Toadette's Story: Book 2

Chapter 111 - Tough Times on Twinsy Tropics

The sleek form of a cursed ship dashed through the morning’s waves. On its polished deck, the hulking figure of a beast could be seen sharpening crude daggers, while smaller, scrawny figures hauled ropes and polished cannons under the gaze of their overseers. At the ship’s bow stood the captain, her gaze fixed on the green island on the horizon.

“Twinsy Tropics,” she chuckled. “Still rich in spices and exotic fruits, as well as villagers who are too peaceful to put up a true fight.”

She turned to one of the monsters. “Same goal: provisions and treasure. Be back before the tide turns.”

Her lips curved and her voice dropped as she took a sip of wine.

“One more thing,” she added, smacking her lips. “Whilst you’re ransacking this pathetic land, keep an eye out on any particularly beautiful young bodies, bring them to me. I expect at least two.”

She turned back to face the approaching island. “The captain is always looking to expand her collection.”

***

“Arrr, mateys! I can’t wait to get some action around here!” Penelope cackled, puffing out her chest. “Someone, listen to me!”

The voyage on the Poseidon Fin continued uninterrupted. Toadette and her crew seldom mingled with Jones’ pirates, exchanging only the barest courtesies. Yet her fingers never strayed far from her hammer’s handle. They were pirates, after all, and pirates bowed only to greed.

“Captain, we’re coming up on Twinsy Tropics!” a crew member shouted from the nest.

“Full speed ahead!” Jones ordered, approaching Toadette. “Still refusing a sword, are we? Not even a pistol?”

Toadette scoffed. “If I can avoid that human garbage, I will.”

“An effective tool for stunning.”

“And you still couldn’t handle a few rival pirates despite these effective tools?”

“You speak like an educated woman,” Jones mused. “Surely you know the mightier the foe, the more punishment they can shrug off. A simple bullet is but a nuisance.”

“Hardly,” Minh interjected, leaning against the rail. “Those were my essays she was turning in.”

Toad shoved his way between them, grinning as he brandished a pickaxe in one hand and a flare gun in the other. “Leave the gambling to the girls. I’m the practical one. The only one here fit to be a real—”

A sudden swoosh shut him up. A knife was embedded in the mast, a hair’s width from Toad’s cap.

“What is that?” Minh asked.

Jones tackled Toadette and Minh, shoving them to the deck. “Get down!” he roared. Across the ship, Penelope shrieked and dove over a stunned Jasmin. A series of heavy footsteps echoed against the hull as grappling hooks sank into the wood.

Hulking, rat-like brutes swarmed over the rails. Minh let out a sharp cry as she scrambled away, only to find more of the beasts clawing up the opposite flank.

“Repel the vermin!” Jones commanded. He lunged forward to impale one of the rats and flip its squealing body into the sea. He spun, using the blunted end of his trident to shatter the jaw of another.

His crew engaged in a clash, but they were horrifically outnumbered. For every rat that fell, two more seemed to take its place.

“Alright, you overgrown rodents,” Toad muttered, aiming his flare gun.

He fired, punching a hole through a rat’s chest. To his dismay, the creature merely staggered. It charged at him. Toad struck back with his pickaxe, but the rat pushed him against the mast, its blade dangerously close to his throat.

“Hey!” Toadette launched herself. She landed a powerful kick in the creature’s side. “What the…?”

Unflinching, the rat snarled and swung at Toadette. But then three prongs emerged from its chest, with the rat squealing. Jones appeared from behind, pinning the beast further against the ship before flinging it overboard.

The fight ended as quickly as it began. Toadette’s eyes darted around. The remaining rats lay dead. Penelope was huddled against a crate, trembling. By contrast, Jasmin’s face was calm, almost bored, as she flicked a smear of blood from her cap.

“Disgusting Gaugau,” Jones spat, kicking a knife away. “Syrup’s crew.”

“All that bulk, yet they fight with little daggers?” Toadette asked.

“Well clearly they’re good at it,” Toad retorted. He patted his chest. “And Toadette? That was just our introduction to these guys.”

Toadette gulped. The monsters of Lavalava Island and Rose Town’s forest were child’s play compared to this brief encounter. And not far off, the lush island stood in the water. Another ship was anchored.

“I take it that’s Syrup?” Toadette asked.

“No.” Jones squinted. “Never seen that ship in these waters before.”

