Chapter 10: The Final Confrontation
Several hours passed by and pretty soon the Observatory was over the Koopa planet. Rosalina oriented the ship so that it was in a steady orbit over the planet, and the three prepared to go down to its surface.
Lava was boiling everywhere, but the castle on the surface was largely peaceful since it was evening time, and everyone had gone inside.
Rosalina looked over to Bella and Junior. "Are you both ready?"
"Yes. As ready as I'll ever be," the princess replied.
"Lower me down to the ground," Junior said with a determined look on his face. "I'll grab the keys and meet you two around the back side of the castle."
Rosalina created a force field around Junior, and lowered him to the surface of the planet. The prince quietly ran into the castle, sneaking around all of the guards and up to his room. He grabbed the set of keys for the dungeon, and quickly ran back outside the castle and around back.
"Bella, make sure you have your wand ready to use in case things go downhill," Rosalina warned. "This is very dangerous what we are doing."
The princess nodded. Bella created a force field around the Queen and herself, and they floated off of the Observatory over to where Junior was waiting for them behind the castle.
Junior opened the back door to the dungeon, giving the keys to Bella. "Go and free your parents from their cells. I will go up to father, and distract him while you all escape. If I don't see you again, I want you to know that I'm glad you're my best friend." Bella nodded and the Prince ran back towards the front of the castle.
The Cosmic Queen and Princess hovered down the line of cells, eventually finding Mario and Peach in two cells across from each other. Bella hovered over to her father's cell, quietly unlocked it and opened up the door. "Shhhhh," she whispered.
"Annabelle, you found us!" Mario whispered running up to his daughter to give her a hug.
"I couldn't have done it without Rosalina and Junior," Bella whispered back to her dad. "Let's get mom, and get out of here! We have to leave quickly!"
They quietly made their way over to Peach's cell, and silently opened up the door. Peach looked up, and seeing Bella ran over to give her a hug. "Sweetie, you're okay! And you can float?"
"I'll explain later mom. Let's get out of here," Bella whispered. The four made their way back down the hall, and towards the rear exit of the dungeon.
….
"Father, I'm home!" Junior shouted walking into Bowser's throne room.
"Son, what are you doing here?" the Koopa King growled from his seat. "Didn't I tell you to watch over that space queen?"
"Eh, she can take care of herself," The Prince responded. "She won't be able to escape from the dungeon. Serves her right for trying to mess with you, father. Besides, I left her some food anyways."
Bowser let out a chuckle. "That's my boy. That's how you put a prisoner in their place. She won't be messing with us anymore." The king got up from his chair and walked over towards the window.
Junior's muscles began to tingle seeing Bowser going towards the window. "How do you feel father?"
Bowser turned around to face Junior, a large grin on his face. "Son, now that that space queen is out of my way, I have Peach all to myself, and will never have to worry about her being taken from me again. I feel as great as ever!"
The Koopa King began to turn around to walk back to his throne, when he noticed movement outside the window from the corner of his eye. "Huh? Who is that?" he growled, running over to the window.
Junior's heart missed a beat. They were going to get caught again, and this time Bella with them. He watched helplessly as his father looked out the window.
Four figures, including the Mushroom King and Queen, were hurrying away from the castle towards the fiery swamp. Bowser instantly knew who they were. "Junior," Bowser roared, "what is this? You told me that the space lady was in the dungeon on the other planet still! You idiot!"
Junior turned green. "Father, I can explain. I…."
Bowser tore out of the castle nearly knocking Junior over, and let out a mighty roar that shook the ground at the front gate. He continued pursuing the escapees, desperately trying to catch up, Junior chasing after his father just trying to keep up.
….
Rosalina, Peach, Mario and Bella reached the fiery swamp ahead of a charging Bowser.
The Cosmic Queen turned to the princess. "We don't have much time," she quickly said to Bella. "Use your magic to get your parents on the Observatory now, and get them back to the Mushroom Kingdom. I will stay here and distract Bowser."
A look of horror appeared on the princess' face as Rosalina spoke.
"I'm not going to leave you," Bella said, tears forming in her eyes. "I won't let Bowser hurt you."
