RECAP:
Thanks to Peach's insight, Junior's group reached Merlon's home at Shooting Star Summit at last. Along the way, they discovered that Toad Town had been completely destroyed during Contemno's invasion, with Peach's castle itself having been transformed into a nightmarish fortress of some kind.
Merlon invited the weary travelers into his home and told them of the Forbearance Society – an ancient magic organization that was once devoted to preserving the art of magic as a well-kept secret from society. Merlon informed the group that Toadsworth and Kammy were once members of the Forbearance Society themselves alongside him, and he voiced a suspicion that Contemno has connections to the organization as well. Junior's team accepted Merlon's invitation to stay and use his home as a base of operations while they rest and plan their next move.
Maldeon strolled down the hallway with a bountiful meal tray in tow. He stopped just outside the doorway leading to Bowser's prison cell and knocked.
"Hey, you still alive in there?" asked Maldeon.
"…Huh? Oh, it's you. That weird guard again," said Bowser.
"Meal's here," said Maldeon as he ignored the remark and slid the tray through the door's flap. He listened for the rumblings of Bowser's response, but was only met with silence at first.
"How do I know you didn't taint this somehow?" Bowser asked.
"Feeding you is my job. How would poisoning you help me at all?"
"With me out of the way, you'd be out of work. That would give you more free time to rebel against your boss, wouldn't it?"
"I'm already rebelling against him by talking to you in the first place." Bowser blushed when he heard his stomach growl loudly. Giving in to temptation, he carefully reached for a slice of toast on the tray. Bowser gradually began to eat as the familiar tastes assured him that there was nothing out of the ordinary with this food.
"If you're that much of a glutton for punishment, how'd you wind up being his little errand boy in the first place?" Bowser asked between bites.
"Contemno saved my life. I owed him a favor for it."
"Heh…going back on your word, huh? Dishonest. I like it! You would've made a pretty good accomplice of mine back in the day," Bowser praised. Maldeon hesitated at the statement for a moment, but decided not to comment on it ultimately.
"What about you? What exactly does Contemno want you alive for?" Maldeon asked.
"How should I know?"
"…Yesterday, you sure acted like you already had everything all figured out."
"Yeah well…maybe that was just a bluff. I guess I was just trying to act scary to intimidate you. I do that to everybody, you see. It's a bit of an old habit. I've spent nearly a decade trying to break it. But, you know how it is. Some old things just die hard," Bowser rambled.
"Interesting…," said Maldeon.
"Huh?"
"It sounds to me like you've had a really exciting life."
"It's had its ups and downs I guess…" Maldeon was surprised at how quickly Bowser was opening up to him all of a sudden. It was a stark contrast to before. The guy was doing it all on his own too. Maldeon barely provoked him to do anything.
"But I'm not all that special when you come right down to it," Bowser continued. "I'm sure you've lived a pretty eventful life up until now too, huh?" Maldeon failed to respond right away as he pondered how to answer that.
"…Have I?" was all he could think to utter.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"…Oh, s-sorry…" Maldeon stammered. "It's just, my memory's a little foggy…"
"No worries, pal. I getcha. Old age will do that to ya," said Bowser with a chuckle. "I mean, I'm not exactly a grandpa yet. But my back's starting to ache, I've got these stupid heart pills I'm supposed to be taking. Hell, my kid just turned 18 recently."
"I don't think it's old age that's the problem with me. I think it's…something else," said Maldeon.
"Well, don't feel too bad. People lose their memory all the time. If you ask me, it's kind of a dumb cliché at this point. But I'm sure you'll get your's back in no time. Any idea how it might've happened?"
"Nothing concrete. But, maybe you can help me, Bowser."
"Woah, hang on there, chief. I ain't no shrink or anything like that. Only thing I could try doing to help jog your memory is a strong blow to the head. I mean, if you're gutsy enough, that is."
"No, that's not it. I know this is going to sound crazy. I can't quite put my finger on it. But…there's something familiar about you."
"Me?"
"Yes. For some reason, when I hear your voice, there's this…throbbing in my head. It's as if I've met you before. But I can't imagine where."
