Chapter Text
The screen once again fades, to Chapter 1-Tower: Upscaling & Excavation... in Crimson Tower. The artwork shows Mario and Huey moving up a rugged staircase in the tower, running from a Dull Bones.
The level begins. Mario and Huey walk up to the door of Crimson Tower.
Huey: Yup, this tower should have our first Paint Star! I can practically smell it! Hopefully I’m right; I don’t actually have a nose.
Mario attempts to open the door, but it doesn’t budge.
Huey: ANOTHER stuck door?! And this time, I don’t see any way to get through this. No, my Cutout won’t work here. Wait, I see the problem! It’s just locked! If we were to find the key… then we’d be able to get in. But WHERE is it, is the question! If I were to guess, someone has to have it. So, Mario, I regret to inform you… we’re going to backtrack. Just a little! We’ll go in a different path, where that main road was. Indigo Mines, was it? Yeah, we’ll go there.
They leave the level, and backtrack all the way back to the beginning of Ruddy Road.
Huey: See? Not long at all! Well, at least not for the people watching us- Hey, see that forking in the road? We’ll just go the other path and go to Indigo Mines!
Mario and Huey head down the bigger path.
The screen fades to Chapter 1-3: Mad Spelunking… In Indigo Mines. It shows Mario and Huey exploring, in a damp, dark cave. A Swoop is flying into Huey’s face.
Mario and Huey arrive at the entrance of the mines. A bunch of miners (a mix of Toads, Monty Moles, Swoops, Bob-ombs and Buzzy Beetles) are causing commotion outside.
Huey: Why are they just sitting there? HEY GUYS! WHAT’S THE HOLDUP?
One of the miners walks up to them. He is a large, gray Bob-omb.
Gray Bob-omb: Civilians! We’re sorry, but you need to leave! We’re trying to save a few miners that got stuck.
Huey: Hey hey hey… we’re just trying to go through the bridge that leads through the mountain… Wait, it sounds like someone needs a hero!
Gray Bob-omb: First, the bridge is broken! And second, we already called for help. The Rescue Five is already at work. Their manager is right there!
The gray Bob-omb looks over to the Rescue Five Manager. He’s a middle-aged Toad with black spots and a gray coat, wearing shades, and a white scarf. He proudly wears a smirk across his face.
Rescue Five Manager: That’s right! This issue will be no problem for my guys! And I bet, Mr. Paint Can, that once they’ve finished their mission, they can fix that bridge for you!
Huey: It’s Huey.
Gray Bob-omb: I’m sorry to interrupt or have doubts, but it’s been over an hour since they entered. And no response! It only took US five minutes to escape!
Rescue Five Manager: Hmmm… Well, you see… Actually… Excuse me for a moment.
The Rescue Five Manager leaves in a cold sweat.
Gray Bob-omb: Hmm… it seems… they’re not coming back. So… Do you wanna give it a go? If you fail, then we could at least buy you a nice gravestone!
Huey: Oh… okay? Suuurrree… (Psst… Mario, I dunno about this!)
Mario doesn’t even need a prompt; he agrees to go and help.
Huey: Well, hopefully you’re the real deal! At least I can float out of there if I need to. And, I guess that bridge won’t fix itself.
Mario and Huey go into the cave. Mario jumps down the pit. Huey follows. After hitting the perfect landing, Mario looks around. It’s a dark, blue-ish cave with a lot of leaking water and pools of various sizes. There are some glowing crystals that light the way, as well as a few abandoned pickaxes and burnt-out torches. There’s a collapsed rope at the bottom.
Huey: Well, that rope might explain why the team can’t come back. But how are YOU going to come back? I guess that’s for later.
Mario starts exploring around, and starts encountering enemies, like Scaredy Rats, wild Swoops and Buzzy Beetles, and Trouters. A good way in, they come across a whited out shape.
Huey: Geez, this guy wasn’t so lucky. Well, as always Mario, whack away!
