Toadette's Story: Book 2

Chapter 113 - The Brine of Beginnings

“Jazz… Jazz…”

Minh tossed and turned as daylight began to filter in through the Poseidon Fin. As she rubbed her eyes, she got up and saw that Toadette was still fast asleep. She was startled, however, when she caught Toad staring at them both from a corner.

“Were you watching us sleep?” she asked, yawning.

“I can sleep standing up if I’m dedicated enough.” He gave her a smirk. “You certainly drool like Jasmin when you sleep.”

She wiped the spit off her mouth. “You up, Toadette?”

Toadette’s only response was a snort. She didn’t change position at all.

“Look, we have a lot to do today, Toadette. So you’re getting up, like it or not,” Toad said, already marching towards her. Before Minh could answer, he lifted the blanket past her feet. Her toes were slightly curled. He cracked his knuckles and ran his index fingers up her soles.

Toadette still didn’t budge.

“Stubborn as hell,” he sighed. Then he heard flip-flops slapping against the floorboards. “Trying to show me up?”

“Does everything have to be a competition?” Minh licked her fingers. “If you wanna go there, I know I could wake her up faster than you.”

“Try it.”

“Mírame.” Minh knelt at the foot of the cot. She took a second to appreciate the sight. A sheen of moisture covered Toadette’s soles, just as Minh liked it.

She took Toadette’s left foot in her hands gently. Then she blew a cool stream of air across the arch, eliciting a slight twitch from one of the pinkish toes. Toadette mumbled something incoherent, but her eyes remained firmly shut. Minh grinned. Leaning in, she ran the tip of her tongue across Toadette’s toes. She went back and forth for several seconds.

“Could you be any slower?” Toad asked, lightly pushing her aside. “Watch how a pro gets this done.”

He began to skitter his fingers rapidly all over Toadette’s soles. He was lightning fast. The corner of Toadette’s mouth budged, but she still didn’t wake. A frustrated groan escaped Toad’s lips as thirty seconds passed.

“Okay, Toadette, you’re really trying to piss me off,” he hissed.

“What was that about being a pro?” Minh moved back into position. This time she knew exactly what to do. She cradled Toadette’s foot again. That salty taste returned to her tongue as she started to lick slowly between each and every toe, while her other hand’s thumb dug into the dead centre of Toadette’s sole, wiggling. The nail’s pressure was tight.

The effect was immediate.

Toadette’s body jolted, and a sharp squeak escaped her lips. Her eyes flew open.

“Let go!” she shrieked, her voice full of laughter as she tried to yank her feet away. Yet Minh’s grip was firm. Toadette’s back arched. Her braids flopped wildly as she screamed for mercy. “Stop! Hahaha!”

Toad simply whistled, watching the scene unfold. “Hey, I would’ve stopped by now if you weren’t stubborn. Now you’re stuck with your fellow foot freak.”

“Yes, you are,” Minh giggled. She tightened her hold on Toadette’s left foot, her thumb still digging into the centre of the sole.

But her tongue was what stole Toadette’s attention. Minh manoeuvred from the arch to the pad beneath the toes. She ramped up the pace, licking so rapidly that Toadette couldn’t help but flinch. The tip of her tongue felt like a thousand miniature features dancing across Toadette’s feet. Toadette’s toes curled. Yet their attempt to escape the moist assault only caused Minh’s tongue to press into them more firmly.

“Ooh, a challenge,” Minh moaned. She stuck her tongue between the tightly clenched toes with all her might.

“I can’t breathe!” Toadette screamed, yanking her own hair. “Minh! Ahahahaha! You’re gonna make me pee myself!”

Minh took a slow lap up the entire length of the sole, followed by some quick licking around the edges. After descending the sole, she landed at the heel. A brief kiss was followed by some grazing. With her teeth lightly rubbing the sweaty heel, Minh expected the worst from Toadette.

Sure enough, she summoned a scream from the depths of Hell.

Toad’s cheeks were burning.

