Hi Everyone... And thank you for the nice words in you last review Roy. I appreciated the stick up...
I hope this is a okay chapter... I know it reads more like an Essay than the Hero Essay did... But that doesn't matter... However if you need to get in touch with me... I'll be ordering a Happy Meal at McDonald's trying to get a Bowser toy... They're doing a Mario Kart 8 promotion...
Disclaimer... The good olde McDonalds (not the farmer) has Mario toys...
DAY 365-
WOW! Has it really only been 1 Earth year since I came to the Darklands? My life changed so much since my arrival that I barely recognize myself in the mirror.
I became a prisoner instantly then a gladiator on my way into forced servitude (slavery) before finally becoming a living piece of furniture working directly "under" my king, Bowser Koopa, as his own personal footstool. My life of freedom and independence was over.
According to every uniquely different person I've come across, Loki- a humanoid talking turtle, Jimmy- as poisonous (as I ever saw one) mushroom and his friends Ed- horse, Bain- wolf, and Simon- Shy Guy, and even Master Kamek- a magically powered turtle, King Koopa was a tyrant… A monster who reigns with an iron claw and unwavering authority. I should have been scared; cowering for my life since entering his realm but I never once feared for my life…
Hold on a second, come to think of it, that's a lie. I feared for my life once when Master Kamek ordered me to walk casually and unquestioningly into a lava pit. However, that fear subsided when my king arrived. So to rephrase, I had never once feared for my safety while in the presence of my king.
Ever since, Loki's mention of him, I had a strange fascination to meet King Koopa. Something compelled me not to runaway despite my numerous opportunities and constant/consistent warnings. I blamed ignorance, just arriving to this world and not knowing to be afraid.
However that too was a lie. I was scared traveling into the unknown and being reminded time and time again of being eaten but in spite of that possibility I chose to remain a prisoner anyway. Plug in any word you want curiosity, fate, destiny… I can't figure out why I felt compelled to come. The only thing I knew was I had to.
There are people inside and outside the castle who will argue this point but choosing to meet King Koopa was the right choice. Since becoming a slave, my reflection in the mirror should have been a disheveled, worn out, and broken spirit in tattered clothing but the image staring back at me looked quite the opposite.
King Koopa has gone out of his way giving me a place to call home. Even though he calls me, Footstool, instead of by my real name, he doesn't treat me as a slave (at least not in my opinion). We freely exchange each other's opinion considering, evaluating, then responding.
Sure, my king says "no" sometimes but not before giving my ideas actual consideration. As his slave, King Koopa doesn't have to acknowledge my voice at all. He makes me feel more like a person than I ever felt on Earth… Does that make sense?
I mean technically I am a slave; doomed to a life of service and depending on the mood of his master either a day of tolerance or wrath. If I were to believe the stories associated with my king or the multiple warnings presented to me, I should be a trembling pile of poop but I embraced my doomed "predicament" and have only reaped benefits.
My king gave me new clothes. Instead of the expected tattered and frayed rags most slave wear, he gave me armor just like one of his soldiers. He enchanted it so my individual strength would continue to grow. King Koopa sent my friend, Loki, to another realm (maybe world) to bring me toilet paper… possibly enchanting that too. It hasn't ever had to be replaced now that I think about it.
He granted me permission to roam his castle and one of only 2 keys that allows me access to and from his room as well as assigned Loki as a bodyguard, enrolled me into Koopa School alongside his kids, and on occasion his majesty will personally escort me to class as a means of protection. Protection from his 2nd in command, Kamek, while outside his private chambers.
During 1 such adventure outside his room (and the only time I've feared for my life), King Koopa's method resulted in fire resistant armor and clothing as well as a Lava cupcake on my birthday. On another venture (though somber as it was), he consented me, a slave, to carry a weapon and summoned a master to train me in its use.
