A little bit of humor with Junior because it's been a long time since I've done anything with him! For this story, I was inspired by a YouTube video 😊 which I thought was really funny.

Please note that each of your challenges are noted. For the moment, I'm writing stories I have in my mind before I forget them, but your challenges are coming very soon.

In the meantime, I encourage you to participate!

The whim

Bowser Junior touched his scrambled eggs with the tip of his fork. With his cheek resting against his fist, the young turtle didn't really have much of an appetite that morning. He'd woken up on the wrong side of the bed after a nightmare involving, once again, Toads. As if he didn't hate them enough ... Now they had to haunt his sleep! Irritated, the little Koopa let out a plaintive sigh before sinking further into his seat with a small sneer of disgust at his food. Not that it wasn't appetizing, on the contrary! His plate was well stocked with scrambled eggs, grilled bacon, pear compote, buttered toast with fruit and pancakes topped with a delicious durian syrup imported directly from Yoshi Island. As usual, he had taken a little of everything from the table to fill his belly for another hectic day of gaming and ship design.

Except that after his very first bite, he was suddenly no longer hungry. It was as if he was already full. This was particularly frustrating for someone who loved to eat... He was not used to this sensation, which he would classify as unpleasant. Slumped lazily in his seat with his fist against his cheek, Junior's bored little black eyes roamed the table filled with breakfast foods of all kinds. He lingered over the silver dishes of golden croissants and other pastries, then turned his snout toward his father who sat in a large green chair. At the end of the table, as always, he read the daily newspaper to keep up with the latest events. A question of tactics, he said. Because if he knew what was going on in the world, then he could work accordingly and stay one step ahead of his enemies! Wearing his black rectangular glasses to better read the small lines, he remained immersed in his reading even as a winged Koopa approached on his right to pour him another cup of black coffee.

Curiously, since Cinder had told him how attractive he looked in those glasses, he'd been wearing them much more often...

"Daddy?" Bowser Jr. called softly, trying to get his father's attention.

"Hm?" Bowser muttered, reaching for his coffee cup to drink it, but never looking away from his newspaper.

"Can I go to war with you?" His son asked in a small, hopeful voice, which immediately drew the attention of everyone around the table. Surprised by his unexpected request, Bowser blinked then looked at Junior over the top of his glasses, his cup halfway to his mouth. Had he heard correctly? Beside him, Cinder swallowed hard.

"War is not a game, especially not for children." He replied simply, before shaking his newspaper to unfold it again and find his line which spoke of the Bully's attack on the Sprixie Kingdom, led by Prince Bully himself.

"But I want to come with you! Why should Ludwig, Lemmy and the others have the right?" Junior revolted as he crossed his arms under his little muzzle, his cheeks soon red with anger. Opposite him, right next to the human coughing into her fist, Kamek carefully placed his cup of tea on the saucer after swallowing.

"Your Highness, you're far too young to be in this kind of business. Wouldn't you rather build a new castle to destroy? You're very good at drawing up plans, could you make a new sketch?" He offered with an awkward smile, but the bold prince decided otherwise.

"No! I don't care about useless castles! Building bores me. It's not as much fun as going out and fighting and setting fire to a real castle. I'm not a baby anymore. I've already shown that I can save Cinder like an adult! Without anyone's help. I'm ready to reign terror! So when can I come with you?" The latter felt sorry for himself and sulked when his father showed no more enthusiasm.

"When you're old enough to come." Once again, Bowser remained calm as he mechanically presented his left hand to his wife to take her hand on the table, remaining absorbed in his newspaper.

"Junior, you mustn't be sad. I can't bear to see you get hurt... There'll be plenty of opportunity to prove yourself! All in good time. You'll find your place, I'm sure. And when that day comes, I'll be the first to be proud." Cinder supported him from across the table after seeing the little turtle's drooping face, which had been brooding since his arrival this morning. She'd noticed that he wasn't exactly in top form, that he barely touched his plate... That observation had worried her to the point where she wondered if he'd had another frightening nightmare involving toads, knowing how those dreams could affect his mood.

Without even knowing it, she'd put her finger right on the problem.

"Yes, but-" Junior insisted, except that his father finally lost patience.

"There are no buts about it! When I say no, it's no! End of discussion." The King summed up in his big, deep frightening voice, frowning in exasperation, his gaze a silent warning to his son who was being particularly temperamental. One more word and he'd spank him! A spanking that would remind him who was in charge here.

