Bowsette soon found herself sitting in her castle's medical wing, watching intently as her doctor checked the young woman for any possible injuries. Kamek likewise stood nearby, examining the mysterious woman for any potential clues as to who she was and where she might have come from.
"She is quite pretty, my lady," the older Koopa suddenly voiced, causing Bowsette to turn her gaze in her direction, "perhaps you can ask her to dinner when she awakens"
"What are you talking about?" Bowsette asked in reply, her voice tired and filled with exasperation. Was Kamek really so desperate that she'd push a complete stranger at her, now of all times? Especially one who suddenly appeared through her mirror.
Kamek tore her gaze away from the other woman's sleeping form, her eyes locking with her queens. She suddenly looked smug, which only served to make Bowsette squirm in her seat.
"Remind me again, my lady, what was it that you wished for when you used the mirror?"
Crimson stained Bowsette's cheeks as the older Koopa brought that back up, tearing her eyes from hers as she cleared her throat. She growled under her breath, irritated that the older woman had already broken her promise to never speak of that again. She should have known better than to share that little detail with her in the first place.
"I wished for someone to love me, who I could love in return" she mumbled, keeping her eyes on the wall rather than her royal adviser. She could practically feel the other woman's smirk growing, despite not turning in her direction to look.
"Dinner does not mean a romantic date, my lady. We do not yet know who she is, so getting to know her seems the most logical course of action."
"I take it you haven't learned anything from your examination then?" Bowsette inquired, finally turning back to face her advisor. The older Koopa shook her head.
"No, I'm afraid not. I must examine the mirror next, if I may take my leave?"
Bowsette nodded, watching as she hopped down from beside the stranger and began walking toward the exit.
"Keep me apprised of any discoveries" Bowsette called out, causing her to stop for a moment, turning back to reply.
"Of course, my lady. You do the same."
All was quiet, the doctor having finished his examination nearly an hour prior. She seemed to be perfectly fine, so he left the two of them alone, and now she had nothing to do but wait. She couldn't help but stare intently at the beautiful stranger, her eyes wandering from her striking blond locks to her supple lips which would part every time she took a breath. She felt the heat rise in her cheeks then, tearing her eyes away as she bit at her bottom lip. She shouldn't be staring like this, especially when she didn't even know the woman's name.
To her immediate relief, she heard the sound of footfalls approaching from behind, turning to face the visitor as a joyous smile spread quickly across her face. The younger Koopa approached with a skip in her step, her crystal blue eyes wide in wonder as she stopped before her and offered an innocent smile. She was dressed in the usual black dress she wore around the castle, her blond hair free from its usual bindings, flowing just past her shoulders.
"Hey mama, Kamek told me you were here with a visitor. Is she alright?" She asked inquisitively, turning her curious gaze to the sleeping stranger. Bowsette chuckled at her daughter's quizzical mind.
"Hello Junior, she's fine. She's just resting for now"
"Who is she?" came the obvious question, the young girl's eyes lighting up with glee as she turned back to her mother, "Is she your girlfriend?"
Bowsette's shoulders slumped at the question, raising one of her clawed hands to her face as she sighed heavily. Junior broke into a fit of giggles at the reaction, waiting patiently for a response.
"Et Tu, Junior?" Bowsette muttered, lowering her hand in time to see her daughter's expression morph into confusion.
"Huh?"
"Don't worry about it," she replied, understanding someone so young likely hadn't been taught that page in history yet, "No, she isn't my girlfriend. I don't yet know who she is, she appeared in my bed chamber through the mirror Princess Peasley gifted to me"
"Ooooh! That sounds so cool!" Junior replied, jumping up and down as she turned back to the stranger. The Koopa Queen smiled wider at her daughter's innocence, chuckling as she replied.
"Yes, I suppose it does"
Peach awoke to the sound of unfamiliar feminine voices, which only served to make her body freeze in terror. She'd been kidnapped enough times to quickly gather her bearings, however, focusing her groggy mind on waking up and putting this puzzle together.
Thinking hard, the last thing she remembered was making a wish with her mirror. The next thing she knew, she awoke here. Opening her eyes ever so slightly, she scanned the room for any clues on her whereabouts. It was then she noticed the two women chatting beside her bed, realizing these were the voices she heard before.
