I: Assembled Brigade
Toad continued wandering through the desert town in search of the two he was sent off to look for. He then saw something peculiar off in the distance.
There were several toads of varying clothing colors which were gathered in the front of what seemed to be a shop.
Curious of what it is that they were waiting in front of the resource providing building for, Toad decided to make his way over to them to see what was up.
The first thing Toad noticed upon closer inspection is that each of the four Toads had something notable about them.
One toad was wearing blue as well as a pair of glasses. One of them wore green, and on the chest area of their shirt seemed to wear a circular badge with a question mark symbol on it. One wore purple and had with them some kind of satchel. And finally one was wearing yellow...they were dozing off against the shop walls.
"Wait a minute...I know these guys don't I?" Toad thought and realized. "I think I went treasure hunting with them…let's get their attention first…. Hey guys, what's up?"
The first one to take notice of Toad's signal is the one in the glasses, the blue one.
"Heya, guys, it's one of our captains!" he said to the others.
The green toad acknowledged the blue's comment, and the purple woke up yellow, who muttered something.
"Aircrafts! In the sky!" the yellow toad said, waking up with shock. "...wait, what happened?" the yellow toad had then realized.
"Well...what about taking a look sleepyhead?" the blue toad continued.
Taking the fellow toad's advice, the yellow toad looked up, taking notice of who he made reference to.
"Oh hey! It's you! You were the captain on one of our adventures we went on, right?"
"Oh, yeah...I guess I was…" Toad commented. "But what I wanted to ask you guys was what you're hanging out here for."
"We're waiting for Toadette to arrive."
"T-Toadette?"
"We're planning on heading to some pyramid a bit south of here and well...we planned on meeting with her at a randevu point, this shop of course," the blue toad explained further.
"Oh, I see…" Toad responded. "Well have you guys by any chance seen a certain large, handkerchief wearing reptile and punny cactus anywhere?"
"Hey, speaking of them, they actually planned to go with us to the pyramid," the purple toad added to the conversation.
"Oh...that explains...why he didn't show up to hang out with Striker and Elemental huh…" Toad thought. "So, would you guys know if they'll be arriving here soon?" he then asked.
"Ahhhhh...not really...they haven't contacted us about if they're on their way or not…" The yellow toad explained in a somewhat tired way.
"I...see…" Toad replied.
Toad was about to start walking off when the blue clothed, glasses wearing toad got his attention once more.
"Hey, how about you come with us to the pyramid? I think you could do a good job leading," he offered.
Toad gave them some thought, and then gave his answer.
"I…don't know about leading...but I don't really wanna wander these dangerous sands alone...I guess we can hang out awhile…"
"Great! Glad you want to come along," the blue toad responded in support of his decision.
"In the meantime...I'll just wait for the others to get here along with you guys, and I guess we can talk about things," Toad then said.
Elsewhere in the Desert...
Toadette and Link, the former guiding the latter, had both arrived at the Subconian Dunes, in which Link picked up the discussion.
"Huh, It's sometimes hard to remember another whole dimension is just behind a door like this…" Link commented.
"It is quite an incredible phenomenon...it's like magic or something…" Toadette replied. "Anyway though, to the town we go!" Toadette then said, going through the desert towards where said town sat, knowing it's location by heart.
And not too long at all, the two arrived; and like when they were in the Desert biome in the mushroom kingdom, were back in town once more.
"Here we are…" Link commented. "This where we're meeting your buddies?"
"Yep! Now to find them."
Given the mushroom girl's familiarity with going on adventures, even in the likes of places such as Subcon, finding the desert dreamworld residence was of no trouble at all.
"I had the randevu I'm meeting with the group set up at a shop in this town," Toadette explained. "Shouldn't be hard to find them."
This too, was not tough. Up ahead, Toadette saw Toad and the brigade hanging out, chatting with each other.
"There they are," Toadette commented, as the two then walked over to them.
"So you meet with a tribe of rexes on a mountain and learned all of that?" The purple toad commented.
"Pretty much I'd say, yeah…" Toad responded.
"Sounds almost as exciting as when we traveled the stars with Rosalina," the blue toad added to the discussion.
"What do you mean 'almost as'...that was...probably more exciting…" Toad replied.
