I'm sorry for the delay once again. I don't have any reason I can tell you to justify it. This storyshould have had closure at least 6 years ago and if it helps I did feel guilty about not finishing it then and thought about it everyday.
That said I probably would have done better w/ a second set of eyes or a beta reader to preview before posting but... I have no excuses. I'm still working on finishing this so my goal is to be done by the end of this year.
Please bear with me a bit longer. If you want.
DAY 717-
Today Mort met up with me outside King Koopa's room. It was strange seeing the Koopling in King Koopa's hallway considering no one else dared entering it. Thinking back, the only other person I've ever recall seeing in this was my friend, Loki.
"So Bawdy, w'ere da ya whaunt ta twain," Morton asked cracking his shoulders.
"Yesterday's gym's fine," I answered leading the turtle to the end of the hall.
"Wee can't. It's stwill bwoken," he responded stopping me in my tracks.
"Didn't it repair itself," I questioned. From my experiences in the castle, I naturally assumed King Koopa casted the spell to automatically repair everything within a day or so.
"Na," the turtle replied bluntly.
"Doesn't King Koopa have it bewitched," I asked not believing my friend.
"Bo'zing wings dowon't normawlly bweak," he chuckled. "So king dad didn't need ta bewith it. Since, king dad haswent been awound, it haswent been fiwixed yet."
I paused lifting my hand to my chin. "Huh? Then where are we going to train?"
"Hmm," Morton's claw digit scratched against his chin almost as if he was revealing a secret. "King dad and me uswoolly twain in ta cowosiem." I froze staring at the turtle. "Whut?"
"You train in the coliseum," I asked disbelievingly.
"Uh yea," Morton said nonchalantly.
"How come you never suggested training there before," I asked.
"Ca- Cawse, I did'aint t'ink yo' be awowed," Mort advised.
My buddy made a valid point. I don't think I've ever really told the Koopling where I could go inside the castle. For all Morton knew, the little boxing rink may have been pushing the boundaries already.
However, something in Morton's voice sounded forced. I mean how couldn't my friend mention it before? (Considering how reflexively, my nickname, Baldo, slips out during class, it's hard to believe Mort would leave something like training in the coliseum in a secret vault tighter than Fort Knox).
Perhaps Morton didn't want to share his training ground. Sort of like my private training sessions with Master Jinx or Roy's private access to the Rainbow Road, Mort probably viewed his private lessons with King Koopa the same way.
He did say King Koopa made the Koopling feel more like family than a slave (if I recall his "Hero" essay correctly.) Maybe Mort just wants some alone time with his father. I doubt he gets that much quality time since his siblings started attending dinner too.
I understand. I felt the same way when my private dinners with King Koopa reduced to 1 day a week before disappearing once I begun training with Master Jinx.
"I can go to the coliseum," I smiled accepting Morton's reasoning at face value. Whatever reason he didn't tell me before, Morton decided to tell me now and that was all that mattered.
"No, really," I continued when Morton shot me a nervous look. "I asked your dad the very first day he let me out of our room."
"Weally," Mort asked before widening into a toothy grin. "Oh, Bawdy, yo' gowna wove it!"
Day 723-
Boy was my buddy right! I love training in the coliseum! I can't believe Morton never suggested sparring there before. Now… Now… I understand he may not of wanted to share his private place with King Koopa but to never have mention it once is just… just… Selfish!
Well if you haven't figured it out by now, King Koopa bewitched the arena! However, my brain sighed sarcastically saying to me, But then why would you assume otherwise? Just because the pit had a normal stone floor when I fought in there my first night doesn't mean it'll remain that way all the time.
Similarly to the battlefields in the pocket monster anime franchise, the arena's terrain could change as well. So far Morton and I fought on a grassy meadow, soft sandy beaches, and on some rocky cliffs.
However the terrain isn't limited to those options either. There are icy fields, white fluffy clouds, and heated desert just to name a few more. Morton explained that King Koopa set the coliseum this way for his soldiers.
Sure I battled there in order to showcase my strengths but it's only used that way once in a while. The coliseum's true purpose is to give his newly enlisted soldiers the opportunity to experience the terrains found in the other kingdoms.
In addition to the changing footing, King Koopa's spell also adapted to whichever region's climate was while in use. Beaches had soft cresting waves and gentle sea breezes to fierce typhoons and hurricane force wind. Deserts climates ranged from extreme heat during the day to extreme cold at night. The mountains had strong gusts and updrafts to nearly no wind at all.
