Hi Everyone He's the next chapter... Sorry Sarah... I took a few liberties... I hope you didn't mind...
Disclaimer... Bowser so awesome maggots...
Day 319-
Something interesting happened in class today. Master Kamek waved his magic wand summoning a sheet of parchment to each of our desk tops. He seemed a bit excited too.
"The town's Koopas and Goombas opened a King Koopa Museum in the Bootown section of the city," he announced.
"Boo" town as the name implies is the part of the city where the dead reside. Of course it includes those little white balls of ectoplasm commonly referred to as ghosts (ha… you thought I was going to say Boo) and the reanimated Koopa Troopas, Loki described during our adventure together. If I recall correctly, those Koopa Troopa are known as Drybones around here.
"Have those permission slips filled out and returned by tomorrow," Kamek continued. "We go on Wednesday."
Naturally my hand shot skyward. "Master Kamek, am I allowed to go?"
"I wouldn't have given you the form if there wasn't a chance," he answered finishing the day's lesson.
During our sparring match after class, Morton connected with a three hit combo. I've been spending most of my free time with Morton. Since the ballet was over and because Master Kamek apparently mellowed out, I've only had detention maybe once a week Wendy and Roy have been doing their own thing lately.
He smiled with his little maneuver. "Awe wight Bawdy, yo' can be in mwhy gwoup on Wednesdway," Morton said excitedly.
"Right," I smiled trying to hide the skepticism in my voice. Given my history with Master Kamek, I just didn't believe him. He's never showed me more than contempt before. How can I trust him?
That night, my king entered chuckling to himself. He must have had another good dinner with kids. King Koopa's been in a very good mood whenever he returned from dinner. Considering some of the stories his kids retell during lunch, I hope I get invited to eat with him someday.
"What happened at dinner, sire," I asked hoping to partake in his merriment. It gets boring sometimes dining alone.
"Larry and Bowser Jr. had a spitball contest trying to put out a candle," King Koopa chuckled.
"Who won?"
King Koopa's face transformed into a smug grin. "I did," he professed proudly making me laugh. "I blew out the candle and the top layer of a Yoshi cream pound cake." King Koopa laughed harder reminiscing. "They were covered head to toe."
I laughed thinking that that must have been one big layer of cake. "We're all having dinner again tomorrow," my king informed me.
"I'm happy for you sire," I replied earnestly and then pulled my permission slip out. "Um, King Koopa, the class is going to a King Koopa Museum in town on Wednesday. May I go with them?"
"Are you part of the class?"
"Yes, sire, but I'm, also, a slave and slaves aren't allowed to leave the castle grounds," I rebutted.
"No, you're a footstool," he shot back.
My eyes rolled holding the slip toward him. "Please sire I still need your permission," I countered. My king may not care about the semantics of titles but the one thing I know for sure is that Master Kamek does. I'll need King Koopa's permission for any chance of getting to go and even though I'll have it, I'm still not getting my hopes up.
King Koopa took the paper from my hand and signed it. I thanked him upon its return and assumed my position for my nightly duties. Regardless of what happens on Wednesday, my king trusts me enough to leave the castle. That's a win for me.
Day 320-
First thing I did upon entering the classroom is turn my permission slip into a stoic faced wizard. The light reflected so heavily off Master Kamek's lenses that I couldn't even see his eyes. After staring at the parchment for a minute he cast several spells toward the signature.
I assumed he was checking its authenticity. 'Ha, I won this round' I thought to myself.
"Everything seems to be in order footstool," Kamek combined my slip with the few others. "Meet us in the airship hanger tomorrow morning."
"Yes, thank you Master Kamek," I went to my seat catching Mort smiling excitedly.
Day 321-
Started out fantastically, my king woke up and ordered us Yoshi egg dipped hot breads (basically the equivalent of French toast on Earth), Yoshi eggs, bacon, and sausage. This was the first time he's ever ordered this much food for breakfast. It was a feast and as usual at a feast, I couldn't eat all of it.
"Sire? How come you ordered so much," I mumbled with stuffed cheeks.
"I wanted to celebrate your first tour outside the castle," King Koopa replied.
Although, I've been in the city twice, those weren't exactly recreational trips. The first time was when I was captured on my way to a life of forced servitude. I was a prisoner being paraded through the streets like cattle tethered to another group of people (though they probably resembled cattle more than me). I fortunately had befriended my captor or at the least earned his respect at the time. He acted more as a guide than cruel master but we still walked a straight line to the castle.
The next time was to secretly perform in Wendy's ballet. However I didn't get a chance to look around or anything. On my way to the show, Roy and I rode a go kart along the mythical Rainbow Road magically appearing under the stage. Afterwards, I was too exhausted to look around. My performance was quite strenuous and we ran out of energy/health replenishing mushrooms. I don't know if I'd of been able to stay awake for King Koopa's animated retelling if I hadn't eaten his cupcake early.
