Entwined Fates

Chapter 9

Bowser's mouth belted out her name. Her real, actual name. He didn't even think of the formalities when she took a leap across the twisting river, only panic. His eyes traced her as for those heart-wrenching seconds, her blonde hair disappearing into the depths.

And then reappeared.

She looked almost as if she was sitting on an invisible stool, her legs neatly together as she giggled.

"What?" she asked, tilting her head cutely.

"What are you doing?!"

"Koopas aren't the only ones with magic." She threw him a wink, gracefully floating to the other side.

"Princess, can you PLEASE tell me before pulling a stunt like that?!" He gruffed, yelling across the river. "What now?"

"Well, um," she hollered back, now wondering what her plan was. "I'm going to talk with their mayor!"

"What do I do?"

"You are going to… keep watch!"

"'Keep watch.'" Bowser responded dryly. "Right."

"Do you not trust me?" Her voice stung with hurt as she remembered her few outings back home. Everything had to be perfect, no one had to be kidnapped. Security had to follow her everywhere. On the one hand, it was comforting. On the other hand, it was stifling.
"Of course I trust you. I mean… what the hell am I gonna watch?!"

He sat in front of Koporo's shop, relishing the shade from the tree.

"I told you to get off my tree!"

"Yeah, yeah, old-shell. I heard you the first time."

The Toad village was cute, picturesque even. Tiny little houses were perfectly spaced between the road, and a small cobblestone path led away from the non-existent bridge. The inhabitants wandered about, whispering in hushed tones as she slowly walked through.

"Your Majesty?" One Toad trotted up to her, bowing hurriedly. "What are you doing in our simple village?"

"Well, I need to ask a favour from your Mayor." Peach leaned down, and brushed her hair out of her face. "Can you take me to them?"

"Of course!"

The diminutive Toad brought her to an equally quaint but colourful house, adorned with star decorations. An elderly Toad came out, grey hair sweeping the ground with a delicate rhythm. She smiled, her purple lipstick shining in the bright sun.

"Hello, Princess."

"Hello!" Peach knew it. Reason would triumph over brute strength. "It's so nice to meet you, I actually just stumbled in, you know, with the bridge being out."

"Yes, to keep out the riff raff. You know how Koopas can be. Especially...ah."

"'Ah'?"

"Never mind." She smiled again, masking her rage. "I don't mean to drag you into our petty rivalry of sorts."

"Oh." Peach bit her lip, and watched as the diminutive mayor walked to her patio.

"Tea?"

"Please."

She sat on the patio chair, watching the local kids run around. The ground kicked up dust as they chased each other, playing tag. One Toadling dove, barely missing and tumbling into the grass. He perked up, grunting loudly.

"Freakin' shell-head! You made me fall!"

Peach watched as the mayor continued to sip her tea, not minding the kids and their insults.

"Mayor?" Peach asked, still watching the kids out of the corner of her eye.

"Please, call me Tabitha."

"I'm curious, was there a reason for this?"
"Reason for what?"

"A reason why you hate each other? You know, there has to be some reason, right?"

Silence.

"No one got into a fight? Land dispute? Anything?"

"I'm afraid it's entirely one-sided, I mean there's no reasoning with Koopas. I don't even understand how you are letting that-" The Mayor breathed in, catching herself before she said too much.

"I'm sorry?" The Princess's voice grew in pitch, her arms crossing.

"It's just, you know how they are."

"Elaborate."

Tabitha sputtered, trying to collect herself in the face of the Princess. Was this a test? A secret sort of conversation to test her loyalty?

"Aren't we all just waiting for them to turn on us?"

The reality of it all hit Peach. It wasn't just this town. It was every town. It was her own advisors. They were all constantly afraid of this threat, the non-existent threat of the Koopa Kingdom overtaking and starting the cogs of war. Like an animal cornered, they snarled and bit towards it.

"We are creating the problem," Peach muttered, anger subsiding for a second.

"Pardon?"

"Tabitha," Peach began, steepling her fingers together. "I am using my authority to suggest the reopening of the bridge and relations with the other town."

Tabitha let out a brief laugh, pondering if Peach was joking or had just gone mad. She looked at Peach's smiling face, a face of a dignified Royal.

"We aren't the problem. It's them-"

"No, it's not. My suggestion is also to consider a higher taxation and possible expulsion from the Mushroom Kingdom, if the unification isn't put in place." She smiled, tilting her head. Waiting on a response.

"You can't be serious…"

"Oh, I am. And don't worry, those people will be following the same rules." She stood from the table. "Before I go, I will be needing the Sun artifact as well."

Bowser had ended up falling asleep, under Koporo's tree. Sunbeams spilt down through the leaves, rustling every so often with a gentle gust.

