Hi Guys... This might be the last Chapter for a little bit... I have days in my head... I'm just having trouble getting to them but don't worry I'm still trying to hammer it out... Thanks...
Disclaimer: I do not own the rites to any characters in the Darklands. King Koopa does maggots... Bwa ha ha ha w/ Nintendo's muscle.
Night 4-
Before entering the coliseum Kol separated the prisoners between the three other guards. Each one took either, Ed, Bain, and Simon into different entrances leaving Kol with me and Jimmy still bound together.
"We're waiting for Loki," Kol answered my silent question. I nodded waiting quietly.
Jimmy started fidgeting and slowly began panicking. He wanted to run, taking his chances trying to escape the castle, but I kept him in place. "Please let us go," the mushroom pleaded on deaf ears. "Please, I don't want to fight."
Kol ignored him. I wonder if this is a normal reaction. Probably I told myself. Truth is I didn't want to fight either. I know there was no guarantee that's what was going to happen but it was a logical conclusion. Especially since King Koopa implied it after Jimmy said he wanted to kill me. It was a coliseum after all.
I offered Jimmy a smile. "Look on the bright side. At least you'll get your chance to kill me," I saw Kol's head tilt to us.
"This isn't a joke," the mushroom yelled. "I don't want to die and you took my sword."
"I'm sure they'll have weapons in the arena," I answered. "Maybe they'll have a sword."
"This isn't a game," Jimmy cried. "Do you want to die?"
"Not really," I said truthfully. "But I knew that was a possibility when a chose to meet the king."
There was a pause before Kol surprised me. "Was it worth it," he asked. "Giving up everything to meet him?"
I didn't even hesitate. "Yes! He's the coolest person ever! Did you see him breathe fire? His claws and spikes were huge! And he was funny," I spoke with enthusiasm and childish wonder. "I'm glad I didn't runaway.
"I hope I made a good enough impression not to be eaten," I ending with a laugh thinking of the king's pearl white teeth making even Kol chuckle.
"You are a fool and I will kill you," Jimmy raged attempting to punch me.
Kol pulled the mushroom's ropes jerking the fungus to the ground. "Save it for the arena."
"That's enough Lieutenant Kol," a voice commanded from inside a cloud of smoke just before Kamek appeared.
"M-Master Kamek," Kol stammered falling to a knee. I decided to copy suit.
The robed turtle shot me another look filled with even more disdain. "I'll escort the mushroom."
"S-Sir," Kol stuttered. Something in his voice suggested this was unusual.
"Loki is going to be a while and the king doesn't want to wait forever," Kamek looked as if he wanted to kill me himself. "Take the human and get him ready."
"Yes sir," Kol untied me from Jimmy and led me toward my own entrance.
Inside the waiting area, I concluded that everything in the Darklands or at least everywhere in the castle was made entirely out of stone. There weren't any weapons or decorations in this room other than a few stone replicas of King Koopa's image. The replicas did not do the king justice.
I sat on a stone bench in silence with my hands bound still wearing my backpack. I wanted to talk to Kol whom waited quietly against the wall by door. Loki flew in when the door opened.
"Master Loki, your wings," I said excitedly.
"I told you they'd grow back with a little R&R," Loki smirked then changed his tone realizing Kol was still in the room. "It's all most time. Why aren't you ready," he asked and added, "maggot?"
"I'm not ready," I questioned unsure.
The blue shelled turtle flew over to me and used his beak to cut my arm restraints. "We were waiting for you," Kol spoke from against the wall. "But now that you're here I'm going to get going."
"Thank you for keeping me company, Lieutenant Kol," I said sincerely when he got to the door.
"Listen," Kol replied. "Watch out for the mushroom" before disappearing through the door.
Loki gave me a questioning look. "He's with Master Kamek."
"Really? Huh," Loki mumbled. "So that's where he went."
"Is there something wrong Master Loki," I asked receiving another confused gaze. I added, "I got the impression it was unusual from Lieutenant Kol. Should I be concern Master Loki?"
"Listen, Tom, when we're alone you can just call me Loki," the turtle responded. "Friends don't call each other by titles."
I nearly broke into tears. I've finally made a friend since losing my family three years ago. "Thank you, Loki."
"And you should be concerned," Loki continued, "King Koopa likes to measure the strength of his prisoners before making them slaves."
"So this is a battle royal," I interrupted a little worried.
The turtle nodded. "To keep the battle fair, his majesty implemented a rule forbidding high ranking officials and officers from visiting the prisoners.
"The rule was created to prevent anyone from influencing the outcome," Loki explained.
"I must have really rubbed Master Kamek the wrong way if he's willing to break his king's rule," I said a little more worried.
"You sure did," Loki smiled. "So far you have really impressed King Koopa and between you and me, Kamek's jealous."
I pointed at myself. "I've only just met the king. How could I have impressed him so much already?"
