5
Meanwhile, back in Bowser's Kingdom, the sun was about to rise as the morning twilight replaced the unforgiving night. Bowser and Kamek were sitting in the empty meeting room sipping on their morning coffee, trying to wake themselves up after a night of interrupted sleep. Lord Crump's words were ringing inside their heads: They're still alive! They're still alive! They're still alive!
"THIS CAN'T BE TRUE!" Bowser suddenly burst out, throwing his coffee across the room. Upon hitting the opposite wall, the cup smashed to pieces.
"Bowser!" Kamek shouted. "That's the third cup of coffee that you've wasted this morning!"
"I still can't believe that those bastards escaped the Bob-Omb explosion!" Bowser shouted. "What the hell did I do wrong?!"
"I don't know sir." said Kamek. "All I know is that there's only two weeks until the solar eclipse! You haven't acquired one crystal star!"
"I already know that!" Bowser shouted. "I'm beginning to think that the Koopas are failing me! AGAIN!"
"I wonder where Lord Crump is right now." Kamek asked. "We haven't heard from him in hours."
"Who knows?" Bowser said negatively. "He probably lost the brothers a long time ago. God knows where they are now. For all we know they could be dead already, I would hope anyway…"
Suddenly a loud beeping sound echoed through the small room.
"Bowser! You have a radio transmission coming in!" Kamek said.
"Turn on the loud speakers!" Bowser responded.
Kamek pushed a nearby button that was situated underneath the table and the whole room became a giant microphone.
"Hello? Who is this?" Bowser asked.
"This is Lord Crump!"
Bowser heard the booming voice and frowned.
"So, what kind of news do you have to share with me this morning?" he asked.
"Bowser! I think I've picked up on a trail!" Lord Crump said.
"Really? What kind of trail?"
"We're only about twenty miles from Rogueport, but we just found a bunch of uprooted flower roots and two pairs of human footprints that headed straight for our dig site!"
"Is that so?" Bowser asked.
"Yeah. And by the looks of it, the Mario Brothers were camping out here as well. There were two piles of black ash when we stumbled into this forest."
"Mario Brothers, eh?" Bowser said. "That's a rather catchy name for two criminals, don't you think?"
"Sorry, boss." Lord Crump said. "I was just getting sick of calling them the two brothers."
"Oh, no need for apologies!" Bowser said. "I've been looking for another label for those bastards since yesterday."
The room fell silent.
"Anyway, so you think you're getting close to them?"
"I'm sure of it, Bowser!" said Lord Crump. "Not a trace of doubt in my mind!"
"Good." Bowser said. "Say, you wouldn't happen to know what time it is over where you're at, would you?"
"It's still shortly after midnight." Lord Crump said. "Wish I could get some sleep."
"There's no time for that!" Bowser said. "You need to get the Mario Brothers before they steal that Crystal Star! Got it?"
"Yes, sir!" Lord Crump said.
"Good." Bowser said. "Oh, and before I forget, I will send one of my armies out there to help you out. By then, the brothers will have a very difficult time getting away!"
"Sounds like a plan!" Lord Crump said. "I'll catch you later."
"Wonderful! Bye, then."
The transmission ended and Bowser rose from his chair and went over to the coffee machine to grab his fourth cup of coffee. This time he was willing to drink the whole cup.
"I'll be back, Kamek." Bowser said. "I must warn my Koopa army about Lord Crump's arrival. I'll see that they will work together to stop those young goons from stealing my star!"
"Is there anything that I should do to help?" Kamek asked. "I mean, it wouldn't hurt for me to magically teleport over to the Mushroom Kingdom and assist the army."
"I appreciate the offer." Bowser said. "But I'm pretty sure that my army will be able to handle this just fine. Besides, who's going to watch over my eight little children?"
Bowser paused.
"Ever since Clawdia left me, I couldn't help but think that it was my fault that our relationship wasn't working. I've been so busy trying to take over the Mushroom Kingdom, it seems like she lost all interest I me."
"Now, now, Bowser." Kamek said. "Don't start this again. We all know that it wasn't your fault that she left you. She only wanted to be with you so that she could take all your riches. She was a bad influence."
"Still, I worry about little Bowser Junior." Bowser said. "He's only a baby. He may never know who is mother is when he grows up."
"Poor little guy." Kamek said. "At least he still has you to take care of him."
"Yeah, but even now it feels like I'm not there for my children either." Bowser said. "What am I to do about it?"
"Don't worry about it, Bowser!" Kamek said. "I'll watch the little ones while you alert the army!"
With that said, Kamek took off towards the children's bedrooms while Bowser made his way to the castle's radio tower. With his regretful thoughts long gone, Bowser let out an evil laugh as he started to smell a faint wisp of success after many years of miserable failure.
"I have you now, Mario Brothers!" he said to himself. "You will pay for your curiosity!"