The Conspirators

The skies darken as a fleet of airships cease an ariel bombardment. Below them are the burning remains of pirate ships. Bowser glares at the sinking kremling ships with an annoyed expression. Sure, this would send a message to their leader but Bowser was not in the mood for celebrating. The damage the pirates inflicted on that town was extensive. But Wendy, administrator of it, is safe. And he seize a great quantity of loot. So, that's all that matters now.

"He has a lot of nerve. When I catch K. Rool, he is going to dangle! Mouser, I want his bounty doubled!" Bowser balks. Mouser makes a note and asks, "Should we update the picture?"

"Choose the most unflattering picture you can find! Even though everything about him is ugly anyway."

"You got it, boss!"

Wendy's airship comes into view and parks near Bowser's. She gets onto the main deck, leans over the railing, and calls out to Bowser. "I'm going to have to set up more security. Thanks daddy!"

Bowser is frowning but his hard stare softens. Wendy is the only girl in his family and he gives her whatever she wants. The boys jokingly accuse him of favoritism regarding her. He's been trying to curtail his doting but woe to anyone that hurt her. "Of course, anything for my little princess! Let me know when anymore idiots come stalking around your turf."

Wendy frowns and places her hands on her hip. "Going back to your woman already?"

"Huh!?" Bowser stares at her dumbfounded. Wendy folds her arms with a frustrated sigh.

"You know who I'm talking about. That poser Peach!"

Wendy has always been blunt with her words. But Bowser is surprised by her accusation. "Poser!?"

"Yeah! She is just kissing up to you to get on your good side. And you're falling for it!"

Bowser chuckles and shakes his head. "I did tell her if she walked the line she would okay. Peach has become more than a minion to me. Besides, I asked her to come with me on that trip."

Wendy's mannerisms become more adamant. She is now banging her hands on the railing. "That gold digger is going to swindle you. Assassination attempts, remember? You're supposed to keep a healthy distance from your vassals. You conquered them! So, there is always a chance one is plotting on you for revenge! And I don't want you to die!"

Bowser shrugs at her response and Wendy slaps her face. "Even if she is plotting my downfall, I know she would be doing it for a good reason. I would forgive her. As much as I hate her nature, it is what drew me to Peach. She saved my life."

Bowser's expression becomes more serious. "I'm not dying Wendy."

Her face is stern but Bowser knows his statement reassured her.

"Besides she is warming up to me!" He adds.

Wendy orders her ship to leave and shouts back at Bowser.

"Don't blame me when she kills you during your honeymoon!"

"Honeymoon?" Bowser whispers while his airship begins to depart. Feeling forlorn, the king walks below deck as his ship heads back for the Darklands. Wendy is right he does miss Peach. But he is eager to get home to his precious son. There's plenty of time to get back with his love. He should plan something that includes Peach and Junior.

Entering his bedroom Bowser slips into a pair of slippers and removes his shell. He puts on a flame-patterned bath robe and looks around the room. His living quarters is luxurious with red carpets, curtains, and furniture. Delicate golden patterns carved into the black walls. On the walls are portraits of his kids and of course, himself. His eyes downcast looking at Ludwig's. A sad memory is returning. He growls and changes his gaze to his latest addition. It is a picture he took of Peach during their business trip. He runs his claws carefully over the picture and grins. Their excursion was over too soon. Warmth radiates from his neck to his cheeks as he remembers her kissing him. And she allowed his embrace. It was not his imagination. Peach willingly displayed affection. She was just being friendly earlier but her kiss was real. He felt it. She must be falling for him!

Bowser nearly shouts - playing their moment over and over in his head. He turns and flexes in front of a giant mirror. "I knew she couldn't resist me!" He then marches over to his large red fluffy chair and sits in it. He leans over to his desk and turns on the radio. The king was in the mood for love songs. As he listens, he remembers the communication towers being set up. Bowser has every intent to call Peach, but for now he will fight the urge and give her space. She does have her government affairs to deal with. The melodies continue to play and Bowser nods off to sleep with a happy sigh.

Soon he is dreaming. A pleasant dream without any aid from Antasma. Bowser is in a black apron and tie - standing in front of a cake display counter. He grumbles thanks to his customer as she leaves with a box of muffins. Not spotting anyone else in the shop, Bowser slips down to sneak a slice of butter cream frosted cake, with lemon filling, into his mouth.

