Hi Everyone... Sorry for the delay in this chapter. I was distracted watching the Swat Kats series. I'll do my best to get back on track and post on more regular time frame.

Disclaimer... King Koopa and the Kooplings are own by Nintendo not me. "Wah!"

Night 49-

After setting my weights back on their rack and my relaxing ice cold 80 degree shower, I took my position as footstool waiting for my king to return. Although I've been able to carry the weight of my makeshift suit, I still become fatigued and the exhaustion prevents me from absorbing any new knowledge from his majesty's library.

I don't even get a chance to nap anymore since I've begun my weighted regimen. My king seemed to notice and started going to bed a little earlier. I get 5.5 to 6 hours of sleep a night now.

One thing that hasn't changed is my king's return to his room. I still don't understand why but like clockwork King Koopa returns at 8pm every night and eats dinner with me. I'm not complaining. I do enjoy dining with my king but why doesn't he eat with his family? I decided tonight to find out.

"Sire, how come you wait and eat with your footstool each night," I asked tearing the cooked meat from my Yoshi rib.

"Does it bother you footstool," he asked munching on his rib bone. I bet they're as flavorful as the meat. If only I could bit into mine, damn these weak incisors.

"No, my king. I miss your company during the day. It's just that you return pretty early for a king," I said.

"I don't know. I get bored," King Koopa sighed. "There's no one to talk to."

No one to talk to? How sad? I guess his days aren't infinitely more exciting than mine if no one talks to him. But how can that be? Loki said he was beloved by everyone in the Darklands. Why wouldn't they talk to him? On the other hand, my king comes home to keep from feeling lonely?

"But you're king," I offered surprised.

"Exactly," King Koopa responded munching another rib bone. "Everyone tells me what I want to hear no matter how idiotic the idea is."

"What about Master Kamek? As your viceroy he's got to offer his opinion right?"

King Koopa's eyes rolled, "No. Can you believe he once thought my plan to open a chain of fried chicken restaurants that the food turned the people into jumbo sized chickens was a good idea?"

'Really and he's 2nd in command?' I thought. "Doesn't anyone talk to you," I asked.

"There are only three people whoever actually talk openly to me," he replied.

"Who?"

"That pesky plumber Mario," King Koopa's head turned toward the changing screen. So I finally got a name to go with the face. His majesty continued pausing a moment before adding, "His brother Luigi." I wonder why he hesitated but I couldn't dwell on it since his voice turned dreamily toward his table. "And Princess Toadstool."

I was a little disappointed I wasn't on his list but then again I'm a footstool not a person. Mario, Luigi, and Princess Toadstool, I wonder if I'll ever get to meet them. My head drifted toward the tapestry.

"What about your heirs?"

"I only have one heir and that's my son, Bowser Jr.," King Koopa responded. "And he's too young to have dinner with."

I recalled the small child that fell into the arena during my battle royal. It was the only turtle that looked like him. I remembered seeing all the other turtles in his box too. All of them except an orange scaled turtle with blue hair that jetted out like Wolverine's from Marvel's X-Men series.

"The others were in your box at the coliseum except the poufy hair one," I pointed toward the tapestry. "I think."

"That's correct footstool," Koopa answered.

"How come they were in your private area if they aren't your kids," I asked.

"I didn't say they weren't," his eyes rolled when he saw my brow wrinkle. He knew he would have to explain. "They are the children of some very important war generals that died in battle and had no other family to look after them. I allowed them into my house and adopt my name."

"So they're adopted," I asked getting misty eyed when he nodded. "Just when I didn't think you could get any cooler." My head turned back to the tapestry. "What are their names?"

King Koopa rose from his chair and motioned me to follow him to the tapestry. Pointing to each one, he told me their names and offered a brief description.

"The poufy haired one is Ludwig Von Koopa. He's the kooky one," King Koopa shook his head. "Instead of enjoying fun events like the battle of new prisoners in the coliseum, he'll stay cooped up in his room composing symphonies and painting pictures."

"Oh, he's artsy," I laughed. My nose crinkled at the thought of classical music. It's not my taste but I know it's popular in some circles.

The only instrumental music I like comes from classic video games. A lot from the Capcom series such as Street Fighter 2: Turbo and the Mega Man series, especially Mega Man X, I thought the 1st game in that series was a terrific symphony of its own. Although some of those Japanese Anime theme songs are pretty good and get nice pretty epic.

"Are his symphonies any good?"

"Yeah at torturing prisoners," King Koopa smiled. "They're one of the most effective methods at extracting information."

I laughed. I'm sure Ludwig didn't intend his music as a torture device. They must be pretty awful. "You'll have to let me hear one someday," I offered. My king looked at me questioningly. I figured if his majesty had to listen to one I might as well too. I wonder how long I could listen to it before I break.

