Paper Mario DiT: Chapter 3 part 8

Chapter 3: The Undersea Adventurers (part 8)

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In the last part, Mario and Scuba Guy finally found the Time Gear deep within the Submerged Temple. However, before Mario could take it, a sinister shadow appeared and possessed Scuba Guy. Now calling himself 'Submerge Guy', he jumped into the Scuba Hunter MKI and activated its 'Assault Mode' in hopes of preventing Mario from taking the Time Gear. With that, Mario and Blouis prepare to battle while Shycan scans the sub.

Shycan: “Scuba Guy... He's been taken over by some sort of shadow, turning him into Submerge Guy. Now he's using his Scuba Hunter MKI to make sure we don't take the Time Gear. As much as I don’t want to do this, we have no choice but to fight back. Max HP is 45, Attack is 5, and Defense is 3. That submarine is loaded with all sorts of attacks, from a claw attack from the arms to missiles launchers. It can also power itself up, raising its Attack by 3. Its biggest attack is unleashing a water turbine from the arms to do big damage. It's damaging, especially when he's powered up. It's an impressive sub, but it's being used against us, so we have to send it to the junkyard... and hopefully save Scuba Guy..."

Mario assures that they'll free Scuba Guy from this shadow. With that, Mario starts off with his D-Down Pound, doing a full 4 damage to it. Blouis tries his Water Gun attack, but it only did 2 damage thanks to the high Defense.

Submerge Guy: “Is that truly the best you can do? I guess that's to be expected.”

Submerge Guy readied one of the sub's arms and had it claw Mario. Mario guarded, but he still took quite a bit of damage, losing 3 HP. Mario and Blouis repeated their attacks, doing a total of 6 damage to it.

Submerge Guy: "To think that you all are destined to save this world. I honestly don't see it."

Shycan: "Enough of this! Just let Scuba Guy go!"

Submerge Guy: “I'm afraid I can't do that. Not until I end your lives. Until then, I think it's time to show off what this thing can do."

With a press of a button, the Scuba Hunter launched a missile at Mario. Mario wasn’t able to guard, so he took a brutal 6 damage. Mario could hardly stand after the explosion.

Shelby: “MARIO!”

Mario gave a thumbs-up, though he was still visibly weaken. Shelby then turned to Submerge Guy

Shelby: "Seriously! What do you have against us!? What did we ever do to you!?"

Submerge Guy: "It's not about what you have done. It's about what you're going to do. Though I don't deem you all as threats, I must not take any chances. I already failed once, so I'm not about to fail again."

Mario wasn't sure what the shadow was talking about, but he paid it no mind as he uses his D-Down Pound on the sub.

Blouis: "Mario, allow me to heal you."

As Blouis said that, he flipped upside down and squirt some sparkling water. It soon rained down on Mario, healing him by 9 HP. Though this did used up the rest of their FP.

Shelby: “Nice ability.”

Submerge Guy: “Humph... It won't do you any good. activating Multi-Missile Assault!"

With another press of a button, the sub launched 4 micro missiles. One missile hits Blouis, who guarded and negated the damage. Mario guarded against the second missile, but he failed to guard against the remaining 2, meaning he still lost 4 HP.

Murry: "That's... rather underwhelming..."

Blouis: "Maybe, but we're still out of FP. Mario, move me up front so I can use a Maple Syrup."

Mario nodded, allowing Blouis to restore their FP by 10. This allowed Mario to use another D-Down Pound, doing another 4 damage. Submerge Guy simply had the sub claw Mario again, dealing 3 damage.

Submerge Guy: "Why are you still fighting? Don't you see that it's futile?"

Shycan: "I don't know what you have against us, but we're still going to fight back. We have to collect those Time Gears to save this world, and nothing's going to stop us!"

Mario agreed as he used his D-Down Pound, followed by Blouis's Water Gun, doing a total of 6 damage to the sub.

Submerge Guy: "Suit yourself. Activating Turbine Vortex!"

With the press of another button, the arms turned backward, having the propellers face Mario and his group. Soon, the propellers started spinning, faster and faster. Once they reached a certain speed, it released a vortex of water through the group. That was the sub's most powerful attack as it did 10 whole damage to the group (they failed to guard).

Shelby: "MARIO! BLOUIS!"

Mario and Blouis could barely stand after such an attack.

Blouis: "Ouch... Did anyone get the number of that truck...?"

Shycan: "Look alive, you two! One more of that vortex and you're both done for!"

