Hi Everyone... I hope this Chapter makes sense. It was hard to write...
Disclaimer: I don't own the rights or ideas of King Koopa. Who knows why King Koopa invades the Mushroom Kingdom? Oh yeah... Nintendo does!
Night 69-
King Koopa has continued gracing me with his presence ever since my suggestion about inviting his children to dinner instead of ordering them. Despite only sending their regrets, my king has been unexplainably chipper. Maybe because he is receiving responses? He even got a "No, tanks king dad" from Morton Koopa Jr.
I don't think King Koopa's ever received anything more than an eye roll before. At least his kids are talking to him right? It, also, means it's a matter of time until one of them says "Yes" and our dinners come to an end.
I decided to ask a question that's been weighing on me since arriving to this world. Hey, today might be one of my last nightly meals with his majesty since the question changed from "If" to "When" and I want our remaining conversations to be meaningful.
"Sire? Why do the other kingdoms consider you a tyrant," I asked when the king bit off a chunk of Yoshi leg bone causing him to choke.
"What brought that up," he responded after finally swallowing the bone.
"Jimmy said you were a terrible monster when I met him and the other prisoners agreed," I recalled my conversation after they knocked out Loki. Leading me to the stories Loki told me while trekking with my blue shelled friend through the jungle, I finished. "Loki said that most of the stories were true."
"Do you think I'm a tyrant, footstool?"
"No," I replied honestly.
The king seemed to mull over his words before responding. After a minute or so he cleared his throat. "Well footstool, they call me a tyrant because I am one," he answered.
"Why," I asked.
"Probably because of all the times I've invaded the Mushroom Kingdom and," he hesitated almost as if afraid to finish, "all the times I've kidnapped Princess Toadstool."
"You what," I laughed failing to contain the gasp of air. His majesty looked at me sadly. I knew it was wrong to laugh but I couldn't help myself.
Finally suppressing it, I continued in a sincere tone, "I'm sorry my king. I didn't mean to laugh. I'm sorry if I hurt you."
King Koopa studied me silently until I fully settled down. He seemed to half smile. Recalling his hesitation, I wondered if perhaps he thought admitting his dastardly deed of kidnapping the princess would change my opinion of him.
He employed his power of telepathy again. "You don't mind I kidnapped people and hold them captive," my king asked with a hint of surprise. I stared at him blankly before breaking into a fit of laughter. "What's so funny, footstool?"
"I… already… knew… that," I somehow managed between breaths. I continued still unable to halt my laughter. "Why… would… I… mind?"
"How'd you know," King Koopa asked seriously. I held my breath looking at him. My king just looked back. I tilted my head to the side then raised an eyebrow as if to say 'Really' but my king just continued staring.
About a minute passed before he invoked his power of telepathy. "Oh you're not the same thing. You're not being held captive; you're being held against your will," he said.
I tried… Heck no I didn't. I erupted into an uncontrollable fit of laughter. King Koopa must have reconsidered what he said because he eventually joined me. We laughed a good ten minutes. Finally, I calmed down enough to ask a question.
"How come you kidnap Princess Toadstool?"
"Just look at her," his majesty directed our attention to his table. "The princess is the most beautiful being in all the land. She's gentle, kind, sweet, patient, sympathetic even to her captors, and has a bit of a temper. She's perfect."
King Koopa sighed heavily as if he was smitten. "I'm in love with her," he looked at me out of the corner of his eye. I guess he's more than smitten. "I try convincing myself that it's fleeting by telling myself that 'She hates me' and 'She doesn't love me and she never will' and it works for a while.
"But then my desire to be with her comes back stronger than ever," my king scratched his chin. "So when it gets to the point that I have to see her, I kidnap Princess Toadstool."
I knew my king was a big old softy. "How many times have you kidnapped her?"
"Um… I don't know like 103 times but who's counting," King Koopa answered.
"Wow," my eyes nearly bulged from their sockets. "It's definitely not fleeting." My tone changed to one of sympathy, "You must really love her."
"Doesn't matter," King Koopa responded depressed. "It's not like it'll ever work between us-."
"Why wouldn't it work," I interrupted.
King Koopa's waterlogged eyes nearly popped out of his sockets when he turned my way. I must have said something that rocked his core. "You're the only one that's ever seemed to understand how deeply my feelings are."
"103 times, my king, makes it pretty easy to understand," I answered. "Has she ever showed any interest back?"
"Sometimes," King Koopa's eyes rolled to the right recalling memories. "I swear I see it in her eyes when I make her laugh. She's like you, footstool, and gets my humor."
I smiled. If Princess Toadstool's like me than she probably really does like King Koopa but that whole kidnapping thing may be putting a kibosh on admitting it. Of course my king could just be calling me a princess.
"Good. Making her laugh is half the battle sire."
My comment appeared to fall onto deaf ears as King Koopa seemed to be lost in thought. 'No! Not this time' I thought. 'I'm not going to let the conversation end here! There are too many questions that need answering before bed.'
