Continuation of the flashback! This chapter will take place after the defeat of Cackletta, and focuses on the aftermath.

Siph: While we're spoiling the chapter, we're gonna find out why the Nomore is bad.

Indeed we are. And by "we," we mean you.

Fun Fact: I had the Cackletta thing planned since Chapter 1. Who would've thought that the reveal would end up coinciding with the remake of Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga.

Chapter 37: The Promise

Ludwig awoke in front of the castle, his head pounding. "What happened?"

"Careful, my pupil," a familiar voice shushed him. "You are free from that Beanish witch now. The Mario brothers seem to have defeated her and her minion."

Ludwig looked over at a Magikoopa in a blue robe and a blue hat with white trim. "Kamek?"

The Magikoopa nodded, smiling as he helped the young prince to his feet.

A Hammer Brother approached the pair with a Mushroom in hand. "Hammer Sam, reporting for duty. Here, Your Weariness. You took quite a beating from the Mario Brothers while you were brainwashed."

Ludwig and Kamek looked at him quizzically. "I can heal myself," the Koopaling protested. "Kamek can heal me, as well. This Mushroom is unnecessary."

Hammer Sam shook his head. "Kamek has been healing everyone. He has to be exhausted. And Lord Bowser ordered me to give you this, Prince Ludwig, and to tell you, Kamek, to cool it with the healing spells and let us take over with healing items instead."

Ludwig rolled his eyes and took the Mushroom begrudgingly.

Kamek turned to Hammer Sam. "Very well. King's orders. How has the search gone? Is everyone accounted for?"

Hammer Sam nodded. "Almost. We are still unsure of the whereabouts of the young Prince Bowser Junior."

Ludwig choked on his Mushroom upon hearing his brother's name.

"Prince Ludwig!"

The Koopaling spat out the piece of Mushroom. "Bowser!" he shouted, and he ran into the castle as fast as he could.

Kamek and Hammer Sam shared a look of concern before following their prince.

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Roy lay on his bed, his pillow on top of his aching head. Of course Mario'd trounce us while we were brainwashed. I'm still sore. I hope those plumbers put those stupid beans through more pain than this.

A knock at his door prompted a groan out of him. "Go away!" he shouted lacklusterly.

"Roy, it's me. Get out here."

Roy groaned again, growling, "I said go away, Lemmy!"

"I'm not going anywhere," Lemmy replied sternly.

Is Lemmy being… aggressive? Whatever. "I said GO AWAY! Get lost!"

"No," Lemmy answered flatly.

Roy growled again and, throwing the pillow against the wall, got out of bed. He put on his sunglasses, stomped to his door, and threw it open. "Do I have to pound you to get you to go away?" he threatened.

Lemmy stared back at Roy, unwavering. "We need to talk about what happened. But first, you're gonna help me find Ludwig."

Roy glared down at Lemmy, who he realized was not on his ball. Did he walk all the way to my room? He almost relented, but suddenly remembered the image of Iggy Koopa's limp form falling from Bowletta's claws. The muscular Koopaling growled, "After what you did, I don't have to do a thing you say!"

Lemmy finally reacted. It was a wince. He looked away from Roy, tears welling up. He took a deep breath and glared back at his younger brother. "This is important!" he demanded. "And yes, you have to do what I say because I'm older than you!"

Roy's jaw fell open. "D… did you…" he sputtered. "Did you just pull rank on me?" he breathed, completely deflated, as he took off his sunglasses. "You really are serious."

Lemmy looked away again, silently crying. Roy stepped out of his room and hugged the once happy Koopaling. "I'm sorry, Lem. What I said was completely below the belt, even for me." Lemmy sobbed. "You were brainwashed. It's stupid to hate you for something you'd never, ever do."

As the smaller yet older Koopa cried tears of both guilt and relief, Roy picked him up and carried him down the hall. "Let's go find our big brother."

"Thanks, Roy."

They barely made it to the end of the hall before being passed by the genius in question, along with Kamek and a Hammer Brother.

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Ludwig ran into his room. The door was still open after the events that had taken place there. He rushed to his bed and looked at the spell book for the Nomore spell's return words. As he quickly memorized them, Kamek and Hammer Sam entered his room.

Kamek's eyes fell on the book. "Please tell me that's not what I think it is." He ran up beside his pupil and snatched the book away. His eyes widened as he saw what page the book was open to. "Ludwig von Koopa, what have you done?!"

"I memorized the return words for the Nomore spell," Ludwig answered, turning from his mentor to the spot on the bed where Bowser Jr. used to be. He closed his eyes, stretched out his hands, and focused on his brother. He pictured Junior's sleeping form, clutching to his blanket, and recited, "Suem iuq te em da inev."

"Your Rashness, you cannot—" Kamek began, but was interrupted when a gentle wind began, and Junior returned to where he was before the spell sent him away, as if he had never been gone to begin with. "That's not possible."