"Thank you my king," I blushed from his generosity.
Once we returned the plates, King Koopa removed that really thick book from his library tucking it under his arm as we approached the door. He saw my eyes wander to the book after he locked the door. (I thought it strange that he didn't pack it in his shell).
"It's going to be a long day being king today," he said. I wonder why my king felt it necessary to explain his actions to his footstool.
"Why don't you come with us to the Museum," I asked.
King Koopa smirked at me. "I'm not that bored OR full of myself." I laughed trying to rationalize his statement. Basically he's saying Museum's are boring and that he's not as narcissistic as Jimmy had believed. "Besides I have a few important meetings. Enjoy your trip." My king took off for the throne room.
On my way to the hanger, I met up with Mort. Good old, Mort, even though we called off sparring today since we didn't know what time we'd return, showed that doesn't mean our spirited competition had subsided.
We exchanged pleasantries heading toward the hanger. What started as walking, gradually increased to speed walking, then into jogging, before becoming a full fledge race (which I won)…
"What were you two doing," Master Kamek growled standing in front of the other Kooplings.
"Nutting," Mort answered for the both of us out of breath.
Kamek decided to let whatever he was thinking go. "Since everyone's here, line up," the wizard commanded.
Whether subconsciously or not, I had stepped to the end of the line. As if on cue, once Kamek allowed my classmates pass him onto a little wooden airship that looking surprisingly like one of those ships at a Carnival, he confirmed my preconceptions.
"Where do you think you're going footstool," the turtle extended his little arm to stop me.
"With you to the museum, Master Kamek," I answered. "King Koopa gave me permission."
"I don't care what King Koopa said. You are still a slave," Kamek retorted. "Slaves are not allowed to leave the castle."
Mort turned around. "Bwut yo' said he cwould go!"
Kamek motioned to respond but I cut him off. "It's alright Master Morton. Master Kamek is correct and doesn't have to justify his actions," I watched the instructor's jaw open and shut.
"Enjoy the trip and I'll see you in class tomorrow." Morton pouted disappearing aboard the ship. I turned to my instructor. "Have a safe trip, Master Kamek," I spoke as sincerely as I could.
Without responding, the wizard climbed aboard stopping at the doorway. "Now class," he addressed the others but I felt him staring at me from the corner of his eye. "There will be a report due Monday based on what you see today."
His head turned in my direction with a grin. I sighed looks like another failed assignment. I watched the turtle's smile become toothy when he added, "Come along, Mushroom."
Jimmy appeared out of nowhere following Master Kamek onto the ship. Once the mushroom cleared the passageway the door shut and they were off. I laughed. 'I guess you won this round Master Kamek' I thought 'Well played.'
Now basically having the whole day off, I needed to find something to occupy my time and decided on paying my king a visit. Other than my first day in his presence, I haven't really gotten a chance to watch my king being king.
Wandering the halls on the way to the throne room, I was surprised seeing the other servants, slaves, and castle guards only murmur to one another as I walked by unprotected. The way King Koopa spoke about it, I expected to be running a never ending gauntlet but apparently being my king's property carried more clout than previously suggested.
I entered the throne room instantly being memorized by the light reflecting off the chandelier and didn't notice the throne itself was empty until I was right in front of it. It's rather peculiar that my king wasn't sitting in his chair. I mean where else would he be… Well never mind… The answer to that would be anywhere he wants. It is his castle after all.
Deciding it was a lost cause, I traveled the corridors to my king's war room. Maybe it would update me on the current war waging outside the Darklands or at the very least tell me where Loki is. A stroke of luck revealed itself when I found the chamber door unlocked. Peeking through a crack, I opened the door then entered when I saw nobody around the table at the center of a dimly lit room.
I approached the figurines finding a large amount of Mushroom Kingdom forces (I could tell by the pieces spotted capped heads) grouped around 2 of King Koopa's airship pieces on the Sarasaland section of the map. A pit formed in my stomach… That was the area Loki was assigned.
"Footstool, what's the matter," my king's voice sounded from somewhere in the shadows at the far corner of the room. I guess more than my stomach was concerned.
"I'm worried about Loki," I responded staring at the map. I didn't even realize I forgotten to add a title before saying his name. "Is he still in the Sarasaland?"
My king revealed himself exiting the shadows carrying his leather bound book. One of his clawed fingers kept the book from shutting. I guess so my lord wouldn't lose his place. Stepping beside me, King Koopa placed his other clawed hand on my shoulder.
"Yes, he is," my king informed tightening the noose in my stomach. "We haven't received any word from that area in the past few days either." Now I felt my face start turning green.
