I, Yoshi Chapter 2
Koopas, Kippers, and A King
By Ryan-oshi
I woke up early as usual the next morning, and I was sure the strength of the stars was coursing through my body. I sniffed the morning air, but I smelled of it too. I brushed Natures debris off of me and packed up my hammock. As was his habit, Ki-oshi was still asleep, but at least his snoring had placated. Taking advantage of my early rising, I went out from camp, searching for some ripe fruit to pick.
After walking for ten minutes, I came to a spring that led into the Donut Lake some ten miles from our camp. I lapped up the water from it greedily, for I hadnt drank anything since I had left the Island. The sense of adventure filled me, and I couldnt think of anything else, but the flowing of the water and the stillness of the air quieted my thoughts.
Before I stopped my enjoyment of the river, my attention was diverted by a crack of a twig behind some bushes on the other side of the river. After that, there was nothing. Being curious, I hopped across some stones on the river and came to the other side without getting too wet. I cautiously approached the bushes and pulled back them back. Behind them was a small goomba, feasting on several berries. As soon as it spotted me, it hurriedly picked up the rest of the berries in its mouth and scurried off. I smiled at its behavior, but I soon began to sense the sweet aroma of berries entering my nose. It was one of my greatest joys. I grabbed a gathering bag out of my pack and picked berries for another hour. After deciding I had plenty, I started back, figuring that Ki-oshi would be almost ready to wake up.
Thats when I noticed two more goombas on the side of the river I had started on running towards where the other one had escaped to. I followed them at a distance until I started hearing koopa noises. Soon, I spotted a group of them. I crouched behind a bush, counting ten goombas, two koopas, and a magikoopa giving orders. I heard his words quite clearly. Ok, breaks over! King Morton wants us back by noon, and we still have to wait for the other two koopas to get back. Where are those lazy ah, there they are. And they seem to have caught something.
I followed his gaze to a sight that filled me with terror. Approaching slowly were two koopas carrying a struggling Ki-oshi. He had his hands tied behind his back, and he had a muzzle on. Theyd caught him sleeping. The magikoopa looked pleased. Very good, troops. I guess this explains your tardiness. Morton will be glad we caught a yoshi. Theyre elusive.
One of the koopas seemed to be illiterate, and the other one wasnt far more advanced. We gotem sleepin in a hammock. Twas two hammocks, so we thoughts there might be another one, but we couldnt findem.
The magikoopa laughed and waved his wand around, causing some of the goombas to cringe. I was growing furious, and I could tell Ki-oshi was mad. This one is a stupid yoshi then. The other ones smart. Keep a look out, though. His friends bound to be looking for him. We dont want Mortons prize to be stolen. He signaled the other goombas off their feet. Hop to it, beasts. We have a long march ahead of us. On the double, march! With that, they walked off into the brush, leaving me in great distress.
I paced back and forth, knowing that if I didnt act quick, Ki-oshis fate would be sealed. I also knew I couldnt expect to tackle ten goombas, four koopas, and a magikoopa all by myself. Yoshis are tough, but were not all-powerful. Thats when I remembered the Kipper Grotto up ahead. If I could lose them in there, and get out with my tail intact, I could save my friend. It was a risky plan, but time was of the essence, and Ki-oshis future was uncertain. I got to work forming a more detailed plan immediately.
I waited patiently, ducked behind some reeds sticking out of the shallow
water. I could hear the goombas faintly waddling in the distance, but now
wasnt the time to make my move. Soon though, a pesky fly decided to
bother me. What started as irritating buzz escalated to a filthy insect crawling
over my sensitive nose. It was only a matter of time
before
ah
ah
AHCOO! I sneezed so hard that the villainous
fly shot into the lake, and the reeds blew over, bending horizontally. Even
worse, fifteen of Mortons finest soldiers stood battle-poised some
ten meters in front of me.
I gulped and made a quick dash for the lake, looking back to see all of the goombas, the magikoopa, and two koopas coming after me. I made a running dive into the lake and swam as fast as I could, using my large tail to propel me where my short arms could not. I looked around to see that the magikoopa was the only one keeping up, and I knew his magic wand was running low from the waters interference. Up ahead, I caught glimpse of a sort of system of caves and holes. It was the Kipper Grotto.
