DISCLAIMER! This flashback contains high levels of cuteness! You've been warned!
"Expect high amounts of thunder and lightning with a fair bit of wind on top of the heavy rainfall throughout tonight."
Those words were stuck in Lemmy's head all evening.
Just as the weatherman said, the storm was picking up as the night went on. The eight year old felt a bit on edge ever since he first heard about it, which was a bit out of character for him. He wasn't afraid of or scared of the upcoming storm, after all it wasn't his first one.
Come to think of it, he couldn't even remember his first storm. Not that it mattered all that much. No, Lemmy felt a bit worried about the storm for a different reason, it was Larry's first lightning storm.
The three year old Larry was playing with building blocks while the weather channel was on. The blocks had letters on them and Lemmy had been teaching the toddler the alphabet and both of them were enjoying it very much.
But the moment Lemmy heard something about a storm be mentioned, he began listening in on the TV while playing with Larry. When he heard that it was going to be a big one, his already fading happiness disappeared and was replaced with visible worry.
Lemmy felt uneasy, he knew that Larry would likely be terrified by the loud noises and bright flashes. Sure, the fact he is Larry's big teddy bear might calm him down a little, but Lemmy wasn't sure if even that would work.
He was snapped out of his trance when he felt something grip him tightly. He saw that Larry had waddled up to him and hugged him. Lemmy figured he must've seen him stop smiling and giggling because now Larry had his arms as far around his waist as the toddler could reach, looking up at his big brother with puppy-dog eyes, "Why Lemmy sad…?" Since he has a limited vocabulary and pronunciation, his L's and R's sounded more like W's.
Lemmy blinked before smiling, "Oh, I'm not sad, don't worry." When Larry didn't budge, Lemmy gently pulled his head in, gave him a light kiss on the forehead and nuzzled him with affection, "I'm okay, Larry. Really!"
After pulling away slightly, the two made eye contact. Larry was looking up at him with hopeful eyes, "Lemmy okay?" Lemmy giggled a little before pulling Larry into a hug, "With you here, I'm always okay…"
Lemmy was happy that he was able to divert Larry's suspicions for a little while. But the fact he knew a big storm was on its way didn't make him feel all too happy. At least he was able to hide it pretty well.
That is, until a few hours later when it was bedtime.
It was almost 10 pm, the storm was getting very aggressive, only a fool would try to deny a storm was even happening. Larry was sitting on Lemmy's bed with him, cowering and whimpering in fear of the storm.
Lemmy picked up Larry's Super Bell powerup that he gives to him every night, he does so in hopes of calming him down. Upon equipping it, Larry now dawned his light blue catsuit. Lemmy had already equipped his own beforehand and was wearing a vibrant orange one. Turns out they make really warm and cozy pajamas for the little koopas.
To Lemmy's credit, putting Larry in his catsuit did calm him down for a little bit. That was, until thunder rumbled outside again. Lemmy embraced the little guy in an attempt to comfort him, "Shh shh… it's okay, Larry…" His attempt however, didn't work.
Larry began crying quietly, "Lemmy… I'm scared…" Lemmy had a feeling he wouldn't like it and looked down at him with guilt. Lemmy hugged him tighter, wrapping his arms around him and seating him on his lap as a way of shielding him from the storm's fury, "I know, Larry…"
The embrace felt really warm and calming, but it was obvious it wasn't good enough for Larry.
Then an idea popped into Lemmy's head, but it was a bit risky and could backfire pretty badly. But Lemmy couldn't think of anything else, so he might as well try it.
Lemmy pulled away from him a little before gently placing a finger on his chin and moving his head up to look at him, "Larry? Can I ask you something?" Larry stopped crying for a moment as he looked up at Lemmy with tears in his eyes.
Good, now that he had Larry's attention, he proceeded to speak softly, "Is the lightning scaring you?" Larry stared at him for a moment with his lip quivering before quietly nodding, "Uh huh…" Lemmy gently stroked the side of Larry's head, "Can you tell me why it's scaring you?" There was a pause before Larry started whining quietly, "Its loud… and bright… and loud… I no like!"
Lemmy continued to gently stroke him to keep him calm, "Can you tell me why you don't like it?" Larry once again paused before slowly answering, "It's scary… something outside! Monster!"
