Koops' Fanmade Paper Mario: plot twisted thread. (Sprites and explanations too).

[Koops]

Spoiler: Chapter 10: Technical Issues

Penny: So what is this place?
Goombeddy: Let’s see if I can identify it... yes I can! Some time ago, as Professor Majimi stated, this piece of TimberLand was bought by robots so they could build some place they like to call YesterdayCity! It’s supposed to... bring back all the old, nostalgic feelings of the third generation of gaming?
Penny: You’re asking this?
Goombeddy: I mean, it just sounded weird! Why the third, and not the second generation?
Penny: Fanboyism.
Goombeddy: If you wanna take it like that. The thing is, these are robots who have developed a taste for video games? It’s just a little weird. Not gonna lie though, this place looks amazing so far!
Bootrus: I have to admit, I may bring some of their ideas to improve the Skygurrat's efficiency in appealing purposes AND business!
Lancebob: Too much greatness in one century, I’m going to have a heart attack!
Goombeddy: Yeah, don’t hyperventilate too much, boy, we still don’t know what this place looks like deeper into the site. Where are the workers though?
Penny: They’re probably working! Let’s just look a little...

So if you haven’t guessed it yet, this place is made of cubes. It’s essentially in 16-bit. The area you’re currently at looks a lot like Super Mario World. That’s because it’s based off of it, when we said the robots developed interest into the third generation of video games, they actually meant the SNES. In this place, you will eventually stumble upon statues of 16-bit Koopa Troopas, Galoombas, Bullet Bills, and the like. Them, suddenly, the sky turns red.

??? (Evil Robotic voice): YOU - SHOULD'NT - HAVE - COME - HERE! NOW - YOU - MUST - DIE!

All the statues come to life, and glow red eyes. They attack you. After they are defeated, the sky regains its blue taint.

Penny: What was that?
Lancebob: I don’t know, but it must mean something’s up!
Rockbert: What if these things are robots? After all, I doubt that even in a fantasy world like the one we live in, statues just come to life this easily!
Goombeddy: True dat! Something must’ve triggered them!
Lucifer: That’s seriously the best thing you can come up with?
Goombeddy: What else could I have said? Anyway, let’s head towards that building over there! It certainly looks out of place!

There indeed is a pixelated building somewhere in the area, behind some 16-bit trees. In it, you find many cubical robots. They’re all black with red eyes and mouth, and hover above the ground.

Blockbite 1: Hey! Look! Visitors!
Blockbite 2: It’s not any visitor! I will call the Block General to analyze him —KKKshpfweep! My sensors are indicating massive auras emerging from him, it seems.

...

Block General: What’s going on here? Who’s here? Oh, you’re the visitors everyone was talking about, aren’t you? You look nice, and... diverse! Anyway, someone said one of you looks awfully like someone we know, so I’m gonna have to scan you!

He goes ahead and does that to everyone until he gets to Mario (do note that Luigi is not on his path).

Block General: BRZZZZZZZRT! LEGENDARY VIDEO GAME MASCOT IDENTIFIED, MY SYSTEMS CANNOT COMPUTE! INITIATING "Oh man, what should I do?" SEQUENCE!
Luna: Look at that! He went completely ballistic over you!
Block General: I ... am ... sorry ... please forgive me for this unusual behavior! Buy you ... you’re Mario, the one and only guy for whom we dedicated this theme park!
Mario: ???
Luigi: A theme park? For Mario?
Block General: Well, not just Mario, but when we began construction, we only had Mario in mind! It’s then that my cooperates began starting to get some creative ideas about other stuff we can put. Our budget does allow that, so I said why not? Anyway, yes, it is dedicated to you, Mario, and specifically the you from the 1990s! Well, early 1990s... these games were absolutely fantastic! I guess also that according to promotional art, you do know you have a series for yourself, alongside, Luigi here, who’s actually with you!
Luigi: I knew we had some... but all the way back to the 1990s?! That’s insane!
Block General: Then feel free to take a look in your exhibit to find out more!
Goombeddy: Actually, slight complain... we went through there and those statues attacked us!
Block General: BAH! Don’t worry, it’s totally normal! Happens all the... wait, come again?
Blockbite 1: He says that the statues we installed outside to represent the harmful NPCs attacked them by surprise.
Block General: Ok, that’s not normal. I mean they’re statues. We could’ve made them robots who walk back and forth, -also now that I think of it, that’s a pretty cool idea- but they’re just... statues. Made of inanimate Moon Rock!
Rockbert: Wait, you use Moon Rock to build these?
Block General: Well yeah, apparently our moon is falling apart, so it would be pretty bad to let it go to waste. But how could they gain life? This calls for investigation!
Blockbite 1: On that note, General, all the members of the community shortly and abruptly stopped functioning because of the sheer fact Mario’s here.