“Maybe it’s just a cargo ship?” Minh suggested.

“Or Syrup’s hiding a second ship. She’s here; you can smell her stench in the wind,” Jones said. “Her main ship is likely harboured on the far side. Men! Half of you stay, clean this bloody mess and guard the Fin. The rest of you, with me. We search the island.”

“Aye, captain!”

Toadette stretched her legs. “Alright, guys, we’re going down.”

Minh grabbed her arm. “Are you sure that’s a good idea now? After this? For Penelope and Jazz?”

“I trust them in our care more than I do theirs,” Toadette whispered, gesturing towards the pirates. She then raised her voice. “Hey, lovebirds, let’s get a move on!”

Jasmin cringed. “Dios mío… I think I just threw up in my mouth,” she groaned, prompting a soft sigh from Penelope.

***

A kaleidoscope of colours lay before the gang’s eyes. Flowers the size of dinner plates bloomed in green and orange. Impossibly tall palm trees dared to become skyscrapers with their length. For Toadette, whose world was mostly contained to Toad Town, this was a completely different experience. Even Lavalava Island felt more familiar than this place.

Then she saw the people.

The villagers were a striking mix: humans with sun-dark skin, Koopas with cool-coloured shells and even Shy Guys. Specifically the Spear Guy variety associated with islands. They all sported paint on their faces or shells as well as garments woven from grasses.

Penelope pointed a finger at a woman whose face was covered in spirals. “Look!”

“Hey!” Toadette swatted her hand down. “Don’t be rude.”

“Toadette,” Minh whispered, fanning herself. “You might need to bring me a towel.”

“For what?”

“Look around. What do you notice besides the flowers?”

Nobody was wearing shoes. Not a boot, sandal or slipper in sight. Bare feet—callused, clawed and everything between—pressed across gritty sand and sun-bleached wood. A human child darted past, his soles kicking dust into the air. On a pier, a Koopa woman gripped the boards with strong, curling toes. When Toadette glanced back, sweat ran down Minh’s forehead.

“You wouldn’t see everyone going barefoot in Toad Town unless we made it a holiday,” Minh noted, poking Jasmin’s shoulder. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”

“Shoes suck,” Jasmin agreed.

As they pressed deeper into the village, curiosity turned to suspicion. Faces stiffened. Conversations in the local tongue faded as the five passed.

“Don’t let them think you’re nervous,” Toad whispered. “Villager at your twelve o’clock. Thanks, Toadette, your nervousness attracted them.”

A figure detached herself from the crowd, stepping into their path. She was an older woman, her face hidden behind a traditional Spear Guy mask. However, her height was extraordinary for anybody related to Shy Guys; she towered over the Toads.

“Bonjour, travellers,” she said, her voice deep. “This your first time in Twinsy Tropics?”

Toadette nodded. “Yes, ma’am. From Toad Town.”

“Ah.” The woman’s voice became brighter. She spoke in her native tongue to the crowd, whose faces softened. “We don’t see many folks from the mainland kingdom. I’m Almara. Welcome.”

Then came something unexpected: she pressed the sole of her foot gently against Toadette’s. Toadette froze, her cheeks blooming red.

Almara then moved to Minh and repeated the greeting. The instant her rough sole made contact with Minh’s foot, the latter tensed up. Minh managed a wobbly smile. Next came Penelope, who was shocked into silence by the gesture. Jasmin braced herself for the uncomfortable and unwelcome contact, and she knew it was over once the cold shiver left her spine.

Finally Almara looked at Toad, who stood with his arms crossed.

“No thanks,” he said flatly. Yet she continued to approach him anyways. Before she could take another step, he swatted her away. “I’ll cut to the chase: we’re looking for pirates. Have there been any around here?”

“And not us, by the way,” Minh quickly added, noting their clothes.

The warmth in Almara’s vibe vanished instantly. Her posture stiffened.

“Pirates,” she repeated. “Why would you want to look for—?”

“Ma’am.” Toad’s hand went to the grip of his flare gun. “A fight is coming to these shores, whether you want it or not. Helping us is the best way to end it fast.”

Toadette slapped his hand from the gun. “Real smart, threatening the locals with crime, genius.” Her tone softened when addressing Almara. “Ma’am, if you know anything, it will really help us. We’re looking for this Syrup lady.”

