Publishing this chapter a day early since I will be unable to post tomorrow!

Peach's heart felt heavier and heavier by the day. Her parents flitted around her constantly, acting as though nothing had even happened aside from how they continuously spoke of how glad they were that she had returned home after her 'little adventure'; that's all they saw it as, just some silly game Peach had finally stopped playing so she could come home and return to their control. She had tried talking to Daisy again, but her friend was cold and distant, and that only made Peach feel even worse. Toadette was her only constant, by her side like they always had been, and Peach was eternally grateful for them. It had been nearly a month since she had left Bowser and all she could think about was how much she missed him. But, at the same time, she couldn't quite bring herself to write a letter to him. She wasn't sure why because she knew she wanted to be reunited with him; she missed him more every day. But she also knew that in doing so, she would be agreeing to marriage and a life with him in his brother's kingdom. It wasn't that she didn't want to marry him, it was just that everything was moving so fast and her life in the Mushroom Kingdom was all she had ever known. Would she really be able to leave it all behind? To run off with her prince into a completely different life, just like in so many stories she had read as a child? The problem with 'happily ever after' is no one tells you what actually happens. The characters just disappear off into the sunset, hand in hand. Was this really the right choice that would give her that happy ending?

Something Daisy had said to her kept running through her mind too- 'I wish you would just marry for love'. She wanted the reason for marrying Bowser to be because she loved him, she really did. But did she truly love Bowser? Did he really love her in return? Peach didn't exactly have much to compare her feelings to, knowing she'd hardly had a romantic crush before, let alone been in love. The doubt began to creep back into her heart. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all. But then memories of Bowser flooded her mind; the two of them dancing together on the night they met, laughing and smiling with one another, running through the fields with complete freedom and fearlessness... the way he had kissed her that night under the pavilion, stars shining in his eyes as he looked at her. And Peach's heart soared in her chest. Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, Peach finally made up her mind. She walked over to her desk, pulled out a sheet of parchment, a quill, and some ink, and began to write the letter that would change her life forever.

Bowser stared at the open letter on his desk, reading the words over and over again, not quite believing what they said. His heart pounded in his chest, the full meaning of what he had just read beginning to settle in his mind. He had started to lose hope, having heard nothing from Peach in over a month, but now there was this...

"What did she say?" Boo asked, leaning forwards and Bowser almost jumped out of his chair; he had completely forgotten his brother was still in the room, him being the one who had delivered Peach's letter to him in the first place. Bowser had taken an age to open it, scared of the words it contained, flipping the envelope over and over in his hands before finally breaking the wax seal.

"She said... yes," Bowser barely whispered, unable to believe what he was saying.

"Well, congratulations, brother," Boo nodded, walking over to his side, "I believe I owe you an apology of sorts,"

"You have nothing to apologise for," Bowser let out a disbelieving laugh, standing up and pulling Boo into a hug. Boo froze, surprised by Bowser's sudden affection, before smiling and gently patting his brother's back. But once Bowser pulled back, there was a slight frown on his face.

"What's wrong? Isn't that the answer you wanted?" Boo asked, confused at his brother's change of demeanour.

"I'm just... I'm unsure if this is a good idea," Bowser sighed, stepping back from Boo and looking out the window behind his desk.

"Why wouldn't it be?" Boo frowned.

"You said it yourself, people don't marry us for love. I love Peach, I honestly do. But I don't know if she could ever truly love me- the cursed prince, the monster," Bowser looked down at his feet.

"You are not a monster," Boo said so fiercely that Bowser looked up at him in surprise, "and I didn't say that she would never love you. It's true that royalty often marries for power, but that doesn't mean love can't also be a part of it. Break tradition, brother. Break the stereotype and marry the woman you love just because you love her. And maybe she loves you too. Maybe she doesn't. But that doesn't mean she'll never love you. Have faith, brother. I have never seen you as happy as you are when you talk about her. And I've never seen you as sad as you have been this past month without her by your side. You have something special, don't lose that,"

"Thank you, Boo," Bowser smiled and, in a rare moment of softness, Boo smiled back at him. And for a brief and beautiful moment, Bowser was reminded of his childhood; when he and Boo were young and innocent, yet to be marked by the cruelty of society and the burden of sovereign rule.

"Now," Boo pulled back and clapped Bowser on the shoulder again, "I believe you have a letter to write and a wedding to plan,"

Bowser's smile grew and he sat down, pulling out parchment and ink, and started to craft his response to Peach. Boo watched him for a little while, his smile slowly slipping from his face. He wanted to be happy for his brother, he really did. But something in the back of his mind told him that this might not turn out to be the happy ending Bowser seemed to think it would be.