Notes: This story is actually a pretty big departure for me, since I normally write about canon couples or create the most plausible match out of canon characters before I'll create an original character for the job, and I NEVER write in the first person. So this story is basically me having fun, trying out new things and breaking my own rules. It's also my first stab at straight-up romance, with no other conflict worth mentioning, so romance and Bowser fans; this one's for you. Relax&Enjoy.


Chapter 1: This Would Be So Much Easier If I Wasn't Colorblind!


And I know he's a king
Who deserves a queen
But I'm not a queen
And he doesn't see me

~Sarah Brightman

My name is Rosabelle, and I am a princess. My life was a simple one once. I was the fifth-born child of my noble, kind parents...though perhaps the term 'fifth wheel' would be more appropriate.

I came along quite unexpectedly, in the middle of a storm out at sea while my parents were on vacation. My mother blamed the wild, unexpected way I arrived for the untamable streak that existed in my nature from birth. I wasn't quiet and demure like my two sisters; prim, proper and perfect. They were tall, rosy-cheeked and had matching manes of rich, tumbling blond curls.

My two brothers were equally perfect. Brave, strong, and refined, the eldest was being culled to take my father's place, while the second oldest was a rising star in the king's army. He planned to be head general someday, defending the kingdom while my oldest brother ruled.

My sisters' lives were also planned to perfection. The third oldest had been betrothed at birth to the prince of our number one ally, the next kingdom over. The fourth oldest was also betrothed, to the prince of our number two ally. Four children, four perfect plans. Perfect, perfect, perfect.

It was obvious from the moment I was born that I was less than perfect. For one thing, I wasn't born tawny-haired and rosy-cheeked. I was born pale - fair, my mother called it, though that's simply a polite word for pale - and dark-haired, without so much as a hint of curls. She also called me petite, the polite word for extremely small and short. And they all had bright blue eyes; mine were dark green, even as an infant.

Part of me secretly suspected that my mother's real child had been lost overboard during the storm, and that the sea somehow spat me on deck as a joke. My mother would laugh whenever I expressed my fears. "Of course you're my daughter," she would say, hugging me. "You're my dark little rose, and I love you."

I knew I was loved; of that there was never any doubt. There just wasn't any use for me. There were no more kingdoms with princes I could be married off to. There was no position in my own kingdom I could take that hadn't already been perfectly filled.

I was much younger than my four siblings, so I studied alone. Studying was about all I could do; I was smart, and I was a quick learner. The only problem was that I didn't have any outlet for all my knowledge. As a result I often indulged in what my parents considered my biggest vice; wandering.

I wandered a lot in my youth, often to the great distress of my parents. Princesses weren't supposed to travel to distant lands on foot and get their shoes all dirty, they would say. Well, I wasn't about to copy my two sisters and travel around in a carriage while waving delicately and fluttering a fan before my demure little smile. Not that I know how to smile demurely, mind you.

By the time my oldest sister became old enough to wed, my parents didn't pay much heed to me and my behavior anymore. I was the odd one out, the one who delighted and amused the guards with my antics and gave the maids something to chatter about while they did the laundry.

Everyone was okay with this role for me - except for me, of course.

When my sister's wedding preparations began, I grew bored and wandered farther than ever. I put on my plainest, sturdiest dress, packed my bag and traveled over land and sea. My parents didn't mind; I didn't have a role at the wedding either, other than to dab my eyes while I watched from my seat. I wasn't looking forward to it; I almost never cry, and I'm not sure I know how to fake it.

With no true purpose or expectations of me, my life was as simple and mundane as they come. And then all that changed. My wanderings led me to a quaint place known as the Mushroom Kingdom. The locals were a quiet, simple sort of folk, and I was welcomed with polite hellos and smiles.

I had no idea that I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. What happened next was really just a big misunderstanding, but I didn't know that at the time. All I knew was that while I was strolling by a group of small shops, someone - or something - grabbed me from behind. Before I could do so much as make a peep, a bag was thrown over my head - and the rest of me, too.

After that there was a lot of jostling and grunting as I was tossed over someone's shoulder, who took off running. I fought and kicked and screamed, but it was no use. There were at least four of them, and they all had me hoisted above their heads. I had no choice but to go along for the ride...or in this case, run.

They ran for what felt like hours. When they finally pulled to a screeching stop, I was unceremoniously dumped onto a hard stone floor. By now I was hot and sticky, my dress was wrinkled and my hair was a mess. I scrambled to my feet and, muttering in annoyance, clawed my way out of the bag.

I was in a large room made of white stone bricks, with a scarlet runner on the floor. It looked like a castle, reminding me of home...only a heck of a lot less gaudy.

