Did anyone want some more Bowser/Junior family bonding? Well, you're getting it.
Meanwhile, I'm going to go take a victory lap over reaching over 5,000 views, having at least 50 reviews, and now having 50,000 words. Fives party, yeah! We should have high-fives all around! ...Or I'll just go sit quietly while you guys read. That works too.
...
[Bowser]
It's taking an obnoxiously abundant amount of resistance for me to not drop every expletive in my vocabulary at this very moment.
Junior is down the hall staring as Mario rests in my arms, as if I were his lover taking him home from our honeymoon. Now that I think about it, we're just two very large steps short of that. Wait, no, stop!
"Papa," he sounds again. "What's going on?"
Think, Bowser, think!
"Junior, I-I was just," I stammered, "um, bringing Mario back to his room!"
"Did he…escape?" Junior questioned, with a tone of disbelief in his voice.
"What? I mean, yes! Yes!"
"Do you need help?"
"Ah, no, I can handle it, son."
"Then," Junior investigated, "why is he cradled in your arms like that?"
"Uh, well," I pondered my defense. Wait, defense? This is my kid, not an enemy!
Mario wriggled in my arms. "He…won't…let me go!" he cried. Genius!
"That's a pretty awkward way to carry him, though, Papa," Junior pointed out, and by the sound of it, clearly not buying Mario's performance.
"You, um, you're right, son!" I relented. "He's, uh, a pretty tough one though, this Mario! But I got him under control. I'll do w-whatever it takes to keep him here, with me. Us! Here! The castle! Um, you get what I mean."
"I don't think I do."
Damn it. "Junior, Mario's just a real pain in the ah…bum." Oh, like the kid never heard me swear before? "I…I'll just toss him back in his room now."
"Shouldn't you put him in the dungeon?" Junior inquired. "It would be safer since Iggy hasn't finished caging up the room."
Speaking through grinded teeth, "Son, you let me worry about that."
"But Papa—"
"Junior," I growled, "let me deal with this." Mario tried to tap my arm, but I needed to ignore him for a bit.
"I just—"
"Enough, Junior!" I roared.
Mario elbowed me and I nearly dropped him right there. With a blink, I looked at Junior again. His eyes welled up with tears and he kicked his door open.
I tried to recover, "Junior, wait, I didn't—" but with the slam of his door, he wasn't listening anymore.
My arms dropped as Mario slid out of them. If he had kicked me in the gut on the way down, I couldn't tell; the blow in my stomach was dealt the minute I looked at the kid's tears. It's not the first time that I've yelled at Junior, but it's not something that I make a habit of.
"Hey, Bowser," Mario called. "Come on, get up from the floor."
Floor? With a blink, I gazed down, and found that I had sunk right down to the ground. Slowly, I moved my arms around to push myself back up, but my body wasn't cooperating.
Trembling, I shook my head. "Mario, I can't."
"Sure you can," he comforted me. "You're tougher than that. Just push yourself up."
"No, not that," I softly groaned and looked up at him. "I can't believe myself."
He folded his arms and nodded. "You didn't mean it. He just got you worked up."
"That's my son, though," my voice broke. "I snapped at him like I…like I would—"
"Go berserk over his questions," Mario interrupted. "Which, you did. And, he pressed you, like an inquisitive child would. It's natural; we all have limits. Just go talk to him."
Just walk right in and start talking? "Mario, I can't even think of anything to say aside from apologizing. He idolizes me and I practically broke him."
"So go put him back together," he winked. "And yourself, while you're at it."
"But he'll keep asking," I protested. "Junior will want to know how you got out, why I'm acting so strangely, everything."
Mario took in a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "You have to tell him the truth, Bowser."
Scratching my hair, I shrugged, "I did!"
He shook his head. "The whole truth," Mario clarified.
The whole…he means about us? "Are you bonkers?!" I growled.
"No, it's-a me, Mario," he deadpanned. We paused as a grin broke out on his face and my eyes lowered.
"You're an idiot," I sighed.
"Come on, that's hilarious," he chuckled, and held out his arm. I grasped it and he pulled me up.
