A/N: Thanks so much for the review, Ikuni Hattori! This chapter took a day longer than I'd anticipated, but here it is! It's a bit of a filler (sorry!), but we'll finally get into major BowserxPeach one-on-one time in the next chapter. Thanks to all who've read - please leave a review if you have the time, I'd love to hear your feedback!
As usual (and as always), I own none of the characters!
Any trip would seem insufferable under these circumstances – but to be subjected to such discomfort while clad in a full-body racing suit, stiff and stained with ink and sweat and tears, it was even worse. Peach resented Bowser for his inopportune timing (she didn't even have the chance to rinse off) almost as much as for the abduction itself. She spoke to him rarely, looked at him never, and plotted her escape for several hours. Her dour mood only began to lift as the sky lightened and the jigsaw plots of land below grew verdant and lush. Even the air, she imagined, smelled and tasted fresher here. She'd traveled extensively over the past year, to qualifying races throughout hers and neighboring kingdoms – although she was thrilled at having the opportunity to represent her people at the Special Cup this year, she missed home. She always looked forward to this time of year in Toad Town, but it would've been particularly significant had she placed – both as an individual and as part of her team. This year was the first year that Peach and all of her close friends had qualified for the Cup, and she thought it would've been wonderful – if not for Bowser.
As unfortunate as this turn of events was, Peach couldn't help a small sigh of contentment as she peered down at sloping, green hills, light gray stone tipped in cinnamon red shingles, the zenith of every tower. It was such a strange feeling, to have Bowser abduct her from his home to bring her here; usually, it was the other way around. She clasped her hands together in her lap, fingers interwoven to still their trembling. She was both happy to see something so familiar, while she dreaded the thought of-
"Bowser!" The Clown Car had begun its descent, and if she weren't staring so intently, she wouldn't have seen it – a sudden flash of red and yellow, shaped like honeycombs fitted together. She didn't see just one or two, flung haphazardly into the air, no, she saw a net. Like a picture, she glimpsed but a moment as the colors surrounded the airship, casting everything in an orangey light – and beyond, she could've sworn this…hive wall, it covered…everything. Had she imagined it? "What was that?" Peach twisted around in her seat, to no avail: she saw nothing but blue skies.
"You saw it?" Of course she saw it, idiot. Bowser was surprised – it was supposed to be undetectable, period, but especially to humans. Then again, Peach was so much more than the average human. "I mean, uh," she was looking at him now – so he had to make it sound good. Bowser dryly added, "You think I didn't come prepared?" For the long haul? That he didn't know she'd try to escape? If she didn't, one of those stompable Shroomies would slip out to stutter out a warning to Mario. Nah, not this time. Not until he got what he came here for.
Peach just looked away, and Bowser inwardly cursed. She hadn't said more than two words to him on their way over, so this was his shot. She wanted to know what she'd just seen – well, hey, he was the king with the answers. "It's a barrier some of my minions cooked up. It's pretty cool, actually." Is she even listening? "Nothing gets in or out unless it's with me. You're lucky." Bowser Barrier. He liked the sound of that – more stuff ought to be named after him. The magic was all tied up in his blood – king blood – and since he was the one and only, it was foolproof. Kamek explained it to him before they left for the race, but he'd been busy shining his bike until it showed his reflection. He was one good-looking Koopa. That ugly plumber didn't stand a chance.
She was beautiful. And good. She was especially good. Too good for that-
"Why am I lucky?" Huh. Was she fishing for compliments or something?
At first, Bowser didn't know how to respond – and when he didn't, she touched him. She put a hand on his forearm, and his claws practically spasmed over the controls, causing the Clown Car to pitch forward suddenly. Bowser righted it with an embarrassed growl, but Peach didn't even notice, pressing urgently, "Why did you say that? What did you do? Where are my retainers? My maids? I have friends in the castle, Bowser, those are innocent Toads."
"What?" She was speaking too fast for him to keep up – but he instantly felt defensive. He didn't like her tone. "I don't know what you're talking about!"
"Some of them are children." Peach had gotten carried away – by fear. Without her parents, her steward, herself – what horrible things might have happened in her absence? This was her responsibility, and Bowser just- "How could you?" She didn't like the magic. She didn't like coming home to it. The last time he'd held her hostage in her own kingdom, her own castle, he trapped her in a window – and she wasn't the only one who had to suffer for his greed.
