Hi Everyone I'm sorry about the delay in posting. I had trouble deciding how I wanted to present this scene. I'm not very educated in ballet or felt like researching so I hope its a good read anyway...
Disclaimer: I don't own King Koopa or the Koopling though I guess I do own the idea behind Wendy's crazy ballet...
Night 286-
After we returned to my room, Err… I mean, King Koopa's room, the giant lummox of a turtle motioned about dancing and humming parts from the recital. Apparently I was right about the king becoming over stimulated from his birthday festivities. He told me about the parade of Darklandians, hundreds of thousands that arrived to celebrate his special day almost 600 times.
"Princess Toadstool two cups of tea, please," I spoke to the table then thanking said fellow piece of furniture after the self requested insult. However today's stream of abusiveness seemed longer than usual.
Slaves don't appear to be the only ones who have to work on Bowser Day. Just like on Earth, the kitchen has to remain open during the Holiday's too. "You've already told me about the parade and about how your subjects brought you two presents, a mushroom and a wrapped gift.
"Tell me about Ludwig's latest symphony," I asked genuinely interested. I didn't get to hear any of it since I was under the sound proof stage but judging by Wendy's and Morton's ears it was another masterpiece.
King Koopa vanished behind his changing screen. "It was awful again," the king reemerged doing a pirouette fanning the bottom of his robe. I looked away feeling my face flush. Apparently King Koopa does remove his shell. "Why did you look away footstool?"
"I'm not worthy enough to look upon your magnificence my lord," I choked out with my head still turned. My king laughed at my innocence reddening my face. "Sire? Ludwig's symphony?" Luckily my king began his description allowing me time to thank the stars for the change in topic.
"Another 4 hour gem of claws scraping along a slated board and cats fighting," King Koopa recalled. "I can't imagine the pain those poor animals go through for Ludwig to produce those sounds.
"I bet if given the choice those fluffy kittens would rip out their own fur and stuff it in their ears to mute the sound," my king shook his head disappointedly, "I had to return the mushrooms everyone brought me."
"Did you really," I laughed kneeling in front of his chair. I knew he was telling the truth because after Ludwig's performance Magenta got us from under the stage. While waiting to present Wendy's gift, I watched the audience munching away from behind the curtain.
"Well the real gift was that my subjects willingly sat through that torture with me," King Koopa approached his chair performing another twirl.
He somersaulted over the armrest opposite his princess table landing on his cushion. "That's how I know I am beloved by my subjects." I laughed watching him performing as an impressionable youth. "What's the matter with you?"
In case you've forgotten or just need a refresher, I'm my king's cushion and his hefty scaled foot struck my shoulder causing me to wince. "I'm sorry my king but may I have a mushroom?" My king honored his slave's request. With my mouthful, I asked, "Tell me about Wendy's ballet?"
"It was the best gift of tonight," my king sipped some tea. "Did you really not see any of it, footstool?"
"Nope," I answered simply. I had decided to play the I-change-my-mind-and-got-a-ride-with-Roy-in-his-go-kart-after-I-showed-him-my-king's-invitation angle. King Koopa seemed to buy it and accepted it as my reason for being in pain.
"I spent the whole dance waiting in line for Lava Fire cakes," I continued. Those were the red velvet type cupcakes my king gave me on my birthday. "You gave me one once and I wanted to return your generosity and apologize for declining your invitation earlier." It was a partial truth. After my performance, I did spend the remainder of my free time waiting for the cupcakes.
King Koopa eyed me suspiciously. "Those cakes cost money. How did you get it?"
"I showed them the invitation and said," I tried in a deep authoritative voice, "King Koopa ordered me to get him one."
"You stole it," my king laughed.
"What? They don't know my tell," I smiled evilly making my king laugh harder.
After settling down, King Koopa asked, "How come I never got it?"
