Chapter 7: Burned

After another uneventful walk home, Mario kicked off his shoes at the side of his door. Back to an empty house. Despite it being so long since Luigi moved out, it still felt odd coming home to such a quiet abode. Another day's work keeping the Mushroom Kingdom's plumbing up and running had left him smelling something awful, so it was nice to finally be able to wind down, especially considering the next day would hold another encounter with the dubious Demon Princess.

The showerhead sprayed a pleasant dribble of warm water over his face. His mind recalling back to the day's events as he lathered up. Changing out an entire system's worth of pipes had taken its toll for sure. His body ached from all the running around he had to do going from one water line to the next, draining one part of a valve so he could repair another, and to top it all off, one burst overhead, bathing him in what was perhaps the grossest bath he had ever taken. His loofah was completely misshapen by the end of it. His skin a bright red from how hard he had scrubbed to get the last of the foul odor out. Never before had a common work day been so labor intensive, though that was to be expected since dealing with Bowser always came before maintaining a set of pipelines. At least now things would no longer be so hectic, he hoped.

Having Bowsette to occupy the big king's time was definitely a blessing in disguise. One he regularly thought back to. He still felt a tad dirty for doing Peach so wrong, yet in his heart, he could feel Bowsette loosening up in his presence. Even now, he imagined the feeling of her arms around him as he wrapped his towel over his shoulders. Never had he come close to thinking they would get this far. Always shown to be a brute, now he saw a new side to the She-Koopa. A grace he never expected to find in someone so stone cold as Bowser. Sure, Mario had his doubts, but now, he could not help but feel attached to his mischievous mistress. One could dare say he began seeing her as a friend. Yet, as he dressed for bed, something still lingered in the back of his mind. Maybe...just maybe, "friend" could not fully describe the sensations swirling inside his heart. Perhaps it was that tingle he got every time he heard her say his name, or those moments he held her hand when everyone but Peach was present.

His fingers nervously tapped the sheets. Though he had been too nervous to ask, he often wondered if, upon Peach's return, Bowsette would cease to exist. How he hoped that would not be the case. Even as he sat alone at the edge of his bed reminding himself of what that girl really was, a part of him longed for her to stay. He had grown so used to her presence that he could no longer imagine a world without her. Knowing Bowser though, he would probably laugh in his face at such a silly idea. Bowsette on the other hand, he was not as certain. His phone lay on the nightstand. The questions running through his head wanted answers so badly, but his hands remained glued to the bed. After continuous attempts at convincing himself to call, Mario eventually gave up, dropping backwards onto his bed in a heap. His eyes losing themselves in the ceiling.

The overbearing silence suddenly broke at the sound of his ringtone going off. Mario shot up, grabbing his phone off his bedside table.

"Hello?"

Silence on the other end momentarily. A gruff female voice answered after a period of nothing. "Hey..." It was her without a shadow of a doubt.

"B-Bowser?"

"Can it plumber, I figured it out." she declared. "I see through your little game Mario. Trying to make me fall for you just so you could have Peach all to yourself. You really think I ain't that smart?"

Mario scratched his head. "Huh? What-are you talking-about-?"

"Oh, don't play coy shrimp, I know you set this up to be a competition from the very start! Now you're trying to seduce me all of a sudden with these visions of romance?"

"Err…" he was still at a loss and too tired to really think of much. "What...a visions?"

"You know..." There was a long pause before continuing her spiel. "...the stupid ones when you invade my dreams..."

Mario's eyes fluttered drowsily, unsure if he had just heard her properly. "Wah-?

"Just know I'm on to your tricks and your plumber's magic, because whatever you're trying to do, it ain't working!"

He could not help but grin slightly. His exhaustion momentarily suspended. "You've-a...dreamt of me?"

She grunted on the other end. "N-No! I mean yes! B-But not the way you're thinking! Play fair Mario, 'cause we had a deal, remember?"

He nodded nonchalantly. "We did." he agreed scratching his head. "By the way, what-do you want-a do tomorrow?"

