Hello again with an intriguing new chapter! And again, thank you so much for your feedbacks! I'm so glad you like it 😊
Chapter 21 - Realization
Bowser sat at his great stone throne at the back of this huge hall deserted by Koopa soldiers at his personal request. He had no desire to see anyone. Alone and slumped in his seat, he fiddled thoughtfully with the pocket watch Cinder had given him just before her disappearance. Without a trace. In a matter of seconds, she had evaporated before he could even touch her. If only he'd been able to take her hand... He replayed the scene over and over in his mind, but he still couldn't understand how such a thing could have happened. Running his finger over the smooth surface of the now stopped watch, he rested his cheek against his fist as he gazed at it sadly. It was tiny in his large hand, the golden chain dangling between his fingers as he admired it, thinking of Cinder and what had become of her. Why had she entrusted him with this watch? Why had she left? Why did she look so scared?
A whole host of questions that remained unanswered, and this had seriously annoyed the big King, who had been depressed ever since. He kept seeing the young girl's green eyes again and again, her gaze haunting him... Every moment. Every second. Her radiant smile and sweet face remained with him even when he closed his eyes, a painful pressure on his heart every time he remembered that end. Every time he recalled all those memories spent by her side during those many training sessions to seduce Peach, which in the end were of no interest to him. This heartache was overwhelming, preventing him from thinking of anything other than that frightened face moments before she disappeared. While staring at the metal object in his hand, Bowser suddenly heard the echo of Cinder's voice in the back of his mind.
"You're not a monster. Monsters don't have feelings."
She was right.
Slowly closing his fingers around the pocket watch he would never leave from now on, the demoralized Koopa mechanically made his way through the corridors of his castle, shuffling his feet without really knowing where he was going. He passed the large windows that gave a glimpse of the roaring clouds outside, but didn't even glance at them.
Kamek had tried to cheer him up on more than once since they'd returned to the castle, but alas, it was all in vain. Usually, when he suffered a defeat with Peach, he was quick to come up with a new plan of action, but this time there was nothing that would work. For nothing could soothe him... Relieve him of this pain. He no longer had any determination, nor any desire to do anything either. Cinder had disappeared for good, and in disappearing she had taken part of his soul with her. He was an empty shell, a shadow of his former self... His heart split in two as he entered the room he'd given her the day he'd made her his trusted advisor. Pushing the door open, Bowser looked around the neatly arranged room as if no one had ever been here. On the bed lay his folded servant's robe, with the silver buckle representing his famous crest.
Slumped over, he walked into the room to see that to his right on the dressing table was a wilted bouquet of lilies of the valley in a pretty purple vase. Delicately, he touched the brown flowers with the tip of a claw, then sat down on the edge of the bed with a long, dejected sigh. His shoulders sagged as soon as he touched the soft mattress. He didn't know how long he'd stood there staring into space, but suddenly a Koopa guard poked his head into the room to look at the unhappy expression of his King, who had his hands resting on his knees. Dazed, the turtle posing as one of Cinder's friends approached Bowser, only to sit down next to him and adopt the same posture as the latter. It was he who had given the little bouquet of flowers to the human, and now it looked like nothing. It had faded, like the good mood of this castle...
Most of the Koopas missed Cinder, but Junior and Bowser in particular were the ones most affected. They had never seen their King so dejected ... So quiet and calm since the terrible news of her disappearance. It was almost frightening. Koopa Cook and the two guards who used to rub shoulders with the human, were also among those most affected having developed a solid friendship with her. She had brought so much happiness to this castle... So much joy and hope, her smiles and laughter having been a great source of inspiration to everyone. They all felt an enormous emptiness now. Sniffling sadly, the blue shelled Koopa guard gently placed his hand on his superior's knee to offer his support when he thought he saw a small tear at the corner of his eye. Bowser neither moved nor flinched at the comforting touch.
