Klash of the Koopalings: HD Turbo Hyper Redux Gaiden Edition

by Also Known As A

When Bowser falls ill, it's up to the Koopalings to tackle his master plan. However, things go awry after a freak accident and the Koopalings face their strangest foe yet: themselves. It's the remake no one asked for, but you're getting it anyway! Rated T for violence and some language.

4. Four Above, Four Below

Chapter 4: Four above, Four Below

Overturned lamps and flashlights illuminated the space. A discarded fire extinguisher glinted in the lantern light. Iggy's posture deflated. He exhaled slowly.

Bully shoved Iggy. "Where is he?"

"The janitor's closet." Iggy winced.

The mock-koopaling stormed past Iggy. Bigmouth's wand gripped in his left hand. He tested the door handle with his free hand. It jimmied open.

Bigmouth lay prostrate on the janitor closet's cold floor. A busted bottle of window cleaner puddled around his belly. His arms and legs were hogtied by nylon cord. Thick layers of gray tape smothered his mouth. His eyes bugged. "Mmff. Mmff."

Bully crouched beside his brother and unfastened his bonds.

Bigmouth scrambled to his feet and tore the tape from his face. He gasped for air and stared at the ceiling with an open-mouthed smile. "Thank the Seven! They finally answered my prayers."

"Guess they wanted you to shut up too." Bully 's muzzle wrinkled. "I'd hate to be you when Amanita gets back on deck."

"It wasn't my fault. Like five guys ambushed me with weapons and, and, and-"

"I heard the real story Bigmouth. How pathetic do you have to be for noodle-arms here to beat you?" Bully pointed at Iggy.

Iggy cast a self-conscious glance at his biceps.

Bigmouth fidgeted and stared at the ground. He opened his mouth, then closed it. He coughed into his shoulder.

"Just go back to the ship. We'll figure out what to do with you later." Bully stormed out of the janitor's closet and grabbed Iggy by the arm and dragged him to the door.

Prisoners lined the Maelstroms deck in ragged rows. Wendy waited beside Kooky, her arms crossed. The crew sagged in the rain. Cloned moles monitored the columns in sinuous patterns. Their movements sharp and unnatural. Like a stop-motion cartoon.

Lemmy trundled past Bully and Iggy, Hip and Hop dragged him by his hands. Lemmy dug his heels into the ground. "Hey, hold up."

Hip halted, Hop peeked over his shoulder. Their eyes trained on Lemmy. "What's up?" Hip said.

"Just need to talk to Iggy a moment." He shuffled to his younger brother.

Iggy regarded his brother with a scowl.

"Drop the attitude stretch, you know why I'm doing this." Lemmy's lazy eye snapped to attention. "I might be able to convince them to let you stay with me."

"Save your breath."

"Stop being so stubborn." Lemmy stamped his foot.

"I'm not being stubborn. I'm being realistic. The help ends as soon as they get what they want."

Lemmy put his back to Iggy and grabbed at his own ponytail. He jogged to the clones and hopped over to the other ship. The bright hues of their hair vanished below deck.

Bully shoved Iggy towards Wendy. His sister caught him and helped him regain his balance. Iggy stared at Bully, hard-eyed behind his fogged spectacles.

Bully raised his fist, Iggy shirked.

Bully smudged the moisture from his shades and counted on his fingers. "Hey Kooky, we're still missing one. Not counting the cowards who jumped ship at least." He awaited Kooky's answer.

Kooky examined the faded burns on his bicep. Singed hairs crept between his scales like a sparse desert brush. "How can he know something that I don't?"

"Not with this again."

"He can breathe fire." Kooky bared his teeth and dragged a claw through his hair. "I can remember what he ate for breakfast two weeks ago, every insipid critique of his face in the mirror, but not how to breathe fire."

"Maybe he's just better than you."

Kooky dug his claws into Bully's shoulders and shook him. "I am far better than some bucktoothed loser with bad hair."

"Have you looked in a mirror lately?" The corner of Bully's mouth cricked upwards.

"I'm going to break his kneecaps, chain him to a pole, and file his claws off until he tells me." Kooky's lips spread wider with each imagined torture. A shrill cackle followed.

Bully smacked Kooky. "I'm going to wring your neck if you keep doing that stupid laugh."

Kooky's fingers flexed over his wand, he reared the weighted head to strike.

"You two still haven't found her?"

The two mock-koopalings whirled. Kooky tucked his wand behind him. Bully erected his spine. Amanita surfaced the deck. A hand on her hip.

"We were just dropping off our haul, getting some fresh air, you know." Kooky propped his elbow on Wendy's head. She shoved him off. He hissed and swiped at her with his claw. "Little brat."

"You don't get any breaks until you fulfill your end of the bargain." Amanita stomped close to him. She jabbed his gut with her finger. "You've already screwed this up enough, letting those others escape..."

Kooky's muzzle rumpled. "We forgot to factor in those escape pods, sure, but I can guarantee you no one else is hopping aboard one of those."

"If I don't see Toadstool on the deck soon, I'm demoting you."

"Pft, no one could replace me."

"Bully, if I made you in charge, would you throw this knucklehead overboard?"

"With pleasure." Bully cracked his knuckles.

Kooky's eyes widened. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. You're supposed to back me up here Bully."

"She drives a hard bargain. I get to be in charge and I don't have to look at your ugly mug anymore."

"What'll it be Kooky?"

The mock-koopaling gulped. He swung on his heels and headed below decks once more. Bully grinned at Amanita and followed.

Peach's clone tousled her wet hair. She saluted the latest 'haul' with an exaggerated wave. "It's so nice of you all to join us on this fantastic journey." She shouted over the howling winds.

The embittered crew followed her with heavy eyes.

"I understand your ire. Believe me, I understand." Amanita bobbed her head. "You hate me, and I do admit we were a tad rough on you folks, but I say not to waste your energy."

A nervous twitch crawled up Iggy's spine. The cloned queen wore a grin so tight it looked painted. Her voice carried above the storm.

"There is someone you ought to hate more than me." Amanita pointed at a mole closest to her. "Who sent you on this frivolous quest?"

She loomed over the mole. His mouth trembled. He looked at his neighbors.

"No, that was not a rhetorical question."

"K-King Bowser Koopa sent us."

"His wasteful incompetence has sent many of your kind to their deaths, has it not?"

The mole nodded. The crowd around him stirred. Amanita clasped her hands.

"And, tell me, has the Koopa Kingdom ever known true greatness? True prosperity?"

He opened his mouth to speak.

"Outta the way." Rocky shoved past the mole in front and met her gaze. "I see your game, witch."

"I just want what's best for you."

"Pah, I'll eat my wrench before I believe that." Rocky faced his fellow crew. "I hear you all whisperin' discontents. Bowser's family was the only ones who ever gave us a chance against those Mushroom fiends. Sure he's in a bad place now, but let's not forget why we agreed to unite under the Koopa family in the first place."