Bowser still hadn't followed her train of thought – but he picked up on one thing as the Clown Car landed with a rough thunk on the grounds directly behind the castle. "Kids? You think I'd hurt kids?" Like any of those Mushrooms were worth his time, let alone extra small ones. He might step on one by accident, but it wasn't his fault they were so puny and- "I've got eight of my own, sheesh!" She knew that, she met 'em herself on her birthday. What kind of a guy did she think he was? Bowser was genuinely indignant, and it showed in his face – not that she even noticed. He couldn't stand that.
He wanted her to see him as a ruthless tyrant, sure, 'cause what was more impressive than that? But the way she sounded, like she wouldn't have been surprised if he offed a bunch of baby shrooms? Seriously? Not exactly the image of evil he was trying to convey. So when a platoon of Koopa Troopas surged forward obediently to greet him, he snapped orders for the princess to be taken away. He needed to think.
Peach wanted to get away from Bowser as quickly as possible – so she didn't argue, allowing the two koopas to help her out of the Clown Car. She couldn't even summon concern for her untidy appearance, so seized was she with apprehension. The castle was never empty, always bustling – and to see so many of Bowser's…minions, oh, she hoped they hadn't hurt anyone. She saw none of the castle staff on the way to her room (which she had to direct her guards to, as they'd gotten themselves turned around), which only worried her more. Peach attempted to ask her escorts about the Toads, but was told regretfully that they had their orders – and they weren't supposed to speak to her.
She was given a modicum of privacy in her bedroom, although it gave her no relief; she assumed the Koopa Troopas would station themselves outside the door, as always. The polished hardwood floors, delicate white and gold trim against pink walls, canopied bed…she couldn't enjoy any of it. She locked herself in the bathroom before she started to cry, confident that the rush of running water would mask the sounds. She took a bath as well, stripping off her suit, her glove, her boots, sinking into soapy water that rapidly turned a murky shade of gray as she scrubbed the long-dried blooper ink from her skin and hair. Peach drained the marble tub and rinsed herself off a second time before she wrapped her body and hair in two large fluffy pink towels and stood in front of her vanity. She stared at her reflection, distorted slightly by steam, and tried to gather her thoughts. What should she do? She couldn't just stand here.
The princess wiped away – with a damp fingertip - the smallest of black specks on her crown before she carried it into her bedroom. She left it on the bed, and had only just unwrapped her hair (tangled and wet) when she heard a very small voice.
"Your Highness!"
The startled Peach turned towards the sound, instinctively clutching her towel closer to her body – at first, she only saw a bobble of pink from the balcony, gasping in relief, "Toadette!" as the toadstool girl flung herself into the room and, in a not-so-rare display of emotion, wrapped her arms around the princess (at least, what she could reach). It was a surprisingly strong hug that nearly sent Peach stumbling. "Where did you come from? What is this?" She carefully reached down to pull Toadette off of her legs so that she could crouch, eye-level with one of her very favorite attendants. She held the Toad's hands in her own. "Are you okay?"
Poor Toadette's face was absolutely wet with tears, her eyes puffy, cheeks flushed. She was very upset, and Peach felt so guilty. Had she but an inkling of what Bowser intended to do… "I-I'm fine, we're all…we're fine, just…I wasn't sure it was you, at first and I-I didn't want to disrupt your bath."
Peach's own face colored at the explanation, and she felt an overwhelming sense of…she couldn't even put it into words. "There is nothing that would've made me happier than to have you interrupt, Toadette," she insisted, knowing in the back of her mind that she just set herself up for potential trouble down the road in terms of…bathroom privacy, but right now, she simply didn't care. "Oh, I was so worried!" She hugged the girl, and pulled away only to ask, "What happened here?"
Toadette wasted no time – having the princess' full attention – to admit thickly, "It was terrible!" Peach couldn't imagine. "These magikoopas came to the castle, they practically surrounded it - and they cast this…this spell. We can't leave the grounds – no one has dared to try, there are too many guards. They put everyone in the cellar, but I escaped. I hid here, in your room, I wanted to wait for…Mario." Her voice took on a dreamy turn at the mention of his name, and Peach cast a longing look to the portrait of him on her wall. It was a reminder, of course, that he would always come for her.
But she couldn't afford to be distracted. She needed to find a way to reach Mario and first- "The cellar?" Bowser turned her cellar into a dungeon? "But it's filthy down there!" Almost a sewer of sorts. While she was thankful to know that none of the castle's inhabitants had been harmed, imprisonment was not much of an improvement. "That is unacceptable!" Before she knew what she was doing, Peach had straightened and stepped towards her bedroom door – and was only stopped by Toadette's clearing of her throat. Loudly.