For a moment, I pause to look him over. To pick me up, anyone else would think that he'd need to have the biggest chest and muscle packed arms. While he's not completely short in either department, he certainly doesn't come close to carrying the look of a body builder. Yet, when we've fought in the past, he could latch onto my tail, spin me around, and throw me from a cliff. All of that strength, and he managed to keep an average looking frame, even with a bit of a belly.
My hand slipped out of his and, automatically, perhaps unconsciously, rubbed his belly. Even through his clothes, it feels soft and smooth. Gently, I let my claws scratch him a bit, just enough to pick away at itches. Too curious, I moved up to feel his chest, just to check—yes, there are muscles there. Still, I could hardly tell—
"Bowser!" Mario hissed and I shook my head. His face was beat red, with his hand over mine. My face grew warm and I sheepishly grinned. "Your son," he reminded me, and pushed my hand away.
"R…Right," I managed. "Just, uh, stay—"
"Bedroom, got it," he mumbled and walked down the hall. I had to think for a minute before I realized he meant his own room. Ooh, I need to get a grip.
Slowly, I trudged over to Junior's door. Lightly, I knocked on the door and waited. Could I really tell him about Mario and I? Would he understand what was going on? Pushing my teeth together, I thumped at the door again, a little louder.
"Go away!" his muffled voice cried out. "I hate you!"
Sure, kid; rip out my heart a little more, please. "That's all right," I rumbled, my voice loud enough for him to hear, but not enough to…hurt him. "I'd hate me too." My hand reached for the knob and turned it, while I expected resistance. It turned easily, and I walked in.
Unlike the rest of the castle, which alternated between color schemes of black, gray, red, and dark green, Junior's room was colored with gold floor tiles and bright green walls. Even his red and orange shelves and desks were brighter than the colors I used for the rest of our home.
Stepping cautiously, I tried to move around the building blocks and other toys that littered his floor. Junior himself had his face buried in his pillow, with his bright green blankets tugged over the rest of his body. Once I made my way to the bed, I waited a minute to see if he would do anything, but he didn't.
Clearing my throat, I asked, "Can I sit with you?" The only response I was given was his sheets thrown over his head. A heavy sigh escaped me and I sat at the end of the bed. For a moment, I tried to think again, piece together what I was going to tell him.
Would he understand?
Could he accept what I told him?
Is it possible that he wouldn't even care?
What if he was repulsed by the idea?
How can I face him if hated me now?
Can he really breath under there?
If I told him, would he only hate me more?
Would anyone tease him over it?
Should anyone else know?
Violently, I shivered my head, and I wanted the questions to stop. But more just had to slip into my mind:
What if I told him everything?
Would he still love me, or ever love me again?
Enough. I'm being selfish. My teeth were clenched and I kept quiet as I controlled my thoughts. Slowly, I reached my hand over and gently rubbed Junior through his covers. Amazingly, he didn't flinch or lash out at me for doing so. And for a little while, that was good enough.
But I couldn't keep quiet forever. We couldn't just hide in here.
"I'm sorry, son," I whispered. "I've been worked up lately over conquering the Mushroom Kingdom that everything sets me off."
Another pause, met with more silence. Still, I patted him a bit, and went back to massaging his back. In spite of everything, I smiled.
"You know," I continued, "I was a lot like you when I was younger. I wanted to ask my parents a lot of questions and always wanted to know what they were doing. One day, though, my father was so fed up with me, that he roared and yelled at me over it."
The bitter memory stirred in my mind, and I could remember myself, probably younger than Junior, quaking at my father's legs as he thundered at me. I couldn't even look him in the eye by that point.
"Eventually," I rambled, "he had Kamek take me away, and ordered him to be responsible for raising me. And back then, Kamek wasn't even at a high rank, so he was basically shoving me on whoever he could."
I laughed a little, but that still pained me. My own father had rejected me so much that he couldn't even stand raising me anymore.
And that hurt more than I realized.
"When you were born, I promised myself that I wouldn't do that to you," I admitted. "More than anything, I didn't want to be like my father and throw you away. I vowed not to be as passive as my mother, who never even stood up for me when I was gone. And, more than anything, I really wanted to love you more than they could have imagined loving me."
