Chapter 8 Painful Memories

Iggy couldn't help but notice that Depression seemed to be dragging his feet as he made his way through the echoey halls. Not only that, but he also seemed to move quickly. It might sound like those two actions would oppose each other, as Iggy originally thought they would. Nevertheless, Depression moved as swiftly as a fox.

Iggy started to wonder where he was going. He wasn't going to the east wing where his bedroom was. He wasn't going to the kitchen or to any other places where Morton was usually found. No, he was heading to the west wing. The only rooms of importance within the west wing were the bedrooms of Bowser Junior, some of the servants, and Kamek, as well as Kamek's private study in the first floor hallway.

As Iggy followed Depression, he started to wonder if Kamek's study was where he was headed. If that was the case, why would he want to go there? Morton wasn't a magic fanatic; what could possibly be in Kamek's study that would be of interest to him?

Iggy watched from a good ten feet away as Depression knocked on the door to Kamek's study. It opened with a creak, allowing Depression to sneak like a bandit into the room. When the door closed, Iggy rushed over and tried the knob. Miraculously, it came open with ease.

"Morton," Iggy said. "What are you…"

"Shh!"

Iggy was taken aback by the sound of Kamek shushing him. He was even more surprised by the fact that Depression had his hands on a memory sphere. Iggy approached and eyed Kamek suspiciously.

"Kamek, what is going on?" he asked in a whisper.

"He asked me if he could use my memory sphere after dinner," Kamek whispered back.

Iggy cast a glance at Depression. His eyes were glowing turquoise, which was the same color that the memory sphere was.

"Iggy, may I kindly ask why you are here?" Kamek said.

"I was just curious as to where Depression desired to go," Iggy explained quietly. Kamek nodded.

"I see."

Suddenly, Depression let out a gasp. Iggy looked and saw that Depression had come back out of the memory that he had wanted to see. His face fell when he noticed that Iggy was in the room.

"Oh. Hey, Iggster."

"Hey," Iggy replied, surprised that Depression of all people decided to use Iggy's nickname. Kamek grinned slyly.

"Oh! I just remembered! I have to go eat dinner myself." Kamek started making his way toward the exit. Iggy noticed that he left his wand lying on a chair.

"Oh, Kamek! You left your…"

SLAM!

Iggy looked at the closed door for a minute. Why did Kamek want to leave Iggy alone with Morton's Depression? Why did he leave his wand behind? Now that Iggy thought about it, Kamek hadn't locked the door before Iggy came into the study. Did Kamek want the two of them together; what exactly did Kamek have up his sleeve?

"So," Iggy said as he turned to Morton's Depression. He chuckled nervously, unsure of what to say. "Dinner was of an exemplary quality."

Depression just nodded, an emptiness present in his eyes.

"Did you enjoy it?" Iggy asked.

"I didn't eat it," Depression replied. Iggy was surprised.

"Really? What influenced that decision?"

Depression shrugged.

"I just didn't feel like it."

Iggy's face fell a little. Of course. He was talking to the manifestation of Morton's Depression. One of the symptoms of the condition was loss of appetite. Iggy decided that he had better change the subject, preferably to something more upbeat.

"What memory did you decide to view?"

Depression stared at his reflection in the ball. He stroked, the pristine, glass surface.

"A happy one," he said with a hint of nostalgia. "One with Wiggles in it."

Suddenly, a tear slid down Depression's cheek. It landed on the floor, make the hue of the carpet darker. Iggy placed his hand on his brother's shoulder.

"What is troubling you?" he asked. Depression sniffled.

"Wiggles is sick," he said. He used his hand to dry his eyes. "I don't...I don't know how to help him."

"Well then, perhaps I could be of assistance," Iggy said. "What infectious disease is your chomp afflicted with?"

Depression's cheeks were becoming wetter and wetter by the second.

"Chocolate poisoning," he said weakly.

"Chocolate poisoning!" Iggy was flabbergasted. While chain chomps were more tolerant to chocolate than regular dog breeds, they still needed treatment if they consumed it. Thankfully, Iggy knew exactly how to treat a chomp. "I will look at Wiggles as soon as I get the opportunity!"

Depression gave a weak smile.

"Thank you," he said quietly. He directed his attention back to the memory sphere, rubbing it as if it were a genie lamp. Iggy looked at Depression's face. In that instant he became angered at the way the others have been behaving around Morton.

"You know," Iggy said, trying to disguise his anger with a smile. "The others have not been treating you well."

