Fyras14: Hello, everyone! My internet is back to normal, and I'm happy to say that this chapter turned out to be longer than expected! Lucky you!
This chapter, if I may point out, will explain in debt why Ludwig did what he did, so play close attention!
Anyway, I hope you all read and review, or criticize, whichever comes first.
"When the heart weeps for what is lost, the spirit laughs for what it has found."
-Sufi Aphorism
Chapter 11: A Koopa Made of Stone
"Thank you, Mario! Thank you!" Mario smiled at the group of Toads that shook both of his hands frantically, crying out of pure joy. After defeating the mysterious yellow Bob-omb, Mario had quickly spotted the Toads, who all cheered for their hero, with them, Aki.
"You're welcome," the plumber told him, trying to kindly remove their hands from his own hands. He managed it without delay, and then the Toads started to bow to him, frantically….again.
"Oh! Mario! Mario!!" The Toads cried in unison. "Please! Please, you must save the princess from the evil Koopa King!!"
"Don't worry, I'll take care of him." Mario told him, his voice betraying confidence and doubt. Could he really beat him, really? After Ludwig's hammer had struck him, poor Mario had been forced to endure never ending pain and a few destroyed back teeth. While he was thinking about defeating Ludwig, Aki came to his side and tapped his shoulder.
"Mario mister?" he asked. The plumber turned to face the Yoshi, smiling from ear to ear.
"Ah! Aki!...Thanks for the help!"
"No problem, Mario mister…although I wish I could give you more help…" Aki turned to look at his legs, both were bruised. Poor Aki had met a bomb to soon in his dinosaur lifetime, had not the Toads dragged him before the bomb could explode, he wouldn't not only have injured legs but a whole body to worry about.
"Don't worry about it," Mario told him. "besides, the last thing I want is to drag you or anyone else to danger." He turned to the Toads. "Now, are you sure you are going to be alright here all by yourselves?" One of the Toads, the leader of the small band of Mushrooms, Mario presumed, took a step forward.
"Do not worry, Mr. Hero," the Toad told him. "We shall take care of ourselves just fine. We doubt the Koopa King will sent more forces our way, and if he does, we can always use the cannons in the area to take care of them." The plumber nodded once more towards the Toads and Aki, and turned to leave, quickly running towards the forest nearby. Behind him, the cries of many Toads filled his ears.
"Be careful!!"
"Kick big Koopa's bottom!!"
"Yeah!!"
"Have a safe trip, if you can, Mario mister!!"
"Please save the princess!!" As Mario ran, his face turned determined. Peach isn't the only person I need to save…Daisy, Luigi…please be safe.
Junior watched from his stone prison as his Mama Peach slept. After crying to nobody in particular, the Mushroom Princess had fallen to floor. Panicked at first, Junior could barely hear Peach's soft breathing, and sighed in relief when he saw that his Mama was just having a snooze, seemingly tired by her encounter with Ludwig and what happened in her castle…especially worried about Mario.
Junior sighed as he thought about Mario. He, like his father, had began to hate the man, but now, the plumber was the only one that could save his Mama from the misery that she was suffering and free his Papa from his prison and his traitorous son. The young koopa wondered where it all went wrong, what had he and his father done to cause Ludwig to turn into the koopa that he was now. Sure, it was true that his father paid more attention to the youngest of his sons, but everyone knew that Bowser loved his children all the same, and if he spent more time with a certain child, was because he wanted to share as much time as possible with them…even if it seemed to last for years to the others. Roy, the third oldest of the Koopalings, explained to Junior one day that Bowser could be pretty demanding, and at times would ignore any of his children if they did something wrong, or failed in certain aspects. Being ignored by the Koopa King, Roy had said, was not as bad as going to the dungeons, but it still left you feeling bad. Like Junior, all of his brothers and sister had spent a lot of time with the Koopa King as well. Roy spent at least a year with him, before Bowser switched to Iggy, and then, another year then to Wendy O. and then, so on. The third oldest of his brothers had explained to a young Junior, that when Ludwig was born, Bowser spent more than five years with the oldest of the koopalings, teaching him many things and treating him like one of a kind. After the other koopalings were born, however, Bowser spent less and less time with his first son, and Ludwig became independent, still willing to serve his father, however.
Then, Roy told him something the young koopa had never forgotten. "Something broke inside Ludwig," Roy had said. "something so precious you can't buy at the stores and such…he began to go against father's orders and such, doing as he pleased…but, sometimes, he would listen to father's mouth and sometimes not. He also became easily angered, and those that received more attention than him were his main targets…be lucky you didn't get to experience what we had, or else, you would have a bruised shell and a broken neck…you sure got lucky, little koopa bro!" Junior now began to wonder if this attempt to take over the Koopa Kingdom and also Mushroom Kingdom was just Ludwig's way to get attention. Oh, how wrong he was.
Ludwig felt so alone in the world, and Bowser never saw that coming. Thinking back, Junior now understood what Roy had meant about spending quality time with his children. It was to prepare them to the inevitable, a time when their father would no longer walk the kingdom and be with them. Apparently, Ludwig had misunderstood that, and now, he was a worse dictator than his father…driven by jealously and hate that it would make even Bowser cry.