"Hey… Hey… Hey… No news is good news until reported otherwise during a war," my king attempted to comfort me but his words did little putting my mind at ease.
I felt his hand descend my shoulder on to my back and rub gently. His small act of kindness sparked a small ray of hope in me. It allowed my brain to rationalize what my king just told me.
'At least my king didn't sugarcoat anything. He willingly told me everything he knows at this time and I greatly appreciate that.' More and more he's made me feel like a confidant than a slave.
"What are you doing here anyway," King Koopa asked trying to change the topic. "I thought your class was going on a trip to study me?"
"They did but Master Kamek said slaves weren't allowed outside the castle grounds," I replied.
Technically the grumpy wizard was right. Slaves aren't allowed to leave the castle and if my king didn't personally advise the turtle then Master Kamek could get in allot of trouble.
"Kamek," King Koopa grumbled. Something in my king's voice suggested he gave his consent.
"It's alright. I didn't expect I'd be able to go anyway," I smiled at my king. "So I thought I'd see how your day was going."
"How are you going to pass Monday's assignment," he asked.
I shrugged. "The same way I always do," I replied which was a partial truth. It didn't really matter whether I went or not. There was no way I would pass the assignment.
"No, this isn't good, Footstool," King Koopa said to himself then he smirked at me. "Tell you what. I'll take you myself on Saturday."
My face lit up. Me and my king going to a museum together over the weekend. I couldn't suppress my grin or my excitement. "Really my king?"
"Yep. We'll take the Clown Copter," he smiled
"Thank you my king. You spoil this slave with your benevolence that knows no bounds," somehow stopping myself from throwing my arms around his neck giving him a hug.
"And don't you forget it," he replied smugly. Suddenly a choir of distant voices flooded the chamber.
"One gift beauty rare…," the choir sang. My eyes searched the room but couldn't find the small group. They sung out again "Full of sunshine in her hair…"
I realized the sound was coming from my king's open book. Slowly my eyes found his and his sand colored face turned as fiery red as his hair. It was a blush of "I've been caught". We remained silent for around ten seconds and his brow began to sweat.
"Um… My king what are you reading," I asked seeing him trying to ignore it but when he removed his finger a gust of wind blustered its way from the book forcing it open.
I saw a blue cloaked fairy with pointed hat staring angrily at a dark robed sorceress with a pale face and horns atop her head. The drawings looked familiar as if old school… Disney? "My king, are you watching Walt Disney?"
King Koopa's head bowed. His embarrassment was as radiant as ever even his normal watermelon green cranium transformed into the red sweetness normally found within the fruit.
"Yes," he admitted knowing he's been caught. I laughed. "What's so funny footstool," he replied sort of annoyed.
I continued laughing "Now I know where the TV is." It, also, explained why I couldn't find it in our room. Kind of hard to find something if your king takes it with him everyday. It's sort of cheating right? I, also, understood why he took it with him. "What are you watching?"
"You don't think any less of your king watching cartoons," he asked in a suspicious tone mix with surprise.
"No, I like cartoons," I answered.
"But you're a kid," King Koopa muttered apparently trying to defend me… I think.
"We all have our own little interest sire," I smiled. My king fell silent. "What are you watching?"
"Sleeping Beauty," King Koopa replied. "It's my favorite."
"What's that one about," I asked.
My king's eyes narrowed on me again as if I've committed a serious crime. "I thought you knew Disney."
I laughed. My king asked in the same sarcastic tone from when I asked him about using the lava well they call a toilet. "I do my king but I'm more familiar with the boy oriented stories like Sword in the Stone and Robin Hood," I answered. "I was always more into sword wielding.
"I've seen most of the other princess ones like Snow White, Cinderella, and Beauty and the Beast," (which truthfully I thought would be more up King Koopa's alley). "They've hardly ever aired Sleeping Beauty."
That was true, I didn't have cable TV growing up and the networks aired the Sword in the Stone and Robin Hood most often. Also, I grew up in a family of boys, despite having a My Little Pony toy; normally the male leads like Aladdin were the Disney films/series of choice. "I don't think I've ever seen Sleeping Beauty in its entirety."
My king's suspicions soften as he looked down at the film still playing on his screen. "Oh, Footstool, you made me miss my favorite line. Come," he led me back toward his shadowed corner.
"We'll have to start over," he commented. I sat beside my king as the screen returned to its opening title sequence.
Watching with my king was exciting because he enchanted the screen itself. When a cold wind blew, it chilled the viewer to the bone leaving the screen. We got back to the part with the fairies presenting their gifts.
"Sire, which is your fav-."
"Shh," I couldn't believe my king shushed me. I looked at him and saw my king reciting the lines then he professed loudly as the scene was ending. "FOR TRUE LOVE CONQUERS ALL!"
'It sure does my king' I thought watching the rest of the film without another peep.