Although Peach was originally dreading dining with Bowser and his children, the meal had not gone as horribly as she anticipated. His kids were sometimes unruly, but each was funny and sweet and unique in their own way that Peach found herself laughing at ease with them. Bowser was nearly the same as he had been when she knew him, but he had a different camber to him that Peach couldn't quite name. She felt new hope that she would be able to get through the rest of the trip without an issue. But regardless of her new lodging situation Peach focused herself on finding a chance to talk with the King and Queen at the earliest available opportunity. She would not let her kingdom down.
"Do you want to try some of this?" Bowser asked, pulling Peach from her thoughts.
"I'm alright, thank you." She politely declined. Peach was too full from the seafood bisque to order a dessert, although Bowser and his children had no problem doing so.
"Just one bite?" He slid the piece of caramel chocolate cake closer to her.
"It's really good!" Larry said between mouthfuls of his own piece.
"Another time." Peach said thoughtlessly. She cringed realizing that Bowser would definitely hold her to her word.
"Are you scared of loud noises?" Morton asked suddenly.
"I don't think so," Peach answered hesitantly. "Why do you ask?"
"You don't want to know what goes on inside his brain." Roy commented. "Even Morton doesn't fully know."
"There's a firework show tonight." Morton explained. "I used to be scared of them because they are loud, but now I cover my ears."
"You should cover your ears all the time. It will keep your brains from falling out." Roy said seriously.
Morton whole-heartedly believed him and put his hands over his ears.
"You don't need to do that, Morton." Bowser said to him.
Morton couldn't hear him.
"You don't need to do that, Morton." Bowser repeated louder.
Morton didn't move.
Wendy reached over and pulled his hands down.
"Roy is just being mean, Morton. You don't need to do that." Bowser explained.
"I know." Morton conceded. "I just didn't want to hear Roy's voice anymore."
The table erupted in laugher until it was interrupted by an announcement coming through the speakers.
"Your royal Highnesses," the voice boomed, "the firework show will be starting in ten minutes. Please walk to the Pavilion, it offers the best vantage-point for the show. Thank you, and enjoy your stay at the Sea Side Kingdom."
Wendy and Bowser Junior hurriedly finished their dessert and then the whole group joined the crowd of people leaving the banquet hall. Peach avoided making eye-contact with a few of the familiar faces for fear that they would see her with Bowser and his family. She didn't want any false rumors to start, although that would be nearly impossible since Lila Thornton had spotted her.
Up ahead Peach strained her neck to see the King and Queen of the Sea Side Kingdom standing in front of the large glass doors that led to the Pavilion. They were smiling and shaking the hands of the guests that entered through. Peach's mind raced to come up with what she would say to them. It would be the perfect opportunity to ask for a private consultation.
"Hey Dad!" Junior called out. "I don't see Larry."
"What?" Bowser spun around and stopped to frantically count the heads of the children before him. There were only seven.
"Did any of you see Larry walking away?" Bowser asked.
None of the other Koopalings had seen him.
The crowd flowed around them like a river rushing past a stone lodged in its bank. If Larry had gotten carried along by the current of people there was no telling where he could be.
Peach could see the genuine panic in Bowser's eyes although he forced himself to remain composed.
"Larry has to be around here somewhere," he assured them. "Wendy, tell one of the staff members to spread the word to keep an eye out for him. Roy and Ludwig check the bathrooms to see if he's in there. The rest of you stay with me and call out his name."
Obediently the Koopalings followed Bowser's orders.
"I'm sure that we'll find him." Peach soothed, trying to make herself useful.
"I hope so. Kids wander off, it happens. But he's my kid." Bowser explained. "I couldn't bear to lose him."
The group began to yell out Larry's name over and over. The herd of guests had moved past them, leaving them alone in the hallway. They continued to call his name for several minutes before Roy and Ludwig returned with Larry in tow.
"He was in the bathroom." Roy explained.