It was almost criminal to wake him up, Peach thought.

"Hey, Bowser?"

He grunted, opening his eyes slowly.

"You get it?"

"Well, yes. I might have made some promises on your behalf, though." She fidgeted, her hands still holding the small sun rock.

"Hey! Citizens of Where-ever! Come over here!" Bowser's voice was booming, as he stood in front of the blacksmith's shop. (He didn't want to move that far for an announcement, nor did he really care.)

The villagers gathered, mumbling and grumbling amongst themselves.

"You all need to not be massive jerks! If I find out from some pipeline or Koopa mail-dude that you idiots haven't held up your end of the bargain, I will declare this land MINE. As in, a NEW CASTLE. As in, YOU LEAVING. Where's the mayor?!"

Koporo grumbled, stepping out from his shop.

"I'm here, can you keep it down?!"

"You can't be serious," Bowser sighed, rubbing his temples. Of course the cranky blackshop guy was the Mayor. "Did you hear any of that?!"

"The other country heard it!"

"Do you understand?!"

Koporo scoffed, nodded, and turned immediately around back inside.

"Good! Now scram!"

The crowd dispersed, mumbling and grumbling back to their lives.

"Here," Peach said, tapping on Bowser's shoulder. "Let's take it to Koporo in the morning, yes?"

"Yeah." Bowser eyed the sunset, the last of the hazy afternoon rays deepening into reds and oranges. It was getting late. And he wasn't particularly interested in sleeping outside again.

"Is there an inn nearby?" It was like she read his mind. "Maybe some dinner?"

The only inn was on the Koopa side of the river. A quaint, small bedroom above a quaint small pub. Bowser partook in lukewarm Koopa Ale, which was somehow the most quenching beverage he could remember. They made a delightful tea for Peach, mostly in fear of Bowser's earlier rant.

The innkeeper, a stout Koopa woman, passed the key to Bowser.

"Uh, do you have another room?" Bowser said, nervously holding the keys.

"'Fraid not, dear."

They opened the door to a single bed on a creaky frame.

"Oh.." Peach immediately felt the guilt creep up her throat. She knew he wouldn't agree, and would most likely choose the floor. "We can share, probably?"

"It's fine, Princess. Besides, I would break it."

"What if you took your shell off? C-can you take your shell off?" She realized that she was clueless on Koopa physiology.

"I'm not taking it off in front of you! Jeez, who do you take me for?"

Ah, it was like clothing. Her face turned red, understanding what she asked him.

"Um, I just don't want you to be uncomfortable."

He sighed.

"I'm fine, Princess. Just take the bed."

They laid in relative silence, with Bowser at the far end of the room, and Peach nestled in the bed. She couldn't take it, the guilt. Not that the bed was that comfortable, but him constantly jumping in front of anything that was minorly negative. It was just like what Toadsworth did.

Never leave the Castle, living in fear of a potential threat. Always a threat looming.

She didn't want to be comfortable. Besides, she was cold. Or at least, that's what Peach rationalized to herself. She dragged the blanket and pillow off the bed and plopped it beside Bowser.

"What are you doing?" He groaned, not opening his eyes.

"I'm cold."

"Liar."

"It's not fair that you're on the floor."

"Is this really about the floor?"

She sunk into the pillow, wondering if he knew what she dealt with fully, what she saw and heard. Or perhaps it was common knowledge, the hostility between the two Kingdoms, and she was just too sheltered to see.

"I'm sorry, if I had ever made you feel lesser. I don't want that."

"You have never-"

"Yes, I have, by letting you sleep on the floor."

"I chose that-"

"Because you want to set a good example for your people, I underst-"

"Princess!" He reached out to lightly grab her face, because Peach was clearly not listening, and was on a whole other tangent. "It's-"

He stopped. Her eyes were welling up with tears, her mouth contorting to an unhappy pout.

Of course he couldn't say the real reason. She had attached such lofty hopes for his actions.

"I'm just trying to be a gentleman, or whatever. I'm not gonna be the greedy jerk who lets someone sleep on the floor. It's fine, it's fine." As he spoke, he noticed he was subconsciously rubbing her head, and froze.

"Bowser?" She asked, her face growing warm.

"L-look, I'm just saying it has nothing to do with any fight between our kingdoms, okay? I am just trying to be...uh…"

"Thank you." She smiled, resting her head back onto her pillow.

Bowser thanked the Stars for her not pressing the issue, and for going to sleep. Nothing more could incriminate him now. Except for her rolling and hugging his arm in her sleep.

Which did happen.

Which was fine, Bowser rationalized.

Probably.

AN: I'M SUPER LATE. Like, unbelievably late. Horrible. Anyways, take this 'there's only one bed' trope and accept my deepest apologies.