Bound across the majestic Kryst Ocean, Soshi kept an eye out for anything suspicious. His mind was racing at this point, and wondered how many more detours he'd have to take before anyone even started to listen to him. Too many times, he felt, he had been knocked away, dismissed as noone important and he was sick of it. If things did not improve, he would have to take matters into his own hands. But for the fact that the Princess had the best army Plit had to offer, he had to press on for the time being. Soshi wondered what was keeping Koujin from implementing his plan, however.
As he swept speedily over the water, Soshi took in its wonderful properties. It wasn't quite the Tranquil Sea, but it was the next best thing. Soshi tried to just shed himself of all worries and simply focus on the task at hand. At this he failed because he kept worrying about his mother. He wondered if he would ever see her again. Out of the corner of his eye, he thought he saw something move. Slowing down, he looked around. Nothing. Regaining his caution, he resumed his normal flight path, due south. Again, however, something caught his eye. Stopping completely, he began to get nervous.
"Who are you? Show yourself!" He called, hovering in mid-air.
"Who are you? Show yourself!" his echo came back to him.
Soshi tried to brush it off. He'd need to conserve his energy if he was to stand a chance at surviving Spire Mountain. He flew on, looking over his shoulder every now and then, but couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching him.
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"CLEAR!"
BRZAP.
"…It didn't work." One of the Toads said solemnly.
"Now now. Don't fret." Toadsworth reassured, trying to conceal his own anxiety. "I'm sure the doctor has at least a few more tricks up his sleeve."
"But we've been trying to awaken the princess for so long! What if…what if she never wakes up?" worried another loyal Retainer.
The doctor sighed and put away his defibrillator. "Well, I still register a pulse, and she seems to be breathing fine. In any case, I have done all I can. That "blast to the back" as you have described it may not have been that physically devastating, but the shock carried with it could have resulted in the Princess's current state."
"Thank you doctor. We appreciate it. Truly." Toadsworth moved slowly toward the pink figure lying almost motionless on top of the bed. "Princess. What did you do to deserve such horror?"
"Hey, check it out, Toadsworth's talking to himself." a Toad said. He was immediately rapped on the knee by his elder.
Resuming focus to Peach, Toadsworth lamented "It's all that horrible Sky Yoshi's fault isn't it? He got you into this. We will care for you, and when you are well again, we will, what is it you youngsters say, 'take him down', yes." Turning around, Toadsworth gave some orders.
"You are not to leave the Princess's side, do you understand? If she awakens I wish to be notified immediately. That is all." Toadsworth promptly left the room.
-----------------------
Soshi had to rest. It was a farther distance than he had realized. He started to question whether there really was a volcano. He had been questioning a lot of things in his life recently. Ever since his father died. He was really beginning to dread life. Finding no trace of land anywhere, he decided just to land on the water. With slightly less grace than usual, he dipped his body into the ocean. It was no different than any other ocean, but it seemed to have an almost therapeutic effect of Soshi. It calmed him, releasing him of all tension. He lay on his back, letting the late afternoon sun warm his face, and the water cool his back. A few small Cheep Cheeps swam by and Soshi playfully swatted at them. Soshi wished he could be like them. So carefree, only worrying about their next meal and not becoming one themselves. At the thought Soshi became rather famished, and reached into his saddle-sack to see whether there was anything he had left over. A single peach and that was it. Soshi decided it was better than nothing, so he took it out and munched thoughtfully.
One hour and a discarded peach core later, Soshi bumped his head against an outcropping of rocks. Rubbing his skull, Soshi looked up to see a tall red mountain jut up into the sky. It was angled every it could conceivably be angled and yet it still seemed to somehow twist itself upward. Soshi had no idea how such a mountain came to be, but that wasn't important. What was important was to get what he came for and get back to the castle as soon as possible. Flying upwards, wrapping around it, Soshi soon came to the volcano's mouth. Peering into it, Soshi saw exactly what he expected to see, a frothing pool of magma ten feet below the surface. Soshi wondered how he would get in and out alive, but didn't have time to thing as a particularly strong gust of wind came and knocked Soshi off balance sending him tumbling in.
Outside, on the water below, a figure landed and seemed to stand on the water. Although its face was shrouded, a smile broke on its mouth.
"Good luck, Sky Dragon." it said, and dashed off without another word.