One Knight, Two Nights
Location: Oasis over an underground inn in Desert Hill
Night fell once more upon the desert realm. Yoshi, Daisy, and Morton Jr. are lying on their backs in another oasis, having arrived a few hours before sunset. All three are staring at the clear, starry sky on top of some rock formations next to a monolith.
This large monolith, presumably carved out of limestone endemic of the desert region, which has a dry wooden door and rusty hinges, leading to some underground inn. Deep pits used to exist in that underground area that is now the inn, but were filled during its construction in recent years.
This inn is rather peculiar, being almost underneath the watering hole of the oasis, and having a natural underground spring nearby. When one enters the inn, one walks down a spiral stair case and enters the main lobby, which is an enormous reception room, its dirt walls adorned with exquisite tapestries unique to the area and ornate wall candle sticks, fixed with slow burning candles which somehow lit the vast room well. It also doubles as the inn's kitchen and dining room.
Two other doorways, one labeled Hot Springs and the other Lodgings, are located at the opposite end of the stair case. Hot springs heated by means that only the owners of the inn know, are part of the stay for most customers.
Back outside, the three partake in a silly conversation, and as per usual, Morton babbled on and on, ranging from his cosmic flatulence earlier in the day, then about how he conquered Desert Hill years back, and now about how some Koopas see Yoshis as an assorted selection of rainbow colored donkeys.
A dry, cold desert wind suddenly gusts past them, causing Yoshi to shiver, since he is a tropical creature, and his normally scaly skin got a fair amount of goosebumps. He stands and goes for the door leading down to the underground inn.
"I'm heading downstairs."
"Aww, Yosh," complains Daisy, "but we're having so much fun!"
"Yeah, chump," adds Morton Jr., "You ain't leaving 'til you say a story."
Yoshi crosses his arms and smiles. "Really? Say a story? And have interrupt me again like the last three times?" He cocks his head to the right, as Morton stammers.
"Well, um, he he, you see…"
Suddenly, a nocturnal Pokey, leaps out of the sand in their vicinity. It begins to viciously chuck pieces of itself at the trio. Still feeling in a cheerful spirit, Daisy pulls Morton Jr.'s shell off, and throws it at the Pokey, completely tumbling the baddie down and earning herself a strike.
"Ha! Another strike! Guess what you two owe me now?"
Morton's gruff sigh comes from behind a nearby rock as he replaces his shell, while Yoshi responds as he shivers, "Spicy cheese puffs. Can we just go in already?"
After the failed assault of the nocturnal Pokey, the three decide to head down, right after Yoshi eats the Pokey. Yoshi goes in first to acquire the keys for their rooms. Morton goes next, but gets wedged in tightly. Yoshi continues down the winding stairs as Daisy struggles from the outside to get the corpulent Koopaling in.
Once inside the underground inn, Yoshi went over to the innkeeper's desk next to the doorway to get the two keys for the rooms they reserved couple hours ago. The chef was finishing his last meal for the night, and the salty and tantalizing aromas of the desert cuisine lingered in the air, making Yoshi's mouth water and enter a slight trance.
"Um, sir?"
Yoshi snaps to reality and gets the keys as he laughs nervously from the innkeeper, a Toad completely wrapped in desert clothing. He then asks for some toiletries for the hot springs, and as the innkeeper got them, Daisy and Morton Jr. come rolling in, crash landing at Yoshi's feet. Daisy jumps up and cheers for herself, as Morton lay on the floor dizzy, with spirals in his eyes. Yoshi raises a brow, being both amused and annoyed.
"WOOOOH! Let's do that again, Morty!"
"My tummy…"
Yoshi sighs and ignores what transpired. "How about we get a meal, and then take a dip in the hot springs?"
"Sounds like a perfect plan to me, Yosh!"
"Five more minutes, dad…" garbles Morton.
Soon after, the innkeeper gives them their toiletries and the sit at one of the tables near the kitchen. Long story short, they get their meal, nearly get kicked out because Morton wouldn't shut up, and took a relaxing dip in the hot springs. They get dressed to go to bed; Daisy goes to her room while Yoshi goes into the room next to hers, which he reserved for himself and the fat Koopaling.
Morton had gone back to the Hot Springs area because he forgot his towel. When he arrives back at the lobby area, the room was dark except for a desk lamp that illuminated from the front desk. The innkeeper had gone to the restroom and no one sat on the front desk at the moment.
Before Morton Jr. walks into the Lodgings hallway, a flash of orangey-bluish light radiates from the outside and brightens the large reception room for a few seconds. The Koopaling froze for a moment, and when the flashing stops, he runs dumbfounded toward his room and nearly crashes down the door. Yoshi is fast asleep and slumped on his bed, causing Morton to shake him violently.
"YOSH, YOSH, YOSH, YOSH, YOSH! Did you see that? A weird…
"I had enough of your talking all day, Mort! One more peep out of you and I'll…"
Yoshi suddenly fell asleep again, a snot bubble inflating and deflating on his nose. Although worried, Morton Jr. goes to bed as well.
…
The next morning, the three wake up to the smell of a delicious breakfast, and dash toward the lobby area, only to be stopped by the innkeeper, who insisted that they not eat in their pajamas. Although upset, they go back, though really, only Daisy had to change. They get all of their belongings, including Stuffwell 2.0, and soon after begin eating their breakfast.
Yoshi hugs the suitcase tightly. "I almost always forget Professor Egad's thingamabob. Daisy, hands off." Yoshi slaps her hand away from the handle.
