They Weren't Lying, That Kingdom Sure Can be Mushroom
Good news, the scanner isn't having any issues in this Zone and they know almost exactly where the Seed is.
Bad news, the further in you go the denser the forest gets and they can't fly through the mushrooms, so yet again it's time to go on foot. This time the away team consists of 4, Mario, Meggy, Tari, Lil Coding, Juliano, Toadsworth, Eggman, Cubot, and surprisingly enough Bomberto, who apparently has experience traveling through dense hostile forests and jungles. Kamek, Marcy, Root and Sig stayed behind to protect the ship, and Toadsworth is coming because this Zone includes the location of Peach's current castle, and between that and the theme he has his suspicions for who the trigger character might be.
As they slowly pick their way through the fungal undergrowth, it's clear that their two least likely members had other reasons to come as well; apparently Bomberto and Toadsworth were old...well, not war buddies since their respective Kingdoms were obviously the ones at war with each other back then, but more just that they kept running into each-other and were largely amicable despite being enemies, as evidenced by them regaling the rest of the group with tales of their youth to pass the time, commenting on and correcting each-other's take on events with fond amusement. A lot of the group is either mildly interested or just ignoring them to focus on the mission, while Lil Coding and Cubot are listening with rapt attention and Mario is bored out of his skull.
At one point Tari leans towards Meggy, "You know, I can't help but wonder if there might have been Something going on between them back then."
"You also thought Bob was my ex-boyfriend for multiple years."
Soon after this, Bomberto cuts himself off mid-sentence and stops dead in his tracks, "Wait. You hear that?"
Everyone else stops and look around nervously, before 4 answers, "I... don't hear anything."
"Exactly. There's animals 'round 'ere same as any forest, an' if they've all gone quiet at once..."
The implications gradually hit everyone, and they look out into the treeline, readying themselves for whatever might be coming.
They don't have to wait long, as desaturated, yellow-tinted Piranha Plants with long stems the color and texture of overripe bananas lunge out of the mycelium undergrowth, massive jaws snapping at whoever's closest and clouds of spores shooting out from the ones in the back like they're trying to use their usual breath attacks (one of which ends up blasting Eggman right in the face).
Thankfully, Piranha Plants aren't exactly that hard to fight, so the only real advantage they have over the crew is sheer numbers. Even Toadsworth manages to hold his own, beating them back with his cane and in one rather impressive display managing to stab one that tried a low approach clean through to the ground with the thinner end.
Still, there are a lot of Piranha Plants, and it's only a matter of time before 4 gets unlucky and finds himself pinned, staring into the approaching maw of a Plant until-
The Plant's head explodes into debris, soon followed by several others as a red and tan figure leaps into the fray and dispatches several of them in seconds with a shotgun.
As the remaining Plants retreat into the forest and the spores settle, the group is met with a familiar face.
The ex-demon-hunting boyscout, completely free of any signs of conversion, waves to them with his usual cheery grin, "Howdy fellas!"
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As the group continues, Shroomy tells them what he's been up to lately. Apparently, neither of his personalities are compatible with whatever mindset triggers this Zone's conversions, and his skill at combat has so far protected him from what he's taken to calling the Moldy Piranhas. He's been spending his time exploring the forest, which he's dubbed the Toadstool Tangle, and guiding any other survivors he meets to Floyd's Zone. After all, even if becoming a depressed ghost isn't exactly pleasant, it beats the alternatives of mushroom trees or mind-controlled evil robots.
The group explains their own situation to him, and he's pretty sure he's got a good idea of where they need to go. The good news is, he knows a (relatively) safe route to get there. The bad news is, when they do make it there, they definitely won't be able to reach the seed's most likely location without a fight.
As they're traveling, Eggman and Juliano find themselves lingering towards the back, inexplicably worn out. While for Juliano that's fairly normal, Eggman isn't exactly out of shape (despite what shape he happens to be), so it's a bit of a mystery...
At least, until he has a brief coughing fit that results in a scattering of spores on his glove that was not there after he'd brushed himself off following the fight. He looks at the spores with confusion that rapidly morphs into horror, and he looks around to make sure no-one saw. Unfortunately, Juliano is looking right at him with a difficult-to-read expression... and then he pulls the collar of his sweater down a bit, revealing a patch of sickly green skin just above one of his scars, and the two share a Look of understanding and resignation, and come to a silent agreement not to say anything yet.
Soon enough, the group reaches a clearing, one with a towering structure of fused mushrooms that vaguely resembles a castle.
"Okay guys, this is the place. Now, I'm pretty sure that the thing you're lookin' for is up in that window at the top," he points up and sure enough, there's an opening just below the cap of the highest mushroom, the one in the center, "but to get up there, we're gonna have to get past the guard."
There's a strange, high-pitched roar, and a massive yellow-and brown thing comes climbing around the central tower.
