Chapter Forty-Six
Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Mario or its franchise; it belongs to
Nintendo and their affiliates. I just am really grateful to its creators for giving
me such a wonderful game and media series to write about!
I also don't own anything related to Harry Potter, all that belongs to J.K. Rowling,
but thanks go to her as well because, using her wonderful work, I can expand this
story to make it more interesting.
I also don't own anything related to Naruto if you see me throw a little of that, too
Eighteen missions. Only a few more to go. He could feel victory in his grasp. He would be a member in no time at all.
The young man wiped the sweat off his forehead and finished binding the unconscious magician. He'd taken Ludwig on a chase and then gave him a lot of trouble once the youth caught up to him but ultimately Ludwig had him knocked out and tied up for taking. He had to bring the magician back to the League because there was money on his head. Of course he wouldn't get any, but that was fine. Ludwig didn't want any money. Money was fleeting. What he wanted would last a lifetime.
He didn't know he was being watched with some measure of pity and disappointment, but it was now that his former mentor made himself known. He appeared next to the teenager and earned an irritated frown.
"Ludwig, what are you doing?"
"Securing my future." The young man answered as tightly as he tied the knots around the magician's wrists.
King Boo sighed and asked, "And what kind of future do you think you'll have serving the League?"
"I won't be serving them, I'll be a member." Ludwig snapped.
"No you won't."
Ludwig felt like he'd been slapped. He stood from where he was crouching over the magician's body and narrowed his faux-blue eyes at his godfather.
"Shows what you know, old man!" He spat, "I made a deal with them. They're letting me in after I finish these missions."
"They're playing you, Ludwig." King Boo told him softly. "The League is a patriarchal organization; always has been. Callian would sooner eat his fist than take in an outsider."
Ludwig scoffed and said, "Being the son of the Dark King has its uses: they're making an exception for me."
"I've known Callian for a very long time, Ludwig. He doesn't make 'exceptions'."
Ludwig frowned and turned back to the magician. He hoisted the scrawny but skillful man onto his shoulder and stood.
King Boo told the boy, "It's not too late, Ludwig. You can still turn back and—"
"—turn back and what?" Ludwig rounded on him. "Be a mediocre, washed up loon like you?" He grew angry as he said, "I finally have the chance to be something great and now you wanna' stand in the way of that?"
King Boo was quiet before saying, "…perhaps this is your mistake to make." He vanished.
Ludwig scoffed and headed back to the canyons.
He could admit that he'd been a bit harsh with his godfather and that maybe he should have heeded his warning, but Ludwig really doubted there was any way he could have known any better. He had no idea things would turn out the way they did.
He had to be pretty stupid to think they'd take it lying down. Being fired, that is. Roy knew they wouldn't like it but it wasn't like there was much they could do. He was king now and that was the first thing he wanted to do. He knew he could do it because he'd been brushing up on the laws of Arid Kingdom.
Translation: Ariadne had been brushing up on the laws of Arid Kingdom. There were books all around his room to prove it. He was grateful for the girl and had her to thank for being able to oust some of the most corrupt old men he'd ever had the misfortune to meet. They wouldn't leave without a say, however, which was why the three young people were at a standoff at the palace steps with the now cap-less officials.
One of them said, "You are a fool to think you'll last in this country."
"Mhm. Right." Roy hummed dully. "And you're banished. All of you. So I think I'll be lasting a lot longer than you."
"Impudent brat!" Another of them spat.
The other Elder held up his hand and said, "Leave him to his fate." The man predicted, "he's bound to end up dead soon enough."
Roy rolled his eyes and thought, wish I had a dollar for every time I heard that this week…
He watched the Elders go and figured that was at least half his problems gone right there. Without them, he'd need an advisor. He couldn't rule without one. He'd chosen Ariadne. There was no reason he couldn't, and there was no one he trusted more to have his back. Since she was staying, it was no wonder Eriana was, too. Neither of them wanted to leave him and though he could force them or even transport them somewhere else, he chose not to.
