Hi Everyone... Happy Thanksgiving...
Disclaimer: I do not own Morton Koopa or a Thwomp... Nintendo does...
Day 94-
"A race," I asked questioningly to Loki emerging from King Koopa's bedroom.
"That's right. I want to see if you learned anything during our tours," Loki winked. "You wanted to navigate the halls in case of an emergency.
"What better way to simulate a crisis than in a race against time," Loki reasoned. "We'll race to the threshold."
I thought a moment and then frowned. "But I only know part of the castle."
"Don't worry, I'll be right in front of you checking back every so often watching you eat my dust," Loki joked making me laugh. My buddy sure was full of himself today. "Racing's the best way for you to get faster. Ready… Set…"
Loki grinned at me. "Don't get thumped by a thwomp," he warned. He added, "The thing from the kitchen" when my eyebrow curled. "GO!"
In a blink Loki rounded the corner. 'Wow he's fast' I thought rushing after him. When I turned the first corner, I barely glimpsed my friend vanishing behind another.
I ran as hard as I could to catch up to him but he was already at the other end of each new hall by the time I entered them. Hurrying down our tenth hallway, I heard a noise from overhead and spotted three blue blocks with spikes descending toward me. THWOMPS!
Focusing on reaching the other end of the hall, my arms sort of naturally spread to my sides like an airplane as I passed under the first thwomp with room to spare. My momentum continued to propel me narrowly under the second one. I felt the ground shake when the blue block slammed against it.
Trouble came when the third thwomp landed about twenty feet in front of me. 'How do I dodge this one' I thought nearing it. The only way to avoid the very probable pain scenario was to jump over it. An image of an Olympian leaping over a hurdle entered my mind.
Gulp… I never was good at clearing those things. My feet pushed off the ground and lifted me a good ten feet over the pointed stone block. I stared at the top of the thwomp and saw that the spikes protruded from atop its head too.
I was so in awe of my gargantuan leap… Hold on a second, I'm adding another super power to the list… Let's see first was super strength and now super jumps… Anyway I was so in awe of my gargantuan leap that I didn't notice the abrupt wall that I slammed into.
Peeling my face from the grey stone, my hands pressed a group of bricks revealing a downward sloping passage that I fell onto. I tumbled ass over tin cups repeatedly before finally emerging at the far end of a nearly empty gym.
Rubbing my head, I rose following two voices toward the other end of the gym. I was a little surprise my explosive entrance went unnoticed. I always knew I was a ninja at heart. The voices continued floating in from the other side of a wall. I stopped to listen.
One voice sounded very young and simply repeated, "No."
"Awe come on Wemmy. I need you whelp," the other voice begged. It was older and considerably more mature but still contained a bit of a whine. Some of the words were broken making, the older voice difficult to understand.
"No Morton. Yo hit too hard," the younger one complained.
I crept to the edge of the wall, peeking my head around it. I found out the other room was a small boxing gym complete with hanging body bags, speed bags, some weights (easily several hundred pounds), a running track and at the center of the room was a small ring with both turtles arguing.
"Come on Wemmy," the taller turtle pleaded. He looked exactly like he did that first day I entered the castle.
Morton was easily 6.5 to 7ft tall, wearing his spiked shell. His orangey and brown toned scales looked slick along with his multicolored orange and grey/white bald head possibly glistening from his daily work out.
"No," the smaller turtle responded. Lemmy wore a sideways baseball cap and baggy black pants. His shell lay hidden beneath a hooded sweatshirt. He looked like one of those nerdy hip hop artists. King Koopa did say Lemmy was into trends. "I don't wanna fight."
"But I need a spa-ing pawner," Morton said watching Lemmy hop from the arena then the room. "Fine! Weave, jework."
I stepped from behind the wall seeing that Morton was all alone. "I'll spar with you."
The turtle spun surprisingly quick with a smile finding me, "Yo awe ta human fwom ta awena."
"Yeah," I stopped seeing his smile sag into the largest frown I've ever since. "What's wrong?"
"Yo awe king dad's footstool."
"So? Don't you want to spar?"
"Na," Morton answered.
"Why," I climbed into the rink. "You scared?"
"It's fo'bidden," he replied depressed. "I ain't gonna bweak king dad's footstool."
"You won't," I made a muscle. "I'm stronger than I look."
Morton laughed. That's a good sign. At least he wants to spar, I wonder if he's thinking of the events in the coliseum that day. After Morton's chuckle, the reptile sized me up, "Swaves and woyaty ain't awowed to fight."
"Listen Master Morton," the turtle laughed again. "I'm your father's footstool and I have to get stronger if I am ever going to be able to support his strength and help protect the castle. Your dad already gave me permission…
"But I'm never going to know how much stronger I am without somebody to spar with," I saw the same reasoning reflected in Morton's eyes. "If you're worried about getting in trouble, every time someone walks in on us I'll give you a free shot."
I drew a surprised glance. "We'll tell them that I bumped into you or spoke out of turn and that you were teaching me a lesson."
"Whut if I bweak you," Morton asked.
"King Koopa gave me permission to eat mushrooms anytime I'm injured," I remembered our conversation when I broke his table. "I'll bring one or two with me and eat it before returning to his room.
"Although, I have to be back by 5," I smiled rubbing the back of my head.
Morton's eyes lit up until they went past me. Turning Loki appeared occupying the same passage I had fallen through. He was apparently ninja like too.
"Maggot? I thought we were racing," Loki flew into the squared circle brother.
