StoryMaster64: Thank you for the long and thorough review ^^ People have much to learn from you. By people I mean especially me. If you'd indulge my ego I would very much like to know what you found creepy about YR. (I find the story blander than a dime store romance). No, you didn't hurt my feelings. I'm both blessed and cursed with a very thick skin. But I'll follow your advice and work my stories toward happier endings from now on.

Yes, this is Kamek's very own chapter. Why he has to share the story with Jr. will be revealed very soon. I never knew I'd love writing for him as much as I do, or that you would respond as positively as you have done. I was afraid you'd call it insipid or stupid. So this chapter goes to you. And I even put in your favorite word. Please note: Some of my favorite words will also appear, and some of them are not pretty.


He could easily have teleported to The Hub, but actually preferred to ride his broom instead; it was a scenic trip over the mountains. Also on that route he got as close to a place outside his reach as possible.

In a different time, Kamek and Eudicot, rulers of Petalburg sat in their high seats studying the monthly log.

"There were born ten new subjects this month," Kamek said, very pleased. "The village is growing."

"There is also an influx of Kuribons seeking asylum," the scroll-carrying Koopa girl explained. She was the twin ruler's shared best friend. She was very kind, helpful, reliable… However, she seemed to suffer from a mind disease for which Eudicot had no cure.

Shelly checked her notes again. "I counted twenty heads. Buttwipe!"

"Thank you, Mme. Shelly," Eudicot said. "Make them meet with us tomorrow night. They can stay in the pavilion until then. See to that they are fed."

"Certainly, Madame." She clenched her fists as her eyelids twitched. "I'll kill you bitches!"

Kamek waited until Mme. Shelly had left before speaking. "Sister, I really wish you'd discuss the matter of asylum applicants with me before allowing them in."

Eudicot looked him in the face and raised her eyebrow, like only Medikoopas can. "Kamek, it's not a matter of finances or land; we have more than enough for everyone. Besides, I've seen into the Tanooki Stream."

The Tanooki Stream was a little river running through the siblings' castle, where those with magic could use it as a window to see the outside world.

"What did you see?" Kamek asked.

"That the Mushroom World is not as safe as it used to be. Mother would have wanted us to help the needy."

Eudicot was right; the world was not just a Garden of Eden these days. Humans had arrived, and also there was a rumor that a terrible military leader had built a castle for himself and his family in the Eastern Fireland; called Dark Land by the Koopas. Eudicot had not dared to look closer; she didn't know what this could mean to Petalburg.

Kamek had better news. "I've caught Clove trying to make a nest in our mattress three days in a row now. She's been a real chore after we fluttered."

The word made Eudicot burst out in a giggle. "Well, that's precious. You know, maybe she'll finally be enough at ease to lay her egg. Please tell me when she does, so I can come and see."

Koopa mothers aggressively watches their eggs, and any males, even their companions, risk attack by getting too close the first couple of days after laying. Many of Eudicot's male protégés had the scars to prove it.

"That's why I wanted to talk to you about it." Kamek shifted in his seat. "It's not a big secret that my wife can't say much."

Clove was still learning. Her vocabulary, her own name not included consisted of "Hungry", "Love", "Kamek", "Egg", "Sleep", and "Glass" ("Thirsty"). She could even modify the nouns she knew.

The Medikoopa girl had delivered so many Goombalings, Shy Kids and Koopa eggs she didn't mind helping her sister in law. She had yet to see a complicated Koopa birth; most of the time the frightened mother just needed someone to guide her through it.

And just as Eudicot had foreseen, Clove was sitting on her knees in the torn-up mattress (although she had been careful not to ruin Kamek's side. The healer flitted over to her and immediately caught her eye. At the hospital patients suffering major trauma or diseases found the very sight of Medikoopas soothing, as they are tiny and have a charming appearance.

"You have done very well, honey." Eudicot was careful not to move too close while correcting her sister-in-law's sitting position. "Now relax."

Clove whimpered pitifully, and her eyes teared up.

"The egg won't be laid if you're straining; you'll only be in more pain."

"No, no!" The Koopa girl shook her head. "Egg!"

Eudicot took Clove's hands carefully in her own to keep her from violently grasping her weak belly. "You'll be holding the egg in minutes. It'll be like a football and as white as the moon."

"Egg," Clove nodded, and it appeared as if she was relaxing.

"Good." the Medikoopa smiled cordially. "Now I'm gonna count to five, and you're gonna take three deep breaths."

It didn't take long. "Ooh!" Clove exclaimed and she felt a rush of happy endorphins, like all Koopa mothers do when the egg is out.

"First class job," Eudicot praised her, and carefully took the shimmering white egg in her hands to feel it. The Mageling inside was approximately twelve inches long and weighed about a pound. At least Kamek had given his wife enough to eat.

