Knocking at the Gates of a Hellhole
Location: Poshley Heights
Ludwig and Lemmy recently arrived at Poshley Heights, and have just left the town. They receive another call from the Master, who is on his way to their base. Much of the conversation was lost, but…
"Naturally. If my calculation fail me not, as they continuously do not, we shall land at the penitentiary in 5 hours, plus or minus a couple minutes."
"Excellent. As a matter of fact, we will arrive at the lair in 5 hours as well. I take it Iggy will be doing the… transferring, then?"
"Precisely, which is unfortunate; I wanted to be there to do so. However, every battle we win is one step nearer that ultimate ambition, so we cannot all be limited to just one task."
The Master, obviously pleased, replies, "I love your cunning ways. Without a great mind like yours, I don't think I would have achieved as much as we have. You are our greatest asset. It prides me to have you serve as one of my most trusted subordinates…"
A dissonant chord strikes Ludwig's mind, for it reminded him of something Bowser told him in their first conquest of the Mushroom realms, before Bowser Jr. came into their lives. An ephemeral heartache and a bitter revenge fought one another as more memories poured from his soul, until this internal madness got interrupted by…
"Ludwig, answer me! Can you make sure to bring back our victims and the fruit?"
Ludwig pops back to reality. "Um, uh, ah… ye-yes. We shall succeed in our mission."
"Once we get Johnny and that Fire Bro., the Bowser marionette will be the most ultimate weapon of all, and that bubble fruit will unleash its fullest potential if combined with the book, which I am sure Roy will get for us easily."
Ludwig, still unnerved by the Master's comment, interjects before hanging up, "We will call back once we get there. Just make sure Iggy takes his meds beforehand."
Lemmy puts the Clown Car on autopilot and swerves his chair towards Ludwig. He leans back slightly as he places his hands behind his neck and grins maliciously. Lemmy begins his inquiry, to which Ludwig glares back, not being used to his brother having a malicious deep voice, instead of his normal, jovial, child-like voice.
"So, Mr. Smarts, what's the dilly?"
Ludwig looks back at his brother. "The overall plan is straightforward: we gather the shark, a Fire Brother, and the fruit; we demolish everything, and we rendezvous back to the lair. And before you ask, yes, violence is authorized."
"5 hours is a long time, but it don't matter," replies the mini Koopaling, "I'll be getting what pleases me anyway." And thus, they speed closer to Desert Hill.
Location: Sand dune near the gate of the prison in Desert Hill
Time left before Koopalings' arrival: 4 hours, 57 minutes
Yoshi, who'd previously transformed into a Jeep, speeds through the desert, as everyone else, dressed in ninja outfits, wait anxiously for the ride to stop. Morton had fallen asleep, mumbling about farts and beans, when his snot bubble pops and he wakes up. Geno has Yoshi stop, who break-stops on a dune about a quarter mile north of the main gate.
Daisy and Geno get off right before the Yoshi reverts to his normal dinosaur self in a ninja suit. Morton didn't get off on time, squishing Yoshi into the sand. Geno lies down on the sand as a breeze blows some sand across the evening sky. Daisy soon joins, followed by Morton, who peels off Yoshi from his corrugated Koopaling belly.
Like any fortress guarding dangerous prisoners, pairs of rugged looking Toads and doogans patrolled the visible area every few moments. Spotlights illuminate the plane, revealing the hundreds of pairs of guards that composed this desert legion, and guards view the horizons in well equipped watch towers. Occasionally, there was a different creature such as clubba and a cactus looking pianta, but are scant minorities. Only the tall dune where our heroes lay was within the infinitesimally, narrow blind spot.
Geno surveys as far as his glassy eye could see, but everywhere he looked is very well guarded, especially the entrance.
He turns to the gang. "Guess the show ends here. I can't seem to find a way in."
"We can fart our way in, chumps," exclaims Morton.
"We had enough farts out of you, Tubbs," retorts Yoshi, still feeling pain all over. Morton shoots a dirty look at his dinosaur ally, but Daisy quickly interjects before Morton could speak.
"You can all hide under my dress!" she gleefully exclaims, as her hands shoot up into the air. The wind howls as the three others stare at the princess silently.
"Um, uh, okay," replies Geno, "But the issue is… um, uh…" He stares nervously to the sides. "You aren't wearing a dress. You're…"
"A ninja? Yeah, he, he, about that…"
She tears off the ninja suit revealing her usual royal gown, nicely pressed and smelling fresh, like daisy scented fabric softener. The three were even more dumbfounded.
"I would ask you how you fit your dress under the ninja suit," begins Geno as he points his right index at her, "But we don't have time for another backstory. Although, this nonsense just gave me an idea. Huddle around."
