Heya, sorry it's been so long (and that this chapter is kinda short), I've just been a bit slow and struggling to write parts of this. I'm over some hart to write scenes, so hopefully the next update will be sooner. Hope you enjoy!
Dinner the night before had went really well, Bowsette mused. Everyone was present and there seemed to be very little awkwardness. Mario and Bowsette were starting to get on after their talk earlier and the tension between Mario and Peach seemed to have gone completely. Daisy still seemed unsure of the koopa woman and Luigi was a bit awkward – or was he always like that? – but it was nothing major.
So, the next day, she had awoken ready for the day ahead. Which would serve her well, as it was the day of the tourney.
Shortly after she had awoken, Junior had burst into her room, excited to get ready for the day ahead. They got ready and promptly went to have breakfast with the others.
After the meal, where everyone was feeling particularly competitive – except for Luigi, though Daisy was reassuring him he'd do well – the group headed down to Mario Motors to sort their karts or bikes.
Mario Motors always had a wide selection of vehicles to choose from, which helped racers choose one that best suited them and to ensure that everyone was on even ground; after all, if they all used their own karts and customised them themselves, then Peach, Daisy and Bowsette would always have an edge purely from being the richest members of the group.
So, they all chose and adequately modified their vehicles – to specification – and set off for the track.
They raced into the evening, across various different tracks, trading competitive smack talk between races.
Throughout it all, Bowsette was relieved at how naturally they became at ease with each other. When they raced before, they still got along to an extent – though, with Mario and Bowsette, it was more that they tolerated each other – but there was a reservedness there, that wasn't present anymore.
She was glad for it, not just for herself, but for Junior too; he seemed to be getting along well with Luigi and Daisy, on top of his already good relationship with Peach. She'd be giddy if she didn't have a reputation to maintain.
Her happiness from that, however, didn't manage to hold back her annoyance at not winning.
"No fair!" The koopa woman screamed as she crossed the final finish line, seconds after Peach.
"I won!" The princess declared as she dismounted her bike, with a sweetness and surprise that had to be fake.
Peach, Bowsette and Mario had been fighting for first place for the whole tourney, with only a few points between them. In the end, however, Peach came first, with Bowsette in second, then Mario, Daisy, Junior and Luigi.
Bowsette grumbled in annoyance, but her attention was drawn to the scene beside her.
"Congratz, Kiddo! You beat me!" Luigi cheered, patting Junior on the back.
"Yeah!" The koopa bounced with joy, "Thanks Mr Luigi, that was fun!"
Daisy chucked at the two, linking hands with Luigi. "Maybe next time you'll beat me, eh?"
The three carried on chatting, but Bowsette turned her attention to Peach and Mario, who were stood not far from her.
"Congratulations, Peach!"
"Yeah, congratulations, Peach – but I'll beat you next time; I'm still getting used to this body, so next time I'll have mastered it!"
The two rolled their eyes at her.
"Well, we'll see about that. But thank you both."
"You showed them, Peach!" Daisy chimed in, the three joining the conversation.
"Yeah! I knew you'd win, Mama Peach!" Junior added, much to Bowsette's shock.
"Wait, what?! You knew she'd win?! You're meant to root for me!"
Junior crossed his arms, looking off indifferently. "Well, sometimes who I support changes after being hit by a red shell."
Bowsette shook her head, grumbling. Everyone else simply chuckled at the two.
"Well, then. Shall we have dinner?"
Dinner was much livelier than usual. Everyone was still riding the adrenaline rush from racing, which meant that everyone was much louder than usual. The waitstaff didn't seem to mind; though the Koopa's didn't usually stay for the meal after the tourney – they weren't usually invited – the rest of the group was probably this excited normally, without the extra two.
Everyone was enjoying themselves, it seemed. Bowsette in particular was happy to be spending time with the group. Most of her "friends" were usually little more than either underlings or temporary partners in crime. To be able to let loose like this with others was a luxury she seldom had the opportunity to enjoy. It filled her with an unfamiliar warmth. She sat quietly for a moment – in her seat to the left of Peach, with Junior on her own left – simply allowing herself to treasure the moment as Luigi got uncharacteristically excited while talking about his most recent encounter with some meddlesome Boos.
