Siph: Christmas break is a great time for spending time with friends, family, and FanFiction. That's why I'm here! And… um… I still haven't found J from last time.
*comes out of a warp pipe* Started the chapter without me?
Siph: J! *glomps me* Where were you?
I was busy with school stuffs. Did you miss me?
Siph: Yeah. I mean, no. And I'm not crying. *rubs his eyes*
Disclaimer: If I owned Mario, then there would be a CGI movie. And Siph was totally crying *cough*suspiciously specific denial*cough*
Chapter 27: Steps of Pain
Iggy… Morton…
Lemmy's lay still as images of from the previous night returned to him.
Poor Morton broke his wrist. And Iggy… He shut his eyes, remembering the strange canyon.
That wasn't real. It couldn't have been. Iggy's somewhere here, and he's fine. Not a vegetable.
Here… Lemmy wracked his brain for evidence of just where here was. Here is a hospital, right? I mean, I was just in surgery.
Surgery. For my plastron. I couldn't breathe. Can I breathe now?
The small Koopa inhaled deeply. The process was almost painless compared to earlier. Lemmy held it, allowing his lungs to savor the bountiful gift of oxygen. When he couldn't hold it in anymore, he let it out slowly.
My plastron must be completely healed if I can breathe without anything hurting.
He brought his arm up to his shell to feel it. It was a slow process. His body may have been healed, but he was stiff all over.
I bet Roy or Ludwig wouldn't have this problem. Ludwig probably has some sort of muscle-loosening spell. And Roy could just force his muscle to relax without a second thought. Heck, everybody could probably deal with this but me! Even Bowser Jr., my baby brother!
Finally the Koopaling was able to run his fingers over his plastron. He felt very thin crevasses everywhere. They were so fine, Lemmy wouldn't have even noticed if he hadn't been looking for them.
Wow. These guys are good. Even with Life Shroom extract, it should take several weeks for it to completely heal.
Oh no.
Lemmy forced himself to sit up, in rebellion to his screaming muscles.
How long have I been unconscious? Where are Iggy and Morton?
The small Dragon-Koopa looked around the room. He found that it was not a room at all, but a small space enclosed by a large partition curtain. It was also empty of all medical staff.
And the curtain was open slightly.
I've got to find them.
Slowly, Lemmy rolled over on his cot and dangled his feet over the edge.
I'm not the one they would choose — or should choose — for help, but I'm all they have right now.
He reached in his shell for his wand.
But he did not find it.
I must have dropped it when the ball broke. Looks like I'll have to walk the old-fashioned way.
The Koopaling carefully slid off the mattress and expertly planted his feet on the floor without making a sound, only to have his legs immediately buckle underneath him. Lemmy grabbed the side of the hospital bed to keep himself from falling.
I may be pathetic and weak, but I can still stand on my own two legs. One… two… three!
The Dragon-Koopa let go of the bed and strained his legs to function. With great effort, he was finally able to stand erect.
Looking toward the gap in the partition with fierce determination, Lemmy Koopa took a step.
*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*
Koops struck a nearby tree with his shell. Koopie Koo looked on as he went through his various attacks.
"Whoever did this to the Koopalings might come looking for them," he had told her after the groups split up. "I have to be ready to defend everyone in case they don't like us helping them."
He's come such a long way since he met Mario, she thought admiringly. It's still hard to believe that that's still my Koops. I should e-mail Mario and tell him how we're doing after all this is over.
"Wait a minute." Koopie stood up and strode over to Koops.
Her boyfriend paused in his training and gave her a questioning look.
"Koops, did you include Mario in your e-mail blast earlier?" she asked him.
He stared at her for a moment, then facepalmed. "No, I didn't! I can't believe I forgot!" He pulled out his Mailbox SP and booted it up. He quickly typed:
Mario. We found three Koopalings in Petalburg. Koops. P.S. Did Bullet Bills attack?
After he sent the e-mail, Koops pushed the device into Koopie Koo's hands.
"I need to ask the doctors about something. Can you hold on to this if Mario responds while I'm inside?"
Koopie Koo nodded, and Koops reentered the hospital.
*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*
Left foot.
Right foot.
Left foot.
Right foot.
Lemmy was outside his partition now. On one side of the room, he saw what appeared to be most of the medical staff gathered around something on a table, their attention fully occupied. On the other side, he saw his brothers lying on hospital beds similar to his own. Morton's cot was closer to him.
Morton…
The small Koopaling remembered how he had comforted his large, younger brother. He also remembered the reward he had been given for his efforts.
He didn't think I was worthless. He's wrong, but I guess it's nice. Hang on, Morty, I'm coming for ya.
And so Lemmy started the painfully slow process of walking again.
Right foot…
Left foot…
After what seemed like forever, Lemmy finally made it to his dark-skinned brother. Thankfully, the cot was low enough for him.
Probably for the doctors, he noted.
He placed his hand on his brother's and squeezed it lightly.
I'm here for you, Morton. Just let me check on Iggy, and I'll be right back.
Lemmy stepped around Morton's cot in order to get to the genius.
Right then the door opened and a Koopa Lemmy didn't recognize walked in. The Koopa seemed to recognize him, though, and he looked right at him in surprise.
"Koops," one of the doctors said, "do you need something?"
The Koopa, now known as Koops, didn't respond to the doctor. Instead, he spoke to Lemmy.
"You shouldn't be awake."
And now we're done with this chapter. I'll try to squeeze another one out before break is up.
Siph: When's that?
January 5th. That's when school starts up again.
Siph: Awwww! *yells in my ear* COME ON, J'S BRAIN! GIVE HIM ANOTHER CHAPTER!
Ow…