Mamae Raau

[Kopaka]

As our troupe of travelers passed through the portal into the Tangled Greens, the first sensation that met me was the oppressive heat that washed over my mask. This sort of tropical environment felt familiar, but was far warmer than any place I had ever been. A thick mist obscured large, dark trees that hung overhead, and a frantic mess of buzzing, chirping and squawking assaulted my audio receptors. I did not like this place. The Koopas and I picked our way through the dense underbrush, and it occurred to me that this pathway must not be traveled often for it to have become so overgrown. That, or mysterious forces were at work in this place. Possibly both things were happening. Regardless, I wanted to get to the next portal as soon as possible, but unlike our sojourn through Camelot, the gate to the Ashen Steppes was, according to the Koopa Troop, at the completely opposite end of the Tangled Green.

Resigned to the mugginess of the place, I made no indication of my discomfort as we soldiered on through the forest. After some time, I noticed that several Koopas were walking in rather close proximity to me. At first I wasn't sure if they thought I still needed protection, but then it occurred to me that my inherent aura of cooled air was probably a balm to them within this hot house. There were very few words exchanged, as everyone seemed focus on reserving their energy for a long day's march, but after a time, even I needed to pause for respite.

We came to a small stream that ran through the forest, and many Koopas instantly submerged themselves in the gurgling water. I contented myself to lean against a large tree, which promptly frosted over and began to lose some of its foliage. Rations were broken out for a meal, but being a Toa, I did not take my sustenance in the form of edible food. No...I would have to find some place that was naturally cold in order to replenish my energy. Surely if a place such as this existed within the Omniverse, there must be somewhere that had an appreciably low temperature that I could pull elemental power from. In the mean time, I would have to conserve the use of my control over ice, since I had drained a large portion of my reserves from the previous battle. With any luck, we would have no need of such power in our travels...

[Lemmy Koopa]

The atmosphere around the forest was calming but it felt a bit confusing and noting Ludwig, he was never a fan of being in a dense forest for long; that was more into Iggy's pleasure if by all means since he was always in the jungly, foresty places. However, being tired from the fight made him a bit more cranky especially when what happened back there since all he wanted is a nap to rest up before he could continue onwards. In addition, it's truly a shame since he just couldn't catch a breath; lucky that he's too not hungry or thirsty now because that would be more bad news. Despite of injuries, he was still glad that he managed to pull out of there before the Camelot guards were to catch up to them because that would had warrant a true disaster for the remains of the group.

They had lost only so many back there.

Relieved, Ludwig took his position underneath a nearby tree to return to rest up as he watched several of the Koopa Troopas of the group found pleasure into dipping themselves in some nice, cool water.

Perhaps this time, they wouldn't be interrupted by anyone.

"Rest yourselves easy for now, but remain on guard," he advised to the remaining members of the group before he asked the Koopa Bro,"How far is our destination?"

The Koopa Bro explained,"It's beyond this forest and into Ashen Steppes. There's a cavern leading underground that leads to the volcanic subterranean levels that goes to the main Castle and that's where we'll meet up with Lord Bowser,"

Ludwig nodded and replied,"So we have some distance remaining as it seems; very well. After we take this moment to recover and rest ourselves, we'll continue on. However, it would seem to me that the temperature of the environment there would not be suitable for Kopaka since ice melts with fire. From here, I believe, we must make off our different ways in order to reach each of our individual destinations,"

This was the reality of what was in hand; Ludwig couldn't possibly endanger the one that has done so much to assist him from Camelot's injustice to dealing with hostile secondary rogues with an attempt to put an early end from the both of them just as how the fallen did.

Before he went on continuing, a curious thought came across Ludwig's mind as he remembered what the head rogue said to them before the fight: something about them being called Primes..

He continued,"Primes..is that what we're called in this strange world?"

The Koopa Bro perked up and replied,"Oh! I know about this. Lord Kamek told us from before that Primes are basically immortal in this place as they can't truly die and are the only ones that can use Omnilium unlike secondaries. They get revived in some place called the Nexus or something like that,"

Ludwig remembered about the Nexus very clearly. It was his first destination after he had arrived at after being brought in the portal from his own world; it was unusual but became boring over time.