Her reverie was broken, however, by a gentle tap on her right arm.
Turning her head, she met Peach's concerned gaze.
"Are you okay?" She asked softly, not wanting to draw attention or interrupt Luigi's tale.
Bowsette simply smiled a big, warm, stupid grin. "Never been better."
Peach returned the smile with one of her own.
Bowsette would always treasure that smile.
That night, Bowsette once again found herself looking at herself in the mirror.
She'd been so happy over the past few days, and she should be enjoying it. But she couldn't help the nagging feeling in the back of her head. The feeling that told her that this was all temporary.
She sighed, running her hand through her hair. 'Why can't I ever just be happy? Why's there always a catch?
'Why can't I just always be like this?'
Bowsette met her own eyes as they bulged slightly in surprise. The thought caught her by surprise, though it wasn't entirely unexpected – similar thoughts had been popping up from time to time, but this was the first time they were so well articulated.
A look of pained confusion crossed the face staring back at her. 'What does it mean?'
"Heya, Bowsette, what's wrong?"
The koopa in question raised her head at the question, rubbing her eyes before facing the voice.
"Tired." She groaned.
Daisy sat down across from her. "Oh? How come?"
"Couldn't sleep."
Daisy laughed, "Yeah, I figured."
Bowsette looked on semi-vacantly. Before she could drop her head back onto the table, however, Daisy spoke up again.
"Seriously, are you alright? There was something I wanted to talk to you about."
The koopa attempted to rub the sleep out of her eyes. "Hmmm..." She groaned, "I guess so; my thoughts kept my up all night. What did you want to ask?"
The princess sat forward resting her elbows on the table, fixing Bowsette with a serious look.
"I wanted to talk to you about Peach."
A mildly annoyed eyebrow quirked in response. "I thought I'd established that I wasn't going to kidnap her anymore?"
Daisy gave a wan smile, "I know, and I'm starting to believe you; that's not what I wanted to talk about."
Bowsette slowly perked up, fixing the princess with a quizzical, and mildly concerned, look. "What did you want to talk about, then?"
A scrutinising blue-eyed gaze is all that answered her.
"What? Is-is Peach alright?" Bowsette pressed, a hint of worry in her voice.
"She's fine." Daisy replied, her gaze softening. "You really like her, don't you?"
"W-what?!" Bowsette stuttered, "I-I don't know what you mean."
Daisy smirked. "Alright, you don't have to admit it – besides, it's pretty darn obvious at this point." The smirk faded, as the princess's face again morphed into a more serious one. "But, listen: I know all of us have gotten on the past few days – and maybe you're not as bad as I thought you were – but I'm still a long way from trusting you."
That stung slightly, but Bowsette couldn't deny that it was much better than she deserved.
"That said," Daisy continued, "Peach's thoughts are not mine and she's certainly starting to warm up to you – so if you hurt her, I will break every bone in your body. Twice."
Bowsette gulped.
"And know, that I'll be keeping a close eye on you until I feel I can trust you better."
"O-okay. I'd-uhh, I'd never hurt Peach, not again. Not intentionally." Bowsette felt a burst of hope and determination burst in her chest. "I know I've been a terrible person in the past, but I'm trying to move past that; no more being a villain, I'm just going to focus on being a good person and a good parent to Junior."
Daisy nodded, apparently convinced. "Alright, I think I believe you; luckily for you, Luigi seems to really think that you're a new person – Peach too."
Bowsette nodded, trying and failing to hold back her grin at the faith that both Peach and Luigi seemed to have in her.
"Just make sure that you're being genuine." Bowsette raised an eyebrow at that. "Make sure that Peach is seeing the real you."
Before either of them could continue, Junior and Luigi walked in, apparently taking about the best way to eat Cheep Cheeps. Luigi met Bowsette's gaze, giving her a knowing thumbs up before Daisy strode up to him to kiss his cheek and wish him good morning.
While Junior rushed up to her, giving her a morning hug, Bowsette couldn't help but wonder what the last five minutes were about.
I'm kinda sad I missed the two year anniversary of Bowsette...