Chapter Text
"Your Grouchiness! Are you around?!"
Kammy Koopa called out in distress, searching high and low for Bowser in Bowser's Castle back in Mario's world. It had been pretty quiet around the place, especially considering three major figures of Bowser's empire had went to fight Mario and never returned. "He's not anywhere I can find. I suppose I'll call a temporary truce toward the Mushroom Kingdom and-"
Kammy's robe was suddenly grabbed by Larry Koopa, the youngest of the seven Koopalings. "Hold it, hag! Lord Bowser specifically told us to hold down the fort! No trucies! Understand?!"
"Sheesh, you're as bossy as your ruler, sometimes, I feel like all the shouting is gonna shake me out of my shell..." Kammy quivered.
Ludwig von Koopa folded his arms, leaning against the wall. "He is right, Kammy. I am worried for Lord Bowser and Lord Junior, but it will take far more than Mario to keep them down for long, they will come back."
Kammy turned to Ludwig. "And what makes you so sure of that?"
"I have faith in them. And sometimes, that's all you really need."
"...I hope so too. Ugh. Waiting's the worst part, and I am DYING over here."
"Bahahaha!" Iggy Koopa laughed. "Nobody's as big a worrywart as you are!"
"Oh, the princess, oh dear Overthere, the princess!" Toadsworth sobbed and dramatically cried. He had to do it outside, as the town was in the middle of being rebuilt from Bowser's Camael-fire, and nobody had seen the Mario Bros. or Peach in a long time.
...Which left two builders left on the whole project, which left everyone stressed. Toadette pointed at a few crowds. "You, keep the castle ornaments in peak condition, you, make sure the glass stays in a safe box, and Blue Toad! Where's Yellow Toad?" She pointed at Blue Toad.
"He's still checking on disaster recovery!" Blue Toad replied, adjusting his builder's helmet. "Bowser hit pretty hard!"
"And still not much progress..." Toadette sighed, slumping down on her figurative knees. "What sort of souped-up macguffin did he get to cause all of this? This is twisted..."
Blue Toad finished. "The Rabbids have been standing guard, so Bowser's army won't perform an encore."
"Good... good..."
Toadette looked up to the sky.
"Mario... Peach... come back soon..."
Bowser Jr. groaned loudly, as he stormed through the streets of Tenguu City. "Ugh - this is so tedious!"
Kamek hurridly shuffled behind him, accompanying him as always. "Young Master, might I remind you that you were the one who wanted to go out? Why so, anyway?"
"Do I look like the kind of guy who can just sit around and wait for good news? I gotta get in on the action somehow! Wouldn't be fair to me, not after Mario looked so awesome!" He stomped his foot, turning around to angrily scold Kamek.
"Yes, yes, I'm well aware that your pride is on the line, young Master." Kamek nodded absentmindedly. "But I cannot recommend you go outside. Right now, all the Spirits are in some sort of classified facility in order to calm Shido down, and our best fighter - Mario - is out for the count. Who knows when Deus Ex Machina Industries will strike again? Or target specifically us two at our most vulnerable?"
"Y-yeah?" Junior growled. "I-I'll take them all on!"
"You can try. And you will fail."
"WHAT did you say?!"
"Forgive my line of tone, young Master. But I believe I have told you the secret to everyone's strength a long while back."
Bowser Jr. rolled his eyes. This speech again, huh? That is true - back when Fawful and the Best Fitness Friends terrorized the Mushroom Kingdom and beyond, Kamek had spilled the beans of Bowser's strength to the young lord.
"True allies are with you for life." Kamek continued.
"Are we going on that whole spiel again? I'm truly evil! Dad's truly evil! I don't know how my 'friends' we're making in this world, but we're just... using them for ulterior motives, right?! I'm an evil overlord, just like dad! And evil overlords can't be friends with good guys!"
"I see." Kamek walked forward and stood in front of Bowser Jr. "Are you sure that's how you truly feel?"