I was lucky King Koopa had me fight on the normal stone surface. I don't think I would have fared all that well on these other terrains. (Hooray for equal footing right?) After our sessions, I found myself returning to King Koopa's room and falling asleep almost instantly.
My king is a genius at magic. Master Kamek cannot even hold a candle to him. King Koopa literally thinks of every possible scenario, outcome, and prepares not only himself but his whole kingdom. No wonder my king's beloved by everyone in the Darklands despite his reputation. I can't believe I'm still one of the only ones willing to approach him.
Using the mountain setting with differing heights, Mort and I alternated capturing the "high ground." It's considered a tactical advantage during combat for both long range and close quarters fighting.
Morton used his flame at varying speeds and intervals during our long range practices. I would either dodge or duck behind some of the rock walls. Sometimes I split the flame slashing with the bone sword.
However the blade and handle became super heated when Mort used a prolonged flame. I mean superheated too. The blade became so hot it blistered Morton's arm after I worked my way past the turtle's guard.
In our close combat matches, Mort's claws trade thrusts and slashes with my sword. The captured high ground grants the warrior leverage making it easier to attack. Think about it. Isn't it easier to swing downward than upwards? Putting things down takes less energy than lifting them up especially for prolong periods of time. (I mean just let gravity do the work, right?)
Although my training with Master Jinx gives me the advantage during this scenario. My arm exercises increased my stamina and conditioning. I'm usually able to take the high ground and defend it fairly easily. After a few failed attempts though Mort pulls back shooting his fire until I take the high ground again.
Our matches share the intensity, similarly to that day in the boxing ring but I'm more conscious of my control and barely strike using my blade. Sometimes I pass the old gym to remind myself of my rage on the way to the coliseum.
King Koopa hasn't repaired it yet which I felt relieved about. It's silly but… I think it's a good thing since I feel me and Morton outgrew it. The best part of the coliseum is not many people use it. Morton hasn't had any free shots yet.
Normally only new recruits enter the arena but quickly withdraw feeling our intensity and destructive power from Morton's fire blasts. The Koopling orders the new soldiers to keep their mouths shut removing any fears of being found out by Master Kamek or King Koopa. An order from Prince Morton (regardless if he approves of the title) is as good as written law to a newbie.
During one of our high ground drills, I rushed Mort attempting to mount the ledge above him but he caught me one handed as I wall kicked over him. The turtle held me suspended in the air one handed reminding me of our ballet rehearsal until he threw me almost 20 feet.
"Whut," Mort asked when I stared at him from my butt. I must have had the same devilish grin as Wendy had that day in gym class.
"You really gotten strong, Mort," I responded realizing how our gap in strength closed. My arm reached skyward. "Help me up?"
The turtle obliged lifting me to my feet without my assistance. He didn't even seem to notice and simply went back into his fighting stance. My hand found my chin.
"Wheady, Bawdy," Mort held his hand forward as if ready to karate chop me. He relaxed when I turned away from him, "Whut's wong?"
"Will it work," I asked aloud to myself. I know Morton trained when I broke but it must have been so much more intense than he realized while I was knocked out. My hand subconsciously touched the scar on my abdomen. "Hey Mort, do you want to try something?"
"Twhy whut," his eyebrow furled.
I grinned, "A combo attack?"
"Yea," Morton started but stopped. "Wet's twhy fo' tomowhoa. It's time fo' dinner."
"Sure thing, Mort," I replied watching the turtle disappear.
I continued to King Koopa's room by alone thinking of the combo attack I wanted to try. However, I sighed unlocking the door to our room, "I guess King Koopa's just avoiding me after all."
Day 730-
I'm a little disappointed with King Koopa's new recruits. Morton and I invited them to train with us since we sort of took over their training area. However, one look at the Koopling and the soldiers quickly withdrew.
I understand Morton's intimidating but how committed can these turtles be to King Koopa's cause if they leave without any sort of… of… backbone!? Oh well, I guess I'll chalk it up to me and Mort being on an entirely different level. (No wonder Mario can destroy their warships single handedly).
In addition to Morton's girth and his flame, Morton's flex shell and retractor system only widen the gap between us and the new recruits. I can understand why they declined to join us. Hopefully, the distance didn't cause them to resign their positions altogether.
Despite Master Kamek's dismissal of the flex shell and retractor system during class, both rewarded the Koopling's creativity and ingenuity during training. Naturally like all weapons and armor there are strengths and weaknesses that can only be found during field tests and practical use.