"How intriguing, so it is not only a place of beginnings but also a place of revival from death," he replied before the Koopa Bro nodded and continued,"Yeah, that's it. Oh and one more thing, it's also a place where battles occur as well, he said something about the Fountain of Infinity but has yet to find out more information about it,"

Ludwig thought over what the Koopa Bro mentioned to him as he said,"It seems that the Nexus has more meaning that it truly does; this makes things that much interesting and if Kamek is looking into it, then perhaps I should as well given time. I am still curious about this Omni individual, give or take; there just seems to be much about him I don't know about,"

That is if none of his other siblings arrive and interrupt his progress like they always does. However, before long he looked to Kopaka before he look back to the Koopa Bro, thinking for a bit on exactly on terms of helping Kopaka. The energy he needs, being ice, seems to be the only way he can recover. After all, he isn't like Ludwig and the other variations of the Koopas.

[The Vision]

"WAAAAHAHAHAHA" Luigi weeped as he crashed through the Ashen Steppes portal into the Tangled Green. He had been screaming for three hours straight. As he entered the woods, he barely processed that his surroundings had completely changed. He was too drenched with utter fear. The Koopas were here. Why the hell were the Koopas everywhere?

Luigi tripped on a root and fell on his face. Dizzy from exhaustion, he slowly climbed onto his knees and rubbed his absurd nose. After smoothing his stache, he sighed. Chances are, he wouldn't see any Koopas around here.

"We need to report back to the Koopa Bros.," a voice chimed through the trees.

Luigi ducked and stuffed his head inside a bush. He had spoken too soon. There was a red and green Koopa Troopa.

"What, that we heard a voice that sorta sounds like Luigi screaming through the woods? Luigi don't scream."

"Are you kidding me?" the green Koopa Troopa replied, "Luigi's scared of everything!"

"What? No, he isn't," the red one scoffed, "Luigi's the red one, right?"

Luigi frowned. These were some very uneducated turtles.

"No, you idiot, the red one is Mario," the green one sighed exasperatedly, "To this day, I will not understand how you got promoted if you can't even tell the difference between Mario and Luigi."

"Well, you got stuck with green 'cause you're always scared of everything, I suppose," his companion turtle chuckled.

The green-shelled Koopa scowled as the red-shelled one roared in laughter. "Very funny. I bet you haven't come face-to-face with Mario yet."

"Well, I hope to, one day," the red Koopa haughtily bragged, "But for now, we have to go back to Prince Ludwig and report Luigi's presence."

"We don't even know if it's him," the green Koopa whined.

"Listen to your superior officer!" the red Koopa snarled, "We are reporting this, now. And when we get to the Ashen Steppes, Lord Bowser will give me another promotion. Come along!"

The green Koopa muttered under his breath, "Go back to New York sewers, you fat frog."

They walked away. Luigi kept his head buried next to the roots of the nearby bush. He had to get out of here! It was only a matter of time before the Koopas started spreading out and searching for him. He couldn't go back to the Steppes, it was too dangerous there, now that he knew that Bowser was there. Ludwig, at least, was not as terrifying as Bowser. Maybe he could run away somewhere else.

Luigi felt immense dread as he realized there was nowhere in the world where he was safe.

[Kopaka]

Kopaka stayed where he was as the Koopa Troop took their break and fetched water. He could feel his elemental power slowly returning to him, but it wasn't nearly as quick as it could have been. Camelot had been slightly better for recharging, but the immense heat of this jungle further hindered his connection to his sovereignty over ice. The toa had no reason to suspect that they were in any danger at the moment; the rahi of this Omniverse did not appear to be terribly dangerous, and no one had come down this path for hours. This did not, however, mean that Kopaka was relaxed. Being a bionicle of Mata Nui meant that Kopaka never had to eat nor sleep, so long as he had the ability to harvest energy into his gear wheel. In a pinch, his systems could convert organic matter into energy for his body to use, but it was neither a pleasant nor easy process, so the toa never really resorted to it if necessary.

He did, however, have to take in water to keep his organics from becoming dehydrated, and as such, once everyone else seemed to have taken their turn at the riverside, Kopaka ventured down to the shoreline and dipped his hand into the water. A small siphon on the mental implement drew water into his reserves, and though it was not designed to elicit a pleasurable sensation, it was relieving to know that he wouldn't have to worry about rehydrating for a while.

"Are we ready to keep moving?" Kopaka asked Ludwig, slowly walking to the Koopa's side.