"Why do you even care?! Once we're all done and we save dad, we're never gonna even BE in this world again! Why should I bother with generic, cliche schoolboys and schoolgirls?"
"I care, because I saw something in you that I haven't seen in the royal Koopa bloodline in a long time..."
Junior turned stiff. "And what would that be...?"
"I saw a spark of hope, young Master. Hope for the Koopa Troop to one day be something more than it is now. I saw a future where our lives were more than just a constant stream of villainy, conquest and failure."
"..." The young prince looked to the ground.
"Your father is very powerful. And he's a very skilled leader. I have stated once before, and once again just a few seconds earlier. But do not be mistaken, he's always cared for himself above all else. He loves you, but there are other things he loves more. And I think you're aware of this. I think that's what you're afraid of. You're afraid that if you try to make any friends, you might find that you don't enjoy villainy as much as Lord Bowser does. That you might be tempted to act in a way that will disappoint him. You fear that, with no brainwashing from Efreet required, he will turn against you, and you'll be all alone. That without him, you're nothing. But that's not true. There will always be someone in your life that cares about you. I can't say whether or not Lord Bowser will accept you being 'good'. But no matter what he thinks, as long as you have good friends by your side, you'll never be alone."
"True allies are with you for life." Kamek repeated. "It's up to you to realize who they are."
"..." Junior was left speechless, but felt something come from his eyes. "...Kamek..."
"Yes, young Master?"
"Could you... come back to me in a bit...?"
"I'm going to cry."
"...right away." Kamek shuffled away.
"..." Junior looked around his surroundings. A secluded forest, with a facility behind him. He and all the others were told not to go in there, because that's where the Spirits saving Shido were. How'd he even get to this point? He thought about all the times he only ever thought about his own ego or his dad.
"Hold it, pipsqueaks!" Bowser Jr. pointed at the running Peach. "I still have the agenda of capturing YOU to make my papa proud! Capturing you by myself will always be more fun!"
"HEY! I'm not BAD! Good and evil are simplistic outdated terms! Everything is relative!" Bowser Jr. stomped his foot like a classic villain. "You will learn to respect me, and when to do it!" He then pulled out his drills. "Brace yourself, spoiled peaches! I'll make my papa proud, time!"
Another scenario...
Junior pointed at Mario. "I also see what's going on here! You want to use Rinne's special powers for yourself! Especially you, Schoolboy! I've seen ya sealin' Spirits! Don't think you can just take away their power for granted!"
Shido tapped his foot. "What are YOU going to do about it, you brat?"
Junior laughed. "Well, I saw Rinne first! She and all her special powers are MINE!" His clown car floated until it was in front of the abyss, and then he turned to face the duo. He tapped his fingers together like a cliche villain.
"..." Sniffle.
"I gotta get my papa back! Something about him ain't right!" Junior spoke back, arrogant as ever. "Argh! If only we had the Koopalings! That could make splitting up so much easier!"
Another scenario...
"He'll be meeting me soon." Aiana breathed. "But let me just say... the wrath of Mio will be your turnaround to become good guys."
"Good guys?" Junior was curious.
Another scenario...
Mario smiled. "You're on our-a side now. Welcome to the club!"
Junior... paused. And then he ran up and hugged Mario. "Please, save my papa..."
Mario turned his head to the side, noticing a portal. Shido commented on it. "Seems like Rinne got all set up. I'm gonna miss her, but..."
Junior sighed. "I ruined everything."
Another scenario...
Kotori just adjusted her eyebrows. "You're both bad guys."
Bowser Jr. slammed a fist to his palm repeatedly. "The fire spirit corrupted my dad and I want him back. Simple enough?"
Kotori paused... then let go of Mario. "Fine, fine. You brought in the mess, you can surely clean it up..."
