Well Everyone... We reach 10,125 views for this story so thank you very much. I appreciate it. With that said... I'm sorry for the lateness of this next chapter... I don't know how many of those views were people checking to see if I updated. I've been watching Darkwing Duck on dvd (I wish they'd come out with the last 30 episodes or so on dvd)... and Attack on Titan about 4 million times.
DAY 324-
I could not fall asleep last night. My mind refused to settle down choosing to replay slideshows of my memories with Loki. I knew I really need my rest today. It is going to be long and a sad one but I was too depressed. Can you believe it? Too depressed to sleep, normally that's the only thing a person can do.
I had just finished showering but stalled dressing after putting on my underwear. Staring, I realized I only had the one set of clothes. What is the educate here? Are my everyday clothes and shell appropriate? Are they an insult to Loki's and the other deceased memories?
Back on Earth, black was the approved formal wear to a funeral (I knew this from burying my family). It was a sad day that day as well (for me anyway). Do the same reverence rules apply here? I just stood staring at my clothes when my king arrived.
I hadn't seen King Koopa since he left the room last night. I assumed he had some arrangements to make. For me it was one friend lost (not that the others were any less important or less sad but I only knew Loki).
"Footstool, why aren't you dressed," my king asked wearing a black shell lined with black spikes instead of his normal green with white spiked shell. Are the spikes considered the neckties in the Darkland? "We got to get going if we're to pay our respects."
"Sorry my king but I don't have anything to wear," I replied with my eyes training on his dark shell.
"Footstools aren't expected to dress," he answered anticipating the counterargument written all over my face with an order. "Just put on your normal shell."
Complying I dressed. King Koopa pulled his wand waving it in my direction. The scepter transformed my grayish shell into a black one. However his spell even changed the color of my gloves, pants, cloak, and boots to the same color of night.
"Thank you my king," I said solemnly. "I'm sorry for the Darklands loss."
King Koopa nodded. "Loki would appreciate your gesture today," he replied tucking his wand back into his shell. "Come."
I followed my king through the halls to the hanger. I regret laughing at my king on my first night of servitude. It was difficult keeping up with his powerful walk. That was probably a good thing otherwise King Koopa would have seen my face when we stopped at the clown car.
Something about the green paint and white smiling face didn't suggest "respects" but then King Koopa pulled his wand again. After 4 or 5 waves, the once green teacup changed into a freshly polished black chariot. My king entered motioning me to follow.
I chuckled since the airship accommodated the pilot's size. I was too short to see over the side rails of our flying car even on my tiptoes. I guess I'm not going to get to see anymore of the city's layout this time. That's fine. My mind was side tracked today anyway.
Besides, the way King Koopa pilots, I didn't have time to sightsee. He flew hundreds of miles an hour and on a few occasions I thought I was going to fall out when we turned left and right. He said a person needs to lean in order to turn this car. I assumed he meant slightly kind of lazily like changing lanes on Earth but he really meant turning the cup almost parallel to ground. It was like we were doing a barrel roll. Oy…
"Alright Footstool," King Koopa landed allowing me a chance to catch my breath. "This is our first stop. Wait here." My king left me alone for 5 minutes then returned. We traveled a few feet repeating the process.
I poked my head around the back of the car on our 20th or 21st stop in time to see my king emerge from a hovel followed by a Koopa Troopa wearing a black shell. They exchanged a hug then my king reentered the clown car. I watched him repeat the process interchanging Koopa Troopas with Goombas, Birdos, and a green turtle from the Wrench Bros Division. Every citizen dressed in black hugged my king before disappearing back inside.
"My king," I asked drawing his attention. "Do you visit the home of all the deceased?"
"Of course, it be disrespectful of me not too," he replied. "Reimoil, Jengan, and Barklay gave their lives for my dream same as Loki." He saw my eyes widen. "What?"
"Just when I didn't think you could get any cooler," I wiped my eyes. "You know the name of all the deceased and pay your respects to each individual family."
King Koopa's eyebrow rose. "I know the name of every citizen in my domain," King Koopa answered back. "What kind of ruler would I be if I didn't know the names of those choosing to live and sacrifice themselves for me?"
We landed at our next destination. 'Oh man, I love my king.' I thought as he hugged a new set of koopa troopas. 'I hope that one day I can become a citizen so King Koopa will learn my name.' I couldn't help but be impressed arriving at each new location.
It was past midday when my king returned to the clown car and dropped a green mushroom. "What," he asked when I looked at him.
"I'm not hungry sire," I said. It was the truth. I haven't had an appetite since he broke the news. I offered it back to him. If I recall my adventures with Loki correctly the green capped mushrooms restore energy.
"I don't care Footstool. Eat it," he ordered. "We still have a couple hundred families to visit and won't return to the castle until late in the day.
"I want you to keep your strength up until we reach Loki's home. It'll be the last family we visit."
My king made a valid point. Hungry or not last thing I want to do is allow my stamina run out before paying my respects. "What about you my lord? Would you like half," I asked since he's actually the one running around.
"I haven't seen you eat anything yet today and don't want you passing out from exhaustion," I said sincerely breaking the fungus in half.
Shock filled my king's face. Maybe he was surprised some one as lowly as me would share the scrap of food given to him or maybe King Koopa wasn't prepared for someone considering his feelings today. (As king, I'm sure he has to maintain a strong façade throughout today's ordeal).
