Bowsette: A New Life

Chapter 50
Rivals reunite

"That-a was odd." Mario noted. He was certain he saw Bowsette up atop the makeshift barricade he was making his way towards to get back to Toad Town. Mario could swear Bowsette's face was red as a Super Shroom but she turned to a young Toad and then leaped off the barricade like something was chasing her. Mario went into the wards, he could feel it, and decided to take a minute to finish off the Toad creatures around the barricade before going in.

"Mr. Mario?" The boy said as soon as he finished and leapt up to the top of the barricade. "Queen Bowsette said she'd be back soon." The boy smiled. "Okie-dokie." Mario leapt to the ground and decided to take a break while he waited for Bowsette to get back. He could go try to find Kamek, but Bowsette probably knew where Kamek was anyway.

After a few minutes Mario closed his eyes and had started to doze when a scent caught his attention. It was familiar, the smell of a perfume he'd recognize anywhere. Mario opened his eyes hoping, or even fearing, that he'd see Princess Peach standing in front of him, whatever she might be at the moment. However, it was Bowsette's tall frame filling his gaze instead, which was disturbing to him, though he couldn't yet figure out why.

Bowsette was gussied up at least as well as she was when Mario and Bowsette had met at World 4-1 before all this craziness started. She was wearing… makeup? Aside from her mascara she usually never wore any makeup at all. She had this smile on her face, and not the mocking kind Mario was used to, but it looked stiff and unnatural.

On the note of stiff, Bowsette was standing up straight with her hands crossed resting on her stomach instead of slouching a bit casually as Mario would expect. She walked up to Mario and curtsied. "Greetings Mario sir. I am glad to see you have returned safely." Her voice was robotic and awkward like Bowsette was trying hard to be formal. Formal was the last word Mario would associate with this woman.

'What's-a going on?' Mario wondered. "Um… it's good-a to see you too?" The words were torn from his throat. 'More like-a massively creeped out to see you.' Mario had to stop himself from actually voicing that thought. Bowsette had this hopeful look on her face, but it was also strained. He could almost swear he could see a look of apprehension in her eyes.

"Would you like to get something to eat good sir?" Bowsette asked. "I am also certain that you are quite exhausted from your trek. Would you like coffee perhaps?" Mario was tired and hungry, but now was not the time. Bowsette stood there so still waiting for his answer as though she had suddenly been frozen solid. Mario gaped at Bowsette as multiple realizations all came to him at once. He knew what was going on here, and it was ticking him off.

***

'Oh Koopa Shells why doesn't he answer?' Bowsette asked herself. She struggled to remain still and not fidget as Mario stared at her. 'Did I say something rude? Is there something on my face? Is my hair messed up? Yeah, that must be it I've got to be ugly and he's staring at me because I'm so ugly I screwed up now he won't like me and he…' Bowsette continued panicking internally, it was all she could do to keep the smile on her face and stay standing up straight. Princesses stood up straight, they looked refined, they were polite and ladylike and…

'Say something stupid!' Bowsette's own mind yelled at her. 'What though?' Bowsette asked herself. 'Ask him what's wrong you moron!' Bowsette felt like acid had just scalded her throat as she opened her mouth to speak. "Mario? Whatever is the matter?" Is that what Peach would say? Well, it was close enough.

Mario finally stopped staring at Bowsette and looked her directly in the eyes. "Bowsette. Stop." At the words ice flowed through the Koopa Queen's veins. There was no doubt about it now, Bowsette had done something wrong and now Mario was going to reject her. Still, Bowsette had to clarify what was going on. "Whatever do you m…"

"STOP PRETENDING TO BE LIKE PEACH!" The plumber's yell made Bowsette literally jump back like he had just tried to strike her. "I… um…" Bowsette's brain short circuited and her mouth hung open. "W-why?" Bowsette can't help but feel confused. 'This is what he wants in a woman right? Right?'

Mario sighed. "I'm-a sorry I yelled." He admits. "It's just… that's not-a you." Mario began. "You're rude, crude, and-a very unladylike. It was-a easy to see you were putting up a front. Besides…" Mario continued. "I don't like how you-a insult people at the drop of a hat. I don't-a like you being evil."

"But!" Mario cut her off before Bowsette could talk. "Everything else I think I-a like. I would never have-a had an eating contest with Peach and probably most-a other women either. You're royalty, but I don't-a feel like I have to-a pretend around you." Mario finishes. "I can just-a be myself, which is more than I can say when I'm-a around Peach."

Mario smiled at the Koopa Queen. "I wouldn't want-a you to not be yourself either, okay?" Mario held out a hand to shake. Bowsette sighed. 'Well, that's a load off my shoulders.' Bowsette took Mario's hand. "Okay Pasta Freak." Then Bowsette squeezed Mario's hand hard, but the plumber wasn't about to be outdone and squeezed back. "Don't-a call me that."

Bowsette giggled and shook Mario's hand. "Whatever you say Linguini Weenie." Bowsette chuckled. "Don't call-a me that either!" Mario tried to sound stern, but he couldn't keep the smile off his face. "Pish… Okay Spaghetti Yeti!" Bowsette couldn't help but mess with the plumber. "Bowsette knock it-a off!" Mario said halfheartedly. Bowsette however was too busy laughing to pay attention.