Hi Everyone... Sorry for the delay in posting. I've been distracted with free weekends of Starz, Encore, & Epix... Darn this feeble will power... Anyway I hope this chapter reads well...
Disclaimer: I don't own anyone in Bowser's Keep. They're owned by Nintendo and unfortunately they haven't reached out to me yet... Wah!
Day 121-
A few days passed and sparring with Morton Koopa became the norm… After my morning race with Loki that is. These few days were the most fun I had since becoming a slave… Huh? I wonder how many people actually enjoy being slaves or held captive. There are some strange people out in the world… I guess I mean worlds.
Loki challenges me with a new finish line every morning. We've raced to the kitchen, library, conservatory, and even the coliseum. Of course Loki won every time. He's awfully fast for being a turtle. I don't mind though.
I chalk his victories up to familiarity with the castle. He has lived here allot longer than me and he does kind of have free reign of my king's keep. Two of our competitions took us… Well at least me to non-toured sections of the castle.
Even though Loki gets off to a head start and he waits for me to catch up, his leads aren't as large as they use to be. In fact the turtle's only been beating me by a few strides. I don't know if it's too early to add speed to the list of super powers. Thinking back, I had to be moving pretty good to clear that thwomp a few days ago.
Loki, he's so awesome. During our fun run through the uncharted corridors, he pointed out a few of the rooms and then walked me through them on our way to meet up with Morton.
My favorite of the rooms was King Koopa's war room. Luckily there wasn't a meeting going on so I got to take in the whole chamber. Magnificent images of King Koopa were carved into marble pillars standing twenty five feet tall.
A jumbo dark cherry wood table rested at the center of the room topped by pictures of various lands (the Mushroom Kingdom?) and game pieces. It looked like the board game Risk… Oh how cool would King Koopa Risk or how about Super Mario Clue? I wanted to touch one of the pieces but decided I better not. I could start a civil war.
Continuing the journey, Loki showed me where the Go Kart track started. It was a stone track not paved and had five white bracket symbols. Loki said they were starting gates. I hope I get to race someday.
Today I had actually pulled ahead of Loki until my eye wandered into an open door. The sight of Wendy Koopa wearing a pink leotard stopped me in my tracks and shiver. I think King Koopa was right I don't think I'm her type. Phew…
She led a group of Goombas, Koopa Troopas, Boos, and Birdos? Um… Birdios? Or is it Birdoes? You know the egg shooting dinos in a ballet recital. Wendy started crying when her leotard rode up (more shivering) interrupting her leap onto a group of goombas knocking all of them to the ground.
"You guys," she cried in a high pitched tone definitely sounding spoiled. "Are supposed to catch me!" How? Goombas don't have arms. "Again, we only have 203 days until the next Bowser Day!"
Bowser Day? I wonder what that is. It's been a while since I had a good conversation with my king. Not because he's having dinner with his kids or anything but since I've started training with Mort (yeah I call Morton, Mort now), my king's been falling asleep in his chair.
He mentioned that my "cushion" feels extra comfy lately almost as if it's been fluffed. My king's right, however, tenderized is more appropriate. During our sparring matches, we've been "visited" around ten times a day every day.
Loki's done a wonderful job standing guard warning us with an "Ahem" whenever somebody was approaching but all the secret passages running throughout the castle made it impossible to moderate 100%. So all those visits equated into ten free shots from Mort a day.
I had to alter my original idea of bringing mushrooms with me because my king didn't leave for work until Loki arrived. Since I'm not allowed to use the princess table while my king's in the room, I had to forgo that plan.
Naturally the plan shifted to asking Princess Toadstool for a mushroom when I returned at 5 which actually made more sense. The delay in eating the recovery fungi tested and helped strengthen my durability. Let's face it. A person or in this case a footstool won't always be a 100% going into a fight. Whether allergies, a headache, or a broken arm, a fighter still needs to figure out a way to endure until they can find a way to overcome their disadvantage.
