Paper Mario and the Origami Legion

Chapter One: Red Streamer

Olivia let go of Mario once they had landed. "Sorry about that, Mario," she said sheepishly, looking around and trying to figure out where they were. The forest they landed in was dark and eerily quiet. Faint whispers danced around the empty area. "Turn back." the whispers urged.

Olivia felt a chill go down her spine as she looked at Mario. He just stared forward with the same lifeless look that was always housed in his black eyes. That look made Olivia feel uneasy.

Mario started walking forward wordlessly. Olivia followed him, not wanting to be left behind. The whispers got louder as they went. Olivia huddled a little closer to Mario. The whispers gave her the creeps.

As they continued forward, Olivia could've sworn she saw a red figure dash by. Her head darted over in the direction it went, but she saw nothing. She stopped walking, determined to find the figure she saw.

Mario also stopped, looking back at Olivia with his dead eyes. Olivia's eyes were fixated on the spot. She was waiting. She wanted to know what she saw. After a while, a pair of red eyes focused themselves on Olivia. She stared at the eyes, silently becoming them to come closer.

Slowly, a hand poked it way out of the bush Olivia had been staring at. A man slowly crawled out and into eyesight. His messy hair was bright white with light red highlights. His eyes were a striking red color. Olly's sigil was imprinted on the right shoulder of his uniform. Some form of aiming device was over his left eye, with a beret and goggles sitting atop his head.

"Who are you?" Olivia asked politely. "I... I am Jean Pierre Colored Pencils the 12th, the Second-in-Command for the Legion of Stationery. Please, just call me Colored Pencils," he replied, bowing respectfully. "You said you're a part of the Legion of Stationery?" Olivia repeated, tilting her head. "Are you saying you work for my brother?"

Colored Pencils nodded. "Yes, I work for King Olly," he confirmed. "So... are you going to try and kill us?" Olivia asked nervously. Colored Pencils laughed slightly. "No, no! What fun would it be if I killed you before you've even begun?" he said, smirking slightly. Olivia stepped a little closer to Colored Pencils. "We can trust you then?" she asked. Colored Pencils nodded, extending his hand to her.

Olivia took his hand, coming closer. Colored Pencils gently started to guide her through the forest. Mario followed, his blank stare never faltering. As Colored Pencils walked, the whispers stopped.

Eventually the trio reach a secluded part of the woods. The only thing there was a stump and three trees. "Say, would you care for a break, Miss Olivia?" Colored Pencils asked, his tone very cordial. Olivia giggled at his kind tone and nodded. He led her over to the stump and the two sat down.

"Hey!" one of the trees said, springing to life. The other two followed suit. "Hasn't anyone ever told you not to sit on the faces of the elders?" another said, crossing her branches.

Colored Pencils stood up, taking Olivia up with him. "Many apologies, ladies. I was unaware of the fact that this stump was one of your elders," he said politely, giving a slight nod of apology.

The stump opened his old eyes. The feminine trees look at him, concerned. "Are you okay, Ol' Grandsappy?" one of them asked, her tone staying as gentle and polite as possible. "Oh what do you think? He's hardly been okay since those wretched flatpaper freaks tore him down!" another said, crossing her leafy arms.

"Excuse me ladies, but my friend and I aren't like the ones who hurt your elder tree. I'm not even a paper being," Colored Pencils said, dipping his head respectfully. Olivia timidly spoke up. "And I'm origami..."

The three trees looked at each other, exchanging a glance. "I mean he is stationery," one said. "And she is origami," the second added. "But the dead-eyed one with the mustache... He's flatpaper. I dunno if we can trust him, Sap Sisters," the third one said cautiously. "You worry too much, Maple," the first one said.