As the group talked, eventually calling attention to such; the yellow toad took notice of Link and Toadette's presence.
"Hey guys, she's here…" he said. "But umm...who's the guy she's with?"
"Oh...I know him," Toad answered as the pair made their way over.
"Heya guys, how are things going?" Toadette asked. "And...how would you be Toad?" she specifically asked Toad, blushing a bit.
"We're kind of just hanging out and talking," the green toad explained to Toadette.
"Well...were, since you're here now," the blue glasses-wearing toad added. "Who's the guy with you?"
Toadette gave Link a sign, and he decided to get around to it.
"Ah? Well...you can call me Link," the elf person informed.
"Ah, I see," the blue toad responded.
"Alright then I'd suppose that's fine," the purple toad replied.
"Noted," the green toad commented.
"Can I call you elf guy?" the yellow toad asked.
"Umm...why?" Link asked.
"Because...I...saw your ears and umm…"
"Is that it?"
Letting out another yawn before answering, the yellow toad then responded. "Yeah…"
"Well, I suppose now that you guys are acquainted with each other I can ask Toadette and Link something…" Toad added to the conversation.
"Well what's on your mind, Toad?" Toadette asked with interest.
"Have you guys seen Glow and Beryl around? I had come here to look for them and happened to run into these guys."
"Well, they did say they'd meet us at this shop for the exploration of a pyramid they said they found a bit ago, but no...nowhere..."
"Nor have I…" Link added.
The brigade each gave their opinions too, saying similar comments.
As the group were all lost in thought; thinking of where they may be; they suddenly heard some familiar voices in a conversation.
"Sssssssssssso here's the town but…"
"But what may be wrong?"
"Even though we agreed to meet Toadette and go to that pyramid with her...for ssssssome reasssssson...I jussssssst feel like I'm forgetting something…"
"If you forgot it...it probably wasn't important."
"Yeah...you're right…"
It was at this moment that the elf boy and crew of mushroom people looked in the direction of the voices, seeing that it was who they all were waiting for, Glow and Beryl.
"Well, well, well, there they are…" Toadette said aloud. "Hey, guys!"
Beryl and Glow then looked forward, seeing the larger group in front of them.
"And there they are now," Beryl said.
"Well...okay...let'ssssss talk to them I ssssssupposssse," Glow responded, with the two then drawing closer to them.
"So it looks like the entire crew is here now huh?" Toadette said.
"Yeah, I'd say so. You've got me, Glow, you, the Toad with the glasses, the toad with the satchel, the snoozy toad, the banking toad, Toad Toad, and...what's your name again since I still am forgetting it?" Beryl stated.
"Oh err, Link," Link answered. "I decided that I'd come along with you guys wherever you're going."
"I suppose that makes sense, the more the merrier after all," Beryl replied.
"Funny, because I said that earlier too…" Toadette added.
"Umm, before we get too off track, may I ask Glow for clearance on something?" Toad began.
"Are you going to ask him to convince the shopkeeper to put the items on clearance?" Beryl asked.
"Umm...not exactly…" Toad replied. "It's about something else."
"While you guys talk, I'm going to snag something from the shop since you mentioned it," Toadette told the group.
"Alright...that's just fine…" the yellow toad mumbled, still trying to wake himself up.
"So, I ended up coming out here looking for you guys...because Striker and Elemental had mentioned to me that you had planned to meet with them today and hang out…"
"I...I ssssssssaid that? ...me and my endlessly giving nature…. I honestly do remember that I sssssssssaid that now...I guessssssss what happened is that ssssssssince me and Beryl agreed to exxxxxxxplore the pyramid with Toadette a few daysssssss ago; when I was assssked about hanging out by Sssstriker and Elemental, I had jussssssst forgotten this was the sssssssame day we had planned to do thisssssss..."
"So I suppose what you're saying is…" Toad began. "You accidentally gave yourself a-"
"Slippery schedule?" Beryl interrupted, making a pun.
"...I...guesssss you could sssssay that Beryl…. Either way, I'll try to apologizzzzze about that nexxxxxt time I ssssssee them..."
"Good thing you could clear that up…" Toad responded.
By then, Toadette had returned from out of the shop.