Only a few doors away, Junior was hiding under his blankets. Inconsolable since Cinder's disappearance. As soon as he closed his eyes, he saw the girl melt into nothingness, just... Vanish in the blink of an eye for no reason at all. What had happened to her? Why had she gone? Bowser Jr wondered as his tears would not stop, finding the situation terribly unfair. He hadn't even had a chance to say goodbye! Curled up under his red blanket, he listened to the sounds of the room in the hope of hearing Cinder's song, as she had reassured him after being scolded by his father. But there was nothing. Not a sound, just his pained sniffles echoing in the empty room. It was very dark in his room because he hadn't even bothered to open the curtains, not wanting to see the outside let alone daylight.
"Junior? Are you all right?" Questioned a voice behind the door after knocking three short knocks on the wood.
"Please leave me alone. I don't want to see anyone. Get out of here." Bowser Jr. grumbled in reply to Larry without bothering to pull his head out of the blanket. He heard whispers from the other Koopalings before Wendy spoke up with a sigh.
"Leave him alone, he needs time and space." Said the young Koopa with the pink polka-dot bow as she took the gang with her.
He had no desire to see anyone, least of all this gang who mocked him at every opportunity. However, he had to admit that this little attention touched him all the same, because it reminded him of the time when Cinder had tried to stop this conflict by proposing a collective game. That day, despite Ludwig's taunts and low blows, they'd had a great time together. Perhaps, in the end, she had succeeded in making peace between them... At least in a way, since they were showing concern for her well-being now. Which eased the little turtle's heartache just a little.
Tick-tock, tick-tock
Bowser Junior tensed in his hiding place when he heard the familiar ticking of his Comtoise clock again. He wasn't used to hearing it since it had suddenly stopped without explanation some time ago, and the repetitive sound sent shivers down his spine... Why had it started again? Grumbling, little Koopa let out an annoyed sigh as he listened to the sound of the clock that had so frightened Cinder. He remembered the horrified look on her face the first time she'd set foot in his room... The look of terror on her face as she stared blankly at him. She had a thing about clocks. Junior had always wondered what it was that frightened her so much about this one in particular, and even ended up believing it was her fault that today she was gone. Swelling her cheeks at this growing anger over the ticking, the young turtle threw off his blankets to stick his head out to vent his hatred.
"I hate you!" He shouted at the clock facing his bed.
However, his body suddenly froze and his little black eyes widened in surprise at the strange luminosity coming from the clock face. It seemed to glow with a yellowish color, this unusual brilliance enhanced by the room's half-light. The needles continued to turn normally as the pendulum slowly swung from left to right, but something seemed odd... The sound was getting stranger and stranger. He got goose bumps. Sitting cross-legged on his bed, Junior frowned at the clock, which gave him a feeling of unease that grew stronger with every tick. There was definitely something wrong with it.
Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock
The sound seemed different, almost... Distended as he continued to stare at it in amazement after she'd started up again on her own to break the silence of the room. About to get off the bed to inspect it more closely, Bowser Jr. stopped just as he thought he saw something inside the dial. He blinked, but there was nothing there, though he was sure he'd seen something moving inside! He slid to the front of the bed and held onto the edge to get a better view of the clock, which suddenly seemed threatening. He was beginning to fear it. He had the impression that it was staring at him intently, the strange light illuminating its small round face as he tilted his head to the side in disbelief. Then suddenly, something caught his eye in the right-hand corner of the dial.
A small silhouette.
"OW!" He exclaimed in surprise, falling backwards onto his shell. No, he wasn't dreaming! There was indeed a figure behind the clock face! Shocked, little Koopa sat up on his knees to look at this shadow that reminded him so much of Cinder's ... His eyes widened when he heard a muffled, practically inaudible melody, a voice he could recognize between a thousand.
"Cinder?!" Junior immediately leapt to his feet to stare at the clock that was apparently holding his friend prisoner. What kind of witchcraft was this?!
