*I'm putting stuff in a suitcase*

Siph: J, what are you doing?

Packing. Isn't that what it looks like?

Siph: Well, DUH. But WHY are you packing? Are we going somewhere for your birthday?

No. Well, I am, but the timing is just a coincidence.

Siph: Then why are you packing?

Well, with the way I intend to end this chapter, I think I may have to go into hiding.

Siph: How are you going to end the chapter?

*zips up the suitcase* Read and find out.

Siph: *fake pouts* Aww you're no fun.

*ruffles his hair* Hold down the fort while I'm gone, okay Siph? And don't forget to eat, bathe, and do everything else to take care of yourself.

Siph: Don't worry about me!

Good. See you later, then. *hugs him and kisses him on the nose* I love you. *leaves*

Siph: *wipes the spot where I kissed him* Do you have to do that in front of everyone? Oh wait, he's gone already. I totally knew that. What are you talking about? *shifty eyes* Oh, by the way, this chapter is longer than we've seen lately. Whoopee for that!

Disclaimer: You readers and reviewers are not responsible for making sure I maintain my hygiene in J's absence. I'm a big boy, I can take care of myself. Hugs are appreciated, though. *squee*

Chapter 30: Behind the Curtain

Lemmy had only expected to see Koops and the one or two friends Koops had mentioned waiting to meet him outside. He hadn't expected there to be a group of nine individuals.

Nine… and they all really want to meet me?

Koops waved at him. "I'm glad you could come outside with us."

The doctor smiled proudly at the Koopaling. "The big guy is healing very nicely. That Special Move of yours really worked wonders. Even we can barely tell that he just had his shell mended."

"Yeah, Bobbery!" Koops' Yoshi companion cheered, patting an old Bob-omb sailor, whom Lemmy could only guess was the Admiral Bobbery Koops had spoken of, on the back.

Lemmy couldn't help but genuinely smile. He reminds me of Larry or Morton whenever one of us accomplishes something. Well, maybe not Morton. But why does this doctor keep calling me "big guy?" Lemmy stepped down from the stoop and onto the ground. "Hi, Koops. Hi, everyone. My name's Lemmy Koopa."

He looked around at the group of strangers. Aside from Koops, there were two other Koopas: a girl one and an older blue-shelled one. There was a Goomba with a blonde ponytail and a pith helmet standing next to a white Little Mouser with a red mask, red heels, and a heart-shaped tail. There was also a dark purple figure wearing a red-and-white striped hat over pink hair that obscured her eyes. Last, Lemmy saw a large, floating woman bedecked in jewelry.

Wow! She's so pretty! I bet Wendy would love to meet her.

"Hello, Lemmy Koopa!" the Goomba chirped. "My name is Goombella. I'm a archaeology graduate from the University of Goom. Nice to meet you!"

"Really?" Lemmy asked. "Wow! An archaeology grad! I bet Iggy and Morton would love to hear about your studies when they wake up." After a short pause, he added with a giggle, "Just don't get Morton talking about it. Or anything else."

The group shared a chuckle as the Mini-Yoshi walked up to Lemmy.

"Hi, Lemmy!" he said. "I'm The Great Gonzales Jr.! But all my friends call me G, because 'The Great Gonzales Jr.' is a mouthful, don't ya think?"

Lemmy gasped. "The Great Gonzales Jr.? From the Glitz Pit?"

The Yoshi nodded. "You heard of me?"

"Are you kidding? Morton and my brother Roy watch your fights on TV all the time! Oh man, Morton is going to flip when he wakes up!" Lemmy was practically bursting.

The Glitz Pit champion beamed. "I bet you can't wait to see that." G grabbed Lemmy by the wrist. "Come on, you can't just stand off to the side like this." He pulled the Koopaling towards the rest of the group.

I'm better off that way, though. Regardless, Lemmy held his thoughts in, gave his signature smile, and obliged to the Yoshi's wishes. Now he was in the middle of Koops' band of friends. Looking around, he greeted, "Hi, everyone."

The floating woman approached him. "Oh my goodness gracious!" she exclaimed. "Lemmy Koopa, you have to be just the cutest Koopa I have ever laid eyes on!"

"Thanks!" the Koopaling peeped.

The Koopa with the ponytail leaned into Koops. "Speak for yourself. I don't think he has anything on my Koops."

Koops' face when from yellow to pink in no time at all. "Aw, gee, Koopie Koo."

"Awwww!" Lemmy covered his mouth with his hands as his eyes lit up. "Are you two a couple or something?"

Koops answered, still blushing, "Y-yeah. This is my girlfriend Koopie Koo." He turned to look her in the eye. "And, um, I was going to… say the same thing about, um, you know."

Koopie Koo kissed him. "You're sweet."

Lemmy was grinning ear to ear at the display. I think my heart just exploded into sugar and frosting.

The shadowy girl giggled. "They're perfect for each other, aren't they? My name is Vivian, by the way."

Lemmy could only nod vigorously in agreement.