On the days when I don't feel too bad, I skip those yucky shrooms and head straight into the shower. Not always washing, I devote most of the time to soaking in the water. With a cold setting of 80 degrees, I don't worry about running out of hot water so I end up losing track of time while my pains sooth away.
When I finally finished my shower, I would miss my opportunity for a mushroom because King Koopa appeared almost as soon as I finished redressing. Those are the nights I'm at my fluffiest and my king sleeps through the night.
Most nights I'm positioned on my hands and knees serving my king so by morning my arms wobble violently. I hope that's not why he wakes up in the morning. I still haven't mastered the 12 hour plank yet. My benevolent king seems to understand that and spoils this slave by giving me those mornings off which I greatly appreciate.
Those are, also, the days Mort kicks my butt while sparring. He has some real skills as a fighter and his power is raw. During our matches he adapts and changes his style to cover up his short comings. No wonder nobody wants to spar with him. I haven't even been able to knock him down yet but I will. I just need the right motivation.
Loki applauded the end of each session then led me back to King Koopa's room. Today wasn't particularly painful so I decided to skip the fungus for now and shower. Lost in my own little world, I had barely finished dressing before King Koopa's return.
Blast! I guess I'm skipping today's mushroom. That's the second day in a row without any healing aids; both King Koopa and I appeared to be extremely hungry as we devoured our Yoshi steaks without saying a word.
My king barely finished sending the plates back to the kitchen before settling in his favorite position. I saw it on his face immediately. First my sire's eyelids fell once… twice… Poof! Asleep… I'll ask my king about Bowser Day later.
The only problem is finding something to keep my mind occupied while my king rests. I didn't get a chance to pull anything from my king's library so the only thing I could think of was writing in my journal.
Hm… I wonder… What day it is back on Earth? Let's see, it wasn't a leap year or anything so… 121 days since February 14th is May 15th… Oh wow… Tomorrow's my birthday. I'll be 13… I know I won't be able to celebrate it but I have a feeling tomorrow will be special. I can't wait.
Day 122-
'Happy Birthday Tommy the Footstool Baldo' I thought laughing to myself as my arms wobbled. I've gotten stronger at holding my king up since yesterday. I mean my arms didn't wobble until late morning.
It wasn't until… Knock… Knock… "Baldo are you up," Loki asked from the other side of the king's door.
My head shot toward King Koopa. His head bobbed but luckily my lord remained slumbering. I don't think he heard Loki but what'll happen when Loki asks again and the name registers. I don't want my friend getting in trouble.
Suddenly my king yawned so loudly that it rung through the room as if it were a mighty roar. Loki knocked again but his tone changed realizing King Koopa was still in the room.
"Maggot, are you coming," Loki asked from the other side of the door.
King Koopa opened and closed his mouth a couple times before finally opening his eyes. Strange every morning after my king falls asleep with his feet up, King Koopa looks disoriented. He looks kind of like he's embarrassed for some reason. I don't know why. He's the king.
"Good morning sire. Did you have a good night sleep," I smiled. Thanks to Loki's arrival, he took my mind off supporting my king's strength. The distraction stopped my arms from wobbling.
"Yes, footstool," King Koopa answered. "You were extra comfortable last night. Good work." He got up and went through his routine of washing up then getting the paper.
"Listen footstool, since this is becoming a regular habit," my king said finding me in front of his throne. "Whenever I sleep through the night in my chair, you have the following morning off understood."
I frowned, "Yes sire."
"Good," King Koopa said. "You may continue your tour with Loki."
"Thank you my king," I quickly dressed then paused at the door. "Are you sure you have no more use for this slave this morning?"
"Why do you continue questioning your king's orders," I saw my king look at me with a half smirk. "Well footstool, I just so happen to be hungry. Do you wish to satisfy your king's appetite?"
I laughed. "If he decrees but be wary sire. This footstool's cushion is tuff and maybe hard to chew."
