I promise Bowser doesn't pass out at the end of this one.

Ow… What the hell happened?

Every scale felt as though it been pounded to a pulp. His entire body was burning and trembling. He could barely open his eyes, and when he did, the world was dancing to its own crazy tune. He blinked hard, but the world would not slow down, and he let his lids fall.

A wonderful melody graced his ears; "Oh, Mario… I always know I can count on you."

M…Mario? Bowser pried his eyes open. He cringed at the searing brightness, and at how his vision was still bobbing, but he could pick out the red/blue and pink shapes of Mario and Peach. They stood together. The stage? Where's the crown? Bowser tried to move a hand, but it was all but numb. He forced it to rise, and he would have screamed had he had a voice; a thousand tiny knives stabbed into his nerves. He let it fall, panting, squeezing his eyes shut.

"Since you got the Royal Sticker off Bowser's head, he should come to his senses," Peach murmured. After a few moments, she continued, "That was admittedly the scariest kidnapping I've ever been through from Bowser. He… really didn't say anything. He just kept me locked to the wall, and… he just stared at me. The entire time, all he did was stare… the look in his eyes…" Bowser's heart jerked at the sullen tone in her voice, forcing his lids to rise.

His eyesight began to clear up, allowing for him to make out stone around them. The walls had crumpled, and so had the part of the ground… but the spiked pillars that leaned against the fortification were from his castle. Was he at his castle? What had happened? His head hurt… He couldn't remember. Not anything beyond the crown plastering itself to his head.

The wavering shape of Peach padded over to the edge of the broken room, gazing downwards. "At least this is over. It's unfortunate that the Sticker Festival was interrupted like it was…" she turned to Mario, a smile lifting her features, "but at least we've got the Royal Stickers back. Mario, we essentially have the Sticker Comet back. Why don't you make the first wish?"

NO! Bowser shifted, trying to pull his arms beneath him. His mouth stretched open in a mute cry. You can't! Mario! Please don't! PLEASE! He tried to plead with them with his eyes, but they didn't even glance at him. They didn't care. They wouldn't listen. They wouldn't understand why Bowser had to make the first wish.

Mario held a brown book close to his chest, closing his eyes.

No, please… Bowser pushed his upper half up, hissing at the pain.

That got Peach's attention. She gasped, meeting his eyes. He tried widening them. Stop Mario! I need that! My voice was stolen!

A flash cut through his eyes. Bowser's mouth gaped open.

The cheers of Toads rang out. Bowser's lids flipped up with a gasp.

He was back in the bushes, watching the stage.

Mario and Peach stood atop it.

Next to them sat the Sticker Comet.

Mario's wish…

No, maybe he could still claim it. Maybe it was the first three. If he got up there…

"Citizens of the Mushroom Kingdom!" Peach called out, silencing the Toads with a wave of her hand. "I'm sure you all remember the terrible events that followed when Bowser touched and broke the Sticker Comet."

I did screw up. Damn it. He shook his head. There was no time. He had to pounce… soon… He just wanted to hear Peach's speech…

"Thankfully, Mario was able to repair it, along with the help of his newfound friend, Kersti. Together, they braved the power of the Royal Stickers, and gathered them all back. However, in the final confrontation with Bowser, Kersti gave her own life so Mario could win. I offered Mario his wish back up in Bowser's Castle… and he chose to wish for this all to reset." Peach wiped an eye. "He is truly our hero."

The Toads chanted Mario's name, laughing and whooping.

Bowser had to move, now.

He rushed onto the stage.

Sparkles flashed in his face, and he recoiled back.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" a female voice shrieked. Bowser found himself staring a silver crown— with eyes, nonetheless— in the… face? What? Whatever it was, it was giving him one of the nastiest glares he'd ever had the displeasure of being subjected to. "You're trying to touch the Sticker Comet again, aren't you! I won't allow it! You stay back from it!"

Bowser shook his head. He pointed to the Sticker Comet, then himself. I want to use its wishing powers. I want to get my voice back.

"Bowser?" Peach uttered his name as though it was riddled with thorns. "What do you want?" she asked, her voice bearing a subtle edge.

Bowser pointed to the Sticker Comet. I want the wish.

"You can't have that."

Bowser shook his head. He scratched his cheek. How do I tell her what I…? A burn trickled in the corners of his eyes. I can't tell her. He pointed to his throat and shook his head. He tried to speak, but nothing, of course, came out.

Peach took a step closer, leaning a little towards him. "What? What's wrong?"

Bowser attempted again to use words. Tears built in his eyes. He rubbed them away. He wasn't a baby. He wouldn't cry over the fact this his voice; his best form of communication, had been taken from him through no fault of his own.

Her face dropped into a scowl. "Bowser, please use words."

I can't. Bowser swallowed, taking deep breaths. He shook his head.

"Why not?"

Bowser stomped a foot towards her, stretching his jaws open as if he could still roar. I can't, damn it! He panted, his chest heaving. The paper. He pulled it out of his shell, wiping his previous message off. Using his claw, he carved out four words, 'Voys stolin cant tak'. He turned it so she could see.

She leaned closer to the paper, squinting her eyes and touching her chin with her finger. Her lips moved as she attempted to figure out his atrocious handwriting (and probably spelling). Her eyes widened. "You lost your voice? You mean you're mute?"

Bowser nodded.

"Who took it?"

Bowser swiped it clean, writing, 'i dont now'. He showed it to her, and after he was sure she'd read it (she'd given a little nod, then bitten her lip) he rewrote another message, 'ned stiker comit wish'. He held it out.