Bowsette sighed through the receiver. "I heard Peach is gonna be checking with patrons around the Mushroom Kingdom, so we really only have to be seen together. Don't really need to do much."

"Stroll around-a the Kingdom? Meet-at the main square?" he asked.

She exhaled sharply. "Sure. Just no funny business this time, got it? 'Cause once I find that wand, or that mystical bottle of magic drain opener, I'm gonna kick your rear into next week-!"

"Bowsette?" Mario asked nervously. "When we succeed...will-a you disappear?"

A slight pause.

"Probably." she answered. "All this is to get Peach back, right? Isn't that what we want?"

Mario sighed deeply. "That's-a...the plan." An undertone of uncertainty in his voice.

"Then...there's your answer." Bowsette concluded. Another small pause was followed with "Why'd you ask?"

He anxiously tapped his phone. A sadness in his voice. "It's-a just...I'd-a miss you."

Another moment of silence. She was really biding her time with her words. "Don't be stupid." she replied. "I mean...I'm still gonna be around to terrorize you and your bratty princess, so..."

Mario sighed deeply. Now it was his turn to be quiet. Strangely, the cloud of gloom previously hanging above his head when in her presence now seemed to hang at the prospect of no longer having said presence.

"Wait a sec." she continued. "You're pulling that stupid magic trick again, aren't you?!"

He dropped to his bed looking a bit annoyed. "I don't-a know magic, Bowsette! I'm-a swearing I'm-a playing-a fair!"

The Koopa Queen sounded just as irked on the other end. "Hmph. Get me a bouquet of flowers and I might just believe you."

Mario yawned. What little energy remained was nearly depleted. "I swear, I haven't-a done anything." he muttered. "And if I did-a know magic, why would I use it-a to invade-a your dreams?"

"Boo-loney! You totally would just to torture your greatest foe!" she proclaimed.

His eyes were putting up the strongest fight to stay open. "I don't-a think it'd-a be worth it." he muttered.

Bowsette gasped. "What's that supposed to mean?! Am I not good enough for you-?!"

She stopped midway. Mario's eyes shot open. He slowly sat up in bed as if expecting to hear more. Not once did she make the effort to continue. Her throat sounded caught.

"This...this isn't-about-a Peach-anymore, is it?"

Nothing came from the other end. He was almost sure she had hung up. In a small, nervous voice, she replied. "J-Just...don't be late tomorrow...idiot."

Mario smiled warmly. "Goodnight, me-Bowsette." he said softly.

No response. A moment of silence was followed by a dial tone. Mario looked at his phone screen. Bowsette's face filled the ID picture slot with a photo the two had taken days prior. That demented, albeit somewhat goofy, leer frozen on her lips. He had grown so used to seeing it that it barely even bothered him anymore. One could say it was almost a welcoming sight. The moment he set his phone aside, the springs of his bed creaked in protest. It was Yoshi coming to see if he could sleep next to him. His large eyes begging his dear friend to let him stay. The plumber could not help but chuckle.

"Alrighty. But just-a for tonight."

Yoshi yelped excitedly, then circled his side to make himself comfortable. The green dinosaur pretended to already be asleep not long after. Mario sighed, pulling his sheets as best he could over his pal. With the possibility of rain in the coming weeks, Mario decided to leave the window closed. After a while, he too would eventually doze off.

With such a turbulent chain of events, Bowser stayed up late that night contemplating his options. No longer did he feel all that confident about his and Mario's little deal, especially after what happened with Junior. Doubt flooded his mind, recalling the extensive amount of work they had undergone to put differences aside. To really make their charade believable. Only now did he begin to question the cost. So much time, so close to their goal, and yet the repercussions were at last starting to present themselves. The last thing he ever dreamed of, the most unexpected thought to ever grace his mind, was quite possibly coming true. A budding friendship with his greatest foe was something he hated thinking could be remotely real. The thought of it developing into something even more intimate was the final straw. Such a thing would throw their entire chain out of whack. After all, they were supposed to be fighting over Peach. Now he lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling. The tiniest voice in his mind still wished this entire ordeal was real. The dates, the hours spent talking to each other, and every waking physical embrace. Had Mario really been aiming to get him out of his shell? Had he known something like this would happen? When would he take advantage of such weakness?

