XIV

The boats slowly approached the shores of Lavalava island. As there were no docks, they both pulled up steadily against the side of the shore. Planks were carefully lowered so the passengers could leave the boats safely.

"Easy, now," Admiral Bobbery grunted as he escorted Grubba and Igor off his boat. "Whew! Good thing I got this map, or I would have been bloody lost and confused! But then again, there is that other vessel to follow… hmm. I guess it doesn't matter too well."

Grubba said nothing. Igor, however, observed the scenery.

"Very pleasant," he mused. "A much better sight than the Forest, I must say. I'd bet coins the other boos would freak out, being in the sunlight like this."

"Will you be needing a ride back?" Bobbery questioned.

"Yes, thank you," Igor answered. "Doesn't look like the other boat's staying."

They watched as the transport boat the rest of the gang had taken prepared to disembark from the island.

"Very well," Bobbery said as he attempted to tie his boat against something.

Grubba was speechless. He hadn't said a word since they left.

"What's up with you?" snorted Igor impatiently. "You've been acting like a mute since we left those woods."

"This…" Grubba began, but he stopped. "Never mind… it doesn't matter."

He tromped off with the others as they left to walk alongside the beach in exploration. Igor, his face showing confusion, followed, Bobbery quietly following them.

-

"Man, I hope those g-dogs aren't too down."

"Who are you kidding, K? They're bummed down to the bone. I mean, they just lost two of their companions. I probably wouldn't be able to stand that."

"You're right, Andy. I guess we'll just have to wait for them to cheer up."

The pair was in hushed conversation, with Jimbrey dragging himself along beside them. Cleftor ambled along silently, quietly staring into the jungle.

"You guys be careful, now," Bobbery called down alongside the rolling shores they strode beside. "There are some jungle fuzzies out here, so be careful! They're very hostile."

"Feh!" Jimbrey grumbled. "Fuzzies! What bother are they to anyone? We could whoop them easily."

"I hear ya, bro," K agreed. "Fuzzies? W-E-A-K!"

"Don't get cocky," Bandy Andy warned. "They're rather vicious in groups."

"I'll say," Igor muttered as he joined them. "Forest Fuzzies are bad enough."

He reached out his small arm to King K. "I don't believe I was able to introduce myself properly. My name's Igor Boozemski. Pleased to meet you."

As K shook his hand, he eyed the boo. "Sweet 'Stache, homie! Kinda reminds me of Gonzales!"

Igor made a face. "Who?"

Before K could answer, there came a call from Professor Frankly, who was in the front of the group with Goombella.

"Look out!" he yelled, rushing back with Goombella. "Fuzzies!"

A squad of at least five fuzzies came charging out of the jungle at them.

"We can take them!" King K challenged. "Come on, gang, rough 'em up!"

He, Andy, and Jimbrey jumped straight into them. A dust cloud formed as the teams began to brawl.

"Shouldn't we help them?" asked Igor awkwardly.

Grubba shrugged helplessly. "They can handle themselves."

He was soon proved wrong, however, when Jimbrey was sent sprawling from the cloud.

"I'm going in!" yelled Bobbery, lighting his fuse and charging in. There was an explosion, and the five fuzzies were burnt to crisps. They fell blackened and defeated as Bobbery turned back into his normal form.

"Ugh! Weird feeling, that is."

He turned to K and Andy. "You chaps alright?"

Aside from some scratches and bruises, they would make do.

"We're fine, dog," K assured. "That was a nifty move. Way to knock those fools up!"

"Well, I try," Bobbery said, flattered.

Frankly turned back to the jungle.

"No way! Here come more!"

They saw four more fuzzies at the edge of the trees.

"No problem!" K said. "Just light this ol' boy up and he'll blow their minds!"

"Ready when you are," Andy nodded to Bobbery.

Before Bobbery could do anything in response, two strange looking dinosaurs charged out of nowhere and stopped beside the fuzzies. One was a dark blue color, the other red.

"Which ones do you want?"

"I'll take the two on the right."

"Suit yourself."

They devoured the fuzzies without any other words, two each. When they finished, they turned to the gang.

"You guys alright?" asked the blue one.

"I know your kind!" cried out Goombella, who hadn't said a word since they arrived. "You're… you're Yoshis! Yeah!"

"Darn tootin'!" cheered the red one. Then he took notice of the young goomba. "Say… you look… familiar. Do I know you?"

"I don't think so," said Goombella, bemused.

The yoshi didn't take too much thought on it. "Well. I guess not. Anyway, I'm Serge, and this here is Oliver."

The blue yoshi nodded his hello.

"Welcome to the Yoshi's village," he said, pointing towards a sign that doubled as an archway. "If you'll just follow us, we'll take you to our elder."

As the group followed the pair of dinosaurs, Goombella was deep in thought. Taking notice, Frankly asked, "What's up? You all right?"

