SM64: I thank you for your patience and commend your honesty. Like Jason Bateman's character in DodgeBall says: "We just don't see it nowadays". In the YR case it was an attempt at a more complicated story-telling technique by imagining a long and intricate story and then have Ludwig the composer retelling his version of the events. And what would fascinate the insane more than insanity? I see now that it was a bad idea, because the focus veered in the direction you explained. And I apologize for the sex and death thing. I don't mind it myself, as long as it's not mixed together, and I didn't know it was that explicit. About Speedy's death… I knew even before naming the character that she would sooner or later have to die. Actually it made it hard for me to "get too close" to her. I can revise this story and make some improvements, if you'll let me make use of some of your ideas to humanize the Koopa culture portrayed, instead of wasting the readers' time. Thank you in advance.

Kammy makes an appearance in this chapter! She remembers something her old flame seems to have forgotten. Let's see what it is.

Bowser wandered in his castle. It was a completely different place; like it had been when all his children were little and there had been no troubles, just him, his big loving family and their modest, but adequate piece of land.

It was one of those rear days when the heat lighting let some sunshine in, and it fell on the painted faces of the past great leaders of the Koopa Troop, their gentle wives and detestable children.

As a child Bowser had been told many stories of his grand and adored ancestor; Koopa, from the time when he reigned in the Reactor Galaxy, which was abandoned long before Bowser was born. Of course, when one is raised like a Koopa king, important and dangerous truths had been left out.

"You did awesome today, Bowser Jr." For some reason Bowser loved using his son's whole name.

"Thanks, King Dad." Junior held Mr. Muffin over the covers as he was tucked in. The more and more time they spent together, the more the little one let himself admire his father, and that there was nothing wrong in looking just like him. Still there was a question he would like to an answer to.

"King Dad?" he asked. "Why don't I have big sharp teeth like Four Eyes or Big Mouth?"

Honestly, that was not the question Bowser had been expecting.

"Son, you're just a kid now. But if you follow my orders and never betray me, I promise you that you will get just as many teeth as your brothers and sister."

"Really?" Jr. was even more uplifted, although he was very, very tired.

Bowser tousled his son's red hair. "I swear. But little kids who want to become great big Koopas need a lot of sleep."

The word made Jr.'s eyes impossible to keep open. "OK. Good night, King Dad."

Bowser put out the torch above his son's bed. "Good night, little apple."

He exited the bedroom, but left the door opened a crack. After all, Bowser had been afraid of the dark as a Koopaling.

Medikoopa had found someone to take over for Kamek; one that had assisted the Koopa king before.

"… So that's my plan. I know it will work." Bowser sighed in contentment, and then looked at his temporary caretaker. "Kammy? Are you even listening to me? KAMMY!"

The lady jumped in her seat; she was snoozing over her knitting project. Kammy was a Koopa sorceress who, while still very powerful and handy, not as young as she once was.

"Of course, Your Awfulness, I'm right here." She frowned. "What's the question again?"

"There's no question, you senile dandelion! I said that I'm leaving it all to my youngest son. Everything."

"That's very generous of you. May I ask what the Koopalings have to say about it?"

Of course Bowser hadn't told them anything; not of his plans to make Junior his successor, or the massive trust funds they had coming.

"They are very independent, Your Heinousness; with a lot of resources and friends," She warned him. "If you fall out of favor with them, you'll end up with some very powerful enemies."

Bowser thought of Roy's two children. "Don't worry your grey head, Kammy. If they rebel, I have leverage."

The sorceress took out a fresh ball of yarn and continued working. "I see. Well, I did what you wanted and examined your son. There's no sign of aggression, mental illness, heart disease or loose cuticles that's very prevalent in your family. He's one of your healthier children, maybe just as fit as Prince Lemmy."

"Excellent. Next summer he will assist me in my newest plan." Bowser bared his teeth in a cruel smile.

"Plan? What plan?" Kammy looked up from her sweater.

"The plan where I know that Mario and Peach visits Isle Delfino every summer," Bowser pointed to a map on the stone wall. "If I train my son for a year, Mario is the one who'll have powerful enemies. Peach will fall, and her kingdom will be mine. Maybe I'll even make her my wife. I'm gonna need someone at the end of a stressful day to… You know, take my mind off things." He smiled even wider. "By the way, you did a nice thing for Kamek by taking over his duties, even though you don't owe it to him."

Kammy remembered her last date with Kamek. It had been a night to remember; it had been before the construction of Petalburg was finished. Wow, it really was long ago.