"I tried giving it to you but you were so engrossed with Wendy's show that I couldn't get your attention," I replied. It was the truth. No matter what I tried, I couldn't get his attention. "Until Wendy and the others took their bow but by then I had ate your cupcake.
"To be honest my king, a ballet doesn't sound very exciting in my book," I said making a face.
King Koopa sipped his tea. "Oh… It wasn't a ballet. The music ranged from classical to show tunes to high energy during the fight scenes," he explained. "It was artsy but not fartsy."
His eyes closed recalling the performance gradually humming again. "It was exciting. I think you would have liked it and it started with Wendy dressed like Princess Toadstool and a Birdo dressed like that pipsqueak plumber in a field of flowers."
That was sort of right. I mean that's how the performance started but what actually happened was Wendy's unexpected twist before the recital actually begun. When Ludwig finished vacating the stage, Wendy stepped beyond the curtain with a microphone.
"Um… Like thank you for like coming and like this ballet is a present from like Roy, Morton, Iggy, Lemmy, Larry, Bowser Jr. and like moi for daddy. Like, hi daddy," she said.
King Koopa bellowed from his private box, "Hi sweetie."
"As like a special twist, I have like selected special audience members to like help with the fight scenes," Wendy continued. "And like without further adieu may I like present… A King's Tail of Unity," the apparent title of this ballet.
The crowd applauded while Wendy returned back stage. I followed her hiding behind my Mario head. The idea of civilians integrated with our little production made me nervous. I felt something swell in my stomach.
"That's like for hijacking my ballet and like changing the final battle music," Wendy shot me a look of satisfactory revenge.
As much as I wanted to fight back with her yelling words not suitable for a children's story, Wendy was right. I did take charge over her idea despite constantly reminding her brothers that this was her production so I'm just going to have to stomach it.
And so anyway, the story began with Wendy and I in a field of flowers. (Iggy did a great job with the set designs by the way. The whole stage looked and felt like an actual meadow). Wendy moved eloquently on her toes leaping toward the center of the stage followed by me (to a chorus of "BOOS"- the word not the ghost people).
I lightly grasped Wendy's arm and we pranced around the field hand in hand (to light frolicking music) almost as if privately ballroom dancing. I dipped Princess Toadstool and leaned forward for a kiss (the crowd yelled "NO"). Wendy pushed me away (the crowd cheered).
As the princess motioned to leave, I forcefully grabbed her wrist pulling her back to me (the crowd gasped).
"That's when I fell from the sky," King Koopa laughed smugly in my direction. "Yes, your lord and savior." Morton entered dropping from the top of the stage doing a butt thump forcing Wendy and me to separate. "I rescued the princess and disappeared performing massive leaps back into the sky.
"When Mario attempted to follow…" I met the first group of Wendy's fan fighters. "I dropped Thwomps from my airship," King Koopa said continuing the next line more to himself, "I wonder why I never thought of doing that."
The blue spiked rocks made it impossible to follow Morton so I had to run narrowly (to the chagrin of the audience) under the Thwomps offstage to start the next scene.
"Me and Princess Toadstool danced across the desert's hot sands which didn't burn nearly as hot as our love," my king hummed the melody. "Only it didn't last as that pipsqueak plumber followed us to the Desert Land."
In this stage, I had to dance around the Goombas from rehearsal which thanks to the orange glow of Lemmy's lightshow and my costume made dancing across the stage an overheated chore. After managing my way around the dancers, the sun prop released fireballs the melted and blended into the orange light beams.
Every time I made it to the other end of the stage, a fireball cut me off. Firing in rapid succession, they forced me all the way back to the beginning of the scene. That's when I found the second newly written in fighter.
"Mario was chased by a Chomp-Chomp," King Koopa laughed as did the rest of the audience. Not so much for the chase but because in order to avoid a fireball, I had to jump backward. The Chomp-Chomp chomped into my butt.
