[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/6W7bqko.png[/img] [h2][color=FD0000]The Koopa Troop[/color][/h2] [b][color=FD0000]wordcount:[/color][/b] 2,684 (+3) [b][color=FD0000]Bowser: Level 12 [/color][/b] EXP: [color=FD0000]//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////[/color] (293/120) [b][color=SpringGreen]Bowser Jr: Level 12 [/color][/b] EXP: [color=SpringGreen]////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////[/color] (178/120) [b][color=DeepSkyBlue]Kamek: Level 12 [/color][/b] EXP: [color=DeepSkyBlue]//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////[/color] (170/120) [b][color=Aqua]Rika: Level 8 [/color][/b] EXP: [color=Aqua]////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////[/color] (101/80) [b][color=FD0000]Location:[/color][/b] The Under - Termite Kingdom Ruins [hider=warp locations] [s] Central hub: Smash City Alcamoth Accessible locations: Peach’s castle Limsa Lominscuttle Town Lumbridge Twilight Town Kosm’s Beach [/s] [/hider] [/center] The troop had a little bit of a wait at the top thanks to the head start most of their members had on the rest of the seekers. While they waited Jr ended up making a joke about how it was a [color=SpringGreen]”Shame papa sold those massive scissors back in the city, you coulda used those”[/color] in response to Nadia’s murmured comment about getting her haircut, before thinking for a moment quickly forming a pair of crude pair of iron scissors using his ferromancy and offering [color=SpringGreen]”How about with these then?”[/color] also mostly as a joke. The cat burglar gave him a dubious glance, pulling her ponytail over her shoulder almost defensively. "Do..you know how to hairdress? I mean, I'm not some snooty purr-incess or anythin', but there's more to a haircut than actually cuttin' hair, y'know? If you hairdo a bad job, I'm hairdone for." [color=SpringGreen]”I’m sure it’ll be fiiiiiiiine. I’ve done all sorts of talents you’d never guess at”[/color] the prince replied, before snickering, rather giving the game away in the process. [color=DeepSkyBlue]”and yet I am quite sure haircuts are not one of them”[/color] Kamek interjected, before plucking the scissors from he prince’s hands [color=DeepSkyBlue]”and even if you did, I would not advise using these”[/color] [color=SpringGreen]”Hey! They aren't that bad”[/color] Jr complained, and then after giving the blunt things a second look, instead switched to insisting that [color=SpringGreen]”I can make some way better ones”[/color] before attempting to do so. With the prince briefly distracted, Kamek told Nadia that [color=DeepSkyBlue]”I actually have a little bit of experience cutting hair, though I am by no means skilled at it. Their majesties had something of a habit of scaring off any barbers trying to give them a trim in their earliest years you see, so I might have given them a surreptitious cut or two while they were sleeping”[/color] which got a pair of “wait you did?!” from both royal koopas. Nadia chuckled at the Troop's antics. "That's super on-brand for you guys. And thanks fur offerin', but I think I'll pass. A girl's hair ain't somethin' ya do by trial and error." After another moment spent watching the Koopas, something occurred to her, and she raised an eyebrow. "Aren't there any gals in your Troop? Who's Junior's mom?" [color=DeepSkyBlue]”Fair enough”[/color] Kamek conceded gracefully while Jr made a little [color=SpringGreen]”awww beans”[/color] in disappointment, before giving the small pile of rejected scissors he had made a light kick. [color=Aqua]”Shame, that last pair looks good. I think. Sharp anyway”[/color] Rika commented, having never had so much as a trim before, as she took a look at the vicious looking pair of snippers the prince had formed in his last attempt. [color=DeepSkyBlue]”As for ladies,”[/color] Kamek then replied, [color=DeepSkyBlue]”well naturally there are, though it should be noted hair isn’t not exactly a common trait in Koopas, nor is it among the various other species that make up our ranks”[/color] the hairless himself Koppa replied, thinking most prominently of Wendy O’Koopa and her baldness when compared to the rest of the Koopalings (save the equally bare Roy), before thinking it over and then adding [color=DeepSkyBlue]”and a fair amount that do might be wearing wigs now that I think about it? Possibly? It would