[center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/190924/544c85ab5c75bc61a4bb5ce40dc0caa6.png[/img]
[color=salmon]Word Count: 705 (+1 exp)[/color]
[color=salmon][u]Level[/u]: [b]7[/b] - [u]Total EXP[/u]: 56/70
[b]Location:[/b] Edge of the Blue - The Maw[/color][/center]
The Cadet grinned, wide and boyish. He wasted no time following the king's order, hopping into the lifeboat and dutifully taking an oar. Before any rowing he stripped his garden pole of the tarp, deciding that wearing it as a cape cover like Bowser would be more practical now. BB scooted over to the both of them, peeking out from beneath their disguises every now and then. As for the makeshift weapon itself, it was leaned on one of the boy's shoulders resting against his neck. He didn't want to part with it while they were still in the Belly, just in case.

They continued in the direction Bowser had originally set the boat in: backwards, away from the exit in order to connect with the Cadet's fellow stragglers. With both of them manning an oar, the progress was a little faster. Rowing through the trash wasn't terrible. It was way more awkward than rowing through water, but hey - it was working wasn't it?

Then came the monster's tantrum. Smashing things indiscriminately, hurting itself, and then descending to spread waves out all through the sea of garbage. Ace Cadet threw a look over his shoulder, searching the far side where plenty of the others had gathered already. He was taking a headcount of everyone he could spot when the initial waves Bongo Bongo set off reached them. The lifeboat wobbled dangerously, and the Cadet's wide eyes snapped to Bowser. They stayed afloat then, but the first of the larger waves nearly capsized them.

With a tight grip and their oars jammed into the junk to hold them steady, the wave passed without throwing them overboard. But only barely. 

[color=salmon]"Bowser,"[/color] he said, looking at the mini Koopa King, [color=salmon]"we're gonna have to pick up the cara-pace."[/color] 

It was especially frustrating because the monster had lowered itself, and they would have made such quick work of it if they'd all had their normal sized bodies. The Cadet was itching to poke that thing in it's ugly eye.

[color=salmon]"So not Ya-cool!"[/color] he grumbled, little muscles straining as he put extra effort into rowing the lifeboat onward. Their current goal was to collect Bella per Bowser's suggestion. With the three of them they'd be able to move even faster, hopefully make their way to any of the others still needing help, and make it back to the exit... where Bongo Bongo waited impatiently, still slamming the ground and threatening to topple everything in the Belly, least of all them. 

With perseverance they made it to the Abyssal. The Cadet grasped her arm to help her into the lifeboat, and then they were off again to pick up any that needed help, slowing only when they needed to duck and cover themselves to evade the monster's spotlight gaze. Princess Peach seemed to be okay on her own, while Link was pillow hopping even in these dangerous conditions. He couldn't even see Glenn from where he was, but he hoped the other boy was alright. The lifeboat could easily swing by the Hylian if he was of the mind to join them, and then they were finally headed back towards the vent.

Going back was rougher, the waves larger the closer the go to Bongo Bongo. If only they could interrupt the monstrosity, or distract it, or get it stop for just a little while. Then, with the extra hands on deck, the lifeboat would be able to make impressive time getting to the goal.

[i]Just one opening...[/i] before he knew it he was standing up with the hollow metal pole held like a javelin. His form was practiced, perfect, but when he drew back to throw his stance shifted and he stumbled backwards. The makeshift weapon was unwieldy, especially in the hands of a four year old boy. He landed on his back with an [i]oof[/i], still holding the pole over his head.

[color=salmon]"Ugh!"[/color] he pouted, sitting up quickly. So he couldn't throw it, he could still give Bongo Bongo I good poking if it tried to give them any trouble when they drew close to the exit. The Cadet twisted his hands around the pole, anxious and prepared to strike out if one of those hands got too close.