The whole audience roared as I ran around the stage flailing my arms. Its teeth were sharp and my only respite during this assault was Iggy's sun prop stopped shooting fireballs (probably because he doubled over in laughter too). I wasn't sure how long this new scene was supposed to last but something swelled again in my stomach.
Worried I had some kind of internal bleeding or something, my heart skipped a beat when the worst possible thing happened. "Mario made this sound," King Koopa vibrated his tongue between his lips.
I wish I could say he was exaggerating but I became flagellant. The ripple scared the Chomp-Chomp off stage. Relief from its departure collapsed my body pointing my derriere in the air. The audience and my king (even through this retelling) continued laughing solidly.
The fireballs started up again and targeted my presenting bottom. Unfortunately my gas ignited and fed the flame to the seat of my pants. It propelled me off stage into the wall. Luckily the curtain dropped prompting applause and whistles from the crowd.
"You're like doing great," Wendy smiled approaching with a mushroom and a new pair of coveralls. "Only like 6 more stages and 3 boss battles to like go." She turned toward the rest of the crew, "Let's like get ready for Stage 3."
Both Roy and Morton stepped between me and the others becoming living changing screens. I slipped the disgusting fungus under my mask and changed into my new coveralls.
"Are yo' okay Bawdy," Morton whispered.
"Yeah, are you ready for the fight scene," I asked seeing Mort nod.
"Did you figure out a way back to the castle," Roy asked.
"Not yet but I'll worry about it after I survive this," I answered tying a rope around my waist. "Good luck you two."
"The curtain raised and Mario made a splash," King Koopa smiled, "But he was in for a surprise."
The background bathed in blue light and Lemmy timed my "splash" perfectly creating the illusion of an underwater level with the help of a well placed water spell casted by Bowser Jr. wetting some of the audience members. I "swam" using a rope held by Larry (we figured it was another sports related way for him to help) but considering my weight it was more like sinking like a stone.
Basically instead of swimming, I made large leaps then sank gracefully to the sea floor. One of Lemmy's light tricks created images of Cheeps (red and white fish things) floating like a wave in my direction. I wasn't prepared (mainly because they weren't in rehearsal) for actual Cheeps shot at me like a Bullet Bill.
I managed to dodge them in a semi acceptable dance incorporating leaps and twirls until Iggy's underwater castle descended from the top of the stage. Once I entered the new setting the front of the castle fell across the width of the stage. It showed the audience I caught up to Morton and Wendy.
"Then some really intense music started playing," King Koopa informed me maintaining a serious look. "And me and Mario fought." I love how my king replaced Morton, Wendy, and me with the actual people. It's as if he was recalling this ballet as one of his real life battles.
Morton and I swung at each other the same as in our sparring matches to the "Oos" and "Ahs" of the audience. We naturally moved as fluidly as a dance while in close combat. Striking with actual punches locked the crowd and my king in. I knew they'd love it especially King Koopa since he's jumping up and down in his chair.
"And then I hit that puny plumber with one of these," he demonstrated a 3 punch combo ending with a spinning uppercut that sent Princess Toadstool flying across the room shattering when it landed.
"Wow. You fought amazingly," I complimented wide eye encouraging my king's animated storytelling.
During the actual fight scene, I struck Mort a little too hard in his chest just above his shell causing the turtle to fall to a knee. His eyes narrowed informing me I got carried away. He shot a fireball at me which would have easily singed the Mario mask. Luckily Roy released a water pulse that contacted the fireball creating a steam cloud across the stage.
"Then I used a warp whistle and escaped with the Princess," King Koopa made a whistle sound identical to the sound in the play.
I believe Wendy and Roy used the steam as cover to get Morton off the stage. I don't officially know what happened because the steam was so thick that I didn't need to "act" in order to bump into the set's walls. Bowser Jr. created a wind cyclone to funnel the waterlogged smoke into the sky. Once cleared, I rushed off stage just before the red shirt sleeves shrunk exposing my wrists.