Mario discovered the Kipper Grotto when he came to our land, saving the imprisoned yoshis from Bowsers slimy clutches. Its a vast array of several holes and small caves gathered it one area. Several burrowing fish originally formed the Grotto, but the kippers, brought by Bowser to endanger our lives, brought the burrowing fishes population to extinction. Now, the kippers ruled their conquered territory with jaws of steel. It wouldnt have been pleasant for one of them to get their teeth on my tail.
Just as I was about to make a dash for the surface, a slimy yellow arm wrapped around my throat. I immediately noticed the blue sleeve hanging from the arm: the magikoopa! He must have used magic to entrap his words in a bubble, because I heard them clearly. So, youre the missing yoshi. Youre not as smart as I thought you were. Now, you will have your entire life as slaves for King Morton to think about it.
As he was spelling out his words of doom, a massive shadow covered us. His arm slid off of my throat, and I frantically swam behind a rock, looking up. My mouth opened in utter amazement, for above us was the most prodigious Kipper Nature had ever spawned. It came down fast and hard, gulping up the then screaming magikoopa and chasing several koopas that had now appeared away. I sat there, trembling, for another few seconds before I realized that I had to breathe. After reaching the surface and gasping for air, I made a hasty retreat to the sweetness of dry land.
After I once again stepped on dry land, it was the work of a few seconds
to dispose of the remaining two koopas. Ki-oshi rocked back and forth with
his eyes blindfolded screaming against his muzzle. I freed him as quickly
as possible. Its about time, Ryan-oshi! Ive been waiting
here with these nasty brutes trying to kill me. Why, it took them ten goombas
and a chargin chuck just to bring me down.
I started laughing and helped him up. He looked ridiculous. Are you sure you didnt just oversleep and let two koopas easily apprehend you?
He looked surprise, but he eventually smiled. He wouldnt lie to me two times. I told him that it was fine, and I was just glad we were ok. So, with that nasty predicament out of our way, we continued on, much of the day still before us.
Later that afternoon, we were but thirty minutes away from our destination,
and the sun was still quite a ways from touching the horizon. We were merrier
now, for things had been going our way, and the remaining hours of the day
had held great luck. Wed picked up some lovely fruit from a kindly
mushroomer, and our path was straight and clear. It was enough to make any
two respectably yoshis break into song. We each took a line, and it went
something like this:
Oer the fields and planted plains,
Under the colored sky,
Koopas and goombas wont stop us,
And our yoster tongues dont lie!
Marching on to adventures way,
Our fortunes seem quite good,
Were friends now until the very end,
Singing as two yoshis should!
It wasnt terribly talented, but the afternoon sky made it sound like a symphony or something you would read about in a book. The next voice we heard wasnt very pleasant though.
Stop that cat-scratchin, ya jerks! Sounds like ya been learnin the chalkboard! We looked up to see Morton Jr. on a rock. He jumped down, obviously causing his knees some pain. His baldhead and scar looked repulsive, and the magic wand he held didnt make us feel any better. Youse guys been causing my ranks some awful bad trouble, and Im here to rectify da situation. With that, he shot out two blasts of magic, aimed for both of us.
We both easily dodged, but his aim was sure to get better. Let us pass Morton
Dats KING Morton, youse jerks! Ill have your bulbous heads for dat insult o disrespect!
The bulbous head crack was too much for Ki-oshi. In one instant, Morton was making fun of us. In the next, he was on the ground gasping for breath. Ki-oshi took up the wand and broke it in two. It was useless, and Morton was too. Thatll teach you to make fun of a yoshi.
Morton wasnt able to respond, but I agreed whole-heartedly.
It was close to night, what with all our interruptions, that we reached the
port. Unfortunately, the port was closed for the night, so we were forced
to take up at the old Inn, formerly the haunted house. Ki-oshi was weary,
but I didnt believe in such things as bad karma. Still, boos exists,
and I wasnt about to let my guard down. Little did I know how rough
the night would be.