Did he…feel the same?

No. This could not come to pass. Mario was a despicable enemy that had to be stopped. Bowser was a King with intent to conquer. Peach was the damsel forever in distress. Those were their specifically molded, permanently designated roles. The way it was meant to be. And if this situation was truly getting out of hand, then maybe...maybe it was for the best for this grand illusion to end. Sure, Bowser would no longer feel the satisfaction of breaking Mario and Peach's romance, but at least everything would more or less remain the same. The way he wanted it. The way he had always known it.

The next day, Bowser readied himself for the date, swearing up and down that no matter what happened, he would shove any sign of weakness down his throat. He continuously reinforced the idea that opening up to his arch rival was utterly deplorable, degrading to the end. Donning the Super Crown, he went about adjusting straps, fixing cuffs, and tying hair up in a ponytail. This day, he was really putting in the extra effort to look nice to contrast how he felt on the inside. A lone fragrance bottle sprayed at her arms and breasts. Piranha Plant Dream. One of the pricier gifts he had poured so much of his earnings specifically for Peach. Never once did he think he would be using it on himself. Or herself in this case. His finest cleaners had put so much effort into polishing the dress, it almost looked as perfect as it did back on Isle Delfino. Glowing like an angel, but burning hot like a devil.

The Koopa Queen stepped before her large body-sized mirror. As Bowser, he eyed the reflection with the utmost confidence. Seething with wrath, frozen at the heart, purely evil. Such was what the burning fires in the dreadful beast's eyes put forth. After all, the end goal was to squash his foe like a bug after that Princess got off her high horse. The way it was meant to be. The way it had to be. Yet, despite his best efforts, the eyes staring back bore nothing of the sorts. The image of Bowsette withheld no weight of detest. No malice. No ill intent. She looked conflicted, yearning, and above all, miserable, as if tormented by what she knew she could not have, but desperately wanted. No. This was no longer simply a want. It was a need. That hurt. The pain of past rejections, of faulty passions, of loneliness, of jealousy. It was all there. Every insecurity Bowser ever had floated to the surface in the reflection's swirling red eyes. He knew he was long callused. Why was this alter ego showing him otherwise?

"Your Majesty?"

Kamek's voice pulled Bowsette back to her senses. From the doorway, he called. "Your Koopa Copter is ready."

She took one final look at the girl in the mirror before walking out of the room. "Thank you, Kamek."

Outside, a pair of Goombas eagerly awaited their master's arrival. Both stood on opposite sides of the castle's rear gate discussing one thing and the next, blissfully unaware of Bowsette's approach.

"Gentle-shrooms?" she uttered, and immediately the pair stood at attention. Their nonexistent hands at their foreheads. She walked between them to her awaiting pod. Her tail swinging behind her as she sashayed closer. She climbed aboard, gently clutching the edges. Though her face was confident, an aura of uncertainty yet lingered. It took her a full minute to finally bid her minions farewell. Once she did however, Bowsette climbed to the soot covered sky. Kamek did not stop his frantic waving until the Copter vanished into the horizon. He let out a heavy sigh before slowly making his way back into Bowser Castle. "Didn't even take his shell-phone with him." he muttered.

After both were out of eyesight, the Goombas proceeded with their gossip.

"And of course, we get stuck here while the rest of 'em get lunch breaks." one of them murmured.

"By the ways, did ya catch the tennis game last night?" the other said. "Ten ta' nut'n! Didn't even stop after the rain hit! That Waluigi kid's going places I tells ya! Not smash bruddas, but places."

So focused were they in their conversation that neither took notice of a large hooded figure slowly stomping towards them. It seemingly appeared out of nowhere. Its face completely bathed in an inky shadow away from sight. Such heavy footsteps could easily have matched the earth-shattering plodding of Bowser himself. At its side were two other much smaller figures donning eerily similar attire. All walked in a slow, rather intimidating looking row. Eventually, the larger of the bunch arrived at the gate. Its massive form casting a shadow over the two oblivious guards who only now noticed the new visitors.

