Mushroom Kingdom Anew - Book 1

Chapter Ten

"Holy hell, we should've waited for the storm to pass again!" Terry called through the violent winds, tossing both her and Xavier aside. Left and right the winds blew, carrying them and making them sway all over. Xavier shut his eye and grunted, pushing his head forward. "Y-Yeah, now you tell me! C'mon, we're almost there! We can make it!"

"Well, maybe you can, you resilient motherfucker! What are you even made of?" The blonde retorts, blocking her face from the sharp icy shards. The brown haired teen looked ahead. "Look, up ahead!" He threw his head violently in front of him, since he was using both arms to barely carry Ace, to gesture forwards to a snowy town. "Another convenient town! C'mon, let's go! They can provide shelter."

"Finally! They better have baths!" Terry cried, propelling herself with her flames. Xavier just began to run faster, significantly behind the blonde but making a huge effort to move as fast as possible. This was for Ace's sake, to make him all better.

The village could be made out just ahead. The two heroes picked up the pace until eventually, they reached a large icy white arch, the large wall attached to it spreading into the blizzardy unknown. Looking between each other, the duo decided it'd be best to enter. Hopefully there'd be a whole civilization there, ready to put down everything and help them unlike the desert village. As the team entered the arch, the snowstorm began to rapidly cease until it was eerily quiet. The storm raged behind them, yet the town they stood in was quiet and calm. Quite the surprising atmosphere. Xavier looked around to see several citizens of the small town busying themselves with their daily lives. They all appeared to be... penguins? But, they moved and acted like humans. This place really was weird...

One of the Penguins approached the duo, curiously sniffing at them. Terry receded slightly, feeling uncomfortable at the penguin's actions. "Um... Xavier? Do you think these creatures are intelligent...?"

"I dunno, let's find out..." He hisses, turning to the penguin and disguising his tired look with a smile. "Uh... hey there, kind sir..."

"..." The penguin neglects to answer the heroes, a blank and empty stare in his icy white eyes. He raises a wing in greeting, staring the duo down. Terry and Xavier shivered in unison, finding the penguin to be rather creepy. Xavier cleared his throat and continued. "Ahem, right... well uh, this is Ace. He's a reptile and was knocked out by the cold weather. He needs treatment, and fast. Is there a medic or somebody that we can see?"

The penguin remained unmoving. He seemed slow, doing his best to process each of Xavier's words as slowly as he pleased. Terry was getting slightly pissed off, seeing as how the creature didn't even bother to take a second to care or respond. Ace was probably dying here, and this guy doesn't even bat an eye. What was with that blank stare anyways?

Suddenly, and without saying a word, the Penguin just wordlessly shuffles off down the snow-covered street. Terry was about to call out to him, but she was stopped by Xavier. "Wait, I think it's leading us somewhere. C'mon." The blonde groans and shuffles off along with an exhausted Xavier in tow.

The streets of this supposed ghost town were actually very beautiful. Old, gothic tower-like building stretched high into the sky, their slim bodies hugging closely together. Snow decorating rooves, windowsills and outcomings sparkled from the beautiful old street lights lit with everlasting orange flames. The road, from what little could be seen under the thick layer of snow, was a brick way, the stones varying from a bricky bronze to a tainted grey. This town was absolutely gorgeous, perfectly unbefitting for the residents who resided there. They all had these blank and dead stares. They all looked... odd. Like they didn't belong, and neither did the heroes. Once they came into view, the penguins would halt their every action to stand completely motionless and stare directly at the trio. Terry shuddered again and stuck close to Xavier, eyeing the creepy creatures nervously.