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KOOPALINGS : THE TEENAGE YEARS

by Foxy Boy

CHAPTER VII: REMOVAL

Light from the full moon dimmed as it descended the length of the horizon. Dawn would be in precious-few hours, but beforehand to navigate anywhere without the use of candles or electric light would be a miracle.

This was obvious to the young koopa stumbling through the narrow halls between royal teens' bedrooms. Being none of them, he breathed knowing he was safe from discovery, as no local guard ever fully entreated in the Koopalings' domicile as a rule. He strove to think hard of this many times, and slowly creeped on one door in particular: the one to Larry's bedroom. Gathering immense nerve, he fumbled with the knob, shakily turned it, and sweat like an athlete as it swung open.

There was Larry, in the middle of the floor, pacing to and fro anxiously. He laid eyes on the intruder and stopped.

"You again?", the troubled prince nagged. "What is it this time?"

"Uh, Larry?", the boy replied. "You're out of bed and walking around? I thought you were too sick for that."

"First off, it's Sir Larry to you." His tone somewhat loud but not angered, rather, frustrated. "I'm not a stickler, but mind the order around here. A little favour of yours changes none of it."

It would have been child's play in Larry's shoes to turn the boy away, or report him for many transgressions, but the Koopaling had no such plot, then or now. A part of him felt pity for the servant; clothed in weatherworn rags and skinnier than what ever passed as healthy, he wore the look of someone intimate with hardship beyond their years. No matter his origins, they were humble, and Larry inwardly cursed how little his father provided for his less-than-nobles. He was sure that the boy's lack of protocol was only due to lack of knowledge, and not willful insubordinance. But aside from sympathy, he didn't let those feelings through the facade of 'place' that dignified truth.

The servant gulped hard and shuffled, antsy while nodding in reply. It calmed Larry's demeanor, though his tremors didn't lessen. "How'd you get up here to begin with, huh? The place crawls with soldiers down below. Tell me they're not that bad at their job."

A slight smile crossed the tween's face. "I've always been a good sneak. And being two feet tall can't hurt."

"... Yeah, then... To answer you, I was laid up a while, but now my system's got methodone. That's what it does, so thanks for that, and the Newports. Those I needed most." He paused to pull the box from his crusty jeans, then a lighter; produced a single from the pack, lit the end and took a first puff. For some reason, the boy watched him proceed through all of this before replying.

"Uh, no problem. I can get stuff, don't ask how."

Larry shook his head. "Where have I heard that before..." he mumbled, before addressing Konner. "Since you're not here for me now, and you're not meant for here, and I could be in hot lava with Pop for playin' like you are, you can answer me a few questions if you want to go in peace."

The koopa knocked knees; he could've peed himself. "G-go ahead... I mean, go ahead, your highness."

Larry smiled. "Good save. Okay, first off, I don't even have your name, and why'd you come to me the first time with a message that you were s'posed to give my brother?"

The tween had droplets down his temple. "My name's Konner. I'm twelve, and my uncle's famous, he explores ruins and stuff - oh yeah, and he goes by Kolorado. Not... Not that you asked."

"Right, I didn't." Larry flicked an ash impatiently, to the floor and for the maids when they'd eventually be summoned.

Konner cleared his throat before more. "I came to you 'cause I knew that, well, of all the guys that were - you know - high enough up on the ladder, I guess, to talk to Ludwig, you would have the most chance to help me. I had the methodone anyway, and there's rumours going in the castle that you were hooked on-"

"Yeah, I get it." He put a single hand to his forehead, trying to deny the splitting headache that evoked his withdrawal. "But that still don't tell me why you couldn't do it direct."

"I was getting to that, your, eh, princeship. Thing is, I've seen Ludwig's girl a few times, and she was just such a knockout - all respect, y'know - that when she went by in the halls I had to stop whatever I did to watch her go by. It's got me in trouble more than once." He cut eyes to the side, wiped his brow of a new type of sweat. "I knew when King Bowser ordered me to give Ludwig the news, there's no way I could go up there and risk a look. Maybe boys don't faint but I could just being near her."

Larry laughed lightly. "Anyone can fall out, trust me on that. I know you're just a li'l squirt but you really need a little nerve about you if you want to work for Sir Big-time."

Konner sighed. "I wish I had a choice, y'know. My folks sent me here weeks ago thinking I'd make something of myself. So far all I've done is play carrier pigeon and goof it up more than once."