The screen shows the whole room with inanimate robots all over the place.

Blockbite 1: Therefore, we need to send him to investigate while they recover.
Block General: You would do that, right, Mario?
Stayzee: Oh come on now, we’re on a quest here! We have no time to investigate your petty problem!
Luna: At the same time, it does sound dangerous for people who would come here... I’m all in on this!
Luigi: Do not worry, Mister the Block General Guy! We’re gonna look for... things!
Block General: Thanks, people! You really are visitors, but you’re acting like the owners of this land! It’s also great to know that it’s none other than Mario and Luigi who decided to help!
Luna: Hey, anytime! There’s no problem in anything!

You go back outside. You progress as you fight more statues. You can visit many districts, and the one thing you can notice is the fact that for each Nintendo series, the gameplay (or pretty much gameplay elements) are corresponding to the series the district represents. For example, in the Zelda district, you can cut grass and earn money, and also you will jump automatically across a gap or to reach a ledge. You can still use your abilities and partners, except here, enemies are fought in action-based battles instead of turn-based. And it goes like that for every district.

At the end of the path, you find some black Moon Rock.

Goombeddy: Hmm... that looks malicious... wonder what that is.
Bootrus: Very obviously, something evil emanates from these rocks!
Rockbert: Goombeddy, remember when you told me not to jump to conclusions back at the ray migration area?
Goombeddy: Anyway, we better tell the Block General guy! He may know a thing or two about it!
Rockbert: That sounds like something that will net us answers to this. I mean, haven’t you noticed? The aura surrounding these bad boys looks like the one from the statues' eyes!
Bootrus: I knew there was a connection!
Goombeddy: Way to go Bootrus! He’s scoring like a pro! Just say things like that wittingly, and you’ll be as good as me!

...

Block General: So, everyone! Found something?
Lucifer: Nah, not really, it’s just that...
Goombeddy: Oh you know, we found something!
Lucifer: I... was getting to that...
Goombeddy: Oh yes, you wouldn’t believe what we found! Thing is... I’ll let you take it from here!
Lucifer: Thank... you? Anyway, ...
Goombeddy: Oh, and just between us, whatever she says, I found out about it!
Lucifer: What’s your problem all of a sudden?
Penny: Payback for the times you burned him. Guy doesn’t like getting roasted!
Block General: Wow... you guys are awfully playful with each other! ... *system crash* OW! My brain! I mean... my electronic brain! It hurts!
Penny: Uhh... you alright?
Block General: I told that mechanic the problem with that was more serious than he treated it to be, but I’m fine thank you... you were saying?
Lucifer: So we found some weird black kind of Moon Rock... do you know anything about it?
Block General: I saw some scattered around the place now for a while. Must not be a big deal though, just had them cleared away for further construction... nothing really!
Lucifer: And about that... inner injury you got there, you seemed pretty stressed out. Is there anything wrong?
Block General: No, really! Oh, would you look at the time! We better recharge our batteries! Tomorrow’s a big day: we're inaugurating Butter Bridge! It will serve as the gateway to our main attraction, which is basically one of Bowser's castles from one of your countless video games! If you have the time in the future too, would you consider giving it a try?
Luigi: *yawn*! I feel sleepy! We should all get some sleep! We can’t have any sleepyheads on a dangerous journey like ours!
Lucifer: You’re right... I feel tired too!
Lancebob: Not me! The timezone of my time, y'know!
Bootrus: Come, now! Even in such shape, you still need to sleep! Even revived souls like I need that precious time to recover the thrills of a day!
Block General: There’s a bunch of bedrooms in this building we decided to put for fun... or we just... I just thought we needed them to sleep, but robots don’t need that to sleep. Help yourselves!

And yes, your partners don’t sleep in the same bed as you, come on! Well, if you go to a normal one bedroom inn, they just go away as soon as you pay to stay. Ok maybe it’s still kinda like TTYD, except the idea behind it is different ok?

Anyway, the next day...

Block General: Wake up, Blockbites! We got exciting stuff to take care of today!

Says he through a megaphone. All Blockbites are reactivated.

Blockbite: General, it seems the Butter Bridge is done getting built, and is ready to get inaugurated in time!
Block General: That’s weird, I thought the reason we fixed the date to today was that it was already done by now!
...
Anyhow, not like it affects anything! All Blockbites, please assemble in front of Butter Bridge, and if anyone else is insterested, please come close to the bridge too!
Luigi: Whattaya know? We might get something interesting out of it! Let’s-a go!

... (actual gameplay sequence in an ocean of cutscenes)

Block General: Fellow Blockbites! Today, you are all gathered to witness the inauguration of Butter Bridge, which will serve as a gateway to our main attraction! I’m going to cross the bridge and cut the red band on the other side with these scissors in hand!

