"Sire...?"

I opened one eye, jolted from my sleep. I spy the familiar blue robe, thick glasses, and beak before me. Pleasantries were not something I handed out regularly so it was a shock to see the face staring at me look anxious. That could only be bad news. "What?" I growled.

"He's escaped..."

A mixture of being freshly awoken and the sheer shock of what he just said meant it took me longer to process what was just said. I bolted upright from my throne. "What the hell do you mean he's escaped?!" I didn't give the fool a chance to respond as I shot from my seat and out the stone archway. Kamek stepped out of my pathway, a well practised and safe manoeuvrer. I ran down the spiral staircase to the nearest window I could find, and sure enough, I could see him in the distance. "Junior!" I roared, "Junior! Get back here this instance!"

My son turned his head slightly, acknowledging he did in fact hear me, but he soon faced forward and I could have sworn the little shit's hover car sped up ever so slightly. I groaned audibly. Why did I gift him that? "Get in here!" I called in the direction of the stairs behind me that led to my throne room.

In a quick flash, Kamek stood at the base. "Yes sire?"

I didn't turn around to acknowledge the bastard's existence, instead choosing to keep an eye on my child slowly disappearing into the horizon. "How in the hell did Junior get out again?! My instructions were abundantly clear: DO. NOT. LET. HIM. ESCAPE!"

"He overpowered us..."

That pissed me off. I finally faced him. "HOW?! I left you in charge of him. I told all of you numbskulls to not obey his orders."

"He retrieved his paintbrush and-"

"DO YOU MEAN THE PAINTBRUSH I SPECIFICALLY ASKED YOU TO SEAL AWAY WITH YOUR MAGIC?!"

"Yes."

"HOW DID HE GET IT BACK?!"

"He found one of my spell books and undid my spell..."

I inhaled and and gave a long exhale. "Kamek..."

"Yes Your Majesty...?" He answered timidly.

"GET MY SON BACK NOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWW!" I tilted my head back and a well-known heat formed in my mouth. I shot my flame in his direction, long beyond caring if I hurt him or not. Of course, he dodged it- being used to my anger.

"Right away Your Majesty!" He ran down the second staircase, presumably to rally troops and head out to right his stupid mistake.

I sighed and rubbed my temples with my clawed fingers. This is not what I need right now. With Kamek gone, it meant I had to postpone my Mushroom Kingdom takeover to babysit my hostage.

A sudden feeling of glee washed over my body. It wasn't the end of the world. Hostages are fun, especially this one. Paying them a visit might actually help my sour mood.

Within a few minutes later, I'd arrived at my dungeon. Owning a castle this huge has it's downsides. A couple of goombas stood by the main entrance. "Your Majesty!" One said, looking shocked, "I wasn't expecting to see you here. Isn't it supposed to be Lord Kamek on duty?"

"What are you? Stupid?" I retorted. I have no time for these bottom feeders. "He's on a retrieval mission. I'm on duty. Now move." I pushed by. I don't know why I even hire these fools. One stomp and they're Plumber fodder.

I walked the hallways which were adorned in flame-lit lamps. There were cells all down the walkways, each housing a betrayer who failed to obey me. At the end there was a door which housed a special cell, reserved for one person and one person only. I put my oversized hand on the door handled which was fashioned on my face. In a swift, and unusually enthusiastic, movement I opened the door to reveal my hostage bound in the centre of the room. Her bright blue eyes glared at me with an all too familiar distaste. "Let me go you hideous fiend." She struggled against her chains. At least Kamek had the sense to tie her up before he left. He had used a giant cuff around her waist which bound her arms. The chain holding her went as far as the tall ceilings. Considering I, myself, am quite the sizeable beast, even I found the ceilings high.

"My, my, Princess, must you greet me like that? I am hurt." I mocked.

"Like fudge you are, Bowser." Even in captivity, she remains proper. I made a secret bet to myself that one day I would get her to swear. That day has yet to come. "Why are you even here anyway? Don't you usually get your cronies to guard me while you terrorise my kingdom?"

I sat on the floor next to her. Even sitting, I was taller than her standing height. "Well it turns out, when you hire idiots, they do idiotic things."

"What did they do now? Not get your breakfast? Not tuck into bed and read you a bedtime story?"

"HEY! SHUT UP!" That last one hurt. She knows Kamek effectively raised me from infancy. For all his faults, I owe him that.

As if reading my mind, she continued: "Touched a nerve didn't I? Not nice, is it?"

The mare had a point. I had noticed a change in the Princess's demeanour in my last few kidnappings. She's become far more... ballsy. I'm not sure how I feel about it. No one answered back to King Bowser and lives to tell the tale. But something about her... "Whatever," I growled, not letting her onto what she does to me. "If you must know, the bastard let Junior escape again."

"First class parenting from you there. You can take over galaxies but you can't keep control over your own son?"

"I know..." I sighed. Shit. Where did this vulnerability suddenly come from? I shook my head and smirked. "Or I'm training him to be the next great Koopa king. When I'm long and gone, he will take my place and rule over your pathetic kingdom once and for all!"

Her oceanic eyes bore into mine, disgust was almost gone. "You know, you're allowed to admit you're scared."

I stood up, avoiding her gaze. "Ha! As if I, the magnificent King Bowser would EVER be scared! Now I am truly am offended, Princess!"

"You're a Dad. No one blame you."

I sat down next to her again, a sensation of tiredness coming over me. I wasn't physically tired but something else. What magic was this wench casting over me? Perhaps Kamek hadn't done a good job constricting her after all. I laid back on the floor and closed my eyes, wishing this feeling away.

I wasn't sure how long had passed but Peach hadn't said a word. "What?" I snapped wearily, not even bothering to open my eyes.

"It's unusual to see you like this."

"Like what? Tired? I'm babysitting your kidnapped ass. It's tiring."

"Sure, let's call it that." She answered in a tone which suggested she wasn't going to push it. A wise idea given how I was feeling. "Is this new behaviour for Junior?"

"What do you mean?"

"Has he always been disobedient?"

"He's a Koopa prince. What the hell do you think?" I answered bitterly. My irritation is bubbling to the surface. Peach didn't stoop to my level and remained silent. Damn her gracefulness. I continued, "For as long as he's been in my care, yes."

"When you're together, he always seems to admire you and want to please you."

"There are moments when we're a united front but a vast majority of the time, he's a..." I struggled to think of a word. I suddenly didn't want to badmouth my son in front of her. "A handful. Has been that way since I became a full time father to him."

"When did you become his primary caregiver?"

I was honestly surprised she asked given how much she was involved. "Just before he kidnapped you on Isle Delfino."

"Why don't you tell me about it?"

I finally opened my eyes to look at her. I was not expecting her to ask that. I was expecting to be chastised for letting my young child be involved in a kidnapping. Lord knows she did in her following kidnap from the Isle Delfino incident. "Why do you suddenly care?"

She shrugged as best she could given her imprisonment. "I don't. It's clearly bothering you and I presume it's going to be a long night before Kamek returns with Junior. I'd much rather have you tell me about your parenting woes than spend a whole night with you teasing me. And I certainly know Mario won't be here any time soon given how much of your army you sent out after him."

She was right. The army Kamek didn't rally would be out chasing the godforsaken plumber.

"But teasing you is the highlight of my day." Peach looked at me with those determined eyes again, silent as stars. Dignified as always. I sighed, finally sitting back up. "As you wish Princess."