No Choice
"Where's Jr.?!"
"What did you do to him?!"
"Give us back our brother!"
"Let go! Let go!"
The Koopa Troopas dragging the Koopalings to the throne room looked away in shame. They had tried to fight, but lost. And with Bowletta in power, any resistance meant horrible consequences.
Bowletta sat comfortably in Bowser's throne, her legs crossed nonchalantly, Fawful hovering at her side. Seeing her where their father had once sat, grinning as though she ruled the world, only served to further feed the Koopalings' anger.
"YOU! Let Jr. go!"
"Let us go right now!"
Fawful motioned at the guards, who dropped the princess and princes and backed away, hanging their heads.
"Now, now, Koopalings," Bowletta said smoothly. "There's no need to get yourselves all worked up."
Ludwig regarded her suspiciously. "Oh, really?"
"Yes, really. I can assure you that Jr. is safe and sound." She grinned wider. "In the dungeons, that is! Eya ha ha!"
"WHY YOU-" Roy started at the abomination of a creature. "I'LL TEAR YA IN TWO!"
"You shall not be talking to the Great Bowletta in such a way, fink-rat!" Fawful spat, charging up a blast, but Bowletta calmly raised a claw and addressed the charging Koopaling.
"Attack and Jr. pays the price."
Roy froze.
"See? Things are much easier when you give in," Bowletta chuckled. "Don't worry. No harm will come to Jr. as long as you do what you're told."
"And vhat vould zat be?" Ludwig demanded as evenly as he could.
"Simple. The Mario Brothers will soon be on their way to this castle. Your job is to attack them."
"That's…it?" Iggy asked, slightly incredulous.
"Yes. You are to destroy the Mario Brothers. That won't be too bad, will it? You'll get to defeat your enemies and save your brat brother's life! Now, if you lose…" She regarded them coolly. "If one of you looses, then you will be sent to the dungeons, and the next one of you will be sent to fight those irritating plumbers."
"And…if all of us lose?" Wendy gulped, not sure she wanted to hear the answer.
"Well, then you'll be out of my hair for good, and you'll probably have worn them down enough for Fawful and I to finish them off. No major loss." Bowletta smirked, and Fawful snickered.
Morton clenched his fists. Lemmy buried his face in his hands.
The Koopalings stared up at Bowletta.
The creature who had possessed their father. The creature that had taken control of their home and soldiers.
The creature who had their little brother.
They knew what they had to do.
Lined up before her, the Koopalings screwed their eyes shut and choked back sobs, but nonetheless chorused obediently, "Yes, Bowletta…"