And here we're almost done with the second part of the story!

Siph: What are we going to call these parts, anyway? I mean, we have chapters. And Ludwig, Lemmy, and Roy each have their own section per part of the story. And we've been calling those parts of the story that focuses on one Koopaling "sections" all this time, so calling the bigger chunks "sections" would be confusing.

What's wrong with just calling them "parts"?

Siph: You tell me. You're the one who wanted me to say all that. *holds up script*

Okay, so "parts" just sounds too vague and simple, and informal. The only good word I can think of at the moment is "act", but I'm worried that word implies something bigger than what these are.

Siph: Bigger than 15 chapters?

Alright, you have a point there. "Acts" it is!

Disclaimer: I only scripted the first three lines of this Author's Note. Everything else in all other Author's Notes (including this one) is improvised.

Siph: I don't think they're going to believe that. At this point they're probably already thinking that everything we've done was scripted.

I did not think this through.

Chapter 35: No More Trust

Ludwig sighed and smiled pleasantly. "I must say, I am growing rather comfortable with you three, conflicting allegiances aside." He cocked an eyebrow at Pauline.

Blue tilted her head. "You already said that, Princey."

"It bears repeating," Ludwig defended. "Especially considering that I owe my life to and am gaining amity with my enemy's ex. Besides, I am more trying to convince myself that yes, this is indeed happening."

Pauline shook her head at the Koopaling's cynicism. "If Mario and I can be friends with the Kongs after all the stress they've caused, then you and I can trust each other."

"Hmm?" Ludwig looked at her quizzically. "What ill history do you have with the Kongs?"

Pauline couldn't help her jaw dropping at this. Kraig and Blue also looked at the Koopaling with wide eyes.

"You don't know?" Kraig asked.

Ludwig raised an eyebrow. "Should I?"

Pauline snapped out of her stupor and cleared her throat. "Mario's been rivals with Donkey Kong and Cranky Kong longer than he's been rivals with Bowser. I figured you know about your archenemy's history."

Ludwig cocked his eyebrow again. "I know Father seems too proud to admit that his feud with Mario does not, in fact, transcend time, but believe me when I tell you that we already know about the plumber's longstanding history with Donkey Kong Junior and Senior. That was not my question in the first place." He looked her in the eye. "I asked what ill history you have with the Kongs."

It was Pauline's turn to cock an eyebrow. "I figured you'd know that, too. My history with the Kongs is intertwined with Mario's. I'm the one who always gets kidnapped by them."

Ludwig smirked. "So you have experience in the 'damsel in distress' role?"

Pauline maintained her composure at the Koopaling's quip. "The first time it was Cranky Kong when he was lost and confused in the city," she recalled. "He grabbed me in his confusion and climbed up the frame of a building that was under construction. After Mario saved me, he caged Cranky so we could decide what to do about him. That's when DK came, fought Mario, and freed Cranky. They escaped back into the jungle while Mario recovered."

"I see," Ludwig hummed. "And what about the later squabbles with Donkey Kong Junior?"

Pauline sighed. "You know how I mentioned avid collectors earlier? Well, almost every time we have a new promo, Donkey Kong either got jealous of Mario or covetous of the new toys. Either way, DK would fly into a rage and kidnap me in the ensuing chaos."

Blue Koopa leaned in. "Her dress always gets torn every time."

Pauline looked down at her currently torn dress. "Yes, but I'm the favorite customer at my tailor shop," she joked.

Ludwig chuckled, "Am I to assume this dress had a run-in with Donkey Kong?"

Pauline shook her head. "No, this one bit the dust, quite literally, when I down the storm drain where I found you and Wendy."

Kraig immediately became more attentive. "The one that collapsed? You fell down from street level?" When Pauline nodded, the doctor closed the space between then and scrutinized her. "You don't look it. I don't see any evidence for such a fall."

Pauline shrugged. "Well, I was standing on top of a solid piece of concrete that broke off the edge." She looked down. "I'm surprised I didn't bust a heel."

