The final chapter! It's a bit later than I wanted it to be, but I've been busy lately. Hope you like it!
Kamek made them re-appear in the lab – which he had clearly emptied for this occasion. It was much the same as it was last she last saw it, with the strange pod sat behind them and a plethora of power-ups on the workbench in front of them.
Reassurance from everyone had helped Bowsette, but she was still in turmoil. Albeit, for a slightly different reason than she was previously.
"Bowsette..." Kamek interrupted her thoughts. "Before I carry on, I just wanted to... say something."
Bowsette nodded. The aged koopa readjusted his glasses. "Not as your advisor, or your head magikoopa, but as the person who raised you. Someone who cares about you."
He looked up, seeing that Bowsette was still focused intently on him and carried on, unused to being this open. "I know everyone else has already tried to encourage you and give you guidance, but I wanted to offer my perspective.
"I've known you your whole life. I may not have been the best when it came to emotions – mine or other peoples – but I have seen how you have changed throughout that time. How you faced the expectations that were pressed upon you, how dealt with your own emotions. Since this," Kamek vaguely gestured to Bowsette and the power-ups on the workbench. "In the few days you were here afterwards and just now, seeing you with everyone, I've never seen you so... open.
"So – if I may add my voice to the choir – know, that I will support you, with whatever you think is best for you. And, don't let the expectations of your people influence your personal decisions."
Bowsette pulled the magikoopa into a hug.
"Thank you, Kamek." She whispered. "Thank you for always being there for me."
Once she pulled back, Kamek straightened his posture. "Well, that is my duty, is it not?" He muttered bashfully. Bowsette just smiled at him.
A moment passed, before Kamek turned their attention to their reason for being here.
"Right, well, I'm sure you're curious why this happened in the first place." Bowsette and Junior both noticed Kamek slip into his more comfortable role of scientist and magikoopa. "I must say; the data retrieved from this is also extremely useful, especially in finding out why our experimental powerup didn't work..." He looked over to Bowsette. "Though I suppose we won't be needing it for our intended purpose any longer?"
Bowsette shook her head with a small smile.
Kamek shrugged, loosing no enthusiasm. "Oh well, good research is its own reward. The power-up may also be useful in different ways – if tweaked slightly."
Kamek glanced at Bowsette, expecting her to have tried to hurry him along by now, but she simply stood there patiently.
"Anyway, to the matter at hand; you were holding both the experimental power-up and the Super Crown power-up -" he gestured to the two, which sat on the workbench in front of them, "When you activated said experimental power-up. Analysis of your blood and further investigations into the properties of the power-up have led to the conclusion that the power-up – coupled with its interaction with the Super Crown – is what gave you this form."
Bowsette nodded, as Kamek then turned to face the pod machine behind them. "The explosion – as I'm sure you remember – then sent you flying back into the rejuvenation pod. The energy released from the blast then super-charged the pod, activating it, and thus making the effects permanent."
"Ah." Bowsette muttered. "So what does the experimental power-up actually do, then?"
Kamek suddenly looked nervous. "Well, you see... The Super Crown was what made you human – partly – as well as giving you the blonde tips of your hair... However, analysis of the effects of the experimental power-up has led us to the conclusion that..."
Kamek visibly steeled himself with a huff. "We've come to the conclusion that the power-up gives the user a form... A form of their own preference."
Bowsette's eyes bulged, her heartrate spiking at the implications.
"So, it seems, that you – through the power-up – are the reason that you became a woman."
The thundering realisation struck her into silence, allowing Kamek to mutter a final "Well, as far as our data suggests, anyway."
Bowsette felt her eyes tearing up again, but she blinked rapidly. 'No, I've cried enough today.' Her heart was still beating fast, but she felt... Lighter with the knowledge.
Yet, at the same time, she only felt validated – which was a nice feeling – but she felt that the data was only telling her something she already knew, something she'd been afraid to face.
"Oh."
Junior chose then to chime in. "So, you always wanted to be my Mama, Mama?"
Kamek rushed to interject. "I must clarify, that we aren't sure how deeply rooted the preference must be for the power-up to latch onto it; the mind works in strange ways, beyond our current understanding, after all. However, I believe that you may have reached your own conclusions as to how deep your desire to be like this actually might be."
Bowsette nodded. Yes, she'd realised a lot about herself in the past few weeks.
"So... what happens now?"
Kamek blinked, his brain taking a moment to catch up to what she meant. "Well, that's entirely up to you. This is your future, after all. We can restore your body back to its old form should you wish – all you need to do is use this power-up-" he gestured to another power-up that looked similar to the original experimental power-up "-then you would need to use the rejuvenation pod to make it permanent. Or, you could do... well, anything you want to do."
