"Whadaya mean?" Karma asked, but Pyro just seemed too depressed to answer. Teela walked up to Karma and Ludwig, and just shrugged. Slinging her arm around Pyro, Teela explained.
"There's this guy out there. He's Pyro's past life, and keeps insisting that they are the same person. This guy... He's just bent on Darkness." She stopped, noticing Ludwig was lost. Karma was following just fine, and motioned her to continue. "It's scary. We don't know what he's gonna do... But, it's probably horrible." She sighed, taking her arm off Pyro. "It's Matt Yoshi."
"... The Matt
Yoshi we once knew?" Ludwig said, starting to pick up.
Teela shook her
head.
"Nope, that'd be Pyro." She crossed her arms and then continued. "Matt's just a... Manifestation of Darkness," she said grudgingly. "There aren't any other words to describe him."
"So... We should do... What?" inquired Karma once again.
"... I suggest we figure out the rest of that translation. Maybe it'll shed some truth on the Darkness," Ludwig started, walking towards the large window in the library. The sun was hitting evening time, coloring the skies with auras of orange, yellow, and red. "We probably should tell King Dad that you guys are here, too."
"... I don't think we should." Pyro finally managed to sputter some words out and whip his hair upward. "You're father is that great and powerful tyrant. I don't think His Majesty would like me on the premises," he said, almost sarcastically.
"Meh, almost surprised you remember that." Ludwig replied.
...
Inside Ludwig's room, the four sat on the bed. They all were silent, just staring at the small window. The night sky was abstract and hypnotizing, making them drowsy. I wish I could figure out what this Darkness is, so I can get on with my life, Pyro thought. But then... Where would I go?
"Okay... I think we can give you guys some shelter," Karma started, breaking the silence. "I can set up a cot in my room for Teela, and I think Ludwig has a hammock somewhere in his closet," she said, opening the closet door. True to her words, she pulled out a folded rope, kinked with knots.
"Pyro will stay with me," Ludwig said, taking the hammock. "We'll discuss about tonight's topics tomorrow."
"Fine with us," Karma said, leading Teela out of the room. As the door shut, Pyro nodded as well. Taking the hammock, the Boo stuck it in the two respective hooks on the wall. As he sat in it, Ludwig started conversation.
"Are you ok?" Ludwig said, leaning back in bed.
Pyro, looking over while adjusting himself to a comfortable position, replied, "Yeah."
"But you don't seem it." For the first time Pyro had ever heard, Ludwig was sounding a little warmer than before.
"... Everything just hit me so fast. I was inside the Forest Of Illusion for seven years, I have the Darkness, I have no family. I just..." He stopped, feeling a tear streak down his face. Ludwig sat up and looked over, seeing him rub it away. "Heh... Dunno where that came from," he said, taking his bandana off and using it as a pillow.
After letting it sink in for a second, Pyro realized this was the first house he’d been in for seven years. This was the first bed he'd slept in since his childhood. And Karma, Teela, and Ludwig were the first friends he ever really had. It was weird. The regular somebody would experience that throughout their life. But I'm not a somebody... he thought. I'm a nobody...
"... Hey, Ludwig," Pyro said, coming out of his meditative trance.
"Hm?"
"Do you have a shower? I could really go for one right now."
"Uh... Yeah, third door on your right," Ludwig answered. Pyro nodded and floated out of the hammock. Just before he touched the doorknob, Ludwig sat up. "Wait. Can you become intangible?" he asked. Pyro nodded once again.
"Use it to get through the hallway."
"Okay," Pyro finished, exiting the room.
Ludwig pulled the covers over his body, feeling a slight chill. He knew he'd heard of the Light and Darkness before, but it wasn't coming to him. Nothing a night's worth of sleep won't cure, he said, drifting off into a deep trance.
...
An area of black surrounded Ludwig von Koopa. An unusual coldness had flushed his entire body, and clouded his thoughts. Exploring a bit, he walked around, but found nothing in this dimension of emptiness. The Koopa had just about concluded that nothing was around, when-
"You."
"!!" Ludwig turned
around and tried to shout, but nothing came out.
Shuffling around,
he looked for any sign of movement.
"You were able to decipher my Latin."
"?"
"Yes, I changed the words in the book. There were things you shouldn't know in there. Lucky for me that you couldn't read the entire thing."
"..." Ludwig jumped left and right, but it held no answer. The voice continued.
"But you still could understand it. You're too smart for your own good, my friend." At the voice's words, Ludwig was sketchy. Who exactly was this?
"Atrum est radix. Sulum it's victus res is lurks intus it's electus ones. Is est adversus of Luminarium, in totus vires quod infirmitas. Is est adversus of Luminarium, in totus vires quod infirmitas. Is tantum addo chaos. Atrum eram nunquam volo ut futurus." He stopped, seeing Ludwig was trying his best to translate. "That is what the book read."
