Alright, another chapter, woo! I decided the conflict should start somewhere near the start this time, so I hope it does not end up coming on too fast for the rest of the story.
The following day, the kingdomwide party began all over Toad Town. Many citizens from across the kingdom, and even neighboring kingdoms, like Sarasaland, had come to attend. Even Daisy, the High Princess of Sarasaland, and Peach's cousin, came for a visit. The crowds that filled the streets were immense and many businesses had closed for the week so that the employees could enjoy the Mushroom Kingdom's founding anniversary.
During the first evening banquet of the celebration, Peach stood behind a podium on the castle steps and tapped the microphone with her finger twice before speaking.
"Excuse me," Peach's voice said loudly over the intercom system, "attention all citizens and tourists of the Mushroom Kingdom!"
After a few seconds, the surrounding noises had all died down.
Peach cleared her throat, "Now, I would like to be the first to say how great of an honor it is for me to be the ruler of one of the most prominent and successful kingdoms in the Mushroom World. And with my advisor, Toadsworth, assisting in its foundation, we would really like to thank him for making all of this possible."
An applause slowly faded in from all over Toad Town as Toadworth took a bow to the people.
"But especially," Peach began after the noise stopped, "I would like to give my personal thanks to the well-known founder of Mario Bros. Plumbing Service, Mario himself. He has risked his life many times over the years to ensure that I would remain safe from being forced to marry King Bowser Koopa of the Dark Lands, which would grant him more power than any living being should ever possess."
The crowd turned its attention to Mario, and gave a massive applaud. Mario waved his special red cap in the air over his head.
Peach glanced over at Mario and smiled passionately at him, making him blush, turn his head down, and make him move his leg nervously.
"Now," Peach spoke into the microphone again, "without any further formalities—"
Just then, tremor started up, causing a few glasses to fall off of the tables, signs to topple over, and pavement to become uneven.
"Hey!" Peach said, now lying on the steps due to her balance being thrown off, "What's going on?"
"I don't-a know!" said Luigi.
Peach looked back over at the crowd, who was apparently clearing away from a circle of ground that began to spin, like a spiraling sinkhole. After a few moments, a magenta dome of light appeared from under it and surfaced at ground-level. It dimmed until it had vanished, and from the red smoke it had left behind stepped…
"BOWSER!" Several people said simultaneously as they ran as fast as they could in all directions. Even the toad guards, who were trained to deal with this kind of situation, were too scared to take action.
"Surprise!" the Koopa King's voice boomed out through an electronic bullhorn. He slowly approached the castle steps, followed by rows of Koopa Troopas. "And just what's been happening lately, Princess? Might I say you are lookin' fabulous tonight!" he said with a wolf-whistle at the end.
Peach just glared, "Don't try to flatter me! And especially, DON'T TRY TO COME NEAR ME!" she yelled, charging up her power in a glowing pink sphere, which she held hovering in Bowser's direction.
Bowser held up his hands, "Hey, whoa! No need to get all hot-headed, Princess! Just thought I'd drop in."
"Drop-a in?" Mario said as he fell from the sky and landed in front of the Dragon-Koopa, who, surprisingly and without hesitation, cowered at the sight of the mustached hero.
"No…not today, Mario." Bowser said through his hands, "I didn't come here to fight anyone…or kidnap anyone!"
Several citizens and foreigners began to peek out from their hiding places to see what was going on, as they had assumed Bowser would attack.
Peach stood up, "You're not here…to attack? What's that supposed to mean?" she asked, still not convinced.
"It's because I'm done." Bowser said, "I've finally come to realize that repeatedly kidnapping you and threatening to wage war with the Mushroom Kingdom…hasn't exactly worked out so well for me. Because, as you know, I have…" he sighed in embarrassment, "…had my ass handed to me over and over again by that red pudgy pipe-scaler." He pointed to Mario.
"Exact-a-ly!" Mario exclaimed, "And you will-a have it done-a to you again if-a you don't-a leave now!"
"Oh, come on!" Bowser retaliated, "I've had enough! I've fallen long distances, gotten burned in lava, barbequed with fireballs, flattened by your boots! I mean, don't you think that that is pushing it a little too far?"
"Why are you here?" Peach interjected.
"Because!" Bowser began, "Because I want to settle our differences right here and now, and I would like to start an official friendship between our kingdoms, especially a friendship with you, Princess."
Peach's jaw dropped in astonishment, "You kidnap me repeatedly, you attack my kingdom, and then you have the gall to try and form a truce? Just what comes to your mind at first?"
Bowser's face began to fall, "Oh, come on, please?" he asked, practically begging for Peach's forgiveness.
"Don't-a trust him, Princess." Luigi advised, "Let's-a not forget, I sometimes had-a to deal with-a him too, not just-a Mario."
"Indeed," Toadsworth added, "as your advisor, I would strongly recommend declination of this proposal. Even with as rude and mild as it is, I believe it would be the best option for any given circumstance."
Peach slowly looked from her allies to Bowser, who had his hands clasped in front of him, making him look very childish. Finally, she hardened her expression, "There's no way we can trust you after what you have done! I will never, not until the end of time, want to be friends with you, you…monster!"
Bowser let his jaw drop slightly as his eyes widened with sorrow.
"You may think you can be considered a good person, but I do not see that happening any time soon!" Peach continued, "Me and Mario are happy to be together, and I would choose him any day over you! I hate you! I want you out of this world! I WISH YOU WOULD DIE!"
Bowser clenched his teeth and shut his eyes tight; he could not just take in what Peach had just said. It was his worst nightmare come to fruition. This was, beyond any possibility of doubt, the worst night in his entire life. But he was simply going to leave without giving anyone here the satisfaction of seeing his soft side.
"Fine…" Bowser said, "…I will just get out of your hair, no attack, no kidnap, no harm done." He started to head back to the black platform he had come to Toad Town on, when he stopped and turned back around, "But before I go, I want you to know something…"
Absolute silence filled the air as Bowser prepared himself for what he was about to do.
"I love you, Princess. I have always loved you, and more than anything else in the world. The only reason that I have kept kidnapping you, is to be with you. I know that you would never show any appreciation for a…a monster. And that's one thing that I hate about people; they take one look at me, and run for their lives, even if I mean them no harm. Don't you see? That is the reason why I have been so mean—because everyone hates me! But you will have to worry no more, because I will be sure to completely cease all Dark Lands activity from passing into the Mushroom Kingdom. Goodbye, Princess Peach Toadstool! Though you may never want to see me again, and because I am apparently a big, frickin' loser, just remember what I said, and that I am sorry for everything that I have done. I should have handled it all differently, but my instincts drove me out of whack. So, once again, goodbye."
Without another word, Bowser turned his back, and got onto the circular platform as the glowing dome encased the Koopas again, and it sank back into the earth, leaving a deep circular crater.
Woah, that was deep. I have to admit, even I am stunned at what I type. Anyways, the next part will be coming soon! Just don't touch that dial! Wait, this isn't radio…oh, never mind. Keep holding on…