Almara held their gaze for a lengthy moment.

“May we take this to my home, please?”

The group followed the uphill path to the home, flanked by a long stretch of windy trees. The entire time, Toadette tugged on Toad’s cheek. She didn’t release it until they finally reached a rounded structure. The house was small, humble even. Almara pushed the door open with her big toe.

“Please remove your shoes before entering.”

“Even when I’m away from her, my mom’s customs still apply,” Toadette noted, wiggling her toes free of her shoes. “Don’t complain, Toady.”

“As much as I’m trained to respect other cultures, I can’t wrap my head around why people would want to walk around a whole village barefoot,” Toad grumbled.

“Shoes can be quite nasty, what with all the bacteria growing inside if you don’t scrub them clean,” Almara answered, welcoming in Minh, Penelope and Jasmin. “Here the grass is better; it washes our feet clean every day.”

“Maybe we should go out like this at the parks in Toad Town, huh?” Toadette dragged him inside. “A barefoot date.”

The home was warmer on the inside. Fortunately early spring hadn’t cast down its worst heat, meaning nobody was sweating more than usual. Penelope had to be told multiple times to not touch anything as they waited in the living room. Seated in a circle, they didn’t have long to wait before Almara returned, bearing a humble offer.

“Please drink.” She handed out five cups of a pink juice, each with a straw. Before anybody could sip, she bent each straw delicately with her big toe.

Minh was the first to drink, her cheeks turning hot when a stray crumb of soil brushed her tongue.

“Thank you,” Toadette said, wiping her straw before sipping. The flavour—an apparent blend of peaches and cherries—instantly made her suck harder. “Now, we came here looking for Captain Syrup. We’re here to stop her, not join her.”

“That much I understand. I feel nothing dark in you,” Almara said. “But this matter is not so easy to speak on.”

“It can be,” Toad said, leaning forward. “She’s come here before. You wouldn’t be so scared to talk about her otherwise.”

“It’s not fear.” She crossed her legs. “Syrup’s dogs have been a plague on our waters for years. They snatch, they burn, they leave us with nothing. We chase them off, but every fourth moon, they come back stronger. Eight moons past, they raided our eastern cove, took my supplies, took my…” Her voice trailed off, and her toes curled inward. “My son.”

“Son?” Toad raised a brow. “We talking a kid or a grown warrior?”

“Born thirteen years ago. And nobody who has lost a child to Syrup has ever seen them return. His fate remains a mystery.”

“Sorry to hear that,” Toadette said, envisioning her own brother being stolen. “Does she just want young labour?”

“I can’t imagine what it’s like to have your kid kidnapped,” Minh added. “And I was thinking a name like Captain Syrup would’ve been doing something sillier.”

“If only.” Almara ran a finger along her mask. “We’ve been a prime target of hers for a long time.”

“Then give us what we need to take her down,” Toad snapped. “The pirates we’re travelling with only know so much, lady. We really need a weakness here.”

“I don’t know one.”

“Of course.” Toad stood, dusting his hands. “You say they were here eight moons ago. That means they’ll be coming this month, likely today. You know where they normally attack?”

Almara nodded rapidly. “On the northwestern docks. Almost without fail.”

Toad pulled out his compass, retracing his steps to getting to this point. “And we came from the southwest. Still the west, yet we didn’t see any ship aside from the other one.”

“There were a lot of rocks and trees when we were coming in,” Penelope noted. “Maybe they blocked our view?”

“Or maybe Jones wanted to avoid them so they wouldn’t completely destroy our ship,” Minh suggested. “Makes sense.”

“He could’ve been nice enough to tell us that,” Toadette said, rolling her eyes. She finished her cup, handing it to Almara. “Thank you for your time, ma’am. I promise we won’t leave these seas until we find Syrup and what she did to your son.”

“Thank you so much…”

“Toadette.” Toadette went around the circle, introducing everyone else.

“Now, before we all rise,” Almara said, her voice taking on a solemn tone that instantly made Toadette yank Toad back down, “we must kneel to the Star Spirits, so that they may bless our path with protection. Everybody, please bow low. Let your foreheads touch the earth.”

“A little complicated with the caps,” Toadette chuckled, removing hers with a pop.

“As low as you can go is enough.” Almara turned to check that Penelope, Jasmin and Minh were kneeling, then she adopted the position herself. To Toad’s mounting horror, this meant that when she knelt, her feet were planted directly in front of his face.