be rude to ask”[/color] [color=SpringGreen]”And I don't have a mom yet”[/color] Jr replied very matter of factly (as if this didn’t raise several questions), his ego having already recovered thanks to Rika’s praise of his craftsmanship. Nadia blinked at Junior a couple times and decided not to press the issue any further. Compared to all the bizarre things she'd been forced to accept already, this barely even registered. At any rate, soon after that conversation wound down, the rest of the gang arrived, and they all set off on the next leg of their adventure, which took them into a spooky graveyard which had, of all things, an office desk sitting in it. The troop approached this desk along with Nadia, and got a front row seat to the unfurling of the massive contract as a result. [color=DeepSkyBlue]”Badness me, that is quite the sea of legalease”[/color] the Kamek said as he took it all in, before adjusting his spectacles and starting to say [color=DeepSkyBlue]”if you’ll give me a moment I’ll-”[/color] before making an affronted noise as Bowser pushed him the the side and signed right away while declaring [color=FD0000]”Yeah, no, we’ve not got time for that so let’s just get it over with so we can move on”[/color] [color=DeepSkyBlue]”Sire!”[/color] The mage protested, swiftly adding similar exclamations of [color=DeepSkyBlue]”Young master!”[/color] and [color=DeepSkyBlue]”Young mistress!”[/color] when Jr and Rika also signed without reading. Well, in actuality Rika took the pen, paused for a moment, and then leaned over and asked Kamek [color=Aqua]”Is my name spelled R-Y-K-A-H or R-I-K-A-H?”[/color] The princess had never had the need to write it down before after all, or anything else in her life really. [color=DeepSkyBlue]”Oh? I think it’s R-I-K-A”[/color] Kamek supplied helpfully, and added [color=DeepSkyBlue]”Oh and put Koopa at the end, as that is your last name now that you are his majesty’s scion. K-O-O-P-A.”[/color] [color=Aqua]”Thanks! K-O-O-P-A and done!”[/color] the princess declared right in time for Kamek to realize what he’d just helped her do with an exclamation of [color=DeepSkyBlue]”Gah no wait!”[/color] Yet at that point it was much too late, and so he could do little but sigh and facepalm at their now collective stupidity. Despite them having already signed, Kamek refused to peer pressured into also doing so, and so doggedly proceeded to slowly read through the contract line by tiny line (which was not pleasant on his old eyes, that he’d tell you) before doing so. Fortunately for Snatcher, Bowser was much too impatient to wait for him to finish, and so the rest of the troop forged on ahead far before Kamek reached the important part. When he did, he proceeded to exclaim [color=DeepSkyBlue]”Their souls!”[/color] before hurriedly scanning the rest of the important part of the contact buried in the smallest of small-text while going [color=DeepSkyBlue]”No, no, no, no”[/color] before tossing the whole thing away like it was poison to the touch. The mage paced to and for several moments as he mulled over what he could do, before snapping his fingers- and promptly getting on his broom and leaving. A few moments later a tiny shrunken mote of light drifted through the room he had just left, suspiciously sneaking past the demon manning the desk, and then touching the wall beyond. The whips phased right through the material of the crypt, and popped right on out the other side, emerging into the dance party on the other side, where it joined the flashing lights of the dance floor. A second or so later Kamek joined it, arriving in a puff of smoke, having teleported inside thanks to the remote vision his summon had granted him. The mage had been ever so worried about what fate had awaited his royal masters within, but he was both relieved, and a touch incredulous, that rather than finding them facing certain doom he instead found them in the midst of hosting a pizza party in the crypt’s central hub. [color=Aqua]”Hey Kamek!”[/color] Rika called over as she gave him a wave [color=Aqua]”Did you end up signing the thingy as well?”[/color] [color=DeepSkyBlue]”Oh yes of course, how else would I have been able to follow you in here”[/color] the mage replied loudly as he drifted on his broom and then landed among them, at which point he leaned in and whispered [color=DeepSkyBlue]”I’m lying, I teleported in here, so I still own my soul”[/color] [color=Aqua]”What did that even mean anyway? Like, what’s a soul?”