[center][img]https://www.mariowiki.com/images/thumb/b/b2/Koopa_Troop_artwork.png/658px-Koopa_Troop_artwork.png[/img]
[h2][color=FD0000]The Koopa Troop[/color][/h2]
[b][color=FD0000]wordcount:[/color][/b] 1,108 (+2)
[b][color=FD0000]Bowser: Level 9 [/color][/b] EXP: [color=FD0000]//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////[/color] (112/90)
[b][color=SpringGreen]Bowser Jr: Level 8 [/color][/b] EXP: [color=SpringGreen]//////////////////////////////////////[/color]//////////////////////////////////////////// (38/80)
[b][color=DeepSkyBlue]Kamek: Level 8 [/color][/b] EXP: [color=DeepSkyBlue]////////////////////////////////////[/color]/////////////////////////////////////////// (36/80)
[b][color=FD0000]Location:[/color][/b] Bottomless Sea – the Maw - the Depths
Feat: Rika
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[color=DeepSkyBlue]”Best not do what a curse wants you to do after all”[/color] Kamek added when his advice they not eat was met with begrudging acceptance [color=DeepSkyBlue]”So if this wretched place wants us to eat, then I can only speculate doing so will have dire consequences”[/color]

That knowledge was all well and good, but it didn't make the sensation of steadily building starvation any less wretched. 

There was a little more pep talking and amping up by the party, from people with both greater or lesser skill for it, before they got up and got back to the task of getting the heck out of the mess they were in, with Sakura taking the initiative on getting them moving. First thing’s first, was clearing the door so they could move on. Jr peeked Mimi through the little gap they had to work with at first to make sure there weren't any surprises behind and, once she gave the all clear, which consisted mostly of her not freaking out, the troop put their backs into helping shove the boxes aside.

Soon enough the way was clear and they entered into the room from which the watery sounds were emanating, the source of which turned out to be a fair bit more water than any of the troop had been anticipating.

[color=SpringGreen]”Geeze, how big is this place?”[/color] Jr complained as they all looked out at the vast expanse of water flooding the vast room before them. Rika’s brief excitement about being able to skate across that water was rapidly shut down by the Nadia’s guess that it was full of monsters

“I mean, we don’t know that...” Rika tried to suggest before sighing and, along with the others, taking a look around for any other way through. The person that succeeded at that was Peach who found a map and used it to outline a four step method of escaping their current floor. First, up to the control center, then to the submarine bay and finally down into the probably monster infested depths in some pressurized tin can or cans to the sunken water flow control and then, finally, up via a de-flooded elevator.

[color=FD0000]”Things can't ever be simple huh. Oh well, more platforming here we come. Almost like home really heh.”[/color] Bowser commenced as he started plotting a route across the sky obstacle course that would get them to the control center.

[color=DeepSkyBlue]”At least we don't all need to go this time? I could just stay down here with the pigs and then you can come pick me and them up in a sub? Much less of a hassle for everyone.”[/color] Kamek suggested, having had quite enough of putting his life in other people’s hands and more than happy to sit this one out. 

[color=SpringGreen]”Yeah that'd be a load off my back. You’re gonna so owe me for lugging you around you know”[/color] Jr told the mage

[color=DeepSkyBlue]”Think of this as paying me back for carrying you around that floating spa after your run in with the giant scissors”[/color] Kamek retorted, which got a grunt of acceptance out of the boy before he turned his focus towards sizing up the platforms as the humans started making their way up them. From them they got some unsettling news.

Mirage’s comment that they’d probably not be able to navigate the rickety platforms if they were all grown up was meant to be a joke, or an attempt to make the best out of their situation, but for the two royal koopas, who, with all their scales and their shells were a fair bit heavier than the average human 4 year old, it frankly just made the whole thing more daunting.

Not that either of them were the kinds of people to be daunted.

Bowser grabbed the red half of the magnet, hung it over his back, which was apparently a thing you could do with them, and then gave the rickety platform gauntlet a go anyway, scrambling up Mirage’s pegs and then making his way onto the first platform. The way it creaked under him was not promising in the slightest. 

[color=FD0000]”Urg. I think we’re gonna have to go separate ways, son. You're gonna be good? or you could stay if you want?”[/color] Bowser said back down, it been quite obvious that two of them would be far too much for some of the platforms.

[color=SpringGreen]”I’ll be fine, jeez. Get going. I’ll catch up”[/color] Jr retorted, getting a thumbs up from his dad before Bowser headed out, picking only the sturdiest of platforms to use, while also utilizing his magnet half to pull or push them around where he could to give other people or himself better or easier routes.

“Oh. So. I have an idea that might help you?” Rika said to jr as the boy prepped to head up too.

[color=SpringGreen]”I’m listening”[/color]

“So I’m using my gauntlets to lighten myself to walk and jump by making myself lighter, right, because I've got kinda weak legs still. And you’ve got strong legs but you're pretty heavy. Well...”

A few moments later, the pair had formed a (slightly precarious in the eyes of the nervously watching Kamek) looking stack, with Rika riding Jr’s shoulders piggyback, while Mimi had popped herself on Rika’s head just because she could.

[color=SpringGreen]”This was just an excuse to not walk wasn't it.”[/color] Jr complained as he realized he was playing people carrier again.

“Nooooo,” Rika replied convincingly “I’m still going to have to hold you up! Now give this a go. We’re gonna have so much.. Uh. ups-ness. Jumpyness? Floaty bouncy- eek!” Rika’s word fumbling was stopped as Jr moved up Mirage’s steps in rapid step and then took a leap from one platform to another. The koopa’s little legs had a lot of oomph behind them, bringing them high, at which point Rika ramped up her gauntlet’s anti grav and, with Jr gripping onto her legs and said legs gripping onto him, the three of them practically glided down across the gap and then landed far more softly than their combined weight should have allowed.

[color=SpringGreen]”Woo!”[/color] “yeah!” “Mimi!” went up three cheers, followed by a slight wobble before the trio looked for the target of their next great leap.

[color=SpringGreen]”How abooooout, there!”[/color] Jr suggested, pointing at a platform that would require an even more daring leap.

“Let's do it! But, ah, be careful with the claws this time please? Some of us aren't covered in scales” Rika asked. 

[color=SpringGreen]”Ehh Blazermate can always fix you up”[/color] Jr insisted, getting a little kick in the chest for his efforts. [color=SpringGreen]”Alright alright. I’ll go easy on you.”[/color] Jr relented [color=SpringGreen]”Now let’s keep moving!”[/color]