Chapter 2

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Bowser's clown car screeched into the courtyard of his fortress, its wheels kicking up sparks as it landed. The drawbridge had barely lowered before he stormed inside, cradling the limp boy in his massive arms. His usual fiery temper was matched by something rarely seen in the King of the Koopas: urgency.

"Outta the way!" Bowser roared, his voice echoing through the halls as startled Koopa Troopas and Goombas scurried to avoid his path. The towering double doors to the fortress's main hall groaned under the force of his kick, swinging open with a deafening crash.

"Kamek!" he bellowed, his fiery breath singeing the edges of the carpet. "Get over here! And someone get the medics! Now!"

The sound of hurried footsteps and clattering armor echoed as several of Bowser's dedicated healers—a mix of Magikoopas and other specialized minions—rushed into the hall, carrying supplies and glowing wands. Kamek appeared moments later, his broomstick swooping down as he adjusted his glasses, his expression a mix of confusion and concern.

"Your Majesty, what's the emergency?" Kamek asked, floating closer. His voice faltered as his gaze fell on the small figure in Bowser's arms causing his eyes to widen behind his bottle cap glasses. "Oh my… what happened to him?"

"Doesn't matter right now," Bowser growled, lowering the boy onto a hastily arranged stretcher. "Found him like this. Someone dumped him in the sewers and left him for dead."

The healers exchanged shocked glances but wasted no time, moving swiftly to assess the boy's condition. One of the Magikoopas waved a wand over Harry, his magic casting a soft green glow over the child's battered body.

"Broken ribs, bruising, malnutrition…" the lead healer murmured, her tone grim. "But he's alive. Barely."

Kamek stepped forward, his wand glowing as he scanned the boy himself. "There's more," he said, his voice grave. "This scar on his forehead… it's saturated with dark magic. Very old, very potent. It's tangled up with his life force."

Bowser's claws tightened into fists, his fiery temper rising. "I don't care about the magic right now," he growled. "Can you fix him? Heal him?"

The lead healer nodded, her expression determined. "We'll do everything we can, Your Majesty. But he'll need time to recover fully. Rushing the process could be dangerous."

"Kamek," Bowser said, turning to his trusted advisor, "I want you to help them. Use whatever magic you've got to speed this up—but only as fast as it's safe. Got it?"

Kamek nodded, his usual calm demeanor replaced by a quiet seriousness. "Understood, sire. I'll assist with the healing process, but we'll need to be careful. The boy's condition is delicate."

Bowser's fiery gaze softened as he looked down at Harry's pale face. "Just make sure he's okay. He's not just some random kid anymore. He's mine now. And no one's ever gonna hurt him again."

The healers got to work, their magic filling the room with a soft glow as they began mending the boy's broken body. Kamek hovered close, his wand adding layers of protective enchantments and gentle healing spells. Bowser stood watch, his massive frame looming protectively over the scene.

For all his bluster and schemes, Bowser had always protected what was his—and Harry, whether he knew it yet or not, had just become part of his kingdom.

But now came the hard part. One that he was loathe to admit was a weakness of his. He had to wait.

Bowser paced the throne room of his fortress, running a clawed hand through his fiery red hair. The boy was stable for now, but the Koopa healers had made it clear that recovery would take time, care, and a level of understanding that Bowser simply didn't have. Sure, he was good at ruling his kingdom, keeping his subjects happy, and occasionally scheming against Mario, but this? A human kid? He didn't even know where to start.

He growled, frustrated, then stopped in his tracks as an idea struck him. Peach. Princess Peach was always fussing over people, making sure everyone was safe and cared for. She was a human, she knew kids, and—most importantly—she wouldn't just stand by and let the boy suffer. Sure, kidnapping her again might make things awkward, but he wasn't about to let that stop him.

"Alright, Peach," Bowser muttered, heading for his clown car. "Time for a different kind of kidnapping."

Peach stood in her sunny throne room, sorting through a stack of documents for an upcoming charity event. She had just started to enjoy the peaceful afternoon when the doors burst open with a loud crash. She looked up, expecting the usual fanfare of Bowser's invasions: booming laughter, minions swarming, and declarations of his latest scheme.

Instead, Bowser rushed in alone, his massive frame filling the doorway. His face was serious, his tail swishing behind him as he stomped toward her without any of his usual bravado.

"Peach, no time for the usual stuff!" he blurted, his voice rushed and unusually apologetic. "I need you to come with me. Now."

Peach blinked in surprise, lowering the document in her hand. "Bowser? What—what are you doing here? Didn't Mario just stop your plan yesterday? What do you mean you need me to—?"

"I know, I know!" Bowser interrupted, gesturing wildly with his claws. "And I'm sorry, alright? Sorry for kidnapping you twice in two days. But this is different, Peach. It's important. I'm not trying to conquer your kingdom or anything."

Peach tilted her head, her curiosity outweighing any real concern. "Alright, Bowser, slow down. What's going on? Why are you in such a hurry?"

"I'll explain when we get there!" Bowser growled, his tone still laced with urgency. Without waiting for her permission, he scooped her up—gently, for him—and turned toward the doors.

"Wait!" Peach exclaimed, startled by his abruptness but not truly scared. This wasn't the first time she'd been carried off by the Koopa King, and there was something... different about him this time. "Bowser, at least tell me what this is about!"

