Thank you to everyone who has given this story a chance. I know writing with OCs is risky, so I appreciate you taking the time to read and review. :)
Bowser stomped down the hall, cursing and growling. "I still don't like it."
The girl riding on the crook of his arm leaned her head against his shoulder. "I know. But I never said you couldn't come visit." Today was the day they were coming to take Princess Celiko back to the Mushroom Kingdom. "...I didn't even get to meet all of your children," she said, pouting slightly.
"Oh!" Bowser lit up into a toothy grin. "Let's see, you've met my littlest Larry, my baby girl, and my second in command Ludwig. Four to go, right?"
The Koopa King launched into a series of praises about his kids, from Iggy's inventions to Lemmy's acrobatics ("He's so nimble on that ball of his!"). He was just finishing explaining how Roy almost beat him at arm wrestling, when a gray blur came running around the corner and tripped on Bowser's tail.
"YAOUCH!"
"Uh, sorry Dad, I didn' mean ta hurt yer tail." The second youngest Koopaling stood and brushed off his father's tail, before coming around and looking at Celiko. "...Who's the girl? Is this Mama? I came to see, Lar won't shut up about her."
Celiko smiled at the little koopa. "Hi, Morton, right? I'm not your Mama, but I'm probably the one you're looking for. Bowser, set me down, I can walk."
After confirming that walking wouldn't be a strain, Bowser sat her down and watched as she knelt beside and talked with Morton. The Koopaling asked her a number of questions, mostly about her home and why she wasn't as "stuck up" as Peach or the toads. Celiko answered every one, and even asked a few of her own, sensing that this little one loved to talk. They continued, until they saw Kamek coming up the hall.
"Uh, I gotta go, Roy's gonna show me how to beat up a Boom Boom. Bye Mama!" Morton scrambled away, thinking Kamek was coming to yell at him. Kamek merely shook his head, then whispered something in Bowser's ear.
Bowser frowned at the news. "Oh, alright... Just tell him to wait there and no harm will come to him."
Celiko stood, looking concerned. "What is it? What's wrong?"
The Koopa King sighed. "Green mustache is at the front gate. It... it's just that you haven't gotten to meet the other kids yet. Or to say goodbye to the ones you know. Wendy will be sad she didn't get to 'girl talk' or whatever she does with you. And of course Larry will be devastated. Are you sure I can't send Greenie back home alone? Even if I don't toast him?"
The princess watched Bowser mumble and wring his hands. As much as she wanted to stay, the best diplomatic action was to return home. Perhaps once she got back, she could use her influence to help the Dark Lands.
She took a deep breath, and steeled herself. "I'm going back, but I want you to promise me something Bowser. Promise me you'll keep doing your best as a father. No more random trips to kidnap princesses or to crash conferences while leaving them home alone."
"Hey, I brought them along when I kidnapped Peach, I even gave them each a castle to-"
"Don't interrupt!" Celiko chided the king before wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling his face to hers. "...I'm going to miss having someone so warm next to me at night."
"I'll have to come kidnap you then instead of Peach," Bowser answered as he pushed his lips to hers, "again, and again, and again," punctuating his words with additional kisses.
"You'll say goodbye to Larry for me, then?" she asked, desperate to prevent his actions from escalating to their natural conclusion. If she did that again, she new there was no way she could make herself leave.
"Mmm. I'll tell him you went home so that you can get your things ready to move in."
"Bowser!" Celiko blushed, but hers was soon outshined by the Koopa King's as he kissed her one final time.
Celiko paced back and forth in her chambers. Two whole months had gone by, and not one single visit from the Koopa King. She had gotten many letters from a "secret" pen pal, (the bright pink stationery and over usage of the word "like" didn't do much to mask the author's identity), but no signs of activity from the Dark Lands.
On top of that, she still hadn't completely recovered from Fawful's attack. She was overly tired during the day, her shoulder pain returned every time it rained, and even the faintest of magical scents reminded her of his energy beam and made her dizzy.
Peach had acted relieved when Luigi brought Celiko back to the Mushroom Kingdom, but otherwise left Celiko to her own devices. The castle was repaired, the injured were given ample rest and compensation, and life went on as normal.
Celiko had suggested that the Mushroom Kingdom formally thank Bowser for disposing of Fawful during one of the usual conferences, but was laughed out of the room. "Why should we thank him? He probably sent Fawful here to make himself look like a hero," Toadsworth had said, while another advisor recommended billing him for the castle repairs. It made Celiko so sick to her stomach that she actually spent a half hour in her bathroom vomiting.
After that, she stopped attending conferences all together, and instead devoted her time to helping the poor and needy townsfolk. The people still loved her, some were even outraged that anyone would ever harm her. But she eased their worries, and continued giving her all for the people.
"You better come visit me soon, Bowser," she mumbled as she stopped pacing and flopped onto her bed. "I miss you and my little blue heater..."
After nightfall, a group of hooded figures tiptoed through the hall of Mushroom Castle.
"I think it's this way..."
"How would you know, you never been here before!"
"Shush, you two, we're gonna get caught!"
The smallest of the three wandered a little ahead after shushing his cohorts, peeking around a corner. After seeing that the coast was clear, he waved the others along. "Look, he was right. That door, it has to be Princess Peach's chambers!"
The little cloaked one pointed toward an elaborate door, carved from fine Mushroom Oak. A plush carpet laid in front of it, and the fixtures were shinier than silver. It was definitely an important room.
"You're the biggest, you open it!" the smallest said to his skeptical cohort.
"Oi, runt, stop bossing me! I don't care if you are older, you otta..."
"Roy, shut up!" hissed the third, adjusting his glasses. "You can fight with Lemmy later! We gotta get back before the old koot wakes from his nap. You know he'll tell Dad and then the whole surprise will be ruined!"
The three koopalings- Lemmy, Roy, and Iggy- squabbled in the hall for a good five minutes, before deciding that Iggy was right and their little tryst needed to end. It was bad enough Iggy had to slip that sleeping potion into Kamek's dinner, or that Roy beat up a guard and stole his father's clown car. But having to explain all of it in front of an angry Bowser?
Lemmy shivered. "Hurry up and open the door, Roy. I don't want to think about any more poundings."
Roy opened the door as quietly as he could, and was very relieved that the hinges were well oiled. Peeking inside, the three boys caught glimpse of a frilly canopy bed- and the person sleeping inside it.
"It's the Princess! Quick, Iggy, the potion!" Lemmy took the bottle from Iggy and poured its contents over a handkerchief. "I know she's already sleeping, but this way she'll stay asleep."
Roy watched Lemmy maneuver himself around the Princess's pillow as not to wake her, then laid the handkerchief over her nose so she would inhale the sedative. After a minute, Lemmy lightly tapped on her to make sure she was out. "Okay, I think we're good. Come on, we have to hurry and get her back home so Papa can get his revenge!"
"Is it just me, or does Peachy's hair look a little different?"
"You're just seeing things, Roy, cause of the dark. Now help Iggy carry her back to the car!"
"Hold on, we're taking the short cut." Iggy pulled out his radio. "See, I programmed the car to be on stealth mode. It's right outside the window."
"Good, cause Peachy is real heavy and you two have as much muscle as a boo." Roy scooped the Princess up, blanket and all, and hopped out the window.
