The Dryad's Loyalty

Chapter 23: Splitting Up

The following day came too soon for everyone. Luigi and Peach decided to lay low and try to get past the troops without getting noticed instead of charging in head first, which let them gain some ground.

Unable to detect them, Bowser grew worried, and had the gates to the civilian district closed, to prevent any damage: the last thing he wanted was for his subjects to be harmed simply because the two intruders couldn't tell the difference between a soldier and a civilian.

The king bit down on his claws. That was bad, he HAD to find them and dispatch more troops to get rid of them- or maybe he should've just let things happen... let them break into the castle, and rescue Mario and Daisy.
But what would my minions think of that? And Junior...?
He thought, clenching his fists. That wasn't like him at all- he couldn't just let the quartet go scot free after his minions had fought so hard, he had to battle as well, if anything for the sake of all his injured troopers.
What a mess he'd gotten himself into...

"Kamek!" Bowser called, his voice booming all around the room.

Soon the royal advisor materialized himself in the king's room "You called, sir?"

"Yes, move the prisoners to the highest tower... if Peach and green stache really want to rescue their friends so badly... they'll have to work for it-" he ordered.

Kamek flinched "Y-you intend on fighting them? E-even the princess?!"

"W-what kind of question is that?! Of course even the princess! Now go, scram!" Bowser replied, gritting his teeth and getting obviously defensive. Truth was... even if Peach wasn't his goal anymore, he still didn't want to hurt her... he hoped he'd be able to fight at full power regardless.

The old magikoopa flinched and ran off. He would've liked to know how Bowser truly felt, but it was clear he wasn't in the mood for it.

Meanwhile, in the depths of the Darklands' mining system... Peach and Luigi were still making their way through the endless tunnels, trying to find their way to the castle.
The princess's dress had been ripped and stained in many spots now, and was quickly becoming a hindrance, especially in the oppressive heat of those caves; still, as she walked alongside the green plumber, she kept her head high, unlike the man, who was slouching and fanning his face with his hat.

"P-princess, are you sure this is-a the way to the castle? W-we've been walking for-a so long!" Luigi complained.

Peach simply nodded "I've been getting kidnapped by Bowser for years, I know the layout of his territory better than anyone else in the Mushroom kingdom-" she said, finally giving into the heat and tying up her blonde hair into a high ponytail.

"S-so... how long until we reach-a our goal?"

"We should be almost there... we're looking for a red warp pipe" the princess explained, glancing around, speeding up "Don't worry, once we get to the castle things will cool down a little" she added, trying to reassure the tall mustachioed man.

"W-whew... that's great-a news!" he smiled, following Peach until he spotted something promising. "Ah! P-princess, look-a over there! It's-a the pipe!"

Peach sighed in relief and smiled "Great job, Luigi, now let's go! Daisy and Mario are waiting for us!" she said, running and hopping inside the pipe, with Luigi shortly following after her.

They were soon warped to the other side: a big room with lots of minecart tracks, all leading to different warp pipes of all colors.
Luigi looked around in awe and mild fear at that massive system "W-where do all these-a tracks go?"