"Hm. I hate to break it to you, but your parents screwed you over. The only way you might get anywhere with Dad is if you do everything short of selling your soul, and you're too young to be that kind of kissass. To make it work, I mean-" He paused, rubbing his chin. "I like you, though, you're fly for bein' born so late. I'll put in a good word with Dad, don't you worry. Just, try not to do like you're doing now. Stay in-bounds, okay?"

The kid nodded. "I have some more methodone, if you think you might need it. Or want it, or... I dunno."

"... Fuck yeah, gimme. That stuff's meant to be a staple over long stints, not a one-time rush. That's all the lesson you get."

"... Uh, thanks. My cousin's still in the clinic, we're sorta tight. I'll let him know you're happy, he'll love that. Big fan."

"Well, good thing you don't score it on the streets, I guess... Anyway, I'm not a favour bank myself, alright? The only reason I'm cool right now is advantage. You'll have to do your job, or I can't very well recommend you to be among Dad's personal faves, can I?"

Konner's face beamed. "Oh, yes sir, Sir Larry. I'll do my damned best to earn it."

"I trust that. And Konner?"

"Yes, sir?"

His smirk cut lines below his lip. "'Princeship' isn't a word, just FYI. Now, sneak your butt back in the hallways and obscurity, capiche?"

The young koopa nodded and spoke a short "Bye", before opening and quietly shutting the bedroom door behind him. Much as Larry admired his intent and struggles, he knew they held little hope. His father's monarchy wasn't one of open doors, but of politic. Konner's trying wouldn't reach the goals to do his parents proud; he'd never have the windows to further himself, unless he proved to Bowser he could readily sell out every heart and thing close to him in the name of the king and of selflessness. Always that way, for all the help, from the time Bowser'd come to power. Indeed it's still a mystery to all seven how he accomplished that... They knew and were groomed too well to be rash and ask. More than likely its facts were altogether unsavory.

Seconds ticked by, his thoughts in a string with little to connect them, a slideshow of questions. He'd went to pace the room once more when muffled voices filterd in, directly outside. Larry met the door and threw it open; Konner sat in terror on the floor, looking up at a menacing, familiar face.

"Roy? ", went Larry, contemptible for the brother that essentially had caused his present problems. "What's the deal here?"

The beefy Koopaling looked up from staring Konner down, his sunglasses absent. "The little shit was trespassing. Don't know how he got here and don't really care. There's one way to handle wimps on parade." He pounded fists, drawing fear-filled yelps from Konner. He'd raised his right arm to strike when Larry put his in to stop him.

"Let him go! I know him, he's with me, chill!"

Roy stopped, scowling at his brother. "Whatever happened to your bein' sick as hell?"

"My strength's back for now. Thank him and don't ask. Let it go."

Roy hesitated for a moment, but a sigh with rattled bass flew out while he lowered arm. "Fuck it. Get OUT you midget, before Larry sees me change my mind."

Konner went like a bobblehead, promptly got up and ran from Roy at full speed. The bully crossed brash forearms; Larry only looked away, clearly beside himself and not about to look his brother in the face.

"You're a piece of work, Roy. He's scared you were about to kill him, I know. He'll probably still be sprinting when the guards spot him, and he'll really be up shit creek."

Roy raised both eyebrows, having caught the implications. "That means he ain't good to be here in the first place. So what gives, defector? "

Larry shook his head. "He had methodone, alright? Risked his neck to get it here, which is about a billion times more than you've been there for me."

"Oh, ohhhh man." Roy clasped hands at his nose, turned and bent down to hold his gut as he laughed. "You are IN for it now. That stuff's more a pest than what it cures. It'll wear off and you'll pray for death..." He paused, and the humour made a fast, unnatural exit from him. "... You might understand where I'm livin'."

"You?", Larry returned, only now turning to face the elder. "You ain't quit shit, unless I'm hallucinating. Why would you wanna lay low?"

Roy forced a smile, pursed a bit like it may have fought a shake or two. He pounded fist on fist, thrice the temper of his run-in with the Koopa boy. "Dumbass Dad, that's why. He's fit to be tied after earlier, he met me upstairs. Gave me his punishment. Fuckin' shhh-" He flushed, and the word cut off in a pending explosion. He squashd it, and talked the rest out. "Let's say you'll see a lot less of me around, without a helmet and rifle. If you see me again."

He went on to describe, colourfully, his and Bowser's pow-wow, and the full extent of his destiny. By the time he was done, Larry's eyes bulged.