In a feeble attempt of repayment of his generosity, I've trained hard to support his strength (still am), listen to his troubles and dreams (regarding war, family, and love) and honor his greatness as much as I can (like making a clock for his birthday). I love my king. He's important to me and I'll do anything to please him but ever since I told him that I'd do anything to be by his side in an instant or come running as he commanded… King Koopa's been distant.
I hardly ever see my king now. He leaves early (before breakfast early) and comes back late exhausted (crawling into his bed without so much as a grunt in my direction). I'm not sure if my words of devotion bothered him more than he led on. Perhaps he's attempting to keep his distance to numb the disappointment I expressed when I found out we would be spending less time together. Maybe it's the pressures of being king caused from the urgent matter Master Kamek told him of…
Oh well it doesn't matter. All that matters is figuring out a way to thank my king for the new life he's given me. My eyes found his family tapestry offering the best possible gift idea I could think of since I have no money.
I may have initially brokered deals to get his oldest kids to have dinner with him but to my king's credit his charisma kept them coming back every night (except for Ludwig). I'm worried this gift is going to require me to make the ultimate sacrifice but sometimes sacrifices must be made for the people we care about.
After class today I declined Morton's invitation to spar hurrying to Master Von Koopa's room. I knew I was getting close as the screeching of instruments and out of tune melodies flooded the hallway (as vacant as King Koopa's). I could hear his concept of musical prowess at the start of the corridor. I took a deep breath when the trickle of blood seeped downward from my ear.
I knocked heavily and repeatedly against his door. I wasn't going to give Ludwig the chance to ignore me this time. Closing my eyes, the perpetual pounding on the door, and my bleeding eardrum, prevented me from noticing Ludwig's face replaced the door.
"Ye-ouch," he staggered back clamping his nose attempting to stop his own cranial bleed.
"I want you to have dinner with King Koopa tonight," I pushed past the eccentric composer.
His room was as spacious as Roy's and King Koopa's penthouse style chambers. On the lower plateau considered the living room area, orchestral rows of seating occupied the space. About almost every 20 group of chairs had its own family of instruments before changing to another set.
There were only 3 actual Darklandians sharing the seats. A goomba held a saxophone in the middle section (possible 2nd or 3rd chair). On the far left end, a Koopa Troopa sat beside a cello. His yellow scales popped out against the other stringed instruments. While in the back row, a Hammer brother's clawed hands rested against a giant drum. No wonder they sounded awful… It's only a 3 person orchestra!
"Menstrual partners," Ludwig said making me chuckle (I know it's immature but I couldn't help it). The Koopling continued, "vacate the premises while I conversate with king dad's footstool."
"I'm going to the kitchen for a mushroom," the goomba said to his friends.
"WHAT," the Hammer brother shouted back. "I THINK WE NEED TO GO TO THE KITCHEN FOR A MUSHROOM!"
After the trio left, Ludwig turned to me, "Why are you pandering whether I accept my father's dinner invitation or not?"
"I respect your father and I think it would mean a lot to him if you would," I answered truthfully. "I, also, think it would help you reconnect with the Kooplings, too."
"Bah! Why would I want to diminish my intellect dining with that uncultured l-," he started.
"They're not uncultured," I interrupted the snob recalling, "Wendy's ballet was very well received by the citizens of the Darklands and Lemmy's violin solo became the highlight of Bowser Day."
Ludwig's nose wrinkled, "The Art of Amateurs."
"Like it or not, your brothers and sister are not uncultured," I continued defending my friends. Watching Ludwig's eyes roll, I added, "Albeit their idea of culture is different than yours."
I paced turning my body around in the baron's room and found the back of hundreds of paint canvases against a far wall. Unconsciously, I went over and thumbed through the lot. Beautiful perceptions of King Koopa, his children, various Yoshi, landscapes, and landmarks filled the page. They were more impressive than the images around the castle. My eyes settled on an amazing rendition of Lemmy's Bowser Day performance surrounded by musical notes.
"Wow, Ludwig, your art is unbelievable," I stared at the Lemmy picture. "The music notes look as if they're dancing off the canvas."