…
Ten minutes pass…
Daisy slowly and somewhat more clumsily approaches the main entrance of the well guarded fortress jail. Spot lights center on her, causing her to shield her eyes from the piercing lights and stopping her dead in her tracks. A small group of soldiers approach her, mostly doogans who appear quite burly, even with all of the equipment on.
"State your name and purpose. We may have to send you back to the pyramid town, depending on your answer."
After a few seconds, Daisy recovers properly from the light, and responds in a way not many would expect. "Greetings, honorable soldiers, you're in the presence of Sarasaland's reigning monarch, Princess Daisy."
A muffled snort followed by a quiet slap came from under her royal gown. Some of the soldiers heard it, but seeing as only Daisy was there, thought nothing of it.
"Our apologies, your highness," responds one of the deeper voices doogans, who had an epaulet on his left arm, signifying his higher rank, "but have two bounty hunters visiting our premises, and we received a report from the Desert Hill's castle about an incident in the pyramid town. Something about that fiend Morton Jr., who took over our great kingdom years back."
Daisy got a bit flustered at them mentioning Morton Jr., but diplomatically continues, "Um, but I, uh… Ahem. It is unfortunate such a thing occurred. However, I have business with a certain man, held within these walls, and wish to talk to him."
The higher ranked doogan suddenly points an Ice flower-powered gun at the princess, who response by extending her arms defensively forward.
"If you're the real princess of Sarasaland, then I apologize for my ill manners. We just need to make sure no one suspicious enters. I do know that the costume festival attracts crazy Daisys from all over the place. Why are you here alone and how did you get here? "
"I, uh, um…" she stammers, beginning to break a sweat, "Came on my 'copter, but it broke down crashed near, um, Bago's casino, and a… vehicle, drove me from the festival and dropped me off close by. They had to go and I really need to see that, uh, prisoner…"
Another doogan, one with a camouflage pattern painted on his furry face, interjects, "You mean that pirate shark? He's here, under the constant supervision of the vice warden."
"I am still not convinced. Something feels off." The doogan officer walks around Daisy and 'inspects' her, making her feel queasier. "Do you have a warrant to see him?"
"Does royalty need permission? I am allied to this kingdom's mother kingdom, the Mushroom Kingdom."
"I suppose. Hmm… How can you prove you are you?" He clasps his chin, still checking her out.
She blurts out the first thing that came to her mind. "I can… play… tennis!"
The doogan officer smiles as he lowers his gun. "Interesting." He turns to his squad. "Soldiers, attention! Clear the changing rooms near the central square and set up the nets and gear on the square. I heard that the Princess of Sarasaland is quite the tennis player. I may be a bit rusty, but I was once a formidable player back in high school."
He turns back to Daisy. "I'll escort the princess to the changing rooms myself so she can change comfortably. Although, I will be at your beck and call if anything unpleasant should arise in there." He winks his right eye.
Daisy stares him down, grimacing and feeling more uncomfortable. She then nervously smiles back. "I'll be… fine, by myself."
As the soldiers go ahead, the doogan officer holds out his arm like a gentleman, and slowly guides the princess to the changing room rather slowly, like if he wanted to show off to the stationed cavalry members his "new partner."
He leads her into the fortress, and guides her to a building, which seems to be the main office and reception place where the prisoners went to first after getting the books thrown at them. A stone staircase is located to the right of the building, leading into the chambers inside the walls and to the building's left is a large open area, presumably where all the training occurred, and was surrounded by more buildings. It really seems more like a military base than a prison.
As they walked over to the changing room after entering the large building, the doogan officer says, "Excuse me for not introducing myself properly, and actually being disrespectful."
"Um… no heard feelings…"
"I am the warden of this jail, pleased to have met your acquaintance. My name is…"
Daisy points ahead and blurts out, "Is that the place?"
Soon, they arrive at the changing room, devoid of anyone but Daisy and the officer. He kisses her hand and smiles alluringly, revealing his crusty, yellow teeth, and walks out, shutting the door behind him. She goes to the door and leans her ear on it, hearing for his footsteps as they get quieter and distant. She sighs and relaxes her body, and lifts her dress and left leg vulgarly, even for a princess, letting Yoshi out from under her dress. He holds Stuffwell 2.0 in his left arm and falls on the floor bum first, also being tense from the ordeal.
"Woowie! That was intense! Luckily, you pulled this off, sounding princessy and all." He snorts loudly. "That was hilarious!" Then, he sighs, remembering the missing member of the party. "I just hope Geno is doing fine out there."
Daisy is frantically wiping her kissed hand on her dress as she replies to her dinosaur friend, "That was gross and slimy! And did you smell his nasty breath?"
Yoshi chuckles and replies, "I bet it could stun a cow."
Daisy chuckles too. She kicks off her shoes. "So can you and Morty do your thing?"
