The nippy tongue of the chilly wind lapped up roughly against Torte’s face. He shut his eyes as the freezing breeze passed him by. Upon reopening them, he looked ahead to the two collapsed combatants. They seemed so peaceful, lying there. Their eyes were shut, a drip of drool exiting from the corner of their mouths, their wounds still subsiding. Torte managed to break the silence with a sinister laugh.
“Mwah ha ha ha ha! Ve told heir who’s boss, didn’t ve Mini Moi?” Cap’n Torte asked.
Mini Moi nodded and grinned devilishly. He hopped up on the Cap’n’s shoulder and whispered something into his ear. Torte nodded excitedly when his clone hopped back down.
“Capital idea, Mini Moi! Let’s get Soshi back to ze ship so he can start healing. Zen ve’ll look for zat all-powveirful treasure!” Cap’n Torte said, rubbing his gloved claws together.
After Embert rekindled the life in Changling and Genius Guy, the Magikoopa took on the form of a hospital bed. Apprentice came to and helped Genius Guy take Soshi back to the ship on Changling. After a brief twenty minute break, the three minions returned to the battlefield where Torte, Mini Moi, and Embert waited.
“Took you long enough!” Cap’n Torte snorted. “Now let us get moving.”
“Um... Cap’n?” Embert peeped.
“Vat ist it now?” Cap’n Torte asked.
“What about, her? The Birdo lady?” Embert asked.
Cap’n Torte looked back to the fallen creature. Such a pitiful predicament, the Koopa chef thought. Tears welled up in his eyes and he bit his lip before answering his Podoboo pal.
“Leave heir for dead.”
And so the six remaining Team of Terror members looked for a new pathway. Genius Guy pulled out a huge device with its own satalite dish swirling around above a circular monitor colored green.
“I sense treasure... THAT WAY!” Genius Guy said, pointing to a wall composed of solid ice.
“You idiot! Do you see a pazvay?!” Cap’n Torte asked.
The annoyed pirate smashed Genius Guy with the PAN OF PERIL. The Shy Guy collided into the wall and it crumbled effortlessly, revealing a hidden path. Genius Guy rubbed his pained head, standing up.
“Yes. There are three of them, Cap’ns!” Genius Guy mumbled in his delirium.
The Cap’n and his crew leapt over from the platform of ice and into the hidden cavern. Torte and his clone took point, using their frying pan weapons to light the way. Perhaps they were now numb, but it didn’t seem as cold to them as they continued through the endless, dark cavern. After much time and walking in silence had passed, they came to the end of the cave. It was an end alright. A dead one. Cap’n Torte’s entire body started shaking with rage, as a strangely familiar red aura enveloped him for the moment being.
“AGGAH!!! VE VALKED ALL ZAT VAY FOR NOZING?!” Cap’n Torte burst.
“I didn’t walk, I hovered,” Embert commented.
Torte turned to the fireball and snarled. Embert quieted down quickly.
“Wait, my treasure radar says there IS treasure ahead of us! It must be another fake wall!” Genius Guy concluded.
“Really? Vell let’s test it out...” Torte said, grabbing the Shy Guy and throwing him with all his weight. The scientist splattered onto the wall of snow, with a loud bashing sound. Apprentice walked over and peeled him off as Torte and Mini Moi searched for another way to go.
“Hey look, what’s that above us?” Changling asked.
The captain looked above and noticed a tiny opening. He grinned and shot off the hookshot attachment on his PAN OF PERIL. The Cap’n was lifted up through the hole and into a whole different room. He sent the hookshot down again and pulled up his minions. The room was incredibly small and dark, just large enough to stand in. But there was an entrance to another room in front of them, in the same direction Genius Guy’s radar pointed. The Cap’n smiled and entered through the opening. He looked around at the humongous circular room. It was full of snow. Snow all over the place. It stuck onto the ceiling and sides of the dome-shaped room. There was no entrance to another room.
