Battle of Mushroom Forest
It's the most pathetic sight Bowser had ever seen. Only a handful of toads showed up to fight. They're not even wearing helmets and only carrying spears. The toads shook with fear. And marching at their side were the equally unimpressive goombas. Their mayor was hiding behind them. If it wasn't for his desire to expand his rule, Bowser would have turned around. This army was a complete joke to him! Pathetic! There was no need to make those arrangements with Mayor Goomba to betray his allies.
The toads and goombas came to a halt and parted to allow Peach to march to the front. She stops a few feet from Bowser. It had been years since he last seen her. The girl was no longer wearing traditional toad garb but wore a pink flowing dress. Seated on her head was a beautiful tiara. Peach was now the princess of the Mushroom Kingdom. Unlike the rest there was no fear in her eyes. Desiring her again, Bowser dug his claws into his fist.
Focus! He scolds himself.
"Peach, no …. Princess Peach! It's been a while." Bowser teases.
Peach shakes her head. "Not long enough. Did you get my message from the general?"
Bowser chuckles. "Yes, I did. And it was rude! But I respect your fiery spirit. You landed in the wrong kingdom, Peach. You would have made a fine koopa."
Peach grips her parasol and shoots a fierce glare at Bowser. "I wouldn't trade my toads for anything."
Bowser's expression darkens. "The toad's fate will be humiliating and grim. However, you will receive a warrior's burial at the very least."
Captain Toad pulls out his frying pan and points forward.
"Attack!"
He runs forward to lead the charge with Peach. But the goombas snatch the spears from the toads and surround Peach. Captain Toad turns in alarm as Bowser snickers. The mayor walks to Bowser's side.
"I'm sorry, Peach! But I'm not dying for a lost cause! We will serve King Bowser."
The toads scatter, horrified at the betrayal. The blue-spotted toad, Berry, pleads with Peach to escape with them. But she does not move.
"What's wrong Peach? Oh yeah, the evacuees are already in custody. They should be here at any moment to welcome you. The whole family must be together, right? Bwa ha ha!"
Bowser expected her to cry. To be honest, he hoped she would express admiration for foiling her alliance. But she stares at Bowser with a sad expression. Finally, she whispers, "You don't have to be this way."
Bowser becomes agitated.
"Pursue the toads!" He orders.
The koopas shout and rush forward. Peach pulls out a parasol, opens it, swinging her arm to clear the goombas surrounding her. She then leaps in the air, blocking the path to the fleeing toads. Pursuing koopas were met with a kick to the face or a whack of Peach's parasol. Despite the odds, she held her ground trying to buy the toads time to escape.
Berry turns again as Gold is dragging him. "Princess Peach, run!" But she had no intention of fleeing. And her stubbornness made Bowser's heart pound. He was considering capturing her again. But the tyrant shook the thought out of his head and charged forward like a bull. It's time for him to intervene. Bowser knocked scores of his own men to the side as he reels back his fist and launches it forward like a rocket. Peach nimbly dodges and lands a hard kick to Bowser's face. But it only made him stumble.
Peach dances around him, weaving away from the onslaught of flying fists. It was not long before Bowser captured Peach in one of his hands. He begins to apply pressure to crush her. Peach cries out but shoots him a scowl that sends a tingle down his spine. It was meant to be intimidating but Bowser found it cute. He was so enamored he didn't notice Peach whistling.
Suddenly, out of the woods came a pack of chain chomps! The metallic creatures rip up the large mushroom stalks as they charge. They ignore the toads, instead preying on the koopas. Mouser spots them first as they approach.
"Cheese and crackers! Boss …!" Before Mouser can finish the chomps run him into the ground. The barking beasts begin rampaging through the koopa army. A koopa yells at Mayor Goomba.
"You said nothing of chain chomps!"
"I didn't know of this, honest!" The mayor defends.
Captain Toad pauses his retreat.
"Peach, she …" Toad grips his pan and runs back. He won't abandon her. With a high-pitched war cry he slams the pan on any koopa, goomba, or shy guy he could find.
As he battles, two large chomps break off from the pack heading for Bowser and Peach.
"Apple Butter, Sugar Beans!" Peach cries out. The chain chomps happily bark in response.
Bowser lets loose a laugh at the names she had given them. But it is cut short as Apple Butter slams into him. Bowser releases Peach from his grip and she falls, rolling on the ground. Apple Butter helps Peach to sit on her back while Bowser stands up dusting himself off. The Koopa General swoops in to deliver a report. Seeing the chomps the general gets in front of the king.
"Sire! Let us handle this!"
"No, I have it. You take on the smaller chomps." Bowser orders.
The general bows and flies off. Bowser marches toward Peach and the two chain chomps.
"I haven't seen two this large in forever. How long did it take to train them?" He inquiries.
