Toadette's Story: Book 2

Chapter 114 - Penelope’s Perfect Performance

Jasmin’s legs trembled with each unsteady step, her body swaying. Her breath reeked of heavy wine.

“So much maturity shown for your young age that you managed to tolerate an entire glass,” Syrup chuckled. “Clearly my fears of poisoning you were unfounded. You’ll be sleeping very well tonight.”

“Yes, ma’am…” Jasmin slurred. “Lo’ pezones… My nipples leaking milky again…”

Syrup’s laughter felt like another violation. Led back to her cell by the captain herself, Jasmin was too disoriented and breathless to even consider resisting.

“A surprising vintage,” Syrup purred, licking her lips. “I never would’ve guessed Toad milk would be so cinnamon-flavoured.” She leaned in closer to Jasmin. “And your sweaty booty was quite the treat as well. What I wouldn’t give to taste yours and Penelope’s in one fancy buffet.”

The phantom sensation of Syrup’s probing tongue made Jasmin’s stomach clench.

Their path down the corridor was blocked by two orange, robotic sentries. Jasmin leaned heavily against Syrup’s body, trying to make the spinning stop.

“Captain,” one chimed. “An update on the lifeboats.”

“Proceed.”

The words entered Jasmin’s ears fuzzily. Lifeboats… Navigation system… Updates… Back of deck… Tomorrow… Tarps… The details were impossible to hold onto.

“Excellent,” Syrup hissed with a grin. “Can’t have my little darlings without a way out if things get too hot.” She then gave Jasmin a firm shove towards the prison door.

Inside, the soft breathing of sleeping children filled the space. Syrup gestured to them.

“You see? This is salvation. I’m saving them from the rot of adulthood.” She took Jasmin’s chin. “I’m saving you as well. Sweet dreams, Jasmin.”

Jasmin shuddered as the door shut behind her. She stumbled over to where Penelope was shivering under her pitiful excuse for a blanket. Jasmin removed her glasses and scooped Penelope up in a hug as she cuddled next to her. What excess warmth she had from the wine was now shared with the human girl’s body.

“I’m sorry, Penelope,” she mumbled into Penelope’s hair. “We gotta… We can’t avoid you having to…” And she shut her eyes, groaning.

***

The Moon hung high in the sky, spilling silver light over calm tides and swaying palms. Cheep Cheeps skimmed the surface. It could’ve been paradise, if three mushrooms hadn’t been stuck here without swimming gear.

Toadette slumped against one of the trees, letting the damp sand cling to her feet. “Okay, I screwed up. We’re stranded because of me, and I’m sorry. Happy?”

“Please, we’re not stranded,” Toad corrected, pointing towards her pocket. “The radar!”

He dashed over to Toadette, reaching into her pocket and pulling out Stuffwell.

“Suitcase! I want that radar immediately!”

“One must simply ask, sir,” Stuffwell replied primly, unfolding.

“E. Gadd said we could mess with the signal,” Toad explained, already tinkering with the device. He let out a chuckle. “We can send Wario’s goons on a wild goose chase. Yeah, we’ve got you now, don’t we, you dumbasses?”

Minh shook off the remnants of the Frog Suit. “What’s that even matter? Looks like they already have a lock on Syrup, meaning the star.”

“For all we know, they’re as lost as we are.” Toad smirked. “And if not, we can tinker with this baby enough until it blips up her exact spot. Win-win.”

“I’m praying it works,” Toadette sighed.

“Well look,” Minh started, picking up a fallen log. “No point sitting around. We’ll need a raft.”

“What?” Toadette groaned. “Minh, do I look like I know how to build a boat?”

“A raft, Toadette.” Minh tugged on some seaweed growing around a nearby inlet. With enough straining, it finally ripped, sending her backwards. “I can put one together. I just need some extra muscle.”

“I don’t think I can…”

Toadette watched as Minh silently started to wave the strands of seaweed into a rope. She made it look effortless.