Amanita nodded and twirled a wet lock of hair on her finger. "But, what has he done for you lately?"

The crowds murmured.

"Those of you who wish for a better future, by all means, I welcome you. However," Amanita raised a finger and strut along the line of prisoners, "I only have so much room on my vessel. I need able bodied crew. The rest of you will be left to your fate here."

Iggy's stomach twisted. His tongue felt like leather. One by one, the crew put their king behind them and abandoned their shackles. Amanita's minions released their bonds and sent them to the cloned Maelstrom.

The crowd thinned. Only a handful of loyalists remained. Amanita grinned. "As your new leader, the first order of business is to 'escort' our VIPs to their rooms." She gestured to Wendy and Iggy with a wide stroke of her hand. The once loyal crew surrounded them and hustled their quarry along.

Wendy kicked a mutinous mole back and stormed to the edge of the Maelstrom. "Touch me and I'll bite your nose off." She hissed at another.

Iggy followed behind her. They clambered over the deck. A cluster of cloned crew members guided the two of them to an open hatch. Iggy tripped over his feet into the hole and crashed to the ground.

"Iggy!" Wendy shuffled down the stairs and paused. A familiar figure loomed over Iggy and prodded him with a high heel.

"Ugh, hey ugly, get up. I'm not carrying you to your room." Wendy's clone adjusted her bow. "Queen Twitch can say whatever she likes, you can stay here for all I care."

Iggy propped himself on his knees and balanced himself on his feet "Oh boy, another clone." Iggy shot her a dirty look. "I take it you have a dumb name too. Bratty? Bitchy?"

She slapped his face and yanked his hair. "Kootie Pie."

Iggy shoved her back with his shoulder and toppled against a wall.

"If you're done, I'd like to get you to your holding room before her 'highness' gets on my case." Kootie Pie turned up her nose.

Wendy and Iggy followed the mock-koopaling. A procession of guards prodded them from behind. Soon they approached a plain door with one key difference: the locking mechanisms were on the outside.

Kootie Pie opened the door and the crew shoved the two koopalings inside. The door slammed behind them. Iggy peeked over his shoulders and counted their steps.

Wendy crawled onto the bed and lay on her stomach. Her lips wrinkled. The last remnants of her eyeliner dried on her cheeks. "Morton's still out there."

"So?"

"Well," Wendy's eyes fell, "I mean, there's some chance he can bust us out. He's sneaky for a big guy."

"Just because he's quiet doesn't mean he's sneaky." Iggy rolled his eyes and approached the porthole. The Maelstrom hovered, but for how much longer? He sniffled and wiped his face on his arm.

"I bet he's lurking in the shadows waiting to bust some heads. Yeah. He'll come and rescue us for sure."

X-X-X

The masked assassin Ysgra brandished a chained sickle. He twirled the weighted end and hurled it at Utaru. The hero raised his greatsword and caught the chain. Ysgra tugged back and pulled Utaru into a high kick.

"Utaru no!"

Morton fumbled with his flashlight and held it in his mouth. He plucked the corner of the page. "Nicth and easthy," he told his hands.

A loud crash echoed beyond his cabin door. Morton jumped. The paper pulled in half at the middle and a ragged tear formed. Morton dropped his book and gasped. "Alright, that's it."

He hoisted himself up, a familiar pins and needles sensation trickled over his feet. He pulled the flashlight from his mouth and lugged himself to the door. He slid it open and peered into the hall. The muffled rain rattled against the hull. Specks of firelight cast dancing shadows on the wall. Stray flames and blackened carpet spread before him.

"Oh...crud."

He eased his way down the corridor. Imagined creatures shuffled in the darkest corners. Morton licked his dried lips. He drifted further and peeked over his shoulder on occasion. The crimson emergency lights flickered. Morton froze.

"Someone out there?" Morton called out. "Anybody," he added in a smaller voice.

"Shut up." Someone whispered from the dark.

Morton whipped around and set his light on a mole in the doorway.

The mole shielded his eyes and growled. "You're gonna bring them right to us."

"Them?"

The mole scooped the air in a broad 'come here' motion.

Morton ducked into the cabin with the mole.

A pair of koopas and a mole clustered in the corner. They jumped at Morton's presence "Relax guys, it's one of the normal koopalings." The mole at the door said.

The crew members eased. A single koopa crawled from beneath a bunk bed. His hands quivered. "You can't be sure he's normal."

One of the cowering moles in the corner shook his head. "No, this one's too quiet. I was on deck when they first attacked. Their Morton won't shut up."

"Yeah, and he's probably caught on to that. Acting all quiet, and then bam. We're fried."

"I think I should get going." Morton edged to the door.

"Not a good idea. They've been rounding up normal koopalings too." The mole at the door stopped him.

"They?"

"For the love off... where've you been this whole time?"

Morton scratched his thigh and frowned. "Haven't left my room since I got back on the ship."

The crew shared a few nervous glances. "You seriously didn't come out to check, not even once?"

"I wanted to catch up on reading." Morton shrugged. "I figured Iggy or someone had the ship under control."

The koopa at the bed pushed off the floor. "We've been invaded by dime-store knockoffs from Anareta and you've been slacking off in your room?"

"You're one to talk. You heroically ran away when we got jumped in the mess hall," the cowering mole in the corner said.

The mole at the door glared at the koopa. "Listen, we've got a koopaling with us. That ups our chances some."

"Oh yeah, we're totally taking this fight to them now. That won't end in disaster, no not at all."

Morton rubbed the back of his neck. "Uh, maybe we should quiet down."

"Why would we do that? Like he said: we've got a koopaling with us now. I can yell as loud as I-"

"Put a sock it in it you moron." The cowering mole tackled the koopa and clamped his mouth shut.

"No, let him finish." Kooky von Koopa cracked open the cabin door and peeked through. His lips stretched back to reveal his pointed teeth. "He's been a real big help so far."

The mole released the koopa and pressed his back to the wall.

The koopa screeched and scrambled back into his hiding place.

Kooky pulled the door open and aimed his wand into the room.

Morton grabbed the door and slammed it on Kooky's wrist.

Kooky shrieked and yanked his hand back through the door. A tirade of unintelligible roars followed. Morton pushed past Kooky, the crew flooded out the door and scattered.

"I'm going to rip out your tongue and stuff it down your throat." Kooky jogged after Morton.

Morton's flashlight cut the dark. He huffed his lungs full of air, his stocky frame resisted anything faster than his jog. Kooky's heavy tread spurred him on. Morton slipped around a corner and crashed into Bully Koopa. His flashlight clattered to the floor.

Bully punched Morton's gut and grabbed him by the throat and slammed him into the wall.

Bully's black sclera was tinctured red by the emergency light. His sunglasses perched on his forehead. The faint gray irises targeted Morton.

