It was the middle of the night when Mario found himself awoken by the sound of frantic knocking. Being the kind of person he is, Mario couldn't find it in himself to just ignore whomever it was and go back to sleep, not when they sounded so desperate.
Instead Mario pulled himself out of bed and groggily pulled on his clothes as fast as he could in his half-asleep state. In the time it took for him to get dressed and get to his door the knocking had become more distressed.
Mario, now suitably worried, hurried to wrench his door open in case the person outside was in some form of danger. Upon doing such, the source of his sleep's disturbance was revealed; a small hooded figure who had pulled their arm back in order to continue knocking before they froze at his appearance.
Mario took a few seconds to take in what he could about this mysterious figure, which, admittedly, wasn't much. Judging by their thin frame he figured that they were likely a woman, and the surprisingly thin olive hued wrist that poked out from their baggy sleeve did nothing to dissuade him of this.
"E-Excuse me?" The woman, for it was indeed a woman, spoke with a surprisingly velvety voice, though it was somewhat marred by a slight croak, "I-I'm sorry to wake you, but I-I need your help."
Realizing that this would probably be a lit of a long story he stepped aside and held the door open.
"Please a-come in."
The woman paused for a moment before giving a slight nod, moving inside with a whispered, "Thank you."
Mario nodded in acceptance before walking in himself, making sure to close the door behind him.
"Tea?" He questioned as the woman made herself comfortable on one of the two couches seated in front of his coffee table.
The woman paused briefly before answering, still as soft as ever, "Yes please."
Tilting his head in acknowledgement he quickly went about making the tea that he had stocked his house with for potential guests. While waiting for the tea to boil Mario continued to observe his new houseguest in an attempt to learn more about her, but nothing stuck out to him other than that she was somewhat fidgety.
Sighing in defeat, Mario set about making a cup of tea for his guest and set the cup down in front of her before taking his place seated across from her. Mario patiently waited for her as she grabbed the cup, brought it up to her mouth, blew on it, and then took a sip before she set it back down again.
"So, what-a brings you here?"
"I need your help."
"I-a know that, but what-a can I do to help-a you?"
"This."
With that the woman pulled down her hood revealing… a beautiful woman? The woman had a well-proportioned face that was only accentuated by the way her scarlet hair stood out against her tanned skin as it flowed down to her shoulders, parting around a pair of curved horns.
Mario wasn't quite sure what the fiery-haired woman was referring to, nothing seemed amiss to him, though something about her did bother him slightly, as though he should know.
"Sorry, but-a I'm not seeing it."
"You don't recognize me?"
The nagging feeling only grew stronger with her words, however he was still unable to put his finger on just what was causing it and shook his head.
"It's me," She said, smiling at him sadly, "It's Bowser."
And just like that everything seemed to click, though this only added to his questions.
"Bowser? What-a happened to you?"
Bowser motioned towards his head, upon which sat a strange crown.
"This thing, whatever it is, turned me into this, and, as far as I can tell, it's stuck to me. Permanently."
"Mamma mia! Where did you even find-a that thing?"
At this Bowser's eyes flit away guiltily.
"I- It doesn't matter. I just need your help taking it off."
Mario could sense that there was more to this story than Bowser was telling him, but he wasn't going to push right now, not when she seemed so distressed.
"Why-a me though? Why not go back to your-a castle?"
"Because," She choked out, her voice wavering, "If I went there looking like this then I'd just end up being chased out as an imposter. Or worse."
"Listen," She continued, tears gathering in her eyes, "I know we've had our differences, and I know you probably hate me, but you're the only person I can turn to right now. Please!"
Mario had to admit that, although he wasn't particularly fond of Bowser, seeing her like this roused his gallant nature. He couldn't just sit still and do nothing when she was suffering like this, regardless of what she may have done in the past.
"Alright Bowser, I'll-a help you."
That was all she needed to hear for her to burst into tears, her relief palpable. Mario instinctively reached a hand out and started rubbing her back comfortingly. When he realized what he was doing he half expected Bowser to get upset at him, but that never happened.
Eventually Bowser's crying settled down and she had a hard time keeping her eyes open. Just before she drifted off to slumber she managed to eek out a whispered, "Thank you Mario."
Mario found himself involuntarily staring at Bowser, her sleeping form so small as she instinctively curled in on herself, that he was unable to see her as anything other than an emotionally vulnerable girl in need of his help.
And the last thought in his mind before he drifted to sleep on his couch after carrying Bowser to his own bed was that he'd do everything in his power to help her.