Stained with dark soil from the jungle paths and yellow sand from the shore, they were callused from a lifetime of barefooting the island. Thick earth packed between her toes oozed out. A stray blade of grass was stuck to her left heel. Toad tried to shift his position, but the circle was too small. Worse, Toadette placed a firm hand on the back of his head to keep him pinned to the ground.

“Show some basic respect,” she hissed. “We’re total strangers here!”

“You’re not the one with your nose centimetres from nasty feet!” he whispered back.

“Karma for trying to scare her with your stupid gun.” She pressed down harder.

He tried desperately to avoid touching Almara’s sole, but his lips made contact with its gritty texture. He recoiled with a silent shudder just as Almara started to pray.

“Oh, Spirits who see all paths, shine upon our steps, that we not falter.”

Toad held his breath, his face turning redder than the spots on his cap.

“Stars that watch the tides, grant us the strength to weather storms.”

Eventually his lungs began to shrivel. As he took a desperate gasp of air, he inhaled a mixture of dried sea spray and an underlying, unholy musk that reeked of pure feet.

“May the seven lights guard us and keep evil from our hearts.” Almara’s volume increased. “And now, we speak the words of hope. May the Stars light our path.”

In a final act of defiance, Toad’s neck muscles bulged and strained against Toadette’s unyielding grip. It was a losing battle. With a shove that left no room for argument, she forced his head down to complete the ritual. As Almara began the final chant, Toad’s heart panicked.

His mouth was forced open against her sole. The abrasive texture of callused skin against his lips and teeth was immediately followed by the invasion of sand and soil onto his tongue. Several flavours assaulted his senses: the bitterness of the soil and the sweatiness of the natural feet. He let out a choked groan as his stomach churned. It took every ounce of his strength not to retch there on the spot, especially as Almara’s toes scrunched tighter.

“May the Stars light our path,” the other girls whispered. Toadette smirked, finally releasing her grip on Toad.

As they rose, Almara met them with a warm smile. “You now walk with the Stars’ protection.”

Toad frantically wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

Jasmin tilted her head, her expression still flat. “What happened to you?”

Toad opened his mouth to complain, but his words were abruptly swallowed by a sound that ripped through the air—a shrill scream, followed by a crowd of panicked shouts. The sounds echoed from the northwest direction. He put his cap on and rushed outside, overlooking what he could from this hillside village. When Toadette and the others caught up with him, fear etched itself on their faces.

A frantic scramble ensued below as parents clutched children, yanking them into the dense jungle. In the backdrop was a huge cloud of kicked-up sand.

“Well, well, I take it it’s the big broad herself,” Toad chuckled before whipping out his flare gun. His face got serious as he ran. “Bring it!”

Toadette sprinted with him. “It’s now or never, Toady!”

“Wait, you guys!” Minh cried out. But they were already too far ahead.

Rounding a corner past a wrecked pottery shop, the scene that unfolded was a war zone. Wooden stalls lay splintered, their contents strewn across the cobblestones alongside shattered pots. Villagers lay injured, groaning amidst the debris. In the heart of the chaos, a brutal melee raged: shark pirates clashed with grotesque Gaugau and other monstrous figures.

Toadette’s confident expression was replaced by an unsure hesitation.

“Too bad your shoes can’t stink a rodent out,” Toad groaned.

“I’ve still got a hammer, and I know how to use it.”

“You might want something sharper.” Toad tossed her his pickaxe in her other hand.

“Gotcha.” Toadette gripped the pickaxe and charged directly towards the nearest threat: a hulking Gaugau looming over a trembling Koopa family. With a cry, she swung low and fast. The sharp point of the pickaxe bit deep into the Gaugau’s leg, eliciting a shriek as the creature stumbled.

“Thank you!” a voice cried from the fleeing family as they ran for their lives.

Two shark pirates slid to Toad’s aide, creating a defensive barrier around him, their spears ready. Toad shoved the flare into the chamber with a frustrated click.

“Eat fire, ugly!” A bright flare exploded and struck another Gaugau in the face. It howled, dropping to its knees as it clawed at its burning eyes.