"You must go now. I'll be okay. You must get your parents out of here," Rosalina replied. "I can't let Bowser get you after all we've been through. I'll be okay! Go!" She created a force field around Bella and her parents, and they started floating up towards the Observatory. Bowser was upon Rosalina within a few seconds.
"NOOOO," the princess shouted with a look of horror on her face as she watched Bowser run up to the Queen.
"So, you freed the King and Queen, eh? You will pay dearly for that!" Bowser roared, taking aim at Rosalina.
The Cosmic Queen used her wand and put up a force field around herself. "How dare you take anyone's parents away from them! You have no right to do that!" she shouted.
"You took the Queen away from me," Bowser snarled. "For that I will show you no mercy."
"Peach is not your Queen. She is Mario's wife, and Bella's mother!" Rosalina called back.
Bowser's anger fumed and he took a swat at Rosalina, his hand hitting her force field with a large cracking sound. The force knocked the Queen back a few feet. She hit the ground, the air knocked out of her lungs.
Bella and her parents were on the Comet Observatory. They had just gotten aboard, but Bella couldn't think about her parents. All she could think of was Rosalina.
"Bella, let's get out of here," Peach exclaimed in a frightened voice. "Rosalina told us to get out of here as soon as we were on board."
Bella looked out the window. Bowser was charging at the Cosmic Queen once again and hit the force field once more, knocking her back a few more feet.
The princess's heart raced. "I can't leave her. If she runs out of her magic, she will be gone for good," Bella shouted her mother. "He won't hesitate to finish her off."
"He'll capture us again if we don't go," Mario said, grabbing his daughter in a desperate attempt to make her reconsider.
"I'm not leaving this planet without her! She's practically a mother to me!" Bella shouted, pulling away from Mario. "You'll be safe here. I have to help her!" She rushed over to the exit hatch of the Observatory, and created a force field around herself.
"Bella!" Mario and Peach shouted as their daughter whooshed down to the planet again.
On the planet's surface, Rosalina's force field was beginning to fade. Bowser had hit it so many times that most of her magic had drained away from her. The Queen began to accept the fate that she may not make it out of the situation alive. She climbed weakly onto her knees in a feeble attempt to get off of the ground.
"Father, noooo!" Junior screamed as he ran up to Rosalina, which distracted the King for a second.
"I told you to get out of here. All of this is your fault," Bowser screamed at Junior, and began to take a swipe at him.
Suddenly, a force field appeared around the prince, deflecting Bowser's punch with a crashing sound, which inadvertently hurt his wrist.
"You leave him alone!" Bella shouted, pointing her wand at Bowser, anger evident in her voice. "You ruined my life, and my parent's lives. If you lay as much as one hand on Junior or Rosalina, I will destroy you!"
A smirk formed on the King's face as he turned to face her. "Ah, princess! How nice of you to join the party!" Bowser shot back despite his wrist being in pain. "You will make a lovely collection for my dungeon once I'm finished with you!" He snapped back.
Bella hovered over to where Rosalina and Junior were just as Bowser was beginning to charge at them. The princess raised her wand, creating a large wall of a force field around the three of them. The Koopa King smashed the wall head on, and was hurled back about a dozen feet.
Bowser got back up onto his feet, though semi disoriented because of hitting the wall. He began another charge at the three, arms flailing wildly as he approached them once again.
Bella put up another force field around them and looked at Junior and Rosalina. "How do we stop him?" she shouted. CRASH! Bowser was thrown again by the field as he tried to plow over them.
"We can't kill him, remember? Our magic can't do that," Rosalina said in a weak voice.
"And as much as I dislike what my father did, I don't want to see him hurt badly either," Junior said, his voice quivering.
"There has to be some way to make him stop," Bella stated. The princess caught sight of several large boulders in the swamp. "Maybe we can trap him with those rocks over there," pointing at them, "but I don't think I can move them on my own. Rosalina, how much magic do you have left?"
"I have some left but not a lot," she replied, back on her feet again, but only just barely.