"It all started in the throne room obviously but after you left all his majesty did was ask me questions about you," Loki recanted his private "words" with King Koopa. "He must have asked me how I caught you a hundred times.
"I told him everything except that we exchanged names," Loki bent forward continuing in a harsh whisper, "that's still our secret." Loki leaned back, "He couldn't believe that you didn't runaway not even once especially having so many chances.
"Kamek thought it was a ploy to get close to the king and attack him. He thinks King Koopa should just eat you and be done with it," Loki laughed continuing, "But his highness ignored Kamek's interruptions.
"I think the story of you protecting me impressed him the most and unlike me, your flattery helped sway his opinion. He seemed genuinely happy that you wanted to meet him," Loki finished.
A gong rang echoing the room. I took and released a deep breath. "It's time," Loki said looking at me. "Do you have any questions?"
"What are the rules," I asked.
"You'll be fighting the others until you all loose the will to fight or until King Koopa gets bored. Try and stay alive until it's over," Loki informed. His eyes traveled to my backpack, "The prisoners start with the clothes on their backs but weapons will be provided as the fight progresses.
"I'll be in the stands rooting for you," Loki finished leading me into a corridor. "Do you have any other questions?"
"Yeah. Who should I go after first? The fast one," I thought of Bain's recovery. "The strong one," recalling Ed's kick, "Or the deadly one," picturing the bloodlust in Jimmy's eyes.
Loki chuckled drawing my attention as we neared the arena pit. He whispered in my ear. "You are the strong one." A smile creased my face until he added "I'd watch out for the quiet one" reminding me of Simon.
Emerging from the tunnel, we walked several feet before a gate slammed shut sealing off any chance of escape. I laughed recalling the gate closing after we finished crossing the bridge. A light pat on my back drew me back into the arena in time to watch Loki fly into the stands overhead. I immediately lost track of him as the stands were packed by thousands of koopa troopas, goombas, and various other Darklandians.
Scanning the spectators, I found King Koopa sitting in a decorated box along with seven smaller turtles. A few had blue hair. One wore sunglasses. Another one had a pink bow atop its head? Maybe it was a girl? The turtle I saw working out and a tiny one that looked like a miniature King Koopa crawling around the box avoiding a koopa troopa dressed in a maid's uniform. I wondered if that's his family…
The crowd erupted in cheers when the other prisoners emerged from separate openings. There was something odd about them and it took me a second to figure it out. Most of them were armed already!
In addition to Ed's powerful kicks, the horse carried a wooden spear. Bain cut silver streaks slashing through the air with elongated nails. Finally, Jimmy brandished his bone sword and his intent to kill me looked stronger than ever.
Ironically the little shy guy, Simon, acted as scared and surprised as I was. Taking a hard stare at him, I realized he was unarmed as well. Between us the only items we had were my backpack with a couple layers of books and the white mask hiding Simon's face offering us some protection… Maybe.
Kamek appeared in the king's box using his wand as a microphone. "Koopas and Goombas today we have a special match between members from the Mushroom Kingdom and a human."
The audience cheered and applauded anticipating the pending chaos. "Today's match will be three on two," Kamek told the crowd. I sighed knowing the teams already. "It'll be the horse, wolf, and mushroom versus the human and the shy guy."
The crowd continued applauding though the king seemed put off already. Maybe he didn't like the other three wielding weapons or the idea of group battles. Poor Simon trembled uncontrollably.
"Master Kamek," I moved toward the king's box and the shy guy. "They're all friends. You can put Simon on their team and I'll do my best against the four of them," I stopped beside Simon. He looked at me along with the king.
"Insolent worm," Kamek shot into his wand. "We wouldn't want this fight to end too quickly. Now back in line." Kamek fired an energy ball at me that I instinctively absorbed holding both forearms in front of my face. I slid back several feet but didn't fall down. The crowd roared.
Kamek continued his announcement, "For this fight there will be no additional weapons during the fight…"
'Great' I thought 'Kamek must really have it out for me.' My eyes found King Koopa and he seemed to be thinking along the same lines. He appeared already bored but he didn't say anything.
"It'll be alright," I turned to a trembling Simon. I sighed apologetically, "I'm sorry I got you in this mess. I promise I won't let them touch you." I know it was insensitive but I had to ask the little shy guy, "Do you have any skills fighting?"
"I can use a staff but I'll never be able to wrestle it away from Ed," Simon answered.
"Just stay behind me. I'll get you the staff," I ordered to which the little guy nodded.
"Fight," Kamek ordered.
Almost immediately Bain was on top of me. His speed was incredible but he swung wildly. Dodging left and right, I was able to get in my boxer's stance and then countered with a quick jab to his nose. It held enough force to stun him allowing me time to connect with an uppercut to his gut. When Bain hunched, I struck with a hook that followed the wolf to the ground.
