A/N: This is my first Mario-related story, so bear with me! I'm no expert, and I'm nervous that I might not stand up to the scrutiny of all you Mario fans out there. I'd like to extend my gratitude to superblooper whose one-shots are on my Favorites list (and whose oneshot 'Ends' served as an initial inspiration for me!). This story may eventually be moved up to an 'M' rating, but for now - no worries! Please, no flaming...but comments are more than welcome!
I own nothing - from the characters to the track - it all belongs to Nintendo!
The Special Cup was among the most anticipated series in the world – for any avid racing fan from Mushroom Kingdom to Diamond City to Donkey Kong Island to the Dark Lands (and more! Who wouldn't tune it to support their kingdom's representatives?). Racers competed throughout the year to qualify for the most dangerous and difficult quartet of tracks, but in the end only twelve were chosen. Both individual and team races were held – from the former, three advanced to the awards ceremony held outside of Mushroom Castle, from the latter, six. Oh, it was lovely. All of the spectators gathered in Toad Town, lining the streets to cheer the winners up to the podium where trophies were given, photographs taken. The festivities lasted well into the night with a sumptuous banquet, live music, and a precarious peace maintained by all. The Special Cup Series was a far more…successful diplomatic summit than anything Peach could've accomplished in a stuffy conference hall – instead of political jargon and long-winded ceremony, mega mushrooms and stars, instead of carefully veiled threats and tedious bartering, triple red shells and bob-ombs. Her only wish was that the sportsmanship lasted.
While Peach – unlike Daisy, whose whooping and hollering could be heard over the rumble of a dozen engines – never completely indulged in the competitive spirit, ever mindful of diplomatic courtesy while behind the wheel, she loved to race. And this year, her team had a real shot of winning the gold. While they'd competed as individuals in carts, bikes were a whole other matter and she couldn't have been more pleased overall: Team Blue was comprised of not only herself but Daisy, Mario, Toad, and Diddy Kong whom she found charming despite the language barrier. Waluigi had also been assigned to her team, much to her cousin's vocalized dismay, but even he respected ('respected'?) the sanctity of the sport. His crassness was…minimal, most of it directed towards the Red Team - which, consequently, included his brother, Wario, alongside King Boo, that delightful Yoshi, poor Luigi (who put on a brave face), a Koopa Troopa named Kooper (one of Bowser's unfortunate minions), and Bowser himself.
It was easy to ignore him.
"I'm gonna mop the floor with you idiots!" Maybe 'easy' isn't the right word… "You got that, Super Stupid Brothers? I don't even need a team to stomp you!"
"Oh yeah?" Daisy shot back, twisting around on the Dolphin Dasher with a flip of auburn-brown hair to glare over Mario's head at the King Koopa himself. Mario, being the sort of man who wasn't easily ruffled, stared straight ahead. He didn't even give Bowser the time of day, and Peach gave him a sideways glance, a soft smile. He never let the ribald comments and dirty driving stunts bring out the worst in him. Sheer talent, that's what gave Mario the confidence not to…sink to their level.
But Daisy? She just couldn't let an insult stand. "Your 'not needing a team', turtle-boy, is why you're stuck in eighth!" It was true – the instant replay didn't lie, and Bowser got… sidetracked trying to bump Luigi, his teammate, into ongoing traffic repeatedly last race. The sabotage resulted in her team taking first, second, fourth through sixth, and tenth. They were twenty-one points ahead in the rankings, with just the first two courses. "You'll be eatin' our dust all the way to Toad Town – Blue Team's the best!"
"Daisy!" Peach hissed, cradling most of the bike weight against her left leg as she leaned towards her cousin, to better give them…the semblance of privacy? She could feel the warmth of the ground beneath the soles of her pink boots, and maybe a tremor – but that could've just been nerves. "Don't antagonize him." A little healthy competition never hurt anyone (well, not seriously), but there was no need to push it…especially with Bowser. In fact, Peach just preferred (when he wasn't kidnapping her) to pretend he didn't exist – this was one of the few downsides to racing season: Bowser always qualified.