"I'm sorry Mort," I quickly apologized.
"Dwon't worwe. I'll get yo' next scwene," he growled after I change my shirt behind a Wendy and Roy screen.
The following scene took us to Giantland and instead of citizens partaking in the fight this time I was left to face the cast with a slight tweak to the scene. First, I had to dodge dinosaur eggs double the size of my Mario head while avoiding overgrown Thwomps dressed like feet. Each time the monster foot hit the stage, I froze in place to maintain my balance. Unfortunately…
"That's when I squished that little bug," King Koopa simulated by pressing his foot down on my back while making a "Splat" sound.
"That must have hurt," I laughed (Oh and it did). Mort became macro sized rivaling even the tallest skyscrapers of Earth. Good thing the stage was outside because it could only accommodate one of Morton's feet.
My onset counterpart's left foot crashed down upon me. I'm so glad Roy elicited Iggy's help. The inventory Koopling developed a false floor that gave way like some carpets do for cockroaches. I know mine did. Like said insect once Mort lifted his scaly foot to stomp again I scurried offstage.
Clawed hands pushed me back out onstage (one of Larry's ideas) and I was mashed into the carpet again. The whole audience roared and applauded. It was loud enough to penetrate Mort's sole (haha). Truth is with my ear pressed against his foot, I swear I heard the ocean.
When Morton raised his leg again, I scurried once again to the other side of the stage to a rubber bungee cord (another Iggy prop and for all intensive purposes a slingshot). Jumping against the cord, its elasticity shot me back into Morton's shin. The collision made Morton shrink to his standard size.(Personally it wasn't a very impressive representation of my king) but apparently there are a type of mushroom that have that kind of effect.
"It enlarges the person who eats it until they're struck with enough force to wear it off," King Koopa explained then mumbled to himself. "Or does it only work for a short period of time?
"Anyway, after I returned to normal size, I grabbed Princess Toadstool drove my airship to the next world," King Koopa resumed his story telling. "I summoned a tornado to destroy Mario but that pipsqueak plumber used it to his advantage."
Basically one of the toughest scenes in my opinion because of the timing required and everyone needed to hit their marks to pull it off. Bowser Jr. cast the whirlwind at center stage. I ran leaping into it. While inside, I hit an invisible box with my head which released a long narrow vine that grew straight up to the top of the stage.
Now I needed to leap into the tornado again then try and grab hold of the vine. You know what? I don't recall all this physical pain during rehearsal (and Wendy had a problem with my changes?).
"I couldn't believe that Birdo playing Mario got hold of that vine on the first try," King Koopa's hand perched under his beak. "It seemed too high a level of skill even if it was just for show."
"It's cause I'm awesome," I whispered.
"What's that," King Koopa looked up.
"Nothing," I tried backpedalling. "What happened next?"
King Koopa frowned, "Skyland."
That's when Iggy and Lemmy out did themselves. Between the set design and the lights, the whole amphitheater appeared to float with us in the sky. It was, also, the first real defeat of King Koopa during our little production. You'd figure my king would find comfort as the two runaways' frolic moving romantically among the clouds but…
"I hate that zone," the king pouted. (I think he was referring to his real experiences).
"Really, I'd figure the pink and orange hues the sun turns the clouds would be romantic," I suggested seeing King Koopa consider it.
"It would be if they weren't clouds," his eyes widened making me laugh. "I rather walk on Yoshi egg shells… Yoshi eggs." My king pulled his magic wand from his own shell and reconstructed Princess Toadstool beside his chair. "Princess two plates of scrambled Yoshi eggs and bacon."
"At once my king," the table responded as if it was never broken. The plates appeared almost instantly. Gosh, my king's a talented wizard.
"Let's see. Where were we," he asked.
"Your dance in the clouds," I answered accepting my breakfast plate. "How come you don't like walking on clouds?" I chomped on a spoonful of eggs.
