Through the Eyes of a Frog Prince Chapter 3

            Grandpa is going to be so happy with this cricket pie Mallow thought as he walked out of the item shop, carrying it in a box. I just hope he’ll understand about it took so long.

            “Ready to go?” Mario asked him.

            “Yup,” he said while putting the box in a pocket. “Did you finish returning everything Croco stole?”

            “Every last one. Come on, let’s get going.”

            It was still a beautiful day as they set off down the path towards Tadpole Pond. A light breeze moderated the warm air, making it much more bearable for travel. Just going by the weather it’s hard to believe anything bad has happened today, let alone three times. I really hope nothing else happens.

            “Wait,” Mallow stopped Mario after they’d traveled for a while. “I know a shortcut near here that we can take. It’ll save us a lot of time, come on,”

            Mallow led Mario off the path and pushed his way through some bushes. In the center of this small clearing was one of the Mushroom Kingdom’s famous pipes.

    “This is the entrance to Kero Sewers. It’s dark and a bit smelly, but it’s pretty safe down there. Grandpa always says to watch out for someone named ‘Belome’, though.”

    “Belome is probably just some shady salesman, I wouldn’t worry. We’ll be just fine; places like this are my specialty you know.”

    Mario jumped onto the pipe and disappeared down it. Mallow climbed on top and followed suit. Down below it was much cooler and quieter. Mario was looking around.

    “I dunno, we might have to look out for monsters here, too.”

    “I’ve only ever seen a few, and they were just little rat funks. They ran when they saw me, too.”

    “Even so, we’d better keep our guard up.”

    They started to trek through the dank tunnels alongside the water. Mallow couldn’t hear anything except the gurgle of water and their own footsteps. Mario is just a little paranoid. There isn’t anyone else down here except maybe a couple of rat-

    A boo swooped low over their heads, cackling loudly. It turned around and flew right at them, this time joined by a shadow creature.

    “Oh no, I don’t think physical attacks work on ghosts!” Mallow said as he braced himself for their attack.

    “Then I’ll just use my fire orb on them,” Mario cracked his knuckles and blasted them with the same fireballs he used on Croco. Both ghosts dissolved back into nothingness.

    “Boy, I thought they had us for sure.”

    “You don’t need an invitation to attack, you know,” Mario said as they started down the tunnels again. “Just go for it. The worst that’ll happen is you miss.”

    “But it’s all wet down here. If I use my thunderbolt I might shock both of us.”

    “Mallow, you don’t give yourself enough credit,” Mario laughed and used another fire orb on another boo that had just appeared. “I saw you use it on the shysters and not that toad family earlier. And you didn’t think you could use it and dodge Mack’s attacks at the same time either, but you did.”

    “But that’s different. The toads weren’t standing in puddles of water.”

    “So? Just use your healing rain and we’ll be as good as new.”

    Around the corner a small pack of rat funks charged at the duo. Mario whacked two of them into the water using his hammer. Mallow managed to punch a third although he got nipped in the process. The rest of the pack turned and fled back down the tunnel, disappearing into the darkness.

    “You okay?”

    “Yeah, no big deal. I don’t understand why there are so many monsters, though. This has never been a problem before.”

    “I blame that sword,” Mario’s eyes narrowed as he spoke. “You did see it sticking out of Bowser’s Keep, I assume,”

    “It’s kinda hard to miss. It’s really scary, too. I got a really bad feeling from that sword.”

    “Tell me about it.”

    Out of the darkness a strange object loomed. Cautiously approaching it they found it was a large green floor switch.

    “That’s weird, I’ve never seen this thing before,” Mallow said as he inspected the switch. “I wonder what it’s for.”

    “Only one way to find out,” Mario stepped onto the switch and at once all of the water drained from the tunnels. Down where the water used to run was a very slimy pipe.

    “Wow, I never noticed that pipe down there before. Do you think we should try it out?”

    “Absolutely, let’s go.”

    Mallow and Mario jumped into the empty channel and down the previously-hidden pipe. The other end dropped them into a very long tunnel. Before them, in front of a great metal gate an odd yellow creature slept. It looked like a bipedal dog with red runes.

    “I bet this thing is Belome,” Mallow whispered to Mario.

    “Are you sure?” Mario whispered back.

    “No, but who else could it be?” Mallow stifled a giggle and pointed at Belome’s face. “Wow, is that a fire hose or his tongue?” Mario started to chuckle as well, until Belome’s four eyes shot open. Oh shoot! We woke him up!

    “So hungry…. I need a snack. And you look very tasty,” Belome started to move towards them.