"Well, I can't say your voice is doing anything like that for me," said Bowser. "What's your name?"
"Maldeon."
"'Maldeon…?'" Bowser repeated with a hint of disgust. "What kinda name is that? Mom couldn't come up with anything better?"
"Contemno gave it to me," Maldeon clarified. Bowser nearly choked on the slice of bacon he was chewing at that moment.
"Wait, that little shrimp pie is your mommy!?" the Koopa King exclaimed with a hardy laugh.
"What!? No! Not at all!" Maldeon denied. "What I mean is, Maldeon gave me this name when he found me. I don't remember my real name, so it's just what he calls me in the meantime."
"'Found?' What do you mean he 'found' you? What, did you show up on his doorstep in a basket like some kinda orphan baby or something?"
"Hardly. I think I was in an accident. Contemno said he found me at the sight of some crash outside of town a few days ago. He brought me back here, patched me up, and I've just been biding my time while I try to wait for my memories to come back."
"I see," said Bowser as he polished off the last of his meal and licked each of his individual claws clean. "So that's why you're doing Contemno a solid by looking after me then. You feel like you owe him for taking you in."
"Exactly."
"What about your memories? Has anything come back yet? You said it's been a few days."
"No, nothing. It's weird though. It doesn't feel like my memories are gone exactly. They're just…hazy."
"I'm not following."
"When I try to picture people or places from my past, I can almost see something. But it's all blurry. It's right there, but I just can't reach it."
"Weird. You think Contemno knows anything about you?"
"He might. But if he does, he won't tell me a thing. If he's withholding any important information from me, I can't exactly do anything to get on his bad side," said Maldeon. "Like it or not, Contemno might be my only chance to get my memory back." The Koopa King rubbed his chin.
"Well, take it from someone who used to do evil for a living," Bowser boasted. "If this guy does have a grip like that on you, a few chores ain't gonna persuade him to cough up the goods."
"What do you mean, Bowser?"
"If it were me and I had the dirt on you, I would never actually give it to you; no matter how many favors you did for me."
"Really? Why not?"
"Oh, come on. Isn't it obvious? This is textbook 'Villainy 101' stuff. I would string you along with little promises here and there that maybe I'll give you the answers you want just to keep you loyal and motivated. Like dangling a carrot over your head."
"I see…"
"But in reality, I'm locking you into a lifetime of endless servitude and you'd never realize it because you're keeping your head down and buried in the sand," Bowser explained. "If I'm right about any of this, you'd probably be smart to get out while you can."
"Sounds like I'm doing the right thing by talking to you after all, then."
"You got that right," Bowser agreed with a small belch. He laid back against the wall, spread out his legs, and wiped his mouth with a napkin. "But then again, everybody would be better off if they just listened to me all the time." Maldeon chuckled at this. If nothing else, this Bowser character was amusing to listen to.
"Then it's decided," Maldeon announced.
"Huh? What is?"
"I'll get you out of here. In return, you let me come with you." Bowser jolted up immediately.
"Huh!? Wait, slow your roll, pal! I never agreed to anything like that! Besides, when did I say I needed your help to get out of here!?"
"You didn't, and maybe you don't. But, I could make it easier for you since I know the layout of the building and I've got a better shot at getting the key to your cell than you. Even if you were to break out on your own, I'd just follow you out the front door."
"Are you out of your mind? Why would you do that?"
"I told you already. There's something familiar about you. If I stick with you for now, maybe my memories will start to come back."
"What about your boss? If you double-cross him now, you can probably forget about ever squeezing any useful info out of him."
"If your theory about Contemno has any merit, I'll never get my memories back by staying here and listening to him."
"Heh…well, the old me would never agree to a team-up. Especially with a total stranger like you. But if you're offering to do the heavy lifting and bust me out of here, how can I say no?" Bowser agreed.
"It's settled then. For now, you stay put. I'll start working on our exit strategy."
Junior was abruptly awoken by a strange, yet oddly familiar aroma in the air. Cracking open his eyes slightly, Junior found himself in a foreign environment as well. The colors of the room were warm and inviting. There was a certain stillness in the air that was putting Junior at ease. That is, until he regained his full consciousness.
