It was a beautiful sunny evening on Gelato Beach's twilight horizon. Waves were gently lapping the glistening sand, palm trees were majestically swaying in the breeze, and the birds were soaring way up high in the sky. This was the perfect opportunity for the citizens of Isle Delfino to get out of their housing quarters and enjoy the blissful scenery, except no native could go maundering about because a certain father and his son had claimed their relinquished territory for the day.
"Better prepare yourself, sonny! You got a fast one coming right up your alley!" A brag coming from Bowser, as he leapt up for the returned ball and forcefully slammed it back to the other half of the volleyball court that he and Junior were playing on. The twisted motion executed by his wrist resulted in the beach toy to deviate its course into an arch-like outline of hill, being swiftly guided from the left side of the court to the right side of the court. It's a spiking technique that catches even the most skilled players sleeping on the job, no matter how fueled their expertise is on the subject matter.
Still, Junior ain't slouching. This trick in the book has lost its foolproof efficiency for quite a while now after all the times it's been utilized over his deluded expectations. He, this time, was ready. And, as such, he managed to scurry to the redirected ball's descent and lobbed it back over to his dad, much to the progenitor's astonishment.
A grin was formed on the kid's face knowing that he earned his achievement, and by the fact his father was all shocked as a result of his response to the game.
"Haha! You thought!"
Bowser stood in his position for a few more moments but was then able to shake himself up from his trance. He had to admit, that was a pretty arrogant remark put out by him, but nevertheless, it gave his son the power to counterattack it. When will he learn to subvert from karma land is a topic worth scrutinizing; however, that's not to be acknowledged currently with Junior being proud of himself, and anything about Junior comes first and foremost during almost any given situation, at least in the Koopa King's eyes.
"Gwahaha! That's my son: becoming more adapted to the world every single day. Pretty soon, you'll be as fierce and tactical as I was back in the day!" He complimented, then went over to retrieve the ball. As he did, he continued.
"But in order to reach that playing field, you'll need to learn to be more tricky to your enemies, as well. Catching them off-guard is one way in doing that." The Koopa King explained while making his way back to his spot, then raised his eyebrow as if he was asking for a challenge.
"You think you can outplay your old papa with a zinging attack off towards one of the sidelines?"
And right after he oppugned his testing query, he punted the ball over the net for the opposition—who was Junior—to get a feasible shot. As expected, he ran for it, being courageous all around. Probably having too much of it, cue him committing all his strength to very aggressively sending it back. Once he did, overkill was certainly relevant when the ball went skyrocketing away and out of the court's border.
Bowser slightly rolled his eyes, not because of what the child did, but because they now had to trudge through the sand to get back their toy. "Well, you got the right idea." He said in amusement, elevating himself back up and regaining his composure.
"Heh. Better yet, I could be using the castle's slingshot. Our gunfire would most undoubtedly send those pesky plumbers for the hills, right, father?"
Bowser grinned. "You said it, kiddo!" And they both jocularly laughed at his baleful concept.
Sometimes a good transfer of humor was all it took to enlighten the mood from being disappointing to being mirthful, and between these two it always turned the frustration upside down. A tender father and his offspring having a fantastic relation by the elements of always bonding, always loving each other, and always looking out for one another. Can there really be more to ask for at this point?
Just then, a loud, startling holler was heard. It seemed to cry out from where the ball was anticipated to land. Both of the Koopas, being still on the playground, were immediately drawn to the sound and were peculiarly concerned, honestly speaking.
"That was unexpected." The younger monster noted.
"It was, wasn't it?" Bowser questioned, slightly tilting his head to acknowledge him. "Bah! I thought after we showed up, every single one of those weaklings would've fled screaming."
He then made a gesture towards the other. "Come. Let's go see who's strangling."
In response, Junior nodded, and then they both dashed over to where the source of the scream was hearkened from, in case what had happened was preeminently serious.
And sure enough, it was indeed deemed as that; there were noises of flailing struggles—however futile—that could be sensed below the sphere of the ball, and while they could be heard, they were muffled. Despite what was being described as its last leg of audibility, Bowser and Bowser Jr. arrived at the scene and noticed the endangerment right away.
Feeling helpful for once, the descendent appealed to his father, "Let me do it, Daddy. You know I'm big enough to do something wimpy like this."
Bowser nodded in agreement but didn't want to stall the situation any longer. "Go ahead. Just please make this snappy." He then crossed his arms and tapped his left foot, impatiently but frantically waiting, hoping as well that this would be worth their troubles.
It was barely a matter of effort to pull the beach ball out of the sediment, just as expected. All it took was for Junior to tug at it a bit. And bazooka! The object went flying out. But then when he stepped closer and gazed down the small hollow, his instincts kicked in, specifically nerves booting up when he jumped back to narrowly evade a speedy yellow dot whizzing out of its formerly cramped confinement.
