Chapter 30

Next Stop: Lavalava Island

Light of the early sun poured into the windows, illuminating the small cabins of the Amphitrite. The brightly and warmth stirred the slumbering Princess. She sleepily opened one eye before rolling on her stomach, pillow over her head to block out the unwelcoming rays. Daybreak came too soon she still wanted to doze off.

Might as well get ready… I hope I didn't shrink too much during the night.

She tossed the white sheets off her, revealing a light cotton gown she wore to bed. She changed quickly into her pink dress and brushed the tangles out of her hair. The cabin she occupied was small but haimish, and it had a simple bureau. It did not take her long to get ready since she had no cosmetics and had to do without.

Slightly satisfied with her appearance, she left the room and hurried down the small passageway and onto the desk. The azure sky was clear with the small exception of a few scattered clouds, and the last of her drowsiness vanished. Some of her companions wandered on the desk, while others gazed over the ocean to the small tropical island in the distance. Luigi was near the bow, eyeing the destination nervously, and Peach joined him.

"So this is Lavalava Island," she said, trying to strike up a conversation with the plumber. "Too bad we have a purpose to fulfill; the beaches look wonderful for relaxing."

"A nice long vacation after this adventure sounds good," he said, a smile tugging on the corner of his mouth.

"Agreed."

The schooner anchored off the bay of Lavalava Island, and the crew quickly placed the gangplank from the ship to the bordering jungle.

"This is the end, mates," said Kai. "We'll be heading to Seaside now. Don't worry, you can travel to Toad Town via warp pipe and there are other warp pipes that lead back to the Mushroom Kingdom."

The adventures thanked them and departed from the Amphitrite, waving at the sailors. When the ship had left the bay they trekked across the sandy shore between the clear ocean and the lush jungle.

"Wow," said Mallow. "This is awesome. I would love to rest here one day. Are there any inhabitants here?"

"Yoshi, Cheep Cheeps, and Ravens live in the village," informed Peach, "but there are native Shy Guys that dwell in the Jade Jungle."

"What is the volcano called?" asked Geno.

"Mt. Lavalava," she answered.

"Dudes, the people who named the island were pretty creative," said Toad sarcastically. "Lemme guess what they call the village: 'Yoshi's Village?'"

"Actually," said Peach, pointing up ahead, "you're correct."

Above them was a long wooden sign bearing the name 'Yoshi's Village'. Mt Lavalava loomed in the distance, laval oozing out of the top and down the mountain, entering a ravine eroded by the continuous flowing hot molten rock. There were few houses in the village, a toad house and a store where the only real buildings, and the toad house didn't even have a roof!

"Hey, everyone! It's Mario!"

Suddenly Luigi was swarmed by a small group of Yoshis, each one clambered over him,

"Tell us a story!"

"You came back! Any tales?"

"The Fearsome Five are glad to – hey! You're not Mario!"

The Yoshi kids jumped off him and disappeared as quickly as they came. The plumber stood there, confused, stunned and a little dejected all at once.

"What was that all about?"

"Oh, I'm terribly sorry about the incident," a blue Yoshi answered Luigi. "It's just that they had quite an adventure when Mario arrived and since then they wished for him to return to tell them more about his journeys."

"Thank you for explaining," said the Princess, who curtsied. "By the way, has anything unusual occurred in the past few days?"

"Um, yes, now that you mention it," replied the Yoshi. "Not long ago a star-shaped object fell into Mt. Lavalava. The villagers, including me, are worried that it might affect the volcano's natural activities. This is not good. Something similar happened last year when some creep imprisoned a star-like being in the mountain."

Bowser saw the sly smirks of his partners as they glimpsed at him, and he grumbled quietly to himself, ignoring their simpers.

"What is the best way to enter the volcano?" questioned Geno and the Yoshi pondered.

"Um, if you continue, you will reach the canyon before Mt. Lavalava. There should be a device of some sort that will transport you to the entrance of the volcano."

"Great," boosted Mallow, "because we'll be the ones who will retrieve the Star in the volcano and make sure it won't erupt."

"The Village Leader will be pleased," said the inhabitant gratefully. "But, I think you should leave your child behind, it might give our Yoshi Kids bad ideas."

"I'm not a youngster," the short Princess corrected.

"Oh, my mistake," apologized the local.

What is he talking about? Thought Peach. When I talked to the Chancellor he didn't say I looked like a youngster… Wait! What if that blasted spell is still working? What if it's still affecting me?"

"Luigi," she whispered, "there is something imperative I think I should tell you, but not here."

Without hearing his reply, she grabbed his hand and led them away from a group. Being a large tree the plumber released her hand and knelt down.

"Don't worry, we'll convince the Yoshi you're not a youngster."

"That's not the problem, Luigi," she responded frantically. "When Dais – er, I mean, when someone wished for me to be cut down to size it shrunk me slightly. The wish is still lingering, affecting my height, and well… I don't think it'll stop…"

"Mamma mia, this isn't good," he exclaimed. "You mean you could be smaller than a meatball?"

"Worse than that," she said grimly, "it'll probably continue until I'm not in existence anymore."

"We better find that Star Piece then," replied Luigi, "and wish you back to normal… I don't want to carry you around in my pocket."