"..."
"But now... There is a reason I called you here." As soon as this was said, a blur appeared in front of Ludwig. The blur cleared, and a figure stood in front of him. It was clearly male, tall, and had a big, black robe. His giant, red nose gave away that he was a Yoshi. But, the most mysterious thing about him was the red bandana on top of his head. It belonged to Pyroboo, but this definitely wasn't him. All in all he seemed pretty familiar, but his actual identity remained shrouded. "I wanted to see what you were."
"?" Ludwig stepped back as the Yoshi sniffed him.
"Dark." He sniffed him again, and then crossed his arms. "And Light..." he wondered, much to Ludwig's confusion. "I suspected that." With that, he uncrossed his arms and extended his index finger. Starting to walk towards Ludwig, he said, "I'll show you why the Light plagues you."
"!!" Ludwig jumped back and his claws shone. The Yoshi just laughed.
"I got the same kind of treatment from that fanged girl. Don't worry, I won't hurt you." He touched the finger to Ludwig's forehead. The Koopa was filled with memories, all focused on one person. Karma Koopa.
Flashback…
"My father hates Yoshis, but being that you're only half-such, you may stand on more stable ground as far as he's concerned," said Ludwig von Koopa to his most recent prisoner, Karma Koopa. After being captured earlier, she was being brought to the holding cell to await her trial with Bowser Koopa, and most likely her death.
"Ah," she answered, seeing Ludwig was making an effort to not show any sympathy.
"Where did you come from anyway?" Ludwig asked, not expecting her to give a straight-out answer without adding an insult. Truthfully, Karma hadn't yet lost the will to give a sarcastic comment, but refrained from getting herself in any more trouble than she already was.
"Used to be from Cookie Mountain. My tribe lived there."
"Tribe?"
"Yeah... tribe? You know, me and my family and the rest of the Yoshis?" she answered. Ludwig, though, thought otherwise. What kind of tribe would accept a mix up like her? he thought, but still listened to her “exciting” tale.
"Everything was great and then some weird, fat guy in red pants came through on some kinda quest. He wanted our help, and things just turned to chaos from there. There was a big scramble of people who wanted to help out and a bunch who didn't who went off into hiding. By the time the dust cleared, I had no idea where everybody went. Looked for 'em for a while, then gave up and just drifted around ever since. There's benefits to being half-Yoshi, you know... You can eat next to anything and stay alive."
"I'm not going to ask," Ludwig said, feeling his stomach churn.
"Good, because I wouldn't answer," she retorted venomously. "I've had to eat a few things I'm not exactly proud of."
"If I'd known there had been a nest of Yoshis on that rock when I still owned it, I would have increased my roving guard populus," Ludwig said, still holding her hands behind her back down the stairs.
"Owned what? Cookie Mountain?" Ludwig gave a sharp nod. Karma sighed and smirked as they reached the dungeon door. "Guess that makes sense. My dad was always complaining about how the kook who lived in that castle was always blowing stuff up or making music that sounded like someone had a weasel in a headlock," she chided. Ludwig, taking offense to her last comment, forced the cell door open and shoved her inside.
With a quick 'click' from the door reacting to the keys, Ludwig finished with a cold, "See you around."
"Yeah? Well you have a nice day too, jerk!" Karma replied, picking up a nearby skull of a deceased hostage and hurling it towards Ludwig. The skull broke upon impact with the narrow jail bars, sending cranium shards in Ludwig's direction. With a couple sniffles and a sneeze, he solicited Karma a poison glare and shuffled out the door.
...
"I... I'm doing some research on the side," Ludwig announced at the dinner table to his father, mother, and six other siblings. Bowser, who wanted a reason for his son's continuous untruthful behavior, pressed on him.
"Is that so?"
"And... I need to know." Ludwig paused, thinking back to Karma. To his horror, not long ago he’d awoken to find her nuzzled against him in bed. Amidst his confusion, she mentioned something about Meeting, and them having a bond. Of course, at first Ludwig did not believe her, but when he physically could not leave the room after denying it, he became doubtful. If he did have a Metbond with her, then he most certainly had the right to know what it was that ailed him. "What is Meeting?"
At this, Bowser was confused. He did know what Meeting was, but why would Ludwig want to know? But, before he could answer, Clawdia cut in. "Why on Plit would you want to know about such a thing? It's such an ancient process, Ludwig... It hasn't happened to anyone in years."