"Alright guys, I've bought the item, so I suppose we're ready to depart."
"What'd you buy?" the green toad asked.
"A magic potion," Toadette answered.
"That should be useful," Toad commented. "Do you have a map to where we're going?" Toad asked.
"Would I plan a trip without a map Toad?"
"I guess not that I recall."
"That being said," Toadette began, then pulling out the map she referred to, which the group huddled together to take a peak at, "According to this map, we gotta head this way!" Toadette declared, pointing north of the town.
As such, Toadette began to pace north as she peaked at the map, leading the large group behind her.
II: Jewel ExpeditionOn the hunt for a gemstone holding a lot of value, Peach was now in the depths of the jewel-rich caverns, mining along with the three blue bugs.
"Let's see...are any of these gems a good fit?" Peach began to think aloud. "There's this round amethyst right here as well as this emerald shaped like a water drop…"
"He wouldn't accept that, we find those things all of the time," one of the hoopsters explained.
"Oh...I-I see…"
As they continued on further, they found more gems that Peach had to say things on.
"How would a triangular ruby suit him?"
"Another common gemstone…"
"Oh, I see…"
Peach had then noticed yet another gemstone.
"Hey...this sapphire...it's shaped like a football, isn't that something rare?"
"No...infact, it's one of the most common kinds of shapes for us to find…"
"Oh…"
"And if you think that's weird, we'll have you know we once found a diamond shaped like a coffin."
"W-Wha...that...that is weird…"
"But I suppose staying on topic, none of these common gemstones are going to do, we'd need to find something distinctive, something different...something he hasn't seen before that'd really impress him if you want him to go through with your deal."
"Hmm...well I did remember that a friend of mine once found this gemstone in a perfect diamond shape that also looked like it had eyes as well…"
"No offense but...sounds like Oved would definitely not be impressed by that…"
"Poor Toad…" Peach thought. "Well...I don't have too many other ideas of what gemstones we could give him…"
"Best thing to do is keep searching and see if we find anything new, he hasn't seen before, and that he'd be impressed by."
"It...It won't be easy huh?"
"I'd say."
The four traversed the caverns for a good while, at no point really finding anything notable gemstone-wise, mainly finding a lot more gemstones that the beetle leader was used to seeing, as Peach had been informed by the Hoopsters guiding her around.
Soon enough something peculiar sat in front of the group, at least in Peach's case; not having been in the Jewel Caverns too many times.
This thing being what looked like a large, red bunch of crystals of some kind.
"Hey, that's an interesting gemstone…" Peach commented.
"Ah, I'd suggest leaving that…"
"Huh?" Peach replied.
"We don't see them often, but those are lucky jewels," one Hoopster explained. "We kinda consider them good luck charms of sorts. Surely seeing one must be a good sign of us approaching a suitable gem I'd say...so let's press onwards."
As Peach continued down the corridor they saw the distinctive red gem along with the beetles, still not finding much, eventually, Peach asked the Hoopsters if she could stop for a bit, which they accepted.
Crashing to the floor, Peach looked up to the cave's ceiling, lost in thought.
"We've been searching for...what would it be now...hours? And I still haven't found anything that that big creepy-crawly would accept, according to them…. Maybe...maybe I should give up and..."
At that moment, Peach's thought was cut off by something; this something being some kind of clamping noise.
This caught Peach's attention, snapping her out of her state of blank thought and feeling a touch behind her.
The three blue hoopsters with her had huddled behind her, seemingly hiding from something or someone.
"H-Huh? W-What are you guys doing...right here?"
One of the bugs then pointed at what it was.
It was a piranha plant with a blue head and green stem, rooted within a potted plant and able to walk freely thanks to said rooting. With the venus fly trap's size, if Peach were standing up, it'd be only around a foot shorter than her.
Peach looked at the plant creature for an extensive period of time, feeling some odd aura of familiarity from it. Eventually, she spoke a word.
"...Toothy?" Peach asked the plant.
Recognizing the word as its name, Toothy gave a visual sign back, flaying their leaf arms a bit with joy.
Feeling it was safe to go near them now, Peach got up and closed the distance between her and the plant, petting them a bit on their round, spotted head.
"He's fine you guys," Peach informed the hoopsters.
