Shards of Love: REDUX!
Shard III: Alliances
With the 'Big Three' alliance within reach, Peach and the Koopas must, at all costs, stop the Mushroom Kingdom and Sarasalandian forces from reaching Jewelry Land and forming an alliance with King Fret.
Chapter XXVIII
Retributive Remorse
Despite Bowser's ouster, life continues as normal in Dark Land. Caldera still trades with the Mushroom Kingdom via Ice Land and occupied Pipe Land—with no barriers blocking it due to them being under the same rule, the residents couldn't complain about this new government. Drafted soldiers' families wish the best for their familial heroes, but they find the war-life to be surprisingly peaceful. Smiling civilians pack the city streets, laughing and gossiping while carrying several bags of purchased merchandise, seeming undaunted by their new rulers.
Just miles away from the vibrant city, Kastle Koopa bustles despite the overthrow of the Koopa Troop and the Royal Family. Servants rush to and fro, cleaning the invasion's results while architect-trained hammer brothers repair destroyed walls.
Within the castle's west wing, a hefty, yellow-scaled koopa explores the Monarchs' Memorial hallway, a sense of longing overcoming him. He yawns as he runs a claw through his partially-dyed spiky black hair—his natural purple acts as highlights, complementing his indigo face and shell. His beady eyes focus on the murals of previous rulers in the hallway; he's indifferent to them, until he passes Morton Koopa I's picture and approaches Bowser's and the Koopalings'.
His heart melts as he studies the photo of the Koopalings hanging below Bowser's. Several raw feelings, from longing and pleasure to jealousy and hate, flow through his head, intertwining and crumbling into a jumbled catastrophe. They were together, sharing love and siblinghood with each other, all while under a surviving father figure's umbrella—something the koopa never enjoyed. He had no family; only fate. He couldn't enjoy happiness or joy; all he knew was loneliness, despair and hate.
The koopa feels his fists clenching as pent-up rage fills his soul. He couldn't enjoy any of what the others did—all because of Bowser.
That throne-stealing, illegitimate so-called king.
And it's time he takes back what's rightfully his from Bowser.
Bowser took away his family, all while not wanting anything to do with him, and essentially left him orphaned. Now, he's trapped in an augmented reality controlled by his five magikoopa guardians who care more for his blood and DNA than for him. He knows he shouldn't harbor hate for Bowser due to his current situation, but something within his mind nags that it's necessary. His family—and especially his father—needs to be avenged, even if he must face death. He doesn't want war with any faction, but he'll do just that and team with the magikoopas if it means Bowser's execution.
He snaps out of his thoughts when he notices his wand flashing. The koopa exhales before the wand's tip displays a middle-aged magikoopa's face. Of course they bother him now.
"Lupus in fābulā," the koopa groaned, "What, Kamio?"
"Master Marcus. Come to the throne room immediately. We have vital news."
"This better be good, or your beak's getting caved in," the koopa stated before shutting off the communication and murmuring, "Damn magikoopas."
He pockets his wand before walking east towards the throne room. He enters the room, where three magikoopas surround a cage containing a cowering red-clad human. 'Mario,' the koopa growled.
"So," a magikoopa interrogated Mario, "Where are they?"
"Where are who?" Mario asked.
"You know who I'm talking about!" the magikoopa threatened, "Now stop acting like an idiot and tell me!"
"No!" Mario shouted, "You think you can tie me up, steal my identity and destroy the Kingdom? I'm not telling you who freed me or where they are!"
The magikoopa pulls out his wand and shoots a light beam at Mario, zapping him. The plumber twitches for a few seconds before shaking off the shock and continues cowering. The magikoopas smirk, desiring nothing more than to see the greatest hero of all time appear frail and helpless before them.
"Fellow magikoopas," Kamio approaches the group, wand in hand, "Don't fret about interrogating information from the specimen, for we have surveillance footage of the castle-burners."
The koopa's eyes narrow; by now, he had enough with the antics. They have news to give him, and he wants it now. He clears his throat, resulting in the quartet turning toward him.
"Stop shocking the prisoner and give me my news," the koopa crossed his arms, "I have stuff to do, and one of them's not sitting here with you buffoons."
"Right, right, Master Marcus," Kamio approaches the koopa, "I summoned you down here for updates on the Mushroom Kingdom. Unfortunately, we have a challenge awaiting us."
"It's Bowser, isn't it?" Marcus sneered; that koopa's already becoming a thorn in his foot, "Why isn't he jailed by you idiots?"
"He escaped. There were also prisoners in Peach's Castle... But this plumber..." Kamio zaps Mario, resulting in him howling again, "...Freed them indirectly."