An idea popped into the princess' mind. Bella reached out and grabbed Rosalina's hands. A purple aura appeared around the two of them as Bella transferred some of her magic to Rosalina, and strengthened the Cosmic Queen from her energy deprived state.
"There, we both have enough magic now. Let's move these rocks and trap Bowser in the swamp," the princess insisted. She turned to the prince. "Junior, we your help. Can you lure your father into the swamp? Trapping him may be the only way to stop him."
Junior nodded and ran over to Bowser, who was getting up off of the ground again. "Father, are you okay?" he asked as the Koopa King struggled to his feet.
"You're not going to be when I'm finished with you, traitor," He roared, finally standing upright again. Junior tore off towards Rosalina and Bella who were at the swamp's edge with Bowser chasing and spitting fire at him. Junior reached the edge of it and stopped, turning back to face his charging father coming at him. A look of terror came over his face. He accepted that he may not escape his father's wrath.
"Look out Junior," Bella screamed. She aimed her wand at him, placing a force field around Junior, and lifting him out of the way. Bowser continued charging, falling off of the edge of land, and into the lava swamp. She gently placed Junior on the bank next to herself and the Cosmic Queen.
"Now Rosalina," Bella shouted. "Let's get those rocks on top of him."
Bowser began swimming up to the lava's surface, and to the bank of the swamp.
The princess and Cosmic Queen raised their wands, creating a force field around two of the large boulders. They sling-shotted them over to Bowser, dropping them on him as he tried to get out of the lava. They hit their mark, knocking the Koopa King back into the lava, compressing his body onto the bank of the swamp. He began to struggle, managing to start loosening the grip of the large rocks on him.
"We need more boulders," Bella said. "We can't let him escape the swamp." Rosalina and Bella used their magic to pick lift up two more boulders, dumping them on where Bowser was sitting in the lava. The Koopa King struggled to get out, but his injuries coupled with the additional boulders sitting on top of his body made it increasingly difficult to move.
The duo moved several more large rocks over to the King, them all landing around him until he was completely trapped. He roared at the princess and Cosmic Queen in bitter defeat, shouting "Get me out of here!"
"Not unless you agree to never kidnap the Mushroom King or Queen ever again, and let them and their daughter be," Rosalina shouted angrily at Bowser."I also want an apology for the turmoil you have put in my life since I was a child." Bella demanded.
"Never," Bowser shouted. "Well, I guess we'll just have to leave you in there then," Bella said, a sly smile on her face.
Bowser sat in the lava for a few minutes and thought through his options. With that he gave up. A look of sorrow appeared on his face. "I'm sorry for what I did to your family," he began. "I shouldn't have taken them away from you when you were little, and have ruined your life. I was always alone, and wanted Peach to keep me company. She was always so friendly, and admirable, and I just wanted someone like that to be around me in my life."
Tears formed in the eyes of Bella as she listened to the Koopa King speak.
"So I decided to take her, but Mario kept on rescuing her all those years ago. That's why I decided to kidnap both of them. It was selfish on my part, and I feel awful about it now." he continued.
Bowser looked at Junior. "Son, I'm really sorry for what I have put you through as well. I let my hate get the best of me, and I hurt you really bad, physically and emotionally. I was just so alone without anyone. I hope you can forgive me as well."
A small, relieved grin lit on the Prince's face. "Oh Father, I forgive you," Junior said, beginning to cry a bit. "You will find love and friendship one day again." He walked over to Bella. "It happens in strange ways, much like it did with Bella and I. We met under the most unrealistic circumstances, and we become best friends. It'll happen to you soon enough as well."
With that, Bowser began to do something he never thought he would ever do; Cry. He let out a sorrowful howl that shook the entire swamp around him.
Bella's heart softened for the King, and she actually felt a bit sorry for him. She whispered to Rosalina and the duo created a force field around Bowser causing the boulders around him to fall away from his body. They carefully lifted him back onto dry land away from the lava swamp.
A humbled Bowser turned to look at the young princess. "Can you ever forgive me? I promise that I will never hurt you or your parents ever again."
"I will as long as you keep your word and if I can see Junior again," Bella said hovering over to Bowser. Junior's heart beat a bit faster.