"Junior?" Exclaimed the little figure who stopped singing sadly after hearing her name, her head turning in the direction of the sound. She slowly placed her hands on the dial as Bowser Junior's frightened expression turned to amazement, his jaw dropping. Then something strange happened.
Dong! Dong! Dong! Dong!
At the touch of the figure's hands, the clock chimed. Four strokes, four frightening sounds. The needles, which had been turning clockwise, reversed and then accelerated as a luminous dot appeared in the center of the dial. It grew larger and larger before the young prince stunned by his discovery, wind coming out of nowhere and pushing him towards the clock. The curtains swung towards the portal that was opening right in front of his wide eyes, the suction becoming ever stronger to the point where he was forced to hold onto the pillar of his canopy bed to avoid being dragged away. He was going to get sucked in! Terrified, Junior clung desperately to his bed as the green-and-purple portal expanded in a whirlwind. More imposing, more menacing. It whirled in front of him, making a sound like teleportation pipes mixed with the roar of a thunderstorm.
"DADDY!" He shouted after throwing himself against the door, opening it in a hurry to rush down the corridor in search of his father. Narrowly missing being caught by the clock in the process. He was in a panic, his dark eyes resting frantically on the imposing turtle that just happened to be in the corridor opposite his room. Having no doubt heard his repeated howls from his alert expression.
"Junior? What's the matter? Why are you screaming like that!" Bowser asked when he saw his son's horrified face, apparently about to pee himself in fear. However, he didn't have time to continue his sentence as Junior quickly grabbed his hand.
"Cinder is in the clock! Cinder is in the clock! Hurry up! Hurry!" He repeated impatiently as he tugged on his arm to move him forward to his room.
Wrapping his hands around his confused father's fingers to force him to follow, he hurried back inside the room to find that nothing was amiss. Everything was in place in his room, whereas a moment earlier, his toys had been about to be swallowed up by the portal... Letting his arms fall to his sides in shock, Bowser Jr. examined the clock face which no longer had that strange yellowish sheen, nor did the needles which turned quietly like any other Comtoise clock. Behind him, Bowser let out a despondent sigh, followed by a shake of his head. He was about to visit his son to see how he was doing when he heard his panicked cries, which immediately set him into action to see what was going on. Ready to cook whoever was hurting his child!
"She was there... I swear it's true..." Lost, Bowser Junior desperately searched his eyes for clues to prove he wasn't lying. But his room was untouched. Then he turned to his father and exclaimed; "daddy, I saw her! There was even a magic portal and it was about to suck me in! It was right there!"
"Junior ..." Bowser shook his head again, at a loss for words. He was saddened to see him so devastated for he was suffering as much as he was from her disappearance, and he didn't even know how to comfort him. What was he supposed to say? He was a child ... His eyes were watery as he leaned towards the latter to wrap his big arms around him in a gentle embrace, but the young Koopa quickly pulled away with an irritated look.
"I'm telling you I saw her! Why won't you believe me?! She was in the clock! She answered me and she looked lonely and scared! Something was wrong!" Junior exasperated while pointing a claw at the dial, his foot digging into the ground.
"Junior, that's impossible. You must have had a dream. Face it, she's gone." Bowser frowned as his son shook his head sharply.
"But why won't you believe me! Cinder is stuck in the clock and you don't care! You'd rather wallow in self-pity and believe she's gone forever when I've just told you she's alive! She needs us!" He snarled after kicking a stuffed toy that flew against the wall behind his father. Bowser stretched out his hand towards him to try and calm him down after this violent gesture, affected by his words which had a direct impact on his emotions. However, he couldn't bring himself to believe it so he gently knelt down in front of him, his eyes wet with tears.
"Son ... Listen me-" He tried again, but was cut off again by a revolted Junior.
