Hey guys! I re-outlined some chapters. But I HAD to keep this chapter in. (It's important in making their friendship stronger). After this, the next chapter will be where some of the action begins and where I plan to introduce the villain. Enjoy!
Maria and Bowser Junior practically bonded that very afternoon. There was rarely a day where they did not play with each other. And every time they returned home, they learned a little more about one another. But one day a question was brought up, a question that challenged their very friendship.
"What's you dad like?"
Junior and Maria were sitting on the same rock they sat every time they met. Today, the two chattered about ice hockey and doughnuts. They discovered that both their fathers enjoyed the not the sport, but the sweet dessert which made the young girl bring up such an idea.
A large grin spread across the koopa's face, and in a instant he stood upon the rock, with his chest puffed out.
"My papa is the best! He is SUPER STRONG! He's so strong he can move mountains and wrestle sea monsters!"
Upon hearing these words, Maria's eyes opened wider, her mouth agape.
"Whoa. No way!"
"YES!" Junior cried out with delight, "My dad is so amazing he even scares the sun and moon and he's King of the Koopa Kingdom!"
By this point, the little girl's eyes were as large as saucepans. Totally, shocked, she could barely muster out her one word.
"King?"
"Yup," he replied, still standing on the boulder with pride.
"...so you're a prince?"
"Mmhmm."
"THAT'S SO COOL! I'M A PRINCESS TOO!"
Junior gazed at her with complete surprise. Once again, Maria turned him speechless, but he quickly made a comeback.
"Really?"
"Uh huh! My dad is Mario, King of the Mushroom Kingdom! So that makes me a princess!" she giggled happily, "Hey that makes us both royal! Isn't that the best?"
Unfortunately, her joyous announcement stopped because she noticed Junior's grim expression. She couldn't understand why he looked so angry. Instinct took over her and she reached out to comfort him.
"Junior?" she inquired, "What's wrong?"
"Don't touch me."
With that, the frustrated prince pushed Maria to the ground, tears welling up in his eyes. Confusion covered the girl's face and could only ask a mere question.
"...why?"
"Why?!" he yelled, his face turning a bleat red, "WHY!? Our dad are enemies! They have been fighting for a gazillion years! WE CAN BE FRIENDS! WE ARE SUPPOSE TO HATE EACH OTHER!"
Neither of them moved, each were thinking one would say something. Both felt hurt. The one utterly astonished that they were bitter rivals,and the other barely able to understand why he was friends with her in the first place.
Finally, the white-hair child stood up, a serious look covered her crushed feelings from within. She gazed at koopa for a moment before she spoke.
"I can't hate you, Junior."
"Why not?!" he replied bitterly.
"Because...I love you."
Utterly speechless, spiked prince froze, unsure of how to reply. Only one person in his life told him that he was loved, and that was his father. His father. Maria was far from his father, but he could not say the same thing he would usually reply to his father.
"I love you too, papa."
He did not love Maria...or did he? That truly scared Junior, and Bowser Junior hated being scared.
Embarrassment hugged his face. Maria saw this and tried to walk closer to him.
Then everything tumbled out all at once.
"I HATE YOU! DON'T YOU DARE COME NEAR ME!"
It was as if someone had smacked the little girl in the face. Immediately, tears rolled down her cheeks, and she buried them in her hands. The koopa backed away slowly. Afraid to say anything more, he bolted, leaving the crushed princess to cry.
--
Daisy was enjoying the afternoon. A beautiful day. Not a cloud in the sky. The youthful queen sat peacefully and ate with her husband, Luigi, and her brother-in-law.
The three were discussing plans for a kart tournament when suddenly Daisy was interrupted by a small child grabbing her skirt and softly sobbing.
It was Maria.
Both Mario and Luigi stood in up, fearing the worse.
"Maria, you okay? Did someone hurt you?" her uncle asked, his voice filled with concern.
The little girl shook her head.
"Are you okay sweetheart?" The well dressed lady said, picking her niece up, "Why are you crying?"
The princess stifled her tears for a moment, everyone leaned in to hear.
"My friend doesn't like me!" Maria sobbed and buried her head into her aunt's chest.
Daisy softly smiled and hugged the princess back gently. Cupping the girl's face, the queen kissed her forehead in an effort to comfort her.
"Let's take a walk, honey."
--
Being well tended, the Royal Mushroom Rose Garden bloomed with stunning color. Even though it was called a rose garden, the Mario family imported exotic flowers and trees. Daisy decided this would be a perfect place for a stroll and lead the way.
"So you and your friend got into a fight. You tried to make it better by telling him you loved him, but he ran away angry. Did I get that all?" Daisy said, making sure she tried to understand the girl's situation.
Maria nodded slowly, trying to suppress the urge to cry again.