Just as he gets halfway through, though, the bridge break under him. The Robot, unable to hover too high above the ground, plummets to his... well, his doom.

Luna: What just happened?
Stayzee: Clearly, an unbelievably mischievous rascal had fun playing with the strings!
Bootrus: I would’ve said that, but even myself can’t really try to figure out who did it! I mean most of these robots look exactly the same!
Goombeddy: Or, it was just a construction flaw?
Blockbite: No, it can’t be a construction flaw, we designed it perfectly! If it were to break, it would only be under the pressure of a very heavy thing, except us Blockbites hover above the ground, not touching the bridge in any way! Someone among us must’ve sabotaged it!
Blockbite crowd: *Gasp*
Blockbite: To start, could you please find our General and bring him here? He'd know what to do!
Lucifer: What do you mean bring him here?? Didn’t he just... well, die? Even though die is not the accurate word for a robot, but still!
Blockbite: Negative! He have built-in networks capable of seeing if any of us are "online" at the moment, and the signs coming from it indicate that our General still is functional! Find him, and bring him here! At the least, if he’s broken, we can fix him.
Luna: He's still alive down there, guys! We gotta save him!
Goombeddy: Yup, besides, he’s our hope of finding the code star, so we should go.

Find a way to get to the bottom of the abyss. In it are other enemies which normally originate from TimberLand (after all, we’re still in TimberLand, but just in a sub-region of it bought by Robots). At some point, you find the Block General inanimate on the floor, which a wide opening in his head.

Luna: What the... I thought they said he’s alive!
Rockbert: Maybe he is! Look!

He gets closer to the thing.

Rockbert: It seems his brain has gone missing! But that also might mean his brain still works and is sending signals to the other Blockbites.
Goombeddy: Good thinking there, mate! Let’s just look for that thing!

You eventually find it, but it looks like a human brain... return it to the General.

Block General: *wakes up* Woah! Where am I? What happened? Why do I feel like I’ve been separated from my body?
Goombeddy: That’s pretty much what happened son!
Block General: Oh... thanks for saving me. I was sure I was dead... I mean I was sure my data got erased... you get it don’t you?
Penny: Ok you’re acting weird now! What’s the big deal? And why does your brain look like a brain coming out of a sentient being and not a robot?
Block General: So now you know... but if you didn’t understand yet... let me explain.

"First thing I remember was dismemberment. I was ripped apart. Dead. But before I knew it, I was back. But I wasn’t myself. The problem is, I was torn apart and reassembled as... what you see now! I remember being human, and I know I have a past life. And I’ve been looking for it for a while... until I gave up... I started making myself some friends, those other Blockbites you see, who are actual robots, and not severed brains in a metallic shell. Now you know me. You know why my brain looks like that! I just hope I relive my previous life one day though! YesterdayCity was just something I thought of to have some fun and forget all that stuff, but in the end... I’m still... me."
Stayzee: Great plot! Must tell that to the author, he might adapt this into a play!
Goombeddy: As if she can’t get any more annoying, now she’s actually ignoring a former human's backstory!
Rockbert: I can tell you've been through quite a lot...
Block General: For what I remember, no, I haven’t. But I probably did. Anyway, you guys really didn’t have to come for me! I must thank you in some way. But let’s get back up first!

Block General, or simply Block, the sentient Blockbite joins the party! He can’t hover too high above the ground, but he can still hover over deadly obstacles like spikes or lava! Use this to your advantage to go places too dangerous to go to otherwise.

Block: I’ll tell my Blockbites to resume construction of the bridge, but in the meantime, I’ll start investigating with you! You said you found some black evil-looking moon rock?
Rockbert: Yes! 'Twas in that place in the center of this piece of land!
Lancebob: Now that I think of it, it looked like something has getting built!
Block: Then let’s not waste any more time! Let’s get outta here!
You make use of his ability on the way.

Blockbite: Hey look! It’s the General!
Blockbite crowd: Applause.
Blockbite: Thank you, Mario and Luigi, you saved our General! General, are you ok?
Block: Yes, but we need to go to that place where these people found the weird black Rocks! Something of interest may await us there!
Goombeddy: And by that, we might mean code star!
Block: Code Star? You mean that thing that fell from the sky?
Goombeddy: Yeah! You know where it is?
Block: Yes I do! It must be right where there were the infamous Black Moon Rocks!
Goombeddy: What’re we waiting for then?

...

Rockbert: What’s that? I don’t remember this tower being there before!
Block: Neither do I, and I own this place!
Rockbert: You think someone just built it in the time we weren’t looking? Sounds unlikely!
Goombeddy: Not humanly possible! ... then again, we got robots here in this place! Anyway, it’s locked! We can’t do anything about it!
Block: I suggest we go back to the central to find some key. If a Blockbite built this tower, then it’s likely he put the key there!