"I'm... I'm documenting different phenomenon within our race in an attempt to-"
"For DAD's sake, will you stop lying?!" Bowser bellowed, feeling his blood boil among the giggles and remarks of his six other children. Ludwig couldn't lie to save himself now, but never could to begin with. One quality he’d never picked up on was lying, which was disappointing to Bowser. He was definitely hiding something from him, but wouldn't crack. Bowser then started back up with, "If that tail of yours wags any faster, you'll lift off the blasted ground!" Ludwig immediately stopped, knowing that was a reflex to whenever he tried to think on his feet. Bowser then continued with, "Now what is this about Meeting?"
"What does it mean?" Ludwig asked once again, this time hoping to get an answer from his short-tempered father.
"It's a curse, that's what. It was a case of DAD not knowing when to leave well enough alone and weaseling two Koopas into a relationship they couldn't get out of. Why?"
"I-Isn't there any way of undoing it?"
"No," Clawdia cut in, squinting a bit. "Not that any Koopa knows of, at least. That's why it was called “The Curse” back when it was in its heyday. Ludwig, are you sure you're feeling alright?"
"Huh?" He broke his gaze with his father and looked up to his mother, who was stroking her fingers through his hair with apparent concern.
"You look a bit flushed, dear."
"What does it mean?" he asked Clawdia, who immediately took her claws out of Ludwig's wild hair.
"When a couple Meets? It means they spend their lives together because they really have no other choice, you see. Some of them marry to make things simpler, most of them have children." Ludwig felt a bead of sweat trickle down his face at the words “marry” and “children”. If DAD had really planned Ludwig to settle down with that “thing”, and have offspring... He stopped dead in his tracks, trying to clear his mind of all images of Karma mothering any of “their” young.
"Ludwig!" Bowser boomed, making Ludwig focus back into reality. "Just what IS your malfunction tonight?"
"I'm not feeling very well, I suppose."
"Then get away from the table," Bowser demanded, crossing his arms. "The rest of us don't want whatever you've got. You should've said something earlier." No sooner than Bowser cocked his head to the hallway to show Ludwig out, a scream was heard. Two guards then carried out what Ludwig had tried to keep secret from his family.
"Hold her, blast it!"
"I'm trying!"
A Sledge Brother and a Boomerang Brother carried out Karma Koopa, who was trying her best to struggle her way out of their unforgiving grips. The Sledge Brother was holding her right wrist tight enough to break it, while the Boomerang Brother held her left ankle, contorting her body into an awkward position.
"Many pardons, Your Highness. It seems there was a jailbreak earlier today under 24463's watch. I found the prisoner in the laboratory while on a routine check of the West wing," the guard announced proudly while fighting the struggling hybrid to salute. Ludwig tried his best not to catch her eyes, but they seemed to meet like magnets. For a second, she stopped fidgeting and gave him a My-Life-Is-A-Train-Wreck-Cause-Of-You glare.
"Prisoner..."
Bowser murmured. "And why wasn't I informed?!" the Koopa
King snapped,
making the guards cower.
"Well, we hadn't wanted to... to trouble you, Your Highness... We were fairly sure we could get the situation under control ourselves." The Boomerang Brother hesitated. Karma knew this was the opportune time to escape, so she gave one more pull with all her energy. The guards faltered, but still upheld their stature, much to her dismay.
"Let me GO!" she screamed with the last of her strength. If anything, she wanted to be far, far away from Kastle Koopa, it's inhabitants, and these guards.
But most of all, Ludwig von Koopa.
...
"STOP!!! STOP IT!!!" Bowser turned around, breaking the glare between Karma and himself. He’d NEVER expected to be interrupted during an execution, so hewas especially agitated. But, all he saw was a blur run past him and throw himself over the target where Karma lay. He turned back to his victim, only to feel a cold wave of betrayal and intense anger.
"Ludwig!" As he said, Ludwig, his eldest and most loyal son, was defying his wishes by protecting his prisoner. He was laying on her, directly underneath the Thwomp issued to kill Karma, preventing the procedure to from going as planned. "Get out of the way! Ludwig, if you don't move right now I swear to DAD I'll put you in the dungeon for a week! A year! I'll-"
"I don't care."
The words struck Bowser like a bullet. He gasped, never hearing such rebelliousness from Ludwig in his entire life. Nobody had ever stood up to the Koopa King before, for their death would be a painful one. But... His own son. For a hybrid. Was Ludwig truly bonded to this girl? Was Ludwig... in love with that... crossbreed?
"What are you doing?!" Karma interjected, trying to breathe under Ludwig's weight. Still glaring and bearing his fangs, Ludwig looked down at her.
"I'm doing you a favor, now shut up," he whispered. Karma reluctantly nodded, trying to position herself so she could inhale properly. While his father was still mouth-agape, Ludwig continued, "You'll kill us both! Can't you see that?!" He stopped, allowing Bowser to let his words sink in. Sighing, he started again, feeling Karma's heartbeat fast under him. "I tried to explain this to you at dinner... You wouldn't listen. You-"
"MOVE!!!" screamed Bowser. He wouldn't stand for such defiance, especially from his son. After all, he was the reason Ludwig even existed. Why should he have to take this behavior from him?
