Author's note: Ah, holidays, always keeping you busy. In all seriousness though, if you've come this far, thanks again for all your support. This story would never have made this many pages were it not for you guys! With only a few chapters left, I'll hopefully be concluding this fic before the year is up. Hope you all enjoy part 9!
Chapter 9: By A Thread
Mario trudged home in a dreary daze after last night's storm left him little chance to sleep. He had not even made it to his house after the collapsing of the bridge, forcing him to doze off on top of a tree before he got lost. His only comfort being the thick canopies somehow kept him dry. It was morning and the storm had calmed to a light dribble. At least now he had a proper chance to continue his trek back home. Alone, heartbroken, cold. How he wished things could have been different. It was obvious however. The powerful Koopa Queen did not desire his assistance. She was intent on being her own independent ruler filled to the brim with pride. If that was how she wanted it, what choice did he have in the matter? His desires were irrelevant. Perhaps in the end this entire ordeal had been for nothing. Something, or someone, finally popped his bubble of illusion. It was something that could never be. Someone he could never have. His shoes squished at the moist ground below. Arms swung around carelessly. At least all was as it should be. As she wanted it to be. After all, the three of them deserved some sort of happiness, right? Bowsette would be hated as she seemed to enjoy, Mario would have Peach. All was well. Though he tried his best, it was impossible to even force a usual smile. For once in his life, the will was absent, gone with the artificial woman he learned to admire. The woman he grew to care for.
After a good long while, he finally found the path that led to his doorstep. Its bricks reflected his dark silhouette against the gray backdrop, breaking every time he took a step. His house soon came into view. To his shock, his front door was wide open. Most of his knickknacks thrown out into the porch. Just when panic began to set in, two enemies emerged from behind his home. Neither looked anything like Bowser's goons. One of them had a communicator to its rounded ears while the other scanned the area with its three heads. Mario dove behind a tree. His head peeked out with ears straining to hear.
"I'm tellin' ya boss! We've been here all night and that guy still ain't showing up! Probably out on Vay-Kay or somen'."
Another voice spoke to the rat, making both him and his three headed companion wince in fear. Though the words were inaudible, Mario could tell the individual on the other end was ranting in an unholy rage.
"Y-Yeah, boss. We'll search the rest of the Kingdom...we won't fails ya." answered the rat subordinate. His communicator clicked off as he looked to his buddy. "The boss ain't gonna be happy if-in we don't find 'im."
The three headed snake hissed. "How much longer do we have to put up with thisss?" it asked. A clear desperation in its voice. "It was fun at first, but now he's become an even bigger jerk than before!"
The rat patted his friend. "Can't believe I'm sayin' this, but I ain't thinkin' it's the princess who needs savin' this time."
Eventually, both henchmen slithered away. Mario slowly stepped out ensuring there was no other prying eyes. The coast was clear, at least for the moment. Upon entering his house, he found it completely ransacked. Tables flipped over, books scattered across the floors, tapestries ripped. They really put in the extra effort to tarnish his home, and searching for him? For what reason? Was it Bowser getting back at him for last night? His shoe rubbed against the remnants of a vase. Within its rubble was a lone rose similar to the one he had offered Bowsette. Slowly, he knelt down to pick it up. Broken at the stem. Its petals already showing signs of decomposition.
His dragging feet walked him outside before slowly dropping him off at his porch. His chin on his hands as he sat. Not a single sun ray penetrated the dense clouds above. Rain from last night had climbed at least a full two inches up his home. This all got completely out of hand. Dating his greatest opponent, as silly as it may seem, left him sadder than anything previously. His lips trembled. Gloved hands covered his face. He was no weakling, he was no frail individual, but in light of it all, he nearly cried. Some bit of his mind did always say this would backfire tremendously, but in spite of everything, he still wanted her back, if only for a minute to fix this mess. What was this feeling anyway? Why had he never felt this around Peach before? Could it be? Was he…?
As the wind gradually swayed his hair, his ears picked up a familiar buzzing. A helicopter it seemed. But flying in this awful weather? Mario's head slowly rose from his hands. It took a moment, but he eventually noticed a small figure gliding out of the corner of his eye. He gasped. Could Bowsette have had a second Koopa Copter? No. This was not his maniacal mistress. This was-
"Mario!"