Toad checked on Toadette. For as incredible as her speed was, her struggle at wielding two weapons at once was evident. After lunging with her hammer and missing, she let out a gasp. A knife was in her side. Her instincts forced her to strike upwards with her pickaxe. A sickening crunch echoed, followed by a wet tearing sound. When she opened her eyes, the Gaugau shuddered before collapsing. She yanked her pickaxe free from the beast’s underside, clutching her wound.

“You okay?” Toad asked. “Toadette?”

“I’m not a little girl, Toady,” she hissed, though her face was pale. She slowly straightened her body, snickering. “I’m just getting started.”

“Well then.” Toad aimed backwards and fired another flare into a Gaugau.

Warmth spread through Toadette’s chest at Toad’s moment of tenderness, quickly overshadowed by the battle. She readied herself to rejoin the chaotic melee when a frantic figure burst from behind. It was Almara.

“Toadette! Mister Toad!” she gasped. “They saw you leave! They saw the ones you left behind!”

Toadette’s blood chilled. “Minh!”

“And the girls!” Toad growled. He shook Almara. “Woman, where did they go? Now!”

“The jungle!” Almara shrieked, pointing. “The Gemini Jungle!”

Toadette’s eyes narrowed. Without a second thought, she took off and disappeared into the jungle, ignoring her bleeding side. The ground became a soft carpet. Overhead, the thick canopy swallowed the sunlight, plunging their path into an emerald-tinted darkness.

“Somehow leaving them back on the ship doesn’t sound like a bad idea,” Toad huffed.

“I’ll admit I screwed up there,” Toadette shot back.

“At least you’re aware. Now try not to pass out on me with that wound.”

“Hmph!” Toadette only accelerated, returning the pickaxe to Toad.

Suddenly a thick vine shot out from the foliage, sending Toad to the ground. Toadette spun around. She heaved with all her might to yank him free. He dusted himself off, thanking her with a nod.

As she pulled him up, Toadette’s eye caught a peculiar cherry glowing. She reached for it on instinct. Even in her haste, she was thinking strategically. The extra energy might come in handy.

Their pause was broken by a new sound—this one closer and more terrifying. The shouting of their friends. They sprinted deeper into the heart of the jungle, only to emerge into a small clearing where the nightmare came to life. Before them stood Minh, Jasmin and Penelope, all clutched in the hands of a dozen Gaugau. The monsters moved with alarming speed, already darting deeper into the undergrowth, now circling up a small, narrow pathway. They ignored their captives’ kicking and screaming.

Toad’s hand flew to his holster, but the flare gun was useless. Hitting a target disappearing into the foliage at this speed was like trying to strike a shooting star.

“You monsters!” Minh cried, her voice raw. Tears streamed down her dirt-covered face as they hauled her further. “I said no!”

A roar of fury escaped Toadette. Her grip tightened around her hammer as she launched herself forward.

“Toadette, save your energy!” Toad didn’t waste a second. He gambled. He aimed at a Gaugau that had slowed, its speed hampered by a previous injury. Then he fired.

The flare sizzled as it struck the creature’s back, generating searing light and smoke. The burning Gaugau threw Minh over the edge. Breathless, she plummeted several metres. But Toad was already there to cushion her fall. He groaned; it felt as if his arms were going to be torn from their sockets when she landed.

“You’re safe,” he whispered, trembling.

The moment of relief evaporated. Jasmin and Penelope were already nothing more but screams, fading fast. The Gaugau carried them away without further issue.

“Fuck you, dirty rats!” Jasmin shrieked. “Drop me! I will bite you!”

“Miss Toadette!” Penelope sobbed, choking on tears. “Captain Toad! Please don’t leave us!”

Her final plea was completely absorbed by the leaves and vines as the jungle closed around them.

Toadette collapsed to her knees, panting. “Damn it!” she screamed, tearing at her braids.

Minh shivered. “We lost them again…”

“And this time, it’s unquestionable they’re in danger.” Toad put a hand on Toadette’s back. “Don’t be too hard on yourself. We’re not going home without them.”

“How are we gonna get them?” Toadette asked, struggling not to sound strained. “We can barely beat these things.”

Toad shook his head, gazing through the dense vines and treetops. “Where the hell was Jones in all of this?”

----------

Author’s Note:
Originally the scene with Almara was very brief and totally outside, leading directly to the fight. Her in the house and with Toad in her feet was the last scene written. A pretty sexy moment, huh? That should keep you distracted from Penelope and Jasmin’s new predicament.