"NO!" Ludwig retorted, booming his voice loud enough to rival his father's.
"You're lucky I don't take you right along with this prisoner, Ludwig. I'm warning you..."
"Do it then!" the prince spat, making Bowser silent. "Why don't you just do it? You may as well give us both a swift end." Ludwig started to feel less confident, but still held his position over Karma dominantly.
"You're NOT Mets," Bowser said, advancing forward, about to tear Ludwig off the hybrid. The eldest Koopaling cut his eyes viciously at his father.
"I don't know what we are, truthfully, but I do know when something has changed... Maybe she's right, Father... Maybe there's some way to undo this and then I don't care what you do with her, but until then..." He stopped, lifting himself ever so slightly, but not high enough so Bowser could pry his claws under him.
"I have no use for traitors," Bowser replied, holding his right arm up. With a ferocious leer, Ludwig tempted Bowser to kill him. King Koopa merely clenched his teeth together, and was about to give the signal, but stopped mid-wave. A feeling came over him, something that was very unfamiliar. In written laws, Ludwig had just committed treason, and should be sentenced to death. But he could not finish the command, no matter what law told him. Not a single part of him didn't want to end their lives now, he knew that. But the problem was, he just couldn't bring himself to take the life of the heir to the throne, his most faithful son.
Bowser's arm withdrew. "Get up. Both of you." The Koopaling picked himself up slowly, and then extended a hand down for Karma. Bowser sighed and crossed his arms, staring at his son, and bathing in his defeat.
End Flashback..
"She is your Light," Matt started, taking his finger off Ludwig's forehead. The Yoshi stepped back, letting Ludwig's memories sink in.
"..." Ludwig merely clutched his chest.
"With her, you are complete." He nodded, and then continued, "If you lost her, you'd be a wreck."
"?"
"You love her."
"?!!" Ludwig had the wind knocked out of him, just by the words reaching him. Love? Karma?
"Feh... I expected as much." He crossed his arms loosely, and chuckled. "There is no denying it. You have saved her life from imminent peril time and again. I would think you have some feelings for her."
"...?" It really had never hit him so hard. Ludwig did say he loved Karma on rare occasions... But, it wasn't serious... Was it?
"Only remember this, Ludwig. The strongest will survive, and Darkness is strength. Take it in, and she will also receive its saving power. Keep her alive, because no one else will." With that, Matt stuck his left arm out beside him. It started to glow a hypnotic green, and then moved into his hand. Opening his fingers, a long line started to form within his hand. At each end, a blade was spawned. He closed his hand, and the line became whole. A long, gray staff with two twin blades at each side rested in his hand. He pointed it menacingly at Ludwig, making the Koopa step back nervously. "Certainly not me."
"!!" Ludwig cocked his head back, and shot a stream of fire towards Matt. The Yoshi stuck the staff behind him and put his hand in front of him. The flames connected with him, engulfing him. The scalding fires had fully eaten away at the area in front of the Koopa, making smoke dance in the air. Ludwig increased the intensity of the fire, making a big inferno of scarlet envelope Matt.
After Ludwig could produce no more fire, he stopped, letting the wounds in the area cool. The sphere of fire around Matt was suspiciously slow in dying. The fire crackled a bit, and in a flash, the fire wisped away. Matt stood, badly burnt. His hand was still extended in front of him, and the staff behind him, in the same exact position. Quickly he whipped the staff around him and gripped it with both hands.
"Ludwig." He stopped, and held his chest that kept his tainted and hateful heart. "Don't let that Light of hers swallow you while you protect her," he said, advancing forward and gripping the staff in his left hand and positioning it behind himself. Ludwig drew back deeper with each one of his steps. "Promise me something."
"?"
"... Don't cry."
"?"
"Don't ask yourself if you're pathetic. You'll throw your life away. Her scream will sift through your veins." He stuck a hand on Ludwig's shoulder, like he was a long lost friend. It was freezing, and Ludwig felt the ice kill him inside. But, reluctantly, he stood up and looked at him. "I don't want to be an enemy. I am just a puppet." Taking his hand off Ludwig's shoulder, he opened his arms and stepped back. "Look at me. I'm as Teela said. Just a manifestation..."
A cold tear streamed down an icy face.
"It's too late for me to keep a promise like that." Matt stopped and stepped back. "Carry on the Darkness. That Boo will never be one of us. He... seeks to find the answers. He will never know power."
"..." Ludwig felt sorry for him. This Yoshi was just a mess of problems.
"Fate tells me to be the enemy. But..." He reached his hand out. Ludwig turned an aqua color, and closed his eyes. "Fate doesn't tell us what to do."