The first to speak was the one with a bright pink protrusion at its back side. Granted, its words were more of a feminine whine. "Boss! Do we have to wear these itchy-itchy things?"

"'Eah, not gonna lie, I think mine's catching fire." added the other. The top of its head really was on fire.

The larger of the group angrily put a finger to its face, gesturing them to keep quiet.

Both Goombas stared at each other before one of them stepped to the plate. In a well rehearsed, albeit unenthusiastic, micro-speech, it said "Welcome to the Koopa Kingdom. Unless ya Peach, scram. If you're the Mario Bruddas, also scram 'cause we don't gots Peach. If you're selling art, we don't want any. Now scram."

No response. The large hooded being raised its arms up in the air, pulling back the sleeves to reveal a set of green hands. They began to glow in unison, and as soon as they did, one of the Goombas became trapped in a slimy turquoise bubble.

His companion screamed. "Hey! Who is ya- deuueaugh-!"

The Koopa Copter's propeller roared through the sky. Bright red hair trailed behind. Bowsette pressed on. Her sights transfixed in the distant Mushroom Kingdom. Past it was a thick collection of dark gray clouds. Flying might just become a hazard in later hours. Only more of a reason to return to her old ways.

Her fingers tapped at the white hull of the craft. Another thing inadvertently touched by Mario. Curse him in all his kindness. He deserved what was coming to him. It took more willpower than she thought, but eventually she began running her mind in a constant cycle. Bowsette forced out all the memories of the two together, trying to reminisce all the times the two fought. She was still Bowser on the inside, darn it! Every carefully jotted plan thwarted, every last infuriating defeat ran in a continuous loop. Each second only serving to tighten her grip around the edges of her vehicle. That rage, that dislike slowly crept back into her heart. It was working! For the first time in weeks, she finally felt like her old Koopa self again! Her teeth bared in a massive grin as she approached the front gates of the Mushroom Kingdom. Now Mario would know how awful the Queen of the Koopas could really be! After dismounting, she stormed through the main gates. Both her fists clenched with enough force to crush diamonds. Any and all patrons in her way were promptly shoved asunder. Oh, she was ready to take it to that miserable plumber.

Meanwhile, Mario was already awaiting his date at the Mushroom Kingdom's main square. It had already been a hectic day not being able to find Yoshi anywhere on his property despite him snoozing in the same bed. Adding to that, he slept past his alarm and just barely managed to make it to his designated spot on time. The last minute spent picking out flowers that a shopkeeper busily wrapped into an elegantly crafted bouquet. After every hour they had spent together, she surely must have started turning a new leaf. Keeping those thoughts in mind, Mario did his best to calm himself down as well as keep chipper for his partner's arrival.

As if on cue, she finally showed up. Her eyes in shadow. Her fists balled. The inside of her mouth glowing with a potential fireball awaiting deployment. When she saw him, her sharp teeth twisted into a familiar maniacal grin. One that craved absolute destruction. A dreamy eyed Mario took no notice. Not even when she towered over him, inhaling deeply while uttering his name. Just as it seemed she would let rip with full force however, Mario presented the bouquet to her with a massive counter-grin.

"Buongiorno, me-Bowsette!" he beamed cheerfully.

The flames within her jaws abruptly snuffed out. She immediately stopped. All she could do is stare at the little plumber now quietly awaiting a response. The heat in her mouth somehow climbed to her face. Her throat locking up. She stared at the bouquet. While not initially obvious, each flower appeared to describe a different aspect of Bowsette's personality; orchids to describe her exotic sophistication, some roses to depict her beauty and prickliness, and of course some fire flowers to compliment the fire in her eyes. Cheesy yes, but a clever concept just to sell the idea that much more. Regardless of how ridiculous it was, she still could not reignite the fury in her heart.

Any manner of malice swiftly escaped. All replaced by sweaty palms and a fast-beating heart. "A-Am I seriously finding this guy...incredibly charming?!" she whispered to herself. Before she knew it, the flowers were already in her arms. And their scent. That scent. Everything from her fantasies came flooding back like a river. She felt Mario grasp her hand tightly.