The small pod dropped from the sky and shot straight for him. The vehicle skidded to a halt, coming inches away to running him over. A tiny clawed finger poked his bulbous nose. Mario's heart dropped at the realization of nearly getting turned into roadkill. A set of beady black eyes angrily stared him down.
"Finally found you! C'mon! We gotta go!" With that, Junior grabbed Mario's hand to yank him aboard. The plumber landed face down with his flailing legs sticking out of the pod. Shortly thereafter, the vehicle zoomed back into the tree line.
Mario finally managed to pull himself upright. He jumped out after assuming a kidnapping. Junior slammed on the breaks ready to turn back around. This time pulling out a butterfly net to catch his elusive target. He zipped back at the plumber trying to tangle him in his trap to no avail. Mario repeatedly dodged until Junior finally screamed.
"Stop jumping stupid! I've been looking for you all night!" Mario clasped the net in one hand before it came down again. He looked up at the little Koopa in bewilderment. The distraught boy leapt off his craft, yanking at the plumber's overalls. "Mario, please! I didn't know who else to turn to!"
Mario blinked. "What's-a the matter?"
He shook the small man repeatedly. "You dumb bully, my castle's been overrun by some big jealous frog guy! He took my brush and I had to leave my papa behind and I don't know if he's okay!"
"Your-a dad? Frog? What?!" asked a confused Mario.
Junior smacked the Italian's head, tossing him to the dirt. "Aren't you listening fathead?! I need your help to rescue my daddy!"
The stars around his eyes disappeared after a shake of his head.
"Please! I don't wanna lose my papa too!" sniffled Junior. "If I lose him, I don't know what I'll do!"
It took a moment, but Mario soon realized the Koopaling was not kidding. His heartbreak settled. He patted his shoulder and gestured to his Clown Car.
"Let's-a go!"
What little room he could spare was used to squeeze Mario inside. The pod revved, and off into the cloudy skies they flew.
What a wild ride. And why was she still alive? It was nothing short of a miracle she had not drowned, despite suffering a concussion and taking in copious amounts of water. Her battered body barely responded to commands. All her willpower had been spent pulling herself ashore. Half of her face was caked in mud with the other in a light drizzle. Perhaps it was the lack of strength or abundance of shame, maybe a combination of both that left her in such a compromised state. With the rising water level stroking her toes, it would only be a matter of time before she was once more swept away. Bowsette could no longer bring herself to move. The only possible outcome now was laying there until the bittersweet end arrived. Dethroned, humiliated, defeated. With no stamina left, there was no escaping the cold, bitter wind that chilled her to her very soul. The icy air gnawed at her exposed skin. Her tattered dress did little to impede her from shivering. All she could do was curl into a ball on the mucky ground. She no longer cared how dirty she got. Clumps of mud clung to her once glowing hair. Dirt covered her blush-prone cheeks. Her pointy teeth bit her bottom lip as her eyes grew watery. She had lost everything. Her home, her subordinates, her dignity. A sense of loneliness she had not felt in many years overcame her frail form. She had all but forgotten how it felt to have absolutely nothing to her name. The feeling of being helpless. The feeling of screaming with no one to bear witness to her hapless cries. Her eyes squeezed shut.
"Papa!"
That cry. Was she seriously about to wallow in her despair with him aimlessly wandering around? Could she really be willing to lose the one person who still mattered more than her own existence?
"Papa!?"
The same little voice resounded, but not in her head as she initially perceived. Her red eyes fluttered open. "Junior?" she responded weakly.
"Papa!?"
She forced her arms to push her back up. As she rose, she noticed something touching down somewhere out of the corner of her eye. A small figure scrambled out towards her.
"Papa!"
Bowsette's eyes shot open. "J-Junior!" Before she knew it, the little Koopa roped her into a tight hug. He buried his head in her neck as she summoned what strength she could to hug him. His warmth slowly chipped away at her exhaustion, prompting her to hug him tighter. Soon the two were clinging to each other without a single sign of letting go. Her words continuously reassuring him it was going to be alright.
Just as her grip released on her son, she saw a second figure fast approach, then freeze when her gaze interlocked with his. Another long stare down later and Junior loosened her hold on his mother. Her dirty hair hung over her eyes.
"I thought I told you notto bother me."
Mario's relief faded to anguish. He almost expected a different response. Only in his dreams, it seemed, would he ever hear anything else. "How are-a you feeling?" he asked. Though cautious, the worry in his voice was all too obvious.
