Standard Disclaimer: I don't own Yoshi, but I own the actual characters, blah blah blah. One character introduced here isn't mine, though.

Chapter Six

A Small Setback

Compared to Ximmer Pond, Bakum Lake was a paradise. Pristine beaches and glittering waters were complemented by flocks of seagulls and the odd cottage. In the evening glow, the sun's perfect reflection cast two orange lights onto the landscape. In all this, the Yoshis had no clue where to start.

At first, they went around asking passerby if they knew any place where a large key would be useful. After that attempt failed, they started searching along the shore. Windoshi was the first to see something helpful.

"Hey guys!" he called. "I've found a sign with a key on it!"

A wooden sign was stuck in the ground. It had a key and an arrow pointing to the nearby marsh.

"Weird." Poisoshi looked in the sign's direction. "You wouldn't think you'd see something like this, would you?"

"So how do we go about this?" Emoshi was excited. "We can't swim through all those cattails."

Shockoshi gave directions. "Half of us will stay here while the others get the boat. We'll bring the boat back here using you as a marker and then pick you up and paddle in that direction."

Once the plan was carried out, the Ten started paddling. As they went out from the shore, they discovered a small dock hidden in the plants. It was only about two meters square and contained a single object: a pipe. On the dock was painted a key.

"We got a pipe here." Earthoshi applied the brakes. "Let's go."

Docking the boat, the Ten went down the pipe.

The pipe opened up into a large cavern. Without needing to worry about their air supply, Flamoshi lit a fireball. What they saw surprised them.

In the back of the room was a chest. It had a lock that seemed to fit the key. However, in front of the chest was a Yoshi.

"Well, well, well." The Yoshi adjusted his shades. "It's quite interesting to see you ten here."

Flamoshi saw four torches. He lit them so they could all see what was going on.

The stranger eyed the red one. In the new light, he was revealed to be purple with spike-bracelets and toe-claws.

"That's a pretty cool glove you got there, redhead." The unknown one stretched his arms. "How 'bout you give it to me, and I won't eradicate your little band?"

"Who is this jerk?" Windoshi broke the Ten's silence. "And why does he think one is greater than ten?"

"You'll see, Greeny." The Yoshi cracked his fingers. "Or maybe all you'll see is the hospital ceiling."

"You know," said Watoshi, "I don't think I want to know this guy."

"I don't think you want to oppose me, either."

"What's your deal, punk?" Shockoshi crossed his arms. "You got a superiority complex or something?"

"All right then." The unknown one stood tall. "I am Boshi, and I am your worst nightmare."

"We can take this dolt! Let's at it!" Healthoshi got revved up.

"Ah ah ah." Boshi pointed at a thin red line on the floor. "I painted this special line here. It's impossible for more than two people to be on this side."

"One-on-one, eh?" Flamoshi turned to his comrades. "We can take this guy. Just fight your hardest and don't give up!"

"Boshi, eh?" Timoshi opened the Guide. "Let's see here…ah! That's Boshi, a bully and a knucklehead. He likes picking on people he just doesn't like. As for fighting style, he likes using more physical attacks and will only use eggs when very angry. He's been around with Darth Vader, so he knows a few evil tricks. When not picking fights, he's usually training or ordering stuff off Ebay. Not to be underestimated."

"First on the menu: smart fighting and smarter remarks." Windoshi stepped across the line.

"So you challenge me, do you?"

"Correct your English: the word 'challenge' means something will be difficult."

"As you wish."

The bully ran at Windoshi. A calm sidestep dance kept him off course. Before long, Boshi was out of breath.

"Athleticism is good for you!" Windoshi egged off a few rounds. "Don't sit on the couch being a potato and eating fried ones!"

Anger in his eyes, Boshi jumped on Windoshi and started pounding him. After a few blows, they separated.

"Fighting people isn't good for your health, you know." Windoshi sidestepped a punch, which hit the back wall with a crunch. "Woo. Easy on the caffeine there, buddy."

Another punch created a dent in his nose. "Clean-up, aisle four!"

Windoshi stepped across the line and Iceoshi replaced him. Iceoshi used a defensive style, wearing out Boshi instead of attacking him. After the twentieth failed attack, the Ten tag-teamed again to Flamoshi.