"What?" Daisy's tone was all innocence, but it didn't last. She turned back to Peach with a half-shrug, "You heard what that scaly-"
"Yeah right!" he retorted, cutting in arrogantly, "Best at getting Bowserized!" The Koopa King wasn't known for his…verbal sparring, so he fumbled for a second before triumphantly booming- "And you drive like a girl!"
Oh no. Blue eyes flashed indignantly and Daisy turned around fully on her bike, flushing red with anger, gloved fists clenched. "And I still kicked your butt! By six seconds!"
"That last race doesn't even count!" he roared over her contempt, the Flame Runner shuddering beneath-
"Why? Because you were such a loser?"
"If your punkass boyfriend hadn't gotten in my way-"
"Don't you talk that way about him!"
"This is my race…Tulip! My castle! You-"
"It's Daisy! Day-zee! Not-"
"-don't stand a chance!"
"-Tulip, you overgrown shellfish!"
"Yoshi Yoshi!" Peach, who'd been helplessly watching Daisy grow ever more infuriated, shouting over Bowser with an underlying growl to match his own, gave a startled glance to her other side – where the third-place contender drew her attention to the referee who'd cleared his throat twice, rearranged his glasses, and now glowered in her cousin's direction.
The Mushroom Princess intervened before anything more could be said with a raised voice, high with forced politeness, "Let's just settle this on the racetrack, shall we?" The question was coupled with an emphatic look to Daisy – who, noticing the Lakitu impatiently hovering above them, grudgingly resituated herself on her bike with a determined squeeze of the handlebars.
"Fine by me," she said tartly, with a sharp nod to the referee, "Let's do this." The Lakitu dropped his right hand with the first light, again with the second light – after which Peach hit the gas in preparation for her turbo start – then the third. The lights flashed blue and her Mach Bike shot down the wooden bridge that hung dangerously low over the lava-filled moat of Bowser's Castle (one of many). She missed her first opportunity to show off a trick as she made the jump to the stone entrance, carved into a likeness of the Koopa's – mouth agape, eyes gleaming with an eerie yellow – he was so narcissistic. She squealed as she landed with a few sparks, leaning forward on her bike to urge it through the optical illusion of a moving, wavering stone hallway (decorated with nothing more than archaic torches and red carpet). Daisy rounded the corner before her, and Peach would've cheered her cousin on if she weren't so focused on staying on track. The twists and turns were to be expected, but the heat was so stifling. They were surrounded by lava on all sides and had Peach the luxury to gape as she drove her bike over the second jump, she would've. The track had been built across the middle of the molten lake, dimly lit arches blocked on either side (which undoubtedly led to the rest of the castle), complete with half pipes and thick, tire-melting splotches of lava to prevent any racer from a straight, easy shot across.
The hideous, much larger than life mechanical Bowser at the fork in this circuit waved his clawed hands, head and jaw snapping at quick intervals to deliver massive, sizzling fireballs rolling down the middle of their path. "Here I go!" she cried with a quick prayer, twisting her bike just so to clear the fireball as she took the right halfpipe – and landed safely on the stone, "Yay!" A wheelie across a raised platform helped her clear the rest of this treacherous segment of the race, and she shot off to the right, avoiding the blazing, fiery windmills as she cleared another jump, gasping as adrenaline coursed through her body from the tip of her ponytail down to her toes. This was so dangerous!
Even she had to admit that Bowser really did outdo himself – the most threatening things she could stand to permit in her races were Chain Chomps off their chains, and even then, only confined to the gardens. "Yeah!" Soon Peach was driving the bike with an uneven bounce up two sets of staircases, avoiding a trio of angry thwomps as she caught sight of Daisy's bike between two flaming, star-shaped geysers.