"..." Junior felt constant tears pour out of his eyes uncontrollably. "Ghh-gh-gh... I... I'm sorry...!" He cried out, apologizing where nobody could hear him. "I'm sorry that I couldn't hold it in - I'm sorry I made everyone's life worse when the main goal was to bring back Dad - I'm sorry - I'm sorry - I'm sorry - I'm sorry - I'm sorry - I'm sorry - I'm sorry - I'm sorry - I'm sorry..."
And on that evening, Bowser Junior cried his heart out.
Kamek walked back, to see the young prince sitting on the ground, surrounded by wet grass. "Have you taken your time yet, young Master...?"
Junior rubbed his eyes, slowly standing up. "You're such a bully, Kamek... I'll never forgive you, even when I become king..."
"I suppose if that's the consequence I must pay..."
"Come on, Kamek. Let's get back to the Spirit Mansion before people start bawling over my disappearance..."
"Actually, I believe you were the one bawling..." Kamek shuffled forward, but slowly stopped. "...Hold on."
Junior stopped. "Bah, already? Are you gonna make me cry again?"
"...No... Wait... I hear - I HEAR SOMETHING! GET DOWN!" Kamek suddenly pushed Bowser Jr. away from himself.
Everything went into slow motion as he was stunned speechless, slowly falling to the ground on his butt. There, within the next few instances, there were four identical robots. A single, menacing red eye, a bulky model, neon, slick red lines, arm cannons and giant boots made to play soccer.
Bowser Jr. and Kamek weren't around at the time, but they were robotic nightmares that would make any Strikers player quit forever - the Super Team.
Four Supers aimed their cannons at Kamek and Junior (two each) as a fifth problem slammed onto the ground. Long blonde hair, blue eyes, and a futuristic neon blue CR-Unit that belonged to DEM. She pointed her neon blue sword at Kamek.
"So... This is where the Spirits are hiding." The girl looked back at the facility, without losing focus of her sword grip. "I should notify Westcott about this immediately."
Junior shivered in fear as the mysterious girl pressed something on her earpiece. "...Hai." She looked back at them. "Consider yourselves lucky that I won't get you myself. Super Team. Make sure there's nothing left of these two."
Kamek held his wand tightly, as the four Supers closed in on the two. He then remembered something he did during the time Miku had an iron fist over the city. He raised his wand, casting magic at the young prince.
"W-wait! Kamek! Hold on! I'll come back-"
"-for you!" Junior blinked, seeing his new surroundings, being right in front of the Itsuka household, eyes looking at the Spirit Mansion.
...true allies are with him for life. Not entirely sure if that was true, but he was going to have to make temporary allies if they wanted to survive together, and with that, he went in the mansion.
Junior looked at the couch to see Luigi and Peach there. "Guys! We got big trouble! I'm serious here!"
The two looked at the young Koopa, Luigi raising an eyebrow. "Wait, why are you serious all of a sudden...?"
"Gr-" Junior growled, but then remembered his sob session back at the facility - and then he remembered why he even came back in the first place, as he jumped and shouted at the top of his lungs to make sure he was completely understood.
"KAMEK IS IN SERIOUS TROUBLE!"
"SAVE KAMEK! PLEASE!"
"THIS WAY! HURRY!"
Luigi and Peach immediately jumped up to action. Seeing Junior this concerned was not normal, and they needed to get to the bottom of it. Peach spoke to Junior. "Where is he?"
"THE FACILITY! WHERE SHIDO IS!"
Remembering Shido's name...
Luigi and Peach ran out the door with Junior not far behind.
Mario was deep in sleep, staggering his breaths as his body was still exhausted.
...
...
...
Someone was there to witness his state.
"I certainly didn't expect events to turn like this."
"In order to beat those robotic nightmares, they need you in action."
"But you can't do any action because of your pitiful body."
"I'm sure you'll have a lot of questions for me when we meet again..."
"But I can't exactly show myself to you just yet."
"I'm resting up myself. I couldn't find her."
"Well, whatever..."
"It's a waste, but I'm hoping you can make some profits in return."
Suddenly, a gunshot fired at Mario in his sleep.
"Zafkiel: Dalet."