Hi Everyone... I apologize for the delay in posting... Earlier in the month of June, I decided I really hate my job and wanted to stop everything to work on some "original" projects and I wanted to finish one or two by end of summer.

I started strong but it sort of fizzled out and instead of working on my fanfics... I spent my time being lazy. The power of sloth compels me to be a lump in my recliner. I ended up watching Attack on Titan a ton of times too (counter productive but was the fuel for me to want to work more on the graphic novel in my head).

Thanks for the suggestion Sarah. However that would send the story in a direction I wasn't planning. Personally, as much as I miss Loki, I like the direction the story went. I won't be bringing him back.

Disclaimer... Screw my Italian descent... I'm team Bowser Koopa all the way.

Day 328-

My king was as good as his word granting me the morning off today. It had taken the whole weekend and Monday to visit the thousands of families in honor of the fallen soldiers. I greatly appreciated King Koopa's kindness using my free time to review Friday's notes (Not sure why since I wouldn't pass if I was given a test anyway).

After finishing my review, I went into the restroom to examine the Koopa Knight staring back at me. My shell returned to its normal sandy color along with my other clothes including my sultan style pants, brown boots, gauntlets, and cloak. Thanks to Loki, I completed the knightly image first imagined when King Koopa endowed me with this attire. I hung the bone sword through a belt loop at my waist.

Reentering my king's lounge, my mind flashed to his disappointed face when Sheila declined King Koopa's offer to convert Loki into a Drybones. I'm not sure why since cause and effect seemed pretty cut and dry… Bones… J

"Sire? How come you seemed disappointed when Sheila said "No" to turning Loki into a Drybones," I asked. My king's disappointed face was bothering me today.

"Because the reason she declined was incorrect," my king answered from behind his paper ignoring my reference to my friend without the use of a title.

"Why? Loki said that a Drybones loses its memories," I asked wrapped in intrigue. It was the same reason Sheila gave too.

King Koopa folded his paper shaking his head side to side. "That's not true. The Koopa or Para Troopa retains all their memories, feelings, and self-recollection," King Koopa explained. "The trade off is they lose their power of speech, scales, and organs.
"They come across slow and dimwitted because they aren't able to articulate their thoughts, feeling, or emotions," he continued. "But there are other ways to communicate."

"Is that true," I questioned more out of reflex than disbelief. I could tell in King Koopa's voice that it was the truth.

"Yes," he responded seriously.

I was relieved. My king didn't answer back sarcastically or judgmentally. He was simply explaining the misconception behind the magic he created. King Koopa invented a spell able to obtain immortality but is becoming an inarticulate zombie worth the price?

"What," my king questioned seeing me smile.

"You're right. Kamek wishes he could do magic as good as you," I answered recalling a previous conversation. I saw my king's snout lift on his right side. Being able to animate the dead is pretty ingenious considering the price.
My head went back into thought. "I wonder why Loki would say opposite?"

King Koopa sighed. "It's because of his family and friends." My king was a spewing fountain today answering the question I thought I asked in my head.
He continued his explanation without waiting for me to inquire further. "Because of the Drybones inability to annunciate and the never ending cycle of reanimation, the memories of the Drybones living loved ones become distorted. For example…
"The family friendly images of a living Loki would be replaced with the bone and vacant stare of the Drybones Loki," King Koopa continued. "To prevent those alternate perceptions, the decease chooses death over reanimation.
"Basically Loki chose to remain dead in order to save his family's piece of mind," my king finished.

'Wow,' I thought. 'Which would I choose?' My mind tried rationalizing by weighing the pros and cons. On the one hand, I'd be immortal and would still be able to hold onto my memories of my friends. However, I don't have any… My eyes fell on my king while his locked with mine.

"Death," I said causing King Koopa's brow to rise. "I'd choose to remain dead so I'd remain me in your memory. I mean without Master Loki, you're the only friend, I have left." He seemed surprised so I cleared my throat adding, "Master."

"But if you became a Drybones, I'd get to put my feet up without any back talk," my king's attention went to the floor. I laughed watching my king wiggle his toes.

"Yeah, but my cushion wouldn't be as comfortable," I countered. "Besides given my resistance to magic, your spell probably wouldn't work on me anyway."

King Koopa's eye found the Bob-omb clock. "Time to go to school. I'm walking you today."

"Yes my king," I smiled.

I received a few glares from the castle minions on my walk with King Koopa. I noticed most of the hard stares were at the bone sword hanging off my hip. 'So my king volunteered to escort me in order to protect me from any attacks since I'm armed,' my mind rationalized. 'Even now, King Koopa willingly protects his slave. Thank you, my king!'

"You're resistant to magic," his majesty interrupted my thoughts.

"Yes, even Master Kamek has trouble knocking me down with spells," I answered.

"Impressive," King Koopa muttered. "Not many Darklandians can stand up against magic."

I sighed disappointedly admitting the other side of the coin. "Conversely, I have no skills at casting magic either," I said following my king. "Not with school wands anyway."

"Chances are Kamek enchanted the rods so you can't use them," King Koopa smirked at me. "However, being resistant to magic usually indicates no talent at all. If that's the case then you'll only be able to cast spells with a Master Wand."

