Chapter 3: A surprise welcoming party, Peach's Invitation

"Oye Run, are we there soon?" Wave asked.

"We are almost there." Said Run, staring at the kingdom that could be seen in the distance . "We will be there in a few minutes."

"Great! Can't wait to see what the Mushroom Kingdom looks like."

"You seem pretty excited, Wave-kun." Remarked Bols, seeing his friend staring at the land in the distance.

"Of course! It's every sailor's dream to discover an unknown place." Wave affirmed.

"Why does you want to go ?" Asked Kurome. "It's silly, if you don't even know what you might find."

"It's normally. We're in another world, right? So, I want to see what kind of strange people we're going to meet." Said Wave. "Imagine, it's like being a group of explorers!"

"It's true that sounds fun." Approved Seryu. "When do you say, Esdeath-sama?"

"Just stay on your guard." Said Esdeath, who has just joined the conversation.

"Do you think what there will are enemies?" Asked Stylish.

"We have no idea where we are." Esdeath explained to him. "But whether in our world or in this world, we will always have enemies."

"In fact, maybe we are dreaming." Said Run, leaving the mast.

"How can it be a dream if we are all awake?" Wave asked.

"It was ironic, silly." Esdeath said before walking away.

"If we are in another world, we have two problems." Remarked Bols. "First, we have no idea what we may encounter! And second, who knows how we can get home?"

"This story is both exciting and disturbing." Said Seryu, while Koro nodded his head.

"There is nothing exciting in all this." Wanted to retort Tatsumi. "Damn it, how am I going to go back to Night Raid ?"

Staring at the island, while being silent, Kurome finally looked at her belt to see no trace of her sword. No matter what dangers she will meet, she could never handle it with ease without her weapon.

In addition, she feels less secure and unable to reach her full potential in combat.

" I have to find my sword or a replacement weapon." Kurome thought.

Run then landed on the deck of the boat and saw that they had already before the docking bay.

"Everyone, we've already arrived. Are we going to take our leave?"

Immediately, the whole team went to the front of the boat, to see that they had already arrived.

But immediately, Wave, Tatsumi and Seryu were amazed at what they see. Bols, Run and Stylish are also surprised, while Esdeath and Kurome were not as shocked as the others. It looked like a city ... except that the dwellings were giant mushrooms. They can see too a large castle from a distance. There were signs that had fungi or stars with cartoony eyeballs.

But he most shocking thing was that the residents themselves were mushrooms, with feet and hands. There are even human-sized turtles that walk on two feet with shoes. Residents watched the Jaegers team wondering who they were.

"Who are these guys?" Asked a random resident.

"It looks like a pirate ship." Said another resident.

"Mom, this guy has a scary mask." Said a little girl.

"Don't look at him, darling." Said the child's mother. " He may be an assassin. ''

"Am I dreaming or what? " Wave and Tatsumi said at the same time.

"What is it?! What's going on in this place? Everything here doesn't look right." Said Run.

"A village full of humanoid mushrooms ?" Asked Bols.

"How is it that all these mushrooms can speak?" Exclaimed Stylish, staring at the inhabitants, with great fascination. "AND above all, how did they evolve like humans? I have to capture one to study it. ''

"Are they the inhabitants of this world?" Asked Seryu. "They are fun to watch."

"They all look weird." Kurome retorted.

"General, we are really in an unknown world." Said Wave,who was surprised, intrigued and afraid at the same time. . "What should we do?"

"How would I be? First, let's make sure we know where we are."

"Look, there are others who come to us." Said Run.

In effect, small fleet of toad soldiers headed directly for the Jaegers. When they arrived, one of them stepped forward. He led the small fleet, like a captain, so to speak.

"People on the pirate ship, we ask you to leave Mushroom Kingdom immediately or we will use force." Said the captain, a little nervous.

"Mushroom Kingdom? Congratulations, Wave! You've really managed to get us to this kingdom" Says Run.

" Because you doubted my abilities as a sailor ? " The boy asked, before looking at the toads. " Hey, we don't want to hurt you! In fact, we are ... lost. "

"Yeah, we are not bad guys." Said Seryu. '' We are justice. ''

"We will not speak out on filthy pirates like you. Leave now or force us to act." Said the captain, drawing a sword from his sheath, trying to appear brave.

