Chapter 4 A Wish For Power

Two years. Two years he had been in this prison cell, and it never got any easier. Neither did thinking about the events that led him to this horrific fate. He could still hear Bowser knocking on his door, still feel the pain in his scalp from when he had been dragged by the hair to the castle. Everything that led to him being put in this cell still stood out clearly in his mind, and it made him feel like turning to the nearest person and beating them to death.

If Jasper had known those stupid eggs would've caused him so much trouble over the course of his life, then he would've never hooked up with Opal Flamewright. Just thinking about his stupid younger self going out with her made his blood boil. He wanted to curse her, make her pay in some way for screwing up the trajectory of the rest of his life. He also wanted to curse those Koopalings, as they had been more trouble than it was worth. Heck, if Jasper had the power, he would even go out of his way to curse King Bowser, as absolutely nothing that he has done was fair to Jasper Starfold.

But he wasn't going to do that. Instead, he was going to do the next best thing, something that he had been preparing for for months now. Tonight, he was officially going to escape from the castle dungeon. Yes, he was actually going to reclaim his freedom! Was that an impossible task? If Jasper was asked that six months ago, or even three months ago, he would've said yes. But he no longer had any doubt, because he had discovered a patch of loose ground directly underneath the cot which he slept in. This sight… nothing could describe the joy he felt when he first saw it. This sight that filled him with more hope than he knew what to do with, made him so excited that he could hardly sleep at night anymore. And tonight, he was finally going to take advantage of it. Tonight, he was going to kiss this miserable life goodbye and build a new one for himself.

With these thoughts in mind, Jasper got out of the cot. He lifted the pillow he had used to cover up the loose floor, smiling when he saw the patch. It was just so fresh, so promising. It almost seemed to have a written invitation placed directly on top of it, which drew Jasper in in the most tantalizing way possible. How could he not do something about this? How could he not realize just how amazing this was?

With a smile blooming on his face, he began to dig. It was difficult to do with his bare hands, not to mention extremely dirty. However, Jasper didn't care. He was going to escape, and he didn't care what it took to do so. At least, that's what he thought until his fingers started to hurt. His nails were not only blackened by the dirt, but they felt sore enough to fall off. His fingertips also felt raw, stinging worse than they would when at the mercy of a hornet.

As a consequence, Jasper had no choice but to pull back. He winced while looking at his fingers, noticing some red mixing in with the black. This meant he had acquired some cuts, which was just delightful. He decided that he needed to approach this in a different way. Just what would that way be? He could do this over the course of several days, digging a little bit over time until he had constructed a tunnel. Oh, but that method was risky; it gave the guards and Bowser himself ample opportunity to discover what he was doing. So, no. That idea was off the table.

But then, what could he do instead? Hmm… well, he would probably make some more progress with a tool, such as a spoon. Yeah, a spoon would work wonders for him right now. The only problem was he didn't have one, and any time a spoon was put in his possession during mealtimes, the servant who brought him the meal always confiscated it.

These facts only served to frustrate Jasper. He put the pillow back on top of the patch and hoisted himself back onto the cot. His dream of freedom, which had seemed so real and so easily attainable over the course of the last week, was now slipping away from him faster than he could handle. He supposed that was the story of his life. That had been the story of his life ever since the day he tried to get rid of his and Opal's eggs. Why couldn't he get a lucky break even just once?

It was with that thought that Jasper laid his head down, trying to get some sleep. However, he heard a sound that made him sit upright. A large, thundering sound, one that made the dungeon shake and quake. Jasper's heart caught in his throat. His shock only increased when he saw King Bowser himself stopping by his cell door, holding a tray of food.

"Wakey wakey, eggs and bakey," Bowser said. He looked down at the tray. "Well, not exactly eggs and bakey, but still… supper time."

He slid the tray into the cell. Jasper got up, blinking as he did. His spirits lifted back up when he saw a spoon with the meal. However, his hope wasn't adequate enough to quell his confusion over King Bowser's presence.

