I'm not bad, just broken ✔️

6- i miss the way it used to be

BOWSERS POV

It was embarrassing, the koopalings hearing me and Clawdia.

Junior went all quiet. The koopalings were too, but especially Junior. I always knew they wanted to know their past.

But Junior just seemed upset. I understood. It must be confusing for him. Even though he technically said he wanted her to stay.

I wanted her to stay. I still loved her, even after all this time. It felt so good. I didn't feel the need to make the mushroom kingdom citizens suffer anymore.

Because their lives were so damn perfect, I just wanted them to hurt and suffer even a fraction of what I did. I wanted them to feel what I went through everyday.

Obviously I still had a grudge. But I didn't have to focus on that, now that Clawdia was back.

We were in my office later that day when she asked a question.

"Can we even go to the mushroom kingdom at all? I miss it. I figured you still lived there, in our old place. But this random couple of Toads lived there,"she said.

"When I asked for you, they shut the door in my face. So I went to the town hall, and went through the phone books. I didn't find your number, because it was scribbled out, but I did find this guy called Kuribo or 'The Lonely Goomba' and I called him up."

"He was happy to hear from me and he gave me very detailed instructions on how to find you. I was on the phone to him for a while on the bus too, but people were looking at me strange for having a mobile. This place really hasn't changed much since I left. Doesn't have any influence from the outside world really."

I nodded.

"Yeah. The people around here are, um, judgemental. But my friends are fine. Kuribo was my best friend for years. He was the only one I told about you,"I said.

"So you didn't even tell Junior?"she asked.

"I thought it would be easier,"I mumbled.

She looked sad for a moment.

"Anyway, if it wasn't for Kuribo, I wouldn't have found you,"She said. "I just want to go back."

"I was banned. Didn't you put two and two together? Bowser is literally a derogatory term in the Mushroom kingdom. That's why all the koopas live out here,"I said.

She sighed. "Why were you banned?"

"Remember the princess?"I asked.

"Oh yeah. Peach. She was such a nice girl. Is she about 30 now?"asked Clawdia.

"Something like that. Remember those plumber brothers?"I asked.

"Oh yeah. Luigi was so nice. Mario was always kind of aggressive if you ask me,"She said. "I'm pretty sure he had some sort of mental health problem. Jumpman always went so hard on him because he was the eldest."

"Well anyways, after you left, I sort of, tried to fill the castle with water and drown everyone in it."

"WHAT?! Why would you do that?"she asked.

"I was hurting! I don't think you realise how much you leaving has had an impact on me! I wanted her and her perfect little family to suffer like me!"

Clawdia stayed quiet.

"I know you think I'm a monster, but if you were in my position, you would think the same thing."

"Anyway, that's when she met Mario. And he fell for her. Hard."