    “Why don’t you eat this?” Mario used fire orb and blasted Belome with several fireballs. Mallow rushed forward and pummeled Belome with several punches, but he didn’t even seem fazed. Rather, he focused on Mallow and started to drool.

    “Oh my, room service is so kind. Giant marshmallow for lunch. Where’s my bib?” Belome started to lick Mallow. Mallow yelled and ran.

    “I’m not anybody’s lunch, you jerk!”

    Mario jumped into the air and whacked Belome on the head using his hammer. Belome turned and slapped Mario with his tongue.

    “Get your own food,” Belome snarled and slapped him again. Mario started to shoot more fireballs, however Belome didn’t seem to even notice them. Mallow ran forward charging and unleashed thunderbolt on him. Belome paused and turned back to Mallow again.

    “Oh, I can’t stand it anymore,” he moaned. “The hunger, the hunger!” Belome’s tongue lashed out and wrapped around Mallow. Mallow screamed as Belome then withdrew his tongue and sucked Mallow into his mouth!

    “NOOOO!” Mallow yelled and thrashed around, but Belome didn’t seem to react. This is it, I’m gonna die! He’s going to eat me and there’s nothing I can do and Grandpa will- Mallow suddenly collided with the ground, free from Belome’s mouth.

    “Mallow, are you alright?” Mario asked as he jumped off of Belome’s head.

    “I think so, but that was really scary!”

    “Even though you defeated me, you still haven’t beaten me,” Belome said. “Beware the flood.” With a large poof Belome vanished. The large gate before them immediately began to rise; all the water they had drained earlier was released and the duo was swept away.

    Mallow struggled but managed to reach the surface. Mario popped up beside him a few seconds later.

    “Mario, we gotta get out of here before we go over Midas Falls!”

    “I think it’s already too late!” Mario pointed at the growing bright light ahead of them. Moments later they went flying out of the tunnel and down Midas Falls. This feels…familiar.

    After what seemed liked minutes of falling Mallow landed in the water with a small splash. He swam away from the turbulent waters of the waterfall and surfaced in calmer waters. As Mallow started to head for the shore Mario swam up beside him.

    “Mallow, remind me to never take one of your shortcuts ever again,” Mario said as he pulled himself onto dry land carrying a green koopa shell. Mallow laughed and climbed ashore too.

    “I thought that was kinda fun, actually. So what’s with the shell?”

    “Something I found in the water. It seems to be full of Coins,” Mario shook the shell and a large handful of coins fell out.

    “Wow, that’s really lucky! Great find, Mario.”

    “Thanks,” Mario smiled and pocketed the Coins. When he finished he studied the shell and kicked it into a tree trunk with a nok. “I can use this ‘noknok’ shell too. It’ll make a good weapon. So, how much farther do we have to go?”

    “Mario, we’re already there,” Mallow laughed. “Come on, its right over here.”

    Mallow led Mario around the edge of the pond to a small clearing at the shore’s edge. Just as they stepped up a tadpole poked its head out of the water.

    “Mallow, you’re back! We’ve heard about all your adventures with Super Mario. You guys just beat up Belome, didn’t you?”

    “You already know about that?” Mallow asked. The tadpole nodded and Mallow turned to Mario. “You see Mario? The waterways of the world bring news to us here. That’s why Grandpa will know how to help you.”

    “Wait, you’re the Super Mario?” the tadpole asked Mario.

    “You bet I am, little guy. Nice to meet you.”

    “Oh my gosh! Hey everybody!” the tadpole called out. “You’ll never believe who’s here!”

    Seven more tadpoles surfaced and started to chatter when they saw Mario.

    “Wow, it really is Mario!”

    “He doesn’t look anything like I thought he would,”

    “Mallow always says about how he jumps better than a froggie. Do you suppose it’s true?”

    “Of course it is,” Mallow said. “Why don’t you show them?”

    “Heh, no problem,” Mario jumped high in the air and landed with a dramatic pose. The tadpoles cheered and even Mallow couldn’t help but to grin.

    “Well young grasshopper, what’s new?” Frogfucius called out from the island.

    “Grandpa!” Mallow waved as the tadpoles dove back underwater. “I met Mario and he helped me, then I helped him!”

    “Yes, child, I know. That rainstorm we had earlier was you, wasn’t it?”

    Mallow bowed his head in shame just as he heard muttering over on the island. Even Grandpa is fed up with my crying all the time.

    “Mario,” Mallow whispered. “Grandpa is going to pretend to float, so act like he really is okay?”

