Accusations

Morning finally arrives and Bowser just wants to crash in his bed. Last night was a disaster…

First, Bowser was forced to see that mustache guy again. Then his physique was insulted. Then he got knocked around by an overgrown hog while his wife fought for her life. Then they spent hours being interviewed by police. Thank goodness his kids were safe with Daisy!

It's a night Bowser hopes not to repeat. Those brutes are going to regret ruining his date! But he needs a recharge so he can start hunting his enemies later.

Bowser drags his feet along the royal road, tuning out the greetings of his troops. Soon flower petals pelt his face and their smell fills his nostrils. The sweet aroma beckons him and Bowser increases his pace. He has never been so happy to be at Daisy's Castle. All he needs to do is check on the kids, shower, and get some sleep.

Despite his exhaustion, Bowser clutches Peach's hand. She hasn't left his side since the incident.

Bowser felt terrible about her condition. Peach was healed of her wounds. But her beautiful dress was scorched and Bowser had to draped her in his suit coat.

Also, she hasn't spoken in awhile; Bowser is certain she's upset with him.

He feels Peach rub her thumb against his and looks back. The warmest of smiles emit from her. "I really enjoyed our date, Love."

Bowser grunts in confusion. He thought it was a mess. The night was supposed to be perfect!

"Peach, you're just being nice."

Peach frowns in response. "No, I meant…."

Suddenly, the four Sarasaland kings leap out of a nearby bush and drag the royal couple into it!

On instinct Bowser began throwing punches. Hiyoihoi ends up with a lump on his head. Totomesu must hold Bowser from behind. "Bowser! Stop!"

"You have one second to let me go or I'll…"

Hiyoihoi covers the koopa's mouth. "You'll blow our cover!"

With a low growl Bowser shoves him away. "What are you talking about!?"

As Peach pets a blushing Biokinton, Dragonzamasu speaks. His eyes are focused on a sight outside. "Daisy found this…man. We've been trying to see who he is."

Eyes shining, Peach crawls up next to him to peep. "A man? Where? Let me see him!"

Bowser reluctantly joins her.

The hidden royals watch as Apricot looks around a rose bush. She giggles and jumps into the bush. Luigi hops up laughing and lifts her into the air. "You found me!"

Dragonzamasu grits his teeth. "That's him."

Peach whispers, "He looks familiar."

Bowser clenches his jaw in response. He focuses on the scene with intense interest.

Daisy, holding Lemon, approaches Luigi and Apricot. She has the brightest of smiles and Luigi shyly returns it.

"How's your stomach now, Luigi?" She asks.

Luigi pats his stomach. "All good after you gave me that medicine."

Daisy giggles and rocks Lemon. "It's a home remedy I concocted from herbs. It works instantly."

"You should open a pharmacy!"

"Actually, I have plans to start a franchise…"

Bowser lifts an eyebrow at the conversation. Luigi looks like 'that guy' his wife likes. But…. "You guys were worried about this green stache!? He couldn't handle a tummy ache."

Hiyoihoi grinds his teeth. "She's smiling at him," He challenges.

Bowser rolls his eyes. "She smiles at everyone."

Dragonzamasu shakes his head and spits a fireball into the ground. Totomesu smothers the flame with his paw.

Annoyed, Peach faces Dragonzamasu to interrogate him. "What is your problem? He looks cute."

"He is a plumber. Daisy deserves a powerful emperor," Dragonzamasu growls.

Bowser lays on his elbow and chuckles. "True. But all of you are being overdramatic! You really think Daisy would be interested in him!?"

The group pauses the argument at the sound of Apricot laughing. The princess is running further into the garden; Luigi and Daisy follow her.

Totomesu squints his eyes and motions with his paw. "Come on!"

The four kings crawl to continue their investigation. It was an amusing sight to Bowser. But he soon focuses on Peach.

Satisfied with knowing Daisy kept his kids safe, he wants to get Peach's attention for a moment. To make up for last night's blunder.

He gently grabs her shoulders and turns her around. "Alone at last…"

Peach pokes her lip out and furrows her brows. "Bowser….I'll miss the romance!"

Bowser curls a lock of her hair around his claw. His other hand moves to entangle hers resting on the grass. He gets the response he was hoping for. Peach presses her forehead against his snout.

"Bowser…"

"Come on, Peaches," Bowser mumbles. "We're like two forbidden lovers meeting in secret."

