Guys, I'm feeling very conflicted right now. On the one hand, I'm so proud of myself for finally getting to the last chapter of this project of love. On the other hand…
Siph: I got the Reese's!
It's an emotional time. But while this is the end of the story, this won't be the last I Promised content from me! There's still 2 more things I want to do.
For my birthday, I'm going to post a short list of things that were planned for I Promised, but were scrapped, along with some other inspirations and behind the scenes stuff.
On I Promised's 10-year anniversary, I'm going to post a blooper reel. No, not the Mario enemy, I mean like Pixar did for a few movies. As if the whole story was a filmed drama with hilarious outtakes.
Siph: Which will conveniently end the whole fic at 64 chapters written by J-Yoshi64.
Oh, before I forget, after Morton's line in this chapter, I recommend you start playing the end credits theme from Super Mario 64 or 64DS (I prefer DS personally). You won't regret it.
Disclaimer: Getting 64 chapters wasn't initially intended when I started writing this story, but it's very fitting for me.
Chapter 62: Promise Anew
Everyone made the long trek back to Toad Town, talking amongst each other.
"I wouldn't worry about the clearing," Larry reassured Morton. "Your grass will start growing back in two days, tops."
Ludwig carried Bowser Jr. the entire way.
Junior held tightly to the oldest. "Promise me you won't disappear again."
Ludwig kissed his forehead. "I promise, little brother.
Blue Koopa sidled up next to Kraig and cleared her throat. "So… this might be the last time we see each other."
The doctor nodded. "You're right. I don't really see our careers overlapping. And I wish to the Stars that nothing like what happened today ever happens again, as much as I've warmed up to your company."
Blue chuckled, "Oh yeah, no doubt." She was quiet for a moment. "Do you want to get a cup of coffee or something sometime?"
Kraig smiled at her. "I'd like that."
Wendy gasped and clapped.
Blue pointed at her. "Not a word out of you, Princess."
Wendy just smirked and rolled her eyes. "I said nothing!"
Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Bowser took up the rear.
Bowser cleared his throat. "So about, uh, everything. Both today, and the last five or so years."
"We're listening," Peach replied. "Go on."
Bowser sighed, "It all started the night Junior's egg was laid, when Orphan murdered Clawdia. I… well, I lost it."
"Five years ago…" Mario repeated, doing the math. "Plus however long it took Junior to hatch… Wait, was THAT what made you start kidnapping Peach?"
Bowser nodded. "The grief was enough for him to fight on even footing for control. I couldn't stay where Junior's egg was. So first I ran. All I could think about was how the kids needed their mother…"
"And so you kidnapped me," Peach concluded.
"It started as just an impulse. Grabbed you, transformed several others, and just ran to another one of my fortresses. The adrenaline of it all actually helped distract me from everything. From him." The king shook his head.
"And everything after was also to distract you?" Luigi asked.
Bowser shrugged. "A few times, yeah. But it sort of became a bit fun to do. Adrenaline is crazy."
"And then you started developing feelings for Peach," Mario elbowed him.
Bowser looked away, blushing. "Well yeah, what's not to like? She's elegant, sweet as can be, and a terrific leader."
"Also right here," Peach reminded. "That's very sweet of you to say, but I'm afraid I don't reciprocate."
Bowser huffed, "Fine. At least I'm not the only one who enjoys the adrenaline rush."
"What?" they all asked.
Bowser barked a laugh. "Don't act like you lot don't feel the same way! Peach, we all know you can easily fight back and ramp up kingdom security. But you don't. And Mario and Luigi, literally everyone can hear how much of a blast you two have chasing after and besting me and everything I throw at you."
They all looked at each other.
Mario shuffled his feet. "Okay, I guess I do have a lot of fun getting caught up in it all."
Peach let out a large sigh of relief. "Oh thank the Stars, you too! My life is so structured, a little spontaneity is like a breath of fresh air."
Luigi rolled his eyes. "Speak for yourself, I'm perfectly happy staying home."
Mario elbowed him this time. "Because last time you said you wanted something exciting to happen, all worlds almost ended. And you still have fun with the times it doesn't."
Luigi sighed, "Okay, maybe a little."
Mario turned back to Bowser. "So that explains the bombs around the arenas, the bricks underneath your ground pounds, and especially the big axes and buttons at the end of the bridges."
Bowser nodded. "If it ended, I was going to be back to square one in fighting Orphan."
"Your minions and your kids always seem to enjoy it too," Luigi pointed out. "I figured it was dangerous for them, but I guess we're not the only ones who can use healing items and 1-Ups."
Bowser chuckled, "Turns out it's great for training the troops, so aside from reconstructing my castles — which as a king I'm more than rich enough to afford — it's really a win for everybody."
Mario hummed in thought. "I think I have an idea for how to move forward from here."
Luigi turned to him. "What is it, bro?"
*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*
*2 weeks later*
Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Toadsworth arrived at Castle Koopa, and all nine royal Koopas met them at the end of the drawbridge, accompanied by Kamek.
The two elderly advisors met and compared sheets of paper as everyone else chatted.
Mario looked over and saw Bowser Jr. holding tightly to Ludwig's hand and leaning into him. "Nice to see them making up for lost time."