Mario whacks and paints the shape. It’s revealed to be a Green Toad with two braids, and she is wearing a green, dress-like costume.
Green Toad: AAHHH!!! DON’T HURT ME- Huh? I’m safe?
Huey: Yep! So, what happened to you?
Green Toad: Wow, I am NOT just gonna tell you without an introduction! I am Verdi, aka the Bestest member of the Rescue Five!
Huey: Well, you’re certainly something.
Verdi: HEY! I’m talking! So, you asked what happened to me? I… uh, was running, but was GOT.
Huey: What do you mean GOT?
Verdi: Whatever happened to me. You heard me squealing earlier!
Huey: Well yeah. So, where are your… teammates?
Verdi: My buddies? They were GOT first, so they’re just further in. Go find them, or something!
Huey: Alright then, whatever you say.
Mario travels further, and deeper. He comes across another white Toad shape, and revives this one with his hammer paint as well. This Toad is purple. He is wearing a similar costume to Verdi, albeit a little more masculine.
Purple Toad: Oh crap oh crap oh crap- WOW! What are you two mugs doing here saving me? You didn’t even get to know my name! I am Viollo, of the Rescue Five. I say… I’m the most underpaid! But with three of the guys being taken out by IT, I’m not getting my deserved raise.
Huey: Taken out? Why would IT want to date someone it sucked dry? Unless-
Viollo: No, not THAT taken out! They were total GONERS!
Huey: Oh, that makes more sense. I guess we’ll be going to find your friends.
Viollo: Coworkers, NOT friends. I don’t want my life and job entangled! Whatever Boss Capo said about “we’re a family”, is SO wrong. I HAVE A REAL FAMILY!
Huey: Alright, take a chill pill! We’ll find the other ones.
Mario and Huey continue even deeper, and it gets a bit darker. They hear a twisted up weird sound coming from somewhere ahead.
Huey: Was that your stomach? …No? So that’s whatever IT is… I don’t feel so good.
Mario accidentally steps on another white shape.
Huey: Whoops! I guess I can’t blame you. I can barely see too!
Mario paints the Toad. This is a Yellow one with a ponytail and she’s wearing a costume that looks like Verdi’s, but yellow.
Yellow Toad: Ow! Oh… my head.
Huey: So, what happened to you all?
Yellow Toad: Oh, me? I was… sucked up. Sorry, that’s all I can say. Well, I’m Giala, the… not so great member of the Rescue Five. I don’t even know why they let me in.
Huey: Hey, I bet you’re great! But… we’re around to find those miners, so if you were to wager, where might they be?
Giala: Oh… probably at the deep end. It’s across- nevermind. The line across to the background is gone. I was too heavy, I bet.
Huey: Don’t worry about it, I bet I’ll figure something out.
Giala: …Thank you. And please… don’t hurt Timmy.
Huey: (Mario, seriously, what do I do? My mind is blanker than those white spots!)
Mario inspects the background, and realizes what to do. He enters the Cutout Space and cuts out part of the background to open up the platforms. He travels in 2D across to the next section of the cave, to another 3D section. This part is near pitch black, and filled with constant creepy noise.
Huey: Right! Of course it was Cutout! When in doubt, bend the laws of physics to your advantage. Got it. But that Giala Toad gal said something about “Timmy”. Who’s that guy’s deal? Oh well, I bet we’ll figure it out- GOSH that’s loud!
Mario stoops over another white shape. Like usual, he paints it. This Toad is blue, and he’s somewhat similar to Viollo. He wears glasses.
Blue Toad: Yikes! What are you two doing here? You should be running!
Huey: It’s not here right now.
Blue Toad: Doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be wary! As Zule, the ACTUAL leader of the Rescue Five, unlike that self-important Rosso… I need you to leave!
Huey: Hold on, now! Mario is a hero, too! He’s going to show that thing who’s boss! Right, Mario?
