He's always thought the existence of a guidebook was hilarious. He's only read it to break every rule in the book.

How Iggy Breaks the Rule

Too many Toads. Too many Yoshi. Too many Goombas. Too many Shy Guys. Too many Koopas!

Iggy didn't expect the movie theater to be so packed on a Wednesday evening, but with the disparate movie list containing plenty of long-awaited sequels; he should have predicted many movie-goers to reach the same conclusion as him and decide a weekday wouldn't be as busy as opening weekend.

He feels a stray elbow bump into his shell as the line for tickets moves an inch. Agitated, he sinks his fangs into his lip, fighting the urge to scare the fungus brave enough to bump into him without an apology. He despises being sandwiched between so many warm annoyances at once when he could be surrounded by the welcoming chill of cold machines instead.

A clique of bumbling Toads gush about some boring romance movie recieving an unnecessary sequel behind him and a pair of Koopa Troopas making constant googly eyes at each other are ahead of him, whispering sweet nothings to the other. Gross. He's surrounded by undesirable filth.

Why did he agree to this again? He pulls on the strings of his hoodie, hoping to eventually be sucked into a void if he pulls hard enough. He could be in his lab right now, conducting an experiment for fun.

"I can't wait!" Toadette shrieks, throwing her hands excitedly in the air and interrupting his sorrowful moping. Iggy nearly jumps out of his scales, not expecting her to be so disruptive. A couple of Toads intermingling with a colorful selection of Yoshi in front of them turn their heads to questionably stare at them.

Iggy winces, pulling the hood of his inconspicuous blue hoodie tighter over his head to hide his easily distinguishable green hair. He haunches forward to shadow his recognizable face and maybe appear a few feet shorter. His height, for once, isn't a big help either since he towers over most of the customers buzzing around the entrance of the cinema even when he's slightly crouched.

The whole 'hiding his identity' thing had been Toadette's idea since they're technically still in Mushroom Kingdom territory, but he didn't care enough to see her point on the matter until she began to fuss. So what if he causes a Toad to pee his pants out of fear? Actually, it would be pretty hilarious to witness.

Toadette quickly reassured him—as if his feelings were so fragile to need reassurance—it wasn't because she was embarrassed to be seen with him, but because she wanted to avoid causing a scene and having their movie end prematurely.

Sure, Koopas not affiliated with Bowser are welcomed into the kingdom with reluctantly open arms, but Iggy Koopa, adopted child of Bowser and technically fifth in line for the throne, was a big, fat no. Paired with his already horrid reputation, he's the first Koopaling who'd be chased out of town (maybe even before Roy.)

Toadette can't afford any avoidable variables ruining her movie if the guards decide to make a spectacle and drag him out the front gates of Toad Town by his hair. According to the frazzled tizzy she had on the phone, she needed to see this movie because the longer she had to wait to see it, the more stir crazy she became. She acted as if seeing it was detrimental to her health, begging Iggy (out of all her friends she definitely has) to go with her.

Baffled at the random invitation, he had to inquire why. Rarely do they hang out or converse outside of race tournaments, besides the occasional snarky text message exchange. Toadette claimed he was the only one brave enough to handle all the gore, and as a lover of horror movies himself; he's seen the first two movies while her other friends of her own species have not.

Iggy hesitantly agreed to go with her after sitting through her nonstop begging, risking the possibility of ending up in the Mushroom Kingdom's dungeon—which would be a thrilling new experience for him; he can already imagine Bowser's tired sigh when he receives that phone call.

Still, he's not about to try and risk getting incarcerated because—maybe he is a little excited to see the movie too? He can really do without her raucous elation blowing his cover, though.

Iggy releases a low, irritated growl. "Stop, you're drawing attention to us," he hisses, pulling her along to catch up with the rest of the line.

Toadette looks apologetic for about two seconds before she slingshots back to her chipper self. "But this is supposed to be the bloodiest and goriest movie out of the three! I can't wait!"

Iggy snorts, scanning the crowd for any possible Toad seconds away from screaming at the sight of him. "I can't believe a Toad actually likes gore and horror movies." His devilish gaze falls to her, ready to mercilessly tease her as a form of revenge. "Don't you usually cower and scream for help in the face of danger?"

Toadette huffs, cheeks flushing red as she places her hands on her hips, clearly insulted. "For your information, I've played hide-and-seek in a graveyard with Toad numerous times and never got scared!"

"You're so brave," Iggy mocks dryly.

Toadette scoffs loudly, offended. "I'm not sharing my popcorn with you," she pouts, crossing her arms defiantly.

When it's their turn to snag a ticket, Iggy lingers at a distance, careful to avoid detection from the Toads manning the counter by scrolling aimlessly through his phone, a hand in the pocket of his hoodie like an angsty teens on television shows. It works, no one pays him any mind as they walk past him towards the lobby.

With an elated squeal, Toadette waves the tickets above her head triumphantly. He snickers as she excitedly drags him through the glass doors, adding her tiny handprint to the dozens splattered onto the glass. She leads him to the concession stand for snacks, talking happily about the possibility of witnessing dismemberment and ghostly apiritions seeking revenge on their murderers as he absentmindedly nods along, alert and scanning for trouble.