His eyes nearly overwatered at the confession. "I'm too heavy. I fall through the clouds."
I laughed picturing my king wedging halfway into a cloud. It forced the eggs I had just ingested to fire through my nose back onto my plate. I lost my appetite and pushed my plate away. At least they smelled as good coming out.
"That's what you get for laughing at your king," he said smugly.
"I'm sorry sire. It was rude of me to laugh and I regret doing so," I answered as my mind completed the picture of King Koopa falling completely through the cloud plummeting to his doom. The thought actually started bothering me.
"Apology accepted footstool," King Koopa replied. "Clouds are too soft and give under some weight. Being as strong as I am, my feet disappear with each powerful step I take."
I believe that's true just from being under my king's weight every night and it's only a fraction of it. I guess that's where the ballet differed. Morton and Wendy had performed a slow romantic style dance on the clouds. The whole audience fell dumbstruck by the couple and perhaps even earned my king some support in his conquest for companionship.
Even I was captivated by the moment missing my cue on stage. Apparently, my subconscious mind didn't want to ruin the image of my king with his beloved in this picturesque moment. After the fourth time the music looped and a Bowser Jr.'s fireball to my rump, I willed myself to interrupt the tranquil scene.
Bowser Jr. cast another fireball that bounced across the stage toward Wendy. "That's when I risked life and limb," King Koopa sounded nobly.
Mort pirouetted covering Wendy absorbing the fireball and like expected, the audience booed me longer and deeper than a Philadelphia sports fan does to a player who snubs playing in that city or Crosby. Although, I found myself booing at me too, however, the show must go on.
Bowser Jr. released another torrent of fireballs. The actual scene called for Morton to counter the element with his own flame but the Koopling winced unable to match the onslaught coming at him. I think the contact I made earlier lingered and became exacerbated from the fireball he already absorbed this scene. The whole cast needed to improvise as the cues weren't being hit.
On the other hand, the audience was on the edge of their seats. Iggy whistled capturing the attention of the off stage helpers and me since I was able to look upward without tilting my head thanks to the oversized mask. He gestured a big explosion with his hands then stomped a foot while pointing at a trapdoor our little Bowser, Mort, was standing on.
I whirled my hands around my body while syncing to the orange glow emanating from Lemmy's lights. The way the light gathered made it appear as if I was concentrating it into a massive fireball. Reminiscent of Ryu from Capcom's Street Fighter II series, I shot a large fireball at Morton (cast offstage by Bowser Jr.) Mort attempted to counter but he was in too much pain.
Luckily Roy countered with his own large fireball. When the two flames converged an explosion sent a shockwave through the air and smoke once again encompassed the stage. Both Morton and Wendy fell through the trapdoor. (Iggy changed the set while Lemmy's light show gave the illusion that…)
"The clouds gave way and both me and Princess Toadstool fell back toward solid ground," King Koopa said awestruck. The illusion was masterly done. "Naturally that stupid Mario followed us."
Once I found myself beneath the stage, I hurried over to Morton. "Mort, are you okay," I asked the genuflecting Koopling.
"Yeah," he replied eating a brown capped mushroom. Mort already had one during Ludwig's performance. I wonder if there is a limit to how often someone can eat a mushroom during a certain period of time.
Oh well it didn't matter. Mort appeared revitalized after finishing the fungi hurrying to the stage door. Only a few more scenes to go but I still needed to figure out how to get back to King Koopa's room before him.
"The next scene took place in a Koopas least favorite zone, Iceland," my king informed.
"Ah, but I bet it's one of the best lands to have a cup of tea with Princess Toadstool," I smiled at my king. "Speaking of which have you sent her an invitation yet?"
His beak transformed into a salmon color. "Do you want to hear about the ballet or not?"
I'm taking his response as a "No." I figured I'd let it go. "What happened in the Ice zone?"