Kooky rounded the corner. He leaned over and rested his hands on his bent knees. His diaphragm pulsed in and out. A laugh rolled from his lips. "Hoo. Heh. He's fast for a big guy."

"You're just fat."

"Eh, screw you." Kooky brushed a wild lock of hair from his eyes.

Morton struggled, but the mock-koopaling's strength matched Roy's. Bully tightened his fingers. Morton choked. "You be good and I won't have to hurt you too bad. Understand?"

Morton wheezed and relaxed. Bully eased his grip. "See. I'm an honest guy if you stay on my good side. Now, you answer my questions, and this'll go smoothly."

Morton nodded.

"You're going to tell me where you're hiding the queen."

Morton gagged. "Larry has her. Y'know, blue mohawk kid."

Bully's lip pursed. He cuffed Morton's cheek with his open palm. "I don't appreciate being lied to. That punk cut out of here, and I didn't see any worthwhile royalty with him."

Morton's neck flexed.

Bully's grip pinched tighter. "Let's try this again."

"I swear that's the last I heard of her."

Bully struck Morton's gut twice. "You're not helping anyone by lying. Least of all yourself. The others are all gone. You're the last one."

"I don't know anything. I swear I don't. I've been in my room this whole time." Morton retreated into himself. His mouth switched to autopilot. "I'm telling the truth." He said it over and over, almost chant-like.

"Great, now he won't shut up." Kooky scoffed.

Bully's snout furrowed. He shook Morton. "Snap out of it, ya useless-"

A yellow light flashed Bully's eyes. The mock-koopaling cried out and shielded his face. Morton slid down the wall. He gagged on his breath.

Peach trained Morton's flashlight on Bully's face. Her arms trembled. "Leave him alone."

"Now that's a surprise." Kooky strolled past Bully. He patted the head of his wand in his opposite palm. "We've been looking all over for you, your majesty."

"Morton." Peach cried at the koopaling. "Help."

Kooky pointed his wand at Morton, The koopaling blocked his face and huddled on the floor. Kooky blocked Peach's light with his body. Bully rubbed his eyes.

"I thought you were smarter than that. You could've left him behind, maybe even escaped." Kooky's lips spread into a crooked grin and giggled.

"I wasn't about to stand by and let that brute torture him."

"Just like you did for Roy," Kooky said.

Peach's lips curled into a frown. "How did you-"

Kooky tapped his forehead with the tip of his claw, "Lardwig and I share some memories, same goes for all of us." He poked Peach's chest with the tip of his wand. "Bully told me all about how his weaker half nearly perished at the hands of a 'brute' in your employ."

The queen swung the koopa-sized flashlight like a club. Kooky grabbed it and tore it from her hands. He aimed his wand at Morton. "I'm not allowed to hurt you, but I can hurt him all I'd like."

"Not allowed? Funny, for all that posturing, you still answer to someone else." Peach glowered.

"She's merely a means to an end. Once I help her claim her throne, she'll help me with mine."

Peach's face paled.

Kooky covered his mouth and chuckled. "Come now your majesty. Your room awaits."

Kooky snagged her arm and dragged her into the black maw of the Maelstrom's halls.

X-X-X

Peach recognized the rose madder walls. The color popped in the well-lit room. A trembling sigh bubbled off her lips. She made one big circle since her kidnapping. Now, at least, she found herself in the company of cellmates.

Iggy stood at the window. Bleak shadows draped his Maelstrom like a funeral shroud. He chewed his cheek and drummed his fist on the glass

Wendy sat on the bed. Her pensive gaze trained on her toes. She cradled her bow in her palms. The pink fabric tattered on the edges.

Morton propped himself up in a corner, his legs spread limp before him. He rubbed his neck. Sadness clouded his features.

"At least you all know how it feels now." Peach put her hands on her hips.

Wendy rolled on her side and put her back to Peach. Iggy's forlorn gaze remained on the window. Morton looked up at Peach.

"Wish I did more to help earlier." Morton stroked his arm.

Peach sat next to Morton. "Don't worry about it. I don't know what I was thinking, attacking those guys with just a flashlight."

Morton watched his toes.

"He didn't hurt you too bad, did he?"

"Just bruises." Morton showed his neck. "Been through worse."

"Nothing bad?" Peach rubbed her own neck and grimaced. "Forgot koopas were so tough. Then again, you probably get that from your dad."

What little life drained from the room. Cold silence deafened her. Morton clasped his hands and leaned over. He twisted his body away from her. "Did I say something wrong?"

"'Dad' is a sore spot." Iggy adjusted his spectacles, his attention remained beyond the window.

"Right. This is his fault." Peach's bottom lip curled outward. "I still don't know why you guys follow him."

Wendy jumped from the bed. Her lip twitched. "Like we had a choice. He'd have thrown us in the dungeon for defying him."

"No way he'd throw his own kids in the dungeon."

Iggy peeled his eyes from the window and jabbed his finger at the air in front of him. "Will both of you shut up? This is not going to be my trip home."

Wendy's face blanched.

"Please-" Iggy's finger sagged. He sniffled and watched the window again. "Just please shut up."

"Okay Iggy, sorry." Wendy's eyes fell.

Peach watched the window with Iggy. The Maelstrom's propellers slowed. Its nose dipped. The ship sunk beneath the waves of gray. Iggy's chest rose and fell at a rapid pace. His nostrils flared. "All that time. All that money. Weeks of my life. Just, gone." He bumped his forehead against the window.

"My books are gone too." Morton's chin dropped.

"Some lucky toad just landed a really expensive set of makeup." Wendy tucked her knees to her chest.

Iggy's mouth trembled. "Oh yeah, mope about your stupid junk. I have to tell a six little moles why their dad isn't coming home. I have to call someone's fiance. Someone's mom..."

Peach grabbed Iggy's hand and tugged him away from the window. "Iggy..."

Iggy looked at her tender hand and squeezed it gently. His large palm enveloped hers. His eyes watered. "I could've helped out more, I could've got more guys out, I just wish I was stronger."

"Don't hog all the blame." Wendy's bottom lip curled outward. "I couldn't stop them either."

Peach rubbed Iggy's knuckles and reached her arm around him in a soft embrace. She felt like a child against his height. His shell's padded underbelly depressed against her cheek. Iggy trembled and wrapped his arm around Peach. "I know what it's like. People's lives revolve around our work. When we screw up, a lot of people feel it. For you, it's even worse. You're just a kid."

Iggy sputtered and bowed his head.

"The best we can do is stay strong for them and work to beat these jerks. I doubt your crew would forgive you if you let them perish in vain."

Iggy nodded and released the embrace.

"At least some of us made it." Iggy lifted his glasses and rubbed his eyes clean of tears. "Ludwig, Roy, Larry, and Junior too, I guess."