"Sorry, Master Loki, I forgot," I apologized.
"Hello, Prince Morton, I hope the maggot wasn't bothering you," Loki bowed like I did to Xander the day before. Oh that Loki, I bet he's making fun of me. A smirk revealed itself along his right side making me laugh. I knew it.
The prince turned to me, "Tis swave offwerd ta spa wit me."
Loki sighed heavily just staring at me. His intention was clear. He didn't want me sparring with Morton. Maybe my friend was worried about me getting hurt? It made sense since he was in charge of protecting me. But there was, also, that chance of getting in trouble since slaves and royalty aren't allowed to train together.
"With your permission Master Loki," I asked remembering that I wasn't allowed to do things without his approval. "May I spar with Prince Morton Koopa?"
My friend continued hesitating. I decided to try begging. Heck I'm trying to reach pet status anyway. I let my eyes swell to the brink of tears. Loki stared at me opening his mouth to say something. Just when I thought he was going to break, the turtle broke into a fit of laughter.
"STOP THAT," he yelled. I ignored his request. It's got to be working right but I don't think Loki was supposed to laugh. "I said to stop that."
"Stop what?"
"Wiggling your ear," Loki swallowed his laughter.
"I can wiggle my ears," I questioned.
"No, just the left one," Loki laughed again.
I decided to stop begging. There was no way my buddy would cave after I just put him in a good mood. I guess I'll have to work on my puppy dog eyes. A weird silence entered the room. It suggested that Loki wasn't going to change his mind. Until…
"Pwease," Morton asked drawing both of our attention. His eyes swelled deeply. They didn't leak a drop but looked as if you could submerge your whole arm in them. Morton's voice waivered but continued filled with sincerity, "Nobody evwer spas wit me. Tis may be my ownwe chance."
Loki fell speechless. This must have been a rare sight that Morton has never shown before. I must admit; it was quite moving. So moving in fact Loki sighed.
"Okay but I'm going to stand guard. I'll signal if someone's coming," Loki flew to the main entrance. "Oh, I reserve the right to break up your match if I think it's too intense."
"Thank you, Master Loki," I said from the top rope.
"Just don't get dead," he responded.
I turned to a smiling Morton. Wow he's good. His eyes were void of all water and determined as the jumbo turtle raised his arms. I assumed my boxer's stance.
"Ready," I asked.
"Bown weady and no cwhying fo yo mommy when I pummew yo into obwivian," Morton said.
I couldn't help laugh. He sounded just like King Koopa. We rushed each other exchanging right hooks. The impacts forced both of us to grind back on our heels.
"Wow," Loki gasped.
"Yo standing," Morton grinned.
"Yep. Seems like you were holding something back," I lifted my arms.
"Yo too."
It was clear that first punch was to size each other up and it told us we didn't have to hold back. This was going to be an intense match. Running at one another, the turtle and I exchanged blow after blow.
The majority of punches found defenses rather than dealing damage. Every sequential blow fell into a rhythmic dance of bob, weave, block, counterpunch, and defend before cycling again. One of my hooks slammed against Morton's arm revealing a mound of solid muscle.
It told me Morton's been training for a long time. His movements and technique however suggested that he didn't spar much. It took a while but Morton started leaving openings. Finding a clear one, I sent a jab into his chest.
The turtle staggered backward enough for me to shake out my wrist. Hitting Morton's chest felt like punching a brick wall or body armor-Duh, it is body armor! It's a shell. The Koopling rushed me again with a smile on his face.
We both swung and our fists struck each other. It was like a knuckle bump but only our fists continued pressing against each other. Apparently both Morton and I refused to give an inch.
"Nice fight you two," Loki flew into the ring placing a hand on each of us. "Maggot, time to go back to King Koopa's room."
"Yes, Master Loki," I lowered my fist. "Thank you for allowing me to spar with you, Prince Morton."
The larger turtle lowered his hand in silence. It must have been because of the "thank you". As I went to follow Loki from the ring, Morton cried out, "Wait! Wood yo spa again tomowwoe?"
"I'd be happy too if it's okay with Master Loki," I looked at my blue shelled buddy.
Loki clearly had trouble making the decision. "Only after you finish our race, Tom," Loki said surprising me.
"Tom? Yuck," Morton made a face of disgust… The usual reaction I've grown a custom to. I laughed.
"It's this maggot's name," Loki elaborated then winked. "Now we each have a secret to keep. I won't tell anyone about your two sparring if you don't tell anyone I know his name."
"Deal," Morton answered.
"Thank you, Prince Morton," Loki answered.
"Wissen Woki, I don't wike tiwoes," Morton ordered "Caw me, Mowarton" he finished turning to me. "Got tat?"
I nodded, "Yes Morton, this maggot understands."
"Tat goes fo yo tow," Morton said. "I can't caw my pawner maggot. Yo need a name."
"Hear that? Someone else wants to call you, Tom," Loki beamed.
"Not tat. Yo need a neekname," Morton countered.
I understood Morton's reasoning. What good is his and Loki's secret, if they walk around calling me, a slave, a bug, a maggot, by his real name?
"Did you have a nickname in mind," I asked looking up at the turtle.
"Wemember when tat howse keeked yo in ta sky wike a baw," Morton reminisced. I nodded, "How about Bawdo?"
"I like it," Loki agreed, "from now on you're, Baldo."
I smiled and nodded. Bidding goodbye to Morton, Loki escorted me to King Koopa's room. 'I finally got a nickname' I thought 'and you know what it's a pretty good one.'