Part 4
Russ T, now covered in bandages, sat on a small stone as the noonday sun beat down upon him. He had just finished telling the story of what happened in the jungle to the Yoshi village chief for the umpteenth time. Two weeks he had remained on the island, waiting for them to finish their ship so he might set sail once more towards Rogueport. The Yoshi before him was shaking his head and adjusting the feather he kept atop his head.
"So we were to be a conquest for this Crystal King?" he asked Russ T.
"Yes."
"We lost many of our people, but not all, thanks to you. Our lives meant only a small achievement for him."
"I think that is how most generals see the world."
"Still, I cannot help but feel a little offended that he thought so little of us."
"Well he's still out there, so he might be back."
"Let us not speak of dooms that might never come to pass. The ship is finished, or at least it can sail."
"That's good."
"A few of our Yoshis have volunteered to man it for you. They used to sail small fishing vessels before the Piranha Plant menace, so they should be capable enough to help you sail it."
"I thank you for your generosity."
"Think nothing of it, it is a small part of the debt repaid. Are you certain you wish to go to Rogueport? It is quite far away."
"I'm sure." This wasn't the first time the Yoshis had tried to dissuade Russ T. from going to Rogueport. Even Minh T. had voiced doubts about going such a long distance in the craft the Yoshis had made.
"Very well. The ship is set to sail and the men have been notified. With luck you might be able to cast off within the hour."
"That's great."
Russ T. managed to keep the despair out of his voice; he had been fine on the island and wasn't really looking forward to going. He knew, though, that if he didn't go he would never forgive himself, he had to go to Rogueport. Wiping his forehead again, Russ T. stood up and headed to the hut he had been given as a home.
His luggage being lost in the shipwreck, the Yoshis had been kind enough to provide him with some clothing that fit. They had also supplied him with a rather crudely made suitcase that Russ T. doubted could stand up to much punishment. Opening the suitcase, Russ T. smoothed the clothes down and made sure he had packed the bandages the Yoshi nurse had given him.
He took the suitcase and walked out of the hut, heading towards where Minh T. was sitting with a young Yoshi. She had also been given clothes, a case and bandages, though she had less wounds than Russ T. In addition she intended to take a few plants she had found in the jungle with her; for the past two weeks she had been gathering and studying the island's exotic fauna. Russ T. walked up to Minh T. and the Yoshi.
"Russ, did you hear the boat's almost ready?" Minh T. asked once she saw him.
"I did, I just spoke with the chief. We might be able to leave within the hour."
"Russ, are you sure that-"
"I've made up my mind, Minh."
"Fine. But Russ, what about Crystal King?"
"What do you mean?"
"Don't you think he might attack the ship to get back at you?"
"I doubt it."
"Why?"
"He probably wouldn't be able to find our ship, the sea is a big place. And even if he did I think he needs to exert constant power to keep his ice orbs frozen and moving."
"You seem to know a lot about Crystal King."
"A few of my books mention people like him. I'm just piecing things together and guessing."
"Oh. So the ship's ready?"
"Yes, I'm going down to wait. I suggest you pack your bags."
"I packed once I heard that the ship was ready. I was just doing some last minute planting with... oh my, I forgot to introduce you two."
Realizing he had forgotten the Yoshi, Russ T. blushed and held out his hand to the Yoshi. She shook it and gave a little laugh at Minh T. and Russ T.'s embarrassed expressions.
"Hi, I'm Kyla."
"Hi," Russ T. replied, "sorry about not noticing... hi."
"Kyla has been nice enough to be one of the volunteers to be on the ship," Minh T. told Russ T.
"Oh. That's... nice," he replied, unable to think of anything else to say.
"Well, we should be heading down to see the ship," Kyla piped up. "I'm sure you two will want to be off as soon as possible."
"Yes. It would be nice to get going as quickly as possible," Minh T. responded.
"I'll show you two down to where we've set up the boat," Kyla said.
"We've been before," Russ T. stated.
"You went to the construction site, we've moved it," Kyla explained.
"Oh," was all Russ T. said.
The three walked in silence as Kyla lead the two Toads toward the beach where the ship had been docked. It was not at all an impressive sight; patchwork sails and hasty construction made the ship look barely seaworthy. Yoshis were loading crates of food onto the craft, and one blue Yoshi walked up to Russ T.