Her eyes then started to drift to the trail of footprints Minh was leaving behind on the beach. Wide and deep compared to Toadette’s skinny and ball-heavy footprints. Noticing her lost expression, Minh plopped down and wiggled her sandy toes in the moonlight.

“You look like you’re about to explode,” she said, lying on her stomach. “Destress a little. Wanna smell the bottoms of my feet?”

Toadette scoffed. “That’s the last thing on my mind right now.” But the playful curl of Minh’s toes was a clear invitation. With a defeated sigh, she crawled over and knelt, lowering her head to take a sniff of Minh’s foot.

At first there was the undeniable scent of the ocean that reflected their long swimming session. Beneath that was a slimy musk—residue of the Frog Suit’s material. As she inhaled deeper, the dissipating suit’s smell mingled with the more recent scent of sand that had worked its way across Minh’s soles. It was a bizarre yet potent aroma.

A soft moan of relief escaped Toadette’s lips. As she pressed her cheek against the sand-dusted sole, a grin filled her face. Ridiculous as it was, this was exactly what she needed.

“Hey! No fair!”

Toadette shrieked, jumping back as a pair of fingers suddenly tickled her own foot. She scrambled upright, blushing furiously, to catch Toad standing over them. A goofy smile was bright on his face.

“I thought my feet smelt good too, Toadette!” he mocked playfully. “Where’s my attention, foot sniffer?”

“I will seriously hurt you one of these days, Toady!” Toadette laughed, kicking a spray of sand at him.

“Promise?” He lifted the radar high. “Come here. We’ve got a hit!”

Minh pushed herself up. “Awesome! Where?”

His smile faltered slightly as he pointed at the screen. “Well there’s one little catch: they’re moving.”

“Then that’s our route.” Seriousness took over Toadette’s face. “While you map its path, Minh and I will finish the raft.”

“But I’m the muscle here,” he protested.

“And the exploratory brain.” Toadette pecked him on the shoulder. “Let us do the grunt work. We’ve failed navigating more times in life to count, isn’t that right, Minh?”

“It’s a miracle we’re alive.”

Toad whistled. “Fine. But you two better build a raft that doesn’t sink in five minutes.”

“It’ll take a good while, so get to flexing your toes for us, ‘kay?” Minh giggled. She turned to Toadette and brushed the sand from her arms. “Ready?”

Toadette cracked her knuckles, nodding.

***

A sharp spike of pain behind her eyes was the first thing to greet Jasmin. Her mouth was a desert, and her face was green with nausea.

Penelope was already on her feet. Yet she found herself puzzled. All the other kids were given tasks to do in the daylight hours. For whatever reason, she wasn’t assigned to anything. Realising she wouldn’t have much time to spend with Jasmin, she quickly confronted her.

“Why am I being singled out here, Jazz?” She interrupted Jasmin before she could finish. “Am I in trouble? Please tell me I’m not!”

Jasmin rubbed her eyes. “Might as well rip the bandage off.”

“Hmm?”

“You’re performing a handjob on a guy for Syrup.” An uncomfortable pause broke her speech. “Now that the worst word is out of the way, we can figure out the…”

She slowed down. It was evident through Penelope’s eyes that she knew nothing about what Jasmin was talking about.

“Why?” Penelope whispered. “What’s a handjob, and what did I even do?”

“Nothing, Penelope, jeez. It’s just what she wants, and that’s that.” Jasmin tugged at her own hair. “She told me everything. This is all because of some golden amulet and royal blood she thinks will lead to a magic potion that’ll make her a kid again. Forever. And we’re gonna have to drink it if we don’t get out of here.”

Penelope’s pupils shrank. “Forever?”

“Yeah, and if we don’t impress her, there’s always the chance she’ll just let us drown in the ocean. Real loving.”

“But…” Penelope gulped, her voice shaky. “But I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.”

“How do I explain?” Jasmin tapped her foot, brainstorming. She then pointed to her groin. “Ever found yourself rubbing yourself before in this area?”

Penelope nodded frantically.

