//------------------------------// // Interlude 1 // Story: Faraway Friends // by the-pieman //------------------------------// The soft whirring of a tiny propeller ends as the Toady lands in the glassless window of a large stone fortress towering over the base of a volcanic mountain. The noise is nearly silent, but is still noticed by the sole occupant of the room, who moves to the window, blue cloak ruffling as he sets aside his current project. “Report, sentry. Have you learned anything?” “We’ve witnessed odd and unpredicted events, Master Kamek. The currently unnamed island twenty four nautical miles to the southeast of Yoshi’s Island has had some strange occurrences.” the small, red-robed figure said with a slight bow. The masterful magikoopa frowns. “Can you be less vague? What’s going on? There’s nothing there but Shy Guys and some crazed Yoshi. What’s new?” “Apologies, Master Kamek. Shortly before noon yesterday, some new creatures we’ve never catalogued before were noticed on the island. They seemed to simply appear from thin air several meters above the undergrowth. They met with a tribe of Shy Guys and seemed to be trying to make diplomatic connections with the Bright Yoshi tribe that occupies a separate part of the jungle.” Kamek pauses as he thinks over the report. “Hmmm... and you’re sure we’ve never had any records of the creatures? Strange... well, there’s nothing to work off of just yet. Keep watch and report with any significant developments that concern the tribes. Perhaps... have a Toady specifically keep an eye on the new creatures as well, just in case.” The short, simple commands are all that’s needed, the Toady salutes and flies back towards the island to continue the gathering of information. Kamek sighs and decides now would be a good time to check on the king. The retrieval of the ‘Star that would not be missed from any night sky’ seemed to go much smoother than he anticipated, even considering Bowser’s slight aggression. Kamek had to make sure the king hadn’t done anything to damage the star in the process but from what he could tell it was perfectly fine... even if a very odd sort of star. He walked up to the large door that led to the throne room and took a breath before entering, composing himself. Upon entering he sees the usual sight of King Koopa sitting on his throne adorned with soft cushions and wicked spikes, though now with the addition of a large squat table on which the star’s cage rests, just to the side of the throne itself. It seemed Bowser heeded the magikoopa’s warning to not let it out of sight for long. Bowser seemed somewhat amused at the star’s actions of defiance and rebellion... even as it could do nothing more than shout angry insults at the king from the cage that sapped its power if it ever tried to even jostle the trap. Bowser being Bowser, he chuckled at a particularly colorful remark, something that Kamek didn’t catch all of, but sounded more or less like ‘...then I'm gonna put your head on a spike and throw it into a pit.’  “Ah, Kamek!” Bowser says, noticing his advisor’s presence finally. “I don’t know where you had us look for this star, but this thing’s a riot! I think it’s trying to scare me! Haha!” The Koopa King seemed genuinely delighted by his acquisition, grinning broadly. “I’d be a lot scarier if you didn’t lock me up! Get me out of here and fight, you stupid coward!” Bowser leered at Anthony. “If you think I’m dumb enough to fall for that, you must have gotten a bad case of that Mushroom Kingdom propaganda. I’m not stupid!” He punctuates it by grabbing the cage by the top and giving it a quick, violent shake. Kamek starts a bit, unsure how forceful the cage could be handled without consequence. It could siphon the star’s power, but the structural integrity wasn’t much better than a well-reinforced metal cage. As sturdily built as it was, that meant nothing to the Koopa King’s raw strength. “B- be careful with the containment, your aggressiveness!” “If he wants to break me out, let him!” Anthony shouts. “Shove off, you second-rate street magician!” Kamek wasn’t one to get mad. He wasn’t one to be affected by being berated... if it was Bowser doing the insulting. “You had better show some respect to us, star! Or did you forget who put you there in the first place? I’ve mastered magic you couldn’t dream of!” Anthony rolls his eyes at the claim. “Bull! I’ve seen someone juggle the sun and moon, I know people who’ve traveled through time of their own power alone, and even people who can bend physics to near their breaking points just to make a dramatic entrance.... And I could kick all their butts if I had half a