As promised, here's chapter 4! Now, just a heads up: This chapter gets a bit violent (though it's Teletubbies compared to a later chapter, and it's really not too bad anyway). Read at your own risk.

Disclaimer: Last time I checked, I didn't own any of this. Should I check again?

Chapter 4: Dead to Me

Roy Koopa opened his eyes and looked around. The first thing he became aware of was that he was standing. The second thing he realized was that he was in his family's throne room, facing the main door. But everything was still intact, as if the attack never happened. Roy looked down at his body. It was completely free of injury! He lifted his hand to his temple where he knew there was a bruise. But no pain flared up.

I'm not hurt, he realized. And if I'm fine, and the castle is fine, then…

"The attack never happened!" Roy exclaimed joyfully, "The others are okay!" And he started towards the door.

"Roy," a voice boomed.

Roy stopped immediately and spun around. There, standing in front of the ten thrones, was his father.

"Pop!" Roy cried happily.

And standing on either side of Bowser were his siblings, lined up in birth order from the left. Roy smiled as he looked from face to face. Ludwig, Lemmy, Iggy, Wendy, Morton…

That was it. Larry and Bowser Jr. were absent.

Where are they? Roy wondered. Why aren't they here? Then is eyes widened tremendously as reality hit him like a missile. A huge lump rose in his throat as he choked, "Oh, no… No…"

He looked back at his family. His remaining family. They were all looking at him. Their expressions held no sorrow or pity. Only scorn, resentment, and betrayal.

Bowser spoke once more, "You've failed, son. Failed them, and us."

"No…" Roy took a step back and shook his head.

"You're not worthy of being called our brother if you won't even protect your own," Ludwig snarled.

"No! I tried!" Roy cried, tears overflowing from behind his ruby eyes. "I swear I tried…"

Lemmy's eyes blazed with uncharacteristic rage, "That's not good enough! You promised us, Roy. You promised yourself!"

"Lemmy…" Roy pleaded, "I never broke that promise…"

"LIAR!" Iggy Koopa roared, "If you never broke your promise, then where are our brothers? Huh? Where are they? They're not here, no thanks to you. You didn't save them. I HATE YOU!"

Roy's legs suddenly felt weak. Never in his worst nightmares had he experienced such venomous words from his siblings. He certainly didn't expect them coming out of Iggy.

"Iggy…" he croaked.

"Just get out, Roy." Wendy uttered through angry tears. "We don't want you here. Get out of Dark Land. Go."

Roy couldn't even look at his sister. So he simply looked at his now youngest brother, and waited for him to speak.

Morton Koopa Jr. remained silent. Under ordinary circumstances Roy would have made a quip about Morton keeping his mouth shut, but right then Roy found his normally chatty brother's silence unnerving. There was also the strange way in which Morton was looking at him. It was more like he was looking through his brother, like he wasn't even there. It was as if Roy were dead—

Once again reality struck Roy where it hurt the most.

He was dead to Morton. That hurt Roy more than being disowned by the rest of his family. It felt crueler than the three hate-filled words Iggy had spat at him.

It was just unbearable. Roy rushed forward and fell to his knees at Morton's feet, begging, "Morton, please! Don't do this to me, buddy. Please, say something — anything! Curse me! Flip me off! Just not this!"

Again, Morton said nothing. Roy would have gladly been cussed out for hours on end. But his wish was not granted. He was eternally dead in his best friend's eyes.

Roy couldn't take it. The supposedly strongest Koopaling collapsed in a pathetic heap on the floor and sobbed uncontrollably.

Morton simply turned and left the room. The other Koopalings followed in suit, some of them glaring daggers at their former brother as they passed him. Soon only Bowser and Roy remained in the throne room.

Bowser looked at his former son, eyes glowing with an emotion Roy preferred not to try and identify. "I'm giving you five minutes to flee the kingdom," Bowser said, "before I send the Troop out to capture you for execution."

Roy looked up at the Koopa king in horror, the tears on his sunglasses' lenses blurring his vision slightly. His own father was going to execute him?