"…What? Where am I?" Junior asked. "This isn't Merlon's home. How did I get…here?"
"Junior!" a loud, boisterous voice exclaimed. The Koopa Prince turned to find Bowser sitting at his bedside. Or rather, it was the strange variation of Bowser who had taken to wearing goofy glasses and treating Junior like he was a kid again. Before Junior could respond, Bowser scooped him up in a bear hug and clenched him tightly to his chest. "Thank the stars, you're awake!"
"Dad? Ugh…not again…," Junior groaned as he winced with anticipation of the aggressive affection he was about to receive.
"Celia! Celia, sweetie! He's up!" Bowser exclaimed. Suddenly, another person rushed into the room. Junior recognized her this time. From the photos in the getaway home, to the previous vision he'd had of the woman in the kitchen. Not to mention that Bowser had now just identified her by name. Junior was absolutely certain of it this time. This woman was in fact his mother.
"Junior! Oh, honey!" Celia cried as she stole Junior from Bowser's arms and cradled him. "My sweet baby! Are you alright!?" There was so much Junior wanted to say to her. But in the moment, all he could utter was his mother's name.
"Mom…"
"Bowser, go get him some water! He might be dehydrated!" said Celia. Bowser nodded and rushed out of the room; leaving Celia to sit on the bed and gently stroke Junior's topknot.
"Mom…," Junior started again. She looked down at him. "What's going on?"
"Oh, sweetheart…you fell asleep again."
"Asleep? Have I been sleeping this whole time?" Celia nodded.
"You're sleeping more and more these days. It worries me to death because I never know when you'll wake up again."
"What's…wrong with me?"
"I don't know, honey," she confessed with a choke. Junior could tell she was fighting back tears. "We don't know why you're sleeping so much." Bowser returned and handed Junior a tall glass of water. He almost spilled it as he realized how small his hands had become. The cool, soothing sensation of the drink running down his throat was far too real to just be a dream or an illusion.
Whatever this place was, it was real. It couldn't possibly be a dream. But it wasn't the reality Junior knew. After all, his mother wasn't alive in his reality. So why was she here?
"What is this place?" Junior asked. Celia and Bowser looked at each other with confusion.
"This is your bedroom, pal! Don't you recognize it?" said Bowser.
"No…it's different from…how I remember it…," said Junior.
"Don't tell me his memory's starting to go too…," said Bowser. Celia immediately embraced her husband in desperate desire for comfort, to which he gladly obliged. The Koopa Prince was beginning to sense the fatigue setting in again. But he couldn't give into it. Not yet. He needed to find out more. Junior used the last of his reserved energy to speak once more.
"Where can I find you guys…when I wake up again?" Junior asked. Both Bowser and Celia's eyes began to water.
"We're not going anywhere, pal. We're right here. Always. We'll never leave your side," said Bowser. Junior's eyelids grew heavy as he quickly began to doze off again. His mother's voice was a distant echo now. As he drifted away, Junior heard the last of her desperate pleas.
"No! Junior, please! Not yet! Don't leave us so soon!"
Junior slowly stirred awake and found himself back in the bedroom of Merlon's house. His siblings were all fast asleep. The Koopa Prince sat up and massaged his temples. He was growing used to this routine by now. But he refused to accept it as normal. With every vision Junior had, he grew steadily more frustrated with it all. He needed to understand why this was happening to him.
Junior climbed out of bed and sat against the windowsill in the corner of the room. He gazed up into the ocean of stars in the night sky above. His thoughts and emotions began to melt away. Even though sleep was impossible for him right now, Junior found himself at peace.
"Couldn't sleep?" a soft voice chimed in from behind. Junior turned and watched as Peach stepped into the soft light cast by the window.
"No…not really…," said Junior as he rubbed his eye. "You too?"
"I heard you get up. Truth be told, you were mumbling in your sleep," said Peach.
"Really?" Junior replied, blushing slightly. Peach nodded.
"Don't worry, it wasn't that loud. I was already having trouble falling asleep myself."
"Nightmares?" Peach joined Junior on the windowsill.
