Chapter 3: The kidnap

Ch 3

A week had passed, and there had been absolutely no sign of Bowser.

Peach was in Raven's room, planning a party to celebrate.

"So, We'll invite Mario and Luigi and maybe Yoshi..."Peach muttered, marking furiously on a pad of paper. "Wario and Waluigi will obviously come because Daisy is coming."

"Oh and Raven, I have a dress I want you to wear." Peach exited the room quickly and brought back a pale blue ankle length dress.

Raven bit her lip

She hated dresses.

"Can't I wear my normal dress?" Raven protested. "Or better yet, a suit?"

Peach shook her head

" You need to start wearing dresses Raven. It is seven hours from now. Now get ready."

Peach flashed her sister a smile, then stood up and went to go help with the party.

Raven studied the dress. It was sleeveless and had no bodice and no gloves.
She grimaced at the dress.

She hoped Peach hadn't expected her to wear heels.

Grabbing a towel and dreading what was to come, she headed to her bathroom to take a long hot bath.

Mario and Luigi were discussing the party plans with Toadsworth.

"So you two will enter here." He pointed. "And Princesses Peach and Raven enter down the staircase."

Luigi really wasn't listening

Ever since Daisy had decided to leave Luigi for his purple counterpart, Waluigi, he had been attracted to the newest princess.

He wondered what her dress looked like. Maybe it looked like Peach's? Knowing her, she would pick something a lot less bulky.

A light blush crept up his face.

Mario laughed.

"Luigi! You're a blushing! Thinking about a Princess Raven?" he teased.

Luigi groaned

"Mario, a knock it off!"

Raven looked at herself in the full length mirror.

Her hair was pulled into a braid that hung loosly down her back.

Two inch heels were on her feet and they hurt like hell.

She exited her room after smoothing out a wrinkle in her dress.

She never wore a crown, mainly because it interfered with her Bungee Jumping and her sword training..

Peach, Raven theorized, had her crown super glued to her head.

She entered the ballroom.

The ballroom was huge, with a high ceiling. A grand staircase with cherry wood rails stood at the head.

On this particular occasion , red and white streamers crisscrossed the ceiling. Balloons were floating on the ceiling.

When the toads saw her descend the staircase, they cheered.

"Good evening"She chirped in a sweet voice.

She finished descending the sixty four steps left and glided through the ballroom.

The band started up a waltz.

"Excuse a me, can I have a this dance? "came Luigi's shy voice.

Raven turned to see the plumber in a bright green tuxedo that made her giggle.

His brown hair was free of its cap and gelled in a spiky 'do that Mario could never pull off.

She nodded, blushing a little as he took her hand. He was a sweet heart sometimes, but he seemed to be really awkward.

"I didn't know you could waltz, Luigi!" She gasped, astonished as he began to waltz perfectly with her. From what she had been told, he was very useless when it came to dancing.

"Mario made me take lessons while back. By the way, that a dress looks a nice on you"

Raven smiled as they continued the waltz. After about an hour, Raven excused herself to her room. She didn't really care for formal events. Besides, the reasoning for the celebration was rather shallow and self centered.

She was not halfway up the stairs when a deafening BOOM was heard.

Instinct told her not to look back but to speed up.

Raven took the stairs two at a time to her guest room, which contained little; A canopy bed that was plush and a dresser.

A brown leather knapsack held her worldly possessions; Her Mushroom music player, her bungee equipment, a story she was working on, and her favorite non princessy clothes and essentials.

Quickly she shed her princessy clothes and donned a white tanktop and black sleep pants.

She placed the dress on the dresser and climbed into bed.

WHAT HAD HAPPENED

BOOM!

A hole was punched through the west wall of the ballroom.

There was a loud roar as Bowser stepped through.

Peach backed up quickly behind Mario. Why did he have to show up NOW of all times?

"B-Bowser?G-GET AWAY!"She shrieked as the Koopa advanced.

Bowser let out a dark chuckle.

"Oh don't worry. I'm not after, or interested, in you this time, Peachy "His eyes roved the crowd, but could see no sign of Raven anywhere.

"Where is she?'' he snarled.

Luigi jumped forward.

"Raven?None of your a business Bowser!" he tried to act brave.

Bowser rolled his eyes before backhanding Luigi into a wall. He had no time to deal with Mario's brother right now. If Ludwig was here, he would probably tell his father off for doing such things. After all, Luigi had saved Ludwig's life once upon a time.

"She must be in the Guest room then.."

He stomped off up the staircase, his army of Hammer Brothers keeping everyone in the ballroom.

Guest Room. He'd kidnapped Peach so many times; he knew this castle as well as he knew his own. Finding the Guest room was a piece of cake.

The door loomed in front of him and he kicked it open.

The moonlight shone in on the sleeping girls face.

One of her hands was curled around a teddy bear; the other was on a brown leather bag.

A black and red comforter covered her body.

Bowser lumbered over to the bed and picked her , blanket and all. He made sure that his spikes didn't

He broke through the balcony windows to where his clowncopter,which he had hidden up here, awaited.

He leapt into the copter,gently placed the princess on the copter floor.

He started up and Bowser flew away from the castle.

"mmm"

RAVEN'S POV

The walls were metallic but warm.

In front of me driving whatever we were in, was a large turtle shell with spikes and a fiery mane I recognized instantly.
Oh hell no. He had KIDNAPPED me.

"Bowser?"I questioned sleepily as I sat up.

The copter kept going but he turned away from the controls.

"You're awake." Before I could point out he was not watching where he was going, he added" It's on autopilot."

I rubbed my eyes blearily.

'Why'd you kidnap me?" I questioned

Bowser crouched on his enormous haunches.

"I took your advice, princess" he mumbled" You really should sleep though, its a long ride. Peach always passed out during the trip."

He had a smile on his face.

I was confused.

"Shouldn't you be doing the whole "Muahaha Im going to take over the Mushroom Kingdom" speech?"

He shook his head.

"Err that thing you did, the hug thing"

He hesitated.

"Will you do it again?"

Raven's answer was quick.

"You'll have to take all the spikes off"

CLNK clnk clnk clnk clnk.

The collar, and the bicep and wristbands hit the floor.

I reached out towards him sleepily and he met me halfway.

His chest was really warm. I assumed that was because he breathed fire.

Bowser's arms were really gentle. I know because I drifted off in them.

I heard Bowser chuckle lightly.

"That's a change from her. She would've punched me."

I cuddled into his chest sleepily and he let out a contented growl.

Before I passed out, the Koopa king began to stroke my hair gently.
Peach had always told me stories about how Bowser was an angry Koopa who never smiled.
But right now, he didn't seem angry.

I could tell he was happy.