Peach's eyes lit up. "Maybe they can get help. It might take some persuasion, but Mario's not above working with koopas."

"What if your captain finds them?" Wendy said. Not a challenge, but a sincere question. "You saw what she did to Roy."

Peach's brow knitted. "Her top priority is to protect me. She won't hurt them if there's a chance they know where I'm at."

"And if they can't help?"

"There's four of us. Maybe we can think of something." Peach paced the room. "You're clever, Wendy, Iggy's knows the ship, Morton's strong, we've got all the brains and brawn we need."

"I suppose we could try for the lifeboats." Iggy itched the distended mop of hair on his head.

"Like they'd let us pull that stunt again." Wendy shook her head. "Bet the whole way is blocked off by guards."

"You're probably right."

Morton scratched at his stomach and grumbled.

"What was that Morton?" Peach faced the koopaling. His eyes drooped. "Go on. Speak."

"It's a stupid idea."

"At least it's an idea."

"Watching that ship fall got me thinking. We can bust their reactor and make them land." Morton spoke a little louder now. "That way, if Luddy and the others find Mario, we'll buy them lots of time to catch up. And if we're stuck on our own, we'll have more options on the ground. It's not foolproof but," Morton's jaw clenched shut, "sorry I'm talking too much aren't I?"

Peach beamed at the koopaling. "It's a start."

"Just a start. It's going to be a long walk to the other side of the ship." Iggy stretched his back. He grabbed the door and tugged. "Plus, we're locked in here."

"Let me handle that." Peach tugged a bobby pin from her hair. She broke it in half and pinched the longer piece in her teeth. She bent it down and formed a makeshift tension wrench.

She crouched beside the lock and peeked into the keyhole. She pressed the tension wrench into the lock and set to work with her makeshift pick. Iggy, Morton, and Wendy watched with mouths agape.

Peach hissed under breath. The lock rattled. She pulled the tension wrench out and the pick. "A little out of practice, heh." She inserted the pick and worked once more. A short succession of clicks followed. Peach tested the door, it slid open a pinch.

Iggy rubbed his chin. "Lock-picking something they teach in etiquette classes?"

"I picked up a few things between the kidnapping attempts." Peach ruffled her hair and grabbed her gown and tore it up to her thigh. "Sorry dress, this hurts me just as much as you." She paced the room to test her new mobility.

Iggy and Morton's cheeks reddened. Wendy elbowed Iggy's rib. "Don't stare."

"Alright, let's get a move on. We've a ship to wreck." Peach rolled open the door and gasped.

Bully Koopa shoved her back in the room and slammed the door behind him. "Amanita was right. You're not even here an hour and you're already trying to bust out."

Peach staggered back. Morton prevented her fall. He shirked in Bully's presence. His bruises ached.

"You've got guts, I'll give you that." Bully dragged his claw under her chin. "We need to fix that."

Bully pointed at Morton first, "eeny," then Wendy, "meeny," at last Iggy, "you." He grabbed Iggy by the hair and yanked him. Iggy's legs fumbled over one another. Bully grabbed Iggy's glasses and tore them from his face. The straps that held them firm snapped in twain.

Wendy jumped at Bully.

He shoved her back with his hand. "You better quit, for his sake." He shook Iggy by his hair. "Don't wanna make it worse on him."

Peach's stomach sank, a bitter sting tickled the back of her throat.

"Remember, this is her fault." Bully crushed Iggy's glasses in his hand. They died with an awful crunch. He opened his fist and dropped them twisted frames to the floor. He pulled Iggy through the door. The lanky koopaling yelped. "You pull another stunt like this again, I'll take another one away, and they won't be happy. Trust me."

Bully slammed the door. Peach put her hand to her lips and quaked. Her knees buckled. "Iggy..."

"What now?" Morton whispered.

Peach opened her mouth to speak but instead uttered a hoarse cry.

"We keep trying." Wendy crouched beside Peach and offered her hand. "You said it best Peach. We stay strong for the others and we beat these jerks."

Morton offered a concordant grunt. His head bobbed up and down. He leaned over Peach.

Peach took Wendy's hand and stood straight. The three looked at one another. A pact sealed in silence.

X-X-X

Lemmy eked a terse sip of air through his nostrils and stretched his legs out in a V. He bent over and touched his left foot. He embraced the tension. Hold. Switch legs. Repeat.

"Stop worrying so much. You're safe here." Hip copied Lemmy's movements.

"I just feel bad for my sibs, that's all." Lemmy's upper body curled into the space between his legs.

"It's their fault they didn't listen to you." Hop watched from the bed. His glasses angled on his face.

"I guess." The way Iggy looked at him cut deep. A hurt that dwelled in the depths of his soul. The familiar contempt levied so often by the others. Iggy thought he was an idiot just like the rest. He knew his brother changed, it came with age, but to this extent he never predicted.

His counterpart cocked his head and smiled. Lemmy found it odd to see another face wear his smile. Lemmy offered a sheepish smile in reply.

"I know you're torn up about Iggy." Hip tested the name with his tongue. The syllables alien on his mouth. "I don't know what I'd do if the same thing happened with me and Hop."

Lemmy crossed his legs and placed one hand on his knees. He opened his other palm. The pink canister contrasted the dull pad of his palm.

"What's that?"

"It's medicine." Lemmy set the canister on the ground and watched it. "Iggy forgot it on the other ship."

"Oh, I didn't know he was sick."

Lemmy's eyebrow quirked. "Really?"

"I mean, he looks fine, if just a little weird."

Lemmy tipped the canister over, then set it up again. How could his own clone not know? Lemmy picked up the canister. "It's...it's a brain sickness. He's had it since he was little."

"Oh." The mock-koopaling stood on his hands and stretched. His shoulders popped along with his spine. He curled into a ball and sighed. "He probably needs that, huh?"

"I don't think he'd listen long enough for me to give it to him." Lemmy frowned.

"Maybe I could try."

Lemmy smirked and shook his head. "No offense, but if he won't listen to me, he definitely won't listen to you."

"Well," Hip rubbed his chin and hummed, "I bet we could find someone he would listen to. Like your sister."

"That's not a half bad idea." Lemmy jumped to his feet.

Hip skittered to the door. He looked to the bed and motioned for his brother to follow. The taller mock-koopaling crawled from the bed and hobbled ahead of them. Hop watched Lemmy, his lips a line and his eyes frigid.

"You okay there Hop?" Lemmy cocked his head.

"He's just shy. Iggy's shy too, isn't he?"

"He hasn't been for a long time." Lemmy watched the back of Hop's head. The mock-koopaling plod down the hall a fair few paces ahead.

Hip shrugged and marched down the hall. He lifted his legs high to a jaunt only his ears heard. Lemmy's fingers closed tight around the medicinal canister and followed.

A pair of moles wandered past. Lemmy noted their fluid and natural movements. "Why do those guys look normal?" Lemmy covered his mouth. "No offense."