"I'm fine." She snorted. "Now beat it. I'm not in the mood to deal with you."
A sad Mario stared her way. Junior looked from one to the other. He tried again, balling his fists. "Bowsette...Junior and I came-a looking for-a you-"
"I said beat it, you infernal pest!" she growled. "And don't come back!"
The plumber scrunched his face. He averted his gaze and continued forward. All the while Bowsette clutched Junior closer.
"I-I said get away petal chewer! I'm warning you!"
His pace unchanged, she quickly grasped the Koopaling in her arms expecting an oncoming strike. Surely he would lash out over what she had done. And yet, the only sensation was of something being draped over them. A cloth of sorts. Bowsette opened her eyes to see Mario covering them in his cape. He then placed his hat on Junior's head. A warm smile crossed his lips as he spoke. "You're-a brave little-a Koopa."
A curious Junior looked up at him, grinning back from under the brim. The plumber took one last look at Bowsette, then slowly ambled away. A face still looking on in bewilderment and eyes that never once unglued from him remained attached even after his short figure faded beyond the tree line. She turned to the river, then to her son on her lap. "Did he hurt you?"
The little Koopa shook his head. "He helped me look for you. I told him everything." He did his best to clean his mother off. His small hands pulled the yellow cape over her shoulders. The She-Koopa slowly struggled to her feet. Bruises lined most of her body. Her head throbbed with even the slightest movement. The crown miraculously still clung to her dirty hair. His gaze questioning. "Aren't we gonna ask for his help, papa?"
A phrase she dreaded to hear, Bowsette could hardly believe it came from her own child's snout. She forced a smile. "I think we can handle this ourselves, sonny. You think your old man can't handle a washed up old toad?"
Junior frowned. "But Queen-Dad, I don't wanna be a hobo! And without Kamek...can't we ask for his help just this once?" he insisted. "Please sir, papa sir? Please?"
Though he was putting on a brave face, she could tell he was afraid. Even so, setting down her figurative weapons against Mario was not something she felt directly inclined to do, especially after their previous showdown. No doubt he would laugh in her face or outright refuse. After seeing her own son undergo such a harrowing ordeal however, she saw no other alternative. To an extent, she held some mantle of responsibility in Wart's outburst, and in turn was fully accountable for the Koopaling's wellbeing. With a grumble announcing her pride's screams of objection, Bowsette limped in the missing plumber's direction.
A short while later, Mario heard the frantic crunching of wet leaves that did not match his own. He stopped, not needing to change direction to know who it was. The air grew thick as the two stood motionless. All that broke the silence was the sound of the tiniest rain droplets pelting the forest floor. Junior watched from behind a large stump.
"You didn't have to help us." began Bowsette. Her tone soft, but accusing.
Mario clenched his fists. "I wanted to see if-it was-a true." His voice too defensive.
The She-Koopa's razor sharp teeth prodded at her bottom lips. Her arms weakly clutching each other. "I don't think you understand what this means, plumber."
Mario's brows furrowed sadly. It was a chore trying not to show emotion. "It's-okay. You don't-a have to say-anything."
"You don't get it, do you?" Bowsette huffed. "Kamek's existence is what keeps me attached to the living world. With his capture, this shore should've been my grave."
His gaze rose slightly. Despite appearing visibly worried, he refused to look at her. "Bowser...we don't-a have-a to pretend-a we tolerate-each other. If-a you truly hate-a me like-a that, then I see no reason to keep-a this going."
Her breath shuddered. "But I...I need you."
Mario lifted his head. As if he would fall for that trick again. "You were-a very clear. You don't-a need me-"
"I-I...It's not true you imbecile!"
He made the faintest attempt to look over his shoulder.
"I need you! I need you like I've never needed anyone before! Wart's taken my kingdom and plotting to flood this entire land just to prove a point! You're not seriously gonna turn your back on hundreds of people because of a sour mood, are ya?! Where's your fighter's pride?!"
Mario finally turned to face her. Bowsette had regained some of her strength, now standing with unsteady knees and wide open arms.
"You're right! I do blow up in everyone's face! I'm a bully, a monster, a jerk, and nothing's ever gonna change that! But if you don't help us reclaim our home, both you, me, and Princess Peach are goners! Have some sense, will ya?!"