"Gotcha!" A monster! That was exactly what Lemmy was hoping he would say, now he can get to work.
Lemmy then had an "epiphany", "Aha! A monster!" Larry was a bit caught off guard by his sudden change to that of an excited tone, he just stared at Lemmy with a confused look. Lemmy smiled as he gently poked the toddler's fluffy underbelly, "You are scared of the lightning monster, aren't you?"
Larry's eyes widened, "L-Lightning monster…!?" However, due to his limited speech, it really sounded more like "wightwing monster." Lemmy could tell that the fear was rising inside of Larry, he had a feeling this would happen. But he was going to keep going if he wanted Larry to sleep happily, "Yeah! I've heard about the lightning monster! The lightning monster is awake during lightning storms, like this one."
Lemmy's tone then changed to a playful evil tone, like introducing a villain in a children's storybook. He began to wiggle his fingers in a grabby like motion, "He looks around for any babies who are naughty… and eats them!" Lemmy shot his arms up at the last part. He knew he was making all that up, but he always loved playing pretend.
Larry gasped with horror, he did not like hearing that. Lemmy felt a bit guilty for doing this, but if this was going to work, he had to give an actual creature for Larry to be scared of.
But then an unfortunately timed lightning strike occurred right after. Larry shrieked as he clambered onto Lemmy and hugged him as tight as he could. Larry was shaking as he began crying, "Lemmy! The lightning monster! He's gonna eat me!"
The lightning startled Lemmy, he was hoping it wouldn't strike for at least a couple more minutes. Things were getting bad and Lemmy knew he had to act fast.
Lemmy hugged the trembling toddler and spoke gently, "No he won't Larry, he only eats babies who are naughty." Lemmy gently pried Larry off and lifted his chin up at him again and giggled, "You are a sweet baby, Larry! The lightning monster doesn't eat sweet babies." Larry slowly stopped crying, "R… Really…?" Lemmy gently nuzzled him, "Really."
Larry just lowered his head slightly, likely thinking. At least he doesn't look scared anymore. Lemmy felt relieved that he seemed to have calmed down at least, but he had a feeling Larry was not entirely convinced.
Larry looked up at Lemmy with a look of worry, "Whabout you?" Lemmy tilted his head a little, "What about me?" Larry's face turned back to that of sadness, "Lemmy baby…?" Lemmy was a bit confused by the question, then it clicked for the rainbow-haired boy, Lemmy was rather small for his age and looked quite a bit younger than he actually was.
Lemmy gently rubbed Larry's cheeks and smiled, "Me? Oh no, I'm not a baby." But Lemmy's smile faded when he looked over to where Larry's new bed is. Less than a month earlier, a crib that once belonged to Lemmy resided in that same spot.
While he was supposed to give it up to Larry once he hatched, Lemmy was already five at that point and was way too old for a crib. Lemmy however, didn't want to give it up. Sleeping in that crib in his cat onesie made him feel like a baby, the fact he was very small and acted young for his age really hammered that point home.
Bowser tried to get him to move out, but the then newborn Larry didn't want him to leave, and after several nights of them persisting, Bowser relented and allowed Lemmy to continue sharing the crib with Larry.
This status quo continued until they both outgrew it. At that point, Lemmy had to let go. The poor boy was so heartbroken, it was one of the few times he cried.
Lemmy still missed his old crib dearly. Every time he slept in it, he felt like a baby, he loved it. The fact he was able to keep it until he was eight was nothing short of a miracle. It was made even better when he shared it with Larry.
The two were so inseparable to the point they even still sleep together, at least that hasn't changed after losing his crib. The only side effect was that Larry's new bed still hasn't been used yet. Well, for sleeping at least.
Still, Lemmy and Larry shared so many fond memories with that little wooden cage of fun. Several imaginary adventures were had with that thing. Lemmy felt his heart ache as a part of him still mourned the loss of his precious crib, "I wish I was…" Lemmy said as he stared at where it once stood in a gloomy trance.
However, he was snapped out of it when Larry frantically grabbed at him. Lemmy looked at the wide eyed toddler, "B-But lightning monster! He's gonna eat you!"