"Wait! We just want answers to our questions. And it's not our boat." Said Bols, taking a step towards him.

"Y-Your time is up, pirates! Prepare to face justice! Men, CHAAAAAARRRRGGGGE!" Cried the captain halfway as he and his men got on the boat.

"I guess they won't listen ..." said Stylish, preferring to back off.

"But, we are not bad guys." Said Seryu. '' Should we fight them? ''

'' Yes, but avoid killing them. " Run noted. " They are simply soldiers who want to defend this village! And then, they didn't have me very very dangerous. "

"Hey, I didn't mean to do it. " Retorted Seryu. " I don't kill the innocent people who protect their people. ''

'' That is what you say. " Tatsumi remarked, stepping back too.

"If we have to fight them, I better use only my fists." Said Bols, while placing Rubicante behind him.

Uninterested in these mushrooms, which she considered weak, Esdeath simply looked at Wave, Seryu, Run and Bols put themselves in the front line and decided to let them fight.

"Fix this problem quickly ! Then we will go to town. "

'' Sure thing! ".

In this moment, the army of toads began to attack. Wave went to load straight on one of them and take his teigu. However, not needing to dress in his armor, he only struck the mushrooms with the dish of his weapon. And this was enough to beat his opponents.

"Watch out, this man is powerful." Shouted a soldier.

"He just knocked six men down in seconds." Remarked another soldier.

"D-Don't be distracted by this man, he must be the only strong person." Said the captain. " Attacked the others. "

"Y-yes sir."

Five soldiers surrounded Seryu, ready to jump on her, but Seryu was ready for it.

"Koro ..."

Immediately, the soldiers dropped their weapons, seeing Seryu's little dog begin to grow to exceed two meters high, while taking the form of a huge monster.

"What ? What is this monster ?"

"Me and Koro are members of justice. " Assured Seryu, with a sweet smile. " I kill bad guys and Koro eats them."

Staring at the toads with a harder look, she taught them.

"I'll give you three seconds to run away."

And seeing Koro show his huge teeth, the mushrooms cried out in fear before jumping out of the boat, for fear of being eaten.

"Prepare to feel pain." Said a soldier who looked rough, but as nervous as everyone else.

Staring at Run, he had targeted him, finding him not very intimidating.

"Hmm?" Said the man. " Oh, you want to fight me, right ? ''

Immediately, angel wings appeared on his back, causing him to fly over the boat.

"What…?" Said the gross soldier, looking up.

Sharp feathers then began to fly on him and ended up piercing the wood at the foot of the mushroom. Seeing the breach at his feet, the soldier fell backwards, unconscious.

"This is the most ridiculous fight I have made. " Admitted Run, putting a foot on the boat."

'' Avoid damaging the boat, we will surely still need it. " Stylish remarked.

" If you want to avoid that, please don't hesitate to show me the example. "

"What is ... A MONSTER !? " shouted two soldiers, seeing Bols.

Bols struck the two soldiers in the face, knocking them out. Then, crouching in a boat's corner, he began to get depressed, while murmuring.

"Do I really have a monster head ? "

"Bols, this is not the time to depress. " Wave noticed, while knocking down another soldier. " There are many of those damn mushrooms."

Nevertheless, despite their number, the toads were very easily beaten. Basically, the soldiers who board the ship leave seriously injured. After the massive blows, only the captain of the toad fleet was still standing.

"What ... What ...?" ''

'' Is this really the power of your army? " Esdeath wondered, looking at him from the bow of the boat. " Frankly, I am very disappointed! You can consider yourself lucky that we are not here to kill you! It wouldn't even be funny. "

"Grrr! You may have beaten my fleet, but you will never defeat me." Said the captain.

Esdeath snapped a sigh. Immediately, the ground under the captain's feet was turned into ice, freezing his feet by the same process.

"What…? ''

"All I want are answers to my questions." Asserted Esdeath. "But if you persist in attacking us, I will end up losing my patience."

The captain swallows as he prepares to prepare to draw his sword and fight, despite his frozen feet.

"That's enough."