Bowser turned to follow his children, adding darkly, "For your sake, you'd better hope you make it out in that time. I plan on allowing my remaining family the honor of doing you in." Roy's eyes widened further as Bowser walked away.

Roy quickly got to his feet and ran after him, calling out, "Pop, you can't do this!"

Bowser didn't seem to hear him and kept walking away. His carapace seemed to get farther and farther away.

Roy ran harder and cried out again, "Pop, wait! Don't leave me!"

The harder Roy pumped his legs, the farther away his father seemed the get. Soon Bowser was lost from sight.

"POOOOOOP!" Roy cried in despair.

The next thing Roy knew were two red steel doors slamming shut in front of his nose. Roy looked around at the room he was in. It looked to be the top floor of one of their old fortresses. If memory served Roy right, this was the fortress in Grass Land.

Larry's fortress.

Roy suddenly found it hard to breathe. He started to hyperventilate as tears reformed in his eyes. Is this some sort of sick plan? Is this where I'm going to be executed? In my own baby bro's arena? Roy choked on a lump in his throat.

"Can we get this over with?" a voice sounded from behind, "I don't want to look at this sad thing more than I have to."

Roy whirled around to find himself facing Ludwig, Lemmy, Iggy, and Wendy. And they were armed. Not with their wands, but with sword and knives. Ludwig had a big, sinister-looking broadsword. Morton was nowhere to be found.

Roy assumed the worst, "M-Morton…?"

Ludwig sneered, "So. You play oblivious to letting Larry and Bowser die. But suddenly you're freaked out about killing our third baby brother." Roy could tell he wasn't included in that our.

"No, Ludwig, I—" Roy choked.

"Shut up." Ludwig snapped.

And as one the remaining four Koopalings attacked. Roy's sunglasses were knocked off.

Roy never moved from where he was. He felt helpless. He was completely oblivious of the sheer fury being released upon him as he got lost in his jumbled thoughts.

I'm responsible for three baby brothers' deaths?

Wendy sliced through his shoulder, rendering that arm useless, but still attached.

But I saved Larry!

A sharp upward swing from Iggy amputated Roy's tail.

I saved Bowser!

Lemmy cut through Roy's knee.

I swear I did!

Ludwig blasted Roy with magic lightning.

They were on my plastron when I hit the ground! Carapace-first!

The Koopalings surrounded Roy on four sides and simultaneously spat massive fireballs at him.

What if... What if I didn't land on my carapace? What if I landed on them?

Wendy and Iggy leapt and kicked Roy square in the chest at the same time, sending him across the room, only to have his shell bounce off the far wall. Roy landed on his plastron, hard, and the force of his landing caused his head to snap downward. The side of his head collided against the stone floor with a resounding crack.

And Roy saw something that would haunt him forever.

There, standing on the other side of the arena, were Bowser Koopa Jr. and Lawrence Koopa. But they weren't normal. Their bodies were transparent; Roy could see the cracks in the wall behind them. And the edge of their bodies seemed to be blown away by some nonexistent wind.

They were spirits.

But that wasn't what haunted Roy.

It was their body language. Both Koopas' arms were folded in front of their plastrons. And even from the other side of the room, Roy could see the emotion their eyes reflected: satisfaction. They were giving approval of their brother's death.

And Morton was still nowhere to be seen. Even in death, he still wouldn't acknowledge Roy's existence.

Roy's heart was now truly shattered beyond recognition. He couldn't focus. He couldn't feel anything. He had gone completely numb.

So much so that he didn't even sense Ludwig von Koopa looming over him, ready to land the finishing blow. Ludwig raised his sword high, aimed for Roy's head.

The oldest Koopaling narrowed his eyes, "Good riddance, traitor." And he brought the blade down.

Wow. Angsty. I had no idea I was that capable. If you had come to me six months ago and told me that I would write something this dark, I would have laughed in your face.

As I stated in my author's note for chapter 1, this is not a death fic. And it never will be. So you can lose the broadsword that you're hiding behind your back.

You know the drill: R&R! And warn me if you see any angry Dragon-Koopas seeking to slash me with swords and knives! :D

Stay tuned! ~J-Yoshi64