Lemmy was pretty glad he did that, he needed a distraction. That was when another idea popped into his head. He already managed to calm him down by telling him he's safe from the lightning monster, but if this works, he might be able to have Larry sleep with a smile tonight.
Lemmy gently pried Larry off him and sat the light blue kitten down in front of him. It was time to play more pretend. Lemmy faked a realization, "Hey yeah! Because I'm small, he might think I'm a baby!" He pretended to be worried, "I hope I didn't do anything naughty, or else he might eat me!" The fear in Larry's eyes shot up, but just as Lemmy was about to reassure him, lightning struck again.
Larry once again scrambled onto Lemmy and hugged him tightly, "No! Don't eat Lemmy!" Lemmy hugged Larry and gently stroked his head, "Shh shh shh… calm down, it's okay…" Larry began crying again, "I don't wanna him eat you!"
"Okay, I can still make this work." After soothing him enough, Lemmy gently pried Larry off him again and sat him down on the bed. Lemmy smiled, "No he won't. Because if I was a baby, I would be a sweet baby! The lightning monster only eats naughty babies." Lemmy gently placed his cat paws on Larry's cheeks, "Don't worry, Larry, I'm safe."
It seemed to only calm him down a little bit though. Lemmy released his hands from Larry's face and gave him a warm smile. Larry however, continued looking up at Lemmy with worry, "How you know? Are you really safe…?" Lemmy giggled, "Even if I am a naughty baby, there's still a way for me to be safe."
Larry tilted his head like a curious puppy- er… kitten, wondering what Lemmy could possibly mean. Now that Larry was curious, Lemmy continued, "If you want to make sure the lightning monster doesn't get me, you have to give me a big huggy and a little kiss. Like this!"
Lemmy the orange kitten, placed his paws on Larry's waist and lifted him up. He sat him down on his lap before warmly embracing the toddler. Lemmy placed a paw on the back of Larry's head and lightly kissed him on the forehead. Lemmy gently stroked and rubbed his baby brother with affection.
After a moment, Lemmy released the little light blue cat and gave him a smile, "There you go, I just saved you from the lightning monster! He wasn't going to eat you anyway, but it's always good to be safe." Larry was happy for a moment before turning back to worry, "Whabout you? Lemmy not safe!"
Lemmy gasped before speaking in an overly exaggerated voice, "Oh no, Larry! You're right, I'm not safe! The lightning monster might eat me!" Lemmy leaned back on one paw while raising his other over his head dramatically, "What will I ever do? If only there was someone who could give me a big hug and a little kiss to save me!"
Larry, upon hearing that, frantically crawls onto Lemmy and throws himself around him, tackling him in the process. Lemmy was caught a bit off guard as he landed on his back with Larry tightly hugging him in his fluffy light blue cat onesie, "I save you!"
Lemmy giggled a little, he found it adorable just how devoted Larry was to him. He hugged him back as he sat back up.
Lemmy continues his act by gently lifting Larry up, "Don't forget the little kiss, Larry!" Larry obliges by kissing his big brother on the forehead before being lowered back down and hugging him again. Lemmy's face lights up, "It's working, Larry!" Lemmy beamed as he embraced him back.
After a solid minute, they finally separated. Lemmy placed his arm around Larry, still sitting on his lap, "You did it, Larry! You saved me!" Larry was overjoyed that he and Lemmy were safe from the lightning monster.
Lemmy then pulled Larry into a warm hug, "You're my hero!" Lemmy said as he gently rubbed his cheek against him. Larry was making happy toddler noises, "I save you!" Lemmy pulls away and gently rubs Larry's cheeks, "Yes you did! Good job, Larry!" Larry giggled adorably at the gesture.
Lemmy lowered his paws from the toddler's face, "Now that we're both safe, the lightning monster won't eat us, even if we're naughty!" Lemmy then points towards the closed curtains at their balcony door, "Speaking of whom, the lightning monster should appear annnnyyy second now and he'll leave us alone."
After about a minute, lightning struck once again, causing Larry to flinch. Lemmy quickly calmed him down, "See? Nothing happened! We're both okay, Larry." Lemmy gave Larry his silly smile, closed eyes and tongue sticking out and all, causing the toddler to giggle at him.