"I'm sorry, Kamek, but I'm not ready for a serious relationship. You're too young for my taste anyway." her twenty three year old said. "Does it help if I say you're a very special Koopa?"

"You don't love me!" Kamek burst into tears and buried his face in the tablecloth. "I wanna die!"

"I think I do," her elderly self said to Bowser.

The real reason why Kammy didn't want to make a commitment to Kamek back then was that in reality she was one of Koopa's scouts. Sooner or later Kamek would ask both himself, and in turn her why she couldn't set foot in the Gemini's village and blow her cover. King Koopa knew that somewhere on the tiny and seemingly insignificant Mushroom Planet a source of unmatched power was hiding, ripe for his picking. Kammy had looked high and low among the many native populations, and was certain she could find it. Unfortunately for her master, she didn't possess magic powers or psychokinesis. But after studying those coming in and out of Petalburg for a long time, who were very talkative by the way, Kammy realized that her fling not only was one of the village's rulers, but a Gemini; one of the two Star Children.

Koopa's only method of divination was hieromancy; the reading of inner organs. He had run out of rats and birds on his Airship, which was why he turned to an alternative source.

"Your Grimness!" The general of the Troop approached Koopa; very annoyed. "The subject is resisting our attempts to read his guts!"

"Does it look like I care? Because I don't. Slice him open!"

"I'm terribly sorry, but if the source is distressed or intoxicated the prediction will be inaccurate."

Koopa grumbled. "I need to find out if the Gemini are hiding here"! Well, I suppose we're gonna have to try a different angle."

He entered the state room where the "clairvoyants" had bound one of the Troopas to a slab, intent on reading his innards, and approached him. The private was shaking in terror.

"Good afternoon, most trusted Private Koo," he said with a smile as if the other had been seated at a street café.

"K-King Koopa," Koo sobbed.

"As you were. I hear that you're finding your task difficult. Now let me make you an offer."

Koopa took the horrible three-foot blade in his claw unseen. "By fulfilling your duty, you'll ensure our common victory. This is a chance for you to show your valor and your loyalty to me personally; to accomplish something greater than yourself… and even me."

"Really?" Private Koo's face brightened up ever so slightly.

"I guarantee it." However, Koopa, like all his descendants, was full of lies. It was enough to reassure Koo, who took deep breaths and seemed to accept his tragic, pointless fate. Koopa knew how to read a subject without making a mess, and positioned the weapon while Koo closed his eyes.

"King Koopa!" He was interrupted by another private who flung the door open.

"What is it?"

"It… It's Kammy Koopa, Your Dreadfulness. She says she has found your magical twins."

Koo's life was spared that day. He escaped to Bean-Bean Hamlet, where he would spend the rest of his days.

Kammy waited for Koopa on the bridge. He lumbered towards her. "I hope for your sake that you were successful this time, girl," he grumped.

"Yes, sir. I found one of the Star Children. The most powerful one. He is residing in a secret village with his sister and a populace of Koopa sorcerers. They call themselves Magikoopas."

"And the Geminitems? Have you seen them?" Koopa was almost giddy.

"No, but I know they're there. They're why the village is impossible for me to penetrate."

Koopa's expression changed in a heartbeat. "Imp… You mean we can't go in there? Then HOW are we going to conquer them?" He grabbed her, intent on shaking her to relieve his frustration.

"Not to worry, Your Viciousness!" She desperately cried out. "They're holding this festival next month and the gates will be opened for everyone. We'll be able to enter unseen."

"Oh, Kammy… We don't need to be bashful if we're invited." Koopa sat down in his seat. "I think they would want us to feel at home."

Kammy had good reason to hide this memory from Kamek, who sat in Reishi Linh's library looking out on the distant mountains.

He didn't know that Roy Koopa had come to visit him either. As big of a difference it was from the other schemes in the Royal family, it was no secret that Roy hated Reishi; even calling her "the evil empress" growing up.

"'Morning," he grunted as he saw the wizard seated by the window. "Kamek? Can you hear me?"

Kamek appeared to be in a stupor, and he was, using the rest of his vanishing magic to grab a hold of the memory that over the centuries had been veiled in cobwebs and dust for his own sanity and survival.

"It's me, Roy." The Koopaling waved his hand in front of Kamek's eyes, but he still didn't react.

"Fine," Roy answered himself, and lifted the sorcerer into his arms. "If you're gonna lose your marbles, fine. Just not in this Hell House." He carried Kamek out, heading for his Airship. "I have plans for you."