If I send them away, I'll be in this on my own, was his logic, because as much as Roy put up a tough front, he knew he wouldn't want to face this without those two by his side.
Honestly, she didn't know what she'd do if she didn't have her boyfriend by her side. This world was like…well, a whole other dimension to her. Sure it was familiar for the most part, but there was so much she didn't know about. Tonight he'd come back to the house with bags in both hands and said they were going bowling. What popped in the girl's head was something to do with rounded eating apparatus but, lo and behold, after changing into the clothes he'd bought her, she was pleasantly surprised. Though confused.
They'd taken a taxi to get to the place and, once there, she'd had to part with the pretty black and pink and white tennis shoes Munson bought her. The ones the bowling alley gave her weren't nearly as stylish.
"I don't get it," She said, looking around.
Munson led her over to a table and asked, "What is it?"
"Where are the bowls?" She wondered.
Munson smiled and said, "Bowling is the name of the sport, beauty. Don't ask me why. I never made the connection and I used to come here all the time when I was little."
He was glad the place was relatively empty because it gave them a bit more privacy. He was hoping some time with his girlfriend would take his mind off of the disturbing topic of his sick mother and his estranged father. So far it was working. He couldn't take his eyes off the girl.
He watched as she bent over in her seat to untie her shoelaces and slide her feet out of them. Because he had the urge, he took her feet in his lap and rubbed them before reaching for the alley shoes.
Wendy blushed and looked down at her legs. She was self-conscious about them all of a sudden.
They look a little big to me, she thought. It's probably 'cause I'm sitting down. My thighs look super huge! And my feet! Geez, I hope they don't smell bad or anything.
She started to sweat and tried not to squirm or fidget but she was freaking out. Munson was totally oblivious. He just wanted an excuse to touch her and took his time. When he was done he looked up at her and gave her a half smile.
"How does that feel?" He asked.
Wendy flushed and said, "Uh."
"Do they fit?" The boy asked. He said helpfully, "I can get you a bigger size."
"No, they fit." She replied, fearing, does he think I have big feet?!
"Good." Munson smiled wider and put her feet on the floor. He stood and offered her his hand.
She stared at him, still as unused to his attractiveness as he was to hers. She slipped her hand in his and let him guide her towards one of the shelves where the brightly colored spheres were.
They got some stares from the few other patrons and Wendy blushed at that. She glanced at Munson and knew he looked very handsome in the burgundy plaid shirt and black pants he wore. It was a casual outfit, complete with a brown bomber jacket, but it looked good on him. She didn't look too bad either in her jeans and thin black sweater, but that was because her boyfriend had good taste. She flinched when she felt him take her hand.
It's been too long since we've spent any time together, she realized, holding his hand.
He got to the shelf and told her, "Pick one. Try not to get one that's too heavy."
Wendy stared at the multicolored bowling balls and lifted a blonde brow. She didn't know what the difference was, besides color, so she chose based on that. A plain silver one she picked up, then almost immediately dropped it. She gave a small shriek because she was sure her foot was about to get crushed but Munson ducked quickly enough to catch it.
"Whoa," He put the ball back on the shelf and said, "Here, let me get one for you."
He handed her a baby blue one and said, "This one's light. And it matches your eyes."
She smiled and took it from him with a shy smile. She really hoped he never stopped complimenting her like that.
"Aren't you getting one?" She asked him.
Munson shook his head and said, "I'll help you play."
He led her by the small of her back over towards their table and took off his jacket. Wendy appreciated the sight of his lean body and the fact that his plaid shirt sleeves ended in the middle of his biceps. She could see his inky tattoos that way. She had a thing for them, she'd found out.
Or maybe just a thing for his, she smiled privately.
Wendy held the ball against her hip and Munson came back over to her once he draped his jacked over a chair. They approached the lane and Wendy slipped the tiniest bit on the glossy floor. Munson held her by the waist and steadied her.