"Darling, those are on sale." Peach chides while walking out the back with a mixing bowl. Bowser hides his hands from her. A mischievous smile planted on his face. "I was just adjusting the display."

Peach giggles. "I can't leave you alone for a moment."

"Like you ever want to be apart from me." Bowser teases while wiping flour off her cheek. She leans into his hand.

"Oh, you …. Anyway, our youngest had to leave school early." She whispers, trying to change the subject as usual when he gets flirtatious.

"He better not be playing sick again."

But Bowser's eyes glow in delight as he looks towards the door, happy to gaze upon the child they had together.

"Father!" Comes a thick accent.

Bowser's jaw drops as a mini mouse with blonde hair skips in. Bowser stares in horror while Peach beams over the child's presence. Bowser turns to Peach. "Peach, that is not my son!"

"But he is!" Peach insists.

Bowser pulls at his hair while staring at the boy.

"Father?"

In a jealous rage Bowser jumps over the counter at the kid. The kid screams, like Mouser, and races for the door while Peach is calling the police.

"Bowser that's our son!" She screams after the two.

Bowser falls out his chair now awake. Grabbing his chest, he stares at the ceiling catching his breath. Bowser then furrows his eyes and races out of his room. He finds Mouser at the upper deck and stares at him murderously.

"Boss? What's the matter?"

"Say you're sorry!"

"EH!?"

Antasma approaches an entrance bearing a bat wing insignia. As his servants open the door, Antasma recalls his earlier meeting.

Antasma's guest was the Army Hammer Bro from the Shiver Region.

"Welcome to Pi'illo Island. Is everything well with the king?" Antasma greeted while waving away his servants. The hammer bro slammed the Daily Koopa onto the floor. The front page is about Bowser and Peach visiting Shiver Region. Antasma lifts his eyes from the paper and sees the Army Hammer Bro fuming.

"I didn't want to believe it! I didn't want to believe what you said, Antasma. But the king is indeed head over heels in love with that girl. She's not fit for the title, Queen of the Koopas!"

He took the bait. Antasma rises from his throne, with his hands clasped, and floats out the room. The hammer bro. followed.

Antasma talked while not turning to look at his company. "She has a huge influence on His Majesty, doesn't she? I heard he's been more forgiving lately."

"Some of the koopa citizens are beginning to love her but the hard liners hate her!" Army Hammer Bro. shouted. "I miss the good old days when all we did was dominate. Bowser has brought wealth to us but it is shameful for a koopa king to fall for a mushroom princess. You should have seen how pathetic our king was. Following her around like a lost toad. I thought he was going grow a mushroom cap on his head."

Antasma chuckled and turned to face him.

"If I'm correct, your people came together to survive. It was the only option against outside hostile forces. Overtime it became about asserting yourselves. You pride yourselves as warriors. And the princess is an affront to that?"

The Army Hammer Bro folded his arms and closed his eyes. "King Bowser has sadly become weak. It's time for new leadership."

"We may not agree on everything but our goals align, Army …."

"Refer to me as Jennen."

"Jennen? Well, Jennen it is."

Antasma enters a large room and spreads his hands out to a waiting audience. "You all made it. Wonderful."

Besides Jennen there were others present for the meeting. Individuals with a bone to pick with the Koopa King. They are people Antasma carefully approached over the years, planting seeds of rebellion in them.

Sitting next to Jennen is King K. Rool. Pirate leader of the kremlings. He has been fighting with the isolated Kong Kingdom to seize control. To fuel his fight, his ships brave the outside world to raid empire ships. And Bowser has been sinking them, even placing a bounty on K. Rool's head. But King K. Rool is a master of disguise and evasion. He has escaped capture and execution multiple times. Because of Bowser's interference the kongs have the advantage. King K. Rool has unceasing hate for the prince of Kong Kingdom. But Bowser comes in second. The pirate raises his wine glass in greeting the bat king.

"It wasn't too difficult getting here, King K. Rool?"

"It was a beautiful day on the seas. Raided a ship on my way over and crashed a play to act in the leading role! You should have seen the audience's faces! Got a round of applause at the end!"