"I promise," the King said, a look of relief on his face. "You can see him whenever you'd like to, and he can see you too."
Bella hovered back over to the prince. "Junior, thank you for helping me rescue my parents. You are very brave, and will always be my hero." She leaned down and kissed him on the cheek. Junior's heart skipped a beat.
"Will I see you again soon Bella?" he asked the princess, his voice low and upset knowing she was going to be leaving with her parents and Rosalina shortly.
The princess grabbed Junior's hand, and began speaking in an earnest tone of voice. "Junior, you will see me again. You are free to visit me anytime you want in the Mushroom Kingdom. I will always be there waiting for you. We can even go to our special place on the small blue planet anytime as well." The two wrapped their arms around each other in a tight embrace.
"Take good care of your father, and maybe one day he will find a special friendship like you and I have," Bella said in a soft tone.
"I love you Bella," Junior replied giving her a kiss on the cheek as well. "Thank you for always being my best friend, pride and joy!"
"I'm glad I can be that person for you," Bella spoke back to the Prince, as the two separated. "Please come and visit me soon." The princess said a smile on her face, The Prince smiling back at her.
She turned to the Cosmic Queen. "Let's bring my parents home."
Rosalina nodded, and created a force field around herself and Bella, the two floating back up to the Comet Observatory. Bella blew one last kiss at the Koopa prince as he and his father waved goodbye to them.
The two reached the ship, and were greeted by the ecstatic Mushroom King and Queen.
"You two are okay," they exclaimed rushing up to Bella and Rosalina, embracing them.
Bella smiled while hugging her mother. "I don't think Bowser will be giving us any more trouble either. I think that we gave him a good scolding," she giggled. "He also promised never to hurt any of us ever again."
Rosalina gave a soft nod. "What happened to Junior?" Peach asked her daughter.
"He is going to take care of Bowser, and make sure that he stays true to his promise. He helped immensely in finding you two, and I'm forever grateful to have him as my best friend. I told him that he can visit us anytime he wants too."
Peach and Mario smiled at Bella. "Bless his soul. He will always be welcome in our kingdom," Mario and Peach both agreed.
Rosalina hovered over to the Observatory controls and programmed in the way back to the Mushroom Kingdom. "It's time to bring you all home," she smiled.
….
The trip back to the Mushroom Kingdom took about a few days to complete. The royals arrived back at the kingdom late in the day, just as the sun was beginning to set.
"Let's bring you all down to your planet," Rosalina said. "Bella, would you like to help me do the honors?"
"Sure," the princess replied, a large smile filling her face. She brought out her wand, and Bella created a forcefield around her and her parents. They left the Comet Observatory, and gently floated down to the surface of their home planet, Rosalina following closely behind.
The four landed with a soft thud right in front of the royal palace, their force fields fading to starbit dust. "We're home," Bella shouted to the world, throwing her hands in the air, and looking up at the sky.
"Annabelle, Peach, Mario!" Toadsworth shouted, running out of the castle. "You're all back safely!" He came upon the group, giving the three of them a large hug. "It's good to see you all again!"
"The honor is all Rosalina's!" Mario said. "If it weren't for her looking after Bella and helping her to find us, we could have been lost forever!"
The Cosmic Queen blushed. "It was my pleasure to help. It's the least I could do for the princess after how things turned out before. Bella is still like a daughter to me and I would do anything for her. I have to admit that Junior also helped us find the Royals as well. He led us right to Mario and Peach."
Toadsworth smiled at her. "The past is all water under the bridge," he replied. "You did a great job raising the princess, and have helped rescue her parents twice now. For that we are eternally grateful!" Mario and Peach nodded their heads at Toadsworth's words.
"Bowser will never come to kidnap any of us ever again," Bella added with a smile. "We made him promise, and his son Junior is going to make sure that he keeps it!"
"That's excellent news," Toadsworth said still smiling.
The sound of toads coming from the streets met everyone's ears. "The King and Queen are home!" they all shouted, dancing for joy. All was peaceful in the universe again.
"Come, I will get the kitchen to prepare a special meal worthy for you all returning home." Toadsworth exclaimed. "Come join us too Rosalina. You are our guest of honor."
