Chapter Text
A tiny claw taps the rim of a megaphone, feedback blaring in response.
"Good to know this still works."
And no more was said after a notebook was taken off of the birch nightstand, the door to the bright, almost saccharine room closed near-soundlessly.
"Man, did we really look like that?"
"I already forgot, and to be honest, I'd rather forget how ugly that thing that's supposed to be me is."
Two of the youngest Koopalings watched the cartoon with morbid curiosity, utterly floored by how different they looked back then, at least according to the 'Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3.'
"Y'know, I hate to say it," Sighed Larry, seemingly aware of what would happen if he did. "But Kootie Pie's the least ugly out of all of them--In fact," All sensible brain function suddenly turns off. "I think she's better looking than the actual Wendy!"
A rising, piercing shriek almost immediately followed, like a magpie to a wedding ring.
"You sure you're not making a suicide note or something? Because I'm honestly really terrified of Wendy and she could claw you to death and that's bad and Dad's gonna be mad and that's also bad and--" Morton's gigantic pie-hole slaps shut the moment Larry gives him the side-eye.
"Shut up! I don't need even one more reason to escape Dark Land and make a new living as a nomad!" Larry slaps his palms to his temples, grasping at the roots of his mohawk and shuddering as he could sense those dreaded heels clacking down the hall.
"Maybe we should keep watching?"
"Anything to avoid her fury, man. Just play dumb or something, she's probably gonna brush it off and go back to her room, right?"
Less than a minute later, they both spot a silhouette.
"HEY!" They cringed when the feedback of the megaphone--wait, what?--pollutes the air for a brisk moment, rubbing their earholes and not looking away as the being finally rolls into the living room area.
"Jeez, Lemmy, would it have killed you to just say something and not blow out our eardrums? That's Wendy's thing, by the way." Larry crosses his arms, slightly annoyed.
"Well sorr-y! Anyways, I'm planning a big group-up! And I want you," Lemmy leaned closer, somehow not losing balance, and whispers... "And just you, Morton's a blabbermouth and as much as I love the guy, you're the best at keeping things quiet."
"Alrighty, what's the deal, Lems?" Larry smirks, a staple that usually leads to lots of spying.
"I need you to tell everyone who's currently awake, and tell them this: Head to the third floor. There's a hidden room near the stairway, not too far from my own room."
"Got it. But why everyone who's up? You know--"
"I know, he doesn't have to come, if he does, that's fine, and vice versa."
"That's...strange, even by your standards." Larry's face slightly warped with confusion. "But I'll take it!" That determined, stupid grin was re-plastered on his face.
"You'll take what?" Morton butted into the conversation.
"Nothing, it's nothing! Just another cookie heist." Larry jabbers as he starts to run into another corridor, objective set in mind.
"Can I come?"
"Actually..." Lemmy's face turned from one of thought into another silly smile. "Dad's recently gotten those cookies with marshmallows, and normal and white chocolate chips. Maybe we should take them with us. But, that's not the only thing I have in mind!"
The elevator dinged as the last few Koopalings finally rendezvous at the third floor, heading to Lemmy's position.
"Thanks for coming guys! To be honest, actually, I thought you wouldn't..." Lemmy sheepishly chuckles.
"Oh, trust me." Wendy scowled, make-up clearly smudged all over her face. "We wouldn't miss it for the world." Her unholy death glare was directed solely towards Larry.
"Yeah, sorry 'bout that. But with that all out of the way..." Lemmy taps on a seemingly loose brick, and a small amount of the wall shifts, opening up to reveal...
Nothing.
"We came all dis way, FOR NOTHIN'!?" Roy bellows, incredulous that his oh-so-precious time was wasted.
"I haven't even done anything yet." Lemmy deadpanned.
"'Done anything?'" Iggy briefly ceases his insanity to pipe up. "What're you gonna do? Wait, wait! You're gonna...uh..." His face scrunches as he struggles to think of a scenario. "You're gonna use your magic to make something really cool and turn this musty, barren room into a kiddie wonderland!" He shot up, enthusiasm pumping through his veins and driving him into yet another laughing fit.
"Precisely!" Lemmy beamed, not caring that the 'surprise' was found out. With a light flick of the wrist and some slight chanting, the yellow-orange beam that escaped the confines of his wand flies around the room gracefully, and in doing so, lights up some fabric cushions that looked way too big to be in the castle.
"This has to be a pocket dimension of some sort." Larry murmurs. "No way the castle could fit all of that..."
"Tell me about it." Morton replies.
"If you thought that was cool," Lemmy conjures a large ball from under his feet. "You haven't seen nothing yet!" He zips away, giggling like the little kid he always was at heart.
The interior of the massive pillow fort was even more plush and cozy, with fairy lights strewn about like fireflies in a jar. It faintly smelled of fresh pine and foodstuffs, the latter seemingly in abundance, placed on dainty little off-white tables.
"I took the liberty of getting food, just so you guys didn't have to starve while we had fun!" Lemmy finally appears on a cushion, behind a velveteen imitation of a campfire.
"Lemmy, this is amazing! You've really outdone yourself with--" Wendy gasps as she rushes over to one of the tables. "Super Leaf tea? Oh my Stars, how'd you get this?"
"Remember that time I broke my leg and said it was from another one of my circus acts?" Lemmy looks up at his younger sister.
"You lied?" She connected the dots pretty easily.
"Yeah, I wanted to get the leaves, but," Lemmy bent his left leg. "I kinda slipped and fell... At least it wasn't like that time Iggy thought it'd be a good idea to teach his Chain Chomp how to fly." He grimaces at that memory.
"I still have scars! Wanna see?" He gives them both a demented, catlike smile.
"Yeah no, this is a wholesome hour, we need to relax a little before the real fun begins." Lemmy lowered his brother's arm. "I can barely see them, anyways."
It was strangely peaceful.
Peaceful is a word that should never be associated with the Koopalings of all creatures.
Morton's kept quiet for the most part, Wendy hasn't complained in over 30 minutes, Larry found absolutely no reason to spy on or annoy his siblings, and even Roy of all Koopas seemed to be calm and collected within the pillow fort. Meanwhile, Lemmy kept Iggy busy by talking about their youth, back when Iggy had a similar hairstyle and was much smaller.
About 40 minutes later...
"I'm boooored." Wendy's voice started to whine, a telltale sign that something has to be done before she throws the mother of all tantrums.
"We know, Wends." Larry sighed. "Lemmy, you have a clue of what to do before Queen of the Banshees over here explodes everybody's head with her crying?"
"Well, maybe we can listen to a story." The smallest Koopaling's eyes lit up, completely oblivious to his questioner's fresh scratches and groans of pain. "And I think I've got a pretty good one!"
Some of the reactions around the room varied from indifference to excitement.
"Gather 'round, guys! Your big bro's got a story!" Lemmy announces, perched upon his ball.
"If you're big, then I'm Godzilla!" Roy quipped, mock-roaring and pretending to knock down imaginary cities, finally kicking Iggy in the derrière, chuckling to himself.
The rest giggled (sans Iggy, who grumbled.) and headed to the big circle around the 'campfire.'
"How should I start..."