to Knight25: Right, just realized you meant Bowser's growing powers, not his childhood growth (Chapter 8 review). Um, so, yeah, usually Kamek's the one using magic to make him grow. But: In Mario & Luigi RPG 3 (Bowser's Inside Story), he gets crushed by Peach's Castle (modified by Fawful) and almost dies. His weird body has some sort of emergency function that turns him giant to fight back. In the fourth RPG game (Dream Team), Bowser tries to eat meat to become giant, but finishes all the meat and didn't grow. Angry, he jumps into a bottomless pit... and becomes giant.

1) It could be a reference to the body function from Bowser's Inside Story. He might have remembered/learnt from that and became smarter, in a sense.

2) It could be a reference to Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, where there's a special Bowser segment where he can eat meat to grow like Mario with 'shrooms.

to reader567: it is. ...I'm just half-assed about it. (LOL.) I introduced her as Princess Booette in Chapter 4, had her call herself Queen Boo once in Chapter 10, and stuck with King Booette in Chapter 13. The reasoning for this is literally as I say... I'm just that half-assed about it. But yeah I'll make it Queen Booette now.

"Alright, guys! Ready to raid the first castle?" Yellow Toad asked. Rhetorically.

Luigi frowned. "Wait. Is it-a safe to skip all the adventures and just come-a straight to the first castle chapter?"

"It's fine, it's fine," Yellow Toad reassured. "Macbeth skipped straight from some random dude to a king and to being dead."

Peachette groaned. "Geez. Like I said, people won't understand if you randomly bring up random references from the author's own personal life experience!"

Their annoying comrade rolled his eyes. "You never said that."

"Just because it happened between the chapters doesn't mean it didn't happen!"

Mario cleared his throat. "Let's-a not fight again, okay?"

The two Toads sighed. "Fine."

Suddenly, the castle gate opened. A brunette popped her head out, wearing a blasted... (everyone gasps)... Super Crown.

"Yo, what gives?" the mysterious brown haired girl asked. "I saw you guys were arriving."

Luigi scratched his head. "S-sorry. A bit internal conflict-a here."

The girl smiled. "Well, that's alright. Come on in! You can solve all your conflicts in here." The heroes exchanged glances and nervously followed the brunette into the castle, making their way safely through the hall. "Right, so. I'm Goombon! Lord Bowser's trusty henchman! ...henchwoman now, I guess."

"...uh huh..." Mario mused.

"And, well. It's my job to defeat you guys, so! Let's get ready for a deadly battle to make my lord proud, shall we?" she suggested and turned to them.

Yellow Toad noticed they were standing on a bridge, and saw a golden axe at the end. "Whoa, hey. Cool axe."

Goombon's expression reverted to a friendly smile. "Oh, yeah! I know, right? His majesty sure knows his stuff about making cool castle bridges." She pointed to the axe. "If you'd like, you can go look at it closely, too!" she said.

Mario and Luigi exchanged glances, then went with Yellow Toad and Peachette to the axe. Then the two brothers pretended to observe the axe while the two Toads began wondering where the gold used to make it come from.

The princessified Goomba grinned. "I know, I know. Amazing as always. Anyways, ready to battle?" she asked.

The four stared at Goombon.

...Goombon frowned. "Oh." She paled. "Wait. Wait... wait. You guys... you guys wouldn't be that unfair, right?"

Luigi sighed. "Yeah, it'd be a dick move to just-a-"

"Too bad," Peachette said and quickly pushed the axe lever.

Goombon's eyes widened as the bridge began collapsing under her. "W-wait! Wait! This isn't fair! His Majesty won't be very happy about this!"

To her dismay, she didn't manage to get off the bridge in time and fell towards the lava.

"N-noooooo-"

With a bloop, she disappeared into the lava.

Mario, Luigi and Yellow Toad gulped. "...you're-a ruthless," Mario muttered.

Peachette sighed. "Well, I mean, at most she'll just become a Bone Goomba, and another Magikoopa can always turn her back to normal." She looked at the ceiling with a frown. "Such is the way of life in this universe... the lack of complete death has made it so easy to commit such cruel acts."

"...that or you're a massive bitch," Yellow Toad muttered under his breath. Unfortunately, he was standing right next to Peachette.

"...hmmm?" the blonde clone voiced.

Yellow Toad paled. "Oh. Uh. Wait, Toadette. I, uh-"

Peachette picked Yellow Toad up and threw him into the lava.

"Toadette, you biiiiiiitch!" Yellow Toad screamed before he sank into the lava and disappeared.

Mario and Luigi gulped. "You're-a scary..." Luigi muttered.

Ignoring that remark, Peachette sighed happily. "Now I know why you guys always go on adventures... these really are fun!" she said joyfully.

No, it's because the princess keeps getting kidnapped... Mario thought.

She needs serious help... Luigi thought.

"What? Goombon already lost?" Lemmy said. A messenger Lakitu nodded, causing the Koopaling to sigh. "Man, what a disappointment. Oh well, time to get ready."

"Hm... take this!" Petal the pink Princess Yoshiette said and slammed the table. "Red +2, yeah!"

"It's called a Draw 2, loser," Bowser Jr. said.

"Draw 2, Mewtwo, whatever!" Magna the Princess Banzai Billette interrupted and slammed her card on the table. "I'm adding another green +2 to that and sending it to Princess Boo!"

"That's Queen Booette to you..." King... uh... Queen... um... Booette mumbled, and grudgingly drew four cards. "Can't believe we're playing fucking UNO on the second world rather than proceeding with our diabolical plans..." she said.

"Patience, young Jedi," Bowsette said and put down a green 8. "We must remain calm and clever if we do not wish to fall to the dark side."

Queen Booette stared at the blonde, unamused, whilst the others continued the game.

Chompie frowned. "Wait, aren't we technically supposed to be the dark side?"

"...yes, but the point is as the dark side we should be viewing ourselves as the good side..."

"The light side?" Petal asked.

"Yeah, something like that." Don't ask me, I don't watch Star Wars.

Eventually it became Petal's turn again. "Hmm... how about I use the +4 I've been saving up on you, Magna!" (No, it wasn't a question.) She proudly threw her secret weapon, the Wild Draw Four card onto the table. "I say blue!"

"Too bad, naive Yoshi," Manga said and chuckled. Then she threw down another Wild Draw Four card. "I also had a +4! Now this will be going to Princess Boo. I call red."

Queen Booette rolled her eyes. "I'll remember this..." she mumbled, and drew eight cards. "Your turn, Bowser."

Bowsette grinned. "Well, poor chap. It's time I shove despair in your face!" She placed down a red Reverse card. "I'm reversing this back to you! However- I also stack a red +2 to you!"

Perplexed by this stab in the back, Queen Booette glared at Bowsette, who stared back smugly. "I'll remember this too, bitch..." the ghostly princess muttered and drew two cards.

Meanwhile, amongst the Koopalings- who were seated a slight distance away from the table- that were discussing and playing with other toys, Wendy turned around. "Daddy-kins, can I join the game now?"

"Like I said, Wendy, kids shouldn't be gambling!" Bowsette replied back.

"Ugh, okay..." the female Koopaling muttered and went back to doing whatever she was doing.

Everyone didn't seem to care about that exchange except Queen Booette. "You told them UNO is gambling?" she asked. Before Bowsette could respond, she pointed to Bowser Jr. "You'd let that kiddo gamble?"

"Hey, I don't want to destroy anymore of her childhood with Wild +4 cards."

"...you could just... not use them on your daughter or sons."

Bowsette rubbed her chin. Then she shrugged. "Nah. Surely you jest."

Queen Booette groaned.