What's this?

Is this it?

The long-awaited successor to the Yoshi's Missing Shoes series?

It is!

Taking place in a new setting that allows me to exercise greater creative control over feeling boxed in!

Hoorah!

Inspiration hit me suddenly so I had to go with it.

Enjoy~

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If you enjoy my work, consider buying me a coffee at Ko-fi!

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Disclaimer: The story series will contain a lot of tickling. A lot of it. If that isn't your cup of tea then go find something that is.
Bowser, Koopas, Yoshis, etc. are all owned by Nintendo.
Zashi, Kapzak, and other such characters are my creation.

- - -

The Isle of Mirth's history stretches back centuries ago.
In a darker time, when the many peoples of the land suffered from the strife of war and violence, they cried out to be free from it all, and wished to the stars for aid.
As if to answer their wishes, an island rose up in the middle of the ocean, with impossible climates. Snow in one area, and a warm desert not too far. Almost as if it was created solely to be a haven. Curiously, people set sail, and were greated by seven spirits.
"We have granted your wish for a land free from violence. On this island, where our power reigns, no violence nor harm can befall anyone. However, it is impossible to truly be free from strife, and so we grant you an avenue – on this island, you will settle your differences and resolve your strife through tickling."
The people were shocked, but surprisingly, many of them felt drawn to this idea. And so people all over the world flocked to this place. It became a joyful place, full of playfulness and laughter, with many local creatures that thrived in this environment.
It also became a bastion against invaders – every invader, including the great koopa king Bowser, found themselves at a loss when their usual fighting spirit was pointless, and they were swiftly defeated by the locals.
However, the seven spirits of mirth had an unstable power, due to the great energies granted by the people of the land. To contain their power, they created a focus – a golden feather which remains enshrined at the top of the island, and serves to balance and restrain their power.
This shrine is meticulously watched over by special inhabitants who--
Wait a minute.
Who's that in the background?

"Bwahahaha! It's me!" said Bowser, roaring and surprising the caretakers of the shrine – many of them magikoopas who felt called to protect this sacred place.
"B-Bowser!? How did you get this far?" one of them said, wielding his wand, "Nevermind that, you've made a mistake coming here! We're well versed in the magic of this isle!"
"Oh?" Bowser said, folding his arms across his chest, grinning cockily, "Well then, take your best shot!"
The caretakers whipped their wands and sent sparkling, conjured feathers at Bowser. The moment they struck him, they began swirling all over his body, making the greater koopa laugh. But instead of flailing about, trying to avoid the feathers, or running away, Bowser simply unfolded his arms, letting the feathers trail all over his torso, boldly enduring the tickling magicks.
"Wh-what!? How!?" a caretaker asked, shocked at the great koopa's resiliance.
"Hehehe! I've discovered, hehehe, a few things about myself, gwahahahaha, since I last attacked!" Bowser said, smirking.
"And now, it's our turn!" said a flamboyant voice familiar to them, as a pink-robed magikoopa floated in on what amounted to a feather duster large enough to be a broom.
"Kapzak! Not only were you banished from our order for trying to meddle with the Golden Feather, but now you betray us and help Bowser get this far!?" one of the caretakers accused.
Kapzak simply giggled, "I have betrayed you, yes, but I didn't help Bowser get this far at all – he was able to get here all on his own! After that marvelous display of fortitude from such a handsome devil, I couldn't resist joining him!"
Bowser chuckled, "and now, this is mine!"
And with that, Bowser grabbed the golden feather.
"NO!" cried the caretakers, but with a whip of Kapzak's wand, their cries of fear became cries of laughter as feathers started attacking their bare feet.
"Gwahaha! I've got it! The source of this island's power!" Bowser said, holding the feather aloft. Curiously, he swept the feather under his armpit – and laughed. It tickled! He was able to tickle himself with this thing!
Kapzak applauded, "Good job, sire!"
Bowser grinned, "Now then... it's time to make himself the king of this island!"

Meanwhile, at the island's beach, several yoshis were at play. Most of them were from a local tribe of yoshis, but a few of them were tourists from another island. One of them being Zashi, a mature black yoshi who happened to be one of the few yoshis with hair – his brilliantly pink crest sticking straight up from the top of his head.

He was actually quite fond of the Isle of Mirth, though he wouldn't really want to live full time here. Still, it was a good, safe place to take a vacation, catch some suns, and engage in a little tomfoolery.

It was the last place he expected to hear genuine screams of fear.