The Yoshi was covered from a few yet to heal scratches from where he had been held by the thorns Most of the Yoshis were like him; only the two Toads had yet to fully heal. He walked with a bit of limp and held a map tucked under his armpit and a spyglass in his hand.
"You must be Mr. Russ, correct?" he asked.
"Just Russ."
"Very well, Russ. I've charted our course if you want to take a look." The Yoshi took the map from under his armpit and offered it to Russ T.
"No thanks, I trust you've picked it out well."
"Thank you, good sir. There's also something I think you should take a look at." He handed the spyglass to Russ T. "Look out on the horizon and tell me what you see."
"Nothing so far. Wait..." The spyglass fell on a ship that was greatly magnified. Koopas were scurrying around on the deck and five Yoshis were tied to the mast. "I see a ship. And... is that Bowser's emblem on it?"
"Yes it is," the Yoshi replied. "We caught sight of the ship a while ago and were only able to make it out properly recently. It's heading right for us."
"Where did you get the spyglass?" Minh suddenly asked.
"A trader," was the answer she received.
"There are Yoshi prisoners on there," Russ T. said.
"No, Duplighosts. A while ago I was looking at the shipand saw a white sheet, a puff of smoke, and then a blue Yoshi. Four more times this happened," the Yoshi answered.
"So Bowser's forces are trying to get on the island," Kyla said.
"But why?" Minh T. asked.
"I think I have an idea," Russ T. began. "Since Bowser's minions built Crystal King's mechanical Piranha Pplant, Bowser must have known that Crystal King intended to do something here."
"You may be right," the Yoshi said.
"How did Bowser's forces get on the island, anyways?" Minh T. asked.
"He brought them around the back of the volcano, we never saw them," Kyla answered.
"But I still don't understand why Bowser would send troops here," Minh T. said.
"I think I know. Bowser knew of Crystal King's designs for power, that's why he sent him to Shiver Mountain. It was abandoned and so by the time Crystal King could muster an army to combat Bowser's, Mario would have defeated him, or him Mario. If Crystal King had disposed of Mario then Bowser could have probably taken him out at his leisure. So when he heard of strange things on Lavalava Island he added that to Crystal King's mechanical Piranha Plant."
"So that's why they're here, to stop Crystal King," Kyla breathed.
"Or so I guess," Russ T. said.
"What do you think will happen when he finds Crystal King gone?" Minh T. asked.
"Well, if your friend Russ is right about why Crystal King came here, I think Bowser will do the same. He'll make our island part of his kingdom, and I doubt that he will be a kind ruler," the blue Yoshi responded.
"But why does he have those Duplighosts disguised as Yoshis?" Russ T. inquired.
"The crew can claim they found them swimming to escape. We've lost enough that way," the Yoshi answered.
"So what do we do?" Minh T. said, squinting into the distance trying to find the ship.
"Let the Piranha Plants sort them out," Russ T. suggested.
"What do you mean?" Kyla turned towards the Toad.
"They'll go into the jungle, once they
do you can barricade the village and
we can keep them there until the Piranha
Plants finish them off," Russ T. answered.
"You're a smart Toad, how do you know so much?" The blue Yoshi asked Russ T.
"I read a lot of books and picked up a few things," Russ T. answered, blushing slightly.
"Remind me to buy some more books once I get home," Minh T. murmured.
"What should we do about the ship?" Kyla asked.
"Tell everyone to get off it and leave it here. Bowser's men will take it as a sign that we were trying to escape. Get into the village and tell everyone we'll let Bowser's men pass but then we have to set up a barricade. Warn them about the duplighosts," the blue Yoshi ordered as he started towards the village. "I'll begin organizing a few defences while you tell the villagers."
Kyla ran off to do what the Yoshi had told her to and Russ T. and Minh T. were left standing there alone. Looking around and seeing there was nothing for them to do, they started heading back to the Yoshi village at a slow pace. Their eyes were locked on the ocean, the small blotch that was Bowser's ship always the center of their attention. Russ T. realized he still held the spyglass in his hand and used it to take one last look at the ship, a touch of fear entering him as he saw the size of the crew.
"Oh my..." he breathed.
"What?" Minh T. asked.
"There are a lot more soldiers there than I'd thought."
"Relax, the Piranha Plants will take care of them."