By the notion to be closer analyzing the entity, Bowser recognized that face all too well. She was hovering inches away from the ground, with grains of the shoreline covering the majority of her resemblance; her boots were tinged with it, and so was the star on her forehead—just less covered. That was the least the inconvenience tolled on her, though, as she was hacking away uncontrollably.
Starlow was here. Of course, she had to be here vacationing at this hour, but unfortunately for her, she was in a predicament right now, one that was slowly grasping at her heart until it fulfilled its desire at barbarously striking her to death. She needed help, and there was no time to waste at that, as well. But the question is, will the one monster—the one only individual who is there to witness this as of now—man it up and do the initiative?
Without a doubt, the Koopa King has had his piping-hot squabbles with her throughout the course of the many conflicts between good and evil. Not only that, but she's been supportive to the Mario Bros. on the meat of every occasion, whereas she's done nothing but tease and insult him on his every feature and has thus been nonstop at enlarging the flame in his brain, heating him up more and more with aggravation on a basis of incessantly. Just the thought of her satirized behavior made him want to scoff the hell out of her pathetic skull, or he could take the more pokey direction and desirously guffaw at her inability to free herself from her unbearable suffering. As much as he wanted to select from those two options, an unknown feeling in his chest was begging him to choose a third one, which wouldn't involve cruelty, but to be merciful.
Well, maybe it's reminding him of the consequences for inflicting such misconduct. After all, he would be destined to a sentence of old-time pounding from the heroes of the Mushroom Kingdom. Surely they'd hold the villain accountable. He can't deny that. But what if he'd just find a way to countermand that by beating the-
"Oh, Bowser! Just get this over with already!" He screamed mentally after the ten seconds he had to ponder on this negligible matter.
He stomps over to where the Star Sprite was helplessly choking and aligns himself in a pertinent position. Bowser then raised his right arm, forced it squarely at her, and gave her the most brutal back blow possibly ever discharged on the island they were basking on. It was ethical to look out for any other signs of respiratory issues, so he just sucked it up and continued to eye her vigilantly, alongside his son who oddly wanted to have some sort of respect in the act.
However, by the power of that one slap to the face, enough energy was remarkably exerted to have Starlow cough out pretty much all of what obstructed her air pipe, and the tidbits that did get the chance to linger about within her mouth simply got spat out, even though they weren't really in the magnitude of the problem. As someone who is miseducated in the medical department, he can at least be given credit for what he remembered from the book. Kamek used to teach him a thing or two of it, and quite frankly, he couldn't muster the hatred to regret his doing. In fact, he felt a sense of accomplished honorability, which is very much ironic given how many times he's bestowed, plus manifested ignoble undertakings and
malignancies over the innocent, neighboring kingdom.
It was a heavenly miracle. Starlow was able to take a deep breath, inhaling that fresh air she desired for so long. Then, she tried using a progressive meditation technique to soothe her ticker for a moment. It was pounding like crazy due to the amount of stress imposed by her traumatization. Not wanting to bide time for too long, however, she eventually turned to face her savior. And of all people, it was him. Her mind was never bound to predict someone she knew of well-infamous for being so tyrannical, so relentless, and so callous to come about and be the hero for once. Since when did he have a change of attitude? Teaming up could be arguably one of those rare occurrences, but it's certainly debatable. Huh.
"Okay, mister! First things first, what was that heavy swipe all about? You could've hurt me! And second, was it you who caved me in with that ball of yours during the middle of my warm, delightful strol-"
"I SAVED YOU, DID I NOT?!" The Koopa King was not having any of this today. He had smoke coming out of his nostrils, and his eyebrows sloped as downward as they could possibly go—both combined to make an expression unexcelled by anything intrepid. How dare she try to scorn him like that. Simply pointed out was a responsive quiver that electrified her cells to reckon him, this time with effectuating alertness.
"O-ops, s-sorry!" Starlow began to stutter, but brushed it aside much to her liking. "I must've lost my train of thought. I get like that sometimes, you know how I am."
Bowser was not amused, at all, even. He just stood there, shooting a glare directly at her. His stance would not make an effort to budge even by a twitch or two, with the exception of the preferable coaxing of a blink happening every bit. Nothing pacifying was really gonna entail until he got what he expected. And that expectancy was just the littlest form of appreciation. He also had his arms folded so he could kick the tone up a notch.
Starlow was able to get what he was trying to convey pretty early. Boy, was he sure good at this. The realization hit her like a ton of bricks, as she dropped her head down low, but then got herself together and rose it back up after a flash process of disbelief. She smiled.
"Thanks, Bowser!"
And hearing things correctly, a faint nod jolted from him as a means of respect. After that, the Koopa King let his arms go loose and eyeballed Junior for a quick glance-who never was interested in intervening this whole time-before turning back to the female specimen. "It's nothing." Then, he waved for him to follow, and the two Koopas walked away from the affiliation to the open water while seeking out hopes of fun and refreshment.