"No, I won't! You never believe anything I say! You never listen to me anyway. You'd rather think only of yourself and your own happiness than spend time with me. You're obsessed with power, but that's why we're always alone! You've understood absolutely nothing... Cinder loved us, she did, and you didn't even realize it because you'd rather chase after that stupid princess who hates us!" The latter fiercely accused, trembling with rage, his fists clenched at his sides as he maintained his damning gaze in his father's shocked one. He wasn't afraid of him, he wasn't afraid of being violently reprimanded for his gall. He didn't care anyway, it didn't matter anymore.
For he was once again alone and abandoned.
Bowser was literally speechless after this outburst, which he hadn't expected from his usually obedient and respectful offspring. It was the first time he'd ever stood up to him like that! He was very surprised by this unusual audacity. Strange. His brow furrowed, the King of the Koopas stood there watching the tears of fury form at the corners of Junior's eyes, unable to hold back the tears any longer. He'd never seen him act so desperately... Refusing his consolation hug outright. Listening to all these accusations with pain, Bowser suddenly felt a surge of anger spread to the inside of his shell and ruffle his hair. Gritting his teeth at this wave of fury, smoke escaped his nostrils as Junior continued to express his dismay in grand gestures.
"She was always there for me ... And now she needs us but you refuse to do anything! You'd rather tell yourself she's gone and she's not coming back. If you won't do anything, then I will! I'll go and get her myself!" Motivated Bowser Jr., his fists clenched with conviction, but he quickly stepped aside when his father stood up abruptly and tore off the clock face with a flick of his hand. Behind it, there was only the mechanism and no trace that would indicate Cinder was actually there.
"You see? You simply dreamed she was there. I told you there was nothing there! It's empty! So when are you going to finally understand that it's over! It's over! We're moving on!" Bowser roared pointing to the inside of the clock, now broken for good. He instantly regretted his harsh words, but he wanted him to understand and stop locking himself away in his imagination to fill the void. It was for his own good! Shoulders rising and falling in anger, the big intimidating turtle suddenly stopped glaring at Junior and laid eyes on the dial he held in his right hand.
Inside was written the following in large, elegant curves;
A gift for His Majesty King Bowser from the Watchmaker, Friend of Time
Intrigued by these curious inscriptions, he thoughtfully ran his finger over the relief as his gaze wandered over the large red friend of Time... Mhm, the name rang a bell. This clock had been given to him years ago, but he couldn't remember the exact date or why it had been given to him, he just knew it was a gift he hadn't particularly appreciated at the time. Never having had any interest in clocks. That's why he'd put it in his son's room, so that it would serve some purpose instead of rotting in a storage room with other gifts he considered useless. Then suddenly, his face lit up. His eyebrows rose to his forehead as he stared at the wall in front of him with a dazed expression that immediately called out to Junior.
"Dad?" He asked cautiously while knotting his hands between them, worried after witnessing his outburst of rage.
"What's wrong?" He continued in a small, desolate voice when he got no answer. His father looked completely absorbed by the wall, as if he wasn't really there anymore ... He'd been thinking deeply ever since he'd peered behind that clock face. What was there to hide? He seemed to have been illuminated. He was about to call him back to snap him out of his train of thought, but Bowser cried out in a tone that boded no good.
"Kamek!" He shouted.
The Magikoopa in question immediately appeared in the room, then prepared to ask him what he wanted except that his King didn't allow him to express himself, for he resumed without delay.
"Get the soldiers ready, I want the turbines running at full speed. We're heading for the Mushroom Kingdom!" He demanded firmly after crushing the dial in his fist.
"Your Wickedness?!" Kamek astonished, eyebrows raised in incomprehension.
"There's not a minute to lose! I want everyone at their posts. We're leaving right now!" Bowser barked at the hooded Koopa with a ferocious glare, throwing the remains of the clock on the floor as he left the room to get everyone up to speed.
Off to the Mushroom Kingdom.
To be continued...
What do you think Bowser's up to? Or rather, what do you think he's figured out? In any case, it's strange. It's all getting curiouser and curiouser ...
More to come in the next chapter! In the meantime, my heartfelt thanks for your support and loyalty!
VP