First the flex shell allowed Morton to curl into a ball creating a shield stretching 360 degrees around him which protected his whole body. Since spikes line the shell on Mort's back, it makes close range attacks difficult for his opponents.
However, curled in the ball made the Koopling immobile and allow his opponents to slip past him. Unfortunately, it, also, made the turtle vulnerable to long range attacks like fireballs and other projectiles.
As for the retractor system, Morton's goal is to shoot his spike into a high wall or ledge with a metal chain attached. Next lift himself to that ledge as the chain coils back into this shell. (Similar to a grappling hook from the Legend of Zelda games). It's pretty ingenious if he's able to carry the weight.
Unfortunately, Mort still hasn't perfected the retraction part of his system yet and can only use it once. We would pause our training so Morton could wind it back into his shell by hand. However, we by the time it was completed we both lost our will to start training again. Now he saves it for the end of our training sessions.
I let Morton know about the weaknesses of his devices and even offered a couple suggestions to help improve them.
"Hey, Mort, try rolling when using the flex shell," I suggested. "If you're on an incline it may you roll at your opponent and cause them to panic.
"And maybe make a couple spikes retractable," I offered to help his retractor system. "That way if you need to release it you'll have a spare."
"Yo t'ink it'll whelp," Mort asked considering it.
"Yep, without a doubt."
Not only did Mort take the suggestions to heart but he took them even further. The Koopling made all of his spikes retractable without limiting them to grappling hooks. The adjustments he made were really quite incredible.
Instead, Morton designed his spikes to disappear into his shell completely allowing his shell to become smooth while simultaneously making each spike a grappling hook. He even managed to make them move individually.
Now it adds mobility when Morton's a ball by pulling a few spikes into his shell it'll cause his ball to shift and begin rolling. Since the spikes are so hard, they pierce stones and rocks allowing the turtle to climb up walls a bit (Similar to the spider ball ability in Metroid Prime).
It added a whole other level to our training and improved our abilities. However, Morton still hasn't been able to figure out how to lock the chain back into his shell after he uses the grappling hook option.
At least now with the multiple hooks, Mort and I are able to continue training for a couple more hours. When our training is over, I would help gather the spikes while Morton cranked them into his shell.
"Mort, why don't you let Iggy help you figure out how to wind the chains back into your shell or maybe you could have King Koopa cast a spell on them to help out," I offered a couple suggestions.
"Nah," he replied, "I whaunt ta figure tis out fo myswelf."
I nodded. Perhaps this is one of those little projects Morton needs to complete in order to feel complete himself. Does that make sense? It's the same sense of accomplishment like building a soapbox derby car, painting a picture, completing a story, or getting an "A" on a test you really study hard for.
Umm… Maybe it's more like being rewarded for putting effort, genuine effort into it. (I felt that way when I finally completed the Bom-Bomb clock for King Koopa). However, there's also a nagging guilt that comes with it that eats away at you until it's completed. I don't know. I can't think of any better way to describe it. I'm sure you'll know it when it happens.
"Just whelp me test it," Morton responded when I asked him if there was anything else I could to help him with the system. "Oh and dwon't tell anywon."
"No problem Mort," I replied. They were easy ways to help.
After we finished winding the last of Morton's spikes back into his shell, we left the coliseum. Morton had to get ready for dinner and since King Koopa stopped inviting me I was heading back to my room.
The Koopling suggested we'd cut through the hanger because it was a shortcut for both of us. Partway through, I came to a pause.
"Mort," I stared at the large open space. "Where's your dad's airship?"
"Ta Ice Caswool," he answered nonchalant. "He whaunted ta see ta Pwincess."
"What? When," I questioned caught a bit off guard.
"A mont," Morton replied again as if it was nothing. "Whut?" He asked realizing I wasn't walking with him.
King Koopa's been out of the castle that long! I grew a bit excited. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Whut," Mort's eyebrow rose, "I said he wassant awound."
My eyes rolled. How was I supposed to know that meant he was out of the castle? I thought.
"I thought you meant he was too busy with meetings and stuff," my temper started rising. I thought King Koopa was ignoring me and decided I was no longer worthy of his presence. "Weren't you having dinner with him?"
"Na, Bawdy," Morton shook his head. "King dad's been away. I've been eating wit my bwothers and Whendy."
Wow that caught me off guard a bit too. "Even with King Koopa gone," I asked almost reflexively.
"Yeah, Woy too," he answered. "Whut?" he asked after I failed to suppress a smirk. It must have a goofy one from Morton's tone.
