sleeping arrangements, so we'll be good for now. Mario, if we get any more party members, I'll have to set up some tents and everything outside!" Luigi exclaimed. Mario nodded before he went behind the changing screen. Once he was in his nightgown, he saw everyone else had also gotten in their night attire as well. Parakarry had hung up his jacket, shell and mailbag next to his hammock, wearing nothing but basketball shorts and a t-shirt. Dylan was in a full yellow pajama set. He took one of the sleeping bags and almost instantly passed out. Kimani snorted from his hammock before he did the same moments after. Everyone else got in their usual spots with Chainston carefully maneuvering his way until he was next to Mario's bunk. Mario chuckled at the Chomp, giving him a pet before he turned over, dozing off and ending yet another day.
File Saved!
Current Party Overview:
Mario:
Starting Stats: 10 HP, 5 FP, 3 BP
Current Stats: 25 (30) HP, 10 FP, 12 BP (Level 9)
Equipped Badges: Close Call (1), Attack FX B, Damage Dodge (3), Quake Hammer (1), HP Plus (2), Feeling Fine (3), Hammer Throw (2)
Main Partners: Parakarry, Kolorodo (Temporary)
Items: Mushroom x5, Fried Egg, Koopa Tea x4, Super Soda, Spicy Soup, Pow Block, Sleepy Sheep, Fright Jar x2, Egg, Whacka's Bump, Stopwatch, Fire Flower, Super Shroom, Ultra Shroom
Current Star Pieces: 5
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), Sleep Stomp (1), Gambler's Smash (1), Truth Stomp (1), Power Plus (4), Power Rush (1), Deep Focus, Chill Out (2), Pay-Off (2), Attack FX C, Attack FX D
Kimani:
Area of Expertise: Grounded Combat, Single Target Damage, Countering
Starting Stats: 10 HP, 10 FP, 3 BP
Current Stats: 25 HP, 25 (30) FP, 9 BP (Level 9)
Equipped Badges: FP UP (2), Power Plus (4), Power Rush (1), Sleep Stomp (1)
Main Battle Partners: Firebrand, Kooper
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 (PP: 2) (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 (PP:4), 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 (PP: 4) (1 turn), 6 (PP:7) (2 turns), 12 (PP: 13) (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 (PP: 6) (Enemy projectile pow: 3 (PP:4)), Style: Timed, Can hit flying and Spiky enemies. DD: (5 FP) Pow: 5 (PP: 6) (Enemy projectile pow: 3 (PP: 4))
Dragon's Dance: (20 FP) Unleashes a combo of 5 attacks upon a target. Reaching the max hits will permit Kimani to use Dragon's Fury, which unleashes 5 extra hits. Pow: If properly executed, 10 (PP: 15) + 10 (PP:15) from Dragon's Fury. Style: Timing. Pierces Defense. Extremely hard to time, but easily the highest-damaging move in the entire game. Can hit all but flying enemies. Will leave Kimani Winded for a turn.
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.
- Master's Potential Unlock: Kimani's focus is even more stable! Kimani can take a singular hit before entering In The Zone!
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.
Element Shard Upgrade: Firebrand's attack pow goes up by 1!
FP Moves:
Swipe: Lashes out with a quick claw swipe. Pressing the A button at the right time launches another swipe. Pow: 2 (4), 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: 4, 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 2 as well. After 3 turns, Kimani will take 1 point of damage after every turn until he uses the Cool Off ability.
Dragon's Roar: (10 FP) Firebrand unleashes a huge burst of energy from a close-range punch. The energy hits everyone behind the original target as well! Pow: 8, (Energy Blast only happens from perfectly timing the command: 6 Pow to everyone hit by the energy.) Style: Charge, pierces defense.
Jordan:
Area of Expertise: Defense and Damage Mitigation
Starting Stats: 20 HP, 5 FP, 3 BP
Current Stats: 35 HP, 20 FP, 9 BP (Level 9)
Equipped Badges: Smash Charge (1), D-Down Pound (2), Power Stomp (1), Pay-Off (2)
Main Battle Partners: Typhoon, Goombario
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.