"Be careful," He warned her gently. "That's why you had to change shoes. These floors are slippery."
"Yeah." Wendy nodded, squealing inside at the touch of his warm hands on her body.
Her hormones were crazy lately. She looked over at Munson, who was still so close, and then back forward.
"So what are these holes for?" she asked him.
He told her, "You put your fingers in like…this," Munson stood behind her and did what he probably could have from a foot away and without touching her.
Wendy's arm sagged a bit under the weight but Munson helped her bring it up at the level of her chest.
"Now you take it back like this," He showed her, bringing the ball and her arm behind her.
She wasn't paying attention at all. He smelled so good and his voice was so alluring and he was just too much.
"Now let it go."
"Wha?"
Munson swung her arm forward and Wendy stumbled, then dropped the ball at the last minute. It landed with a loud 'thunk' and the few other people all stared at them. Wendy flushed and looked away, her face burning with embarrassment.
Munson laughed and bent down to pick up the ball. He gave it to her but she shook her head.
"Don't be ashamed, love," He coaxed, "It is your first time."
She felt her heart flutter at that. She was a pervert for taking that the way she did but it was the way his voice was so low and smooth and delicious.
Oh my gosh, she ran her clammy hands over her face and looked away.
Munson yanked on her ponytail and when she turned back to him he was holding the ball out to her in one hand and lifting both dark brows pointedly.
"Just relax." He told her. "You'll have fun once you do."
Trusting him she took the ball and pushed her long bang out of her face, behind her ear. She tried to recall what Munson showed her and brought the ball behind her. For help she looked over at the other people, then mimicked what they were doing.
"Good!" Munson praised.
"Was it supposed to go into the um, ditch thing like that?" She asked.
Munson said, "No, not really. But you're getting the gist of it!"
He smiled beautifully and stood to the side, watching as she slowly got the hang of the game. Like he predicted, she had a blast once she did. She even got all the pins down at once, though that may have been luck.
"Oh, it's a touchdown!" She eagerly stated.
Munson laughed and said, "What?"
"All of them touched down onto the ground, er, alley!" She explained happily.
Munson laughed harder and said, "It's called a strike, lovely. Touchdowns are in football, remember?"
He explained that to her once before when they were watching a game on his mom's tv.
Wendy looked perplexed, her bright eyes narrowed. She said, "I don't get it. Wouldn't it make more sense for a strike to be related to football since they're always hitting and running into each other?"
Munson shrugged and said, "I dunno. I guess that would make sense."
She started to collect her ball from the conveyor machine but he laid his hand over hers and stopped her.
"You hungry?" He asked.
She realized she was and nodded.
Munson smiled and said, "What do you want? We can go out somewhere if you like."
"Don't they have food here?"
Munson made a face and said, "Yeah, but it's not very good."
"What else is there?"
"What do you feel like eating?"
To be honest, she didn't want to go to another restaurant. She didn't want to eat in public. It felt like a thousand eyes were on her and she just wasn't in the mood for that. It must have shown on her face because Munson smiled, amused, and grabbed his jacket.
"We could go back to the house if that's what you want."
Wendy nodded.
Munson said, "Alright. Let's go."
He was so glad they'd both come out to each other about their magical abilities because it meant they could do things like go around the corner and teleport back to the house.
"You okay?" Munson asked, holding onto the girl as they reappeared in the living room.
Wendy nodded and flopped down on the couch.
"Oh!" She blinked, looking down. "I forgot to get my shoes!"
"I got it." Munson went over and crouched in front of her.
He took off the hokey alley shoes and kissed her knees.
"I'll be right back." He said, standing. He hesitated and asked, "Did you make up your mind about what you want to eat?"
She shrugged and said, "I'm really not that hungry."
"If you say so." Munson acceded. "I'll go and drop these off and when I get back, you wanna' watch a movie or something?"
"Sure!" Wendy piped.
"Alright." Munson smiled and then vanished.