"I suppose. I just have a lot on my mind. You probably do as well, considering everything that's happened up until now."
"Yeah…" Peach was taken aback slightly at how open Junior was being with her in the moment. Compared to how cold and distant he was with her in the forest, it was unsettling how pleasant he was to converse with suddenly. She chalked it up to fatigue; believing that Junior was just too tired to pick another fight right now. The princess was in no mood to provoke him either, so she chose her words carefully.
"You miss him, don't you?" Junior asked.
"Who?"
"Toadsworth."
"Oh…well, yes. I do miss him terribly. Unfortunately, he's not the only one I'm troubled over. I can't help but wonder where Mario is right now. I hope he's okay."
"Mario?" Peach nodded and explained to Junior about the mysterious package she received containing Mario's cap during the last council meeting at her castle.
"It all makes sense now," said Junior.
"What does?"
"I was wondering when that no-good Italian fatty was going to show up and save the day like he always does. I thought it was weird that I haven't seen any trace of him yet." Peach ignored the insult hurled towards her husband. She was admittedly used to Junior's instigating comments towards people he didn't like by now. It was only when they were thrown her way when she was surprised as Peach had never seemed to be a direct enemy of Junior up until now.
"I can't just sit by and let him do all of the work. Not this time," said Peach.
"You think he's still out there?" Junior asked. Peach hesitated for a moment, then her face was flooded with an unsettling seriousness all of a sudden.
"I'm positive. I may not know where Mario is right now or what happened to him. But I just know that Contemno is responsible. I'll never forgive that man for all that he's done…" Junior's expression now matched her own.
"Get in line, princess. That guy's got a lot of blood on his hands."
"Of course, there was Kammy as well…"
"Not just that. Contemno made me look like a coward. He messed with a Koopa's pride. Nobody does that and gets away with it. If anybody's gonna get that son of a bitch, it's me."
"Then let's work together. Whatever issues you have with me, let's put them behind us, Junior."
"Isn't it enough that I've humored you this long?"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"You helped us get to Merlon. I'm grateful for that, Mama Peach. But I haven't forgotten what you did, and I'm not planning on forgiving you for it any time soon."
"What I did…?"
"Sure, we'll work together to track down Contemno and get close to him. But the second I get my chance to kill him, you better stay the hell out of my way unless you want me to cut you down too. Don't forget that." Junior coldly walked away without allowing Peach a chance to rebuttal.
The princess felt helpless to say anything more as she was deeply troubled by what Junior had just said and how drastically his mood had changed. Alone she sat on the windowsill as she waited for fatigue to carry her back to sleep.
The next morning, the group was gathered around a large wooden table Merlon had conjured up for them in the basement.
"Remind me again why we're down here," said Roy.
"I told you, we need a designated room where we can strategize," said Iggy. "Until we have a full grasp of our situation, we need to lay low. Using the basement is our best option to keep any attention we may draw to Merlon's house to an absolute minimum."
"Makes sense to me," Larry agreed.
"Alright, let's get down to business then. When are we going after Contemno? The sooner, the better I say," said Toad.
"Patience," Iggy warned. "We need to be cautious from here on out. We got lucky to make it this far, but we can't afford to be reckless now. As we know from Kammy and Toadsworth's murders and the state that Toad Town was left in, Contemno is a powerful enemy. Before we can challenge him again, we need to learn as much about him and his operation as possible."
"It sounds to me like a degree of reconnaissance is in order, then," said Peach. "What do you recommend?"
"Well, before we even talk about making any sort of movement, we need to establish some order in our group first."
"Order?" Larry repeated. Iggy nodded.
"We need to be ready for any kind of trouble we might run into out there. If what Merlon says about him is true, then Contemno is in a position of power right now. By challenging him, we're essentially delivering a declaration of war against Contemno. So, we'll need to become an organized army if we're going to have any chance of winning this war. That means, we'll need to know when to retreat, and when to stand our ground and fight."
"I agree," said Peach. "I think a good place to start with that would be assessing our own current abilities. We should figure out what skills we are each able to contribute to the team, and then form our plans of attack around those skills."
"Agreed. So, what do we have?"
"Well…I can summon a shield," said Larry.