"The Princess and I continued our decent from Skyland," the king resumed.
Morton and Wendy both climbed above the curtain. Lemmy's lights turned the stage blue simulating ice and Iggy's set design even copied its slippery texture. I know this because I had follow Mort and Wendy from above the curtain. I didn't expect the ground to be ice-ice and fell straight on my butt. The crowd cheered.
I was able to adapt pretty easily since PA had snow and ice storms during the winter months. However watching the grim expressions on Morton's and Wendy's faces, it was clear that they were going to need some help adapting. I don't think they were expecting the stage floor to be as ice-like as Iggy made it either. I had to figure out a way to get them moving while not up staging them. (I'm sorry body…)
"When Mario went to tackle me, the oaf lost his footing. He slid right off the front of the stage," King Koopa laughed recounting the scene. It was a partial truth. I actually slid off behind the right curtain.
Immediately I went to the pink headed turtle. He's been quite reliable so far during this production. How Mort and Wendy don't start trusting him again after today will be beyond me. "Roy do you have any unused Koopa Troopa shells? I need 4."
"We do," the four koopa troopas from rehearsal announced behind us. I turned in time to see all of them remove their shells. Why is everyone running around naked today? "What do you need them for Baldo," all of them batted their eyelashes at me.
'Oh great admirers' I thought before smiling. "Ice skates. I'll try and get these back to you as soon as possible and in one piece."
I reappeared on stage falling again nearing the lovers. I dropped all four shells sliding off stage again. Both turtles looked in my direction. I mimed putting the shells on my feet. Both of them copied suit and regained some balance.
I re-reentered the stage pushing my feet as if I was skating. Morton copied and we found ourselves skating around the stage engaging in wind sprints and triple axles. At one point our arms interlocked and we spun over thirty times in a row. Luckily we were both at center stage when we let go, Mort and I performed synchronized spins stopping just shy of the edge on opposite sides of the stage. We both fell simultaneously on our butts. The audience laughed.
"Mario recovered first," Koopa's fists slammed his chair. "He grabbed the princess."
I did grab Wendy while skating by and lifted her over my head while doing a victory lap. (We actually improvised this whole scene). There was supposed to be henchman and everything but after Mort's collapse last scene we jumped straight to the 2nd boss battle. We, also, used the henchman's shells as ice skates anyway. I was just glad we all went with it.
Mort got up to strike me with a fireball but ended up holding it too long. He released a cloud of blacken smoke that gradually shaped into a fireball before falling back on his butt still dizzy. It was thick smoke… smoke screen type smoke… Roy improvised releasing a fireball.
When his flame met billowing ball of gas inches away from me, it ignited. I threw Wendy over the exploding mass. The blast sent me exiting stage right while…
"Princess Toadstool spun three times in the air landing in my lap. She stood up, reached out her elegant gentle hand, and picked me up. Hand in hand we exited stage left," King Koopa wiped a tear from his eye. I pretended not to see. "End Scene."
The crowd applauded when the curtain fell. Larry gave Morton, Wendy, and me a mushroom while off stage all three of us thankful for a break. Thank goodness, Larry decided to stay and help.
"Like, um, quick thinking with like the shells," Wendy removed the emergency ice skates.
"I'm just glad they worked," I replied. "Sorry about cutting the whole scene short."
"It worked like better this way," she smiled pleased with the performance so far. I have to admit everyone gave 100% on this.
"Good cause I figured out how we're going to end it," I gathered the Kooplings and dancers around. "Lemmy did you decide if you'll do the solo?"
"Yeah, I will Baldo," the little koopa fists pumped. He looked inspired. I wonder if it was from our performance.
"This is what we're going to do," I started.
"Next came Pipeland," King Koopa interrupted my memory.
For this stage, Iggy prepared the network of chutes and ladders like the castle from World 3. Morton and Wendy entered the maze from the top left of the stage while I snuck in from the bottom right. Once all heroes and villain entered the maze, the outer covering fell off revealing a labyrinth of twist and turns to the crowd.
