Chapter Seven
The scroll read:
This is a Magical Contract made between Kamella Koopa, Magikoopa
of the Dark Lands and Peach Toadstool, Princess and future Queen of
the Mushroom Kingdom.
By signing this document, Peach Toadstool promises never to fall in
love with or have any romantic relations with Bowser Koopa, King
of the Dark Lands. So long as Peach Toadstool does not break this
contract, Kamella Koopa promises that neither she nor anyone she
is affiliated with will harm Bowser Koopa, King of the Dark Lands in
any way, shape, or form.
Once signed, this Magical Contract cannot be made known to any
persons other than the original signers.
Sign here:
...
...
"This whole contract is nothing but a trap. Even worse, she isn't trying to hide her intention to deceive me," Peach thought to herself. "I might as well refuse to sign this contract and leave Bowser to his own devices if I am going to make a promise that I know I can't keep," Peach said, extending the contract back to Kamella expectantly.
"Ha! The contract is perfectly acceptable the way it is! Even a rock could keep it," Kamella exclaimed, with a dismissive wave of her claw.
"If the rock had no feelings then it might be able to keep this contract but it would still have a chance of breaking the deal. Even an emotionless rock can't control someone else's choices or feelings," Peach argued. "You're asking me to promise not to feel what I can't always control. Also, I have no power over Bowser's conduct. This contract is absolutely unacceptable. I can only make a promise to control my own actions and how I deal with the actions of others."
Kamella groaned and snatched the paper from Peach's hand irritably. "Fine."
Kamella took the mechanical pencil, erased Peach's part of the promise and continued to rewrite the contract. The Magikoopa then looked up from her work and motioned for the princess to take the scroll. Peach only stared at the contract with a raised eyebrow.
"I thought whatever was written on that paper was permanent," Peach said in a low but calm tone.
"Oh! Well, it becomes permanent when you sign it…" Kamella tried, but Peach refused to take the scroll back.
"Fine. This will serve as a sketch of the official contract then," Kamella grumbled. With another wave of her wand, the old paper had vanished and a fresh scroll appeared, accompanied by a ballpoint pen. She took the paper and began copying what she had written from the previous contract. Once satisfied, the old Magikoopa handed it back to Peach. But before letting go of the paper, Kamella added, "Remember, if you break a Magical Contract, you will be tried and punished by the Court of Magical Law. Breaking a Magical Contract could even get you a death sentence depending on the promise that was broken." Peach nodded then pulled the contract from Kamella's claws.
The scroll read:
This is a Magical Contract made between Kamella Koopa, Magikoopa
of the Dark Lands and Peach Toadstool, Princess and future queen of
the Mushroom Kingdom.
By signing this document, Peach Toadstool promises never to act with
any romantic intentions for and to evade all avoidable gestures of
romantic affection from Bowser Koopa, King of the Dark Lands. So
long as Peach Toadstool keeps this agreement, Kamella Koopa
promises that neither she nor anyone she is affiliated with will
intentionally harm Bowser Koopa, King of the Dark Lands in any
way, shape or form.
Once signed, this Magical Contract cannot be made known to any
persons other than the original signers and cannot be altered once
signed below.
Sign here:
...
Kamella Koopa
Peach sighed and motioned for Kamella to give her the pen. Reading through it once and then a second time for good measure, the princess signed her name on the paper.
Immediately, a silver spark erupted from her pen. Like a shock of electricity, Peach could feel magic shoot up her arm, past her neck, and to a spot directly in-between her shoulder blades. The contract had been completed and she would be marked by it until the contract was broken or until the day she died.
"Wait… isn't there supposed to be a witness?" the princess muttered thoughtfully.
Kamella took the paper, wrote an extra line to be signed then looked around. "Oh, that's right! A witness must actually see us sign it," she said with mock surprise. "That really puts a damper on things, huh? I guess that means we should both be extra careful." With a wink from the Magikoopa and a flick of a wand, Peach found herself in her bedroom at Bowser's castle.
"Extra careful… Kamella is going to find a way to use this against me if she hasn't already," Peach whispered with concern as she walked to the full-length mirror by her walk-in closet. As she stood in front of the mirror, she took off her pajama shirt and found her own signature written on her back under her bra strap. "At least it is easy to hide," Peach remarked bitterly, tears beginning to well up in her eyes.
Rushed footsteps and a hurried knock at the door startled Peach as she stood looking at her mark in the mirror. She quickly latched her bra, put her pajama shirt back on, and took a deep breath before opening the door. A small smile graced her lips as her eyes settled on a messy red-haired ponytail.
"Mama Peach! Oh good… King Dad and everyone else in the castle has been looking for you for the past half hour!" Bowser Jr. explained as he popped his head through the door to look at her with a humongous smile. "...Are you ok, Mama Peach?" he asked, concerned by the pinkness in her eyes.
Peach opened the door and picked up the Koopaling with a small grunt. "I'm fine, thanks for asking. My, my… You have gotten bigger since the last time I last saw you."
"Yeah! And faster too! That's why I was the first one to find you!" Junior exclaimed proudly, pumping his fist just like his father. Peach laughed and brought him into a tight hug. For a moment, she felt a little less alone.
"Do you want to help me pick a dress for the day?" Peach asked kindly, setting him back on the floor.
As Junior opened his mouth to answer, another familiar voice came from the doorway.
"Junior has, like, no taste in fashion, but I can totes help you, Mama Peach!" Wendy stated as she entered the room, tightening the pink bow on her head with pure confidence. "Also, you might want to send someone to tell King Dad that you are still alive before he burns down the castle. Some of my accessories and shells aren't exactly, like, fire-resistant."