"Why are you here?" Jasper asked as he picked up his tray. He gave Bowser a raised eyebrow. "Usually, it's a servant who brings me my meal."

"True. But today is a special occasion, and I couldn't not observe it." Jasper's eyebrow rose even higher. "Today is the anniversary of you being put in here."

Jasper blinked. "Huh." He looked at his tray, then back at Bowser. "I… I wouldn't know that. The days blend together in here."

"Makes sense." Bowser chuckled. "But even still, I'm happy we've reached this milestone. Aren't you?"

Jasper snorted. "Happy isn't the word I'd use," he said as he walked over to his cot.

"Huh. You prefer the term proud, huh?"

Jasper rolled his eyes as Bowser laughed like a seal. "Sure. Let's go with that." He looked down at his spoon, still thinking it was too good to be true, before turning his attention back to the king. "I'd probably feel a lot more positively about this date if it wasn't you holding me prisoner, you dumb fuck." Jasper surprised even himself at that line, on some level doing a double take at the audacity he didn't even know he had.

Bowser seemed just as surprised as he grit his teeth. "Watch it, twerp." Smoke shot out of his nostrils. "I still have the power to execute you, you know. I also have the power to make life very unpleasant for you, so I would recommend watching that nasty mouth of yours."

Jasper bit his lip and gripped his hand into a fist. "Of… of course, my king."

Bowser gave him one last glare before leaving without another word. Once he was sure he was gone, Jasper let out the groan he had been holding in. "Man. You wouldn't think a guy as large as Bowser would be too big for his britches," he scoffed. He shook his head. "If I had even a fraction of his power…"

Well, if he had even a fraction of King Bowser's power, he wouldn't be rotting away in a cell. With this thought in mind, he set his (admittedly delicious-looking) dinner to the side and picked up the spoon. He gripped it firmly in his hand, telling himself he wouldn't let go of it for even a millisecond, and got back on the floor. He moved the pillow before taking a deep breath.

"Okay." He stuck the spoon into the dirt. "Here we go."

The next hour or so was spent digging. Jasper honestly felt surprised that Bowser didn't come back during that time to retrieve the tray, but then again, this was Bowser. Believing he was smart enough to do even that simple task was giving him too much credit. Even still, Jasper wasn't complaining. He dug and dug and dug, cutting through the dirt as smoothly as he would cut through butter. Within no time at all, he had a tunnel. A tunnel that reached down into the earth before curving forward and allowing Jasper to stand in the ground.

Of course, actually getting out required more time, work, and dedication. So, still gripping the spoon like a crab, Jasper continued on with his mission.

…

It must've taken about three and a half hours, but Jasper had managed to dig a hole to the outside. It was the most exhausting task in the world, as Jasper had worked fast enough to break some sort of world record. His poor, unfortunate body was all too aware of this, as it felt like every bone inside of him was screaming at him to lie down and take a rest.

But he wasn't going to do that. He was outside for the first time in two years. He was breathing in fresh air instead of the stink of his dungeon cell. This was no time to rest! This was a time to celebrate!

At least, it would be time to celebrate once Jasper got a good distance away from the castle. Realizing this, Jasper started to swiftly sneak away. He kept his eyes wide open as he did, hoping nobody would see him. He thought he did a good job at being stealthy… until almost running into the Koopalings. Jasper almost shrieked upon seeing them, ducking behind the castle wall just in the nick of time. He thanked every lucky star in the sky that they hadn't heard him.

No, they were too busy laughing and having discussions with one another to notice him. "How much longer until Fortune's Comet shows up?" the little rainbow-haired one asked the green, bespectacled one.

"Only another hour or so," they replied. His grin was bright enough to compete with the full moon. "Then, we will be able to wish for anything we want."

"Oh, baby!" the one wearing shades proclaimed. He grinned, clapping his hands together in the fastest rhythm ever. "I can't wait to wish for that basketball! I can already see myself dribbling it in the castle gym!"

