Though the subway had lots of lights on the outside, there weren't many on the inside, so Cappy didn't move from his usual spot the whole time we were in the dark. He shifted around a lot, though. I don't think he likes being in this much darkness.
"How can you stand it?"
"Hm?" stand what?
"Your friend getting kidnapped all the time..." Cappy relaxed, settling more comfortably in my hair, "This is only the second time Tiara's been kidnapped, but Peach has been kidnapped dozens of times, right? So...isn't it terrible having to save her all the time? Knowing that every other week she's in danger?"
I leaned back in my chair, looking down my large nose at the lights outside. Of course it was awful, I worry about Peach every day, but it didn't take long to realize that Bowser does care about her, so he wouldn't let her get hurt. It was just a matter of Peach being trapped until I can get to her and free her.
"And you just...keep doing it?" Cappy sounded lethargic as he said that, which wasn't like him at all. Was he feeling hopeless? "Knowing that she'll just get taken again?"
Of course I keep saving her. The Mushroom Kingdom would be in ruins without their leader, and besides, she isn't happy being kidnapped. I would save her a hundred times if I had to, because it was simply the right thing to do. Cappy would do the same for Tiara, right?
"Of course I would! It's just..." Cappy sighed, "I'm so worried about her..."
The gentle sound of the propellers on the sub was the only sound as Cappy slid further down my forehead. Maybe waiting to get somewhere without having skills to review just made him realize how bad the situation was.
"You don't recognize that thing, do you?"
I shook my head.
"That's what I was afraid of..."
So that was it. He was put at ease when he realized that Bowser never intended to harm Tiara, but he didn't know the intentions of this new monster.
And neither did I.
I rubbed the top of his head, trying to console him. This wasn't the first time Peach had been kidnapped by someone other than Bowser, simply because many people wanted the power and status that came with having a Princess in their possession. She hadn't been harmed by them yet.
"Okay..." Cappy leaned back against the cushioned seat.
It was just at that moment when the cave gave way to the lake, and we were once again engulfed in light.
"Mario!"
Cappy was shaking me awake. I hadn't realized that I'd fallen asleep.
It was so dark, I could barely see Cappy, but his large red eyes were unmistakable. Why was it so hot all of a sudden?
"We've reached our destination!"
Had we really? Where were we, even?
"Mario, are you okay?"
I sat up and rubbed my forehead.
"Hey, it's okay..." Cappy grabbed my hands and pulled me to my feet, "I know it's hot, but wait'll you see why!"
Suddenly, the darkness disappeared as the sub rose, giving way to bright colors, and...was that the smell of soup?
I realized where we were even before I realized the sub was rising from molten candy.
"Isn't that crazy!?" Cappy flew out once the glass ceiling had lifted, "Come on! We haven't been here in forever, let's explore!"
The Luncheon Kingdom.
The smell of delicious food was overpowering, so much so that I realized I hadn't eaten anything since all four of us visited Downtown New Donk for lunch yesterday. My stomach rumbled.
Cappy took his usual spot on my head, "Let's stop for breakfast! Then we can look for the key!"
His enthusiasm was inspiring. It didn't take too long to get to the main plaza, where I was more than happy to spend all my coins on the popular stupendous soup this land was famous for, and wow it's no wonder Bowser stole it for his sham wedding.
"Oh, by the way..." Cappy flew up, turning back into his top hat form as I ate the soup, "Do you know where we can find a key? Like, a big one that would open a castle door?"
"Oh yes!" The fork chef replied, "But it's pretty high up. To be honest, nobody knows where it came from, or which castle door it's supposed to unlock."
"I see! Thank you!" Cappy retook his place as soon as I'd finished my soup. I made sure to leave a good tip.
"So, there's a checkpoint up there, right?"
I slid the map out of my pocket, pressing the checkpoint for the top of Mount Volbono. As I did, the map disappeared, and Cappy warped us to the top of the mountain. At least the checkpoints were still working correctly.
Once we reached the volcano, I realized right away that the giant pot that sat at the top was resting atop the dormant volcano; And that someone familiar was leaning back against a nearby wall.
"AAAHHH!" Cappy flew off my head, "It's Bowser!"
Bowser jumped onto his feet, "Oh for crying out loud! I kidnap the princess, you bother me, I don't kidnap the princess, you bother me, what would it take to be rid of you!?"
I furrowed my brow. What was going on with him?
"What do you think!?" Bowser plopped back on the ground, crossing his arms angrily, "I'm planning on how I can get Princess Peach out of that castle!"
"So..." Cappy completely deflated, "You aren't responsible for that thing?"
"Do you really think so little of me?" Bowser glared angrily at the giant pot of soup, "Sending someone else to kidnap the princess? Please!"
It was true. Even when he does other dastardly things not related to kidnapping Peach, he prefers to do it himself, and only employs minions for less important tasks.
I guess Cappy was still scared for his sister...
"Um, anyway, have you seen a key anywhere around here?"
"Yeah, but good luck." Bowser tossed the key to me, "It's not the right one."
The key I caught was a solid purple; Unlike the holographic door of the black castle. It was about as heavy as the keys that worked in Peach's castle, but the shape was completely different.
"Then what's it for?"
"I couldn't care less!" Bowser said, "It won't help!"
"And what, you can't just use the crazy airships you have to grab her out of it!?"
"Would you rather I do that!?"
"I don't like it, but it's better than letting them rot in there!"
"I can't fight that monster, it's too powerful!"
"Stop!" I jumped between the koopa and the hat.
"Ah..." Cappy backed off first, "I'm sorry..."
Bowser shrugged, going back to his sulking.
I went back to examining the key. The more I looked at it, the more I realized I recognized the shape of the keyhole it was meant for. I just couldn't remember where the keyhole was, but it must've been in one of the places the four of us visited on our vacation. Where was it?
"Huh? Mario, what are you doing?"
I held the key out at arms-length, showing him what I was examining.
"Hey, I recognize that key shape!" Cappy waved his arms and squeezed his eyes shut, "Ummm...where was iiit!?"
Bowser pushed past us, "Who cares!? It won't help us save Peach!"
"But what if it does!?" Cappy insisted, "What if it leads us to another key!? Like, we need this key to-OCEAN!" he suddenly blurted, "Mario, this key does something in the Ocean Kingdom!"
I remembered. The purple door in the kingdom we visited under the ocean. It was locked.
I gripped the key tighter, stowing it in my front pocket. Cappy took his regular spot back as I passed Bowser, when something occurred to me.
"You want to bring me with you?" Bowser lifted one heavy red eyelid, "Why?"
I thought maybe he could help. He wants to save Peach too, after all.
"Pfft. You always beat me anyway." he shoved me to the side as he stomped away, which sent me sprawling on my back, "Figure it out, plumber."
Before I could point out that I wasn't even a plumber anymore, Cappy flew out in front of him, "Are you physically incapable of being anything other than a monster!?"
I stared at him with wide eyes, forgetting to stand up after I'd been shoved.
"Whatever. Let's go, Mario."
It wasn't until he was nestled on my head once again when I remembered how my muscles worked. I jumped up, then I ran.