His frown deepened. "B-Bowser, I...I…"
"It's Bowsette you blubbering nimrod!" she scolded. "What do you want me to say?! That I'm thankful you come back every time I yell at you to leave?! That you're right about us avoiding whatever's going on between us?! That I'm grateful at least someone can see I'm more than a fire breathing beast?! That maybe our roles don't matter to me anymore so you and I could be...maybe we could be-!"
"Bowsette?"
The two locked sights. Slowly, he inched closer. A slight hope in his voice. "You know I could-a never turn-anyone down in-a need of-a help."
She held in a gasp. Obviously he was still plenty upset, but somehow still willing to set aside his emotions to help her of all people. Even after everything he still had some grain of kindness. She felt it as his fingers gently clasped her hand. Unexpectedly, her mind went back to the moment she confronted her son about the Super Crown. The feeling of inadequacy in the face of someone so accepting of her faults. It truly was a blessing having such a forgiving person in her life, be it her own son...or her greatest foe. Were it not for her Junior's presence, she may have broken down right then and there. A disheveled Bowsette looked up from her tattered hair. "So...Is this what it's like to be the damsel in distress?"
A small smile crept onto Mario's lips. A most welcoming sight she had not seen in what felt like ages. Junior handed him back his hat. Through beady eyes, he pleaded. "Will you help us fathead?"
"Alright, we're-a just-a gonna swing-a by my house and-a pick up supplies!" Mario instructed as they ran. Junior followed along in his Clown Car.
"How long is that gonna take?" Bowsette cried. Her arms grasping his neck tightly. "The sooner we free Kamek the sooner I'll be immortal again!"
"Be calm-a Bowsette, we'll-a be quick!"
His home just a beyond the next line of trees. It's roof already in their sights. The moment they burst through however, yet another surprise awaited the unlikely trio. A group of Toads stood at his front porch behind a carriage. From under a friendly parasol peeked out a familiar face. The moment she locked eyes with them, a finger immediately gestured their direction.
"Hold it right there!"
"Princess Peach?!" The three skidded to a stop. Bowsette quickly hopped off her savior's back, grabbed at Mario's hand and pulled him away. "Forget the supplies, let's just go! It's two against one anyway-!" She was met with resistance on a dime. Peach already bolted to Mario's other hand, ensuing an unforeseen tug of war. Both scowled with each pull.
"This man owes me an explanation!"
"He's my man! Let go!"
Two Toads came to pull at Peach's side while Junior happily helped Bowsette as if it were a game. Mario felt his arms being stretched like rubber. Both sides showed no signs of fatigue. Their struggle would likely break him in two if it kept up any longer. First, the two break his heart, then his house gets ransacked into, and now this?! Each tug dropped more and more strain not only on his arms, but on his mind. He clenched his teeth trying to keep it together. He did not have to explode, he did not have to-!
"Stop-it! Stop-a this right-a now!"
Peach jumped. Bowsette jolted. Such demanding anger in his voice made both sides freeze, dragging them back to the center point. Their grip loosened enough for him to faceplant on the ground. He whisked back up, looking from one girl to the other. That all too recognizable cobalt blaze in his eyes ignited like never before. A finger darted from one female face to the other.
"We're-a not-a doing-a this again, you two!" he cried. "No more of-a this-a miscommunication! We're-a talking-a this out-a like-adults!"
Had her shell been any bigger, Bowsette may have just curled back into it. That face he made always indicated 'prepared for combat', and while she would usually respond accordingly, in such a weakened state, it genuinely scared her. Peach appeared just as surprised as she was, as if not having expected such an outburst from a most patient individual. Regaining her composure, she huffed. "Well, I'm not leaving the premises! Not until I get a clear cut answer to what's going on, rightnow!"
A thunder clap overhead caused all of them to leap in fright. Junior scurried under Peach's dress while Bowsette jumped into Mario's arms. Seconds after, their posse was soaked in rainwater.
The showerhead clicked off. Bowsette strolled back into the living room wearing some of Mario's old clothes. A red long sleeve shirt that was obviously too small, fitting more like a T-shirt exposing her midriff, a set of black overalls too short to reach anywhere near her ankles, but no shoes. She dropped near the fireplace, proceeding to brush her hair. Junior was already busy snoozing on the couch. His feet twitched every so often as he snored. Out of everyone in the room, Peach seemed the most perturbed. One hand clutched a cup of hot cocoa while the other rubbed at her temples after receiving Intel on their latest threat. When she saw Bowsette, she instantly recoiled in fear and disgust. The Koopa Queen simply rolled her eyes. Her mood lightening slightly when Mario gave her a beverage as well.