"Yes, yes I do believe we are. Koopa Troop! Lead me to the Ashen Steppes!" Ludwig shouted, holding his hand in the air to call for attention. With only a few silent grumbles, the company of tortoise rahi began picking their way through the underbrush, towards the far side of the jungle. Kopaka had no idea how long it would take to get there, but based on what he had gleaned using his mask of power, it seemed as though it was take nearly a day, if not more. The toa of ice prepared himself for a long journey. He would endure, as he always had.

[Lemmy Koopa]

Ludwig looked to Kopaka for a moment, but the looks of things, he seems to be alright, however it's hard to tell exactly what emotion is on the Toa's face since he lacks such. However, he was glad that he is doing fine..well, just as long as they aren't interrupted further more during their journey.

But this isn't going to be the case shortly enough because here comes two Koopa Troopas arriving in the distance and knowing them, a hint of bad news would be enough to cause the maestro to groan in annoyance. Didn't they had enough trouble as it is from fighting their way through Camelot? Ugh, what a headache.

However, there was a noise of yelling throughout the woods earlier that sounds awfully familiar..he must be hearing things..

Turning his head away from Kopaka to focus on what is at hand, it didn't take long before the red and green Koopa Troopas arrived in the distance and approached Ludwig as the red one reported,"Lord Ludwig sir, there has been a suspicion that one of the Mario Brothers could possibly be in this area,"

Furrowing his brows a bit, he asked,"Suspicion, you say? Hmm..well, clearly there's a difference between suspicion and actual proof. You should know that I would want definitive proof that the earlier noise isn't just my imagination,"

The green one added,"..but we don't know if it's him..what if it was just something else?"

The moment those words came out of the other Koopa's mouth, he sharply glared at the other as he replied,"In a way, that's just saying that I must be going crazy and to the fact that I dance and twirl carelessly in pretty makeup and dresses,"

Both Koopas looked to each other at that moment as they imagine such a thing in their heads and before long, both asked Ludwig,"...do you really?"

Ludwig roared,"NO! You blithering IDIOTS! Would you ever see me do such a thing? If you did, then erase your madeup fantasies and come back to reality before I make you!"

Both Troopas became nervous as Ludwig rose his arm and pointed at them as he continued,"Since you were the ones that brought it up, go find Luigi and don't you report back to me unless the plumber is actually found, if not caught and brought back to me, with the latter would be more preferable.Understood?!"

Both Koopas saluted as they replied,"Yes sir!"

Eventually, they fled into the woods to find Luigi as Ludwig sighed in disbelief. "Idiots..such a disgrace to the Koopa Troop. For every notable member, there are idiots around. Ugh,"

The black-clad Koopa Bro. suggested,"Heya, Lord Ludwig. Should I go ahead and you know, catch up with those two others just to ensure that they aren't lying and such?"

"Go ahead but watch your distance," he replied as he was trying to recover from his anger outburst. He could've sworn that he was close to unleashing his full rage at two Koopa Troopas, knowing how he is. After a bit, the Koopa Bro. also went into the forest to search for Luigi.

"If he is in the forest, we could have issues. We already lost many recently and we do not want to lose anymore as it is," sighed the blunette as he lowered his head and crossed his arms before he looked up again. "What a nightmare this is,"

[Kopaka]

Sorry guys, I made arrangements with another writer in anticipation that this thread was gonna end sooner. I gotta move on.

As the company of Koopa and Toa cut their way through the Tangled Green, Kopaka gradually became more and more fatigued due to the heat of the oppressive jungle. The occasional cool stream or windy hilltop helped alleviate the endless onslaught of warmth, but Kopaka would endure no longer. Besides, he had safely seen the group far enough away from the gate to Camelot that the Toa was convinced that it was indeed the intention of the Koopa Troop to return to their kingdom.

As the group descended a small ravine, Kopaka stayed back to ensure that the others descended safely. He helped the small turtle creatures down by making a slide of ice, using the last of his elemental powers. The Koopas seemed to enjoy this greatly, as they gave out great shouts of joy as the slid down the precarious slope. Only Ludwig was less than enthused about the prospect of such an ignoble descent, but seeing as the alternative was a long, arduous climb down a plant-choked rock face, the Koopaling decided to swallow this small amount of pride and hop on to the icy track. Obviously, he sat upright with his arms crossed the entire time.

"Alright Kopaka, it seems we have all descended safely, y-" Ludwig started, but when he looked back, Kopaka was already gone.