"Morton…" Yoshi replies, as if he had forgotten something. Then, he remembers. "Oh, right! I stuffed him inside Stuffwell, so we wouldn't get caught by his blabbering."
Yoshi opens the suitcase, causing Morton Jr. to burst out suddenly, shocking both Daisy and Yoshi. The overweight Koopaling got another beating from the four ostros previously stashed inside, having a black eye and scratches here and there. He tries to stand, but plops back on the ground.
Yoshi pokes the Koopaling. "Are we alive here? You look messed up." He opens Stuffwell again. "Look, if you can't walk, I can put you back inside…"
"No way, chump!" interrupts Morton, trying to shake his fist, but letting it drop slowly to the floor. "You go in. Or even better…"
Yoshi covers the Koopaling's mouth. "Morton, not now. Save it for a campfire."
Morton Jr. tries to pull Yoshi's arm away from his mouth, but Daisy holds out her right arm, stopping them both for a bit. Daisy shows them a pair of camouflage plants, white shirt and black boots.
"They left this for me, so I can do the tennis thing I got. I guess I'm playing?
Yoshi repiles, "Well, you were supposed to distract them originally. I guess we'll be freeing Johnny?"
Daisy pulls on Yoshi's cheek, accidentally pulling too hard, making him want to yell, but Morton covers the dinosaur's mouth in time while angrily staring at him. Daisy finally let's go, and sighs as she puts her arms on her hips. She suddenly sees a map of the jail on the wall next to the lockers closest to the door leading outside the locker room.
Daisy points at the map as she almost exclaims, "Oh, and lookie here! There is a map of the place, here, on the wall."
Morton angrily looks at Daisy as he covers her mouth, letting go of Yoshi in the process. Yoshi walks over and inspects the map as he rubs his cheek. He begins to point over the whole map.
"Hmm… There! The prison tank, close to the vice warden's office." He begins pushing Morton back inside Stuffwell 2.0. "But how will we go on without getting caught?"
Daisy begins to tie her hair in a bun. "I don't know, but I need to change now. Hurry while I play it out… with the warden." She shudders.
Yoshi tries to stuff Morton back inside Stuffwell 2.0, but not only is the big Koopaling resisting, but the four ostros hiss and try to peck at them, making Daisy jump in and help the green dinosaur. After all this, Yoshi looks around as he tries to figure out what to do.
He then sees an AC vent small enough for him, and nose whacks it inside, and once in, he tries to put it back as good as possible, nut ultimately, leaves it loose and slanted, going his way after saying goodbye to Daisy. Yoshi hopes to not get lost, as the map was easy to follow, but going through the vents, as covert as it was, turned the mission into a hit and miss situation.
...
Location: Inside the prison, in an unknown passage…
Time left: 4 hours, 40 minutes
"I tell you, Hitatsu, I still have this weird gut feeling that we are getting blackmailed by this Slyklyde guy," said Draco the Fire Bro., as he and his partner in crime are walking back into the prison from the cavern they just surveyed. "I mean, the 'sly' part in Slyklyde gives it away, right?"
"Let me guess," begins Hitatsu as he looks up and rubs his chin, "What do dudes these days call it? Ah, yes! Women's intuition…" He grabs Draco by the shoulders and shakes him violently. "Dude, you've had your panties in a bunch since we got here. Ain't no one blackmailing me. Get that though your thick skull, dude."
"The thing is… this is the first time, out of all our jobs we got, that I really have been itching about this whole ordeal."
He bites his lower beak-lip, and his eyes are nervously looking everywhere but Hitatsu's eyes. Hitatsu releases him and walks away. However, Draco musters up the courage to speak his mind.
"What if we end up missing, like those college kids Kooper and Goombario we saw on the milk cartoon yesterday? And what about the new Postmaster, eh? Heard he got replaced by that clumsy newbie, Parakarry 2, or whatever his name was. No trace of his body anywhere but a few burnt feathers. And with Mario and his friends gone…"
Hitatsu stops walking and looks at his partner in crime. "Oooooh! So you're actually a good dude, huh? A nagging dog that is all like 'fighting for justice' and that crap?"
Draco waves his hands, indicating a no. Swat drips from his brow as he nervously replies, "N-no, nothing like that."
Hitatsu gets face to face and looks intensely at Draco's eyes. "Listen to me, dude. We may not be good dudes, but I could care less whatever these Koopaling and their dudes are doin'. After we finish here, we dip. Another gold brick in the bag, as they say. Now hurry your tail. We are going back to the vice warden's office near Johnny's tank."
"I guess…" The Fire Bro. pair hastens their pace toward Johnny's tank.
-o-
Oh noes! Daisy is getting harassed by a pervy doogan officer; Yoshi and Morton are heading to the same place as the Fire Bro. duo, and now, Geno is missing… Next chapter, we break from the current storyline, to a concurrent event. We continue the story in two chapters.