"I'm not letting them get under your control," Mario regained his composure, "They'll take over the Mushroom Kingdom and Dark Land, then they'll make you disappear-"
"Any other updates?" Marcus ignored the plumber, "You know, maybe info I don't already know?"
"Peach's castle was also burned down," concern peppers Kamio's voice, "The area's getting cleaned up, but the mushroomers are getting... Rather panicky, to say the least. We can't have them get out of control, else our uncontrolled power over the Lux Aeterna's threatened."
"Shut down any protests," Marcus demanded, "Steal this plumscum's identity if you need to."
"The Mushroomers are losing trust in Mario," an elderly, blue-robed female magikoopa piped up, "We're running out of trustworthy and powerful figures there."
"So be it," Marcus declared, "A change in plans then. Looks like we'll no longer lure the Mushroom Kingdom into our control, but we'll do it by force. Put the subjects under our control if that's true, Kamira. Also, keep an eye on King Grassley and Sultan Salem. We might need to get rid of them when Grass Land and Desert Land find out who really controls them. Make sure Sky Land and Ice Land are truly neutral too."
Kamira nods. Meanwhile, Kamio waves his wand, and a hologram of Peach's castle's third floor shows up. Flashing red lights bathe the room while the sirens' deafening screeches saturate the throne room.
"Back to the castle! Here are the two suspects!" the magikoopa shouts over the sirens.
The surveillance remains clear until smoke seeps from the fourth floor, tinging the video. Minutes later, Marcus notices an old man running, his white hair and lab coat covered in soot.
"Pause it right there! Isn't that the guy that I gave Bowser's doomship to and made him find weaknesses?" Marcus asked, "He was behind the Ultra Scope we're using."
"He is, which concerns me, Master Marcus," Kamio nodded, "He could give Bowser weapons to neutralize the Scopes. Further, he can help them develop force fields to counteract both the Scopes and our magic, with the help of those two magikoopa traitors. Kamek and Kammy will know about our conspiracy if they know about the soulstones."
"Right," Marcus groaned, "We need to stop him before he connects with Kamek and Kammy. Why wasn't he kept in a maximum-security prison?"
"As I just stated, Master: he was, but this plumber dismissed the guards," Kamio zaps Mario yet again, resulting in another howl, "He should be getting a dunk in the lava pits."
Marcus holds out his hand, "No. The only person I want to see dead is Bowser. Okay, Kamek and Kammy too. But if I see so much as a scratch on Mario caused by you dimwits, then you'll become nothing more than the spiritual anima you wish to control."
"Sir, you really should dispose of Mario-"
"Pax, Kamio. Continue the video."
Sighing, the magikoopa waves his wand, and the video continues. Behind the old man, a second figure sneaks by, observing his surroundings with caution. Marcus stares in shock as he notices the second figure. That Mohawk... His blue shell and innocent blue eyes. It couldn't be him. He sighs; alas, it was.
"Just what I feared," Marcus grumbled, "I want him on our side. He needs to be. We need more spies and people to organize them."
"And how're we to do that? Take him hostage? Steal his identity?" Kamio questioned, "He's with Bowser."
"Simple," The koopa shook his head, "Latet enim veritas, sed nihil pretiosius veritate. Vincit omnia veritas."
"Ahh, one of the medieval Darklandian Koopish prophets' most famous quotes. There's nothing more beautiful than the hidden truth, and that hidden truth will conquer all," Kamio recited.
"Unlike certain so-called 'Kings', I bothered to learn our culture; the culture of the legitimate Royal Bloodline," Marcus replied, "We use the truth. If he knew about what Bowser's done to the Royal Koopa Bloodline in the name of selfishness, he wouldn't be siding with Bowser. Meanwhile, what I want to establish is the rightful rule of the rightful heirs; the rule that was respected the past millennium and must still be respected. The truth is on our side this time around. But if that somehow doesn't work, we have Spirit magic on our side. I want you to get him."
"Sir, I can't proceed with this request-"
"I've been doing everything you damn magikoopas wanted me to do. I got rid of the magikoopa traitors' hold on the Lux Aeterna and I gave you control of it. Now, do what I want," the gruff koopa interrupted, "You know what? I'll do this myself. No thanks to you useless dingbats."
"Master-"
Marcus pulls out his wand, closes his eyes and teleports out of the vicinity. A new hope fills the koopa—as if his father's ultimate goal might now be achievable. He, of course, must honor such goals—it's the least he could do to continue the legitimate Royal Koopa Bloodline and avenge his father's death.