    “Sure,” Mario whispered back just as Frogfucius started to “float” over to them, thanks to a little help from Lakitu.

    “Welcome to Tadpole Pond! You are Mario, yes? I am young Mallow’s grandfather, Frogfucius. So you’ve come to seek my wisdom and knowledge. It is true that many things reach me out here. Come along to our little island sanctuary and we’ll talk there.

    “Tadpoles!” Frogfucius called out as he floated away. “Make yourselves useful and form a bridge for Mario and Mallow so they don’t have to get any wetter.”

    At his words the tadpoles lined up between the shore and the island, allowing Mario as well as Mallow to hop across. Frogfucius was already sitting at the table and beckoned them to join him.

    “Please, feel free to make yourself at home and enjoy a cold drink. You too, Mallow. You have definitely earned this after everything you accomplished today.”

    While they sat down Frogfucius pulled out two cans of Kerokero Cola that had been chilled in the cool pond waters, handing one to Mario and the other to Mallow. Mallow gulped down most of his at once and then kicked back.

    “Hmmm, let’s see, where should I start…? That Smithy creature that just showed up at Bowser’s Keep is quite formidable, yes? And you want to rescue the fair princess from him, do you not?”

    “Of course,” Mario replied. “I won’t allow anybody to hold Princess Toadstool captive.”

    “Ah, but the thing is, the princess is no longer there.”

    “But, how can that be? Bowser kidnapped her just this morning, I saw her there myself.”

    “Allow me to explain,” Frogfucius said. “Just as you defeated Bowser, just as you were about to rescue Princess Toadstool, that massive sword split the sky and slammed into Bower’s Keep!” Frogfucius leapt onto the table as he spoke. “Well, you weren’t the only one sent flying; Princess Toadstool and even Bowser were ejected as well. Both of them landed here, in the western reaches of the Mushroom Kingdom, but at this time I don’t know where they are.”

    Frogfucius jumped off the table and paced around a little. “I can tell you wish to search for the princess right away, but stopping Smithy should be your top priority. Already his underlings are wreaking havoc in our peaceful world. You both already defeated one of them, the vile Mack. Unfortunately, more are certain to come. Some have already arrived.”

    “Grandpa!” Mallow interrupted. “I almost forgot. Right after we beat Mack we found a great big star in the princess’ castle. Do you know what it was, and where it came from?”

    “A star? Most interesting,” Frogfucius stroke his beard for a minute before speaking again. “This may seem like an illogical fairytale, but I am certain that the stars play a vital role in granting our wishes. They will be very important in the fight against Smithy for our world.”

    “Everything sounds so dire and serious, Mario,” Mallow drained the rest of his can before speaking again. “If Mack was just the first of many I bet some of them will make Bowser seem kind and caring.”

    “Mallow, how can you speak as though none of this concerns you?” Frogfucius scolded Mallow. “You will be accompanying Mario on his journey to stop Smithy. Your powerful abilities will be most useful in saving our world.”

    “Grandpa, you can’t be serious! I’m just a simple little frog. This quest isn’t for me. How can a frog possibly help a famous hero like Mario?”

    Frogfucius sighed and looked down, a pained expression on his face. When he spoke again he avoided looking directly at Mallow.

    “Mallow, my boy, I’ve kept this from you until now, but you’re…not a frog of any sort!”

    “Say what?!” all of the pond’s inhabitants exclaimed, though none as loud as Mallow. If he hadn’t been already sitting he’d have surely fallen over. N-no! How can this possibly be?!

    “It was a rainy summer day nearly ten years ago,” Frogfucius began. “I was eating a cricket snack when a basket came down Midas Falls. I was shocked to find a baby inside and pulled him out of the water. I was relieved to see the baby was alive, though I had never seen anything like him before. Nor could I understand why he had been sent down the river as he had otherwise been clearly well cared for.

    “Not knowing what else to do I decided to raise him as my own grandchild and called him ‘Mallow’, for that was the name that was engraved on his belt. Every year we celebrate that day as your birthday. I told you that you were a frog so you would fit in here, despite your unusual power over the weather.”

    “I-I-I was a-adopted? N-now I know why you h-hate me and w-want me g-gone…. M-my whole life here is a lie!” Mallow’s face crumpled as his eye’s welled up; overhead clouds rapidly gathered and grew dark. But before he could fully break down crying Frogfucius stamped the ground, snatching back Mallow’s attention and shooing away the rest of the pond’s inhabitants.

