//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 Part 1 // Story: Paper Mario: The Land of Harmony // by Blade Squall //------------------------------// -MARIO- San Palomino Desert In the middle of a desert path with a tall cactus next to it stood a green Warp Pipe. From that Pipe emerged Mario and Spike, who both walked off of it and looked around. Sand and dry plains as far as the eye could see. Mario sighed. “Spike… where are we?” “From my guess,” the baby Dragon commented, “we must have ended up in the San Palomino Desert. If your friend Goombella was right-” “Which in scenarios like this she is,” Mario inserted, remembering all of the times his Goomba allies’ intuition alone pointed them in the right direction. “-then somewhere in this desert is our first Element of Harmony. Our adventure really does start here!” Inhaling in excitement, Spike breathed out a bit of fire. He was ready to go. “Anyways, I think if we go east from here, we SHOULD end up in Appleloosa. If anypony saw the Element falling into the desert, it would be somepony living there.” “I guess that’s as good of a first move that we can make,” Mario agreed. “Let’s hope it’s not too far from here… we didn’t pack too many supplies.” “I know,” Spike groaned. “Well, if we don’t find Appleloosa before sunset, hopefully we can go with Plan B.” “What’s Plan B?” the plumber asked, somewhat surprised that they even HAD a Plan B. “A few years ago,” Spike explained, “I was accidentally kidnapped by a tribe of Buffalo, who were in the middle of a land dispute between the settlers of Appleloosa when the girls and I were delivering Applejack’s favorite apple tree Bloomberg to the town to be replanted. They didn’t mean to take me, though. So, they gave me a few gems to snack on during my being ‘held prisoner’.” “…Okay, this sounds like a huge story,” Mario remarked. Desperate to pass the time while the two began to walk, Mario asked, “So, what happened between these folks of Appleloosa and the Buffalo? Why were they fighting over land?” “Oh, that story?” Spike chuckled. “Well, you’re in for quite the tale…” During the walk and between battles against various types of Goombas and surprisingly red shelled Koopa Troopas who lived in the desert to attack people, Mario heard Spike tell the entire story. It was far easier to listen to than those of the Ancients and of his old Toad Town friend Merlon’s family, as there was something happening outside of the story that kept him awake. Mario heard of how the herd of Buffalo native to the San Palomino Desert area used the flatland where Appleloosa was built as their annual stampeding grounds. However, the residents of Appleloosa were an apple farmer community (and a few of the townsfolk were members of the extended Apple Family), so they needed the land for their apple trees. The Bearers of the Elements’ arrival was rather poorly timed, as tensions were at their highest since the town’s first harvest was at the same time of the annual Buffalo stampede, right as Applejack was scheduled to make the delivery. But what made the situation escalate into a full scale conflict surprisingly came from PINKIE PIE. Both of the leaders of both sides of the conflict hated her cheery song attempt to stop the feud so much that they decided war was the better option. Of course, there was a point in the story that the Buffaloes were about to call off their attack, but Pinkie Pie had to sing again, and the war began. Eventually, though, both sides came to an agreement: Appleloosa keeps the orchard, and in exchange the Buffalo get free apple pies, the “weapon of choice” for the settlers, during their annual stampedes through a cleared path. There was also a second agreement… “Sheriff Silverstar agreed not to press charges against Pinkie Pie and by extension our entire group for starting the war with her singing in the first place, in the exchange that Pinkie never sings another word in Appleloosa AGAIN,” Spike finished. “Although Pinkie was depressed that she’s not allowed to break into song there, we promised her a