Larry looked over towards the curtains where the lightning just was and began to taunt it, "No baby for you! Dumb lightning monster!" Larry finished by blowing a raspberry. Even though he wasn't expecting Larry's change in behavior, Lemmy decided to have some fun.
Lemmy gently tapped Larry to turn his attention back to him and began to playfully scold him, "Now now Larry, don't make fun of him." Larry tilted his head again, "Why?" Lemmy smirked, "Because if you do, he might make me tickle your tummy!"
Lemmy then began tickling Larry, like he said. Larry happily squealed and laughed as he squirmed while falling on his back. Lemmy set him down on his lap with Larry laying face up like a baby and continued rubbing and scratching him, with Larry laughing uncontrollably.
After a couple minutes of attacking him with tickles, they finally calmed down a bit. But as they were, lightning struck outside again, lighting up the room briefly. Lemmy flinched at the noise, Larry on the other hand, started giggling. Lemmy blinked, he wasn't expecting that reaction, "What's so funny, Larry?" Larry, with one hand covering his mouth to hide his laughter, pointed at Lemmy with his other hand, "Lemmy scared of lightning monster!"
"Wha-..." Lemmy stopped, his eyes widened when he realized what Larry meant. Lemmy started laughing, "Okay, I admit. The lightning monster did startle me a little." Larry stood up in front of Lemmy, pulled his head in and lightly kissed him on the forehead before sitting back down on his lap and hugging his big brother with all four of his paws, "Don't worry… Lemmy safe…" Larry said as he happily rubbed his cheek against Lemmy's soft cat onesie.
Lemmy was caught off guard by Larry's sudden act of protective affection, he smiled, "He sure learned fast." Lemmy kissed Larry's forehead before hugging him back, "And Larry is safe too…"
After about a minute, they separated.
"Alright, Larry, time for us to go to dreamland. You'll sleep happily since you're safe from the lightning monster. I know I will." Lemmy playfully poked Larry's snout, making him giggle before picking him up and setting him down next to the pillow. Lemmy leaned over and turned off the bedside lamp before lifting the blankets and tucking Larry and himself in.
Larry started shuffling to Lemmy as he held his paws out at him. Lemmy got comfy on his side facing Larry before pulling the light blue kitty in and cuddling him like a teddy bear. Likewise, Larry hugged Lemmy as he got comfy against his fluffy orange body.
Lemmy smiled, he and Larry always loved doing this and had been ever since Larry's first night. Lemmy had always dawned his Super Bell every night since he was a baby and it made him be the perfect teddy bear for Larry, and vice versa. They had slept and cuddled together every night like always and Lemmy would do anything for his baby brother, "Nighty night, Larry." Larry snuggled against him and mumbled with his limited speech, "Good night, Lemmy… I love you…" Lemmy gently kissed Larry's forehead and closed his eyes, "I love you too…"
After he felt Larry slowly go limp and fall asleep, Lemmy took a deep breath and let out a silent sigh of relief, feeling accomplished for helping Larry ride through his first lightning storm with flying colors. In the span of a few minutes, Larry had gone from terrified to completely unfazed. Lemmy's idea had worked much better than he expected, and he was happy about that.
The rain pounded outside and the thunder rumbled in the distance with the occasional lightning strike. Lemmy relaxed his body before slowly drifting off to join Larry in the dreamland.
Sleep tight you two. Don't be naughty, or the Lightning Monster might get ya!
That's it for the first flashback or memory chapter! The point of these is to show their past on life before the Koopa Troop and Lemmy's problems, going back to when Larry was a toddler and the moments he and Lemmy shared. This is to also show just how close their bond was and how they would do anything for the other.
I hope you liked it! If so, I can add more as the story goes! (I won't go overboard, don't worry.) As for how many there would be, at least six to around eight. Depends on how long this story gets or what you guys think.
I have ideas for like 20 of them and there's no way I would include all of them in this story. So let me know if I should put a bunch of them in a separate story, one with just those memories that I can't include here.
Anyway, I'll get on with the next chapter, which is coming along nicely. I'll probably write it and the next chapter simultaneously depending on where I go with it, since both of those along with the previous chapter were all one. So it'll probably be a week or two possibly, hopefully not months. Depends if I get stuck or not.
Hopefully this happy memory between Lemmy and Larry would keep you busy for the time being.