It began late one night in one of King Bowser Koopa’s many studies, where the king stood raging at his eldest son over his recent failures.
“Dang it, Ludwig! How in a Koopa’s shell do you expect to be king someday?!” King Bowser Koopa screamed. Ludwig stood rigid, eyes to the ground. “Look at me when I’m speaking to you!” Bowser roared. Ludwig snapped his head up; his eyes were watering. “Are those TEARS?”
“I’m sorry,” Ludwig said for the umpteenth time that hour; it had been two hours and counting already and his father continued to lecture him.
“I poured the most gold into YOUR castle! And you let it go FLYING off into a nearby hill? With nothing but a bandage to amount for your success? Ridiculous!”
Bowser stomped back and forth, plumes of smoke swirling out of his nose. “And now you can’t even build me a simple machine— and because of what? EVERYTHING I’VE WORKED TO CREATE UNDERMINED BY A STUPID YOSHI…” He let out the fireball that had been itching in his throat. It charcoaled the gray brick wall, leaving a black imprint of the incinerated table that had been there seconds before.
Ludwig suddenly grew angry … his eyes became dark and he said sharply: “You know what, Dad? Mario stomped on your silly tail too! So don’t go blaming this all on Karma! Is that the best you can do? Blame my Yoshi?”
Bowser turned on him suddenly, face in a conflict; his mouth dropped but his eyes seemed to simmer with anger. Ludwig stood his ground; he too felt a fireball itching in his own throat but quickly swallowed hard. For a few moments Bowser stood, unsure of whether to be angry or shocked. He had heard his son quite clear, but almost wanted to ask to hear it again… Finally, he simply stormed out of the room.
Immediately Ludwig’s shoulders dropped and he relaxed, but he could still feel his temples throbbing and his blood pounding throughout his body. A few tears fell over his cheeks, but he wiped them away and tidied himself before leaving the room and heading opposite his father’s direction. He murmured to one of the guards to place an order for a new table, but his attention was on the tugging in his mind, a single line he allowed himself to follow.
It led him to Karma Koopa, to whom Ludwig had become unwillingly, unexpectedly betrothed just two weeks prior thanks to an ancient biological ‘magic’ commonly called a “Metbond”. It demanded the two be physically near one another or sudden sickness would befall them both. It was only thanks to this magic that Bowser was unable to lay a hand on Karma, a Yoshi-Koopa hybrid, for should death fall upon one, it was also death upon the other.
As Ludwig entered the library, he found Iggy and Roy, two of his younger brothers, standing off against Karma. Somehow their rudeness allowed the two, normally enemies, to pair up against her. Several fireballs broiled up in Ludwig’s throat at the sight
“A Yoshi can read?” Iggy sneered. “That’s a surprise.”
“I doubt it— Ludwig’s pet is just being forced to learn so Luddy dun look so stupid.” Roy cackled at his own insult. Karma stepped up, ready to knock his dark shades right into his eyes, when Ludwig stepped in between the two.
“What are you saying, you sick punk? Don’t you got better things to do? And Iggy! You think you can pick on others just because Roy spends so much time tormenting you? Pathetic! Get out of here, NOW! Or I’ll make sure you two are in the dungeons for a month!”
“You think King Dad’d punish us for picking on dat THING?” Roy said.
Ludwig was about to let loose his flames when Karma yanked him back. “Let’s go,” she whispered. “I don’t need you in the dungeons.”
Now, Karma didn’t exactly like Ludwig— no, quite the opposite. She had grown to tolerate him, however, as of late. She found him to be far from pleasant but the closest thing around to it. She hated Kastle Koopa and almost all of its residents.
“Yeah, go ride your beast.” Iggy laughed. Ludwig glared back, but allowed Karma to tow him away.
They stole into Ludwig’s laboratory, where they spent most of their time. “Your dad shook the castle,” Karma said as he shut the door. Immediately he came to sit beside her; though the two would not acknowledge that they sat too close to one another than most would find comfortable, it happened naturally.
“Yeah, yeah.” He began to tinker with something in front of him, one of his many gadgets.
