Thank you everyone for the kind words so far on this story. I hope I can keep it interesting...
Disclaimer: I do not own King Bowser Koopa (oh wait that's a lie... I owe a Bowser figure I got from Barnes & Knobles? I'm too lazy to double check) But I don't own the rights to King Koopa, Paratroopas, or any of the other characters... They're own by Nintendo... I'm pretty sure... but I'm too lazy to confirm it...
Day 4-
I awoke with Loki gently shaking me. "Time to get up maggot," Loki grinned. "Today's the day you get to meet the king."
"Yes sir," I answered hurrying to my feet. My chain jolted the other prisoners awake. Jimmy growled shooting me a dirty look.
"Eager little maggots aint they," Kol roared with laughter. I couldn't help blushing. I scrambled to my feet thinking I was the last one up not the first. "Rejoice worms for your journey ends today."
After walking through another 50 miles of jungle, we emerged at the start of a large stone grey city.
"Wow," I gasped.
"Welcome to the Darklands," Loki directed at me while appearing beside me. The comment only elicited groans from the other prisoners.
My eyes studied the many stone homes and the different species living within them. There were numerous turtles in a variety of colored shells. They ranged from green, red, yellow, and of course blue. Several shells had wings and others were hanging from ropes resembling clothes lines.
"Koopa Troopas and Paratroopas," Loki informed following my line of sight. "We compose the majority of Darklandians and," he added when I took a double take at a head with feet "They're Goombas."
Murmurs rose from the growing crowd as we paraded through the street. "What are you looking at human?"
"More prisoners for his majesty," another voice said.
"Heh, heh," a goomba laughed. "Fresh meat!"
That comment made the other prisoners cry out in fear but not me. I know I was supposed to be afraid. My life as I knew it was over and my head yelled at me. 'You're doomed' and 'You're going to die' but for whatever reason my body wasn't trembling, my heart wasn't racing, and my breathing remained calm and collected.
"They're Boos," Loki continued the tour identifying a couple floating balls.
I could barely contain my excitement and wanted to ask questions but held my tongue in fear of getting Loki in trouble. I noticed the temperature rose dramatically as we crossed the town.
After going another 50 miles, I found out why when a large castle carved into the side of a volcano appeared on the opposite side of a four mile long stone bridge.
"Wow," I gaped awestruck with so much childlike wonder it made Loki and even Kol start chuckling. I flushed with embarrassment when I saw the two exchange glances. Diverting my eyes downward, I saw a river of lava flowing beneath the bridge.
"Now's our chance, run," Jimmy yelled making the other prisoners moved in a panicked unison but they fell when our tether snapped since I wasn't moving with them.
The green shelled lieutenant smirked in my direction before ordering us across the bridge. We passed under an enormous gate that slammed shut behind us. The other prisoners jumped out of their skins while I did everything I could to suppress my laughter. Jimmy wasn't amused.
"Why are you laughing? Now it's for real," Jimmy raged with tears streaming. "We're trapped!"
"Sorry. I just think they shut it for dramatic effect," I answered trying not to smile but failing miserably at it.
"I can't believe you're enjoying this," Jimmy growled as we walked across the courtyard. "I'll kill you before this is over."
I ignored the mushroom noticing another series of homes along the courtyard as we approached the castle doors. Loki saw my head twist trying to keep a stone sculptor of an alligator-face shelled creature in my field of vision.
"That's a replica of his majesty," Loki informed. "Pictures and statues of his excellence run throughout the castle."
"King Koopa is full of himself," Jimmy whispered audible enough for everyone to hear but before the guards could react I pretended to trip pulling the mushroom to the ground.
"Sorry sir," I said to Loki scrabbling to my feet. The blue shell turtle nodded and lead us into the castle.
Staring in awe as the castle's insides ranged over 40 feet high and ran deep enough to fit half of the city outside. Even the other prisoners gasped at the keep's impressiveness.
The koopa troopas led us along an endless red carpet that branched out into every subsequent corridor. I studied as much detail of every picture, painting, or statue we passed as I could. It was difficult since there was a new image every 10 feet.