"You mean he would do you like that? I mean, I'm mad as fuck, and I'm sorry, you're behind it, but that's overkill."

Roy scowled. "Thanks for nothing. Now I'm glad I left you hangin'... But yeah, enjoy knowin' this, so you won't have a stroke if next time you're near me I'm staring at the roof of a church."

Larry grunted with a shudder. "Don't even think like that. I know you care more about your life than to lay down and kick it."

"Look," Roy blasted, breezing back Larry's hair, "I care to hell and back. But I ain't so stupid I think the world has use for an dark-heart asshat like me. If I am sent to war, and I do die, Who all's gonna miss me? You? Wendy? I swear, soon as she found out about this, she did get upstairs to tell Dad off, like it'll change a god damn thing. Good luck nursing her hurt, I'll be in a foxhole. My... Our friends are fair-weather, unless I'm holding and they can bum off o' me. I made 'em all like that in the first place."

Larry's anger was quickly growing. "I don't CARE if you're an ass, an addict or what the hell else. You're my bro', and you don't give up that easy. This is wrong, and I for one can fight Dad's decision, if you're too gutless."

Roy's eyes slitted. "Excuse me?"

Larry's tone leveled, though he couldn't keep off a slight smirk. "Yeah, you heard me. If you'd stand here and let yourself be sent to death, that makes you chickenshit, hard as it can. It means you don't even have the nuts to take yourself on, or anyone else."

Roy edged up to his brother. "I have more balls here and now than you would locked in a gym closet."

Larry bore a thick, full-fledged grin. "I'm not the one to convince, am I?"

Roy's eye danced for an instant. There went his anger, there came his true vigor. "I see what'chu do. Swell then, so I march right up to the throne room and tell Dad off? Trustin' what, exactly?"

"Nothing," Larry deadpanned. "I don't want you steered by me. You make your own choice."

Roy looked away briefly. "Man, that's a weird deja-vu... Alright, fuck it, I'll tell his ass off... Hah, what's there to be scared of, what's he gonna do? Send me to the gallows? I'd knock the head off any soldier he can throw at me."

"That's straight-up." Larry laughed. "Now go and show that to Dad."

Roy had no more to spew as he stomped out to his throne-room-journey. Larry watched him go, trusting that whatever end came of his reverse-psych' it wouldn't bite them in the ass. Torn away from his thoughts, he turned the doorknob to re-enter his room. The pacing wasn't done. The headache wasn't dulling; neither were the shakes, and faced with the maxim that some permanent damage could well result from past mistakes, lifestyle, his peace had took a vacation.

*********************************

Footsteps and heavy breathing echoed down the stairwell, along with faint sweeps of a dress linen along stone steps. The gown, of course, was Esmerelda's; the tired lungs belonged to Iggy.

"I really... Need to get... A routine going," he wheezed, gulping air.

"Don't feel bad about it... At ze speed ve're up to, it's a workout for anybody."

"Then why aren't... you out of breath?"

"Because I'm used to it... I go up and down zis every day for our living space."

"Geez, I never... thought... I... feel sorry for... you now."

Ludwig only laughed. "I don't have an extra heart though, so don't blow yours out." They neared the floor they needed; after that it was only a few yards 'til the double-doors to the throne room.

"I hope all goes well," the lady among them vocalized. "I'm not really in spirits for a huge shouting match."

"Neither is Dad," her better half answered matter-of-factly. "Especially after vat happened earlier vith Vendy."

"You didn't mention she was here with you earlier. And what did he decide on with Roy?"

"... I guess I didn't tell you, did I? Eesh... Long story. If I start now, I von't finish..." They approached the doors; he wrapped it up while pushing them ajar. "... Trust me, it can vait."

Iggy, of course, was relieved they at last weren't in full-bore marathon. Relief was fleeting; all three spotted the old and tattered blue robe of Kamek's, unmistakeable. Its 'look' was faded lighter than any other Magikoopa's garb; draped loosely around his figure, standing just inside, arms akimbo and his ever-present wand clenched in left hand. As they edged up to him, he struck a fighting stance.

"Whoa, whoa, we're not here for combat!" Iggy exclaimed, his breath returning.

The robed elder flashed from one glasses lens and backed them to outside the doors. "There's no other way, if you want a conference with His Majesty. He's handed down express demands that no one else enter unto him tonight. He's a little... Jolted, after learning of what I discovered."