Peach begins kissing his cheek. "We have to check on the kids…"

She is cut off by Bowser grazing her lips with his.

Unfortunately, Hiyoihoi crawls back and nearly cries out in shock. He scolds, "What are you two doing!? Are you going to help or not!?"

Now red-faced, Bowser reluctantly follows him. He then complains, "Out of Daisy's four I still hate you the most!"

"Right back at ya!"

Peach sighs, "Enough you two!"

In the center of the garden Bowser Junior is tinkering with Marilyn's phone as she looks on. Bowser recognizes her and realizes she must be connected to Luigi … and by extension 'that guy.'

Despite his rage at 'that guy,' Bowser feels pride that Junior made a friend. "A chip off the old block!"

Peach puts a finger up to his mouth. "Bowser, shush!"

Apricot eagerly approaches Junior and Marilyn. Junior pauses his work to listen. "Junior, where's Four?"

Junior shrugs with indifference. "Why would I know?"

Apricot frowns and taps Marilyn's lap. "Did you see Four?"

Marilyn shakes her head. "It's not right to cheat Apricot."

But she points with her finger while smirking. Apricot follows the direction she is pointing at and frowns. "Hmmmm…." She spots Four's cap poking out behind a potted flower.

Marilyn snorts with laughter and Junior joins in. Apricot groans, "Four are you even trying!?"

Four slowly pops up with a watering smile. "I thought I was blending in."

Apricot taps his cap. "You weren't…!"

Four chuckles, "Well I don't get out much…I prefer my lab."

Apricot embraces him. "You're a nerd! But that's okay because I'll protect ya!"

Four's mushroom cap begins to fall off and he reaches in panic. But Daisy runs up to gently adjust it for him.

Luigi bends to Four's level. "Shroob's caps are detachable, huh?" He asks.

Four smiles at Luigi but looks down to avoid eye contact with Junior's suspicious glare.

Bowser also glares at Four but for a different reason. "Wait a minute! Is that the shroobs' prince!? What is he doing here!?"

"Daisy invited the princesses earlier!" Peach reminds him.

She's right. There is a ceasefire between him and the shroobs. Any provocation can reignite the war. But Bowser wants to rush out and tell the runt to get lost! What reason would Four have for hanging around his daughter?

As he debates internally, Daisy's phone rings with a loud roar. Luigi nearly jumps into a tree.

Daisy hastily lowers the volume. "Oh I'm so sorry Luigi! I forgot to change the ringtone after I pranked my dad."

Luigi dusts his overalls off, trying to look cool. "No, no…It's all good!"

She smirks and answers her phone. "Hello?"

Her eyes widened with confusion. "Millennium Star!?"

Steam comes out of Bowser's nostrils and his eyes turn bloodshot. Peach grabs onto his arm. "You'll blow our cover, Bower!"

Daisy quietly listens to the star. She then cringes, "When did you get my number!?"

For the next two minutes Daisy is stuck listening to the star ramble. Bowser cannot hear the conversation but Daisy's expression indicates discomfort. He decides he will go and tell the star off. So what if Daisy chews him out for spying!

But Daisy covers the phone and then whispers in Luigi's ear. Luigi grasps but then he nods in understanding.

Daisy chuckles. She turns back to the phone. "I have to stop you there, I'm in a relationship!"

Bowser now hears a loud 'What!?' over the call.

"Yep, I'm with a great guy! Uhhh …we may get married too! Tell him hi, Sweetie!" Daisy announces and puts the phone up to Luigi's ear.

He stammers. "Ummmm….hi. I'm Luigi."

"She did find someone!" Totomesu smiles and embraces a squealing Peach. But Dragonzamasu rolls around on the grass, mortified. "He's not even a warrior!"

Meanwhile, Hiyoihoi fanned a passed out Biokinton. Bowser pulls at his mane. "She just met the guy! You can't be serious," He whispers.

Struggling to compose himself, Dragonzamasu smiles wickedly. "I was there when Daisy was borne. I've endured her insufferable cheerfulness for too long for her to just settle..." He lays a fin on Bowser's shoulder. "Don't panic, Bowser. We'll make it look like an accident."

Bowser lifts an eyebrow and smirks. "I like how you think."

Peach and Totomesu jump Bowser and Dragonzamasu.

"Peaches, what are you doing!?"

"We won't let you ruin Daisy's happiness!"

