Hi Everyone... I'm still working on getting this story updated as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience and kind words. And a special thank you to Mr. or Mrs. or Ms. Spatterson for your updates regarding SOPA. I appreciate them.
Disclaimer... I don't have any rule/influence over Nintendo's Darkland Kingdom but thank you for reading anyway...
Day 252-
The next day we had several new spectators during our rehearsal. Standing beside Roy were the most unlikely group of characters in the castle, all the Kooplings except for Ludwig. All of us- Wendy, Morton, me (in my disguise) and the whole group of dancers- could not keep our jaws off the floor.
"Hey Baldo," Roy pulled out a couple wands. "I got the wands."
"Cool," I answered approaching the group.
"Footstool," Bowser Jr. squinted at my mask.
"Don't like be stupid," Wendy responded diverting their attention. "Footstool's like in Daddy's room. This is like Baldo." She eyed her brothers suspiciously. "What are like all of you like doing here?"
Roy grinned, "They all wanted to help."
"Speak for yourself," Larry countered.
The oldest Koopling rose his fist shaking it in the younger's direction, "Yes you did." Larry fell silent.
I knew it was wrong. Apparently judging by the look on all of their faces, Roy bullied all of them into helping. Still… Knowing that I couldn't help laugh thinking to myself, 'Brothers.'
"Thanks, your help will be really appreciated," I answered drawing the facial protests of both Wendy and Morton. I ignored them continuing, "Do any of you want to dance?"
"NO!" The seven Kooplings yelled all at once so forcefully I had to hold my mask in place to keep it from flying off.
I broke into uncontrollable laughter. "Understood. We've got other jobs for you guys," I started delegating despite it being Wendy's call. "Roy, Bowser Jr., you two are in charge of casting the magic spells during the show. Especially during the fight scenes.
"Iggy, do you think you'd be able to create some exploding costumes and scenery," I asked the tinkerer. "Mort and I need to be able to absorb attacks without being injured."
The Koopling lifted one of his claws to his chin. "Interesting but I don't understand why though?"
"It'll make the fight sequence more compelling and exciting. If Mort and I fall down a few time," I shrugged, "The audience will fall in love with the hero and hate the villain.
"Larry, coach us to hit our marks. Let us know if we land too far or too short," I asked the little Koopa. "You'll have a better angle than we will and let us know if seems believable or completely unrealistic. If you don't believe it the audience won't either.
"Finally Lemmy," I directed to the hipster. "Do you think you can create a light show that'll make the audience "ooh" and "ah"?"
The sideways capped Koopa's face lit up. "Really?"
"Yep." I knew the Koopling was more than just a poser.
"We can coordinate together," Iggy said. "Make some awesome special effects."
"Yeah," Lemmy cheered leaping into the air.
"Um… Wendy," I wrung my hands together turning to the female Koopling. I was bit nervous since I sort of took command over her production. "Can all of them add their names and use this as their gift too?"
"Tsk… Fine but like I'm in charge," she responded staring at her brothers. All of their faces lit up as if being granted access to Shangri La.
"Right," they cheered in unison.
"Hold on a second," I stopped the disbanding Koopas. "How about we show them the WHOLE ballet to help with their ideas?"
Wendy simply nodded. By the time our full costumed recital finished, Roy and Bowser Jr. had already worked out a plan for the magic spells and best positions to hurdle either Morton or me through the air.
The exuberant turtles vacated the area each speaking to one another of possibilities. Iggy expanded on his costume theories to include some scenery and props while Larry already pointed to several areas on the floor that will make the scenes more believable.
I think this is the first time ever that all the Kooplings actually tried to work together. Even so there's still something missing. The final piece to the puzzle. Something very important… Ludwig.
After everyone decided to leave the studio and I changed into my regular rock color koopa shell, I wandered to the isolated Koopling's room hoping to speak to the Baron. More sounds of a cat being skinned alive permeated the door. I took a deep breath and rapped my hand against Ludwig's door.
The deadly sound of music continued without pause. I knocked a little harder but the music on the other side of the door got louder.
"Did he just try to drown me out," I said aloud not fearing any reprimands. This hallway appeared as avoid of people as my king's and for good reason. I felt something warm trickle down the side of my head.
"My ear's bleeding," I said surprised but immediately broke into laughter finally understanding what King Koopa meant when he said he used Ludwig's music to torture prisoners. I mean I wasn't even in the same room as it. A strange thought occurred to me… 'Maybe Ludwig was more than just tone deaf? Maybe the conductor was deaf deaf?'