"You want to wish for your voice back," Peach murmured. She nodded. "Of course you can do that. Why didn't you say something in the first place?" She shifted. "I'm sorry, I meant why didn't you use that," she waved a hand towards his paper, "earlier?"

Bowser hung his head. He scrawled out, avoiding her eyes, 'yu woldnt of lisind.'

"Um…" Peach pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "I'm sorry… your handwriting isn't…" Bowser nodded. He brought it closer to her, trying to ignore how she flinched back a little. Her eyes traced his words, and she mumbled them back to herself. Her face seemed to crumble. "Oh, Bowser… I would've listened. I wouldn't of turned you away."

Bowser snorted. Mario would've gone after me. He glanced towards him. The plumber already was poised to attack.

"Well, I don't care if you want your voice back," the crown scoffed, turning its (her, judging by the voice) eyes away from him; almost as if turning her back. "You're selfish, power-hungry, a troublemaker, and a monster."

Bowser flinched, holding back a wince.

"Try thinking of the needs of others, rather than yourself. You can adapt."

The paper fell from Bowser's hands. He blinked hard, pushing back the burning falls. He bared his fangs. How dare you! I'm not being selfish! He swiped to grab the crown, but Peach stepped up to shield her. He recoiled back before he could touch her. She picked up his paper and handed it out. He took it, swallowing and ducking his head. Sorry… I almost hit you.

"Kersti," Peach turned to face the crown, drawing her attention. "You can't find much fault in Bowser this time. Most wishes are selfish, and all of us have them. Including you, I, and even Mario. Everyone wants at least one thing for themselves, but that doesn't make it bad. Bowser isn't going to wish for me to love him back, or for Mario to die or the Kingdom to automatically become his. He didn't do that the last time he got his hands on a wish-granting item, and he had nothing stopping him."

Bowser shifted, holding his paper close to his chest. Yeah… that's because I want you. I want you to love me all on your own or else it's not real. And if Mario's going to die, I want to do it with my own two fists. He didn't dare write that out. Instead, he scratched, as small as he could, 'i didnt now or men for that to hapin i just ned voys bak.'

The crown, Kersti, peered over Peach's shoulder, seemingly taking his words into consideration. Her eyes scrunched up. "Stickers, who taught you how to write? Your handwriting's terrible, and your spelling is even worse!"

Bowser snorted a puff of smoke. I know that. Shut up. He didn't like writing, so he didn't do it. Simple. Just stay out of my way so I can get my voice back.

"You didn't mean to, huh?" Kersti shot him a flat-eyed look. "Yeah, okay, but you're out of luck. The Sticker Comet only grants one— only instantly grants one wish when it makes landfall, and that's given to the first one to make a wish. Mario already did it. You're out of luck."

No. No, that's not true. He snapped his teeth at her, as of a form of protest rather than aggression. Mario's wish made everything reset, so the wish was still there for the taking. It had to be. He stomped over to the Sticker Comet, standing right in front of it. He shoved his paper away. He sucked in a breath, gazing into the thing's brilliant core. I wish I had my voice back. It was stolen, and I didn't even do anything to the thieves. I just want it back. Please, please, give me my voice back. I can't live without it.

Bowser watched it.

Nothing.

Maybe his voice…?

Hello? He tried to say.

His chest cracked. No… Tears accumulated. No! Please! I wish for my voice back! I want my voice back! PLEASE GIVE IT BACK! PLEASE! He grabbed his arms, just preventing himself from seizing the Comet all over again. He wanted to shake it, he wanted to hit it and scream at it. But he couldn't. He couldn't touch it without breaking it, and he couldn't make a sound. He couldn't, and he wouldn't ever.

"Bowser?" Peach checked. "Are you okay?"

He backed away, his tail slumping between his legs. His foot nearly slipped off the stage, but he just managed to correct his balance. He shook his head. Peach… it didn't work. Attempting to talk to her only punctuated it. He sunk onto his tail. I'm going to be mute for the rest of my life. How was he supposed to do anything with himself? How could he live without talking? Without uttering another word? Drops fell from his eyes. He covered his face, his body shaking. Damn those human bastards! Damn them!

"Oh… oh, Bowser…" Peach was by his side. She put a gentle hand on his arm. He jerked his head towards her, and she stumbled a step back. Bowser bit his tongue. He turned his attention down to the floor. He half held out his arms, sniffling.

Please? Just this once?

After a moment, Peach came into his embrace, wrapping her arms around his midsection. He held her close, waterfalls spilling from his cheeks. Mario came over, siting next to Bowser and putting a hand on his leg.

"I'm so sorry, Bowser…" Peach murmured. "I'm so, so sorry."

Bowser held her tight, cascades showering down his cheeks. He turned a glare up towards the sky. ARE YOU HAPPY, YOU FREAKING HUMAN BASTARDS?! YOU'VE RUINED MY LIFE! YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERYTHING! His head dropped. They couldn't get away with it. He wasn't going roll on his back and let it slide. He was going to figure out a way to get to their world, and he was going to slaughter them all.

Bowser sniffed, gently pushing Peach away and wiping away his tears. He raised his head, baring his fangs. Nobody messed with the Koopa King and got away with it.

See? He's still awake!

I hope I was able to capture Kersti alright. I admittedly haven't seen Sticker Star's 'meat', and only have watched the buns; the beginning and end. Soo, I don't know too much about her personality... Yeah, I was lazy and didn't see more stuff on her. Eh, it's Sticker Star. Does it matter?

Maybe I should invite (this) Bowser to come to my ASL class. Kamek should probably come, too, and then he could teach the rest of the castle. D'you think my teacher would mind if I brought them in? Lol :P