Chapter 7 – Traveling through the Sarasa Desert

"Alright boys, rise and shine! It's time to finally get a move on and enter our first kingdom as a group outside my own." shouted Princess Peach, as the boys indeed rose after their tribulations beforehand.

"Hey Kevin and Nabbit, I noticed you guys are still tired even after sleeping. Did something happen last night?" asked the now returned Captain Toad.

"Yeah, we fought some–" Nabbit attempted to tell the truth, only for Kevin to interrupt with,

"Bed Bugs! We just had some lice problems that prevented our sleep cause I forgot to put up the barrier last night, that's all." answered Kevin, who then glared at Nabbit with the obvious message to not tell what actually happened.

"Oh I see…well just try to remember for tonight, I'll even give you a reminder to put it up if you need it." responded Cap. Toad, who then began traveling with the princess out of the town and onto the bridge.

From there, the group of 4 transitioned from the warm breeze of the mushroom forests to the glaring heat of the Sarasa desert, facing difficulty in traversing the areas by both the landscape itself and the beasts that called the desert their home. From mini suns, to fire koopa bros, many a foe faced them on their journey to the neighboring kingdom.

"Alright, we are almost there and I would rather not be in terrible shape when arriving at Daisy's kingdom, so we are taking a break to freshen up." Peach said, as she used some of her magic to create another, but more advanced, campsite.

"Wow. Where was this when we were in the mushroom kingdom?" asked Kevin, who proceeded to enter the new bathhouse(men's side).

"Simple. It was being used for helping the bridge and defending the showcase against Nabbit. Not to mention that unlike here, camping in the mushroom forests is not that bad." answered Peach, who was on the female side.

– Meanwhile with Nabbit & Captain Toad –

"So…you want to join in on our nightly training? What for?" asked Nabbit, still shuddering at the self-imposed workout Kevin put both of them through.

"Well it's because of you! You attacked my showcase, and I realize that could have gone terribly wrong had Kevin and the Princess not been there. So from now on, I want to grow stronger so I can protect the treasures I've obtained throughout my life." responded Toad, unaware of how grueling said wish would be were it to come true.

"Alright fine, I get your point. I'll ask Kevin if you can join." acquiesced Nabbit.

– The start of the evening, after the princess has gotten to sleep –

"I see…very well Captain Toad, I will respect your own desire and let you in on our training."

"Thank you so much man! So, what warmup will we start with?" asked Miguel, who allowed both Kevin and Nabbit to call him this in exchange for joining their nightly escapades.