A/N: Hey look it's that plot thing I forgot to mention

They had been in the midst of preparations for Princess Toadstool's arrival when the alarm had been raised.

She was to visit for the first time since he had been coronated as the new King of the Pipe Land, the first time since his father had gone…she had sent her condolences at the time, but was too busy with some unspecified crisis in her own land to pay her respects, and he ultimately thought it rude of him to ask after it had been resolved.

But she was coming now. Regardless of the circumstances, his father had deemed it no higher honor than to be a superb host, indicative of the hospitality his kingdom-his pride and joy-had to offer travelers from all corners of the map. It was what they were long known for, respected for, and far be it from him to deny his father, and his ancestors before him the privilege of their amicable legacy.

Every banister, landing, and conceivable flat surface had been plastered for the occasion. Flowers, ribbons, and other such décor exhibited to the point where he wondered if the grandiose display would only make her uncomfortable, but his advisor always seemed to have a knack for these sorts of things. He flitted about at a speed surprising for his age, checking this thing and that, stopping only to notice him alone on the balcony in an effort to relieve himself of the overwhelming atmosphere.

"Look lively, Your Highness! The Princess is expected within the week, and there is still much to do!"

"Like what, braiding my beard? Admit it, you're only in this to amuse yourself, aren't you?" He teased, but it came out perhaps a little sharper than he had anticipated, and the old toad's expression deflated a bit.

"I know you're nervous, but there's no need to be! This is the Princess we're talking about, you know. She's usually always in good spirits…"

"It's not the Princess I'm concerned about…it's…this is the first gathering we've hosted since my father's death. I only hope I do as well by his name as I am able…"

"Oh, you will. There is no doubt in my mind about that, you know your father adored you. He would have been very proud of you, seeing the strong leader you've become. I've never known you to back down from anything, eh?" He jabbed, in a way that was knowing and affectionate.

"You say a little party is your downfall now, is it..?"

They both laughed, and the chaos of inside faded away for the smallest of moments.

And like most things recently, it was gone in an instant.

"YOUR MAJESTY! UNIDENTIFIABLE AIRBORNE OBJECT-! It's headed straight for us!"

It was simultaneously a marvel and unremarkable that no one in the midst of the pandemonium indoors had noticed what was nearly upon them, and as they moved across the castle to see what the panic was about, there it was. Erratic and aggressive, as it grew closer it looked like a pirate ship someone had plucked straight out of the water, armed on both sides with cannons that at present were eerily going unused. Occasionally it would lurch to one side before locking in head on, and though it was losing altitude he couldn't determine if the speed was controlled enough to eliminate the possibility of a simple malfunction.

The vessel wasn't theirs, by any means…was this an invasion, then? By any normal account a rather pitiful one, but the kingdom had been neutral ground for so long…

"We can't make contact! Intentions are difficult to ascertain! What should we do?"

He looked to the sky for answers only a spirit could give him, but they needed a plan and fast; he didn't have that kind of time. His advisor only looked at him helplessly, this was beyond him and they both knew it. It was on-level with the roof and looked as though it were about to smash into it until it lurched to the side again, bearing one side parallel like it planned to open fire.

"Now…now! Man the cannons! Shoot it down! Evacuate the upper floors, and shoot that blasted thing out of the sky!"

The cannons rung out, groaning in disuse, though the mark was fortunately quite difficult to miss, and once struck, the imposing contraption sputtered and unceremoniously crashed into the courtyard without further incident.

"Rally the guards! We must investigate immediately-!"

"My Lord, you mustn't! It could be dangerous!" The old toad squawked in bewilderment, though it fell upon deaf ears, morbid curiosity and electrified adrenaline moving him faster than he had in years.

He tore through the castle with an urgency he couldn't quite explain, nimbly dodging the multitude of questions thrown in his direction like the prize at the end of the path would only disappoint him if he knew what it all the excitement was about.

And what a prize it was.

As he could now see it more clearly, it did in fact appear to be a wooden ship…well, at least it was likely supposed to be. Despite only really falling from castle-height, the entire thing had splintered at the bottom where it made contact with the ground, painted with uprooted greenery and dirt. The rest had nearly imploded upon itself, and by the looks of the smoke, an unknown source burned within. Regardless, there already appeared to be a throng of toads around it, looking on in horrified intrigue while they conversed amongst themselves as to what they should do.

