Chapter 25 Diplomacy

The door to the dining hall closed shut slowly, sending a creaking sound echoing through. Bowser took a seat at the head of the table and faced the Princess. He could see that the facade of serenity that she had been wearing fell away. Her eyes were glimmering with tears, yet at the same time her brow was scrunched up. She approached the King, her breathing slow and heavy. Mario stood beside her, facing the Koopa King with a certain air to him. Bowser leaned back in his chair.

"What is it that you guys want?"

Mario pulled the blue folder out from under his arm and faced Bowser. He approached him with a very cool air to him.

"We wish to reach a negotiation. A peace negotiation."

Bowser looked down at the folder. He picked it up cautiously. He sniffed it like it was a fragrant rose. He saw Peach and Mario give him confused looks, so he just opened it up. In it, he saw an official looking document. He eyed it, then gave Peach and Mario a raised eyebrow.

"What is this?"

"It's Celia Patch's birth certificate," said Peach. She approached Bowser, despite Mario's cautious looks. She somehow managed to put her serene expression back on. "It is legitimate proof that she was born in the Mushroom Kingdom. She is legally my citizen."

Bowser looked back down at the certificate. He turned it around one hundred and eighty degrees, eyeing the printed out font.

"Huh. Well, what do you know? She is."

Peach nodded, her eyes serious.

"So, here are the terms that I wish to negotiate." She cleared her throat. "If you execute the citizen who was responsible for rescuing my sister, then I will declare war on your kingdom. However...I will call it off if you let Celia go and cease with the kidnapping attempts, as well as the attempts to make me your queen."

Bowser felt a pang. The kidnapping attempts. That...that might be a problem. Unless…

Bowser smiled. The room suddenly seemed that much brighter as he grinned at the Princess.

"Okay, Peach. I will do that...however, I want something from you…."

Peach raised an eyebrow. Mario came closer, looking at the Koopa King cautiously.

"What is that?" he asked. Bowser continued to grin.

"If I do this….you take Junior on the weekends!"

The Princess and the plumber blinked multiple times. Mario even went so far as to clean out his ears. Peach stared at him, her eyes white.

"I'm sorry. What?"

"You heard me! I'll do this if you take my son on the weekends!"

Peach and Mario exchanged an incredulous look. Mario turned back to Bowser.

"Why the World Eight would she do that?" he asked. Bowser chuckled.

"Well, duh! Junior needs a mother, and Princess Peach is the perfect fit! She's caring, nurturing, and very smart too! She could teach Junior all sorts of great things; of that, I have complete faith!"

Peach shook her head, closing her eyes as she did so. She put her hand to her forehead, clearly trying to comprehend what Bowser was saying to her.

"Why...why would I do that? Why would I take the time to raise the child of the person who murdered my parents?"

Mario looked up at Peach in worry.

"Peachy, this is supposed to be a diplomatic meeting, remember?"

"Well, I'm sorry, but this is a legitimate point to bring up!" She pointed a finger at the Koopa King. "I don't owe you any favors! You're the reason why my parents died prematurely!"

Bowser's face fell. He rubbed his eyes.

"Peach...I did that to stop an invasion that your parents were planning. They wanted to wipe out my people."

That wiped the anger right off the Princess' face. Her complexion turned from boiling red to snow white in under a second.

"No...no, they wouldn't! My parents were good and righteous people! They would never do something like that! How can you even suggest such a thing?"

Bowser sniffed and started to slowly make his way toward the door. He gestured for the Princess and the plumber to follow him. He led them all down to the dungeon. Once there, he gestured toward the cell. Inside it was a brunette. scrawny human man. Peach grew about ten times paler upon seeing him. Mario looked confused.

"Who is that?" he asked. Bowser gestured toward the Princess.

"That is the assassin who your parents hired to kill me. You see, at first, when my spy informed me about the invasion your parents were planning, I dismissed it. After all, we had been at peace for over a century." A sad look filled his eyes. "However, as soon as this guy came to get me, I knew that what my spy was saying was true. And considering that they were refusing to listen to my negotiation attempts, I did what I had to do."

Peach stared at the assassin. She shook her head, unwilling to believe this.

"No. No! My parents told me that your Kingdom was trying to destroy ours! They told me that there had been riots and even shootings!" Peach's eyes filled with tears. "Was...was that all a lie?"

Bowser sighed. He started walking out of the dungeons, and the Mushroom People followed him.

"Unfortunately, I cannot speak for the actions that other members of my race have done in the past. All I can really do is mitigate the damage." He turned back toward the Princess. "That is all I really do; try to fix what is beyond repair."

Bowser chuckled, but neither of his two companions did the same thing. Peach even looked distraught, shaking her head like slowly from side to side.

"I can't...I can't believe this." Tears welled in her eyes. "And all this time, I thought you were the bad guys!"

Bowser nodded solemnly.

"It is rather messed up." Mario stepped forward.

"Of course, that doesn't excuse the blatant crimes that you have committed."

"No, you're right. However, I will be willing to move on as long as you accept my terms." He smiled at the Princess. "In fact, Peach, if you take Junior on the weekends, you could be a good model for him. You could teach him the good that your Kingdom has to offer. We could even establish a new peace treaty! One that will last through the decades! Deal?"

Bowser extended his hand. Peach looked at Mario, then back at the Koopa King. Finally, she sighed.

"Deal."

They shook on it. Bowser felt a giddy glee fill him.

"Thank you, Princess. That is all I ever really wanted."

AN: There is one chapter after this, so stay tuned! :)