"I hope-a you don't-a break-a my house-any further while I'm-a busy changing." he advised, putting his fists to his hips. Peach looked away. Bowsette huffed. Soon, they were alone with only Toads present to keep the peace. Though standing at attention, they never stopped shaking in their boots at the sight of Bowsette, fearing a snarl or worse should they wander too close.
"So…" Peach did her best to break the silence. Bowsette pretended not to notice. She continued. "This whole ploy was to get us back together, hmm?"
The She-Koopa winced. That miserable Italian spilled the beans despite her objections. She mumbled in spite. "Well, it worked, didn't it?"
The princess puffed. A finger tapped her cup. "I just can't believe you roped Mario into this. I never thought he'd have the audacity do such a thing."
Bowsette continued brushing her bright red hair doing her best to shut Peach out. It washer fault everyone knew who she was after all.
She continued. "Thiswas the end goal Bowser? Forcing me to confront you two?"
"And whaddaya want, a medal?" groaned the Koopa Queen. "We were petty, we broke some things, boo-hoo. Not like there's anything else to talk about."
"Then why are you still wearing that crown?" pressured Peach. "The jig is up, so why keep it?"
The magical question that constantly haunted the edges of Bowsette's mind. She turned to face the princess. Her lightly tanned skin now bore bits and pieces of reptilian features, mainly behind her neck and ears. Smaller bits sprinkled the edges of her cheeks, giving the illusion of freckles. This was as far as her appearance was going to change.
She sighed. "After all, I think the Super Crown's exhausted its magic by now." Her hand outstretched. "I don't think you'll be looking like me anymore anytime soon."
Bowsette stared at the open palm. She reached for her crown, yet made little effort to remove it. She had grown so used to having it on, wearing it was practically second nature. Her eyes appeared conflicted.
"Come on Bowser." persisted Peach. "No more dealing with Mario, no more berating me. Isn't that what you want?"
Still no movement. Bowsette's arm gradually came down without the crown. As if she would disclose her feelings to the likes of her rival. "Ya know what Peach? Finders keepers. Crown's gonna stay."
The princess blinked in surprise. "Aren't you sick and tired of looking like this? You know, all prissy and girly and weak?"
"Nah. I think Bowsette's here to stay." she smirked. "Besides, that way I can proudly say I'm better looking than either of you."
Peach rolled her eyes in annoyance. "As if."
A freshly cleaned Mario stepped out of the corner. He sighed with relief upon seeing a semi-intact room. Adjusting his gloves, he made his way over to the radiant princess. Needless to say she still looked quite disappointed in him. "I just can't believe you two kept at this for so long. I'm surprised one was able to put up with the other. Though, I'll admit, I'm glad at least one of you came clean."
Bowsette grumbled nearby, but said nothing. Mario nodded knowingly, clutching his cap in both hands. An unhindered embarrassment on his face. All the guilt felt at the beginning of the ordeal crawled back tenfold. "I'm-a sorry Peach." he uttered sitting on a table across from her. His voice gloomy. "I lost-a myself in-a-the hopelessness. I guess-I just-a felt-ignored."
Peach's brows furrowed sadly. "Oh Mario, I wasn't trying to ignore you on purpose! I've just been busy dealing with an unstable kingdom and invasion rumors. Didn't Bowser tell you?"
He looked to Bowsette who quickly shifted back to the fireplace. Loud sipping innocently ignored all manner of accusation.
"I'll-a be angry about that-a later." he muttered, turning his focus back to Peach. A part of him wanted to be angry at her, yet the circumstances after fooling her could not bring up any form of malice. "I'm-a not-a too happy with how things-have-a gone-a between you and-a me. I wanted to get-a your attention and I made-a mistake. I...I should-a just-a been-a civil with you."
Peach sighed. Her knee bobbed anxiously. "Truth be told...I wasn't being fair giving you the silent treatment either." Her face reflected in her drink. A wave of unattended emotions stared back. Even Bowsette, who chose to let them bicker amongst themselves, looked sad in contrast to her usual mischievous smile. A tense leg rocked about.