"Get back, all of you! You're standing too close!" He must have startled them, they all collectively jumped, and the group descended into chaos upon his arrival.

"K-king-!"

"-Majesty! You must do something-!"

"-stuck inside-!"

"-FIRE! This wasn't-"

The crowd grew, more people attracted by the pandemonium, searching for answers that he didn't have…it was overwhelming and his mind fell into the disarray soon after. Were they under attack? Would there be more to come? Where did this thing even come from? He wasn't even prepared, what should he-? Things like this just didn't happen, WHO WOULD DARE-?

The toads screeched in alarm as the fire finally billowed outward, engulfing the anterior of the vessel. Just as suddenly, the ship spit out two of its occupants, and the crowd was quick to retreat, leaving the King to investigate on his own. He recoiled a bit despite himself upon realizing who they were.

…Darkland natives…? Here…? His father had told him once the two kingdoms were freshly estranged, but he never knew the true extent of the understatement…here they were trying to-

"Help! Oh please sir, you must help us!" The larger one choked, the vibrant greens of his shell muted by the smeared remnants of destruction. Beside the koopa was a mole-like species he was less familiar with, but he seemed just as distraught, rubbing under his goggles furiously with an arm while the other nervously twirled about a distorted metal object. They were a peculiar sight all things considered, appearing to have escaped the blaze only slightly singed and yet they hacked and heaved as though their lungs were full of ash.

"What is the meaning of this?! I demand to-!"

"Your Highness, we beg you! I promise all will be explained in time but right now, our captain is still inside, among others…we must go back for them!"

Words that should have rallied him only froze him in place before the flames that continued their steady conquest of the ship, and he began to feel an odd sort of sympathy for it despite his suspicions but…could it be a trick? He had seen the hungry way they eyed his wand, but was it out of ambition? Or in desperation? Fire was a hard thing to fake…but they had nearly rammed the castle…who was in more danger? What would his father do in a situation like this-?

"Forget it! We're wastin' time out here! We gotta go get 'em ourselves!" The mole-like creature spat. The koopa nodded solemnly, and crawled back into the hole that had been blown into the side of the vessel.

"Wait, don't! It's going to collapse-!"

The mole glared through him with eyes he could not see.

"Yeah, maybe so. Then the kid's blood is on your hands, 'Majesty'."

"Wh-the-there's a child on board?" But he received no reply, the creature had gone, presumably to assist in what may well be his last futile act of good will. His reservations worn through, he quickly scrambled in after them, ignoring the calls of those behind him to follow the muffled trail of equally distraught voices.

The ship swallowed the sunlight, and it was impossible to see even with what meager visibility his wand was able to provide. He walked until the air was barely breathable, the cacophony of pained voices filling the spaces in his lungs where oxygen should have been and it seared him until his heart broke.

"There! Under there, the rafter-! My Lord-! Guys help me-! How did this happen?"

"Are you alright? Hang on, we're going to-come on everyone, I don't know how much time-!"

An odd wheeze, almost like a laugh that had been vacuum-sealed, was enough to silence them all.

"…didn't…think they'd…they'd shoot…at us…"

"Sir, save your energy-!"

"…just go…it's…my fault…"

"Oh-you…! You're a reckless fool, you know that? Sit still now, we've got you!"

"We...we can't…!"

He finally came across them, finding the two from outside with a few other crewmates of varying species all crowded around a hefty looking beam that had fallen. They were trying to lift it with little success, with the exception of the one goomba, who, unable to help much, had taken up the task of vainly pushing at it with his head.

"All of you, take up the sides! I can lift it, but I will need your assistance!"

The group parted in surprise at his arrival, and it was then he saw what, or rather who it was they had rallied around. Pinned beneath a pile of collapsed wood, among them a quite large piece that had seemingly fallen a short distance from the ceiling, was the child in question. The only one of his kind present, he was entirely covered in soot and debris, face contorted in a strange combination of pain and concentration, and there was something perplexingly familiar about him despite the state he was in…

The felled vessel creaked ominously, and he chided himself; such things would come later.

"Is this all of you?" he yelled and thankfully they nodded, limiting any carnage he may have been responsible for to the purely tangible, but one thing was still to be considered that no one seemed to acknowledge.

"Where is your captain?"