"Princess," she said, when Peach glanced back, "You can't go like that." Oh. Oh, no, this wouldn't do at all. She wouldn't feel very authoritative dressed in…nothing but a towel. And she couldn't stand the thought of allowing Bowser to see her in such a way.
"Quickly, then." She rushed to her closet, revealing dozens of pink dresses, corsets, and shoes, her athletic wear tucked away in drawers. She reached for one of her day gowns and, with Toadette's help, changed hurriedly. She pulled on white satin gloves, for modesty's sake, but her hair? She pinned it, still wet, into a tousled bun with only her crown to complement it. "You should stay here."
Peach had assumed it went without saying that Toadette was safest hidden. But the way the toadstool girl's expression darkened, the princess had second thoughts. "No way!" she protested, her chin jutting out assertively from her round face, "Your Highness." She tacked on the title apologetically, and explained herself, "If…you," and Toadette shot a furtive look once more to Mario's picture, "can be brave, so can I!" And besides, she didn't want to be left here alone – not with Koopa Troopas just outside the door. It must've been the determination she saw in her attendant's face, because Peach's own softened. It might also have been that the princess was afraid, and she didn't want to traipse about alone either.
She steeled herself for the worst as she cracked her bedroom door, peering out into a sliver of hallway – expecting to see her guards patrolling. But there was no one. She opened the door wider, stuck her head out of her room, and found that she was alone. There were no Koopa Troopas here. Hm.
"Let's go," Peach suggested softly, slipping out into the hallway with Toadette on her heels – and she'd foolishly dared to think they might actually reach the cellar without any trouble at all.
"Eeeeek!" No such luck.
Toadette shrieked piercingly and Peach, in turn, jumped with a yelp all her own – as the two Boos from the Clown Car appeared suddenly and with pitchy laughter gave their most gruesome smiles, tongues lolling out between sharp teeth. Toadette had buried her face in her hands, and so the ghosts were emboldened to cause even more of a racket, something that Peach had to put a stop to. If they didn't quiet down, she was sure that koopas would come running in no time! And then how would she be able to help the other prisoners?
"Stop!" Three faces turned to hers – and all three were speechless, arms at their sides – at Peach's order, although it was given in a series of high sounds that resembled an eerie giggling, or strange vibrato. It didn't sound quite right coming from a human, and the princess knew that her accent was probably atrocious, but she was hardly fluent in Booish. Her knowledge of it was quite elementary (her Yoshi was better, although she still struggled with the tones and punctuation), but she knew enough to capture their attention.
"Now listen here," she continued in her own voice, because while she was not well-versed in their language, she knew that the Boos understood her as easily as their king did. "You can either tag along, or you can run off to Bowser, but you will behave. This is still my castle, and I am free to go wherever I want. Do you understand?" Without a word, the now reprimanded Boos covered their eyes shyly and disappeared. Frankly, Peach couldn't care less where they went off to – and once Toadette offered her a very brave (if watery) smile, the two continued on their stealthy rescue mission to the cellar, avoiding two Koopa Troopas along the way but otherwise uninterrupted.
"Halt!" Until now.
Peach knew the 'dungeon' would be guarded, so the two Koopatrols were not a…surprise, though the spiked helmets and shining armor were rather intimidating (especially by torchlight, as there were no windows in the lower levels of Mushroom Castle – for obvious reasons). She heard Toadette gasp fearfully and held out a hand, indicating that she wanted the toadstool girl to stay behind. Peach thought this could be handled diplomatically, so she bravely stepped closer – and while two sets of eyes widened with a mumbled acknowledgment, "Princess," neither Koopatrol moved aside.
"Your Highness, that's close enough," the right one warned her, shifting from one foot to the other, armor jangling as he did.
"Yeah, you're not s'posed to be down here." This, from the one on the left.
No one, she thought to herself, is 'supposed' to be down here. "I'd like to negotiate the release of my people," she said carefully, "You've got no right to hold them as prisoners. They've done nothing wrong."
The two Koopatrols exchanged a look, before the one on the right spoke again. "Sorry, Princess, but we don't have the authority to negotiate hostage situations. You've got to take that up with His Nastiness, King Bowser."