"So what is this thing?" asked Daisy as she points at the WiiMe device. Yoshi was actually surprised she had it, and she continues as she poke around the WiiU-like contraption. "Is it a GPS or a…? OWW!"
She pricks her finger, and immediately puts her finger in her mouth before a bead of blood could form from the wound. Before a loud commotion ensued, the device made a beeping noise and said in a robotic tone, "DAI-SY, LO-CA-TION, 5 IN-CHES, RIGHT."
As all three gawk at the device, three Toads from the very distant Dry Dry Outpost come into the room from the Lodgings hallway and walk toward the front desk, and are met by two other, who had finished their meal. They thank the innkeeper and say their regards as they exit. The innkeeper asks out of curiosity where they were heading off to so early, to which one of the replies that they were departing toward the western pyramid town for a hay delivery.
Yoshi hears this and discreetly tells the other two they were smuggling inside the hay. Before Morton could reply, Yoshi throws the remaining food in the Koopaling's mouth and tells Daisy, "You guys go ahead, I'll catch up."
She nods approvingly and holds her thumb up as she winks, making Yoshi roll his eyes. They both rush outside as Yoshi yanks away the WiiMe and puts it away. He then goes to the innkeeper and thanks him, saying his trip was long.
He finally exits the place and sees the seven nomadic Toads working diligently to fill the cart with more hay, and are too busy gathering some more from around the oasis to notice the commotion Daisy makes as she pushes Morton inside the pile of hay. Yoshi shakes his head and nimbly gets on, pulling Daisy in as well just before they seven Toads arrive and place more hay on top.
The travel over to the pyramid town was long and tedious, and the struggle to keep Morton quiet was intense, but eventually, all three got there safe, late at night. The nomads pull the cart full of hay into the town square, the costume festival's main area for that night.
…
Location: Festival at the Pyramid Town near the royal palace.
The costume festival was an annual cosplaying con in Desert Hill where Toads, bandits, and other desert creatures came to the pyramids close to the king's palace, and, well, dressed up as famous characters from other universes. Some were mediocre; others look very authentic.
One of the Dry Dry Outpost nomads goes over to a Deset Hill soldier, a doogan, informing about the arriveal of the order. He points to a small barn house where they could unload everything and tells the same Toad nomad to follow him. The other six begin unloading the hay, eventually revealing the sleeping trio. Daisy sits up first and stretches, yawning loudly, and startling two of the Toad nomads standing next to the cart.
"Who are you? How did you get in?" demands one of the Toad nomads.
The other adds, "Aren't you the loud ones from the inn?"
Daisy replies lethargically, "Hmm? Ooh, hey, I'm Daisy…"
Both Toad nomads look at each other, and then back at Daisy. "Wow, that is the worst Daisy impersonation I've ever heard," one says, "But your outfit is very good, though."
Before Daisy responds, Morton roar-yawns loudly, standing as he scratched his butt. Yoshi just sits up, still half asleep. Some older Toads pass by and stop, squinting at Morton, and shriek when they recognize the dark skinned Koopaling.
"Sound the alarm! We're under attack! Morton Jr. is BACK!"
A mob forms rapidly and surrounds the three. Morton Jr. didn't know how to react, and Yoshi is still half asleep to notice any danger. Many Toads in the mob had actually cosplayed as Daisy, repeating the annoying phrase "Hi! I'm Daisy!", much to Daisy's annoyance.
Suddenly, a firecracker of orange and blue flashed among the group, and blinds the mob. A fast shadowy figure lands in front of the three, and asks Morton and Daisy, "Can you two still see?"
Daisy and Morton nod in spite of being a blinded as well.
He replies, "Good. Big fellow, you carry sleepy head. Both of you, come with me."
They rub their eyes and nod. Morton thows Yoshi over his right shoulder while Daisy grabs Morton's left hand. The stranger then grabs Daisy's free hand and leads them among the dazzled mob, and soon, they lose themselves among the confusion. While the mob recovers from the blinding light, the stranger spots an empty tent meant for changing into a costume, runs inside with everyone else. He hangs an "OCCUPIED" sign on the outside and zips the tent shut.
Inside, there is a large assortment of costumes and make-up. The character lights up an archaic desert oil lamp with a torch inside his left pinky. Daisy and Morton can finally see clearly, but they don't recognize him. Yoshi is finally awake, feeling a bit nausous from getting lugged around. He gets off Morton's shoulder and slowly turns around.
"Ugh… What a night so far…" He sees the character, and then does a double take, forgetting his ailment. "Geno?! What the heck are you doing here?"
The wooden doll replies calmly before madness ensues, "Shhh. We're still not safe. Keep it down or we'll get caught."
When everyone calms down, Geno continues. "It has been a while, right? Last I saw you, you helped Mario beat Boshi…" He shakes his head. "Sorry, we don't have time to dilly dally. Time is of the essence. Princess, please put this green makeup on… Morton, was it? Hey, star faced Koopa." Morton points at himself. "Yes, you. Also, wear this."
Yoshi blurts while Geno is handing a white and purple outfit to Morton, "How come you're here?" He looks around his feet. "Oh no! Stuffwell! It's still on the cart!"
Geno throws a Link outfit at him. "Wear that. That way, no one will suspect a thing about us. Once we get outta town, we can talk."
The three blankly stare at the doll. He sighs. "I'm joining your cause. With me around, we'll bust the shark pirate out of the desert prison, no problem."
-o-
Can they escape safely? Tune in next time!
The inn is based on Level 2-4 of Super Mario Bros 3. Also, one word… GENO!