"Um. Thank you, Footstool," the Koopling responded humbly and void of any confusing insults.
My eyes wandered finding his signature on the bottom right hand corner. "I don't recall seeing this signature anywhere in the castle," I turned to Ludwig. "Have you hung any outside this room?"
"No."
"How come? They're the best in the castle," I stated impressed.
"Thank you, Footstool," another humbled response.
"Have you ever thought of giving up composing and focusing your talents to painting," I asked unable to take my eyes from the images.
"Once but that was a long time ago," Ludwig answered drawing my gaze. "I presented king dad with a tapestry once but he's never hung it. However, he always compliments my brilliant symphonies."
The tapestry must be the family portrait hanging in my king's room. Oh, if Ludwig only knew. "Listen. I think you ought to give your dad a painting for the next Bowser's day," I suggested.
"And ruin king dad's special day," the blue haired Koopling countered running both hands through the mane. "His expectation demands my musical savant abilities.
"Besides," Ludwig walked past me to his paintings. "I have nothing worth presenting my father."
The power of encouragement and suggestion, I had him. I just need to figure out how to finish convincing the genius Koopling. "You could present King Koopa with both.
"Finish your current symphony to share with the kingdom on his birthday," I shared my opinion. "And for the painting, I think you should give dad an updated family portrait which you'll be able to paint if you attend King Koopa's dinner."
Ludwig lifted his clawed finger staring at me silently. "I don't know, Footstool. It'll prove infinitely more difficult presenting king dad with both."
"Then finish the symphony and do the portrait his following birthday," I reasoned (personally hating to leave unfinished projects… I have so many…) "But just have dinner with your dad tonight, please Master Ludwig."
"But I'll require all my time devoted toward composing the pitch perfect symphony of sounds that'll create the aesthetically pleasing cords my father expects," Ludwig answered picking up his conductor's wand.
I took a deep breath deciding to pull out my last resort since I almost lost Ludwig. I was so close to not having to use it but now was the time to fall on my blade. "Master Ludwig, if you accept King Koopa's dinner invitation, I will listen to all of your symphonies while I eat my dinners."
The Koopling looked at me in disbelief. We both stared silently at each other when a knock permeated the door. Ludwig answered revealing a winged goomba.
"Master Ludwig, King Koopa requests your presence in the main dining room at 7 tonight," it asked.
Ludwig turned to me. "All 20 of them?"
"Yes, sir, all 20," I replied. "But not all at once."
"But of course. It takes more than a day to appreciate the complexities of my brilliance," Ludwig responded smugly. He turned to the Paragoomba, "I accept my father's invitation."
The goomba's jaw dropped. It clearly expected a "no." After taking a deep breath, it found its voice. "Y-yes, Master Ludwig."
"Now Footstool, I kindly command you GET OUT," Ludwig yelled.
"Yes, Master Ludwig," I bowed before leaving.
Once outside the door, my face smiled involuntarily drawing the ire of my brain. 'Feel pretty proud of yourself, Baldo. You got the final piece of your puzzle to eat dinner with King Koopa.'
Suddenly noise permeated the door polluting the corridor. My brain added, 'But at what price?'
That night I returned to my room ordering a plate of Yoshi ribs and a copy of Ludwig Von Koopa's Symphony #1. I couldn't help laughing at the bonus mushroom and earplugs Xander added to my order. I put the record on and the sound swallowed the room no matter how much I adjusted the volume up or down.
Worried my king may return angered at the noise, I asked Xander for a set of headphones. "Thank you, Princess Toadstool," I said.
"You're welcome maggot," the princess replied.
'Hmm… Maybe Xander can hear the music too' I thought. It horrified me thinking I was subjecting Xander to the torturous stylings of Ludwig Von Koopa and possibly ending the string of delicious lunches.
As an added precaution, I put the earplugs into Princess Toadstool's ears and returned to the record player. I plugged in the headphones and started the record… This is going to be more difficult than I thought…