Chapter 22 A Long Night

Toadette was still feeling grumpy even as she settled down into her bed. She tried watching the sunset while standing outside on the balcony, but that did very little to help. As a matter of fact, the strong reds just made her even more furious.

Wind whipped at Toadette's pigtails as she stood on the balcony. She took a glance back in the room, where she could see Sunny lying in a ball on his bed. Bank was approaching the sliding glass door.

"I think you might want to come in," he told Toadette. "It's getting dark."

Toadette nodded, despite the fact that she wasn't in any mood to be surrounded by people. She gently closed the door once she stepped inside and went over to Sunny. Seeing him curled up in a feeble position was enough to transform Toadette's anger into pity.

"You okay, Sunny?" she asked.

Sunny barely even acknowledged her presence. This made Bank frustrated.

"Hey, the lady is talking to you," he said. "I think it would only be acceptable if you do something. Unless you are that traumatized."

That was enough to get Sunny to turn toward them. However, he didn't look sad anymore. He looked mad.

"You just don't know what it's like," he said, almost in a shout. "I have been working my tail off, trying to get people to see past the scaly surface. And yet, here we are."

Sunny rolled back over onto his side. Toadette put her hand on his shoulder.

"Sunny..."

"Don't," Sunny said as he batted her hand away. "That's not going to change anything."

Toadette felt a pang of pain. She didn't know how to respond to this. If Sunny was this distraught...

"You know what? You're right." She sat down beside him on the bed. She could hear sniffles come from his nose.

"I miss Duneshine," he said quietly. Upon hearing that, Bank actually looked a little curious.

"How in the world did you come across Duneshine in the first place?"

Sunny sighed.

"I kind of came across it by accident. I...I was tired of serving in the Koopa Troop. I wanted to escape it all, find a place I could truly call home. The Koopa Kingdom never offered me anything except military service, and they didn't try to pretend that they offered more either. And I was just so TIRED of it all. I was tired of people always judging me because of what I was. I didn't want to be a Koopa troop member! I didn't even choose to be a Koopa!"

Sunny wiped his eyes dry of tears. Toadette felt even more sympathetic towards him.

"But I don't suspect you to understand," Sunny said. "You two are Toads. You don't have to deal with this kind of stuff."

Toadette exchanged a look with Bank, who scoffed.

"Man, you REALLY don't know a thing about Toads, man."

"Yeah," said Toadette. "There are stereotypes aimed at Toads as well. We are too cowardly, we are too shrill." Toadette sighed. "I've always hated that first one in particular. People don't seem to realize that there are some pretty courageous Toads out there. But they have seen how the guards act whenever Peach is about to get kidnapped, and make an assumption based on that."

"Yeah," Bank said. "It really grinds my gears." He sat down on the edge of the bed. "And honestly, I think that is part of the reason why Captain wanted to form the Brigade."

Sunny stared at Bank in wonder.

"I never knew that."

"You never asked," Bank said with a shrug.

Sunny started to look contemplative.

"You know, now that I think about it, all the stereotypes you mentioned make sense." He shook his head. "It doesn't mean that it's okay that they are there."

"You're right," Toadette replied. "I imagine that those stereotypes have made a lot of people hesitant to approach Toads."

Sunny only nodded. There was a new kind of understanding in his eyes, a new kind of empathy. Just before he could say anything more, however, Bank let out a sigh.

"Well, it looks like the sun has completely set. I think we need to head to bed."

Toadette could only nod in response. She had a feeling that a long, restless night awaited her.