"I'm sure he'd make exceptions for his own children," Ludwig returned. "Now, let us in, or I'll call ze guards on you. I don't care how close you are to him, slighting me or any of my own eez slighting him."

"Oh, you think so?" hissed Kamek in return. "I don't share your sentiment. And since I'm his closest body, I decree that no one gets through these doors tonight."

Iggy scowled. "Kamek, weigh the ramifications here before you ruin yourself. Ludwig's right, and I don't want us to send you below. It would disappoint Bowser, and concerning this that's all there is to care for."

The spectacled Koopaling referred to the half of the basement not claimed as part of his lab... A place dreaded by all cerfs within the castle. The perpetually ill-lit catacombs that made up the underbelly of estate housed all manner of devices for the fate of the insolent, the treasonous, those who'd otherwise wronged the royals. Stocks and tiny cells, elaborate torture machines, culminating in a chopping block. It was near-exclusively Bowser who issued orders if a servant be brought to its despised rooms, but all the Koopalings had shared in this responsibility at least once. Kamek - clearly set in the ways not of disembowing these three - wasn't even fazed by the mention.

"Go ahead, send word for them to take me away. You'll will anger him greatly, but feel free, if you're ready for the consequences."

"You say zat like you vould know. And I'M saying if you don't move right now, I'll see you in a cell for a full month. Dad vill cuss, but he'll respect it, more than he vould you."

Kamek inhabited a grimace of rage; his arms uncrossed and pointed wand at Ludwig. "Over my lifeless husk", he growled, as the eldest of Bowser's sons watched a huge bolted charge shoot from the sphere-tip and strike square on his stomach. Esmerelda screamed; her husband catapulted back by blast-force, hitting the wall hard, falling limp for many seconds. She rushed to his side; relieved to hear him groan in pain, a sign of life and being conscious. He weakly planted hands on the stone floor and accepted her helping to his feet. His glare burned disbelief at the old fiend.

"YOU... SVINE!! You'll go to ze GALLOWS for zis!!" Froth filled his toothline. "Dad vill hear us, and see you swing!! "

Kamek laughed off such a threat. "I don't plan on keeping him around to make good on that. This you know, since Iggy's surely shown you what, sadly for you, he stumbled upon. Pity you had to learn the truth, else you might have lived past your father's untimely 'accident'. Now," He raised his wand, "It appears the Koopa family tree gets a much-needed pruning, and punctually."

"I WILL NOT SEE MY HUSBAND DIE AT THE HANDS OF A MADMAN!!!"

Esmerelda's sudden outburst startled all. No matter how unlike her, if ever it was warranted, 'ever' was now. Blind to all but the evil before her, she clenched in rage, drew a breath and charged whole-hog towards him, intent to bring him down with full prejudice. "NO!!" was all that left Ludwig's lips before his wife's still-moving silhouette was halted at another bright bolt, emerged from the wand.

Her fearful eyes' peripheral saw vaguely a blob; something large and fast, now colliding with Kamek, knocking energy off course, sparing her life. Both enemy and savior hit the ground with thunder, and she placed who'd come to their aid.

"I'll teach you to rough up my sis-in-law, y' war-locksucker!!"

Roy, on top of Kamek, pummeled his face with left and right jabs. By the time their traitor managed to strike him with the wand, knocking him away, he lay battered and bleeding. Roy recovered from the blow, weak as it was, jumped up and stared Kamek straight-on. Neither showed signs of surrender, and Ludwig, Iggy and Esmerelda - taken to a brutal reveal of many things in motion - felt helpless as they watched the scufle unfold, with their King ignorant of all from inside his sanctum.

********************************

"C'mon... C'mon!!"

Lemmy's voice poured a taste of whine as he gripped the controller. When Wendy stormed out in defense of Roy, he'd wisely opted out of the matter, returning to his room. Seeing the old Genesis, dusty atop his TV, he thought on a whim to to give it electronic exercise, powering up some Golden Axe.

Almost two hours later, and not paused even once.

"Shit!!", he yowled, engaged in a losing battle. "Fucking die already!"

He was interrupted by the ringing in his pocket. Grumbling, he could've paused, but in the face of how it went so far he just reached up and switched off the console. His phone he pulled out and flipped open.

"Yo", he throated, still miffed at his bad run.

"Guess who, you rich ol' motherfucker."

Lemmy recognized Walt's voice any time, and his frustration died a quick death.. "Heeey bro, what's up?"

"A direction. But that's not important. What is is that your ass should be asleep by now."