Which is so unlike him to be this attentive to the outside world around him. It must be because he's finally decided he definitely wants to see this movie too. His observant, scientific nature will ensure he does.

He watches Toadette order the largest popcorn bucket and two small drinks that can't be legally defined as small. He's surprised she knows exactly what drink he wants (ginger ale) and allows her to fish over the coins to pay since she said everything was on her. It had been one of the agreements she promised to him in order to persuade him into joining her.

After snatching at the popcorn and demanding Iggy carry the drinks, she waddles over to grab napkins and straws and add butter to her bucket. He smirks knowingly when she starts to smother her popcorn in butter, submerging all the unlucky popcorn victims at the bottom of the bucket in a greasy sludge.

He cautiously eyes the theater lobby as he waits for her to stop drowning her popcorn in fat, spotting the entrance leading to the labyrinth of hallways towards different theaters. He admits he missed trips to the theater, suddenly nostalgic.

The predominant smell of popcorn wafting in the air, the buzzing excitement of chattering strangers gushing over the same interests as him, and his seven siblings brawling over what movie to see while he throws in a few comments to stir the pot before Bowser breaks up the fight and settles the debate by choosing a car chase movie.

Toadette suddenly grabs his arm, directing him towards the employee scanning tickets. They're in the clear. Now all they have to do is make it past the gate to their assigned theater where he'll be shrouded in darkness and pretty much unrecognizable.

"Is that Iggy K-koopa?"

Iggy overhears someone say, stopping in his tracks. He glances slightly over his shoulder to spot a pair of red Toads rudely gawking and pointing at him, singling him out amongst the gathering crowds in the theater lobby. He stiffens, very much alert to his surroundings now. He ignores Toadette's impatient whining, eavesdropping on the red Toads' conversation.

"What's he doing here?!" the one whispers to the other, sparing Iggy only a fleeting glance.

"Where's Mario?" is the predictable reply.

Iggy turns his entire body in their direction, brewing up his most intimidating sneer when Toadette squeezes his arm. The pressure of her hand magically loosens his hold on their drinks before his claws puncture through the cardboard cups and he's not sure why he's feeling more relaxed. She sighs heavily, like she expected this to happen and is currently kissing her movie ticket goodbye.

Iggy momentarily feels a pang of guilt before denying its existence, rolling his eyes, spouting out a puff of smoke because she's stopping the fun before it happens. How dull. If he's going to be chased out of town or thrown into a dungeon, at least let him cause some mayhem first.

Putting on an amazing deadpan expression, Toadette twirls to face the gallant red Toad gutsy enough to approach them. He holds his large popcorn bucket in front of his chest like a shield—or perhaps a weapon? Iggy is certain even the Toad doesn't know how he'll wield it either.

"He kidnapped me. I need you to go get Mario," Toadette states impassively to the shivering Toad dropping popcorn kernels at his feet from his vicious quaking fit. His friend has long since bailed on him. Weird, Iggy never saw the other Toad make his hasty retreat.

They are quick, persistent little buggers, like cockroaches you can't kill. Except Toadette… she's… Iggy cannot properly define what she is unless he plans to go spelunking in the depths of his mind for the word he's looking for.

Friend, maybe? He doesn't exactly make friends, though.

Oh well, it's not important.

Wait. Hold on. Did she just say he kidnapped her?

With bulging eyes, Iggy watches the trembling Toad nod his round head, disregarding all logic to buy into Toadette's false declaration. The red Toad scampers off towards the entrance of the movie theater like he's stumbling courageously off into a perilous journey fraught with danger.

The Toad leaves an impressive trail of spilled popcorn behind him that causes a Shy Guy custodian to groan audibly, shaking his head like he's two minutes away from quitting his job.

Iggy shoots Toadette an incredulous stare, agape mouth twisting downward into a scowl as his eyebrows plunge to his narrowed eyes. He can only imagine the consequences he'll suffer due to her untrue and absurd statement. He didn't accept her invitation only to receive a beat down afterwards.

"Why would you say that?" he asks with a tinge of venom on his tongue.

She casts him a side-eye view. "Mario and Luigi are in New Donk City for the day," Toadette explains, shifting the popcorn bucket in her arms. "It'll take him a while to get to the castle and for Mario to come back. We probably have about two hours."

"The movie is an hour and a half long," Iggy points out.

Toadette nods. "Exactly. Hopefully we'll be gone before they come back to—" she air quotes the next set of words with her free hand not securely cradling her popcorn, "'save me.'"

Iggy grins proudly at her, poking her with his elbow. "And they say I'm a devious schemer."

She giggles and pops a lone piece of popcorn into her mouth. She chews through it then shrugs innocently. "You're a bad influence."

Roy's story is the struggle… Lemmy's has been done for a while and Ludwig's needs a few tweaks, but Roy's is… like… four paragraphs in. So much for finishing before October ends. Oh well.