mind to. You’re a joke wrapped up in a crappy blanket!” Bowser frowns at this. “Don’t worry yourself with him Kamek.” He then grins. “I’ll worry for ya.” with that, he lets out a tremendous roar at Anthony, the sound of which rattled the throne itself and even the entire room to an extent. Anthony was left forced to clutch his ears, as little good as it would do against the sheer volume. Bowser’s toothy maw closed after the outburst and he stared at the star. “You don’t get to insult any of my minions, and especially not Kamek, get it?” Anthony is barely on his knees as he tries to recover from the ringing and the sheer pressure the sound waves put on him. “B- big... Talk...” Bowser returns to an amused grin. “He tries so hard that it’s almost cute, like a stupid puppy.” Kamek composes himself after both his and his king’s outburst. “Well, aside from that, I suppose we should consider what our next move is and when to make it.” Bowser nods. “I’d like to get back at Mario now that I got a secret weapon... but running at him headfirst with a new toy hasn’t worked so well in the past...” He puts on a thoughtful face as he considers his options. At this, Kamek feels incredibly proud of Bowser, while hearing Bowser making one of the wisest statements any villain could likely make actually scares Anthony a bit. Bowser was being smart. Really smart. This... was not good. And as far as he knew, nobody had any idea of his situation and he wasn’t going to be getting any help escaping. “You wouldn’t... beat Mario anyways...” He was still winded from that roar, but that didn’t stop his adamant nature. “He’s kicked your tail for years, the only reason you aren’t gonna be in the hospital within the week is because he doesn’t know what’s up right now.” Bowser leers. “And it’s him not knowing that makes this perfect. If he doesn’t know, he won’t come after me. If he doesn’t come after me, I can do anything I want. And by the time he is on his way to my castle, I’ll already have an advantage he’s never seen coming!” This worried Anthony, how intelligently Bowser was acting. He was the same brutish bully Anthony knew from various games but this time, it seemed Bowser had decided to learn from all his failures, but he couldn’t let Bowser know that he was scared. “Oh yeah? How’s this different from the Star Rod? You literally wished for invincibility, got it, and he still wiped the floor with your spiny ass.” “Hey! You watch it, I have kids you know! You keep misusing that tongue in my castle, and I’ll remove it!” Anthony recoiled, taken aback at the prospect of Bowser being so protective of his children. He lets Junior and the Koopalings fight in his army, but he draws the line at cussing? This was a strange experience for sure. “Still, he beat you. If Mario walks in here and you make a big deal about having ultimate power again, he’s probably gonna go for getting rid of your fancy new toy before kicking you to the curb like he always does.” Bowser pauses and then nods. “Yeah, you’re right, aren’t you?” Anthony’s eyes go wide in shock at the Koopa King taking the comment in stride so easily. “Kamek, can you make some kinda plumber-proof magical thing on this cage? Don’t want Mario or his lame brother getting their grubby hands on this before I have the chance to squash ‘em!” Anthony was dumbfounded at the response. Bowser had never been this forward-thinking! A Bowser... that learned. Anthony had to make a conscious effort not to physically shudder at the thought. “Already done, your maliciousness!” Kamek crowed. “I built that cage specifically to only work for Koopa-kind.” He looks to Anthony. “I simply set up a prerequisite enchantment on the siphon so that any energy that would be transferred checks the recipient of said energy before applying it. Neither Mario nor Luigi would be able to break or use the cage at all.” Kamek stares Anthony in the eyes through his thick glasses. “It was very simple.” “I can’t believe it... since when did you guys grow a brain cell?” Anthony replies, astounded. “I mean, the smartest one of you is an overhyped babysitter with a magic stick!” Kamek and Bowser paused. Knowing Mario and his feats was probably a given, even to someone who came from another world but... “How do you know I sent Kamek back in time to raise little me?” Anthony racked his brain trying to find a good answer. “Uh... lucky guess?” Bowser shrugged. “Maybe.” Then gave Anthony a sideways glance, sitting up in his throne. “Or maybe you’re smarter than you really should be. Maybe we should muzzle you. Wouldn’t want your loud mouth spouting anything actually important.” “You muzzle me, and when I get