party when we got back to cheer her up. Besides, it was either not allowed to sing or jail.” Mario shook his head with a smirk on his face. Pinkie Pie really was funny in Spike’s story. Mario spotted a red Badge Block, and hit it, getting a Power Stomp Badge for later. Soon, though, the two came to a river in the middle of the desert. Well, it made sense that Appleloosa, if it was in fact in the desert, was near a source of water. However, there was no real way of crossing it. “Now, hold on,” Spike scowled. Borrowing Mario’s map, Spike looked at it. “Appleloosa’s just on the other side of this river. Pinkie Pie managed to get to the other side of this somehow….” “Yeah,” Mario agreed. “So, is there a switch nearby or something? Preferably a blue one? Those usually do something.” Mario and Spike began looking around the landscape, Mario rustling through a nearby bush. Spike then noticed a lone dead tree on the other side of the river, alongside a familiar looking green plant with a leafy necklace, arms, and grass skirt. “Mario?” Spike spoke up, curious. “Isn’t that the Florie’s Root Zecora spoke of?” Mario stopped looking for the switch to see the Florie’s Root. Soon enough, the plant began to twitch. “So, you know of us?” the Florie’s Root suddenly spoke. It had a sickly, somewhat feminine voice. “Please… I beg of you… no rain for days… soil dry… need water.” “Uh,” Mario commented, “I hate to break it to you, but… we’re on the opposite side of the river. And I’ve sort of learned from experience that every time I go into water, I’m bitten by a Nibbler or something like that. We can’t help you from here.” “Hold on,” the Florie’s Root spoke up. “Give me… a moment…” Soon enough, the ground began to shake, and the dead tree suddenly uprooted itself before falling over above the river, and splitting in half, forming a path. “There… I created a bridge. Now please… water… rich soil…” Mario raised an eyebrow about this, but reached into the river, cupping a bit of water in his hands. He prepared to take it over to the plant- “Hold on, there, Mario,” Spike interjected. “I know this plant just made us a path, but Zecora warned us that Florie’s Root just acts pretty and nice. They use their charms to get ponies to drop their guard and care for them like any other plant. However, it’s all a ruse and they’re nothing more than the worst type of weed. Eventually, don’t they become giant plant monsters?” Mario raised an eyebrow about this, and turned to the startle'd plant. “…Curses!” the Florie’s Root spat, angry. “Whoever that Zecora is saw through THIS!? How are we supposed to spread throughout Equestria if there are SMART ponies who see us for what we really are! They’re supposed to be a DUMB race that values CUTENESS!” Mario dropped the water at this confession. The Florie’s Root realized what she said, and swallowed. “Uh… you heard all of that, didn’t you?” “Yeah,” Mario scowled. “Zecora was telling the truth about you plants, wasn’t she?” “...Well… the jig is up, huh?” The Florie’s Root laughed as Mario and Spike approached her. Spike then tugged at the plant, only for her to resist his pulls. “Well, even if YOU know about us, Mustache and Dragon, you’re far too late! There are at least forty-two of us all over this dump. There’s no way you’re gonna find us all. And even if you did, you big red Mustache Man, there’s no way you’re gonna uproot us! We’re too strong for that. In fact, the only way you’d uproot me is if you had fire or could whack-” WHACK! "...No, Your Highness... I don't want any more maple syrup in my tea...." the Florie's Root mumbled. Mario’s Hammer rested on the talkative plant’s head, squishing it in the ground. “You know,” Mario remarked, “if there’s one thing I HATE about villainous schemes, it’s that when they’re revealed, the villain just monologues. So, whacking this was kind of satisfying.” “I agree,” Spike smirked as Mario took his Hammer off. Spike simply grabbed the now KO’d Florie’s Root, and yanked it out with a simple tug before storing the plant away. “If the rest of these plants