The night sky was twinkling above with thousands of stars showing their extraterrestrial bouts above the Earth-shaped planet. No moonlit backdrop has ever been more beautiful than this one at the time of present on Isle Delfino. As regards to the moon, being just spoken of, it was straight ahead in view's eyesight while also unveiling its complete circle form, not to mention it shedding a small amount of glimmer below the cloudless shade. It was a sight to behold, so long as the beholder wasn't in the middle of a self-conflict.
In this case, Bowser was in this state. Earlier, he went for an unruffled swim in the vast drink with his son Junior before treading back to the land of the island. The son was granted permission to test the waters for a little while longer, and if any creature in the ocean attempted to take offense to that, so help him, he'd pound them back to the deep beds of the deep-seated body. There was no need for his dad's surveillance because he had grown to be a tough Koopa and could deal with these nuisances on his own, and better yet, he wasn't too remote from the beach's slight sandy incline, so if he had to make way back to the island, he'd show his face there no problem.
But to contrast what fizzy entertainment was taking place beyond the shore, Bowser had his motives all caught up with a feeling not so rapturing to him. He was currently laid back in his personal chair, specially made with holes to apt his spikes for convenience, and also perfectly fit and judicious for the rotundness of his large turtle figure. It can be praised somewhat by taking regard to due process of negating the insides of him, but not to the extent of what's visioned on the outside. Having no choice but to acquiesce to the fateful matter was like being forced to succumb to a wound in the knee. With this, for as long as he had now, he couldn't resist the temptation to bellyache every time he was heavily prone to this sensation.
And to make this priceless, no pain was even involved in the act. This was just his way to complain about all the despicable trammels that have foiled his plans time and time again. Yet, even though these were far from that hassle, there still had to be darts poking at his heart so they can trigger it. Did he deserve to endure, or even ask, for this specific exasperation in the time away from his iniquitous career? Yeah, no thanks to that.
At this point, the King of the Koopas wouldn't even think of stopping the grunting, the hissing, or anything else that provoked from his gob. What exactly could this be that's at fault for strapping this strain onto him, boiling up his cool in the process? Oh...he knew. He knew exactly what was being the ultimate tamperer here, and he knew exactly the one person who had roused such softness into his stomach. It was the same individual who he and Junior bumped into sunset at late, the same figure who was so stubborn and impudent even that green plumber, who usually had the skin of a paper shred, was starting to lose his courtesy toward her. Yes, Bowser, as of today, did not have feelings longing for a particular princess but now feelings exhorting for that flying, yellow dot.
Up until this point was reached, he hadn't ever been prompted to contemplate most of Starlow's distinctive qualities. There was just always that delirium encased within his mind that served to set his wits on Peach, and so thus he blinded himself away from perceiving her true sparkle. Simply put, she was adorable. He hated to be that guy, but when he finally got the chance to sweep his mind free and take his thoughts off things for once, he could comfortably see her eye-catching beauty—and he was flabbergasted.
Once the Koopa King rescued her, at when he studied her look for some time, he noticed how vividly her eyelashes clicked, how sheeny her skin flared, and how well her smile beamed in the irradiating, luminous setting on the last thread from the enlightening divinity of the sun. Even knowing how little snippets made up her appearance can be disregarded. Size, too. Who needs to worry about those teeny concerns when compatibility interlocks fairly well here?
And for all the fallible attributes, what does Starlow have that Bowser doesn't? She is as stubborn as a bull. Check. Her temper's like a volcano blowing its top. Check. Every once in a while, she has her arrogant side kicking in. Check. They're all something that they consummately both have in common among most other things between their two halves of the spectrum. It can be underlined as a ruling stable when put together, assuming what is being presupposed holds water to catapult up into reality; to become one in an unforeseen, yet phenomenal twosome. With this in mind, those downsides of their personas in life wouldn't tear a rift in their hypothetical relationship since that's how true love works, right? Well...maybe reckoning it as 'true love' is a bit of a stretch.
Ah, who is he kidding? What is he to be speculating on such a nonsensical possibility? This woman hates Bowser to the brink of the bone. After all he has done—the nipping and whipping—and he's really musing over this? Maybe this vacation has been taking a toll on him, because wow. Though to give credit where credit is due, it is evident that he can dream. He can be given that, at least...but then again, his visions only have ever persuaded him to go against the Mushroom Kingdom—and we all know what happens to him then. If only something incredible were to happen and vouchsafe the poor guy with some fortune very much aspired by him. That would be nice, not to mention extremely deserved in the grand scheme of things despite everything illicit he has put out over these years.
"RRROOOOOOAAARR!" The worst had come. A loud bellow was rung out by the Koopa King. It seems the tickling in his chest must now be at abysmal gauging because the time took to sit in his spot had gradually supplemented the alteration affecting him. He needed help. To be precise, he really needed help, and fast before berserk mode got ready to drive his senses into insanity. What should he do? It's not like some angel from above will heed his voice so magnanimously.