As we walked I had a chance to look inside a few open doors and saw sitting rooms, a kitchen, and 4 massive dining rooms. You know the kind rich people have that you need binoculars to see the closest person to you. I wondered how hard it would be to hear the people sitting at the two ends of the table.
We passed many people that looked more like servants than slaves to me anyway. All of them looked at us… No… Not us… Me? They all looked at me with the same level of resentment Jimmy's been using.
Kol paused the group when we reached a dead end. At least that's what I thought until I saw the wall start shifting. My head tilted toward an open door with a large turtle like creature with a rounded head.
It was a brownish orange reptile whose size and girth was triple that of Kol's and Loki's combine. The creature had large claws on the tip of its claw-like hands and feet.
It began doing pushups revealing spikes protruding from his shell. "Cool" slipped from my mouth drawing the turtle's attention. We locked eyes. I knew I should look away but I couldn't. Studying his features, I noticed his head was a bit too large for its body and half of its face was gray instead of the brownish orange that covered the rest of it.
Neither of us turned away, maybe it was a power thing but it didn't feel like it. I couldn't turn away because I wanted to go talk to it. I'm not sure why it wouldn't turn its head. Maybe it was the power thingy or maybe it just didn't know what to do.
I slowly raised my bound hand to offer a wave when Loki pulled the rope hard moving me forward. I looked at the turtle disbelievingly then quickly apologized. "Sorry sir."
"You were holding up the line," he shot back as cruelly as he could.
"Sorry sir," I apologized again shifting my eyes downward after I realized the wall had finished moving revealing a long corridor.
Jimmy whispered snidely, "Are you still where you want to be?"
I ignored the fungus and turned back toward the door before we started moving again. Loki appeared beside me again. He had an apologetic look in his eyes. I wish I could talk openly to him.
Kol led our group into an enormous throne room as cavernous as the foyer. Lining the prisoners before an empty chair, the koopa troopas chained each one of us to the floor. Bain, Ed, Simon, and Jimmy lowered their heads and broke into tears.
My brain told me to at least mimic their actions but I couldn't help myself. I turned my head left and right seeing beautiful stained glass images of the king. The glow from the lava pit outside projected the design onto the ceiling disrupted by elegant chandeliers spaced proportionately apart. Their crystals sparkled rainbows reflecting the stain glass light.
Loki nudged my arm then motioned toward the kneeling guards and prisoners. I copied their position then faced the throne where smoke billowed from behind it. The grayish black smoke completely swallowed the chair.
When it finally dissipated my mouth involuntarily smiled so widely my cheeks puffed making my eyes nearly bulge from their sockets. I saw Loki smirk triumphantly from the corner of my eye. Blushing I tried erasing my stupid grin by averting my eyes but I couldn't look away for long and felt the smile reappear each time I glanced upward. Finally I gave up and just watch the new king before me.
Occupying the throne while my head tilted upward, my eyes first fell upon two massive sized yellow scaled feet that were two and a half feet wide each with three 6 inch toes tipped by 4 inch long white claws. As my eyes shifted up the massive feet, they registered knees and thighs as thick as redwood tree trunks that extended from a sandy yellow under shell.
Normally the under shell on quad legged turtles are soft but his was rippled resembling the rock hard abs of bodybuilders. If the shell was removable like the ones I had seen in the streets then perhaps the shell molded to his abdomen accenting his features like wet T-shirts do.
Continuing the imprint of my king in my mind's eye, I chuckled seeing that he wore a spike dog collar reminding me of the gothic kids at school. He, also, wore spiked armlets and spiked bracelets on both arms that were as thick as tree branches. Three fingers and a thumb housed 4 inch long claws of their own rapped impatiently against the armrest of the chair.
My eyes finally trained on his green face hiding behind an enormous sand colored closed muzzle. Red bushy eyebrows masked red eyes and spiky red hair hid curved white horns easily 10 inches long.
I blushed when I saw the superior look of amusement staring back at me. I realized the silence in the room and impatient rapping of the fingers were because of me. I should have looked away in fear but I couldn't. I was transfixed.
"Impressed bug," the king directed at me in a narcissistic tone revealing rows of sharp pearl white teeth. "Are you impressed by your new master's appearance?"
"Yes, my lord," I smiled excitedly.