    “Mallow!” he said angrily. “Now is not the time to cry. I most certainly don’t hate you. Why, I couldn’t love you any more if you really were my grandson. I’m telling you all of this because I want you to find your mother and father. They’re out there, somewhere, but you’ll never find them if you stay here at Tadpole Pond. Nor will you be happy here forever. Surely you must have noticed your struggle to fit in as of late. That is why I want you to accompany Mario.”

    Mallow wiped his eyes and sniffed. “O-okay. I’ll do my best to stop being a crybaby and I’ll go with Mario, if he’ll have me.”

    “Of course I will,” Mario smiled. “You were very good at fighting Croco, and Mack and the shysters. I think we make a great team. Smithy won’t stand a chance against the two of us.”

    “Then it’s settled,” Frogfucius said. “Your first stop is Rose Town. The townsfolk are in trouble thanks to Smithy’s underlings. You must help them.”

    Mallow nodded and stood up. “Before I forget, I brought back the cricket pie you wanted Grandpa. I’m sure it’s still alright even after that encounter with Belome,” Mallow pulled out the box containing the cricket pie and set it on the table.

    “Ah, I had forgotten all about why you had gone out in the first place, Mallow,” Frogfucius rummaged through his dresser until he pulled out a hand carved staff. “This is my old froggie stick. I made and used this when I was your age. Please take it with you,” Frogfucius handed Mallow the staff.

    “Thanks Grandpa. I promise I won’t let you down.”

    “I know you won’t. Farewell Mallow, Mario. May the stars be with you!”

    “Goodbye Frogfucius, thanks for all your advice,” Mario shook the old frog’s hand before jumping back across the tadpole bridge. Mallow quickly hugged Frogfucius and followed Mario, successfully blinking back tears.

    “Bye Grandpa! Take care!”

    “So how are you doing?” Mario asked as they set off down Rose Way.

    “Um, okay, I guess.” How do you think I’m doing?! “But, well, even though what Grandpa said was true about fitting in lately, this is all I’ve known my whole life. But now I feel lost. I don’t know who I am or where I come from anymore.” Mallow looked down; it was hard to keep from crying.

    “You’re still a good fighter and the same kind boy that I left the castle with. And don’t worry too much about finding your family. I’ll help you find them no matter, what, okay?” Mallow nodded and managed to smile, feeling a little better. Up above the clouds began to break up, the sunny day returning once more. “So, how far is it to Rose Town?”

    “It’s not far; we’ll be there in no time.”

    Out of the bushes up ahead a trio of shy guys popped out and started firing their slingshots at them. Ignoring the pebbles bopping him on the head Mallow whacked one using the froggie stick while Mario jumped on one and kicked the noknok shell into the other. With both of his companions unconscious the third one fled back into the bushes.

    “That’s interesting; this one feels a lot softer than the shyster did.”

    “Those weren’t shy guys, not real shy guys anyways. They were made out of metal, just like Mack was,” said Mario.

    “Metal?” Mallow said as he took out a group of star slaps with thunderbolt. “That’s pretty creepy. I wonder who made them.”

    “Smithy’s contractor, I guess. If he can make as many minions as he wants I can understand why Frogfucius wants taking out Smithy our top priority. They could easily conquer the entire Mushroom World through sheer numbers if we don’t do something right away.”

    “That won’t happen. I mean, you’re super!”

    Mario smiled, but quickly pulled Mallow back from a bend in the path up ahead.

    “What-”

    “Shh!” Mario whispered and Mallow realized a gruff sounding person was speaking up ahead.

    “Attention, koopa warriors, magikoopa sorcerers, and last but certainly not least, groundling goombas! The Koopa Troop is invincible, we will be victorious. They might have taken down the bridge, but I don’t care that we have to go the long way; we’ll find a way back into my keep no matter what! Move out, on the double! And I mean step on it!”

    Mallow heard marching fade into the distance and turned back to Mario. “Was that-”

    “Bowser, yeah. So Smithy really did kick him out of his keep. If they’re not working together that’s good for us. Smithy and all these monsters running about are bad enough.”

    Mallow led Mario past the clearing and into Rose Town, but something was wrong: everybody was just standing still. And arrows were falling around town.

    “Excuse me sir,” Mallow walked up to the nearest toad. “Is everything okay? What’s going on?”

    “It’s these arrows that have been coming out of the forest all afternoon. When you get hit you freeze up and can’t move a muscle,” the toad man sadly explained to the duo.

    “It happened shortly after that star fell into the forest,” another toad piped up. “Please help me. I have to go chop wood in the forest.”

    “Yeah, I wanted to play outside. Standing here is sooo boring!” a toad child added.

    “This must be what Grandpa meant when he said Rose Town is in trouble. We’re going to help them, right?” Mallow quietly asked Mario.

