As the group was traveling, they found a Jabbi going the other way.

Punio commented, "Did you guys see that? That was a Jabbi!"

Mario asked, "A Jabbi? You sure?"

Punio confirmed, "Yes I'm sure. Based on what Puniper said, they're trying to help the intruders and trying to seize the tree. Our tribes have been enemies for a long time now. Every time we meet, we fight a lot."

Luigi breathed, "Wow."

Punio admitted, "...but I used to get along with Jabble. He's one of the Jabbi tribe."

Goombella perked up, "Really?"

Punio muttered, "Yeah... I wonder if even Jabble is even my enemy now."

Koops pointed out, "He may or may not be. But we need to stay focused."

Flurrie agreed, "Koops is right, Punio. Maybe we will find out if we keep moving."

Punio sniffled, "Right..."

Violet reassured, "Hey, all will be okay Punio. Just give it time, okay?"

To that, Punio just nodded. The group decided to keep moving. That's when the group ran into a 10-Jabbi squadron, taking them down quite quickly.

Mario deactivated his Firebrand, "That was quick."

Luigi deactivated his Thunderhand, "Sure was."

Punio told them, "We should destroy the Jabbi hive fortress!"

Violet offered, "I'll put it on ice."

Everyone groaned at her joke as she used her Aurora Nine to freeze over the fortress. It didn't take it long to fall over with the Punies help.

Koops told them, "Good work!"

Goombella added, "Yeah that was awesome!"

Everyone went down the hallway. Just up ahead, they had found the blue key in a chest.

Flurrie commented, "Looks like we have found the blue key at last."

Punio added, "Yes with this key we can finally free the others!"

Goombella asked, "Should we start and head back to the cage?"

Koops answered, teasingly, "No, we should hang around here more."

To that, everyone laughed.

Violet teased, "Hey, bad jokes are my job!"

...

Meanwhile, back in the cage, one of the Punies was starting to complain.

"...and they'll never come back and that's that and what's gonna happen to us and... Hey, by the way... What's that thing you've been holding onto so tightly?"

Petuni brought out a mushroom, "It's a mushroom... "

"Oh. Not to be, you know, rude, but it looks all dry and wrinkly and gross..."

Petuni put it away, "Yeah, yeah, I know... I picked it so I could give it to my brother to eat. But then I got captured and stuck in here, and after a few days it dried out.."

"Oh, really? Great story... Anyways, don't worry so much. All my complaining aside, I'm sure Punio will return."

Just as if on cue, the group had returned.

Punio told her, "Petuni! I'm back! We brought the key! We're opening the cell right now!"

Petuni teased, "I can see you, you know."

Mario had opened the cage in that moment, letting the other Punies free.

Koops said, "Alright, we did it!"

Petuni gushed, "Big brother!"

Punio replied, "Little Petuni! Are you alright? You're not hurt, are you?"

Petuni reassured, "Nope, I'm fine!"

Punio breathed a sigh of relief, "Thank heavens."

Petuni commented, "Hey, big brother... I have something for you! I meant to give this earlier but..." That's when she brought out the mushroom, "Mushrooms are your favorite, aren't they, big brother? But... Well, this one kinda got dried out..." Punio munched on it, whispering that it tasted nasty. She added, "Big brother... It was icky, wasn't it? I'm sorry."

Punio tried to reassure, "No, not...urk...not at all! Mmmm-mmmm! Delicious! Very...uh...urp... Very...gag...yummy!"

Goombella whispered, "Poor Punio..."

Flurrie whispered, "He would do anything for his little sister, that's for sure."

Petuni tilted her head, "Big brother? You okay?"

Punio told her, "Give me a hug, Petuni!"

That's when he gave her a big hug.

Petuni protested, "Hey, quit it, Punio! C'mon! Don't get all mushy! Everyone's staring!"

Punio replied, "Well, it was just a sweet gesture, that's all."

Petuni blushed, "...aw, it was nothing!"

Violet asked, "Now that we've rescued the rest of the Punies, what do we do now? Do we go after the Crystal Star now?"

Luigi answered, "Guess so?"

Mario stated, "Let's get a move on. Hopefully we can beat those goons to the Crystal Star."

With that, the group headed out with 101 Punies at their side. They arrived at another Jabbi hive but this one had 100 in it unlike the last one.

Punio commented, "A 100-Jabbi squadron! Let's get this done!"

Everyone started to fight the squadron all together. It took a bit but the group took them out and opened the hallway. As they found another pedestal, a cage came around them all and trapped them in.

Flurrie asked, "Um what just happened?"

Koops added, "Yeah, is that supposed to happen?"

Goombella moaned, "This does not look good."

"Buh! Buh! Buh! Buh!"

That's when Lord Crump came down with X-Nauts by his side.

Violet snarled, "Not you again! I thought I got away from you for good!"

Luigi was confused, "You know Lord Crump?"

Violet explained, "He was the one that brought me here!"

Mario activated his Firebrand and demanded, "If that's the case, he should know where Peach is! Where is she?!"

Lord Crump replied, "Well I'm not telling you a thing! But you guys sure are gullible!"

Mario snapped, "You want to say that again to my face!"

Lord Crump got close to the cage as if he was rubbing noses with Mario, gloating, "Gullible. Absolutely. One hundred percent gullible."

Mario was getting bad flashbacks from hearing that. And he wasn't the only one. Luigi and Violet were getting the deja vue as well. But they weren't getting it as bad as Mario.

"What do they feed you Manfredi brothers? Gullible soup? Your brother came all this way just to get turned into a painting... It's just terrific. However, This Mario painting looks lonely... I must have a Luigi and Violet painting as well! Then my gallery will truly be complete!"

"NO!"

...

Wishmaker1028: Yep, I'm ending this on a cliffhanger. I wanted to elude to the fact that King Boo definitely messed with Mario's mind during 'Hearts Be True'. And he also messed with Luigi and Violet as well. I wanted to show that even heroes get PSTD. Anyways, please read and review! And always think outside of the box!