Chapter 4: Something Rotten in the Koopa Kingdom
Meanwhile, a lone doomship silently blew across the twilight sky. As the messenger Koopa quickly ran through its hallowed halls, he couldn't help but silently worry.
"Lord Ludwig! Message from your uncle!"
"Hm? Ah, yes, thank you. You may leave," uttered Ludwig von Koopa.
"Yes, my Lord," replied the Koopa as he left. Ludwig then began to open the envelope, and as he read the letter, a quiet anger built inside of him.
"So, Wart thinks he can just pass himself of as the king, huh? Despite the fact that the last king's next of kin are all too real?" Hmf. I must investigate this. Koopunkle, return to me!"
"Yes, my Lord," replied the messenger Koopa as he returned to the eldest Koopaling prince.
"Send word to my men warning them that after our conquest in the Mushroom Kingdom, we may be headed straight for the Koopa Kingdom, and that they should be prepared for battle."
"Yes, my Lord."
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Later that night, Koopellus and Koopardo were on guard duty yet again. They were waiting for Junior and Larry, when the silence was broken by approaching footsteps.
"Twice in a row, these two guards encountered none other than our father, King Bowser Koopa, armed from head to toe. Slowly and solemnly, it walked up to them. They told me this in dreadful secrecy. So, I went with on the third night. It did appear," explained Junior as he and Larry walked up the two Koopatrols.
"That's is strange..." uttered Larry as he angrily scraped his nails along the castle walls, bloodying his fingers somewhat. "He was armed from head to toe?"
"Yes, my brother."
"So you couldn't see his face?"
"We could, actually."
"Was he upset?"
"He looked... sad, more than angry."
"I'll watch with you tonight. I ask you all, do not speak of what happens. Just watch." Then Larry thought. My father's spirit... armed? I should not rule out foul play. If I stay, foul deeds may reveal themselves to me...
But before Larry could continue thinking, he was interrupted by Junior. "Look, Larry! It's him!" Larry turned to look to see his father’s ghostly figure rising out of the ground. He gasped, but quickly regained his composure.
"... Whether you are a good spirit, or a creature of death... I... I must speak to you! I call you... King Bowser... my father... King of the Koopas. I beg of you, answer me! Why has Death opened the portal, and released you back into the world? What can this mean?" cried Larry. But instead of a reply, all Larry received was a hand, held out, as if beckoning him to come forward. "It won't speak... so I shall follow it."
But as Larry marched slowly toward the ominous figure, Junior quickly ran up and grabbed him. "Larry, you mustn't go! What if it takes some other horrible form and makes you do something mad?! I won't let you go!"
"Let go of me!!!" cried Larry, shoving Junior out of the way. Junior fell to the ground, and as he picked himself up, he stared at Larry. Larry stared back. Bowser Jr. soon understood, and nodded. "I will go with you," uttered Larry, as the ghost held him close and began to bring away to the darkness from which it came.
"Something is rotten in the Koopa Kingdom..." uttered Koopellus.
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Just... a little... more! thought the poison Mushoom as it struggled to escape the confines that kept it in place. It struggled, and struggled, and struggled. And, eventually, it was free! It fell right into the bucket of its energy.
Now... time to get out here!