Bowser looked over at the two brothers. "Yeah, they've been inseparable these past two weeks. They've both been sleeping in Ludwig's bed every night. I think Junior is still afraid he's going to disappear again."
Peach frowned. "Poor boy!"
"At least Ludwig looks like he's enjoying the company," Luigi pointed out.
Bowser cleared his throat. "Yeah, I'm pretty sure he feels guilty about both disappearing and about those four years of estrangement." He muttered under his breath so the children wouldn't hear, "And I'm sure Orphan is just eating that up."
Mario, Luigi, and Peach heard, however.
"He's still there, right?" Mario asked. "He wasn't purged, just suppressed like before."
Bowser sighed and nodded. "Yeah, I don't know if I'm ever going to get rid of him once and for all. Kind of like you." He smirked. "But he's been real cranky lately. And I've been feeling better than ever. So I think the good doctor was right."
"Meaning?" Peach pressed.
"I think this is the weakest he's ever been…" Bowser shook his head and looked at his children. "I can't believe all I had to do was just tell them."
"You know, I still wonder why the Nomore Spell worked for Ludwig," Mario commented.
"Oh yeah! Kamek actually looked into it and found out," Bowser answered. "It's really cheesy just like the answer to my problem. Turns out it worked because the target was a cherished loved one."
"Wait," Luigi replied, "so all the tests before were on people who weren't close to the caster? Or on objects?"
Bowser shrugged. "Apparently."
Toadsworth cleared his throat suddenly, drawing everyone's attention. "Yes, I believe we have everything in order. Now, I must admit I still don't quite approve of all this…"
"And to be frank, I actually agree with the Toad," Kamek added, "but I must swallow my pride and admit that this course of action is for the best." Kamek turned to Mario, Luigi, and Peach. "Congratulations, you three. You are now officially godparents and legal guardians to the Koopalings."
To the surprise of everyone, including themselves, the Koopalings cheered.
Bowser Jr. tugged Ludwig's arm, and they walked over to Peach.
"Does this mean I get to call you Mama Peach again?" Junior asked.
Peach stared for a second. She shook her head. "I'm sorry, that's still weird."
Junior pouted but accepted. "Okay, fine."
Ludwig chuckled and patted his head, "Good try."
"I guess this means no more kidnappings, right?" Luigi asked.
There was murmuring among the Koopalings at this.
Bowser sighed, "I mean, now that I do have you three to look after the kids, and that I don't need the adrenaline to distract myself from Orphan, I don't really have a reason to kidnap Peach anymore."
"Thank the Stars!" Toadsworth commented.
"So that will mean it's back to just working in structured, routine politics for us, right Peach?" Bowser asked.
Peach did her best to refrain from grimacing.
"And you two will have to get back to plumbing or carpentry or whatever handyman stuff you did," Bowser said to the Mario Brothers.
The two looked at each other, frowning.
Bowser sighed, "And I'll have to find a new training regiment for the troops."
Peach rolled her eyes. "Okay, Bowser, we get your point. I guess it'd be okay to keep this up, since there's no bad blood between us anymore."
Toadsworth protested, "Excuse me?!"
"And it's a lot of fun," Luigi admitted. "As long as there's nothing too risky."
Bowser grinned. "Great!" Suddenly, he grabbed Peach, who yelped in surprise and protest, and sped away towards another tower off in the distance, laughing hysterically.
While Toadsworth immediately voiced protest, everyone else stared for a few seconds before what just happened finally caught up to them.
"Wait, now?" Bowser Jr. asked.
Ludwig's face broke into a wide grin. "Come on!" He yanked on his little brother's arm, putting them both into a sprint.
Kamek shook his head, smiling, and walked back across the drawbridge to Castle Koopa as the rest of the Koopalings followed their dad. Roy stopped and turned back to the Mario Brothers, taking off his glasses.
"You coming or what?" he asked.
Mario looked at Luigi before looking back at Roy. "Five minute head start," he said, holding up five fingers.
"Master Mario, you can't be serious!" poor Toadsworth sputtered.
Roy chuckled, "Relax, old timer. Your princess is in good hands now."
Morton called from far away. "Roy, come on! Last one there is a sulfur-boiled egg!"
Roy turned to follow the rest of his family, feeling closer to them than ever. Roy knew that no matter what Orphan threw at them, or anyone else. They would be ready, able, and willing to face it head-on. And with Mario, Luigi, and Peach on their side now, there was no way they could lose. They were even stronger now as one team. One unit.
One family.
End Credits
I Promised, a story of a family getting put through the wringer, only to come out stronger for it in the end.
Author: J-Yoshi64 aka Just Call Me J
Characters and settings owned by Nintendo
Resources: Super Mario Wiki, Thesaurus dot com, Dictionary dot com
Hosting sites: FanFiction dot Net and DeviantArt
Writing Program: Microsoft Word
Special Thanks
BladeSquall aka Kingdom Rider92 — You're the reason Siph exists!
My older brother, Toa of Twilight Z, for putting up with my Koopaling obsession
The Ninja Turtles fanfic writers who inspired Bowser's hunt of J and ultimately chapter 56: Moonsetta, N Jas J, Who am I. Well. I'm just Me/Who am I. I'm the Void
And special thanks to readers like you. Thank you!
In loving memory of Walkazo. We miss you!
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END
Thank you all so much for sticking with me to the very end of my story!