I know this is Friday, a weekday. No, today is/was not a day off of school. No, I am/was not sick. And no, I am/was not skipping. So WHY am I updating on a school day?
Well, in honor of my birthday, I decided to give you all a present.
What's that? I'm supposed to GET presents on my birthday, not GIVE them? Weird… I must have misread the memo.

Disclaimer: Even though it's my birthday, Nintendo didn't give me anything or anyone. Not even a lousy mushroom.

Chapter 18: Across Town

Pauline pulled her phone out of her purse and glanced at the caller ID. She didn't recognize the number.

Maybe it's whoever that medic gave my number to…

She picked up.

A computerized voice came through the receiver, "You could be eligible to win—"

Pauline scoffed and tossed her phone aside. Telemarketers… Leaving it behind, she strode up to the front desk.

The girl at the desk looked up. "May I help you?"

"I need to go to room 6-D4," Pauline said quickly.

The girl's eyes widened with realization. "Yes, one moment," She slid a slip of paper to the front of the desk. "Follow this map."

Pauline took it. "Thank you," she said with a curt nod, and she rushed down the hall indicated on the map.

*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*

As Pauline neared room 4, she heard a commotion from inside. Against her better judgement, and likely hospital rules, she entered the room.

And gasped in horror at the sight of the blue-haired one — Ludwig von Koopa, she reminded herself.

Vomit was flowing out of his mouth. The medical experts were currently in the process of flipping him over so he wouldn't drown in it. The sight made Pauline's own stomach churn. She wanted to look away, but her body wouldn't respond.

The experts soon got Ludwig on his front side and turn him so his face was leaning over the side of his cot. The bile and other fluids splashed onto the floor. Pauline finally was able to look away.

The splattering noise stopped, and Pauline found herself looking back, thinking it was over.

Another unnerving sight greeted her eyes. Ludwig von Koopa's body was lurching, mouth moving like a fish out of water. Pauline looked away again. She couldn't even stay in the room. So she left.

Pauline weakly leaned against a wall and slid down it onto the floor. He's dry-heaving… while unconscious! Feeling nauseated, she covered her mouth with her hand. "By the Stars," she murmured. I wish I could do something — anything! — to help.

Pauline jumped when the door suddenly opened again and a Koopa doctor came out.

Kind eyes looked at her. "I noticed you in there. I'm sorry you had to witness that," he said sympathetically.

Pauline tried getting up, but only got to her knees. She looked back at the Koopa. "Is… is he alright?"

The Koopa nodded. "Ludwig von Koopa's non-productive emesis didn't last too long, thank the Stars."

Pauline's face went blank. "His what?"

The doctor chuckled apologetically. "Sorry. I have this nasty habit of using advanced terms. I meant his dry-heaving."

"Oh, okay. Hey, wait a minute!" Pauline realized. "How do you know his name?"

"I actually immigrated here from Darkland a couple years ago." The Koopa looked away sadly.

Pauline stood, surprised. "So you know what happened?" she asked, concerned.

The Koopa simply nodded.

Pauline took a hesitant step forward. "Does it affect you?"

The Koopa looked at her. He was silent for a second before clearing his throat. "My brother is in the Troop. Has been for a while."

Pauline gasped. "By the Stars."

The doctor went on, now lost in his own thoughts, "Johnathan's a Koopatrol, high up in the ranks. He was probably one of the first responders to the attack on the castle."

Throughout the ordeal inside the hospital room, Pauline didn't see or hear any of the doctors and other medical experts cry. She heard a lot of shouting, but no crying. But here was this doctor now, with tears slowly dripping down his cheeks.

Without knowing what she was doing, Pauline found herself walking forward and wrapping her arms around the Koopa. Before long, the simple tears had turned into sobs. She realized this must have been the first time he had to think it all through. His job certainly helped him detach from his emotions.

She started rubbing his shell soothingly, as a mother would her child.

Or a brother would his younger brother or sister, she realized.

A new voice made itself known, "Kraig?" A Dayzee poked her head out from the door.

The doctor now known as Kraig pushed himself away from Pauline abruptly, vainly attempting to compose himself. "Don't worry, Dayna. I'll be right back in, I—"

Dayna came fully into the hallway and interrupted him, "No, Kraig. We were just talking," she gestured towards the door, "and we think you should take today off. This Darkland thing hits you especially hard. Go home. Get some rest."