However, as soon as you open the door in the building, you are confronted again with the robotic voice from earlier.

???: YOU - SHOULD'NT - HAVE - STAYED! YOU - WILL - SUFFER - A - TERRIBLE - FATE!

All Blockbites' eyes start glowing in an Eerie purple color, and attack. Stop them all, and they revert back to themselves.

Blockbite: General! Thank you for reverting us back to normal! We believe that the same robot who sabotaged the bridge is behind this!
Block: What?! What is wrong with that one guy?
Blockbite: One of us left the central earlier today, and left behind him this! Take it!

The Key to the Tower! You can now access it!

DUNGEON 10: Block-biting Tower

Enemies:

-Pixel Bills.
-Pixel Bones.
-Pixel Bro.
-Pixelfos.
-Pixelblins.
-Pixelnuts.
-Pixel Knights.
-Pixel Kibbles.
-Pixel Scarfy.

As you can tell looking at these enemies, You have three districts: Mario, Zelda and Kirby, all in one place. There is a room that switches play-styles, so that you do things in one place you couldn’t do when it was from another play-style. Get it?

At the end of this dungeon, a robot is seen with his back turned towards the window.

???: I - SEE - YOU - MADE - IT, BUT - IT'S - ONLY - A - MATTER - OF - SECONDS - BEFORE - I - DISPOSE - OF - YOU!

He turns around, and apparently his eyes have pupils unlike the others and his expressions are also different. (Plus Intro Splash screen)

Bloak: You see, I decided to protest against your orders "General!"
Block General: Why so?
Bloak: I don’t know, I just felt I had to resort to REVOLUTION! MUAHAHAHA! I will take a down!

As he laughs, a code star can be seen sticking out of his electronic brain.

Revolution: Mario! It’s you right? Get me off this thing! I landed on him and now he is revolting against his master! See I’m Revolution, so it doesn’t really help that I got stuck on a robot!
Bloak: Oh, and don’t worry, I’m gonna take care of you... in the best way possible! I took the liberty to get the Bowser Statue from the main attraction and robotized it with some evil crystals!

He jumps into it and seizes the levers.

BOSS CHAPTER 10: 16-BIT BOWSER STATUE

Tattle: That’s a statues of Bowser made of Moon Rock, and robotized with the use of evil cryztals! Max HP is 120, ATT is 6 and DEF is 5. These defense stats are enormous! Use defense piercing attacks against this rock-hard boss! In addition to this, damage dealt by this thing are quite devastating if it decides to stomp you! It even has a function to bring Mecha-Koopas into the fight! This is one strong imitation of Bowser!

The statue explodes, and Bloak himself bounces against the wall, getting knocked out.

Block: So that Code Star thing that fell from the sky was the thing responsible for brainwashing one of my Blockbites? These things are dangerous, no wonder you wanna gather them to prevent such tragedies to happen!
Revolution: Hey, Mario! Other code stars told me about you, and I’m glad you found me in time! Though I didn’t crash here by chance. Someone set me this course. I don’t exactly remember who or what did that, but I remember seeing a giant flaming eyeball. Anyway, with that said, take me with you! ("Take me with you" should be the code stars' catch phrase.)
Luigi: A... A FLAMING EYEBALL?!
Stayzee: How horrible! Such gore!
Goombeddy: Not as horrible as...
Luigi: Mario! Do you think that flaming eyeball might be our greatest enemy? I mean he seems to have sent the code star here to corrupt this robot!
Mario: Ho! (Whatever it is, we must not-a back-a down! We still gotta save the world!)
Luigi: You’re right! Let’s-a grab the code star and go back to Champs-Eclypsees!

Here it is, Chapter 10! Who this flaming eyeball might be? (You probably know but I’m not saying who until chapter 16. See Ya!)

 

[Koops]

Spoiler: Interlude 10

(Red text should be read in the most evil voice possible)

???: Wake up, servant! You will take over the world for me!

Hackula wakes up, and sees a flaming eyeball talking to him in the dark, so we only see said eyeball.

Hackula: Huh?! What is this place?
???: This, my child, is your world, the Dark Realm! It's disordered, that's why it's the best there is!
Hackula: What's my name? How did I end up here?
???: Your name is Hackula. I chose it, it's cool, right? I created you, now you are not powerful enough to take over the world... yet. But I will feed you with the power of glitches! I'm weak in the outside world, so your duty is to go there and take it over so I can go out safely!
Hackula: O... Ok... I will try... my master...
???: Yes, call me master! Exactly what I want! You'll see! Soon, you will come in handy to me! Do everything you can to let the code stars out of reach from the creator of the world. That dastardly being sealed me in here!
Hackula: Yes, Master! <echo>

Hackula wakes up from this nightmarish flashback.