Ludwig ignored him, instead scooping Bowser Jr. up in his arms. "I am going to take Bowser Jr. back to his crib. He will awaken as if this was one long nap." He turned to exit his room, but Kamek cut off his path.

"Hammer Sam, take our slumbering prince to his crib," he ordered. "I need to have a word with my thieving and very foolish student."

Hammer Sam hesitated, looking at Ludwig, whose face fell. The Koopaling approached the Hammer Bro. and handed Bowser Jr. off to him.

Before Hammer Sam departed, Ludwig leaned in and gave Bowser Jr. another kiss on the forehead. "Welcome back home, little brother." He looked at Hammer Sam and nodded. "You may take him now."

The Hammer Bro. bowed his head. "Yes, Prince Ludwig." He exited the room while the prince turned to his father's advisor. As Hammer Sam turned to walk down the hall, he nodded and said, "Prince Lemmy. Prince Roy."

Kamek and Ludwig turned back to the door as the two next oldest Koopalings entered, with Lemmy leading.

"Ludwig," Lemmy began, "we need to talk."

Kamek waved them off. "Not now, children. Whatever it is can wait, I have to lecture my prized pupil about something more important."

Roy pointed at the Magikoopa, his ruby eyes burning for all to see. "Watch it, old man. You don't get to push us out thinking we ain't here for nothing important."

Kamek scowled. "Children, please—"

"NO!" Lemmy cut him off shrilly, startling everyone. "We're staying right here, and so are you. And you're not going to go against our wishes because even though you're Ludwig's teacher and King Dad's surrogate father, we're still your princes, so you still take orders from us! Understand?!"

Kamek, to his credit, maintained a stoic expression. Ludwig, however, found his mouth agape. Did Lemmy just pull rank?

Kamek sighed, "Very well. Clearly this must be serious, so am I to assume this is about recent events?"

Roy nodded. "Lem pulled rank on me, too. He feels horrible about how—"

"Roy," Lemmy interrupted him, much more gently than his outburst a minute ago, "I have to be the one to say it."

The burly Koopa looked at his brother in surprise. "Are you sure, Lem?"

Lemmy nodded and hugged him. "I'm happy you're supporting me." He released his immediate younger brother and turned to the others. "I betrayed Iggy. I told Cackletta to break his mind. There's no way I can ever make up for this or fix this, but I can start somewhere."

Roy shook his head, grabbing Lemmy's shoulder. "It ain't all your fault, Lem. If I hadn't been so afraid to fight back against you guys, I could've protected him."

Kamek hummed. "And why were you so afraid to fight your siblings, Roy? You usually don't show such hesitation."

"That's because usually they give up easy and run away," Roy explained. "But I thought that witch would make us fight to the death, and I could never forgive myself if I killed one of them." He punched a wall. "She knew that. That's why she broke Iggy first—to break me."

Kamek looked sadly at his princes. The poor boys hold so much weight and guilt on their shoulders. I wish I didn't have to reprimand Ludwig for what he did, but it was far too dangerous. He turned towards the eldest. "Your older brother thinks he did a good job of protecting young Prince Bowser."

Ludwig furrowed his brow. "With all due respect, Kamek, I succeeded in protecting him."

The Magikoopa slammed his wand on the ground. "You stole a book from my library. A book of forbidden spells."

Ludwig grabbed the book back from Kamek, which was still open the same page. "There is no reasonable explanation for the Nomore spell to be forbidden. It worked wonders. It sent Bowser away, and brought him back."

Lemmy looked at Roy. "No… more?" Roy only shrugged.

Kamek shook his head angrily. "It should not have worked. It has never worked." He took the book back, placed it back on Ludwig's bed, and turned the page. He pointed at the next paragraph and ordered, "Read."

Ludwig huffed, "Fine. I shall." He looked down at the book. His expression quickly changed from indignant annoyance, to confused worry. He looked up at his mentor. "This makes no sense. The recall incantation worked. You saw Bowser return unharmed."

Kamek nodded. "It has never worked before. Whatever happened here is obviously a fluke, so it is unlikely to work a second time."

Roy approached the mages. "What are you talking about?"

Ludwig's legs gave out beneath him. Lemmy walked as quickly as he could to his side. "Ludwig!"

The oldest Koopaling looked up. "The Nomore spell was created to temporarily remove subjects from this plane of reality, sending them into limbo. There is an incantation for sending them away, which works. However, the incantation for recalling the subject has always failed."

Roy furrowed is brow, trying to process this information. "What are ya saying, Lud?"

Ludwig stared off into space. "None of the subjects sent to limbo were ever able to return, being removed from our reality altogether. Thus, the spell was named 'No more,' and subsequently forbidden to prevent any tragedy." He looked at his brothers in horror. "I cast this spell on Bowser thinking I was sending him into protection, but I really banished him permanently to limbo."

Lemmy shook his head. "But… but he came back."

Ludwig looked down at his shaking hands. "He shouldn't have. That shouldn't have worked. I… I cannot protect him. I cannot be trusted to protect him again."