"No thank you," King Koopa responded sincerely. This response felt different than usual. This time he made me feel normal… Like a human again instead of the slave I am. "I've eaten something in every home we visited so far.
"That snack's all yours, Footstool," he smirked watching me struggling to swallow it. "I KNOW how much you love mushrooms."
We landed once again and like before I watched my king disappear into another home. A few citizens commenting about today's events passed the car.
"I HATE HUMANS," a goomba grumbled. The comment caused me to reflexively duck behind the clown car's open back. "I'll kill'em if I ever come across one."
"Ha, like you can defeat Mario," a turtle moving by cloud joked floating beside the jumbo head with feet.
The brown headed minion attempted to back track. "N-No but I'll destroy any OTHER human I come across."
The hairs on the back of my neck rose from the malicious intent in his voice. It actually scared me. What if another human accidentally falls into this world? They may be killed now if a Darklandian finds them first all because of Mario's attacks.
Anger swelled in the pit of my stomach but then subsided. I sighed remembering that the Darklands and Mushroom Kingdom are in a war. These kinds of painful losses are felt on both sides. I'm sure the people in those other realms feel the same way.
Unfortunately, the result only breeds more animosity and resentment leading to more bloodshed. There has to be some way to end this war once and for all. All 8 kingdoms need to be able to see each other as people not enemies. King Koopa knows that. It's his dream to unite the lands and Princess Peach shares that vision somewhat. I mean she doesn't advance beyond the Mushroom Kingdom's borders.
"Speaking of humans," a red birdo with a black bowtie approached the two. She rocked me back to reality. "Did you hear King Koopa's footstool is with him?"
The goomba growled. "How dare he? Why would King Koopa bring a monster like that out here? I'll squash him into paste if I see that human."
His little rant explained why King Koopa left me in the clown car. Tempers are flaring in the city today. It wouldn't be safe for me walking the streets or being left unattended if I wasn't allowed in a citizen's house.
The birdo answered the goomba's question. "Apparently it wanted to pay its respects to that traitor, Loki."
Anger replaced my fear. 'Traitor Loki' my brain growled.
"Good thing he died in the cra-."
"NOT ONE MORE WORD," I interrupt the turtle in the cloud exiting the clown car. All three of the Darklandians froze in place. "I don't care what you say you'll do to me but I WILL NOT LET YOU INSULT MASTER LOKI!"
A small crowd formed around us. Murmurs consisting of threats, fury, insults, and fear passed along their lips. Of the trio before me, the goomba found his voice first.
"How dare you show yourself in the city today," his teeth were clinched.
"How dare you insult one of the victims," I shot back eyes tearing. "So many died protecting the Darklands and you have the gull to praise the demise for even one of them."
"It's your fault he's dead," the goomba shouted.
"I KNOW," I yelled back unable to prevent my eyes from leaking. "And I'm here. If you're angry then take your anger out on me but don't you DARE dishonor the memory of anyone that gave their life during this war!"
The goomba appeared taken back from my statement. I couldn't tell if it was out of fear, surprise, or perhaps even respect. I, a slave and human, yelling at a citizen while sincerely defending another's honor and memory. I, a slave and human, volunteering to be the scapegoat for the rage building in them meant for the Mario Brothers. I, a slave and human, willing to accept the punishment intended for them.
"Yeah right," the goomba placed on the spot said. "Like you won't rat me out to the king."
"Damn it who cares! I won't strike back if you attack me but if you insult Master Loki again, you'll be the one defending yourself," I shouted raising my fists.
The little head rushed me. "I'm tired of your lies."
I honored my word. I didn't counter his attack despite the massively wide opening. He leapt head first striking me in the chin with a head butt. The little goomba's strike was more forceful than I expected. He rocked my footing but I didn't fall down. The goomba repeated his attack 4 more times until his anger subsided being replaced with labored breaths.
"Why didn't you dodge," he asked worried. I think the black and blue marks developing on my face scared him.
"I said you could take your anger out on me," I turned to the rest of the crowd. "Does anyone else want to vent their anger?"
No one volunteered. The whole group of Darklandians appeared to have let their anger go. Perhaps the goomba's assault was enough of a release for them or maybe they just weren't as angry. The whole crowd looked at me in a new light. Hopefully it was some respect or at the very least protecting future humans from being squished.
"What's going on here," King Koopa roared emerging from the home. "Why are you out of the car and what happened to your face, Footstool?"
"I fell out of the car trying to catch a glimpse of the city and landed on my face," I lied taking a chance King Koopa wouldn't be able to see my tell. Besides I promised the goomba I wouldn't get him in trouble.
I watched my king's eyes roll. I guess he could still see my tell but he didn't call attention to it. Instead my king played along.
"Ah, Footstool, next time I tell you to stay in the car stay in the car," he emphasized sarcastically. "Let's go."
"Yes, sire," I followed my king aboard then we took off.
"Why did you lie, Footstool," King Koopa asked after I winced touching my face. "You could have flatten that goomba."
"I promised I wouldn't," I answered simply. "What kind of example would I set for the castle if I didn't stand by my word?" I attempted a smile only to stop short from the pain. "How come you didn't call me out on it?"
King Koopa smirked. "I didn't want to undermine all the respect you got today getting beat up." We stopped at the next home. "But don't do it again."
"Yes, my king," I complied with his order. He vanished from the cup leaving behind a red capped mushroom which I greedily ate feeling my face healing.