Night 0: July 10, 1982

The sun sank below the horizon hours ago, but the ruckus outside disturbed the supposed peace. Bombs defused only meters from Koopa Castle; the sheer power shook the citadel to its core and frightened its residents. The castle's denizens only wanted a peaceful night's rest; alas, peace remained unknown in a civil war.

In one of the Castle's bedrooms, Ludwig von Koopa, Lemmy Koopa and Roy Koopa huddled together. They're tired, but terrified; the eruptions plagued even their dreams. Each shivered as bob-ombs' bright flashes filled their room and broadcasted the grisly scenes below.

"The loud things that go boom… I'm scared. I want Mommy," Lemmy cried.

"I-I hope it ends s-soon," Ludwig replied. The oldest koopaling wrapped his arms around both Lemmy's and Roy's necks. He attempted to be brave for the two younger koopas, but even the collected Ludwig remained fearful.

Unlike the other two, Roy's young age prevented him from knowing what true peace was. War occurred in Dark Land before he hatched almost two months ago. Roy's used to the sounds, but he felt uneasy; the enemy troops never came THIS close to the Castle, ever.

Ludwig stared at Roy in pity. His youngest brother understood death and violence before he could even speak or walk. No kid deserved that fate. Kids should be playing with cars, not participating in endless bomb drills and witnessing the massacres.

"Here," Ludwig pulled out his wand and waved it in a small circle. From the tip of the wand, a soothing lullaby blared louder than even the largest of bob-ombs. Roy's uneasiness melted like butter, and the koopaling closed his eyes and expelled little snores. Ludwig gingerly picked Roy up and laid him down in his crib.

"I'm still scared, Luddy!" Despite the music, Lemmy still whimpered.

"Shh, Lemmy, Roy's asleep, and we know how hard it is for him to get to sleep. We need to calm down and sleep too. Just focus on the music. Mom and Dad and their army will protect us."

Lemmy nodded. He rose from the floor and laid in his bed, and Ludwig did the same. Lemmy imagined the bed's soft mattress hugging him, while Ludwig envisioned his mattress acting as an impenetrable shield.

The lullaby continued, and the two fell asleep.

Day 1: July 11, 1982

A hectic and somber morning greeted the residents of the Castle. Servants ran two and fro, each carrying a crate loaded with mysterious items. Soldier patrols marched throughout the Castle's exterior; their bill blasters threatened anyone bent on destroying their comrades. Despite the mess, the three koopalings never woke up until Bowser and Clawdia barged into their room.

Frightened, Roy uttered a short cry of surprise while Lemmy and Ludwig shot up from their beds.

"Bowser? Clawdia? What's wrong?" the oldest koopaling questioned.

Clawdia attempted to speak, but she's unable to state a word without breaking down in anguish. Ludwig picked up on the emotion; something terrible happened.

Bowser instead addressed the three, patting his wife's shoulders in comfort as even he neared tears.

"Please gather around."

Lemmy approached Bowser and sat on the floor, while Ludwig grabbed Roy from the crib and sat cross-legged near Bowser, placing the youngest koopaling on his lap. Ludwig braced himself; nothing good ever came from an impromptu meeting. By Clawdia's reaction, this meeting showed no exception.

"The battle yesterday and last night was tough," the king sighed, "Traw's forces were pushed back, and the Castle's no longer under threat. But there's bad news. I'm sorry to say but due to last night… Aly and Lenny are no longer with us."

Ludwig felt a thousand needles prick his heart. His family, slaughtered only because of a throne. Ludwig abhorred this war; he wanted it to end. But he also didn't want his other uncle ruling the Land with Morton's iron fist. Meanwhile, Lemmy stared at Bowser, confused at the announcement.

"What? Did they get lost?"

Bowser sighs in anguish. Ludwig took the exhale as a sign to clarify. He whispered in Lemmy's ear, and the younger koopaling frowned while he held back tears.

"No…" he squeaked.

Bowser attempted to compose himself after a moment of silence, while Clawdia hugged the children in comfort. Bowser continued, "They fought valiantly to the end. We should commemorate their efforts, and always keep them in our memories. But now, we received info from our spies that Traw's now sending mercenary forces to... Possibly kill me, Clawdia and you three."

Ludwig and Lemmy never expected to be targets due to their noninvolvement. They gasped at the news, but Bowser spoke before the koopalings panicked.

"I'm too busy leading the armies, and Clawdia's too busy performing healing surgeries on our troops," Bowser continued, "And the servants are loyal to the war action. None of you three have protection here. I can't risk you three being in danger here, especially not together. You're the Kingdom's next heirs."

Ludwig knew what Bowser was about to announce; he heard a couple stories of Bowser's own stay in Yoshi's Island. He frowned while Lemmy looked at him in confusion.

"So…?"

"I'm having three servants take you three to the Real World."

Lemmy's eyes bulged and Ludwig continued frowning. The duo heard about the Real World and how discriminatory they are towards any species not human. How is living there safer than staying on Plit?

"We need to send you there. Traw's magikoopas cannot track you down there," Bowser replied as if he read their minds, "I don't want any of you dead. Now, meet your new, and hopefully temporary, guardians! Kamek, Kammy, Kamella, come over here!"

The three magikoopas flew into the room on their broomsticks. Each carried a bag of gold coins and forged documents about the koopaling they're tasked to care for. Kammy hovered before Lemmy while both Kamek and Kamella stood by Ludwig.

"Ludwig, you'll be living in Austria with Kamek. Anywhere in Austria works, considering it's a neutral country. Swap places every now and then."

Ludwig grinned. He loved German and Austrian culture, from their musicians to their food; he can taste the Mozartkugeln already. Although he'll miss Dark Land and his family, Ludwig considered this experience to be a once in a lifetime offer. Likewise, Kamek smirked at his adopted-son-turned-boss.

"I'll take care of him, Your Mightiness. I'll make sure he gets taught the absolutely EVIL lessons you so desire to present to him!"

"Good, raise my Crown Prince like you raised me," Bowser nodded, "Lemmy, you'll be living in Canada with Kammy, possibly in limbo between British Columbia and the Yukon. Switch between the two."

Lemmy, not knowing where Canada's located or what a Canada even is, didn't express emotion to the decision. Kammy only nodded in understanding.

"Lastly, Kamella, take Roy through the sewer in New York City's borough of Brooklyn; it's clear from the rats that nobody ever goes down those sewers, so no one will suspect a thing. I have a rented apartment there in Brooklyn for you and Roy to stay in, and a summer house in the Cape Cod area of Massachusetts to stay in. Again, switch between the two."

"I will, sir," Kamella obeyed, "But why these three, err, multiple places?"

"The kids will be spread out, and Traw won't suspect a thing. Most importantly, I believe the best places for them are the ones I assigned. Any other questions?"

The magikoopas shook their heads. Kamek and Kammy beckoned their koopalings to get on their broomsticks while Kamella retrieved Roy from Ludwig.

"Let's leave now before Traw puts us in danger," Kamek advised.

The magikoooas fly off into the blue sky; Bowser stared at them in grief. Last night, he lost his two siblings; now today, he just lost his three adopted sons. He hoped all three would be able to come home to a safe Dark Land soon.

And that hope only fueled his war against Traw's usurping army.