Jolting upright, he looked back to see several Yoshis running from a bunch of koopas – and they certainly weren't local koopas.

"Bowser's invaded the village!" they cried as they ran away faster than Zashi could help them.

Zashi rolled his eyes, "Bowser, again? You'd think he learned his lesson last time... still, maybe I should check this out."

Slipping his sandals back on both of his three-toed feet, Zashi ran towards the tribe's village.

- - -

Greeting him was a crawling green yoshi, gently laughing and panting.

"He... he out-tickled us. Him and his troops. I can't believe... hehehe..."

The yoshi flopped on the ground, too tired to speak. Zashi gave him a comforting pat before rushing over to confront Bowser.

"Oh look, here comes another challenger!" Bowser said, grinning the moment he saw Zashi approach. Some strange golden energy surrounded several of the Yoshis present, tickling them into hysterics.

Zashi got the impression they were having more fun than it seemed, but he turned his thoughts to Bowser.

"Bowser, seems like you've learned a few tricks since the last time you came here," Zashi said, grinning, "I remember the last time you were here, you got trapped and begged us for mercy!"

Bowser grimaced and blushed, and the pink-robed magikoopa near him giggle.

"I like the audacity of this one, my lord," the magikoopa said, "and I love how his hair matches my robe."

"Well, we'll have plenty of time to... discuss fashion... later," Bowser said, regaining his smirk, "Yes, I was wholly embarrassed the last time I was here. I'm definitely a different koopa now, though... I've gone through a lot of experiences that make me realize why I really want this island to myself."
Zashi grinned too, taking on a ready stance, "Well, I'm not about to hand it over to you."
Bowser smirked, patting his chest, "Come at me, then."
"With pleasure!"

Zash rushed forward, faster than most yoshis could, and dug his fingers into Bowser's belly. Despite his bravado, Bowser was actually taken aback, stepping back and guffawing – Zashi, however, simply darted around, getting into Bowser's sides, making Bowser stumble away from him. With a quick zip of his tongue, he delivered a ticklish lick up Bowser's briefly exposed sole, making the koopa king fall backwards.

Zashi folded his arms cockily.

"Hahaha... very good," Bowser said, standing up, "You did better than the caretakers at that shrine did."

"The... shrine?" Zashi said, his confidence fading.

Bowser smirked and produced the golden feather – the focal point of the island's energies – and held it up. With a roar, he covered himself in a shimmering, multi-colored energy.

"Haha! While your tickle attack was quite fun, I'm afraid I'm going to have to tilt the scales in my favor, so to speak."

Zashi growled and rushed foward, digging his fingers into Bowser's belly. To his surprise, it felt like it was his own belly getting tickled, and he stumbled back.

"I control this island's energies now, so I can make you feel it when you tickle me," Bowser explained, "But I can still do THIS to you!"

With a wave of his feather, Bowser sent a flurry of golden energy onto Zashi. The ticklish sparkling motes danced all over his belly, his sides, his armpits, his chest, and even his sandles. Zashi squealed with laughter, wiggling about, frantically and uselessly kicking his sandles off.

"Gather them all up and take them back to my fortress!" Bowser said to several koopas.

"Hehehe... where are you... hahaha... going, Bowser?" Zashi said, standing up in spite of his giggling, "We're not done yet!"

"Oh?" Bowser said, looking at Zashi as if for the first time, "Well now... you've got quite the fortitude, don't you? Almost as good as mine..."

Zashi grinned, wiggling his fingers. He knew he couldn't get through Bowser's defenses, but he had to try.

No, you don't!

Zash startled, not sure where the voice was coming from. Bowser's cocky laughter suddenly turned into a shocked expression.
Zash didn't have time to ponder why because he suddenly felt himself being pulled through space and time, to another part of the island.

- - -

Waking up in a forested part of the island, he pulled himself up. Last thing he remembered was standing against impossible odds against a koopa king who had basically become the most invincible tickler on the island.

And then he was here.

Standing up, he felt the soft grass gently tickling his bare soles.

"Welp, looks like I'm going barefoot," he said, smirking, "Oh well, it's not like I haven't done that before!"

Come this way...

He looked around, trying to find the source of the voice in his head. It felt like it was coming from a specific direction... one of the smaller shrines, perhaps?

His suspicion was confirmed when he found it – a small shrine in the woods. Silently entering, he found himself before a small alter with seven symbols on it. Representing the seven spirits of mirth. Kneeling in front of the altar, as was customary, he was surprised when the symbols lit up.

