"Bwahahahaha!"

The familiar laughter rang through her castle signifying Bowser's arrival like clockwork. Peach rolled her eyes at his predictability and stood up from her throne in preparation for her bi-weekly kidnapping.

Bowser's hefty footsteps resounded as he made his way to the throne room before stopping in front of the door. Thankfully he was always polite enough to simply throw the door open rather than break it down, Peach would've been annoyed if they had to keep replacing it.

"Princess Peach I'm here to kidnap you!" He announced loudly, his voice sounding higher pitched and less rumbly than usual which caused Peach to furrow her brow in confusion. She was given no time to ruminate over that, however, as Bowser threw the door open revealing… herself?

"What?"

Peach found that to be the only word she could utter as she gazed at Bowser's newest form: that of a tall, well-built, dark skinned redhead. She still had several identifying features, such as her horns, shell, and tail, but she was undeniably human otherwise.

"Hey there Princess, how do you like my new form?" The woman questioned with a sharp grin.

"What?"

"See, I found this thing here," She started, tapping the crown affixed to her head, "and realized that it had the power to turn me human. That's when the thought crossed my mind that you might like me better if I were human so I-"

"You mean Mario would like you better." Peach interrupted before she was able to stop herself.

Bowser flinched away from her, fear flickering through her eyes.

"W-What?!"

"Please," Peach continued, rolling her eyes, "I've seen the way you look at him. You're in love with him aren't you? That's why you keep kidnapping me?"

"N-No I… Was I really that obvious?" She questioned.

"To Mario? Probably not." Peach answered her, "But to me? Yes."

"I-I don't know what to do. I want to tell him, but what if he rejects me? What if he hates me?"

Peach laid a comforting hand on Bowser's arm.

"Please, if he hated you then he wouldn't keep inviting you to go go-karting or play sports with us?"

"You really think so?" Bowser asked, her tone hopeful.

"I know so." Peach affirmed, "Now come with me."

"Where are we going?" Bowser questioned her as she allowed herself to be pulled along by the princess.

"We're going to give you a makeover and then you're going to confess to Mario."

"What?! B-But I can't, I'm not ready!"

"And at the rate you're going you'll never be ready!" Peach shot back at her, "Look, I tried to stay out of this and let you two figure things out yourselves, but I'm through with that."

"I- Make me pretty?" She relented.

"Of course." Peach offered, a gentle smile tugging at her lips.

With Bowser no longer resisting Peach dragged her into her personal dressing room and sat her down in front of the large vanity mirror. She took a few seconds to study Bowser's new form before she nodded to herself and went about gathering what makeup she thought would go well on her.

"Now you're already quite beautiful, so I don't want to use too much makeup. Just a little touch up here or there to catch Mario's attention."

Bowser stayed silent, nervously clasping her hands in her lap.

"We should also do something about your hair, it's too unruly. How about we put it up in a ponytail?"

"Okay." Bowser agreed, her voice all but a whisper.

"And while we're at it we should start calling you something else. Something more feminine than 'Bowser'."

"Bowsette." Came the immediate reply.

"Really?" Peach questioned, raising an eyebrow towards her, "A little simple isn't it?"

The newly named Bowsette took a few minutes to consider her response before speaking.

"I don't- I want to stay true to who I am. I don't want to forget who I used to be."

Peach's expression softened upon hearing the woman's reasoning.

"I understand… Bowsette."

Bowsette swallowed harshly, trying to keep her emotions in check upon hearing Peach use her new name for the very first time. Sure she may not love the princess, however after all they'd been through together Bowsette felt confident in saying that Peach was her closest confidant, and having her acceptance made Bowsette feel like a wave of relief swept through her.

"Thank you." She managed at a whisper.

"You're welcome. That's what friends are for after all."

Peach gave her a reassuring smile as she went back to sorting through her makeup before finally making a decision.

"Alright, now let's get you ready for your big moment."

Bowsette found herself staring wide-eyed at her reflection, surprised at how different she looked with so few adjustments. Peach had, as she said, put very little makeup on her, some classic deep red lipstick, a bit of green eyeshadow around the top of her eyes, and a dab of foundation here and there.