Wendy waited a second, seeing if he would come back. When he didn't, she darted upstairs to the bedroom they shared and started tearing off her clothes. She hurriedly grabbed some pajama clothes and flew into the bathroom. She didn't know when he'd be back and she wanted to make sure she was fresh and comfortable before then.
After taking the fastest shower she ever did, one that her brothers probably wished for back at the bunker, she dried herself off, dressed, and let down her hair. In her striped grey and white pants and white tank top she felt warm and ready for a night on the couch.
Wait, she frowned, looking down at herself. These pants are kind of…blah. Maybe I should wear something cuter.
She went over to the dresser with her things in it and dug out a pair of green shorts. Making the swap, she definitely felt flirtier in the shorts. Then her thigh-insecurities came whispering back. With a groan, she took them off as well and stood in front of her drawer, thinking.
"Oh. Duh!" She smiled, feeling silly. "I can just wear some of these."
No sooner had she pulled on a pair of black tights did Munson come knocking on the door.
"You said something, Wendy?" He asked from the other side.
She flinched and said, "No, I'm coming."
She smiled because he was polite enough to wait outside the door for her while she'd done some last minute primping in the bathroom mirror. She had to decide whether to wear her hair up or down. She decided it was better up. No down. Yes. Down was good.
"Sorry for taking so long." She apologized, swinging the door open.
Munson just smiled and said, "You didn't have to change. You ready?"
She nodded and followed him downstairs. The only thing he changed was the fact that he was now barefoot. He stood in front of the widescreen tv and Wendy took a seat in the middle of the couch. The house was already dark since it was late and she liked how the many windows made it feel a lot more natural and less closed-in and stuffy. The house had a very open, airy feel. She could even see the stars out in the sky.
"What movie do you want to watch?" Munson asked, bending over the DVD player.
She shrugged and said, "A scary one."
She was no longer afraid because she always had him to sleep with. Er, next to. She blushed because that comment Munson made earlier came back to her, filling her head with wonders about what it would be like to…
"Something the matter, angel?" Munson asked, concerned.
He got the tv straight and sat on the end, at her left. She looked at him and smiled nervously.
"Nothing's wrong." She assured him.
The movie started and Munson slouched on his side, leaning his top half over the corner of the arm and the back of the couch. She kept glancing at him until he finally patted the space right next to him.
"Come on," He encouraged her, and she did.
She moved over and laid on her side with her back to Munson's body. Munson raised his hand and brought a blanket from the closet or wherever into thin air and laid it over her. She had her head on the arm of the chair and spent the next half hour trying to inconspicuously scoot as close to him as she could without him noticing.
Forget the movie.
"Is this what you want?" Munson teased her, laying on his side and bringing her back against his chest.
Wendy flushed, her body flying out of whack. Part of her was mortified at having been found out but the other part was so very pleased. She turned her head back towards him and stared at his profile. Unlike her, he was actually watching the gory film. Or he was zoning out.
He's so, so handsome, she observed, just staring openly at his jaw and mouth and nose. The tv was casting light on his mesmerizing sea-green eyes and every now and again he'd blink and those thick black lashes would come down over his cheeks. He looked down.
Caught again, Wendy could only stare, transfixed. Munson smiled down at her and leaned towards her until he could kiss those rose-colored lips. He was almost on top of her as it was so, in a couple of movements, he was the rest of the way there. Wendy felt a sense of liberation with there being no parents, no overbearing brothers around. For her this kiss was everything. But Munson was distracted.
"What's wrong?" She whispered when he turned his head.
His hair was longer and brushed her neck and cheeks and, when she brought her hand up to hold his face, it also brushed the back of her knuckles. Munson looked at her and she felt a stab of guilt at how sad he looked.
She leaned on her elbows and slid from under him, sitting with her back to the arm of the couch and her legs under her. Munson sat up, too. Slower.
"It's your mom, isn't it?" Wendy guessed instinctively.
Munson nodded but said quietly, "I don't want to talk about it."
"Maybe we should." Wendy told him. "It's bothering you and it bothers me too."
