The Return Postage Badge is where it's at. :D The only problem with it is that if you got it, there is absolutely no reason for you to need it. It's like breaking down the world's strongest door to get a universal key.

Me getting that badge is my most memorable RPG experience ever.

** ** SPOILERS AHEAD ** **

So, after beating the game and training for a while, I decided to take on the Pit. Previously, I have only gotten to level 20 or so. I bought items, and went down one of the scariest pipes in the game. I got to level 50, and a friend wanted to hang out. I didn't want to leave the game on for so long, and come back when I lost my fire, so I had to either ditch my friend, or go back up the pipe. I decided to do the latter, after which I felt like I wasted so much time and so many items.

After re-collecting the heals needed for the Pit, I finally went back down, this time even more prepared than before. I fought through the first 50 levels, knowing exactly what to expect. My counters were timed really well for the most part.

After level 50, the enemies got almost too much to bear. I knew level 100 had an insanely fierce enemy, so I did my best to save as many heals as possible for him. However, I lost a lot, too many I thought. Anyways, level 99 came, and I was almost done for. I really didn't want to heal, so I took a risk with the fight. I was going to win, but there was no way I'd survive the boss after losing so many heals.

Then it happened.

A glimmer of light somehow found its way to a point underground deeper than I ever thought possible. After struggling through level 99, my Star Points filled up! I leveled up at what seemed like an impossibly good time. This gave me a new hope for whatever monstrosity I would see ahead. As I entered the final pipe, I already felt a powerful aura...

There it lay. Hooktail's second brother. Incidentally, my little Yoshi was named Hooktail. This irony held little time in my mind, as I was set on the beast, specifically the juxtaposition of the scene. I slowly walked toward it and woke it up, knowing it could have been the last decision I would ever make.

My chest was pounding wildly, but I was ready for this fight and I knew it. I beat the Shadow Queen before, how hard could BoneTail, one of her pets, be? My first move was Tattle, I needed to know just how powerful this beast is. Goombella said that BoneTail could be more powerful than the last boss. A lightning bolt of despair struck my heart, but it wasn't enough to sway my confidence.

I did my best to learn the counter timing of his moves as he wiped out all of Mario's partners. Goombella didn't last long. Bobbery was next, as he was the most powerful. He didn't last long either. Nobody did. BoneTail annihilated my partners (which included Ms. Mouz) as I revived previous ones. Mario was standing behind in defense, watching the horror in front of him. In what felt like a flash, I was out of revival mushrooms and partners.

It was time for Mario to step up. He had no more defense, and he was going to avenge his fallen partners. BoneTail was heavily weakened, but even in his state, he managed to get Mario to low hp fast. I used a mushroom to heal him. I did damage and healed as much as I could until I had no mushrooms left at all. I had great control of my multi-jump, and I milked it to its full potential. BoneTail was almost out, but then he hit Mario with a mighty blow.

Mario, the very last hope for this fight, was in critical. But I just needed one more multi-jump to finish BoneTail off. Without hesitation, I did it. I saw the beast fall onto his back, all my fears going down with him. The one Star Point of experience he regurgitated was the greatest Star Point of all. It was perhaps even better than the treasure that came with it, seeing as I took down the most powerful enemy of them all. I didn't need any help in combat after this, the badge served merely as a collector's item. A memento of my toughest journey ever.