"So, if I used that power-up, it would turn me back into my old form, but only temporarily?"
The magikoopa nodded. "If you did not then use the pod, then yes."
She picked up the power-up. She could use it – she considered – just to see, just to confirm what she expected she would feel back with her old body. It would only be temporary.
Her finger hovered over the button for a second.
Then she put it back down.
"I don't need to confirm something I already know is true."
She breathed out heavily, a chuckle of relief slipping out as she did so. This whole time, she'd been dreading returning, dreading this coming to an end. But it didn't have to end.
"This is who I really am."
Junior and Kamek both smiled at her. Junior jumped into her arms.
"I only want you to be happy, Mama."
She kissed him on the head. "Thank you for supporting me, kiddo. And you, Kamek." She chuckled again. "I feel like a massive weight has been lifted off my shoulders."
The magikoopa smiled. "I'm glad. Though, even if you had decided to turn back, there wasn't much to worry about; the change is easily repeatable."
Bowsette groaned. "The relief come more from the realisation than the decision itself, Kamek."
"I know!" He huffed defensively.
The three left the laboratory soon after, returning to Bowsette's room. They knew what needed to come next, but Bowsette and Kamek reached a silent decision to let them all unwind for a while before that. Allow them to approach the next hurdle with clearer heads.
So they settled, had some food and caught Kamek up on the events of the past few weeks – with Bowsette being expectedly shy and vague on the details of her and Peach's relationship. But, after a while, Kamek decided it could be put off no longer.
"Your Majesty," Kamek had waited for a long enough lull in the conversation to change the topic.
"At some point, the kingdom will need to be updated on the... events of the past weeks."
Bowsette sobered. "Yes... Yes, they do." She thought for a moment, taking a deep breath. "How soon can we arrange for me to give a public announcement?"
Kamek bowed his head slightly. "I was just about to suggest that course of action; I think we could arrange for a speech in an hour? Given in the courtyard and broadcast on the news?"
Bowsette's heart rate picked up, the proximity putting her ill at ease. "Y-yes, that should be enough time to think of what to say. The sooner the better, right?"
Kamek nodded, giving a reassuring smile. "In this situation, I would agree. I shall make the necessary arrangements." He rose, getting ready to teleport away. "But, Bowsette? Don't worry too much, the kingdom will support you in this."
She sure hoped so...
Nearly an hour later, Bowsette stood with Kamek and Junior next to the doors that led to the courtyard balcony.
The balcony overlooked the castle's main courtyard. It was a common location for public addresses such as this one. It was usually well populated during such events, but the unusual absence of the royal family over the past weeks, coupled with the mysterious circumstances of the address, meant that it was currently packed with citizens of the Koopa Kingdom. All major press outlets awaited the news alongside the eager public.
Even though she had expected the increased attention, it didn't make the larger crowd any less daunting.
While Kamek had been rushing to organise the address, Bowsette had been planning what to say with the help of Junior. The plan was to have Kamek introduce them and both Junior and Bowsette would go out together – both to help convince the public who Bowsette was and to show Junior's support for his mother.
The agreed upon start time was reached and Kamek stepped through the doors onto the balcony. The noise of the crowd died down.
"People of the Koopa Kingdom." Kamek spoke into the microphone with the ease of someone who had been introducing royals his whole life. "As I'm sure you are aware, the royal family has been away for some time. The details of this absence have been few. But our royals have been through a great deal in that time and they have faced… significant change. We have kept this from you while they faced these changes themselves, so they could stand before you with clarity. All they ask is your support."
Murmurs rose in the crowd while Kamek looked back at Bowsette and Junior, who were currently hidden from the crowd's view. He shushed the crowd and carried on speaking.
"It is not my place to explain these events to you, however, so I shall stand aside and present to you: the Royal Koopas."
The wording felt clumsy to most people's ears, but it served its purpose of not directly mentioning nor gendering Bowsette – raising more questions.
The crowd cheered as Kamek stood back, making way for the two koopa royals. They were mostly replaced with sounds of confusion, however, when they saw the unfamiliar figure of Bowsette.
Her head was swimming, her heart thumping, her throat dry. This was it, no turning back now.
She cleared her throat. "Citizens of the Koopa Kingdom. Alongside Bowser Junior, I'm sure you were expecting a tall koopa king to be walking out to address you. So, you must be wondering who I am."
The crowd murmured once more, while Bowsette steadied her thoughts. They were expecting to see their king. But they – like her – had to face the truth. They didn't have a king.
They had a queen.
And she was Queen Bowsette Koopa.
