Cause and Affect

## **Plot**

It's Halloween in the Mushroom Kingdom but instead of kids asking for free candy or threatening to play a trick if they don't receive any, Squirt explains that the toads give free candy to the people because they like to be "original". Luigi admits that something opposite of something else isn't entirely "original" which Squirt snaps at him saying he isn't the one who creates the rules. He also tells them that they need to watch their backs tonight as there is a folklore legend about a hideous beast called the "Chuckster" that kidnaps those who misbehave and who dare to try and find the legendary chuckle soda, the drink known to make anyone have a good chuckle. He ends by saying children are its prime victims. Mario points out to Squirt that he is the only child there to which he screams.

Over the course of the day, mysterious cases of a virus induced infection begin to shroud the news stations. Mario asks if it's the blorbs again but Rosalina notes it is something different. Squirt suggests they find the star cures but she insists that they wouldn't help as this virus is different, saying it doesn't change one's physical form, but rather takes over its mind. Squirt suggests the idea of zombies and while the bros dismiss the idea, Rosalina admits that it isn't far from the truth as that's essentially what the infected are turning into; mindless, soul-lacking puppets keen on nothing but spreading their virus. She tells the others to be on guard that night and look for anything suspicious within the public. Squirt points out though it is going to be tricky as on Halloween, everyone acts weird.

Toads are out and about giving candy to random strangers in their homes. The bros decide they should take a spin at it but immediately get frowned upon as it's seen as a thing for mainly children. Squirt tells them that while the public tends to think as such, they don't have to lose their Halloween spirit, especially the love for candy. They agree with Squirt but Luigi sees a person walk into the deep woods, entering the same warp pipe they used to travel to New York. He overhears him say Chucklehuck Woods and he follows him, ending up where he said. While there, Luigi witnesses the Chuckster consume the person alive, it turns its head around to reveal it has purple irises, much like how the infected look. Luigi looks on in horror after what he saw. He attempts to make a run back to the kingdom but becomes trapped by other infected victims who groan in agony and plead Luigi to "join them". Luigi becomes trapped and the Chuckster spots him, leaving him terrified.

Back at the kingdom, Mario notices Luigi has disappeared and calls out for him. Squirt becomes immediately alarmed, saying it isn't a coincidence he simply vanished the night the Chuckster comes out to steal people. Mario asks Squirt where the Chuckster lives and he says in Chucklehuck woods. They plan to make a run for the warp pipe but are horrified to discover there are more infected townsfolk everywhere. Rosalina notices their purple irises and hypothesizes that there must be a connection between that disease and the deadly Dark Star. Everyone questions on what she means but she says she will explain on the way. They quickly enter the warp pipe and enter the woods. Rosalina explains that the Dark Star was a malicious entity that crash landed on Earth thousands of years ago, it was proven to be too powerful and evil for its own good and turned against its founders who excavated it. Mario asks if she thinks the star is the reason why Dimentio is so keen on invading Earth. She answers that it is partly the reason, citing the other half is because he is simply, "insane." They keep their appearances hidden in the forest and see more people entering the woods, ready to meet their grizzly end. Mario spots Luigi and sees that he is still alive but is being held captive by the Chuckster. Squirt accidently breaks a twig, alerting the Chuckster, who chuckles a loud laugh before he creepingly crawls over to the team in quick fashion. The team battle it out with the Chuckster, with Luigi saying it's saving the best for last; him. Mario assures him they will rescue him before it eats him. The chuckster continues fighting them off, all the while consuming more victims which make it stronger. Peach shoots her parasol in its eye, blinding it for a moment, giving Mario leeway to knock it down. He begins to untie Luigi with the help of Rosalina. Mario asks for the others to help but Squirt and Peach are cornered by the zombies. Mario is left with having to choose to save his brother or the others. Rosalina sees the hard decision he has to make and she offers to help the others while he continues to untie Luigi. She blasts a wave of magical energy at the zombies but it is too late as Peach and Squirt have already been infected. Mario frees Luigi but sees the others infected. Rosalina tells the bros they have to escape before they become infected as well. They bolt for the warp pipe but it becomes guarded with zombies, leading the trio with no way out. Rosalina then apologizes to the bros, saying that she wishes there was more that she could do than just watch helplessly alongside them. Mario tells her not to be sorry before witnessing one of the zombies throwing the chuckle soda at another zombie, instantly curing him. Mario realizes that the soda is the cure. They eye down the dam full of soda and they hatch a plan to break it. Rosalina flies to the top using her magic and tells the bros to get ready to move. The Chuckster inches closer to the bros who yell for her to destroy it. She does so and the dam breaks, causing a tsunami of chuckle soda to rain down in the woods. Everyone gets washed and immediately return back to normal. The Chuckster also reveals that it is just a creature that was manipulated by the virus as well, before it hops away fully cured. Squirt comments on that the legend was merely just wrong, as the Chuckster was just a normal creature that was ill. Rosalina senses the Dark Star must be nearby and decides to check the surrounding area. The bros tell everyone what happened and they return home to the kingdom.

Back at the kingdom, everyone relishes on the fact that the day might have just been the weirdest Halloween ever, with the news also supporting the idea. Rosalina comes to the castle to tell the team she found something unfortunate. Luigi, Mario, Peach, Squirt, and Bowser all go to the woods to inspect on her discovery and find that she was right on the Dark Star being the reason why the disease started. She explains the Chuckster must have accidently wandered too close to the Dark Star's energy and it became disturbed by its presence, casting a deadly disease onto it. They decide to make measures to seal away the Dark Star farther away from the island by dropping it into the ocean.