Murry: “Blouis! It's probably best that you switch with me. I can withstand his hits more and I can pierce that sub's Defense!"

Despite his weaken state, Blouis merely smiled at Murry (despite having no visible mouth).

Blouis: "Thanks for the offer, Murry, but I'll be fine."

Murry: "Are you sure?"

Blouis: "All my life, I dreamed of becoming a skilled adventurer. I even went on a couple of my own adventures with a friend of mine. Though I say nothing could go wrong, it always went wrong. When my mother was talking about the Gooper Blooper incident, that was one of my worst adventures I took..."

Murry looked at Blouis, deep in thought.

Blouis: "The point is, even though I always say nothing could go wrong, everything goes wrong when I'm adventuring. However, sticking with you guys gave me the motivation to keep on going. So even though I was always wrong before, this time I can safely say that nothing can go wrong."

Shycan: "Blouis, you can't be serious! This isn't like any of your previous 'adventures'! This is real! You have to..."

But before Shycan could finish, Murry interrupted him.

Murry: "... Let him."

Shycan was shocked to hear Murry say that.

Murry: "I know that I kind of gave the kid a rough time in the beginning, but that's only because I didn't think he could handle it. However, now I know I was wrong. Seeing him in action made me think that perhaps he can handle our journey. So I say we let him."

Shycan was thinking about what Murry said, but ultimately stepped down.

Shycan: "Alright... I trust you..."

With that, Mario soon agreed with it as well. He went back up front and pulled out the Time Gear of Life, healing their HP and FP by 14. Blouis went with another Water Gun, striking the sub for another 2 damage.

Submerge Guy: "You're going to regret not switching, little squid."

Submerge Guy had his sub launch another missile toward Blouis. He was able to guard against it, losing only 4 HP. Mario simply uses his D-Down Pound, followed by Blouis's Water Gun, doing a total of 6 damage once again. The sub is slowly going down!

Submerge Guy: "How is it that you have this much fight in you?"

Blouis: "Because we are not giving up! True adventurers never give up! Even in the face of danger!"

Submerge Guy: "Grr... You'll soon regret saying that! Scuba Hunter MKI! Power up!"

With the final press of a button, the Scuba Hunter soon glowed with a red aura.

Submerge Guy: "Now my attacks are more potent. And I have just the attack to use against you."

Shycan: "Mario! Blouis! He's preparing his Turbine Vortex again!"

Blouis: "Don't worry. We can still handle it."

Murry: "Blouis is right. I have faith in them."

Mario agreed. For now, he and Blouis repeated their attacks from before, scoring another 6 damage on the sub. Just one more turn!

Submerge Guy: "Now FALL!"

Submerged Guy activated his Turbine Vortex again, launching a aquatic vortex through Mario and Blouis. Despite the fact that it was powered up, the group only lost 11 HP thanks to the guards.

Submerge Guy: "WHAT!?"

Blouis: "See? What did I tell you? Now to finish this, Mario!"

Mario agreed and uses his D-Down Pound, followed by Blouis's Blooper Shot. The combined attacks was enough to defeat the sub!

Submerge Guy: "NO! HOW COULD THIS SUB LOSE TO THE LIKES OF YOU!?"

The sub started bursting apart until a big explosion engulf it, ejecting Submerge Guy from it. When the explosion was gone, nothing remained.

Blouis: “We did it!”

Murry: "You sure did. You especially, Blouis. I say this is your first real successful adventure."

Blouis: "Thanks, Murry. I couldn't have done it without my friends."

Everyone expected Murry to yell at not being called his full name. However, he simply smiled.

Murry: "You know, I'll allow you to call me just Murry. Just this once."

Shycan soon walked up to Submerge Guy.

Shycan: "It's over, whoever you are. Now release Scuba Guy this instant!"

Submerge Guy slowly got up, but instead of listening to Shycan, he started running toward the Time Gear.

Shycan: “DON’T!”

Too late. Submerge Guy grabbed the Time Gear. After he did this, the area around where the Time Gear was lost its color and it was spreading slowly. Mario, sensing the disturbance with his temporal ability Father Clockwork gave him, could tell that time is freezing in an expanding area.

Submerge Guy: "HA HA HA HA HA! I may not be able to defeat you with that pathetic sub, but I can still stop you from collecting the Time Gears! Once this Time Gear gets engulf by the corruption in time, it'll lose its power forever! With that, it seems like I win in the end!"

Submerge Guy continued laughing, but he stopped when he noticed that he couldn't move. Just then, he spoke, only instead of the shadow's voice, Scuba Guy's voice came out.

