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[img]https://i.imgur.com/O6MhssR.png[/img]

[b][color=6ecff6]Level 2[/color][/b] - (6/20) EXP 
[b][color=6ecff6]Location:[/color][/b] 1-1, Peach's Castle (Moat)
[b][color=6ecff6]Word Count:[/color][/b] 682

[sub][b][color=6ecff6]Journey to the Castle - Pt 5[/color][/b][/sub][/center]
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[center][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1sRIwrWevg&t][b]Under The Moat[/b][/url][/center]

As Geno descended into the depths of the moat, he'd eventually come witness to an entirely unexpected sight. The moat wasn't just devoid of life - it was teeming with a whole variety of different organisms and, unfortunately, opponents. It was as if he's in a large natural body of water, like a lake or even an ocean. Surely he didn't remember Peach's castle to actually have these fierce animals in her waters - that was Bowser's job to make things treacherous. But he knew one thing though, he has to be careful of what's around him, or he'll never bask in the warm rays above ever again.

As he continued to swim, he'd see several familiar faces swimming by. A large dorrie swam by him in a graceful tone, dipping and diving through while wearing a fancy top hat and goggles. Geno rarely saw them on his trips to the Mushroom Kingdom, but he always enjoyed their comical antics. Mario had even told him that these creatures helped him in his travels before, being often used as platforms to quickly get from one place to another. Other familiar creatures also swam by him, such as a small shoal of the squid-like bloopers. Most of these black-and-white squids were spurting all on their own, while some had young who would follow them wherever they went. They too were mostly harmless - although Mario would say differently - but whenever the doll got close to one, he would startle them as they spurt out a thick-black ink cloud and make their getaway. 

But that would end all the familiar sights in this moat. The more Geno explored the more bizarre the inhabitants became. Large jellyfish creatures floated around without a care in the world, whilst releasing their electricity around them. Even though the doll could potentially survive their electrical attacks, he still didn't want to risk going through them. Near the floor of the moat, he also sees terrifying-looking half-fish, half-man, abominations prowl the seafloor for food. They didn't see him yet, as they were too busy digging up the murky ground below for grubs and whatnot, but when a group of circular-fish swam by them, the humanoid creatures made sure to steer clear of their presence. These fish seemed to have something in their mouths, some grey ball of some sort. Judging at how the creatures scattered, Geno considered them to be dangerous - with his mind going straight towards the fish harboring an explosive of some king in their mouths. He too needs to be wary of their presence. 

As the star warrior got closer to the stone-formations however, he saw a patrol of toads wearing scuba gear and armed with guns of some-kind, guarding the perimeter profusely. This looks like a place where people could actually get into the castle - but the question is where the entrance actually is. He began to glance over the surrounding area, while lurking away from their sights for a possible way in. And what would he know, near the bottom behind a sturdy metal gate, the unmistakable image of a green pipe can be seen! If he can get to that pipe - by somehow breaking the metal gate and getting rid of the toad guards - he should be able to get himself into the castle. But how...?

Well, firstly, Geno needed to drive their attention elsewhere. He didn't want to gain more attention than he already has. Looking around, he suddenly remembered the bomb-fish that were swimming nearby. And one particular one was forging around a piece of cover. Quickly, he rushed over to the fallen debris as he sneaks up on the unsuspecting fish. He grasped it with his wooden hands as it began to thrash wildly. He had a least a few seconds before it could blow up in its face. Carefully Geno aimed it at a duo of toads at the opposite direction of the gate. He should hopefully be able to grab the attention of the other nearby toad guards - or at least the majority - and slowly make his way to the gate once it exploded.