"But—"

"What is it that you always tell us about weary doctors?"

Kraig closed his eyes. "They put their patients in more danger if they can't focus."

Dayna smiled gently. "But this isn't about your job performance. This is about you personally. Taking it easy will help you most of all. We can take care of the Koopalings." She turned back and opened the door.

Kraig opened his mouth to respond.

Almost as if she were psychic, Dayna added, "We're not taking no for an answer. We already talked to management, and they agreed. Everyone who has friends or family in Darkland is to take the day off." With that, she closed the door behind her.

Kraig stared at the door for a few seconds after, then sighed in defeat and turned around.

Pauline gave him a look. "Did you tell them all who they're treating?"

Kraig shrugged. "I gave them all the information John gave me when I started my medical career. He figured I might need it someday." He chuckled sadly. "He always did have a knack for being right."

Pauline offered him a hand. "Want to sit in the main waiting room?"

Kraig smiled sadly and started walking beside her. "Thank you. I would like some company."

Company! "I should call Nadine," Pauline thought out loud.

"Who's Nadine?" Kraig asked.

"My secretary. I'm actually the head manager for the Mario Toy Company."

Kraig whistled lowly, "Wow. Why are you here then?"

Pauline furrowed her brow. "I wanted the help the Koopalings. I don't know how I can, but I just want to help."

Kraig looked at her, eyes reflecting gratitude. "You certainly helped me. Maybe that's all that you needed to do to help."

She shook her head. "Not everything. I have Darklandians in my employment. They're probably as affected as you are. I'm going to call Nadine and tell her to send them home." She reached in her purse and stopped. She facepalmed. "Except my phone is by the entrance."

Kraig shrugged. "Well, we're headed in that direction. Shall we?"

They kept going.

*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*

"So who do you know is Darklandian?" Kraig suddenly asked as the neared the front desk area.

"Well, I know a member our security has four brothers in the Troop," Pauline recalled.

"Four?"

"Yeah. They're all Ninjakoopas, including Blue, our security officer." Pauline thought about her employee. "Poor Blue must be devastated."

She walked up to the desk. "Excuse me?" she said to the girl from before. "Did someone find a cell phone?"

The girl nodded. "Yes, it's right here." She pulled Pauline's phone out from under the desk. "Is this yours?"

"Yes," Pauline answered, relieved. "Thank you." She took it.

The two made their way to the waiting room. When they arrived Pauline took the time to call Nadine.

"Nadine, it's me," she said.

"Ma'am?" Nadine answered. "Do you need something?"

"Yes. It suddenly occurred to me that many of our employees are from Darkland, and are probably directly affected by what happened. Can you tell them to take the day off for me?"

"Of course, right away! I'm glad you called when you did. Blue almost jumped a five-story window!"

Pauline gasped.

"She just wanted to get home, to her brothers, as fast as she could. Poor girl forgot about the drop. Thank the Stars Ivan was stationed with her."

"Thank the Stars. Well, tell her immediately."

"Already on it." Nadine hung up.

Thank you, Nadine, Pauline thought.

"What happened?" Kraig asked.

"Blue almost killed herself trying to get out of the building," Pauline ran a hand through her hair. Ninjakoopa or not, nobody can survive a fall like that onto two meters of solid concrete. What kind of manager am I if I don't think about what I do first?! I could have prevented her from even trying if I knew beforehand.

Pauline felt a hand on her arm. She looked over at Kraig.

"Whatever it was, it sounds like it's been resolved." He smiled gently. "You did good. Again."

Pauline chuckled. "It looks like we both comforted each other."

Kraig nodded. "It certainly seems that way. How 'bout I take your mind off it?"

"How?" Pauline asked.

Kraig shrugged. "Might you be wondering about the Koopalings' conditions?"

Pauline nodded. "Oh yeah, I forgot." She sat down in a chair facing him.

Kraig sat in a chair next to her. "Well, Wendy..." he frowned, "both her legs are broken. Seven breaks on each leg, plus one foot."

Pauline grimaced. "Ouch."

"I heard that you found her and her brother underneath the collapsed tunnel?"

"Yeah. You think her legs were crushed?"

The Koopa nodded. "From the external wounds on her legs, that's the most likely explanation. Other than that, the rest of her body is fine. But her highness is going to be in a wheelchair for a while. May the Stars help her cope."