“Oh, my mistake! This was the snow radar. The treasure radar is back at Isle Soshi!” Genius Guy said with a giggle. “Innit that a hoot?”
The captain gave a frightening look. His expression was a satisfied smile. Torte skated along the icy floor over to Genius Guy with his eyes shut and his hands behind his back. He opened his eyes when he bumped into Genius Guy. Cap’n Torte placed his hands on the Shy Guy’s shoulders. The other members of the motley crew took a step back.
“You know vat, Genius Guy?” Cap’n Torte whispered.
“That Mario and Luigi are really the guys on the Pringles cylinders?” Genius Guy replied.
“No. Zat a certain Shy Guy’s gonna get beheaded!” Torte said with a delightful tone in his voice.
“Ooooooh! I hope it’s me. That is if by beheaded you mean doesn’t get beheaded, and gets to eat gorditas while watching I Love Lucy!” Genius Guy answered.
Cap’n Torte rolled his eyes and lifted the Shy Guy off of the ground. His grip tightened on Genius Guy’s shoulders. Torte licked his lips and put his mouth to Genius Guy’s ear.
“Genius Guy... YOU ARE IDIOT!!!”
The deafening scream blasted Genius Guy and Torte backward. The room started rumbling.
“MON DIEU!” Cap’n Torte shouted.
The snow packed onto the dome’s walls started plummiting in huge piles. The Team of Terror was pummeled by the powerful punches the snow piles gave them as they fell. Soon the rumbling finished, and the Team of Terror emerged from underneath a blanket of snow, gasping for air.
“I CAN SEE THE LIGHT! WE GOTTA PUT THE BAND BACK TOGETHER!” Genius Guy shouted.
With a quick smash to his head, the Shy Guy returned to the snow. Torte chuckled.
“Master Torte! LOOK!” Apprentice said.
The captain turned to his other henchmen. They all stared up at bright, sparkling crystals of ice.
“So? It’s just more ice,” Cap’n Torte grumbled.
“No Cap’n! Look, they’re really sapphires!” Embert said.
“VAT?”
Torte looked up again. The entire dome was embedded with the sparkling white and blue sapphires. It was such a beautiful sight. They were huge gems too. Some grew to the size of Embert. Cap’n Torte gasped.
“Sapphires?! Vow! Now I’m RICH UND EVIL! Changling, turn into a giant bag! Eveiryvone else, start tossing ze lovely jewvels in!” Cap’n Torte commanded.
“But Cap’n, won’t that hurt?” Changling asked.
“Not as much as my PAN OF PERIL,” Cap’n Torte threatened.
“Good point,”
Changling said, shapeshifting into a large backpack.
Soshi opened his eyes. He lifted himself off of the comfortable, warm bed and stretched out his arms. He finished with a big yawn and a stretching of his long tongue. He sniffed and scratched his side. Then he became confused.
“Huh? How Soshi get here?” the blue dragon asked.
“You were knocked out cold and brought back here to recover,” a voice chided from below.
Soshi poked his head below the bed and saw the smelly cauldron Dingpot looking up at him.
“The guys said it was some Birdo thingy,” Dingpot responded.
“Crystal! Oh no! Did Soshi lose?!” Soshi roared.
“Nope. It was a tie,” Dingpot replied. “You were brought back here and Mr. Ghost put a healing spell on you.”
“What happened to Crystal after fight?” Soshi asked.
“I don’t know, Mr. Dragon,” Dingpot answered.
“Then Soshi must find out! No one ties with me!” Soshi growled, leaping to his feet.
“Weren’t you killed before?” Dingpot asked.
“Yes. But I said tie. I can win or lose anytime. Soshi just no like ties. Seem incomplete. Must go finish battle now!” Soshi said, rushing out the door.
“Wait dragon thing! You aren’t fully recovered!” Dingpot shouted.
Soshi didn’t hear
Dingpot, or didn’t care. He continued to his destination.
Changling was now a heavy load, full of every single sapphire that once touched the room. Cap’n Torte pulled out his PAN OF PERIL after watching Apprentice put the last gem in. He pointed it forward.