"Because they aren't from our ship." Hip's lips spread into a grin. "Queen Amanita let your crew come on board if they promised not to cause a ruckus."

"No kidding."

"She's quite kooky, maybe even more so than Kooky, but she can be nice when she wants."

"Maybe she's got a little Peach in her still." Lemmy mused aloud. "Man, I told Iggy you guys weren't all bad."

Lemmy wore a victorious smile. A part of him wanted to rub it in soon as they found his brother, but then he knew that's a fast way to lose friends. Instead, he would use it as proof.

A slam shook Lemmy from his thoughts.

Hip froze. He held his index claw to his lips. He peeked around the corner and gestured for Lemmy to follow.

Lemmy watched Bully drag Iggy down the hall. His meaty fist clenched around his hair. Lemmy's chest tightened.

"What did you do now, Iggy?" Lemmy whispered. The little koopaling rounded the corner and kept a fair distance from Bully and Iggy.

"Whoa, wait. That's not a good idea Lemmy." Hip trailed behind.

Hop waited at the corner for a moment longer then followed the others.

Lemmy ignored Hip. He tracked Bully down a network of halls. Bully dragged Iggy along a familiar path. They weaved through the halls until they reached a flight of stairs.

Lemmy waited at the bottom and listened.

"Hey, boss lady, you were right."

"Of course I was right."

Lemmy crawled up the stairs and peeked. Amanita sat in the captain's seat. Her thigh crossed over her knee while she reclined. She owned it like a throne.

"Peach never did like being locked up." Amanita twisted her wrist. The bones popped. "Why is he here?"

"I heard this brat bawl his eyes out to her through the door. Figured if we hurt him, it would hurt her."

"I'm impressed by your initiative." Amanita chuckled.

Not one to be upstaged, Kooky stood from his seat at the console Iggy normally occupied. "Hey, hey, we can throw him in the janitor's closet like he did to Bigmouth. Poetic justice at its finest. "

"I'll rough him up a little too. Make him really regret it." Bully punched his palm and grabbed Iggy again.

Lemmy gasped and hid his head. Hip and Hop waited for him at the bottom of the stairs. Lemmy crawled down and pointed at the top of the stairs. "What's all this?"

"He must've broken the rules." Hip whispered.

"No, Peach did," Lemmy said.

"We can't touch Peach," Hop said.

Lemmy rubbed his temples and crawled back down the stairs. He looked at his canister. "Please help me get this medicine to him if you really are my friend, Hip."

Hip bit his bottom lip and nodded. "Alright, but we have to wait until they're done. Bully's not someone you take lightly."

Lemmy wrapped his arms around his legs and sighed. "Sorry Stretch, you really should've played it smart."

Iggy's muffled screams carried down the staircase. Lemmy winced and clutched his legs tighter. He tuned them out and waited for his window of opportunity.

X-X-X

Mottled fields of amber and emerald rippled in the country winds. Dirt roads snaked the fields like faded scars. The Stonekeeper Mountains slumbered at their stations on the horizon.

"Much as I hate this place, it looks nice." Larry hummed. His nose twitched.

"I could see myself living here." Ludwig leaned over Larry's seat. A rustic mansion passed them by. Stoic in its posture and regal in its trappings. "In a different life of course."

The fuel gauge ticked halfway.

"We should land soon." Ludwig tapped the gauge and scoped the countryside.

Roy rocked in his seat. He wrapped bandages around his eyes to protect them from the sun's rays. Ludwig wondered if he did it to hide from the height as well.

"Yeah. I don't think Roy's heart can take much more of this." Larry mumbled.

Ludwig walked to the window at the rear of the pod. Castle Toadstool's wounds gaped. The storm still shrouded the Maelstrom.

"Luddy?"

Ludwig peeked over his shoulder. "Hm?"

Larry squeezed the yoke. "You should land it."

"Just give it a try." Ludwig pat Larry's shoulder. "You've gotten us this far, haven't you?"

"Alright." Larry's nerves tinged. He surveyed the land. A cluster of trees gathered beside a river. He angled the craft and eased the yoke forward.

Ludwig clambered into a seat beside Cheatsy. "Comfortable?" Ludwig's eyes narrowed at Larry's clone.

"Screw you." Cheatsy struggled against his restraints. His wrists bound by cord found in the pod's survival supplies.

"Wait a minute Luddy, what if you need to take over?" Larry tried to steady his nerves.

"You've flown a clown copter before, you can manage this. It's just a little bigger."

The pod lurched. The horizon line ascended upward. Details on the ground became clear.

Roy squeezed his restraints. "Oh, Stars. You land it Ludwig. Please land it."

"We're okay Roy. Larry's fine." Ludwig clenched his legs.

Larry's eyes darted between the gauges. The altimeter counted down. The pod snagged the top of a tree and twisted out of Larry's control. Metal screeched and groaned. The pod skittered across the ground. Dirt clods and grass smothered the window.

Larry pried his fingers from the yoke, slipped off his restraints, and collapsed to the floor.

"Oh yeah, he's totally fine. He only hit everything on the way down." Cheatsy snarled from his seat.

"We're still in one piece." Ludwig unfastened his belt and stumbled.

Roy peeked between his bandages and reeled at the sudden influx of sunlight. He covered his eye again and remained still. "I'm with the freak. Next time we're in the sky, never let him land."

Larry's cheeks tinted pink. He frowned and looked away. He rubbed the galled patches of scales left behind by his restraints.

A puff of smoke billowed from Ludwig's nostrils. "He did fine. This thing isn't exactly equipped with regular landing gear." Ludwig pressed the control panel by the door. Sparks burst from the button. Ludwig covered his eyes and staggered back.

"We wouldn't be in this mess if that thing worked, dumb-ass." Cheatsy struggled in his seat.

"Great, we're trapped," Roy said.

"I can open the door, stop freaking out." Ludwig's eyes trained on Cheatsy. "And you, shut up."

"Oh yeah? You gonna sit on me again?"

"Larry, get your clone under control." Ludwig huffed and crawled to his knees. He hooked his claws into a metal panel and pried it open. Tangled wires spilled from the compartment.

Larry looked at Cheatsy. Cheatsy flashed his teeth in a wide grin. Larry gulped. "He's looking at me weird."

Ludwig hooked his claw around a green wire and blue wire. He pulled them loose. "That's just his face, they all look weird."

"What're you waiting for? Get me under control." Cheatsy stuck his tongue out at Larry.

"Ludwig he's making me uncomfortable."

Ludwig growled and pressed the wires together. The exit hissed and swung open. The sound of rushing water filled the air. Birds called and answered. Insects hummed natural tunes.

Roy foisted himself from his seat and hobbled along the room. His hands groped the air. He slipped and knocked his head on a seat. A string of muffled curses slipped his lips.