My smile dropped and my frown weighed my face down. "Yet here I am," my voice broke again, "acting just as nasty as my father did. And the only thing that could accomplish is pushing you away." A tear slid down my cheek and I hastily rubbed it away. Trying to clear my throat, I coughed a bit.
The sound of covers shifted had me turn my head. Junior moved over and held my hand. "You're not bad, Papa. Not like that." A smile returned onto my face and I threw my arms tight around my son. "Geez, Papa, stop!" he protested. "It's not that big of a deal."
"No, but this is!" I teased as I gave him a noogie. He laughed and squirmed under my grip, helpless to escape it. After a couple of minutes, I let up and he pounced me. We wrestled a little longer, until Junior ran out of breath, and laughed for a while. But once we sat back up, he seemed unsatisfied again.
"What's wrong, son?"
"Nothing, just…Papa, what happened with Mario?" he brought up again. "I'm worried about you. I know you're tough, but he is too. Is he giving you too much trouble?"
Guess the only thing left to do is to tell him the truth.
"Son, I caught Mario sneaking around. I was just bringing him back to his room."
It's just…not the whole truth.
"That's really it, Papa?" he still seemed unconvinced.
"Well, it's complicated, but," I started, but couldn't quite finish it. If I kept lying to him over this, I really am no better than my parents. "Junior, listen. The truth is—"
A rapping sounded at the door. My mouth was hung open and the words were caught in my throat, but they were there. However, Junior had already redirected his attention to the door. It would have to wait.
"Come in," I called.
A red robed Magikoopa shuffled in, followed by a floating mint green Blooper.
"Ouch!" cried the Magikoopa, who had stepped on a building block. Guess he stepped too far in.
"You'll have to buy me a new one," grumbled Junior.
"Uh, um," the Magikoopa stuttered. "Miss Olive, if you could—"
"Beg pardon, your most gracious majesty," the Blooper excused their intrusion. Wait, most gracious what? Does she not know whom she's serving?
"Cut the formalities," I ushered. "What do you two need?"
"Ah yes, very good," she nodded. "Petey Piranha has returned and is requesting you for an audience. He was defeated and lost control of the Grasslands. At the same time, Master Kamek and his Magikoopa are looking to make an offensive force against the Mushroom Kingdom and are requesting you for specific tactics. Reports are coming in that the Mushroom Kingdom's squad is approaching the Deserts."
"Ugh." I ran my hands across my face, and slowly slid them up and down. "Right, I, uh, I'll—"
"Head to Petey Piranha," Junior informed the others. "I'll help Kamek until my Papa can come over. All right, Papa?" He turned to me and smiled. Without any ideas otherwise, I grinned back and nodded.
"Excellent," Olive commended us. "Thank you both, your regal highnesses. I'll take you to Petey, milord Bowser. Red, please take the young prince to Master Kamek."
The prim and proper Blooper glided out of Junior's room. Red watched her, and after a double take, turned back to us.
"Oh, um, r-right this way, m-my prince," he stammered and hurried out. Junior waited a moment and turned to me.
"Papa, how did that Blooper just…float in and out of here?" he asked. "Without water?"
"Unlike a number of sea creatures, son, Bloopers can move freely in or out of water," I explained. "However, it is their preferred habitat, which is why I tend to keep them there."
"Oh ok," he accepted, and ran out the door before I could say another word.
Carefully, I stumbled about until I was out of the room myself. Olive was alone and hummed until I appeared. She floated over to one of the…doors…
"My cordial king," she pointed at his door, "Do you have any important business to attend to with your prime prisoner?"
She knew exactly where he was. How? "That's none of your concern," I snarled.
Somehow, Olive was unfazed. "Oh, many apologies, your highest grace," she bowed. "I meant no disrespect. Truthfully. However, I was informed to give you the chance to speak with him before—"
"By whom?" I snapped.
"Well, Red," she replied, and bid me to follow her forward. "He was told by Kamek to tell you, but he wanted me to know, just in case you went along with me first, which you have."
"Red, huh?" This Magikoopa seemed to be a bit…busy, lately. "Do you know anything else about him?"
"Nothing much, milord Bowser," she addressed. "In fact, I'm not certain that 'Red' is his actual name."