Hackula: AGH! How have I come to dream of that?!
Bowser: It seems you're finally awake!
Hackula: Look, Mister Bowser, I am having problems at the moment...
Bowser: Come on, spill it! Tell me everything! Leave nothing untold to your instructor!
Hackula: I am beginning to doubt if this treatment is getting me anywhere in the villains department! It just seems as though I'm just getting cooler! I don't want to just be cool! I want to become a great villain! Or my creator would crush me! He has the power to do it!
Bowser: Your creator? You really need to explain me a lot of things about yourself! There's so much I don't know!
Hackula: Trust me, I'm probably older than you by more than millions of miles. You'd die before I finish telling you my life story!
Bowser: No, not your entire life! Just that moment you were "created"!
Hackula: I was created thousands of year ago by the Lord of Evil! You do not want to know about him!
Bowser: Look, first of all, I'M the Lord of Evil! Second, it can't be that bad! I mean, if he finds out you talked about him, we'll kill him together!
Hackula: No, we can't! Only Mario and Luigi might ever become good enough to get rid of him! You don't even know who he is!
Bowser: ... Whenever you feel like you're done with your depression here, come see me!
Hackula: Look, Bowser, you're kind in your own way, but please... help me!
Bowser: Now I know a desperate voice when I hear it! That's what I'm talking about!
...
You know, I wanna be honest with you now, when I was coming here, I was hoping I could give you all a beating after this was over, but now, it's not exactly the same thing anymore...
Hackula: Very well, Mister Bowser!
Bowser: So, now, I'm gonna have to check those muscles of yours! Hit me!
Hackula: This is going to be a long night...

Now to the elite trio...

Paraplonk: Ok, guys! We got something new!
Sergeant Guy: Yes, what is it! My ears are fully open to hear!
Goomp: Why are we doing this in midnight, when I'm doing my favorite thing in the world: sleeping?
Paraplonk: This ain't playtime, Private! Thing is, I caught Hackula during his sleep dreaming about something! He was tasked to keep all code stars away from the hero!
Goomp: WHAT?! So our theory was true all along? Then that means we really ARE in danger!
Paraplonk: Calm down, man, the good thing is, we can put our plan into motion! Now the problem, we actually gotta think of one!
Sergeant Guy: What?! You haven't planned anything out yet? How're we supposed to succeed?
Paraplonk: Sometimes, an improvised plan may have some far-fetched, but efficient steps that wouldn't be thought of in an anticipated one.
Sergeant Guy: Ok that makes a bit more sense!
Paraplonk: So it begins now!
Goomp: So what's the plan if it begins now?
Paraplonk: Honestly, I got no damn idea, just keep Lord Bowser away from the code stars! Especially the one with Peach!
Goomp: Wait, he's a code star?
Paraplonk: I found out when he said that it doesn't mean if he's one of them that he's a fortuneteller.
Sergeant Guy: That's a good start, I'd say though. Up to this point no hurdles have presented themselves in front of us.
Paraplonk: He's right! We have nothing to fear!

Now, to Peach... or Evilness. Peach is asleep.

Evilness: I am beginning to wonder. That Shadoodle person? Have I met him before? And if so... where? And it can't be that one guy... I saw him die in front of me!
Victor: What're you whispering, code star?
Evilness: Oh it's you! What're you still doing here? Wanna mock me for bringing me here?
Hector, popping in: You know, Code Star, you shouldn't question our intentions! You don't know who we are, just like the Shadoodle person you just mentioned!
Victor: Really? He has a secret identity?
Hector: According to this guy, he does. But we shouldn't worry about that, "our" plan is running!
Evilness: Do you mind, gentlemen? What even is "your" plan?
Victor: No one must ever know! Top secret stuff!
Hector: Exactly! Ten out of ten for that statement!
Evilness: So now you're bragging about you having a plan while I stay here and wonder what it is!
Hector: Well yeah! Anyway, we got to launch a new attack on Mario and Luigi! See ya!

They warp away.

Evilness: Will this nightmare ever end?

The screen fades to the black. Then, the screen begins showing a young Antonimus clutching his Code Star companion.