Before I could catch my breath, Ed began his assault trying to stick me with the spear. I sidestepped his thrust and then would guard when he swung it like a Bo staff. Focused on Ed, I lost track of Jimmy and only avoided his attack thanks to Simon's warning. Caught between sword and spear, I worried knowing my limited movement would only work for so long until… I felt a cut form just above my hip.
I got a bit of a lucky break when Jimmy and Ed's uncoordinated attacks clashed against each other's weapons. Behind the fungus, I saw Bain struggling to stand and gather his bearings. I landed awkwardly and felt Jimmy's sword slashing down my right side. It wasn't deep but it slowed me down.
'Good! At least they're not attacking Simon' I thought until Jimmy raised his sword for another attack after Ed's spear tip grazed my left hip. Simon made some kind of battle cry and blindsided the fungus. They tumbled wrestling off to the side.
Ed dug his spear tip into the ground and went to pole vault toward me feet first. I heard footsteps coming from behind and remembered Bain. Concentrating as much strength into my fist as I could, I punched the wooden shaft just above the tip snapping it when Ed followed through with his vault.
The horse bypassed me and kicked Bain in the face again knocking the wolf out. Ed paused a moment to apologize to the wolf which gave me a chance to cold clock his jaw again. The horse fell in a heap releasing the broken spear.
Grabbing the now wooden stick, I ran over tossing the shaft at Simon who ended up a few feet from Jimmy after their wrestling match. As Simon and I circled the mushroom, Kamek's voice echoed the arena, "Four against one as you wished."
The cheering crowd fell silent and Simon just stared at me from behind his mask. I wonder if he was upset by the change. Heck, I guess everyone was upset by the sudden change in rules. I didn't give my former teammate a chance to think about it as I tackled him feeling my arm get cut. We landed by Ed and Bain both of whom looked worn out.
"Sorry Simon. Are you okay," I asked.
"Yeah," he responded as we both rose facing an enraged mushroom. "Jimmy what were you doing?"
The fungus breathed heavily, "No, I must be the one who kills the human. When I kill him, I'll be freed."
'The lies Kamek filled his head with' I thought before shouting back, "You really think you'll be freed?"
Suddenly, something fell into the arena. It was the crawling turtle from King Koopa's private box. An ill advised plan formulated in Jimmy's eyes and he was closer. The mushroom ran at the child.
There wasn't any way I could get there first not without a boost. I spotted Ed and my own idea took shape. "Ed," I commanded his attention, "I need you to kick my butt toward the kid as hard as you can-," I barely finished before I was soaring like "Superman" through the air.
As I approached, I watched a blue shelled paratroopa descending toward the kid from the opposite direction. I somersaulted as I landed and reached the baby at the same time as Loki and Jimmy. Pain shot through my abdomen while blood leaked from where the bone sword pierced it.
"I told you I'd kill you," Jimmy smiled victoriously.
"And I told you," I clasped his arm with mine preventing the mushroom from retracting his blade. "I will not let you hurt him."
"You'd protect these monsters," Jimmy panicked unable to move.
I pulled my free hand back in a fist. "You're the only monster here," I followed through with so much force that Jimmy's face caved in where I punched. He crumpled to the ground leaving his sword in me screaming in such pain the entire crowd fell silent.
I turned to Loki and the kid. "How's the kid?"
"Just fine."
"Are you okay sir," I asked the turtle as he stood up holding the child.
"Yep," Loki answered.
I exhaled a sigh of relief. "I swore the sword went through me."
"It did," Jimmy could barely standup. He reached inside his mushroom canopy and pulled a jeweled knife. "I'll kill you," the mushroom ran at me. I turned to face him but fell to a knee.
Suddenly a wave of intense heat and fire passed between us. This fire was not an illusion. I felt my eye brows singe just from the heated air around it. After it dissipated, I found my king standing with his back to me. He occupied the space between me and Jimmy.
"This battle is over. You lost," the king spoke to Jimmy. "You are on latrine duty in the guard barracks. Take him away."
A group of green shelled koopa troopas disarmed the mushroom dragging him toward one of the tunnels. My head shifted in Simon's direction. As if reading my mind, the shy guy flashed me a "thumbs up" while he and Ed helped Bain to his feet.
"Could you do me a favor and pull this sword out Master Loki," I asked my friend after he turned the kid over to the maid. He looked at me in sheer terror and with good reason as I became aware of the enormity looming over me.
"Master Loki," King Koopa yelled facing me. He pulled the sword out in one motion causing me to collapse immediately. "He told you his name!"
"No, no, sir," I back pedaled trying to come up with a reason why I would know Loki's name. Of course, Kol! "I heard his name from another guard in passing and from you when we were leaving the throne room." I managed to shift body into genuflecting before the king. "Please forgive this slaves ignorance."
