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Loosen the Ropes

By Wolfe

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"Lovely night, huh..." The woman sighed, leaning on the balcony railing smiling into the night sky. It was a lovely night, too. The stars were twinkling brightly in the night sky, above the forests and sleeping villages of the kingdom.

"Mhm..." Her companion grunted, smiling. He didn't lean on the balcony in fear of breaking it, so he just stood.

"I know relations between us two have been... strained, as of late, but I thought I'd let you in the castle, for one night, since you helped us."

The woman looked down at the empty courtyard. Her companion just grunted.

"It wasn't for you, it was to get my castle back. Nothing more, Princess."

He looked out over the night and sighed.

"Though, I am sort of glad you're back on the big seat. Nothing personal, but I like the kingdom I terrorise to have a competent leader, you know."

The woman shrugged, pulling off the light jacket that she complained always pulled around her chest tightly. Throwing it to the ground, she sighed.

"Mario bought that for me on my last birthday. It's so tight, but he seems so glad when I wear it, so I try to. It's almost as tight as those corsets they force on me..."

He could tell that it wasn't just appreciation for her that Mario enjoyed about that jacket. It was a very... flattering piece of clothing, to say the least. Her normal dress was pretty, but it left her looking (for lack of a better word, he decided) shapeless. He gave no sign of this, and instead just nodded.

"Bowser..."

He looked up, and turned his face to meet hers.

"Yeah, princess?"

She chewed her lip nervously. She'd wondered this over the years, almost constantly, and now was a chance to ask him, and get a serious answer.

"Why... Why do you always... kidnap me? Is it because of Mario, or our two countries, or some silent demand? Why?

He just sighed and looked away, over the horizon. His eyes landed on a castle-to-be, a sad mass of stone that had once been his home, and would be again once he rebuilt it.

"Your answers to your own question make no sense, princess. I captured you thew first time, before either of us knew Mario existed. Our countries have always lived peacefully, except the personal lives of it's monarchs... And if I wanted something, you'd know it."

The princess just sighed, pulling a stray piece of golden hair from in front of her hair.

"Then why?"

He just frowned, and his voice took on a rough undertone.

"Because you are the one I want. You're mine. I won't let anyone else have you."

This statement seemed odd to her. It was said almost childishly, like a statement of fact rather a whim or a fantasy. She opened her mouth to reply, but he cut her off.

"You're mine, not his. And I'll protect you always."

She smiled at that, feeling relieves and truthfully surprised. Blinking, she finally got to speak.

"Well, I won't be able to stay with you, ever. And you won't be able to stay here."

He grumbled ruefully.

"I'm guessing things will always the same, then. You, kidnapped by me, and the jolly red plumber, coming to your rescue, ne?"

She turned away silently, heading towards the door. When she reached it, she smiled.

"Yeah. And Bowser? Next time, loosen the ropes a little bit, will you?"

With that, Peach was gone, back to the party inside. Bowser just smiled, and looked up at the moon.

"Will do, princess. Will do."

-Ending-

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Disclaimer: I don't own either of these characters, just this little fic.

This got stuck in my head earlier today, and I just had to get it down. I think it's true to the picture, ne? Just hoping I stayed true to the story of 7 Stars. Haven't played it in a long time...

-Until next time... Wolfe