Using his fire power, Flamoshi charged up his energy. Then he unleashed it all into a single flaming punch that knocked his opponent flat against the wall.

"Right, that's the end." Flamoshi dusted his hands off.

Boshi slowly got back up. "Don't think that's the end," he threatened. "That was just round one!" He blasted Flamoshi with a silvery beam of shadow that knocked him out.

"Hey!" Poisoshi made the fist-into-hand gesture. "You'll pay for that!"

Earthoshi snapped. He ran into the ring, grabbed Boshi by the neck, and started going upside his head.

"Hey, wait a minute…" Emoshi was thinking. "If Earthoshi, Boshi, AND Flamoshi are in there at once, then that red line was a fake!"

Shockoshi sighed. "Guess we shouldn't have trusted him. We gave him more credit than he deserved. And because of that, Flamoshi was KO'ed."

After a full minute, Earthoshi let go.

Boshi's breathing came in ragged gasps. "Don't…think…I'll…forget…this!"

He let off a smoke bomb. All the Yoshis distracted, he leapt into the pipe and was gone before the smoke cleared.

Because of the smoke, Flamoshi woke up.

"Stupid…"

"Careful, this story is rated E," warned Watoshi.

"Whatever." Flamoshi unlocked the chest. Inside it was a piece of blue cobalt shaped like a water drop.

"Looks like the Water Key," mused Timoshi, his nose in the Guide. "It opens a cave in Navre Bay."

"I thought cobalt didn't work well with water," thought Healthoshi.

"Maybe it's laminated or something. The point is, we can head to Navre Bay now."

The Ten headed up the pipe.

The Ten were preparing to dock at Port Selwain, on the edge of Navre Bay.

"Stupid 5:00 traffic," commented Windoshi. "Move it here people! HONK HONK! Soon-to-be-really-famous guys coming through! Excuse us, you garlic loaf!"

This last comment was directed at a hefty fisherman, who retaliated by hitting the green Yoshi over the head with a rod.

"Look, Windoshi," said Watoshi, "you can't just say things like that in the general public!"

"I think his old brain injury's giving him a bit of trouble…" Shockoshi chuckled.

"One more comment like that and I'll give you your own brain injury!"

Eventually, the Ten were back on dry land.

Timoshi checked his mental watch. "The sun's going to set in about an hour."

"Right." Earthoshi thought for a moment. "Should we find a place to stay the night or head out into the bay right now?"

"Well, me, I need a good square meal soon. It's good to be square." Shockoshi rubbed his belly.

"All right. Let's get a hotel or something, then tomorrow we'll tackle the bay." Watoshi looked around. "Uh, anyone have a map?"

Volvagia looked up. "No, master, it's just not right…"

"Silence!" The shadow being's voice shook the room. "I have no need for failures. From now until I determine so, you will work as a tracker, following the movements of these Yoshis." The being looked towards a floating spinner. "Confuretak, commence the punishment."

The orange barred spiral entered an incredibly fast spin, its blade-like arms whistling through the air. It moved towards the doused scorpion.

The shadow existence left for its private chambers.

"These Yoshis are quite interesting and resourceful creatures," it thought in silence. "But my research into their private lives may unseat them. I have already given the name of the red one, Plaroshi, and I believe this knowledge gave him quite a shock. Logically, when they are all revealed, they will slip a little."

The shadow turned to some files. "However, these data sheets show that it may be better to capture these Yoshis then to kill them outright. Infinitely long adhesive tongues, bottomless and cast-iron stomachs, instant production of eggs as projectile weapons, mental capacity equal to humans, incredibly strong legs, very potent nose, advanced technology…" Shuffling of papers. "As minions, they could be very useful to some of my operations."

A huge doorbell rung with a rumbling tone. The shadow being sighed, went to the room's door, and assumed the shape of a servant.

A badly beaten-up purple Yoshi entered.

"Hey there," he mumbled. "Is this the evil lair?"

"Yes it is," groaned the disguised shadow.

"I'd like to join your ranks so I can gain revenge on some other Yoshis."