"Just go before I decide to find out," King Koopa ordered widening his smirk into a full smile revealing his razor sharp teeth. I disappeared laughing without another word.
Meeting Loki, he decided to skip our race this morning and to find Mort. He agreed not to use my name or my nickname whenever he's outside King Koopa's door. It seemed like the right call. I certainly wasn't going to argue with him.
During my sparring match with Mort, I thought about my king and his benevolence allowing me the morning off after my night of servitude. I decided that my birthday wish this year was for Morton Koopa to accept his dad's dinner invitation.
"Hey Mort," I asked blocking a series of powerful punches. "Why don't you ever have dinner with your dad?"
"Cawse I'm twaining," Morton responded. "No time fo dinner."
"Is that all," I responded back.
"Nut'in to tawk about," Morton forced me back after connecting with two solid punches. "Why Bawdy?"
"I want you to have dinner with him tonight," I defended a few more punches. "It would mean a lot to him."
"But Bawdy twaining?"
I shrugged it off. "With me as a sparring partner, you don't need to mindlessly work out anymore," I responded. Seeing Morton's mind wander, I added, "If you're worried about having something to talk to him about ask him about some fighting moves."
"I don't know Bawdy," Morton replied.
"Please, Mort."
A grin crossed his face. "Awe wight Bawdy, if yo knock me down."
I created distance between us and raised my arms to defend. I noticed Loki's attention divert from the door to us. "Let me know when you're ready."
"Weady-," Morton couldn't even finish before he found himself on his back. "I wasn't weady," he stood then rushed me swinging rapidly.
I blocked, ducked, and dodged until he left his chin exposed. I connected with a right hook that rocked the turtle's footing. With Mort's balance off, I grabbed his arm and actually performed a hip throw. Morton landed. His spikes tore into the mat lodging the turtle on his back.
"Wow," Loki said.
Morton struggled to get up but his spikes held tightly. "Does that count," I reached down to help him up.
"I dunno," Morton responded. While pulling him to his feet, Morton sucker punched me in my chest. I flew hard into the turnbuckle of the rink.
"Morton Koopa," a familiar voice sounded from inside a cloud of blue smoke appearing in the center of the rink holding his magic scepter. "That is King Koopa's private footstool. How dare you risk breaking it?"
Kamek emerged from his smokescreen. The blue robed turtle stared at me with such contempt that a chill ran down my spine. I scrambled to my knees and bowed.
"I'm sorry Master Kamek. I bumped into Prince Morton and he was putting this slave back in his rightful place," I said answering for my friend(s)—Loki appeared dumbstruck too—both turned whiter than an albino mouse.
"Is this true Morton," Kamek asked with a smile. He must be relishing in the idea of hurting me.
"Yeah. Pwease don't twell king dad," Morton found his voice.
"Perhaps I can look the other way if," Kamek waved his wand creating a chair out of thin air. "I can put my feet up."
The wizard sat down, "Now footstool, show me why King Koopa loves his furniture."
'King Koopa loves me' I thought. He's never told me but I guess he wouldn't profess those kinds of feelings to his slave directly. It took a minute for his whole sentence to process correctly.
"I'm sorry Master Kamek but my cushion is reserved for King Koopa's feet only," I responded.
Kamek did not appreciate my response. I could tell because even the frames of his glasses narrowed in annoyance. Kamek brandished his wand, "I said kneel before me."
A light escaped the scepter ensnaring me. I found my body becoming extremely heavy and difficult to remain in the air. I struggled trying to remain on my knees. Although I continued to fight it; I couldn't help feeling my torso inch closer to the ground.
An evil grin greased his beak. "That's a good slave," Kamek mused. "Kneel… Kneel before your master."
"No, no, no," I countered. I glared at Kamek causing the turtle to reel back. "I refuse." I continued trying to stand. "I am King Koopa's footstool." I felt Kamek's spell weakening. "My cushion is for my king and my king only!"
"W-What," Kamek sneered when I willed myself to my feet and finally upright. "Impossible," he fumed.