But if just one person—any person—would come to his aid, relief has a chance of showering him. Literally, anyone would fit the bill, no matter how unpalatable their astuteness might be. And since this was becoming urgent, he needed some solace desperately. So, with that being said, can there miraculously exist a shallow restoration abound to his troubles just like imagined? Preferably, somebody who knew him all too well and could reassure him to the direction for which his heart can finally be confronted into a resting, limpid normalization?
"You alright?"
In a flash, Bowser turned his head to where the voice came from. His eyes then flickered around the area until they met with whom he inquired. And the second they did, his self-worth was abashed instantaneously.
"C-chippy?—I mean S-starlow?" He said shakily before clearing this throat and getting his bearings together. "Don't tell me you haven't made a run for it already. It's nine o'clock sharp on the dot of the hour here."
Bowser did not forecast this to come about. Out of all people to come to see what was up with him, it had to be her? The same woman who he seemed to crop up a sudden crush on? Ugh! These abrupt emerges of mishaps were starting to get preposterous. He begins to wonder now if the Star Sprite has been spying on his presence for all this time he's been reclined during the state of his problem.
"Well, what can I say?" Starlow boasted, then began to make giant loops around him out of boredom. "Guess I'm a bit tethered to the background's light of the night, which seems to be the case with you as well. How about telling me what's keeping you from enjoying it?"
"Really? This late?" He asked, obviously discarding the request in the process.
"Yes. Give me the scoop—what's troubling you?" There wasn't a faze in her behavior.
"But aren't you like phobic to the dark or something?" Bowser hastily questioned. "Stars are made of light, and that's what you're related to if I recall."
"Seriously, Bowser? That's the best excuse you can come up with?" She wasn't going to let this slide for any longer. "Your inquires aren't even scientifically correct. Stop evading the question and answer me already!" Starlow demanded impatiently.
He scoffed, "Oh, I just want to know." Shortly afterward, a low-key growl leaked out of him. "What else is there to chitter-chatter about?"
For all the times Bowser had to put up with the girl, his coolness had slowly been adjusting to every instance of the miens coming from her trap. Even still, he definitely doesn't want to have to keep ears perked onto what she's trying to get him to do.
"C'mon, Bowser! Can't you see that I'd like to help fix you up? Why I'm doing this is because when I was minding my own business, my hearing was suddenly blasted by the noise of an unhappy roar, and so I dashed over to where it emitted only to find you, which made me concerned. So please tell me! It'll be over in a jiffy. I promise!"
Him not being already severely disturbed as he was at the beginning, he was now willing to go on the counterattack, "Oh, hold the phone. Since when do you care about what I mope on or what I do in general? And what ever happened to how you're so infamous for verbally attacking others, INCLUDING ME, with the petty slanders that you seem to have a habit of coughing up? Aw, it must've been the little bug getting swatted face-first into a clump of dirt concoction. Did the beating finally come to your senses? You might wanna get that brain of yours checked out, then."
Starlow brushed Bowser's language aside. She wasn't even a little bit offended, being same old, same old.
"Ok, ok, I'm sorry!" She spoke softly in apology.
"However, to say that you haven't held guiltiness for your misdeeds is pretty silly. I had every right to talk down to you, and you probably know very much of that. Are we good?"
Then, she skidded her tracks to stop her from getting too dazed up. More importantly, she put on a serious face showing more affinity than not. Her eyes caught contact with Bowser's.
"Now then, since we're through and through with the dilemma, our we ready to take a look at the issues before they become too insufferable for you? My helpfulness outstretches a hand to everyone—even you, Bowser, as despite your crazed obsessions with taking over the Mushroom Kingdom, I can always see the light in you when you want to be a good king. Besides, you got me out of my misery—speaking of that if you will—so I should wholeheartedly return the favor. It's as simple as that. Please let me do it for you. You won't regret it."
"No," the Koopa King declared, though without second thought, "and that's final. End of story."
This ongoing dispute caused his head to slump sideways, his train of thought wanting to pave a path over and out to anywhere but back here again.
"C'mon, Bowser!" She exclaimed once more.
"No," he repeated.
"Bowser?"
"Starlow?"
"Bowser?"
"Starlow?!"
"Bowser?!"
"Starlow?!"
"Bowser?!"
"Starlow?!"
"BOWSER?!"
"UUUGH! FINE!" Bowser finally conceded. "You better not laugh, though—so help me my miniature Koopas!"
An egotist of ridicule he was, but yet he very so pictured that no matter the workarounds, it would all converge and lead to this moment. A total of three to five seconds did he have to inwardly seethe as far as his bitter reaction went plummeting under him. All of this was to let him know that he was surrounded by unlucky wight in every direction he thought of bolting for. Told figuratively, there existed an omnipresent scent everywhere he could possibly look. And it was driving him crazy nuts.
But then, the flame in his brain had been extinguished. Any tension he was forcing from turning into hot spheres of steam, foiling the beach's sustainable geography with day ruined, following, was washed away like a tidal wave's impact prior to retreat. It was now time to take a look at the problem he's currently at loose ends with, not turn away and divert it against him. No one, no thing in his path, said the discombobulate truth would be impractical—much less unenviable—to his evince through mouth.