Antonimus: Starr, why am I holding you like this lately?
Loss: It's normal! You love me, you know that! You don't want me to go!
Antonimus: But of course I love you, but now I feel you're gonna go away! Quit on me!
Loss: If it is so to fulfill my role as a code star, then it is only my duty! Don't worry, you'd be cherished for having kept me safe all this time!
Antonimus: You were given to me at birth by my parents from whom I have no memory! Did I even use to have parents? Anyway, that's not the point here! You've been my only friend, until I met Startacus!
Loss: Hey, no one likes to lose people, but I assure you, even though I too feel like the world is going to need my service soon, I will always be with you!
Antonimus: That's literally the best thing you ever told me! You're so amazing, Starr!
Loss: I know!
Antonimus: And it was so awesome when you unleashed your power on these broom-hats! That was the coolest thing you ever did! Why didn't you tell me you could do such things?
Loss: I thought you'd know! I'm a code star! All sixteen of us have incredible powers like that! But mine is not the most powerful!
Antonimus: Well, to me, it certainly was!

On the other side, people have set up a campfire.

Startacus: Don't tell me, Nebula, isn't this wonderful?
Nebula: Watching you fight out there, that was so glorious!
Startacus: I am glad to know you're safe! You were my motivation this whole battle, I'm not going to lie! I want us to be free, but I'm most worried about you! I don't know if I dare say this, but if I didn't find out you were still alive, we would've lost!
Nebula: Startacus... I... I love you!
Startacus: I love you too! Don't worry! I'll get us to freedom before you know it.

They are sharing a moment, as you can see.

Goomda: Um... Startacus! Sorry to kill the mood here, but the Kappa Pirates! Their captain is here and wants to see you!
Nebula: You're arranging a deal with pirates?
Startacus: We need a boat to get us out of here! I'll be right back!

...

Kapp'n: So, you're that Startacus guy the Bromans keep talking about! You're everything I expected!
Startacus: Anyway, so we want a ship to get out of Brome! Will you lend us one of them?
Kapp'n: Sure... but nothing comes free with us, boy! You gotta pay to sail!
Startacus: Well, I knew it, which is why I have all these bad boys with me.

He opens a safe containing way too many bags of money: coins, rupees, jewels, bags of money inside a bag of money. Startacus takes it all out as the pirate's eyes grow big of greed.

Kapp'n: Nice loot you got there, but that is not enough. You need way more than that.
Startacus: Excuse me? I went all the way from the heart of Brome to the shore, emptied every rich house I could find, freeing all slaves in my way, to get this money, and you still refuse?
Kapp'n: Hey, don't panic, you've gone a long way. You just need some more money for my eyes to be satisfied!

Startacus stares blankly at Antonimus caressing Loss outside. We walks up to him.

Startacus: Antonimus, we need just a bit more money to... afford the boat. But we can't go back as the nearest village is hundreds of miles away...
Antonimus: WHAT?! That means we can't be free?
Startacus: Look, I know it's a painful thing to do, but... you must let go of Loss...
Antonimus: I... I can't do that!
Loss: The moment has come Antonimus. You can't do anything!
Startacus: Look, I know you kept her since your childhood, but if I don't give her to the pirates, the fate of all former slaves will be lost! Think about it!
Loss: Wait just a moment here. PIRATES?! How am I supposed to save the world if I'm held captive by these guys?
Antonimus: She's right, Startacus! What if that happens? There has to be another way!

Startacus looks away in the direction of the sleeping people.

Startacus: I'm afraid there is no other way... you must let go of her!
Antonimus: Curse you pirates! O... Ok! I guess this is it, Starr... I mean Loss!
Loss: You actually called me by my name! But don't be so sad, I'm sure we will meet again!
Antonimus: I can't look at you anymore! It will only get more painful! Just take her, Startacus! Do what you must!
Startacus: I'm sorry!
Loss: It's ok, I get it! You worked hard for this. You're a good man, Startacus! May you succeed in your mission! Goodbye Antonimus!
Antonimus: *sobbing*

Startacus takes the code star to the pirate.

Kapp'n: Oh, look at that piece o' moolah! You got yourself a deal, Startacus! You're the best! The boats will be here in one day plus a few hours! In the morning of the following day, if you will!
Startacus: ............ Antonimus, forgive me...
Antonimus: It's ok... it's for the best I guess. Besides, this will make me grow stronger!
*They start walking away*
Startacus: That's the way to see things! Come on, join us! You'll get over it...
Antonimus: Ok... I guess...
Startacus: You guess a lot, little guy! Let's get you something to eat!

And now, for the first time in a while, we get to see Brassus! In his palace!

Brassus: WHAT?! Say that again!
Koopsparagus: Affirmative, Ô Brassus! Startacus and his men defeated the army!
Brassus: *Groan*! If Mister Shfancy Shpantsies didn't show up and destroyed the black flower, this wouldn't have happened!
Koopsparagus: There's... something else. The ant... you know, your mist recent slave, the one you lost five minutes after you bought him. Well...
Brassus: Anchovimus? What's the deal with this guy? You found him or something? *says he as he serves himself with a glass of wine, and begins drinking it*
Koopsparagus: Sort of... we just know where he is, that's the good news... the bad news is he's part of Startacus' soldiers!