“Well you’re basically doing that to someone else.” Jasmin took Penelope’s hands. “Some tips: alternate your speed, be careful with the pink bit and don’t forget about the balls. Make sure you give ‘em a good squeeze here and there—not too hard, though.”

Penelope’s eye twitched. “Why do you know so much about this?”

“I’m cursed with a lot of unholy knowledge.” She handed something to Penelope. It was a paperback book. “I asked to have this back during dinner last night. It’s a real special Kid Icarus issue I picked up at that convention.” A soft smile spread across her face as she rubbed the cover. “One of my favourites already.”

She pointed to an angel boy with his legs spread. “You need to make that boy look like Pit here.” She then tapped on a green-haired woman leaning over him. “You need to look like Lady Palutena right here. Got it?”

“Uh-huh…” Before Penelope could ask another question, Jasmin was already leaving with the other kids.

“You’re not stupid,” she said, waving without looking. “I know you’ll get the hang of this.”

Penelope now found herself alone in the room. No natural daylight—just artificial lamps to keep her up. She lingered in the same spot for a solid minute. Catatonic described her perfectly. However, after that minute, her expression of disconcert changed into one of fierce determination. She marched onto her bed and opened the comic, adjusting her makeshift glasses.

“I’ll be even better than Lady What’s Her Face, Jazz,” she said, opening to the forty-seventh page.

She blushed harder than on her entire adventure out to sea. On this limited-colour page, Pit was lying on his back, breathless. Sweat dripped from every one of his pores. Above him, the goddess Palutena was in absolute control. One panel showed her licking his balls while he moaned her name, to which she cooed, “I always knew you’d taste so yummy, my dear Pit.” Another one showed her dexterous toes curling around his cock with a seductive grin.

Penelope paused on the last panel. “That one… That’s what Miss Toadette did back in Mushroom City! The stranger dude!”

The memory came rushing back to Penelope. They were grabbing fireworks for Peach in a suspicious alley, where Toadette’s payment was rubbing her feet on this guy’s junk. She had told Penelope not to look, but curiosity got the better of her.

“I just thought he was playing games with her,” she whispered, her eyes growing wider as she flipped a page. “So it felt super good?”

In spite of the discomfort she felt, she grinned menacingly. “I’m supposed to be scared? So long as I’m not touching Syrup, bring the challenge on!”

She excitedly flipped through page after page. The final page of this chapter showed Pit arching his back, his mouth open as tears left his eyes. “Oh… Oh… Oh! I’m gonna cum, Lady Palutena!!” His cock was aimed straight at the reader, bulbous and dripping with substance.

“Cum?” Penelope leaned in, eager to see the finale on the next page. But her thumb snagged.

“Ew.” She felt an extra crusty texture on her thumb. “Jazz, why are these pages stuck together?” she wondered aloud.

***

The makeshift raft cut through the morning waves, its new steering system working. At the bow, Toad stood like a captain, one foot braced on the centre log as he alternated between his compass and radar. Behind him, Toad and Minh—both sporting Super Leaf tails—ruddered them forward.

“Hard to port!” Toad barked, gripping the wood. “That’s left!”

“Keep translating, ‘cause we ain’t ever gonna remember it,” Minh sang with a grin.

Toadette giggled, stealing a glance at him. There was something endearing about his focus—the set of shoulders, the way his small body commanded the raft.

But the surface churned. Before they knew it, three pink creatures burst from the depths, squealing as they landed. With blue hair plastered to their heads, they were no taller than Toad’s knees.

“What the hell?” Toad kicked one straight into the water.

“Stuffwell, do your smart thing!” Toadette yelled.

“Right away!” He popped from her pocket, scanning. “Squeaks, miss. Not native to these seas. Known for quick strikes and theft, though hardly dangerous.”

“Tell that to the radar!” Minh shouted, swinging her bag and knocking a lunging Squeak aside.

Toadette spun, tail-whipping another into the ocean. The last vibrated with a sharp squeal, then dove back overboard. Just like that, the water stilled again.

Panting, Toadette frowned. “You’re sure they’re not Syrup’s goons?”