"Shall we?"

Oh, the butterflies. Her stomach was going wild with them. Desperately, her mind wrestled to find that angst, that hatred she felt earlier to no avail. Whatever spell Mario put on her, she was waist deep in it. His touch. His voice. Her heels made sparks on the street as her stiff form scraped along with Mario's pull. Eventually, she followed at his side. Words still struggled to form a coherent sentence.

"Ya know, you can stop with the fake smiles every time you see me." she murmured.

Mario grinned as they walked on. "Who said I was-a faking?"

Elsewhere in the kingdom, a preoccupied Peach tended to a dear friend as her posse of Toads followed along nearby. Having heard what was going on, Daisy had come all the way from Sarasaland to help with her companion's little dilemma. Much to the visiting princess's disapproval, Peach refused to keep her attention on the trading plans she had been setting forth for any more than a minute. It nearly became a chore merely keeping her focus.

"Alright, we'll establish that trade which should boost your kingdom's earnings, and I get these precious materials in return..." A Toad held a clipboard up to her face. She took it in her hands after she was done writing. "And your profits should look like this! More than enough for financial stability, right?"

"Huh? Y-Yeah, sure." An unconcentrated Peach agreed.

Daisy frowned. She nudged her friend's shoulder. "Oh, come on Peach! I came to help get your mind off things! The least you could do is stop worrying."

The pink princess jumped a bit. A hard exhale from her lips. "Sorry Daisy. I'm still a bit riled up." she answered. Her eyes scanned the clipboard. "Yes...that would be beneficial to us both."

Daisy rolled her eyes. "Relax, will ya? I already told you those rumors are nothing but a scare tactic for some loser's sick kicks. I'm not worried, and I don't think you should be either!" She put her pen on the writing board as her Toad tucked it under its arm. "Besides, you've got guards, a plumber, and me! Doesn't that count for something?"

Peach did her best to smile. "Of course."

Unbelievable. Even in the presence of her most trusted friend, she was still afraid. Not that it should have been too much of a surprise however. Up until recently, it was perhaps the lowest point of stability the Mushroom Kingdom had ever been in. Only after so many painstaking hours and interference from Sarasaland had things finally begun to prosper as meant to. Things were finally looking up for Peach, though knowing full well that another princess came to her aid, word around the kingdom claimed she was incapable of rule. Mutinous individuals no doubt, and Daisy knew all too well years of kidnapping had left her on thin ice. Still, the last thing she wanted was to see a lifelong trade partner go under, especially in the wake of Odyssey. And to think she was still reeling with the aftermath of turning Mario down only for him to show up days later with a different girl. A big, heaping pile of salt in an open wound for sure.

"I'm guessing you never got down to putting things straight with Mario, did you?" she asked.

Peach huffed. "What does it matter anyway? I've got more important matters to attend to!"

"Ya can't fool me, dear. I know it's still bugging you." Daisy retorted.

"Daisy." moaned Peach.

"Peachy." mocked Daisy.

Both came to a stop near one of the more elegant ponds with a bridge overhead. Crowded yes, but a more ideal spot for both of them to wind down for a moment. The pink princess brushed aside a lock of hair. Her brows furrowed in sadness. Softly, she asked. "Am I that obvious?" Daisy tapped her foot on the ground awaiting an inevitable word vomit. Peach sighed. "Is it me who's letting an opportunity pass me by? I'm supposed to be a Princess, Daisy! If this weren't happening all at once-"

"Would you go after him?" she cut in. "I mean, if it were me, I'd grab life by the horns to get what I wanted. And from what I've heard, you've been hounding him non-stop."

Peach held her arms together. Despite how professional she attempted to keep things, she admittedly had acted in a very unprofessional manner. She let her emotions claim her time and time again. Even after giving a firm 'no'. "I don't know." she answered. "I knew giving him the silent treatment was a bad idea from the start, but I was so fed up with them both I didn't know what else to say."