"But what if they attack the Yoshis first?"
"They won't."
"Why not?"
"If they wanted to attack the Yoshis from the start, why would they bother with fake captives?"
"Good point."
"I just don't understand how Bowser knew that the Yoshis would need help."
"He probably has a spy network."
"Really?"
"Yeah, I bet the princess has one too."
"Come on, Russ, let's go."
Russ T. put the spyglass down and noticed most of the Yoshis had left the ship and the few that remained were heading quickly towards the village. The pair of Toads picked up their pace and walked quickly towards the Yoshi village, where they saw preparations already taking place. A few barricades that Russ T. assumed had been constructed when the piranha menace began were blocking off any entrance into the jungle.
Any of the Yoshis who still had injuries were lying around groaning theatrically and the rest were running around worriedly. Had Russ T. not saved them from the Piranha Plants two weeks ago, he would have believed the ruse. He noticed the blue Yoshi from the ship and the Yoshi chief sitting together as if they were planning something. Kyla walked up to them; she had a long cut painted on her leg with juice from a red fruit and she walked with a perfect limp.
"It would be best if you two hid behind a hut, we don't want them to know you're here," Kyla told them.
"Why?" Minh T. asked.
"Well if Bowser finds you two he might take you as hostages, a little leverage against Peach," Kyla responded.
"That makes sense," Russ T. replied.
"The chief and Davri thought it up," Kyla deflected the praise.
"Davri?" Minh T. asked, confused.
"The captain of the ship," Kyla answered.
"Oh, so that's who he was..." Russ T. murmured.
"Should we go behind some of the huts?" Minh T. volunteered.
"That should be good," Kyla said, nodding.
The loud sound of the Koopa ship running against sand came from the beach and Russ T. and Minh T. dashed off to hide. The Yoshis were all nervous but that was perfect for the situation they were supposed to be in.
"Everyone get ready." Russ T. identified the voice as belonging to Davri.
"Remove this barricade!" came a voice
from beyond the village. The troops had arrived.
Part 5
Russ T. peaked around the corner of the building and saw Davri climbing to the top of the barricade. It took only a few moments because the barricade was only half again as tall as Davri himself. The Yoshi managed to balance himself on the uneven footing provided by the barricade. Russ T. felt a touch of dread when he noticed how poorly made the barricades were, he could even see some gaping holes big enough for somebody to climb through.
“Who goes there?” Davri yelled.
“I am Captain Terlon.” Russ T. could make out the style of speech as belonging to a Shy Guy. “We ask you let us in so we may help you with your Piranha Plant problem.”
“And those Yoshis I see with your soldiers?”
“We found them trying to swim away. We rescued them.”
“Then why are they bound?”
“They tried to escape the ship and attack us, we’ve bound them for their own protection, you see.”
“Very well. You say you’re here to help us?”
“Yes, my men and I shall put an end to your Piranha Plant menace.”
“We are in dire need of help, I will not pretend otherwise. Whatever you need we will provide as best we can.”
“We simply need a path into the jungle.”
“I doubt we could move these barricades quickly, but there is a path into the jungle from the beach.”
“Very well then. We shall send your prisoners through one of the… entrances in your barricade.”
“Good.”
The sound of movement told Russ T. that the "Yoshis" were being taken into the village. The rustling of plants led him to believe that the Shy Guy had led his Koopa troops into the jungle, in search of an enemy who was not there. Words he could not make out came from the village and Russ T. could hear a shuffle of feet that led into the hut he was leaning against. A sound similar to a puff of smoke came from the hut, the Duplighosts obviously reverting to their true forms.
“Hello, Captain?” A voice came from inside the hut.
“What is it?” Before the sound came a crackling, Russ T. assumed the Duplighosts must have been on a walkie-talkie of some sort.
“The Yoshis sent us to a small hut, they think we’re resting to get back our strength.”
“Get back your strength? How much work does it take to be tied to a mast?”
“We told them that you made us do chores and tasks and such.”
“I see. Well I’ll contact you when we are ready to strike. Just remember your orders.”
“I know; I have to get the barricade out of the way as best as I can.”
“Don’t say anything out loud, you imbecile. What if somebody hears you?”
“There isn’t anyone here to hear, Captain.”
“Are you questioning me?”
“No sir.”
“Good, you know I won’t accept any backtalk.”