Mario poses with a thumbs-up.
Zule: Fine, I guess we have no choice. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Mario walks up to another dead end, with an unbreakable wall. There’s a short slit at the bottom of the wall. Mario falls flat and slides under. He emerges out, with the area being practically silent, but also completely dark. There’s a Save Block as well.
Huey: This isn’t foreboding at all! Whatever this thing is, it’d make a GREAT horror movie villain! And definitely hit that Save Block.
Mario hits the save block, then continues on. Mario is walking forward, Huey floats over him and bumps into a different block.
Huey: Yeowch! Come at me! Wait, it’s just a block! You might as well check it out, Mario. It might have something useful!
Mario jumps and hits it. It spits out a card, which Mario grabs.
Huey: A fire flower card! Too bad you can’t play cards outside of a battle. Then I’d have a bajillion fire balls to light the way!
The two reach an opening in the tunnel. There’s a tiny bit of light coming from above, but barely anything can be seen. Mario is walking as lightly as he can. Something loudly pops out from the ground in front of Mario. Immediately, Mario slams it with his hammer.
???: Whack-OOOWWWWW! Don’t smack me!
The thing disappears.
Huey: Was that the thing? THAT’S what people were getting all fused up about?
A different voice calls from behind a pillar. It comes across as muffled.
???: (Hey! Don’t yell!)
Huey: I CAN’T HEAR YOU! Seriously, Mario, people need to speak up. Oh, what’s this-
Something else comes into view. Huey squints at it. It looks like a hunched over, trembling Shy Guy.
Huey: Well, look at that little guy. Hey! Are you one of the miners we’re supposed to save? …Are you?
The shape bends backward and lurches towards Mario at great speed.
Huey: GOOD LORD-
A battle begins. It appears as a silhouette of a Shy Guy bent backward. Since Mario was ambushed, it moves first. This thing lurches in front of Mario. Mario counters with his hammer for light damage, but in response, it hits him for 4 damage. Mario has Huey tattle this enemy.
Huey: Really?! You want me to look at that?! Alright… That’s… I don’t know! But whatever it is, they are SCARY, and I want to leave now! … It has 20 HP, 6 attack, and 1 defense. Do NOT touch it directly, especially after your first hit! Use your hammer instead. And it’s… weak to fire. Yes, go for that, please!
???: ǹ̵̬̈́́0̴̯̓͒͝n̴̨͎̳̊͒̄Ȗ̵̫̈͌!!! +̵̝̮̓F̴̦͛̓͝1̸̱̆r̶͓̯̠̒̐!!!
It lurches after Mario again, and he blocks the hit once again, though less effectively. Mario does some healing, and uses a Fire Drive Card. It is hurt critically; it makes a weird screech and loses a stable shape, into a more amorphous glob with weird appendages. It doesn’t attack, but enters a defensive position. Mario uses his fire flower and manages to knock it out.
Huey: Whew! I was sure we were totally done for! Whoever decided we should fight that is a total sicko!
???: Great job, hero! You really saved our skins! I’m Rosso, the great leader of the Rescue Five!
Rosso reveals himself. He’s a Red Toad wearing a costume similar to the other four Rescue Five members.
Huey: …Well, I’m pretty glad we got out safe. I thought we were cooked! Looks like “it” was cooked instead. And how did you not get sucked?
Rosso: Oh, me? I fought it, and… HEROICALLY hid behind that pillar!
Both Mario and Huey look unimpressed.
Rosso: …Come on, you’ve gotta at least respect me for taking on that horrible creature!
Zule rushes in.
Zule: That guy almost made us goners! He wasn’t supposed to do that!
Rosso: Hey, have you ever seen an Eldritch monster? That fit the friggin’ TEXTBOOK definition!
Zule: And the miners warned us NOT to tick it off!
Rosso: What? To leave THAT-
Huey: What is the deal here?
