CHAPTER 1 - Winds of Change

LOCATION: Ashwood Estates, Neo City, Darklands Kingdom

TIME: 10:40PM

Mists from the fog danced around the garden eloquently. It lapped up every object it could undisturbed, aware of how much it was truly hiding. The tranquility of it punctured by the distant city lights gave way to a simple limousine. Nothing that no one could suspect - elongated, light, surprisingly nimble, tinted windows. It had all the bearings of a simple and ordinary vehicle.

It pulled up to the front doors of a particularly luxurious mansion. Perfectly symmetrical and lined with charcoal brick walls that seemed like it belonged in a castle. Inside, the curtains were shut but a steady stream of artificial light flickered by as the limousine stopped. Out stepped the driver whose expression didn't change and without hesitance, let his passenger out of the car.

The passenger didn't seem like one to be riding fancy limousines at this time of night. Instead all that could be seen under the tattered hood that he wore was a pair of spectacles, barely shining out from behind the darkness on his face.

The air was cold and bitter. High up on the mountains, it had taken at least half an hour to drive up here from the city. The subdued grays around him only pushed him forward deeper into the estate. He was dreading, just a little bit deep down, about what was going on behind it and what he could get himself involved into.

He limped up and chose to ring the doorbell.

It didn't take long for it to be answered.

"Hey kid," The owner greeted him with a big grin. "Come on in."

He had never seen anything like it - it was spectacularly grand in the foyer; warm and inviting in more ways than one. The fireplace to his right roared with intensity that he hadn't felt for a long time and it made him feel right at home. Still, it was weird to be in an opulent and clean mansion looking like what he was. Ragged and worn from waiting and hiding.

"Sit down, take your coat off. Can I get you a drink?" Bowser welcomed him like a warm friend. "Or do you still drink these days, Ignatius?"

Iggy nodded as he sat down on the plush and way-too-comfortable-for-his-own-good couch. "Sure," He replied simply, the shivers in his body falling away slowly from the heat. "Just some whiskey would be nice."

Bowser poured something from behind the bar out of sight. For all Iggy knew, he was just going to poison him. His faith in the man was unwavering though and he chose to follow that instead of the logical route.

"Here you are."

Iggy took a gingerly sip from the glass. "Thanks."

Bowser was still the same as he had been ten years ago; tall, imposing, but looked a bit older. Iggy supposed that it was obvious and he had mentally documented the changes over the year from the days he could actually be bothered to watch the news. The fires of his red hair was starting to get white at the roots but out of context he looked like a nice, middle-aged koopa wearing a nice suit.

"So, how's the politics going?" He asked him.

"Just wonderful. I'm sure you've seen it over the years, haven't you?" Bowser chuckled through his teeth, swigging down another shot of his drink. "Moving up in the world and all that, but what about you? You look like you've just been fished out of the gutter."

Iggy raised a brow and looked at his tattered shirt. "So? I chose not to spend what we made on frivolous things. Besides, couldn't risk having anything traced back to me."

"Always the cautious one. I suppose you have every right to be."

"You're the one who should have been cautious."

Bowser waved his hand dismissively. "I was fine. I had my cover and most of us made it out."

"'Most of us'," Iggy repeated back to him. "And you couldn't have helped them at all?"

"Not like I could do anything while I was stuck in witness protection." He rubbed his temples. "Anyway, I don't want to argue about this. It's been a long time coming but you know what you're here for."

Iggy put down his empty glass. "Yeah. I do."

"You've been keeping track of everyone?"

"As best I could," He shrugged. "A few of them have gone off the radar and I haven't been able to find them."

"You have Lawrence though?"

"Yeah, I have him."

"Good," Bowser folded his arms. "We'll need him if we want to get everyone back in on this. Who else have you got?"

Iggy tilted his head in thought. "Lemmy, Wendy, Morton... I know Roy still hasn't served his sentence yet and Ludwig? Well that's obvious, isn't it?" He looked at Bowser's expression when he mentioned Ludwig - it was surprising to see that the old man's face hadn't changed, but Iggy could see the hurt deep down behind his stoic gaze.

"We can do it without Ludwig." Bowser eventually affirmed with a nod. "But Larry is the most important one here."

He shifted uncomfortably. "I get the feeling this is a need-to-know basis thing you've got going with me here Bowser. This isn't a simple bank job, is it?"

"It is, but for different reasons. And yes, it is on a need-to-know basis. Can't tell you about it until I know you have Lawrence on board with us."

"He's going to be pissed at us." Iggy noted.

Bowser grimaced. "Well he's going to have to deal with it. He should have gotten over it by now."

"Old wounds aren't easy to heal. You know that."

"Don't get all philosophical wishy-washy on me Ignatius, all I care about is this. This is something much more than anything we've ever done. Not the diamonds, not the trains, nothing like that. This is pure high stakes we've got now. You're here because I trust you. I need you to get this done for me." He leaned towards him. "If you don't there's going to be a world of shit upon all of us that'll mess up everything we've worked for. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes Boss." Iggy nodded slowly, anxiety starting to creep up his back. When Bowser stood up, he stood up too.

"Good. Now, got everything all set up for you. Nice little warehouse by the docks in Neo City," Bowser began to lead him out. "Driver knows where to go, he'll keep it secret blah blah blah. You still know how to drive?"

He raised a brow in a deadpan look. "I just got my knee smashed, I'm not a cripple, yes I know how to drive."

Bowser wryly chuckled at his associates' sarcasm. "Because you'll be taking long road trips across the kingdoms. Now," He wagged his finger at the sitting Iggy. "Don't contact me unless you have Larry or you just found out he's dead. I have several lines at the safe-house you can use that won't incriminate any of us. Remember kid, I'm counting on you. Get this done and we'll be free from each other forever. You got me?"

"Yes, Boss. You have my word."

The big koopa watched as the limousine disappeared into the fog, hands clamped behind his crisp black suit and not saying a word. He just let the wind caress his hair and his breath come out in small puffs.

Nothing was going to be the same again.

He disappeared back inside his fortress.

A/N: This is an AU of sorts that I've had on the brain. Second chapter is coming as well, hopefully should gauge some interest. Thanks for reading!