Daisy nodded. "Peach, don't be sorry for what you did." She rubbed her shoulders. "You needed space, and that was that! You're not seriously jealous over this whole 'new girl' thing, are you? You don't even know who she is!"

Quiet.

Mario trotted alongside Bowsette. Surprisingly, no sign of Peach just yet. The Koopa Queen bit her lip as they walked on. A canopy of thick trees covered the drowning sun above them.

"Hey uh, Italian stallion?" she asked. "I uh...I was thinking...maybe this whole 'going until the end' thing isn't the best of ideas after all."

He turned to look at her, perplexed. "Backing out on-a the deal?" he asked. "Have I done-a something wrong?"

She fumbled the bouquet in one arm. "N-No, It's just…I don't want things to get weird between the two of us is all."

"Weird?" he inquired.

It became increasingly difficult not to fall into his trap. Or so was her way of thinking. "Okay, look. You're trying hard to win Peach over, I get it, but does that mean you have to try swaying me too?"

Mario chuckled, irritating her more. He gazed up as the two came to a bridge overlooking a pond. "Bowsette." he uttered. "If I'm-a being too much, just-a tell me. I'm-a not trying to make-a you uncomfortable."

A puff of smoke came from her nostrils. "That's just it." she groaned. "You're not making me uncomfortable. It's uh...kind of the opposite. And I bet it's that magic drain-o you put in my food."

The two unwittingly stopped at the center of the bridge. He seemed rather perturbed. "Why...why would-I do that, me-Bowsette?"

Her face slowly flushed, though more in a steamed embarrassment, refusing to meet his gaze. She had struggled so hard to keep her cool up to this point. Now however, she was finally beginning to break. "To make me like you, of course! Why else would I have these stupid daydreams of you and your stupid face?!"

Mario's eyes went wide. Hers followed suit. Not knowing what else to do, she pulled the flowers over her face.

"D-Don't look at me, you imbecile!"

He slowly walked over to her, pulling the bouquet away. Her face looked as red as her eyes at this point. The faintest attempt to growl only added to her unthreatening demeanor. Regardless of how showy her dress was, it was blatantly apparent that she was sweating as his face drew close.

"Bowser?! That scantily clad, and dare I say drop dead gorgeous, woman is that oversized tub of a gecko?!"

Peach frowned. "Did you really have to call her 'drop dead gorgeous'-?"

"That no good, pasta-worshipping pile of parmesan! No wonder you've been so angry about this!" cried Daisy.

A blond strand of hair drooped over Peach's face. She blew it away as she buried her chin in her hands. "That's just it Daisy. There's still so much left unsaid between Mario and I. Now I don't even know what to do."

"Ugh, forget what I said earlier." retched Daisy. "I swear, men like that always make me wanna turn the other-oh, my gosh! Peach. Three o' clock."

As soon as she turned, she spotted the all too familiar couple at the center of the bridge. Their faces dangerously close to each other. The fractured dam in her mind could only take so much stress. The floodgates burst opened.

"Bowsette." Mario said softly. "I'd-a trust you enough to know you would not-a cheat-in our deal. I have-a no reason not-a to."

Bowsette fixated her sights on her partner. Her eyes fluttered in uncertainty. Legs bent to his height without realizing it. "Y-You do?" she softly whispered. "D-Don't you find that dangerous? Flirting with danger?"

He smiled. His face too drawing closer. "I do." he replied. "But I have-a-the faith in-a you. Do you trust-a me?"

Her nose narrowly brushed her date's. In a low voice, she replied. "I...I do."

"Step away from the plumber, you bully!"

The two stopped. Bowsette spun around to see a seething Peach storming towards them. Even the bridge felt like it was shaking from her very steps. Her posse of Toads frantically struggled to keep up. As if defending her territory, Bowsette stood between her and her precious lover, wrapping her tail around Mario's mouth as he struggled to confront Peach.

"Well well well. Crashing a romantic escapade there Peach?" she razzed. "That's tacky, even for you!"

"Hand him over, Bowser!" demanded the princess. Her Toads unsuccessfully yanking her back. Likewise, Mario desperately tried pulling her tail from his face so he would have a chance at soothing them both. Nothing had to escalate.