"I see," I murmured as we continued to move. Though I didn't expect her to know much about him, I was wary about this Red.
"If it pleases you, sire," she offered, "I could keep a closer eye on him and investigate him further."
"Yes, that would be a good idea," I muttered. "Don't overcrowd Kamek over it, but if you find yourself again with…Red…stay close to him and learn whatever you can."
"Absolutely, your royal majesty," she agreed. "Ah, we're here already!"
Olive was right; I hadn't paid much attention to how quickly we had navigated through the stairs or halls. She floated over to a black box and tapped it with a tentacle. It popped open to reveal my scepter inside.
"When did you…?" I started, but trailed off and thought. "Kamek sent this?"
"Yes, milord," she answered. "For Petey."
"Right. You have anything else to do, Olive?"
"Aside from escorting you, my grace, nothing is more important—"
"Well, you escorted me," I waved her off. "Get back to…uh, whatever else you need."
"Of course, as you wish, my righteous king," she bowed and floated away.
I shook my head and muttered, "Who taught her to address me like that?" With a shrug and no one to answer, I walked inside my Council Chamber. It was just a simple room with a long table in the middle, as well as a semi-circular one in the back. There was enough space in between for room to walk or present something to either side of the room. Only sporadic torches helped light the otherwise gray room.
Before Petey Piranha even began, I waved my scepter about. He normally speaks with some kind of garbled tongue a polite person would call another language, but I couldn't understand if Petey had used real words. Besides that, I'm pretty good with learning a few words in other real languages here and there.
"Petey Piranha," I bellowed as I approached him. "You're meant to be one of my strongest soldiers and one of most fearsome in any battle. Yet, here you are, with a report that the Grasslands are no longer mine! What kind of incompetence does that suggest of you?"
"Petey sorry, sir," Petey gurgled. "Pesky plumber was easy to beat, but Petey didn't realize that pretty princess would help him."
Pretty princess? "You mean Peach?" I asked.
"Yeah, pretty," he insisted. "She had a magic stick like that."
"Like mine? That's not…" I argued, but stopped. She would have a scepter; that's what was originally scattered throughout the Mushroom Kingdom, with several rulers holding their own. One of my earlier attempts at conquest involved stealing them with the Koopalings. Instead, I inquired, "What exactly could Peach do with her magic?"
Petey held out his leaves, which were gray or blackened in some spots. "She burned Petey," he explained. "These from her evil friends. This," he patted his body, which was singed in a…glittering pink burn, "hers."
All I could utter was, "What the hell…?"
"Pretty magic princess scary," Petey whimpered. "Petey could have died."
Though burns on anyone else could be pink, Petey's wouldn't be that color, nor should they be sparkling. It was a different kind of magic than I was exposed to.
"I'll need to see Kamek about this. Petey, come," I ordered, and hurried out of the Council Chamber, Petey in tow.
[Mario]
Quietly, I waited in my room, wondering if Bowser would return soon. Earlier, I had heard a few voices, one of which wanted him to see me. Curiosity crept quickly into me, festering all over my mind, hungry to know more. Carefully, I opened the door and stepped outside. I gazed down the hall, toward Bowser and Junior's rooms. Junior's was left slightly opened.
"Hey!" shouted a voice, and I whirled on my heels. Iggy hurried down the hall, and carried a sack of contraptions with him. Lemmy followed him, barely visible from behind. "Mario, stop right there and get back in your cell! …Or, uh, room. Whatever!"
Though I could probably take down Iggy and Lemmy in seconds, I didn't want to cause Bowser more trouble with his son…or worse. I held up my hands and walked back to my door. "Before I go in," I asked, "where is the royal family?"
"Wow," Lemmy huffed from the back, lifting the sack up. "He didn't hesitate on what to call them or anything." Truly, I hadn't thought of that as a goof.
"He's just trying to soften us up," sneered Iggy. "You're not pulling one over on us, Mario!"
"I'm not, actually," I clarified. "Really, where did Bowser and Junior go?"
Iggy and Lemmy exchanged glances with one another, but refused to answer me, even after I stepped back into my room.
"Is this about that cage you were shouting about earlier?" I questioned, though I already knew that it was.
"You shouldn't know about that!" Iggy snapped.