Esdeath and the Jaegers stopped and looked at the direction from which the voice came.

"Who is here ?! " Esdeath and the captain said at the same time.

This person turned out to be Princess Peach herself with her steward, Toadsworth.

"P-Princess Peach ?" said the captain. " What are you doing here, princess? It's dangerous here. "

"I would like to speak to the pirates." Said Peach.

"WHAT ?! But princess, they are ...".

"It's an order, captain." Said Peach sternly.

"But ... look ! This woman has just frozen my feet."

Ignoring the captain, Esdeath turned his attention to Peach and realized that she had some authority here. However, to see her crown, she was not a military authority. No, she must be a nobleman. Exactly the person that Esdeath needed.

"Please." Cried Peach, "Can you free this poor captain?"

Continuing to stare at her, Esdeath finally snaped her fingers again to make disappear the ice. Immediately released, the captain backed away to stay away from Esdeath. Seeing the power of Esdeath, as well as the battalion of soldiers on the ground, Toadsworth said anxiously.

"Look what they have already done to the soldiers. They have already proven to be the vicious type."

"It's because they were just defending themselves" Peach said with a smile. "I'm sure if we just talk to them, we could learn more about them and use them peacefully."

"I don't know ... but I'll go with you if something bad happens." Said Toadsworth.

"Hmm?" Wave watched Peach and Toadsworth board.

"You all, we have a distinguished guest." Said Esdeath . " I think that she is a princess ! She is there to parley. ''

Immediately, Run made his wings disappear, while Koro resumed his chibi form. Seeing Peach and Toadsworth boarding, Tatsumi couldn't help but be surprised.

"A woman? A human being here? ''

"Surprising indeed. " Bols agreed, arms folded. ''

"Who are you?" Asked Kurome.

"Forgive me for this intrusion ! My name is Princess Peach and this is my steward, Toadsworth." Peach said kindly.

"It is a pleasure to meet you." Toadsworth said, with a little uncomfortable.

"I would like to apologize for this big misunderstanding, my soldiers were too rushed and attacked right away. They were only trying to protect the city, but I'm sure you didn't want to hurt either. " Said Peach. " In order to be forgiven, I would like to invite you to my castle so that we can get to know each other, instead of continuing the fight."

Immediately there was a heavy silence from the Jaegers. Barely a minute ago, they had been attacked by fungi and now a princess invited them.

'' It's a trap. " They thought. ''

"Wait, let me understand. You are a princess ... and you invite us to your castle?" Asked Esdeath.

Peach nodded, still smiling happily.

"From what I've heard, you're looking for answer on these places, right? If you promise not to make more fuss here, I'd be happy to help you. ''

Immediately, a strange feeling was felt in Tatsumi and Wave. Despite the feeling of being taken for idiots, they felt they could trust this woman. Instead, Stylish walked over to Esdeath to whisper to her.

"General, can we really trust her ?"

Smiling, hearing this comment, Esdeath turned to him and the other Jaegers.

"Did you hear? We are invited to this princess' castle."

Then, smiling, she noticed.

"Well, we can't reject this invitation now, can we?"

However, just seeing her smile, her subordinates understood that she was silently warning them not to lower their guard.

'' Thank you for your collaboration." Thanked them Peach. "If you are interested, I could answer your questions over a meal. ''

Immediately, the last word in that sentence made Kurome drool, as his stomach manifested.

"Nice princess."

" Sometimes I seem to see similarities between a dog and you. " Wave noted.

Bols and Seryu immediately walked away from the boy, while Kurome smashed his head against the floor.

"Wouldn't one of us be better off staying here to watch the boat ?" Asked Run. " It is not ours, but we may still need it. ''

"Oh, don't worry. My soldiers will protect him while you're away." Said Peach pointing to his guards.

And so, everyone followed Peach to the castle, except Wave, whose face was completely bloodied.

'' Did Kurome have to hit me so hard? ''

Raising his face, to stop a nosebleed, he froze, seeing a big white cloud, with eyes, which seemed to be staring at him.

"This world is too weird! " Wave thought, immediately leaving the boat, to join the others.


TO BE CONTINUED ...

Phew ... My longest chapter yet. I hope enjoyed reading it as I did typing it.