Traversing the Castle Grounds, searching for any potential route inside the Castle, Mario and Yoshi found themselves standing once more outside the closed iron gate at the entrance of the drawbridge. The windows were few and far between, all of which were far too high to climb and to small to crawl through. There was no second entrance or hidden entrance that could be detected. They only had one way in and one way out.
"Yoshi we have to find a way through the gate." Mario admitted as he wrapped his hand around a thick bar. "I can't squeeze between the bars and I'm not strong enough to break them. Do you have any ideas?"
Yoshi stepped back and scanned the bars for inspiration. As his eyes scaled the top of the gate an idea popped in his head. Pointing to the top of the bars Yoshi jumped up, fluttered and began climbing slowly up the smooth bars.
"That was a good one!" Mario happily cheered as he followed his loyal friend up the gate.
Yoshi peaked the top of the gate and waited for Mario to catch up. Afterward he balanced at the top of the gate and motioned with his nose for Mario to jump down and infiltrate the Castle.
Hopping down on the stone entryway Mario straightened his cap and looked back up at Yoshi. "I'll get Daisy and make it back here as soon as possible."
Yoshi nodded as began the patient wait for Mario and Daisy's return.
The sun crossed the top of the sky as noon set it. Sunlight struggled to break through the dense cloud cover as the day crept on at a dreary, nerve racking pace. Ominous shadows stretched across the Castle Grounds, bathing the already desolate land in darkness, sending a shiver down Yoshi's spine.
Luigi struggled for breath as he tossed restlessly in the bed. The physical strain put on his body, combined with the severity of his injuries had left the downed hero prone to infection. The fever that raged his body was intense and showed little sign of ending.
Peach pressed a cool cloth against Luigi's forehead and smoothed it out. Laying her hand on top of his she continued to speak softly to ease his delirium.
Toadette had returned to Luigi's Private Chamber with fresh water and a clean towel neatly folded on a silver tray. "Your Highness, how Master Luigi doing?"
Peach turned to the humble maiden and smiled. "He's strong and holding his own. I just wish his fever would break."
"So do I." Toadette agreed sadly as she sat the tray down on the nearby table. "He was always so kind to everyone, and so brave. It'd be awful to lose such a noble hero."
Luigi suddenly sat upright in his bed and stared blankly into nothingness. "MARIO!"
Peach put her hands on his shoulders an gently eased him back down on the bed. "Shhhhh! It's okay!"
Luigi's body slowly relaxed as he laid back on the bed, his fever strained eyes now wide with unknown fear.
"Toadette, please go to the infirmary and check for any potions that can ease his fever!"
"Right away Your Highness!" Toadette dashed from the Private Chambers without a moment's hesitation.
"Luigi, please be still!" Peach begged as she replaced the cold compress with the fresh one delivered by Toadette. "Everything will be okay! You're not alone."
Luigi's eye managed to find Peach's and focused. "P-Princess? You're... okay?"
"Yes. I am." She smiled warmly. "And you will be too, rest."
Luigi sighed in relief as he shut his heavy, tired eyes. His body completely relaxing as he fell into a deep slumber.
Peach squeezed his had reassuringly as she sat on the edge of the bed. "Please... Hold on."
Daisy sat on the floor of her cold cell, her arms folded and her knees pulled to her chest in an effort to stave off the chill. Unable to see past the Castle Grounds and unable to escape, she sat in her cell listening to the odd sounds emanating from the Castle. Chains jingling against the wall, dripping water from unseen leak in the corridor, the crackling of the torches that lit the corridor and heavy foot steps of Tatanga as he stomped around his Castle.
"Please Peach, Mario, Luigi... Don't forget about me!" She sighed as she buried her face again her arms. "Be safe..."
Mario crept through the Castle at a snail's pace, his body pressed against the stone walls as he moved. The torches along the walls created shadows from the Gothic architecture that designed and filled every chamber of the massive Castle. Ducking behind stone pillars and large suits of barbaric armor, Mario avoided any and all detection from the small squadron of minions patrolling the interior of the Castle.
Instinctively Mario wanted to check the lower floors of the Castle for the dungeon but remembered that he wasn't dealing with Bowser or any other enemy he had conquered before. Tatanga was different. His troops were focused on the upper floors of the Castle, which meant something very important was being kept higher up.
Following his hunch Mario began ascending the Castle, entering the single tall tower that loomed over the moat.
...to be continued...