"Is that why you invade the Mushroom Kingdom," I asked hoping it would at least spark up the conversation again. Who knows? Maybe it'll lead back to Princess Toadstool.
"Partly," King Koopa answered. "I need her help in order to make my dream come true."
His dream? That's new. Damn another question that'll need answering before bed. I had to find out my king's aspirations. "What is your dream sire?"
"To unite and rule over all the kingdoms," he said. At least he hasn't turned off the conversation. "Imagine footstool a land free of crime and poverty where all of the citizens work together living in harmony."
"Can a world like that really exist?"
"You're in it now."
I nearly broke into laughter. I really did think he was joking until I saw the conviction in his eyes. He was serious! I'm glad I kept my breath in check this time.
Considering my position, the roles of Jimmy and the others, and my personal experiences with Loki, Kol, and now my king openly admitting to kidnapping Princess Toadstool, I find it hard to believe.
'The Darklands,' I thought, 'a realm free of crime and poverty?' Given the populace of this area, I'm more inclined to believe it operates under the "Survival of the Fittest" scenario.
Although I, also, recall Loki saying how King Koopa is beloved by everyone in the Darklands. Could that mean the slaves, too? Unsure how to respond, I decided to try a joke.
"I don't know sire," I drew my king's attention. "Your realm seems to have its share of kidnapping."
My king laughed. Phew at least he wasn't insulted. "Ah, but where you see kidnapping, I see recruiting," King Koopa smirked when my eyebrow rose. "You'll understand in time.
"Did you notice," he questioned. He elaborated a little trying to erase the blank stare I was giving him. "All the people who say I'm a tyrant or call me a monster," he ticked them off his finger claws, "the mushroom, the horse, the wolf, and the shy guy, all live outside of the Darklands.
"The actual citizens of my realm do not fight, steal, or hurt one another. I'm not saying they don't argue and disagree," King Koopa held his hands intercepting my protest. He continued, "But they don't escalate into violence."
"How come," I asked.
"Because I won't allow it," he said. "I am king. I am law and will not allow anybody to question me.
"The rulers of the other kingdoms are all kind hearted," his majesty did air quotes around kind hearted. "They make a rule but then change their opinions when people complain. I don't. Do you know why footstool?"
Thinking about it, I guess fear and dictatorship would be appropriate since no body in the kingdom is willing to talk to him. "No sire," I replied.
"Because giving in under minds that ruler's authority taking away their power, no, their very foundation for their ideal kingdom," King Koopa continued. "Since I don't give in, my vision for the Darklands has not wavered.
"Allowing the people's opinion to influence how you lead permits emotions such as fear, anger, jealousy, and rage into the kingdom but most people confuse those emotions as freedom and independence," he said. "They're actually the handicaps that prevent citizens from working together, treating each other with respect, and draining the nation of its wealth on needless spending.
"Many of those nations fall into economic depressions leaving their citizens vulnerable to illness, malnutrition, and even homelessness while the ruler continues to feast in comfort. It's inexcusable," King Koopa looked angry balling his claws into fists. "No ruler should be in luxury if his subjects are starving. No ruler should sleep at ease if his country's future is sick or wondering the streets.
"That's why there isn't any crime, hungry or poverty stricken people in the Darklands. I make sure they get what they need to survive," King Koopa said.
I never saw my king worked up like this before. It was fiery, passionate, intimidating, and from his heart. I couldn't help being captivated as I started believing in him too. Does he make these kinds of speeches to his subjects too? No wonder Loki said he's beloved by everyone.
"My king, is that why you invade the other kingdoms?"
"Yes, footstool," he answered. "I invade the kingdoms to integrate the people into my nation so I can protect them and give them a life, all of them, a life worth living.
"I started with diplomacy but it failed because those kingdoms were too stubborn to listen to reason. Instead they sought aid from the Mushroom Kingdom who in turn bailed them out. However, their leaders didn't know what they were doing so their kingdoms fell into turmoil again.
"Fed up, I invaded attempting to acquire the land by force since they were weakened. It failed as their leaders ran to the Mushroom Kingdom for aid and united against me," King Koopa sighed heavily. "We've been at war and I've been a tyrant ever since."
"Really are we at war now," I asked.
King Koopa smiled rubbing the back of his neck. "Yes, that's why I train my citizens to defend themselves. They need to be able to protect themselves against the other kingdoms since they only see us an enemy.
"We take people prisoner and turn them into slaves so that they can really get a glimpse of the kind of life Darklandians' live," he sighed again. "I know it's wrong but it's the only way to share my dream with those people."
"That's a nice dream," I responded. I know it's twisted since he kidnaps people but it also explains why there are so many different kinds of people living in the city and I only saw a fraction of it on my journey to the castle. "What did Princess Toadstool say when you told her your dream?"
"Um… I-a, I never actually got to tell her," King Koopa said bashfully.
I tried really hard not to laugh but a scoff slipped out. "You kidnapped her over 100 times and haven't told her," I said disbelieving.
"Well, I can't talk to her," he admitted.