Jennen frowned as K. Rool slaps his large belly while laughing and shakes his head. "Pirates …" He mumbles.

Seated next to K. Rool is Clawgrip the madman. The crustacean is a former general of King Wart. He was feared for his tendency to wipe villages out of existence. Mouser, Tryclyde, Fryguy and the birdos accepted Wart's defeat at the hands of Bowser. It was simply a manner of serving the stronger to them. But Clawgrip is loyal to Wart. He never took the loss of the warlord well. And he wants revenge. Antasma knows he wants to take the position of emperor if the plan succeeds. But Clawgrip is overestimating his ability. He will have to keep an eye on him for any recklessness.

"Let's get on with this! You kept us waiting long enough!" Clawgrip complains and points a claw at Antasma.

Before Antasma can retort a deep feminine voice cuts him off.

"Why are you boys all sitting on the other side?"

Jennen looks down to sip his drink. King K. Rool, however, frowns at the tall pom-pom with black hair sitting in front of him. "I don't trust you, Madam Tanger! Not with your reputation!"

Madam Tanger adjusts her fur coat and sticks her tongue out at him. "Whatever do you mean by that!? Even Jennen knows I did everything for the throne. And I was cast aside. I had to do everything I could to survive!"

To Antasma's surprise Tanger is the one that came looking for him. She wanted in on whatever he was planning. So, the bat did a background check to be safe before recruiting her. Madam Tanger comes from a family of nobles and trained to be a potential bride candidate for Bowser. It was fierce competition but Tanger was looking to be the top choice, after brutally sabotaging the other candidates. Actions considered normal by koopa standards so the queen never complained. However, everything went downhill once the queen passed. When the teen Bowser was crowned, he told all potential brides to go back home. He said it wouldn't be fair to choose any of them, as his heart belonged to someone else. The women were compensated for lost time, but Tanger was not happy. She tried to trick Bowser into changing his mind. It failed and she had to go into exile to escape punishment. Madam Tanger has since gone through three husbands. All died under mysterious circumstances. King K. Rool is right. She is not trustworthy, but she has proved useful. Antasma sits next to Tanger as she bares her teeth at K. Rool.

"Remember, we all have a common goal." The bat king expresses to them.

"Yes. Kill Bowser!" Tanger shouts. Clawgrip bangs his large claws on the table and Jennen raises his hammer in agreement.

Antasma puts his hands up to calm them down. "You already know the gist of the plans. I'm closing in on a breakthrough with the serum necessary for our plan to work. Right now, I'm low on resources. But I have an agent that will finish acquiring what I need. Captain Toad."

A snicker escapes Tanger's mouth and Jennen groans. Antasma scowls at them.

"Yes, a toad. For the mission to survive, he must be unaware of your existence. Except you K. Rool."

"Why?"

"Once the toad has the shipment ready, he needs to smuggle the goods to my island. That's where you come in."

King K. Rool rubs his chin. "Don't worry, I can get it done."

Antasma turns to Madam Tanger. "An update on your progress, please."

She smiles and reveals a long-curved knife. "Finished. It cost a fortune to make, Antasma. But this is capable of bypassing Bowser's thick hide."

Antasma takes the knife and studies it. "We just need to get the poison into his system. And stall to let it take effect and it won't be easy. As you know when we kill Bowser, the blame will be placed on Princess Peach. The koopas will demand the deaths of the toads in retaliation. And Bowser Jr. will be given the throne. As a child he will be moldable."

Jennen smiles sinisterly. "Glory can return to our people!"

"But I want to be in charge!" Clawgrip declares. "Not that brat!"

Tanger points a claw at him. "Keep dreaming. If the son can't rule properly, the generals will take over. If that happens, the empire will weaken. At that point we can grab what power we can." Tanger says.

Jennen slams his hammer on the table and glares at Tanger. "No, the empire must be ruled by someone of the royal family! I will accept no one else!"

"I just want weapons." King K. Rool says with a shrug.

Antasma lets them argue, not adding that he will be in control. Junior will function as a puppet ruler. And the child won't be able to lead like his father has. He is intelligent but his heart is far softer. And once an 'accident' befalls the boy, chaos will break out completely. In that turmoil Antasma can run freely. Any and everybody will be his toy to play with.