I held my breath staring at King Koopa's feet while he considered my explanation. I swallowed when I watched his toe claws dig into stone floor effortlessly. I was thinking to myself that I didn't want to be kicked when I suddenly found myself on my back.
My whole body winced when the king's foot pressed down atop of me. The pressure was tremendous and it was only a fraction of his weight. I was surprised at the warmth of his foot against my body. I wonder if it was because of the volcano or possibly because of his internal fire?
"Hmm," King Koopa muttered as he moved his foot around my torso. "Not bad. Squishy yet firm."
He removed his foot and stared at me expectantly. I wanted to stand as I felt my blood expand along the ground beneath me but I didn't dare move. I couldn't. Not without his permission especially since I already reduced myself to slave status. After a few minutes, he commanded, "Sit up."
I obeyed his order without hesitation. My body continued wincing in pain from the wounds earned today. The little cuts from the blades stung while heated air passed trapped in a constant draft into the hole in my abdomen.
My greatest pain came from where Ed kicked me. I think he broke my butt. I know it's at least been cracked (hehe). Seriously though pain rushed my body whenever I pressed my derriere against the ground.
The king must have noticed my discomfort because all of a sudden a golden mushroom dropped in front of me. I looked at King Koopa's face. He stared at me and said, "A gift."
I must have raised an eye brow because he continued, "For protecting my son and one of my soldiers. Eat it." I must have made another face when I picked it up. "What," the king asked annoyed.
My brain recalled the bitter flavor of the previous mushrooms and subconsciously turned my head toward the exit Jimmy had been taken. "I don't like mushrooms," I answered immediately regretting my comment when I remembered their healing effects. Hopefully I didn't insult my king's benevolence.
King Koopa's line of sight followed mine and he gradually erupted into belly laughter. Almost two minutes passed before he settled down, "Just eat it maggot," he ordered with a smile on his face.
I did as commanded relieved my king did not rescind his generosity. This mushroom was delicious tasting like a bacon cheeseburger. Its effects worked instantaneously as my wounds were fully healed before I finished eating it.
"Thank you, your highness."
"Good wasn't it," King Koopa responded with a hint of pride in his voice. "Golden mushrooms are very rare in the wild and are sought far and wide. They have the power to fully heal and restore a person's health after the first bite."
I was stunned. Why would the king give me, a slave, one of this world's treasures? I bowed my head respectfully and in a shocked tone I stammered, "T-Thank y-you sire, but you spoil this slave."
"I know and don't think you'll be receiving another one anytime soon," the reptile shot back.
"You're generosity knows no bounds, sire," I responded full of sincerity. "One was more than I deserved."
King Koopa entered another fit of laughter. "Loki! Where did you find this one?"
"The maggot fell out of the sky into my lap, my lord," Loki winked at me when King Koopa's eyes closed.
I wanted to join them but wasn't sure if it was appropriate though my subconscious must have offered a smile because it drew the attention of the king. "Find something amusing human?"
"Yes, my lord," I wanted to word it without using Loki's name again. "I find the air around you contagious."
The king laughed some more. "You talk weird slave?"
I waited for his laughter to subside before asking, "What would you have me do to please you my king?"
"Well my little slave, it just so happens that I am in need of a new footstool in my private chambers and I have decided that you will have to do," King Koopa said. Me? Alone with the king? How cool is that!
He must have seen the excitement in my face because he added, "You're a piece of furniture. I don't want to hear you speak or complain about how you miss your family."
"Yes, sire" I beamed. The first order would break on its own considering how openly the king and I have been talking already. I'll keep quiet but I'm pretty sure he's going to be the one breaking that rule.
His second command won't happen because I haven't had a family since the accident three years ago and I didn't like talking about it.
"And no whining about wanting to go home," the king said.
"But sire," I interrupted him as he was about to continue his rules. "I am home."
I caught the king off guard again. He paused a moment studying me. Loki did his best suppressing a laugh. King Koopa offered a smile. "Well said slave. Now tell me your name."
"T-," I opened then closed my mouth. I thought to myself. Do slaves have names? Then I saw it in his eyes. This was another test. "I don't have a name. I am just a footstool."
"That's right. I think you're going to become my favorite piece of furniture," King Koopa smiled. "Loki, escort my new footstool to my room.
"Oh and you may keep this as a reward for bringing me such a unique piece."
Loki's eyes widen as he slowly accepted the bone sword from King Koopa. He stammered before bowing respectfully at his king's feet. "T- Thank you sire. Your generosity knows no bounds."
"It was better when he said it," King Koopa motioned toward me eliciting a laugh from me that I couldn't suppress.
"Yes, sire" Loki responded turning to me. "Come along maggot."
I tried muffling another laugh when I looked King Koopa in the eye. "I look forward to your arrival sire."
"As you should maggot," the king shot back. "I'll be along in a little bit."