One question I had about the power-ups in the Mario games is whether anyone can use them. I mean, if any Toad can grab a Starman and knock out some Koopas, why do they get overtaken and captured so easily? I asked our old friend,
the Mushroom Guru, about this, and he said it was mostly a matter of safety. After some kids played with fire flowers and burned down an entire block in Mushroom City, it was decided by the authorities that they were best left to the experts. While I was on top of the mountain, I decided I might as well also ask about where power-ups come from. The Mushroom Guru was glad to oblige, at least after I paid him a tribute of ten cabbages. They're hard to come by on top of a mountain, you know. I'll have to remember to ask him some other time why so many vegetables in the Mushroom World have faces. It's a little creepy.
Fire Flower - These grow wild in certain parts of the Mushroom World, especially hot and dry areas, although they've been cultivated to grow in more temperate climates as well.
Super Leaf - The first item in the series that allows Mario to fly, it's not too surprising that they grow on Super Trees, grown and maintained by the Tanooki of old. Unfortunately, most of these trees were destroyed in a war centuries ago, but the leaves are still scattered throughout the world. There are still known to be a few groves existing as well, but they have yet to be located by even the most fervent explorers.
Cape Feather - The birds that drop these are known to nest on Cape Berrymore, where the berries are rumored to grant super powers. They don't affect the birds themselves, however, who instead absorb the powers in their feathers.
Carrot - A very rare flight-granting item, only known to be found in Mario Land. The details of how one is grown are quite complicated, but they have something to do with a red rain falling during an orange moon.
Starman - The Starmen are actually sentient beings from the Star Road, trapped in blocks by the magic of Bowser and other villains. Most of them have been trapped so long that they've long since stopped functioning as living beings, however. They are immortal, though, and a used Starman will eventually return to its old home.
1-Up Mushroom - These were cultivated and named after the legendary sorcerer One-Up, who was intent on obtaining immortality. He found that his newly-grown mushrooms would restore a person to life, but in the same state in which they'd died, hence providing no protection against old age. The current whereabouts of the sorcerer are unknown, but it's rumored that he overdosed on the water from the Fountain of Youth, and is now a negative age. When enough years pass that he reaches zero, he will be reborn.
P-Wing - Nintendo has actually confirmed that the P stands for "Paratroopa," by not why a Paratroopa's wing would continue to function when removed from the turtle. As it turns out, it doesn't always. P-Wings are rare because they only function if the Paratroopa in question is struck by lightning, and the item is then properly preserved. Personally, I thank the Almighty Mushra for P-Wings, because I doubt I'd ever be able to climb the Guru's mountain without them.
Kuribo's Shoe - It was popularly believed at one point that the shoe was made by someone named Kuribo, but it turned out that this simply means "Goomba." So why would a Goomba need a giant shoe? They actually weren't originally built for Goombas, but for the inhabitants of Giant Land, who have surprisingly sensitive feet. A raiding party of Goombas stole a few of them from the underground Shoe Vault, and began using them as transportation and weapons.
Suits - These were sewn and enchanted by shamans, who infused each one with the power of a certain animal. The newest one is believed to be the Hammer Suit, which required successful capture of a Hammer Brother before it could be properly magicked. The first Tanooki Suit was made by a tailor named Tanooki, who is believed to have belonged to that ancient race.
Tune in next week for some more answers from the Guru!
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