When I first got here they all had their own agendas and some of the Kooplings (Wendy and Morton) hated each other (Roy) while another looked down on all of the rest (Ludwig).
Now they gather around the dinner table every night. Their resentment and anger toward each other gone, thoughts of superiority erased. I couldn't help feeling a bit responsible even though it was King Koopa's charisma that kept them coming back again.
Before I could answer Morton with a simple "Nothing" soft music began playing throughout the castle. I couldn't place the tune but it would easily lull a baby to sleep.
Suddenly I saw Morton's eyes growing heavy. They were closing quickly along with the other Darklandians in the hanger. I caught the Koopling as he fell. I looked around the hanger and saw all the Darklandians had fallen asleep as well.
I propped the sleeping turtle against one his family's go karts then rushed into the corridor already passing a dozen sleeping guards. The soft music and slumbering Darklandians told me that a music box was playing and narrowed my list of suspects to one fungus.
Rushing through the corridors, I thought I heard the music growing louder as I entered the hallway with the pit.
I thought the music must be coming from the throne room since it's connected by dungeon below. So as I turned into the passage to the conservatory I wasn't expecting to bump into Jimmy coming from the other direction.
A letter fell to his right while the music box fell to his left. Bouncing a couple times, the music box stopped playing before stopping by the pit. Jimmy went for the music box while I went for the letter.
I wasn't overly concerned about the musical trinket since I was immune to its effects and where it landed it cornered Jimmy by the pit.
"F-Footstool," the mushroom mumbled turning the box on again. "I-I thought you'd be asleep."
"I'm not a Darklandian," I answered picking up the envelope. It was addressed to King Koopa but was dated a couple days before King Koopa left the castle. "What is this?"
The mushroom remained silent and nervous when I peeled back the already open flap and read the first line. It was an invitation to Princess Toadstool's birthday party. The very person King Koopa went to kidnap.
"Jimmy," my tone commanded his attention. "What did you do?"
A wryly smile crept across his face. It was the same nervous expression he had prior to entering the coliseum when we fought. Watching the mushroom's mind work, I could tell he was about to lie.
"I got that letter and was on my way to give it to King Koopa," he squeaked.
"Liar," I shouted my hand finding the hilt. "This letter's been open for a while and the invitation has smudges on it."
"Well that's how it came. Princess Toadstool must not have washer her hands-."
"Jimmy stop," I interrupted with a growl preparing to draw my sword. "If you lie to me again, I'll run you through."
I couldn't believe Princess Toadstool would send King Koopa a dirtied invitation. Granted it's possible one of her attendants may have sent it but if King Koopa says she is the only one he could trust, the only on that wouldn't lie to him then I cannot imagine Princess Toadstool delegating this invitation to a servant.
"Fine," Jimmy replaced his nervous tone with an angry one. "We've started a war. When this letter came, I was appalled Princess Toadstool would invite a monster like him freely to her castle.
"I had sowed seeds of doubt and despair into the Darklands. It was easy," the mushroom smiled evilly looking at his gloves. "Being a servant to a wizard allows slaves to learn magic spells given enough time.
"I weaseled my way into Master Kamek's heart and mind. Biding my time, manipulating it," Jimmy laughed looking at me. "Did you know the stronger your magical power is the more susceptible you are to magical attacks?
"I learned a spell that put my voice into Master Kamek's head while he slept. Repeating his worthlessness to the king over and over again strengthening his hatred towards you," the mushroom reveled reliving Kamek's the torment.
"However, when you broke, Master Kamek's anger toward you faded along with the power of my spell," Jimmy frown at me. "Apparently my master had more respect for you than he showed.
"Until King Koopa's invitation to dinner," the mushroom smiled the most toothily grin I've ever seen. "He fell into such despair that I barely had to say anything to reignite his hatred of you. Master Kamek even woke in cold sweats screaming. Terrified of being nothing compared to you."
Poor Master Kamek I thought hearing Jimmy erupt into laughter. Tormented about self worth runs the mind ragged. I know because my own voice ran through my mind the same way but Master Kamek didn't face it alone. His servant added fuel to the fire even when the turtle could not defend himself.
"How dare you enter, Master Kamek's mind," I growled placing the invitation in my shell.
"We are at war and the key to victory is getting inside the head of your enemy," Jimmy argued. "I've manipulated the Darkland's second in command into urging King Koopa to assault the Mushroom Kingdom.