Scuba Guy: "Mario! Catch this!"

Scuba Guy suddenly threw the Time Gear and Mario caught it. With the Time Gear now in his hands...

*YOU GOT A TIME GEAR!*

Mario felt a surge of power from the Time Gear and everyone was caught in a ray of light. When the light was gone, Mario no longer felt the disturbance and the expanding corruption were stopped. However They saw that they were too late as Scuba Guy was struck by the corruption of time, slowly losing his color.

Scuba Guy: "Mario... Everyone... I'm sorry that this happened... If only I could have fought off that shadow... I'm deeply sorry that this happened... but it looks like this is it for me..."

Scuba Guy then noticed that Shycan was shedding some tears.

Scuba Guy: "Shycan... I know this is hard on you, since you already lost your mother..."

Shycan was shocked that Scuba Guy mentioned that.

Scuba Guy: "Yes... I remembered what was with you... The manager told me what happened with you... And all I can say is... I hope you can learn to forget about your past... Good-bye... Shycan..."

And with that, Scuba Guy lost all of his color as he was completely frozen in time. It was certainly a disturbing sight.

Shycan: “NOOO!”

Blouis: “We were… too late…”

Murry: “Mario! Can’t you reverse this!?”

Mario, remembering what Father Clockwork said that without all 7 Time Gears time can’t be saved, told Murry that it wasn’t possible. Soon, the shadowy cloud appeared again, speaking with the voice it spoke as Submerge Guy.

???: "Grrr... To think I would lose control over his body... Consider yourself lucky, so-called heroes. But the next time we meet, you won't be so lucky."

The shadow started rising toward the ceiling, but stop once it got there.

???: "Oh, and if possible, make sure to send my regards to Alex and Tori."

With that, the shadow disappeared. So it seems like Alex and Tori are connected somehow, and it seems like the shadow is also connected. However, everyone was too focused on Scuba Guy to care...

Shycan: “I just can’t believe it…”

Shycan sat where he was, overcome with grief. Mario understands how Shycan felt. Scuba Guy was one of Shycan’s heroes. Shycan respected Scuba Guy. And now… Scuba Guy was gone…

Blouis: “Shycan, I know it’s hard on you, but we need to move on.”

Murry: “Yea. If we don’t, then everyone will end up like Scuba Guy!”

Shycan didn’t respond. Not even Mario could talk to Shycan. Just then, Shelby walked close to Shycan.

Shelby: “Shycan… I know how you felt… you have also been worried about me. That’s why you told me not to use too much FP during the fight with Goomander. Remember?”

Shycan, though still overcome with grief, remembers clearly what Shelby’s talking about. Soon, Shelby sat down next to Shycan.

Shelby: “I heard what Scuba Guy said before he froze... So you lost your mother... That's why you were worried about our safety, right?"

Shycan didn't move, but Shelby could tell that she was right.

Shelby: "It must have been tough losing someone you hold dear... I can't say I've experienced something similar, but I can say that you ned to press on... So what if Scuba Guy is gone? We just got to move on and make sure no one else you hold dear falls to the same fate."

Shelby went closer and kissed Shycan on the cheek. Shycan quickly felt that.

Shelby: “Besides... We may still save Scuba Guy after this is all over... Right?"

It took a while, but soon, while everyone was still sad, Shycan stood up, not overcome with grief anymore, but determined.

Shycan: “Everyone… Let’s get the rest of the Time Gears. For Scuba Guy…”

Everyone was now determined, just like Shycan.

Blouis: "Now that's the spirit!"

Murry: "We wouldn't have it any other way."

Shycan soon turned to Shelby.

Shycan: "Shelby... Thank you..."

Shelby: "No problem... Shycan..."

So now everyone headed out with Scuba Guy's motionless body, the third Time Gear, and a new Temporal Ability, Temporal Aroma, which heals Mario and his partner of certain negative status affliction. Now Mario heads out to collect the rest of the Time Gears, with new-found determination to make sure no one suffers the same fate as Scuba Guy.

“Mario and Scuba Guy found the Submerge Temple and the third Time Gear. However, thanks to a sinister shadow, they both had to face each other. Though Mario was able to claim the Time Gear, Scuba Guy was frozen in time. After seeing just what the corruption of time was about, Mario and his friends were even more determined to get the rest of the Time Gears before it was too late.

But 2 questions remained unanswered: who was the shadowy being? And what connection did it have with Alex and Tori?”

(end of chapter)