His dislike of feet was no secret. But watching Minh’s intensity, combined with Toadette’s writhing, had him entranced. Her toes were dancing. The big one clenched, splayed and clenched again. And then it disappeared past Minh’s lips.

Minh swirled her tongue around the toe with a finesse that made Toad stiff. She sucked on each toe individually, as if they were berries off a vine. She topped each one off with kisses before moving onto the next foot.

“Thank the stars that none of us showered,” she panted, flattening her tongue against the arch and holding it there. She vibrated it slightly, causing Toadette to form a tighter fist. Then she returned to long licks from the ripe heels to the twitching toes.

Finally, after Toadette was a breathless, giggling mess, Minh relented. She planted a final kiss on the ball of Toadette’s foot before letting go.

“I’m up, damn it,” Toadette gasped, wiping the crust from her eyes. She looked from Toad’s blushing face to Minh’s beaming one. “Someone looks chipper today.”

Minh’s smile softened.

“I have to be,” she said, lightly plopping besides Toadette’s feet. “Sulking and crying isn’t gonna bring Jazz and Penelope back. I’ve had enough time to be sad. Right now I gotta be strong for them. And I know, deep in my heart, we’re gonna find them.”

Toadette chuckled, slapping Minh with her foot. “And we’ll find them intact.”

“Won’t stop until we do,” Toad added. He tossed Toadette her shoes. “Alright, let’s get—”

The ship suddenly gave a violent shudder. Alert, Toadette hopped out of the room, struggling to cram her feet into the shoes. As soon as she made it to the deck doors, the shark pirates rushed towards her. They levelled their spears at her, but she didn’t flinch.

“There’s a suspicious ship ahead of us,” one shark said. “The captain wants them to think we’re an empty vessel.”

Toadette raised a brow. “Suspicious ship? Penelope and Jasmin could be on it.” She marched forward, only to have a spear pointed directly at her neck.

“You follow the captain’s orders!”

Toad appeared behind her, flare gun in hand. “Toadette, check it out.”

Smiling, Toadette pushed past the sharks. It was a foggy morning, and the Sun was just above the horizon. To her right, she spotted the ship. It was large but looked like a basic cargo vessel, nothing harmful.

“Overreacting to nothing,” she scoffed, walking closer to the edge. Her fingers trembled as she felt the ship approaching them directly. “Hey! Sirs, ma’ams and everything else—I need you to move out the way!”

Looking up, she saw at least three figures on the deck, their shapes blurred by the fog. However, when she saw one of them, her eyes widened.

It can’t be… She ducked behind a stack of crates as the other ship rocketed past, narrowly avoiding a collision. Her jaw dropped when she recognised the ship as being the same one docked at Twinsy Tropics. She made out a short boy with brown hair.

Jitters filled her as the doors flew open. “Why do I think I just saw that 9-Volt boy again?”

“Really?” Toad squinted, raising a small spyglass to his eye. “Foggy out here. There’s no shortage of small-statured sailors, Toadette. I think you might’ve…”

Then his grip tightened. A cold jolt shot through Toad’s leg—a phantom ache pulsing where his bones had once been crushed. The same three. It was the ones who had left him shattered and humiliated on the burning streets of Mushroom City. His normal cockiness vanished.

“It’s them! The gamer boy, the singing whore and the big ‘n’ tall bastard!”

Minh stiffened. “You mean we’re dealing with Syrup and Wario’s guys at the same time?”

The doors to the captain’s cabin opened, and Jones stormed out.

“You fool!” he roared, yanking Toadette around. “I gave an order to keep the deck clear! You could’ve given us up if they’d seen you!”

“Please. Think I’m taking orders from you?” she retorted, shoving his fin off her.

Before Jones could escalate, Minh stepped forward, her face pale. “We’ve got more enemies than just Syrup, captain.”

“Probably even stronger than Syrup,” Toad growled.

Jones’ anger faltered, replaced by a look of strategic calculation. He paced the deck, glancing between the faded trail left by Syrup’s ship and the direction the new vessel had taken.

