Through the fierce battle against Francis, Tippi and the Mario gang grew closer. Behind a fourth floor lay a whole new world that beckoned them both. What awaited was faster and stranger than anything they'd encounter so far... in order to claim the Pure Heart, they would have to endure new, far-out trials...

Chapter 4-1: Into Outer Space

They ended up in outer space. "Mmm, stars everywhere... I believe we're in outer space, almost certainly..." Tippi said. They then start to gasp for air, since there is no oxygen in space.

"What troubles you? Ah... Yes, of course... We seem to be lacking air... You need that don't you? Oh... Oh, gracious me... What am I to do? Um... Well... Let me see... Uh... NOOOOO!" Tippi screamed. They were then warped back to Flipside.

They panted as they were brought back to Flipside, fortunate enough to be alive. "Hey... Please, wake up..." Tippi cried out, she grew worried. They all panted and woke up. "You're alright, aren't you? Thank goodness..." Tippi sighed in relief.

"Took your sweet time..." Bowser groaned, he stood up. "Thank gosh we made it out alive... we got to talk to Merlon!" Peach explained. "I agree. Let's head to him immediately." Tippi replied.

Mario and the guys then headed back to Merlon's to ask him for help. "Oh ho! That was certainly quick work... You've already found the next Pure Heart?" Merlon asked.

"No Merlon... That door lead us straight into outer space..." Tippi responded. "We cannot breath in space without like a helmet of sorts..." Peach said.

"Oh ho, I imagine that was an unwelcome surprise! Well, there aren't any space helmets around town... But I would imagine there would be something LIKE a space helmet that would suffice... And I just so happen to- Oh, blast it!" He shouted, Merlon searched through his shelf. Mario and the crew watched him if he had any luck.

"Oh, blast it all! I cleaned out my shelves the other day... I HAD the perfect thing, but I was making space, and I gave it to someone in town!" He explained. Mario asked who this person was. "Oh, just some random boy... It seemed more convenient than recycling it... You must find that boy and explain the situation! Get it back from him!" He ordered.

They nodded and headed to find that kid. They soon found him. "Huh? Did Merlon' gives me somethin' like a helmet?" The little boy asked. Mario nods in response. "You mean this fishbowl? Yeah, I kept Captain Gills here in a cup, but then he gets too big for it. Yeah, that's why I gots really happy when I gots this fishbowl! Thing is, now the captain gots too big, the BOWL gets too small for him!" The boy cried out.

He then gets an idea. "Hey, I know! Maybe you could find a nice place to sets Captain Gills free for me! Captain deserves FREEDOM! Then you gets the fishbowl. That's good, huh? Hmm.. but where can he go... I wanna knows that he'll be nearby at all times... you gotta help me!" He called out.

Mario took the fishbowl and then went to a different floor outside of a café in Flipside, then proceeded to put Captain Gills in the water. Now the fishbowl is empty! And now they can go into space with a helmet!

"Now we can go into space... So... Let's head back to that door..." Tippi said. They headed back into space. "Wanna use the helmet?" Tippi asked. The crew used the Helmet, all obtaining space helmets.

"Well, what do you think? Can you breathe now?" Tippi asked them. They all nodded. "Thank goodness we can breath!" Peach called out. "Much better." Bowser replied. Luigi nodded.

"Very well... Let's go then! The Pure Heart is somewhere in this sea of stars..." Tippi said. They floated down towards a spaceship with "SOS" singles coming out.

"Mmm, is this a spaceship? Looks rather like it..." The ship suddenly opened up, revealing a squid-like alien. "Squeeeeeuuuuurp... Morning, SQUIRP!" The alien said out loud.

Mario looked at the alien in confusion. Peach stared at him in awe, finding him cute. Bowser and Luigi looked confused. "Oh, dear. Who are you? An... alien perhaps?" Tippi asked. "You're the ones looking for the Pure Heart, squirple? Hm! Cuter than I thought!" The alien replied.

"No, you're the cute little alien squid!" Peach gushed. "Oh! Yes, we need the Pure Heart, I'm Mario, and this is Peach, Bowser and my brother Luigi." Mario introduced everyone.

"Excuse me, I am not cute! I happen to be a ferocious beast!" The alien replied. "Uh huh. Sure big guy." Luigi replied. "Then we have Tippi." Mario said. "Do you have a name?" Peach asked.

"You can call me Squirps, cutie. I'm your captain, squooork! And if you want the Pure Heart, we need to work together, squoop!" Squirps said happily. "Okay! We can work out just fine with each other!" Peach replied. Mario agreed.

"Great! Let's get ready then... Squarp formation, squoooogle! We'll squarp directly to the Pure Heart. It's like warping, except Squirps invented it. We need power to squarp though. You got power-up power in there? We're gonna need a lot!" Squirps said out loud.

"Power-up Power?" Mario asked. "Just focus your energy on me." He said. Mario and Peach started to focus their energy on Squirps. As did Bowser and Luigi. "Success!" He said out loud. Squirps shot out an energy blast that formed into a wormhole.