“High yo silveir! AVAY!!!” Torte shouted.
“Hold on. Master Torte, are these sapphires the treasure we came looking for? You said the treasure gave a great power...” Apprentice asked.
“Hmm? Mon dieu! I got side-tracked! How dare I forget about my evil intentions? Anyvay, you’re right, at least for an idiot. Now, vhich vay do ve go?” Cap’n Torte pondered.
Genius Guy poked out from the bloody snowbank. “My radar says...”
“NO YOU FOOL!!!” Torte fired the Hyper Plasma Cannon. Genius Guy retreated to his snowy hideout before the blast could hit him. But his radar perished from the beam.
“Hey look, Cap’n! There’s one last sapphire stuck on the very top of the ceiling!” Embert pointed out.
“Vow! Und it’s a big vone! Oooh moi likes! Changling, turn into a laddeir so ve can climb up und grab it!” Torte ordered.
”But I’m already a...” Changling mumbled.
“DO VAT I SAY! NO BUTS!” Cap’n Torte shouted. “Zat goes for you too, Mini Moi.”
Cap’n Torte looked down at a confused Mini Moi. He motioned his hand and mumbled something. Mini Moi realized what he was supposed to do and nodded, pulling out a fake cigarette toy about to light it.
“MINI MOI! Fowl zings zey are! Mini Moi, you should know betteir not to smoke. It’ll stunt your growz. Heh heh heh.” Cap’n Torte let out an obviously-planned-joke laugh.
Mini Moi rolled his eyes and got rid of the fake cigarette prop. All the sapphires poured out onto the ground when Changling turned into a ladder. They were unharmed, but a cracking noise was heard.
“Changling you idiot! Vhy’d you go und do zat? Oh just forget it, Apprentice, go und grab zat last gem!” Cap’n Torte commanded.
The Apprentice hobbled forward and grabbed an unstable grasp on the ladder. He climbed it nervously and reached the top, but was just out of reach of the jewel.
“Zhere’s vone more step Apprentice, use it!” Torte yelled.
“But it says, is not a step!” Apprentice warned.
“Oh zey just put zat on zhere to rip you off. Just do it und get back down here!” Cap’n Torte demanded.
“Okay...” the Apprentice mumbled nervously.
He cautiously placed his foot onto the final step. Then his other foot. He slowly stretched up, himself wobbling all over. He reached his arms out to the side for balance. Then he finally stood up all the way and reached up for the last sapphire. He grabbed it with both hands and pulled. It didn’t budge. He grunted and pulled with a stronger force.
“Almost... got ... it.... THERE!” Apprentice said.
The Koopa yanked out the large blue gem and smiled.
“Und you vere vorried zat ze laddeir vouldn’t hold! HA!” Cap’n Torte belittled.
Just then Changling began wobbling around and fell to the ground, leaving Apprentice floating in midair.
“Uh oh...” The Apprentice shot back to the ground and smashed into it. The Team of Terror was also hit with the impact and fell to the ground as well. Then the cracking noises came again. But this time they were louder and more frequent. Then of all things the floor collapsed, and the Team of Terror fell into a long dark pit, uncertain of their fate...
Chapter 33: Reznor Resurrection
Jagger exhaled a deep, warm breath into the freezing air. He had been waiting for quite a while now. He looked down to the ground and decided to go down into the ship and bundle himself in thick blankets. As the Terrapin entered the lower deck he noticed a door close shut. Jagger suddenly became very nervous.
“Who’s there?” he called.
There was no response. Jagger swallowed his fears and walked down the hall. The door was to Iggy’s room. Jagger grasped the handle and wondered what it could be. Was one of the kids playing a practical joke on him? Had some creature snuck on board without him noticing? Or was it something else? Jagger ceased his thoughts and twisted the handle and pushed the door open. He looked in and saw strange, small devices scattered on a table. There were four identical items, each rectangular in shape. They were about the size of an envelope. They also had a green blinking light and two antennae reaching out of the top. There was one more trinket on the table. It looked like a remote control. Jagger looked around the room in search of the culprit. There appeared to be no one. Jagger sighed and stepped forward to the table and further examined the items. He picked up one of the four identical objects and gazed at the green light in his perplexion. Jagger turned when a voice came from behind.