My reaction must have been unexpected, well to everyone except Loki, because everyone including the king seemed surprised by it. The king lingered on me a whole minute stroking his chin. "As you should be, maggot," he finally responded full of arrogance.
'Don't laugh' my brain told me and I tried containing it as a silent chuckle but once the air escaped my parting lips I entered into a fit of laughter. Apparently it was another unexpected response as I realized only I found his arrogance humorous. Nobody else shared in my enjoyment not even the guards well maybe the king did. I swear I saw a satisfactory look in his eyes.
"Forgive my ignorance your highness," I bowed trying to suppress the remnants of the joke. "I am new to your land," I lifted my eyes. "I apologize for the disrespect I've just displayed."
The king studied me for another minute stroking his chin. Huh… Do turtles have chins? "You're a strange prisoner," he smirked. "You're not acting like a person whose life has just ended, freedoms been lost."
I remained silent but didn't break eye contact. Well I guess "couldn't" is a more appropriate word. He seemed confused and I didn't want to risk increasing it making him angry.
The turtle rose from his throne and turned his whole body sideways toward the other prisoners. Child like wonder swelled my eyes again registering the back of his shell. It was green with massive spikes spaced evenly running the length of the reptile's back.
At the bottom of the shell, a short but massive tail tipped with two large spikes swayed slightly when he walked. Perhaps it works like a counter weight so the king could maintain his balance. Maybe even for all Koopas, recalling Loki's tail sway when he was carrying me.
I took his continued pause as a sign to speak. "Again, I am new to your land your majesty." I drew his gaze, "I simply do not know to be afraid."
"That maybe true," the king said considering while turning to the other trembling prisoners. "You're friends seem to understand."
"Friends," Jimmy gasped in a whisper.
"But how fearless are you? Kamek," the jumbo sized turtle bellowed.
Almost instantly a new turtle appeared in a cloud of smoke beside King Koopa. He resembled a witch or a wizard dressing in a blue robe that would have covered him from head to toe if not for layering atop brown boots. He, also, wore a blue pointed hat, and thick lenses set in black framed glasses.
"Yes, Lord Bowser," the wizard surveyed the prisoners reminding me a gremlin. He made a face when his eyes fell upon me. Probably because I stared back at him; he was a wizard turtle after all. It's still pretty cool. "A sorry lot if you ask me."
"Perhaps. Trust spell," Bowser ordered.
Sighing "As you command," Kamek pulled a wand out of thin air. Cool. While brandishing it, a glowing light emerged from the tip striking each prisoner. "Ready sire."
"Let's see the level of your ignorance," King Koopa said directing his words at me. "Do you trust your life in your new master's hands?"
The other prisoners turned away and the guards ran as far away from us as possible including Loki. I responded confidently "Completely."
"We'll see," the king said with a smug look on his face. He took a deep breath then exhaled a massive inferno directly at the prisoners. The mushroom, horse, wolf, and shy guy each coward in fear and panic.
To say that I wasn't afraid would be a lie. I mean it was a wall of fire coming toward me. Who wouldn't be scared? My head told me to pull away and ordered my body to run but I was tethered in place so there was nowhere to run too.
This was a trust exercise. I willed my body to stand its ground and willed my eyes to remain open when the fire hit. It swirled all around me. I felt the heat generated by the flame but it didn't burn or even blister my skin.
Gazing in awe as the fire danced before my eyes, it changed into different images, exploded and burned different colors. I reached my bound hands toward an animal that took shape in the flame. It pulled away every time I stretched for it. My stupid brain told me to stop trying to touch it but a different fire fueled my desire. It said damn the consequences you have to hold it in your hand.
Suddenly when I thought I had finally caught the animal, the flame world around me vanished and I found myself back in King Koopa's court. He was laughing in the direction of the other prisoners. All four of them screamed as if they were being burned alive even though there was no fire around them. It left me wondering if I had imaged everything.
King Koopa's laughter stopped abruptly when his eyes fell upon me. It was either a very good or very bad sign. The rest of his court fell silent when they realized the king was no longer laughing. I grew a little nervous looking around the room. Spotting a half smiling Loki, my confidence returned and I smiled excitedly at the king.
"Interesting," the large reptile stroked his chin. "Kamek, how many prisoners have come through the Trust test unscathed?"