"Ha! Give me a reason, Toadstool!" bellowed Bowsette.

Peach was furious beyond belief. "I swear, I'll pull that crown off your fat head, you scaly monster!"

"And ruin my first kiss?!" retorted the She-Koopa. "In fact!"

Her tail summoned Mario to her side. In an instant, she made a grab for his shirt, bringing her unwilling partner close to her lips with a smirk.

"Why, you pile of-!" All manner of professionalism was promptly thrown out the window as Peach dove for Bowsette's head. Her fingers barely managed to grasp the crown and she began to pull, only serving to tug at her opponent's hair. Bowsette screamed in protest. The sounds of their scuffle drawing around a crowd. Her Toads finally managed to pry a flailing princess from a tattered Bowsette. Her crown skewed, but still on her head. Onlookers stared in appall and amusement. Most of them gasping at the sight of her majesty pulling such a despicable display against an innocent citizen.

She did it. Bowsette had won. She made Peach lose control. Her tail dropped her would-be lover as a grin spread across her lips. "Ha!" she screamed, but before any victory celebration could be held, a second crown struck the one atop her head, bouncing off like some sort of precision boomerang before returning to Daisy's hand. Everything happened so fast. The Super Crown leapt clean off, shooting like a twinkling diamond into some nearby patron's hands. The dreaded "Poof!" echoed throughout the entire kingdom. The magic dust cleared. The hidden beast at long last revealed.

"Bah-Buh-Bah-Bowser!" gasped an onlooker below.

"It's Bowser!" another shouted. "He's gone incognito!"

"How'd he get in here?!"

"That monster's here to terrorize the Mushroom Kingdom!"

"Mother of mercy, it's Bowser!"

The Koopa King gazed from one frightened patron to the other. Fear flooded their tiny eyes. His body unable to move. He began to panic. With his cover blown, he made a quick grab for Peach, tossing her over his shoulder.

"That's right you nimrods! I've played you the entire time! All of you!" he shouted to the heavens. Then he looked down at a most confused Mario. As he spoke the last words, the plumber saw what could only be interpreted as a wave of hurt desperately trying to evaporate at the hands of a malicious fire seething within the Koopa's eyes. The sight was so brief he barely had a second to glance. With that, he turned back to the frightened crowd. "Smell ya later, chumps!" Bowser broke into a mad dash across the garden. His target? The castle wall. His massive build bowling over anyone who got in his way. With little regard for his or the Princess's wellbeing, he forced his way through the brick walls, bursting through them like a battering ram.

Cries of panic filled the air. Everything fell into chaos. Mario stood frozen for the longest time, not entirely registering what had just occurred. A wave of emotions breaking into his mind simultaneously. Confusion, anger, sadness, regret, hurt. For the longest minute, he sat there numb. A gaze fixated in oblivion.

"He's kidnapped the Princess again!"

"Somebody do something!"

"Mario! We need you!"

At last, he snapped out of his daze. Thinking quickly, he darted after the hulking behemoth. In the process, snatching the Super Crown from the Toadette who nearly put it on.

"Let me go!" yelled Peach. "Let me go, you horrible monster!"

"Monster!" snorted Bowser. "And don't you dare forget it!" He pulled out his Koopa Copter remote. Right on time. The vehicle slowly landed just a few feet away, hovering inches off the ground as he leered with delight. "Good luck getting a heartbroken plumber to save you this time!"

As he grabbed the edges of his pod, two brown shoe soles pushed him away from inside. Bowser stumbled back, momentarily stunned. Out of his own machine had burst a battle ready Mario. His arms raised and prepared to defend.

"Let-er go!" he commanded.

The Koopa King's mouth seethed with smoke. His claws extended. Eyes filled with a dangerous concoction of pain and malice.