"Why? Are we under attack?" By 'we', she meant her kingdom. Her home was occupied, yes, but she still didn't know why. Was this an act of war? If it was, why would he bother with the magical shield in the first place? Why not imprison her with the others? "What exactly does…'His Nastiness'…want with Mushroom Castle?"
Another incomprehensible glance was shared, then- "We're not at liberty to discuss that, Your Highness." Pause. "Sorry."
Peach was exasperated, but she decided on a different tactic. "Can I at least see them?" she asked, her voice much warmer, softer, so that her request might seem trivial, inconsequential, "I know you're just doing your jobs, but I'd only need a couple minutes. Please, I've been gone for weeks, I just want to say hello." Surely it would be all she was capable of doing with such high-ranking guards to keep a close eye on her. "It would mean the world to me."
The two Koopatrols were torn between their orders (to guard the prisoners) and…well, their orders. It was well understood that should anyone raise a hand to the princess (metaphorically or literally), he or she might as well throw themselves in a pit of lava – because that'd be preferable to what His Majesty would do. In the end, it seemed like a harmless request – so the pair nodded to Peach with a firm reminder, "One minute." This was to reassert what authority they did have over the prisoners, and the princess quietly said she understood (and thanked them).
She expected the worst, breath caught in her throat as one guard opened the thick, wooden door to the cellar – but as soon as she stepped over the threshold, she was greeted by several dozen gasps of, "Your Highness!" "Princess Peach!" "It's the princess!" In this dark, cold, and damp room – that smelled faintly of mildew, and was bereft of all but empty wine racks – huddled together at least two dozen Mushrooms, all familiar faces from every corner of the castle.
"I'm so sorry!" she exclaimed, searching out the faces of the advisors, two of which had been trapped here with the rest. "I had no idea…" There were those who sought to reassure her – that she could not have known, that it was an ambush, and no one held her responsible, but Peach scarcely heard the words. Without Toadsworth, all decisions fell to her – and she knew she couldn't allow the Mushrooms to stay here in these…inhumane conditions. "Don't worry," she said, without having the slightest idea how to go about fulfilling the promise, "I'll take care of this."
"PRINCESS!" Toadette.
That wasn't the only thing she heard – as one of the Koopatrols stuck his head in with a hissed, "Your Highness- please!"
"Where is she?" Bowser. If she didn't feel the way (was she imagining this?) the walls and floor quaked with every approaching stomp, she should've understood why Toadette willingly scampered into the cellar-turned-prison, or why the brave Koopatrol's voice cracked on the end of his plea to her. Peach didn't want him to get in trouble, really; she didn't blame the guards themselves, she knew what a terrible bully Bowser could be – especially to his own people. So she stepped out of the cellar, between the two Koopatrols, just in time to quiver in the presence of the Koopa King. He seemed immeasurably large here – the ceilings were lower, the hallways narrower, and Bowser was so tall, so broad. She wouldn't have been surprised if the spikes on his shell scraped the passageway. It was equally possible that his anger made him all the more massive – especially when he glared at them (her included, she felt) with garnet eyes.
"I thought I told you fools she didn't belong down here!" 'She' was standing right there – and nearly winced at how loudly his growl echoed.
"Sire, we-"
"It's not their fault," Peach protested, interrupting the Koopatrol before the impatient (and unforgiving) Bowser could. She felt the Toads behind her as if their eyes, their fear and discomfort, pushed her forward. Without her stewards, her best advisors, she was - for the first time - making her own decisions. And she recognized these decisions would have consequences for someone other than herself. "I- I had to see it for myself." The imprisonment of her protectors, servants, and friends. "Please let them go." It was one thing to kidnap her, quite another to hurt so many in the pursuit of whatever ridiculous power he was after now.
Bowser outwardly scoffed. "So one of 'em can rat me out to the Stupid Brothers? You think I'm an idiot?"
"No," she said, too flustered to see the expression that flickered across his face. She only cared about one thing. "You said it yourself, Bowser, no one can breach the spell you've casted. You don't really need to keep prisoners down here, do you? They're not a threat to you." He snorted contemptuously at the thought – hah! A mushroom, threaten him? That wasn't even funny, it was just…
"Pitiful."
Peach frowned, balling her gloved hands into small fists at her sides. The politeness was more than forced when she persisted, "Will you let them go?" To move freely about the castle? It was a small comfort, but important.
Bowser eyed her in what was, for him, a calculating manner. "Why?"
