Hello Everyone and Happy New Year... I apologize about the delay and I wish I had a good excuse or that I've been writing the majority of this diary but truth is I've just been lazy and I must have watched "Summer Wars" 200 times since it air on Cartoon Network on 12/14...

That said... I plan to pick up the pace for this year... It's one of my New Year's Resolutions... Thank you for your patience and willingness to read this. I'm happy to say that this story is just shy of 3700 views to date. With that said any feed back good or bad is welcomed... Let me know how bad you think the story went...

Disclaimer... I don't own any of the character rites for the world of Nintendo. I did manage to find a couple Plush Mario characters (Mario himself & a green shelled Koopa Troopa that I've named Loki) at Walgreens...

Day 131?

A few days passed since my imprisonment and I'm going crazy. Seriously what can be worse than having the freedom given through hard work taken away? And by a lie no less! I mean whose mind wouldn't ferment from this torment? Blasted Master Kamek lying openly to my king! Grrr!

Even worse Jimmy's on Kamek's team. Ga-grr! Now I have to be even more diligent wandering the halls. I know my king trusts me but how can I compete against his 2nd in command especially now that he has an "eye witness" all the time.

When I asked King Koopa to release the mushroom from his restroom duties, I didn't expect Master Kamek to take him on as an apprentice. Jimmy's really a slave but the way he appeared when Kamek summoned him… Jimmy's wizardry is inevitable. Oh well my fault for not asking or suggesting an alternative at the time of Jimmy's release… I guess.

Apparently there have been a lot of unanswered questions not asked (that made more sense in my head)… Unfortunately, I never remember to ask my king them. I still haven't found out about Bowser Day or how his dinners with Mort have been.

Heavy sighing… Yeah my king's been dining with my reptilian punching bag (he he… take that Mort right to the kisser) every day since my punishment. Each night King Koopa returns late, sweaty, and exhausted.

Normally he showers then either slips into his chair or bed falling right to sleep. Sometimes he skips showering opting to sit in his chair. As soon as his feet go up- BAM- he's asleep. That's how I found out he sweats. His heels are wet and by morning so is my back. Those must be some intense dinners.

In the morning, he normally orders us breakfast then disappears without saying a word beginning the cycle again. Needless to say I'm a little jealous and perhaps, even more so, lonely. Neither Loki nor Morton stopped by since my punishment went into effect. I know King Koopa doesn't allow anyone in his room and he's ordered me not to answer if anyone knocks but…

"It be nice if they stopped by to say 'hi'," I'd whisper pressing my hand against the door before sighing.

So basically, I haven't gotten to speak to anyone unless you count the Princess Toadstool table which I don't… Huh? I wonder… Am I talking to the table or to Xander, King Koopa's personal chef? Truth is I never thought about it but maybe I haven't been alone at all.

"Hi Xander," I said staring at the table but the princess remained silent. I guess I was wrong.

One of the questions nagging at me came from my king when he set his punishment. He told me I was punished for the rest of the week. The week? As far as I remember there were no "weeks" just days. So it's been about 9 days so how long is a week here?

The hardest part about being punished is finding a way to pass the time especially since I'm spending almost 18 hours a day alone. Of course I continue working out (I have to try and keep up with Mort) but truthfully it's not as fun without him. I find myself getting bored rather quickly.

Since I've been delinquent in my studies, I decided to focus the majority of my attention to King Koopa's library. Thumbing through a few books I've finally found one identifying the 8 lands that comprise the Mushroom Kingdom.

Grassland is the largest of the regions and houses King Koopa's dream girl, Princess Peach Toadstool (I wonder if she responded to King Koopa's invitation yet). Although Grassland is the official name of the region, its primary inhabitants are the Mushroom people (like Jimmy). Thanks to their fungi resemblance, the land is commonly referred to as the Mushroom Kingdom. Basically if anyone is talking about the Mushroom Kingdom, they're really referring to the Grassland region only.

Second area in the text is the Desertland. That was the area, I bumped into Loki. As the name suggests, it's a desert. You know just dirt in every direction.

Apparently, there are subdivisions/lands in each region outside the Mushroom Kingdom. Princess Toadstool's cousin, Daisy, lives in a subkingdom called Sarasaland that is considered its own world. It contains a desert, jungle, and a few other terrains. That's where the wolf, Bain, came from.

Next area on the map is Waterland the primary fishery world of the kingdoms. There is also an island world that the Shy Guys come from. Wow Simon came a long way with the others.

