Happy 50th chapter everybody!
Siph: Too bad there's nothing special happening for this.
I'm actually writing for a change, so that's pretty special. But yeah, nothing different from the routine going on here. But it is Lemmy's section, so that should put a smile on people's faces.
Siph: What's also special is you have absolutely no plans for this section, and you don't know how to get the party from Petal Meadows to the tunnel to Peak Land.
Disclaimer: I directly quoted dictionary dot com.
Chapter 50: Follow Your Nose
"Okay," Goombella started, "just so we're all clear, whatever just happened totally doesn't have anything to do with the Shadow Queen, right?"
"I don't think so," Vivian answered. "I think… I think Beldam would have come back to us if that was the case. But whatever this is is definitely bad."
"Probably more Umbra funny business." The Great Gonzales Jr. raised his fist. "It'll take more than a dark spooky sky to stop this adventure!"
"You got that right!" Lemmy stood up with arms akimbo. "Let's get to it!"
The party's journey up Petal River was long, but Lemmy Koopa's rekindled joy kept everyone's energy up. The group did have to make several spots to stretch their legs.
During one such stop, Iggy looked back downstream. "We can't even see Petalburg anymore. How long were we adrift?"
Goombella looked to Ms. Mowz. "We're still on the trail, right?"
The Little Mouser nodded. "The scent of royalty is quite still strong." She sniffed the air. "And it's not just because the Koopalings are with us."
Goombella chuckled, "I was totally about to ask that. Any idea how close we are?"
"It's hard to tell, however…" Mowz held up a finger. "I am getting something new nearby." She walked towards the riverbank.
The others looked towards her when she announced this.
"What is it?" Morton asked.
"Oh boy, here we go," Goombella sighed.
Morton continued, "Do you think it's one of the others? Nah it can't be since Roy, Larry, and Bowser are in Toad Town, and Ludwig and Wendy are in Big Ape City. Maybe it's Kamek or Aunt Kammy! Or a minion! Our minions probably have our scents all over them, right? Well, not in a weird way. Just because they live in the castle too and castles are the definition of royalty! Well not really. Actually the definition of royalty is 'royal persons collectively.' Or —"
A strong but gentle hand on his shoulder stopped him. He looked up and saw Flurrie smiling at him.
"Save some oxygen for the rest of us, darling." She passed him by to join her companion. "Besides, instead of asking your slew of questions, our beloved sleuth can show us what she's found."
"Uh, ok," Morton stammered before following.
"That's one way to stop him," Lemmy giggled. "It's a lot nicer than Roy's method."
"What's he do?" Gonzales Jr. asked. "Just whap him upside the head?"
"Sometimes. Other times he punches him in the head. Or shoves his hand in Morton's mouth. Or he throws things at him."
"Usually me," Iggy added. "Like some kinda nerdy javelin."
The Mini-Yoshi stared at the Koopalings. "I can't tell if you're messing with me or not."
Iggy laughed, "And you never will. That's the beauty of it."
"If you boys are quite finished," Admiral Bobbery interrupted, "I believe you'll be quite interested in what Ms. Mowz has found."
They looked as the thief in question walked up the riverbank, soaking wet. In her hands was a rod very familiar to the princes.
Lemmy's eyes and smile widened. "My wand! Thank the Stars!" He walked as fast as he could and took it from her. "I don't think I was gonna be able to walk like this anymore. I was about to ask Morton to carry me."
Morton grabbed Lemmy's hand. "I can still carry you if you want!" His sandy eyes were wide and shimmering.
Lemmy laughed, "Awwww well if you really want to."
Morton picked him up from beneath the arms and looked him dead in the eye. "I really, really want to, Lemmy."
Lemmy shrugged. "Well, I guess that settles it. I'm not walking on my ball any time soon." He shelled his wand. "Thanks for finding this for me anyway, Ms. Mowz."
She nodded, eyes glinting. "I knew it had to be noteworthy when it had your distinct smell on it."
"I'm surprised it's been there all this time. I thought it'd still be in the tunnel, or somewhere farther downstream than even the bridge."
Iggy cleared his throat. "Speaking of that tunnel, do you think that giant skewer will still be there? Or that wall?"
Morton and Lemmy both looked at the former's wrist at the mention of the wall.
"No matter what's there or what's not there, I just wish my message with Mom is intact," the big Koopaling sighed.
"Um, hello?" Goombella interrupted. "I think it's better if we get a move on than just sitting around worrying about what's ahead."
"Goombella's right," Koops agreed. "We'll cross that bridge when we get to it. For now, we should let Ms. Mowz lead the way again."
