Chapter 11

Red, White, and Green

Two cloaked figures left the Magikoopa lounge, each armed with a wand. If any guard spotted them, he or she would think it was suspicious how they appeared to creep around each corner, or how they kept glancing behind them. Luckily, no one paid attention, since everyone had their own orders to worry about. Peach and Toad hurried past Goombas, Dry Bones, and many others of Bowser's goons. There was no sight of King Koopa, and they started to despair of finding him.

"It's no use, the castle is too big," said Peach downheartedly, but Toad would not give up.

"We'll find him, don't worry," he said fervently. "Let's try that passageway, maybe Bowser is nearby."

"Who are you?"

The new voice startled them and they spun around. Peach kept her face down while Toad took a step forward. The newcomer was a Magikoopa clad in green. He peered at them suspiciously, but he seemed quite young and inexperienced.

"We're the extra guards that King Koopa orders," lied Toad, "but… We have never entered the Sky Castle before, so could you tell us where our Koopa King is?"

"Sure thing, follow me. What are your names by the way?"

"Names?" Toad squeaked. "Er…"

"I'm Almida and this is Er… Erasmus," said the Princess calmly, remembering names from various visitors while Toad sighed in relief, "and who might you be?"

"Jazel," he replied simply as the trio marched up another flight of stairs. They said little after that, and the silence helped Toad think of another scheme. Pondering, Peach wondered if she would ever return home. For all these years she relied on Mario to save her and now he was against her.

A few minutes, Jazel stopped in front of a large wooden door with ringed handles.

"This is the Sky Castle Control Centre," explained the real Magikoopa. "King Bowser should be in there."

Peach and Toad waited until Jazel was out of sight, and quietly slipped inside the room. The Control Centre reminded her of the bridge of a ship, it even included a helm. The room was crawling with working flunkies. A yellow-robed Magikoopa steered the helm while two Koopatrols were scurrying along, pressing buttons and muttering in low voices. The sun's rays beamed through the huge glass window, and Peach was that the Sky Castle was still drifting over a desert. Bowser stood in the centre, looking gruff at the blue-robed sorcerer who bowed before him.

"King Bowser, we'll be out of the Sarasaland Desert by tonight," the wizard said gently, but Koopa was outraged by the news.

"By tonight!?" he roared, scaring the other flunkies. "That's too long! Can't it go any faster?"

"O, Great One," the Magikoopa replied humbly, "we are going as fast as we can. I promise we'll reach Iron Mountain by tomorrow."

"You darn well better," Koopa replied in a sharp steel voice. "Forgeron doesn't like to wait and his temper is even worse than mine."

"I-I understand, Sir," the flunky stuttered before backing away to the door. Peach and Toad split to let the sorcerer through. He slammed the door, making everyone jump. Then Bowser spotted the pair of unauthorized Magikoopas in the Control Room.

"You two," growled the overgrown turtle. "What are YOU doing here?"

Toad hurried up to Bowser, and bowed his head.

"King Koopa, our prisoners have escaped," said Toad. "What should we do?"

"Both of them?"

"Yes," said Peach, disguising her voice, "we came all the way to tell you."

Bowser gave Peach a hard stare and she averted her eyes, praying he did not see through her attire. Bowser directed his attention to his adherents.

"Find them!" ordered King Bowser Koopa. "And do not leave any room unchecked!"

"Yes, sir!" they shouted, disappearing from the room, glad to not be in Bowser's presence. Peach and her retainer followed behind the flunkies, pretending to obey Koopa's orders. When they reached the door, Toad shut it with a bang and they turned back to Koopa, who was shocked by their actions.

"What are you two doing?" he yelled. "Go find my captives!"

The Princess pulled back the hood that hid her face, her blonde hair tumbling down. Pointing her want at Bowser threateningly, she said in a serious tone, "Take me back home this instant you overgrown reptile."

Surprised that he had been tricked, Bowser took awhile to regain his voice.

"I can't take you back," Bowser said meekly. "This castle is on an automatic course to Iron Mountain."

"Well, we better change the course then," she said, walking up to the control centre, her fingers hovering over the many coloured buttons.

"It's the yellow button," said Koopa.

"Wait a darn second!" said Toad censoriously. "How do we know you're telling the truth?"

"You won fair and square, I admit defeat," he replied weakly, but Toad still had doubt, while Peach nodded.

"All this time I thought you were nothing but a scheming, cheating, lying, Koopa," she said kindly. "I guess there IS some good in you."

Peach pressed the button and an alarm sounded throughout the castle. She glared at Koopa angrily, who was laughing wickedly.

"You are a gullible bunch," he said smugly. "I guess that's from hanging around with those Mario Brothers."