Mario watched in awe. "And here we go... SQUARP!" Squirps shouted out loud. They entered the wormhole. Mario held Squirps in his hands as they floated through space. Luigi clung to Mario as they flew through space.

They all formed a line with one another and flew through space. "Listen, we're still a fair ways away. That power wasn't much. You'll have to space swim the rest of the way. I'll shoot the bad guys you point me at." Squirps told Mario. Mario nods and uses Squirps as a gun and they blasted enemies with 'pews'.

They went through more wormholes as they swam in space. They flew throughout space until they soon arrived at a planet.

Mario and the gang cruised through space, led by the young alien named Squirps. What kind of creature was it, anyway? And what was with those weird noises? Whenever confronted with a question, it would say, "Squirps is Squirps, SQUAWK!" All they could do was trust that he knew where the Pure Heart was and follow him. They were doing just that when something appeared ahead of them. It was a teeny-tiny planet.

Chapter 4-2: A Paper Emergency

"This planet is... on the small side... Just where are you taking us anyway?" Tippi asked. "On the other side of this planet is the entrance to the Space Byway, squeeooork! It's a shortcut to the Pure Heart!" Squirps replied. "I see. And where would the entrance be?" Tippi asked.

"Oh, you're gonna laugh at this one... IT'S... Squarks forgot..." Squirps said nervously. The heroes fainted as he said that. Tippi was just dumbstruck. "Hey, don't look at Squirps like that. There should be some clues around here somewhere..." Tippi said.

They sighed and decided to investigate, and saw Squirps run off. "Let's... just look for some clues ourselves..." Tippi said.

Mario nodded and they all floated through space and noticed Squirps by a bathroom. Mario sighed.

"Y-you are serious? You need to use the bathroom?" He asked him. Peach looked at Mario upset. "Squirps really needs to go! But it's occupied!" Squirps said excitedly. Mario knocked at the door.

Singing came from inside. "Here I see, amore! Awaiting you, amore! No more, no more, amore!" "This is no time to sing squirble! I've got an emergency here!" "100 years ago, amore! This is where I had to go, amore! So bored, so bored, amore! No toilet paper here, amore! I wait 100 years, amore! What for, what for, amore? Any paper please, amore? Anything will do, amore! Implore, implore, amore!" A voice sang.

Mario then realized the person inside needed toilet paper. So he had to go get some. They explored the planet, and soon came across a white alien.

"Greetings, young explorers... Welcome to this remote land. You must be bushed, blooog. I'm what's known as an active senior explorer. The name's Blappy. I'm 72. In my youth, while everyone hunted for snacks, I hunted the Big Treasure of Space. It's big. And it will be mine at last! I found a clue in the space ruins! So, explorer to explorer... I'll cut you a deal, bloog.. This clue for 1,000 coins! YOU BUY IT!" He called, but it was too expensive.

"What? Too expensive?! Well maybe a little, bloog... Hackpth! Bleeeeeeepth! Sorry, I've got a touch of lard-lung. Anyway, I'll cut you a deal? How's 100 coins?" He asked, and Mario paid up. Mario then got the paper and went back for the bathroom.

"Any paper please, amore! Just one sheet, amore! Implore, implore, amore!" The voice sang. Mario handed him the piece of paper he bought. "Fleep has awaited you! Sweet, sweet release, amore!" Fleep replied happily.

"Squirps can't take it anymore! I'm gonna burst! Evacuate all personnel!" Squirps cried out. Squirps went in, and out came a pixl. "RELIEF! Eeet's a paper miracle! Fleep feels so much better! You bring Fleep the happy? Fleep has been waiting for you! Si, for this memento! And now, I shall travel with you! You and I shall become one, amore!" He said happily.

Fleep joined Mario. Mario then waited for Squirps to get done with the bathroom. Peach drank a Shroom Shake.

Squirps finished. "Phew... Squirps needed that... Ok! Let's go!" Squirps said happily. Mario then used Fleep to help lead the way. The heroes then managed to escape the planet and proceeded to the gates of space!

Mario and friends headed to the Space Bypass in search of the Pure Heart. How did Squirps know about this secret route? Our heroes stared suspiciously at him. "Why are you staying like that?" said Squirps. "Are you falling for Squirps?!" In the darkness of space, the eyes of Squirps glinted mischievously...

Chapter 4-3: The Gates of Space

"This is the Space Bypass! Yeah, from here, we can enter the Woah Zone. Cmon, let's get searching!" Squirps said happily. Mario held Squirps in hand and used him like a gun still.

Tippi felt uneasy about Squirps. Mario had his friends hang onto him like a conga line and they arrived at the first gate.

Squirps noticed the hole shaped like him. "Ooh, what a magnificent shape. I don't know why, but I want to be squeezed into that hole right now." Squirps said happily. Luigi felt uncomfortable. "U-umm, are you sure?" Luigi asked. "Go ahead, squeeze in." Mario said, holding him up.

Squirps squeezed into the hole. "SQUEEEEZURP!" He shouted. The gate opened. Mario then entered into the gate and saw another one. There was another hole.