“They’re obediance collars. The remote triggers a powerful electrical current through whomever or whatever it’s fastened on,” said a voice from the shadows of the corner of the room.
Jagger squinted to get a better view. The figure was short and had a round head and block body. His clothes dangled just above the ground on either side of his body. He caried some kind of bag in his hand.
“Who are you?” Jagger asked, his authority being lost by a breaking of his voice.
“I am Plit’s smartest being. I have been hired by King Koopa to craft these obediance collars to enable the beasts to follow his commands.” A Shy Guy garbed in green and wearing a white lab coat and spectacles appeared from the shadows.
Jagger dropped his jaw and scratched his head in confusion. The Shy Guy chuckled to himself and walked over to the table. He placed the four items on the table in his bag. Then he snatched the one Jagger held and concealed it as well.
“I must be off, King Koopa nears his destination,” the Shy Guy commented.
“W-wait!” Jagger said, regaining his demeanor. “What... do you mean by obediance collars?”
The Shy Guy smiled. “Well you don’t expect these four huge monsters, feral in nature to bow down to the regime once they’ve just been revived, do you?”
Jagger didn’t
respond. The Shy Guy sighed and left the inferior being to wallow in confusion.
Before departing into the cavernous region of Proarctica, the Shy Guy entered
Morton’s room. He opened a hidden compartment and pulled out a gray metallic
backpack. He strapped it on and left the boat.
Bowser and his five children walked in silence through the halls of the dark, wide cave. They had tried to produce a torch, but the fire was almost instantly distinguished. The cavern was also very windy, and of course blowing in their direction. The gales cut the Koopas’ faces lightly as they struggled to hold their ground and continue down the cavern. Bowser was in front, Wendy and Morton not far behind. Roy was in the middle; he didn’t have as much trouble keeping steady with his great mass. Heading up the flank was Junior and Larry. The tiny turtle still didn’t trust Larry and had been keeping his eye on him.
“Shouldn’t be long now!” Bowser called back without looking.
The Koopalings rolled their eyes. Every ten minutes or so, Bowser had yelled back the same thing. If the five of them were gone, he wouldn’t have realized it and would continue repeating his message. A large gust of wind was blown at them. Wendy reached up and grasped her bow tightly so it wouldn’t fly off. She already lost her wig, she needed something covering her cueball head. For all they knew, they could have been walking around in circles. There was no landscapes that stood out at all. It was just one bland, dark tunnel full of snow and ice. Morton breathed into his hands and rubbed them against his shivering arms. The five offspring of Bowser had been staring at the ground for the most part, trying to keep the wind out of their faces. So Morton and Wendy didn’t see it when Bowser stopped in his tracks. They walked right into him, bumping into a few spikes and bruising themselves.
“Ow! King Dad, what’s the matter?” Morton asked.
“Don’t you feel it? The winds have just died down,” Bowser replied.
The Kooplings all thought about Bowser’s last statement. They had been so used to the wind whipping them that they didn’t notice when the gales abruptly stopped.
“What does that mean?” Roy questioned.
“Well I figure we must be getting closer to... something. Where are those two Magikoopa imbeciles? I need a light to see! Because I don’t think we’re in a tunnel anymore. I believe we have stepped into a larger room,” Bowser answered.
“Wait, I’ve got an idea! What if we used our firebreath and made one large bondfire? There’s no wind anymore. Would that work, Poppa?” Junior asked.
“Hmm, it might, Junior! Okay everyone! Form a circle and let it all out!” Bowser ordered.
The six Koopas
formed a lousy excuse for a circle and took deep breaths. All except Larry.
Five belched out some red hot flames and the fire grew to a large size,
and the room started becoming visible. The ceiling was too high to view.