Another "wow" escaped Loki and joined with Morton's "whoa." I took a deep breath when I finally felt the spell's effect fade. Judging from the wizard's reddening face and Loki's and Mort's shocked expressions, breaking free of Kamek's hold must be a rarity.
"I'm sorry Master Kamek but my cushion belongs to King Koopa only," I said collecting myself.
Appearing to calm down, Kamek smiled, "I understand. Come with me to the lava pits."
"May I go with Master Kamek, Master Loki," I asked seeing the worry in the turtle's face. My mind's in agreement with my friend's. I don't want to go with Kamek at all but he's Loki's superior.
"Yes, of course Maggot. You can trust Master Kamek," Loki gave his permission. "Let's go."
"Now, now, Loki," Kamek held his little hand up. "There is no need for you to come. Stay here."
Loki bowed to the sorcerer. "Yes, Master Kamek."
Shallow pools of lava on a ledge somewhere under my king's room comprise the pits. There were almost seven or eight pools of lava on this landing. Huh… I wonder if they call them pits because they're lava and it burns whoever touches it.
"What are you looking at slave," Kamek demanded as I surveyed my surroundings.
The shadows obscure the top portion of the volcano's walls hiding the Paratroopas farming the golden mushrooms. Kamek's question made me wonder whether he knows the secret cash crop of the Darklands.
"Nothing Master Kamek," I answered.
"Footstool, I want you to enter the pool of lava," he ordered.
"I'm sorry Master Kamek but Master Loki hasn't given me permission," I tried hoping King Koopa's rule would be enough to save me.
"Don't you trust your masters with your life," he asked sarcastically.
I'm pretty sure he was throwing my words from our first encounter back at me. I motioned closer to the lava pit then hesitated. My brain told me to stop and my body finally listened. This didn't feel like a trust exercise. Truthfully, I was quite worried.
I knew Kamek didn't like me but enough to kill me? Enough to risk damaging his king's property? Now I know the extent of Kamek's anger and jealousy toward me. Kamek's patience wore out.
"Just do as ordered," Kamek yelled. "Walk into the lava pit."
Fear paralyzed me. It literally gripped my legs and refused to allow me to move forward, backward, left, or right. I never felt so afraid.
"Do it footstool," my king's voice echoed off the cavernous walls. All fear vanished from me and I turned happily toward my king who approached followed closely by an angry Loki.
"K-King Koopa, what are you doing here," Kamek stammered clearly surprised by the king's arrival.
"Loki came and got me," King Koopa answered.
Kamek's frames narrowed again turning to Loki. Oh great now instead of Kamek targeting me, he'll be targeting Loki too. A new fear filled my eyes. I'm protected by King Koopa but what about Loki…
"It's okay footstool. You can enter the lava pit," King Koopa misread the fear on my face. "Kamek wouldn't do anything to harm my footstool." My king squinted suspiciously at Kamek, "right?"
"Yes sire," I answered and walked toward the lava pit. As I raised my foot to step into the red pool, another strange light encompassed me. It appeared to be absorbed into my clothing.
My foot submerged into the liquid but didn't burn, melt, or catch fire. I continuing going deeper into the pool before looking back at King Koopa and Kamek. My king continued his suspicious stare down.
"I've enchanted your armor. It is now resistant to intense heat," Kamek explained. "You will be able to pass through shallow pools of magma without dying."
"How deep can I go," I asked going waist deep.
Kamek looked as if he was being tortured, "Up to your shoulders."
"Thank you Master Kamek," I exited the pool kneeling before him.
His lip curled and he pulled back. "A gift for allowing me to put my feet up."
Both Loki and I gasped as King Koopa looked at me. "Is this true footstool," he asked.
"No my king," I said staring the king directly in the eye.
"Liar," Kamek shot back. "My new slave will attest to it." Kamek waved his wand and Jimmy appeared in a cloud of blue smoke.