"Just trust me, Peach," Bowser said, looking down at her with an uncharacteristically serious expression. "I need your help. And I don't have time to argue."

By the time they arrived at Bowser's fortress, Peach's confusion had only grown. Bowser carried her straight into the throne room, where the usual bustling chaos of his minions was replaced by the hushed, focused movements of his healers. At the center of the room, lying on a cushioned stretcher, was a small, injured boy.

Peach gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. "Oh no… Bowser, who is this? What happened to him?"

Bowser set her down and crossed his arms, his gaze softening as he looked at the boy. "Found him yesterday, after Mario wrecked my latest scheme. Kid dropped out of some hidden warp pipe in the ravine, beaten half to death and smelling like something even worse. My healers are doing their best, but... I don't know how to take care of human kids."

Peach turned to him, her expression shifting from shock to understanding. "You brought him here to save him?"

"Of course I did!" Bowser barked, though his tone was more defensive than angry. "What kind of monster do you think I am? I'm not gonna just leave a kid like that. But I don't know what to do next, Peach. That's why I need you."

Peach knelt beside the boy, brushing his hair back to reveal the lightning-shaped scar on his forehead. Her heart ached at the sight of his injuries. "Bowser... you did the right thing. But this poor child—he's been through so much. He'll need more than magic to recover. He'll need care, love, stability."

Bowser grunted, looking away as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah, yeah, I get it. Love and all that mushy stuff." He paused, then muttered, "Not that I don't know about love or anything. Just... it's boring, okay? Not my thing."

Peach smiled softly, seeing through his gruff exterior. "It's not boring, Bowser. It's what this boy needs. And it's what you're already giving him, whether you realize it or not."

Bowser huffed, trying to hide the faint blush creeping up his face. "Yeah, well, don't go spreading that around. I've got a reputation to keep. But... thanks, Peach."

Peach stood, placing a reassuring hand on his arm. "We'll figure this out together. And I'm sure Mario will help too."

Bowser smirked, his usual confidence creeping back. "Oh, I'm counting on him showing up. I've got a job for him, whether he likes it or not."

As if on cue, the sound of clattering footsteps echoed through the stone halls of Bowser's fortress. Peach turned toward the throne room doors just as they burst open, revealing a very winded Mario. His iconic red hat was slightly askew, his mustache twitching in frustration.

"Bowser!" Mario shouted, pointing an accusatory finger. "What did you do this time? Let Peach go!"

"Relax, mustache," Bowser grumbled, rolling his eyes. "She's fine. Not why I brought her here."

Mario blinked, momentarily thrown off. He glanced at Peach, who was standing beside Bowser unmolested. "Uh… what?"

Peach raised a hand to calm him. "Mario, it's alright. Bowser didn't kidnap me for his usual reasons. He actually needs our help."

"Our help?" Mario asked, incredulous. "What for?"

Bowser grunted and motioned toward the stretcher in the center of the room. "That."

Mario's eyes followed his gesture, widening as he saw the small, injured boy lying there, surrounded by Koopa healers. "Mamma mia…" he whispered, his tone softening. He approached cautiously, kneeling beside the child. "Who is he? What happened?"

Bowser crossed his arms and leaned against his throne. "Didnt get a name. I Found him in the ravine yesterday, right after you wrecked my last plan. Kid came through some old warp pipe, looked like he'd been through hell. My healers are doing what they can, but…" He shrugged, his voice dropping to a rare tone of vulnerability. "I don't know how to take care of human kids."

Mario looked up at Bowser, his usual rivalry momentarily forgotten. "You're serious?"

"Of course I'm serious!" Bowser snapped, his fiery tail swishing behind him. "You think I'd go to all this trouble if I wasn't? The kid's got no one else, so yeah, he's my problem now."

Mario exchanged a glance with Peach, who nodded in quiet confirmation. Then, turning back to Bowser, he said, "Alright. What do you need us to do?"

Bowser's expression softened, though he tried to hide it with a gruff grunt. "Peach already said she'd help figure out the human kid stuff. You…" He pointed at Mario. "You're gonna help me figure out where he came from, who did this to him, and why. Someone out there did this, and I'm not letting them get away with it."

Mario stood, his fists clenching. "Whoever hurt him… they're gonna pay. I'll help."

"Good," Bowser said with a firm nod. "Because whoever did this is gonna learn what happens when you mess with someone under my protection. Especially children."

Peach, still beside the boy, placed a gentle hand on his forehead. "But first, we need to focus on him. He's been through so much. He needs time to heal before we do anything else."

Bowser sighed, his fiery temper cooling for a moment as he looked at the boy. "Yeah. I know. Just… make sure he's okay, alright?"

"We will," Peach said softly. "Together."

Mario nodded, adjusting his hat as he turned to Bowser. "This is… different, Bowser. But you're doing the right thing."

"Don't get used to it," Bowser grumbled, though there was a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Now, let's get to work."

Peach and Mario exchanged a small smile before turning their full attention to the boy, while Bowser stood nearby, his usual bravado replaced with a quiet resolve. For once, the three of them were united—not as rivals, but as allies—with a single, shared goal: giving the boy a chance at the life he deserved.