Wendy turned and screamed. The others instantly rushed over. They saw what
had scared her: the giant head of a reptilian monster.
Larry re-entered the room where he had found Kamek and the others. He walked up to the center of the room near the altar. He cupped his hands around his mouth.
“KAMEK! I’m back with the wands!” Larry shouted.
“Great! Now you must get them back up here!” Kamek replied.
Larry looked to either side of him. “Uh... how am I gonna do that?”
“I don’t know! Kammy, any ideas?” Kamek asked.
Kammy scratched her chin. “Hmm, do you think he’d be able to throw that far?”
“I don’t know,” Kamek answered. “Larry, is it too high for you to throw the wands?”
“I’m not sure. I guess I’ll try,” Larry answered.
The blue-haired Koopa Kid pulled back his arm and heaved one wand forward. It flew through the air and just barely reached the top. The wand rolled just out of reach of Kammy.
“Aw shoot!” the sorceress snorted.
“Hold on, I think I was just warming up. Here comes yours Kamek!” Larry said.
“Okay,” Kamek answered. “WAIT! LARRY DON’T THROW IT! GO AND HIDE AS FAST AS YOU CAN!!!”
Larry grunted. “What?”
“HIDE NOW!” Kamek warned.
The Koopaling didn’t question the Magikoopa any further. He looked around and dove behind some conveniently placed boulders. He poked his head around the edge to see what he was hiding from. It was the white-robed Magikoopa, and the same Ice Bully he had spoken with when he retrieved the wands. They entered halfway through a conversation.
“So the real Larry has escaped the hidden path? I knew it was too simple. Well I hope my protege hasn’t been discovered,” the Magikoopa said.
“Yes. The real Larry has the three wands the Duplighosts confisgated off of the three prisoners. Please forgive me for making such a foolish mistake,” the Ice Bully pleaded.
“I’m letting you off with a stern warning. Do not foul up again. Now return to your post,” the Magikoopa commanded.
“Oh yes my lord!” the Ice Bully said with glee, rushing off and out of the room.
The Magikoopa sniffed the air. His expression turned sour and he grabbed his Snow Scepter with both hands. “Who’s in here? Don’t try to hide, I can sense your body heat!”
Larry ducked back down behind the boulders. What was he going to do now? The Koopaling swallowed and decided he might as well give his one idea a shot. It’d at least buy some time. Larry emerged from the boulders calmly and bowed to the Magikoopa.
“I have returned, my lord!” Larry said, trying to keep his voice from cracking.
“Are you really that stupid? I wouldn’t mistake my own protege!” the Magikoopa hissed.
Larry was in trouble. Kammy peered down from above. She bit her lip and tried reaching for the wand. It was so close. She could feel the magic of it rejuvenating her power. Kammy tapped into her magical abilites and started using her mind to pull at the rod. It started twitching in her direction. Just a bit closer...
“Um... what do you mean?” Larry asked.
The Magikoopa stepped forward to Larry and pointed the Snow Scepter in his direction. “You shouldn’t have come. The Reznor will not be freed. If your plan follows through, you will end up causing the destruction of Plit.” The Magikoopa paused, waiting to see if Larry would respond. He didn’t. “Now taste the chill!”
A white glow eminated from the tip of the Magikoopa’s talisman. Just as he was about to fire the blast, a magical whirl of geometrical shapes crashed into the elder wizard, causing him to fall and lose the energy stored in his wand. Kammy appeared before Larry and the Magikoopa, her wand aimed at him.
“I think you’ll be the one tasting. That is, my foot!” Kammy shouted, giving a swift kick to the Magikoopa’s jaw with her tough boot.
The Magikoopa recoiled and stood up. He rubbed his sore jaw. “Curses! If I was at full power I wouldn’t be defeated so easily. But just you wait, I still have my backup plan...” The Magikoopa vanished.
“Should we have let him get away?” Larry asked.