- Master's Potential Upgrade: Jordan's blocking techniques have improved! He can now block up to 4 points of damage!
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.
Revenge Strike: (5 FP) Jordan assumes an aggressive stance, allowing his enemies to attack first! Once this is done, Jordan will swing his hammer, dealing half the damage he took to ALL enemies! Jordan's defense drops to zero during this stance and he's incapable of blocking attacks as well!
Dome of Protection: (All FP) Jordan projects a shield that covers everyone, preventing damage until Jordan's next turn. Jordan becomes Exhausted for 2 turns
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.
Element Shard Upgrade: Typhoon's attack pow goes up by 1!
Slam: Hits the ground with a powerful swing of his fist. The shockwave will damage all grounded foes. Deals less damage per enemy. Pow: 3, (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: 3, 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.
Njǫrd's Fury (10 FP): Typhoon will evoke Njǫrd's power, causing 4 water tentacles to appear on his back. For 3 turns, the tentacles will attack the opposing party. Each tentacle will track a different opponent if possible. If not, it'll hit the same target for reduced damage. Once the 3 turns are up, Typhoon becomes Exhausted for 2 turns. Pow: 3 per attack. If an enemy gets struck by another tentacle on the same turn, the damage will be reduced by 1.
Dylan:
Starting Stats: 10 HP, 20 FP, 0 BP
Current Stats: 25 HP, 40 FP, 0 BP (Level 9)
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: 2, (3 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. Style: Charge
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)
Element Shard Upgrade: Dylan and Alpha's attack pow goes up by 1!
Alpha:
Area of Expertise: Debuffing, Area Of Effect, Information
Field Ability: Alpha can scan nearby enemies, exposing their weaknesses and lowering the frontmost foes' defense by 2 for one turn 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: 3 (4) 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
Overcharge: (5 HP) Alpha overcharges Dylan, granting him the Charged buff instantly!
Assist: Alpha forgoes his turn, allowing Dylan to get an extra turn.
Temporary Party Members:
Chainston
Position: Partner
Area of Expertise: Single Target, Protection
Field Ability: Chainston can give Mario a ride, vastly increasing his speed and allowing him to clear gaps he can't jump over. (Same functionality as Parakarry pretty much)
FP Moves:
Chomp: Chainston takes a bite out of an opponent. Pow: 7, Can hit all but flying, Style: Timing
Guard Dog (3 FP): Chainston moves forward to protect his current Party Leader, chomping whoever attacks and stopping the attack. He's unavailable to act next turn around. (Think of Bow's Outta Sight) Pow: 7
Notable Changes From Main Game
-Goombario was right. The Chomps really do hate Tutankoopa. So much so that one joins Mario's party as a Temporary Party Member! Everyone welcome Chainston!
- Buzzar gives Avian haters a reason to hate them more (+15 HP, +2 Attack. Swoop targets everyone for 8 and shrinks if not blocked. Wind attack unchanged. Gains the ability to toss a feather that stuns and follows up with a free swoop if not blocked.)
-Sleep Stomp is a lot more expensive. (+3 FP)
-In the words of Goombario, "IS THAT A ULTRA STONE!?" Wonder who Merluvlee is selling it to?
-An abandoned house lies near King Goomba's fortress... Wait, how did those Chomps get here?
- Item swapping thieves strike again in Jr. Troopa's Playground. At least they left an Ultra Shroom where that Repel Gel used to be...
-Lee isn't your average Duplighost anymore. One might say he's a Super Duplighost... Somewhere the Prince of all Duplighost is punching the air right now...
- +55 HP (Yikes)
- Will transform into the heroes' special partners rather than the usual ones
- Lee's normal tackle now lowers defense by 1, which stacks and is permanent, by the way (Resets outside of battle, however)
- Other defense-lowering attacks follow the same rule as Lee's tackle. Only one that isn't permanent is Alpha!Lee's Scan.
- Isn't affected by Zap Tap
- Will split into three clones once he reaches 38 HP (Roughly half of his HP)