"I'm fine," Goombella replied. "It's just that… Serge… Serge… I know I've heard that name before!"

"Oddly enough, I feel the same way," Frankly muttered. "Ah, well, it'll come to us eventually. Unless it's just a weird feeling."

Goombella had her doubts.

-

The leader and elder of the village was a fat, pudgy green yoshi who wore a feather on his head. When the guards, Serge and Oliver, arrived with the large group of visitors, he nearly jumped out of his skin.

"I'll be!" he exclaimed. "Serge, Oliver, where did these folks come from? Speak!"

Serge stepped forward. "We haven't asked yet, sir. We thought we'd bring them to you first."

The leader nodded. "I suppose I can understand that. Can I have any volunteers to answer my question?"

Grubba stepped forward.

"Erm, well, we're all from different places, er, and we sorta banded together like some sort o'… motley crew… and we're searchin' for a treasure."

"Treasure?" the leader asked, frowning. "Reminds me of another adventurer a long while back… although it was a bit different… I'm sorry, you were saying?"

"Uhm… yeah," Grubba continued. "Anyway, our next clue was to search Lavalava island, so… yeah, here we are, and things."

"Hmmm," the leader said after hearing the clubba's words. "Well, seeing as we allow visitors, I guess you're all welcome to stay here until you're ready to leave. There's an inn farther in the village if any of you desire rest."

"I could use some sleep," Goombella said, yawning. "I thought it was night back in that forest! Well, it almost is night now, but… whew, am I tired! And after all that's happened…"

She said no more.

"How many beds are there?" Frankly asked.

"Just one," responded Oliver.

"I see," Frankly muttered. "You guys don't mind, right?"

"Not at all," King K shrugged. "I'm not tired. You guys?"

"I kinda am," Jimbrey responded, still dazed from the blow from the jungle fuzzies. "But I digress; I'll just sleep on the floor or something."

"Nonsense," the leader spoke up. "Oliver, see to it that the inn keeper sets up any comfortable means of sleep for this… man?"

"Yeah, man works," mumbled Jimbrey. "Better than anything else, I guess. But I am a bandit."

As Oliver left, the leader's eyebrows rose.

"Bandit?" I've heard of your kind…"

"Don't worry, we won't rob you," Bandy Andy quickly said. "We only do that in combat."

The leader nodded wordlessly.

"Well, I suppose that's all," Bobbery said. "I don't know about you old beans, but I'm dying for a spiffin' drink!"

"Just go to the shop," Serge directed. "You know what, I'm thirsty too! I'll take you to it."

They both left. Then, the group split apart into smaller groups, exploring the village.

-

Bandy Andy and Jimbrey eventually joined Bobbery and Serge in the Item Shop for Tasty Tonics, as well as Special Shakes, which were made from melons and being exclusively sold.

"These sure are tasty," Andy goggled after several drinks of the tonic. "I'm kinda dizzy, though."

"Hey, I'm feeling a little weird over here," Jimbrey muttered, wandering off to the other side of the room into a corner.

"Maybe we should go outside?" suggested Bobbery. "I'm pretty sure those two aren't going to be so great for customers."

"Eh, I don't mind," the item shop keep shrugged. "I'm making too much money to care."

Serge observed Bobbery's tonic glass. "Y'know, don't these cure poison and all that?"

"They might," muttered Bobbery. "Why?"

"Because, you know, I don't think it's meant to be used as a beverage… multiple times."

"Poppycock," Bobbery disagreed. "Us old coots drink it all the time! Although, those young chaps have had enough, I think."

Andy fell to the floor, giggling insanely. Jimbrey remained in his corner of the room, staring blankly at the wall.

"Yeah," Serge slowly agreed. "I'm gonna get them some Shakes and send 'em outside, it'll cool them down."

After ordering the drinks, he helped Andy up and dragged Jimbrey away from the corner. Giving them both the shakes, he ushered the outside and returned to converse with Bobbery more.

"That was easy," he muttered. "Well, I guess they won't be bothering us anymore."

"Actually, I'm kinda disappointed," the shop keep spoke up. "I was makin' good money for those drinks."

"There's still us, you know," Bobbery grunted.

"Yeah, I suppose that's true."

-

Goombella and Frankly were enjoying the village. Goombella had lightened up, and actually seemed happy, despite her tremendous losses. As they passed Bandy Andy and Jimbrey, who were going in the other direction, she stared at them.

"Are they drunk?" she inquired.

"No other way to put it," Frankly tipped his head in a would-be shrug. "Let's move on, shall we?"

The bandits returned to the first area of the Yoshi village, staring into the water that lapped around the small bridged islands that were separated from the land.

"I bet I can hold my breath underwater longer than you can!" hiccupped Jimbrey in a challenge.

"Oh, you're on!" Andy accepted, and rather loudly.