Wow that must have taken allot of courage for my king to say aloud. Maybe he told me because I'm just a footstool or maybe because King Koopa finally had someone to confide in? A friend? Bah… I'm just a slave.
"I understand sire," I replied recalling my last day on earth.
"You do?"
"It's hard talking to people that you want to be more than friends with. Finding the right words and then the voice to actually tell them," I admitted. This conversation almost felt like I got slapped with my Valentine's Day card all over again. "There's always that fear of your feelings not being returned."
"Well said footstool," King Koopa responded. "Truth is if I could get Princess Toadstool to believe in my dream and join me then the rest of the kingdoms will fall like dominos.
"The biggest problem I have is that when I finally work up the courage to tell Princess Toadstool, I'm interrupted by the pipsqueak plumber, Super Mario." My attention shifted to the changing screen. "He breaks into every castle to rescue the princess. He's Princess Toadstool's true love and her face lights up every time he saves her.
"I don't know what it is about him but I just cannot defeat him in battle," King Koopa said thinking. "Whenever I have him on the brink of annihilation, he wins, saves the princess, and I end up back in my keep."
"Maybe subconsciously you cannot defeat him because you don't want to risk Princess Toadstool's happiness," I suggested drawing a questioning look from my king. I rationalized, "If he's Princess Toadstool's true love then annihilating him would make her cry and something in your voice tells me that's not something you can bare."
"Maybe," he went into thought.
"Is he strong," I asked looking at the chubby image on the screen.
King Koopa nods, "Strong enough to throw me around by my tail."
"Really," I said involuntarily.
If my king didn't say it then I would not have believed it. The image on the screen didn't look like a particularly strong man but then again I've been able to lift over ten times as much as I could on earth. Maybe there's something on or in this world that gives humans super powers kind of like the yellow sun of Earth gives Kryptonians in the DC Superman comic series.
"I bet he doesn't make her laugh," I smirked at the king.
King Koopa's eyes rolled searching for a memory. "Come to think of it footstool, I don't think I ever saw her laugh more than fleetingly."
"I don't think you should give up trying to court Princess Toadstool," I encouraged him. My encouragement went straight to his head so I added, "I do think you should stop kidnapping her though.
"Maybe you should try inviting her to your castle or someplace neutral for a cup of tea or something."
He looked deflated from non-captive approach, "Tea?"
"It's a warm beverage made from the leaves of a plant," he looked at me confused. I turned to his table. "Forgive me sire. Princess Toadstool, two cups of jasmine tea with a cup of milk and sugar on the side, please."
"At once maggot," the table replied.
My order appeared in a snap. King Koopa let me up so I could prepare a cup. "Try this," I gave him a cup without any milk or sugar.
"Blah, that awful," his tongue flared from his mouth.
"People like to doctor it up by putting different things in it. You just had a plain cup. Here this one has milk and some sugar," I said.
"It's a little better," King Koopa replied.
"You can always add more sugar or milk. I know some people put honey instead of sugar and milk," I said then smile and added when the king looked at his cup, "I'm sure the princess would enjoy a cup of tea but make sure you have it someplace a little cooler. People don't really want tea if it's already hot outside."
My king never looked up from his cup. "What if she says no?"
"Then ask again," I pulled his mug from his mug (haha pun). "If she's as nice as you said she is, I'm positive that Princess Toadstool will eventually accept.
"It might take awhile longer since she may have to get past the whole kidnapping thing but be persistent," I quickly added. "Not as persistent as the invitation with your kids but send an invitation every 60 days."
"Not every day?"
"No sire. You may scare her if you send one a day. Give her time to think it over," I finished.
King Koopa took another sip of his tea as I went back to my footstool position. I think he was considering my suggestion. I gave my opinion allot tonight… I guess one more wouldn't hurt.
"Um… Sire," I asked hearing a grunt. "Would you grant me the privilege of roaming the castle during the day while you're being king for the day?"
He did a spit take and sprayed me with his tea. "What?"
"I love your room and enjoy our time together but I think the best way to continue getting stronger to support your weight would be to experience life in your castle," I reason. My king looked hesitant.
"I don't know," he rubbed his neck. "All the people of the Darklands despise humans thanks to that pesky plumber Mario. We've all lost friends or family to his attacks and the Darklandians will hold you accountable for his actions. I can't protect you out there."
He's been protecting me. Just when I didn't think King Koopa could get any cooler. "That's okay my king. It'll be like running an obstacle course and could only help me get stronger," I smiled. "I want to be able to do my part if the castle is attacked."
My king stared at me possibly looking for my tell. He smirked, "What good could a piece of furniture do if the castle's attacked?"
"I could duck behind Mario's back while you push him over me," I laughed joined by my king. "Please sire, I promise to be back by 5 each day. Besides if I get hurt, I can always eat a disgusting mushroom."
"I'll have to think about," King Koopa said his head turned to his bed and he nearly jumped out of the chair. "We talked through the night footstool."
"I'm sorry I kept you up sire. Thank you for spoiling this slave by considering his request," I bid goodbye to my king as he disappeared out the door.