She was already in front, ready to continue. The rest followed.
"Do you think finding Lemmy's wand means we're close?" Koopie Koo asked.
"I was wondering the same thing," Vivian replied. "I sure wish that's the case."
Ms. Mowz looked back at her friends. "Well, keep wishing. It might just come true."
"Right!" Goombella added, "Wishes are powerful. They're how Mario got the Star Rod back to Star Haven, after all."
"Not to be confused with the grand prize of the Star Carnival's Star Battle Arena," Morton began. "Which our dad also tried to steal and got his shell handed to him. On the other hand, a couple of our minions got to join in on the fun. But still you gotta wonder why Ballyhoo didn't name that something else to avoid confusion. Do you think maybe he doesn't know about Star Haven? I would have mentioned something to him. Do you think Mario and Peach are too nice to say anything about that? Maybe they are. But we just love being mea—"
"That can't be right." Ms. Mowz suddenly said, stopping in her tracks.
The party shuffled to a halt behind her.
She looked around, sniffing the air. "The trail stops here, but I don't see anything."
Before anyone could respond, however, Flurrie took the lead. "Worry not, darlings! Leave this to me! Best that you all stand back, though."
Her friends quickly and eagerly obeyed. The Koopalings followed suit, but looked on curiously.
"What's she doing?" Iggy asked.
"You'll see," Goombella said to him.
They watched as Flurrie inhaled deeply, and let loose an enormous Gale Force on the scenery in front of them. The plantlife bend and swayed in the heavy wind, while the Nibbles swimming in the river panicked as the water churned and swirled. The Koopalings' jaws hung open at the sight.
"Come on, come on…" Gonzales Jr. chanted under his breath.
At long last, something else happened. It appeared as if reality itself was flapping in the breeze, like a paper or tarp covering something, before finally getting blown away into nothingness, revealing a large warp pipe sticking out of the ground diagonally, leaning into the river.
The rest of the Crystal Star crew cheered and rushed Flurrie, congratulating her. Underneath the Koopalings, meanwhile, Bowser's Umbra expressed its silent disbelief and frustration at the development.
Flurrie brushed her friends off. "Oh please, darlings, you're too kind, but it was really no fuss whatsoever."
"No fuss?! That was incredible!" Iggy was the first prince to find his voice again. "Have you always been able to do that?!"
Morton was the second. "Ohhhh! DUH!" He slapped his forehead. "She's a Wind Spirit! I should have known the minute I saw her! The species' resemblance is totally there, based on the pictures I've seen when reading about them. I also remember reading about some baby Yoshis who had to fight one a long long long long time ago before King Dad was even Bowser's age after he stole the Super Happy Tree. King Dad stole it, not Cloudjin. Too many third-person pronouns there might have made what I said confusing. Cloudjin is the name of the Wind Spirit they fought, by the way."
Lemmy suddenly broke into a fit of giggles.
"What's gotten into you now, Lemmy?" Iggy asked, finding the giggles contagious despite not knowing the context.
It took the tiny Dragon-Koopa a few seconds to form a coherent sentence amidst the giggle fit. "I think this means Morton only has the second most powerful lungs in the group."
"Hey, that's not fair!" Morton huffed. "Even with all my hot air, I can't hold a candle to a Wind Spirit. Come on, guys!" Morton held his offended demeanor for only a second more before laughing himself.
Iggy nudged him. "Don't worry, Morty, we won't tell Roy about any of this."
Morton wrapped one of his huge arms around his brother, still holding Lemmy with his free hand. "Thanks, Iggs. I got a reputation to protect."
"Gentleman," Ms. Mowz addressed them, "while it pains me to interrupt this heartwarming moment, I think it's time for me to pass the reins to you."
Morton cleared his throat. "Right." He released Iggy and approached the pipe, holding Lemmy firmly. "Follow me."
Since I'm flying by the seat of my pants here, I wasn't planning on having Flurrie be so integral to the party's progress here. But I'm really glad I thought of that. Helps call back to Chapter 26.
Siph: Flurrie's just being so unexpectedly helpful through this whole fic. Ms. Mowz was obvious. Are any of the other partners going to get to shine with their abilities?
I don't know. I'll never know until I write it. I have absolutely no plans for any of this — …
Siph: You just thought of something, didn't you.
I just thought of a lot of somethings. This is gonna be good. And maybe a little on-the-nose.
Siph: All the best stuff is. I have no idea what you're thinking, but you should totally do it! Hey, readers, tell J you agree with me!