Why. He had to ask her why he shouldn't imprison innocent people. He is a monster. A part of her suspected that he was only taunting her, although she couldn't see proof of it in his face. "Bowser, please." He could not know what it took for her to utter that word to him – repeatedly – and what it meant. "Don't be cruel." There was a mild reproach in the words, and the way she looked at him made Bowser uncomfortable.
It reminded him of why he'd gotten rid of her in the first place – he couldn't concentrate on his dastardly plans with Peach right there, with that voice and those eyes, making him feel like a jerk. "I am cruel," he reminded her - boastfully, "And don't you forget it, Princess."
How could I? There's not a decent bone in your body! "You know what I mean." Unnecessarily cruel. Cruel when it served no purpose. Cruel for cruelty's sake.
Silence. The princess began to think he would refuse - just because he could, which was why she didn't expect it when he grunted out, "Fine." Peach's eyes widened in surprise – and hers weren't the only, but the Koopatrols knew better than to question His Majesty. "If you have dinner with me." Blackmail. Now that was characteristic of their king – as much as destruction and the sheer terror he inspired were. "If you don't…" he trailed off with a knowing smirk.
What other answer could she possibly give? Peach nodded reluctantly, but she wasn't finished making demands just yet. "Promise me your guards won't harm them." This was very much a request that relied on his word, and on the respect his people had for it. She – as did everyone in this cellar – knew very well that Mushrooms were not a match for well-trained Koopa Troopas. Her kingdom was peaceful, with little military strength, why else would he need to convert a cellar into a dungeon?
"Agreed." It was no scale off his back, he didn't give a damn about her minions – the only thing he cared about was standing right in front of him. She was the answer to all the power he could ever want (at least, for now).
"Agreed," she echoed quietly – and with that, the deal was sealed. Bowser ordered his Koopatrols to spread the news not to pick fights with the natives, while the Mushrooms filed out of the cellar, several stopping to clasp her hands or dress in shaking gratitude (for Bowser was still present, and they were rightfully afraid of him). Peach encouraged Toadette to leave with the others, citing that she'd been very brave, and did not dare to whisper anything more – for fear that the Koopa King would overhear. She was among the last to leave, until only the princess and Bowser remained in the bowels of the castle. The torchlight had dwindled down, and with her back to the frigid cellar, her hair still damp, Peach was freezing. Were it not for the gloves, her goosebumps would have been obvious, raised along her skin.
And Bowser just stared at her in the flickering darkness, which only made her shivering worse – until she'd gone so far as to wrap her arms around herself, hands rubbing along the few inches of exposed skin between gloves and sleeves.
"You're cold." Peach didn't say anything, but she didn't have to – a moment later, and Bowser took it on himself to exhale a breath of fire, scouring the walls and reigniting what torches had begun to fade. Even to stand so close to flames – it made all the difference, and the heat lingered afterwards.
"Um," she didn't know what to say, "Thank you." And not for the warmth. Peach supposed she should've said it sooner, but…well, surely Bowser of all people would forgive her a slip in courtesy. "I'll return to my room now." She started to leave.
"Princess!" Bowser knew that he wanted her company, but he still didn't have an excuse when she walked past him. It'd taken him a few steps to say anything at all – he admired her walk away from him, the back of her neck, which for some reason transfixed him because he had never seen it before. She looked beautiful with her hair up. She'd never worn it up for him before (or with him in the vicinity, really, since she didn't do things for him...on purpose, anyway). He would've let her Toads free just 'cause she asked, and 'cause he wanted to please her – but it was better if he got something out of it too. She'd never willingly eat with him.
She wouldn't let him touch her either, which was why he'd had no choice but to blow fire in the hopes of heating her up, if only temporarily. Putting his arms around her was not an option, not if he didn't want her to scream.
Peach turned to him at the address, her pretty face perfectly blank, reserved.
"Give me a tour of the castle." It was meant to be a request, but it came out as a command. Habit, he guessed.
He wished she wouldn't look at him like that. He could practically taste the mistrust - and yeah, he hadn't done much to warrant trust, but c'mon...
"Why would you need a tour?" It hasn't changed since the last time you came here looking for trouble.
"It's been awhile, alright? And I got a lotta castles." What, did she expect him to have all the floorplans memorized? Nevermind that he knew this castle backwards and forwards for more than just strategy, she didn't have to know that as long as she didn't lock herself up again.
"Alright." She agreed. Not happily, but who cared? One step at a time.