In spite of the circumstances, they all stared at him like he had set the fire himself, and he didn't know why he was made to look foolish for asking until the lumbar answered for him, weakly pushed aside into the rest of the pile by a shaky arm so that it could be put into the air.

"…accounted for…mostly…"

The child. The child was their…had they unlimited time, it still wouldn't have been enough to process what he had just heard.

"Never mind. All of you, lift, and when I tell you to, I need you to move him as quickly and carefully as possible! I won't be able to hold it for long, understood?"

They positioned themselves in grim determination, and soon after he focused his energy into his wand, praying to all who would listen that this power would be granted to him for as long as it took to get this child to safety.

The heat was sweltering now, but he rooted himself where he stood and began to levitate the fallen beam off of the child's back, allowing a small grin of triumph to cross his face as the strenuous task was accomplished successfully. The others did not appear as impressed, and did not even wait for him to speak before they had set upon their injured captain, clambering and fussing underneath the suspended beam like it had never been there in the first place.

"You must move now! I cannot hold it aloft for much longer!"

They situated the child between them, supporting him so that he could stand upright as well as he could manage, but as they moved as a unit, it became evident they were really dragging the poor thing more than anything. He looked to be in as rough shape as the smoldering ruins around them, but before he could assess much they shuffled away, tearing out of the hallway without so much as a call of gratitude among them.

He attempted a sigh but choked instead, and finally he dropped the beam ungracefully back onto the floor, exhausted by the effort. Smoke had filled the area, and dimly he recognized that even without it, he did not know the layout of the ship well enough to tail them. The wooden interior seemed to close in on him with each passing second, and with it, a creeping paranoia encroached upon his thoughts, rendering them as hazy and useless as the air. Had they abandoned him purposefully? Was this a trick after all? How was he to escape if he could barely see? His energy had been spent attempting to do the right thing, as he was sure it was the least he could do but now he had gotten himself into quite a mess-

"C'mon Highness, we gotta bail!" The mole-like creature had returned from seemingly nowhere, grasping his hands like he had known him for years. They had…they came back for him…yes... He tried to swallow his guilt as he was swiftly led to safety, wanting nothing more than to blame his suspicions on a wild smoke that had forced its way in, scattering his thoughts to nonsense, but he knew the truth lied rooted in something far deeper. He had been the one to shoot them down, but he thought…oh what would Father think of him?

He just let himself run before the implications of what he had almost just done (what could have been) came crashing down on him harder than the ceiling behind him.

"My Lord has gone mad…"

It was a solemn statement, but the way he absentmindedly pulled at the bandages around one arm, staring away like he had somehow spoken out of turn despite being subject to questioning…there was a fearfulness there that marred the boy's presence worse than any fire.

His condition had improved drastically since they last met, though his appearance remained gaunt, like he hadn't been resting much. His burns and bruises seemed only moderately severe at worst and were well along in their recovery process, save one particular confusing string of blisters along the outside of the arm he had been fidgeting with. They were unlike the others, the doctors had told him, in that they were likely there before the crash due to the nature of the injury, though the fire certainly wasn't of any help…

He wasn't sure what drew him to ask, but he figured it would be the least painful question to begin with until the child had stiffened like he had been struck.

"I provoked him one too many times, I believe…asked one too many questions until he had no choice but to send me away. This was his…parting gift of sorts."

He couldn't hide how horrified he was, and the child shrank further into the bed like he were somehow at fault.

"How horrible of me to have inflicted this fate upon my crew…I wish they had never been roped into this…but…what's done is done. For what it's worth, I'm truly sorry for startling you."

"No…my boy, you must forgive me for my actions. We were unable to communicate with you and assumed the worst. We had no idea what we were up against, and as such, I made a reactionary decision when you likely had no way to respond."

"Yes, well…the ship is a prototype, not meant to withstand much in its current state. I was never supposed to leave the kingdom with it. We had sustained what we thought was minor damage flying through a storm when certain mechanisms began failing, among them the main board. I tried my best to pilot it myself but…uh…I suppose in retrospect that was a mistake…I'm lucky no one was hurt."

"Be mindful, in your conviction you forget yourself. I have every intention of letting you rest, but…you must tell me what brought you here."

He looked positively frayed, eyes darting this way and that as if at any moment someone would burst in and drag him away. The color had drained from his face and he slumped forward suddenly before just catching himself.