He scowled at the pouting young Koopa to dissuade him from insisting, and looked down at Cinder as she gently stroked his arm. The woman smiled softly at him as her thumb ran over his yellow scales to try and relax him, feeling his sudden anger emanate from his massive body. When he was angry, he could say or do things without thinking... And that wasn't the right solution. She didn't want Junior to be scolded just because he wanted to accompany his father to the field, because it was a good intention. He wanted to follow in his idol's footsteps, he wanted to make him proud! It was obvious. Even if this request didn't please her much. Not being particularly fond of violence, she would have preferred to avoid her husband declaring war on neighboring countries, so if on top of that Bowser Jr voluntarily put himself in danger... She didn't dare imagine it. A little shiver ran down her spine, so she hurried to think of something else so as not to start feeling worried unnecessarily.

Having been intimidated by his father's dark stare, Junior was content to watch them make eyes at each other as if no one else at the table existed. Arms crossed, he squinted at his father as he smiled lovingly at Cinder, their hands still joined on the table. His face lit up every time she smiled at him... Yuck. He looked like an idiot smiling like that. With a disgusted grimace, he shifted his irritated gaze to the leader of the Magikoopas, who was carefully spreading his butter on a slice of toast. Paying no attention to the two lovebirds. He watched as the bespectacled Koopa licked his lips with appetite before taking a bite of his toast with strawberry jam, which he inadvertently spilled on his blue tunic. Junior didn't hide his mocking smile at the little groan of dejection he let out after throwing his head back in disappointment. It was very funny to see!

He returned to Bowser when the latter straightened his glasses to return to his newspaper. It was extremely rare for his father to say no to him about anything, especially to offer his help in conquering the world... Yet he was motivated to take over! Destroying their enemies to the last guy, just to get a pat on the head. Normally, he would never have denied him something like that, and he wondered if he had changed his behavior just to impress Cinder. Which wouldn't even surprise him, given that he was trying to give a better impression of himself. His father had changed a lot since she came into their lives, mostly for the better. Less aggressive, more affectionate. However, he was also softening as he went to war against other countries far less often and didn't pick fights as much as he used to whenever he didn't like something, no longer grabbing power and glory by force. He was no longer the terrible, violent Bowser, but an improved version whom Junior loved dearly, despite his new sometimes annoying behavior.

Since when has he denied him anything? He has never been denied anything! Never!

But he hadn't said his last word.

After breakfast, which ended with a lively discussion between his father and Kamek, Bowser Junior returned to his room in the hope of finding something to do. A little grumpily, he tossed his abused stuffed animals into the corner of the room because they were getting on his nerves looking at him like that... He felt they were laughing at his bad mood. He tried to build a new structure imitating Peach's castle, the better to destroy it, but even this amusing activity didn't appeal to him. So he tried painting. He drew Dry Bones in lava, a wasteland of fire, desolation and dead trees, but after a few more brushstrokes, he abandoned his canvas with an exasperated sigh. Now lying on his shell in a star-like position facing the ceiling, he began to hum thoughtfully.

This refusal was running through his head. Constantly. It haunted him! He had no right to be so harsh with him just because he wanted to make an effort to behave better. It wasn't fair! Since when was it right to say no? Junior grunted, which brought out his little canine tooth as he stood up and started kicking his feet into everything nearby. Cubes, paintings, stuffed toys, figurines, cushions... Until his toe came into hard contact with a metal music box. With a shriek of pain, he jumped to his feet with his hands in fists, steam coming out of his invisible ears. He looked like a pressure cooker about to implode! He needed to vent his frustration somehow. As he massaged his aching toe, Junior looked up at the wall that once held the Comtoise clock that had so frightened his mama. It was thanks to her that he'd been able to join her in the Kingdom of Time, through the magic portal.

But since Cinder had become Queen, his father had banished all Comtoises clocks from the kingdom! There wasn't a single one left for miles around.

"Ha! You have no chance! Take that! Mwahahaha!" Giggled the little turtle slyly after throwing his fluffy old rabbit towards the wall, imagining King Tick-Tock instead. The inanimate creature bounced off the stone and crashed into a pile of prototypes, while Bowser Jr threw more stuff, inventing a war scenario with his sworn enemy. A scenario where he was the hero of the story and nobody else! Where everyone cheered his return, Cinder and his father had eyes only for him and his colossal strength.

After a couple of imaginary fights in the air, boredom quickly got the better of Junior, prompting him to leave his room in search of another fun activity. On his way to pester the Koopalings, he started humming a little tune that he found both cool and funny. Where did this strange song come from? Well, from his childish imagination. Leaping from foot to foot and pulling his toothy bandana over his snout in the hopes of appearing menacing, the puffed-up little Koopa jumped on the statues and then on the armor stored in the main hall while singing his repetitive song. Repeatedly. Some of the Goombas passing by fled at these redundant words, which once stuck in their heads never left them for the rest of the day... The corridor was soon deserted by all its occupants as the miniature Bowser approached.