"You"

He clutched the Princess under his arm. No longer impeded by a mockery of his natural form, Bowser jumped into the air with his fist raised to crush his opponent. Mario dodged just in time to be grazed by a flurry of blazing hot fire that his nose and hat came dangerously close to touching. A flip in the air landed him just a few feet away. There would be no possible way for him to rescue Peach so long as Bowser had her. He had to think quick. The monster made a mad dash for his Koopa Copter. Mario jumped at the beast's tail, grabbing it tightly before using it as leverage to jump at his head. He landed right at the Koopa King's neck, coming close to hurting himself on his spike collar. His hands grabbed his horns as a method to steer the beast away. Bowser retaliated, shaking his head wildly. The plumber held on for dear life until he finally managed to throw him off. There was a tumble, but Mario quickly scrambled to his feet to see Bowser charging a powerful fireball. One of significant size no less. Bowser let rip with force. The plumber narrowly leapt to safety only to be met by yet another blast. Jump after jump was performed until Mario made a mad dash behind the Koopa Copter. Bowser must have been past his boiling point as he mistakenly shot a mighty fireball at his own vehicle, making it burst in a violent explosion.

An infuriated roar came from the Koopa. "You miserable worm!" He charged into Mario who was already running towards him. Bowser went for a grab only for his foe to slip right past him, pushing with enough force to make him release his captive. Peach flew high into the air. Her screams an echo until Mario hopped up, catching her in the air before landing on the grass. He gently set her down, then adjusted his cap ready to finish the fight.

As soon as Bowser realized what had happened, he bared his teeth in a furious scowl. The two clashed again. The Koopa King threw a barrage of punches. Mario countered each with a block. An unseen hand caught him off guard and before he knew it, the Italian defender was wrestled to the ground. A massive hand tapped his body. All of Bowser's weight thrust into it. No matter how much he tried, Mario could not free himself from the monster's grip. He watched helplessly as the King of Koopas brought a fist up in the air. Eyes squeezed shut awaiting the oncoming finisher.

A grueling ten seconds passed by. Then fifteen. Mario slowly opened his eyes. The beast was still pinning him to the ground, yet his only movement was his labored breathing. Bowser seemed stuck, like his animation had been halted midway. Those hateful flames inside his pupils were no longer present. Whatever was going through his mind had clearly snuffed it out before any more attacks could be carried. No. It was not thoughts that had quenched the fire. It was a collection of tears. While not apparent at first, Mario could see Bowser's eyes had started to water. Blazes of detest quenched by waves of torment. The monster shuddered heavily. His grunts turning into shaky whimpers.

"Hey!"

A blunt object struck Bowser's cheek, making him scream in pain. Daisy's boomerang crown returned to her hand once more. She stood imposingly at the fallen Peach's side. An entire group of villagers formed a weary army behind her. Each carried everything from pitchforks, to hammers, to fire and ice flowers. None of them looked the least bit pleased.

"L-Let go of our hero, you big bully!" one of them cried out.

"We're tired of your scare tactics!" yelled another.

"Go pick on someone your own size!"

Soon, the entire crowd was joining in on the fray. Small and big, all cheered in unison. Whatever Daisy had said, it really rallied up the kingdom's citizens like never before. Adding insult to injury, more people came to witness what would be the final dismantling of the great Koopa King. Daisy held her crown in the air. A sure threat she was ready to throw down regardless of who she faced. It was do or die now.

With no other option, Bowser looked down at the injured Mario in his claws. He bared his teeth. The plumber expected him to barrel into the swarm of makeshift warriors. The Koopa King instead stood to his feet, took one final look at his enemy, then ran into the forest.

The horde rejoiced, clamoring in their victory over their fearsome nemesis. Mario slowly climbed to his feet, picking up his hat off the dirt nearby. He stared at the parted trees where his former foe escaped. Disbelief still present in his face.

"Mario!"

Peach ran over to her savior, picking him up off the ground to see if he was hurt. The only anomaly was his lack of response. "Mario? Mario, are you okay-?"

"Stay here!"

With the Mushroom Kingdom safe, Mario sprinted into the forest after the monster. By the time Peach raised an arm after him, he was long gone. Royal guards and townsfolk alike came to her aid. She however remained silent. Confused. Her focus lost somewhere beyond the tree line.