"I'm-a gonna win!" Wario. Peach heard his bike clear a geyser bump behind her – and dropped three banana peels, twisting around with an enthusiastic (okay, so she could be a little competitive), "All right!" when she heard him spin out of control with a curse. But he wasn't the only one on her tail – she saw a flash of green before she heard his voice over the roar of steam and magma, "Yo-yo-yoshi!"
Something hissed over head just as Peach crossed the finish line on the first lap – and she realized what it was too late, shrieking, "Daisy! Look out!"
"Huh?" The brunette craned her neck back, saw it too, eyes widening as winged blue (and spikes) dove towards her, "Aw, brutal!" The spiny shell struck her cousin in mid-air, the explosion knocking her into the lava – well, almost, the Lakitu's fishing pool hooked onto the spokes of her bike just in time. Peach had participated in several cups, several races, and she knew that none of the damage was permanent but…her heart still caught in her throat as Daisy fell. Although she didn't stop, Peach kept turning back, shooting furtive glances over her shoulder until the lava disappeared from view-
"Aah!" She nearly collided with the wall when she turned back, twisting the handlebars of her bike so hard that she smashed into the other side of the hallway before righting herself. This is for you, Daisy. Peach was ready for the jump this time – the one that would lead her to the hardest part of the track in the middle of that lava sea – and when she shot into the air, the princess swung her whole bike and body into a back flip with the momentum, landing with perfect form in the middle of the track. "Yes, Peach!" Sometimes a girl had to cheer herself on.
She thought she might really have a chance to win this for her team, but while she cleared the first ramp, someone inked her with a blooper and with a panicked scream, Peach lost control of the wheel and sank into the sticky, melted speed trap, the tires of her bike struggling to pull free. It had utterly stopped her – while three racers leapt over her head with their respective victory cries, among them, Mario. He knew better than the sacrifice the gold medal just because she was stuck in a little bit of…what was this exactly?
"Peach!" The sound of her name surprised her – just in time to see the fireball rumbling straight towards-
"Oh no!" She screamed, to no avail. Her back tire was still stuck and Peach just- all she could do was brace herself for- for arms that wrapped around her waist suddenly and yanked her clear off her seat and to the side. Her bike wasn't so lucky – it collided with the molten rock and lost, smashed clear off the track and into the lava below. "My bike!"
That was her first bewildered reaction as she saw glimpses of her perfectly polished vehicle sinking with finality into the-
"Your bike?" Scoffing was palpable in the growl, "Princess, that coulda been you getting creamed – you know, if it wasn't for me!" She would've recognized that baritone anywhere...and if that wasn't enough, all she had to do was look down to see yellowed, scaly forearms - each at least three times the size of her own - spiked wristbands, and thick, claw-tipped fingers digging into the midriff of her ink-splattered suit.
"Bowser!" She pushed at his hands with pink gloves (stained with a few stray specks of black), twisting out of his grasp and spinning around to confirm it for herself. Sure enough, she found herself face-to-face - well, face to...chest with the Koopa King. He stared down at her over his great, toothy snout with what had to be one of the most...self-satisfied expressions she'd ever... "What are you doing?"
The would-be smile disappeared into a more familiar scowl - and he squinted at her. "I just saved you!" he said irritably, as if was the obvious conclusion, "Did it a lot better than the Idiot Brothers too, huh? They're long gone!" They weren't the only ones. The race hadn't stalled - even if Peach had - and now she and Bowser were all but alone in the middle of the track.
Oooh, stars! She'd let her whole team down if she came in twelfth. She wouldn't earn them any points at all. "I didn't need to be saved, it's just a game!" Peach protested in a huff, recovering enough to be annoyed - and embarrassed as she wiped at the black smeared all over her face. It was even in her hair, if she crossed her eyes she could see the dark strands that had slipped free of bobby pins. It didn't put her in a particularly charitable mood - who did he think he was? "You shouldn't even be off your bike - it's against the rules, Bowser!"
