To be King
Bowser's forgotten story…
Chapter 6: Royal friendship
Bowser was in his room, lying flat on his huge bed, watching his koopa toys. He remembered well the day his father gave these toys to him. His father got them from his father, who also got them from his father… A family thing. He got up watched the kingdom from his window for a time before taking a seat in front of his desk. He laid his head on the papers and sighed. He drew some things on a paper, modeling a familiar figure, his father. The child sighed again. Feeling tears in his eyes, he scrawled through the papers to find an album. It was just a regular album full of snapshots, with one particular, where he was just a baby in his mother's arms surrounded by the family. Wart, on the left, was looking at the baby, jealousy in his eyes, Mom, in the middle, was sitting on a chair, looking over the baby lovingly, and Dad, who was standing behind the chair, straight and proud. He was huge. On the other page, Dad was on four legs, with Bowser on his head holding his horns and Wart, on his back, holding onto the shell, frowning at his brother. Bowser scrolled through the entire album this way, with nostalgia in his heart. On the last snapshot, Dad was sitting on his throne, huge as always, but also proud and magnificent with his royal clothes; Mom was sitting on her throne too, smiling widely while looking at the children, beautiful in her evening gown. Wart was on their mother's knees, wearing royal clothes too, looking at his brother with that frown again. Bowser, on their father's knees, truly looked like the prince, smiling at his father.
-It seems so far away, now…
He sighed, putting back the album on his desk before opening other drawers. Then he found a pink pacifier. Pink. He remembered the girl in the shop buying candies. The child took the pacifier in his shell and rushed in the stairs, ran towards the gardens and jumped over the fence. Through the tall grass and mists, he found the town. The one he was in not so long ago. Bowser walked in, despite the many inhabitants, and reached a bridge with almost no effort. He has never seen a bridge before. It left him breathless for a few seconds. He walked steadily, looking at the fresh and clean water underneath. The child even dared to move over and put his hand in the cold water. He wasn't careful enough, for someone pushed him. He felt something touching his shell before he fell forward, after feeling like a slap. The current attracted him and he had difficulties to keep his head out of the roaring water, only to see a kid in red laughing with another kid, but in green. He scanned the surrounding with watery eyes, hoping to find help. Two shadows. On the surface. Then everything became even fuzzier, as he fell in the dark and lugubrious gaps. The water became colder, turning icy cold. A current pulled him. But which one? Ah! That of the turbines of defense of the castle! Dad had spoken to him about it and this nearby castle… Then, there were the small strips of metal which were beating the water, then the choppers and finally, the boiler room… Remembering this, he was beating feet and hands, escaping slightly from the abyss. His head came out of the water of some centimeters. He yelled, at the top of his lungs.
-Somebody! Please! Help!
His nose went underwater dramatically. With all his might, he pushed himself away from the bottom. He gripped on a nearby dead branch. He spat a sticky thing. His lungs were full of water and he couldn't think or breathe right. Somebody held a hand out for him… Bowser tried to catch it, with a shaking hand. The person was till following him from the banks. They were just a few centimeters apart… Millimeters…
-Careful! No!
The scream of this person made him jump away from his branch in fright. Bowser found himself in the cold water again. He looked at what was a shadow to him now. The person was terrified and had stopped running. Frightened, Bowser turned around. A wave struck him quite hard in his face. Then another one hit him, and other waves soon followed. The child soon realized what frightening. In front of him, a few meters away, blades, choppers and other horrible things offered themselves to him. The water burst out, knocking him down, banging him against the edges of metal, branches and other garbage struck him, as he waltzed with the garbage in a lugubrious and terrible dance. As he slowly reached the bank, a piece of wood, taken by turbines, smashed against him, sending him once again to the green, putrid and squalid fleet. A patch of metal crashed into his head. Other indistinct things did the same, all he felt was pain. He drifted deeper into the darkness. He saw some blood in the water… Then everything went dark. The infernal noise of turbines, the banging of the metal, the breaking of the materials and the grinding of the garbage filled his spirit as he sank into the darkness definitly…
###°###
He felt light, floating, in a kind of trance… He was serene. Black was all he could see as nothing hit him. Nothing to be felt or seen. Until something hit his head really hard. The world was coming back to him slowly. He felt somebody pulling him, like a doll. Fresh grass was touching his sides softly. He opened one eye lazily, but when the light hurt him, he instantly closed it. Something touched his stomach. The child reopened an eye and saw a rather vague, deformed shadow. A growl escaped his lips as his eyes closed. The thing struck him again. Determined, the prince opened his eyes. Everything was white, fuzzy. He saw only unclear shadows. Then, everything became clearer slowly, like a world coming to him. Different colors burst out to him, grey, green, white, pink… Pink! It made him jump! Pink! Pink! He actually was in a girl's room. A girl's room... Freaked out, he instantly looked for some exit to escape. He bent over the window but the height and the dangerous beasts kept him from jumping safely.
-Are you all right ?
The child turned around, frightened, and became pale. It was the girl from the candies shop. He didn't speak, still pale. The girl just laughed while putting a cover on his wet shoulders. She sat in front of him, smiling. Somehow, her attitude reassured him. He felt safe.
-You are lucky! You were knocked out but you look fine. I was scared whenI saw you in the water.
He only looked at her silently, still a bit suspicious, straight like a statue. Only a hiccup made him move. The girl handed him a bowl gently.
-Here! It is good for you!
Bowser drank it whole, without breathing, as the hot chocolate pleased him. He even licked his lips greedily. Once he finished, he put the bowl on the table and sat in front of the girl, remaining silent.