“I doubt he’ll turn up again with his full power theory. But anyway, give me Kamek and Iggy’s wands. I’ll go release them,” Kammy said.
The witch grabbed both wands and teleported to the cliff top. She mumbled an encantation and dissipated the two blizzard shields. She tossed Kamek his wand and cast a healing spell over Iggy. The Koopa clad in glasses emerged from his slumber and yawned.
“Morning already?” Iggy asked.
“Stop messing around, Iggy. Here, take your wand. We’ve gotta go find your father,” Kamek said.
Iggy nodded, not
fully understanding what had happened, but disregarded his questions. There
must be something more important happening. He pocketed the wand in his
shell and was transported by the two Magikoopas. The four Koopas walked
down the large cavern pathway.
After huddling together motionless for a few moments, the Koopas realized the monster wasn’t moving. Bowser stepped forward and touched it. Solid as a rock, and cold as anything else in Proarctica. He turned with a grin.
“It’s not alive!” Bowser announced.
The Koopas rolled their eyes at the obvious statement. But then they stepped forward and felt it too. They examined it closely.
“Wait, is THIS one of the Reznor?!” Roy asked.
“It might be!” Bowser said excitedly. “If it is, I’ll be unstoppable!”
“Wow! Look at the rest of its body! It’s humongous!” Wendy said, astonished.
The head was bent down low. Two huge shoulder blades jutted up from the top of its front legs. Smaller but still significant ones came up from the top of the hind legs. Its back was tall and rigid. A tiny tail poked out from between the two back legs. Its size was incredible, nothing like the Reznor Bowser had used in the past. Its body was covered in dark green scales. And the eyes were shut. It seemed just like a statue, because of the stillness and coldness of it’s body.
“Wait, if this really is one of the Reznor, where’s the other three?” Morton asked.
“I think I might be of some assistance,” Kamek said, entering the room.
The Magikoopa pointed his wand upward and blasted an orb of light. The room was now completely visible. Three other humongous creatures stood behind the one they were looking at. They were in the same state of frozen unconsciousness.
“What took you guys so long?” Bowser asked.
“Well we held up by-” Kamek started.
“Wait a second!” Bowser interuppted. “How is Larry with you?”
The Koopa King and everyone else turned to the phony Larry that had been traveling with them for some time. Junior snorted.
“I knew it!” the tiny turtle gloated.
The psuedo Larry shifted his eyes around and pulled out a Magikoopa wand. Its crystal was silver. It gave off a similar glow, and the fake Larry disappeared in a puff of smoke. Bowser returned to face Kamek.
“Bowser, something else is amiss. How about the real Larry tells you as we prepare for our spell to awaken the Reznor, alright?” Kamek responded.
“Sounds good. Okay, everyone back up against the wall. These two must rekindle the life within these slumbering beasts,” Bowser ordered.
Kammy and Kamek took their positions on either side of the bondfire Bowser had created. They raised their hands to the sky and focused their energy. Larry began retelling the story of the mysterious white Magikoopa and the band of Bullies working for him. Kamek and Kammy synchronized their minds and started feeding energy to the bondfire between them. With a loud roar, the flame grew larger and more powerful. The flames rose into the air as one giant fireball. The two sorcerers split the fireball into four separate flames. Each pyro floated over and hovered next to one of the sleeping demons. Kamek and Kammy pulled their hands from the sky and pushed them outward in front of them. The fireballs reacted and shot at the Reznor’s bodies. The flames sank into the green monstrosities like a liquid. Soon their bodies gave off an orange glow. Kamek and Kammy stepped back as a loud rumbling started. Then the eyes of the beasts opened.
Chapter 34: Orchil and LVK Industries
Yoshi opened his eyes. He looked up at the large demonic fish that had once been the ghost pirate Captain One-Eye Guy. The Captain’s very sword was now held by Yoshi. It was stabbed into the fish’s remaining eye. Black ooze spewed out of the wound, and a low moaning came from the monster. Suddenly the beast began to deteriorate as the wind pushed through the thick, dark clouds. The blade Yoshi had struck the demon down with also evaporated into the air. The clouds vanished and revealed a beautiful new day. The golden sun was beaming down on Plit, spreading joy and good cheer all around. The green dinosaur fell to his bottom and breathed heavily.