Totomesu gets Dragonzamasu in a headlock. Peach battles Bowser. But her blows are so soft Bowser roars with laughter. For his amusement he playfully struggles with her. Realizing he is flirting again Peach angrily shoves him back. Caught off guard, Bowser falls out the bush with Peach on top of him.

Bowser laughs as he looks up at Peach. He gently cups her face. "You've gotten stronger Peach."

He sees Peach's panicked expression and looks up. Daisy is staring down at them.

"Oh…."

In the background, Millennium is still demanding to know who Luigi is. Luigi finally ends the call with a huff.

Not interested in why his parents were hiding, Lemon cries and leaps into Peach's arm. Bowser gets up and stands erect.

"Bowser, what were you and Peach doing!? Were you kissing in the bushes!? Or were you spying?" Daisy demands.

"What but…" Bowser turns and realizes the four kings abandoned them. "Traitors…."

Though Daisy's accusation is embarrassing, Bowser can't let her know he was spying.

"The weather's nice."

"Don't change the subject!"

Peach jumps in. "T-Thanks for watching the kids."

Daisy now looks sheepish. Oddly, Junior is looking for a place to hide.

"Oh about that…" Daisy turns to look at Apricot and Four play tag.

But Bowser freezes and rushes past Daisy before she can confess. As he does, Elder Princess Shroob crashes down into the garden. She throws her head back to roar and lunges at Apricot and Four! Bowser intercepts, scooping up Apricot and blocking a blow from the shroob.

He then leaps back while clinging to his daughter. Stunned Apricot hugs him. "Papa!?"

"I have you, Darling."

Elder Princess Shroob holds Four in her claw, her back hunched like a beast ready to pounce. Daisy rushes in between the two groups.

"Elder Princess Shroob! I've been trying to contact you since last night. And I'm sorry for everything that happened last night. The assailants that harassed your son were arrested. There's no need to fight." Daisy points out.

Ignoring her, the shroob growls at Bowser. "Bowser. Peach…Your puny daughter's flesh is full and clean. Must be from the blessing of Mushroom Kingdom's sun and land."

Bowser chuckles, "Funny you and your sister happen to be at the restaurant we were targeted at. And your son was hanging around my baby."

Elder Princess Shroob mumbles under her breath. "Could it be that you tried to make it look like we did?"

Peach cautiously approaches Bowser. "Bowser, she's trying to push you."

Apricot speaks up with a shaky voice. "I was playing with Four, Momma. We were having fun!"

Bowser growls in annoyance. Of course the little runt is trying to take advantage of Apricot. But Peach's response is different. She smiles at the shroob child. "Four, thank you for playing with her."

Bowser sighs. Of course she wants to look on the bright side.

"I…Um…," Four hides his face. "You're very beautiful…."

Peach blushes in response.

Bowser growls. "Well aren't you the charmer…"

Elder Princess Shroob growls at Four and he covers his face even more.

Grumbling, Bowser turns to Luigi and Marilyn. "Hi kid. Good to see ya again. But who are you!?"

One look at Bowser's teeth and Luigi scoops up a confused Marilyn and dashes off. "A man taking his niece and bolting out of here!"

"Wait! Luigi! Come back!" Daisy shouts in disappointment and glares at Bowser.

Elder Princess Shroob turns to leave also. But she gives Bowser a warning. "Do not cross us again, Bowser."

Bowser responds, "If you think I'm going to hide under my bed over bounty hunters, you have another thing coming."

Bowser gently tucks Apricot inside his shell. As he leaves Apricot pokes her head out. She sadly waves at Four as he is carried away by his mother.

The shroobs' mothership ascends into space, leaving the world of Sarasaland behind. Inside, Four receives a stern lecture from his mother.

"You could have been crushed. Smashed like an insect! That was dangerous, my son!" She roars as she towers over him.

Four shivers and stares at the floor. "Sorry, mother."

Princess Shroob joins in. "I told you to leave the brat at home! He nearly lost our ace in the hole…."

She pauses her words and takes a deep breath. Princess Shroob then speaks through clenched teeth. "Four, you need to be safer next time."

Four looks up, his fear now gone. "You don't have to pretend you care."

Her eyes flare up and she rushes to slap Four. But Elder Princess Shroob grabs her younger sister. "We are family here. You two need to get along!" She then drops Princess Shroob. "Besides, Four would have no need of his gadget if those hunters hadn't failed."

Princess Shroob grins. "No. They didn't fail. Their boss wanted to understand the targets. And she got what she wanted. Our ally now has her employees in position. We won't have to lift a finger..."