“Positive that they’re not,” Stuffwell chirped. “Their energy signatures are entirely foreign to this region. The possibility is incredibly slim.”

The three exchanged a look. They’d thought they knew the players in this game: themselves, Syrup’s crew and Wario’s three henchmen.

“So if they’re not Syrup’s,” Minh began, her voice trailing off.

“There’s only one logical conclusion,” Toad sighed.

“I swear…!” Toadette slid back in her position, propelling the raft forward. She bit so hard that her teeth could break. “Damn you, Wario! As if this soggy place didn’t have enough jerks already!”

***

A suffocating wall of steam was all one could see in the engine room. Jasmin’s muscles screamed with every shovelful of coal she heaved into the furnace. Hours of labour spent doing nothing but this…

She paused, leaning on the shovel and squinting at the bottom of her foot, now covered in a layer of soot. Despite the blackness, the blue notes were still readable by her.

If only I could’ve gone through with this plan earlier…

By the time her shift was over, sunset had fallen. She trudged numbly back to her prison. When the door opened, she expected to see the usual dreary misery.

Yet what she found merely left her jaw dropped.

In the centre of the room stood Penelope, alone. The other children were huddled in the corners or in their beds, watching her. She wasn’t crying or even attempting an escape. Her eyes were half-shut, and she swayed her hips in a slow, hypnotic rhythm, puckering her lips.

She spun several seconds after Jasmin entered, with a smile plastered across her face.

“Hey, Jazz,” she said, her voice calm and a tone deeper. Her lips were painted dark red.

“Do I even want to ask what you’re doing?”

“Getting myself in the mood.” Penelope puckered her lips. “No point fighting the inevitable. The captain wants to see the best of me, and that’s what she’s gonna get.” She licked her lips. “I’m only sorry I couldn’t practise these moves on you first. Maybe a threesome will await us.”

Jasmin hardly breathed as Penelope stopped before her. Penelope then leaned in and held Jasmin’s face.

She brought their lips together. Jasmin let out a soft whimper. The way Penelope gripped her so tightly, the way her tongue would flutter against her lips… Was this a platonic kiss? Jasmin’s heart raced once Penelope’s tongue broke its way into her mouth. What lasted only ten seconds felt like an eternity.

With a wet pop, Penelope pulled back.

“Thanks for the study material,” she said, handing Jasmin back her Kid Icarus comic. Then she disappeared.

What the hell have I done? Jasmin thought.

Surrounded by two Gaugau, Penelope strutted through the corridors. Rather than leading her to Syrup’s bedroom, the monsters took her to a small chamber deep within the ship. This circular room contained a single fancy chair opposite a raised platform. It was less a room and more an arena.

Just as she expected, Syrup was already present, lounging in the chair. A slithery smile cursed her lips. With a chortle, she gestured towards the stage.

“Why, you’re looking lovely, angel,” she said as Penelope ascended.

“Thank you, ma’am.” She took a deep breath and stopped once her feet felt the icy platform. She then began to search. Where was the boy she was destined to play with?

At last she saw him seated on a wooden stool at the back of the stage.

He looked up, and all the air left her lungs in a startled gasp. That blank, white mask. That careless, slumped posture. It was Terro.

For a moment, her confidence vanished. This wasn’t just any boy; he was the only person on this ship to have shared a story with her, a story that had made her feel nothing but pity. Yet upon catching the look in Syrup’s eyes, her face tightened.

“You ready for this?” she asked with a soft growl.

You can do this, Penelope!

“Hey there, Terro,” Penelope called out, swaying her hips. “The captain is waiting. Don’t you dare leave a lady waiting.”

The smallest of shivers ran down her spine as she saw him rise.

His penis limply slapped against his thigh. Soon he was standing with her in the middle of the stage, letting out a defeated sigh.

“We meet again,” he whispered. “Wanna just get this over with?”

“Get this over with?” Penelope raised her voice. “The only way this is ending fast is if I make you cum at record speed!”

Syrup leaned forward in the chair, intrigued.