[/color] the princess asked before anyone could comment on Kamek’s cleverness, which sent the mage floundering for a way to explain that metaphysical concept [color=DeepSkyBlue]”Oh, well, um, see it’s well. It’s what makes you, you. But not your body or your brain, it’s a more, well, a more spiritual thing you see?”[/color] [color=Aqua]”Oh so it's my spirit? But I’ve got a whole bunch of those in me, so can I just give him one of those instead?”[/color] Rika asked, thoroughly confuddling Kamek. Fortunately, or unfortunately, Bowser stepped in at that moment to declare [color=FD0000]”Nobody’s giving anyone any spirits, or any souls!”[/color] and then explaining that [color=FD0000]”All we have to do is beat that necrodancer in a dance battle and we’ll win them back”[/color] [color=DeepSkyBlue]”Dance … battle?”[/color] Kamek repeated, before asking [color=DeepSkyBlue]”Is this something that was explained, or did you just guess that this is the case sire?”[/color] [color=FD0000]”I mean it's obvious isn’t it. Guy’s got ‘dance’ in his name, and there’s a bunch of people doing dance battles in here, so they must be practicing to take him on”[/color] Bowser explained [color=FD0000]”Fortunately for you lot, I’ve been in this situation before. Ya see it all started when Waluwigi stole the 4 magical Music keys, which I think is like the only solo bad guy thing has ever done, and it just got crazier from there”[/color] Bowser began, before giving a fever dream like recounting of the single day in which Mario decided to use the power of dance to solve all his problems which eventually ended with [color=FD0000]”And that’s how I got my tone deafness cured!”[/color] [color=DeepSkyBlue]”Ah yes, that. I tried to forget”[/color] Kamek said, not particularly happy to have the memory of those events dredged up, while the two youngsters had thoroughly enjoyed the whole silly story from beginning to end. [color=Aqua]”So you can dance real good?”[/color] Rika asked [color=FD0000]”Yup! Runs in the family too! Jr’s a real good rhythmic gymnast and ribbon dancer don’t you know. Got some Olympic medals for it and everything”[/color] the king replied, while Jr groaned [color=SpringGreen]”Daaaaad”[/color] just a little embarrassed about people being told about some of the less cool sports he’d done over the years. Or rather that they’d done, because his papa had taken part in the exact same events after all. Rika at least thought it was [color=Aqua]”Neat”[/color] as she often did regarding new information, before adding that she [color=Aquamarine]”bet that’ll come in real handy”[/color] and then adding after a moment of reflection that [color=Aquamarine]”I’ve never danced before in my life though, so I’ll probably slow you all down”[/color] [color=DeepSkyBlue]”Let’s not jump to conclusions shall we. For all we know this is simply how people are distracting themselves down here and we simply need to overpower this necrodancer in a conventional manner”[/color] Kamek suggested, before adding that [color=DeepSkyBlue]”If you give me a moment, I’m sure I can find out more by simply asking someone what this place’s whole situation is”[/color] [color=FD0000]”Oh, right yeah I guess we could just do that”[/color] Bowser said, as he stood up to come join in with that (while continuing to eat pizza out of one of the many pizza boxes). They left the kids behind to keep eating, during which Jr explained to Rika that she could probably dance with her spear, and he might be able to give her a few tips from his old rhythmic gymnastics routine that sometimes involved a long stick. The two older troop members meanwhile took a little look around trying to decide who to ask, and ended up approaching the blonde woman due to her standing out so much (and after failing to get the attention of a number of undead). [color=DeepSkyBlue]”Good morning. Or is it afternoon? Regardless, hello to you young lady, I don’t suppose you could fill in a few newcomers about the nature of this place?