"The least you could've done is called the guy to make sure he was okay. You shoulda seen him when I first found him. Saddest dang thing I've seen since hearing about that Bobbery fellow."
Peach exhaled a tired sigh after a sip of her cocoa. Her fingers tapped at her cup in apprehension. The orange glow of the fireplace bathed her uneasy face. It took a moment before she spoke again. "I'll be honest, I wasn't upfront with either of you and let things get out of hand. For that, I apologize on my part. I guess...none of us were playing fair after all." She chuckled. "Talk about unprofessional."
Mario nodded in agreement, tittering alongside her. When she met his gaze, a new smile had formed on his face. Warm, calm, and inviting, just like she remembered it being.
"You're right Peach." mumbled Bowsette. "I guess Mario waspretty unprofessional."
He turned to her in disbelief. A set of annoyed brows drooped over his eyelids. "Trying-a to pin-a this whole-a thing on-a me?"
She went on teasing, turning around to face them both. "Boy, you shoulda seen him Peachy. He was persistent on sweeping me off my feet with his Plumber's Magic! It's about time you took him back!"
"B-But this was-all-a your-idea-!"
"You should have him arrested for unwarranted flirting!"
"You wanted-a me to kiss you!"
"W-W-What?! N-No I didn't-!"
"I meant all of us!" cut in Peach. In their controlled chaos, the unlikely couple came fairly close to touching noses. "See?! This is the reason why I turned you both down! You two just can't seem to reach common ground! How do you expect to beat Wart like that?!"
Neither of them backed away for a moment. Mario withdrew from their confrontation first, recalling how she and Bowsette nearly broke him in two earlier. If that was what Peach felt on a regular basis, it was no wonder she snapped so harshly on the moon.
Bowsette snorted. "Look, as much as I'd love to continue this sentimental downpour, I'vegot a kingdom that needs rescuing, and your strozzapreti short bus here's agreed to help me. So with all due respect Toadstool, we've gotta blow this stand before you and the other worthless Toads become the next Deep Blooper Sea exhibit!"
Peach arched a brow. "Are you nuts? Youdon't seem to understand the extent of Wart's power! The last time we encountered his likes, it took a team of Mario, Luigi, me, and one of my strongest Toads just to bring him down! And this weather's only going to make things worse!"
"Well, whaddaya suggest we do?!" argued Bowsette. "These April showers arehisdoing, and the longer we wait, the more danger we're all in!"
Her eyes darted from side to side. There had to be an alternative. Raindrops pelted the windows outside. If Wart truly did betray Bowser and there was no one to stop him…
"Let me help you."
Everyone in the room turned to her in shock. Even Mario, who had seen her in past action, was more than simply surprised at the spontaneity of her request.
"What?" Bowsette exclaimed. "And what are you gonna do, pluck vegetables in the hopes you'll pull a bob-bomb?"
"Peach!" Mario cried. "It's-a gonna be dangerous! And you have-a kingdom-a to run!"
Her Toads were quick to agree, pointing out their reason for not letting her go. Words they said did little to sway her from her choice. "Listen to me! All of you! If Mario and Bowser face that frog alone, they won't come back alive! They need me, and it's time I took responsibility for the sanctitude of my people." She looked to Mario. "Think of it as making up for any ill I may have caused. Daisy can handle things in the meantime like we agreed. I'll let her know. Besides, let's not forget about Wart's biggest exploitable weakness."
"His allergies…" A sense of confidence came to Mario's face. Peach was the only one who could summon such weapons at will. Furthermore, a three person team would make things that much more bearable in the face of a lunatic sorcerer. He nodded in agreement. Perhaps it was not as bad an idea as previously expected. Her group of Toads however cared little for such a treacherous situation, swarming Peach as a means to talk her out of the idea. She promptly pulled them aside, leaving Bowsette and Mario to their own devices.
"You better be sure about this, or Daisy's gonna be one busy princess." she whispered to him.
"Have-a-the faith, me-Bowser." he reassured. "I know Peach. She can't-a fight-against you, but she can fight-against-a him."
The two watched as the princess tended to her guardians. Bowsette set down her empty cup, scratching at her thick red wisps. "So…" she said softly.
He looked to her inquisitively. "So what?"
She momentarily hesitated before proceeding. "Are...are we just gonna ignore the Wario in the room?"