"I suddenly have the urge to be twisted in there... Someone twist me in!" Squirps said out loud. Mario attempted to twist Squirps into the hole.

Nothing happened. "Hmm... There's something missing here... Oh, that's it! I must eat something yummy!" Squirps said out loud. Bowser looked slack-jawed.

"You can't be serious..." He said annoyed. Mario and the others went out shopping, they found a store in space and bought themselves a ton of chocolate. They arrived back. "Squirps is so hungry... can't move... Well, I can move, just very slowly..." Squirps whined. They gave him the chocolate.

Squirps eats it. "So... So... TOOOOO GOOD!" Squirps called out in joy. He splits into two and the other one goes in the other hole. The gate opened. They ventured though to the Woah Zone!

Mario and his friends took the Space Byway and merged into the Woah Zone. Known to some as the Space Graveyard, it was said to consume all who entered it. "Just a little bit longer... We'll be arriving soon," said young Squirps. With his unblinking eyes glimmering, Squirps continued to forge onward. Would Mario and his friends get their hands on the Pure Heart at long last?

Chapter 4-4: The Mysterious Ms.L

"We're here. This is the Woah Zone! Squirps will go on ahead. Now remember, this is a complicated maze, so pay attention to where you're going!" Squirps went off. "Squirps! Wait up!" Peach called, they chased after him for a while until they arrived at the area.

"We're close. I can feel it, do you, squeep?" Squirps asked. "Feel what?" Mario asked, not really feeling it. "It's just up ahead! Let's keep going already!" Squirps called out loud.

"Squirps. You done well. You're a smart kid..." A voice called. "Squirple squee! Stop it! Squirps is embarrassed!" Squirps said embarrassed. "Um... we didn't say anything..." Luigi replied, he looked around.

Suddenly, a lime green bunny with a dark gray outfit, white boots, white gloves and a black mask around her eyes jumped onto Squirp's head. "SQUIRP!" Squirps screamed out loud. "Heh heh heh..." she laughed. "Wh-who are you?!" Tippi asked in shock.

"Oh me? Just one of Count Bleck's more promising minions. The Lime Lightning..." She said, spinning and posing her arms in an 'L' shape. "Ms.L!" She shouted. "Ms... L?" Tippi asked, she looked confused.

Ms.L kicked Squirps out of the way. "I don't need you to tell me that's a cool name, I know it. Don't go memorizing it. Why? Because I'm about to give you a burial at sea, I mean, burial in space! Just because you're wearing red, or pink, or have orange scales, or are wearing a shade of green that isn't lime, doesn't mean you are strong. Have at you!" Ms.L shouted. The battle began, which ended really quickly.

Ms.L then fell over and then gets up. "Oof! Impressive! I guess there's just one thing left to do! SAY HELLO TO MY METAL FRIEND!" She shouted, summoning a metal bunny mech.

"Ha! HA! Do you like her? This is my dear metal friend, Bunnybot! She and I share a special bond with one another." She said, climbing inside of the bot. The heroes were transported into a space dimension. "The gravitational laws of space allow Bunnybot's potentially to be fully realized! Hey Mr.Jumpman, Ms.Damsel in Distress! Mr.I get my butt kicked all the time and Mr. Green Chicken! Get a load of this!" She shouted, blasting after them. They flew around her attacks and used Squirps to shoot her back.

"Hey... this makes no sense!" Ms.L shouted, falling back to the Woah Zone. "H-how did you defeat me?! I had a giant cool mech and you had a tiny little alien! It doesn't matter, I will return eventually. I would give you finger guns, but only cool guys get finger guns, and you're not cool! L-ater!" She called, jumping away.

"Uugh... that was awful... Cmon, the Pure Heart is up ahead." Squirps groaned, he continued forward. Luigi seemed uneasy. The heroes then followed Squirps into the next room.

"Mommy! Mommy! Mommy! Squirps brought them here!" Squirps called out loud. They saw a statue of an alien queen. "This is my mommy. Queen of Squirp." Squirps replied. "Wait, if she's the queen... does this mean you're the...?" Peach asked.

"Yup! I'm the prince! Sorry, Squirps couldn't tell you. It'd make Squirps a target. Mommy was told of the world's destruction 1500 years ago, so she hid the Pure Heart and sealed me in a slumber container. But now you're here! I can deliver my mommy's message to you!" He explained.

He pulls out the cyan Pure Heart. "I bestow upon you the Pure Heart that will help save the world... Go on! Take it! Squirp!" Squirps replied happily. He gives it to Mario. The Pixls danced around the heroes as Mario obtained the Light Blue Pure Heart.

"Phew! Now that Squirps is all relaxed, Squirps feels kinda... tired..." said Squirps. And with that, Squirps lay down before the statue of his beloved mother. "Mother..m" he said, his voice soft. "I did my best, right? Are you... proud.. of me?" Then... slowly... young Squirps closed his eyes... The mission has weighed heavy on his tiny back, and he was proud to fulfill it.