Author's Note: This is a
Marioized novelization of the classic Shakespeare play, Hamlet. The text
has been modernized, for the ease of the reader. But, one should note that
not all the lines seem to be from the original story. That is because this
is based off the manga version, which had some lines and scenes removed.
There is no need to worry; this novelization still contains all the important
stuff, and one should only notice anything missing if they are avid Hamlet
fans. Now, prepare to immerse yourself in the world of Hamlet, Koopa style!
Act 1: Murder???
Chapter 1: Who's there?
It was a dark night at Castle Koopa. A lonely one, too. All were asleep, except for a few lone Koopatrols situated at the turrets. And, as the sun began to rise across the Dark Land Valley on the northern facing end of the castle, one Koopatrol, a veteran of the Koopa Troop by the name of Koopardo, was lost in thought. It had been months- no, years since that day. That fateful day when--
"Has it come again?"
It was a colleague of Koopardo's, another Koopatrol and Koopa Troop veteran, by the name of Koopellus. He was escorting the youngest of the Koopaling princes, Bowser Jr, or just Junior.
"Sorry. I haven't seen it yet," came Koopardo's reply.
"Junior here says it's only our imagination!"
"It won't appear," stated Junior.
Koopardo was about to reply to the young prince, but before he could begin his sentence, an ominous wail was heard behind him, prompting the three to turn in surprise.
"I told you!" cried the excited Koopellus.
Junior stared in awe at none other than the ghostly shape of his dead father, the late Bowser Koopa.
"It looks exactly like the late king! Doesn't it? Look!" continued Koopellus.
"It... does! What... what are you, taking the handsome, warlike form of our king- my father- as he did on occasion whilst marching into battle?" asked Junior to the ghost. But, the ghost did not reply. Rather, it began to float slowly towards Junior, frightening him.
"Stay back! Speak! SPEAK! Tell me- do know anything about the future?!" shouted Junior, backing off slightly.
"Should I strike at it?" asked Koopellus, lowering his head so that the spike on his helmet was aimed directly at the king's ghostly form.
"Try that if it doesn't stop," advised Junior. But the ghost didn't stop. It continued flying towards the trio, engulfing them. Koopellus executed a charge, but could not even grasp where the creature was.
"It's over here!" shouted Koopardo frantically.
"Now it's over here!" cried Junior as he began to escape. But, just as suddenly as it had appeared, the ghost disappeared, as the ringing of bells indicated the morning.
The three huffed and puffed in fright from the appearance of this specter.
"It was... *huff* about to speak," puffed Koopardo, remembering the expression on the ghost’s lips as it faded away.
"It just... disappeared... just as the morning bells rang," agreed Koopellus. The three sat and thought whilst drinking some bottled water Junior had brought to calm their nerves. Eventually Koopardo began to speak.
"That thing... It had appeared to us on two separate occasions, each time just as frightening. Please, tell me, young prince, why must we continue to guard the castle every night?"
"..." was Junior's reply.
"Well?" repeated Koopardo.
"... This does not bode well for the Koopa Kingdom..." began Junior. "Tell me, do you remember the Koopa Civil War?"
"Vaguely, but Lord Bowser had us situated in Pipe Land, so we know little of the details," answered Koopellus.
"Then I shall explain. Years ago, my eldest brother, Ludwig von Koopa, had begun to feel as if he was not getting the respect he deserved, and that he should then takeover the role of Koopa King, but my father refused his demand. This sparked a great anger in Ludwig, and he then began to amass a large army of members of the Koopa Troop whom he had control over, and he thusly waged war on Bowser. It was a great and terrible war, one that devastated our family. And yet, its ending was rather abrupt, yet still quite tragic. My sister, Wendy Ocean Koopa, had gone to perpetuate a truce between the two, but alas, she was ahead of herself. And the price of her foolishness was terrible- her life. But... her life was still enough to cause the two sides to come to their senses, so I guess it wasn't a worthless sacrifice... Still, years afterwards, the sudden death of my father came around, devastating our family even more. And it certainly didn't help that his brother, King Warutius, better known as Wart, immediately took the throne. The point is, me and my siblings have certainly changed since both those sad days, some not for the better..." explained Junior.
"Yes, they say our once-lord Bowser was poisoned by accidentally eating a Poison Mushroom, mistaking it for a regular Shroom," agreed Koopardo.
"And how did you change?" pondered Koopellus.
"First, my eldest brother Ludwig. He left our family with his troops the day the war ended to go on what he called a "spiritual journey", done in an effort to repent for his sins. Bowser, knowing that he had become old over the years, sent the next Koopa in line for the crown, Lemmy, afar to study, if the event ever arose that Ludwig was unable to accept the crown. Iggy, another of my siblings, offered to go with him, the two being inseparable, and after some argument, was allowed to. Meanwhile, Prince Roy, devastated by Wendy's death, became somewhat... overprotective... of our cousin, Susan Beautiful Koopa. Yes, that IS her real middle name. Morton, being the next most intelligent of us after Ludwig and Iggy, has become somewhat of a mentor to Roy and Susan, although, I sense something... dark... about him. The youngest of my older siblings, Larry, seems to have taken this the worst, however, but mainly the death of our father rather than the death of our sister. And lately, it seems I am the only one he can confide in as Lemmy, Iggy, and Ludwig are away, Roy and Larry have never gotten along, and he agrees with me about what I sense in Morton. As he tells me, he seems to have developed a romantic interest in Susan despite shunning her many years in the past. It's because of these circumstances that I believe we should contact Larry and tell him of what we saw. Perhaps this spirit, silent to us, will speak to him..." finished Junior
And so, the three of them left for to tell Larry Koopa of what they had seen that night.
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It was... dark... so dark... ugh...
Where am I? was all the lone Poison Mushroom could think... All he could remember was... sleeping in the forest... a flash of green... and then... as if the life was squeezed out of him...
No... Tired…
Sleep...