Mario waved his legs under the table. "What-a Wario?" he asked.
Bowsette sighed. "You know...us?"
"U-Us?" he sputtered.
She did her best to maintain her composure, clasping her hands together. "Listen Mario, if one of us doesn't make it back in one piece, I just want you to know that..." She paused. Whatever was supposed to come next became lodged in her throat.
"Yes?" a hopeful Mario's sparkling eyes went wide.
Her cheeks turned red, trying her best to force the phrase out. "That I...That you...aren't obligated to help me."
"Oh." The sparkle in his eyes dwindled slightly.
Bowsette twiddled her thumbs. "But...that doesn't mean I ain't grateful."
A light chuckle escaped his lips. "Bowser...you don't-a have-a to keep-a faking that-a you like-a me." he replied.
She stood still for a moment before throwing her arms around him tightly. In a soft whisper, Bowsette replied. "Who said I was faking?"
The gesture caught Mario off guard. His eyes lit up his flushed face as he gently hugged back. For a brief second he swore he heard her quivering voice utter a silent "I'm sorry." He could not help but smile. Every passing second prompted her to hug harder. Despite a corner of her mind still acting a tad repulsed, the slightest shimmer of joy bloomed in her heart. Those butterflies she felt many times before invaded her stomach like a tidal wave. Her heart beat hard enough for Mario to feel it pounding his own chest. Thiswas what she constantly denied. What she wanted. What she needed. Despite the bitter cold still lingering within her veins, Bowsette clung to her short admirer as if he were her own little personal heater. Even her tail wrapped lovingly around her pint sized plumber as she melted into his arms like chocolate on a lit stove.
"Alright, it's decided. We'll stop by my castle, pick up what we can, and then we-!" Peach stopped mid sentence after witnessing the display of affection. She scoffed in annoyance. "You guys, I thought we were done with this whole 'making me jealous' deal. Hello?"
No answer. Both were far too deep in their minor hug fest. A small, retching voice called out from the corner. "You guys aren't gonna start making out, are you?"
"Junior!" Bowsette quickly shoved Mario to the floor. She cleared her throat nervously. "N-No kiddo, it's not nice to make such implications." A finger wagged in his direction.
An irate Mario pulled himself back up as the little Koopa shuffled in place. His nap done and over with. "It's okay papa," he yawned. "You don't have to hide that you're in love with Mario."
Bowsette's face burned a bright red. Her throat once again caught. And in that dastardly princess's presence?! She however paid no mind, shaking her head disapprovingly. "Andyou got Junior in this whole charade too?"
"My, kids say the darndest things, don't they?!" she chuckled skittishly.
"Charade?" asked the Koopaling. "What charade?"
Mario cleared his throat, closing in on Peach. "Alrighty. Do we have-a plan?"
"My castle for supplies. I would assume Bowser has a means to get inside undetected?"
"I know my castle like the back of my claw." concluded Bowsette. "There's no way I can't get us in."
"Good. At least now we've got a start." Peach added.
"Alright!" hopped up Junior. "Let's kick some slimy frog butt!"
"Ah, ah, ah!" Bowsette grabbed the excited boy out of the air. "You'restaying at the Mushroom castle where it's safe, pally. I don't want you getting hurt. If that's alright with her majesty Princess Peach-Fuzz?"
"It won't be if you keep insulting me." she sneered.
Junior's eagerness evaporated to despair. "B-But Queen-Dad!" he cried. "You'll need all the help you can get! I can be useful too!"
Bowsette's tone grew stern. "I'm not saying you're not useful, Junior. You saw how powerful Wart is. The last thing I want is for you to be in any danger."
"B-But dad-!"
"I'm your father andyour mother! Now stay put or so help me you won't get to fight Mario for an entire month!"
Despite Junior's begging, his mother's mind was made up. He begrudgingly handed her the keys to his Clown Car which she proceeded to tuck into her shirt. The little Koopaling crossed his arms in agitation, but she knew she had made the right decision. Last night was too close of a call, and there was no way she was going to put her son's existence at risk a second time. By now, Mario and Peach were already at the door. The royal parasol Perry opened up to face the potent storm outside with the Toads surrounding both her and the plumber.
"Bowsette! Time-a to go!"
Grabbing the grimacing Junior's hand, Bowsette hurried after the pair as the door closed behind them. Operation 'Retake Bowser Castle' was underway.