are as talkative as this one, this is going to be satisfying.” “Still,” Mario remarked. “I kind of feel bad. She made us a bridge. Yet she just admitted that Flories are out to take over Equestria….” Spike thought aloud, “You don’t think that the Flories are working alongside the Colts of Nocturne, do you?” “I doubt it,” Mario replied. “Plants need sunlight to live and thrive. The Colts of Nocturne, on the other hand, worship an all-powerful Alicorn who wanted to blanket the world in eternal night. Why would a plant race WILLINGLY support that?” Spike thought about that for a moment, and realized how much sense it made. “Good point,” the baby Dragon said. “So, with that out of the way, how about we just head to Appleloosa and get some food in our bellies before sundown?” “I couldn’t agree with you, more,” the plumber agreed. With that, Mario and Spike headed straight for town. --- Appleloosa Mario had quickly seen how the town had earned its name. Their entrance to Appleloosa around sunset had been through an apple orchard, where Mario could not help but notice had apple trees everywhere, and a path straight through them. Just like Spike said there was, proving that he had been to this town after all. Mario and Spike also saw the various amounts of Earth Ponies and even Cows working the orchard alongside Koopas of various species. Koopa Troopas, Koopa Paratroopas like his mailman Parakarry, Hammer Bros, and even the rare Boomerang Bros. Other than the apple orchard, Mario could have sworn he had walked into an old western movie. Appleloosa had the proper set-up of a western: a town with buildings of various types lined up on either side of the street (no doubt part of the path for the Buffaloes’ annual stampede), a saloon and inn down the street, a courthouse and jail nearby each other, horse-drawn carriages (which Mario found weird, considering many of the citizens were Earth Ponies), everyone in town, even the Koopas, was dressed to fit the western style (with many of the males and even some of the females wearing Stetson hats), and the sheriff of the town, if Mario couldn’t tell by his shining Badge, was approaching. The sheriff, Silverstar, was an Earth Pony. He was a brown stallion with a neatly combed dark mane. Alongside the blue vest adorned by a silver star, Silverstar also wore a red bandana around his neck and a black and red hat. His Cutie Mark was also another Sheriff Badge. But what really impressed Mario about him was the black mustache that matched his own in luster. “Howdy, gentlecolts,” the sheriff spoke up, his accent perfect with the town. “Nice o’ ya’ll to roll in town. Welcome to mah little town o’ Appleloosa. Ah’m Sheriff Silverstar….” “Well,” Spike chuckled, “at least we don’t have to deal with Applejack’s cousin Braeburn greeting us first thing.” “Applejack?” Silverstar voiced. Silverstar looked at the baby Dragon, blinking in surprise. “Well, Ah’ll be shocked. If it ain’t Braeburn’s cousin’s Dragon friend, Spike! Well, ain’t ya’ll a surprise! Braeburn didn’t go ’round town yellin’ his head off ’bout any visits. Fer a good reason, too- the train tracks gone an’ broke no thanks to some mischief, an' we currently makin' repairs.” Looking around, he asked, “So, where’s Applejack. An', more importantly… is the PINK one with ya, son?” “Uh, no,” Spike replied. “It’s just me and Mario, Sheriff. It’s kind of part of a long story.” “Mario?” the sheriff asked. He looked at the plumber, and scowled for a moment. “Well, yer mustache is definitely up to snuff, son. Ah reckon that Ah can trust ya if Spike does. But since there ain’t any humans in Equestria, Ah’m gonna guess yer from that there Mushroom Kingdom with all these Koopas and Toads new to these parts.” “Yeah, actually,” Mario replied. “You see, I came here for a vacation with my friends, and that’s where I’ve met Spike… and Applejack. You see, the two of us- Spike and I, I mean- are in the middle of an adventure, but it’ll probably be easier to explain what we’re doing and why when everyone whose hearing this is sitting down.” “Whoo