"Like wine and cheese," the Mouser added.

"And who are you?" Lemmy asked.

"I'm Ms. Mowz, the globe-trotting badge thief!" she said with a glint in her eye. "Heard of me, sweetie?"

He shook his head. "Nope."

That glint again. "Well, there's a reason for that."

Realization washed over Lemmy's face, and he grinned with genuine amusement. "Ohhhhh…"

"My name is Koopley," the older Koopa spoke up. "I'm Koops' father."

Lemmy waved at him. "And I already know Bobbery's name. It's nice to meet you all!"

"Oh my word!" the boisterous woman suddenly gasped. "I just realized I haven't properly introduced myself. How rude of me! My name is Flurrie."

Lemmy tilted his head. "Flurrie? I feel like I've heard that name before."

"Have you now?" Flurrie asked. "Well, I am an actress, so is it possible one of your siblings takes interest in musical theatre?"

Lemmy nodded. "Yeah! My brother Ludwig and Aunt Kammy!"

Flurrie chuckled. "There you have it. You must have heard one of them talking about me."

"Wait," Goombella interrupted pulling out a large book, "that total hag Kammy is your aunt?!"

Lemmy shook his head. "We're not actually related. She just takes care of us sometimes. Because Kamek took care of King Dad, he's like our granddad. And since Kammy is his sister, she's like a great-aunt."

The Goomba opened up the book and scribbled something on a page. Lemmy watched curiously, although he couldn't see what she was writing.

"What's that?" he asked.

"It's my Tattle Log," she answered. "It has information on almost everything and everyone in the world! But it's totally not perfect, and a lot of valuable information is missing."

"Like my name and our relationship with Aunt Kammy?"

The archaeologist nodded. "Exactly. So I've resorted to adding some stuff to the articles. Like this one on Iron Clefts." She showed Lemmy the page.

He read the page. "Hey, my brothers and I talked about these once. I always thought that throwing one at the other would work."

G appeared over Lemmy's shoulder. "That's where I come in. I gulp Red up and spit him out into Greeny!" He reveled in his pride for a moment before asking, "So what did your brothers think of your theory?"

Lemmy shrugged. "I dunno. I didn't say anything."

"What? Why not?"

"I didn't think it mattered."

"Why not?"

"Because —" Lemmy stammered, faltering. Because my opinion doesn't matter. He quickly recovered his façade. "It just doesn't. It was just a stupid discussion. I have them all the time with people."

Vivian frowned. "I'm not sure it's fair to say it doesn't matter completely. It would have come in handy in the Glitz Pit fight."

"I —" What's with these people? This is too much. He shrugged again. "I guess maybe I'm wrong. It's not the first time, you know!" He giggled, as if he thought what he had just said was funny. I can't do this anymore. I'm going inside. I just need an excuse. He faked a yawn. "Wow, I'm tired. Do you guys mind if I go inside and take a nap?"

The others looked at each other.

"Sure," Goombella said. "Too bad though. I wish we could have talked to you more."

Trust me, you don't. "Well, maybe later," he encouraged. Later or never. They're both not now or soon.

He turned around and made his way inside as quickly as he could despite his legs' protest, leaving the disappointed group behind.

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

"Well, Koops," Koopie Koo said. "Do you still think he's hiding something?"

"Um… hm." Koops closed his eyes and crossed his arms in front of his chest.

Koopie Koo put her hands on his forearms. "Koops?"

G groaned, "This is all just so confusing! Why do people have to be mysterious?"

Ms. Mowz gave the Yoshi a pointed look. "Sometimes a person has a secret that they do not want others to know."

"Indeed," Flurrie agreed. "Remember how dear Jolene put on that stern exterior to hide the pain she had inside for her precious little brother Mush? If she hadn't disguised her emotions, that awful creature Grubba would have found her out, and we may never have freed the Glitz Pit from his foul control."

Goombella piped up, "And Cleftor's a really nice guy underneath that hard exterior. Pun not intended."

Koops sighed, "I just wish there was a way for us to know if Lemmy is hiding behind a false attitude."

The group sat in silence, thinking hard about what to do.

Suddenly Vivian clasped her hands together. "I have an idea! I can sneak into his room and eavesdrop. He might talk to himself before falling asleep, if he was telling the truth about being tired."

"Capital idea, Vivian!" Admiral Bobbery commended.

G pointed at her. "Report back as soon as you know if he's napping or not. If he is faking, I think Koops should talk to him about it."

"Of course!" With that, Vivian vanished into the ground.

Koops raised his hands in front of him. "What? Why me?"

Koopley put a reassuring arm around his son. "I think the kid trusts you, Koops. If he'll open up to anyone, it's you."

"But…"

Vivian rose back up from the shadows in the ground at that moment. "He's not sleeping. He's complaining to himself about us not getting something."

Koops looked at everyone helplessly. "Do I really have to go alone?"