    “Absolutely; we’ll head out into the forest first thing in the morning.”

    “Huh? Why can’t we help them right now?”

    “Because that looks like a pretty big forest, and there’s only a few good hours of sunlight left. It’s going to get dark in the forest real quick and believe me; we don’t want to be wandering around in there after dark. Not to mention there’s been a pretty big storm brewing in the west since that sword fell,” Mario nodded at the thunderhead towering over what Mallow guessed to be the Land’s End area. “If that comes this way we definitely don’t want to be outside when it hits.”

    “I guess that makes sense. I just hope everyone will be okay until morning,” Mallow said as Mario led them to the inn. As they walked inside Mallow saw a younger toad boy playing with Mario, Bowser, and Princess Toadstool toys while his mom tended to the pot on the stove nearby.

    “Oh no, Mario, save me!” the boy said as he held Toadstool in one hand. “Bwa ha ha! I have the princess, Mario, and you can’t stop me!” he said as he held Bowser in his other hand. The boy set Toadstool down and grabbed the Mario toy.

    “Don’t worry princess, I’ll save you! Super Duper Mega Jump!” The boy simulated Mario jumping on Bowser’s head. Then he hit the Mario toy with Bowser and threw it across the room afterwards. “Bwa ha ha, you can’t hurt me with your lame moves. Toadstool is mine and nobody can do anything!” the toad boy picked up Toadstool again.

    “Oh no! Somebody please save me! Help, hel-” the toad boy turned and finally noticed Mario and Mallow watching him play. “Oh my gosh! It’s Ma-Ma-Ma…mooooom! We have a VIP guest!”

    “Yes, I hear you, dear,” his mother said as she walked to the front of the inn. “Oh my, aren’t you Mario?”

    “The one and only,” Mario smiled. “And this is my friend Mallow,” Mallow smiled and waved as Mario introduced him. “We’d like to stay here tonight if that’s possible.”

    “You have to prove it first,” the toad boy piped up again. “You gotta do one of your jumps.”

    “What, you mean this little hop?” Mario said as he leaped high into the air.

    “All right! Come play with me, it’ll be fun! It’s called ‘Geno saves the world’.”

    “Gaz, Mario and his friend came here to rest, not play. I think its best you let them be,” Gaz’s mother said to him.

    “Awww, c’mon. You’re always too busy to play ‘Geno’ games with me. Playing alone is boring.”

    “It’s okay ma’am, Mallow and I don’t mind playing, do we?”

    “Sure, it’ll be fun,” Mallow agreed.

    “Yes! ‘Mario’ just got a game over so you can be ‘Bowser’, okay?”

    “No problem,” Mario said as he picked up the Bowser toy and imitated his laugh.

    “What about me?” Mallow asked.

    “I forgot about you. Uh, you can be Toadstool; she just says ‘help’ and stuff.” Gaz handed Mallow the Toadstool doll and grinned. “That leaves the best part for me: Geno!” Gaz pulled out a wooden puppet-like toy wearing just a blue hat and matching cape. “Stop right there, Bowser. I’m here to save the princess!”

    “Not a chance,” Mario said as ‘Bowser’ and tapped the Geno doll. Gaz hit the Bowser toy with the Geno one several times, and Mario tapped Geno again.

    “You can’t stop me, I’m going to use my super-duper customized, patented, one and only Shooting Star Shot!” Gaz fired one of Geno’s arms, but instead of hitting the Bowser toy it whacked Mario between the eyes. Mario’s eyes rolled into his head and he crumped onto the floor.

    “Oops…I missed,” Gaz nervously said.

    “Oh no, Mario!” Mallow yelled, horrified. Gaz’s mom rushed over and gently examined Mario.

    “He’s knocked out, but I think he’ll be okay. Mallow, was it? Please help me carry him upstairs and into bed.”

    Mallow nodded and grabbed Mario’s feet while Gaz’s mom held him up by the armpits. Together they carefully hauled him upstairs and into one of the beds. Gaz’s mom returned downstairs once they’d finished, but Mallow sat and quietly waited on one of the other beds for Mario to wake up.

     “Mario, you’re okay!” Mallow happily said through a mouthful of Sugar Mushroom cereal the next morning as Mario came down the stairs.

    “Aside from the bump on the head, yeah. So, are you ready to head out into the forest?” Mario asked as he poured himself a cup of coffee. Mallow nodded and ate faster.

    “Yeah, almost done. Too bad you missed dinner last night though, we had cream of mushroom soup.”