Munson looked down.
"What's wrong with her?" Wendy fished.
Munson told her, "I don't know." He then ran a hand through his chestnut hair and said, "Well I know it's got something to do with my father but I don't know what it is or how to fix it."
"Maybe you should ask him."
"That's a terrible idea."
"I'm sorry."
Munson blinked and then leaned forward. He cradled both sides of Wendy's downcast head and kissed her sweetly, briefly.
"No, I'm sorry." He said. "I didn't mean to say it like that. My father is just…hard to talk to. I haven't even seen him in four years."
"He left you at the inn alone?"
"He was never there."
"I don't understand."
"I know," Munson sighed.
Wendy said, "I don't see what it could hurt. Maybe your father can help you with your mother's sickness. You don't think he'd care? Did they get divorced or something?"
Munson said, "It's complicated. I think he might have put a curse on her."
Wendy's eyes widened and she said, "Whoa. So he's like…evil?"
Munson said, "He definitely isn't good."
Wendy was quiet.
She then said, "I don't know my parents, but if something were wrong with one of them, I think it would be worth the risk to face the other parent if it meant I'd be helping them out." She said, "I mean think about it. He might have been angry at first, but maybe, since a lot of time has passed, he's not…anymore." Wendy played with her fingers and said, "If they completely hated each other, how could they have made you? I think you might be able to bring them together again."
"You think so?" Munson chanced, then shook his head. "My father is a powerful sorcerer. He's also immortal. He's been around a very long time and can hold a pretty mean grudge. I think it's best I figure this out on my own."
"And how long will that take?" Wendy asked.
Munson shrugged. "I'm immortal, too. Time isn't important."
"It is for your mother." Wendy spoke gravely.
Munson frowned and said, "You're right. I really don't know where to start. I've been to my mother's a few times this week. She won't see me so I have no idea where to start as far as healing her."
"Exactly," Wendy said. "That's why you should at least talk to your father and see if he'll be reasonable enough to tell you how to help her. Or at least you could get him to tell you what curse he put on her."
Munson thought on her words with a morose expression. He didn't want to go near his father again, that was the whole point of running away in the first place, but for his mother…no. Not even for her. But…
He glanced up at the ceiling, wondering if his hopelessly optimistic side was going to get the better of him.
He was usually good at schooling his emotions, but after standing in the same spot for over ten minutes, waiting to be acknowledged, his irritation was beginning to show on his normally calm face. Ludwig didn't want to but he flared his magic all around him, the sorcerer's equivalent of clearing his throat. Just as he'd thought, the score of immortals stopped talking and laughing and shoveling food in their faces and looked over at him. Ludwig forced himself not to feel small in the presence of such rude but undoubtedly powerful beings.
"What do you want, boy?" Callian barked from the head of the dining table.
Ludwig strode over to him and said, "I'm finished."
"Finished with what?" Callian groused. "Who let you in here?"
"I let myself in." Ludwig answered slowly, his pride smarting at the question. "I'm done with the 21 missions."
Callian tilted his head and said, "Oh right. Is that so?"
He stood and wiped his hands on his pants and Ludwig grew excited as the older being came ambling towards him. He stood tall and waited for his reward.
"I should thank you for that," Callian smirked. "You brought in a lot of money."
"Being a member is all the thanks I need." Ludwig replied duly.
Callian chuckled and said, "I bet. Which is why I'm especially sorry to disappoint you, boy."
Ludwig frowned and said, "What do you mean?"
"You didn't really think I'd let you in, did you?" Callian asked him, his smirk turning into a sneer.
Ludwig looked down, frowning, and blinked. He was trying to process this. Surely this wasn't happening.
"You said you'd make an exception for me," He stated with soft accusation.
Callian told him, "I know what I said, boy."
"But you lied," Ludwig whispered. He narrowed his eyes, no longer blue but emerald and hissed, "You used me! You just…"
"Well maybe you're not as stupid as you look," Callian praised callously. He said, "Now get out of here."