He didn't want destruction, abuse and war like the magikoopas did. All he wants during his life is to make his late father proud by avenging him, no matter which direction he must take to achieve that goal. Even if that means playing into the magikoopas' hands.
Kamio shakes his head; Marcus's idea may work, but he fears they're only sliding down a slippery slope by attempting to lure a world-class spyon their team.
In her room, Peach lays on her bed and stares at the ceiling in bliss. For the first time in weeks, an immense peace and affirmation overcome her. She feels like everything's fitting together and she's finally seeing the big picture before her all this time. Her parents are safe, Jewelry Land's unofficially on their side, Sarasaland's out a leader, and with Bowser's endless dedication, their kingdoms will be restored.
She knows regaining control of the Mushroom Kingdom will only be one battle in an otherwise boorish culture war within the Continent. How will she regain the trust of the people, especially when they find out she's in a relationship with their declared enemy? How would she and Bowser simultaneously rule their kingdoms and still be together?
The two kingdoms could always host another referendum for Dark Land to become another land of the Mushroom Kingdom, but she knows it will fail. Every land, save for the global elites of Upper Sky Land, have a deep distrust towards Dark Land, and would thus reject any referendum proposals. On the other side, even Dark Land's business-heavy, globalized urban population hubs like Caldera rejected Mushroom Kingdom ascension by a slim majority in polling conducted by Darklandian firms, although the firms certainly have their own political agendas.
But perceptions always change, especially when her citizens realize the Mushroom Kingdom and Dark Land are more similar than others let it out to be, or the Koopa Troop aided in their liberation. Or they realize how sweet – yet admittedly misguided – Dark Land's Royal Family are.
Peach snaps out of her thoughts when she hears a knock, followed by the voice of one of Fret's servants.
"Missus? His Majesty King Fret's ready to meet with you in the Great Hall for the feast and meeting."
Although the door stands as a barrier between her and the servant, Peach nods before slipping on her heels and brushing her hair.
Other than Morton demanding crossword answers from Ludwig, and exchanged whispers between Wendy and Lemmy, silence dominates the last hour of the flight. Roy remains glued to the window, vigilant to the ground below them, while a bored Iggy taps his claws on his chair's armrests to melodies stuck in his head.
"Ay, nerd: the exaptation of this structure in males went from poisoning prey to solely attracting females."
'Fangs,'Iggy thought before Ludwig utters the answer. The scientist closes his eyes, and through his drowsiness, he notices the distortion in Morton's complaints. With his constant work managing his makeshift hospital and keeping injured soldiers alive, Iggy never realized how exhausted he was until that moment.
What feels like seconds later, Iggy's eyes snap open as the doomship lands. He stares out the windshield – they're at Float Castle's hangar. Their military options are only beginning. Ludwig, Roy, Morton and Wendy get up to leave. Iggy stretches his arms and yawns before sitting up and notices a remorseful Lemmy, sitting across from him.
"Well," Iggy grinned, "You look relaxed now."
"I could say the same to you," Lemmy sighed, "Iggy, I'm sorry."
Iggy raises a brow, "Sorry for what?"
"You know, shutting you down and everything. Not laughing or joking. The usual stuff we should be doing. I know it hurt you because I saw it, and that hurt me too. But everything was so intense up there, that I just brushed everything off."
"Oh, that?" Iggy gives Lemmy a sheepish smile, "Oh, that's nothing, Lemony. Y'know, we'll always be inseparable–"
"–like two collided freight trains: one that left Colossal City at 3:30PM traveling at 60 miles an hour west, and the other leaving Glacier City at 1:30PM and traveling 65 miles an hour east, who just happened to share the same track," Lemmy recited, "You told me that thing like twenty times."
"Fourteen times, excuse me! And they left at 3:24PM and 1:37PM! Otherwise, the fork would've prevented the collision at those speeds!" Iggy protested, "But that's what I mean! We're inseparable, bro. It just... Shocked me, I guess."
"That's why I hate commanding. I had to be serious. I had to be someone that I'm not," Lemmy shook his head, "And you installing those nuclear missiles on my doomship didn't help either. I don't wanna use them and open a can of wigglers."
"They're not nuclear missiles," Iggy shook his head.
Lemmy perks up, "They aren't? Well, that's a relief-"
"Nah. They're antimatter missiles. Ludwig and I developed them after bringing the cost of producing antimatter from a quadrillion coins a gram to just above ten billion. But just a gram of antimatter in a well-functioning modified Penning trap can turn a city into a positron-sanctioned case of annihilation and assured destruction! Trust me, that blast will make a nuke green with envy, and everything else just green from the gamma bath! Minus the long-term radioactivity, of course. Nukes dream of being antimatter when they grow up big and strong from eating their broccoli and kale! And those bad boys; they share about 2.71828 grams among them! I hated having to oil out Euler, but Dad said to do something natural-based as a weapon. Not sure that's what he wanted, but that's what he got! Best of all, I can create them as bullet bills small enough that a three-year-old can choke on them! But I didn't this time."
