Chapter 21 Split Ends
The personality splitter felt heavy as Iggy walked back to the throne room. That might have been due to the current events, or it might have been caused by Iggy's exhaustion after the fight. Either way, he didn't mind; not really. It was over, it was finally over.
When Iggy got to the throne room, he laughed with joy. There they were, his six siblings. No more, no less. Wendy, now fully formed and fully back together, looked really happy despite the black eye that she now adorned. Larry, Lemmy, Roy, and Morton were now awake. Morton was holding Wiggles in his arms, who was licking him like a popsicle. Ludwig, despite the fact that his hair was messed up, looked extremely pleased.
"Greetings, fellow siblings," Iggy called out.
The other Koopalings rushed over. Wendy gave him the mother of all hugs.
"Iggy, you did it!" she exclaimed. "I don't know how, but you did it!"
Iggy felt warm sensations spreading from his chest up to his face.
"I plan on putting this device in storage," Iggy said as he displayed the personality splitter to everyone. "Hopefully then it will not be the harbinger of anymore grievances."
The others nodded, and Iggy headed down to his lab. The further he walked though, the more uncomfortable he became. He was back together, he was whole. Dark Iggy was no longer a threat. So why was it that Iggy felt so bad?
…
Morton walked into his room with Wiggles in his arms, and smiled at the sight of it. For the first time in a long time, he felt like he was actually seeing the room, taking it in. The colors seemed to pop, whereas before the were very plain and blander than bran. Topaz was singing a song in her cage. The melody was spunky and dynamic, just like her. Morton opened the cage and whistled sweetly.
"Come on, Topaz," Morton said. Topaz squawked.
"Hello, Master," she said. She stepped onto the platform created by Morton's outstretched finger, her tiny feet curling around the bone. Morton brought her over to his bed and pet her on the head.
"I liked your song," Morton said.
"Of course you did! I was singing it!"
Morton chuckled.
"You are such a diva."
Suddenly and without warning, the door opened, and in stepped Iggy. He looked guilty, ashamed. Or at least he would have if he wasn't going out of his way to hide it. His face was placid, and the only way that Morton could tell that something was wrong was the fact that he carried himself differently. Iggy cast Morton a weak smile.
"Hey, Morton."
"Hey Iggy. Is something wrong?"
Iggy nodded his head.
"It pains me to report that your inference is factual. I am in emotional turmoil at this moment and I wish to communicate its cause to you."
Morton was about to respond when Topaz flew off his finger and landed on Iggy's head.
"Squawk! A man of culture," she said as she snuggled on top of his mohawk like a nest. Iggy chuckled lightly.
"Hey! Nobody said you could sit there!" Topaz just chirped.
"This is my throne!" she said. "Bow to me, mortals!"
Now both of the Koopalings were laughing. Iggy came farther into the room and, after asking Morton's permission, sat on the edge of his bed.
"So what's troubling you?" Morton asked once Iggy had gotten himself situated.
"Well…" he started twiddling his thumbs. "Right before we got back together, Dark Iggy had relayed his point of view to me. And, I have to admit, I was thoroughly taken aback by the perspective that he contributed."
"How so?" Morton asked.
"Well, he said that he did not wish to obtain power for solely his benefit. He said that he was doing this for the good of both me and our siblings."
"And you believed him?" Morton asked.
Iggy turned toward Morton with worried eyes. He nodded his head slowly, cautious of the parrot snoozing on the top of his head.
"Yes," he said. "And what's more, now that we are back together, I can see his argument even more clearly."
"So what's the problem?" Morton asked, genuinely curious and intrigued at this point. The worry in Iggy's eyes grew to fill the whole face.
"What Dark Iggy did was not exactly morally sound," he said. "He claimed that he had everyone's best interest at heart, but I could see the selfishness in his argument. And here's the thing; Dark Iggy was a part of me. No, strike that, he is a part of me. He is an essential component of my personality!"
Morton began to understand why his brother was so worried. He looked at Iggy in a way that hoped appeared gentle and comforting.
"So you're worried that you are evil."
Iggy nodded his head.
"Yes. Yes I am. I mean...I've done...I've created….I've destroyed…" Iggy shook his head. "I apologize. My thoughts are in a jumble right now."
Morton nodded his head slowly.
"It's alright; I see what you are trying to say." He sighed. "And I will admit, I have the same worry that you do. After all, I have aided Bowser in multiple kidnapping missions. Now, I know he's doing it for a good cause, but...there's always been a part of me that questioned it. Whether it was the right path to go down."
The two sat in silence for a bit. Morton gently picked Topaz out of Iggy's hair and ran his finger down her soft little body.
"But if it makes you feel better Iggy, I don't think that you are evil. I mean, you went through all that trouble to help me to feel better. Now, I'm not one hundred percent; I doubt I ever will be. But I don't think someone who is evil would care so much about someone like me." Morton smiled at Iggy. "On top of which, I don't think someone who is evil would be capable of loving his siblings the way that you love us."
A smile slowly spread across Iggy's face.
"Thank you, Morton."
"No problem," he said. He got up and slowly put Topaz back in her cage. As he closed the cage door, he spoke up again. "I feel like I should thank you again. Your personality splitter really helped me out."
"You are welcome, Morton," Iggy said softly. "While I don't have depression myself, I have heard what I devastating effect it can have on a person's well being. I am grateful we found the cause of yours. That is not a burden I want you to carry throughout your life."
"Me neither," Morton said. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted the Rainbow Mare plushie that was still resting under his bed. That reminded him of something. "Oh, Rainbow Mare has a new episode coming up! Would you like to watch it with me?"
"Sure!" Iggy said.
AN: I am so glad that this story is finished. I was a little worried about how it would turn out, as it does deal with heavier themes than some of my others. However, ultimately I am glad with how this turned out.
As always, thank you to all you guys for reading and reviewing. Shoutouts to all the people who have favorited and followed (the list is bigger than it usually is, so I don't think I can fit all of the names). Also, thank you all so much for your support. This series wouldn't be what it is without you guys. Have a great day everybody, and be sure to check out Super Koopalings Episode 10: Crossover Conundrum! :)