A/N: Some of Shakespeare's scenes are humongus, but others are really short, so to save on chapters, I stick them together. This is the first multi-scene chapter of King Bowser.
When I first got to the first scene in King Lear, I thought the Edmund (Daisy) subplot was random and didn't realize it was an important part of the play until later. I made Daisy a little more sassy in Scene i, and I added the stuff about Morton's letter in this scene to try and make it seem little more interconnected and less out-of-the blue. I also removed the astrology stuff, since it doesn't fit in with the Mario mythos.
I gave Toadsworth more lines than Oswald had in the original version of the second scene, and I added some backstory to explain why he's working for Larry.
Act I. Scene ii.
Daisy wandered around her old castle, a frown upon her face. Ludwig had taken her with him when he, Bowser Jr. and Lemmy left Dark Land to watch over Sarasaland. Originally, Iggy and Wendy would've joined them, but instead they had made Peach's old castle their new abode. The Koopalings had decided it would be best if they kept Mushroom Land together, instead of splitting it between the two parties as Bowser had intended. Daisy had heard it was primarily Iggy and Larry's idea, and that the two of them seemed to have the most energy invested in sorting out the affairs Bowser had left his children. On the other hand, Ludwig wasn't an ambitious leader: he wanted to keep his domain running smoothly only, and Lemmy shared this mentality.
Watching them govern her old kingdom made Daisy restless – Sarasaland needed to be ruled with flare and spark, not with the two eldest Koopalings' soporific inertness. It was only a week since the division of Bowser's kingdom, and the countries were still in a state of flux, their people confused and agitated. Even the Koopalings were on-edge, and Daisy knew she could use this to her advantage. Over the years, she had been worming her way into Ludwig's confidence, and his trust in her grew with every visit. She had learned his weaknesses, and she planned to use them to turn Ludwig against Lemmy, and secure a spot on the Sarasaland committee.
"I just got vord from Morton!"
Daisy turned around and smiled as Ludwig approached her. "That's nice."
"He says Fazzer's causing all sorts of problems in Dark Land," said Ludwig, shaking his head. "I don't see vy he's doing all zis to us and to zee kingdom. It doesn't make sense. All he ever vanted vas to rule zee land, and now he gives it all avay?"
"Maybe he's decided ruling's not all it's cracked up to be," said Daisy, hastily stowing away a piece of paper she had pulled out when she heard Ludwig approaching.
"Vat's zat?"
"Nothing," said Daisy, averting her eyes.
"Is it more bad news?" sighed Ludwig.
"I've heard no news – except for what you just told me, that is," said Daisy, but Ludwig wasn't convinced.
"You're hiding somezing. Show me zee paper."
"It's nothing, Ludwig. Really."
"If it's nossing, zen vat harm is zere in me reading it?" said Ludwig, holding out his hand. "Give it to me."
Daisy pulled the paper out, biting her lip and shifting around nervously. "I… You don't…It's just a letter from Lemmy. I haven't read all of it, but-"
"Vell zen vee can finish it togezzer," said Ludwig making a grab for the paper.
As he snatched away from her, Daisy continued to babble guiltily. "I'm pretty sure it's just a joke, or a test or something. I don't think he meant what he said…"
Ludwig cocked his eyebrow at Daisy, before turning to the letter:
"Ludwig's such a stick in the mud. I'm tired of sitting around
and doing nothing, and I'm sure you are too. If we get rid of
Ludwig, you can surely take his place on the committee,
and then we can start having some fun around here! Meet
me tonight in the garden and we can talk it over, okay?
LEMMY"
Ludwig read the letter aloud (Daisy tried hard to ignore his accent), and then turned to Daisy. "I don't believe zis!"
"Me neither," said Daisy. "I mean, it sorta sounds like him, and it looks like his handwriting. But given the subject matter, I'd like to think it's a forgery."
"It is his handwriting," breathed Ludwig, staring at the letter.
Daisy struggled to hide her smirk, persuasive denial – works every time.
Oblivious to her thoughts, Ludwig turned to Daisy, his face strained. "Did he ever talk to you about somezing like zis before?"
"No… But I have heard him complaining about being bored. He hates it up here: it's in the middle of nowhere, and there really is nothing to do…"
"But zat's not enough motivation to vant to kill me!"
"Maybe he just wants to send you away. You know how he wanted to partner with Iggy…"
"Yes, but Vendy vouldn't hear of it – she said zey'd destroy vatever territory zey vere given… How could Lemmy be so simple? So near-sighted?"
"Like Bowser?"
"Of course!" gasped Ludwig, nearly dropping the letter in shock. "Of course! Zis is exactly like vat fazzer did! Vee must stop Lemmy before he does somezing rash! Everysing's falling apart. First fazzer turns on Peach and Kamek, and now my own brozzer is plotting my downfall – my deasz!"
"I don't think he's out to kill you-"
"Vee can't know anysing for sure…" said Ludwig, pacing the hallway. "…Zee only vay to find out is to confront him."
"Let me talk to him," volunteered Daisy. "He already wants to speak to me, so he'll be frank with me. If you accuse him of anything and you're wrong, he'll hate you, and everyone will think you're going batty like Bowser – suspecting everyone and everything."