-I forgot! I am Peach, princess of the Muschroom kingdom! And you, you are…?
At that moment, some pride mixed with joy made him speak. He was proud. And happy.
-I am Bowser, prince of Koopaland!
He put his hand in his shell, over his shoulder, and after a few moments, took out something, handing his closed hand to the princess. He smiled softly, with something gleaming in his eyes.
-Here, it's… It is yours, I think…
She stretched out her hand, and Bowser opened his. A pink pacifier fell in her small hands. She smiled widely, instantly putting it in her mouth. Bowser smiled, lighthearted.
-There it is! I thought I've lost it! Thank you a lot, prince Bowser!
As he was taller than her, she got on her toes to kiss his cheek. Bowser turned deep red, his cheek was burning him, and a warm feeling invaded his soul. She turned around to hide the pacifier in a drawer before she sat down next to him. She then handed him pencils and paper. They smiled mischeviously.
-You wanna play?
-Yep.
They just drew for some time, lying on the floor. Peach had drawn her castle with her and Bowser standing on the balcony, waving, as Bowser had drawn them standing on top of their castle, next to the clown head. When they were finished, they exchanged their drawing, before talking about everything and anything. Bowser told her that he had lost his father and Peach told him that she had lost both her parents when she was very young, so Muiri and his sons along with Toadsworth. They were nice to her, but strict, for she was a princess and had to behave as one. They knew a lot about each other after a few minutes, and accepted each other like a best friend. After every minute spent together, their friendship grew stronger. Once the sky began to turn dark, they officially were best friends. Such a friendship could not be broken by any mean. At least, they thought so.
###°###
Bowser could not wait, for every Tuesday and Friday he would see her sweet face again. He used to bring her various cakes, or even flowers, making him a bit shy at first. She used to give him different drawings. The child had to admit, that she was better than him in drawing. One day, he bought her a ring with an amethyst in the shape of a drop of water, clear and bright. The same day, she gave him a pair of shiny horns, with an amethyst on each horn. The ring and the pair of horns had the same sentence marked on it: To our royal friendship, BP.
-We'll always be friends, right?
-And we'll never be apart!
They exchanged a smile before laughing, for they have never felt that way. Peach gently nudged Bowser in his ribs, making him run away, hiding behind the giant bed. Peach swiftly climbed on it and chased him in the room. Chairs fell in a joyous melody of laughs. The children laughed even harder, drunk from happiness. However, disturbed by the noise, Toadsworth decided to go upstairs to talk to the princess. He could not read the newspaper with such a noise. In front of the door, he heard two voices, as distinct as clear water. He frowned, opening the door with a metal hand, almost mechanically. He stood in the corner, speechless.
-But what…
Bowser froze, caught red handed, not knowing what to do as Peach stepped forward, trying to speak with her advisor. But he seemed really annoyed and angry. He couldn't believe it, and he couldn't bear it either.
-So, so… I do trust you, princess, I leave you alone a few moments and now you bring this troubled kid in the royal castle! And I am not even mentioning the fact that his father tried to destroy the nearest village before!
Bowser's blood boiled in his veins. By hearing the mere word « father », his world trembled down in a second. His paradise fell on the ground. Angry and blind by rage, he jumped on the old toad and ripped his mustaches before spitting fire at him. The guard, too scared, left to find any help. Toadsworth smacked the child before grabbing Peach and leaving in a hurry. Out of his mind, Bowser almost destroyed the castle in his blind rage. Then, a kid wearing red clothes got in his way.
Bowser spat fire at him, but the child dodged them with almost no effort. The young prince jumped and tried to crush him, but he dodged his attack too. He got his revenge when he tried to catch his tail: Bowser curled up in a bowl and his opponent just got his hand hurt, bleeding. Using that moment, Bowser jumped and launched himself at him, but the kid in red jumped too and, faster, punched him in the face. He fell down, crashing on the ground heavily. The princess, weakened, could not find the strength to get up. The arrogant one stood in front of him, proud, ready to blow one final kick at the fallen prince.
-No!
That small shriek echoed in the ruins of the room. Peach ran to them, almost falling, pushing the kid in red aside. She knelt beside Bowser, touching his head then his hair. He looked at her pitifully, pleading for mercy.
-Don't hurt him, Mario!
The kid only nodded, frowning. Angry to see his opponent getting away like this, with the princess beside him, he left without a word. Muiri and another kid, but in green, were waiting for him. The adult gave him a high five, smiling. It torn Bowser's heart.
-That's my son!
They left in the sunlight, as a huge crowd was cheering. They were the heroes of the day. Bowser was sad, hurt and somehow felt alone. When he looked up and saw the princess, he was remorseful. She took care of his injuries, with those pink knots, remaining silent. But she was sad. And he couldn't deny it.
-Will we be able to see each other again?
-I don't know, Bowser…
Once she had finished and once he could get up, he left. It was already dark outside. The guards followed him, with many weapons, to make sure he left the kingdom. Peach, on her balcony, waved at him. He smiled, waving too.
-We'll meet again, Peach!
-I hope so, Bowser!
At the borders, Bowser turned around a few seconds to watch this giant point at the horizon, where her castle was, where her balcony was. And where she was right now, looking at him, like he was looking at her. So warm and close before, so cold and far now…
-I swear…
He came back home, in his castle, and thought about this day until tomorrow came, hoping that the sun would rise on that one glorious day of their meeting. That day, he will be king, and they will reunite, like they used to… Days later, when he took off the pink knots, he found a note stuck on one of them: Bowser, I will never forget our royal friendship… Yours faithfully, Peach.
