BOWSER'S CHALLENGE

This is the second chapter. I see nobody submitted a review yet,
so there can't be too many Bowser/Koopa fans out there – well never mind.
Once again, apologies for my bad English.
I'll try to update again in a weeks time.

Chapter 2

When his castle came into view, the sun was already setting on the horizon.
Bowser had started to run, but when we was close enough to see the
castle's entrance he stopped abruptly.
Something was wrong – there were no guards at the entrance.
Bowser looked around in the fading light and saw a Koopa sitting
on the stairs with his head lowered.
He slowly moved towards the Koopa until he saw
it was Joe, the Hammer Brother. 'Hello Joe, What are
You doing out here and where are the guards?' Bowser asked.
Joe was startled by Bowser's voice and quickly jumped to his feet
'M-me and J-j-joey are supposed to be on guard tonight'.
'Oh no!' Bowser said sadly and sat on the stairs beside Joe.

It was nearly five months ago since Joe was brought to
Bowser's castle. He was in a bad state then and couldn't stop
shaking – Joe had seen how his brother Joey was killed and
he couldn't do anything to help him. The Hammer Bros, Joe
and Joey were the bestest of friends and it took a long time
for Joe to return to 'normal'. Joe still hasn't made any new
friends and spends most of the time on his own.

'I'm sorry, Joe. You really don't need this. Come inside, I'm sure
I'll find somebody else to be on guard duty tonight' said Bowser
and took Joe's hand and they both went inside.
After Bowser had a word with the Koopa in charge of the guard
roster, it wasn't hard to find a replacement to take over guard
duty for the night – a Parakoopa and a Koopa Trooper gladly
volunteered. When Joe and Bowser came into the dining room,
Chef Torte and his apprentice had once again set the table for dinner.
'I-I-I hope you're hungry tonight, my king' Torte said in a shaky voice
'I-I-I've made you you're favourite tonight – Egg-Scoopas'.
Bowser realised why Chef Torte acted like this and said
'Yes, I'm having dinner with Joe and Kamek tonight…
…and I hope you two will join us as well'
Torte and his assistant stared at each other in amazement and asked 'Us ???'
'Yes, both of you' Bowser said warmly 'I'm sorry about this morning, I just…'
Torte's apprentice held up his hand and said 'There's no need for you to explain,
King Bowser, we understand and we'll be honoured to have dinner with you'.
Bowser nodded and Torte and his apprentice went back to work.
Just as they reached the door to the kitchen, Bowser said 'Oh, one more thing,
make it two Egg-Scoopas for me, I hadn't had any breakfast this morning,
you know' and they all smiled.

After a delicious dinner, Bowser asked Kamek about his plan.
'I don't know what Kammy told you, Bowser, but I haven't got a
plan as such, but rather an explanation' Kamek said.
'Do you remember, what it was like before Mario appeared ?' he
continued 'the Mushroom kingdom and our own kingdom got
along well – we lived side by side and never had any major problems'.
'Yes, and I had my beautiful Clawdia – until the day she was taken
away from me' Bowser said thoughtfully.
'Exactly!' Kamek agreed 'How did you feel when she was taken from you ?
I bet you were angry and hurt'.
'Yes, I was and if I ever find out who did this, I'll personally…'
Bowser said with a growing feeling of anger.
'Stop right there, Bowser' Kamek intervened 'I know how you feel
and I don't blame you, but that's just my point'.
Bowser looked puzzled 'What is your point ?' he asked.
'Do you remember what you did, the day Mario and his brother appeared ?'
Kamek asked impatiently.
'Yes, of course I do' said Bowser 'It was the first time I wanted to take the Princess to…'
Kamek interrupted Bowser and said loudly 'It was the first time
YOU KIDNAPPED PRINCESS PEACH!'
Bowser's mouth dropped open and his eyes grew larger
'I-I-I n-never. Y-you know I-I-I never…' he tried to protest.
'I know that and you know that, but I think Mario, his brother
and the Mushroom People don't see it like that.
To them it looked like you tried to kidnap Princess Peach.
To them it looked like you tried to TAKE HER
AWAY FROM THEM!' Kamek explained.

Bowser remembered how hard it was, after his wife Clawdia was taken
away from him. He was so sad, but he had to be strong for the sake of
his seven children and the Koopa kingdom.
In the end it was his children and his Koopa friends, that got him through
those sad and lonely times and Bowser started to have feelings for
the Princess. Those feelings grew stronger every day and he began to
love her from afar. Then came the day, Bowser finally decided to declare
his love to the Princess…and that was the day Mario showed up.

'How come she didn't know, what I was trying to do?' Bowser asked sadly.
'They do things differently in the Mushroom kingdom. She didn't know
that you tried to declare your love to her – She thought you tried to
harm her…and so did Mario and his brother' Kamek explained.
'S-s-she called me a m-m-monster, yesterday' Bowser said sadly with
tears running down his face 'S-she will n-n-never love me now'

'I don't know' said Kamek 'I think we still have a chance.
Mario used the situation, to turn us all into an 'evil race' and he's
caused us so much pain and hurt since then.'
They all nodded in agreement.
'I think Mario wants the Princess for himself, he wants to marry
her and become king of the Mushroom kingdom, so he can declare
war on us and destroy us all' Kamek continued 'I don't know,
if Mario loves the princess or not, but I know he'll go to any length,
to have us Koopas destroyed and we've got to stop him!'.

'But how?' everybody asked.
'It's simple! You, Bowser, got to talk to the Princess and explain
everything to her' Kamek said plainly
'But how can I do this?' Bowser asked 'Every time I try to get
near her, I get beaten up by Mario…or worse. And besides
even if I manage to talk to her, I'll have to convince
her that I'm telling the truth and that won't be easy,
if she thinks I'm an evil monster.'
'I know' Kamek said 'I never said it'll easy. You'll just
have to come up with a plan and I'm sure you will, Bowser.'

Later that evening, Bowser stood on the balcony of his bedroom
and looked at the stars. It was a clear night and they were shining brightly.
'How could you've turned against me?' Bowser said sadly while looking
at the stars 'What have I ever done to you?' he continued
'Please don't let me down again – I desperately need your help'
He stood there a little longer and then went to bed.

But Bowser couldn't fall asleep – thoughts of the Princess and
the Koopas Brothers kept him awake and the realisation, that
he had less than two days to save them didn't help either.
He tried to come up with a plan to save them, but he couldn't
and long after midnight he finally fell asleep.

End of chapter 2