"Well...you see, I- uh, kinda have...um..u-uh...it's hard to explain, honestly," Bowser murmured. That wasn't exactly his striking rehearsal.
Starlow eyed him very suspiciously but also with confusion, right eye being squinted while left eye sharpened. There's lots of info where that came from.
"Okay. So just go ahead and spit it out!"
"Do I have to? Oh, you've got a real nerve in the back of your spine, lady!" Bowser reluctantly commented. Few times he was terror-stricken out of his mind, it was nothing like this. "Um...oh, yes! How could I possibly forget a statement so ceremonious, it deserves a Medal of Honor for its reciprocal worth? I hereby declare that from this point onward, I shall no longer have Princess Peach of the Mushroom Kingdom be hauled back by the grubby hands of the remorseful forces in whom express merciful contrition to the many years this here's been striven for."
Hearing what he had to say, the Star Sprite was in disbelief. "Oh, my goodness. Are you really having a change of heart, Bowser?" She questioned excitedly. He practically shook his head, motion unnoticed. Luckily, he was starting to relieve his tension.
"Pfft. Yeah, if you put it that way. Peach just doesn't find a speckle in my gut anymore. I'm sure I'll find some other girl of sorts to take her spot. I better. Speaking of which, this wasn't even what you wanted me to disclose to you."
"Seriously? Is that so? Man, what else could possibly be wrapped in that twisted cap of yours, I wonder." She contemplated.
"You don't want to know. You really don't. But since you, Starlow, have been on my case for this entire hell of a contention, I will not be held back from letting you in on what can be classified as a little link between us in a sense."
In response, she blinked, as her sparkly eyes were giving a look that signified her piquant curiosity at maximum height.
"What is it?"
Head bent slightly downward, thinking for a second, he straightened his composure, took a small breath, and flickered his sight to see Starlow. Inside of him, no holds were barred from halting him even slightly.
"Don't know what has gotten into me, but I think I kinda like you. You know, not just the base type of like, but also the love type? That's it. I love you. When I saw your effulgence bedight in light during sunset, I was mentally shocked by the true specialness within your bod. You grip onto qualities that show your perk: kindness, cuteness, and friendliness—all making the figure and character that you here where you stand joyfully carry as your harmonious charm."
Silence. A moment of it felt like any splashes or other sounds were blotted out by the sudden rift in motion. The only detail in the midst of beforehand and afterward that suffused was her, except she was surprised rather than spooked, her eyes completely bulging out. Speechless was what she had on display, rare for her, yet it was quite the fitting valuable. Not a single word could she utter as all she could do was stare at Bowser's iconic dragon visage.
"One of our general guidelines in the dark kingdom is to not often rely on the help of Star Haven celestials. That being set in stone, it's come to me that it's directly targeted to a fool's entourage of individuals, and if you happen to seek out what is the truth here, you know well you've bargained to be wrong. I have feelings for who you are. I think I want you more than anything."
The Koopa King plopped his hands right on his legs. He had a hard time guiding his eyes to look at hers, but they slowly stirred from the left side to straight ahead at their portent. Still having sported her rendered features coming into the sultry scenery was only the supposition to start, and now she was gobsmacked at the very last possible thing she would've imagined him to tell straight-up to her in confession.
But all things considered, even if she did falsify her view on him—which would be a far cry on her behalf—there's delightful sense to be made. In actuality, there was a distinguished side to his story. Though, brittle and overly uptight he was, it took what felt like a millennium to rectify into reality as opposed to releasing tiny.
"Oh, where do I begin on this? Such fascinating words! Such a beautiful speech by yours truly! Oh, B-bowser!" Starlow smiled. She felt her veins overtake her by inducing joy, being seen on her face and also solely taking up the insides of every joint exerting the upheaving of her spirit. One could describe her as a stargazed comet that had arrived on the planet in peace.
"It really isn't that, but if it is a selling point for your sake, that's nice," Bowser said, but then he tilted his head to face the golden terrain at his feet. Nothing more could elaborate on him jumbling into foul state, it was just him in the middle of a haze without a clear image.
Two seconds went past the clock, and it took not even that for the Star Sprite to wrap her thoughts around the look of his. And when there's something that poses a question and froths an answer, it should be confronted. When push comes to shove, she was Starlow. Her eyes laid track on his posture, not long before her mouth opened.
"I know I'm repeating myself over and over again saying your name, but I have to since I find it to be cute and I find that it's a perfect match for you. Bowser?"
The expression she bore softened when he flickered his eyes up merely so he could acknowledge her, "Yes, Starlow?"
"Why are you looking down at the sand and not looking up? There are stars, and there's a moonlit sky, and somehow you're talking with the sand instead." A pause was made, just long enough for her to scan him from his forehead to his dropped tail, then she added, "Is everything alright with you?"