"Well, he could have just asked Bowser about it, at some point," Lemmy offered.
"Why would Bowser tell him?!" Iggy argued.
"I don't know, why not?" Lemmy countered.
They continued to bicker back and forth with one another, to the point where I was so annoyed by it that I closed my door on them.
"Hey!" yelled Iggy. "Open that back up! We're not done forcing you to listen to us argue over what Bowser told or didn't tell you!"
"Wasn't there an easier way of saying that?" Lemmy teased. "And yet, I'm labeled the crazy and childish one."
"Shut up!"
"Make me!"
I climbed back into my bed and threw the pillow over my head, and hoped that would muffle the rest of their arguments.
[Bowser]
Petey and I marched to the courtyard, where Kamek's Magikoopa were still practicing their spells. Kamek, on the other hand, was in a discussion with my son and a few select Magikoopa. They paused as soon as one had spotted me.
"Hi Papa!" Junior greeted. "Is…everything ok?"
"Not quite," I admitted to Junior. "Kamek, can you examine Petey for a minute?"
"He's rather large, an imposing and unique species of a Piranha Plant," Kamek rambled off his quick assessment. "From what I remember, he can fire sludge—"
"No, none of that!" I barked. "Take a closer look at his body!"
Though he appeared puzzled, Kamek adjusted his glasses and walked forward. Almost immediately, he noticed Petey's magic burns. "Where did you get these?" he asked, almost demanded from, Petey.
"Pretty—"
"Peach," I answered for him. "She was apparently using a scepter of her own."
"She has her own scepter?" Kamek mused. "This is news. Then again, it makes sense, considering she tends to have a gift with healing her little friends now and again."
"That though?" I pointed at Petey's body. "What's that? Because that isn't healing."
"No, it's magic residue," Kamek described. "In fact, it could be a personal variant on light magic."
"Light magic?" I echoed.
"Light, white, holy, whatever the kids call it these days," Kamek muttered. "Do you not recall studying it?"
"I don't remember much," I confessed. "Is it rare?"
"Certainly, more so than normal and dark magic," Kamek continued, "which are the types we use."
"Well, leave it to the so-called 'good guys' to use good magic," I spat.
"Oh, I wouldn't call it, 'good,'" Kamek debated. "Depending upon the spells and the caster, it can be just as destructive and malicious as dark magic. Light magic tends to have long-term effects on more spells. It's renowned for restorative effects, which are good, but no one takes note of the more sinister side, which includes nasty, enduring attacks that have results like the burns that Petey acquired. Other spells can slowly suck the air out of an enemy's throat, crystallize or freeze a foe, various enchanted binds, and more beyond the surface."
"Yikes," I mumbled. "Even with healing spells making it famous, how could anyone call that 'light' magic?"
"Long ago, it was known as 'pure magic,' since the spells tend to amplify the world around us," Kamek elaborated. "Though it doesn't necessarily use the surrounding environment, it does enhance elements that you could find in every day life. Mostly, it is used for constructs and healing. Dark magic, on the other end, takes those same elements and corrupts them into alternative variants. For example, a dark spell could warp a Mushroom into a Poison Mushroom. Another example would be making ice capable of burning someone. Normal magic defies both of these types and creates its own abilities."
"That's a lot to take in," I grumbled. "I'll need to dig out my old notes."
Kamek nodded. "It takes years to understand the mechanics behind these spells and their differences, which is why most people give the broad term of 'magic' to everything."
"So, Peach has—"
"A lot of power at her fingertips."
"But, so do any of you," I observed. "Peach is no different from the Magikoopa."
"Except she is," Kamek contended. "We need to practice and study our spells, in order to properly utilize and control them. Peach can just pick up that scepter, read a few notes on the spells she chooses, and use it."
My mouth dropped open. "With that kind of power, she could be unstoppable."
"Potentially," Kamek concurred.
I thought for a moment. "Is that power inherent?" came my question. "Or could we steal it from her?"
"Without the scepter or history on the princess, I can't be certain," concluded Kamek. "Just from knowing her from the years we've kidnapped her, I couldn't sense or trace anything."
"So, if it was innate, you would have known by now?" I asked.