Peach had also taken it upon herself to paint Bowsette's nails a lovely black and comb her frazzled mass of hair before putting it up in a ponytail, leaving her nape exposed.

"I-I look beautiful." Bowsette uttered breathlessly.

"You do." Peach affirmed, a pleased look on her face, "Trust me, Mario won't be able to take his eyes off of you."

"I hope so." Bowsette muttered under her breath.

"Now then, let's go. Mario's waiting for you after all!"

"Wait, what?"

"I had one of the toads send a message to Mario to come to the castle before you got here." Peach explained to her, "I figured that he'd come to rescue me once he realized you'd kidnapped me again, but this works out too."

"Wait, you knew I was going to kidnap you today? How?" She demanded, only to get a disbelieving eye in return.

"Really? Bowsette you do this literally every other week like clockwork. On the same day too. How do you think Mario's been catching onto your trail so fast?"

Bowsette stared at Peach as though her whole world was crumbling around her ears.

"Am I really that predictable?"

"Yes." Peach admits unapologetically which causes Bowsette to hang her head in shame.

"Hey, look on the bright side, if this works you won't have to kidnap me to see Mario any more." Peach told her, attempting to comfort her.

"Oh. Yeah, I guess I wouldn't." Bowsette whispered in realization.

"Don't you want that? Being able to see Mario whenever you want?" Peach egged on.

"Yeah. I do. I do want that!"

"Then you know what you have to do."

Bowsette suddenly deflated like a popped balloon.

"I-I know. But what if he says no?"

"Then you keep trying until he says yes! Come on Bowsette what happened to the fierce Koopa King- er, Queen, who kept kidnapping me just so she could see the person she was in love with?!"

Bowsette let out a sigh of defeat before giving Peach a tired grin.

"You're right." She admitted, "I just need to do my best. Thanks for everything Princess."

"Please," Peach spoke gently, "call me Peach."

"Thank you… Peach."

"You're welcome Bowsette. Now go out there and get your man!"

Bowsette gave her a lopsided grin before she stood up and marched out of the dressing room, Peach following behind. Bowsette stopped before the doors to her throne room once again before throwing them open with gusto.

Bowsette swaggered inside, ignoring the stunned stares from Toadsworth and Mario and made her way over to them, stopping a few feet away.

"Mamma mia!" Mario exclaimed, "Bowser? Is that-a you?"

"Mario." Peach greeted, coming to stand beside her, "Let me introduce you. This is Bowsette and she has something to tell you."

"Oh, um, right." Bowsette muttered, suddenly shy now that she was actually standing in front of him.

"Come on Bowsette." Peach encouraged, nudging her with her elbow, "Where'd all that confidence go? Just tell him."

"Right." Bowsette swallowed the lump in her throat, "I- uh, Mario?"

"Yes?" He responded, confusion clear on his visage.

"You can do it." Peach told her.

"I-I-I-I love you!"

Mario's eyes widened in surprise at the sudden confession, this was decidedly not what he'd been expecting upon his arrival at the castle today.

"But I thought-a you loved Princess Peach." He observed.

"No!" Bowsette refuted immediately, before realizing how harsh that might have sounded, "I mean don't get me wrong, she's probably my best friend at this point, but I just can't see myself ever liking her like that."

"But then-a why did you keep-a kidnapping her?" He questioned.

"It's because she wanted to see you." Peach interrupted, "Everything she's done has been to catch your attention, it always has been."

"Is… Is that-a true?" Mario asked her.

"I-" Bowsette swallowed nervously before conceding, "Yes."

"Mamma Mia." Breathed Mario, staring at her in an entirely new light, "You really do-a love me."

"Yes." Bowsette confirmed, her heart pounding in her ears, "I- Er, that is, would you want to go on a date? With me?"

"Bowsette?"

Bowsette felt a shiver run down her spine upon hearing him use her new name for the very first time.

"Yes?"

"It would-a be my honor."