"…sorry…my nerves get…the better of me sometimes…"

The King moved to his side, but it only seemed to make things worse. He placed his hand on the bed in an attempt at reassurance.

"I promise you, you are safe here."

But he only shook his head, mumbling bitterly, but there was a weight of sentiment behind it that he couldn't configure.

"…I must be candid with you. No one is safe here. The purpose of this journey was to warn you, and I hope that despite whatever I am about tell you that you will heed me."

The King's stomach churned, straightening his posture, and paranoia gripped him with the same intensity that the child gripped at his own arms.

"…so the ship…?

"Was a warship, yes. Underdeveloped and stolen, but a warship nonetheless. My Lord Bowser intends to invade this land in just a few weeks time."

It was like he himself had been blasted from the air above, thoughts whirling and blurring together into a mess with nowhere to latch onto.

"…But why? We have done nothing to provoke such an attack-"

"It is true you have done nothing. But in that time our kingdom fell to ruin, and my King lost everything. He hurts for the downtrodden, mourns the destruction and the dead, and he has done everything he can to mend the ravaged remains of the legacy left to him. I have seen his pain with each excursion he makes to these uprooted places, and each time, another seed of anger sows itself into his troubled heart. I can only guess that he envies the opulent reputation of this kingdom, and with what little he has, seeks to restore ours by any means possible."

"You would call him your King still, even after he would destroy our land for wealth?"

"Admittedly, he is not the wisest. It is rare for him to consider the consequences of his actions, but yes. My Lord's heart is his undoing. I know it would seem that way, but even if this bid were driven by pure greed, understand that he is motivated still by his people. Even in his current state, he confided that as their king, he wished to give them more, but he and I know it would never be enough to undo the injustices that have been done. As such, I believe this to be motivated by something else. He plans to invade this land, no doubt to make use of its resources and strategic location, but to also make a statement. That should this kingdom, this central hub of travelers and information alike, be brought to its knees, cut off from the vasculature that enriches it, then you may know a fraction of the agony we have endured."

"Injustices? This very plot is an injustice! I am unfamiliar with the troubles of your kingdom, you must forgive me that, but I do not understand how further destruction will satiate him, should your account be truthful."

The boy huffed in irritation; the dark circles gouged under his eyes standing in stark contrast to his disconcertingly enduring pallor.

"I cannot answer that. But know that I speak the unpleasant truth. I would not come all this way to get shot out of the sky for my own amusement."

"And what proof do you have of this operation? This is quite a complex matter to entrust to a child-"

"Respectfully Your Highness, I am not a child. I hope the basis of your dismissal does not lie rooted in that."

"Forgive me my skepticism, but how am I meant to take you seriously when there are things you either can't or won't explain to me? This information you have presented me thus far has consisted of mainly opinion, and you won't tell me how he intends to carry out his plans! I believe you when you say I am in danger, but at this point I remain unconvinced that you have nothing to do with the execution of this plot until you explain-"

"He means to use the warp system. As we speak, he is likely coordinating with his other commanders, so that they can send squadrons to various entry points into the kingdom in order to conduct an ambush. The ships would be used to take the castle itself, then subsequently patrol the region from the air, though they are so faulty I wouldn't be surprised if he nixed them entirely in favor of a purely ground-based attack…I have the blueprints somewhere, if they haven't burned up in the fire. In any case, this land is known to be neutral, so we weren't expecting much resistance on that front, so long as we brought along an adequate amount of firepower."

He had been stunned silent. What…how did he…?

"…That's the basic gist anyways…I hope we are now friends again." He chuckled hollowly. "I entrusted you with my secrets, after all…"

"Friends you say…? I do not even know who you are-"

"I am Lord Bowser's second in command. Or…rather I was. And out of the love I bear him I have concocted a plan to stop him, should you all be willing to assist me."

He was unable to comment further on the absurdity of the statement, as his advisor then poked his head into the room from the doorway. Sensing the intensity of the room, he rapped his knuckles awkwardly against the frame, like he had meant to knock but had forgotten, and nearly ducked back out until the King sighed, beckoning him to enter.

"…Ehh, apologies, Your Highness. The crew asks after the welfare of their captain, and I came to verify something…"

"He is well enough. As well as a child soldier may be, I suppose. Misplaced or no, your loyalties almost got you killed."

"Majesty-"

The boy's expression hardened, and he regarded him with an unnerving amount of intensity.