    “Aw! I’ll have to make myself a big pot once we take care of Smithy. But maybe I’ll make mushroom pasta first. Best way to celebrate a hard earned victory, after cake of course.”

    “Good morning, Mario,” Gaz’s mother said as she came over. “I hope you slept well.”

    “Given the circumstances, yeah. Now, how much do I owe you for one night?”

    “Oh, no, I couldn’t possibly accept any Coins after what happened with Gaz-”

    “Mooom!” Gaz yelled as he came rushing down the stairs. “I just saw the most amazing thing: Geno walking into the forest! Isn’t that awesome?!”

    “Yes, dear,” Gaz’s mom was clearly annoyed as she collected the dirty breakfast dishes. “And isn’t ‘Geno’ the one who broke my lamp the other day?”

    “That was just, well, you know. But this is real, honest!”

    Gaz’s mother took him aside to give him the second scolding in as many days. Mario and Mallow turned to each other, shrugged, and headed outside. Still looks stormy in the west, Mallow noted. But the skies are clear here, thankfully.

    “So what do you think he saw?” Mallow asked as they carefully made their way across Rose Town. Mario shrugged.

    “Who knows, you know how some kids are. They don’t know how to turn off their imagination. He probably just wishes Geno was heading into the forest to stop these arrows instead of us.”

    “I don’t know if he knows about that, though,” Mallow said as they started following the path into forest. “This is so cool though. I’ve always wanted to come in here.”

    “Your grandpa never let you, I take it?” Mario asked.

    “It’s not just that, all kids are forbidden from entering the Forest Maze,” Mallow explained. “The grown-ups say it’s really dangerous in here, full of wigglers and gorillas-”

    “Gorillas?” Mario shook his head. “I think you need to turn off your imagination, too, Mallow. I need you to focus on the real monsters, not imaginary ones-”

    From the bushes ahead a guerilla leapt out and charged at the duo. Mallow quickly zapped it with a thunderbolt while Mario followed it up with some fireballs. The guerilla screeched and ran back into the bushes.

    “…Okay then. Let’s be prepared for anything from here on out,” Mario said as the continued down the path.

    Several ordinary mushrooms suddenly sprang to life as they came near. Mallow whacked a few with his froggie stick while Mario kicked the noknok shell into the others, knocking them all out. Up ahead the path seemed to end, but then a pair of wigglers came out of the bushes and headed straight for Mario and Mallow.

    This time Mario started bouncing on one of the wigglers while Mallow tried to smack the other one with the froggie stick. Unfortunately that didn’t stop the wiggler and it crashed into Mallow, hurting a little.

    “Ouch! Have some of this instead!” Mallow said as he used thunderbolt on the wiggler. This time it ran away in tears.

    The one Mario started bouncing on, however, became very enraged and managed to buck Mario right off. However instead of coming back to attack again it ran back the way it came, smashing through the bushes and revealing the path continued on from there.

    “Are you okay? Should I use my healing rain?” Mallow asked. Mario shook his head.

    “No, better save it for later. Looks like nobody usually comes this deep into the forest, though,” Mario noted as the path became more difficult to follow. As they continued walking another cluster of ordinary mushrooms revealed themselves to be a group of amanita.

    Mallow batted them away with his froggie stick while Mario flung fireballs at them until all had been defeated. The duo continued on but there was no sign of whoever was shooting arrows into Rose Town.

    “C’mon, let’s take a short rest,” Mario said after they had been walking for a while. Sitting down next to a tree Mario handed Mallow a couple of mushrooms and a honey syrup to wash them down with.

    “This arrow-shooting jerk is hard to find. Do you think we’ll have to leave the path to find him?” Mallow asked as he munched on the mushrooms.

    “I don’t know. I’d really prefer not to because we could get lost in here that way,” Mario said between sips of honey syrup. “But if we don’t see any sign of him soon we might not have any choice, though.”

    Mallow nodded and drank his own honey syrup. As he was finishing however Mallow saw what appeared to be a strange man in a blue hat and cape up ahead. “Mario, look!” he said as he jumped to his feet. Mario looked up and got up as well.

    “Hey, you there!” Mario called over to him, but the strange man didn’t stop. Instead he quickened his pace down the path instead. “Wait, stop!” Mario called out as he ran after him, Mallow struggling to keep up. But the mysterious man was fast as he moved through the forest and eventually they lost sight of him.

    “Aw, he’s gone, whoever he was,” Mallow sighed. “What do we do now?”

    “Listen,” Mario said. “Do you hear something?” Mallow strained his ears and thought maybe he heard someone laughing.