The mushroom's eyes bred as much contempt as Master Kamek's did. Poor Jimmy looked worn out. I guess being a latrine would do that to a person but then to be assigned to Kamek… Who knows the horrors the fungus has been subjected to?
"It's true," Jimmy said. "I saw it with my own eyes. This footstool allowed Master Kamek to use his cushion."
"I…," I started but then stopped. My eyes fell on my king. I can't win this one. King Koopa believes me but for all appearances he has to accept the word of his viceroy over a slave. "I understand my king."
"Footstool, you are confined to my room for a week and no food tonight," King Koopa ordered but his eyes betrayed him.
I diverted my eyes. "Yes, my king. May you allow this slave an opportunity to redeem himself one day," I replied accepting his punishment.
"Loki, escort my footstool to my room," King Koopa ordered.
"Sire," Loki's eyes remained focused on Kamek and Jimmy.
"Oh and footstool," King Koopa stopped us. "I'll be late tonight. I'm having dinner Morton."
I offered a weak smile. "Thank you for informing this slave, sire. May it be the first of many. Enjoy it."
Loki led me back unimpeded to my king's room. Unlocking the door, Loki grabbed my arm when I passed him drawing my attention to his face. His eyes returned to their kind demeanor but reflected apologies.
"I'm sorry about Master Kamek," Loki said sincerely. "Just because he's jealous of you."
"It's alright. He is in charge. King Koopa has to take his side," I answered. "Thanks Loki. I'll see you in a couple days."
"Bye Tom," Loki replied holding out his hand. It was my turn to take the wind from him.
I don't know why but I felt compelled to hug him, "Thanks Loki for everything."
"It's only a couple of days," Loki started before finally hugging back. "It was nothing."
Finally releasing our embrace, "No it wasn't. If it weren't for you, I'd be dead."
Loki nodded then walked away as I disappeared into the king's room. After I showered and redressed, I curled into a circle and lay in front of King Koopa's chair.
I was hungry. In all fairness, I didn't eat anything today. We got off to a late start and we didn't have a chance to eat lunch thanks to Master Kamek.
Oh well, I guess I should take a nap before my king returns for the evening. I have had two all nighters in a row. It didn't take long for sleep to take me.
My eyes opened to find my king's toe claws rapping against the stone floor. I went to scramble to my knees when I felt my king's foot press down on my back. I was flat against the floor.
"It's late footstool. I've decided to go straight to bed," his foot released me. "You may have the rest of tonight off."
"Yes, my king. Thank you. Did you enjoy your dinner," I asked.
"Yes," King Koopa responded. "I'll be having dinner with Morton again tomorrow."
Damn… I guess that means I'll have to find something to do tomorrow after breakfast. I'll admit I'm a little disappointed but I wanted this to happen. "I'm happy for you sire."
A frown must have weighed down my face. A cupcake dropped in front of my face. I lifted my eyes to connect with my king's. "You know I had to side with Kamek, right?"
"Yes, sire," I responded with a smile. King Koopa's stare soften. Perhaps he was surprised that I accepted his explanation so quickly and easily. "Thank you my king but you spoil this slave since your benevolence knows no bounds."
King Koopa smirked, "Just make sure you arrive at work on time tomorrow."
"Of course my king. Have a good night," I wished him as he disappeared behind the changing screen then emerged in his purple robe and disappeared into his bed.
Today ended up being a Happy Birthday after all. My goal of King Koopa finally having dinner with one of his Kooplings finally happened. I got magically enchanted fire proof body armor from Master Kamek. My favorite part of today was a cake from my king. Albeit a cupcake but it's a cake nonetheless.
'Happy Birthday Tommy the Footstool Baldo' I thought to myself as I devoured my cupcake. Oh gosh it was amazing.
It didn't have frosting or anything but the cake its self was moist with red coloring. The mini cake reminded me of red velvet but it had a bit of kick to it kind of like red pepper flakes or something. The cake brought tears to my eyes. Yeah that's it. The cake…