Chapter 26 Wise Old Bird

Together, the three explorers made their way across the island. They made sure to stay away from the towns for fear of getting Sunny severely hurt. So, they stuck many to the grassy plains. This helped the walking to be peaceful rather than anxiety inducing.

Bank was the one leading the way. Toadette admired how brave he seemed to be, how he wasn't letting anything stop the trek. And not only did he seem brave, he also seemed excited. Toadette didn't blame him for this either. She too was excited. She wanted to find the sand bird.

Speaking of which, the sand bird was now visible from where the party stood. It was resting just on a hill behind the infamous Corona Mountain. It was picking at its feathers, trying to get them clean. Toadette smirked when she realized that it would be nearly impossible for that to happen, as its wings were literally made out of sand.

Oh well. The party wasn't here to criticize the old bird. They were here to get help from it. So, Bank, Sunny, and Toadette approached the sand bird. They made sure to step with a sort of reverence.

"Excuse me? Mr. Sand Bird?" Sunny said.

The sand bird looked down at the three explorers.

"That would be Mrs. Sand Bird to you."

Toadette nearly reeled back in shock.

"You can talk? I didn't know sand birds can talk!"

The sand bird snickered.

"Of course we can talk, dear. How else would we communicate, by chirping?"

Toadette stared at the beautiful sand bird. She was in such a state of awe that she was practically mute. Bank, however, was not. He stepped toward the majestic bird with a sort of pleading, desperate expression.

"Mrs. Sand Bird, we need your help. Do you think it is at all possible that you can take us to World 2?"

"World 2?" The sand bird asked. "Why would you three want to go to World 2?"

"Because our friends have gotten captured there," said Bank. Even the tone of his voice sounded desperate now. "They encountered a Dragon there who took them away."

The eyes of the sand bird grew wide with fear.

"A dragon?"

"I'm afraid so."

The sand bird flapped her wings, sending sandy gusts of wind blowing toward the party. Toadette had to hold onto the ground with all of her strength in order to prevent herself getting blown away.

"You three must be crazy! Don't you know that dragons are our natural predators?"

Bank gulped.

"Yes, we are aware..."

"If I were to make my way to World 2, that dragon would surely kill me! I can't go there! Never!"

Bank's face fell, and Toadette's heart sank.

"Okay," Bank said in forlorn way. "Well, thank you. Sorry for wasting your time."

Bank started to walk away. Toadette felt both pity and determination fill her soul when she saw the defeated expression on his face.

"Well, looks like we aren't leaving the island," Bank said.

"Think again," said Toadette. She marched toward the magical bird, dominating an authoritative expression as she did so.

"Mrs. Sand Bird, I don't think you understand. We have no other way off the island. And if we don't leave soon, we have no idea what could happen to our friends!"

The bird looked at Toadette in pity.

"I hate to be the one to tell you this, sweetie, but it is completely possible that the Dragon has already killed your friends."

Toadette felt furious at even the suggestion.

"THEY ARE NOT DEAD!" she cried. Sunny came up and put his hand on her arm.

"Toadette..."

"I don't care what anyone says. That dragon did not kill my friends. I know they are alive, that's why I need to get there as quickly as possible!"

The sand bird looked at Toadette, both with pity and with anger.

"World 2 is a dangerous, treacherous place for a sand bird, little missy. I should know. One of my cousins used to live there."

Sunny looked at the sand bird in surprise.

"Really?"

"Yes." A sadness made the eyes of the bird shine. "I lost my cousin to a Dragon. That is why I will never go there ever again."

Toadette started to feel pity for the bird. Sunny, however, looked like he was contemplating something.

"This cousin of yours. Did they happen to lay eggs?"

The sand bird nodded.

"Yes. She laid eggs just a week before she was killed."

Suddenly, Toadette saw the sand bird from a whole different angle. She took a step forward.

"Our friends," she said. "Before we got separated, we were all going on a search for some sand bird eggs."

The eyes of Mrs. Sand Bird grew wide.

"Really?"

"Yes. We found them in the mountains."

Mrs. Sand Bird squawked.

"That's where my cousin laid her eggs!" She leaned down so that she was at Toadette's eye level. "Child, do you know what happened to them?"

Toadette exchanged a look with Sunny and Bank.

"The dragon captured them along with our friends," she finally said.

Mrs. Sand Bird looked distraught by this news.

"We believe," Sunny said. "That if we manage to get to World 2, we just might be able to save them. But the problem is, no one on this island trusts a Dragon koopa like me."

Mrs. Sand Bird thought about this before reorienting herself.

"Hop on my back. I'm taking you to World 2."

Toadette's heart soared.

"Really?" Bank said in shocked excitement. Mrs. Sand Bird nodded.

"Yes. I won't sit back and let my cousin's eggs get eaten."

Toadette, Sunny, and Bank hopped onto the back of Mrs. Sand Bird. Sunny patted her on the head.

"Thank you very much."

Mrs. Sand Bird smiled.

"It's the least I can do." She spread her wings. "Now, hold on tight!"

With that, the four of them ascended into the air.