Penelope then glanced around the stage, noticing several unlit candles placed in the corners. A new idea sparked in her mind. She faced Syrup with a smirk.

“What kind of show is this, captain?” she purred. “It’s so dark. Don’t you think it would be cosier if we had a little more romantic light?”

“But of course.” Syrup snapped her fingers. “One of you bilgerats, warm us up.”

A Gaugau approached the stage with a lit match. Penelope marched up to him and, before he knew it, snatched it from his mighty hand. The tiny fire illuminated her face. Syrup’s teeth clenched as Penelope lifted the stick into the air, ready to throw it to the ground.

But instead, Penelope swayed over to the first candle, deliberately bending and offering Syrup a generous view of the bottoms of her feet as she lit the first wick.

She danced from one candle to the next, the stage now flickering with an intimate orange.

“Ah… Smells much better as well,” Syrup sighed, licking her lips as Penelope blew out the match.

“Indeed.” Penelope returned to the centre of the stage. “Now, where were we?”

Her eyes never left Syrup’s as she removed her white clothes. She let the fabrics hit the floor, revealing her bare skin. Ridding herself of the tremors, she tossed her pink panties aside, planting a foot down before Syrup in all her naked glory.

She then dropped to her hands and knees with a stubborn pout. Taking one last deep breath, she gripped Terro’s flaccid penis. A gentle squeeze made her eyes widen. It felt otherworldly. Despite being clumsy, she proceeded to stroke him slowly and repetitively.

A soft gasp escaped both simultaneously.

“It’s getting bigger,” Penelope whispered aloud. Her heart pounded faster as she felt the first signs of stiffness beneath her hand. Encouraged, she ramped up the pace, now rubbing her palm against the head of his cock.

“Look at you, girl,” Syrup moaned, fanning herself.

“Perhaps you could teach me a few extra tricks, captain.” Penelope winked. “I’m a very fast learner.”

“Ooh, I most certainly can, sweetie.”

Red in the face, Penelope cupped Terro’s balls, rolling them gently. He whimpered. His hand suddenly shot out, grabbing the back of her head.

He guided her down and pressed her face against his cock.

She paused for a second, thinking of Toadette or, even worse, her mother catching her in this naughty act. But it was survival. She shrugged off the twinge of guilt, parting her lips.

Once the entrance to her mouth was filled, she wagged her tongue. Terro’s fingers tightened in her hair, and a low moan vibrated through his body.

Penelope bobbed her head back and forth, looking up at Terro’s expressionless mask. She choked as she took him deeper with each plunge. Her eyes watered, but she refused to pull away, instead focusing on the shaft pulsing between her delicate lips. When she finally gagged hard enough to snort, her gasp broke the seal.

“Mmm… Who knew that a penis could be so…so yummy,” she squealed with a giggle. She squeezed the head of his cock so firmly that a bit of pre-cum squirted out. “Yummy, yummy, yummy…”

Syrup’s breath hitched.

Penelope doubled down with renewed determination. She alternated between gently sucking and firmer stroking. Terro, however, remained frustratingly resistant. His moans grew louder, and his grip on her hair tightened, but the climax she needed remained out of reach. She looked down at her feet.

Let’s see what I’ve learnt from you, Miss Toadette.

Without warning, she tackled Terro to the ground. Before he could let out a word, her bare soles were already rubbing against his thighs. Then they brushed against his scrotum, eliciting a shuddery moan from him.

“What’s wrong?” she cooed. “Did you need me to warn you before I started?”

Her toes pressed deeper into his scrotum, drawing out a stronger moan. Her feet finally wrapped around his cock.

“This’ll be new for me,” she said, flashing a look at Syrup. “Then again, I’m gonna have all kinds of practice in the future, won’t I?”

She began to slide her foot up and down Terro’s shaft, tracing the vein on the underside with her big toe. Terro’s body tensed up, and his breathing became irregular as she picked up the pace. After a few strokes, she let her toe come to a still; it hovered over his glans.

“Don’t I have soft, little toes?” she giggled. “Thank you, I know I do. You could say my mother gifted me them.”