"Finally Mario is going to defeat him while I destroy this castle," the mushroom smirked. "And thanks to Master Kamek's music box assignment they'll all sleep through it." His eyes narrowed on me. "Once I kill you that is."
Suddenly the mushroom vanished in a cloud of smoke, reappearing behind me with an attack before vanishing again. He repeated this pattern of attack kicking my blind spots and vanishing when I swing my blade.
If we were battling in the coliseum, I don't think I would be able to defeat Jimmy since he learned how to teleport. However, the music box's melody continued playing when he disappeared which meant that the mushroom wasn't leaving the corridor. The melody soften when he vanished and strengthened when he reappeared.
I waited until the melody sounded as if it was in my ear and swiftly turned using a counter attack. Lunging forward before Jimmy finished reappearing, my blade pierced the music box protecting the mushroom's abdomen ending the soothing tune instantly.
"What? How," Jimmy cried out frightfully feeling the pit at the heels of his feet. He tried closing his eyes only to have them widen in terror. "W-Why can't I teleport?"
"Damn me and my inability to use magic," I smirked. "We're connected now." Our eyes glanced at the sword impaled in the music box in Jimmy's hands. When they met again I grabbed the mushroom's shoulder as he released the music box. Slamming the box into the stone floor it shattered freeing the tip of my sword. "You're not going anywhere."
Fear entered Jimmy's face as he wanted desperately to get away. "Help me! Help," Jimmy shouted pleading to anyone and everyone. "HELP ME MASTER KAMEK!"
A blue cloud of smoke appeared behind us. Luckily before it dissipated Morton arrived from the hanger. Both turtles were groggy. Each rubbed their eyes as if earlier morning instead of late afternoon.
"Footstool, what are you doing," Master Kamek commanded being the first to recover. I had put my sword away. "Release my slave at once."
"No, Master Kamek," my tone was annoyed which didn't help the turtle's mood. It was meant to be directed at Kamek but I couldn't able to direct it at Jimmy at the moment. I couldn't believe Jimmy's cowardice. Calling the wizard for help after everything thing he just told me.
"W-what!? How dare you refuse my orders," his frames narrowed toward me.
"If I release him, he'll runaway," I answered. "The mushroom's trying to end the war and destroy the castle."
Morton's eyes narrowed on the mushroom. I was relieved at how quickly my friend believed me. However, Kamek's eyes soften on Jimmy revealing that this wasn't a master/slave relationship any longer. At least not in the wizard's mind and maybe not in the Mushroom's mind either. I couldn't tell if the look in Jimmy's eyes were sincere or an act.
"He used the music box from class to put everyone asleep to avoid the guards," I continued.
"Is this true Jimmy," Kamek asked throwing titles aside.
"No, I was walking and bumped into Footstool," tears streamed from the fungus's eyes. "He attacked me even after I apologize."
Kamek's anger returned, "Footstool, release my servant."
"No, Master Kamek," my grip remained firm.
"You heard his story and I believe him," the wizard commented. "Now release him or I'll drag you to King Koopa's feet!" Suddenly the turtle's hand stretched forward. "Now give me the letter from Princess Toadstool."
I thought about my choices as Kamek's full statement registered. "No," I answered flatly. "I never said anything about a letter from Princess Toadstool and did he.
"I'll turn the mushroom and letter over to my king when he returns," I replied knowing something was off with the wizard.
Panic filled Jimmy's face. There was no escaping his fate now. His plan to use Master Kamek's authority backfired and gave way to one last plea for help.
"Help me Master Kamek," the mushroom sobbed sincerely. "Please."
"I said release my servant now," the wizard drew his wand and shot an insanely powerful energy blast.
Like a truck, the strike hit me square in shell grinding myself and Jimmy along the floor. Unfortunately, there was not enough room and both of us fell over the pit's lip. Somehow I managed to grip the lip with my free hand while our bodies dangled over the black abyss.
"Bawdy, hold on," Morton reached for my hand. "I got ya."
"No Mort," I yelled watching Kamek lower his wand again. "It's not safe."
His arm grabbed mine slowly lifting us. "Bawdy, I dwon't care."
Kamek's wand began to glow. Happening in slow motion, I watched the blast heading for Morton's backside. I thrust my hand into Morton's chest and pushed knocking Morton on his butt.
"Bawdy," Morton shouted from the top of the pit after the energy blast passed.
"Don't worry Mort," I shouted during the descent. "I'll see you in dad's throne room."
"Fine," Morton replied upset. "Owl be whating" before the top of the pit was shrouded in darkness.