Kamek knelt down at his side. "Prince Ludwig, that is not true. You can absolutely be trusted with Bowser Junior. You simply need to avoid using spells you do not know."

Roy snatched the up spell book. "And it still ain't your fault!" He turned the page back and forth. "It's the idiot wizard who thought it was a good idea to write the magic words on the one page, and then an important warning like that on the next page. What kind of moron does that?!"

Kamek narrowed his eyes at the book. "Not to mention simply including the incantation in the book is just begging for someone to try the spell out, regardless of whether they read the warning." He took the book from Roy. "I must find out who the author of this book is, and try to track down all instances of the Nomore spell being recorded. This incantation needs to be wiped from all records so this does not happen again."

He started to leave, but Roy Koopa pulled on his arm. "What are we supposed to do, though?" he pleaded.

Kamek looked sadly at his surrogate grandsons. I cannot leave just yet. They are in too much grief and need guidance. He stowed the book away in his robe and sat on Ludwig's bed, inviting the boys to join him. "From what I have seen and heard here, all three of you feel guilty about not being able to protect your family from Cackletta."

"Or being responsible for their current condition," Lemmy muttered under his breath, too quietly for anyone to hear.

Except for Kamek. I will address his concerns later, in private.

Ludwig shook his head. "Look, nothing you can say or do will change my mind. I cannot be the one to protect Bowser Jr. if I make such rash decisions. If disaster strikes unexpectedly and I find myself in a similar situation, who is to say I will not make the same mistake?"

"And what's your plan, Maestro?" Roy asked. "You just gonna avoid Squirt from now on?"

Ludwig's eyes met Roy's. "That is exactly what I plan on doing. He has five other older brothers and one older sister who can protect him just as easily as I. He does not need me. He cannot need me." He dug his claws into his thigh. "We cannot afford for him to need me."

Kamek's face fell. He was about to protest Ludwig's method, but Lemmy spoke up.

"I'm still going to spend time with Iggy," the smallest Koopaling said. "He's going to need help adjusting to his new mind. And I need to be there to face the consequences of what I did."

Roy grabbed Lemmy by the shoulders and shook him. "For the last time, Lem, that wasn't you! Stop blaming yourself!" He jumped off Ludwig's bed and turned to look his brothers in the eye. "We're the oldest brothers in this castle. We have to protect our family no matter the cost. We know that. We'd never do something bad to them if we can help it."

Ludwig nodded. "We can work together to make that happen."

"Then give me your hands," Roy ordered, putting his own hand out. Ludwig and Lemmy each put a hand forward, joining Roy's. "I promise to protect my younger siblings, no matter the cost, no matter what happens to me."

Ludwig nodded and repeated, "I promise to protect my younger siblings, no matter the cost, no matter what happens to me."

Lemmy eagerly repeated the promise.

Kamek shook his head. Who will protect you, though, children?

The Koopalings broke their circle and stood in silence.

"So, Lud," Roy began awkwardly. "Squirt's probably gonna want to hang out with you since you're the oldest, and the heir to the throne. How you gonna keep him busy?"

Ludwig sighed, "I have a plan."

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"Father," Ludwig approached the throne, "I have a most urgent request."

King Bowser pinched his temples, his head still throbbing from the possession. "Please speak softer, Ludwig." He opened his eyes slightly. "What do you want?"

"I want you to give my birthright to Bowser Junior."

And thus we have the eponymous promise. And the Koopalings' inner struggles and how they plan on coping. Roy, our opening Koopaling, seems to have a milder case.

Siph: Tell them the translations!

Okay, so the first line of the spell (used in the previous chapter), "muus menocibur da et oge ottim," is the sentence "mitto ego te ad rubiconem suum," with all the letters reversed. Similarly, "suem iuq te em da inev" is the sentence "veni ad me et qui meus" with all the letters reversed. The phrases are Latin for "To the point of no return, I send thee" and "Return to me, you who are mine," respectively.

Siph: "Touch up on your Latin. It's backwards."

Clever hint, eh?

Siph: What, are we Canadian now?

"Eh" does not make us Canadian.

Siph: Tell them about the other spell.

What other spell?

Siph: The one that made the bright light.

Ohhh, that one! Okay, so the word "photissimo" takes the Latin root photo-, meaning light, and adds the Latin/Italian suffix -issimo, as an intensifier, to the end. So basically the spell known as Photissimo generates and intense light.

Siph: So you could say Ludwig flashed everyone.

Siph Jade [last name]! Who taught you that kind of humor?! It's out of character for you.

Siph: Uncle Z. Duh.

O…kay. Well, time to sign off for now. Any questions, comments, concerns, snide remarks? Any and all positive and negative feedback is welcome here! The review box below is open to your thoughts, and I want to hear them. Don't be shy, I'm confident in the writing abilities I have, and I can't get the writing abilities I don't have unless I know what the writing abilities I don't have are!

Siph: Are you going to say that at the end of every chapter from now on?

Yes. And I'll do it for my TMNT fics, too. Now, I think I need to have a little chat with my big brother…