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The darkness surrounding Peach and Bowser was nothing compared to the darkness they each felt inside. Princess Toadstool, ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom, finally overthrown by the Koopa King. King Bowser finally got what he had wanted, but not the way he anticipated it. Not at all. Never had he suspected such bitter taste to accompany the presence of Peach alongside him in bed.

Peach made no attempt to fall asleep again, lying in complete silence she drifted and sorted through her thoughts. Where had her hero gone to? Here she lay in the bed of his most sworn enemy, with all hopes of being rescued ruined. Her kingdom, what was to become of it? Her people, their lives, how was it all going to end? Ultimately Peach blamed herself, she relied too much on Mario with no other lines of defense.

How foolish she felt for believing a single man was all she needed to ensure her safety. How foolish she felt for believing the man loved her. When she needed him more than ever...he vanished and left her behind. With no way of defending the well being of her people she mentally drowned in her own shame.

I've failed everyone

Clenching her eyes shut, Peach felt her grief swell within her, the awful feeling eating away until her eyes threatened to leak tears. Repressing the urge to cry, she held her breath firmly to keep the tears at bay. She had cried enough for one day. Bowser had seen enough of her tears. As a ruler she felt greatly ashamed of herself and her actions. Feeling as if cinder blocks were crushing her chest, she forced herself to remain physically composed while lying next to her enemy.

Try as she might to remain composed, Bowser could tell his beloved Peach was in turmoil with herself. The Princess meant more to him than she had any understanding of. His sincere feelings aside, Bowser couldn't help but wonder if anything he had done was worth it. Truly worth it, specifically.

Kidnapping the Princess for himself hadn't been his sole agenda but was what he had shamefully focused on the most. He wanted her to understand him and build a bond... but she clearly was not ready to do any of that. He had watched her crumble in his arms; the memory instilled great shame in him. It wasn't supposed to happen like this.

The purpose of trapping Princess Peach was not for any nefarious reason, but to anyone looking in on them it would of course seem otherwise.

"Princess", such an unsuited position for such a stunning woman. She deserves so much more. She deserves to be a Queen.

Deciding it was time to properly access the issue at hand, Bowser spoke up.

"Your Highness?" he asked her softly, fully aware that she was still awake despite her lack of movement and speech.

"Please, do not call me that. That is no longer my title." Peach stated, monotone. "You very well know that. You of all people...do not wound my pride further."

Pushing through the initial discouragement he felt from her brusque words, Bowser continued.

"I know you're upset with me...and I could never blame you." he confessed. "But. I do not wish to be your enemy. How it torments me..."

Peach bristled slightly at his words, annoyance seeping through her fairly quickly. Deciding her fatigue was too strong to work herself up again, she bit her tongue and said nothing. Bowser took the opportunity to continue, fully aware of her displeasure with him.

"It would be foolish of me to expect your forgiveness in such an untimely circumstance, but I wish to make this right. Please listen to what I am offering. Can you grant me this request?"

Bowser asked her calmly, his voice carrying an unfamiliarly contrite tone. It dripped from him, urging Peach to grant him the request of merely listening to him with open ears. Still, with her back turned to Bowser, her lips were turned downwards as she listened closely.

"Continue, Bowser. If only for tonight, I will listen. I haven't much else in my favor, otherwise."

"Your favor is what I wish for. I would like nothing more than for you to know that I have no intentions of harming you or your people. I do not desire to overthrow you or seize your Kingdom for mine...I desire to join the two. Joint land... joint people. "

There was a significant pause between the two dwelling the bed. Fully understanding what Bowser had said was no issue, the true implication of his words registered in her immediately. Peach stared off in to the dark, her eyes unable to see anything in front of her.

"That would require a betrothal." she stated matter of fact, no emotion. "Joining land requires marriage. It has for centuries."

"I am well aware." Bowser assured her. " I desire that our lands no longer be separated. I ask of you to be my bride, to be my Queen."

Body having gone stiff from her neck to her feet, Peach let the Koopa King's word ruminate within her skull.

"If I were to decline?"

"In that circumstance I would be forced to claim the Mushroom Kingdom under my own. Which I do not wish to do... but I have already seized this land and cannot simply hand it back to you. I have a duty to my followers, as well."

Bowser replied seriously, voice unwavering.

"It is your decision, but for the sake of you and your people I suggest you choose carefully. Become allies, or become prisoners. I cannot offer you anything otherwise. These are your only choices."

Peach was unable to give him an answer at first, the ultimatum between her pride and her people weighing heavily on her conscious.

Refuse Bowser and her people suffer from the aftermath of her decision... or, give in to Bowser, the innocent people of Mushroom Kingdom being granted the freedom to live peaceful lives.

Her late father came to mind, he would want the best for their followers.

"I have a duty to my followers as well... I accept."

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