boy,” Silverstar sighed. “Sounds like a doozy if ya’ll are askin’ me to sit before Ah even hear what ya’ll are doin’. An’ with everythin’ else goin’ on… Ah reckon Ah better get Braeburn. He’ll want to hear it if it involves Applejack. Meet me at the jailhouse when ya city boys are ready to talk. In the meantime, while Ah keep Braeburn from makin’ ya’ll wanna tear yer ears off, feel free to look around. Just don’t git any ideas o’ causin’ any trouble, ya hear?” “Understood,” Mario responded. “Can we talk in the morning? We’ve had a pretty rough day of traveling. Traveling through the San Palomino Desert wasn’t easy.” “Sure,” Silverstar commented. “Talk to the bartender at the Salk Lick Saloon- he ought to set you up with a room. A night at the inn should run ya a few coins a room, but it’ll be worth the relaxation. Ya’ll have a good night.” With that, Silverstar trotted away, leaving Mario and Spike alone and looking at each other. “Silverstar sounded like he had another problem besides the one we need to tell him,” Spike voiced. “I sure hope it’s nothing big… we’ve already got to save the girls… and all of Equestria.” “Spike,” Mario explained, “in my many years of adventuring, I’ve learned many things. One of those is that almost everywhere I go, there is a problem that needs solving, even if I have a problem of my own I need to work on. However, another thing I’ve learned is that if I help out someone else with their problem, then maybe they can help me. If we figure out what’s bothering the sheriff, then maybe he’ll help us find out if one of the Elements of Harmony landed in the desert. If not, then we’ll just head back to Ponyville in the morning with fresh supplies.” “Good point,” Spike shrugged. “Well, the last time I was here WAS in the middle of a land dispute… maybe we came at the wrong time?” “Well we won’t know that for sure until tomorrow,” Mario shrugged. With no further argument, the two headed for the inn. --- Jailhouse…The Next Morning… When Mario and Spike woke up the next morning, the two felt a lot better than they were at the end of the San Palomino Desert journey the day before. From there, after breakfast, Mario went to the General Store, where he proceeded to stock up on Mushrooms, Honey Syrups, Tasty Tonics, a couple POW Blocks, and a Sleepy Sheep, thanking the Stars that they sold Mushroom Kingdom products. When the plumber felt better prepared, he dragged Spike towards Silverstar’s office. “I really, REALLY am not looking forward to this,” Spike protested. “Silverstar’s our best bet for discovering what’s going on,” Mario voiced. “Also, the Element.” “I know that,” Spike reminded him. “But it’s because of BRAEBURN I’m worried.” “You don’t think he can handle finding out his cousin’s been kidnapped by a group of cultists?” Mario asked. “It’s not that I’m afraid of,” Spike answered. “Do you remember Pinkie Pie?” Mario nodded. “Okay. Take her, dye her fur yellow, give her male characteristics, make her a member of the Apple Family, and make her a loving supporter of this place, and you have Braeburn. Once he starts talking, you’ll hardly get a word in, edgewise.” When Mario got to the sheriff’s office, though, he was greeted by the sight of Silverstar alongside a yellow Earth Pony stallion. He had a long mane and tail with a mix of blonde and orange hair, with an apple as a Cutie Mark, making him part of the Apple Family. He also wore a brown Stetson on his head and an equally brown vest. No doubt in Mario’s mind as he and Spike walked in that this was Braeburn. But that wasn’t the only thing happening in the jailhouse. For standing in front of the sheriff’s desk was a group of Koopa Troopas. With the exception of one of them, they all were dressed like archeologists. But besides that Koopa who didn’t dress like the others, the one that stood out in Mario’s mind was the archeologist Koopa Troopa that had a mustache on his lip, a yellow-brown shell, and a red pocket watch (at least Mario THOUGHT it was a pocket watch but never took a closer look) hanging from his