“This complicates things,” he muttered. “Syrup is a predictable snake. But this other crew… they be a violent wild card.”

“So what’s the plan?” Toadette asked. “I say we follow Syrup and get our girls back first and foremost.”

“The path these strangers are taking is known as Jellopus Graveyard. It’s a treacherous shortcut. Only the looniest or most desperate pirates would sail those waters.” He took a deep pause. “Yet it may be our best chance.”

He looked at his crew. “Men! Maintain the ship and follow Syrup’s trail. I shall see you on the other side.” He then glared at Toad and Toadette. “This is my gamble to take. Might be my only chance to catch these interlopers off guard.”

Without another word, he dove into the churning water and swam towards Jellopus Graveyard.

“Alright, who’s the boss now?” Toadette asked, her voice brimming with challenge.

“You know the answer.” Toad clapped his hands, a commander’s authority returning to his tone. “Full speed ahead, you bastards!”

***

The Sun scorched the deck of the Sweet Stuff. Heat radiated from the wood, and the air reeked of salt and despair. Penelope’s arms ached, her hands raw from scrubbing the same salt-crusted window for what felt like a lifetime. In the distance, the sharp crack of a whip was followed by a bloodcurdling scream. It had become as common as the cry of seagulls.

Every one of her muscles was desperate for a rest, but she maintained her composure. One thought kept her drive going. You and Jazz make a good team, Penelope! You can win!

Mercifully a cloud offered her a moment of shade. The scraping of a tool on the railing nearby stopped, replaced by footsteps that grew closer to her.

“Such an optimist. They haven’t baked the hope out of you yet, huh?”

Penelope turned. Terro stood there, the blank mask of a Spear Guy staring into nothing. He faced the endless blue beyond the railing.

“I’ve seen it,” he said, still not looking at her. “The way you and that squirrel-faced girl look at each other. You don’t yet recognise your new reality.”

“What are you talking about?” Penelope huffed.

He chuckled. “You two seriously think you can escape? Even after all the warnings? Please, I've seen this happen more times than I can count.”

“So you don’t believe we can do it. Yeah, obviously. Why are you telling me this?”

“The others who tried? They all thought the ship was the proper prison.” He clenched his fist. “It’s just the path to it. Kitchen Island is where all your hope eventually dies.”

He squeezed Penelope’s rag, and dirty water dripped onto the deck. “It’s armed better than anything Peach has. We’ve made the attempt before from there, thinking we were so clever.” His mask tilted down. “And that’s why they have whips now.”

A shrill cry echoed through the sky.

Penelope stared, speechless. Terro looked back up at her, pushing the damp rag into her hands.

“Keep what little spark you have in you. Bury that hope so deep that they’ll think you’re broken.” He leaned in, his mask just centimetres from her face. “Then you wait for the one moment when they’re not looking. If you’re gonna run, be smarter than we were.”

He stepped back just as the sunlight returned. “Back to work.”

Penelope looked down at the grimy rag in her hands, then out at the intimidating ocean.

By the time dusk arrived, Penelope’s hands were sore to the bone. She slumped in her makeshift bed beside Jasmin, who was covered from head to toe in various patches of dust. Furnace-cleaning duty. Jasmin hardly moved, too tired to get up and shower. If it wasn’t for Penelope’s coaxing, then she wouldn’t have even left.

“I hate having to get naked in front of this lady,” Jasmin mumbled, scrubbing her armpits. “Just for permission to wash my own body.”

“At least she’s not staring at you like she stares at me,” Penelope whispered back. “Am I attracting her?”

“The longer this goes on, the harder it is for me to keep your mind innocent.”

“If there’s something I should know, then tell me it, Jazz.”

“If we get lucky, it won’t ever come to what I know it’ll come to.” Jasmin took a pause. “Okay, look. If we don’t get out of here soon, that lady is gonna end up sleeping with you.”

Penelope cocked her head. “I mean, it’s just sleeping. What’s the worst that can happen?”

“Ay, por Dios…” Jasmin ran a hand through her hair. “Just imagine being awake in the bed while you’re both naked.”