“Yes sir.”
“Very well, wait for me to contact you.”
“Yes sir.”
Russ T. turned towards Minh T. and silently pointed towards the hut and to his ear in a crude form of sign language. She nodded and pointed to the village, to the hut, and then to Russ T. His eyes widening, Russ T. backed up a bit and shook his head almost franticly, waving his hands. Davri noticed this and, taking it as an attempt to catch his attention, walked over to Russ T.
“What is it?” the Yoshi whispered.
“The duplighosts in there are planning to remove the barricades so the other soldiers can get into the village.” Russ T. kept his voice lower than caution merited.
“We’ll keep them under guard. We’ve already begun to loot their ship.”
“Really?”
“Yes. We met a few small Koopas and Shy Guys who are tending to the ship but we tied them up and left them in the ship’s holds.”
“What did you get?”
“We’ve taken the Bill Blasters and any spare weapons in addition to their supplies. We’ll have enough food for a siege and we even found two Banzai Bill Blasters for when they attack us.”
“Good. Can we come out now?”
“Yes, if we’re putting the Duplighosts under guard you might as well.”
“All right.”
Davri walked away and spoke to four Yoshis armed with sharpened sticks, two went inside the hut while the other two stood outside it. Russ T. and Minh T. walked into the village, eyes widening at the sight of the Yoshis hard at work. Bill Blasters had been wheeled around to the holes in the barricade and the two Banzai Bill Blasters in the center of the village were tilted slightly upwards so they could be used like mortars.
There was even a noticeable change in the Yoshis: they had only carried sticks, sharpened or otherwise, before, now they possessed actual weaponry. Hammers, pikes, maces, axes and even a few crossbows were in the hands of Yoshis running around the village. The Yoshis had found some armor on the ship but not much, only a few wore the leather vests with iron studs that served as their protection.
Russ T. could not help gawking at the sight, the quiet village looked like a military camp. Around the Bill Blasters Yoshis held pikes steady in case Bowser’s minions came at any moment. Walking atop the barricade were Yoshis with their crossbows or slings, which they had made themselves, ready to fire. Every hole was plugged up with a sharpened stick, a pike, used as an arrow hole, or just blocked by a chair or lug or something similar to that.
The Yoshi village chief walked over to Russ T. and Minh T. with a mix of pride and fear upon his face. His eyes darted around to the preparations for a battle that were happening around him, and despite the noise Russ T. could not help but hear the small sigh that came from his lips when he reached the two Toads.
“Russ T,” the chief started off, “there is no way we could possibly repay the debt we owe to you.”
“What?” Russ T. asked startled. “I didn’t do anything.”
The chief seemed not to notice the objection. “First you save us from a Piranha menace, and then if not for your incredible sleuthing skills we never would have known the Duplighosts were planning to take down the barricade. Bowser’s forces would have overrun us easily, but now I think we might stand a chance.”
Before Russ T. could protest he heard an odd hum. Without thinking he dove to his side, accidentally taking the Yoshi village chief with him. A whirling hammer landed where they had been standing moments ago.
“And now you save my life. You are truly remarkable.”
Sounds of a fight came from the hut
where the duplighosts were being held, and the Yoshis let off the first
Bill Blaster. The battle had begun.
Part 6
Russ T. found a sling in his hand and his feet atop a chair that made up part of the barricade. Bowser’s minions had concentrated their attack on one specific part of the barricade, the one that led to the beach. As a result most of the Yoshis had flocked to that part and Russ T. was on the edge of the gathering of Yoshis.
He whirled his sling and launched a rock at the Koopas who were charging at the barricade. The rock fell short of a Koopa holding a crossbow and a bolt appeared in the chest of the Yoshis next to Russ T. From overhead an Amazing Flying Hammer Bro. launched a hammer that landed right next to Russ T, sending a shower of splinters and smashed wood.
Koopas fired bolts from crossbows, hurled
hammers, and charged the
barricade. The Yoshis hurled stones,
fired Bullet and Banzai Bills, fired some crossbows of their own, and stabbed
with spears and pikes in return. Screams rang through the air and the hot
jungle sun beat down on all the soldiers.