"Thank you Toadsworth," the Cosmic Queen smiled as all of them made their way into the royal palace.
….
It was late evening, and all was calm. The moon and stars were all out, and the air was pleasant. Rosalina was out on the balcony looking at the complex array of constellations that filled the night sky.
The young princess hovered out of the castle and over to the Queen on the balcony. The two stood beside each other in silence for a few minutes looking at the sky, Bella finally breaking the silence after a while.
"So what happens now Rosalina?" she asked curiosity in her voice.
The Queen looked over at the princess. "Well, I'm going to be heading back up to the Observatory again to look after the lumas and going back to my usual patrols of space," she replied in her usual soft voice.
The princess's face became a small frown. "Then I guess you are going to want this back," Bella said quietly, taking her wand out of her pocket and passing it over to Rosalina.
Rosalina frowned. "No Bella," she replied pushing the wand back to her. "The wand was your birthday present. I gave it to you as a gift to keep. Why would I want it back?"
"I just figured that you might," the princess replied looking away. "I thought it was temporary for while I was with you, and that you might take it back when you left again."
"Why would you think that sweetie?" Rosalina asked sadness in her eyes and on her face.
"Please don't lie to me," her eyes turning back towards the Queen, tears beginning to form. "You're going to erase my memory again, aren't you?" Bella asked anxiously.
"No Bella, I promise you that I will not do it this time." She grabbed the princess's hand. "I figured that erasing your memory last time it would make things better, but truthfully it didn't. I made things worse, I saw the error in my ways for doing it, and I'm really sorry about it."
"You have everything going for you now. You will be able to live with your parents again, and you even have Junior's friendship as well. Bowser will never bother you again either. Everything is the way it should be, and who am I to make you forget about everything that's happened again?"
Bella felt relieved for a second, but another thought entered her mind. "But what about you?" Bella asked starting to cry. "You are going to be travelling far away. How will I ever see you again?"
Rosalina wrapped her arms around the princess, a couple of tears beginning to flow down her face as well. "I will always watch over you Bellatrix, and will always love you. I'll be watching over you like I watch over the many galaxies in the universe, and I will visit you whenever I am near the Mushroom Kingdom. That is my promise to you."
"We will always have a piece of each other in us as well. That is one thing we share in common; our magic. It will be very helpful to you and your family as you all continue on in life and it is the most special gift I could ever have given you."
"Thanks Mama Rosalina," Bella said to her through the hug, a little smile appearing on her face.
….
It was just after midnight, and the Cosmic Queen was preparing to leave the Mushroom Kingdom. Rosalina hovered outside the castle, the royal family and Toadsworth behind her.
"Thank you again for everything you have done for us," Mario said to her. "We will always be grateful for you and your actions."
"Have a safe trip to wherever you may roam," Queen Peach told her.
"And feel free to visit us any time," Toadsworth said, a smile on his face.
Rosalina turned one last time to Bella. "Take care, my little princess. I'll come back to see you again someday really soon." She gave her a kiss on the forehead.
Mario and Peach smiled at the affection between the Cosmic Queen and the princess, knowing the true value of love between the Queen and their Bella. Rosalina had been a good mother to their daughter, and they would always be thankful to her for what she had done while they were away from Bella.
"Goodbye Rosalina. Thanks for everything!" The princess said a little smile on her face.
Rosalina created a force field around herself and began floating up to the Comet Observatory.
"Goodbye!" they all shouted, waving at the Queen.
Rosalina waved back, gracefully floating out of their view.
"Come Annabelle. Let's go inside," King Mario suggested.
The princess smiled, taking one last look at the stars. 'She'll always be out there, and will always be looking out for me,' she thought to herself. She hovered back into the castle behind her parents. 'Thank you Mama, for everything'
A/N: Well, there you have it! All ends well for everyone involved. Mario and Peach are with Bella again, Bowser promises never to attack the Mushroom Kingdom again, and Rosalina can visit the princess when ever she pleases.
Thanks again to PrincessNellas for inspiring me to write this story. If anyone has tips or suggestions for future stories, please let me know. Until Next Time! :)