Terro grunted. “This is…”

“Good? Yep, it is.” She gently pressed his cock down with one foot while teasing the underside with the other. As she returned to stroking, she found a rhythm that helped her maintain a steady pace. “Wanna cum on my feet?”

Syrup, who’d already begun touching herself, stiffened up when those words blessed her ears. As if seeing Penelope’s naked body wasn’t enough of a treat, her confident attitude was refreshing amongst her catches.

Suddenly Penelope switched positions once more, rolling onto her stomach and presenting her feet to Terro in an upside-down manner. Her toes, now facing his body, pointed directly at his throbbing erection. Terro stared in confusion at her twitching toes.

“Tickle, tickle, tickle,” she sang, wiggling her toes along his cock.

Then came a powerful moan from both parties as she forced her feet downward. Tugging hard on his foreskin, she found herself grinning at the pulsating feeling between her arches.

Three, two, one…

Terro’s body arched, his mask tilting as a guttural groan escaped him. A rush of fluid spurted forth, coating Penelope’s soles and toes.

The warmth made her eyes widen. The stickiness made her jaw drop. It was as if somebody was shooting hot goop onto her feet. Her feet continued to stroke him up and down as the cum spread everywhere. Eventually he grabbed her feet, trying to force them to stop. However, her curiosity drove her to carry on until she could feel the tops of her feet completely drenched in this mysterious substance.

“It’s so gooey,” she whispered to herself, curling her toes repeatedly. She finally lifted her feet from Terro’s crotch, crawling a bit forward.

A round of applause made Penelope’s ears twitch.

“That was incredible,” Syrup purred, rising from her chair. She sauntered towards the stage, her eyes fixed on Penelope’s feet. “And to think, you achieved what even the most seasoned practitioners couldn’t.”

Penelope could only watch as Syrup knelt before her. Syrup cupped her foot and brought it to her lips, her smile widening.

“Let’s try this.” She then proceeded to lick the cum off Penelope’s feet. A shiver ran down Penelope’s spine.

Syrup savoured the taste, closing her eyes in pleasure for a moment before reopening them with even more intensity. She licked her lips after every gulp of the substance, making sure to not miss a drop. As Penelope’s toes popped in and out her mouth, Syrup’s heart was ready to burst out of her chest. Had she truly stumbled upon the perfect catch?

“Magnificent,” she panted. “Truly magnificent, Penelope. You’ve impressed me beyond measure.” She leaned in closer. “I want more of you, my dear. Let’s see what we can do together.”

Penelope blinked, her mouth slightly agape.

“In your room?” she asked.

“If that’s where you’d prefer, most certainly.” Syrup’s neck snapped in the direction of the guards. “Prepare the room! Get it in order within the next ten minutes!”

Her lackeys went off to attend to that matter, leaving Penelope a little time to regain herself. She regained some warmth with her clothes, passing a glance at Terro in the process.

Did I make it happen fast or slowly? I don’t even know.

When the ten minutes were up, a gruff voice summoned Penelope. She followed the guards to Syrup’s chambers. There, lying on the plush bed, was the captain herself. She reclined against a mound of pillows, her crimson eyes meeting Penelope’s.

“Come, Penelope,” she purred, patting the space beside her. “The mood is just right.”

Penelope hesitated for a moment. Then, overcome with an inexplicable surge of adrenaline, she jumped onto the bed. She found herself hovering above Syrup. Slowly she began to move.

This wasn’t the dominant scenario that Syrup had expected. No, it was better. Penelope was putting on another show for her, with a seductive dance as she moved her hips above her. She grabbed the hem of her dress, teasing removing it entirely.

Syrup put a finger to her lip. “You check off every box for me, Penelope. You’d be a perfect wife.”

“That’d be an honour, captain.” Penelope fell forward, landing on Syrup’s chest. She wrapped her in a hug, panting.