"What about the mushroom girl?" Madam Tanger asks with venom in her voice. "She dies right?"

Antasma sneers at Tanger. "I have plans for her."

Tanger growls. She is not happy but Antasma doesn't care. The conspirators only share the desire to get rid of Bowser. Betrayal will eventually happen, but Antasma intends to come on top.

Antasma stands up before his audience. "The next few months will be crucial. There will be hiccups. There will be roadblocks. But endure it! We are on the brink of making history, my friends. Defeating Bowser and establishing a new order!"

Tonight, Peach's sleep is unpleasant again. The dream itself is not terrifying. She is on another outing with Bowser. They are in a park, laughing over something and holding hands. His eyes are soft and his voice gentle and reassuring. Peach loves the dream but the guilt won't go away. She finally pulls away from Bowser's hand, wiping tears out of her eyes. Before a distressed Bowser can reach for her, he fades out. Soon the happy laughs of her family ring throughout her mind. Peach is once again on a green hill, only this time looking down at the toads frolicking among the flowers. Peach smiles at the sight and feels a familiar presence behind her. She twists around completely unafraid.

"You're back!"

She stares up at Antasma as the landscape around them begin to fade.

"I'll wait for you in the dining area, princess."

Peach opens her eyes and looks around her room in relief. After getting dressed, she locates the dining hall. Antasma and the captain are present and sitting at the table. Toad nervously smiles at Peach as he pours milk into his cereal. Getting up, Antasma pulls out Peach's chair. As she sits, she grabs one of his hands.

"It's good to see you're okay. I feared the worst." Peach says.

Antasma shrugs as he returns to his sit. "I'm forbidden from seeing you, princess."

Peach's expression becomes downcast. Her suspicions were correct. Bowser was jealous of their friendship. "So, it's not safe?"

"Don't worry I won't be long." Antasma grins at the captain. "I just had to see all of you again."

Peach's attendants arrive with her breakfast. Antasma declines food so she and Toad eat mostly in silence. Once she finishes Antasma speaks. "It seems your mission is going well, Princess."

Peach hangs her head. Out the corner of her eye, she spots Toad staring hard at his now soggy cereal. Again, Peach wonders if Toad knows.

"Bowser has been most generous with our kingdom." Peach fumbles out.

Toad drops his spoon and Peach cringes. Toad looks up as if he wants to say something, but Antasma interrupts.

"Umm Toad, could you give us a moment?"

Antasma lightly takes her hand and leads her away. Toad angerly pours more cereal into his bowl. The two royals end up in a private room. Peach fiddles with her gloves while Antasma looks down at her patiently waiting. When she doesn't speak, Antasma initiates the talk.

"The captain seemed a little uneasy today." Antasma remarks, his expression serious. Peach looks up at him, her eyes glistening. It's embarrassing to admit how she feels. But Antasma was just in her head and knew already. Besides, he always takes the time to listen to her. Also, he would provide a neutral perspective. Due to being family, the toads will react in panic if she confides in them. Peach feels she can trust him.

"It's my fault."

"What do you mean?" His tone is quiet and warm. Peach feels safe and continues.

"I don't know what's going on. I find myself wanting to be around Bowser. I like being around him. Is that normal?" Peach begins to rattle. "I shouldn't feel anything for him! I know that! But … but I've seen things I like about him and …"

Antasma places a hand on her cheek.

"Your young and unfamiliar with love. Being the sole human is a contributing factor. And a man is giving you undivided attention. It's perfectly normal. It's just infatuation you feel. I'm sure whatever your feeling will pass with time. As you mature, you'll realize what you really want." Antasma smiles.

Peach's eyes downcast. "But I still feel awful about …"

"Remember it's for the survival."

"Right …"

"You're not a traitor."

Peach moves forward to hug Antasma, burying her face into his cape. A surprise gasp escapes Antasma's mouth. "You're right. I just needed that reassurance."

A cold shiver shot down her spine. Peach feels his eyes glaring at her neck with hunger. It's different from the way Bowser looks at her. She suddenly feels afraid. But Antasma gently breaks away and clears his throat. Peach steps back a few feet and looks up at him nervously. Is he trying to compose himself? She must have just thrown him off. Antasma clasps his hands behind his back and stares out a window.