Better or worse, her concern was going to be answered-and not off with a hitch. And she even caught wind of a rare heartfelt laugh as he shifted his head to face her.
"It amuses me. Stepping on the ground of Koopa territory once again with a new lemon lady hand-in-head will be the description of everyone's view when they get to see us. Worst case scenario, we'll be officially the laughingstock of the land. Can't blame my troops; those meddling kooks will have to take far measures to rightfully respect the throne."
And she listened attentively to his wording, biting her lip, making sure she'd mentally thumb his view of the road paved ahead. Frankly, for as goofy as he makes it sound, this may or may not be of reverenced acceptance. In an alternate universe, that story has yet to be told. As such, this wasn't quite the setting for that narrative...
Starlow took a deep breath and smiled. "Or, we go off plan B: the alternative."
Bowser was quick raising an eyebrow. Judging her expression, he became confused. "What? What plan exactly?"
In response, she ever so elegantly hovered backward while not mounting her eyes off him, until her miniature angel-like form was a fair distance away. Said eyes were then made out to be closing for a very short time period, for what had transpired next took a page out of an art book. The next thing he saw was a white flash that engulfed her every fiber, small particles raining out and vaporizing on the sand. As it reached its climax, it became brighter and brighter. The Koopa King had to shield his eyes using his hand and turn his head to the side. Not a minute went by when the blinding light stoutly began dissipating-and then there she was.
Bowser reaffirmed his gaze once again, blinked once before blinking twice, and was dumbfounded with his eyes widening at what he was seeing. Now featuring legs, arms, and a slik torso, Starlow had just undergone an anatomical transfiguration, standing in the sandy turf lucently.
From her waist down to her legs, she wore a tan semi-transparent corset, a bit of orange detailing the sides with flare. And then on the top section, there was an opaque portion of yellow, complimenting a warm look and feel alongside the other flying colors. Coupled with the dress was a necklace around her neck that was beaded together and interweaved a star-shaped piece of jewelry. Her golden skin, in every inch, toned the rest of her body. The icing on the cake was the same unchanged appendage sitting on her head, which looks all the nicer now. A smile crept onto her face as she looked straight ahead, eyelashes soaking in each one of her lineaments.
"T-t-timeout. I…" Wide eyes, agape muzzle, and a stilled posture. Yep, the Koopa King had it coming, no doubt. As quickly as it came crashing down on him like heavy freezing sleet, his gaze escaped its trance of which he looked the other way. A tusk-sharp grin couldn't help but open up in the event that he was brimming with random different feelings, which ultimately broke down into fibrous elements that bulked up his mood.
"The shapeshift! The sorcery! …the swag!" Bowser exclaimed, fists up for each expression. "You need to tell me what you've been keeping hallow behind that mask, girl!"
A faint blush exposed itself over the reborn Star Sprite; there was a benevolent feeling within her as she responded, "Your eyes don't deceive you. This is what I look like when I'm not in my ordinary, everyday spherical self. A sight to behold, and has always been up till this very moment. I'm talking even when I was housed in Star Haven during my early years there bearing it."
"How long have you had it?" He queried. "Has it really been your entire life?"
"Yes, sir, thanks to the Star Spirits embedding it into my whole system, if you will. And you know, out of all of my days now spending life here on this planet, not one, but zero days have I come clean showing this form off. Why? Because I just never speculated the reason to do so. Until now, as change is in session." And as the moment made one good turn to another, she began tracking her footsteps in the direction going towards him, twitching hips every step. His posture, meanwhile, remained motionless with the only rift breaking through being his senses watching and hearing her voice.
"And I'm not the only one changing from one habit to another, you are, too. You and me both know you've just disassembled the idea of kidnapping the princess. Am I right?" She continued her advance without losing a shred of determination. But once her face was high above enough so she could peer downward, her eyes scanned him starting from the bottom, zigzagging along, and then verging at the top.
"Or, is that still up your arm?"
In response, he looked parallel to her vision and slowly nodded his head before comfortably admitting the truth, "No. Never. You'll always have my word."
It seemed that the clarification was of convincing. A passive nod was returned while her expression flipped upside down into a more positive one. Something in the air-a sentimental vibe, described as sedulously excuberant-made the mood between the two exceptional folks on the lonely resort jaunty. "So, with us both shooting for it, we've taken the next step. It is now that a future generation will deprave us not in a wicked way, but to adjure us into adapting." Starlow unofficially proclaimed. "Darklands, hence the name, will be ripe fresh and reimagined into something different for the better. And I'm telling you, you'll have a smile on your face when the deed has met the prerequisites."
The space that was filling what was in-between thinned, as she took another step, then another. His mind knew what to expect. It was more or less a blessing. So did she, who shines bright before him, amidst the sky before nightfall.