“I can’t live with or without you,” she said. “I didn’t want you to… you know, end up in the dungeon, because that probably means I’d have to sit down in the dankness too. I can’t have that! So don’t think I… you know, dragged you away for your sake. Just to make it clear.”
“Yeah, nice way to thank me,” Ludwig muttered.
Karma noticed how near she was to him and scooted away. “Oh, I know you do it just so you don’t look bad. Don’t make it sound like you actually care about me.” She laughed.
Ludwig looked up to her; his eyes were solemn, low, and he said, “I told my father not to blame you for my failures, and it’s his own fault the Mario Brothers keep kicking his tail.”
Silence followed, and after several moments, Karma chuckled nervously. “Yeah right! You don’t have the muscle for that, you pudge mush.”
Ludwig shook his head. “Don’t be surprised if we end up in the dungeon for years after my father calms down. He was about to charcoal me. I’m shocked he didn’t tear through the wall, really… Shame, I should have left my mark on Roy before he gets the chance to forget me.”
The hybrid’s eyes became wide. “W…wait, you’re not joking?”
“I’ve been doing a lot of thinking, and I don’t know about you… but in the past few weeks, I’ve really thought about my future. I’ve been doing a LOT of thinking. I’m… I’m stuck with you, Karma, and even if we do find a way to break the Metbond, it’s not like I don’t… have…“
Ludwig bit his tongue. On one claw he wanted her to know that he had a heart, somewhere, but on the other, he didn’t trust her enough to let her see any weakness, as he often found signs of emotion to be.
“It’s not like I’m not capable of respecting you. My family may be unwilling to accept you, let alone respect you, but I’ve thought that while we have to tolerate each other, we may as well put our claws behind our backs and, well, tolerate. And if that means I have to deal with my father… I mean, I want to say that I don’t like you— as cruel as some of your comments have been, I’d be lying. You’re really not that bad.”
Karma sat, stunned. “What kind of joke is this, poofball?” she asked skeptically. “Don’t go pulling that card again! ‘Oh, Karma, I want to get along with you!’ Is one of your brothers here? Videotaping? You’re not going to pull a Toad’s hat on me again! Fool me once, shame on you! Fool me twice, well… shame on me!”
Ludwig shook his head and came closer until he was almost nose-to-nose with her, absolutely eye-level. “I am being sincere. I have done a *lot* of thinking, and… you can be childish— you’re several years younger than I am, and you deserve your childhood, but the truth is, I spent a lot of time away from my family growing up. I was a professional pianist by the time I was twelve, but at the cost of being away from my family, and perhaps for the best. I came here and found a whole new family! My dad went off and got a whole new batch of kids… I mean, imagine how much of a shock it was to see such childishness! And for years now, I’ve gone along with it, Karma… I learned to play tricks on them after they burned me with their chemical milkshakes, tricked me with their rubber chocolate…”
Karma grabbed a hammer and began to run her claws over its edges, listening intently.
“Karma, I am not like my family, and to be honest, I’m almost glad that you’ve happened upon my life, because you’ve reminded me of what I was really raised to be. You have opened my eyes. I wore formal clothing— tidiness is professionalism, and professionalism makes the Koopa— from the time I was four years old. I was raised by my piano teacher… She raised me to be decent to others, Karma, fair as I am on my piano keys.”
Karma chuckled and said, “You spent how many years learning to play and you still sound like a dying Pak E. Derm?”
Ludwig sighed. “Karma, it’s fine if you’re not mature enough to handle that I’m sharing my life’s tale with you here. You’re a part of it now, so I just thought you should know the backstory first. I don’t blame you that you’re not serious enough to handle it— you really shouldn’t have to think about it. I’m sorry you’re stuck here.”
Karma said nothing for a very long while, but she didn’t have to— they heard footsteps padding towards their door and straightened up. A guard came in and cleared his throat.
“Er, Prince. A message from your father: ‘Pack your bags, you unappreciative Koopa turd. I’m going to remind you of how a Buzzy Beetle feels underneath a real Koopa man’s foot— you’re going to boot camp. Tell your hide to pack her bags too, because I can’t stand having a Yoshi breathing my good, Koopa air.’”