“Mmm… Tighter,” Syrup commanded. She put both hands on Penelope’s bottom and squeezed it hard. Penelope gritted her teeth and let out a deep moan. As she slowly started to grind against the captain, she inched closer to the edge of the bed where a bedside table stood. On it was a beautiful candle that highlighted the two of them.

“It smells so good in here,” Penelope sighed. She planted a kiss on Syrup’s lips before Syrup could respond. Grunting, Penelope slid her tongue through the lips for a moment. She retracted them, letting a bit of spit drip down her lips. “Do I taste good?”

Syrup stroked her hair. “Yes, treasure. You’re even better than Jasmin.”

Penelope smiled. Then she bit her lightly.

It was just enough to make Syrup gasp. In the same motion, Penelope kissed her. Her tongue forced deeper entry into her mouth, swirling just enough to make Syrup arch her back.

“How about that?” Penelope panted, letting saliva glisten on her lips.

“You little gumdrop…”

Penelope giggled. Then she crawled up further.

With a sudden twist, Penelope grabbed a thick strand of Syrup’s red hair and yanked it, snapping the captain’s head forward. Before Syrup could scream, Penelope snatched the candle from the nightstand and slammed it into her face.

Hot wax splattered across Syrup’s eyes. The flame caught her hair, creating a blaze of fire as she shrieked.

“My eyes!” Syrup cried. Penelope quickly lunged for the desk. An open satchel was ripe for the taking, and she filled it with whatever she could find. A compass, a flask of rum, a matchbox and other trinkets of minor value.

She stuffed it all inside before focusing on heaving the desk.

“Move!” she groaned. She braced her shoulder against it, but pain shot up her spine. She staggered back. “Okay, be like Miss Toadette. Think.”

When she looked at the floor, she realised that the rug was preventing the desk from moving. Thus she rolled it up as well as she could and made another attempt. The gingerbread desk scraped against the floorboards as she cheerfully slammed it towards the door.

Syrup thrashed around, trying to extinguish the flames on her head, while Penelope grabbed a second candle and threw it onto the rug. The fire erupted, engulfing the furniture and wood.

She jumped over the burning patch, flung open the door and squeezed her small frame into the corridor.

Pirates shouted from below.

“Dang it…” Her bare feet pounded on the ship’s floorboards as she passed wide-eyed thugs. Some lunged for her. One grabbed her wrist—a bulky, penguin-raccoon hybrid.

She clenched his belly until her nails pierced the flesh. He stumbled back, groaning.

“Jazz!” she screamed, kicking open the holding door.

Jasmin jolted upright, eyes wide. “Pen—?”

“No time!” Penelope yanked her up, dragging her past the stunned children. Terro, whose finger paused on his mask, sat in curiosity.

While they hotfooted it to the deck, Penelope gave Jasmin a recap in ragged breaths. Jasmin struggled to find words.

“One, you’re amazing. Two, how the hell do we escape right now?” she panted. “We’re still in the middle of a goddamned ocean!”

Penelope grinned. “You kept mumbling in your sleep about lifeboats at the back of the deck! Hidden under some tarps!”

“I don’t talk in my sleep!”

“You did last night! So cute!” Penelope tugged harder. “Now move before we die!”

They tripped through a hatch and were hit by the night wind. Above, the sky was an inky shade of stormy grey, illuminated only by a hidden moon and scattered stars. The deck was damp with sea spray and eerily quiet. Then…

“You really think you can get away from me?” a voice boomed. Syrup emerged from behind them, an eye completely shut.

Penelope’s pulse spiked. She tightened her grip on Jasmin’s arm. The satchel swung against her leg. Gulping, she reached inside and pulled out the flask and a single match.

“You want us cuties, captain?” she sang, striking the match. “Then come and get us!”

And then the tiny flame hit the deck.

----------

Author’s Note:
If we treat the main cast so far as Toadette, Minh T., Captain Toad, Penelope and Jasmin, then every character has now had a very explicit scene. We’ve done it! I struggled merging the action with the sex in this one, but I think the twist of Penelope’s plan came out wonderfully. Next week, we’ll have more action than feet, so get ready for that.