Russ T. heard the overhead whistling
that heralded the arrival of a Banzai
Bill, and seconds later he saw the
massive missile coming into contact with a cluster of Hammer Bros. He shielded
his eyes against the blast, and the sound of the explosion mixed with screams
caused his ears to start ringing. Russ T. didn’t see so much as feel the
arrow that landed by his foot, and before he could cry out a Koopa’s hand
grabbed his leg from below the barricade.
Russ T. fell to the ground and the Koopa prepared to run him through with his sword when a pike came from a hole in the barricade. The Koopa clawed futilely at the pike through his chest and Russ T. pushed himself up off the ground. He noticed the Koopas closing around him as well as those climbing the barricade, and ripped a chair leg from the barricade. He swung it wildly around, hoping to keep the Koopas at bay, but one merely caught it in his hand.
Pulling the stick from his hand, the Koopa swung his axe downwards to split Russ T’s skull. He was saved when a bullet landed near the Koopa, the explosion sending most of the Koopas flying and Russ T. into the barricade. When he looked up he saw that the Yoshis were charging from a hole the Koopas had burst in the barricade. A figure came towards him, as it approached he could make it out as being Minh T. pushing a Bill Blaster mounted on wheels.
“Are you all right, Russ?” she asked worriedly.
“I… I’m fine,” Russ T. replied, pushing himself off the barricade.
“Good, I was worried.”
“Should we join the Yoshis?” Russ T. asked, looking at the Yoshis who had driven Bowser’s forces back to the beach.
“I’m not sure they need our help,” Minh T. responded.
“I didn’t think it would be so easy to beat Bowser’s men,” Russ T. murmured.
“You’re right, there were less of them than I’d anticipated there were.”
“I saw the same number of soldiers as I did people on the ship. I would have assumed they would have left some in their cabins.”
“Strange,” was all Minh T. said.
“I must have miscounted. Or…”
Russ T. dashed back into the village and saw
a dozen Koopas led by the Shy Guy captain
creeping over a barricade.
The Shy Guy and the Koopas paused for a moment, staring at Russ T. All the Yoshis had poured out of the village to press Bowser’s minions back to the beach, and so the village was abandoned. The slow, metallic sounds of weapons being removed from belts could be heard and the Shy Guy captain drew a cutlass. He pointed it at Russ T. and the Koopas behind him charged the little Toad.
Without thought Russ T. dove to the side and careened into a Bill Blaster. Grabbing onto it, he twisted it around to face the Koopas and fired, the missile hitting one Loopa square in the chest. The explosion knocked another down but he quickly bounded to his feet and charged with the other Koopas, weapons held high in the air. The Shy Guy captain remained atop the barricade opposite Russ T, jumping up excitedly and making cutting motions in the air with his cutlass.
Russ T. scrambled up the barricade behind him and fumbled for something, anything, to use as a weapon. He came across a hammer wedged into a table and, wresting it free, turned to face the eleven incoming Koopas. Taking his courage in both hands, he charged the Koopas, hammer held at his side ready for a horizontal swing. He stopped well short of them and swung, normally it would have missed but the lead Koopa’s momentum brought him into the hammer’s path. The force of the swing sent the Koopa flying and Russ T. spinning, the spin allowing him to barely avoid being run through by a Koopa’s spear.
A mace came into contact with his head and Russ T. was sent flying, hammer falling from his hand. He slammed into a hut and fell to the ground, narrowly avoiding an axe meant for his head. Russ T. heard the Shy Guy cry something that he couldn’t make out and suddenly the ten Koopas who had been crowding around his prone form dispersed. Russ T. faintly heard the sound of something falling and looked up to see one of the Banzai Bill Blasters had been lowered to point at him.
The Shy Guy captain was standing behind the Blaster and threw back his head, laughing as he fired. The world seemed to slow as the massive warhead crawled towards Russ T, who noticed a shape out of the corner of his eye. He turned his head to make out the form but could only see a pink head and pigtails, his glasses having fallen off when he had rammed into the hut. Eyes widening, his mouth opened into a soundless scream as the shape leapt from the ground and headed into the Banzai Bill's path.
A blinding explosion, a deafening boom, a woman’s shriek, a Shy Guy’s laugh, and a cry wordless cry of despair coming from his own mouth, the smell of ash and blood flooded Russ T’s senses. He balled his hands into fists so tight his palms began to bleed and he charged forward, the world suddenly falling under a curtain of pure crimson rage.