    “Is that the wind, or…?”

    “Let’s keep going, but next to the path. And keep as quiet as you can.”

    They set off again, slowly and quietly. Mallow heard the laughing grow louder: it sounded like an entire group was nearby. When they grew close they stopped and quietly, carefully, peered through the bushes.

    The path had led them to a large clearing somewhere near the center of the forest, and hopping around the clearing were dozens of living arrows and one large, crazed-looking bow.

    “Nine hundred ninety-seven! Nine hundred ninety-eight! Nine hundred ninety-nine! One thousand aeros! Nya ha ha ha! For cover they run, tears they cry, fun this is!”

    “Woo-hoo! They’re standing just like statues!” the aero flunkies laughed and hopped with their boss. “Bowyer is the best, better than all the rest!”

    “Nya! More practice I need,” Bowyer declared. “Another thousand I will shoot!”

    “Oh no, he’s not stopping! What are we going to do?” Mallow urgently whispered to Mario.

    “The only thing we can do, give ‘em the old one-two!” Mario whispered back as he cracked his knuckles. But before he could move forward Mallow yanked him back.

    “Who do you think you are, Bruce Lee? There are way too many bad guys there. We need a plan.”

    “Yeah, I suppose you’re right. If only we had more help-whoa!” Mario and Mallow heard someone noisily coming down the path and Mario yanked Mallow deeper in the bushes. Moments later an aero arrived in the clearing, shoving a large green star ahead as he did so. That looks like the star we found after beating Mack, except this one’s green.

    “Look what I found, Bowyer!” the aero announced to his boss. “Neat, huh? What do you suppose it’s for?”

    “Target practice,” Bowyer declared. “Watch and see, a bullseye will it be!” Bowyer said as he grabbed one of the aeros and prepared to fire it at the star. But before he could someone charged out of a different bush and put himself between Bowyer and the star. It’s the man in blue!

    “Stop! You don’t know what you’re doing. Return that star to me,” the mysterious man in blue told Bowyer.

    “Nya? A stranger you are…and strange looking at that. Who might you be?”

    “I serve a…higher authority,” the man in blue answered. “That Star Piece belongs to us, to the citizens of this world. You can’t keep it.”

    “Nya! Teach you I will, in charge I am!” Bowyer growled and starting shooting aeros wildly all over the place.

    “Hey, chill out!” the strange man said, but Bowyer just ignored him.

    “What should we do?” Mallow asked Mario from the safety of the bushes.

    “What else? I’m going to help that man, and save Rose Town. If he’s an enemy of Smithy than he has to be a friend of ours,” Mario said as he readied himself for battle.

    “Me too! I’ll do whatever I can to help. …From over here!” Mallow said. Mario facefaulted at his words but quickly got up again.

    “Mallow! Now is the time to have courage!” Mario said as an aero landed near them and took off running towards Bowyer. Mallow started running behind him, froggie stick ready.

    “I am not afraid! And I’m not going to cry!” Mallow declared as he followed after him. Mallow tripped and fell but Mario didn’t notice and kept on going. “Ack, hey, Mario, wait for me, yikes!” A large amount of aeros came flying at Mallow. Fortunately they fell short and pierced the front of his froggie stick instead. Mallow nervously gulped.

    “That could’ve been me! Mariooo, wait up!” Mallow yelled as he took off running again, dodging aeros as he went. He reached Bowyer several seconds after Mario did. “Mario! You just ditched me back there! Look at what he almost did to me!” Mallow said as he pulled the aeros out of his staff and flung them to the ground.

    “So, you’re the Mario!” the strange man interrupted them. “We know all about you!” Huh? This guy, he looks just like Gaz’s doll, except life size and real!

    “But, who are you-”

    “Knock-knock!” Bowyer yelled. “Nya! Ignored I am, insulted I be, finish you will I”

    “You’re the one who’s finished,” Mario said as he kicked his noknok shell into Bowyer. Mallow smacked Bowyer with his froggie stick, but Bowyer didn’t seem to be very affected by either attack.

    “Nya! Three against one! Nyat fair!” Bowyer grabbed three aeros and took aim. “Fix it I will! Shoot aeros I shall! Attack you can’t!” he said as he fired the aeros at the group. The aero stuck his froggie stick and it fell to ground as stone. Mallow looked over and saw the same thing had happened to Mario’s noknok shell and, strangely enough, the doll-man’s arms.

    “Oh no, he did something to our weapons,” Mallow said as he tried to pick up his staff, but unsuccessfully.

