Dislcaimer: None of the characters from the realm of Nintendo, including Mario characters, belong to me.

Chapter Seven

"Never fear, he won't be long." A voice mocked the prisoners.

It hadn't been long, yet seemed like forever had past. "Black Ninjakoopa?" Toad whispred.

"What?" Came the reply.

"Who's Kamek?"

At that, Black Ninjakoopa nearly choked. "You're kidding me, right?" He asked.

"Um, no, not really."

"Good grief, kid. You've never heard of Kamek the magikoopa?"

"So he's a magikoopa?"

Once again, Black Ninjakoopa nearly choked. "Not just a magikoopa, he's the magikoopa. The one who raised Bowser from a child. The one responsible for all this. The most powerful, most terrifying, most dangerous, most cunning of all magikoopas." He was silent for a second. "Except for maybe his sister." He added thoughtfully.

"Who's that?" Toad asked, confused.

"Kammy.Don't tell me you've never heard of her."

"No, I know who she is." Replied Toad, slightly annoyed. He wasn't a moron. "She's the one that kidnapped the Princess. I just didn't know they were related."

"Very few do. They can't stand each other. The best way to get on one's good side is to turn against the other. The hard part is deciding who you want to go with. The secret is to decide who you don't want against you."

"Which would that be?"

"It depends. Kamek is very powerful, but Kammy has more power in the castle. That, and Kammy's more likely to get mad and drop a block on your head. That's usually what does it. People usually side with Kammy."

"Drop a block on your head?" Toad asked.

"Yeah. She seems to enjoy doing that. And let me tell you, it doesn't feel very good."

"So you sided with Kamek?"

"More or less. I can't stand backstabbers."

"Oh."

More conversation was cut off by the arrival of a magikoopa. "That must be Kamek." Toad whispered to himself.

He was quiet, calm, and dignified, but something about him seemed to say, "Don't mess with me, you'll get hurt." His face was unreadable, and his eyes were hidden behind opaque circular glasses. He wore robes of blue.

He turned and looked the prisoners over. "What have we here?" He asked softly. "A toadstool, a yoshi, and a ninjakoopa." He paused for less than a second. "No, not just any toadstool, yoshi, and ninjakoopa. The Princess' royal guardian, Mario's pet, and one Black Ninjakoopa. Have you turned against us?" He asked curiously. "Pity. No matter. You will all soon be gone."

"Toad." Black Ninjakoopa hissed. "When they pull the net off of us, charge Kamek. We may be able to escape."

"Right." Toad doubted that it would actually work, but it was better than nothing. Apparently Black Ninjakoopa didn't think it likely to suceed either. Toad braced himself to spring.

"Now!" Black Ninjakoopa cried.

They charged the magikoopa, who didn't seem suprised in the least. All the same, he couldn't stop the three from getting past him, and the other villains were unable to catch up with them.

Black Ninjakoopa led them quickly through the castle, and through the entrance. Although out of the castle, the trio continued for fifteen more minutes or so.

"How did we escape?" Panted an out of breath Toad.

"Hippa?" Echoed Yoshi.

"We shouldn't have." Replied Black Ninjakoopa. "That is for certain."

"He knew we were going to do that." Toad pointed out.

"So it appeared. Nothing surprises Kamek. Ever." Black Ninjakoopa agreed.

"He knew where we were."

"Of course. We must be more careful henceforth."

"Definitely." Toad agreed.

"Hippa!" Yoshi echoed fervently, nodding,"