Chapter 3-Mysteries

Soshi enjoyed flying over the Sea very much. The calming waters seemed to alleviate his troubles. He was coasting just a couple feet above the water. He felt the cool energy refresh him. He was so relaxed that he almost didn't see Isle Silver cruising fast in front of him. He opened his eyes and swerved hard right just in time to miss a large white building in front of him.

After regaining his bearings, Soshi looked around. All of Isle Silver was covered in, well, silver. Everything from the houses and the port to even the trees and flowers. Everything shone so brightly, Soshi had to shield his eyes for a bit to get adjusted. The only thing that was not silver was the large white building towering over the trees. Soshi guessed that some big shot had to live there. Maybe he could give him some answers.

Soshi decided to give his wings a rest. He folded them on his back and began walking toward the tower. It was even bigger up close. Soshi was about to knock on the door when he heard footsteps coming from the inside. As he waited for whoever it was to come outside, Soshi couldn't help but wonder why a place of this magnitude and importance would have no guards standing out front. Soshi had to brush that notion away as the front door opened.

"Hello. I was told you might arrive."

The man who answered the door was...strange to say the least. He stood a little shorter than Soshi, and was dressed in a purple robe. He wore a rainbow-colored scarf around his neck.

"Uh...who are you?" Soshi asked cautiously.

"Oh." the man chuckled. "Forgive me. Allow me to introduce myself. I am the king of this island, Toukee."

"Too-kee?" Soshi repeated.

"Non! Toukee shouted. "Tou-KAY! It's French!"

"French?" Soshi had never heard of such a country on Plit before.

Toukee gave up. "Never mind. Please come in. I have much to tell you.

One castle tour and half an hour later, Soshi and the king were in a small, pentagon-shaped room. From what he had seen of the castle and island so far, he presumed that the people really liked silver. When he questioned the king about this, he simply replied,

"Oh, no. It's just the cheapest thing we can find!"

Soshi didn't question him any further after that. Now however, Toukee was dead serious.

He took a deep breath. "Soshi, you wish to know more about your past, is that correct? About how the Sky Yoshis came about?"

Soshi nodded.

"Then I shall tell you, but you might not like what you are about to hear." Toukee took another deep breath before plunging into his tale. "Long ago, when Panjeya was still one piece, there was an evil scientist, Koujore. Koujore had an evil pet Yoshi. It always followed him around wherever he went. Then, one day, a stray ray of electricity struck the dinosaur, carrying such a powerful shock that it actually changed the Yoshi's DNA and it sprouted wings as a result. It also grew enraged for some unknown reason. It rampaged across the world, destroying anything in its path, and from the fire, more dragons surfaced. The beast eventually collapsed in exhaustion and died, but not before thousands of dragons had been spawned." Toukee paused before continuing. "Many generations passed, and the Sky Yoshis eventually reverted to more humble ways. However, upon learning of the Land Yoshis, they realized they were much different. They felt as if they could never truly be a dinosaur, always a dragon. Over the years, this sadness turned to anger, and the Sky Yoshis unleashed a full assault on the Land Yoshis, the results of which you already know."

Toukee finished. Before Soshi could say anything, the king added, as an afterthought, "Since then, some, precious few however, actually crossbred. The hybrids were part land, part Sky Yoshi. Your mother is one of them."

Soshi sat in stunned silence for a minute. "Wait a second." he said. If-if my mother is a hybrid, then am I really all dragon?"

Toukee chuckled heartily. "Oh, what a silly question! Of course you are. You have wings, the trademark tail. What else could you be?" he laughed again.

Soshi nodded and forced a smile. "I...you're right. I wasn't thinking." Soshi began to hover in the air towards the door. "Well, Soshi won't waste any more of your time. Thank you." Toukee stood up, but Soshi stopped in mid-air. "Wait a minute...Koujore...any relation to Koujin?" Soshi asked. This seemed to provoke a horrified reaction in Toukee.

"K-Koujin? How do you know of him?" he asked, trembling.

"Well, my mother was caught by him. She's...being held captive in Proarctica." Soshi explained, looking down at the floor.

The king softened. "I'm sorry to hear that. But you must be careful. The Ice Lord is not to be trifled with. Whatever he's planning, we are powerless to stop it. I have tried to build an army here on my island, but the villagers would have nothing of it. I'm afraid all we can do is wait. Hopefully someone, somewhere, is, or will be, making preparations."

"That should be me." Soshi thought to himself. He thanked Toukee again, and started to leave.

He stopped again when he remembered something very, very important. "Do you have any fruit? Soshi starving. Soshi haven't eaten in 2 days." Another hearty laugh from the king.

At last, having eaten his fill of the best fruit he had ever had, Soshi left Toukee and Isle Silver, heading for Proarctica once more. At this point, however, Soshi began to feel suspicious. The Koujin character likely had been keeping an eye on him, if he captured his mother. Soshi also wondered if his father had ben involved in the struggle. So many questions remained. He decided it would be best if he circled Plit entirely, going the opposite direction of Proarctica. He readied himself. It would be a long flight.