As he was thinking about his brother, something caught the corner of the young stoned koopa's eye. Princess Peach was getting up from the floor, looking around the room, in some sort of confusion. Junior could feel his heart jumping with joy as he saw his Mama finally awaken. (1) At first, the princess only looked around the chamber were she was imprisoned in. She examined every corner of her prison before her eyes turned towards the koopa's statue. Peach's eyes suddenly sparkled again, and she slowly walked towards the statue, finally finding her long lost voice. "Junior…are…are you there?"
Yeah…(2) Peach suddenly smiled, patting the young koopa's stony head, gently. Even though both Junior and his father had kidnapped her on a number of occasions, both had treated her with love and respect that she deserved. Well, on Bowser's case, more love than respect. Sorry…Mama Peach…Junior apologized, already he was sobbing, even though Peach couldn't see.
"Why are you apologizing for?" Peach asked him, sitting besides the small statue. "It isn't your fault this is happening…"
I know…but, Ludwig…we could stop him…me and Papa…but, we never had the chance…
"Oh, little one, don't worry about it…please, don't…" Peach told him, hugging the small statue a bit, in an effort to comfort the small koopa. "…what happen to your father?" she asked him gently, after a while.
He…he is just like me right now, Junior told her, sniffing a bit. Ludwig put it in his throne room…as a trophy…when the other koopas had found out about Bowser's fall, they had no choice but to listen to Ludwig…of course, some of the Koopa Troops soldiers rebelled, at least that's what Kamek managed to tell me before he was turned to stone…my other brothers, except Wendy, were also turned to stone, too…
"I see…but…how is this possible? From what I know(3), Ludwig is an inventor not a wizard…he couldn't have turned the koopas, much less Bowser to stone."
Ludwig found a way to use the star power, Mama…he created some strange hammer and some crystal balls that are able to turn all that touch it to stone. Peach gasped in surprise.
"Impossible!" the princess cried. "The Star Power is never meant to hurt…its power is pure…unless he found a way to taint it?" She could hear Junior sigh, not knowing what to say.
It was a known fact that the Star Power was a pure living being, that offered power or protection to those that could wield it.(4) Bowser had stolen the Stars from Peach's castle numerous times in order to achieve power beyond imagination. He had failed miserably, after Mario found the many stars he had hidden in many worlds with his henchmen, the koopa's power soon began to leave him, and then, both he and Mario engaged in a terrible fight, with the plumber ending as the winner. Whether it be in paintings, different lands, or in space, the Star Power would always give out both power and protection. Someone that could corrupt their power to destroy was beyond Peach's own imagination.
I don't know, Mama…Junior told her after a while. What I know is that he is using the star's power to destroy, and even manipulate the Boos!
"The Boos?"
Yeah…the King of Boos was also part of the rebellion against Ludwig…and he fell…just like the other koopas that followed him. Peach opened her mouth to speak, when suddenly the door of the dungeon flew open and Daisy was pushed inside. She hit the floor, and then turned to glare at the two koopas that had dragged her towards the tower.
"Hey!! Watch it you filthy nut shells!!" The koopas paid no attention to the fallen princess, and closed the door.
"Daisy!" The princess of Sarasaland, quickly turned to see the Mushroom princess, who ran to aid her friend.
"Peach! Thank goodness that you are alright!" Peach helped Daisy up, and the two friends hugged each other.
"Oh, Daisy! Its good to see another friend in this place!" Both friends separated, and the flower princess looked around.
"I'm glad to see you, too. Although I just wish I could remember how I got here…"
"You…weren't kidnapped?"
"Of course not, at least, I thought so before I ended up here." Daisy told her, crossing both her arms across her chest. "Me and Mario went to go help you…and then…" Her face turned to face the ground, as if struggling to hide the tears that would eventually hit the floor. "…Luigi showed up…he was helping…that Ludwig guy…" Peach covered her mouth with a hand, her eyes wide with shock.
"What?"
"L-Ludwig managed to convince Luigi on his side…he and Mario fought…and then…I…I tried to bring Luigi back, but I couldn't…" Peach patted the other princess's shoulder, as if understand what she was going through.
"Don't worry…he'll get out of this mess…and we will help him…" Before Daisy could respond, someone else beat her to it.
L-Luigi joined my older brother?
Ludwig grinned as he stared at the statue of Roy, who could only look back at him. The hatred visible in his stoned eyes. You bastard!! Get me out of here!! You pathetic, idiot, moron, etc.!! Ludwig laughed at his younger brother's desperation.
"I'm completely surprised, that you and Junior, managed to survive being completely petrified. (5) I never thought your will would be this…strong."
Ha! You really thought me and Junior were that weak!? You listen to me, bastard! You hurt a hair on dad, my brothers, or Peach you will really regret it!! The older brother gave a heartily laugh, as if had just heard a good joke.