Clove was so smitten with her perfect egg she curled up in the nest and blissfully said "Egg" one more time while clutching the unhatched Mageling.

"We better leave her alone for a while. She'll want to show you later." Eudicot took her brother's arm and lead him out to the town square, where the sun was setting behind the trees, and sat on the tall stone columns by the fireplace that were always reserved for them, while discussing the future. Kamek had no idea of the secrets Eudicot was keeping from him; after they had grown up and no longer as near as they used to be, he found that the thoughts active in his sister's mind became increasingly harder to grasp.


"So that's your happiest memory?" Dr. Wizenheimer asked.

After having his wand eaten by Yoshi, Wizenheimer graduated in psychology from Our Hag of Petalburg Medical School and was hired by Countess Reishi to take care of the bothered ducklings who sought shelter at her Hub from time to time. Because of that he wasn't as mean or despicable as usual these days.

"It most certainly is," Kamek sighed as he rested limply on the head doctor's couch. "Or it used to be. These days all things I used to hold dear are like ash."

"Hm. Well, Master Kamek, you are most welcome to stay here; in fact I encourage you to. Feel free to be social. The younger Magikoopas will be holding a convention next week, and you are welcome to attend, if your condition allows for it."

"Thank you, Doctor."

Wizenheimer wasn't quite ready to end the admission meeting. "You told me that what you treasure have turned to ash. Does that include your worst memory?"

Kamek was petrified by this question. "That… is indestructible." He felt a sore lump paralyzing his words, and he clenched his claws. "I… I…"

"It's alright," Wizenheimer was now used to traumatized Magikoopas. He had been one. "There is nothing to fear in this room. Please continue."

"This is where I bargain in my dreams, Doctor. If the plan hadn't occurred to me, the darkness would never have reached us. So many things were lost because of my weakness."


Eudicot and her brother had been raised to venerate the stars and considered them the guiding light of their lives. That's why they met at the Petalburg Square every evening to gaze upon them. But this night, for some reason, the very young Magikoopa was preoccupied with other matters.

"Kamek o Kamek, to where is your mind wandering?" She teased.

Kamek formulated the words in his head. "If it's true that the world is changing for the worse, if only for a period of time, we will need more protection than what foot soldiers and scouts can provide. We have the power, but we're not immortal anymore."

"Mother said we would still live long…" Eudicot rarely have the time to muse upon her past; she was always busy. Training Medikoopas without their own magic was difficult.

"But not forever," Kamek interjected. "We should ensure that when we die, our powers will live on. We need to build solid vessels for them; much like our territory for the people."

His sister averted her gaze and looked despondent for a moment. "Did you dream this?"

Kamek frowned and then took Eudicot's hand. "I know inside that our bond will be rejuvenated by these vessels. Grown-up or not; I will never abandon you."

The next day Eudicot went for a flying trip across the sea, where she took a dive on instinct; finding gems at the ocean floor. She took a pound of gold and had it melted into the frame of a handheld mirror. The gems, a ruby, an emerald, a sapphire and a yellow diamond were placed on the North, East, Southern and Western side on the gold oval. She held the finished staff in her hands and said, loud and clear: "With this I make certain that the power of healing will always be found in our world."

The village people dubbed it the Staff of Eudicot, and everybody thought it was beautiful.

Kamek sat down on his knees and gathered a handful of sand. "In this barren earth I bury the burdens of the innocent and pardon our enemies."

His inner magic reacted with the sand, and rendered it into a glass item that looked like a compass rose, although it only counted the directions seen from the planet's core and outwards. Kamek didn't give his vessel a name, but the Koopa elders referred to it as the Oog Tar, roughly meaning "that which absorbs folly"; as their clouds of dementia seemed to lighten when they touched it.

Kamek's item was much more powerful than his sister's; every villager could feel it. Still, without Eudicot's healing staff, it meant nothing. One day Kamek found that for some reason the Oog Tar fit perfectly in the oval frame on his sister's staff. He took it down from the shrine to show her, when the sun hit the gems and also the Oog Tar.

The staff emitted blasts of magic, which hit the Koopa villagers, and also some of the Goombas; giving them wings.

When the dust had settled, the twins inspected everyone. Kamek sat down by a Koopa boy who had lost his glasses and was feeling the ground to find them.

"Oh, no; they're broken!" The boy exclaimed as he saw them. He then lifted the specs up, only for them to repair themselves…

"Magically," Kamek said in wonder.

Apart, the twins' power vessels were naught. But when Kamek joined them together, he had accidentally transferred some of their powers to the other Koopas.

"This is so awesome," another boy chuckled and climbed up a boulder. "I'm magical!" He then jumped; thinking he could fly, but only landed on his rear end looking surprised at everyone.

"Go ahead," Eudicot said to her brother with a smile on her snout.

Kamek helped the young man up. "Powers or no powers… Magikoopas cannot fly!"