Chapter 10 Mood Swings

Lemmy pressed his lips together, and when he released them, a popping sound escaped from his mouth. He repeated this practice multiple times, giddily relishing in the addicting sound as he played with Ernesta. After making her dance around for a bit, he decided that he might as well have a conversation with her.

"Why, Lemmy!" He made the Princess say. "You sure sound much more manly today!"

Lemmy giggled. "Thanks, Ernesta! I'm borrowing my brother's voice." He smirked. "And have you also noticed my full head of hair?"

"Oh yes! It's so shiny and full! Very dreamy!"

Lemmy actually blushed. "Why thank you. Ludwig sure does take care of his appearance!" He tapped on the front tooth. "Still not one hundred percent sold on this tooth, though." He made Ernesta nod before smiling again. "I bet Ludwig is having the time of his life performing."

Ernesta smirked. "Ludwig? Having the time of his life performing?"

"Well, yeah. Performing is one of the best things ever. It's more than sure to help him feel happy."

Ernesta giggled. "You're right! You're absolutely right!" She looked back at the other monkeys on Lemmy's bed. "Well, I want to take a nap. I have a certain Man of Wool that I need to dream about."

Lemmy snickered. "Captain Calcetin?"

"You betcha!" Lemmy took her back over to the bed. "Have a good day, Lemonade."

"As you wish, your highness." With that, Lemmy put Ernesta back on the bed. He let out a squeal of delight before also toppling head first onto his mattress like a domino. "Oh man." He put his hand to his throat. "I really like Ludwig's voice. It sounds so sophisticated." He giggled and sighed. "Man. I can't believe I'm Ludwig right now."

It really was a once in a lifetime experience. Heck, it was such a treat that Lemmy didn't even know if he could appropriately describe it as that! He was seeing through the eyes of someone else. This was...awesome. It was something no Koopa had ever experienced before, and would most likely not get a chance to experience after. Lemmy considered himself very lucky.

Especially since it was Ludwig whom he had swapped with. Lemmy really had hoped beyond hope that there could have been a way for him and his brother to get closer. And lo and behold, his prayers had been answered. Sure, being in Lemmy's body had clearly distressed the oldest Koopaling. This had obviously worried Lemmy; he could relate to the initial feeling of awkwardness that had plagued Ludwig's mind. But that worry didn't have to last forever. Iggy would find the duplighost, the catalyst to the Swap, within no time at all. Then, everything would be back to normal.

Lemmy turned over on his belly. "While this won't last forever, I do want to enjoy it while it does." He groaned. "I just wish that I could actually experience spending time as Ludwig as opposed to just staying locked up in the room." When those words escaped his lips, something occurred to him. "Although…" he smiled and rubbed his chin. "Now that I have his voice, nothing in the rulebook says I have to wait."

It was a crazy idea. But then again, Ludwig was out performing. Therefore, there was nothing stopping Lemmy from having a little fun of his own.

Grinning, Lemmy hopped out of bed and rushed out into the hall. He barreled down the carpet like a bullet bill, fully content with the world and everything in it.

"WOOHOO!" He exclaimed. He did dome twirls as he ran. He was covering such great distance within such a short amount of time, and he wasn't even tired yet! "Running with a longer stride is amazing!"

He jumped and leapt. Every once in a while, he would do a cartwheel. It was difficult considering that Ludwig's center of gravity was different from Lemmy's, but again, Lemonade Koopa loved a challenge. He tried again and again before finally mastering the trick.

"I love this!" He said as he did a handstand. He wobbled, shook, and ultimately fell flat on Ludwig's face. He didn't mind though. This was a learning experience, and learning experiences weren't without their mess ups. Ultimately, Lemmy couldn't help but laugh.

"Master Ludwig?"

Lemmy looked up and beamed. "Shelldon! Tortuga!" He bounced to his feet as the Koopa troopa stared at him, perplexed. "It's a lovely day isn't it?"