Standing a few feet away, looking pleased with themselves, were my four kidnappers. "Mission accomplished!" one of them said proudly.

They wore spiky armor and had shells on their backs. I had heard of koopas before but had never seen any until now. Not that I cared who or what they were at this point.

"All right," I began hotly, "what-"

"What the heck is going on here?" a voice behind me roared, so hard my hair buffeted around my face. Funny, that was what I was about to say.

I turned around and found myself face to face with another shelled creature. Only this one was more than twice my size and sported spikes without aid of armor. He had horns and a shock of fiery red-orange hair, and his breath smelled like smoke.

Actually, there were tendrils of smoke curling out of his nose that very moment; I took a cautious step back.

"We brought back the princess," said one of the koopas, though he didn't sound as proud as before.

The giant koopa started jumping up and down in rage, making the room shake. Impressive, considering everything was made of stone. "Idiots! That's not the princess! It doesn't look anything like a princess!"

I'd heard this before, but I still bristled. "Actually, I-"

"But we followed your instructions exactly," one of the guards said timidly. "Long hair, long dress..."

"And pretty," said another guard dreamily.

"Idiots! Morons!" the giant koopa roared, jumping again. "I said long blond hair and long pink dress! Does this look blond and pink to you?"

"We got the pretty part right, uh, right?" someone said hopefully.

I didn't know whether a koopa thinking I was pretty was flattering or insulting, so I took another step back as the furious jumping continued. Tiny licks of flame were coming out of his mouth now. "Wrong, wrong, wrong! How could you screw this up so badly?"

One of the guards raised his hand slowly. "Would now be a good time to mention that the four of us are color blind?"

"Oh for - out! All of you, out, out, out!"

They took off in such a rush, they left a dust cloud. I was left alone with a creature that looked like he could swallow me whole, if he had the mind to. But as he began to pace the room, muttering to himself, it looked like I had been forgotten.

He suddenly stopped pacing. "Kammy!" he bellowed. "Get in here!"

Another koopa, this one dressed in blue robes and carrying a magic wand, appeared in the room in a puff of pinkish-purple smoke. "Yes, your Highness?" she greeted in a scratchy voice.

Highness, I repeated mentally. He must be a king, then. Then I remembered something I had read once about a King Bowser, who ruled the koopas and harassed the denizens of the Mushroom Kingdom.

"Where is Peach?" he demanded, with slightly less fury.

"Why, she went on vacation last week. She isn't due back for weeks."

Bowser slapped his own forehead and drew his clawed hand down his face slowly, all the while muttering things I wouldn't dare repeat.

"Should I go track her down for you?" asked Kammy, unaffected by his grumbling.

"No," sighed Bowser. "This'll give me time to come up with a better plan by the time she gets back."

By now I had figured out that I wasn't the intended kidnappee. As such, I didn't see any reason why I had to stay here a moment longer. "Since I'm not the princess you were looking for, may I go now?" I asked, in my most polite, princess-esque manner.

I was ignored. "There's a special celebration coming up, isn't there?" asked Bowser, suddenly growing excited.

"Indeed there is, your supreme grouchiness. The annual Mushroom Kingdom independence day ball takes place two months from now."

"Excellent! With everyone running around, watching parades and pigging out, it should be easy to sneak in unnoticed."

Speaking of unnoticed, I was starting to think I could walk straight out of the room and no one would care.

"A delightfully wicked idea," said Kammy with approval. I started for the door, one quiet step at a time. "In the meantime, what should we do with her?"

Drat.

"Who? Oh - her. Who cares? I've a kidnapping and a wedding to plan."

With that, King Bowser scurried out of the room. He could move awfully quick for being so bulky. Kammy drifted closer and squinted at me. "You sure don't look like much," she decided, "and I don't have the time to deal with you."

She snapped her fingers. A koopa guard came running. "Take this girl to the room prepared for Princess Peach," she instructed. "I'll figure out what to do with her later."

She disappeared the same way she arrived, while the guard took me by the arm and led me down a series of winding hallways. The castle was huge, the biggest I had ever seen. Good thing I have an excellent sense of direction.

"We're sorry we grabbed you by mistake," the guard said as he pushed open a heavy wooden door. "Just make yourself comfortable; if you stay out of trouble, you should be safe."

Should be? I echoed mentally. I went inside, and the door closed behind me. And as I looked around I felt quite glad that I wasn't born with my sisters' tendency to shriek whenever I was upset.

The room was pink. Really, really pink. Pink carpet, pink wallpaper, pink furniture, pink bed, pink flowers...

I'm not sure how long I stood there, eyes watering as I gaped. Was this a princess's room or a torture chamber? I turned and knocked on the door, but no one answered. I was locked in, and alone.

And my room was pink.