"If ya need brute force, count on me," said Roy.
"I can summon a tennis racket, a golf club, and a frying pan at will. So, I'd consider myself somewhat proficient in direct, physical combat," said Peach. Everyone suddenly looked over at Toad, who was next in line to speak.
"Uhhh…heh….moral support?" he answered sheepishly. Iggy sighed.
"Well, it sounds like brute force is about the full extent of what we've got to work with then…"
"What about me? I can use magic!" Junior inserted.
"True, but aside from catching fireballs, curling up into a ball, and summoning a thwomp, what more can you really do, Junior?" asked Iggy.
"I'd say that's at least a fair start towards being proficient," said Peach.
"Yeah, but he learned those tricks in a very controlled and telegraphed environment," said Iggy. "Not to downplay Ludwig's teachings or anything, but Junior started practicing these skills fairly recently as well. I'd wager he needs a bit more practice before he can use magic in any truly versatile way."
"Who died and made you the magic expert, Iggs?" Junior retorted. "If the rest of our skills are so lacking, what can you offer?"
"I'm a scientist and a mechanical engineer, Junior. Strategizing is more of my forte."
"So you plan on sittin' around on your tail and barkin' orders at us while we do all the heavy lifting then? Is that what you're proposin'?" asked Roy. Iggy groaned.
"No, that's not-"
"Don't forget that you got drenched in that plant monster's slime. Huh, yeah, only a real scientist would be stupid enough to let their guard down like that!" Roy continued.
"Alright, settle down," Peach interjected. "It doesn't matter what we have or have not done up until now. What matters is what we're going to do moving forward. I think having an intellectual on the team is definitely necessary. What do you need from us in order to help you fill that role, Iggy?"
"I'm already working on that," said Iggy. "Since I don't have access to my lab back at the castle, Merlon has agreed to help me replicate it here in the basement. He summons the materials I need, and I put everything together. It'll take some time before all my tech is up and running. But once it's all set, I plan on putting my skills to good use. All I need from you is a little faith." Roy and Junior fell silent.
"So, what should we be doing in the meantime then?" Larry asked.
"If I may offer a suggestion," said Merlon as he descended the staircase. The inhabitants of the room turned to him. "If developing your magic abilities further is what you desire, I have an entire library of books you may consult on the subject. Of course, I am willing to work with you directly myself as well."
"That would be a huge help," said Peach. "We need to start making the best possible use of our time."
"Very well then, those who seek magic training, follow me." Peach and Junior didn't hesitate to accompany the wizard. Larry shrugged.
"Eh, why not? Can't let myself become a one-trick pony with this shield," he agreed. "What about you, Roy?" The bald Koopaling crossed his arms.
"I got all the physical magic I need with my strength," Roy replied. He glanced around the room. "But…I guess reading would be more productive than just sitting around twiddlin' my claws, huh? Alright…"
"Iggy? You coming?" Junior asked. Iggy glared at him.
"Junior, you know that magic and I don't mix. Building a lab down here is more than enough of a task for me."
"But, you used to do magic just like us back when we were fighting Mario," said Larry.
"That was a long time ago. Things change…," Iggy replied.
"And what are you planning to do, Toad?" Peach asked. Toad put his feet up on the table and reclined in his chair.
"Who, me? I'll probably just take a nap. Wake me when lunch is ready, m'kay?" said Toad. Peach's disapproving expression towards him went unnoticed.
"Hell no!" Junior protested. "It's bad enough that I had to let Mama Peach onto my team. But I'm not gonna have you riding our coattails too if you're not gonna do squat! Get up here and make yourself useful!"
"Alright, alright…sheesh…," said Toad as he dragged his feet up the stairs.
Up on the main floor, Merlon had expanded the room to allow sufficient floor space for the group to practice. Everyone sat in a circle in mild anticipation. Toad was instructed to pass out books to each of them, and he agreed reluctantly as his tiny arms struggled to carry the towering stack of thick, dusty text. After a few minutes, Merlon joined the group.
"Now then," he began. "During my time as a member of the Forbearance Society, I learned that there are two universal truths about magic. The first, is of the existence of the three types of magic. Does anyone know what they are?"