Giantland is a world of jumbo sized beings and has a subcontinent of dinosaurs mainly the Yoshi species.

Up in the clouds is Skyland. Not much is recorded on this area. I imagine trying to walk on the clouds but my mind flashes to King Koopa falling through it. I couldn't help laugh. Gosh I hope that won't happen. My king scribbled Mallow on this page's ledger.

Just reading the name of the 6th zone, Iceland caused my teeth to chatter especially living in a volcano. I can't imagine that world is very popular for the Koopas well… Maybe the Koopa troopas, my king does have an internal heater.

Pipeland is the 7th world and according to the description it's a network of warp zones and passages ways that can take you almost anywhere. Basically, it's an enormous world of Chutes and Ladders. Apparently it's Ed's home. Wow that resistance is spread pretty far and wide.

I finally got to my favorite zone, Darkland, and found four letters covering the text. H-O-M-E! My king hit the nail on the head.

Night 131-

I didn't give my king a chance to fall asleep when he got in.

"Sire," I asked. "May I wander the halls again?"

King Koopa looked at me questioningly. "Haven't you been?"

"No sir," his answer took me by surprise. "I've been waiting for permission."

"I said to the end of the week," King Koopa responded.

"Um… Has a week ended," I asked.

King Koopa smirked before breaking into solid laughter. "I forgot I told you that time's kept by days." He laughed, "Yes, time's kept the same as your world. It's been that way since Super Mario arrived."

"Oh…," I felt my face flush tomato red. "You had me going."

"I can't you believe you went this long without realizing it," Koopa shook his head.

Blast… "Thank you my king," I replied. "Will I be allowed to rejoin Loki's tour tomorrow?"

Something in my question caused King Koopa's amusement to subside. I couldn't put my finger on it but my king was clear trying to find the words to convey his message. I began to worry. What did I ask to cause my lord to mull over his words before he spoke? He never thinks before he speaks.

"Loki has been sent on assignment," King Koopa said cautiously seeing my surprise. He continued as if pulling off a bandage. "You cannot rejoin Loki because he is no longer in the castle."

I fell speechless. I mean what could I say? My friend was sent out into the Mushroom Kingdom. Well I guess that explains why he didn't stop by to say hi. I mustered the only word I found on my lips.

"Where," I asked more as a reflex. Oh what an idiotic question? I mean my king's at war. Releasing that information especially to a slave, could compromise the mission. There's no reasonable reason why King Koopa would tell me.

"The Sarasaland," King Koopa answered.

My king's willingness to answer placed me in another stupor as a series of questions entered my mind. Why did my king tell me? Does it serve a tactical purpose? None, I can see. Does my king trust me that much? Is it false information? Is he worried I'll leak it? Does my king think I'm a spy? No way…

But he has had almost ten days alone with Master Kamek who knows how many lies he concocted.

"That's Princess Daisy's realm isn't it," I asked recalling what I've read. It was my turn to surprise the king. Koopa became silent making me wonder whether he told me assuming I had no knowledge of that world. I motioned to the bookshelf. "I've been reading. Is everything okay?"

My king raised his claw to his chin and thought a moment. "You're kind of smart footstool."

'Ouch… What a sharp compliment' I thought as he dodged my question. "Thank you my king but you give me too much credit. I didn't even realize days passed as normally here as back on Earth."

"True but your gullibility was just because you believed your king," King Koopa said defending me. Wow another compliment across the face.

I frowned at the prospect of losing my freedom. "Since Loki is no longer in the castle does that mean I'm confided to your room."

"No, I've decided to enroll you in Koopa School," my king answered immediately drawing my attention. "All the Kooplings are required to attend, except for Ludwig. He's smart enough."

A school for all the Kooplings? How cool is that!? I can't believe my king is granting me, a footstool, a slave, an opportunity to educate myself. Best of all I'll get to know all his kids. Maybe I'll even befriend them too. I know it's presumptuous since I've never met them but I guess I'm just an optimistic.

"Thank you, my king. Your benevolence knows no bounds," I could barely contain my excitement. "You spoil this slave." I bowed humbly at his feet.

"And don't you forget it," King Koopa smirked. "Listen school will begin at 9. I'll escort you just to make sure a Thwomp doesn't land on your head but if your school work interferes with your duties-."

"It won't," I interrupted. "Thank you sire." I took my position in front of his chair.

My king ordered two teas handing me one and sipping his while putting his feet up. I wanted to ask him questions about the Koopa School. About the teacher or teachers but I refrained deciding to make it part of the adventure tomorrow.