AN: Well, we are approaching the climax of The Princess of the Lake Kingdom. So, I decided to keep with tradition and start up Episode 21: Shellock Holmes. I hope you guys enjoy it :)

Chapter 1 Backstage

"Are you ready for this?"

"Where is my trumpet, where is my trumpet?"

"I think I broke my drumstick. I'll use a chicken leg as a substitute."

Hustling and bustling were the two languages that the performers in Ludwig's orchestra were speaking fluently as they rushed around backstage. The different voices and vocal tones mixing together created quite the cacophony. The poor performers were so overwhelmed with excitement and nerves that they did not know which way was up anymore.

Thankfully, the noises were not distracting Lemmy Koopa. He was in his dressing room, away from all the chaos. As he stood in front of his professionally lit mirror, he smiled to himself. His face was covered in white powder, making him look like a powdered donut. His lips were smeared with lipstick the same color as raspberry jelly. He was adorning a clown suit that was covered in frills and multicolored polka dots. On his feet, he had clown shoes the size of capybaras. He giggled at his reflection as he set his powder compact down on the table.

"There." He blew a dramatic kiss. "Perfecto!"

Normally, one would be embarrassed to wear such an outfit. They would avoid doing so at all costs, probably burn it when given the opportunity. Thankfully, Lemmy did not feel embarrassed wearing this clown suit. In fact, he used to joke with his siblings that his shame gland got surgically removed when he was a baby and implanted in someone else. Lemmy loved the way he looked. The colors made him look like a living rainbow, the suit made him look like a professional circus clown. When he thought about it, he realized that celebrities didn't dress that much differently.

Lemmy giggled at that last thought. He hoped that people would laugh at the jokes he was going to tell tonight. Ludwig was putting on a symphony, and he had asked Lemmy to be the opening act. This had caught Lemmy off guard in the best of ways, as he still remembered begging Ludwig to let him be the opening act in the past. Because of this, Lemmy had been ecstatic when Ludwig had approached him. It made him wish that he had a camcorder so he could have documented such a historic occasion.

Just as Lemmy was thinking about this, he heard a knock on the door of the dressing room.

"Come in!" he exclaimed happily. The door opened, and in stepped Ludwig. He was smoothing out his suit, which was very reminiscent of a Renaissance performer. He stepped in front of the mirror that was opposite Lemmy's and started to fluff his blue hair sporadically.

"Ugh. Why is my hair so frizzy today?" he asked. Lemmy glanced at him in confusion.

"What? Am I just chopped liver that doesn't even get a hello?"

Ludwig's tail curled up into a knot. He chuckled apprehensively.

"Right. Sorry." He turned and smiled at his brother. "Hey, Lems." He examined the littlest Koopaling. "You look nice."

Lemmy felt his face growing warm. He laughed giddly and excitedly stomped his feet up and down. The clown shoes sent little horn-like sounds across the dressing room.

"You think I look nice? Wow. I must be in an alternate universe or something if you think a clown suit looks nice!"

Ludwig snorted.

"I wish I was in an alternate universe." He turned back toward the mirror and muttered under his breath: "An alternate universe where my hair doesn't look like cat vomit."

This statement caused Lemmy to giggle.

"Don't be so hard on yourself; you look great! You look like a professional musician!"

"That's because I am a professional musician, Lems. Remember, I'm making money off of this performance."

Lemmy felt himself grow ten times happier.

"Oh, right, I forgot!" He placed his hands on his hips and grinned. "Depending on how much money you walk away with, we could buy a lot of stuff." Lemmy gasped as his face lit up. "Ooh, we could buy ice cream!"

Ludwig cast his brother a weird stare.

"If this goes well, I'll be walking away with over a one hundred thousand coins."

"Then we can buy a lot of ice cream!" Lemmy exclaimed happily. Ludwig laughed.

"Tell you what; I'll make you a deal. Since you're my opening act, I'll split the profits between the two of us."

"That sounds like a good deal!" Lemmy clapped his hands together excitedly and started to bounce up and down. Once again, his clown shoes created a horn-like sound when he landed on the balls of his feet. Ludwig looked like he was trying to suppress giggles.

"Good." His face quickly transitioned into worry. He turned back to the mirror and fluffed his hair again. "Oh, I hope this goes well."

Lemmy stopped bouncing and put his hand gently on his brother's back.

"Knowing you, the music will be fantastic." He giggled. "And knowing me, the opening act will also be fantastic!" He did a fist pump and whooped. Ludwig cast him a small smile, one that did not show any teeth.

"Thanks, Lemmy." He leaned down so that he was level with his immediate younger brother. "Now Lems, I don't want to sound like that guy, but I just want you to remember to be careful. Not everyone is going to view your performance in the same way that you do."

Lemmy waved his hand to dismiss the statement.

"Please! Clowns are awesome! Everyone likes to watch a clown do his thing!" Suddenly, a Koopa troopa entered the dressing room.

"Master Lemmy, you're on!" he said.

"Okay, thanks!" Lemmy said. Once the Koopa troopa had disappeared, Lemmy turned back to his brother. "Alright. Wish me luck." Ludwig cast him a reassuring smile.

"Good luck, Lems. Break a leg."

Lemmy chortled.

"If I do, you're paying for the hospital bill!" With that, he ran through the mess of performers and toward the front of the stage.