"So, Junior, learn anything interesting from Kamek's recent lessons?" The taller blond asked with a look of pure joy spread across her features. It was obvious to any outside observers that she very much enjoyed the company of her child. It warmed Peach's heart to see such a bond between parent and child.
Thinking about it, that question alone answered a few questions for her but raised several others. If Kamek were here, she must be at Bowser's castle. But then who were these women, and why did they each wear a crown?
"She taught me a bit about the Mushroom Kingdom's history, and about the importance of positive relations between neighboring kingdoms!" The young girl replied with a proud look on her face, "don't worry mama, I'll make you proud when I become Queen someday!"
She? Last Peach checked Kamek wasn't a woman, and what was that last part? Positive relations between the Darklands and the Mushroom Kingdom? Just what was going on here?
"You already make me proud, Junior. I have no doubt that you will do great things" the other woman replied tenderly, causing the young girl to turn away with a blush staining her cheeks. Her eyes locked with Peach's then, causing them both to widen.
"Mama, look! She's awake!"
Peach sat up then, bringing her hands to her chest and clasping them together as she looked between the two with curiosity and worry. She'd have rathered learn more about them before they discovered she was conscious, but nothing could be done about it now. The other woman turned to her then with a similar expression of curiosity, leaning forward in her chair as she spoke.
"Glad to see you're finally awake. We were quite worried, and you've proven to be quite the puzzle, miss…?"
They didn't know her name? She didn't expect that. Then again, she may not even be a captive. She was pulled into the mirror, who knew where it possibly dropped her off. Deciding not to jump to any conclusions, she lowered her arms and took a deep breath, responding with as much regal authority as she could muster.
"I am Princess Peach of the Mushroom Kingdom. And you?"
For a long moment, both women simply stared at her in silence, the older of the two raising an eyebrow as she leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. Peach swallowed nervously at their reactions but kept her face straight so as not to alert them to her inner feelings.
"I am Queen Bowsette of the Darklands," she replied, gesturing to the smaller girl with one of her clawed hands, "and this is my daughter, Bowsette Jr."
"Queen Bowsette?" Peach muttered in question, eyeing the two with suspicion, a bout of worry bubbling in her gut for the missing Koopa King, "where is Bowser, what have you done with him, and why have you taken his name?"
"Why have you taken the name of the Mushroom Kingdom's ruler?" Bowsette shot back, a playful smile coming to her lips. Peach raised her own eyebrow at that.
"I am the Mushroom Kingdom's ruler"
"Then you've grown far more beautiful since the last time I've seen you, your majesty," Bowsette replied with a purr, causing redness to spread across her cheeks, "in all seriousness, the ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom is Prince Peach. He is a friend of mine, so I'd like to think I'd recognize him were he to suddenly appear in my castle"
"He?" Peach muttered in response, looking lost as she tried to put the pieces together in her mind, "King Bowser is the ruler of the Darklands, alongside his son and the Koopalings"
"Interesting," Bowsette whispered, looking deep in thought. She seemed to be examining Peach then, a look of recognition lighting her eyes.
"Most interesting indeed"
"Mama?" Junior questioned, turning to see the look of wonder spread across her mother's face.
"I have a few theories, Junior," she explained, keeping her gaze on Peach, "Tell me, Princess, who is the ruler of the Sarasaland Kingdom?"
"Princess Daisy, of course," Peach replied, beginning to form her own theories as well. Had her wish rewritten the past, causing history to change, and thus everyone was now different? Or had the mirror rewritten reality itself? Perhaps it even flung her into another reality altogether, separate from her own. The possibilities were endless.
"Do you know a red-clad plumber named Maria?" Bowsette questioned, causing Peach to shake her head.
"I know Mario, and his brother Luigi"
"I see," Bowsette replied, bringing a finger to her lips, "Did you by chance make a wish upon a mirror gifted to you by, I would assume for you, Prince Peasley of the Bean Bean Kingdom?"
"I did" Peach answered, causing the Koopa Queen to nod as she stood from her seat. She approached the side of her bed, offering a clawed hand to assist her to her feet.
"I may have an idea of what's going on here, though perhaps we should meet with my royal advisor before we discuss it further. This information may prove invaluable to her research into the mirror, and may give us the answers we seek"