"I'm surprise you care more about your siblings, father, and a mere stranger that had the unfortunate fortune to be loved by the King of Koopas. Do you care about your family that much that you would die for them? You can easily switch sides like Wendy did, to avoid a possible confrontation and death…" It was Roy's turn to laugh at his brother's words.
You think I would put my family aside just to join you, bah, like I will! I understood one day that it was my family that mattered the most than taking over kingdoms, kidnapping princesses, and even fighting Mario!! My family matters a hundred times more than the power that you are offering me! Dad would go against you any day to make sure his family was not hurt.
"Ha! Now, you are joking again, dear brother…Bowser could easily discard you out of his deck if he no longer saw you worthy."
Ha! You say that like if you knew better! Bowser loves his children a lot, he wouldn't just stand still and wait for his children to fall down some abyss! Ludwig suddenly turned his back on Roy, as if thinking about what he said, then, he started to laugh.
"Hahahaha…and to think I thought you were but a fool, Roy…'Abyss?' Have you been reading the dictionary while I wasn't looking?" he mocked him. He turned to look back at the stoned koopa, who was shaking slowly, as if trying to free himself from his rocky prison. "Ah, and to think I could get you to see the errors of your thinking, it seems I was wrong…" Ludwig raised a hand in the air, and pointed a finger at the stoned koopa. From his finger, a small ball of light formed, and then, the ball of light floated towards the koopa statue.
What the heck is this? Roy asked, as the ball of light began to circle around him.
"This is, your torment…" Ludwig then snapped his fingers, and the ball of light glowed brightly and then, transformed into a black Power Star.
A…power star? Ludwig…what did you do?
"You will find out, eventually, dear brother…" The Shadow Star, then, entered Roy's stone body. After a couple of seconds, the statue began to shake, and crack. Ludwig walked backwards, watching in amazement at what the star's power did to his younger brother.
Roy could move once more, but he was still the color of stone. Then, he gave an unknown cry, as he began to transform. He grew, at least a couple of inches more. His face turned more reptilian like some sort of ancient and monstrous dinosaur. The koopa's claws grew larger as well, and even Roy's tail grew to the length of a cat's own. From the koopa's shell, appeared two ugly wings, that had cracked opened Roy's shell to get out. Ludwig looked back at his brother, his eyes sparkling with fascination, as the transformation concluded. The koopa snapped his fingers, catching the monster's attention.
"Find Mario, bring him to me…now!" The monster nodded its head, understanding, and then, flew out of the small tower, roaring as it clashed against the clouds. Ludwig soon laughed, and shook his head. "…he won't be the only one that I'll be taking care of."
Mario ran as fast as he could through the forest, watching out for any enemy that dare get in his way. The plumber had been extremely surprised, and a bit shocked, that Ludwig had not even bothered to guard the way to Knut-Nut Harbor. Knut-Nut Harbor was the only way to go towards the Koopa King's Castle, and whenever Bowser managed to kidnapped the princess, he would always have the forest and harbor well guarded in order to ensure that Mario never got to his castle.
While he was concerned of what Ludwig was planning, the plumber's mind wondered back to his fight against that yellow Bob-omb and that black star that had suddenly sprouted from its body. Mario wondered what Ludwig had done to that poor Star, and shivered at the thought. He stared at the road, in the distance, he could spot the harbor nearby. As he moved closer, though, he suddenly stopped. Mario looked around. What was that? The noise became louder, and then, the plumber looked up, spotting a strange looking koopa flying towards him. "I…get the feeling…Ludwig was expecting me to use this road after all…" From the skies, the monstrous koopa fell to the ground, mouth opened.
"GGGYYYYYAAAAAAAARGGGGGHHHH!!!"
Things to point out, first!!
1-While it is true that Peach is not Junior's real mother, I have read that he still continues to call her 'Mama' even though she is not, so, in case I got that one wrong, feel free to correct me.
2-I did state earlier that italics would be used to indicate thoughts, if I remember correctly, here however, Junior and Roy, are using their minds to speak, so technically it could be considered a thought(I kinda forgot about the thoughts and italics thing after I wrote that chapter when Junior was turned to stone and was too lazy to change it)
3-Peach gets kidnapped all the time, that it wouldn't be a surprise if she knew all about the koopalings, and their father.
4-Here is another thing to explain...you see, in some of the Mario games(in the ones that you have to collect stars)the Power Stars, I believe, act as some sort of Power Source for Bowser or for something else(like that strange tower with the huge star in Isle Delfino). A Starman(another form of a Star), protects however is lucky to find it. In my story, the Power Stars play both parts, to give power and protection to those that wield it.
5-Here, Ludwig explains that he didnt expect his brothers, or any of the other koopas and people(Daisy) he turned to stone to survivie their petrification(ability to speak, see, etc. while in stone form). As Ludwig then says, their wills were great enough to resist the power that had turned them to stone.
After a rather long author's note...this is were the chapter ends, just this one! Expect a new update soon, introducing an old enemy of Luigi's(you guys get an extra update next week if you guess who!) and adding a new main character and companion to Mario to the mix!
Please review!