Zule: Oh, no one said anything? I guess it was for suspense. Anyways, four miners got stuck because of flooding in a tunnel. The manager told us in advance about Timmy, the Eldritch shapeshifter who would rather look normal. I guess it managed to swim through the tunnel. This KNUCKLEHEAD Rosso tried setting Timmy on fire when he saw it over here, so it went after us. So much for “don’t judge a book by its cover!”
Huey: I am so confused. You’re saying that monster ISN’T evil?
Viollo: Exactly! Rosso just can’t help himself when it comes to fighting things! And apparently he can’t listen either! I’m NOT paid enough to face all his crap!
The other Rescue Five enter.
Giala: …And don’t call Timmy a monster.
Timmy reanimates, forming into something resembling a Buzzy Beetle, but still trembling due to its injuries.
Timmy: ǵ̸͇U̴͇͋d̷͉͛4̸̮̐m̶̤̽3̶̜̈́5̵͎͑!!! +̷͚̿0̷̮̈́p̵̝͆U̸̪͊R̸̨͝+̴̙̆3̶̜͠!!!
Zule: I know, right? At this rate, Rosso will be getting a demotion for this!
Rosso: Hey!
Viollo: Would that mean I could take his pay?
Huey: Soo… where are the other three miners?
Verdi: Oh, they should be through there! That’s the flooded tunnel! Let’s retrieve them!
Zule: Except you two (Giala and Rosso). Giala, make sure Rosso doesn’t do anything stupid while we’re away.
Giala: …Okay.
Verdi, Zule and Viollo all swim through the tunnel to retrieve the other miners. Giala sits down close to Timmy, watching it as it tries to recover. Rosso stands in the corner with a frown, tapping his foot impatiently.
Rosso: I never get to do anything cool!
Huey: Maybe listen to your teammates more!
Rosso: Nah, I’m the leader! I just need to take more CHARGE!
Giala: …Sure, you will.
Timmy: 5̸̰̳̋́͜C̸̥̹̘̓́̕r̴̖̐3̶͎͛̔́0̸̩͚̓̾̿0̶͉̼͓̀v̷͇͙̓̐!!! Ṽ̴̛̟̜̠̀Þ̶͙̙̈́̏1̸̩̐5̶̳̳̳̿͝!!!
The three members then emerge from the water, each carrying a miner. Verdi is holding a Blue Snifit, Zule is holding a Purple Toad, and Viollo holds a Spike.
Verdi, Zule, Viollo: We’re back!
Zule: Now we can get out of this joint.
Viollo: FINALLY! This horror movie shtick was not fun!
Verdi: I’m just happy our hero’s work was done! Onward!
Everyone leaves the area, including Mario and Huey. At the entrance to the cave, the other miners have already let down another rope, allowing them to climb up. After Mario gets up, Huey has something to say.
Huey: This heroism thing is pretty crazy! I was just here to fix the Rainbow Paint Star and get that fountain fixed. But actually saving guys is kinda cool! Let’s keep doing that! …Oh right! We still need to cross that broken bridge! Hey! Rescue Five! We need to cross that broken bridge! Got any ideas?
Zule: Sure. We just need to form a bridge for you.
Huey: Sounds good!
Rosso: Rescue Five! BRIDGE FORMATION!!!
The Rescue Five stack on top of each other; all fall over the gap, forming a bridge.
Huey: Oh, so you’re literally the bridge. Is it… safe?
Rosso: Definitely! You can stomp as hard as you want! We’ll hold firm!
Viollo: Maybe don’t! My insurance doesn’t cover back injuries!
Mario crosses the bridge, and travels through a short tunnel. A beach is in sight, but so is the block at the end of the level.
Huey: All of that to cross a gap. I guess ANYTHING is possible these days! Let’s finish this level… and go to Bloo Bay Beach!
Mario hits the block at the end of the level. He gets an item card: a 1-UP.