"If you say so..." one of the hoopsters replied; who as such, along with the others decided to stop cowering in fear of the large plant.
"So, what were you wanting to tell us Toothy?" Peach asked the potted plant.
Doing a bit of sign language, Toothy explained that he knew what they were discussing.
"Yeah…we were actually looking for a rare gemstone," Peach answered.
Giving more sign language, Toothy explained something gemstone related, given he held one in hand.
"You found one you think we might be interested in?" Peach interpreted.
Toothy in response gave a nod to Peach's question.
"Do you have it on you?" Peach next asked.
Giving further sign language, Toothy asked Peach to follow him.
"Ah, you want to lead us to it…. Well...alright..."
As such, the mining crew decided that the best course of action given this was their only lead was to see where it is that the pointy-toothed flytrap would take them within the caves.
III: Not So Mysterious Anymore WorldBack in Luigi's Whereabouts...
"Mama-mia...what-a happened?" Luigi said, As of the time that had passed, he had regained his consciousness once more, finding he was looking at the ceiling, being looked in the face of Midnight, and someone else; a woman who was dressed in a white dress and cape, with a pink article of clothing decorated with the familiar triangle symbols from before in golden coloring. Along with this, she was also wearing gold shoulder pads, golden bracelets, golden, triangular earrings as well as a decorative waistband. And on her head, she had long, golden hair.
"Well...to answer your first question," Midnight began. "You passed out."
"P-Passed-a out? I really did?" Luigi asked.
"Yeah...like one of those overworking game developers making a massive crossover game...or an overly ambitious writer…" Midnight answered..
"Oh…" Luigi responded.
"It was because well...you were really confused about everything happening around you and had gotten a bit overwhelmed," the woman explained to Luigi.
"Oh...umm thanks…" Luigi responded. "I'd...I'd like to ask another-a question now if it's alright with you..."
"Sure thing…" the royally dressed person responded.
"Umm...who-a are-a you and...what-a happened to that ninja looking-a person?" Luigi asked.
"Well I'd say that she's…" Midnight began. "Actually...you explain it…"
"Of course Midnight," the woman responded. "Starting off, you may call me Zelda."
"I see...hey-a there...Zelda…" Luigi replied. "Umm...what-a happened to-a Shiek? I think that was his-a name?"
"That's where your next answer comes in," Zelda explained to Luigi. "For you see, Shiek and I are one in the same; more or less...he's my alter-ego."
Luigi felt multiple emotions from this; fear, intrigue, and confusion, all at the same time. Eventually though he continued once more, speaking up.
"Wait...so...can you transform into them or-a something?"
Zelda gave a nod in response to Luigi's question.
"Sounds like something out of one of those-a video games…." Luigi stated. "Is there an-a limit to when you can-a change into Shiek? Or can you-a do it any-a time at-a will?"
"Anytime, Anywhere," Zelda answered. "Like so," Zelda then said, turning back into Sheik.
And after several moments, she then reverted back to her normal self.
And then back to Shiek once more, and then, finally, back to herself again.
"Now she's there...now she isn't…" Midnight comments.
"I...I-a see…" Luigi replied, still taken aback by Zelda's powers. "That-a takes me to my next-a question speaking of-a being places…. Where...where-a am I? And what are you doing-a here Midnight?" Luigi asked next.
Remaining silent on Luigi's question for an extended period of time, the psychic, living slime, eventually replied.
"So he and none of the others told you, did they?"
"He...He and none of the-a others? What do you-a mean?"
Being unamused that he hasn't put two and two together, Midnight asked further questions.
"Luigi...tell me, who do you know; other than me, who's from a different world than you?"
"Err...Mosaic?"
His eyes darting a bit in response, Midnight then reacted.
"NO! Link!"
"Oh...WAIT, does...does this-a mean…"
"Well...it only took you ages...or in my case several chapters for you to realize but yes...this would be the homeworld of Link and I, Hyrule."
"Several-a chapters?" Luigi asked with confusion.
"You wouldn't understand…" Zelda added.
"Now I have even more-a questions…" Luigi began.
"Aaaanyway," Midnight interrupted. "I suppose you're going to ask next what this room is used for."
"Looking at-a it...is it some kind of-a throne room?"