Depression turned.

"What makes you say that?"

"Well, take Ludwig's only child comment, for example. I would imagine that would only contribute to possible feelings of worthlessness that someone like you would have." Iggy snickered. "I mean, I would never say stuff like that to you."

To Iggy's surprise, Depression's brow furrowed.

"Except that you did."

Iggy looked at him in surprise. Did he hear that right?

"I'm sorry, what was that?"

Depression's mouth sloped downward into a furious frown.

"Except that you did say something like that to me. You called me a showoff."

Iggy was confused. He called Morton a showoff? When did he do that? He had no memory of that!

"I apologize, Morton, but I am afraid that you're mistaken."

Depression raised an eyebrow. He then picked up Kamk's wand and aimed it at the memory sphere.

"Observus pastel Morton triste."

The memory sphere gave off a periwinkle glow. Depression gestured for Iggy to put his hands on it.

"I think this might refresh your memory."

…

"So, we're just gonna...break in?" I say.

Iggy stares up at the castle wall. I can see a hint of embarrassment on his face. I think he knows as well as I do that this is not his greatest plan.

"That is what I have formulated," he says to me.

I stare him down. Is he really serious? We need to use a plan that is foolproof. After all, the two of us breaking into Peach's Castle is beyond risky. If this were just a normal kidnapping mission I wouldn't be so hesitant, but we are doing this to help Wendy.

"This plan stinks," I finally say with a snicker. Iggy glares at me.

"Oh really?" he asks irritably. "Well, Koopstein, do you have any better ideas?"

I open my mouth. To be honest, I don't. I don't have a grand, elaborate plan. But here's the thing; I am a koopa of average intelligence. Iggy is a certified genius. If he was able to graduate from college as a seven year old, obtain twenty scientific awards before he turned fifteen, AND get us into this whole tail beard mess, then he should definitely have a better plan! In all honesty, it feels like he is only putting half of the effort in that he normally does! Which, of course, is a problem, because WE ARE DOING THIS FOR WENDY! OUR SISTER!

I don't say that though. In the end, my consideration for Iggy's feelings outweighs my desire to yell at him.

"No, I don't," I say with my stoic face on. Hey, at least I am honest about that.

"Very well," Iggy says. He reaches into his bag and pulls out a rope. He attempts to get it into the open window three times, and fails without fail each time. After Iggy vents his frustration over this, I decide to pick up the rope.

"Mind if I give it a go?"

"Knock yourself out," Iggy replies with a scoff.

I aim the rope at the window and throw it. To my surprise, I end up getting it on the first try. I gotta admit, I am legitimately happy that I was able to do it. I turn to Iggy with a little smile on my face. Iggy, however, greets it with scorn.

"Show off."

Sh...show off?

….

Iggy was shocked when he felt himself being pulled out of the memory. He glanced at Depression, who looked both crushed and angered at the same time.

"Morton…"

"Do you have any idea how much that hurt me?" Depression asked.

Iggy was baffled. That...what he had said was just a little snide comment made in frustration! It wasn't meant to make Morton upset; that was never the intention!

"I…"

"I bet you think you're so high and mighty!" Depression yelled. "I bet you think you're all that and a bag of chips because you're Iggy! You're so smart that you have an IQ in the high two hundreds! You're so smart that you discovered an element at four years old! You're so smart that you should be able to say whatever you want because everyone else is beneath you!"

Iggy shook his head in disbelief.

"Morton," he began, his eyes starting to water. "I'm so sorry!"

"Pfft. Well ain't that wonderful," Depression said. "Did you ever stop to think about what I was going through when you said that? Iggy, you hurt me! You really hurt me!"

Iggy didn't know what to say. Did...was he the cause of Morton's depression? No...no, that couldn't be! Morton had been putting on his impassive face for years. But then...why would he hold onto the memory?

"Morton, am I the reason you're depressed?"

Morton's Depression gawked at Iggy in surprise. He was just about to say something when the Ethical Center burst through the door with a worried expression.

"Depression!" he ran over to his fellow trait. "I heard you yelling! Didn't we agree that we didn't want our siblings to worry about you?"

Depression's face fell back into sadness.

"Yes."

"Okay." The Ethical Center took Depression's hand. "Come on then. Rainbow Mare is on."

The two Mortons walked out of the room together. Iggy wanted to follow them, but he didn't know what to say. How could he possibly fix a wound this deep? For the first time in a long while, Iggy didn't know what to do.