CHAPTER 8

The inside of the Volcano is swelteringly hot. Peach stands near the entrance to the volcano. She takes out her pocket mirror and uses it to reflect light on the ground. Suddenly, the ground begins to sparkle, and a path appears.

"How did you know about this path? It has been a secret only revealed to the Chiefs of this Island" Asks Yashil.

"When I was a child, I visited this very place with my father during the war. I learned the secrets of the Volcano from a previous chief and used them to escape when these islands were attacked by the Red Toads."

"Wait...your father" Yashil realizes something. "Your father banished the Green Toads to this island!"

"Yes," Peach admits. "He thought that I was too young to remember the slaughtering of your people. He was wrong! Yashil, I am deeply sorry for everything he has done...but he is still my father."

"...At least you have your father," says Yashil. "My father was among those that yours slaughtered."

"Oh no..." Peach is overcome with sadness. "I am so sorry. If I had known, I would have joined you in opposing him."

"I have forgiven you already, for the things your father has done...Also you were a mere child. So I'm not sure how much could be done"

Link walks past Peach and Yashil in a pair of swim shorts.

"Zel" Peach whispers to Zelda. "This isn't really appropriate attire for the situation"

"The situation is that we're rescuing a queen from an evil tyrant in a volcano that's almost as hot as the sun, so I think we're fine." Zelda smiles. "Besides, it gives us some eye candy."

Zelda gives a Link a thumbs up. "Looking good, Link!" she shouts.

Link smacks his own rear end to show that he knows.

A few minutes later the Rainbow Alliance followed the path to the core of the volcano.

"Ok the path says we need to head further down..." Peach states, "...but there's lava in the way. How are we going to get past it?"

"Easy!" Yashil says, pointing to a large spout of water that seems to be gushing down like a river. "I know of a secret tunnel that will take us straight down the volcano!"

"Can you show us the way?" asks Naranjo.

"It's easy," says Yashil. "It also is a much cooler route. So the half-naked one can put his clothes back on."

They all look at Link who is admiring his physique in the water.

"Yeah…let's not though." Zelda says. "It's not like Link hasn't faced worse before."

Yashil leads them through the tunnel, which is surprisingly cool as it is underwater. They walk for a while until they reach the end of the tunnel, where they find themselves in a huge cavernous room.

"I don't think I've ever seen this place." Peach says "What is this room?"

"It's a holding chamber for prisoners of war," Yashil explains. "It must be where those pirates are holding my Queen!"

The Rainbow Alliance runs over to the center of the room and discovers it is filled with Green Toads.

"How did they get so many Toads?!" Asks Zelda.

"They must be from the neighboring islands" informs Yashil.

"Yashil! Yashil is that you?!" yells a female voice in the distance of the cavern. "It's me! Yashil! Please let me out!"

The group turns towards the sound. On the other side of the room, they see a small door.

"Yashil! It's me! Birdo!"

"My Queen! My Queen! I will rescue you!" Yashil declares as he charges for the door.

He opens it, only to be met with a fireball to the face.

"We have been waiting for you!" declares the voice. "You have come to play with us!"

Several Fire Bros emerge from behind the small door. They're all garbed in pirate gear. "We be the Scarburner Scallywags! This island hereby is our property!"

"No you're not!" yells Yashil as he fires off a barrage of fireballs.

"What be happening here?" A new voice calls.

Suddenly from behind the team, Burnscar flies in from the ceiling on his propeller blades. He's holding Birdo hostage!

"I demand a parlay with ye Chief!" demands Burnscar. "Trust me, you'll be wanting to listen."

"Parlay? What does that mean?" Yashil questions.

"I'll tell you what it means!" replies Burnscar as he holds Birdo tight. "It means that when we reach a new island, we take it over!"

One of the Fire Bros steps up "Actually, It's an agreement between two pirates so we don't have to participate in a fight to the death".

"I see" Yashil says reluctantly. "...What about my queen?"

"She'll be joining me in the afterlife," Burnscar assures him. "In exchange, you get to keep…one island…probably the smallest one."

Suddenly the kind peaceful face of Yashil turns to anger! "No deal! I refuse to let you get your grubby little pirate paws on her!"

"Let's see how well you fare against a real pirate!" proclaims Burnscar, preparing to throw a fireball.

Link swoops in and knocks it away with his Master Sword!

"You again?!" says Burnscar incredulously, losing grip of Birdo. "I thought ye'd learn by now! Seize them all!"

The Fire Bros take everyone hostage, "Listen hear ya landlubber!" demands Burnscar. "We're going to have a fight to the death! Swords to Swords! Mano Y Mano! If ye win, your friends go free! If I win!...Well I got meself some new crewmates now haven't I? Whadda say?"

Link looks to his friends, then glares at Burnscar and nods. Burnscar surrounds himself and Link in a ring of fire 10 feet in diameter.

"I'm going to enjoy this!" says Burnscar.