Chapter 5 King of the Koopas
If there was one feeling that no koopa (or really any being) liked to experience, it was dread. And while he was walking down the hallway with Bully, Cheatsy, Hip and Hop, Iggy was swimming in dread. Who exactly was King Dad? Was he this universe's version of Bowser? If that was the case, Iggy supposed that there was nothing to worry about. But what really made him worry was how smugly and cryptically this universe's versions of the Koopalings had spoken about him.
However, while Iggy was experiencing more dread than every horror movie character in the history of cinema combined, it appeared that he was the only one experiencing this problem. Lemmy seemed to be having a blast, if his conversations with the twins was any indication. And Morton seemed more curious than anything else. When Iggy looked his way, he could see that Morton was allowing his eyes to scan over the area.
After what felt like forever, the Koopalings stopped in front of a large, wooden door. Cheatsy stepped forward and caused the two halves of the door to suspensefully spread apart, like a monster opening its mouth to devour them whole. Iggy studied the throne room that the monster's maw apparently led to. It was wide, open, empty. There was no furniture to speak of save for the golden throne near the wall. Speaking of the throne, there was a koopa sitting in it; the same green scaled koopa that Iggy had observed in the painting. Cheatsy and Bully led the group closer to him, allowing Iggy to see that he was sound asleep.
"Ah man!" the twins exclaimed in unison. "Pop's asleep?"
"Probably up late last night scheming," said Cheatsy. "After all, they don't call the Mario Brothers 'pesky plumbers' for nothing."
The Mario Brothers? There were Mario Brothers in this universe? Iggy was about to ask about this when Bully approached his sleeping father.
"Hey, King Dad," he said loudly. "Nap time's over!"
The great green beast stirred in his sleep. He opened one eye, then slowly opened the other. He yawned, displaying the odorous, ugly interior of his toothy mouth. Then he groaned obnoxiously.
"Bully!" he said in a whiny tone. "I was right in the middle of my most repulsive dream yet."
"Your wishy washy dream can wait," Bully said with his hands on his hips. "We've got more important matters to deal with."
King Koopa scoffed.
"Did Big Mouth bite his tongue again? Tell him to shut his trap; it will make everyone feel better."
Hip and Hop giggled impishly, causing Iggy's nervousness to grow. Cheatsy stepped forward, a scowling smirk plastered over his face like a tattoo.
"Don't be stupid, King Dad," he said. "We have something much more interesting than that stinky imbecile!"
Bully moved out of the, allowing Lemmy, Morton, and Iggy to enter his line of sight. His yellow eyes grew wide in what Iggy assumed to be shock.
"What is this?" he asked. The twins laughed, reoriented themselves so that they were on the edges of the group, and flourished their arms.
"Ta da!" they said in unison. King Koopa still stared.
"Who are you guys!?" he asked with what sounded like anger in his tone. Iggy didn't know anything about this version of Bowser, so he had no idea how he would react to a casual display from Iggy and his siblings. So, he decided to go down the safe, formal route. He took a step forward, clearing his throat of any phlegm that would make his throat scratchy.
"Your majesty," he said with an eloquent bow. "By name, I am known as Ignatius Magnolia Koopa. And these are my siblings; Lemonade Natalie Koopa and Morton Bailey Koopa." Iggy gestured toward each sibling when he said their name. Lemmy smiled happily and waved with gusto when Iggy gestured his way. In contrast, Morton gave a timid smile and a tiny bow. Iggy could see King Koopa dawn a confused, flabbergasted face. Then he turned to Bully.
"Bully," he said. "What the Koop is happening!?"
Bully grinned, his smile displaying a tablespoon of menace.
"We came across three completely new Koopalings," he said.
"Yeah," said Cheatsy. "According to the twins, they fell out of the sky."
"They did!" Hop said. "They came…"
"...from another dimension!" Hip said.
Suddenly, King Koopa adorned an understanding expression. He then smiled. Or at least, Iggy thought he smiled. The expression looked a tiny bit forced; it was either a really pained smile or a really happy grimace.
"Another dimension?" King Koopa said. He stepped down from the throne. He approached Iggy, who was starting to shake with nervousness. "Why, that sounds like it could have been quite the trip."
Iggy swallowed the lump forming in his throat. Why was he nervous? He had no reason to be, at least no logical reason. After all, King Koopa was just trying to be welcoming and friendly. Iggy tried to let a smile form on his lips. He seemed to fail though, if the smirk that flashed across King Koopa's face was any indication. So, he dropped the smile and fastened on seriousness and sincerity instead.
"It was, your highness," he said. He noticed that King Koopa seemed to wince at the mention at the word. "Oh uh, I mean...King Bowser Koopa."
King Koopa let out a laugh.
"The only people who call me by my first name are those who are trying to insult me. Please…" Iggy noticed the strain that was accompanied by that word…"just call me King Koopa."
"O...okay," Iggy said meekly. He heard Lemmy chortle on his left side. King Koopa cast a glare toward the smallest Koopaling.
"What are you laughing at?"
Lemmy seemed to shrink back.
"Oh, uh, nothing…."
"Are you laughing at me?" King Koopa asked. "Nobody ever laughs at me!"
"Yeah," Cheatsy said from behind Iggy's back. "You never laugh at King Dad."
Iggy could see that Lemmy was shaking like a baby rattle.
"I….I am so sorry, King Koopa!" he said. "Please...please don't hurt me!"
King Koopa glared at Lemmy. He looked like he was going to have Lemmy executed right then and there. Then, to Iggy's complete and utter surprise, he smiled.
"Oh, I am not gonna hurt ya, little Koopa," he said. "Instead, I am going to give you a tour of my castle!"