Bowsette: A New Life
Chapter 11
Kidnapping
The next morning the Koopa Queen began marshaling her forces. Letters were sent throughout the Koopa Kingdom with orders to prepare the defenses of her various fortresses for the ensuing assault the Mario Brothers would inevitably perform. Bowsette would kidnap the princess and head back to her castle as was customary at this point, and she knew the Mario Brothers wouldn't be that far behind.
Bowsette briefly considered that perhaps Mario wouldn't even bother to come and save Peach for the hundredth time after her rejection of his marriage proposal. However, Bowsette quickly dismissed it for the absurd notion it was. Mario would be leading the charge to rescue the princess without a doubt, he was too much of a goody good to not put everything he had into the effort. One thing Bowsette knew for sure was that as long as Mario was around, she was never going to be able to conquer anything.
All this ran through Bowsette's mind as she boarded one of her battleships. According to her spies things hadn't been much different than she remembered at the Mushroom Kingdom. Peaceful as ever, as sparely defended at ever, as seemingly helpless to an assault as ever. However, the typical wanted posters of the Koopa King being replaced by those of the Koopa Queen proved to her that they had been affected by the magic as well.
"Get underway now!" Bowsette yelled. The battleship lifted off and headed in the direction of the unsuspecting kingdom. After years of attacks the Koopa Kingdom's forces had readied and were on the move like a well-oiled machine. A fleet of battleships followed with Bowsette's flagship at the front, as per usual.
"Scouts report Red hat and Green hat confirmed to be at their respective houses." A paratrooper reported. "Target Pink currently in the Mushroom Castle gardens." Bowsette sighed. "Jerry, how many times do I have to tell you NOT to use that lame ass code speak? It's not like everybody wouldn't know what you're talking about anyway." Bowsette grunts. "Dismissed trooper." Jerry was quick to fly away from the battleship.
'This is good news at least.' Bowsette noted. 'No need to fight off those spaghetti maniacs just to grab Peach.' As her fleet flew over Toad Town Bowsette walked up to the front of the ship and turned around. Bowsette couldn't help but add a flourish with her left arm as she did so. "All forces! Begin the bombardment!" Her yell was followed by the roar of cannon fire. The woman's full bellied laughter could be heard even over the blasts of cannon. 'This!' Bowsette exclaimed in her head as her maniacal laughter rang out. 'THIS what it feels like to be alive!'
***
The sky of Toad Town darkened in the shadow of a dozen airships proudly displaying the Bowsette symbol on their flags. Toads throughout the town shook in their boots, they had been through this more than enough times to know what was coming by now. Toads quickly dashed for any cover they could find as cannonballs rained down. As dangerous as they were Bowsette's invasions were mostly for show, she rarely did any real damage. She seemed like she just wanted to sow chaos for the sake of it.
Meanwhile, Peach was in the gardens of her castle. She hummed happily as she watered the flowers, plucking a few here and there. Of course, she could have her servants do this kind of work, but she enjoyed breathing life into the grounds every so often. "Maybe I should invite Mario over." Peach mused to herself. "But he's been rejecting my invitations lately…" Peach hadn't seen Mario since the celebration after her rescue at the Moon Kingdom, he seemed to be avoiding her. Peach knew why, and she couldn't help but feel guilty. Nor in truth could she really help how she felt. She just didn't feel that way for Mario, though she couldn't really put a finger on why.
Toadsworth rushed up to the princess as fast as his old bones could carry him. "Princess! The Koopa Kingdom is attacking!" As she put the watering can down outwardly Peach showed nothing but composure, but inwardly she groaned. 'Not again…' What that woman wanted with her Peach couldn't imagine. Bowsette was barely even trying to take over the kingdom anymore, she seemed to kidnap Peach and fight Mario just for kicks.
Last time the two had seen each other, Bowsette was lying defeated on the ground. Mario had approached and given his proposal, but Bowsette seemed furious, more so than usual after a defeat. Oddly, as Peach said no, she noticed Bowsette had the biggest grin on her face that Peach had ever seen as she made her getaway for the hundredth time. She must have been enjoying seeing Mario so devastated. Sometimes it seemed more like Bowsette kidnapped Peach just to make Mario miserable. If Bowsette's glee over Mario being rejected was any indication she definitely seemed to revel in his misfortune.
The shadow of an airship fell over the castle within moments. There was no point in trying to run or hide, it would just make things worse if she tried to resist. Bowsette would leave the castle relatively untouched so long as Peach gave herself up. Otherwise, the terrible Koopa would blast the place to rubble to find her if she needed to. Toadsworth looked worried as always, even though he knew Bowsette would never hurt Peach.
"Hehehheheh!" That terrible laughter rang in Peach's ears as a rope ladder was lowered from the battleship. Bowsette hung recklessly from the bottom rung of the ladder as it was lowered, swinging around cackling to herself. 'Well, this is… odd.' Peach noted. Where was the refinement that Koopa Queen always displayed? Bowsette was wearing her typical black dress and heels, but she seemed… off somehow to the Princess.
"So!" Bowsette said without ceremony as she hopped off the ladder long before it reached the ground and landed on her feet. "If it isn't Princess Peach! How's your day been girl?" Bowsette radiated arrogant confidence as always. "Good at first." Peach said dryly. "I'll bet. Soon it's going to get even better dear." Peach hated that smile of hers, but she was surprised to see Bowsette being so… cordial. Normally Bowsette hardly said a word during these kidnappings, in fact she barely even acknowledged her presence. Then after they would imprison Peach, she hardly ever saw the woman the entire time.
"Well well, come on let's get on with it." Bowsette waved to the ladder dismissively. "You know how this goes. You going to climb up yourself or do I have to carry your butt?" Bowsette sneered. Looking at Toadsworth for a moment, Peach walked forward and grabbed the ladder rungs. "Come on come on I don't got all day." Bowsette let Peach climb up a few rungs before grabbing on herself. "Hold on!"
Bowsette yanked the rope ladder three times, signaling her minions to pull the ladder up, which they did and helped the two women up onto the ship. "Let's get back to the castle!" Bowsette barked as she climbed up to the battleship deck. The ship turned around and was underway within moments. "Well, my Lady." Bowsette got up to Peach rather close and looked her over. Peach could almost swear there was a look of disappointment in Bowsette's eyes. "Humph. I hope you enjoy our hospitality. Men!" Two Koopa Troopas rushed up. "Lock her below decks and make sure the Princess doesn't go anywhere."
Peach followed the troops without comment. 'Mario...' Peach had a bad feeling about this one. Something in her gut told her that if the brothers didn't show up to save her and fast, this was going to go very very badly.