Bowser gingerly touched the top of his head and winced. He was definitely getting a bruise from that last hammer-strike. He sighed angrily and looked at his right-hand Magikoopa, who was inspecting him for any other injuries.

Kamek shrugged. "Well, it looks like you're going to get a bump on your head, but other than that, you're golden."

Bowser didn't respond. He crossed his arms and furrowed his eyebrows, giving the impression that he was glaring at the trees. Kamek knew better, and stayed silent as the Koopa King thought.

After a few moments, Bowser turned to the Magikoopa. "Kamek."

"Hmm?"

"When did I start planning to take over the Mushroom Kingdom?"

Kamek raised an eyebrow. "What?" He didn't ask because he hadn't heard the question, but because he hadn't expected it. Bowser didn't repeat himself, but watched Kamek carefully; like he was waiting for him to tell a bad joke.

This made the Magikoopa feel pressured to answer, but nevertheless he remained silent, slightly confused by the question. It wasn't like Bowser to inquire something like that. "Well, I'm not really sure...As long as I've been working for you, you've only had two goals; take the Mushroom Kingdom as your own... and beat Mario." Bowser frowned, like he didn't like that answer. "B-but I'm just a minion, Your Frightfulness; I wouldn't know the inner-workings of a brilliant mind such as your own."

Bowser's expression softened as he rose off the forest floor. "And don't you forget it!" he laughed. Then he turned and examined his surroundings. Confusion quickly masked his features. "...Where are we, Kamek?"

Kamek gave a slight smirk; that was to be expected. "Grimble Wood."

Bowser looked around. "...Good... that means..." He took a few steps forward, then turned around to face Kamek, not really sure what it meant.

"That your castle isn't very far away, Your Forgetfulness." Kamek shrugged. "But you knew that, didn't you?"

Bowser huffed. "Of course I knew that! I'm not an idiot; I just didn't know how to say it in words you'd understand." Kamek rolled his eyes. "So, which way, Kamek?"

"Hold on." Kamek flew above the trees to get his bearings. He spotted Bowser Castle a ways off to his left, and returned to the forest floor. "It's over-" Kamek stopped mid-sentence and looked around, a little confused. Bowser wasn't where he had left him. He cast his eyes about, and after a few moments located his King. Bowser had wandered a few meters in the wrong direction, then stopped and leaned against one of the trees, his arms crossed and eyes closed with a scowl on his face.

"Your Thoughtfulness? I found the castle..." Bowser didn't acknowledge him, and didn't move. That was when Kamek decided that there was something off with Bowser; he never thought that much in such a short period of time. "Hey!" Kamek called. Bowser slowly opened his eyes and looked at him distantly. He didn't say anything. "I found your castle."

"What...? Oh! Where?" Kamek inclined his head in the direction of the castle. "Well, what are you waiting for? Get going." He abruptly pushed off the tree and walked forward, leaving Kamek behind.

Kamek watched him for a moment, and then quickly caught up.

They traveled in silence for a few minutes. Bowser forcefully made his way through trees and boulders, while Kamek merely flew around them. After a while, the silence got to Kamek. It wasn't normal for Bowser to stay quiet for so long. After being defeated by the Bros., it was usual for him to make threats and rant about how they cheated, that he hadn't brought his 'A game', he wasn't ready, he was distracted by their mustaches, Peach was giving him funny looks; anything to justify him losing.

"Your Un-talkativeness?"

Bowser looked at Kamek. "What?"

"Are...are you feeling alright? Did you catch a cold, or-"

Bowser frowned. "What are you blabbing about? I'm in top shape, like always."

Kamek sighed. "Not to tell you how you feel, but I don't think you're fine. You've been too quiet."

"Too quiet? Why would I be talking?" he demanded. "She thinks I'm a loser, Kamek; not to mention I just got beat by those stupid plumbers AGAIN!"

The Magikoopa hesitated. "W-who thinks you're a loser?"

"PEACH, YOU IDIOT!" Bowser roared, smashing a boulder to emphasize his anger. "No matter what I do..." Bowser trailed off, scowling.

Kamek just looked at his King worriedly. Bowser noticed the expression and glared at him. "Wipe that stupid look off your face, Kamek." he growled, then continued his way through the wood.

XXXXXXX

"...What is his problem?" Kamek muttered to himself. He had escorted his king to the throne room, but was dismissed with a grumpy 'Buzz off' and a slam of the door. Kamek had never seen Bowser act like this before, and he was certain that the weirdo question he had asked had something to do with it.