The guard turned and left quickly. Karma turned to Ludwig and made to shove him, but refrained. “What did you do?!” she snapped. “I can’t believe you! You really did go and stand up for me, you… Augh!” She began to walk around, unsure of her purpose but unable to sit down. “Ludwig, why?”
Ludwig sat watching her; Karma realized he wasn’t really there, however. He had gone inside himself, and after a few brief moments she sighed and sat beside him. She waited— and for good reason; Ludwig was very deep inside his thoughts.
He considered his actions, replayed the abrupt scene in his head. He almost couldn’t believe it was hims who had stood up to his father! Ludwig was actually… he realized, and this surprised him… proud of himself!
“Karma, I stood up for you. What he was saying was unreasonable, and you know what? I’m happy I did.”
“I think you’re happily insane! Boot camp? You realize what they’ll do to you in the army?!”
Ludwig thought about this for awhile. “Hey, who knows… I could stand to lose some weight, I suppose. I’m sure the training will be good for me.”
“But what about me? I have to go *with* you!”
“I’m not at all worried for you. So long as I’m around, you’ll have nothing to worry about. If I can defend you against my father, twice now, I’m confident I can…” He looked up to her. “I can defend you from the world.”
“I want to defend myself, Ludwig! You wouldn’t have gotten into this mess if you’d just … have kept your big mouth shut!”
“If I’m the future king, you’re not going to question my actions,” Ludwig said. “I will stand up for what I believe in, because you know what? I’m tired of being pushed around. I think this boot camp might be a good … challenge.”
“Have you *lost* your mind?! You’re an absolute softy, Ludwig! They’ll break you into pieces there!”
“No they won’t.”
Karma rolled her eyes. Ludwig got up and began digging around in the various piles of scrap metal and junked experiments. “What are you doing now?” Karma snapped.
“Looking for a suitcase.”
“They won’t let you bring anything; I don’t know why your father said that in the first place. I’m even more surprised he didn’t just beat you into obedience!”
Ludwig turned to her and rubbed his hand on his chin. “You know what? You’re right— they won’t let me bring anything… but maybe I can sneak a few chocolate bars along in your shell?” He smiled guiltily to her, and she scowled but then chuckled.
“That’s all you’re concerned about?”
He pulled out a box from under a mattress he had in the corner. Karma shook her head. “No way; why would I want you to have those? I’d prefer it if you’d lost some weight too!”
Ludwig laughed and said, “Well, not everybody can be as pretty as…”
He stopped himself, and Karma sneered. “As? What? Finish it. I know quite well what you were going to say!”
“Oh, do you? What?”
“You were about to call *me* pretty! Which is pretty funny, because if you consider me pretty you’ve obviously only ever loved your machines.”
“You know what? You’re right,” Ludwig said, and continued coyly, “Why would I call you pretty? You can’t even stand that I have defended you twice now, and if I did compliment you, you ‘d probably melt into the floor like the Wicked Witch from Donutland or something. The great DAD above, forbid Karma from receiving a compliment! She might have a heart attack!”
Karma shoved him playfully. “I hate you,” she said.
“Then I suppose I love you too.”
Karma shrugged. “Too bad; I might have been willing to hug you after all you’ve been through.” Her laughter trailed off as she opened the door to the lab and left. Ludwig thought of asking her where she was going, but realized he really did desire some time alone.
He sat down on his bed and soon found himself lying on his stomach; exhaustion began to set in. Ludwig’s mind focused on a single incident that had happened just a week ago; he had been denied dinner for strapping a dummy grenade to Larry (poor kid had cried until he wet himself). It seemed so long ago, almost like he was looking at a much younger version of himself… but later that night, while he had been crying, Karma had actually held him. He wondered if it was all a dream, but the feel of her hair tickling his nose; her firm embrace. ..
Ludwig didn’t recall the last time he had been hugged before that.
He knew Karma had the capacity to be kind; he had seen it… It just had to be brought out.
While he began to drift off into a deep, exhausted slumber, he made a mental note to get another moment like that, just to prove it to his own self. He could admit that he liked that memory, right? At least to himself… No one else had to know.
To Be Continued...
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