neck. “Now, Sheriff Silverstar,” the mustached Koopa begged the sheriff, “you simply MUST let us explore the desert! Who knows what rare and valuable treasures are in the land?” “Fer the last time, Professor Kolorado,” Silverstar scowled, “yer little band o’ archeologists ain’t goin’ on there. Ah ain’t gonna be held responsible fer anythin’ that happens to ya’ll in the desert, whether it be Bandits, the Buffalo tribe gits angry at ya, o’ anythin’! Doubtful ya Koopa Troopas can handle it all!” “I assure you,” the Koopa named Kolorado pointed out, turning to the unique Koopa there- a blue shelled, red bandana wearing Koopa with a bandage on his cheek. “My apprentice Kooper here is more than skilled enough for roughin’ the terrain. Why, he was the one who allowed us to get here with the trains shut down!” Mario could not believe his own eyes. He thought he recognized the two Koopas, but to hear their names and see them here… it was amazing. More of his old friends had come to Equestria, too. “Look here, Kolorado,” Silverstar explained. “Ah’m a patient stallion. Most of the time, Ah’m calm as calm can be. However, when a Koopa Troopa bursts into mah jail first thing in the mornin, beggin’ me up an' down to allow him and ragtag band o’ thieves disguised as archeologists to dig up the desert all before Ah had mah first cup o’ Joe? Well, Ah’m ’fraid even AH have limits. So, ’less ya’ll can give me a legit reason WHY Ah should let ya’ll dig the San Palomino up, then Ah suggest ya git outta mah jailhouse ’fore Ah lock ya up fer disturbin’ the peace!” Looking behind the Koopas, Silverstar spotted Mario and Spike. “’Sides, Ah have an appointment arranged last night, an’ Ah was in a bad mood about it, already.” The Koopas turned to see the duo, but Kooper’s eyes widened the largest. “MARIO!?” the blue shelled Koopa asked. “Is that… you!? What are you doing out here in Equestria!” “It’s a long story, Kooper,” Mario smirked. “A long, odd story.” “Mario, old boy!” Kolorado greeted. “Of all of the faces I could’ve bumped into in the strangest of locations! How’ve you been, old chum? I’m sure I don’t need to remind you of who I am, do I?” “No, you don’t, Prof. Kolorado,” Mario shook his head. “Oh you’ve gotta be kiddin’ me,” Silverstar groaned. “Mr. Mario, please tell me ya don’t know these idiots… and Kooper.” “I’m afraid I’d be lying, Sheriff,” Mario answered. “I don’t know what they’re doing here, but Kolorado, Kooper, and I kind of went on an adventure, once. Kooper and I stuck together longer, though.” “Mario,” Kolorado explained, “my group and I are simply in the middle of a new series of explorations and adventures on a new continent. Ever since Equestria has opened up to visitors from around the globe, I simple could not resist exploring what could only be described to Mushroom Kingdom folk as ‘uncharted territory’.” “Even though his wife’s absolutely livid about it,” Kooper added. “In fact, she refused to let Professor Kolorado leave Koopa Village unless I tagged along as his bodyguard and brought him home safe. If you’re on an adventure as well, and if you’re about to ask for me to come with you… I kind of can’t. I’d love to, but I can’t.” “That’s a shame to hear,” Spike voiced. “It would have been fun to travel with one of Mario’s old buddies.” Kooper looked at Spike, and back at Mario. “So, who’s the new guy, Mario?” Kooper asked. “You always seem to attract strange people to join you.” “Yeah,” Mario commented. “He’s Spike, and he’s started helping me recently. We’re kind of in the middle of a journey, which is why we need to talk to Sheriff Silverstar and Braeburn-” “Howdy, Spike!” the yellow stallion greeted, as if on cue. “Who’s yer new friend?” Before Mario could introduce himself, the stallion continued, “Well, anyways, welcome to AAAAAAPPLE-LOOSA!” With a whinny, he added, “Ah’ve gotta give ya’ll the grand tour of this here great town after yer business is done with the sheriff. We’ve got everythin’ ya’ll ever need fer survivin’ on the frontier. Wild west dances, mild west dances, -horse-drawn