    “Then we’ll just have to use our special attacks,” Mario said and fired off several fireballs at Bowyer. Mallow charged and unleashed a strong thunderbolt, but Bowyer just laughed at that.

    “Nya ha ha, that too I do, watch!” Bowyer said and unleashed his own electrical attack, zapping all three of them.

    “Is that all you got? Try and imitate this,” Mario said as he leapt forward and start bouncing on Bowyer like he did the wiggler earlier. After ten jumps he leapt back again.

    “I have something I can do, too,” the mysterious man said as he stepped forward and pointed one of his guns at Bowyer. He charged for several seconds before shooting a powerful beam into Bowyer, causing him to stumble back a little.

    “Nya, try and fight like this,” Bowyer growled and fired more aeros at them. This time when Mallow was struck he felt oddly drained of the energy powering his abilities, but at the same moment his froggie stick turned back to normal.

    “So you can drain our special abilities too,” the mysterious man said. “But you can’t stop us from attacking completely,” he said as reattached his arms before firing one into Bowyer. Just like when we played with Gaz yesterday! Mallow thought as he started smacking Bowyer with his froggie stick. Mario kicked his noknok shell into Bowyer’s head.

    “Nyat! Fair!” Bowyer screamed and used another electrical attack as he fired more aeros, turning their weapons back to stone again.

    “I think we almost got him,” Mario said. “If I use my fireballs, and you use your beam, we might finish him off.”

    “I’ll do what I can, too,” Mallow piped up. When the strange doll-man fired his beam Mario shot some fireballs at Bowyer as well while Mallow unleashed thunderbolt on him.

    “N-no! Defeated I cannot be! Waaaah!” And Bowyer exploded just as Mack had before him.

    “Yes! We did it!” Mallow exclaimed as he held up the peace sign with Mario. The mysterious stranger smiled at them.

    “Thanks for the help; you got me out of a real jam there. I know that my appearance must be startling, but I’m a visitor from above and this is a form I need to borrow for a while.”

    “Do mean, like, from the sky or something?” Mallow asked. The mysterious stranger laughed and shook his head.

    “Much, much higher than that, I’m afraid. Tell me, have either of you heard about Star Road, or Star Haven?”

    “I can’t say that I have, no,” Mario answered.

    “I’ve never heard of them either,” Mallow added.

    “Completely in the dark, eh? It’s a big mess up there and it concerns not just you two, but all the inhabitants of the Mushroom World. Let me explain. You’ve heard of wishing on a star, yes?”

    “Of course.”

    “I do it all the time.”

    “Well, high above your world is my home, Star Haven. Star Haven is where the stars live, and we work to grant the wishes of those down below. When our leaders, the seven honorable Star Spirits choose to grant a wish, they do using a powerful artifact called the Star Rod.

    “Now the Star Rod is actually a small but extremely concentrated, and portably, piece of the Star Road. It’s powered directly by the Star Road, which plays its own part by sending out the magical part of a wish in the form of a shooting star whenever a wish is granted.

    “But yesterday all of this came to a halt when a massive sword destroyed the Star Road and robbed the Star Rod of its power. Not only that, but magical abilities of my leaders has vanished as well, leaving them unable to do anything about this situation. Right now, this is a world where wishes can’t come true anymore.”

    “Whoa, are you saying this star is one of the pieces of Starway?” Mallow asked as he pointed at the green star the aero found in the forest.

    “That’s Star ‘Road’, my young friend. Yes, that star is a broken piece of Star Road.”

    “Mario! That star we found in the castle yesterday-”

    “It must be a piece of the Star Road, too!”

    “So you’ve found another Star Piece, then? There are seven altogether. Although I am not a Star Spirit, and normally am not an especially powerful star, borrowing the form of this doll will allow me to find the Star Pieces, repair the Star Road, and stop that vile Smithy from taking over this world.

    “My name is-” the star went on to say something Mallow couldn’t even begin to pronounce correctly. “But I can see that’s hard for non-stars to pronounce so you can just call me ‘Geno’, after the doll. Now, how about we grab that Star Piece and head out of the Forest Maze?”

    “Yeah, you bet,” Mario nodded and approached the Star Piece. Just like the one in the princess’ castle, as it circled around them Mallow felt his injuries from the fight heal as Mario grabbed the second Star Piece.

    “Oh man, who would’ve thought that star was so important?” a fourth voice spoke up. The trio looked around and found a single aero that Bowyer never fired. “I’ve got to inform Smithy right away,” it said as it hopped away.

    “Oh no! We can’t let Smithy find out about this, we have to stop him!” Mario said as he took off after the lone aero, Mallow and Geno following right behind him.