Brassus spits his drink on the Koopatrol's face.

Brassus: You serious?! So that's where he went! Sneaky Andominus! When you bring him back, I'll be sure to give him what he deserves! If you ever get the chance to speak to him tell him that, there's a slim possibility you don't bring him back, so gotta pass the message you know!
Koopsparagus: Yes! Ô Brassus! We'll begin looking for him immediately!
Brassus: No slave escapes my territory and gets away with it! NONE OF THEM, YA HEAR?!

Back to Mayro and Weegi who arrived at Champs-Eclypsees.

Luigi: Well, that was a cool trip! Reminded me of the good old days!
Block: HEY GUYS!

He comes in (running?) and abruptly stops panting.

Penny: Oh hey! You again! What're you doing here?
Block: I have reprogrammed all the bots to redo the process of building the bridge, and I made sure the process was slower, but just exactly the same! So in the meantime, I can come out and help you guys out!
Goombeddy: That's thoughtful! Come on, hop on the badwagon! We got lotsa places here!
Block: Thanks! I always wanted to help Mario and Luigi! I'm such a fan!
Penny: One question! Were you a fan before or after you got turned into a robot?
Block: That's a hard question, though I'd say I always was! I even remember I used to live with a scientist and his robot companion! I can't quite put my finger on what were their names, what they look like, but that's what I know! I mean, I'm a robot now! I can save my own memory! I remember I was adopted even!
Lucifer: Wow, you remember all of that... that's way more than what I could when I got out of that cage!
Goombeddy: That's fine for me, don't wanna have to friends with the same backstory! Anyway, we still gotta place our new code star in the cave of functions!

...

Merlon: Ho Ho! Here you are again! It seems this was your tenth code star! Nice job! And I know where you can look next! Long ago, at the time where the Bobley Kingdom was still thriving, there also existed a town nearby, in the cold, but warm, Gryztal Plains! I mean, it still exists, but the way to it, is blocked entirely by boulders!
Goombeddy: I don't understand, what're we supposed to do about that?
Merlon: I wasn't done! Where was I? Ah yes! HOWEVER! According to my research, a rockslide that occurred during the end of the Middle Ages caused this place to be closed! How do I know that? My son Merle told me! How has he managed to get born there? Don't ask, I don't have a clue about how it could've happened! But, well, he informed me of the presence of a code star there!
Snifle: I can confirm that!

He comes in the screen.

Snifle: However, my readings are extremely low, lads! There's a blizzard in that place! So as thoughtful of a Pixl I am, I will be more than happy to come along with ya! Just press *Up in the D-pad* to ask me anytime!

You got Snifle in your inventory! Summon him anytime to get hints about where the whereabouts of a code star could be!

Snifle: Now if you'll excuse me, I'll just squeeze myself into that pocket of yours! Just pretend Imm not in here! So whattaya say we travel to the past and prevent that rockslide from happening?
Rockbert: I say that's cool! I mean we're going to the past to alter the present! That's cool! Right Nina? Speaking of you, you don't talk so much...
Nina: I know... but don't worry about things like that.
Rockbert: If you say so!
Lancebob: Let's press onward! I want to tell his courageousness of my quest with you!

Go back to the Bobley Kingdom and discover that all the people are gathered in one spot. Rush to where they are.

Lancebob: Huh? What's happening here? Make way, people!
Crowd: -Oh my! -It's Sir Lancebob! -Hey, it's... what's his name again... Boom-a-lot? -So dreamy! (Speech bubble only visible on top of females' heads) -Who's that mustachioed weirdo? -Look! He's got some friends too!
Percybomb: Oh... Oh! Look, Boovin, Bombellinord! It's Lancebob!
Boovin: Lancebob, old brother! How's it going? You saved the world?
Bombellinord: Tell us! What kinds of weird metallic monsters did you face?
Lancebob: Sorry, I haven't saved the world... yet! Just you wait! And no, Bombellinord, the future is not made of metal, but we already faced some metallic foes! Percybomb! Where's his majesty? And what's happening here?
Percybomb: That dragon just took refuge on that distant tower. THAT dragon! The one we thought we slayed!
Mario: OH! *He saw the dragon* Hey! (I've seen that dragon! He's-a still not-a dead! I can confirm that!)
Percybomb: What? Maybe he's the reason why our kingdom fell in the future! I can't believe this dragon! But we still gotta drive it off! Oh, and about his stoic-ness, he's still in the castle crying because of the tragedy that befell him.
Lancebob: Oh no!
Boovin: Worry not, Lancebob! That tragedy is the fact that the master chalice is fake! Remember that?
Lancebob: Oh... that was quite a shock indeed. Anyway, Mario, Luigi, let's slay that dragon and alter the future!