"... That's even worse, Ig... Thanks for making me feel so much better..." Lemmy sighed, "Maybe I'm just not built to command or to fight. I accepted it, but the others can't."
"I get it. I hate wars and fighting too. That's why I design the deadly weapons, not use them!" Iggy stated, "But you, Lemony... You did great. Stop being hard on yourself. It's destructive. It's like you're stuck between the ground and that pillar that crushed Mario in my castle on Yoshi's Island."
Lemmy grinned, "I'm glad you're back to using those stupid similes. Don't change!"
"Hey! I already said I don't study that humanidook stuff. I'm a world-renowned scientist, not some lexicon sage," Iggy explained, "But that's beside the point. Onward, soldier! We have a meeting we must attend!"
Lemmy rolls his eyes but holds back a giggle. Every time he believes he's the quirkiest koopaling, he's always outdone by Iggy. But he's glad everything's back to normal... For now.
Who knows what the battle plans have in store for him.
As Roy, Morton and Wendy walk out of the hangar together, Ludwig slacks behind them. Multiple thoughts fill his mind, from potential strategies to invention blueprints before Kamek's scolding came to mind. He sighed. Kamek's correct; for a successful takeover of the Lands, he must bury the hatchet.
"Roy?" Ludwig called out to the group. The trio halt before they turn to Ludwig, each surprised over Ludwig acknowledging them. They turn amongst each other and mouth inaudible words before Morton and Wendy walk off. Ludwig approaches Roy, who scowls at the eldest koopaling with his arms crossed.
"What?"
"Vell..." Ludwig cringed, already sensing a brewing trouble, "Ve dodged a bullet back zere. Marvelous teamvork, I must admit, especially coming from you."
"Yup," Roy rolls his eyes, "Whateva."
An awkward silence forms between the two. By now, Ludwig's unable to break the silence—he never had a heart-to-heart with Roy before, and he assumes the bully would make fun of the situation. Ludwig sighed; why did he do this?
As with Ludwig, discomfort appears on Roy's otherwise-brutish expression. He weighs the same consequences, from Ludwig teasing his true emotions to his "peacemaking" only implying a war declaration. Roy must've noticed Ludwig's discomfort, as he breaks the silence.
"Listen, Kooky," Roy started, "I know why you hate me. It's 'cus I whooped yer ass the first time I saw ya, wasn't it?"
"Vhy bring it up, Roy? Refrain from boasting," Ludwig commanded, "I don't vanna hear it."
"No, I ain't boasting. I just-"
"I don't care, Roy. Quit pretending like you aren't boasti-"
"DAMMIT KOOKY! Shaddap! Just shut yer damn mouth up for once in your stupid life and listen to me!" Roy seethed with his teeth clenched, "Do you know why I became strong? A good fighter? Because I was roughed up too! You don't think I know what it's like to appear weak, or a disappointment, or a damn pansy because I couldn't fight, just like you did since dat day? Or the reasons I originally got my shades were not to look cool, but to hide da look of fear in my eyes? The only difference was I did somethin' about it, while all you do is sit there and do nothin' but bitch about everything I do!"
At any other time, Ludwig would've lost his temper at Roy, but the eldest restrained himself. Roy didn't insult him; he only pointed out the truth, as harsh as it was. Ludwig was envious over his younger brother's honed combat skills, and he only used the jealousy as a stumbling block rather than a stepping stone.
"Roy, is zis about Luigi-"
"Shaddap! I'm not done! And don't ya ever mention dat name again!" Roy growled, "Man, I suck at dis feeling expressing thing! Every damn time I try, it only makes things worse, and you sayin' da shit you do ain't helpin', so zip it, you stinkin' nutcase, or I'll pound ya 'til you can't speak!"
Ludwig remains silent, not wanting to enrage his younger, yet mightier brother at that moment. The eldest koopaling admits; he feels for Roy in these moments. Dealing with his terrible, inner-strength-requiring circumstances growing up, Roy never learned how to identify or express his feelings in a healthy manner, leading to aggressive bursts like this.
Roy softens his scowl before sighing.