"You can say that again." Pauline said. "But... what about the other one — Ludwig?" She remembered to pronounce it correctly.

Kraig grimaced. "His highness... really had a number done on him. You saw his skin, right?"

Pauline nodded.

"Second degree burns. Basically the only thing that wasn't burned was a portion of his carapace." The Koopa added, "The back part of the shell." He knocked on his own carapace.

Pauline remembered how Ludwig's back was shoved into the wall. Whatever burned him must have happened after he got stuck in there.

"In addition to that, his elbow is dislocated, and it must have been for a while. It's swollen. We've treated him the best we could." Kraig sighed and rubbed his temples. "I can't imagine what could have happened."

Pauline suddenly had a thought. "Can I ask you something?"

"Yes, what is it?"

"How come his hair wasn't burned? At all?"

Kraig started thinking. "Well, Dragon Koopas' hair have a unique asset. When the hair is still attached to the skin, it's nonflammable. However, if the hair is cut, the hairs that are separated from the Koopa are considered 'dead,' which causes the hairs to lose their resistance to flame."

Pauline hummed. "Interesting."

Kraig sighed. "What do you say we take a break from this and watch some television?" He pointed to the set on the waiting room's wall. Pauline nodded in agreement.

They watched as a local news story started. A Snifit, Snefen Fabian, was making an announcement.

"...Jessica Kuribo has the story. Jess?"

The scene shifted to a dark-haired Goomba reporter in front of a large field near the sea.

"Thanks, Steven. Despite the tragedy in Darkland, our local air show team, the Big Ape Divebombs, is still training hard for their next big show." Jessica walked up to a Bombshell Bill with a whistle in his hand. "I'm here with the team's coach, Billy Bombshell. Hi Billy! I'm Jessica Kuribo, from Channel 9 News."

"Hello, Jessica. Thanks for coming."

"Tell me, Billy, just who all is on the Divebombs?"

Billy Bombshell looked at the camera. "We have all sorts of flying species. We got a Paragoomba, several Parabuzzies, spiked and non, Paratroopas, Fly Guys, even a Flutter."

"Wow! That is a lot!" Jessica said in surprise. "Now, you have a lot of Koopas. Are any of the affected by what happened last night?"

"Let me tell ya this, Jess. If anyone on my team had loved ones in Darkland, then we wouldn't be here, we'd be at their home, helping them. But, since nobody's affected, then we can train. We're almost ready for next week's show."

Jessica beamed. "I just might have to attend!" She looked at the camera. "That's the Divebombs for you! They care about each other like family. I wonder what they'll have in store for us next week! I'm Jessica Kuribo, Channel—"

"COACH!"

The camera panned to a panicking, brown-shelled Paratroopa.

Coach Bombshell looked at him. "What's wrong, Truman?"

Truman pulled out a pair of binoculars. "LOOK!" He point towards the sea.

Bombshell's looked into the binoculars, and his eyes widened. "No… it can't be." He turned Truman. "Escort these two inside! NOW!" He pointed to Jessica and the cameraman.

Truman saluted. "Yessir!"

The Bill shouted incomprehensible orders to the other team members, then suddenly pointed directly at the cameraman. "Turn off that camera!"

The screen suddenly went blank.

Pauline and Kraig exchanged worried glances.

"What could have happened?" Kraig wondered.

Pauline shook her head. "I don't know."

Less than a minute later, they got their answer. The windows near them suddenly smashed and several Bullet Bills rocketed through the room, releasing a noxious, yellow fume in their wake. Pauline yelped as Kraig pulled her underneath a group of chairs for cover.

They covered their mouths and noses to keep from inhaling the fumes as the Bills wreaked chaos in the hospital, and all over the city.

Maybe you don't like the chapter's cliffhanger. Sorry, no refunds or returns for this gift.

As opposed to the apathetic Toad that was the doctor in ch5, Kraig is a real nice guy, and is directly affected by the tragedy in Dark Land. Did you see what I did there with his brother? If you missed it, try again.

Blue Ninjakoopa. 'Nuff said.

And if you know what Jessica Kuribo, Snefen Fabian, and Channel 9 News is spoofing, I just did that for laughs.

And now we're done with the 18-chapter-long exposition!