"Do you know what this is?" Captain Kaller asked his men.
"Some magic thingy?" one of the sharks ventured.
Captain Kaller sighed and brought the item down from above his head. They were sailing away from Proarctica, the artifact in tow. Apparently, Kaller was the only one who knew its true power.
"No, it's not just 'some magic thingy'" Kaller said patiently. "The Essence Emerald is one-third of a great treasure that can bring absolute power to anyone who possesses it. With it, no one will dare sail the same seas as us! We will be absolute rulers!"
Murmurs from his crew slightly brought him down. The timid Ankhlos spoke up.
"Um...what exactly do you plan to do with the, er, treasure, Captain?"
A glint in the Captain's eye. "With it, I will become ruler of Plit! No one will dare oppose me! Ever since I got kicked out of the Plitian Special Naval Forces, I've been ridiculed! Mocked! And-"
"Oh, boy, here he goes again." One of the pirates complained.
"Hmm? You dare interrupt me? We'll just find something constructive for you to do, Tailan. I 'ave it. Sweep the entire galleon!
"I just did before we left." Tailan complained.
"Well, do it again!" Kaller commanded.
Tailan left, grumbling something about tyranny.
"Now then, we just have to find the next piece of the treasure."
"And that would be where?" another pirate asked.
Captain Kaller thought for a minute. "I'm not exactly sure. I only knew af one location. And that was in Proarctica. But wherever the treasure pieces may lie, they must be spread out. So, Navigator, chart a course for the geologically farthest place from Proarctica. I can't wait a get my 'ands on the next piece." Kaller almost drooled at the thought as the ship sailed to the southernmost Sea on Plit.
Soshi's last thought before the ship docked onto the shore was where Koujin had taken his mother off to. He seemed exactly the type to kill first, ask questions never, and for this reason, Soshi almost had a nervous breakdown. Peach's guards had to drag him off the ship. The large one obviously believed the whole thing had been a setup. As the princess was brought up to her room in the castle, Soshi was the last to step in.
"Well, what do you have to say for yourself?" asked Toadsworth, glaring at the dragon.
"I-I'm sorry. I didn't know this would happen. I was only trying to do what I thought was best."
"You liar." the elder Mushroom Retainer scoffed. "Now look at the poor princess! We cannot awaken her! She is doomed to this eternal sleep forever! DOOMED, I TELL YOU! And it is all your fault!" he shouted hysterically.
"It's not my fault!" Soshi protested, backing up as Toadsworth advanced, rage in his eyes. Wait a minute. What was he afraid of? What was this old guy going to do, bean him to death with his cane? Soshi could take that.
"Look, old-timer." He said, strength regaining in his voice. "If there's anything I can do to help her, you just name it."
Toadsworth started to shout something, but composed himself. Still glaring at Soshi, he conceded. "There is one thing. There is an…object, shall we say. Buried somewhere deep inside the Spire Mountain, a craggy volcano in the deep south. Rumor has it that it has amazing powers, whether healing is one of them, I don't know, but go and find it, and bring it back here. Then, and only then will your remorse be notified."
Soshi nodded. "I'll find it." He took off. Gliding through the corridors of the castle, he felt it was just one deviation after another before his final goal was to be reached. He knew he didn't have much time before Koujin attacked again. When the sunbaked air outside touched him, he didn't even notice. There was too much on his mind already.
Meanwhile, Toadsworth turned his attention to the guards. "Now, we must find a way to awaken the princess."
"But what about that scary Sky Yoshi?" One of the Toads asked.
"Don't worry about him." Toadsworth reassured the little guy. "The artifact can only be touched by someone pure of heart. If someone else tries to steal it, they will be destroyed instantly. And as we all know, our "friend" is anything but pure. Now, I want the best medical help possible for the princess, now!"