“Are you okay, Yoshi?” Splooshi asked.
The green dinosaur turned his head and smiled at his friend. He gave a thumbs up. “Wait! What about Mallow?” Yoshi asked.
“Oh no! I forgot too! I put him down in kitchen, but then he was gone!” Splooshi responded.
A light laugh followed by a hard cough sounded from above. The two dinosaurs looked up and saw their Nimbian friend leaning on the large pole outcropping from the middle of the boat. He still looked very injured, but amazingly he was alive. Yoshi and Splooshi raced to the Prince’s aid.
“Are you okay?” Yoshi asked.
“I’m fine... just an empty stomach. Heh. Okay, the truth is I’m dieing. Or I will if I don’t get help soon. I’ll try my best to save the last of my energy,” Mallow said, falling slowly to the ground.
“We’ll have to turn around and head back to the Mushroom Kindgom. Or wait, I think Sarasaland is closer,” Yoshi said.
“Don’t worry, Mallow. The treasure can wait. We must get you to hospital as soon as possible,” Splooshi encouraged.
“Listen guys, if I don’t make it. I just want you to know I was with you in the final battle. I used my energy to summon a Star Rain and that Shocker,” Mallow confessed.
“Mallow! You should have saved your energy! Now you might...” Yoshi couldn’t bring himself to say it.
“I couldn’t let all of you die with me! And hey, you’re sounding like there’s no chance of me surviving.” Mallow coughed. “We’ll make it to Sarasaland in time... right?”
“We did pass it two days ago...” Yoshi mumbled.
“Darn it! Why can’t there be a closer place to heal you?!” Splooshi cried.
“Um... excuse me...” a meek feminine voice chimed in.
The three of them exchanged looks and turned to the deck. The strange little girl they had endured all these hardships for was awake.
“But if the place you call Sarasaland is too far away, why not sail to Flora Isle? It is where I am native to,” the girl spoke.
“Huh? There’s an island nearby with a hospital?” Yoshi asked.
“Well no, there isn’t a hospital. But I’m sure Mosolunar, the island’s guardian spirit, will help your friend!” the strange girl said.
“Mosolunar?” Mallow asked.
“Mosolunar protects all of the inhabitants of Flora Island,” the girl responded.
“Then how come he didn’t help you when the ghost pirates took you captive?” Splooshi asked.
“SHE didn’t help me because... well I’m not sure. I think Mosolunar might be sick...” the girl answered.
“Well, are you sure she can help Mallow then?” Yoshi asked.
“Oh yes. Very sure! Mosolunar can help anyone brought into her presence,” the girl replied.
“Okay. Which way is it?” Yoshi asked.
“Well... Hold on, I’ve never left the island until now. I’m going to have to call for it,” the girl responded.
Yoshi, Splooshi, and Mallow watched as the strange girl put both of her hands together and placed them in front of her face. She closed her violet eyes and hummed. The three watched confusedly as tiny flowers bloomed from underneath her greenish-yellow hair. The flowers were orange, but when light passed over them they flashed purple. The girl removed her hands and opened her eyes. The flowers returned beneath her hair. She pointed her short, thin arm just northwest of the ship’s current direction. Yoshi nodded and started turning the sailboat’s direction. Splooshi hoisted Mallow in his hands and took him below deck to rest in bed. He walked back up and told Yoshi. Then the green dinosaur approached the little girl.
“Thank you for helping us, little girl. Uh, what is your name, by the way?” Yoshi asked.
“My name’s Orchil. But I should be the one thanking you, silly!” Orchil giggled. “If it wasn’t for you, I’d still be trapped with those awful pirate demons!”
“Well, we’ll call it even,” Yoshi said smiling. “How long will it be until we reach your home, Orchil?”