The Dragon is in fact the Ruined Dragon, none other. How he was in the past. He looks the same, but he doesn't have the same crown since Bowser at the time didn't exist, even if he might be an ancient turtle. There something though. If you manage to somehow turn the lightning towards him, it will strike him and make him fly away.

Bombellinord: Brothers! Look! The dragon! It's leaving!
*Crowd cheering*
Boovin: Great job, Lancebob!
Percybomb: This dragon could've caused a rock slide that would've killed us all! You're such great heroes! All of you! Thank you very much!
Lancebob: No problem! Let us go back to the future, or should I say the present of your time, and see what changes happened!

...

Merlon: Mario! Luigi! Goombeddy! I don't know how you did this, but Merle just got here and told me the rockslide is no more! The rocks all flew towards the location where the Bobley Kingdom used to be!
Merle: It is true! Something like that must've only happened if someone went to the past and did something to what caused that rock slide. It's also crazy to think that the rocks rolled all the way to the Gryztal Plains in the first place!
Snifle: Mario! What they say is true! The readings are much stronger than before! Still encrypted by that one nasty blizzard, but stronger! The code star is definitely there, I tell ya!
Rockbert: Great! Hah! That was way too good!
Nina: Yes... it was!
Rockbert: I'm still not that used to hearing your voice anymore!
Nina: I never spoke much. Ya remember that!
Rockbert: I mean, I know that, but it's been a while, you didn't say anything. Or just you didn't say as much things as you used to!
Nina: ...
Merle: Follow me heroes! I shall get you to Gryztal Town!

To be continued...

What lies ahead of the newly opened path? Let us find out in the next part! See Ya!

 

[Koops]

Hey! Guess who?

Spoiler

What, still can't guess with the ghosty angel appearance? It's Bootrus, come on! Easy to draw, really (aside that thorny crown of his).

And it doesn't stop there!

Professor Majimi's name comes from some toy I found on the internet, called moji.mi, which are basically cute monster figures. That is why the character looks like some sort of little monster. He will get drawn in I don't know how much time, but eventually guys.

Ten years for that to happen. Here you go!

Spoiler: Majimi

Well, I gues that's all for today... or is it?

Spoiler: President Squeezee

Artworks galore today! And there probably will be another one through the course of this spring break.

See Ya in Chapter 11!

 

[Koops]

Spoiler: Chapter 11: A population in parallel development.

Escort Merle throughout the area, prevent any enemies from killing him (even though technically, he had to come this way anyway). So, this is your typical Ice world here, nothing special for the moment. But you’ll see, the magic starts later on.

Merle: We’re here! Ladies and gents, welcome to Gryztal Town!

Actually never-mind! It starts now! Easily the most beautiful looking town in the game! Decorated as if Christmas was just around the corner. And the buildings are made of ice! They reflect the lights, and are shiny! Plus the pathway is colorful! If drawing this place was easy, I would’ve done it a very long time ago and showed it to everyone! Unfortunately, we live in a world where my computer is slower than a dead baby snail trying to pull a blue whale out of freezing water, and where my drawing skills don’t come in handy in the paper/cardboard effects department the art style of the game heavily relies on, so we gotta wait for something like that to happen. I promise I’ll try to make it happen one day (yet again a promise like many other promises I made. These are piling up real fast). So anyway, Merle lives here. No wonder why he’s more cheerful that Merlon is. Come to think of it, he lives in another ice world in 64...

Merle: Feast your eyes on this wonderful place, people! You don’t come across such a beautiful and lively town everyday!
Lancebob: The 21st century hides this location, which was blocked by that dragon before!
Block: My YesterdayCity, compared to this... It feels like a waste of money!
Rockbert: I am speechless! Look at this place! My mind is all made up now! I’m inviting my family to celebrate Christmas here!
Penny: Hey, Kooplea, you look blue all of a sudden.
Kooplea: It’s just... I remembered my dad again. If he’s not in Toad Town, where could he be?
Rockbert: Was it because I mentioned the word family? If so, I’m sorr...
Kooplea: Nah, it’s okay, it’s not your fault!
Bootrus: Talk about jumping to conclusions, you directly assumed you were the faulty! Though that showcases your honesty!
Luigi: Ok everyone! The code str must be somewhere around here!
Goombeddy: First of all, Mister Merle, how exactly do you know there’s a code star here?
Merle: Simple! My bloodline knows very well how to detect nearby code stars! But the biggest indication of this is this pillar right across town!

The camera traverses the town and shows a pillar with a strange shape craved into it.

Merle: You see it? Some say a dormant Shaman awaits the day he will be unfrozen there and bless his savior with a new ability! But what’s even more intriguing are the words written in the