The Koopa troopa couple exchanged a look. They looked taken aback, as if seeing Ludwig of all people in a giddy mood was equivalent to spotting a cryptic. However, after a while, they smiled back at him. They probably reasoned in their heads that "Ludwig" had just woken up on the right side of the bed for a change.

"It sure is," said Tortuga.

"I especially love how there's no smog outside," said Shelldon.

"Oh, I know," said Lemmy. "Smog just puts a damper on everyone's mood. You would think that we Koopas would establish a Kingdom in a far more suitable location."

"Yeah. Seriously," Tortuga said with a snicker.

"It is very nice to see that you're in a good mood today, Master Ludwig. Normally, you're a little….um…"

"Iffy?" Lemmy asked.

Sheldon's face turned crimson. "I mean no disrespect towards royalty, but...yeah."

Lemmy laughed. "You don't need to give me any special treatment just because I'm royalty! If anything…" he hugged Shelldon, going out of his way to squeeze him extra tight. "Since we're all Koopas, I consider us all family."

Tortuga looked surprised. "Wow. That sounds like something Lemmy would say."

Lemmy's heart stopped in his tracks. Oh no! He was being too much like himself! He needed to act more like Ludwig!

"Uh, I mean…" he slowly let go of Shelldon. He blinked for a minute before putting on his best grumpy face. "How dare you compare me to Lemmy! I am the great and mighty Ludwig von Koopa!"

Shelldon and Tortuga blinked, taken aback by the sudden change in demeanor that the koopa in front of them displayed.

"That...that was never in question," Shelldon said.

"Master Ludwig, are you okay? You seem a little off today."

Lemmy smirked. "Off? I am most certainly not off! Like I said, I am Ludwig von Koopa!" He twirled around. "I look like Ludwig from every possible angle, don't I?"

"Uh...yes. You do," said Tortuga.

"Again, you being Ludwig was never in question."

Lemmy chuckled nervously. "Well, it's good that we have my identity down pat." He started scooting away. "Now, if you excuse me, I have some very mature and Ludwig-like things that I wish to do today."

Sheldon and Tortuga exchanged a look before ultimately shrugging and going on their Merry little way. Once they were gone, Lemmy put his hand to his chest and let out a sigh of relief.

"That was way too close for comfort." He puffed out his chest. "From now on, no more fun! I've got to be serious! This is a serious body I'm in!"

With that, he marched forward with a scowl on his face. The Koopa troopa servants who he passed this time around made sure to stay as far away from him as possible, and he didn't bother to greet them either. He just marched, marched, marched, looking as serious as a category five hurricane. It wasn't until he got to the hallway near the courtyard that his scowling fit was put to an end by…

"Hello, Ludwig!" said Bowser. "Nice to see you." Lemmy just stared on ahead, the scowl still plastered firmly to his face. Bowser blinked. "What are you doing? Is there a reason you look constipated?" "

"I'm not constipated," said Lemmy. "I'm serious."

"Ohhh. Well, do you think you can tone back the seriousness just a little bit? I have a favor I want to ask you."

Lemmy raised an eyebrow. "A favor?" Ooh, he would have to do a task as Ludwig! This could be interesting. "What kind of favor?"

"Well, next week, I want to go to a party. However, I have no way of entertaining my guests. I was wondering if you could work your magic and write a song for them?"

Lemmy's eyes grew wide as saucers. "You...you want me to write a song!"

Bowser looked from side to side. "Yeah. That's what I just said."

Lemmy's smiled the biggest of all smiles and wrapped Bowser in a hug. "Oh, thank you Bowser! Thank you, thank you, thank you! This is the most amazing opportunity!" He could be just like his older brother!

Bowser chuckled. "Ehr, um, yes." He cleared his throat and pulled away from the hug. "I want that song by tonight."

"Yes! Of course! I won't let you down!" Bowser nodded and went away. As he did, Lemmy looked as amazed as can be. "I'm going to write a song!" He jumped up and down. "I'm going to write a song!" He laughed, ran out to the courtyard, and yelled at the top of his lungs "THIS IS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE!"