carriages, horse-drawn-horse-drawn carriages, salt an’ water, Apples, Apple Pies… ya name it, we’ve got it here in AAAAAAPPLE-LOOSA!” “Um, Braeburn…” Spike spoke up. “An’ ya’ll came at a good time, soon,” Braeburn continued. “It’s near the annual buffalo stampede, an’ we’ve got a huge crop yield this time ’round.” “Braeburn…” Spike said in a louder tone. “Perhaps ya’ll brought Applejack an’ her friends to come help!” Braeburn voiced aloud. “Where in tarnation is mah cousin, anyways? Ya know, Ah’ve always liked those mares she hangs out with….” “BRAEBURN!” Spike roared, shaking the jailhouse, and shutting the chatty stallion up. “If you give us a second, we can tell you what’s going on!” Braeburn, intimidated by Spike, closed his mouth. “Thank you.” “Well,” Sheriff Silverstar spoke up, his back turned from Braeburn, “that’s one way to shut him up." Turning back to the two, he commented, “Perhaps ya’ll like to fill us in on what in tarnation is goin’ on, now?” “Right,” Mario nodded. “Well, for me, it all started back a few days ago in the Mushroom Kingdom….” From there, Mario went on to tell his story of how he came to Equestria with his friends for a vacation/trade negotiation with Princess Celestia, how he met Applejack, her friends, and Spike, how the Colts of Nocturne attacked the castle to get to the Elements of Harmony, how Lord Sirius Nebula had been expecting the six Bearers to beat his cultists, how he had them ambushed, and how he and Spike failed to protect the Bearers. How Canterlot is now sealed by dark magic. How they ended up in Ponyville. How Goombella saw the light show that happened over Canterlot, and how the Elements of Harmony were scattered all throughout the kingdom. “…And that’s kind of everything, Braeburn and Sheriff Silverstar,” Spike concluded. “So, we’re now on a quest to save Rarity, Twilight, Applejack, and everypony else.” While Silverstar kept his expression calm and clean, Braeburn was clearly stunned. The yellow Earth Pony stared in silence, taking Mario’s story in about the kidnapping of his cousin and her friends. Kolorado was awestruck by the story, too, stunned in silence. Kooper had blinked in shock before shaking his head, knowing Mario. He had seen the weird scenarios that the plumber was thrown into, particularly the time they faced an “invincible Clubba” or the Crystal King in the Shiver Region. Silverstar looked at the duo, shaking his head. “Well, boys, ya’ll have to forgive me if the saner part of mah brain screamed that yer bluffin’,” the sheriff said after a bit of thought. “That yer lyin' to me about the Bearers gettin' beat an' how the Elements o' Harmony are scattered throughout the kingdom. However, mah gut is sayin’ that there tale ya’ll just told me rings true an’ it’s the only thing that makes sense outta what happened in the desert a few days back.” “What happened?” Mario asked. Braeburn, shaking his head, explained, “A few nights ago, Ah was workin’ in the Apple fields when all of the sudden, this here orange comet shot down from the sky an’ crash landed in the San Palomino Desert. It probably was the Element o' Harmony mah cousin said she wore, once.” “That very light show is what drove me and my team out to the desert region back when we were in Trottingham,” Kolorado voiced. “But it turns out you need a permit to dig in this desert, so we're stuck! Well, it seems like going to the highest authority in the land to get around this rough sheriff is officially out! Of all of the things to happen to Celestia, this couldn't have been a worse time!” “Look here, buddy,” Silverstar remarked, annoyed. “Ah still ain’t ’bout to let yer team go runnin’ ’round in the desert. Especially knowin’ what yer after, now. Those there Elements of Harmony belong to the Bearers- Braeburn’s cousin an’ her friends.” “Well, now that we know WHAT that comet really was,” Kolorado replied, “do you think I was going to just take it, sir? Why, of course not! Treasure that may be, but that treasure is far too valuable for me.” Turning to Braeburn, he asked, “Where exactly did you see