Chapter 9
The Dream
…
…
…
"Junior."
Bowser Junior looked around, finding himself in what looked like a dark
fighting arena. It was empty.
"Junior!"
Bowser Junior looked around more frantically.
"Who-who's there?", Junior yelped.
From out of the gloom, a figure emerged. The figure was short, but had
A commanding presence. He had a plume of hair as red as lava wrapped up
in a pony-tail, and had a snout, with a single tooth jutting out of it. He
had reptilian skin and had spiked cuffs and a collar. He was wearing a
bandana with fangs and was holding a paintbrush. Then it hit him, Bowser Junior was looking at himself. At first, he thought he was looking into a mirror,until he got a good look at his doppelganger's face. The figure was
smiling, but
it wasn't Junior's smile. It was darker, more sadistic. And his
eyes were¦full of hate and fury,"My eyes don't look like that, my eye's don't look like that!" Junior
thought frantically.
"Who are you?", Junior asked shakily.
His double approached him, and then violently shoved him to the
ground.
"I'm you, moron.", the figure said in a twisted version of
Junior's voice.
"Me?", Junior asked, to stunned to get up from the ground.
"Yeah, I'm you, did I scare you? You look like you wet your
shell." The figure laughed in a sadistic, malevolent way that made Junior
shudder.
"You! You can't be me!" Junior said in denial.
He didn't know who this person was, but Junior could tell that he was
evil, cruel, maniacal, he was very much every evil description you could
give someone. And yet this abomination claimed to be him.
"You're nothing like me!" Junior said in a still shaky, yet firm
voice.
The figure laughed.
"Au contraire." the imposter said, " I'm more like you than you
know." The figure paused and started to pace around where Junior lay.
"In fact, you could say we're going to be very, very close, you and
I."
"Close ?" Junior choked.
The figure nodded, its grin widening.
"Junior."
Krystal's voice sounded far away, as if she was on another planet.
"Yes." the figure continued, "You're slowly succumbing to the
foolishness of that stupid fox! We can't have that now, can we ?"
Junior only shuttered, to terrified and disgusted to reply.
"You were never meant to be good, Junior," the figure said, "You
Were born to be the undoing of countless worlds, to rule all of the
universe, and crush any who stop you... or should I say, I was born to do these things."
"Junior."
Krystal's voice sounded closer. The figure took no notice.
"No," Junior said in disbelief, "I don't believe you! I'm
good! I'll never be whatever creature you are!"
The figure only laughed again, only in a deeper, more demonic voice
than previously.
"Who said you had a say in the matter," the figure growled, "The
Time is approaching. Your time will soon come, little Koopa!"
"Junior!"
Krystal's voice was louder still, but still the figure seemed not to
Hear it.
"Very soon, everyone will know your name, but not for helping the
world, but for becoming the worst thing that ever happened to it."
The figure distorted, no longer looking like him, and now resembled a
Hideous monster, rearing to attack.
"The time is soon¦for your end, and my beginning, the monster
Said in the voice that of a demon.
The creature charged, ready to rip Junior to shreds.
"JUNIOR!"
Bowser Koopa Junior awoke in a cold sweat, shaking and moaning. He looked
around to see Krystal, looking very concerned, hovering over him.
"Junior, it's time for the gauntlet! What are you doing still
sleeping? If you're not there soon you'll be disqualified! Junior, are you
alright?" Krystal asked.
Junior looked up, still badly shaken by his nightmare.
"Huh?", Junior asked, "Oh Yeah, I'm alright Krystal, I just
had a nightmare."
Krystal didn't look convinced.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Krystal asked with sincere
concern.
"Did you just say the gauntlet is starting?", Junior asked, wishing
To change the subject. He'd hate for Krystal to find out about his
dream. She may even stop him from entering the gauntlet.
Krystal looked surprised. She had almost forgot about the tournament, "Yes! You have to hurry! Come on!"
Junior grabbed his brush and ran out the door. As Krystal ran ahead of
him, he ran head first into Bowser. Bowser looked proudly upon him.
"I can't believe it," Bowser said with pride, "At your age, I'd
never have the guts or the skill to do what your doing."
Junior swelled with pride. It was just what he needed, a good dose of
confidence. Bowser's smile faded a little.
"Now listen, Junior," Bowser said solemnly, "This tournament is
one of the most dangerous in the Smash Brothers circuit."
Junior blinked, looking at his father's worried face.
"I want you to promise me that if something's to much for you,
you'll forfeit."
Junior looked at his father with surprise.
"I don't want you getting hurt," his father continued, "Above
all else, your safety is more important to me than a stupid championship."
Junior could see his fathers concern, and hugged him tightly.
"I promise, dad," Junior said tearfully. He then frowned.
"Dad ?"
"Yeah son ?", Bowser asked, oblivious to his sons worried
expression.
"Uh….nothing."
He couldn't bring himself to tell his father about his nightmare.
He'd worry to much. Bowser smiled.
"Well, go get 'em, then!" Bowser encouraged.
Junior nodded and ran off to find his team.
He rejoined Krystal and Little Mac near the entrance of the
teleportation portal, which was set to bring him to the stadium the gauntlet would take place in.
"Well, look who it is! Mr. Numero Uno! You’d better be ready to
fight me, cause I'm on fire today!" Mac said with vigor.
"Whoa! Cool it down there, you'll hurt yourself if you're that
confident." Krystal giggled.
Junior looked around.
"Where's Olimar ?"
Mac and Krystal frowned.
"Junior, his arm is still pretty banged up…He had to forfeited his
spot in the tournament." Krystal said sadly.
Junior felt a surge of guilt fill him. He bowed his head sadly.
"Did I…is he…," Junior choked, tears of guilt forming in his
eyes,"It's my fault!"
"Stop that!", Krystal ordered, which surprised Junior, “You
didn't
mean it. If anyone's at fault, it's me for pushing you to do it."
Junior closed his eyes tightly in shame.
Krystal crouched down to his level and smiled.
"He wanted me to tell you that he wishes he was here, but not to be
in the tournament, but to see you fight." Krystal said warmly.
Junior looked up, surprised.
"Really?" Junior asked.
Krystal nodded.
"Really?"
Junior was so touched he almost burst into tears again.
"Okay, now to business," Krystal said, "The stadium that was
chosen was Kanto."
Junior groaned. The Kanto stadium was one of the most unnerving arenas
in the Smash Brothers tournament. It's not that it was dangerous, or
unpleasant, but because of the huge crowd always surrounding it. If he screwed up, thousands of people would see it.
Krystal saw his displeasure and giggled.
"Don't worry," Krystal said, "You'll do fine."
"Until you face me, that is!" Mac said with false arrogance.
Junior playfully hit him on the shoulder.
"Good luck." Junior said spiritedly.
Mac nodded and jumped through the portal.
"I'll be watching you in the stadium." Krystal said.
As she was about to enter the portal her self, she turned back to
Junior.
"Junior?"
"Yes ?", Junior asked.
Krystal smiled.
"I'm proud of you," Krystal said warmly.
She giggled at the touched, tearful look in his eyes, and then entered
The portal. For the first time, Junior felt like he could actually win. He
Jumped through the portal, with the thoughts of his friends and family running through his mind.
-
