Chapter 4: Old Friends ~ Peach made her way to the local Inn and opened the door.
"Ah, yes," Toadsworth said, "Just as I remember it." The Chuckola Cola looked basically the same, even the same people were there. "Come Princess," Toadsworth said, "The Inn is upstairs." Toadsworth walked upstairs expecting PEach to follow.
"What will you do, Mario?" Peach asked. MArio had been staring out the window in a daze.
"Hm?" he said, "Oh, well, I suppose I'll just explore the town a bit."
"Alright," Peach said, "Be careful." she walked up the stairs and in to the Inn. Mario was quite thirsty after the journey on the boat. He decided to buy a Cola. Mario laid the money on the table as the bartender began preparing his drink. Suddenly a familiar, annoying voice, said his name.
"Mario?" Mario turned to see Flavio, the second richest man in Rougeport. He had a fancy red suit on and a feathery hat. His nose was long, and his elegant hair was purple, "Yes, hello there Mario. Do you remember me? It is I! Flavio! The 2nd richest man in Rougeport!"
"Yes, hello Flavio," Mario said, wishing he had just exitted the Chuckola Cola before Flavio could have seen him. Mario had borrowed Flavio's ship last time he was here. Unfortunately, it had sunk into the depths of the sea. Flavio was very upset about this and blamed the whole crew for this when almost everything was his fault. No one really liked him.
"Ah, yes. The days of our voyage still flashes in my head," Flavio said.
"Here's your drink sir," said the bartender. Mario put more money on the table.
"Can I make that to go?" he asked.
"Certainly," the bartencer said, snapping a lid over the cup so that it wouldn't spill.
"Thank you. Well, Flavio, I must be going," Mario said standing up.
"Farewell old friend!" Flavio said, waving goodbye as Mario exitted the Chuckola Cola into Rougeport. Mario decided to go find Frankly's house. He remembered exactly where it was. It was to the right of the old fortune teller's house. Mario awkwardly knocked on the door to make sure none of Frankly's family or friends were already inside, packing up his things to keep as memorials. When nobody answered, Mario entered the house. I was dark, and lonely, yet exactly the same as he remembered it. Books were everywhere, papers were scattered across the floor, and maps were hung on the high walls. A desk sat in the room with scrolls piled there. That used to be where Professor Frankly always sat, reading of the Thousand Year Door, or reading up on where Mario and his friends would go next for their adventure. Mario scanned the books and sighed. Even the smell was the same. Suddenly, the door swung open, revealing a Goomba. She was a shade of pink wearing an archiologist suit. A blonde pony tail hung out the back of her helmet. It was Mario's friend Goombella.
"...Mario?" Goombella asked, "Is that you?"
"Goombella!" Mario said. Goombella seemed surprised as she entered the room, closing the door behind her.
"Mario!" she said, "What are you doing here?"
"I heard about the terrible news," Mario replied. Goombella sighed.
"He was an old Goomba...it was his time anyway." There was an awkward silence in the room in which Goombella kept her eyes to the dusty floor. She was probably the closest thing Profesor Frankly ever had for a daughter. They were very close. Mario cleared his throat. "I just can't believe someone would...would murder him...who could do such a thing?" she asked, looking up at Mario. Mario shook his head and sighed. Goombella walked over to the desk and picked up the scrolls. "I'm devoting myself to finish all of Professor Frankly's unfinished work. It is only right." Mario nodded, still feeling quite awkward.
"I'm going to solve this murder mystery," Mario said suddenly, "On the train, as soon as it gets back."
"What?" Goombella said, "Is that why you're here?"
"Yeah," Mario replied, "I got a letter the other day. The conductor of the Excess Express was asking me to come and help solve the mystery. I really don't understand why they couldn't have just asked Detective Pennington at Poshley Heights, but it is an honor to be doing this." Goombella quickly replied:
"I'm coming with you."
"What?" Mario said, though he knew what she said.
"I'm coming with you. I feel that this is my fault...I should have been with him...I was his assistant...I have to do this, Mario. This is just something I need to do." Mario was already full with Peach and Toadsworth, but Goombella too? That's four tickets! That is going to be really hard to come by. "Please?" Goombella pleaded, her eyes getting big.
"....alright," Mario said, "I guess you can come." Goombella smiled.
"Good, because I know how to get the tickets."
Mario followed Goombella through the town. She seemed to be in quite a hurry, and Mario was struggling to keep up with her. She made her way into the harbor.
"But," Mario said, "isn't Don Pianta in the west side of town?"
"Used to be," Goombella said, "But he moved into Keelhaul Key to relax for a long vacation." Mario remembered Keelhaul Key. It was a tropical Island off at sea. It was indeed, haunted, but last time Mario was there, he made peace with the ghost pirate Cortez and his crew.
"What about the train," Mario said, "Won't it be here soon?"
"No. I heard that they completely ran out of coal at Riverside staiton. They need someone to deliver them enough coal to get it started again. Do you know how long that will take?" Goombella asked as she stopped at the Rougeport dock with Mario, "at least one more day." Mario nodded. She DID know everything. Either that, or it was her tendancy to eavesdrop and gossip.
"...so," Mario said, "What exactly are we waiting for?" Goombella was silent for a moment, and then pointed out at sea,
"That!" She was pointing at an incoming ship. It appeared to be a dark blue ship that was in perfect condition. It had cream colored sails, and a flag that had a picture of a bomb with eyes on it. "That would be Bobbery's ship. He was finally able to afford his own. Cortez is using HIS ship to find hidden treasure, but Bobbery still simply sails the seas to bring tourists to Keelhaul Key, or other places." Mario gazed in amazement at the magnificent ship, but then looked back at Rougeport. Maybe he should have told Toadsworth. He gets extremely worried. But then again, they really did need those train tickets as soon as possible, and didn't want to waste any time. The moment Mario looked back at the ship, it was practically there.
"Ahoy!" Admiral Bobbery called over the ship, "Mario ol' boy! Good to see you!" the old Bomb-Omb wore a captain's hat over his left eye, and had a large prickly white mustahe.
"Come on!" Goombella said as Bobbery threw down a rope ladder over the side of the ship. Goombella began climbing the ladder as did Mario.
"Very good," Bobbery said, "Where will you be headed?"
"To Keelhaul Key! We need to get train tickets from Don Pianta by the end of today," Goombella said.
"Well, hopefully Don Pianta's in a good mood today! You might need to try pretty hard to get some considering what he's giving away today!" Bobbery said, "Are you sure I can't just sail you there?"
"Nope. This has to be on the Excess Express," Goombella replied.
"Then Keelhaul Key it is!" and with that Bobbery went up to the sterring wheel and set of into the sea. Mario watched as he gently floated away from Rougeport, hoping that Toadsworth wouldn't come out looking for him, which he obviously would. He now realised what a mistake this was, not telling Toadsworth. But it was too late now. They were off at sea, and there was no turning back until they had those train tickets.