“[/color] [color=FD0000]”Yeah, like where’s the poser I gotta dance into the dirt to get outta here. I’m a busy guy, I’ve got a whole list of other people who need to get stomped as well after I deal with this speedbump”[/color] Bowser added along with a palm punch. Though Bowser and Kamek's sudden visitation left the girl taken aback, she quickly composed herself to try and give her fellow unfortunates a hand. "Uh, hey. Guess you guys lost your souls too? I didn't even sign anything, I just fell into this place and got mine nicked off me." Though like the Organization girl she happened to speak with a British accent, hers was a lot less high-pitched and cockney. "Well, the NecroDancer's the one you want. He's the one holdin' everyone's souls, that Snatcher fellow's just a legal contractor. But it's not easy as walkin' right up to 'im and bustin' a move. You've gotta work your way up before he sees you as a worthy challenger. That means winnin' points through dance-offs." She wore a stern expression as she delivered the news. "Outdancin' the dead 'round here's piss easy, but beaten them won't get you much points. Better to beat other contractors, but they wanna live just as bad as you do. The NecroDancer's got special minions too, like Fortissimole and King Conga. They're worth even more, but they're tough as nails. So even if you're feelin' yourself, pick your battles. You don't wanna go below zero." As she sighed, she leaned back, allowing just enough of the fickle firelight to shine on her face that the Koopas saw her sunken eyes and the worry lines etched in your face. "If you wanna know all the details, talk to the Amicassador. She's one of the NecroDancer's cronies, not to mention the best fan dancer in the Crypt. I'm Cadence, by the way." Leaning on her shovel with her left arm, she extended her right to shake. [color=DeepSkyBlue]”Kamek“[/color] the mage replied, taking and shaking, before leaning in close and covertly asking [color=DeepSkyBlue]”Incidentally, what would I look out for if I, hypothetically, had to be worry about getting mine ‘nicked’ as well?“[/color] [color=FD0000]”This Amicassador they guy who’s being shown up by the tracksuit bro’s over there?”[/color] Bowser meanwhile asked, based purely on the fact that said person also had a fan. "Don't fall unconscious," Cadence told him ruefully. When she looked over at the person Bowser indicated, she raised an eyebrow. "Uhh...no. She is part fox though. And also probably the reason why nobody wants to learn from old Youko there. No point in even trying to fan dance with Tingyun around." She glanced back at Bowser. "That's the Amicassador. Just look for a big, fluffy brown fox tail." Kamek offered her [color=DeepSkyBlue]”My thanks“[/color] for the advice. Given that he wasn’t going to be doing any dances of his own, what with his age and lack of need, his biggest concern would be any acts of subterfuge on the parts of their host should they find him out. [color=FD0000]”Yeah, thanks.”[/color] The king echoed, before adding that [color=FD0000]”I’ll pay you back by bringing down the house within the day”[/color] [color=DeepSkyBlue]”I’m not sure how you being cheered helps h-“[/color] Kamek began to say, before getting it [color=DeepSkyBlue]”ooooooh. I see. Yes, we’ll be sure to raze the roof if we can“[/color] "Good luck," Cadence wished them, a slight smile on her face. Hopefully these newbies would fare better than the last batch They were certainly convinced they would, and so headed back to the pizza party with their newly acquired information. [color=FD0000]”I was right! It is a dance off system!”[/color] Bowser declared loudly and smugly [color=DeepSkyBlue]”Yes, yes“[/color] Kamek conceded, before putting in all the work in relaying all the information they’d leard to the others, ending with [color=DeepSkyBlue]”So we should probably seek out this ‘Amicassador’ person next“[/color] [color=FD0000]”Yup. After you finish lunch!”[/color] Bowser declared, which got a [color=DeepSkyBlue]”huh?”[/color] from Kamek, before he got a pizza box shoved in his hands by the king. [color=DeepSkyBlue]”Oh, well, I suppose now that we know we’re not in immediate danger I guess I can take a slight beak”[/color] he admitted, before flipping open the lind, breathing in the scent of somehow still hot and fresh Italian cuisine and sighing with delight. He hadn’t realized how hungry all the fighting and flying of the morning had left him till just now, and so he was then more than happy to sit down and much away while taking in the scenery inside the tomb in a more relaxed fashion alongside the rest of the troop, and anyone else who wanted to join them for lunch.