“Yuck!” Penelope nearly fell back in the tub.

“Yeah, so we’d better spend tonight brainstorming ways to bust out of here, got it?”

“I mean, I might have one. Kind of.” Penelope twitched upon seeing Jasmin turn over. Not only was her butt visible—a view Penelope already got from the previous night—but now Jasmin had dropped the cake-scented soap bar. She bent over hard, causing Penelope to blush fiercely. Hesitating, Penelope ran a hand along Jasmin’s butt.

Jasmin instantly slapped it away, huffing.

“Sorry.” Penelope washed the shampoo out her hair, remembering their strict time limit. “You’re… You’re still cute, Jazz. That’s all.”

“Hmph. Sounds like it’d be your dream if she made the two of us bang for her amusement,” Jasmin muttered, lathering the rest of herself from head to toe. She let out a soft sigh. “I miss Minh-Minh…”

***

Even in the late hours, Minh was walking along the deck as alert as ever.

Syrup’s trail was a ghost on the water, and the Poseidon Fin felt agonisingly slow in comparison. It might as well have been chained to the ocean itself. Toad stood at the helm, his fingers tight on the wheel.

“Damn. Even if we didn’t have the delay, her ship is way too fast.”

“Fuelled by the Ethereal Star, maybe?” Minh suggested.

“No. I will lose my mind if that’s the case,” Toadette growled. “We were told they only enhance our strength, not machines.” She slammed a fist against the railing. “I’m not gonna sit here and watch her disappear!”

As she glared into the black water, an idea sparked in her mind.

“Frog Suit!” She spun to face the others. “We’ve still got a handful left.”

“Toadette, we’ll get stranded,” Toad said. “That’s not saving the girls; that’s adding three more bodies to be fished from the sea.”

“If we’re too slow, we’ve already lost,” Toadette retorted. “I’d rather lose taking a shot than never see that ship again.” She then pulled out Stuffwell. “Stuffwell, judge the swimming conditions for us, if you’re able to.”

Stuffwell beamed. “At last! You’re finally using me more for simple storage capabilities!” He nonchalantly walked to the edge of the deck, jumping on the edge. “With a brief look at your builds, combined with the waters and the Frog Suit’s abilities, you should have no issues swimming for at least an hour and a half. The suit will wear off in the water after four whole hours total, due to the wave conditions. Five if you’re lucky.”

“Thank you,” Toadette said with a smile. “So there’s our plan. Swim for ninety minutes, rest for a bit, then we’re back in the water.”

Toad groaned. He knew there was no stopping her. He turned to the shark crew. “Continue on Syrup’s trail. If you see nothing of us or Jones after four hours, start searching.”

“Aye!”

And so they transformed, enveloping themselves in rubbery suits. Without another word, they dove.

The transition from the chilly night to the temperate ocean was an explosion of bubbles. The world became a muted, deep black. But now they were torpedoes, freed from the ship’s lesser speeds. With powerful kicks, they zoomed through the currents that would’ve exhausted a normal swimmer in minutes.

But their path wasn’t without danger. A school of Cheep Cheeps swarmed them. Taking the lead, Toad barrel-rolled through their densest formation, scattering them. Toadette and Minh followed his head.

They plunged deeper into a silent, vertical forest of kelp that ascended from the seafloor. It was here that a true threat appeared. A shadow blocked out the moonlight from above, and a ginormous Cheep Chomp descended. Minh’s shriek came out in a burst of bubbles.

Acting instantly, Toadette pointed them in one direction. Toad nodded, first pulling out an object from his bag: a flash beacon. It zapped to life, emitting a bright, yellow light. He hurled it as best he could in the darkness to their left. The Cheep Chomp, drawn by the flash of light, turned its body. In that split second, Toadette propelled herself and Minh deep into a rocky crevice as the monster cruised past.

After an eternity, they emerged, gasping for fresh air. A cluster of jagged rocks jutted from the water nearby, offering a makeshift reprieve. They clambered onto the largest one.