the Element landing? Perhaps it will help Mario recover it for the fate of Equestria” “Well,” Braeburn explained, “Sheriff Silverstar an’ Ah went into the desert where it crashed. Ah believe the site was somewhere close to the legendary underground Buffalo Burial Grounds, where a group o’ Bandits have set themselves up. We went to the site to find a huge crater, but there weren’t anythin’ in that there crater… well, anythin, but HIM.” “Who’s… HIM?” Mario repeated. Braeburn and Silverstar looked at each other, before standing up. “Follow us, boys,” the sheriff explained before heading to the cell block. Mario, Spike, Braeburn, Kolorado, and Kooper followed Silverstar into the block, where many of the cells were unoccupied… save for one. In that one cell, lying on his stomach, there was a male Koopa. Mario squinted, but could tell that by his dark blue nearly black shell he was a Boomerang Bro. Rather than a hard helmet that Boomerang, Hammer, or Fire Bros where, he wore a black Stetson hat with a blue chunk of Koopa shell stitched into it and a white stampede string as his helmet’s straps. On the outside of his shell, he wore a tan shirt and black pants. His Boomerang, which was hanging on the rack outside of his cell, was a shiny orange. Silverstar yelled, “Are we awake in there, Boomregard?” The Boomerang Bro opened his eyes, and looked at the group. “…Ah’m still not sure that’s mah name, Sherriff,” the Boomerang Bro voiced. “But… we’re awake. Who are the new guys?” “None o’ yer business, buddy,” Silverstar remarked. “An’ one o’ these days, yer gonna remember SOMETHIN’ to help us catch the rest o’ yer gang. Whatever plans ya’ll had fer Appleloosa, Ah’m not allowin’ them ’til mah game is over.” Turning back to Mario, he spoke, “Remember that there gang Braeburn an’ Ah spoke of? The ones who are shacked up in the Buffalo Burial Grounds? They’re a group o’ no-good Bandits who are known round these parts as the ‘Skull Boys’. This here is ‘Wild Spin Boomregard’, the Boomerang Bro second-in-command o’ the Skull Boys, only to their leader, a Shy Guy named ‘Black Mask’ Guylan. Ah know, his name’s not much, but he’s smart, an’ organizes attacks on the populace at key times. The train station shuttin' down? His hoofwork. If not fer that there Warp Pipe in the desert, we'd be cut off o' supplies an' income in a matter o' days with that train station gone. Guylan has plans fer Appleloosa… Ah can feel it. An’ with the annual stampede fast approachin’, it’s only a matter o’ time ’fore he strikes hard. Ah need to know what he has planned fer us in order to stop it.” “Too bad the doc says Boomregard here has amnesia,” Braeburn interjected as they walked away from Boomregard’s cell. “If he didn’t, we’d have found a way into the Buffalo Burial Grounds by now an’ flushed out all of them trouble makers. We don’t even know what they’re up to.” “Wait a moment,” Spike spoke up. “Let me get this all wrapped up. So, everypony here saw the Element of Harmony we’re looking for fall in the San Palomino Desert, right?” “Yep,” Kooper voiced. “You guys found the member of a notorious gang of Bandits that’s been terrorizing the town lying amnesiac in the crater landing zone of the Element of Harmony, but no Element?” “To quote cousin Big Macintosh,” Braeburn answered, “Eeyup.” “The gang in question is using the Buffalo tribe’s sacred Burial Grounds as their hideout, said hideout being underground?” “That appears to be the case, young Dragon,” Kolorado added. “And now, you have the second-in-command of the gang in your custody but no idea what they’re doing there, where the Buffalo Burial Grounds are, or what they’re planning, just that they no doubt have the Element of Harmony and their plan is most likely going to be somehow related to the Buffalo’s annual stampede through this area?” “Hit the nail on the head, Spike,” Silverstar concluded. “We’re stuck, here… an’ we ain’t got much time to deal with the Skull Boys 'fore their plans come 'round.” “So, a random bit of food for thought,” Spike spoke up. “Had ANYPONY here considered