"I love you back, Bowser, and don't have any comments questioning a single thing about you, nor any concerns. One way or another, don't think there's a reason to hole up, I'll be there by your side. The early days of your reign with an iron fist, it was just you as one-and-only king. Now, it's a team effort! Nothing will change in your placement in the royal hierarchy, the only regard of topical interest is me potentially coming out as queen? Whatever it is, the kingdom will have the chance to bloom sky-high having us and begin to supplement common ground with neighboring lands to set about new order. Because you and me can do it and get it all the way right!"
Starlow concluded, with a sigh only her senses could pick up. But then she baited her eyes at the Koopa King's chest for merely a second, then scooted up to lock with his gaze, chin flattening out, and mouth constructing a sly grin.
"We're together!"
Right away, she threw her arms out as she lunged for him. Her arms had imperatively found their way around his upper chest, thus instigating a hug silky, yet delightful. On his left shoulder rested her head in a calm state. In reality, though, the sounds of her heart beating were a sign of her being contained with stimulation.
Bowser was not prepared for the sudden vicious swipe at the atmosphere. There's no surprise there. If, given the chance, an impertinent nobody-whether it be a Toad or Goomba-would be in Starlow's place, he'd launch them in a fine line up into the awaiting clouds of bristly floccose.
His head tipped down. Gently, arms were elevated off his legs, guided competently towards her body, and then folded across her backside. In a blurred perspective from faraway, his fangs would be sharp as thin needles by the seams, yet they found their places around her figure painlessly. An embrace that felt like an eternity was actually deduced to last a couple waves blanketing the sand.
Suddenly, his right arm crept out from underneath, while at the same time, his left leaned over to persist her balance. His shoulder, temporarily disconnected from her, went back to chest length. Despite, his fingers twiddled, with his index finger trailing under Starlow's small chin. A slight beckoning of force was all it took, or no more than a lope of his hand, to lift up her head until the two were at eye level.
Any more closer than they were sought out to be, their noses would touch. There was a mere ounce of outside air flowing in-between the essence of their sphere. Starlow grinned, favorably prognostic, and also humored-and Bowser couldn't resist the urge to grant his own smile. Then, they revolved an encompassing fold of embraced arms in about every direction around their position, locking lips in assertive unison.
A simple combative passion was intended by both parties, smacking mouth and mouth together. Saturating right and left throughout was a warm edacious sensation coming from their inner scent. Starlow was mainly in control, pressing her chest against the Koopa King, placing her hands on his cheeks, and deepening her kiss so assidously. Bowser's arms kept ahold of her slender body, alongside his hands which clutched her back as hard as he puckered his maw in succession.
With each passing moment, they rotated and sprung their heads all across each other, all the while smooching at various angles. This would go on for minutes that felt like an endmost hour, and they soundly inherited each and every romantic gesture, occasionally moaning following the pasting of their lips. Wanting to dig deeper, the Koopa King slid his tongue into the Star Sprite's entranceway. She hummed as he explored everything, from her gums to her glands until he met a roadblock when she echoed him. It was now a clash of tongues wrestling to obtest around one another without interruption and taste the saliva in the back. Both were given a succulent treat; Bowser, who relished her lemon-juice zest; Starlow, who swilled his ketchup-dipped flavor.
An unthinkable sighting was taking place in front of the ocean. Though, despite how abnormal, it was clear that this wasn't through the influence of a hallucination. They presently were showcasing their love, staying close together and not deterring their minds on a single other thing in this world. Eventually, they felt their lungs compress from a lack of air, forcing them to gasp out a deep breath while their lips parted.
As they just sat regaining their breaths, they exchanged looks. There wasn't a single motion in either's posture. It was as if time screeched to a halt before a sack of freezing water macerated them. Before long, the silence had fragmented, with Bowser stiffening a smile. He could see at every corner of her face a puffed-up expression that read dignity and a little bit of awe.
"You just caught me off-guard. What you see is what you get. I love what I got."
And then he reached over, palms extended out wide open. Noticing his action, Starlow guided herself over so she'd feel their presence, letting him hold her hands in place. The backdrop of the beach starting from the torrefied line in the back to the watery forefront at the end was putting on a celebration, where palm trees danced with the wind, seashells rocked on the gentle stream, Dune Buds would grab a tipsy drink and roisterly spark an explosion for nothing more than to cheer. Even the ocean was awakening enormous waves in the distance, and then when getting in close proximity, they would sink down to the surface before they each could evolve into a terrific tidal terror. No questions asked, everything was perfect.
But while on the topic of the seas sailing about, submerged in the water and head poking out was a young geek who, ostensibly, has been the while overseeing the scene play out. He wasn't so much forgotten when he made his way over until his feet could sense the sand border. Under the shadow of his face, he made a smirk, not so much at the core of the situation, but rather the chief's contentious choice of closing words to his speech.
"Daddy, you've been tracked to I-don't-know-where so many times, it's appalling! I swear, everyone carries some weakness with them. This is one of yours."