"Not necessarily, no," Kamek shook his head. "Worse still, someone could have cast a charm or a curse to block me from properly reading her. We never learned enough about the bloodline of the Mushroom Kingdom, which is why it is beneficial to take over her kingdom, or at least, her castle. There are secrets that not even we have explored yet."
I nodded, but then thought of something else: "Would Mario know anything about it?"
"Only if Peach shared that knowledge with him," Kamek clarified. "And since her own secrets are so well guarded, I highly doubt it. In fact, only the people extremely close to not only Peach, but her entire family, would probably know anything about it."
"Petey…so…confused," the overgrown Piranha Plant suddenly piped up. Apparently, he had tried listening.
"Can he be healed?" I inquired.
"It'll take a while," surveyed Kamek. "I have to read over whatever books and scrolls we have that could counter these spells."
"Papa," Junior called. "You and Kamek have been talking forever. Don't we need to figure out how to stop Peach at the Deserts?"
"That's right, son," I assented. "Kamek, what are our options?"
"For normal troops, I'm short on counter measures for Peach and her spell kit," Kamek murmured. "But, I may know of something to take on the princess and her forces when they try to win back the fortress."
"Get on that, then," I commanded and began to walk away. "I've got a message to…" I stopped in my tracks and began to gaze around.
Kamek watched me, and then asked, "Who or what are you looking for?"
"Do you know the Magikoopa named, or nicknamed, 'Red,' or someone like that?" I requested from him. "He's that nervous Magikoopa that showed up in the Study."
"Him? I…don't even remember calling him 'Red.' Good to know he has a name," Kamek nodded.
"Every one of these grunts has a name," I snapped, annoyed that Kamek hadn't known.
"Forgive me, boy," Kamek shrugged off. "It's difficult enough to be in charge of knowing each and every inch there is to know about magic, let alone keeping track of your entire army."
"Not everyone," I growled. "Just the suspicious ones."
"King Bowser!" shouted a voice. I looked around to see an orange Bob-omb signaling for me. "We have a situation!"
[Meanwhile]
Red moved silently up a spiral staircase, and turned every so often to make sure he wasn't followed. Tightly, he gripped his scepter.
"Ok…just need to head in there, grab Mario, and…" he muttered to himself as he quietly slid the door open. He glanced in and saw the two Koopalings working on Mario's door. When they looked up, he gently shut the door.
"They're not supposed to be there," Red hissed to himself. "Now what?"
He looked down at the scepter in his hand. Waving it slightly, it began to softly glow. Red gripped the door with his free hand, with a smile on his face.
...
Victory lap completed! Red became more creepy than I realized, huh? Oops.
Meanwhile, meet Olive! The proper and polite Blooper whose parents named her based on the wrong color/food. Double oops.
Aside from that, phew! That was a lot to learn about magic and stuff, huh? I...I'm still going over it myself, lol! Honestly, I wasn't planning on going that far with it, but after the last chapter, I had to elaborate more on this part of it. Visions, spells, who knew the Mario series was so...magical? (Glimmering things!)
Other stuff: Petey had kind of Hulk-speak because I don't imagine him as much of a talker. No, he's not meant to be unintelligent, but...well, I guess he's not the smartest in the room either. If none of my Bowser/Junior moments made anyone cry, I am disappointed in myself. But seriously, I hope those had the proper feels with them. Daddy issues help move all kinds of plots. Just ask everyone, really.
So, I guess the questions for next time would be: will Mario be caged or be free...no, I guess that's more caged or less caged, huh? Will Iggy and Lemmy learn to get along? Will Red murder everyone? (Spoilers: Nope...I d-don't think, anyway.) What's the new plan for Bowser's forces and how will they combat Peach's? Just who is that dashing orange Bob-omb at the end there? Will I stop ending chapters on cliffhangers? (But they're just ever so fun.) Truth be told, I would like to get back to Luigi, Peach, and the other Toads as well. Maybe next chapter is Bowser's Castle again, and then them.
Anyway, thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed! And that this made sense. And that readers like this stuff.
...Come to think of it, this chapter was lacking the Romance department. Triple oops. (Though, it's not the first either.) And hey, 12 chapters within 12 months as of posting! Kewl!