Was this chapter complete in a timely manner, or wasn't it? Regardless, don't expect the same interval to happen twice. Seriously. You could start pooling bets on when the next one gets posted.
Siph: I already started. Look how many gold coins people have thrown in already! *holds up a bunch*
Siph, those are the chocolate coins we got the other day.
Siph: THEY WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO KNOW THAT.
Chapter 34: You Trust Me?
Pauline walked back to the trio of Koopas.
Ludwig interrupted anything she might have wanted to say, "Are they really there? And alive?"
Pauline nodded, smiling. "Yes. Roy, Larry, and Bowser Jr." She tried remembering what those three Koopalings looked like from Mario's photos, but hadn't actually linked the names to the faces. Bowser Jr. didn't have a photo in that collection anyway, but she had an idea of what he might look like based on the name.
Ludwig von Koopa lay back down on his hospital bed and sighed, "Thank the Stars. I know for a fact that Roy will protect Larry and Bowser." That means I don't have to be the one to protect Bowser.
Pauline tilted her head. But Bowser isn't there. Oh, wait! She mentally facepalmed. He probably means Bowser Jr. That would make sense. They're not calling their dad by his name. Mental note: whenever one of them mentions the name "Bowser," they're talking about their brother, not their dad.
"So that's five out of nine monarchs accounted for," Kraig summarized. "I'd say that's a good sign."
"Especially so soon!" Blue Koopa chirped.
"Toadstool strikes again," Ludwig hummed in agreement. He shifted his legs and sat back up. "Kraig."
The doctor perked up and made his way to the Koopaling's side. "Yes, your highness?"
The prince shifted his legs again. "I am aching to get up and move around, but I realize I am not in a position to determine if I am well enough to do that."
Kraig nodded. "That is fine." He helped Ludwig off his hospital bed while continuing, "Just take care not to aggravate your burns. The same goes for your arm. We may have relocated your elbow, but you will have to keep it immobile for two to three weeks."
"Yes, thank you." Ludwig held his arm in place with the other, despite his splint.
Kraig's brow furrowed. "You may want some pain-relieving medicine. Wait here." Before anyone else could say anything, he departed.
As Pauline watched him leave, she folded her arms, tilting her head. "That Koopa's work ethic is something else."
Blue Koopa nodded in response. "You're telling me, Boss Lady. I overheard some of the staff downstairs saying he's supposed to be taking the day off, like you had us do."
"He is definitely Spiky John's brother." Ludwig chuckled behind them. "I do not even need any pain relief."
Pauline turned and looked at him. "I thought you said that your burns still stung when you woke up."
Ludwig cocked an eyebrow. "I did say they stung. I did not say I was in agony."
Blue Koopa barked a laugh.
Pauline only shrugged. "I guess that's fair," she conceded.
Blue looked Ludwig in the eye. "So didn't you say you wanted to get up to move around? Well, you're up now, so you're halfway there."
Ludwig shook his head. "I think it would be best to wait until Kraig gets back until I do. If I accidentally hurt myself while moving, I will want someone who can treat me. I am rather…" he cleared his throat, "undereducated when it comes to using these medicines."
Pauline nodded. "That's a good idea."
Blue raised her arms behind her head. "Okay, so what are you going to do while you just stand there?"
The genius raised his good arm. "We could continue talking like this. Perhaps we could get to know each other better. Or even try some mental exercises."
"That sounds good," Pauline agreed.
"Excellent." Ludwig looked at her. "Why don't you begin?"
Pauline thought for a moment. "Well… I would like to know your brothers' names, and also have faces to go with those names. It'll just make things easier for me."
"Had I not lost my wand, I could make small illusions of them for you," Ludwig said apologetically. "However, I do have something else that will help." The Dragon-Koopa used his good arm to reach into his shell. "Father requires we keep a family photo with us at all times. We each carry it in our shells."
Pauline closed the distance between them as he retrieved a photograph. He handed it to her when she was close enough.
In the photo were nine Dragon-Koopas, including Ludwig, Wendy, and Bowser, and two Magikoopas. The latter's inclusion piqued Pauline's curiosity, but she figured Ludwig would explain who they were in a moment.
"You know what my father looks like, right?" Ludwig asked.
Pauline nodded, noting that the Koopa King was sitting on his throne in the photo. "Kidnapping a major ruler every other month and a half will get your picture in the newspaper."
"Yeah, seriously," Blue deadpanned.
"So," Ludwig said, "how do you wish to go about this? Do you want to point to each of them one by one, and I tell you their names? Or shall I simply rattle them off along with some physical detail about them in the photograph?"
Pauline looked intently at the photo. "That second one sounds easier."
"Very well. Simply tell me when you are ready to begin."
Pauline nodded curtly. "Whenever you are."
And so the maestro began, "The very small Koopa standing on the ball…"
Pauline's eyes immediately darted to the Koopa described.
"…is my immediate younger brother Lemmy. His full name is actually Lemuel, but literally no one calls him that. Standing next to him is Ignatius, the tall one with the green hair, or Iggy. Sitting on Father's lap is Bowser Junior, our youngest brother. In front of them with the blue mohawk is Lawrence. The two musclebound thugs between Larry and me are Roy, the one wearing sunglasses, and Morton, the dark-skinned one. The Magikoopa in the blue robe next to me is Kamek. Kammy Koopa is the Magikoopa on the other side of the group, next to Wendy."
Pauline looked at each Koopa and ran the names over in her head as her eyes passed over each face. "Why are Kamek and Kammy in the family photo?"
"They helped Father and Mother raise us. They also raised Father by themselves after his parents were killed in the Shroob invasion. You know, not very many know about that."
Both Pauline's and Blue Koopa's jaws dropped when Ludwig said that. A clatter from the doorway revealed that Kraig had returned just in time to hear this as well, and dropped the pill bottles he had brought back.
Pauline covered her mouth with both hands and inhaled through her nose. A few silent seconds passed, during which no one moved. Finally, Pauline gulped and, lowering her hands, asked, "Why are you telling me this?"
Ludwig sighed and shook his head. "To be completely honest, I am not entirely certain myself. I suppose it could be because you have already done so much for Wendy and me, and I owe you a great amount for that."
"But…" Pauline stammered, still somewhat thrown by Ludwig's revelation, "to tell someone like me something so personal?"
Ludwig shrugged. "I must admit, I feel I am beginning to trust you." He looked down, smirked, and looked back up. "It is ironic. Is that not something Mario would do?"
Aaaaaand done!
Siph: Wow, kinda cheesy.
That's just the chips you're eating.
Siph: What did you think I was talking about?
…Nevermind. Anyhoodles, back in school. Regardless of how punctual you think this chapter was in the making, I did manage to keep up my tradition of posting on my birthday.
Siph: It's weekend posts only from here on out, though, folks. And the next chapter is going to be the last one in Ludwig's section of this round!
Now how do you know that, Siph?
Siph: Well Roy's section had five chapters, and Lemmy's section had five chapters, and this is the fourth chapter in Ludwig's section, and you love your patterns. Do not say "I'm not predictable, Siph."
Actually, I was going to say "You know me too well, Siph."
Siph: Well, whatever. Okay, folks, you know the drill. Read. Review. Pelt J with cotton balls.
Oh come on, Siph, that didn't work last time, what makes you think this time will be any different?
Siph: Because it's your birthday and your present is a barrage of cottonballs?