“Um... not too long now. Before the evening I suspect,” Orchil answered.
“Okay. If you’re hungry, we have food below deck that you are more than welcome to eat,” Yoshi replied.
“OH! I’m so hungry!” Orchil shouted.
“Splooshi, go show her where the fruit is!” Yoshi said.
“Okay. Come on
Orchil,” Splooshi said.
Stario and Luigi had arrived in Seaside Town. They told their predicament to Johnny, and the old seadog shark pirate thingy was more than willing to give his two mates a lift. Now Johnny’s ship was just about ready to shove off. Stario and Luigi waved down from the ship at Toad, who was standing on the beach.
“Thanks-a for your help, Toad,” Luigi said.
“Yeah. Don’t-a let the Mushroom Kingdom get conquered by Bowser or any crazy chefs while we’re gone!” Stario joked.
“Ha ha! Don’t worry, Mario. I’ll return to the Mushroom Village and alert the Chancellor of the latest news. Bon voyage!” the Mushroom Retainer said.
Stario and Luigi turned away as Toad began walking home. They walked over to Johnny and his nephew.
“So we ready to go?” Luigi asked.
“In just a few minutes, land lubbers! But don’t worry, ol’ Johnny won’t let ye down!” Jonathon answered.
“Well that’s good. We have to get there as fast as...” Stario stopped and felt weak in the knees. He stumbled to the ground.
“Stario, are you alright?” Luigi asked.
“Oh... uh, I’m-a fine. Must be that seasickness kicking in. Ha ha ha! Well actually I think I could use a good nap if you don’t mind,” Stario responded.
“No, not at all mate! Hey you! Come show me mate Stario his quarters,” Johnny called to one of his Redbandanas.
“But I don’t know which room is his,” the Redbandana said.
“It’s your room then. Harr harr harr!” Johnny bellowed.
The Redbandana grumbled and showed Stario to his room. Luigi watched as the Heroic Hybrid went below deck. He didn’t believe that Stario was ready for this upcoming fight.
“What’s wrong matey?” Johnny asked Luigi.
The plumber lost his train of thought and forced a smile. “Oh, I’m-a just a little worried about the big battle coming up, I guess.”
“Aw don’t ye worry. Both of ye are the strongest fighters in the Mushroom Kingdom, if not all of Plit,” Johnny reassured.
“Yeah, I gues you’re right,” Luigi said, trying to calm down.
“Okay mates! ANCHORS AWAY! HOLD THE TILLER STEADY! SET SAIL FOR THE DARK SEA!” Johnny shouted.
Luigi sat down on a nearby bench and sighed. He looked over and noticed a tiny little shark smiling back at him.
“Hey there little fella!” Luigi greeted.
Dimplestick’s
body glowed with a red energy. His rage was incredible, he pulled out his
spear and jumped at Luigi. Johnny thankfully stopped the spazzed shark
before he could tear the plumber to shreds.
After a large meal, everyone except the recooperating Mallow was above deck. A large island rich with plant life was in the distnace. The blue-skinned Orchil smiled. “Flora Island! Yay!” she said excitedly.
Yoshi smiled and walked up to the steering wheel of the vessel. Splooshi stepped forward and leaned on the railing of the sailboat next to Orchil. The young girl turned and studied Splooshi. She giggled lightly.
“What?” Splooshi said in a defensive tone.
“Your feet are funny!” Orchil said.
Splooshi looked down and saw that he was still barefoot. He felt slightly embarrassed. He didn’t like people to see his feet because, well, he has webbed feet. He didn’t know why, but he did. Splooshi curled his toes and put one foot behind the other, his face slightly red.
“Uh... heh heh. Yeah,” Splooshi mumbled, looking to the side.
Yoshi looked from above and grinned. The green dinosaur figured they’d be at the island well before the evening. They had to be. Mallow was struggling to keep his grip on life just below the Yoshi. But Yoshi’s ever-optimistic look on life told him that there was no way Mallow would be departing from this world. At least not for a while...