Chapter 4
Unpredicted Ally
Josh, and the nine other Goombas had made their way to the base of Shy Guy Mountain. The mountain was enormous, and it would certainly be a difficult hike. The sun was now visible in the sky. The birds were singing a song in the warm early morning sun. The dew on the grass was fresh off the trees.
"Alright guys we take a break and make breakfast here," Josh began. "We are going to need one-hundred percent vitality if we want to have a chance at making it through this mountain alive."
All the Goombas worked together to make breakfast. They made mushroom omelets with strips of bacon on the side. They then cleaned, and packed up everything they could use again.
"We shall begin the ascent on this mountain," declared Josh. "Stay close, and if your eyes catch a glimpse of any suspicious movement let the group know. Everybody follow my lead."
The Goombas began along the mountain trail. It was filled with steep altitude ascensions. They climbed up rocky ledges, and crossed shallow rapid streams. This was no problem for a Goomba. Goombas had adapted a long time ago to have great foot balance, and technique (substituting for their lack of arms). They had finally reached the most difficult part of the hike, crossing one of the tributaries of the mighty Blue Coin River. Unlike the last couple patches of water they had crossed this tributary was really fast, and deeper than what a Goomba could handle.
Josh didn't hesitate; he grabbed a rope from his bag. He made a knot in the rope, began twirling the rope in the air. He then made a swift motion to force it forwards, and lassoed a rock.
"It isn't exactly ideal," Josh admitted, "but it is the best thing we've got."
"Wow if only you had enough skill to grab a certain girl's hear with that," Larry laughed.
"I warned you," stated Grace annoyed as she pulled a frying pan out of her bag. "Now here is what you get." All of a sudden a metallic ping was heard (along with a loud girlish yell), and what was seen was even stranger, Larry flying from one side of the tributary to the other. Larry was face planted on impact with the ground.
"Darn in-laws," he muttered to himself. It took him a while to notice his location in relation with the others. He turned around, and saw the nine other Goombas on the other side of the tributary. "Hey I made it across!" Larry shouted triumphantly. He began to dance horribly (one might call him an embarrassment to all living things).
Josh saw this and hollered, "Hey, Larry I need you to pick up the rope from the rock, and pull me across. I'll do the rest from there. Got that?"
"Yeah I got that," he yelled annoyed back at Josh.
Larry un-lassoed the rock and Josh tied the rope around himself securely. "Ready," Josh hollered. Larry pulled quickly so that the swift current wouldn't exhaust him as much. He got Josh over to the other side. "Alright," Josh whispered breathlessly to himself "now just to get everybody else." He began to holler, "Alright I'm going throw this rope to the other side, and one of you will securely tie yourself up, and I will bring you safely across the tributary."
Josh threw the rope across the tributary to the other side. Each Goomba looked at one another to see who would volunteer to go first. One Goomba, named Jeff spoke out, "ladies first." as he motioned to Grace.
"Oh stop being a pansy," she retorted. "You're a man why don't you get brave."
"Hey it isn't easy I mean look it's dangerous," he said stating the obvious.
Grace pulled out her frying pan again and said, "It's your choice."
Jeff tied the rope around himself slightly embarrassed and allowed himself to be pulled across the tributary.
"Form a line," Josh hollered. "I don't want to wait all day for you guys to decide who goes first."
The seven other Goombas formed a line. Gerard was first in line, and a big hydrophobic Goomba. "Am I first?" He asked rhetorically.
"Nope," began his brother Bill. "Your just on the opposite side of the line from last. Here's your sign."
"Always a comedian," stated Gerard, tying the rope around himself. He began to sweat, and panic a little. With the help of Jeff Josh pulled Gerard across quickly as to not keep him petrified for to long.
"If your scared of a little water," Jeff began. "You might be a toadstool."
Even Gerard laughed at the comment. "What's that Jeff?" Joked Gerard. "I'll hit you so hard Grace might feel bad for you.
"Doubt it," hollered Grace.
Josh sighed. He had never seen such a misfit group in his life, but it was good chemistry wise. If they all hated each other it would be a lot harder. Josh was able to pull all the Goombas across to the other side. They would immediately continue on. Their efforts were set on not stopping until they reached the top of the mountain where it would be safest.
They were nearly at the summit when one Goomba named Walter made an acute observation. "Josh," said Walter cautiously. "There should be snow here. In fact there should have been snow starting about five hundred feet below this point. We are about one hundred feet from the summit. Something's really wrong."
"You bring up a good point," admitted Josh. "Something is definitely wrong. Keep your eyes pealed for Shy Guys. I have a really bad feeling about this."