"Wow, a twelve-year-old telling a twenty-one-year-old he needs to sleep. Or that his ass does... Now I've heard everything."

The junior buddy snorted, and calmed. "Well, almost everything. You haven't heard Todd's out at the Green Derby in Deerfield, waiting for you. He called and told me to let you know."

"That's that Irish pub across from the grocer, right?"

"Yeah, we ride by it on Thursdays."

"Oh, yeah. Cool roof on it.... Uhhh, why didn't he just call me himself?"

"Beats me, something about a guy he's with named Morie. He said if he'd called you the guy woulda begged to talk to you."

"... Yeah. I know the dude. He and Wendy are an item, remember? You met him today."

"Dang, I do remember now, shit. No wonder he'd wanna holler at you. Anyway, Todd said he wants you to hang out, it's got purpose. I would go but I have about a nine-year wait."

"Tch, well what would a kid like you do in a pub anyway?"

"Same thing I do everywhere else with you guys; make you look old."

Lemmy laughed. "Fuck that, and you."

"Love ya back. Now get over there and waste some extra time for me."

"Nah, tell him I'll sit this one out. After all the crazy shit circling the castle, I'm on self-house-arrest. Things shouldn't get worse, right? Tell him thanks anyway."

"Fine, but I'm not your personal paige boy." It was stupid, and Lemmy knew what to say back.

"Why? You're his."

"Hahah, good man. Alright, I'll give that forward. Talk to you later?"

"Ride with you later. Peace out."

"Peace."

Walt hung up with a pronounced click. Lemmy had no interest in resuming his game-world slaughter. As he tucked the phone back in his pants, he talked to himself, winding up the controller cord.

"Fuck, I'm not gonna hang at a bar around there. Three blocks down from where we extracted Roy's ungrateful ass, you gotta be kiddin' me. Dunno about Todd, but I have fun in places where there's good chance I make it home with my wallet and a bullet-free chest... And... Even if I didn't steer clear of that, why's Morie all of the sudden cool with my friends? He met 'em today... After how he spazzed in front of them, he can't be comfy, and knock me down if it's Todd's choice inviting him. Grinds my gears... If he ain't careful, he'll end up with a board shoved up his shitter, courtesy of guys who're better than him."

He finished coiling the controller and headed to leave. "I better see if Wendy's awake," he thought. "She'd want to know about her boytoy-in-training takin' shots with my boys."

Taking steps to her bedroom door, he opened it, expecting to see her under covers, resting up for tomorrow's shift at Le Baron.

She was nowhere to be found. A post-it note rest on her pillow; its writing he couldn't make out from far away. He walked over and snatched it up, quickly scanning the words.

If anyone reads this before late tomorrow, that's when I'll be back.

Don't worry about me.

********************************

Ludwig held Esmereda tight in his arms as they and Iggy kept their distance from the duel. Knowing not how to intervene, they'd watch and hope that Kamek wouldn't gain the upper hand.

"Maggot, hold still!! " the robed one shouted in exhaustion as Roy dodged blasts from his wand.

"No thanks, wormy!", the muscular Koopaling shot back, matching Kamek's moves one for one. "There's lotsa things I ain't done yet in life! "

"Spoiler alert, they all include a pipe or a needle!" The magikoopa snarled as he held out the wand and drew force before unleashing a storm straight at Roy's head. It was dodged, but barely, and singed the shoulder of Roy's jacket.

"FUCKER!! " Roy screamed. "This was a present from my second girl!! " He roared and charged the koopa warlock, eyes relfecting immense rage. Kamek froze, in terror by two hundred-fifty pounds of muscle careening.

Roy grabbed that robe's upper front; one hand slung it and wearer to the wall. "UGH!" left Kamek's lips as his back kissed hard stone. In this, the wand flew out and landed floorbound, rolling back and forth. It took Roy moments - chalked up to many mistakes - to process what occurred; as he leaped toward the magical instrument and wrapped some fingers, he saw Kamek out of his eye's corner, snagging the other end, trying to wrench it away.

Both held fast to their end of it, but Roy was the stronger of the two. In one slow lift, he had the wand above his head with Kamek still on it, pulling like he had any leverage. So simple to spike it down, crash it to the floor, knocking magikoopa senseless. This might be his only oppportunity; he pulled the wand back rapidly, breaking traitor's grip. As the latter 'shook it off', first thing he saw was Roy over him, aiming the light-hammer at his head.