"Mhmm, my throne room," Zelda answered.
"Wait...you mean you're-a…"
"Indeed, the Princess of Hyrule."
"I guess that's-a someone else I can add to my lists of princesses I've-a heard of…"
"So you've heard of others?"
"Well...one," Luigi answered. "Her name is Princess Peach, she rules a place called the Mushroom Kingdom."
"Sounds like you're somewhat used to princesses," Zelda replied.
Luigi didn't comment, but acknowledged the comment and moved on to his next question.
"Well...I was a bit-a curious about that-a surreal looking mural up there," Luigi then stated, pointing at the decorative, winged art with the triangle symbol.
"The most important part of that mural is the triangular artifact at the top, so I can just tell you about that if that's okay with you."
"I suppose."
"That design on the top is meant to portray the sacred object known as the Triforce."
"The-a Triforce huh?" Luigi commented. "Tell me-a more."
"Basically, Hyrule, and all of the realms that exist within it were created by three goddesses, their names Din, Nayru, and Farore."
"Alright…"
"And when they created Hyrule, they also created the Triforce, this being an extension of their power, the Triforce of Wisdom being an extension of Nayru's, the Triforce of Power being an extension of Din's, and the Triforce of Courage of Farore's.
Luigi isn't sure how to respond to Zelda's explanation, however eventually a response enters his mind.
"An...An extension of their-a power!?" Luigi asked with shock. "W-Wouldn't that be a dangerous-a thing to permit their creations?"
"Well, it would be a dangerous thing to give to just anyone," Zelda replied. "That's why they also added an enchantment of sorts to each piece of it."
"I suppose that makes a bit more-a sense…" Luigi replied. "What's the-a enchantment?"
"For one to wield even a single piece of the triforce, they need to possess a great amount of the respective piece's traits. And to wield all three one needs a great deal of all three."
"Ah…. So...if one wanted to hold, say...the Triforce of Power, they'd need to be a strong, powerful being?" Luigi asked.
"Correct,"
"Mama-mia...Bowser could probably wield it then…" Luigi thought. "Is it the-a same idea with the other-a two pieces?" Luigi then asked aloud.
"That is also correct,"
Luigi, remaining silent for an extended amount of time to take in all of this new info, eventually got his thoughts in.
"Mama-Mia, I could never wield a single piece of that-a thing even if I wanted to," Luigi conceded. "First off, with no-a star power, I'm not a powerhouse in any sense…. I don't really feel like given a number of things about myself, my intelligence, and my actions that I'd say I have wisdom either…"
"Wisdom and intellect are two different things," Zelda commented.
"I...I-a know that...but-a still…I feel I have neither…. But finishing up...I've especially accepted that I'm a coward through and through..."
"Midnight did tell me about someone in green being cowardly one time...I wondered if he had been talking about Link at all, but it looks like that isn't so…"
"So he-a did…" Luigi commented. "But anyway...I'd like to move onto my-a next, and last-a question."
"Fire away," Midnight approved.
"How do I get-a home?" Luigi asked.
"Well-" Zelda began.
"Getting you home should not even be an issue," Midnight interrupted.
"So you're thinking of taking Luigi to that tunnel that lead you back here huh from the world you were in the other day huh?" Zelda asked.
"Wait….what-a tunnel Midnight?" Luigi asked.
"He's really told you nothing huh…" Midnight replied to the question. "Basically, I was exploring with Link and the Mosaic Group a couple days ago; exactly two infact, and in this random cave we found a 'warp pipe' like you guys call them that lead here."
"Wait...if-a Link and you found your homeworld, why didn't he stay? He always-a talked about wanting to 'go back there'."
"Meh...I'm not repeating it, read Chapter seven."
"Read...wha?" Luigi asked.
"Those who watch beyond the realm of which we can see will understand what we refer to," Zelda added in the discussion.
"Basically, why Link didn't stay here...it's related to you guys," Midnight continued.
"Us?" Luigi stated, surprised at this.
"Maybe you should ask him about it yourself when you have the chance," Midnight explained.
"I...I-a see; but anyway, what's the-a plan? Are you-"
"'Am I going to-a lead you to the tunnel'?" Midnight asked Luigi in his own voice and accent.