"None sire," Kamek answered.
"Interesting," King Koopa went back into his thoughts. Both of them stared at me.
Kamek broke the stare, "Why are you smiling insect?"
"That was awesome," I blurted out excitedly. My head turned toward King Koopa. "That was the coolest thing I've ever seen. Thank you, your highness."
"Insolent worm! Your life is over," Kamek growl. "Aren't you afraid?"
Say 'Yes' my head commanded but my mouth had its own mind. "No," I answered. 'Stop talking' my brain ordered but my mouth refused to listen. "My king is a giant fire breathing talking turtle! He's too cool!"
"King Koopa isn't cool," Kamek grumbled. "He is a notorious leader known for his ruthlessness and ruling with an iron claw. His name is to be feared and instill panic."
"I apologize," I bowed my head at the floor. "I'm new to this world." I looked at the king whose eyes seemed trained on me. "But to me. King Koopa is the coolest creature alive!"
Kamek raised his wand. "I'll install the proper fear into you-," the robed turtle gasped when King Koopa stopped the wand's descent.
"Enough," Bowser said.
"But sire," Kamek responded as if in shock. "The human needs to learn respect." I watched the robed reptile fall silent from a menacing glance given by the king. The look implied "You dare question me!"
King Koopa rose from his throne. "It's not every day that we receive such an eager little bug," Bowser paused a moment looking at me again. "I haven't decided if I like it yet." The king turned to his robed viceroy, "And for the record. I am cool."
I let out a half laugh before I could swallow all of it. King Koopa seemed amused by my reaction but Kamek wasn't. He shot me another look of such disdain that I knew he would never like me. That's alright though. I really only wanted to meet the king anyway. Hopefully I've made a good enough impression not to be eaten.
King Koopa's attention shifted to the other prisoners whom all lay in heaps on the castle floor. Their once screams of pain had transformed into gentle sobbing. "Most prisoners look like your friends before they become slaves or lunch," he said.
I laughed again seeing the king smirking again. I wonder why nobody else laughs at his jokes. However, I was jarred back to reality by an angry voice.
"Friends," Jimmy boiled with rage rising from his knees finding his voice. "Don't go lumping us with him." The fungus's tone turned ice cold. "He is not our friend!"
"Seems to be a feisty one," Kamek mused to Bowser. The king appeared annoyed by the mushroom's interruption.
Tears streamed Jimmy's face as he continued, "He's the reason we're here. He's the reason we've been caught." The mushroom shouted directing his words at me but his eyes went beyond me. "Why…
"Why!? We wouldn't have been in this mess if you had let me kill him when he was knocked out," Jimmy cried.
The comment sent shock through the court. I did my best to block Jimmy's line of sight to Loki. The mushroom's rant continued, "But no! Instead you stole my sword after breaking my arm, Ed's jaw, and gave Bain a black eye defending your blue shelled monster!"
I felt the courts' eyes train on me and then at Loki. "Why? All so that you could meet the king," Jimmy finished.
Collective gasps rung throughout the hall, Damn you Jimmy! Truthfully I really wanted to see King Koopa's reaction when he found out. I wondered if it was one of shock or awe or indifference but now I'll never know because something told me not to take my eyes off of the fungus. Damn it Jimmy!
"You had your chance to run but you chased us and got caught. It's your own fault you are here," I answered sounding insincere.
"I'll kill you," Jimmy yelled at the top of his lungs trying to undo his restraints.
King Koopa bellowed with laughter making Jimmy calm down instantly. He drew both of our attention. He had settled back into his chair.
"It seems our little bugs are eager to begin the next test. Very well," Koopa snapped his claws like normal fingers. "Guards escort your prisoners to the coliseum.
"Make sure they are ready by sundown. They are tonight's entertainment," the king ordered.
A cheer erupted from the court. "Loki, a word," King Koopa commanded after we were released from the floor. Kol and his ground pound squad led the way.
Navigating another red carpet, I attempted to absorb the layout of the castle since I'll be living here (albeit as a slave). I'm still going to need to know my way around. Right? But there were so many twists and turns I had to give up learning the labyrinth when my head started hurting. Besides without Loki around, Kol treated the whole group a little rougher.