"Look, man," the koopaling stated in a calmer voice, "I hated you because Dad always liked you more than he liked me. You're da Crown Prince; I'm third in line after Lem. You got to pick any land you wanted to on our invasions; I got da leftovers as da fourth pick after you, Lem and our spoiled sis. I had to bust my ass just to get da basic attention you always receive, and even dat I don't get. You were rewarded for findin' more strength dan you had, but for me it was expected. But as I got older, I realized something: dat's on Dad, not on you. You're like how I am. You have flaws and dat kind of stuff. And you know what dey are. But you ain't tryna fix them. Instead, you tear me down, and it makes endin' my feud with you dat much harder to end. I know you're better dan dis, bro. I know it."
"Well, you're not vrong, Roy... I... May need self-reflection, especially because our feud almost got us killed back zere. Kamek reprimanded me for zat vun; he stated ze King shouldn't treat his generals in such a vay," Ludwig replied, dazed, "But don't you vant me to fail as King?"
"If I wanted you to fail, would I really torture myself with a billion hours of fighting, war games and chess at Academy just to learn military strategy for becomin' your future general?" Roy responded, "C'mon, Kooky! I hate chess! It's just I like Dark Land more! I want ya to be successful because dat means Dark Land will be, even if I hated you."
Ludwig smiled; Roy's always been the most patriotic of his siblings; the rest want to either run businesses, become famous stars or do any other line of work not involving Dark Land. Amid all his flaws, at least Roy's dependable.
"I appreciate ze vote of confidence."
"Hey, I'm not just a meathead, man! I can be smart if I wanna be!" Roy smirked, "Earth can teach ya a lot. Graduatin' at da School of Hard Knocks and all."
"Yeah, tell me about it," Ludwig giggled, "Ze fight didn't help, but I despised ze fact zat you grew up as a rich kid in Downtown Brooklyn, vhile Kamek and I busted our posteriors on our Austrian farm just to survive. You had freedom vhile I had to vake up at six in ze morning, and sleep by ten at night, every day. You had school, vhile I didn't. Everyzing I know, I had to teach myself or have Kamek teach me every hour before ve vent to sleep. Ve vere vun bad harvest avay from starvation."
"I wanted da family you had. I was free because I was alone, and because I was alone, I was... Depressed, and because I was depressed, I didn't feel free. So freedom was slavery to me," Roy sighed, "I wanted da work... Ethic? If dat's da right word. Work didn't mean much to me. I didn't need to do it to live, but for you, work was da difference between life or death. But for me, without da work, life felt meaningless. It felt worthless to me. Like I didn't matter. I had no routines. Dat's why I said it's annoyin' when people like you say dat rich kids always have it easy, but we didn't. Not because what we have, but how we grew up."
As Ludwig's about to respond, his doomship's hatch opens, and Lemmy and Iggy escape. Iggy runs up the steps and past his older brothers, while Lemmy follows him, albeit at a slower pace.
"Hi guys! It's so nice to see you guys talking together for once!" Lemmy exclaimed as he zooms by, "Gotta zip; can't be late for our meeting. See ya!"
Ludwig and Roy stare at Lemmy as he runs out of the corridor and towards the float castle's back entrance. Ludwig smiles at Lemmy's innocence before staring at Roy.
"Can ve just agree zat Lemmy had ze best, balanced childhood?"
"Definitely," Roy nodded, "Probably why he ain't hatin' on anyone, but we are."
"Are ve really zat bitter?" Ludwig sighed before holding out his hand towards Roy, "Here's ze olive branch, Roy: After zis is all over... Vant to train me more on fighting and strategy? I can exchange zat vith knowledge and perhaps more favoritism from Fazzer. Ve should attempt to better each ozzer zan tear each ozzer down."
"Done deal, man," Roy continues smirking as he shakes Ludwig's hand, "But don't expect me to be all kissy-kissy to you, bro. We're still rivals and will always be."
"Agreed. Please refrain from sucking up to me. Zat vill be too peculiar."
"Yup," Roy agreed, "And don't you ever tell anyone about dis conversation, or I WILL follow through on my threats. Got it?"
"Fine, vhatever, Roy. I von't let anyvun know how much of a softie you are."
Roy smirks, "Good. I have a reputation to keep around dese parts."
"Zis has been a razzer wholesome discussion, but it's necessary for us to go back to ze others."
"Yup."
As Ludwig and Roy walk away, Kamek casts a visibility spell to remove his invisibility. He smirks at the duo. They're getting along now; that's one part of his mission concluded. Now, he must reveal the entire mystery to the others and to reestablish order in the world.
NOTES: And that's a wrap!
As seen, Darklandian Koopish is pretty much Latin, with "Lupus in fābulā" meaning "the wolf in the story" or another way of saying "Speak of the Devil."
Anyway, thanks for reading!