Koopie Koo nodded. "He might not let his guard down if there's anyone else with you." She took Koops's hands in her own. "Koops, you're the sweetest Koopa I know. I don't think anyone could say no to you. And since he saw how sweet you are just a minute ago, you have to admit that he probably trusts you more than either of you thinks."

Koops matched his girlfriend's gaze. Finally, he shook his head in defeat. "Well, okay. If you all think I'm the best for the job, I guess I must be." He poised himself and turned towards the door. "I'll do it."

As he took a step towards the hospital, Koopie Koo stopped him and turned him towards her.

"Just in case you need help," she said softly, and she kissed him on the beak. "For good luck."

Despite the color that was once more rising to his cheeks, Koops felt more confident from that.

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

Lemmy sat at the head of his cot, hugging his knees to his newly-healed plastron. "I'm not special," he muttered. "I'm not smart. My opinions don't matter. Why doesn't anyone else get that?!" He buried his face in his arms. "Not even my family understands. Except maybe Roy, but he's mean to everyone."

"Lemmy?"

The Dragon-Koopa jumped as Koops poked his head into his side of the partition. Darn it! I'm supposed to be napping.

Lemmy faked a yawn. "I guess I'm having trouble falling asleep," he said cheerfully. "Maybe I'm not as tired as I thought."

"Yeah, maybe," Koops said. Were you tired at all?

Lemmy suppressed the urge to gulp. He doesn't look convinced.

"Lemmy," Koops began, "can I ask you something?"

"Sure!" the Koopaling chirped. "You can ask me anything!"

Koops remained silent. Can I really do this?

Lemmy tilted his head curiously. "What did you want to ask?"

"Well, do you… I mean… are you really… um…" Golly, I haven't stammered this much since I joined Mario to Hooktail's Castle. Koops took a deep breath and felt the spot on his beak where Koopie Koo kissed him. I can do this.

"Yes? What is it? Am I really what?" Am I really as useless as I look? Yes, of course. Was there ever any doubt?

"It's stupid really," Koops began. "But ever since we first talked to each other, I couldn't help but think you weren't as confident as you seemed. Maybe I just saw a reflection of myself in your eyes and got confused." He shrugged. "But the idea won't leave me alone, so I need to know. Are you hiding anything behind that smile, or is it just more smiles?"

Lemmy's jaw dropped, and his lazy eye snapped into alignment for a split second as he snapped his head up and stared at Koops. How did he know?! Did he really see himself in me? No! NO! That's impossible! He's just a peasant Koopa! He doesn't know what I know! He never did what I did!

"Is… is that a yes?" Koops asked.

Lemmy squeezed his eyes shut, forcing away tears. Bad poker face gave it away, dumb Koopa. "Yes, yes I am hiding something. Something awful. Something that you should all hate me for."

Koops could only stare in confusion. "Hate you? Why would anyone hate you? You're a great Koopa."

"No! I'm not!" the Koopaling suddenly yelled.

Koops was taken aback. He wasn't sure how to respond to this. I didn't expect it to be this bad. He saw movement outside through the window. They're all listening, aren't they. I just know it.

Lemmy was unaware of this, however. He continued, "Just look at me! How can a Koopa like me be of any worth to anyone?! Especially my family!"

"Wait, Lemmy," Koops interrupted. "If you doubt your abilities, then that's okay. I was weaker about a year ago, but I became stronger despite my lack of confidence. You already do amazing things anyway, and I'm sure your family tells you the same thing."

Lemmy Koopa clenched his fist. Shut up.

"We're actually a lot alike, I think," Koops said with a gentle smile. "We both —"

"SHUT UP!" Lemmy shrieked, teared gushing from his eyes as he stared the Koopa in front of him down. "WE ARE NOTHING ALIKE! YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT ME! NONE OF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT ME! YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT I DID! If you knew, then you would want NOTHING TO DO WITH ME! And I! DON'T! CARE!"

Koops was horrified. "Lemmy, listen I —"

"NO!" the depressed Koopaling interrupted. "NO! NO! NO! YOU listen! Listen to what I DID! THEN tell me I'm not the most despicable Koopa and brother who ever lived!"

Siph: Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh… so THAT'S why J went into hiding. Lemmy's tale begins… But don't worry, folks. I Promised will go on! J will still write, and I'll be in charge of hosting the author's notes for a while in his absence. That's why I'm here. Also, I have no idea where J's hiding place is, so that means that the information can't be tortured out of me if someone decides to send Bowser in here. You know who you are… And hey! Since J isn't here to tell me not to, I can use the nickname I came up for you without J making me feel bad. How do you feel about me calling you "Siri"? Regardless of your answer, I'm going to call you that anyway, and you can't stop me! Unless you somehow tell J on me. *puppy-dog eyes* Please don't tell on me.

But anyhoo, it looks like Lemmy is about to tell a story. This seems familiar. Wasn't Roy about to tell a story before we switched gears to Lemmy's section? Ohhhh I see where this is going.

Oh yeah! Before I forget, please leave a nicely-worded review. J spent a lot of time on this chapter, and he wants to know your thoughts. Give us the details!