"It's good you have his goodwill. But remember to be careful. Bowser is not one to accept someone defying him. One slip up and he could turn on you."

Peach rubs her left arm. "We are only here alive because he had use of me. And he made the goombas turn on us."

"Yes."

"I can't really trust him. How long do you think this will go on?" Peach approaches Antasma hoping she didn't offend him. She already lost allies; she can't lose another.

To her relief he turns back around. "If Bowser had a worthy opponent, I'm sure the world would be free by now. But the thing about empires is that they crumble eventually. We just wait until the foundation cracks."

Peach nods slowly. She tries to squash the fear she had felt. What she felt was her imagination. "Thank you. I needed those reminders …. I was letting my feelings run free."

After the talk, Peach finds Toad pacing back and forth in the dining hall.

"Peach, were you crying?" Toad asks and runs up to her.

"I'm fine." She reassures him.

Antasma bows to Peach. "Well, I better be off before Admin Larry spots me. I have a desert warp pipe to attend to. Captain Toad, would you escort me?"

"S-Sure!" Toad's worry turns to distress as he speaks through gritted teeth. The more nervous Toad looks, the more nervous Peach becomes. Peach shifts in discomfort and gives Antasma's hand a squeeze.

"Please come visit again."

Peach watches Toad escort Antasma down the hill. The two appear to be having a lively conversation.

"Its good Toad made a friend." Peach whispers while subconsciously covering her neck.

"Mail!"

Peach looks up and a letter falls out of the sky. She catches and it sees a parakoopa flying away with a bag of letters. Peach spots Bowser's insignia and nervously opens it. It's a letter covered in hand drawn doodles. A smile paints her face as she realizes who the writer and artist is.

Dear Peach,

Thank you for the painting kit! I'm already using it! Papa told me to send a thank letter to you. Do you like it? Come over and play one day with me!

Junior

Peach giggles over his childish handwriting. At the bottom she spots some more scribbles. But the handwriting is different.

P.S. I woke up to whiskers painted on my face. The brat loves your present. But I'm going to get you back for this, Peaches.

Peach covers her mouth trying to hide her giggle. For a moment, her anxiety flushes away.

A month has passed and a cave far from Toad Town harbors a secret mushroom farm. It is not like the other farms operating in the kingdom. Tall shelves house bags of poison shrooms. Toad is investigating each shroom to make sure it is growing properly. His body is covered in a white hazard suit. Behind him is Toadette, also covered head to toe.

"And then I said 'Dude! Poison shrooms!? Those are illegal to grow in the Mushroom Kingdom! One taste and you'll think your flying to the moon. Are you trying to get me in trouble!?'"

Toadette shakes her head in disgust at Toad. "What have you gotten yourself into!? First you spy on the princess. Then you break and enter an emperor's vault. Now you're a shroom dealer!"

Toad spreads his small arms in defeat and guilt. "Give me a break, Toadette. The guy threaten to kill me! And Berry and Gold! I don't know if he will go through with the threat if I disobey. I sleep with one eye open because of him! Hoping he doesn't surf my dreams! If Antasma knows I told you …" Toad begins to look around the cave in paranoia. "He must have access to a warp pipe to get to me. I just know it."

"Oh, Toad." Toadette reaches out for Toad but he pulls away. He closes his eyes and groans. Antasma hasn't said it but it is clear he is planning to poison Bowser. And worst of all, Peach is falling in love with Bowser. The man Toad is going to help poison. Will Peach be devastated if she found out? Or will she turn on him for the sake of Bower?

The older toads feared for Peach as she grew into a young woman. She was human but beautiful. When they heard from merchants of greedy warlords fighting each other for territory and treasure, they barred Peach from leaving Mushroom Kingdom. There was fear that a warlord would target her. When news of the fighting slowed down, the toads thought they were in the clear. But that just meant the koopas were outpacing their rivals. Soon they attacked Mushroom Kingdom in raids. And it became obvious the teenage Bowser was smitten with Peach. Their fears had finally been realized. And now Bowser has won Peach over. It can't be! Not with that villain! How Toad longs to go back to simpler times. Times when Toadette, Peach, and him would enjoy camping.