"Don't move. Not an inch." Kamek smartly complied, but with the clause of a defiant grin.

"That wand is powerless in your possession. You have no tutelage of spells nor how to use them."

Roy's countenance softened as he knew Kamek laid out a truth. No way to conjure, no attacks of any depth.

The magikoopa readied to attempt retaking it when Iggy spoke a directive. "Roy, toss it here! I have an idea!"

Roy did as told, and the wand flew from his hands into Iggy's. Kamek hopped in a desperate bid to snag it. He missed, and Iggy held it out and upwards, in order to cast from his book-learned lexicon.

"I hope this works", he whispered sweating. Thus began the incantation, done in deep and suitably mysterious voice.

"Saboteur so impure,

With your present plots demure,

Before to bearing fruits they come,

Lose evil will, and be as numb!!"

"N-NOT THAT!! " Kamek screeched as the wand began to glow. "ANYTHING BUT-" was all the more he managed before light shot out the instrument and struck his whole body. In its flash he went limp, falling to the cobblestones with no visible reflex to check severity.

Several seconds, the four of them watched there, a nemesis with sight half-closed but still with life. It was Roy who broke reverie, looking at Iggy with expressions of hero-worship.

"That was... Fuckin' crazy, man!" The muscular koopa ran up to hug him. He let go, and Ludwig took his place; then came Esmerelda, aching but in better state than they'd assumed.

"Where... Did you learn that?" she coughed, bedazzled.

He shrugged with a smile. "It's funny, I truly don't know. I've heard it somewhere, but the source escapes me."

"Bless your source, though." Ludwig blustered, watching his bride for signs she stood stable. "Looks like our worm is harmless now," Ludwig observed, as the dastardly Kamek stayed right where he'd fallen. "Dad vill hear of zis and undoubtedly put him to death. For him to lay a hand on..." He looked to Esmerelda, speakably okay, and rest a hand on her shoulder."... It can't come too soon."

At that moment, they remembered their proximity to the throne room doors, and was surprised to hear them beginning to creak open. He watched as they swung out into the hall, revealing a very tired-looking Bowser and his usual host of guards.

"He will die for this, I assure you." Breath boiled for Kamek. Immediately three guards in a crescent around him hastened to pick up and detain the former advisor, carrying his small, limp stature down the stairs.

Iggy faced his father expectantly. "I guess you heard everything, then?"

Bowser nodded. "These walls, while strong, are not soundproof. I suppose that when Kamek knew of your discovery, he trusted that wand and went careless. I'm sure his plan was to assassinate me, after dealing with you. Which means," he paused, gazing now at Iggy. "You thwarted an attempt on my life. Nothing can bring me greater pride in you." Their faces beamed, as they knew that commendation from their father was rare. "You needn't worry whether you'll be rewarded, either. This prevented something far worse than any of the past few days, and I will personally see that what you get in return reflects that."

Ludwig, though happy, could not ignore the King's ill undertones. "You are alright, aren't you, Dad?"

The monarch nodded, but with eyelids low, diverted. "I'm fine... My mind is heavy. Before Kamek left me within the throne room, his last favour to me was informing me of Morton. How it was brought to me, my fears were centered. "

Ludwig shifted from worry to subdued sickening. "So you DID order him to spy on Morton! I was ready to believe zat only he could care, but ze idea's yours!?"

"Yes", Bowser returned, not chastising his son for the raised voice. Shock from this decision maybe lent them to listen. "If all of you accompany me to my chambers, I will explain."

He turned to reenter the throne room, lumbering downheartedly, three sons and a daughter-in-law behind. They lined up before the highest seat in the land, and as their king took his place there he rubbed temples.

"Children, by birth and marriage" he started, never lapsing in the class he characterized, "I dwell on how my message may be dwarfed right now by Kamek's revolt, but make no mistake, this affects me. Ludwig, you - and by rights the rest of you - already call my motives into question, to order surveillance on Morton, but in blatant honesty it's for his own good. After the fiasco you were heart-clenchingly causing, Roy, I panicked. I grew deadly-concerned about all of you, and what else might possibly shatter us should some be left to their own devices. No extra lengths were gone to on most of your behalves, but one of you had chosen to disperse himself, associate beyond me." They understood, and it didn't much help. He continued. "Esmerelda, I say this more for your ears, Morton's been a thorn and great anxiety before, when school troubles and bad blood here were his reality. It took these incidents of the last week to remind me; now that he's grown, he's not fixed just for being out of my hair. All that might have changed is how his problems expose. One more step, you understand. One more by anyone the public knows as mine, and... We don't want a revolution. "

"But, Dad", Iggy interrupted, "We know Morton hasn't raised a stink since he moved out. In fact, the papers are your best weapon. Utilize the headlines if you're so anxious, what you don't see tells you everything."