This, admittedly, sparked Jasper's interest. No, not because these people happened to be his kids (the same kids who had royally fucked up his life), but more so because of what they were discussing. A comet that granted wishes? That sounded amazingly appealing! Maybe when Jasper had managed to escape, he would make his own wish on it.

Of course, he needed to get away safely first. So, he turned on his heel and ran away. Still trying to conceal himself, he ran as fast as his legs could carry him away from this cursed castle and the cursed people in it. He panted like a dog, but he didn't care. Because once he climbed a hill and saw Stonebrim down below, he realized that all the effort and all the work he had put in over the last few hours was absolutely, one hundred percent worth it.

He was out. He was actually out.

It… was this really happening? It felt as though Jasper was dreaming! He had thought about this escape for years, even before he had discovered the loose patch of dirt under his cot. He wanted to kiss the ground. He wanted to shout at the top of his voice. He wanted to start a new life for himself. And that was exactly what he was going to do; he was going to go down into Stonebrim, change his name, and find a way to start over from scratch. No more would he be worrying about prison life. Instead, he was going to live the good life as a respected citizen…

"HEY!"

And with that, Jasper's heart stopped beating. He turned and saw two hammer brother guards running after him, both with hammers in hand. This would have been a terrifying enough sight on its own, but… oh no, they weren't alone! They had a sledge brother with them! A big, burly, muscle-toned sledge brother who looked ready to stuff Jasper back in the dingy dungeon cell.

With a squeak, Jasper's survival instincts kicked. He tried to run, despite his exhausted body. He thought he was getting a good distances away, but every time he looked behind, the three guards were right behind him. Seriously, every time; it was like fate was teasing him. His breath caught in his throat every time, so much at one point that it almost made him stop entirely. He ran and ran, praying to any kind of god who might listen that he could get away…

BAM!

"Eeek!" Jasper actually fell to the ground as a shockwave filled the area. He tried to move, but that was an impossibility. His feet were useless, his legs were useless… oh, this was too much! He could even feel the shockwave created by the sledge brother ringing in his ears. It hurt. It honest to-goodness hurt, making his already aching body that much more difficult to deal with.

And it was through this hurt that the guards managed to catch up to him. The sledge brother picked him up, holding him tight to his chest as Jasper struggled against his hold.

"Let me go!" he screamed, his voice hurting as he did.

"Not a chance," the sledge brother said, their voice a low, thunderous rumble.

"We're taking you back to the castle," said one of the guards. "Won't have you escaping under our watch, no sirree."

Jasper gritted his teeth. He increased the intensity of his struggle, screaming louder and harder than he ever had before. He must've destroyed his throat, but regardless, the sledge brother kept a secure grip on him. Nothing that Jasper could possibly do would make them let go of him, which meant that he was doomed. He was doomed to return to the cell, to the terrible norm that he had been forced to live through for the past two years.

Why? Why, when he was finally finding hope and a path to a brighter future, did this have to happen? It wasn't fair! Did the world just love to play "Kick Jasper Starfold?" Was that their favorite game now? Did they get their sick kicks out of seeing Jasper being brought down into the muck, with the pigs and the worms and the ever-increasing feeling of despair?

Oh man, he was seriously regretting meeting Opal at all. He cursed her in his head, wishing that she dropped dead in several instances. She deserved to. She deserved every ounce of pain Jasper wanted to give to her because she ruined his life. She ruined his life, and she needed to pay. She needed to understand how much Jasper had suffered over the past twenty-one years.

But… there was no way to make her go through that. There wasn't even a way for Jasper to get out of the sledge brother's hold. Even if he did successfully tear himself away from him, he wouldn't be able to get away. His exhaustion was too great. His pain was too great.

It was this thought that finally got Jasper to stop struggling. He let his body go limp, not even bothering to hold onto the vain hope that he could escape anymore. As the castle appeared in front of them growing just as overwhelming as the pain his future guaranteed, Jasper had already given up on everything. He lifted his face to the sky, ready to curse whatever god that had made their home there…

When he saw it. The comet the Koopalings were talking about earlier, shining brighter than any sort of star. The very sky seemed delighted to have such a divine celestial beauty present within it. The guards even stopped to watch it, which gave Jasper a tiny bit of hope. If what the Koopalings had said about it was true, then maybe there was a way for Jasper to get away after all.

