Bowsette: A New Life
Chapter 59
A plumber's fury
Bowsette was confused by Mario as he screamed at her. Despite the tears falling down the plumber's face, he was running at her as fast as he could. Bowsette couldn't bring herself to even put up her arms to try to block as Mario struck her with his fist in the stomach so hard, she went flying and struck the door they had come in. It was a surprise the door managed to not be knocked off its hinges.
With her resilience the physical pain Bowsette felt wasn't much, it was the emotional pain that was so searing. Bowsette fell to the floor, struggling to get up on her hands and knees. Meanwhile, Mario advanced slowly and menacingly. "Mario…? What're you doing…?" Bowsette looked up as Mario approached, she had never seen such fury on anyone's face before much less Mario's.
"What I should have-a done long ago." Mario's voice was dripping with malice and condescension. "This was-a all part of some stupid scheme! I should never have-a bought your Lil Oink crap! The treaty, the-a invitation, the Remnants 'attacking' you, I'd say-a you've outdone yourself this time."
"I don't understand… this isn't… I didn't…" Mario might be a powerful fighter, but he was always compassionate, sometimes to an extreme. 'He has every reason to hate me, but this isn't right!' Mario would never attack someone who wasn't a direct threat to him or someone else. The look in his eyes… 'Wait… is that pink…?' Bowsette could swear there was a pinkish tint to his eyes.
'Koopa Shells!' Bowsette realized what was going on only moments before Mario grabbed her and threw her to his right into the wall. Mario rushed right up and followed up by striking Bowsette in the face. "You! My brother is DEAD because of YOU!" Mario didn't pull out his hammer or throw fireballs, he just threw one punch after another at the Koopa Queen. There was none of his skill, his jumping, his technique… his punches were only savage and relentless.
Bowsette at last put up her arms to block Mario's flurry of punches as best she could. She tried to block with her arms where she could and roll with the punches where she couldn't, all the while retreating backing away from Mario back towards the throne. "You shouldn't have-a come back. You should've stayed wherever they-a sent you!" Mario threw a punch hitting Bowsette in the leg and almost knocking her over.
'Dammit! This is…' Bowsette managed to get a good look at Mario's chest, which had the badge still on it... and it was glowing so bright pink now it was like a mini sun. 'He's been infected! But this isn't like the others.' Bowsette realized. "Mario stop! Please! I don't want to fight you!" Words Bowsette never expected to say, but here she was. "Please… This isn't you!"
Mario kept throwing punches, but his voice became low and quietly menacing. "I'm-a more me than I've ever been you tyrant." Mario whispered. "I'm not-a going to fall for your act anymore." Mario's expression turned to scorn. "The Super Crown 'accident'" Mario spit. "the kissing, the 'dates', the fighting off those Remnants, I now know all of it was just a bunch of lies."
All the while Bowsette had stepped back to the throne. 'He's trying to kill me!' The only thing Bowsette could think of to do was to get Mario's badge off him somehow, it had to be causing this. However, Mario wouldn't let up for even a moment to give Bowsette the chance to grab it. Bowsette could try to… 'No, I won't attack him I… I… I can't…' Bowsette maneuvered to the side of the throne to avoid a blow only to have Mario smash the Bowsette face on the armrest instead. "Mario… Please… please…" Bowsette implored the plumber, but he wasn't even listening anymore. 'I can't hurt him. I can't… never again…' Bowsette lamented, any will to fight had left the Koopa Queen moment Mario started attacking.
As the one-sided "fight" began, Luigi gradually regained consciousness. At first, he couldn't see or hear anything, his view was black and there was a ringing in his ears. After a few seconds he could hear muted sounds he couldn't make out, and then his eyes started to notice shapes and shadows. Then, Luigi felt the pain ignite throughout his whole body.
Luigi could barely so much as twitch, the already considerable agony in his body spreading and growing more keen with each passing second. Slowly Luigi managed to turn his head to try to look around. The world was coming back into focus. "because of…" "come back…" Luigi thinks he heard Mario yelling. "isn't you…" Luigi recognized Bowsette's voice, but it wasn't filled with anger or mockery like Luigi would've expected, but utter terror.
Bit by bit the shapes and colors resolved themselves into forms Luigi could recognize. Mario was fighting Bowsette but… Bowsette wasn't even trying to fight back. She was crying and struggling to block and avoid Mario's blows as best she could, but she was being worn down by his punches all the same. 'What happened? I remember fighting-a Mario when I was infected like Peach and everything but what-a happened to do this…?' Luigi wondered.
"Please… Mario… stop… stop… I can't fight you… please…" Bowsette cried out desperately. "You're a hero… this isn't what heroes do!" Luigi could only watch as Bowsette kept trying to beg Mario to stop attacking her, but it was no use. Bowsette was right, this wasn't right, and Bowsette could have fought back but she wouldn't.
"I won't stop. I won't EVER stop until-a my brother is avenged!" Mario growled loud enough for Luigi to hear. 'Bro! I'm okay… I'm alive…' Luigi tried to make his thoughts into words, but he could barely even open his mouth. He could only watch as Mario looked to be out to beat Bowsette to death.
"M… Ma… Mar…" Luigi tried to talk, he felt like his throat was on fire, but he couldn't give up. Luigi had to do something to stop this. Mario got through Bowsette's defenses and punched her in the stomach. Mario followed that up with a two handed smash to her face, knocking her to the floor onto her back.
Mario stepped up to stand over Bowsette's stomach. "I… I'm sorry…" Bowsette struggled to say. She was bruised and… "Cough! Hack!" Bowsette was spitting up blood. Luigi could see a look of pure rage on Mario's face as he looked down at her. Mario's brow furrowed, his cobalt eyes had a slight pinkish tint to them. Mario's teeth were clinching hard, his lips curled, it made Luigi's own expression of hate while infected look tame.
"I'm-a sorry too." There was nothing to bring hope in Mario's voice. Mario unclenched his fists, but they were held like claws. His eyes were glowing brighter pink until they shone almost like spotlights. "I'm sorry" Mario grabbed Bowsette by the throat. "that I-a ever bought your SHIT!" Mario began squeezing and Bowsette gasped for air. "This is for-a my brother."
"Mario!" Almost as soon as he started squeezing, Mario's grip loosened. "MARIO! STOP-A IT!" Luigi finally managed to yell.