Larry and Ludwig looked at each other. Ludwig pointed his thumb at Roy. Larry scrunched his muzzle. Ludwig rolled his eyes and grabbed Cheatsy by the mohawk and shook his head. "I'll take care of this one."

"Fine. I'll help him." Larry grabbed Roy's wrist and lead him to the door. He eased Roy into the shade of a tree. Fresh air rode the river currents and tousled Larry's hair.

Roy grumbled beneath his breath. "I could've made it out just fine."

"Yeah, right." Larry climbed back into the pod.

Ludwig hoisted Cheatsy over his shoulder. He thrashed and kicked, but Ludwig ignored him. He dropped Cheatsy on the ground beside Roy. Cheatsy writhed and seethed garbled obscenities.

Ludwig left him and entered the pod.

"Alright, let's open up the stash." Ludwig leaned over a panel at the center of the pod and opened it. Six orange rucksacks of disparate sizes lay in the compartment, a bedroll attached to each of them. Larry's leather satchel jutted from the middle. Larry plucked his bag from the rest and set it aside. Ludwig set aside the largest pack for himself.

The brothers hoisted the rest of the bags out of the hole and unzipped them. Survival supplies of all kinds burgeoned from each pack. "Instant meals, just add water," Larry read a brown paper package aloud. He pulled out a strange pump device with an acorn shaped nib at the end. "What's this?"

"Portable water filter." Ludwig sifted through the other bags. He pulled out rope and bandages. A bottle of clear salve and a few red potions. A cooking pot with a mess-kit fastened inside. Stainless steel canteens with screw on caps. "Throw all the food into Roy's bag."

Larry scooped up as many brown packages he could hold and dumped them into Roy's duffel bag. He peeked beneath the pod's seats and stuffed his hand under. He pulled out Cheatsy's wand. The indigo tip coruscated in the natural light. "I'll hold onto this."

The brothers divided the spoils into three bags, Larry grabbed a fourth one and started to fill it.

"Who's that for?"

"Just in case." Larry shrugged.

"Alright, we've got food and water. Stuff to cook with. Bedrolls. Medical supplies" Ludwig stretched and popped a vertebra in his back. "I'll handle the campfires."

Larry hooked his arm around his rucksack. It caught on his shell. "This might be a problem."

Ludwig chuckled. "I forget, dad-" Ludwig cleared his throat, "Bowser never took you camping."

"What's that have to do with anything?"

"Here's something he taught me." Ludwig reached to his opposite shoulder and unhooked a clasp on his shell. It clicked and sagged awkwardly on his frame. The shell's underbelly distended and spread out. He unhooked the second clasp and the shell dropped to the floor with a deep thud.

Ludwig wore only a taut gambeson vest and cloth briefs that clung to his hips. A perspirant sheen on his scales. He grimaced at himself and tugged on the vest. "Ugh, wish I managed to grab a change of underclothes."

He scooped up a rucksack and hooked it over his arms. He cinched the straps tight until the sack rode high on his upper back. He squatted down and slipped his armor back onto his body and encased it in his shell.

"Simple as that." Ludwig removed the shell and rucksack. He hooked the shell on his body once more. He hooked the clasps with a practiced flourish. The enchanted padded material suctioned to his skin and fit tight over him like an extra layer of dermis. No sign of his underclothes at all.

Larry reached for his own fasteners and repeated Ludwig's process. The rucksack burrowed into his back. He rolled his shoulders and frowned. "It's kinda snug."

"Guess your shell's getting a little small." Ludwig scratched the thick of his neck.

"I think I just found a use for my clone." The younger koopaling stripped his rucksack. He held it in his free hand and hooked his satchel over his shoulder.

"I say we just dump him in the river. I'm in no mood to babysit." Ludwig said.

"Jeez that's heartless."

Ludwig smirked and snorted. "Stars, I'm not being serious. Still, I think it's best we leave him behind."

"Come on Luddy."

"Larry, it's a bad idea."

Larry lowered his voice and leaned closer to his older brother, he spoke: "We'll have leverage. A trade for one of our guys."

"And he'll kill us in our sleep."

"We don't have to untie him. Besides, he's stranded in the middle of enemy territory with three," Larry cleared his throat and held up two fingers, " excuse me, two able-bodied koopas to put him down."

Ludwig sighed, "fine then."

Larry scooped up his orange rucksack and trotted out the door.

Ludwig waited at the pod and watched.

His younger brother dropped his rucksack in front of Cheatsy. The mock-koopaling twitched and looked up. "I ain't your mule."

"You carry what we tell you, and you can come with us."

Cheatsy's brows perked. "Oh, so you're untying me then?"

"No. I'm letting you tag along. Otherwise, we're leaving you here to fend for yourself."

Cheatsy clucked his tongue against his teeth. "I see."

"What's your answer?"

"How about this." Cheatsy wriggled his wrists from his restraints and slashed the cords at his ankles. He swept Larry's legs from beneath him and snatched the wand from the air. He pressed it Larry's chest. "D'aww thanks for my stuff back Larry."

A fireball grazed Cheatsy's head. He ducked and aimed his wand at Ludwig. The larger koopaling bull rushed him and grabbed the head of Cheaty's wand. Sparks fountained from the wand and into Ludwig's hand.

Ludwig winced and squeezed. His irises reddened. The wand glowed white. Cheatsy yelped. He released his wand and shook his hand.

"You do anything to my brother and I will boil your eyes in their sockets," Ludwig growled and threw the wand to the grass. Embers danced in the grass where it landed.

Larry gasped and ran to the river with a canteen. He returned and dumped water onto the wand and embers. Steam gasped and exploded from the heated metal.

"That's a neat trick. The eyes and the show magic. Ooh. Scary." Cheatsy chuckled. The smile stopped before his eyes. Sweat beaded on his forehead.

"You don't believe me?"

Larry inched towards Ludwig. "Luddy, come on, stop. I had it under control."

Ludwig clicked his claws together. The air around his palm shimmered. Heat waves radiated from his skin.

"Ludwig! He gets it. Look at him." Larry jumped in front of Ludwig and waved his arms.

Cheatsy lay on his belly with his hands over his eyes. His tail tucked between his legs. His shoulders quaked.

Ludwig's irises returned to their normal blue. The clouds blushed on the horizon. The trees cast long tendrils in the setting sun. Ludwig drew a deep breath. "You try anything like that again, and I will end you, you understand?"

Cheatsy bobbed his head up and down. The mock-koopaling turned to Larry and cocked his head. "Uh, don't need help carrying your stuff do you?"

Larry picked up the rucksack and dropped it in Cheatsy's lap. "That's yours and this," he dropped another bag at Cheatsy's feet, "is mine."

"Come on, how am I supposed to carry both?"

"You figure it out."

Cheatsy rolled his eyes and hoisted both his bags up with his arms.

