Professor Frankly cleared his throat, "Of course I knew about it. The reason I came here is to study that very subject. But why do you tykes want to learn about the legendary treasure? You know that most say it's little more than a fairy tale, don't you?"

Goombella stated, "Archaeologists and historians have to search for truth in those fairy tales, though! Me, I believe the legendary treasure truly does exist! And I really want to find it!"

Professor Frankly replied, "Good point! And well made! In that case, I'll cooperate with you however I can."

Mario commented, "Great to hear."

Luigi replied, "Sure is."

Professor Frankly told them, "First of all, about the treasure… There are many mysteries surrounding it. Some say it's an infinitely vast treasure hoard, while others say it's a magical item. Some books say it's actually a monster, while still others, claim it's an empty chest… So many different theories… Obviously, it's impossible to divine the truth among them. But all of them agree on one point: to find the treasure, one must have the Crystal Stars!"

Mario breathed, "Crystal Stars…?"

Luigi asked, "What are the Crystal Stars?"

Goombella quoted, "'To find the treasure of yore, take the seven Crystal Stars to the Thousand-Year Door!' …you mean the Crystal Stars in that old saying that super-elderly people pass down?"

Professor Frankly confirmed, "Indeed, the same. As the saying goes, if you want to find the legendary treasure… You first must collect the seven Crystal Stars."

Goombella said, "'Hold the Magical Map aloft before the entrance to the Thousand-Year Door. Then the stars will light the way that leads to the stones of yesterday.' Yeah… A lot of the lore I've read says that if this Magical Map is taken to the doorway…then it'll show you where to find the Crystal Stars!"

Professor Frankly stated, "Correct! And the Thousand-Year Door is supposedly here, deep beneath the town."

Mario and Luigi were both amazed but then they were confused.

Mario asked, "But professor…what is the Thousand-Year Door?"

Luigi added, "Yeah, it sounds really mysterious."

Professor Frankly answered, "Unfortunately, I don't know what it is. But, the critical piece of the puzzle - the Magical Map - is lost. If only we had that map!"

Mario brought the map that they had brought, "Maybe this is it?"

Professor Frankly took a look, "Astounding! This is it! The real thing! The one and only Magical Map!" Mario put the map back in his pocket. He added, "You two are my heroes! You're great! Fantastic! Wonderful, even! With this, we can find the Crystal Stars by just holding this aloft before the legendary door. Good golly, what are we doing just sitting here?! Goombella! Mario! Luigi! Off we must go, this instant! Let's take this Magical Map to the legendary door."

The group went out of the professor's house and headed towards a gate.

Professor Frankly was messing with the gate, "I bet you didn't know that this rotten old thing came off, did you?" As soon as he said that, the gate wiggled free. He went over to a pipe and added, "We can use this pipe to get down under the city streets! Come on! All of you! Let's get moving!"

Mario, Luigi, and Goombella walked over to the professor. They were about to go down the pipe until the professor remembered something.

Luigi asked, "What's wrong, Professor?"

Professor Frankly answered, "I'm fairly certain there are quite a few hoodlums below. So um… Be on your guard."

Mario reassured, "Don't worry. We're always careful."

Luigi semi teased, "N - not always."

Goombella giggled, "I can't wait to get started!"

That's when the group went down the pipe. They started to look around when they got out of the pipe. They had started to walk around.

"Hey! Hey, man! What's up? Who's the hottie you got there with you?"

Mario, Luigi, Goombella, and Professor Frankly looked and saw some Goombas coming their way. And they were trying to flirt with Goombella.

The flying Goomba (Dennis) flirted, "Wassup, baby? Why don't you hang with us for a while? We play real nice."

The spiked Goomba (Ivan) stated, "Man, what's a fine-lookin' Goomba doin' with a tubby mustache man like that?"

Mario repeated, "Tubby?" Mario turned to Luigi, who was laughing under his breath. He told him, "It isn't funny, Weegie."

Luigi pointed out, laughing, "It is to me, Malleo."

Goombella sarcastically replied, "Oh, it is, like, so sweet that you boys think I'm cute. Seriously! Yeah, guys like you make me feel like totally barfing! Now get out of our way!"

The Goomba (Marshall) responded, "Ouch! That was cold!"

Dennis asked, "What, you're too good for us? Come off it, sister!"

Ivan said, "Nobody zings us like that! Nobody! Let's get 'em!"

Mario activated his Firebrand while Luigi activated his Thunderhand. Goombella helped them with their defenses. It didn't take them long to defeat the three Goombas. The group of Goombas ran for it.

Goombella said, "Ha! Later on, losers! That felt awesome!"

Mario asked, "You okay now?"

Goombella answered, "Mhm, thanks a lot."

Luigi stated, "Anytime."

Professor Frankly replied, "Come, let's keep moving."

The group kept moving, knowing more enemies could be around any corner.

…

After a bit, the group happened to find a large chest. Before anyone could say anything, they heard a voice coming from it.

"Whoa! Hey! You! Can you hear me?"

Luigi answered, "Yeah, we can!"

"You can?! Then that must mean you're the heroes of legend!"

Mario pointed at himself and Luigi at that moment, "Heroes of legend?"

"Yeah cause only the heroes of legend can hear my voice! Everyone else…nothing. See, long ago, an evil spirit cast a curse on me, locking me in this box. I was bummed. I've been in here ever since, waiting a long, long time for the heroes to come by! …so, yeah, anyways… What brings two big heroes like you to a place like this?"

Professor Frankly stated, "Er, Mario? Luigi? A word with you two? I'm not exactly confident that we can trust this…box. I think it may be best not to mention that we're looking for the Crystal Stars." Five seconds later, he realized his own mistake, "...well, drat. I just said it out loud! What's wrong with me?!"

Goombella groaned, "Good work, Professor…"

"Oh, yeah? Searching for the Crystal Stars, are you, now? So you really are the heroes. Well, you're definitely gonna need my help if you hope to get those bad boys. So, first you should look for the key for this box. Then use it to let me out. Definitely."

Mario took out the black key from his pocket that they had just found. He asked, "Maybe this is it?"

"You brought the key? Yes! Oh, man, I owe you big! Thank…never!" A strange face came out of the chest. It added, "FOOLS! Oh, boy, did you fall for it! I burned you! What, you think I was going to help you?! Instead, I'm gonna spread a little of the suffering I've endured in that stupid box! Yeah, sorry but those are the breaks! I'm gonna cast an evil, terrible curse upon you! Buggly-wuggly-whoo! You're cursed!"

Some flashes of light were about to hit Mario when Luigi pushed Mario out of the way, instead taking the hit.

Mario cried, "Weegie!"

Luigi cried, "Malleo!"

It chuckled, "So then the lesser hero takes the hit for the greater one, huh? Well then, enjoy the curse sucker! You get what you deserve! You want to hear all about the sweet curse I dropped? Then listen well! If you aren't careful, you will turn into a paper airplane in certain places! Whee hee! Trembling yet? Suffer the rest of your days under my curse!"

"Think about it, red cap. The minute you get the opportunity to go on vacation with the princess and her royal advisor, what was the first thing you did? You started packing! You didn't - not even once - ask your own younger twin brother if he wished to join. Nope, the only thing you did was ask him to get the luggage from the attic since you were too busy talking about the trip of a lifetime. Talk about adding insult to injury!"

...

Wishmaker1028: So this story itself takes place almost right after Hearts Be True. Chapter 4 is done! My Chromebook died on me so I'm using TimPrime1's laptop. Might be time to look into a new laptop! Please read and review! And always think outside of the box!