Everyone sat on my navy-blue bed in my dark blue bedroom.

"So we're gonna want to plan this rescue thoroughly before we go through with it," I told them.

"Why?" Roy asked.

"So that we're prepared for anything," I replied.

"I've got a question," Wendy said.

Iggy and Larry suddenly burst into song on hearing this statement.

"How many lies? Question- how many times?" they sang at the top of their annoying voices.

"SHUT UP!" I yelled.

"As I was saying," Wendy said, trying not to throw a temper tantrum. "Question-"

"Tell me what you think about me," Iggy and Larry sang.

Wendy suddenly lost her temper and punched Iggy in the face making his nose bleed. He ran out of the room.

"That ought to solve the problem," I said. "Do you want some too, Larry?"

Larry shook his head, terrified.

"Good," I said. "Wendy, you had a question?"

"Yeah, it's about Larry," she said. "Do we have to take him? I mean, he's only 8."

"That's a good point. I guess we'd better leave him here," I said.

"WHAT? THAT'S NOT FAIR!" Morton yelled. "What happened to us koopalings sticking together?"

"But Larry's too YOUNG! What if he gets hurt?" Wendy argued.

"EVERYONE SHUT UP!" I yelled.

"You say 'shut up' way too often, Ludwig," Lemmy said.

"I said, SHUT UP!" I replied. The one good thing about being the oldest is that I can be scary. I turned to Wendy. "That is a good point, but I'm gonna have to think about it, I'll get back to you on that," I said.

"So we're gonna need to work out what we're gonna take. It's vital that we bring the right stuff but we don't want to bring too much or it'll weigh us down," I said.

"Why do we need to bring 'the right stuff'?" Roy asked.

I sighed irritably. Roy is not only incredibly stupid, but he has a REALLY bad memory.

"So that we're prepared, I've explained this already," I said.

"But Mario goes out on quests with nothing but a few 1-ups," Wendy pointed out.

I glared at her, a glare similar to the one that Father had given me earlier. I strode over to her and grabbed her by the necklace.

"Don't you dare compare me to Mario!" I stated. "I'm a hundred times better than him!"

Wendy gulped. "OK," she croaked.

"Good!" I announced. I would have thrown her aside but I'm not very strong so I just sort of pushed her a bit.

"So what do you think we should take?" Morton asked.

"A map," Lemmy suggested.

"Why would we need a map? We live here, we know this place like the back of our paw," Wendy pointed out.

Lemmy shrugged. "In case we get lost," he said.

"We're not going to get lost," Wendy said crisply.

I tried to think of a way of ending this conversation without yelling 'shut up' again.

"We'll need provisions," I said. "Weapons to defeat the boos with, maybe some binoculars-"

"To spy on people with?" Larry interrupted. "Cool! I love spying on people!"

"We'll need money," Wendy said.

"Will we though? I mean we're not exactly going on a girly shopping trip," I said.

Wendy put her head on one side. "We'll regret it if we don't," she said.

I sighed. "Fine," I said. "But you're carrying it."

"Do you think we'll need a knife, in case we get into any sticky situations?" Morton asked.

Everyone shuffled away in their seats.

"I didn't mean to, like, kill someone! I meant, like, if we get tied up or something," Morton declared.

Everyone heaved a sigh of relief.

"Do you think we'll need a rope?" I asked. "I mean in case of an emergency."

"Well you're the boss, you decide," Larry said.

That made me grin.

Soon, Wendy was saddled up with a rucksack full of food and money; Morton had a rucksack full of weapons to defeat the boos with and Roy had a rucksack full of practical things like binoculars, rope and a knife. I didn't have a rucksack because I was the boss.

"Hey Lu," Wendy called.

I scowled at the nickname. "Ludwig," I snarled. "My name is Ludwig."

"Whatever Lu. So you never answered my question, about Larry," she said.

I chewed my lip thoughtfully. "Mmm, you're right," I said.

Suddenly, I bolted out the door yelling "Back in a minute!"

I could predict from experience that Wendy was angry that I had run away, but I was going to answer her question.

I ran down the corridor then down some steps and into the cellar. The door creaked horribly as I opened it. I flicked on the light.

"Mario?" a scared voice called out.

"'Fraid not Princess," I replied.

"Oh, hi Ludwig."

Princess Peach sat on a hard wooden seat inside a cage. Father had kidnapped her again.

"Heya Peach, listen, I need your help," I said.

"Well, I can't do much in this cage," she said.

"No, no, I just need some advice. You see, Junior's been kidnapped by some boos," I said.

"Oh dear," Peach replied. Peach hates Father but she can't help liking us, I guess she thinks we're cute (Which I find demeaning).

"Father's sent us koopalings on a quest to get him back, but I don't know whether it's a good idea to take Larry with us, I mean, he is the youngest," I explained.

Peach knows us koopalings really well because, well think about it! Father kidnaps her so often, that we are the only company she's got. (She told me once that she doesn't count Father as company because she hates him so much!)

Peach chewed her lip thoughtfully. "How old is Larry?" she asked.

"8," I replied. "Wendy seems to think that he's too young and should be left behind whereas Morton thinks that he should go because he thinks that all the koopalings are equal and should all go so that it's fair."

"What does Larry think?" Peach asked.

"He seems to want to go," I said. "He doesn't realize the dangers though, and Wendy would kill me if I took him."

"I think you should take him," Peach said. "I mean, Wendy could look after him, and besides, he could be useful."

I grinned, that princess gives some damn good advice.

"Now tell me Ludwig, one last thing," Peach said. "Why am I giving advice to my arch nemesis' son?"

She obviously didn't find us that cute then.

"Ummm," I said, I racked my brains for an answer. I couldn't think of one.

"Bye Princess!" I yelled out as I suddenly took off and burst out the door.

Peach sighed. "Typical," she said. "He's just like his Dad."

I went back to my bedroom where Wendy was sitting on the edge of the bed, grumbling.

"Larry's coming with us," I said.

"What? But it's dangerous!" Wendy protested.

"You can look after him," I replied.

"I'm not a babysitter," she grumbled.

"I'm the boss and I say you are the babysitter."

Wendy grumbled (like she always does).

I walked over to Larry and put a hand on his shoulder. He looked afraid but didn't run away. "Larry," I said. "You want to go on an adventure don't you? To save Junior?"

Larry blinked, then piped up. "I want to go on an adventure with you guys!" he announced.

I looked at Wendy and grinned. "That settles it then," I said.