His expression (she'd gotten better at reading them, having been taken hostage so many times), somewhere between confused and bored at her chastising sharpened at the mention of- "I'm a King, I make the rules!" He was never wrong, and he could do whatever he wanted - especially in his own castle! "And if it weren't for me, you'd be in big trouble, Princess." He sounded surly, aggravated that she wasn't as grateful as he expected, "You see anybody else around here?"
As a matter of fact-
Peach hesitated. The referee was nowhere to be found - usually he would've been here by now, and he would've pulled her out of the lava instantly. But seconds passed and there was... there was no one. That was strange.
"C'mon," Bowser cajoled gruffly, "Don't I deserve a little credit? I jumped off my bike as soon as I saw you, this is a custom job, Peach." He stepped back to reveal the Flame Runner, still running but carelessly tossed on its side. She tilted her head past the Koopa's girth and she could see the silver gleam of...a few long scratches through the paint of the...mouth and...well, knowing how competitive he was, it did seem...it was...
"I...I..." This wasn't coming easy at all. "Very well." She recovered her royal composure, despite her appearance, straightened her back and looked him in the eye when she said it. "Thank you, Bowser." Civility.
He snorted once, in what she supposed was...satisfaction? "That's better." Peach frowned, but the Koopa King ignored her, "Let's go. I got a race to win." He turned his back on her to pick up his bike which...despite its size...still seemed dwarfed by its rider. He righted the motorcycle, got on it and...looked at her. Expectantly.
Oh, he couldn't be serious. "I'll just...wait here for...a replacement bike," she stated primly, shifting from one foot to the other with as much dignity as she could muster.
Bowser's shoulders slumped and his gaze bored into her, unsurprised and unimpressed. "Don't be stupid." Hmph. "You'll get run over by one of those idiot plumbers, or that ape." They were certainly on the third lap by now - so much time had been wasted, how could she even hope to catch up? "I'll drop you off at the finish line."
Well. Bowser was right about one thing - she really didn't like having to admit that to herself - this was the...worst place for her to be stranded.
"I…suppose," Peach replied slowly, her instinctive resolve never to acquiesce to any of Bowser's 'suggestions' faltering. The lava sweltered and bubbled beneath them, heat radiating up from the lake through the track. She'd already broken out into a sweat beneath the spandex suit and with no Lakitu in sight, she didn't have a way to reach the finish line by foot. Bowser impatiently revved the Flame Runner and the Mushroom Princess pursed her lips briefly. He's never tried anything during the games before, she thought, in an effort to justify herself. She was terribly uncomfortable and...and no matter what Bowser – or for that matter, Waluigi or Wario – schemed, everyone seemed to be able to put their differences aside to compete. In fact, this was probably the safest she'd ever been...with him...in his castle...
Mario and Luigi were already here! And Daisy...and, well, Toad who wasn't a fighter, exactly, but he...he would never let anything happen to her. The entire event was recorded and...and there was no way that Bowser could get away with- with whatever he might...oh stars, she felt like her feet were melting.
"You want me to leave you or not, Princess?"
"No, no, I'm...I'm coming!" she darted across the stone on her tiptoes (in between bowling-style fireballs) and...and only furrowed her brow when Bowser extended a claw to her. She wanted to refuse on principle - he called her stupid, after all - but that would be silly and...well, she'd need his...assistance. So she took the offered hand and gasped in surprise when the Koopa lifted her up easily and plopped her down - unceremoniously - between his legs on the bike seat. Apparently he had scooted back, enough for her to fit - this bike was so big, he was just...she felt a little queasy, surrounded on all sides by...well, him.
"Hold on." His voice was rough, difficult to hear over the sound of the motor, and Peach barely had time to grip the chrome red 'mane' of the bike before Bowser cleared the speed trap she'd been stuck on with ease, revving down the opposite fork she'd taken.
Despite all her self-assurances, something felt very...wrong about this.
She hoped she hadn't made a mistake.