New chapter every week? It's more likely than you think.

Siph: No it's not.

It's really not. I kept waiting for the other foot to drop. Much like the tone of this chapter.

Siph: Uhhh I don't like the sound of that.

Welcome, one and all, to…

Chapter 52: Dangerous Territory

Ludwig cast a weak illumination spell as everyone climbed out of the pipe behind him into the Castle Koopa royal catacombs. This is likely a felony or two, he supposed, but he didn't dare speak it out loud.

No one dared speak anything out loud. The only sounds were their unique footfalls.

Pauline heard her heels clack against the tile floor exactly once and shook her head with a frown. She swiftly took her shoes off and put them in her handbag. Wendy saw and followed suit, putting her own pumps into her shell.

Ludwig looked up at Clawdia's mural on the wall. He took a deep breath as silently as he could. He felt a hand squeeze his, and he looked over to see Wendy also looking at the image of their mother. He squeezed back, and she looked at him. With another deep breath from both of them, they nodded to each other and let go, leading the others to the far wall.

Upon reaching it, Ludwig immediately extended his arms towards it, fingers spread. I wish this spell didn't require verbalization, he thought as he began to murmur the magic chant to reopen the catacombs entrance, breaking the unspoken vow of silence the group had in place.

The bricks slid away, revealing the classic Castle Koopa halls. Familiar grey and black bricks, red carpet, and busts of the king. The group exited the catacombs. Ludwig turned and murmured the chant again to close the way behind them, then beckoned for everyone to follow.

The Koopalings retraced their steps from last night. It didn't take long to navigate the winding paths to an intersection covered in rubble and the remains of a chandelier, with a massive hole in the ceiling and in the one above that, revealing the next two floors up.

Ludwig found Wendy holding his hand again.

Blue Koopa looked between the destruction blocking their path and at the Koopalings. She broke the silence. "This is where you got separated, isn't it?" she asked.

Ludwig nodded and also broke his silence. "Yes. We were actually on the immediate upper floor. The ceiling caved in on us, then the floor gave way beneath us."

Wendy shuddered. "I remember Roy screaming. It sounded like Larry and Bowser got the worst of it."

Ludwig nodded. "At least they were in his care. Despite the buffoon's temperament, I cannot imagine anyone more capable of getting them to safety." He looked at Pauline. "And clearly he succeeded if he made it all the way to Toad Town."

Pauline took his gaze as a cue. "So we're talking now? We're not worried about, for lack of a better word, the enemy hearing us?"

Ludwig pointed at his head. "From what you told us, it likely doesn't matter how quiet we are, since it probably already knows we are here."

Pauline nodded and looked back on their path. "I was thinking about that. He could have easily intercepted us before we even left that room."

Wendy shook her head. "I still can't believe that was Daddy that had us cornered last night. At least, his Umbra controlling his body." She bristled at the memory, sticking her tongue out. "No wonder he knew how to get in. He could have followed us through that pipe if he wanted to."

"And I thought he wouldn't make it through due to his size. Had I known it was Father, I would not have felt nearly as safe."

Kraig crossed his arms. "I don't feel safe right now. The idea that this Umbra is just… letting us walk through here is extremely unsettling."

"Ditto to that," Blue agreed. "Let's figure out how to get to Peak Land and get out of here."

"The quickest way is by airship," Ludwig explained. "Unfortunately, the way to the nearest hangar is on the direct opposite end of this." He gestured to the rubble before them.

Wendy looked up at the bricks piled high, testing the stability of a portion in front of her. Immediately more debris came tumbling down, driving her back. "Climbing is definitely out. But since we're not worried about being quiet anymore, can't you just thunderclap us to the other side?"

"Thunder—? Of course!" Ludwig exclaimed. "Wendy, you're a genius!"

She smirked and put a hand over her heart. "Of course I am. I'm me. But then, you're kind of off your game today in the smarts department, genius boy."

Ludwig rolled his eyes, but couldn't hide his face-splitting grin. "Everyone, gather close and cover your ears if you're sensitive. This will be loud."

Everyone followed the order as Ludwig prepared the spell. Dark clouds surrounded the group as Ludwig clapped his hands, and in a flash of light they were on the other side of the blocked intersection, emerging from more dark clouds. Thunder boomed where they once were, echoing across the castle.

"If he didn't know we were here before, he most certainly does now," Ludwig muttered.

Wendy punched his arm. "Don't say things like that, I'm freaking out enough as it is!"

"We were all thinking it. Don't act like you weren't" Blue pointed out.

"Focus, everyone," Pauline interrupted, putting her hands on two of them. "We have a hangar to find. Wendy, Ludwig, you're still leading."

"Right. This way." Ludwig marched on.

*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*

Ludwig and Wendy led the others into the hangar. There were very few airships within, despite how great the space was.

"Roy and our troops must have taken to the air. No wonder he got to Toad Town in just one night," Ludwig observed.

"This was way too easy." Wendy looked around the room. "We're getting this far without any trouble."

"Whatever the Umbra's plan is, we still need to regroup with the others. We can take one of the small airships and check for stowaways after takeoff, but before leaving the castle's airspace."

"Let's find us an airship."

*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*

Soon the crew left the hangar and entered Darkland airspace. Before they got very far however, Blue Koopa noticed something.

"There's something in the clouds by us." She pointed starboard, Kraig following her gaze.

"I'm aware," Ludwig replied. "There are similar objects on the other side of the ship, as well as in front, above, and below."

Pauline looked out the window at the silhouettes in the sky. "So we're surrounded? What are they?"

Wendy looked out the window next to her. "It looks like… more airships? But who's flying them?"

Some of the cloud cover lifted revealing all the airships surrounding the small party. And they all had their cannons fixed on the newly airborne ship.

An elderly voice echoed through the sky. "State your business."

Ludwig and Wendy looked at each other, wide-eyed, and identified the voice in stereo.

"Kamek?"

Siph: So wait, the other foot never actually dropped?

Except for my sudden burst of weekly chapter updates being cut short.

Siph: Hey, two weeks is still nothing to sneeze at.

Glad you think so. But yeah, the overall tone I was going for was having the unrelenting dread of knowing Bowser could be around every corner and then nothing coming of it. All the anxiety, none of the payoff.

Siph: Wow. That's mean.

And it was mostly intended for the benefit of a certain reviewer who I've already been messing with. It's more fun than it has any right to be. You know we love you though!

Siph: You sure you're one of the good guys?

Keep in mind that I can't even kill a gnat without feeling bad.

Siph: Point taken. Good guy, but with a mean streak.

If this is the extent of my cruelty, I think it's fine. Read and review!