[Alright, I'm shit at writing fight scenes, this post's been giving me enough trouble already, so I'm just gonna say that this is Petey Piranha's converted form, which I've dubbed Moldy Draco Piranha, and they do manage to beat him, including the Absolutely Necessary finisher of Mario grabbing him by the mushroom on the end of his tail and flinging him into the distance]
4 takes a moment to catch his breath, "Well, glad that's over. Now we just need to grab that seed."
Mario raises his hand, "I'll handle it. I'm the best jumper, and I'm... pretty sure I know who's up there."
4's a bit confused by this, since he assumed Petey was the trigger character, but he shrugs it off, "Alright man, go for it."
As he heads towards the castle, Toadsworth follows him, "Erm, Master Mario, if it's not too much trouble would you mind giving this old man a boost up? I'd like to see her as well, but I'm afraid my jumping days are long behind me."
"No problem," He kneels down so the old toad can get up onto his back, then after making sure he's secure starts making his way up to the window.
And, sad to say, they find exactly what they thought they would.
"Oh, my..." Toadsworth drops down from Mario's grip and limps forward, stopping just in front of Peach and reaching up to gently cup her cheek.
Her eyes open just a bit, painfully slowly, and she looks down at him while ever so slightly leaning into his touch, "toads...worth?"
"Oh, princess." He tries his best to hug her, which is a bit awkward given their height difference and the bulb on her arms, "I'm so sorry I wasn't here with you."
"...glad...you're...safe..." she does her best to reciprocate the hug with what little mobility she has, then looks up to see the other man in the room, "...ma...ri...o..."
He gives her a sad, lopsided smile, "Hey Peach. This sure brings back memories, huh?"
She huffs in what's probably intended to be laughter, grinning back as best she can, then looks down at the bulb. It glows for a brief moment, then slowly opens to reveal an orange Wonder Seed, "loo...king...for...this?"
He nods and puts the seed in his hammerspace, then gently brushes aside some of her hair so he can look her clearly in the eyes, "I'll save you, I promise."
"...I...know. you...al...ways...do," she looks down sadly, "...ev...en...af...ter...all...I've...done..."
"Hey, you're getting better. We both are. No beating yourself up in here, alright."
The three of them take a few more moments together, before Mario and Toadsworth have to go back to the others. While most of them can pick up on the melancholy surrounding the two, there's no time to waste.
"Alright, we're more than halfway there! Back to the ship everybody." as the group heads out once more, something seems to be amiss, "Uh, Eggman, Juliano? We gotta go."
Juliano shakes his head, "Sorry 4. We're a bit...stuck." He gestures down to his and Eggman's legs, which are already part mushroom and firmly rooted.
"Boss! This...this can't be happening!"
"Unfortunately it is, Cubot. I'm afraid that spore cloud from earlier did me in."
"Then, why's Juliano converting? He didn't get hit at all during the fight!"
Juliano looks a way, and Mario sighs, "It's guilt, isn't it? The trigger mindset is deep-seated guilt. You're converting the normal way because of all those issues you keep hiding."
"...yeah, that's about the shape of it."
As everyone's processing this, Eggman clears his throat, "Cubot, seeing as I'm now out of commission, there's something we need to do."
"Huh?" he's confused for a moment, then realizes what Eggman means and reels back, "No, I-I'm not ready for that! You know what I'm like, I'll just screw it all up."
"Probably, yes, but we don't exactly have any alternatives. You're the last sentient underling I have left."
"I...alright." He hovers directly in front of Eggman and 'stands' at attention, "I'm ready, sir."
Eggman nods and also stands at attention, pulling up something on his tablet, "Let the record show that on this day, I, Doctor Ivo "Eggman" Robotnik, have been rendered unable to lead the glorious Eggman Empire. As such, I transfer my position as supreme ruler to Advisory Unit SA-56 "Cubot," until such time as I am able to resume my duties. Cubot, do you accept your new position, with full knowledge of all the responsibilities and privileges it entails?"
"Then from this day forth, unless and until I am cured of my current affliction, you are now the leader of the Eggman Empire...such as it is at the moment." he hands over the tablet, "try not to screw it up too badly."
"You got it boss!" He puts the tablet away, then wrings his hands nervously, "Uh, could I..."
Eggman thinks it over for a moment, then sighs, "Oh, why not. Just for a few seconds though, you really do have to get going."
And so creator and creation hug, while what's left of the main crew says goodbye to their (technically if you don't count Bob's weird "actually centuries old" thing) eldest member, as well as to Shroomy, who decides to stay behind to continue his guide services, as well as look after Juliano, Eggman and Peach in case Drako Piranha comes back with a vengeance.
Next stop, one of the most dangerous Zones in the kingdom: Metal Madness's Robotropolis.