"Stewed mushroom soup and they're your friends for life. Not too hot, not too cold." Peach answers, unwilling to go into detail about the agonizing numerous attempts to befriend the chomps. Peach points at Bowser and Apple Butter leaps at him. Sugar Beans is coming in from behind. Bowser slams his fist together gleefully, an excited grin painted on his face. A challenge!
"Interesting, but I prefer to show them whose boss!"
Meanwhile, Captain Toad was slowly being overwhelmed by a mob but he kept fighting. Unfortunately, none could come to his aid. Berry and Gold tried but were quickly subdued. The other smaller chain chomps were battling the Koopa General and his elite division. But the captain could hear the timid cheers of his comrades while they hid in the forest. It empowers him to keep fighting. But an eye-patch wearing koopa tackles the captain, putting him in a chock hold. With the last of his strength Captain Toad hurls his pan nailing the traitor, Mayor Goomba, in the face.
Apple Butter attempts to take a bite of Bowser, but he catches her jaws. Bowser buries his feet into the ground as he prevents her teeth from sinking into him. Peach leaps off Apple Butter to do a diving kick on Bowser. To Peach's dismay, he tanks the kick and hurls Apple Butter to the side.
Sugar Beans slams into Bowser sending him flying a few feet. As Bowser stands back up she bites into his shoulder. The tyrant yelps and turns toward Sugar Beans, giving her such a frightening snarl, she backs off. She trembles before the Koopa King - unwilling to attack.
Realizing Sugar Beans is yielding, Peach runs to round house kick Bowser, but he throws her to the ground. Apple Butter leaps to aid Peach but Bowser side steps out her way, grabbing her chain. The king begins to swing her around like a lasso and flings the chain chomp. The momentum sends the creature crashing a distance away. Bowser lightly pets Sugar Beans, acknowledging the chain chomps' efforts.
"No!" Peach mournfully cries out. The time spent with them was short but Peach had grown attached to the chain chomps. Vengeful, she yells out and reaches for Bowser ready to fight but she is halted by the Koopa General and Mouser.
"What happened to you?" Bowser jokes while looking at Mouser's crushed glasses. The mouse frowns in response.
Bower turns his attention to a struggling Peach. She was tired but was still not giving up. The toads in hiding began to throw fruit at Bowser, demanding he release Peach. The koopa snarls in their direction.
"We'll see how brave you measly mushrooms are, when you are roasting over lava like rotisserie chickens!"
Peach looks at Bowser in distress. She was out of options. He was going to kill the toads. But she remembered Antasma's advice and Peach makes a quick decision. One she may regret but it was the only way.
"Please, Your Highness! Spare them! Just kill me!"
Bowser growls in annoyance. He is not bargaining with her. "I'm not sparing ..."
"I'll serve you!" She begs while staring at him, her blue eyes watering. Bowser froze, her parted lips and eyes capturing his imagination. He longs to capture those lips in a heated kiss. Bowser begins to fantasize about sharing a lifetime with her. The two would get married. And they would happily live on a small farm, raising a small family.
Twenty kids wouldn't be too bad.
"Boss."
Wait, why would we live on a farm?
"Boss!"
Would marrying her make the stupid mushrooms my in-laws!?
"Boss!"
Bowser snaps out of his dreaming and hits Mouser on the head, half-burying him in the ground.
"I was thinking numb-skull!"
Mouser rubs his bruised head. "I was just asking for further orders!"
Bowser growls and turns back to Peach. He regards her with a look of yearning. Bowser desires her hand, but another part of himself prevents him from demanding it. He wasn't ready to accept his feelings for Peach.
"Alright. I'll cut a deal. Become one of my vassals and serve me." Bowser bends to lift her chin in his claw.
Her skin is so soft.
"Do as I say, and I let the toads live. But they will live as slaves. They'll cultivate this land and ship the produce to me."
Peach bravely agrees to the terms.
The koopas stand in shock.
"So, no toad cookout?" The Koopa General sadly mutters. Bowser nods and the general accepts his decision. He will not question his king. But the other koopas want blood. Even Mayor Goomba wonders why he had to betray them, as Bowser was going to spare the toads anyway. Before any soldier could protest, Bowser snarls a murderous threat at them. They knew not to cross him and kept silent. Satisfied they knew their place, Bowser signals for the toads to be led away. He also has the general secure the chain chomps to be carted off. Finally, Bowser watches as Peach is escorted. Her golden hair sways as she walks, and he wishes to run his claws through it. But he catches himself.
Focus!
There is more work to be done, securing control of the Mushroom Kingdom. Bowser was angry with his decision. Today, he was supposed to get rid of Peach. But not only does he spare her, he lets the toads live!
What has gotten into you!?
But the tyrant tells himself it will all be worth it. The princess can be of use to him.