His father sighed. "I'm aware. But as said, I panicked. I realize now that it might not have been intuitive to go behind his back, your backs, but for the proper reasons, even out of paranoia. But as for why I'm telling you four, it's not to be debating that. There's been some merit to my concern, because he-whom-I-won't-speak-of brought news I could not possibly foresee."

He paused, as if waiting for one of them to ask. Esmerelda gave in. "What has he told you?"

Bowser looked away, red with shame by his imminent answer. "Morton... Is bonded with another man. The apartment he moved into, they share. In fact," his hands began shaking, "The night Kamek found this home, he witnessed them inside, engaged in what I only refer to as a private moment."

Ludwig dropped jaw, Iggy gasped. Roy of course seemed disgusted. Only Esmerelda seemed unmoved, and was first to comment.

"With all respect, it's not such a problem", she sheepishly responded. "If he were my son, I would be thankful he found love. These things you can't change."

Bowser sighed, his true nature slowly returning. "Esmerelda, you may come from a family with alternate viewpoints from my own, but I cannot support my son in a relationship of this nature. It's not prejudice, or ignorance. It's that the last shred of hope I held after he basically abandoned us was that a wife and family would milden him. Morton's youth was plagued with failures because he just didn't care. Not once, for having ALL opportunities for education that many never get. He didn't care that his animosity to me would cost my time and love. He didn't even care when his friends began drifting away, frustrated as he drew more and more inside his shell. And at the climax, when he chose to leave, I knew there were very few things that could finally ground him and make him the man I raised him to be. This might answer his unhappy past, but now it's out of the picture..." He paused again, the last few words broken. "... I feel there's no hope for him. Like I've failed as a father, when I know I didn't. My efforts never mattered, it was him that failed me."

They were all speechless. Rare would not be the word to describe Bowser's baring innermost thoughts in this way, and they'd not have expected this epiphany to weaken him how it did. Esmerelda's eyes misted out of sympathy; not for him, but her brother-in-law. She knew, perhaps best among these five, the wrongness of anyone to judge a person's love... But she also knew that his happiness, being true to himself, caused his father more pain than she'd seen him freely express.

Seeming to sense her thoughts, Ludwig lay a gentle arm around his wife. "If it's not unfitting," he respectfully contributed, "I would like a talk about zis vith you alone." His wife gazed at him, half-alarmed, not getting his reasons, but a squeeze on her shoulder gave the cue to trust him.

Bowser rubbed his chin. "I have said that I didn't mean this as an opportunity for chat," he began, "But you've never had me doubt you before, Ludwig. You may well have your reasons. As you wish, then, if the rest of you would leave for just a moment, I will gladly receive you afterwards. There will be other things to run by all of you, as well."

Roy and Iggy, still dumbfounded, left in quiet. Esmerelda curtsied and followed.

Ludwig sighed deeply, hearing the double doors shut solid. He knew it wasn't easy to get out what he would.

"You recognize," he confidently began, "I have alvays done vatever I could to abide by your vill. But zis is one time ven I can't agree vith you, and neither can I set it aside."

Bowser's brow furrowed. For Ludwig to contest him was unheard of more than any of his own emotional display, but there'd be one chance from him for this to play out. He sat back to have his son explain, as was done with little hesitation.

"Morton butted heads vith you forever, zis is sacred fact. Ven he vas here, alvays at each other's necks, much as I've seen in any family. Zat's vy he moved away. He vanted peace. He knew you vould both do better vithout each other, vithout arguing, blowing up, all ze rest. You'e not ze only one who tried." His father's eyes widened as he resumed. "And I can understand zat, between hope his settling down could fix vatever problems of his, and ze normal fatherly pride bruised ven dealing on zis kind of thing, you could take it as a huge negative. But before you pass judgement - or think he vanted space to have affairs instead of zat being a product of the freedom - I vould respectfully suggest zat you think about zis from every angle."