"Physical, mental, and spiritual," Junior answered quickly. Roy smirked proudly at such a fast recall.
"Very good," said Merlon. "With a basic understanding of each type of magic, just about anything is possible. However, the second truth about magic, is that no two users perform magic in quite the same way; even while using these three types. Everyone has a different understanding of the art. To that end, everyone uses magic for a specific reason that is often unique to them alone. Everyone has their own goal for which they rely on magic to help them accomplish. Such desires radiate strongly in the soul. You may not have realized it, but I have the power to gaze deeply into your souls. I can see the beginning formation of an individual goal inside each of you at this very moment just by observing you."
"Woah…invasion of privacy much?" said Roy.
"Well, he used to do a lot of fortune-telling back in the day so having such an ability isn't surprising to me in the slightest," said Peach.
"Worry not. My only reason for analyzing you in such a way is to understand how I may best assist you in your training; even if you are not sure of what you need yourself," said Merlon. "For example, Princess Peach," the princess frowned when she found herself in the spotlight. "I sense there is much hurt in your heart. You feel troubled over the people in your life whom you have lost to darkness in one way or another. You feel responsible for their fates."
"It's true…," Peach admitted solemnly.
"But you mustn't despair. As I mentioned before, the Forbearance Society ultimately continued its teachings of magic over the years - in spite of the looming fear of ruin to the world – because it was believed that magic could be used to protect the defenseless and to aid those incapable of saving themselves. If you embody it, I believe this is an ideology that will help you awaken the powerful gifts that sleep within you."
"Gifts…," Peach repeated. "Toadsworth mentioned the same thing..."
"It is possible Toadsworth believed you would be capable of protecting yourself should he fail to defend you."
"But it's not just about me. Not anymore," Peach reasoned. "I don't just want to stay alive. I want to help the people I love. I don't want to see Contemno strike down anyone else ever again."
"An admirable goal," said Merlon. "I believe there is potential in you to make such a desire reality. Truth be told, however, it would be quite difficult to accomplish this task in your current state. Are you willing to put in the work to develop yourself?" An expression of dead seriousness overtook her face.
"Yes. I will do whatever it takes to save them." Merlon nodded in praise of her resolve, then turned to face the others.
"Of course, the desires in each of you resonate just as strongly," Merlon continued. "Prince Junior, I sense in you a deep desire for redemption. Your pride has suffered many fatal blows from many people in your life. You walk this path in search of greater magic strength that you can use to change how the world views you."
"Sure, if you wanna put it that way, I guess…," Junior reluctantly agreed.
"And you, Roy," Merlon continued.
"Don't say it," the Koopaling stopped him abruptly. This caught the attention of the rest of the room. "I know you can read what I'm thinkin' right now. But don't say it. I'm grateful to ya for what you've done for us so far. But if ya don't want to get on my bad side, then don't finish your sentence."
"Very well," said Merlon, seeming completely unfazed by Roy's threat. Junior and Larry each turned curiously to Roy, but were met with only a scowl and a cold shoulder. What was it that Roy wanted to get out of studying magic? More importantly, why was he quick to stop Merlon from revealing it?
"Now then, I intend to work with each of you individually in order to best assist you with developing your powers," said Merlon. "As you can imagine, this will take time. Patience will be an invaluable tool. That is why I offer you these textbooks to read while you are waiting for your session with me. Who would like to go first?"
"I will, Merlon," said Peach. The wizard summoned a wooden door at the other end of the room.
"Let us step inside and begin at once," said Merlon. As the pair entered into the mysterious new chamber of the house, the others gathered their books and departed to find comfortable spots around the house in which they could begin reading. Junior caught Larry looking at him smugly as they left.
"What's with the face?" the Koopa Prince asked.
"Heh…you actually gonna read this time now that the fate of the world is at stake?" Larry joked.
"Oh shut up!" Junior retorted playfully with a laugh. Roy stayed behind as everyone finished clearing out. The Koopaling glanced at the book in his hand. His grip tightened as he clenched the spine.
Don't worry. I'll be there this time. I promise I'll do it for him…and you.