The Goombas quickened their pace. The Snowline began only twenty feet from the summit. Once the Goombas reached the summit they were able to look down. Only about two hundred feet below them was an army of Shy Guy's in their bright red outfits, along with toadstools. They were setting up cannons powered by fire flowers.
"I think I know what happened to the snow," stated Walter.
"My question is, sense when are the Toadstools in alliance with the Shy Guys?" asked Josh.
"Since ten Goombas were reported to be heading toward Shy Guy Mountain," stated a deep voice from behind them.
The ten Goombas turned around to see a snowman behind them. Josh took a step back not recognizing if the Mr. Blizzard was friend or foe.
"Don't fret sir we are on your side," began the Mr. Blizzard. "Look if we r going to survive those cannons we need to work together."
Josh turned around to look at the fire cannons below. He pondered for a moment and then asked, "How many of you guys are left?"
"There is twenty seven of us," the Mr. Blizzard. "If we can gain some ground, and make more snow our numbers will increase. We can be spontaneously born just from snow."
"Great then I have an idea," Josh stated with confidence. "You guys need to stay in the snow. My friends, and I will make a large snowball, and roll it down. Once it reaches the elevation of the Shy Guys it should just break. That's when I need you guys to pop out, and attack. We will be on top of the snowball when it is finally made so we can assist."
"That is the craziest thing I have heard," Mr. Blizzard began, "but it is all we've got."
"Best of luck to you General," stated Josh.
"To you as well comrade," retorted the Mr. Blizzard as he went back in the snow.
"Lets get moving!" Commanded Josh.
The ten Goombas began making the snowball. They made it an oval shape so all ten of them could stand on it. It was rather large just the size they needed. There was still an average of a foot of snow from the mark of the summit to twenty feet below the summit. The Goombas mounted the oval and faced the opposite direction as their target, and began to walk forward. They picked up speed, and they were soon running. They hit the drop off point. The oval mass crashed right on top of the core of the opposing army. Shy Guys, and Toadstools alike began to flee in confusion. The cannons were now cooled. The Mr. Blizzards soon arose from the snow, and threw snowballs at the fleeing army. When the snowballs hit their targets the target immediately got caught in Ice, and froze to death.
The Goombas began their charge. When they caught up to the fleeing army they rammed and kicked their adversaries. Only a few were four or five Shy Guys along with about three Toadstools could flee to safety. All the rest were frozen, dead or severely wounded.
The wounded were treated, and held prisoner by the Blizzards. Josh saw the area where the one sided battle had taken place. It was a graveyard. A small proportion of what was yet to come. He soon wondered if this was the right choice after all.
"A tough thing war," began the Mr. Blizzard he had met before. "My name is Freedman by the way."
"My name is Josh," Josh stated, "and I know. I just wonder if this is the right choice. This is just a depressing sight and I just don't know." A tear rolled down his face. "It just seems so hypocritical, all we want is peace, and yet we need war to make peace."
"I can't tell you what is right or what is wrong," Freedman began. "All I know is that there must be somebody who could tell you the difference. That somebody has to have supreme knowledge beyond anything we know. I know He or She as the Judge. The Judge is supreme, and is always right, and wishes well for everyone. He or She loves us all. The Judge is Love. So wherever be the Judge there is love, and wherever love might be, the Judge is also. The Judge could tell you, but I can't. For the benefit of the people you love is what you must strive for, that is how you can please the Judge," Freedman paused, and began again, "within reason I mind you. If you think that this is better for the people you love, then the Judge will see to it as an act at least somewhat justified in His or Her eyes. For He or She acts only for what He or She loves. To act on love that is right. Never act out of hate. That's all I know."
"Thank you," Josh said without turning his head. "Your words are those of wisdom. I will remember them. I needed that," he said pulling out the letter he had written for Valerie. "I should have given this to her."
All of a sudden a strong breeze picked up blowing the envelope with the letter out of Goombas grab, and off into the air.
"That's not good I don't think," stated Goomba said half puzzled half disheartened.
Freedman put his hand on Josh's head and said, "I think the Judge heard your prayer."
Josh then looked at Freedman. Feeling a sense of friendship between them.
"Our people," Freedman began, "we are allies now. We will come to each other's assistance when we can. Is that a fair gesture?"
"Yes I believe that is," Josh affirmed extending his hand for a handshake.
Freedman felt honored and shook Josh's hand.
"Where are you off to next?" Freedman asked.
"To find the Koopas," Josh began "wherever the road takes us."