A Bittersweet Reunion (Ludwig/Bowser)

[Lemmy Koopa]

As Ludwig traversed to his room from the main throneroom and through the hallway, the blunette was thinking about the disagreement he had with his father. He knew that the sudden turn of subjects was easily one of Bowser's excuses to avoid the context of the subject that Ludwig wanted to drive on in order to learn the truth about what exactly happened to his fate of his title for all these years of how he and his siblings playing second fiddle to a brat. However, the fact that he'll finally be able to rest in his own room again made the blunette sigh in relief and the more he thought about it, the more calmer he became.

In a sense, he was sort of becoming sleepy and might need to nap once he arrived there. After all, he did miss his own elegant bed that he rested in, well whenever he fell asleep. Ludwig was a night owl compared to the other siblings and was more exhausted during the day.

What good was it when you feel tired out? Nothing positive comes from it especially in terms of concentration where Ludwig needs his rest just to be able to do things correctly and effectively. After all, he needs to be able to compose his music, train and enhance his magical abilities on a day-to-day basis.

The blunette was tempted to rub his eyes on his way over to his room but still went against that habit as he looked around the surroundings with pictures and paintings galore as they were hung up on the walls, along with the occasionally statues of his Father. The only time that the blunette would see his paintings and other fancy decorations of himself was in his own room and inside his own Castle, which was often stationed in the heavens above the Mushroom World to which if he decided to, have it hidden among the clouds with a fearsome swirl of storms. Yes, the possibility of weather manipulation was in his forte before he came to this Omniverse and lost it only to be given a substitute power; in general, he wasn't complaining because atleast he had something to work with.

However, even though he was set back, he still had plans to regain this strength and whenever he can, he will relearn what was lost to him because this level of mediocrity is not something a clever and fearsome individual, like himself, would deem as acceptable under any circumstance.

Before long, the Koopa came across the corridor where he saw eight different colored doors on opposite sides of the hallway. One were represented by the color of each Koopaling: cyan blue, grey, pink, green, purple, yellow and royal blue, however, there was another door seen in a nearby hallway that was bigger than the other doors but smaller than the room right next to it, signifying a certain subtle relation to it, however he chose to ignore it..for now.

Soon to approach the royal blue door, Ludwig tried to open it but he had been sent back by a barrier.

"Now they have the rooms magically sealed off? Hrm, that is odd..but it has happened before," he replied and as the blunette brought out his scepter to rid of the spell, a voice asked,"Ludwig?"

That voice. At the sound of his name, Ludwig's eyes widened for a bit as he stopped himself before he turned his head slightly to the side where he noticed an elderly Magikoopa in the distance of the long hallway..

In total surprise, he asked,"Kamek? You're here as well?"

Kamek came closer as he continued,"Of course! It's good to see you again. I was told by the minions that you endured a long trip to get here,"

Putting away the scepter, the blunette calmed down as he sighed,"Don't remind me. I can see on why Larry would complain when he traveled all the way back to Darkland from the Grasslands. However, things are different than they were back home,"

In a sense, he does miss his airship and other means to freely travel far and around without worry.

"I will reassure you that in due time, you will come to understand your surroundings like you and your siblings did before," the Magikoopa nodded before rose his scepter and waved it around for a bit, soon to point at the door, only a spell to break the current one he placed on for safety reasons. Once the magic has came around, it pierced through and made an impact by weakening the spell, only for the doors to opened up on their own, revealing the inside of Ludwig's room, having been untouched and looking exactly as is from memory.

There was his piano, his bed, his studies and everything else in between, orderly and clean at best. Finally, someplace decent to relax!

"There, that's more like it. Now get yourself some rest young Koopa," he replied as the blunette smiled in gratefulness as he nodded,"Thank you very much Kamek,"

The Magikoopa nodded as he asked,"It's of no issue, however, is there anything else that needs to be done?"

Ludwig look towards his room and then back to Kamek as he replied,"No thank you. That is all,"

Again, the Magikoopa nodded and concluded,"Very well. Oh and one more thing, the seals on each of your sibling's doors will open among their perspective scepters though the young Prince will need assistance with his. After all, I sealed away the doors for safely reasons especially with what's going on. Anyways, have a nice rest and I will speak with you later,"

Afterwards, the Magikoopa left, the blunette sighed with a small smile as he left.

Ah Kamek, it's good to see him again. He was starting to miss that ol' Magikoopa being around..

Before long, Ludwig turned to face his now opened room in front of him; the tired blunette briefly rose his arm using his hand to cover his mouth as he yawned. Soon enough, he walked inside his room and closed the doors behind him, only to go to his bed where he plopped down on his stomach, overlapping the pillow with his arms crossed.

Afterwards, he closed his eyes and fell asleep as Time became a blur while resting.

Of course, this peace would be welcomed by Ludwig with opened arms, only if a part of him didn't miss them. Being the eldest brought along that big brother instinct and whenever his siblings aren't around, he feels a sense of uncertainty and worry especially for Junior. The little brat would do anything to make things worse but he's just only a child that has much to learn about the fact that growing up is a challenge and everything won't always go his way.

On the other hand, his sister Wendy was the same way, no, IS a spoiled brat herself and she's older than Junior .

Speaking of spoiled 'children', he thought of Lemmy for a moment and as far as he remembers, he's much like the Pollyanna, a carefree, happy little child stuck inside the body of an adult, well if he is one. It's hard to tell on the basis of how short he is, easily the midget of the group and the sad part is: he's second oldest but he hardly takes anything seriously. All he does is goof off and run off with Iggy.

He mentally groaned a bit as he knows much like the others, the demented, lanky Koopa is the worst when he always bugs him whenever the blunette is composing his music or practicing his magic; however, he does it unpredictably which adds as bonus points for Ludwig to enter into absolute rage mode. As he scolds the other, the other laughs like a lunatic as he would chase him out of his room while the other goes back to his lab, marking another successful moment of his life.

While he had his own criticisms of his siblings, they had their own, but without that, how can they build a stronger family with each other? They loved each other as one big unit, however as for Junior, he was the outcast of the group, left out from the others due to him being an Heir. The bitterness, envy and hatred was apparent among the group, especially with the blunette, when he was betrayed by his own father and has grown to resent him. Filled with such feelings, Ludwig had much trouble on how to properly express his true feelings for the young Heir, yes he was his rival, but he's family as well..

These thoughts and feelings..

Before long, he eventually opened his tired eyes and looked around the room for a bit. As much he would remain asleep longer, he couldn't; his mind was too active with these fact of reality moments and he couldn't ignore the truth.

Something needs to be done as the fate of the Koopa Kingdom and their family relies on it.

It didn't take long before he got up from his bed and stretched his arms and legs, feeling refreshed somewhat as he remained there, still silently pondering. He sighed at the fact that as long as he remains idle on his resolution, he will never be able to escape the truth without feeling a sort of guilt, but even so..he couldn't seem to focus right and went back to rest, this time for longer.

He'll need the energy because this is going to be a strenuous and stressful situation with the retrieval of each and every one of his siblings for who knows where they are. However, part of him wants to return to Camelot, but he needs to go through Tangled Green on his way back. If anything, he'll need to watch it closely and carefully given the fact that Camelot's forces will have patrols out looking to arrest him for a crime he did not commit..or worse, they could go after his siblings. Argh, how annoying!

It wouldn't be until much later until he awakens again to start preparing again before he would exit out of the room.