Ludwig stumped towards Roy's duffel bag. A pair of charred footprints where he last stood. Ludwig grabbed the bag and carried it to Roy. His younger brother groaned and wiped his forehead.

"Hanging in there?"

"I think I'm spent, Ludwig." Roy wheezed. "I know my limits, and if I push anymore, I think I might not get up again."

Ludwig sighed and nodded. "That's what I thought. I'm afraid if we stay here someone'll find us."

"There're just farmlands out here," Larry called out from where he stood. All eyes shifted to him. He rubbed the back of his neck and counted on his fingers. "If we're where I think we're at, there's only a handful of farmhouses on the roads and a village on the river by Pinebrook Basin. Chances anyone saw us fall are pretty low."

"You're certain, Larry?" Ludwig frowned.

"We can sleep in shifts." Larry shrugged. "That way we can catch anyone before they catch us. I mean, we're pretty much screwed on foot too."

Roy huffed and rubbed his arm. His head lowered. A low sigh rumbled his lips.

"Okay then, I guess we're camping here for the night." Ludwig dropped Roy's duffel bag beside him and stretched. "At least we're close to water."

The brothers prepared a simple campsite from their supplies. Larry fetched water from the river with his purifier pump and filled canteens. Ludwig grabbed Cheatsy and dragged him to the plains to search the tall grass for stones.

The penultimate rays of day beat on their backs. Ludwig's hair clung to his head with sweat. Cheatsy slumped on his backside and wiped his forehead.

"I don't see the point. Can't we just get rocks from the river?" Cheatsy grumbled.

"There's water trapped in the rocks, we heat it up, they explode."

"Neat." Cheatsy grinned.

"Not if you're too close."

They wandered the plains for a moment longer, when a black shape emerged from the sky. Ludwig's heart sank. The Maelstrom dipped from the distant storm clouds and crashed to the ground. An obsidian grave-marker remained on the horizon line.

"I hope everyone made it out okay," Ludwig mumbled to himself.

They found a cluster of crushed rocks hidden in a natural pothole. Yellowed grass obscured the view. Ludwig hauled an armful of the large white stones from the plains and dropped them in a pile beside the tree.

Larry was beside Roy, he put a canteen in Roy's hand.

Roy chugged the water and gasped. He croaked and set the canteen down. "Needed that."

"What're those for?" Larry tilted his head.

"Campfire." Ludwig set to work arranging the stones in a circle. Larry nodded and ran between the trees to grab kindling and boughs. The splintered tree they hit on entry offered a large bounty of firewood.

Cheatsy watched the two of them work and yawned.

Ludwig stepped back and examined his handiwork. A few stones were nudged out of place and formed a sort of ellipse. Ludwig chalked it up to being tired and just let it be. He sifted through his rucksack and fished out a cooking pot.

Cheatsy rubbed his stomach. "Yeah! I could do with something to eat."

Ludwig gestured for Roy's duffel bag. Larry scooped out a few brown packages and brought them to Ludwig. The eldest koopaling poured water into the pot and set kindling in the stone circle. He pointed his claw the dry kindling, flames jumped from his hands and lapped up the fuel.

He added thicker boughs next until a decent fire emerged from the circle of stone. He balanced the two largest boughs he had on the stones and then set the pot atop the makeshift stove.

Ludwig poured the instant meal into the boiling water. Dried beans, grains, and green chunks soaked. Ludwig stirred it with a spoon from his mess-kit until it thickened.

Cheatsy grimaced. "What...is that?"

"Food." Ludwig spooned the gunk into a metal bowl and passed it to Larry. "Give that one to Roy."

Larry scrunched his nose at the meal and carried it to his older brother.

"I think I'll pass." Cheatsy waved his hand.

"You'll regret it later." Ludwig filled another bowl for Larry, then one for himself. "Trust me."

Larry sat next to the fire and sniffed at his gruel. He scooped a sip with his spoon and licked the basin. He spread the flavors on his palate and cocked his head. Larry shrugged and ate a proper mouthful.

"What if I don't trust you?" Cheatsy gagged at his bowl.

"Back before Larry was born, Bowser used to drag us into the mountains for camping trips." Ludwig swallowed a mouthful of instant gruel and cleared his throat. "I hated it so much."

"Yeah, you used to whine the whole time you were there," Roy shouted from his spot beneath the tree.

"He made us do it in our armor and in military tents. Probably because that's what we had lying around." Ludwig said.

A low breeze tousled their hair. The roaring river soothed their ears. Larry set aside his empty bowl and leaned forward.

"We had some instant food junk like we're eating now, and well, I turned my nose up at it."

"Hard to believe that." Cheatsy covered his mouth and snickered.

Ludwig rolled his eyes. "I went hungry that morning, and unfortunately we had this really long surprise hike planned. We traveled miles and miles, it just went on forever. My body hated me every step of the way."

"Then the wuss passed out."

"I was getting there, Roy."

"You're boring the guys, I can hear them snoring from here."

Ludwig shook his head. "Point being, I passed out. Bowser carried me back to camp."

"Bet he was mad." Larry frowned.

"No." Ludwig's brow softened. "He had that gruel ready for me to eat, and I scarfed it down so fast I almost threw it back up. He says to me," Ludwig cleared his throat and lowered his voice to a Bowser growl, "it's a big bad world out there Luddy and sometimes you have to do some unpleasant things to survive."

"Sounds just like him." Larry chuckled.

"I practice behind his back all the time." Ludwig grinned. His eyelids drooped. "Anyway, I don't want to carry my stuff, your stuff, and your sorry ass across the plains tomorrow morning because you decided to skip a meal."

Cheatsy pursed his lips and spooned a mouthful of gruel. He gagged it down. His eyes teared up. "Stars, it's the texture that gets me."

The koopalings laughed at Cheatsy's expense. The firelight flickered on their faces. Larry stretched. The koopalings sat for a moment to let their meal digest.

"I'm half tempted to take a dip in the river. I feel gross." Larry itched at his scalp.

"For once, I'm with him." Cheatsy pointed his thumb at Larry.

Ludwig yawned and rubbed his eyes. "Yeah, you guys have fun. I'll jump in after you finish."

"Afraid to show some skin?" Cheatsy snickered.

"I enjoy my privacy." Ludwig's eyes narrowed.

Larry punched Cheatsy's arm. "Hey, I'll just let him cook your eyes out this time."

Cheatsy rolled his eyes. "Do none of you have a sense of humor?"

Ludwig rubbed his temples. "I am calm. I am zen. No one has to die today. Just cool off in the river." He pushed to his feet and stormed past Roy.

Ludwig unhooked his shell and propped it up against a tree. He tarried at the water's edge in his faded underclothes. Reflections of clouds danced on the shimmering surface. Fuzzy tipped river grasses brushed his calves.