asking the Buffalo Tribe about their Burial Grounds?” Silverstar’s mustache twitched at that. “Ah honestly did think o’ that, son,” Silverstar remarked. “However, Chief Thunderhooves ain’t an easy Buffalo to negotiate with when it comes to the secrets o’ his tribe. An’ with our harvest comin’ up alongside the stampede, Ah ain’t in an exact position to go runnin’ out into the eastern desert with an Apple Pie to get him to talk... o’ to his daughter, Little Strongheart.” “I guess I’ll have to talk to him,” Mario voiced. “If it gets us anywhere, that is.” “Now, son, Ah know why ya need the Element, but ya ain’t gotta go doin’ stuff fer me. Not to mention that the Buffalo tribe will hardly trust a stranger.” “What about somepony whose familiar with them?” Spike asked. “When Chief Thunderhooves’ tribe kidnapped me a few years ago, they were quickly apologetic and liked me.” Silverstar thought about it for a moment. “…Ah guess that’ll have to do,” the sheriff shrugged. “Go ’head towards the gate towards the east side o’ town, boys. The Buffalo tribe have made their camp in the east this year. Ah’ll bring a nice Apple Pie fer ya'll to deliver to him.” “In the meantime, Mario,” Braeburn spoke up, “if there’s anythin’ ya wanna know ’bout AAAAAAPPLE-LOOSA or the Apple Family in general, that Spike can’t answer, Ah’ll be more than happy to answer any questions ya might have.” “Uh, great,” Mario nodded. “Well then, gentlemen,” Kolorado declared to his fellow Koopa Troopas, “I suppose we all must prepare ourselves. If we are to help Mario and the good citizens of Appleloosa in this time of need, we cannot do so without the proper supplies. I say a trip to the shop is in order!” With that, all of the Koopa Troopa archeologists but Kooper left. “Mario,” the blue Koopa apologized, “I’m SO sorry that this is how we meet up again. You’re on a super important journey to save six damsels in distress… well, seven if you count Princess Peach, and I can’t help you this time around due to keeping Professor Kolorado from getting into trouble.” “It’s alright, Kooper,” Mario smirked at his old friend. “You’re already helping me out BY keeping Kolorado out of the way. Just… make sure he doesn’t get involved in the Burial Grounds….” “I’ll try, but you know Professsor Kolorado,” Kooper chuckled. “Always rushing towards danger no matter the risk. Even at Lava Piranha Plants that are on FIRE. If not for our resident Cheep Cheep and that Star Spirit, he would've been Spicy Koopa Soup!” Silverstar stared at the two for a moment. “What,” the sheriff spoke up. “It’s a long story,” Mario waved off. “Anyways, I’ll take of things with Spike, here.” “Speaking of your new partner,” Kooper voiced, “he seems… eager to rescue the Elements of Harmony. Do I sense ‘crush’?” “You do,” Mario answered. “On the white pony… Rarity.” “That’s so cute,” Kooper smirked. “Make sure he gets to her, okay?” “I will,” Mario replied. “He’s kind of grown on me.” Shaking Kooper’s hand, Mario sighed, “Too bad there will be one less Koopa around to help me hit switches I’m not able to reach.” “Hmm,” Kooper thought aloud. “I think I might know a way you can get a Koopa to help you, if you want one. One that can help out all of us… just give me some time to talk to Silverstar.” Mario shrugged, but walked out of the jailhouse with Spike, anyways. The baby Dragon looked at Mario, intrigued. “So,” Spike asked, “how many people did you go on adventures with, anyways?” “Honestly, several,” Mario replied. “Kooper was just my first Koopa partner. Like Goombella, he’s an archeologist.” “He seems like a nice guy,” Spike voiced. “Anyways, we better get heading to the east gate. If we’re gonna get to the Buffalo Burial Grounds where that gang that has the Element is, we need to talk to Chief Thunderhooves.” “Something tells me he’s not going to be exactly willing to part ways with the location of his people’s dead, even with a pie,” Mario voiced. “We’re going to have to find a way to convince him.” “Well,” Spike hoped, “maybe we could convince him that we have a good reason….”