"Don't worry, Toadette." Toad declares while clinching his fists. "I'm going to get us out of this mess! Antasma will try to take out Bowser and they'll both kill each other. I'll make sure of it."

"I don't know, Toad."

"It'll work! For now, I just gotta make Antasma think he is in control!"

Toadette looks at him with growing skepticism. "So, you have a plan then?"

"Ummm…working on it."

Toad turns back to his mushrooms as Toadette groans. "Good thing Larry does not conduct searches, right?"

Toadette pulls Toad away from the shelf to look at her. "Toad, I understand you're in a bind, and you're using the opportunity to free us of the koopas. But won't there be chaos with the emperor dead? And he has a family!"

"Oh yeah …" Toad remembers Bowser has a son. He pictures the child mourning his father. Toad begins to walk in haste. "I don't know …. I'm so confused."

Toadette follows Toad to a pile of crates. "All I know is my first plan is to get my shipment to Antasma. But what that egghead doesn't know is that I'll smuggle you in crates to Pi'illo, to infiltrate the island."

Toadette nods. "Yeah! It's time we show people toads aren't just crybabies! But what will I be looking for?"

"Not sure. Besides hoping the villains take each other out, I just want to find out what happened to the previous ruler of Pi'illo. Once I have that information, I can approach Peach."

Toad pulls out his cell phone.

"Didn't Bowser pay for that?" Toadette asks sadly.

"I'm feeling guilty enough, Toadette! Work with me! He's the villain!"

Toad continues, "We'll use these to text message each other. Once you have the info, you'll need to get to a koopas' fort to escape on an airship."

Toadette jumps up and down and spins in a circle. "I'm so excited! I'll be going on an adventure! Finally!" She comes to a stop and frowns. "Wait, but won't Peach be worried?"

Toad folds his arms. "Don't worry, I'll make up an excuse for you."

A small voice startles the two toads.

"Toadette? Toad? Where are you guys?"

Toad and Toadette run in circles. After a few seconds of panic, they discarded their hazard suits and ran to shut the door to the farm. They then go up a tunnel to get to the surface. As the cave is concealed by heavy vegetation, the toads struggle to make their way out. Waiting for them on the road is Berry.

"Bucken-Berry!? you gave us a scare!" Toadette complains.

"I was looking for you guys! Something happened at the koopa tower. Come quickly!" Berry dashes off and the toads follow. Using the tops of mushrooms and platforms they reach the location in minutes. Waiting for them at the tower is Peach comforting a distraught Larry.

"What's going on?" Toad inquiries.

Berry shrugs. "I don't know! The koopas had summoned Peach. Larry was having a meltdown."

Larry has his claws in his mohawk pulling at it. Peach has grasped his arms and is trying to make eye contact with him.

"Larry! Larry!"

Peach puts up a hand to keep the toads away. Obeying, the toads step back. Peach refocuses on Larry, rubbing his shoulders to calm him down. Larry's claws begin to fall from his mane.

"Sorry Peach." Larry mumbles.

"What happen?"

"Lemmy called me and he was freaking out. He had gone to pay a visit to our old hometown and found it flooded!"

A gasp escapes Peach's mouth and Larry squeezes his eyes shut. "He sent pictures. The houses and businesses are underwater. And our parents graves have floated away and he can't find them …. I can't tell Bowser he'll freak out!"

"What will you do?"

"The town is a peaceful koopa village, so I'll be pulling teeth trying to get help from the generals. We'll just use what we can to help them. They're exiles but those koopas were good to my parents."

Peach holds Larry's face in her hand. "Let's call your siblings first to check on them. Then I'll talk to Bowser."

Larry gulps but Peach continues. "He needs to know. And I'm sure once he calms down, he'll help."

"Yeah. Yeah, let's do that."

Peach turns to Captain Toad. Meanwhile, Toadette cautiously approaches to hold Larry's hand to comfort him. Larry lifts his eyes in surprise and lowers them again.

"Toad I need you to gather my council, immediately."

"O-Of course!" Toad rushes off.

Larry watches Toad leave. "But it's not your problem …."

Peach shakes her head. "No, we're not letting you endure this alone. It's going to okay."

Arthur's Note: Tanger is loosely based off the unnamed female koopa seen in King Koopa's yearbook.