"So I did all those missions for nothing?!" Ludwig exclaimed, balling his fists.
Callian paused and said snidely, "Now I wouldn't say that. Maybe I could use you after all. Being the son of Koopa and the protégé of the Lord of Illusions."
Ludwig felt a fledgling bit of hope stir in his racing heart.
Callian said, "You'd make a good little errand boy. Or pet." He turned to the other League members and laughed, and so did they.
Ludwig felt so humiliated that he summoned all his physical and magical strength and lunged at Callian. He should have known he was no match for the older sorcerer but he didn't care. Before he could even do anything, Callian cut him off by wrapping his hand around the boy's neck and lifting him high off the ground.
"I told you to get out of here," The immortal growled. "So get!"
Ludwig spat in his face and Callian dropped him for a second, then was quick about striking the boy across the left side of his head, knocking him down. The other immortals howled like hyenas. Ludwig rolled onto his side and rubbed his face—it was burning from the pain and the shame—and must have forgotten about his magic because instead of vanishing he ran out of the building with his head down and his mind spinning. He wasn't even mad anymore. Now he was thinking, calculating. He was determined to have his revenge.
He did have it, and even now, as he sat chained in place and bound to die, he didn't regret his next actions. Ludwig smirked. How could he? It was brilliant, satisfying, a bit grisly, but no less than the older sorcerer deserved for utterly degrading him. It was so bad Ludwig heard that Callian wiped the event from the minds of all his members and maybe even himself. No, probably not. He could hold a grudge for centuries.
I hope he remembers what I did to him for just as long, Ludwig thought spitefully.
"Aren't you going to eat?"
I didn't know why I even had to ask that. Surely Daisy knew better than to skip meals. We'd traveled for hours since the last break and, after this one, we'd ride for hours more. Yet here the girl sat cross-legged against a tree with that enchanted map in her lap. She had some bread and food near her knee but she hadn't touched it in all the time she'd been studying the map. What was there to study? It was mostly a painting, save for the blinking red light. In her eyes I saw its reflection, flashing and dimming in her pupils. She was creeping me out.
"Daisy."
"What?"
Only now she looked at me, pulling her attention away so reluctantly I had a feeling she didn't want to. I came over to her and stood, trying not to frown at the map. It was helping us. I had to keep reminding myself that.
"What is it?" Daisy asked me without snapping this time.
I said, "You need to eat. That thing isn't going anywhere."
Daisy nodded and set the map aside, bringing her food into her lap. She started to eat and gave me a pointed stare, lifting both brows as if to ask, 'happy now?' I let her be.
I looked over at my troops. They were scattered around the grassy area, eating their lunches as well. All the horses were grazing freely and everyone was alright. We were making pretty good time.
In that vein Daisy remarked, "We should be in the Badlands in a couple of days, right?"
A couple of days? I wish.
No, we weren't making that good time. We'd only been traveling for two days and one night. It'd take us at least four more days. Maybe three if we cut out a few breaks here and there.
Nah, that wouldn't be a good idea, I thought, looking back at some of the troops.
A lot of them were healthy, but many of them were not. Like one guy named Carter had an asthma attack yesterday. He claimed he was fine but he was the main reason I moved our breaks up from one to two a day.
"We'll be there sooner if we get back on the road now." Daisy said, standing.
She headed over to her horse and, probably because she was the princess, the troops started following suit.
That was another thing. Thanks to Daisy, these breaks were getting shorter and shorter. She was as eager to face the old king as I was anxious.
A/N: Thanks for reading everyone. I've been working a lot lately, I have so little time to update. This chapter has just been sitting on my computer for the longest :(
I need steady internet connection bc every time I want to update I have to walk seven blocks to Mcdonalds, lol.
Well for whoever's still reading (amazingly) sorry for whatever grammar mistakes there are. I haven't had time to proofread either...well let's be honest; I never proofread haha. So lazy XP
Thanks again for your support!
~DG~