Shaky claws unfastened the clasps of his gambeson vest. He rolled it off his shoulders and hung it over a low-hanging brow. He blew air through his lips. He hooked his claws in the waistband of his briefs.

"Cannon ball!" Cheatsy jumped past Ludwig in the buff.

Cold water splashed Ludwig's face and rocked his bones.

Larry crawled in from the bank. He covered his unmentionables and hid in the water. His dry hairs stood on end.

The mock-koopaling surfaced and gasped. "N-no regrets." Cheatsy's lean arms hugged his body tight and shivered. His face flashed different colors.

"So I wasn't imagining things," Ludwig mumbled. "What's with the color thing?"

"What color thing?" Cheatsy's face returned to normal.

"Nevermind." Ludwig shook his head and shimmied out of his shorts and draped them on the same tree. He tried to make himself small as he waded into the water. He sat down and curled up. Steam rose from his skin.

"Wow. You're like a portable heater." Cheatsy stopped shivering

Ludwig respired at a rhythmic pace.

"That's not good, is it Luddy?" Larry frowned.

"Just need to calm down." Ludwig slumped against a rock.

The koopalings stewed in the warmth. The sun dipped further until only the jeweled firmament remained. Fireflies waltzed in the fields like stars descended from High Haven. Footfalls woke Ludwig from his trance.

Roy eased into the water beside Ludwig and let out a content hum. White crust held his wounds shut. He closed his eyes and splashed his face with water. "So much for your privacy," he said.

"Suppose I should be used to it by now. None of you ever learned how to knock." Ludwig stretched his legs and arched his spine. Pearls of water drizzled down his keratin scales. "I see the salve is working."

"Hate it." Roy poked the stiff crust on his bicep. "It's like my arm's being taken over by sleepy sand."

Ludwig cracked a grin. "Sleepy sand?"

"You know, that stuff on your eyes in the morning?"

"I know what it is." Ludwig shook his head and reclined. "It's just funny you still use the term."

Roy's muzzle tinted a rosier shade. "What else am I supposed to call it."

Ludwig chuckled and tilted his head back. The Starroads shimmered in the cracks of clouds. Ludwig imagined the view of the land from Low Haven.

"I kinda missed this." Roy adjusted his legs.

"Being stuck behind enemy lines sure gets me all sentimental too." Ludwig titled his head at Roy.

"I mean, this whole camping thing. It's good to be away from the insanity back home."

"Yeah, screw indoor plumbing." Ludwig pumped his fist.

"Killjoy." Roy murmured. "Come on. There was a sense of adventure to it. Packing up and traveling the wilderness. Exploring and living off the land. I seem to remember a dumb big brother leading 'expeditions' in search of tombs and treasures."

Ludwig snorted and broke into a hearty laugh. "Yeah, yeah. Stars, I was stupid back then."

"Just back then?"

"Bite me." Ludwig punched Roy's good arm. Roy winced and rubbed his bicep. "Oh, there was that time we found that dumb 'fossil.'" Ludwig's face lit up. He remembered a slick marbled rock with the semblance of a buzzy beetle's shell. Bowser nor Kamek had the heart the tell the kids it was indeed, just a rock. "It sat proudly on my desk for years."

Roy's face contorted and a deep yawn spilled out. "Don't forget the best part: mom always had fresh sweet rolls ready for us the moment we got home."

Ludwig laid a hand on the curve of his paunch. His smile slipped. A low hum rumbled his throat. He looked up. Larry and Cheatsy soaked. Their nostrils poked just above the water's surface.

"Go on." Cheatsy bubbled. "I want more embarrassing stories."

Roy rubbed the back of his neck and looked at Ludwig.

"I think it's time for me to settle in for the night." Ludwig climbed up and dragged himself over the river bank. Water cascaded from his shoulders and soaked the grass.

"Aw, but now the water's going to get cold."

Roy shushed the clone.

He shook his hair of water and flicked his hands of stray droplets. He grabbed his undergarments from the tree. Drips of moisture tingled his legs. He sighed, perhaps he would take a moment to dry at the fire.

The koopalings in the river watched Ludwig slump off to camp.

His aurochian figure glowed in the campfire.

X-X-X

Four armored shells rested in a circle around the fire. Insects chirped and buzzed from their hidden perches among the grass. Roy's snores dominated the other sounds. Cheatsy fidgeted and whimpered in his sleep. Larry and Ludwig toasted in the fading embers of their campfire.

"I can do the first watch." Larry looked up at his older brother.

Ludwig shook his head twice. "Get some rest. It's going to be a long day tomorrow."

"What about you?" Larry tilted his head.

"I'm fine." Ludwig sipped at his canteen.

"If you say so."

"I say so."

Larry yawned and gathered a mattress of soft grass. He unwrapped his bedroll - A squat pillow tumbled from the middle. Larry adjusted the pillow and crawled beneath the blanket. His shell rested beside him, shaded in the dark.

He closed his eyes and tried to still his restless thoughts. No luck, he opened his mouth, "I wish I got to do this stuff with you guys. The way Roy talks about it, it sounded fun."

"Hate to admit, but yeah, it was kinda fun."

"Why did dad stop?"

"Bowser stopped a lot of things after Junior was born."

Larry sat up and looked at Ludwig. His older brother's eyes were wet and his muzzle stern. He drew a deep breath.

"Oh." Larry frowned. "Can I ask you a question?"

"Will you go to sleep if I answer you?"

Larry nodded.

"Alright, spit it out."

"Can you teach me how to use my Ember?"

Ludwig peeked over his shoulder at Larry. "It's like using a wand-"

"Except you use your body like the wand, I know that part." Larry rolled his eyes. "I mean like, the cool stuff. Like tanking a fireball."

"Roy could teach you better, he's more patient."

"I'd rather learn from you," Larry mumbled. He rolled over and glared at his sleeping brother. "Besides, I've never seen him do what you can do."

"Flattery only gets you so far, kid." Ludwig clicked his claws together and sighed. "It's dangerous and I probably shouldn't rely on it like I have today."

"What if we get attacked? I can help."

Ludwig frowned and narrowed his eyes at his younger brother. Larry hid his mouth with his bedroll. His toes curled.

"Maybe I'll show you a few things after we set up camp tomorrow." Ludwig huffed and poked the fire with a twig. "Now get some rest, your shift will come before you know it."

Larry grinned and curled up in his bedroll.

Ludwig hummed a tune to himself. Familiar and yet alien in his baritone cords. A simple melody that Larry's head ached to fill with lyrics. He closed his eyes, and all at once, felt calm.

---

A/N: Just a heads-up, my update schedule is going to slack a bit in the upcoming months. Instead of weekly updates, they will be bi-weekly until I get a decent backlog of chapters built up again.

Also, just wanted to say thank you for the positive reviews. This website doesn't allow me to respond to anonymous reviews as far as I can tell, so I figured this was a good place to drop a shout out.