"Well...yeah?"
Though annoyed, Midnight responded.
"Meh...you'd probably get lost in this place if you didn't have someone to hold...your...hand...wait…"
"So I suppose it's been settled, you'll help Luigi to get back home, correct Midnight?" Zelda asked, somewhat sternly.
"Mmm...yeah…" Midnight responded. "This way Luigi," Midnight then said, as he began to lead Luigi out of the castle.
"Actually, Luigi, I had a question of my own for you," Zelda intervened.
The two stopped so Luigi could answer the question.
"I'd presume this should be a simple one but...how did YOU end up here?"
At the moment of hearing this question, Luigi's mind was left blank.
"You-a know...I don't-a know…" Luigi replied. "One moment I'm knocked-a out, the next-a moment I wake up and I'm in the middle of some-a dark dungeon, here."
"Wow…" Midnight commented.
"Hmm...I see," Zelda replied. "One last thing, and this is for you to hold onto Midnight." Zelda then said, producing a velvet pouch filled with something.
"O, what would this b-"
"Don't look in it, save for Link the next time that you see him."
"I don't even know if there will be a 'next time' I see Link, but okay," Midnight responded. "Let's go Luigi, or however you say it instead," Midnight then said to Luigi, continuing to guide him on to the exit of their world.
IV: Jewel Acquired
Back to Peach...
Following the plant's lead, Peach and the hoopsters eventually were led to what seemed to be a river, next to a cliff of sorts.
At this point, Toothy then jumped off of the cliff, notably using their leafy arms as leverage to slow down the fall.
"What's he doing?" one of the hoopsters asked.
"Who knows, maybe he just got tired of us," another one of the hoopsters answered.
Peach, however, just watched, and awaited the pipe piranha's return.
And return they soon did, as the four heard a propelling noise of sorts from the side of a cliff that grew louder and louder.
This noise being from Toothy, who had returned with their mouth shut.
Upon close examination however, there appeared to be a green glow of sorts coming from the plant's mouth.
"Is that the thing you wanted to give to us?" Peach asked.
Toothy gave a nod.
"May we see it?"
Toothy gave another nod, and then proceeded to open their mouth, producing a large, green, prickled gemstone.
"N-N-No way! That's...that's…" One of the hoopsters began to say.
"It's...it's a…" another one of the hoopsters also began to say.
"Wait...what's going on guys? Is this gemstone super valuable?"
"Oved's been looking for one of these things for over a year now!"
"Woah, he has? Do you know why?" Peach asked.
"I think the main reason he wanted one is because it's a very rare gemstone."
"Do you know what it would be called?" Peach also asked.
"I believe it's known as a Pirahana Stone."
"Piranha Stone? Interesting…"
Turning her attention back to the creature that tracked the gem down, Peach asked another question.
"So you're giving this to us? Are you sure that's okay with you?" Peach asked.
Toothy nodded, and held their mouth open to let one of them take it. Peach plucked the gem from the plant's tongue as a result.
"It's...a bit wet…" Peach commented.
Toothy held their head down, a bit embarrassed to hear this.
"Eh, we should be able to just dry it off, no biggie," one of the hoopsters chimed.
"Ah...well in that case, here you go," Peach then said, giving the jewel to one of the hoopsters to hold.
Toothy recovered after hearing this, picking their head back up, and made their way back over to the cliff.
"So you'll be going now?" Peach asked as the blue-bulbed piranha was ready to take off with its leaves.
Turning and looking back, Toothy gave a nod, then flying off.
"Okay, see you another time!" Peach said, waving as they left.
Turning her attention back to the hoopsters, Peach asked one more question.
"So this stone should work as a replacement for the shard right?" Peach asked them.
"I'd imagine so," one of the hoopsters informed.
"Well in that case, let's not waste much more time and get back to the settlement," Peach stated, being led back to where Oved sat by the hoopsters.
…
…
...
She hadn't known it then, but unbeknownst to her in all that had been happening around her, she missed one key detail...she was being watched from afar.
Said spy then entered a number on their device and gave them a call.
"Boss, I've found the princess' whereabouts, she's in the Jewel Caverns, around the area where Mushroom Plains is also located, over."
To Be Continued...