Greetings, Zashi. As you may know, we are the Seven Spirits of Mirth... spoke a joyful voice.

We have been subjugated by Bowser, who has taken the focus of our power... spoke a flirty voice.

He must be stopped, or he will destabilize our power and potentially change the world... said an anxious voice.

Only you have the fortitude to stand up against him and his empowered henchmen... spoke a gentle voice

And for that, we will empower you, and make you our champion... lilted a playful voice

We will grant you a magical feather that will become more powerful with you, said a surprisingly harsh voice

Save us, and we will be able to neutralize the power he's using and give you the opening to defeat him, said a cocky voice.

"So, am I the subject of some prophecy or something?" Zashi said jokingly.

No, we had no way to predict this. We just had plans in case something went wrong.

"Ah," Zashi said, "well very well. I wanted to have a proper go at him anyways," Zashi said, grinning cockily.

Excellent!

And with that, a light emerged from the altar, and from it rose a simple, shimmering feather. Grabbing it, Zashi looked it over. It looked like a simple white feather, but the light hitting it showed a rainbow shimmer.

"I will do my best to save you and this island from Bowser."

We thank you, said the joyful voice again, and we will pray for your success.

And with that, Zashi left the shrine, ready to set off on his adventure.

Only problem was, the only path out of the forest was being blocked by a one of the more elite koopa troopas – judging by the large feather he was wielding (which, Zashi noted with annoyance, was bigger than the magic feather he was given), this one would be called a "Feather Bros".

Thankfully, this one seemed to be barefoot. This would make his work easier.

"Oiy, you!" Zashi said, pointing his feather threateningly at the Feather Bros, "I've got a feather with your name on it!"

The Feather Bros whirled towards him, saw the size of the feather, and practically burst into laughter right then and there.

"You call that a feather?" the feather bros said, brandishing his larger feather menacingly, "THIS is a feather."

Zashi responded by charging forward, sweeping his feather up the feather bros' belly. Surprised by the yoshi's speed, the feather bros stumbled back, giggling, before responding in kind, sweeping his feather across Zashi's chest, making him stumble back as well.

"Not bad," the Feather Bros said before stabbing his feather at Zashi's toes. Zashi stepped back just in time, though the Feather Bros kept on the offensive, trying to get his feather under Zashi's feet.

Zashi startled when he back into a tree, which gave the feather bros the opening he needed to start sweeping the feather over Zashi's toes, making the yoshi giggle. His own feather too short to counter attack, Zashi tried to back up into the tree again, but simply slid down, exposing his soles.

"Gotcha!" the Feather Bros said, sweeping his feather over the yoshi's soles. Zashi laughed, wiggling them about. Despite being cornered by the Feather Bros, he was actually kinda having fun. In fact, he didn't even try to escape.

The Feather Bros noticed and stopped tickling for a moment, clearly confused. That's when Zashi took the offensive – whipping his tongue out, he grabbed the Feather Bros around both of his ankles, pulling the koopa troopa's soles towards him.

"Oh no!" the koopa cried, as Zashi smirked (as much as he could with his tongue out) and began to sweep the shimmering feather across both of the feather troopa's feet.

The troopa laughed, dropped his feather and hugging himself tightly, wiggling and struggling in the yoshi's tongue-grip. His toes flailed helplessly as the feather danced across them, and sweeped down his smooth, scaled soles.

Zashi noted, with amusement, that the troopa stopped struggling, too, clearly starting to enjoy himself as well. Tickling him for a bit longer, he let the Feather Bros go, watching him pant.

"Oh geez, you win..." the Feather Bros said, "I see why Lord Bowser loves this so much..."

Zashi grinned, poking the troopa on the belly with his feather, "Well, he can't have the island all to himself, ya know."

The troopa curled up and giggled, "You may have... de-feeted... me..." the Feather Bros said, chuckling at his own pun, "but you won't get to the first Spirit of Mirth."

"Oh really?" Zashi said, smirking, "Where is this first spirit?"

The Feather Bros clammed up, and Zashi set about feathering his belly, making the troopa wiggle and laugh,

"Okay okay okay! Bowser established a fortress near Koopa Village!"

Zashi grinned, "You just wanted me to tickle you again, didn't you?"

"...Maybe?"

Zashi chuckled, "well, maybe next time then..."

Zashi turned around, walking down the path towards Koopa Village. Meanwhile, the Feather Bros picked up his large feather and tried tickling his own foot with it.

"Aww, it doesn't work..."

To be continued in Chapter 1