out I’m gonna shove a Bob-Omb so far up your rear end you’ll be puking gunpowder for a week!” Bowser paused again and leaned back in his throne, relaxing significantly. “If.” Kamek nodded sagely, trying (and failing) to hide a grin. “If is good.” “So if you already got me...” Anthony started, trying to figure out how he could change the subject fast enough for Bowser to switch gears and stop being so... terrifying. “I guess you don’t need to kidnap Peach?” “Of course I need princess Peach! You’re just step one. You think my castle isn’t big enough for two prisoners? I got enough space for twenty of ya in the broom closet!” “Actually, the broom closet is properly stocked for once, your viciousness.” Kamek interjects. “Oh. The dungeons’re plenty big enough, then!” “Why do you even want Peach anyways?” Anthony asks, at least trying to get a solid answer on a long-held question. “Do you think that I need to tell you that, or anything at all? You keep yer mouth shut and be a nice little star and let me do all the work. You aren’t getting out, nobody’s comin’ to get you, and you aren’t gonna do anything to get yourself out. You’re my ace in the hole, but not much more, buddy.” “Wow... you really are trying to be smart for once.” Anthony mutters, though Bowser manages to catch it. “I’m plenty smart. Mario just cheats!” Bowser shouts in anger. Kamek nods. “True, he’s had a sparse few fair victories, but I can’t count how many times he’s won simply due to Stella Ex Machina. But this time, we have a star too, and it’s one he doesn’t get to use!” “Exactly!” Bowser said, grinning wide and with teeth that would make a dozen sharks collectively envious and fearful. “You’re mine, Mario’s got no idea we’re comin’ or when we’re gonna strike, and when we do, I’ll be able to mount his moustache over my fireplace!” “Dude... seriously? Out of all the times he’s won, you think an advantage you’ve had several times before is gonna net you a win?” Anthony asks incredulously. “Yes, I do. You think I’m gonna give up? I’ve been at this game far too long to not learn a few things, and so far I’m holding all the cards. Mario won’t do a thing until I make a move, which means I have all the time I need to get ready for the next part!” “You’re gonna kidnap Peach... what’s so different about this?” Anthony sighs. Bowser’s grin turns diabolical. “Because as far as Mario knows, I haven’t done anything yet. I get all the time I need to design my first move and have the element of surprise, and I have you! Mario thinks he’s so great with all his athletics and power-ups. Well, I have one myself this time, and it’s way better than those gross-tasting mushrooms and flowers!” “I bet you five hundred Coins that you get your butt kicked anyways.” Anthony remarks. Bowser raises an eyebrow and laughs aloud. “You think a wager like that means anything to me? I am the King of the whole Koopa Kingdom! I’m rich enough to support an entire nation out of my own pocket with minimal taxes and still shell out enough for thirty fully equipped airship fleets! I once commissioned cannons that shoot Bonzai Bills made out of solid gold! I don’t need your pocket change! Hahahahaha!” “So you aren’t taking the bet, then?” “I don’t need to! I’m not letting Mario and his klutzy brother jump all over me anymore! This time, I’m stacking the deck before they even know what game we’re playing!” The announcement is punctuated with great bellowing laughter from Bowser. “Indeed.” Kamek says, adjusting his glasses sinisterly as he grins. “We have the advantage, and one we can’t lose at that. This time, we’re done playing around. In less than ten weeks, Mario’s game will be over.” “Permanently!” Bowser says, relishing the word on his tongue. After this, the king rises from his throne and heads for the great doors, which he flings open with barely a nudge. “Now then, it’s time we got down to business. Kamek, contact the troops down at the kennel. I want some Chain Chomps stationed here to guard my weapon. Have a few Sledge Bros stationed by the door, as well.” Kamek nods, following after Bowser. “At once, your dastardliness.” “Hmmm... I like the sound of that one... Add it to the list after you get our win-condition properly guarded.” He turns to glare at Anthony. “Don’t try anything funny or you’ll regret it, Star-Boy.” After that, the doors to the throne room slam shut, leaving Anthony alone in the total silence of the throne room. This... was not good in any way whatsoever, and he was stuck in a cage! He could hardly believe it. He was so angry but couldn’t do anything about it, with nobody even knowing he was in trouble... as far as he knew, at least.