Chapter 25: Descent into the Mushroom Kingdom
The wind howled past the falcon's wings as it soared high above the Mushroom Kingdom's outer perimeter. The kingdom stretched out below, a massive circular stronghold of fungal life. Thick, twisting vines wrapped around towering walls, their surfaces dotted with glowing spores pulsing faintly like veins of a living organism. The mushroom sat rigid in the falcon's grasp, its small body trembling with anticipation and fear.
The piglet, however, had no such worries. It squealed in delight, kicking its stubby legs as if trying to swim through the open air. The falcon, keen-eyed and ever-vigilant, scanned the kingdom for a landing spot. But as soon as it began its descent, a powerful wave of energy surged through the air. A gut-wrenching pressure bore down on the falcon's chest, forcing it to pause mid-flight.
Something wasn't right.
It was a presence, an overwhelming force emanating from within the kingdom's core. An unseen power, like an ancient guardian, warning all outsiders that they were not welcome. The falcon's instincts screamed at it to turn back. If it ventured any closer, it risked never returning.
"This is as far as I go," the falcon stated coldly.
The mushroom barely had time to process the words before the talons holding it suddenly released.
Its tiny body flipped in the air, tumbling helplessly. The piglet, still oblivious to the danger, let out a gleeful squeal as it too was dropped.
The world spun as they plummeted. The mushroom's cap flapped wildly, its stubby arms flailing in desperation. The ground rushed up to meet them, and just when it thought impact was inevitable.
BANG!
Its head smacked against something soft yet firm. A shimmering force resisted the impact, bending slightly before springing them forward again.
The mushroom blinked in shock. A rainbow?
The vibrant arc stretched from the kingdom's outer walls down to the grassy fields below. Its surface, though ethereal, had a peculiar elasticity. The piglet, still tumbling beside it, bounced uncontrollably, letting out high-pitched giggles.
SLIDE!
Gravity took hold, and the two of them began an uncontrollable descent down the prismatic path. Colors swirled around them, a dizzying blend of reds, blues, and greens. The mushroom's stomach twisted with every unexpected dip, while the piglet let itself be carried, loving every second.
"W-Wait! This isn't safe!" the mushroom shrieked.
Faster and faster they went, hurtling towards the kingdom's entrance at breakneck speed. The air buzzed with the crackling energy of the mysterious force field that enveloped the city. The mushroom knew that breaching the inner perimeter wouldn't be as easy as crashing through some foliage.
Something was waiting for them.
The ground drew near, and just before impact, the rainbow lost its form, dissolving beneath them.
THUMP!
They tumbled onto soft grass, rolling in a chaotic heap until they finally came to a stop. The mushroom lay there, dazed, the world still spinning around it. The piglet, unfazed, hopped to its feet and shook itself off with a contented grunt.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. They simply lay there, feeling the gentle warmth of the sun on their bodies, the scent of damp earth filling their lungs.
Then the ground beneath them rumbled.
A faint tremor at first, subtle, almost dismissible. But it grew stronger, the vibrations pulsing through the earth like the slow, steady beat of a war drum.
The mushroom's eyes widened.
Something massive was moving beneath them.
The tremors intensified, shaking the ground beneath them. Clumps of soil trembled, and the air buzzed with an eerie energy. The mushroom scrambled to its feet, heart pounding in its tiny chest. The piglet, still blissfully ignorant, wiggled its ears and snorted curiously at the shaking earth.
BOOM!
A chunk of the ground split open just a few meters ahead, and from the depths of the earth, something began to rise. Dust and debris scattered as a colossal boulder lifted itself from the soil. But it wasn't just a rock, no, the surface was too smooth, too polished. Veins of glowing blue energy pulsed along its form, and as the dust settled, two hollowed-out pits on its front suddenly blazed with an ominous golden light.
The mushroom's breath hitched.
It was a guardian.
The massive stone construct groaned as it fully emerged, its towering frame blocking out the sunlight. It stood nearly three times their height, its form eerily reminiscent of a knight clad in armor, except it was made entirely of enchanted rock. Across its torso, ancient carvings glowed faintly, their inscriptions humming with latent power.
Then, with a slow, deliberate motion, the guardian raised its arm. Embedded in its stone hand was a cannon.
"Oh no…" the mushroom whispered.
The cannon produced a deafening crack before firing a compressed energy blast directly at them.
BOOM!
Instinct took over. The mushroom launched itself toward the piglet while simultaneously performing a roll to escape the explosion. The spot where they had been standing turned into a burning hole that consumed the ground.
The mushroom's small body shook while it panted for breath. That was not a warning shot.
"We need to run!" it shouted.
The piglet finally understood the threat and emitted a terrified shriek before fleeing. The guardian fired another shot while the mushroom struggled to maintain its pace with its short legs. The atmosphere became electric as the energy accumulated.
BOOM!
Another blast! The ground exploded behind them as they managed to hide behind a dense cluster of glowing fungi. The impact caused the ground to erupt with flying dirt and spores which created a glittering cloud in the air.
The mushroom cleared its throat while brushing away the dust particles. They couldn't keep running. The speed of that thing exceeded its appearance and a single direct hit would reduce them to nothing.
They needed a plan.
The mushroom's mind raced. These guardians followed strict protocols because their purpose was to defend something. That meant…
The mushroom understood this had to be an entrance examination.
The guardian wasn't attacking randomly. It was gauging their worthiness. Survival through the test could potentially grant them exemption from fighting the guardian.
The only problem?
The test required them to survive until they demonstrated their worthiness.
Another step from the guardian caused the ground to vibrate once more. Both eyes flared yellow as the cannon implemented an attack sequence.
The mushroom clenched its fists.
They had no choice.
They had to fight.