A newly born confidence burned in her chest. "The truth is, you never had a king." Confusion and shock threatened to drown out her words, but she pushed through, unwavering in their challenge. "Your ruler faced a side of themself that they never dared to before. They faced a great change that overwhelmed them, but allowed them to look themself in the mirror. To see who they truly are. To see who they truly want to be."
She stood straighter, prouder. Junior reached out – very deliberately – for her hand. "And the truth is? The person they really are – the person I really am? Well, you're looking at her. I am Bowsette Koopa, Queen of the Koopa Kingdom."
There was a slow silence as people figured things out in their heads. Junior interrupted, fulfilling his role. "This is my Mama. Everyone used to think she was my Papa, but she is actually my Mama."
Like the information had all clicked into place in everyone's heads at the same time, everyone present broke out into cheers and applause.
Bowsette's heart burst at the support, her smiling face turning between Junior, Kamek, and her people.
The cheers grew, the voices coalesced into one name "Queen Bowsette!" They cheered.
The Queen basked in the support of her people and her family, until she needed to address further points. She gestured for the crowd to quiet.
"Thank you all for your support. It means so much to me, to know that my kingdom stands behind me. There is something else I need to say however."
Bowsette paused, choosing her words carefully.
"Much of my reign we have been at odds with the Mushroom Kingdom, due to... actions on my part. But, in our break Junior and I lived in the Mushroom Kingdom.
"We spoke with Princess Peach. Properly, as equals. We've put our past behind us and decided to start our relationship anew." She pointedly avoided the word "friendship" due to the important detail it missed. Bowsette realised that thinking of Peach had brought a grin to her face, but she ignored it for now.
"I know our kingdoms can do that too. We will be stronger together – as friends – than we could ever be apart." Bowsette finished speaking to applause. She and Junior bowed their heads in thanks, before returning inside.
There may be details that needed to be clarified over time, she thought, but the main points had been put across.
"That was a great speech, Mama!" Junior bounced on his toe claws. "I'm so proud of you!"
"Likewise, Bowsette. You were great out there."
Bowsette picked up Junior, giving him a hug. "Thank you. I couldn't have done that without both of you."
Kamek blushed, while Junior beamed. "We'll always be by your side, my Queen."
The Koopas didn't stick around the castle long. They quickly made preparations – after the castle staff had both congratulated and doted on Bowsette – before setting off.
With Bowsette in one clown car and Junior in the other, the duo set off to Peach's castle.
Disregarding subtlety – because that would defeat the point – the two flew right over Toad Town, before landing at the castle gates.
The Mushroom Kingdom has almost certainly seen her address, so everyone definitely knew who she was. Regardless, the two toad gate guards greeted her warmly.
Before Bowsette could request an audience with Peach, however, the castle gates burst open.
"Bowsette!" Peach ran up to the redhead, hugging her tightly. "I'm so proud of you!"
"We're all proud of you." Daisy added, as her, Luigi and Mario walked up to join them.
The couple loosened their embrace, wrapping their arms around each other's waist. "Thank you all, so much." Bowsette grinned.
Peach squeezed her girlfriend closer.
"Of course," Daisy smirked back. "We'll always stand by someone badass enough to come out like that."
Luigi nodded along bashfully. "Yeah, mine wasn't, aahhh... quite as impactful."
Daisy swooped in, pecking the plumber on the cheek. "And there's nothing wrong with that, sweetie. Besides," She added. "You were really young."
While he blushed, Bowsette disentangled from, Peach, stepped forward and picked the green plumber up into a hug.
"Thank you, Luigi, for all of your help and advice; you're the bravest plumber I know." The koopa then stuck her tongue at Mario, though he simply nodded in agreement.
"Yeah!" Junior shouted, running to also hug the two; which Peach, Mario and Daisy then took as a cue to join the group hug.
"Ah!" A voice called as the hug broke. "I see you've returned! That was a brilliant speech, Bowsette."
"Thank you, Toadsworth." Bowsette stepped back so she could more easily look at everyone. "Actually, now that you're here, there's something I wanted to ask you all."
Everyone looked back quizzically.
"Well, I've stayed here for so long; it's only fair that I treat you all to a stay in my castle!" Bowsette put her hands on her hips, puffing out her chest. "The most beautiful castle in the Koopa Kingdom, as well as the best chefs in the land!" She gestured towards the clown cars. "Whaddya say?"
The group exchanged looks, before turning back to the redhead. Peach stepped forward, reaching for Bowsette's hand. "Sounds fun."
"Yay!" Junior cheered, grabbing Peach's other hand.
And there we go! There will be an epilogue at some point (it'll probably be a while) which will hopefully tie up a few loose ends (and be fluffy), but the story is done! I hope you liked it and I'd love to know what you thought!