Chapter 5 Sleep Deprived

Five Days. That was how long Iggy had been in the lab; five days. He had not slept, eaten, or cleaned himself during that time. He had been far too concerned with the device he was building.

The device resembled a cross between a ray gun and a magic wand. It had a long, stick like part made out of solder, and it had buttons on the side so that it could activate the comet piece on the top. There were four buttons, and each had a number from two to five engraved on it.

Iggy was using a wrench to tighten the comet piece in place, as well as another tool to remove a layer of solder. Afterward, he smoothed the surface out so that it did not appear to have any dents. When he had finished doing that, he admired his invention for a brief period.

"Okay," he said. "Time to see if it works."

Iggy went to the other side of the room and brought out a white mouse from a cage. He put it in a small, fenced in area on one of the lab tables. It had an exercise wheel, a bowl of food, and a water bottle in reach of the mouse. He aimed the device at the test subject and laid his finger on the button marked with the number three. A blue light shot out of the comet chunk, and when it hit the mouse, Iggy gasped. There was no longer one mouse, but three. One was sleeping, another was eating, and another was on the exercise wheel. Iggy pulled back his glasses in shock.

"I did it," he said softly. A grin spread across his face. "I did it!"

Iggy laughed giddily. Then, with the device in hand, he exited the lab. He was shocked to see five of his siblings standing in front of the door when he stepped into the hallway.

"Oh, greetings to you, fellow siblings. Why do you show the signs of frustration?"

"You disappeared into the lab for five days! It would have been nice to have a warning!" Larry said.

Iggy smiled sheepishly.

"My apologies." He then yawned and rubbed his eyes. Wendy looked concerned.

"Iggy, did you get any sleep at all?" she asked.

"Well, that depends," Iggy said.

"On what?" asked Larry.

"On whether or not you're willing to accept no as an answer."

The Koopalings sighed in frustration.

"You're unbelievable," said Larry. "What were you even doing in the lab, anyway?"

Iggy smiled proudly and displayed his device.

"I have been constructing this," he said. "I plan on using it on Morton."

Lemmy gasped in fright.

"You're gonna hurt Morton?"

"What? No! Goodness, gracious no! You see, this device was made out of a prankster comet fragment. I have tinkered with it so that I can exploit its power. Now it has the ability to divide any being into the core aspects of their personality."

The Koopalings looked a little unsettled. Iggy had been known to jump across very large leaps of logic to get to very high extremes in the past. However, this just seemed unethical.

"And why would you want to do that?" Ludwig asked with a curious and concerned tone of voice

"I believe that this device can help us discover the root of Morton's problem," Iggy said.

"But Iggster," Roy said, "don't you think that this is a little dangerous?"

"Pfft. No," Iggy smirked. He started walking toward Morton's room. "Now, if you'll excuse me…"

Before he could get any further, Roy grabbed him by his mohawk and dragged him back.

"Iggy, you aren't doing that," he said.

"Why not?

"Because you're acting stupid right now!"

"Roy is right," Lemmy said. "Morton is not some test dummy that you can try your inventions on!"

"I know that!" Iggy started walking down the hall again. "Guys, I've got everything under control!"

"Oh really?" said Larry. Iggy turned back around.

"Of course! Morton will be fine; I know about every possible danger relating to this procedure."

Ludwig raised his eyebrow.

"Are the effects reversible?" he asked.

"Of course they are!" Iggy said. Then his face fell a little. "I think."

Ludwig gawked.

"I think? You're willing to put Morton's life at risk because of an 'I think?'"

Iggy was about to respond when Wendy held up her hand to shush him.

"Iggy, you clearly aren't thinking logically. I think that you need to get some sleep."

Iggy shook his head rapidly.

"No! I need to help Morton!"

With that, Iggy broke out into a run. He could hear his siblings rushing to catch him. He was certain that he would get to Morton's room before they did. That is until Ludwig flew up and landed in front of him. Ludwig grabbed Iggy by the forearms, causing him to wriggle and squirm. He was like a worm about to be put on a hook.

"Iggy, I'm taking you to your bed."

"No!" Iggy screamed, deaf to Ludwig's gentle inflection. "I can't go to sleep!"

"You need to." Ludwig looked toward Lemmy. "Lemmy, go get Kamek."

Lemmy nodded and ran off. The others helped Ludwig as they guided Iggy to his room. Iggy was practically hysterical as they laid him in his bed.

"I need to help Morton! I need to help him!"

"Iggy, calm down," Wendy said. "It's gonna be okay."

Iggy was weeping now.

"This is pointless! I haven't slept over the past few days because I was worried! I can't sleep without getting Morton the help he needs."

Wendy looked at Iggy sympathetically. When she heard the door open, Iggy noticed cedar that she gave a sigh of relief.

"Oh thank goodness," she said as she turned to Kamek and Lemmy. "We really need your help Kamek."

Kamek nodded and looked at Iggy seriously.

"I'm going to put a sleeping spell on you."

"No!" Iggy said, although he was too tired to object energetically.. "Kamek, Morton needs my help."

Wendy came closer gave him a weak smile.

"It's okay, Iggy. He will still be there when you wake up."

"Besides," Larry chimed in, "don't you think you'll be more help to him fully rested?"

Iggy hesitated.

"I..."

"Duerme Lulli Shuteye," Kamek said as he waved the wand. Just like that, Iggy was out cold.