Only the audience could view the pitfalls, Wendy had added to the maze. (We only rehearsed with the pipes outlines). I couldn't see past the varying strips of the set design. As I ran along, it ended up turning into a gauntlet. I had to avoid dozens of spiked shelled quad-legged turtles called Spiny. (I think they'd be considered a lower level of intelligence).
I did my best dodging and jumping over them. It was all I could do since I couldn't hurt them due to their spiked shell. Unfortunately, I ended up losing my balance after clearing one. I fell on my butt but…
"Instead of landing on the smooth surface of the pipe that pipsqueak plumber landed on the Spiny's last spike," King Koopa laughed just as hard as the audience had watching live. (Apparently Darklandians really enjoy low brow humor).
Luckily the little misstep led me into the same section of the maze as Morton and Wendy. I watched both Kooplings dance to the end of a straight piped shaped corridor then disappear into a green pipe. I hesitated thanks to Iggy's set design. All I could see was the start of a pipe similar to the one I fell through the day I arrived.
The audience could tell whether there was a surprise waiting for me but kept it a secret. I sighed reminded of the lingering pain on my backside. Deciding I really wanted to get this dance (if you can even still call it that) over with, I approached the pipe.
Less than a foot away a giant red and white plant exited the passageway. Just like on my tour with Loki, its movements memorized me. Hypnotically I slowly reached out to touch it. A fireball ricochet off the set walls striking the Piranha plant but not before the carnivorous vegetation clamped my shoulder. (This was the real reason I asked my king for a mushroom).
The heated ball eradicated the creature but I felt blood trickle down my arm. Its redness would have been noticeable if not for my red sleeve shirt. Regaining my bearings, I followed Mort and Wendy into the pipe causing the curtain to drop and the scene to end. The audience applauded and cheered, while I met up with Roy behind the scene.
"Baldo? What was that," he asked almost in a yell.
"Sorry, I get entranced by Piranha plant movements," I answered.
"Why like didn't you like say anything like during rehearsal," Wendy asked watching some blood drips on the stage floor.
"They weren't in rehearsal," I answered as the rest of the Kooplings appeared. "Just give me a mushroom and I'll be okay."
They all looked at one another. "There like aren't anymore," Wendy blushed.
"We only brought enough for Ludwig's symphony and one for each of us," Larry informed. "We didn't expect Wendy to cause any extra pain tonight."
Wendy's eyes swelled. "Like sorry Baldo. I like didn't think you'd get hurt."
"How many sleeves do we have left," I asked choosing to believe the female Koopling. Her voice sounded sincere in spite of her initial remark at the start of the play.
"4," Iggy said. "Two on a spare shirt and the shirt Magenta's wearing."
"Okay, can you guys give me a changing screen," I removed my costume when Roy and Morton complied.
Tearing the clean sleeve from the old shirt I was wearing, I wrapped the material around my injured shoulder. Hopefully it will absorb most of my bleeding. Next I put on the replacement shirt, reset my coveralls and my Mario head. I can't believe the giant head had remained intact this long.
"Finally the final boss battle had arrived," King Koopa said solemnly. "There I was alone with the love of my life, Princess Toadstool when he broke into MY THRONE ROOM!"
He was right. The final scene was just between me and Morton battling over Wendy in an exact replica of King Koopa's throne room. It was exactly as I remembered it from the day I arrived. Hopefully my bandages would hold until I made it through the fight scene.
"Suddenly Lemmy appeared on the front left side of the stage carrying a violin," King Koopa recounted perfectly. He began humming his son's solo performance.
As soon as the music started, it signaled our cue to fight. Both Morton and I seemed exhausted. We exchanged blow after blow forgetting the audience was there. He struck me with his tail (a move he learned from my king) which hurt even more because of the Piranha's bite. We rushed each other and I managed to strike the same spot as earlier.
