[13 ~ video (private: Bowser) -> RL in Mushroom Kingdom]

[blahblahblah]

Hey, old man. I wanna make good on that promise from before, if it's still open. If I'm going to be traveling alone... I need to get stronger. And I can't do that here.

Tell me what you need from me.

Comments

[video until otherwise noted]

[king_bowser]

"Old"? I'm thirty-one!

Anyway, yeah, it's still open. You can use my castle and facilities to train yourself silly. But you're joining the Koopa Troop. That means I'll need you to come and fight for me from time to time.

Let me know when you're ready, and I'll worldhop you over here.

[blahblahblah]

You're also supposedly the king of a nation, Your Scaliness. That makes you old in my book. [She shrugs.] I'll be fine with fighting your battles, though. I assume that, right now, your priority is that plumber?

[king_bowser]

(annoyed at her slights but remaining mostly gracious) Yeah, that's the idea.

[blahblahblah]

Then I'll go with my original plan - after I get some time in, I'm gonna test your little friend, and we'll see how he handles something a little different.

Bring me over, and let's get this started.

[king_bowser]

[Bowser stands and walks off-screen, then a flash of light is seen from where he went.]

[RL]

[Soon afterward, another flash of light is seen, and Bowser is standing several feet away from Rita. He walks over and picks her up in one arm, raising the Star Rod with the other. There's another flash, and they're now in the dining hall of Bowser's Castle. He sets her down.]

This is the dining hall. It's got food.

The courtyard's through there, (Bowser points down a hallway) but I wouldn't go practicing any explosions in there.

If you need to make any big fireworks, I can have you transported back down to the ground in my kingdom. It's mostly just fields of lava there.

[Bowser emphasizes this next point.]
If you're gonna try to go after Mario, bring backup. I know you're a new threat of him, but he's crafty, and it's pretty likely he can stomp you anyway.

We'll have your induction ceremony next week. Any questions?

[blahblahblah]

[Rita's not used to such rough treatment, but... it's what she's got, so she's not going to object as she's picked up like a sack of potatoes and transported to...

...where the hell was this? 'Well, clearly it's his castle, but... something like this is a little absurd, isn't it? It's like I'm a new hire at the mook placement agency.']

Yeah, I'll remember it. All of it. I've got one big question, though - how am I going to get back and forth from here and Terca Lumireis? Surely you're too busy to carry me each way.

[king_bowser]

Yep. That's why I've got you one of these. [Bowser reaches into his shell and pulls out what looks like a cell phone in his image. He displays it for a moment, then hands it to Rita.]

This'll get you to Terca-Lumi-place or here from anywhere. Don't lose that.

Laaate... sorry!

[blahblahblah]

[Her attitude immediately shifts - if she's being trusted with a worldhop to and from the Mushroom Kingdom, he's serious about this. She owes him the same, and as she accepts the phone, she gives it a once-over for apparent button configurations before nodding and sliding it into a pocket.]

Got it. Thank you, Your Highness. Any orders for now? If not, I think I've got a little spellwork to throw some logic at.

[king_bowser]

[Bowser smiles a bit at Rita's sudden change in attitude, but he doesn't pause at all.]

Not right now. It's pretty well up to you at the moment.

If you want to practice, bring some backup with you down to the surface. The Koopa Kingdom's probably pretty warm compared to what you're used to, so you'll want someone else to make sure you don't fall in the lava. You'll get some actual robes during the ceremony, but here's a practice robe. [He hands her a tattered grey Magikoopa robe that looks like it'll be a loose fit.]

If you really want to go after Mario, bring backup. He's a tornado in overalls, so you'll need to be on your guard and have a way out if things get too bad. He's also freed four of the Star Spirits now, so they're helping him, too. Anything you find out from there, report back here.

But more than anything, (puts a gigantic hand on her shoulder and makes eye contact) be careful. There's a lot of dangerous stuff in this world, and you can't afford to be reckless. (hands her two 1-up Mushrooms) Here. Just in case.