Startled, Starlow flipped around onto her backside without thinking. She would've fallen off-that is if Bowser didn't bring his shoulder around to keep her in check. Because of a much calmer reaction, his body didn't budge from its rested spot on the chair. He lowered his head to just about shoulder-level so he'd give Bowser Jr. a look, insinutatively acknowledging him.
"Well, you're one to talk, but the point gets across." He said, downplaying the insult. "I can sense, Junior, that you take after your old man even today at your age. Let me ask, knowing you've been tracking me: how many times have I actually shown my so-called weakness?"
The question could appear as complicated or straightforward to answer, it depends on who was being dared to be asked. Not long after it was used in the means to implore, he was on the case, "You've let an axe smash you and the castle's bridge into lava, you've let yourself get possessed by all kinds of dark murk, you've fancied many plots only to see them go in ruin, you've let go of the princess. I couldn't keep count after a while." His son stated.
With a hefty chuckle, Bowser slammed his other arm onto the armrest out of laughter. "A well-rounded response if I could judge. I'll buy it! The blood that we share means age is irrelevant. You got me sold!"
"I'm not finished!" Junior exclaimed petulantly. "Don't forget, that time when you won a present for helping beat that Fawful jerk?" His smile turned cheerful, and he looked over at Starlow.
"You shot yourself out of that box and surprised Papa with some cake!"
A transparent flashback recorded itself in her head. The memory harmlessly elbowed her into a happy expression while she remembered every part for the thousandth time. "You're correct! This was deemed a royal specialty. The substitute for cherry-on-top couldn't have been filled by any other service lady!" She responded. Nodding was enough to show his attention to her, and then he snaked over to face his dad.
"And how about when she used magic that knocked the lights out of you? It wasn't just any kind of magic, it was what love felt like when it's cooking strongest."
Without speaking, the least he could do was manifest a fallacious smirk. It was hard to say whether he was succeeding at being emotional or failing to belie a poker face. Coming clean was off the table, regardless. Once more, Junior turned back around, eyeing the Star Sprite.
"Don't think I'm missing something. I know it used to disgust you when you guys stared each other down. I think those feelings meant the opposite. Don't lie to yourself-you honestly foresaw a different angle, imagining how awesome it would be to become Dad's first-hand minion! From day one, you've been secretly admiring him."
And with the page being turned, the setting was accompanied noiselessly from on the outside. Burrowing through the abstruse trenches all the way to rock-bottom, she was racking and jacking her brain on all the times they prated during their adventures. The Dark Star incident, she teased him a tickle; the P'illo Island curse, his mere existence disgusted her; the Storybook confuddlement, same, to a lesser degree. In addition, she even dispensed her outlook on him onto Junior, who had the rudiments to be comparable on a grand scale. Truthfully, on many counts, her behavior and inner stance may have gotten so obsessive, that it shielded what her more approbating opinion in their scuffle phoneticed.
Around her shoulder came a large arm, the bearer being none other than him. She looked his way and grokked the matter by evidence of her slight smirk and blush reddening cheeks. Before long, the young Koopa, with a farcical snicker, actuated their attention, the instance he did a nosedive back into the drink and pedaled out away from the scene.
The horizon, gone to dark, entreated the matching duo in yellow to an exhibit of a purely cleansed ocean. A greater magnetism was the climate itself overshadowing it alongside a sea of five-pointed objects glowing the brightness of a flame and the beauteousness of a great winged bird. They stared directly into the outlying infinity where it might have seemed that they were hurled into a new world.
"He's a little rascal, and that's okay because he's silly and fun," Starlow said. Right at the edge of her peripheral view, she made out him weighing the statement. His hand lightly patted her shoulder in response.
"So are you," Bowser remarked. To embolden his opinion without language, he began a cycle of stroking down her arm and then raising it back up. "Likewise, with you around, it makes everything more entertaining. Unless it's just me being overloaded with satisfaction, the stars shine down ever than before."
The loving enfold coaxed her into toppling onto his chest. "I concur. Oh, the marvels of the sky." She cohered in harmony.
In due time, encroaching on a late midnight subsequent to a remaining stretch of hours in few, the moon, henceforth, would steer its value of elongation from up high and flip the calendar to a groundbreaking dawn. They each vowed to take commitment to a new goal going forward. He'd be the receiver, learning that you cannot be cemented with the delineation of a slugger to be at the helm, not in the absence of the intellectual ability subjugating the stiff-necked consciousness. She will be the bouncing ball, where every mote of ground she spikes, he'll be given cognition of something new. When people eat their words about him, he can declare that he's taken many prizewinning dives for her. In the previous forecast, he was just mediated as being off-guard.
Phew! This took so long to publish after a whole lot of writer's block had stalled me again and again. Even better, this was finished just in time for the new Mario & Luigi announcement, which I'm so stoked for. Anyway, the reason I decided to write these two specifically is because they are so underrated as a couple. Like, Bowser's Inside Story had that buildup going for them, I swear. Wish there was more fanfics of them together. Hope you enjoyed reading! All characters and other trademarks featured in this work belong to Nintendo.