I laughed sort of yelling at my brain. 'Why didn't you consider Master Kamek prevented me from using the class wands before, brain?' Although, I'm more inclined to believe King Koopa's second point, I just don't feel magical.

"Why would a Master Wand work if I have no magical talent," I asked.

"Because those wands are naturally enchanted by nature," King Koopa answered. "The class scepters were created artificially, so their power's only a fraction of the original."

My king fell silent but not because he was finished talking. He was waiting for a response or an interruption I guess. It took a minute then I rolled my eyes.

"Have you found a Master Wand," I asked.

"Why, yes, Footstool. My wand is a Master Wand," he said pausing again.

"Wow," I gawked with faux enthusiasm. I mean I already knew his wand would be a Master Wand. "May I see it?"

"I'd thought you'd never ask," King Koopa smirked reaching his arm inside his shell. "Tada," he held the wand superiorly. "Behold my magnificencies."

"I am awestruck my king," I laughed stopping abruptly. "Since that's a Master Wand, does that mean you have no magical talent either?"

His eyes widened. "WHAT!? How dare you question my power?" He flicked his wrist.

A heavy gust created a wind tunnel throughout the corridor. The dozens of Goombas and Koopa Troopas were slammed against the wall at the end. I, however, endured holding my ground after sliding a foot or two.

"Hmm, looks like you have no talent at all, Footstool," he answered. He muttered, "Impressive."

"Sir?"

"I don't think I'll be able to put the summoning spell on you like with the rest of my soldiers," King Koopa said pondering the rest aloud. "Perhaps if I enchant the armor."

"I'm willing to try anything if it allows me by your side instantly," I answered. My king seemed to shrug it off. I grabbed his claw hand drawing his stare when he motioned to walk away. "And if it doesn't work, I'll come running whenever I'm called."

King Koopa studied my face for two minutes in silence. Why does he still search my face for lies? An eternity passed before he cleared his throat.

"You're late for class," he answered behind a stoic face.

Just like that, the air around us changed. Whether for the good or bad, I couldn't tell. My king became unreadable. We continued to the classroom in silence and I started to worry. Did I say the wrong thing?

We entered and as King Koopa said my disruption drew the ire of Master Kamek. It quickly escalated to wrath when his glasses found the sword dangling at my waist.

"Your excellence," Kamek struggled to suppress his rage. He removed his wand. "Look out! The slave's armed."

"I've given Footstool permission to carry it," King Koopa announced authoritatively making it a command. "Go sit, Footstool. Wait hold on." My king turned to Master Kamek. "A school wand."

Reluctantly, the wizard complied placing the scepter in King Koopa's outstretched clawed hand. He examined the instrument the same way as he did with my bone sword. Extending the tool to me, I knew he wanted to confirm our conversation earlier.

I pointed the wand at one of the statues. "Burning heat singe the hair, scorch the flesh, and torch the robes, Fireball," I recited but the rod remained uncooperative.

My king's claw reached down again. I returned the magical device sighing officially confirming I have no magical powers. "Kamek, my footstool has my permission to carry his sword at all time since he has no magical talent."

"Yes, sir," Kamek grumbled knowing a rebuttal would be futile.

"Take your seat, Footstool, oh," King Koopa caught my attention. "You are not allowed to draw your sword during class."

I bowed. "I understand my king." I walked to my desk seeing my koopa classmates grinning. However a cold stare drew my attention to the teacher's assistant. I wonder if Jimmy would try to take the sword.

"Hey Mort, what I miss," I took my chair.

"Nutin' much," he answered. "Sawry abwout, Woki."

"Thanks, Mort."

Despite Kamek's silent disapproval once King Koopa left, the instructor held his tongue (a rare feat). He must have decided my inability using magic was a victory for him. The professor continued his lesson as usual and the day passed rather easily.

In fact the only problem I encountered today (if you can call it that), was a bowl of Yoshi stew appeared on my desk instead of the normal cold lumpy porridge. I hesitated thinking the kitchen messed up the order. Surveying up and down the row, my classmates were all sipping from their own bowls without question.

I lifted the meat stew and sipped as quickly as I could before Master Kamek, Jimmy, or Xander, realized their mistake. It certainly tasted better than the porridge.

After a much overdue sparring match with Morton, I returned to my king's chamber. I spent most of my time staring into my spell book while preparing for his arrival. Torn between the pride of being resistance to magic and the envy of my ineptitude at casting spells, I felt my lips frown.

"What's with the pouty face, Footstool," my king asked entering.

"Welcome home my king," I greeted instantly perking up. I was relieved that he was speaking to me again. "I was just wondering how I was going to keep my promise to you today."

My king disappeared behind the screen. "About what?"

"To come running whenever you call for me," I said thinking hard. "Maybe if I found a Master Wand."

My king laughed wearing his robe. "Don't worry about it, Footstool. You're words were enough," my king said putting his feet up. "Besides as long as you're here, I'll find you."

'As long as I'm here,' I thought feeling my cheeks blush a bit. 'What did he mean by that?' He fell asleep leaving me all night to over think about it.