Chapter 18: Inside the Volcano

The three Toads came back into the castle basement after getting washed up from the waterfall behind the castle.

"Well, that was quite an experience." Toad said.

"Yup, just a few more stars before we get to Bowser. What's next, guys?" Toadette asked.

"Maybe a painting down here somewhere is there." Yellow Toad said.

The three trekked deeper into the dark dungeon, but they found nothing.

"Oh, c'mon! Where'd that portal go?" Toadette was looking for it but all she found was torches. So she held up the torch so high that it lit up a very unpleasant portrait depicting a fireball that resembles Bowser's face, which startled the Toads.

"Heh. What do ya know? The portal's right here! Well, let's go." Toad said.

"Are you sure it's safe to go in there? Because that painting does not look very friendly." Yellow Toad said.

"Ah, relax. It's probably Bowser trying to scare us effortlessly. We'll be fine. No worries, right?" Toadette said.

The trio then jumped in the painting and landed into...

Lethal Lava Land

The three heroic Toads landed on a narrow platform surrounded by an entire sea of lava.

"I told you it wasn't safe! Now look at this. We are surrounded by lava and we're probably gonna get burnt by it because I don't see any stars here!" Yellow Toad said.

"Relax, Yellow. We'll be fine. There's gotta be some stars around here somewhere. Since this area is open than some earlier ones, let's split up." Toad said. "We'll meet over at that platform that's spinning like a wheel surrounding the volcano."

"Got it, Toad!" Toadette said.

"Okay then." Yellow Toad said.

Toad walked over to an area where he saw the giant sliding puzzle with Bowser's image which appeared to be solving itself.

"Maybe if I wait here until it's solved, I might be able to get a star." Toad said to himself.

The puzzle managed to solve itself, but all that was left was just coins. No star there.

"Nope." Toad sighed.

Then the puzzle started to unsolve itself and the one before Toad was the first to move. Toad looked down to see he was above lava.

"Uh-oh." Toad fell in and bounced out of the lava screaming "AAAAAAAHHHHH!"

Meanwhile, Yellow Toad hopped across the platforms in his way. It was easy for him because he can jump than either Toad or Toadette. Yellow Toad soon got to a platform where he saw these bullies with horns and angry red eyes.

"Uh...excuse me?" Yellow Toad said, as he poked the Bully. "Have you seen any shiny stars around here?"

The bullies whispered to each other for a second and then one of them had to charge at Yellow Toad.

"Wait! I don't mean to get in your way, I just-" The Bully pushed Yellow Toad into the lava, which got himself burned as well. He screamed "HA-HA-HOT!"

Then Toadette was on a large log balancing and looking for a star but no luck.

"Nope." Toadette sighed. She suddenly lost her balance and also burned herself screaming "OUCHIE!"

4 painful minutes later...

The three Toads met at the volcano where they were all burnt in ash.

"No luck." Yellow Toad sighed. "Can we please go back, Toad?!"

"No way, Yellow-ay! There's a star in every main area. And this cannot be an exception." Toad said.

"Isn't there a place we haven't looked yet?" Toadette asked.

"You know...now that you mentioned it..." Toad said. Then he backflipped into the volcano with the other two jaw-dropping.

"Uh...I'm going too." Toadette said as she jumped in to follow Toad. Yellow Toad shuddered and climbed up carefully, to make sure the volcano was not erupting and fell in without warning.

The three landed on a small platform inside the volcano.

"Whoa! I can't believe we're actually in a volcano!" Yellow Toad said.

"I have a feeling this won't be the last time it happens." Toad said.

"Look!" Toadette was pointing at a glowing object, as well as the two Toads.

"The star!" Toad and Yellow Toad said in unison.

"How are we gonna get up there?" Toad asked.

Toad saw a pole sticking out of the lava that was just out of reach.

"Well, we'll just climb that pole up. How about that?" Toad said.

"How are we gonna reach that without burning our backs again?" Toadette asked.

"All we need is a little teamwork! Now, Toadette, hop on my shoulders." Toad said.

Toadette put her feet on Toad's shoulders and stood up.

"Now, Yellow, hop on Toadette's shoulders." Toad said.

Yellow Toad jumped on Toadette's shoulders, causing her to say "Oof!"

"Sorry!" Yellow Toad said.

"Alright, here's the plan, Yellow. I'm gonna swing you over to the pole and your job is to grab it. You got that?" Toad asked.

"But what if I fall down?" Yellow Toad asked.

"Relax. As long as Toadette holds on to your feet and I hold on to hers, you'll be fine." Toad replied,

"Alright." Yellow Toad said.

"In 3, 2, 1!" Toad swang Yellow Toad over to the pole!

And Yellow Toad wraps his arms around the pole with his eyes closed. When he opens them, he's relieved.

"I did it! I did it! I Toadally rock!" Yellow Toad said.

"So...what do we do now?" Toadette asked.

"We swing up this pole...like acrobats!" Toad said.

Toad started running to build up momentum and they started swinging up the pole. Toadette and Yellow Toad weren't having a good time, but Toad was.

Soon they reached the top of the pole where they shot right to the star.

"That was really crazy! We could make the olympics with that kind of style!" Yellow Toad said.

"Hmm...you know, maybe we could do that one day." Toad said. "And I hope I bought my athletic shirt."

"I hope I bought mine, too. I wonder what olympics we'd do. I think it'd be best to try out the hurdles." Toadette said.

"I don't know if that would work. For all I'd watch you jump through the hurdles and run all the way to the finish." Toad said.

"Heh! Yeah. Or we'd be doing the Hammer Throw where you throw the hammer way as high as a bird!" Yellow Toad said.

"Or Archery where you have to shoot your arrow to the target to get the big score." Toadette said.

The three then laughed.

"Alright, enough with the athletic olympic talk. Let's head back to the castle!" Toad said.