“See?” Toadette grinned, rubbing her slick braids. “Told you it was a good idea! We’re dozens of kilometres ahead of ‘em!”

Toad ran a hand over his face. “Alright, alright, you were right.”

But the triumph was brief. As they stared out at the dark expanse of water separating them from their goal, all the weight of their mission returned.

“I just can’t wait to get my hands on her,” Toadette said, her voice dropping. “I keep thinking about Penelope. How scared she must be.”

“And Jazz,” Minh added, fixed on the same moonlit horizon. “When I was a kid, being sexually active was my choice. They won’t even get one here…”

Toad sighed. “Look on the bright side. Syrup could just be a creep matchmaker. Giving Jasmin and Penelope some quality alone time to explore themselves—"

SMACK!

The sound of Minh’s hand connecting with Toad’s head echoed over the waves. He stumbled, catching himself on the wet rock.

“I’m just trying to lighten the mood!” he groaned, rubbing his head. “Bad timing.”

But Minh wasn’t angry anymore. The sadness in her eyes was replaced by a slow, predatory smile across her face.

“I have never wanted to sink my teeth into someone so badly in my life.”

Toadette grinned. “Same here.” She turned to Toad. “You heard her. Let’s go get our girls.”

Without another word, Minh and Toadette dove back into the sea. Toad watched them go, rubbing his stinging cheek one last time before smirking. He then followed them into the blackness. Their hunt for Syrup was on.

***

Back on the pitiful mattress, draped in white sheets that felt more like tarps, Jasmin hunched forward. Her muscles still ached. She gripped a blue permanent marker in her hand and scribbled furiously on the bottom of her foot.

Ow… Feels like my hand’s gonna cramp up.

Penelope observed from a short distance away, looking puzzled. She had tried talking to some of the other children: a quiet boy who just stared at the wall and a pair of twins who couldn’t speak English. But every time she tried to be friendly, she was met with cold silence. She moved a bit closer to Jasmin.

“Are you sure we should be planning to move so fast?” she whispered. “I say to let the bosses think we’ve given up. Then we catch them off guard later.”

“Not waiting.” Jasmin’s eyes remained locked on her writing.

“But—”

“Wanna know something, Penelope?” Jasmin pressed harder with the marker. “I waited for Sofi to stop being a stupid bitch with money. I waited for the pain of my parents’ death to disappear. You know what waiting gave me?” She finally lifted her head. “Wasted time.”

One of the nearby girls let out a loud cry. It was just one of the many noises Jasmin had to handle. Her head turned sharply towards the sobs.

“¡Cállate, puta! Just shut up! I’m trying to focus!” she snapped, causing the girl to curl even tighter into a ball. Penelope shot her an apologetic glance before turning back to Jasmin.

She leaned in, squinting at the writing on Jasmin’s foot. “So that’s what Miss Minh T. means when she says you have the most unique handwriting ever,” she joked weakly. “I can’t read a thing.”

Jasmin’s glare softened for just a moment. “Great. That means Syrup’s goons can’t either.”

“But if we just pretend we’ve lost all hope for a bit,” Penelope continued, “we could learn more about these guys and find a better time to—”

“We already agreed we’re doing this ASAP,” Jasmin said, her voice flat. “That’s that.”

Just as the children’s dinner—something sweet and sticky—was to arrive, the heavy door creaked open. A massive Gaugau stood in the doorway. It looked over the children before its head turned, and a thick finger pointed straight at Jasmin.

“You,” it grunted. “The captain’s table.”

Penelope jumped up. “Why her?”

The beast’s head turned slowly. It let out a low growl. It then turned back to Jasmin.

Penelope looked at Jasmin, her eyes wide with fear. Jasmin gave her a nod. But before she could be led away, Penelope rushed forward and planted a quick kiss on her cheek. She flinched, expecting a blow. Instead, she felt a pair of soft, mildly wet lips press against her own cheek in return.

The Gaugau led Jasmin through the usual creaking corridors into the heart of the ship. He shoved her through a set of doors—ones unlike Syrup’s private quarters.

