Chapter 11: Power or Peasant? (Part 2)

WARNING: This is the longest chapter I ever wrote for this story!

Malina was extra nervous. She didn't understand why Kuzco was going through all this trouble. She was certainly glad that the dinner was cancelled, she didn't want to "ruin Kuzco's groove" with her peasant like behaviors. She finished her breakfast and went to meet Kuzco in the throne room as he requested. She entered the room and found no sight of Kuzco anywhere. He wasn't even sitting on his throne! She looked all around and found no one. Feeling a little silly for coming too early, Malina began to leave. Suddenly, she heard foot steps.

"GOOD MORNING EMPRESS MALINA!" Kuzco shouted to Malina from the top of his throne.

Malina smiled as she saw her silly husband standing on his throne.

"What are you waiting for? Come on up!" Kuzco said as he snapped his fingers.

Two guards appeared holding a carrier (or litter) for Malina. They helped her onto the bed and lifted it in the air. Malina held on tightly to the edges of the bed as the guards took her up the stairs to the throne. They set the bed down and helped Malina off the bed and took it back down the stairs.

"How was the ride sweetie?" Kuzco asked with a smile.

"Kuzco, you do that everyday?" Malina said as she tried not to barf. She was afraid of heights and all that wobbling up the stairs made her feel sick.

"Yup! Sorry about the bumpy ride. I forgot to tell them to take it easy for you. I'm use to all that wobbling anyway." Kuzco said.

"Yeah I can tell. It's so high up here." Malina said. She doesn't come up there often. She's so use to her small office where she spends most of her time writing for the Kuzconian Times.

"You enjoying the view my love? Come sit, it's much better when you sit." Kuzco said as he snapped his fingers again. This time, the guards brought in a big purple cushion for Malina to sit on. Kuzco helped his pregnant wife onto the throne.

"Wow." Malina said as she adjusted herself to feel more comfortable. She let out a sigh of relief once she found her comfort spot. This was great. Now Malina knew why Kuzco loved sitting up here. The throne was comfy and the view was amazing. She could see everything from up there. The guards down by the door looked like ants! Yes. Malina felt powerful now. Sitting on this high throne made her feel mighty and proud. She closed her eyes to take all of it in.

"Doesn't it feel great?" Kuzco asked as he saw his wife smile warmly.

"Mmmm hmm." Malina said as she sat back on the big cushion.

"Well don't get use to it. We have a lot of training to do so come on, up, up, up!" Kuzco said as he motioned for Malina to get up.

Malina turned and gave him the Malina stare. Kuzco wasn't moved.

"Uh uh uh! That Malina stare is not working on me today. You have to get up." Kuzco said with a stern tone.

Malina got up immediately. She never saw Kuzco this serious before. He didn't even shudder at her Malina stare. This was scary.

They both went into the dining room. Kuzco pulled out a chair for Malina at the head of the table. He sat right beside her. Malina was confused.

"Um Kuzco, isn't this your seat?" Malina said.

"Nope. It's your seat today. You're the empress."

"Kuzco you're the emperor! You belong at the head of the table and I belong in the corner seat next to you."

"Malina, poor clueless Malina. You are royalty baby. Get use to it!" Kuzco said as he snapped his fingers again.

Kronk came running out with a tray of dishes. He quickly set the table and served the food. He lit some candles and then went to get the drinks.

"Why is lunch so early? I just ate breakfast!"

"This is practice for table manners."

"Kuzco, I already have table manners, we eat like this every night."

"Shh Malina. Now we come to the toast." Kuzco said as Kronk came out with the drinks.

"Here you go your highness." Kronk said as he giggled and handed the glass to Malina.

"Thanks Kronk, and please just call me Malina."

"Eehhhhhh!" Kuzco said as he imitated the sound of a buzzer for a wrong answer. "Try again." he said.

"Kuzco what are you-"

"Eehhhhhh! Wrong again!" Kuzco said with a frown.

"What did I say that was wrong?"

"You said, 'Please just call me Malina.'" he said as he imitated Malina's voice.

"So, what's wrong with that?" Malina said as she folded her arms.

"Malina, you are being too nice. Kronk addressed you with your proper title. It shows respect and you can't run an empire without respect Malina. Let's take it from the top!" Kuzco said as Kronk reset the entire table and gave Malina the glass again.