Mort fell to a knee. As I hurried to clock him again, he countered with his claws slashing upward. Morton tore the clothing hiding my wound. Blood spurted into the air and onto the stage. The audience cheered loudly but, stilled, Morton's eyes opened wide. He didn't intend to strike me there.
When I recovered, I tossed the frozen Koopling over my hip taking my position standing on the trapdoor. The saddening music continued signaling Morton to hold his flame as we discussed a few scenes ago.
"I only released a massive amount of smoke," King Koopa recanted the final moments of the battle. "I managed to cover the whole stage. Mario spun funneling the cloud around him." (Thanks to Bowser Jr.) "He was swallowed by the column.
"While inside the smoke stack, the pesky plumber cast a fireball." (Thanks to Roy) "The fool," King Koopa shook his head. "The gas was flammable. I guess that idiot plumber didn't learn anything from the ice castle battle. The pillar became a burning tornado.
"All that was left of Mario after the combustion was a pile of ash and a chard hat," King Koopa described the end of the battle.
What happened was I removed the Mario costume while at the center of the smoke vortex then disappeared through the trapdoor when Roy shot his fireball. I think it was hot enough to close my wound because I wasn't bleeding under the stage. Since I went underground, I didn't actually get to see what was left on stage. I was too busy changing into my normal clothes and sneaking my way among the crowd to the Fire Lava Cake stand. When I finally made it to my king's private box…
"Finally defeating my arch nemeses, I took Princess Toadstool in my arms. We gazed into each other's eyes then kissed. The End," King Koopa finished. I applauded the end of his reenactment.
"Congratulations, I knew Princess Toadstool really loved you," I smiled.
"Don't be foolish, Footstool," the king sighed. "It didn't really happen. It was just a ballet."
Truth be told, I don't think the show we performed qualifies a ballet. Although… I have no idea how none of us ever said a word or even screamed out in pain. Mort and I know there were plenty of opportunities.
"Sounds like Wendy did a remarkable job. Are you going to tell her about it," I asked.
"Yes," my king responded without hesitation. "In fact, Wendy has already accepted my invitation to dinner tomorrow so I'll tell her there."
I couldn't suppress the smile creasing my face. I was very happy. First Morton joined the king, then Roy, and now Wendy. I was just happy she finally accepted. A deal's a deal right? I guess being nearly killed on stage helps honor said deals.
"Well sounds like you had a happy birthday my king," I said smiling.
"I know but now it's time for bed," he yawned standing up.
"Hold on a second my king. I have two things to tell you," I looked King Koopa in the eye. "First I think you should invite Iggy, Lemmy, Larry, and Bowser Jr. to dinner tomorrow too."
"But they're so young," he rebutted.
"I guarantee they'll provide some of your best family memories," I said recalling their commitment during today's performance. "And second," I pulled the sheet covered clock from under his chair. "I know it's going to be hard to impress you as much as Wendy did but… Happy Birthday King Koopa."
"Footstool, slaves aren't allowed-," my king stopped himself removing the sheet. The little clock left him speechless. Luckily he just so happened to go to sleep at the start of the 4 o'clock hour.
The music chime started and the little Bob-omb exited the castle. Bowser's face inched to the little figurine approaching him much like Master Kamek had. Suddenly the Bob-omb exploded 4 times right in King Koopa's face. Once done, the tiny explosive disappeared back inside its castle.
My king remained silent and stoic for almost a minute covered in soot before his mouth widened into a genuine smile then uncontrollable laughter. "WHAT A GREAT GIFT," my king exclaimed. He looked at me. "Thank you, footstool, I just have one question."
"Yes, sire," I inquired.
"How come the explosions so weak," he asked seriously.
'Oh man. I LOVE my king' I thought laughing. "Happy Birthday my king," I smiled. "I hope you enjoyed the ballet."