Once in the new room, her nose twitched. The smell of roasted herbs, melted butter and aged wine was heavy enough to sting her throat. A huge window gave sight to the midnight ocean. In the middle of everything was a grand dining table set for two, covered with a surreal feast.

Captain Syrup sat at the head of the long table, draped in a silky scarlet robe. She pointed at the empty chair across from her.

“Come now, girl,” she purred. “Sit.”

Jasmin obeyed stiffly, her footsteps echoing in the hush of the huge room. The velvet chair seemed to swallow her whole.

Syrup’s lips curved as she poured a dark drink into Jasmin’s goblet. “Cranberry juice. I wouldn’t dare poison my prize.”

Prize. The word sat on Jasmin’s mind. Was that all she was in this game?

“Today’s labour wasn’t too taxing for you?” Syrup asked, sipping daintily. “You seemed to last longer than some of the others.”

“It was manageable, captain,” Jasmin mumbled, eyes locking to the roasted chicken steaming on her plate.

“And Penelope? You’re training her well, yes? During the free time you have?”

Jasmin nodded once.

Syrup’s smile widened. “Very good. Eat, darling. We have much to discuss.”

Jasmin hesitantly raised her fork, mirroring Syrup’s movements. Each mouthful turned to ash, even as it melted buttery on her tongue.

Finally she blurted the question that’d been clawing at her. “Why are we here? All of us? What do you want with us kids, captain?”

Syrup set her fork down. In the candlelight, her eyes glowed too brightly.

“Look at me…Jasmin, yes? Really look. What is it that you see?”

Jasmin struggled to think of an answer.

“You see a woman, don’t you? A woman with skin that betrays her, with lines carved by time.” Syrup ran a finger across her cheek. “Every mirror insults me. Every man my age decays before my eyes. The heart wants what it wants, and mine wants only what does not rot.”

A shiver travelled down Jasmin’s spine. Under the table, something brushed against her ankle. Once, then again. Syrup’s toes. Jasmin stiffened, her nails digging into her palms beneath the tablecloth.

“I have scoured the seas for years,” Syrup continued, her voice dreamy. “And I found it: a key. That amulet there.” She gestured towards a gold medallion dangling on her desk. “It leads to ocean magic strong enough to drink the years away: the Brine of Beginnings.”

Her foot pressed against Jasmin’s knee now, holding her in place.

“One sip, and I’ll be a girl again,” Syrup whispered. “Young. Beautiful. Forever. The legends say the smear of true royal blood upon the amulet would point the way instantly, though I’ve given up hope on getting my hands on any princess. I’ll find it no matter what.”

Jasmin’s throat felt tight. “And when you do find it, what happens to us?”

Syrup’s grin widened. “Oh, sweetie, a pirate girl has certain needs. You’ll never wilt, never grey, never leave. You’ll all be made children eternally bound to me. Isn’t it lovely?”

“That sounds like a prison.” Jasmin bit her lip.

Syrup let out a low chuckle. “That’s a horrible way to view it. Think of it like a garden—a garden in which you’ll forever bloom.” Her eyes slid down to Jasmin’s trembling lips. “And in that garden, I’ll need a partner. A husband, perhaps. Or…” She pressed her toes against Jasmin’s lap. “A beautiful wife. We’ll have all the time in the world to decide.”

The piece of chicken in Jasmin’s mouth now felt like dry cardboard. She saw her future stretch out before her: a never-ending childhood as everybody she loved died. Her uncle, her aunt, Minh… She’d just be a plaything for a monster in a little girl’s body.

Syrup chuckled at her reaction. “Oh, my dear. You’ve gone pale. Did I say something to upset your appetite?”

Jasmin barely managed to shake her head.

“Perfect answer.” Syrup’s big toe stroked a long, cold path down Jasmin’s leg. “Now, as for little Penelope…”

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Author’s Note:
Syrup’s disturbing fantasy is a joy to write. Expect more of it next week, as well as more trouble coming Toadette’s way.