"Here you go your highness." Kronk said as he bowed.

"Kronk, you don't have to bow." Malina said.

"Eehhhhhh! Wrong wrong wrong! Malina, he has to bow to you. Respect remember? Take it from the top!" Kuzco said.

Malina and Kronk groaned.

"Come on we have to get this right! We'll do it over and over again until Malina gets it right." Kuzco said.

Malina and Kronk groaned again. This was going to be a long day.

After several attempts at lunch, Kuzco led Malina to her bedroom. Her bed was neatly made and her room was very clean.

"Malina, something's wrong here. Can you tell me what it is?"

"I don't follow you Kuzco."

Kuzco sighed. "Malina, do you know that the maids come in and clean our rooms every 30 minutes?" he asked.

"Yes. What's your point?"

"Malina this room is too clean! The maids will be here in 10 minutes."

"So."

"So?! If the room is clean my darling, how can the maids do their job?"

"Kuzco, the maids are human beings too. Besides they do need a break."

"Malina do you hear yourself? That's their job they're supposed to clean! If you keep giving them breaks all the time, how could you give them a raise?"

"True." Malina said as she thought about what Kuzco said.

"Exactly, the more raises, the more work. So mess this room up right now!" Kuzco ordered.

"Okay." Malina said as she messed up the bed, threw her clothes all over the floor, and completely trashed the place.

"Doesn't that make you feel better?" Kuzco asked.

"So I don't have to make my bed in the morning?" Malina asked as she looked at her messy bed.

"Nope. I never have, and I never will. Why do it yourself when someone can do it for you?"

"Wow no wonder you're so lazy." Malina said under her breath.

"What was that?" Kuzco asked.

"Nothing!" Malina said with a smile.

Malina and Kuzco went to the hallway.

"Now we will work on your walk." Kuzco said.

"My walk?"

"Yeah. Like this." Kuzco said as he sashayed and paraded down the palace hall. He held his head up high, smiled very big, and had a groove in every step. He made it successfully down the hall and struck a pose. "BOOM BABY!" he yelled as he stayed in his pose. Malina held her mouth open in shock. Kuzco's walk was perfect. There was no way that she could top that, especially with a huge baby bump.

"Your turn!" Kuzco yelled from the end of the hallway.

Malina took a deep breath and began to sashay down the hall. Her sashay looked more like a wobble. She made it down to the end of the hallway and tried to strike a pose. The more she tried, the more she stumbled. Her big belly got in the way of every pose she made. She finally just put her hands on her hips with a sheepish smile.

"Wow." Kuzco said.

"How was it?" Malina asked.

"Um, how can I put this? You looked like an over-sized penguin!" Kuzco said.

"Kuzco, how dare you say that?! I'M PREGNANT!" Malina yelled.

"Right, I completely forgot for a minute."

"HOW COULD YOU FORGET? YOU'RE THE ONE WHO DID THIS TO ME!" Malina exploded in anger.

"Oops." Kuzco said as he flinched.

"Last thing of the day. Summoning the guards!" Kuzco said with a grin. He took Malina back to the throne room and she sat on the throne again. He stood right beside her.

"Let a pro show you how it's done." Kuzco said as he cleared his throat. "Guard, bring me a funny hat now!" Kuzco ordered. Soon, a guard came and brought Kuzco a polka dotted joker hat. "Ha ha, classic!" he said with a laugh. "Now you try." he said to Malina.

"Excuse me-"

"Eehhhhhh! Big mistake."

"What now?"

"You said excuse me. Malina, you are royalty, stop being so nice! He is your servant, you have the right to order him around." Kuzco said.

"I can't just order people around all I want. That's rude."

"Malina, would you rather be nice and let people in your palace walk all over you, or are you gonna be strong and rule with some authority?!" Kuzco said in a stern tone.

"Yeah you're right Kuzco. GUARD GIVE ME SOMETHING DEEP FRIED AND COVERED IN CHOCOLATE!" Malina yelled so loud that the whole palace shook. A guard came trembling as he gave Malina chocolate covered sugar buns. "I could get use to this!" Malina said as she smiled and took a big bite of her sugar bun.

"I think she's got it!" Kuzco yelled as he covered his ears.