"I'm sorry," Larry apologized. "I didn't mean to be gone so long. But they have fancy soap and lotion and stuff in there and I wanted to smell all of it. I'm sorry."
"You have to tell me where you're going." Bowser urged. "In crowded places its easy to get lost. No matter what, I need to know where all of you are. Ask me before you go anywhere, and when you leave make sure you take a buddy with you. Do you understand?"
All of the Koopalings nodded.
"Does Princess Peach have to tell you where she's going too?" Morton asked.
"Princess Peach is a grown-up and she can do whatever she wants." Bowser answered.
"I wish I was a grown-up." Morton whispered bitterly under his breath.
They walked down the rest of the hallway in silence. The crowd was already inside the Pavilion, and to Peach's dismay the King and Queen were no longer outside of the doors waiting to welcome them in. She had missed her opportunity.
They walked through the entryway and down the path that led to the Pavilion. It was a sprawling open-aired building with a huge hand-blown glass ceiling that was made to look like a cresting wave. They squeezed in among the crowd and stared up at the night sky. The stars seemed to ripple above them as if they were looking at them from under the surface of the water.
"Five. Four. Three. Two. One!" The crowd counted down.
Nearly instantaneously the black sky came alive with an explosion of color which bled and melted and swirled above them. Sea-green and pure turquoise swum together to create an ocean over their heads, crashing and rolling like real waves.
Peach could barely look away from the display, but out of the corner of her eye she noticed the Queen conversing discreetly with one of the staff members across the Pavilion. She knew that it would be rude to interrupt, but she had no other choice. Bravely Peach strutted out towards the monarch. Yet suddenly her body was wrenched back as Bowser grasped her shoulder.
"Where are you going?" He asked, his amber eyes wide with concern.
"I thought you said that I was a grown-up and can do whatever I want," Peach shrugged his hand off of her shoulder and turned to leave.
"Aren't you enjoying the firework show?" He asked again.
"It's beautiful, but I need to go." Peach answered hurriedly, trying to keep the irritation out of her voice.
"Can it wait? I really don't want you to miss this." Bowser pleaded, stalling for time.
"I will be back in a minute." Peach assured him. But when she turned to walk towards the Queen, the monarch was gone. She had already finished her conversation with the staff member and returned to the royal viewing area. Peach had missed her chance once again.
"It's too late," Peach said sadly.
"I'm glad you won't miss the show." Bowser tried to hide his smile.
Peach turned away from him and stared up at the dazzling eruption of color beyond the glass ceiling. Her brain was flooded with a menagerie of emotions and old memories. Bowser had always made her life difficult, and now he continued to do so. Peach was frustrated, and for an instant she felt exactly like a child again when she would cry into her pillow when she didn't get her way. Although she felt like screaming, she hardened herself and ignored the feeling of hopelessness that piled around her.
All at once the show ended in a smattering of light blue sparkles that fell across the night sky as gently as ocean spray in the wind. The crowd erupted with applause before they began to filter out of the Pavilion toward the ballroom where a cocktail party was beginning. Peach couldn't help but yawn; the day had taken a toll on her and left her physically exhausted.
"I'm tired too." Bowser noticed her sleepiness. "The kids and I certainly need some rest, but you can stay out later if you want."
"I don't think I can keep my eyes open that long," Peach admitted.
"Let's head back to the Shell Suite then." He turned to leave the Pavilion with the Koopalings following close behind at his heels.
Peach walked alongside him in silence thinking of the opportunities that she had missed. Although she wished that the day had gone differently, she hoped that there would be other chances in the future for her to plead with the King and Queen on her kingdom's behalf. Peach tried to be optimistic by convincing herself the situation would seem better after a long rest.
Suddenly Peach realized that they had never worked out a sleeping arrangement. Her stomach dropped as she considered who she should choose to share a bed with.
A/N: Thank you so very much for your patience! I am embarrassed by how long its been since my last update. Thank you so much for reading, commenting, following and favoriting this story! I really appreciate it. I hope that you have a great week! Much love, Guardian