"I would do anything to make him happy. I just know in my heart that this will not make him happy. It will only cause more pain and destruction until we are all spiraling down a path we can no longer control."

"He burned you for your insubordination-!"

"I am not here to discuss His Majesty's temper; I know it's wrong. Everything is. I only hope my presence here will allow some right to come of it."

The silence that followed was uncomfortably palpable, and he wasn't surprised when his advisor attempted to embellish it like the rest of the castle.

"…What is truly important is that you are recovering. I will let them know you are doing well, Excellency."

The statement was formal, but there was a sly sort of knowingness behind his advisor's expression, like he were amused but fighting it. The child blinked in confusion, and they both looked around as though the other were being addressed despite the context.

"Sir, I'm not…just…Ludwig, if you please. I am a stranger to your land-"

"Are you now? I imagine I shouldn't be surprised. Your mother shared the same apathy for titles all those years ago, didn't she? I had forgotten."

The recollection was dim on his end, cycling through the numerous faces he had seen in his lifetime until one vaguely came to mind. The child, Ludwig, on the other hand, stalled, hitching forward like his train of thought had been abruptly derailed.

"…You…My…H-have we met before?"

"Ah, yes! It was quite some time ago…I suppose you were just a little thing then, weren't you? Your parents frequented this place for many years, we were well acquainted! They became avidly invested in the development of the warp system as I recall, though their progress was ultimately impeded. It was a great dream of theirs for you to finish what they started…"

Ludwig did not appear intrigued, covering his face with his hands like it would burst into flames at any minute, color at long last returning to his cheeks. The old toad chuckled a bit at the reaction, and cleared his throat.

"…You must forgive an old man for reminiscing. It is good to see you again child, look how you've grown! You're practically the spitting image of your father, aren't you? I'm surprised he let you come all this way on your own, they always were so apprehensive to bring you along anywhere despite-"

"They are dead. I came of…my own accord."

He wiped his eyes, revealing the tears that pricked at the corners. The nostalgic, jovial tone disintegrated as both he and his advisor came to recognize his reaction had not been out of typical teenage embarrassment, but rather out of a genuine sorrow.

Things seemed to all fall into place then. The loss of his parents, the sense of belonging he must have felt in the folds of something grander than himself, the need to contribute to something, anything so long as it meant you found a way to honor the ones that came before you….it was all too familiar and despite himself he smiled grimly. He finally understood what the stakes were for Ludwig. He wasn't sure exactly what it was this Bowser provided for him, but he had a sneaking suspicion at least why this kid latched onto him, even as they hurtled into the ground.

"We were unaware…please forgive us…I myself know what it is to lose the ones I love. This may not bring you much comfort, but regardless, I can't thank you enough for what you've done for us, despite the losses you have endured. I know you are frightened, but I know they would be proud of you for doing the right thing, however painful. Take comfort in that. Through you, they live on, and as they were welcome here, so too you shall be."

Ludwig sighed, rubbing at his dark circles like he were attempting to wipe them off. It was shaky and burdened, but he swayed and finally slumped back into bed as if a weight were at last removed from his shoulders.

"…thank you…"

"I swear to you that your warnings will not go unheeded. Together we will work to thwart this Bowser fellow, eh? And if he may so inclined, we will settle any quarrel he should have with us in a more amiable manner. My own father would disapprove of unwarranted violence as much as yours would have, I'm sure...but tonight, you must rest."

"Yes, yes. You must rest. I will tell your crew not to worry for you a moment longer. They could not ask for a more resilient captain."

Ludwig smiled weakly, yawned, and immediately apologized for his exhaustion. It made little difference in the long-run, and he appeared to succumb soon after he was sure it was safe to do so.

The both of them removed themselves to allow him to sleep, retreating to the adjacent hallway.

"So…what now, Sire? Are we truly under attack? I've been speaking with the crew-"

"I suppose we will know when he next awakens. He claims to have a plan that I am eager to discuss. I just hope I know what to do when the time comes."

"My Lord…there is another matter that may complicate things…"

He groaned, as if he didn't have enough to deal with already-

"What? Are there more ships on their way? Who else is coming?"

"The…the Princess…" He stammered, pulling a letter from his vest pocket.

"She's due to arrive tomorrow."

A/N: I would like to formally apologize for the jokes only I think are funny, now back to your irregularly-scheduled character studies