'When did I start planning to take over the Mushroom Kingdom?'

Kamek frowned, pondering the question. He didn't understand; was there something before the Bros. that had occupied the Koopa King? How was he supposed to know something like that?

He was so deep in thought that he hadn't noticed he was flying rather low, which caused him to run into an unsuspecting Shy Guy. Both the minions toppled over and ended up on the floor.

"Hey! Watch where you're-" The Shy Guy stood himself up and turned to see Kamek picking up his broom and dusting himself off. "O-oh! Kamek, I'm so sorry, sir!" He gave a hasty salute in apology.

Kamek mounted his broom and looked down at the Shy Guy. He was a little surprised to see how short he was, even for a Shy Guy. He couldn't have been very old... After a moment, he realized that he might be able to use the other minions to help him solve the riddle of the Koopa King's mysterious mood. "...What's your name, kid?"

"Guyraid, sir."

"How long have you been working for His Grouchiness?"

The Shy Guy thought for a moment. "...I joined the army 'bout three weeks ago, sir."

"So you're a new recruit?"

Guyraid nodded and proudly added, "I was the best Shy Guy out of my entire troop in boot camp!"

Kamek ignored the comment. "Who's leader of your battalion, Guyraid?"

"Um, Captain Shystone, sir."

"Where is he?"

"Goomba-Quarters, sir." The Shy Guy pointed towards a door opposite him. "I could get him for you, sir, if you want."

Kamek nodded. "Make it quick." Guyraid quickly saluted and ran to the door. He knocked, and a Goomba opened it, but didn't let him pass. They conversed a while, then the Goomba grudgingly admitted him inside.

Kamek waited for the white mask to poke back out of the room, but it didn't come. He frowned after five-minutes had passed. "...What does that kid think 'quick' means?" he muttered. A few minutes later, and the door opened. It revealed a yellow Shy Guy. Kamek sighed; that wasn't Guyraid. He flew to the minion and stopped him anyways.

"Hey, is Captain Shystone in there? Or a new recruit named Guyraid?" The Shy Guy looked at Kamek, saluted as he realized who was addressing him, and adjusted his mask awkwardly.

"M-my name is Shystone, sir. I was told you've been l-looking for me?"

Kamek noticed how nervous the minion was and rolled his eyes. He hated how being right-hand to Bowser made everyone suspect the worst when he talked to them. "Easy, man. You're not being punished or anything." He then looked suspiciously at the Shy Guy. "Why are you so nervous, anyway?"

"N-n-no reason, s-sir." Shystone avoided the Magikoopa's eyes. "I-I'm usually like this."

"Weird... well, anyway-" The door to the Goomba-Quarters banged open. Guyraid dashed out and hid behind Shystone.

"Why did you leave me, Captain!" Guyraid panted. "I didn't know Shy Guys weren't supposed to be in the G-Q!"

Shystone looked at the quavering Shy Guy. "Well, it is c-called 'Goomba'-Quarters. W-what did you think?"

"Why were you in there then?"

"C-captains are allowed to go everywhere." he stated.

Kamek frowned. "Everywhere except the kitchens, thrown room, or any General's quarters, unless otherwise directed." he corrected.

Shystone sheepishly nodded. "Well, I-I guess that's right..."

Kamek waved his hand. "Wait, we're not getting anywhere! Stop getting me off topic!" The two Shy Guys stood silently, waiting for Kamek to continue.

After a moment, he sighed. "How to put this... well, first, Captain Shystone, how long have you been in Bowser's service?"

"Six years." Kamek frowned.

"You're already a captain?"

"I-I work very hard." Kamek groaned. "W-why do you need to know?"

"I'm trying to figure out what's wrong with His Greatness today."

Guyraid shrugged. "He got beat by the Bros. today, didn't he? Isn't that what's always wrong?"

Kamek shook his head. "It's a different kind of wrong. And I wouldn't flaunt that fact around right now, buddy. He doesn't enjoy his minions knowing." The Magikoopa looked around. "Captain."

Shystone saluted. "Y-yes, sir?"

"Do you know how long the other Captains have been in service?"

"I-I know that Captain Snowguy has been around for eight years, and Noguy for at least seven. I don't know about the Goomba Captains, Boo Captains, Koopa Troopa Captains, or Bob-bom Captains."

"Well, I guess that helps..." Kamek nodded to the Shy Guys in dismissal, and then flew off in search of the other Captains.

XXXXXXX

Kamek's interrogations ended with the same result; not one Captain had been around longer than he had. The Koopa was frustrated, and the last Captain he interviewed (Captain Booray) could tell.