The free-spirited queen spoke again, "Do you want to tell me the reason you were fighting and who is the friend is?"
The princess with amethyst eyes immediately shook her head. Knowing that her family and Junior's family fought, she did not want to get the koopa prince nor herself in trouble.
"Okay, fair enough," her aunt chuckled.
"What is love?"
Daisy halted. Sitting on both knees she took her niece's hands and held them gently.
"Love is..." she stated, trying to think where to begin, "Love is a feeling you have for a person deep in your heart. If you love someone, you want to make them happy because somehow it makes you happy. Love makes you do anything for them."
"Even die?"
The queen felt her muscles tense for a moment.
"...yes even that," she barely choked out.
"Did my mom love me?" the young girl asked with a grave face.
Daisy froze and stared at her before quickly hugging her with all her might. The two remained in that position before, the queen spoke again.
"Oh Maria," she began, tears forming in her eyes, "Yes, she loved you so much. She would have done anything you Maria."
"Anything."
--
Bowser sat upon his throne with content. His entire day was boring, but peaceful. While he usually enjoyed the loud noise that would thunder through his halls, he did not mind the occasional silence.
As the king pondered these thoughts, his magical assistant, Kammy burst into the throne room.
"Sire," she started, "I believe there is something wrong with your son, Junior."
Bowser broke from his daydreaming to respond, "Hm? Like what?"
"Well when I asked him to clean his room, he did."
"What?!" Bowser rumbled. Whenever someone other than his father gave Junior an order, he would argue and carry on until his dad arrived at the scene.
"No tantrums?"
"No."
"No screaming?"
"No."
"No name-calling!?"
"Nothing, Your Rudeness."
"Hmm," Bowser paused for a moment, "I'll look into it."
Lying on the floor of his room, Junior quietly scribbled on a once blank piece of paper. As he continued drawing what looked like a crab holding a cookie, he felt a shadow loom over him.
"Hi dad," he stated without even batting an eye.
The king sat next to his son noticing that he did not seem remotely excited about his picture he was coloring. The two remained where they were, not saying anything. All that could be heard was the movement of crayons.
"Junior you okay?" Bowser finally said.
Junior said nothing, but stared at his paper.
Taking that as a bad sign, Bowser gently picked up his son and leaned him against his chest. Junior did not refuse the gesture, but simply lied there, gazing into space.
"What's wrong, big guy?" the koopa asked again.
After a long, awkward pause, the small prince spoke.
"Dad, there is this girl..."
"Junior say no more."
The young koopa looked at his papa, wondering if he knew everything. Bowser smiled and though to himself, "My little guy has a crush. No wonder he has been blue! I bet she told him how she felt. My little boy is growing up!"
"Junior, when you love someone you feel it."
"But papa, what if you aren't sure?"
"Then give it time. You'll come up with an answer."
Bowser smiled softly and patted his son on the head.
"Don't worry, you'll figure it out."
--
The day shifted into a dark night. Everyone in both Kingdoms snuggled into their beds, waiting for another morning to rise.
Though, there was one person who did not wish for anything, but to have her old friend back. Princess Maria was curled up in her bed and stared at her balcony door, wanting to reverse time and apologize for everything. Hoping that she could see her friend again and try to make everything better, she continued to look as if by some chance he would come to greet her.
Today seemed so lonely and boring, she felt so miserable.
As she gazed at her white clock across the room, her eyelids began to get heavier, but flashed open when she heard a noise. She recognized the sound and her heart began to pound.
"Junior?"
"Darn it."
The shocked but curious princess sat up in bed and looked upon the koopa who stood at the door's entrance.
"Why are you here?" she asked uncomfortably.
"Cuz..."
An awkward pause hung in the air. Both continued to stare until Maria broke eye contact and glanced upon her balcony once more.
Hugging her knees, she whispered, "I'm sorry about today."
"Maria..I..."
"I don't think I love you," she said, interrupting him, "But I want to be friends. Junior, I can't hate you."
"THAT'S NO FAIR!" the prince barked. Maria shrunk back into her bed afraid of what she would hear next, but she discovered a nice surprise instead.
"You took what I was gonna say."
The princess only giggled in reply. Bowser Junior said nothing, but stared at his feet.
"Soooo," she said, inching closer to the edge of her bed.
"So?" he replied crossing his arms against his chest and closing his eyes.
"Are we friends?"
With one eye open, he koopa prince smirked, "Yeah. I'll always be there for ya."
Well there ya go! Chapter 3! Sorry, I needed to put in this chapter before I started the action. It was essential to their friendship though I felt this chapter was pretty weak. I wasn't really big on the Bowser and son conversation either. Oh well. Tell me what you think! Next Chapter: A New Character and the Villain appear! (Oh side note, it may be a little before Chapter 4, I'll try to work on it as much as I can.)
King Boo22