"Someday," King Koopa grinned evilly at me "when I get bored of my footstool." 'Ouch' I thought laughing. My king continued identifying the turtles on the tapestry.

"The pretty one with the bow is Cutie Pie. She's my little princess," he looked at me and his tone changed to a protective one. "Oh and don't think you'll be able to usurp my throne with her. You're not her type."

"Yes, sir, I'll try and remember that," I somehow suppressed a laugh. Thank goodness I did. I don't think King Koopa was joking and I really didn't want to laugh at someone he considered his daughter. Truth is I don't think she's my type either. "Cutie Pie."

"You can call her Wendy," he eyed me suspiciously. He must not have liked how I said Cutie Pie. I had to nod my understanding before he continued, "Iggy and Lemmy are twins.
"Iggy is good at tinkering with technology while Lemmy is more into trends," he pointed at two turtles with Mohawk style haircuts. They were hard to tell apart but luckily Iggy wore glasses.

My attention turned to a pink headed and pink shelled reptile. I was a little worried my king maybe dwelling on the Cutie Pie conversation so I decided to lighten the mood… Hopefully.

"Who's she," I pointed at the turtle. "Do you think I'd be her type?"

King Koopa burst into laughter. "That's Roy and HE'D probably pummel you into oblivion if you asked."

I swallowed. "He? But the pink," I asked. Koopa nodded making me sigh, "Sorry it confused me."

"Yeah I know," King Koopa responded. "His favorite color's red but I think he's color blind. He insists it's red and no body's willing to tell him otherwise. He's sort of a bully."

"A bully, huh," I cracked my knuckles.

My king laughed again when I finished cracking them. "Yeah but Roy's got the muscle to back it up," Koopa had a hint of pride in his voice. At least his mood lightened.

"Morton Koopa, Jr.," his majesty pointed to the turtle I saw working out. That's when I realized how out of date this tapestry was.

The little guy on the cloth was a dark brown body and an all white head with a couple strands of hair. Also, the image weaved into the fabric was only around three feet tall but the one in the gym was easily double that.

His body had an orangey and brown skin or I guess scale tone. Plus his head was split between the white and body colors and bald. I guess his hair must have fallen out.

"Morton's trying to get as strong as Roy," Koopa said. "He's always off exercising somewhere but he still can't stand up to Roy's strength. He says it's because no one will spar with him."

'Morton Koopa Jr.' I thought 'I'll spar with him if I'm ever allowed out of this room.' I'm sure he'll kick my butt but I'm going to need to find someone to spar with too.

It's the best way to check your progress. I mean how else are you suppose to know whether you've gotten any stronger and if you haven't, it gives you a reason to keep trying.

"Finally Larry's into sports but is a bit of a baby when he loses," King Koopa sighed. "He'll either pop the ball or take his toys home right in the middle of the game. That's why he always wins."

There they are, the Koopa kids, Ludwig-Artistic, Cutie- I mean Wendy-Princess, Iggy and Lemmy- twins, Roy-Bully, Larry-Competitive, Bowser Jr.-King Koopa's true heir, and Morton Jr.-Fighter.

"So how come they don't eat with you," remembering my original question.

"Ludwig's too busy doing "Art"," King Koopa did air quotes making me laugh. "Iggy, Lemmy, Larry, and Bowser Jr. are all too young.
"Morton's always exercising and can you believe Cutie Pie and Roy think I'm uncool?"

"Ridiculous," I smiled swallowing a laugh.

"I know," Koopa responded in disbelief. He sighed adding "Kids" in a depressed tone.

Leading my king back to his throne, I couldn't help thinking 'Families are all the same. They're all surprisingly human even the Koopas.' After his majesty lifted his feet, I positioned myself on my back. He looked at me oddly.

"It's alright sire. It'll help you relax," I said. My king hesitated lowering his heels onto my abdomen.

I gently began massaging his right foot. You might think it's weird but have you ever asked a dog for its paw or lightly pet your cat's paw? Maybe tickle the pads on their paws to harass them?

I personally don't think it's any different. It's not like I plan on licking them or anything. (Unless my king orders me to… I am a slave after all.)

King Koopa's eyes shut and he let out a soft moan that sounded like a purr when I moved in between his toes. Maybe he is a fluffy kitty after all… Minus the fluff of course. His breathing became rhythmic as I began caressing his left foot.

When I went to tell my king of a possible solution to his dinner woes, it finally happened. My king fell asleep in his chair.

'I'll tell him my idea tomorrow' I thought before whispering, "Good night my king." I pulled my shell from under the chair and rested my head against it. No reason, we can't both be comfortable.