"I'm looking for pinecones, dido, dida!" Junior stopped strutting when he saw the imposing silhouette of his beloved father in the distance. Closing his mouth again with a snap, he suddenly had an idea in mind as a petty grin stretched his mouth. He hurried to join his father at the other end of the corridor, stopping next to him after he closed a door with a flick of his wrist.

"Daddy, I want a pinecone!" He demanded loudly.

"No, no pinecones. And where am I supposed to look for them?" Stunned by his son's request, Bowser shrugged with a raised eyebrow.

"But, I wanted a pinecone!" Junior whimpered, his arms falling in despair at this new refusal.

"I said no!" Bowser impatiently raised his index finger to his son's angry face before he threw one of his famous tantrums in the middle of the corridor. He didn't particularly feel like dealing with a crisis today.

The prince's annoyed expression intensified as the King of the Koopas deliberately turned his back and disappeared down another corridor, without so much as a backward glance. A second refusal? In a single day?! He couldn't believe it. Flabbergasted and irritated, he decided he wasn't going to let his father win the battle. He hated losing more than anything else in the world, it wasn't even an option. So he discreetly followed him into the castle, with the aim of getting his "yes", however he could, but he would get it! He'll get it! He wouldn't give up until he got what he wanted, because he could be as stubborn as his father when he wanted to be! If not more. So the stubborn turtle hurried after the huge thorny Koopa with a little scampish laugh, determined to win.

He followed him into the kitchen.

"Daddy, can I have a knife?"

"No."

Outside on the central platform.

"Can I have an army of my own?"

"No."

In the garden he'd had made for Cinder when he went to examine it.

"Do you want to take a picture of me?"

"No!"

In his bath.

"Will you give me a Bill Ball cannon?"

"No!"

When he returned to his room to make himself beautiful, he was at her door.

"Then a biclyce!"

"I think you mean a bicycle, son." Bowser replied with a jaded glance at Junior via the mirror.

"Does that mean yes?" The latter smiled broadly.

"No!"

And even as he returned to face his army and bark orders at them.

"Daddy?"

"No! No! No!"

"But-"

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Bowser roared as he threw up his arms in despair, no longer able to stand hearing his son's incessant demands throughout the day. On the verge of collapsing in front of his army of Koopas in a row at the sudden fatigue he felt, he ordered Junior to leave the premises immediately at the risk of being punished. He wasn't going to give him what he wanted! Oh no, he wouldn't admit defeat.

"I don't care, I'll get what I want in the end." Junior muttered with a dismissive little sniff.

"What are you mumbling about!" Bowser annoyed, following his insolent son with his eyes, the frightened Koopas motionless expecting an explosion from their leader.

"I said you were the best and kindest dad!" Junior exclaimed with a falsely innocent air just to shame his father in front of his army, a success as more or less discreet giggles followed.

"Off you go!" Bowser, touched by his words despite his embarrassment, raised his arm in the direction of the door to chase away the opportunist.

Even so, the stubborn little turtle still hadn't said his last word.

Once evening had fallen, when most of the castle's inhabitants had gone to bed to leave only empty, silent corridors, a single little silhouette crept into the gloom. To reach a door in the corridor to the right of his room unnoticed, Junior had pulled his bandana over his head. Hoping to go incognito. With stealthy, ninja-like steps, he made his way between these walls until he came to a half-open door leading to a small library with a fireplace inside. Seated in large purple armchairs around a round table, Cinder and Bowser were reading in the center of the huge shelves of books. The wall clock behind them struck twenty, while the flames from the fireplace twirled on the floor, casting their shadows at Junior's feet as he timidly entered the cozy room. Immediately, King Koopa's disgruntled gaze landed on him, so he hastened to express himself before being scolded.

"Can I have a good night kiss?" He asked in a small voice, playing with his fingers with a shy look on his face. His puppy-dog face immediately made an impression on Cinder, much to Bowser's dismay.

"Yes, of course!" She replied warmly, abandoning her book on the table and moving towards the adorable little Koopa clamoring for affection.

Lowering herself to Junior to take his face between her warm hands, she kissed his cheek several times under the dazed gaze of the larger turtle, who simply couldn't believe his eyes. How had he done it? She'd fallen for him just by looking at him, he'd managed to make her fall for him in a split second. His mouth hanging open in amazement, the King of the Koopas watched as Cinder placed kisses on his son's head, happy to have received the attention he'd been looking for. Not only had he finally got a yes, but he'd also hit the jackpot. It was hard to believe ... Deception without a No! With his eyebrows almost reaching his flaming hair, Bowser noticed the cheeky little smile on his son's face as he wrapped his arms around Cinder and watched him triumphantly.

He'd won.

End

Junior always wins, that's all 😉No chance!