I pounded furiously against the door hopefully to either catch his attention or at the very least to confirm my theory. The music stopped abruptly and the pitter patter of thumping feet approached me. The door opened and the moment to finally meet the last Koopling had arrived.
"Who dares interrupt the genius of my creative processes," the bucked tooth turtle with eccentric blue hair demanded. It took almost every ounce of strength not to laugh in the Koopling's face.
His orange scales gave him the same body tone as Morton's and Roy's. He had the same three toed claws for his feet and four claw hands as the other Kooplings but his facial features were what set him apart.
Ludwig had a solitary buck tooth (Does a single tooth count as bucked teeth?)… Doesn't really matter, it looked as sharp as King Koopa's. I bet it could tear the flesh from my body in no time. The tooth descended from the center of his upper lip and overlapped the outside of his lower jaw.
He had a rounded face and his blue hair parted at the middle. The center line accented his sharpened tooth while his hair dictated the attention of everyone in the room.
"Ah… My father's homo sapiens ottoman," he said in a snobbish and whiny voice. "To what extent do I owe the honor of your uncoordinated and unauthorized presence?"
"PRINCESS WENDY'S PREPARING SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR KING KOOPA FOR HIS BIRTHDAY," I found myself shouting. Apparently my ears were still ringing.
"And you're bringing this information to my attention for what reason? Sabotage," the Koopling grumbled impatiently.
"NO. YOUR BROTHERS ARE Helping her," I continued getting my hearing back and lowering my voice to a reasonable level. I watched Ludwig's face changed from annoyed to surprise. "Do you want to be part of it too?"
"What an unusual quandary," the Koopling raised his clawed hand under his chin stepping to the side. Peering around his blue shell with white spikes, I saw a bunch of Boos, Koopa Troopas, and Goombas holding musical instruments. Each one of them was eating a mushroom. Sighing Ludwig redirected, "As unique as the situation is, sadly I must decline the invitation.
"The brilliance of my expertise cannot be shared among lesser intellects," he replied. "Now vacate footstool before you sabotage the perfection of my symphony undermining my genius."
The door slammed shut on my face before I had the chance to rebut his insult… At least I think he insulted me. He called everyone else stupid… Didn't he? Oh well, the sounds of animal cruelty began again prompting me to let it go. I guess he's just tone deaf by choice. Perhaps this project isn't missing the Baron after all…
DAY 269-
Today Master Kamek assigned a 1000 word essay on our hero and how they inspire us during our general studies class. Obviously my essay's going to be about King Koopa. I know… I know… It's corny and I'm his slave (which wouldn't win me any brownie points among the other slaves) and all but he technically saved my life, given me a home, and a purpose albeit as a footstool but still a reason to get up in the morning.
Although I'm going to have to write it pretty impressively to win any possible accolades from my professor. Naturally, I assumed everyone's would be about the king. After all I'm in a world of the coolest tyrannical creature alive in the realm where the ruler is beloved by all in his kingdom but that's why I was surprised and nearly face planted by Morton's answer.
"I'm gowing ta wite mine on ta King Hippo," Morton unfurled a poster of an overweight boxer wearing a crown and cloak. The image had a large rounded face maybe a third of the size of severely oversized belly. Even in the poster, the fighter's boxers barely looked sturdy enough to continue defying gravity. "He's on a twirdy "KO" whenning stweak."
"Really? You're not writing about your dad," I asked.
"Na, nobody ever wites about king dad," he replied. "Who yo' witing about?"
"Your dad," I answered finishing in my head. 'Nobody considers King Koopa a hero? How can he be beloved by everyone if no one calls him a hero?'
I just didn't understand. "Why doesn't anyone write about your dad?"
Morton shrugged. "He doeswent like dat stuff," Morton answered. "I'd wite about somewon welse."
"Maybe," I mumbled then my mind flashed back to King Koopa talking about losing his kids. It reaffirmed my decision. I'm writing about my king.
Day 278-
Our rehearsals have gotten a million and one times more hectic since Bowser's day is only around a week away. I have to admit the coordination of attacks, dance, lights were coming together nicely. There were only two problems that worried me about our performance.
First… All of our practices were inside, inside a controlled area, and weather protected area. What if the stage is smaller or what if there is a storm or something? I think that's a possibility with the volcano's smoke smoldering into the air. Oh yeah I forgot to mention it's an outdoor stage…
Second… How am I going to get there? Roy hasn't told anyone his plan. I hope he isn't trying to be dramatic or wait to the last minute…
Other than those questions, I can't wait. It sure is getting exciting. I hope I won't let Wendy down.