"Why do-" the Boo began.

"BECAUSE I'M WORRIED ABOUT BOWSER, OKAY?" Kamek yelled. He was starting to think that the whole thing was hopeless and stupid, and he was just wasting his time.

"Well, if you're looking for someone with more years under their belt than you, why don't you ask the other Generals?" Booray asked, not fazed by the yelling.

Kamek looked at Booray for a moment, and then smiled. "Of course! What was I thinking?" He began to leave the Captain, but turned back around. "Captain Booray, I thank you for kick-starting my common sense."

Booray smiled. "Not a problem."

"Oh, one more question, Captain."

"Sir?"

"How old is Jr.?"

Booray thought for a moment, then shrugged. "I think his last birthday was his fourteenth."

Kamek sighed angrily. "That's what I thought, but...That's still too young!"

The Boo shrugged. "What do you need to know?"

"What Bowser used to do before the Bros. showed up..."

"Maybe Jr.'s heard stories or something..." Booray smiled. "He could know exactly what you need. I mean, he is Bowser's kid."

Kamek slowly nodded. "That's right..." Booray saluted Kamek, then turned and disappeared down the hall.

The Magikoopa was now alone with his thoughts. He had never thought that Bowser Jr. might know things about his King that he didn't. Then again, they had a different relationship; father-son. If Bowser's old goal was a secret or something, then the General-King relationship probably wasn't as trusting as the father-son relationship.

Kamek made up his mind and flew back to the upper-stories. A few turns and halls later, and he was outside Bowser Jr.'s quarters.

Now that he was there, the Magikoopa realized that he hadn't ever actually talked to Jr. outside of military opperations. He hesitated to knock on the door. Kamek wasn't sure how the kid would act to the weird question, and now that he thought about it, realized that if Bowser Jr. knew the answer to his question, he didn't have to answer because he was Bowser's son; and either way he would most likely tell his dad about their discussion anyway.

Kamek grimaced. He quickly turned to fly to his own quarters, when he noticed that none other than Bowser Jr. had been watching him from a little ways down the hall. Kamek froze.

Bowser Jr. raised an eyebrow as he approached Kamek. "...What are you doing?"

Kamek swallowed, but remained silent.

"Kamek... What do you want?"

The Koopa sighed. He'd better just ask. "Well, I wanted to ask you something."

Bowser Jr. shrugged. "Okay, what?

"Right, well, the thing is... This will probably sound really weird... but you see- I mean, REALLY, really weird, and you'll think I'm crazy-"

"WHAT IS IT?" Bowser Jr. growled.

Kamek was a little taken aback. He had the same temper as his father. That was a good sign; he knew how to handle a bad temper.

"Well?" Bowser Jr. pressed impatiently.

"Sorry, sir. Well, I was wondering, do you happen to know...what your dad used to do before the Bros. showed up?"

Bowser Jr. blinked; all anger dissipated. He hadn't been prepared for that one. "Uh..."

Kamek turned to leave. "If you don't know, that's fine. I just thought that if anyone would know, it'd be you."

"Well, he would kidnap mama Peach, duh. He's been doing that since he was like, twelve."

Kamek smiled, glad to finally be making some progress. "Really? How did the princess get rescued?"

Bowser Jr. laughed. "Dude, my old man wasn't always holding her against her will!"

The Koopa frowned. "...So..."

"She didn't mind being kidnapped and brought here." Bowser Jr. shrugged. "At least, that's what I've heard. I don't have any deets, so don't ask for any, OK?" He opened the door to his room. "You could probably ask my dad. I bet he'd tell you."

Kamek shook his head. "Oh, you've already lost that bet. I tried to ask him this morning in Grimble Wood."

Bowser Jr. raised an eyebrow. "No dice?"

"No dice." Kamek confirmed.

Bowser Jr. huffed. "Well that's dumb. I don't even care about that kind of stuff, but he tells me about it all the time. He should just tell you and save me the boredom!" He entered his room, but stood in the doorway. "You want me to tell him for ya?"

Kamek shrugged. "If you think he'll actually tell me something, then go ahead."

"Alright. I'll tell him then."

"Whoa, wait. You think he'll give me some of this info?"

Bowser Jr. shrugged. "I don't see why he wouldn't. You ARE his right-hand-Magikoopa, right?" He smiled. "I'll just think of some kind of guilt card to play. He'll tell ya. Just wait 'till after he's done eating tonight, OK?" He withdrew into his room, leaving Kamek alone in the hallway.