Chapter 8: A New Recruit
Matthew thought it best to keep his mouth shut even though Goombella was leading them in circles down in the dungeons. She was in a foul mood and clearly distracted as she kept mumbling to herself, "It's not cowardly to plan ahead... and why shouldn't I be proud of my brains? ...just because I don't rush in headfirst into what's clearly a dangerous place... that old koot thinks he's so smart... I don't see him running to the castle to fight the dragon..." She took each turn without any careful consideration, and not once did she check her hand drawn map. Dead ends fazed her not, and instead she abruptly wheeled around and shoved past Matthew, who more than once scraped his elbow against the rough stone walls this way. He feared they would wind up wandering through dank and narrow corridors for the rest of their lives.
But eventually his patience was rewarded when they climbed out to the surface to the cheerful chorus of crickets. It had gotten dark while they had been wandering and Matthew suggested they camp for the night before setting off for Hooktail's Castle the next day. Goombella didn't disagree, so Matthew went out in search of something to eat before turning in, coming back with an armful of red-spotted mushrooms.
Matthew was actually excited to try the famous mushrooms of the Mushroom Kingdom, which was unusual for him since he normally hated mushrooms. He cautiously nibbled one.
Unexpected, was the best way to describe it. It had the unexpected crispness of an apple but with the mellow taste of a banana and with just a hint of chili pepper that seemed to ease the aches and weariness in his bones and fill him with instant energy. He now understood why it was Mario's go-to snack for an adventure. He glanced at Goombella to find she didn't look too impressed with the revitalizing effects of the mushrooms, but then again she probably ate these things for breakfast every day. Once the both of them had their fill, they settled down to rest. Matthew fell asleep to Goombella's soporific mumbling.
Early the next day just before the sun was peeking over the hills, they started off toward Hooktail Castle. As they neared the walls of Petalburg, both adventurers paused and considered it thoughtfully. Matthew turned to Goombella.
"Let's go around it," she confirmed.
So that's what they did. It meant thirty extra minutes of walking but Matthew didn't mind it terribly. He still had the memory of the tin can connecting with his head.
But as they were coming around to the town's western gate, they heard the frenzied pitches of an argument.
"You haven't got a prayer against that monster! What's gotten into you?" said a female's voice.
Another voice spoke, "Someone needs to stop Hooktail. He's been terrorizing our town for years, and I... well, someone needs to stop him."
Matthew stopped in surprise. He recognized that voice. Timid and soft-spoken... it was that Koopa who talked to him in the library the day before.
The female's voice spoke, "You don't have to do it, Koops. Someone else will stop him. Those two adventurer's yesterday..."
"There IS no one else!" cried Koops. Matthew cringed guiltily at his next words, "You saw how they walked away. They never intended to fight Hooktail... and waiting for someone else to do it... I mean, who else is going to do it? And I... I want to finish what my dad started..."
They heard the female sigh. "Listen, Koops, your dad knew who you are. He knew you're not the strongest or the bravest, and he never expected you to be! You don't need to prove anything! Especially not to me. I love you just the way you are! Can't that just be enough?"
"This isn't just about me, Koopie Koo, don't you see? I'm doing this for everyone. I'm doing this to protect Petalburg... for them, for my dad, and for you..."
Koopie Koo's retort was harsh. "No, Koops. You're doing this for you. It isn't for your dad and it definitely isn't for me. You're doing this because you want revenge on Hooktail and for your own pride. I can't believe how selfish you're being right now."
Matthew bristled. How dare she call Koops selfish? Here a guy tries to save a town from a hungry dragon, and his girlfriend goes and calls him selfish! He glanced at Goombella, who shrugged and said, "Tough love, huh?"
"I'm going to help him," Matthew told her. "Come on." He began marching toward the voices. Goombella hopped in agitation, cried, "Hey, what are you doing? Hey!" and chased after him.
She caught up with him just as he came around the wall and spotted the couple standing outside the gates. He called out to them, "Hey!" They turned to him in surprise. Koops looked especially surprised as his mouth dropped.
Matthew suddenly realized he didn't know where he was going with this. He fumbled silently for words and then blurted the first thing that came to his mind, "You going to Hooktail's Castle?"
Koops was too stunned to reply, but Koopie Koo blurted with an expression of relief, "Oh, thank goodness you're here! Koops has this crazy idea of going to Hooktail Castle to stop the dragon. I've tried to reason with him, but maybe he'll listen to you."
Goombella made a gesture as though raising her hands in surrender, "Hey, I hear you, sister. This guy here wants to storm the castle gates with hammer swinging and I'm trying to tell him, 'Whoa, there, hotshot, let's think about what we're doing so we don't wind up barbequed, you know?' But does anyone listen to me? No they don't, even though I'm the one with a college education..."
Matthew argued, "You never said that! I was the one who said the Crystal Star was probably at Hooktail Castle, but you insisted we go to that fortress instead!"
"Hey, my research was sound! The Crystal Star had been taken to Shhwonk Fortress..."
"But we wasted a whole day going there! And who knows what's happening to Princess Peach in the meantime..."
Koops spoke up, "Uhh... did you say, 'Princess Peach'?"
They didn't hear him. Goombella continued, "Well, it won't do her any good if we wind up dead. Just charging through the gates could get us both killed..."
"So what, spend a month reading every book they have on castles and dragons?"
Koops said, "Uhh... guys?"
"I don't take a whole month! I could probably read that entire library in... maybe a week... or two..."
"We don't have two weeks!"
Koops tried again, "Guys?"
"Well, what other choice do we have? Without an intimate knowledge of the castle and Hooktail, we're as good as dead the second we step through the door!"
"I know how to get through Hooktail's Castle," Koops said.
Goombella and Matthew turned to him. He blushed and ducked his head. "Um, yeah... my dad did a bunch of research on the place before he disappeared and I've... pretty much memorized a lot of it, so... yeah, I think I know the way..."
Nobody spoke for a minute. Then Matthew turned to his companion with a grin on his face. "What do you say, Goombella? Make him the captain of this expedition?"
"WHAT!?" That was Koopie Koo. "You can't be serious!"
Koops eyes were large. "Um... you want me to lead?"
Matthew beamed. "Well, sure! You said so yourself, you know all about how to get there. And it beats spending hours in the library doing tons of research, eh, Goombella?" He turned to her with his brightest smile.
She muttered, "You're a real pain in the neck, you know that?"
Ignoring her, he turned back to the timid Koopa. "So what do you say, Koops? You in?"
He scratched his head uncertainly. "Oh, uh... I guess..." He turned and gestured half-heartedly over his shoulder. "So, uh, follow me." He started forward. Matthew fell into step behind him, and Goombella, after uttering a furious few words, brought up the rear.
Koopie Koo's shrill voice froze them in their tracks. "Koops, where do you think you're going?"
To his credit, Koops only hesitated for one second and then started off again. Matthew suddenly felt as though he had a target painted on the back of his head and couldn't help ducking in response as he followed.
"Koops, are you listening to me? You get back here this instant or so help me I'll shell slam you so hard..."
Koops kept his back firmly to his girlfriend. Matthew was impressed, the guy had more steel in him than he appeared to have.
Yet Koopie's final blow packed quite a punch. She screamed at him, "Well, fine then, you stubborn Koopa! But don't expect me to cry for you when Hooktail swallows you whole! I hope he broils you first!" Then they heard her sob as she fled back into Petalburg. Matthew's gut wrenched in shame.
"I'm sorry, Koopie Koo," Koops said softly. "I really am."