Ludwig shook his head. Wait. Something does not seem right with her story… "Let us get back on topic. Are you ever in any real danger when Donkey Kong kidnaps you?"

Pauline nodded. "Something could go wrong all the time. With an angry Kong, being taken up to high places is very dangerous. One slip and I'd fall from much higher heights than the chasm in that intersection."

The prince's eyes widened. "Yet you still consider him a friend?"

Pauline nodded again. "Of course! I'd trust him with my life."

Ludwig's jaw dropped. I cannot believe what I am hearing. "But he is the one who puts your life at risk in the first place! How can you still trust him?"

"His Highness seems rather personally invested in this," Kraig observed in a low voice. Blue overheard him and hummed thoughtfully.

Pauline took a breath. "Because I know if he did slip he would do everything in his power to save me. Him and Mario both. The last thing DK would want to do is hurt me. He's made that perfectly clear time and time again."

The Koopaling huffed, "If that is truly how he felt, he would actively avoid situations in which experience proves he puts you in danger."

Pauline gasped, "How can you say that? You've never even met him! I'm the one who spends hours on end with him as and after he calms down."

Ludwig stood up at his full height, puffing out his chest aggressively, roaring, "I know because my baby brother thinks I hate him!" The Dragon-Koopa stiffened, shocked at what he just confessed. He lowered his voice, finishing with, "And I orchestrated it through avoidance. To protect him from my mistake."

The tense silence that followed hung heavily in the room.

Pauline broke the silence. "What mistake?" Does he mean Bowser Jr.?

Ludwig remained silent, his face returning to his usual stoic expression.

"Your Highness?" Kraig pressed.

The prince turned and walked over to his sister, who still lay unconscious. "I do not wish to dwell any further on it," he muttered.

"Prince Ludwig—"

"I am done talking about this!" he interrupted the doctor, still not looking at them.

Blue Koopa cleared her throat loudly. "Well, if you won't talk about, I will."

The Koopaling scoffed, still not turning around, "You? Please. As if you know anything about this."

"I know more than you think. For example, I have a pretty good hunch that this is about the whole drama you had four years ago with the Nomore spell."

Ludwig recoiled, as if physically struck. He whirled around, his icy sapphire eyes boring into Blue. "How do you know about that?!"

Blue did not flinch. "Espionage is a hobby of mine. I learned a few things before I left Darkland."

Pauline looked at Kraig, completely lost. "No more?" she repeated.

Kraig only shrugged. "Don't look at me. I studied medicine, not magic."

Ludwig narrowed his eyes. "You snuck into the castle?"

"Yes, I did. Multiple times. And I can do it again with my eyes closed," Blue answered. "Remember, Princey, I left Darkland the day after you had that meeting with your sibs."

"And took our secret with you," Ludwig finished. There was another long silence before he spoke again, "So what now?"

The Ninjakoopa crossed her arms. "Here's the deal, Princey: either you tell the whole story, or I tell an inaccurate, incomplete version that suffers from the game of telephone."

Yet another long, uncomfortable silence followed. Kraig and Pauline looked shared worried glances as the two blue-shelled Koopas continued to stare each other down.

Finally, Ludwig sighed and closed his eyes. Of all the ultimata… "Fine," he conceded. "I will tell you what happened…"

To clarify, from smallest to largest it goes: chapter, section, and then act.

Siph: Are the chapters outside the sections also part of the acts?

Nah. I like to think of those chapters, such as 19 and 36 (GET PUMPED), as interludes.

Siph: What about chapter 20?

Oh, that is most definitely part of Act II. But it has a part in all three sections.

Siph: Fasci-juh-natin'.

In other news: I have a part-time job now! I'm also taking online classes again. Life has a lot of stuff for me to do.

And… OMG PAULINE IS IN SUPER MARIO ODYSSEY! WITH A MAJOR ROLE! Or rather… a mayor role. That is way higher up in power than CEO of the Mario Toy Company. I'm not going to change her position in I Promised, though.

Hmm… Do you think this means she has a chance to be in the next Mario Kart?

Siph: Uh-oh…

AAAAAAAAAAAA :D