He held the king's whole attention, a welcome boost to his own ease. "You said yourself zat you're avare Morton hasn't caused a problem since moving avay. He has a steady job now, and I'm sure he pays some rent for zat apartment he shares. It sounds to me like he's grounded himself vell so far. And I vouldn't deny him ze happiness ve all long for and deserve because you're afraid he's missing a chance to prove himself. Hate this thought if you'd like, but I'd velcome his lover vith open arms. As a gesture of good vill to Morton, and a chance you need at repairs for your relationship. Morton's not a bad egg, and from vat I know of the conflicts of ze past, his idea vas that you never gave him a chance to prove zat very thing. I'm not telling you you're wrong. I'm telling you zat I love my brother, and vould hate to see a part of who he is shunned for any reason, especially ven you could instead use it to show how much you really care. And zat's all I have to say."

Ludwig stared on timid as he finished, anticipating harsh, reactionary noise so often given out. The reply was nothing, just a deep, thoughtful stare that went right through him. He knew why Bowser didn't have a thing to add, and he bowed, in case this marked the end of their discussion.

"I can tell I've given you some to think about. I'll tell ze others to wait, or postpone, if you'd like."

Bowser only shook his head no, still a million miles away when Ludwig disappeared behind the doors.

*****************************************

Fifteen minutes elapsed before the sound of a ringing landline phone filled the apartment. Morton and Tom, out-cold in bed, were both jolted awake at the tone.

"Damnit," Morton grunted as he rubbed eye crusts, "It's five in the fucking morning. Who the hell needs to talk right now?"

"Whoever, it couldn't be a telemarketer this late." Tom gurgled, half asleep. "Say hello to your family... Watch that be it."

"Then I'm definitely not picking up. We have an answering machine."

Tom groaned as they heard the phone click over to the machine. Morton had recorded the outgoing message as if he lived alone, for obvious reasons.

"Hi, you've reached Morton. I'm either lying dead in the house somewhere, or very much alive in some other place right now, so either way start talking after the tone. *beep* Hey Morton... Tom. How are you?"

Morton instantly bolted upright. He knew Iggy's voice best of any of his flesh and blood, and his secret's being safe had apparently expired.

"Listen... There's no easy way to say this, and I'm sure that I don't have to explain any further than to just say that... Well, Dad knows. I'm calling from outside his chambers. I, Ludwig, Roy and Esmerelda just concluded talking to him a few minutes ago, and he informed us of your, uh, co-habitation. I wish I could say he sounded happy about it, but... Ehh, Ludwig talked with him and maybe softened his opinion, but who knows if it helped or not. For what it's worth, I'm sorry. I can't imagine how you must feel, but just know that you have my support, and Ludwig and Esmerelda's. Roy isn't too keen on it, but hey, the sky is blue, right?"

Tom knowingly expected Morton to take the news badly. He turned to his lover, and the tears in those eyes.

"But, I do have good news. A little earlier, Kamek showed his true colours, and tried to do away with us and Dad, but me and Roy succeeded in stopping him. I know, that sounds a far ways from good, but hear me out. Because of that, Dad granted Roy a full pardon for the trouble in Deerfield, and he won't have to go into the army after all. If no one told you, that's a long story by itself. And I received his promise that he would oversee construction of a huge, state-of-the-art facility to house all my lab studies, and hire specialists to apply the research I've compiled. Which MEANS, I can take care of that, and still have infinite time to spend with everyone else. Including you, if you'll put up with me. So... Yeah, call me back, when you get the chance. We all really need to hear from you. We... We all need you...*click*"

"You see?", Tom said, trying cheer for his better half. "Most of them understand. I'm sure they'll help you through facing the rest, including him. Just, if you want that."

The mist in a prince's eyes went behind a rigid scowl as he practically jumped out of bed. "That's not happening. I wouldn't talk to that bottom-feeding monster if he abdicated the whole kingdom to me."

"What?", Tom asked, not at all expecting this. "But, don't you think it would be a good idea... I mean, to hear him out? Even if he doesn't feel like Iggy, he still could apologize. Stuff changes when distance does."

Morton looked back at him, not stopping as he headed towards the small closet at the foot of their bed. "You don't know the half of what I went through. None of them do, either. Even if Dad woke up, and wanted to make it right, I just... I can't deal. It would be too much to even handle looking at him."

Tom stared at him as he rummaged through the small closet near the bed. "What are you doing?"

"Getting together what I'll need. You should too."

"Why? You said... Are you going somewhere?"

Morton stopped momentarily, facing Tom with no attempt to hide the turmoil. "Yes, we are. Pack your bags, we're going on an extended vacation."

To be continued...