"Yes, yes, zat vould be bad," Ludwig shook his head. "People vill not trust a leader like zat, and vee must not let zee country wriggle out of our control, not in turbulent times such as zese…" By that time, Ludwig had wandered down the hallway and was at the stairs. He paused, looking back at Daisy. "Talk to him. Find out vat's up." He shook his head again as he started down the stairs. "Everysing zat's been going on... 'tis strange…"
Daisy listened to his footsteps die away, a cruel grin on her face. Manipulating Ludwig had been easier than she had ever hoped. She wondered if perhaps the Star Spirits were helping her along, seeing as she was simply trying to reclaim her kingdom from Bowser's cancerous brood of Koopalings. The world would be a far better place without them, and perhaps the Stars recognized this…
"Daisy!" Lemmy had just appeared around the corner.
Daisy turned around, once more plastering a smile onto her face to greet one of her Koopan adversaries with as much warmth as she could muster. "You don't know how happy I am to see you – you haven't spoken to Ludwig recently, have you?"
"Not since last night – he wasn't at breakfast."
"Did you speak with him?"
"Yeah, you were there, remember. We talked about politics," at this, Lemmy rolled his eyes.
"That sorta attitude's what's got you in trouble," warned Daisy.
"In trouble?!" Lemmy's eyes widened in fear.
Daisy nodded. "Yep, Ludwig's mad at you. He thinks you're gonna wreck the country – that you're not serious enough."
"What? How could he…" Lemmy whimpered, fidgeting atop his rubber ball.
"And what's more," continued Daisy, lowering her voice ominously. "He's convinced you're out to get him! He thinks you want to kill him so that you don't have to do what he says anymore."
"WHAT!?! Never! I'd never do that! How could he think that?"
"He thinks you resent his 'boring' rule. I told him you wouldn't kill him, but he won't see reason and I'm worried he'll do something rash…"
"Just like King Dad and Peach – and Kamek too!" Lemmy clasped his hand over his mouth in horror. "What's going on? Why's this all happening?"
"I don't know," sighed Daisy.
"Who could've told Ludwig I'd want to hurt him?" moaned Lemmy.
"I don't know," repeated Daisy. "But I do know that you're in danger – someone wants you gone. Who knows, maybe Ludwig's the one out to get you."
"I can't believe that," said Lemmy forcefully. "We're brothers – we wouldn't do that each-other!"
"I'm gonna talk to him and see if I can figure out what's up. In the meantime, you should hide out in my Secret Room."
"Your what?"
"My Secret Room: a place where I would hide out whenever I got tired of the Royal Council bothering me all the time. It's got lots of books and canned food and stuff." Daisy handed Lemmy a key. "I haven't told anyone about it – not since you guys took over; Ludwig won't find you there. The entrance is outside in the garden, by the old apple tree…" She explained how to activate the entrance to the room, and sent Lemmy running back the way he had come, so that he wouldn't run into Ludwig on the stairs down the hall.
"When will I hear from you?" called Lemmy, over his shoulder.
"Tonight!" Once Lemmy had disappeared, Daisy punched the air. "Yeah! Who's the girl? I am! Whoo! Those idiots don't stand a chance! Uh huh! Oh yeah!" She nearly skipped down the hallway; victory was already in sight.
Act I. Scene iii.
"I am getting tired of King Dad's antics," growled Larry.
"As am I, my boy. Why, he flames guards for casting their peepers in his very direction! At Mushroom Castle we wouldn't dream of doing such a thing, by jove! It's most unfitting of a king to be such a brute, if you don't mind my saying so." Toadsworth had been looking forward to serving Peach, so when Bowser banished her and transferred Toadsworth to Dark Land to fill Kamek's role of "Gofer in Chief" (as Toadsworth soon deemed his role), the old man was justifiably miffed.
"Diss him all you like," said Larry darkly. "He's being such a pain these days... We'll have to start being firm with him or who knows what'll happen…"
"Oh yes, the same thing happened with King Toadstool when the poor chap started getting on in age. He was a right danger to himself and all those around him, he was. We Toads rarely go senile, but I'm afraid the same could not be said for humans, eh, wot wot!"
"Nor Dragon-Koopas, apparently…" muttered Larry, staring out a window. He could see Bowser and his companions returning to the castle from their latest escapade. Something about going through the Warp Pipes (which couldn't be directed right into the castle, as it was cut off from the surrounding land by a moat of molten lava) and terrorizing tax-dodgers. Bowser may have disliked the paperwork involved in ruling, but he considered law enforcement fun.
Larry frowned and turned to Toadsworth. "King Dad may still have the crown… But I'm head of this household now… and… and I say we start treating him the way he deserves – like a rowdy, unwanted guest in our house."
"Oh ho!" exclaimed Toadsworth, liking what he was hearing.
"Stop tending to his every whim… If he doesn't like it… that's too bad."
"What if he decided to leave, sir?" asked Toadsworth. "And lodge with your other siblings instead?"
"Iggy and I are of the same mind on this one… Ludwig's in the middle of nowhere, so I doubt King Dad will want to go there…"
"And what of the soldiers that are more loyal to him than to you? There's a fair few of them, I'll have you know."
"Treat them the same way you treat King Dad," shrugged Larry, after pondering the question for a moment. "And when King Dad gets back… tell him I'm too busy to talk to him... I don't want to deal with his crap right now."
"Right-o, your highness," bowed Toadsworth. As he hurried out of the room, Larry turned back to the window. Bowser's company had crossed the land bridge and reached the castle; Larry could heard the massive front doors swinging open. He sighed: it was going to be a long night.