So, he was going to make a wish.

"I wish…" he thought about his wish for a second. He considered the road of thought he had traveled down not too long ago, where he had wished he never met Opal Flamewright in the first place. That would give him a better life overall. However, upon further introspection, he thought of something much better than that. Something he wanted so badly, badly enough to trade his life away for it.

"I wish I had more power," he whispered. "I don't want to be pushed around by anyone anymore. I want enough power so that nobody, not even the great King Bowser, will ever bother to mess with me again."

BAM!

The guards and sledge brother shrieked as what looked like a flaming hot meteorite came down on all three of them. Jasper shrieked too, all of a sudden fearing for his life in a way that he hadn't done before. He was so scared that he didn't even celebrate the fact that the sledge brother had let go of him. He stumbled to his feet, breathing as well as a fish on land…

When he rose into the air. His eyes growing wide, he struggled against whatever invisible force was keeping him afloat. Before he could even warp his head around anything, he gasped and put his hands to his chest. A pain spread through it, building like a crescendo. It felt like he had an alien in his chest, threatening to burst out. The sensation in his chest grew, rising up as if to escape from him. He screamed blue bloody murder before, just as suddenly as it had started, the pain stopped. Jasper coughed as he got his breathing back under control. He coughed hard, feeling as though he would never feel well again when something caught his eye. He stopped, his jaw-dropping as he lifted his head. A bright purple light floated right in front of him, like a star that had been pulled down from Heaven. Jasper stared at it, his mouth hanging agape. It… he felt drawn to it like it was designed for him and him alone. He reached out his hand and discovered that the light was an object. He curled his fingers around it, letting out a little laugh as the now dimming object rested in his palm. He opened his hand, curiosity and fascination taking over.

What the object turned out to be was some kind of jewel. A more glorious violet shade than even the most expensive amethysts, it filled Jasper with glee. However, that glee didn't come primarily from the sight of the gem. No, it came more from what this gem represented. Jasper knew, somehow knew while gazing upon it that this was no ordinary jewel. This was something special. This stone was his and only his.

While in this starstruck state, Jasper barely noticed the guards coming back around. They approached him regardless, and he turned toward them. They looked taken aback by everything but glared at him despite the sheer terror that the recent display no doubt caused them.

"We…" the hammer bro struggled to speak, a stark contrast to everything that hammer bros were supposed to stand for. "We're going to…" he cleared his throat, trying their best to look intimidating. "We're taking you back! We're doing it now!"

Bile rose up in Jasper's throat. He glared with every last drop of ire contained within his body. Despite the fact that he knew he should be cautious, he wasn't going to bow to these people. He was done. Way past done at this point.

"I'm not going anywhere." It was at this point that he realized that, somehow, he wasn't exhausted anymore. He didn't hurt anymore either; he felt as spry as a dog. He considered running, trying to get as much distance between him and them now that he was no longer within the hold of the sledge brother. He was just about to do that when he noticed something, something that made his jaw drop.

The gem in his hand glowed again, except the light wasn't purple this time. It was red.

The three guards' jaws dropped. "What is…"

Jasper, still feeling surprised, lifted his head. He didn't know why, but this red light filled him with confidence. Strength. Determination. He glared at the people who dared put a hamper in his plans.

"I'm not going anywhere!"

BOOM!

It all happened so fast. It didn't even feel real while happening; it felt like a dream. But it had really happened; an explosion of red magic had come out of the gem. The magic pushed the guards back, leaving them unconscious on the ground. Jasper, completely and utterly unaffected, stared at them with a dropped jaw. Part of him feared that his opponents would get back up. They did not.

And with that display came an entirely new realization. Jasper looked down at the jewel in his hand. He smiled. He began to laugh, the sound picking up and carrying throughout the entire surrounding area.

He had wished for power, and he had gotten it.