Bowser, My Love! I Will Free You!
Chapter 4: The False Bride
Bowserâs dream wedding takes a disastrous turn when his âPrincess Peachâ is revealed to be Princess Puffina in disguise. Tempers flare, truths are spoken, and both kingdoms are left reeling in the aftermath. While Bowser rages against humiliation and wounded pride, Puffina returns home with a broken heart, and for the first time, no plan at all.
Chapter 3 of Bowser, My love! I Will Free You!
Ao3 link â-> click here!
*ďźâżââââżďź* *ďźâżââââżďź* *ďźâżââââżďź*
Bowser, caught slightly off guard, stared at her for a moment. Seeing all of his subjects flocking toward âPeach,â he quickly composed himself. There were more pressing matters to attend to. Planning, the wedding, and getting his mind off whatever strange feeling had settled in his chest.
âOh gosh, I donât know what to say! You are all too kind!â Princess Puffina, still hidden beneath her magical Princess Peach disguise, fawned over the attention she was receiving from Bowser Jr. and the Koopa Troops.
âGee, Princess, youâre even sweeter in person!â one Koopa said shyly, blushing as he scratched the back of his head.
âI knew youâd come around, Princess!â another Koopa exclaimed. âWeâre so glad you finally saw our king for who he really is!â
Excitedly, Bowser Jr. jumped in front of Puffina, spreading his arms protectively.
âOkay, okay! Enough fawning!â he declared. âI know Mama Peach is amazing, but I gotta show her around! Come on!â
Before Puffina could respond, Bowser Jr. grabbed her hand and began dragging her away. The surrounding Koopas quickly waved goodbye, sighing dreamily at the thought that they had just spoken to Princess Peach.
âOhâ! Junior!â Puffina yelped in surprise as she was rushed away.
She was dragged across the upper deck where Koopas and Goombas worked busily, steering the ship and loading supplies. Many paused to stare at her in awe as she passed.
Bowser Jr. finally stopped dramatically and threw his arms wide.
âOkay, Mama Peach! Iâm gonna give you the grand tour of the battleship!â
Puffina blinked at him in surprise.
Then she clasped her hands together and clapped excitedly.
âA tour?! Oh, how exciting!â she squealed. âLead the way!â
âOkay! So this is the main deck! This is where everyone works hard and keeps the ship running!â
He proudly gestured around while Puffina nodded seriously, pretending to absorb every detail.
âOh! Come on, Iâll show you downstairs too! Iâll even show you Papaâs office!â
He marched toward the large doors leading below deck. Puffinaâs eyes widened as she followed.
âOh goodness! Itâs even bigger on the inside!â she marveled.
Bowser Jr. grinned smugly.
âOf course it is! It has to hold me and Papaâs greatness!â
Puffina giggled at the little copy of Bowser.
âOh yes⌠your father is quite big, isnât he?â she said dreamily, blushing as she bit her lip in a way that suggested she meant something entirely different.
Ever oblivious, Bowser Jr. nodded proudly.
âMhm! One day Iâm gonna be as big as Papa. Big and strong like him!â
He flexed his tiny arms proudly.
Puffinaâs expression softened as she looked at him.
She had heard stories of Bowserâs troublesome son, but he was nothing like she expected.
âOh, I have no doubt!â she said warmly. âLook at those tiny muscles! I bet youâll be even bigger than him someday.â
âAnd Iâm sure youâll be just as scary, gruesome, and handsome as he is.â
Bowser Jr. stopped walking entirely.
âYou really think that?â he asked quietly.
âWell, of course!â Puffina said. âYouâre the one who helped your father bring me here, arenât you? Youâre already clever, sneaky, and full of pizzazz for grand entrances!â
She threw her hands up dramatically as though sneaking into castles was a perfectly normal skill to praise.
Bowser Jr.âs eyes lit up.
âReally?! I knew it! Thank you, Mama Peach!â
He suddenly grabbed her hand again.
âCâmon! I gotta show you more before Papa finds you and steals you away!â
With renewed excitement, Bowser Jr. sprinted off down the hallway.
Puffina laughed brightly as she chased after him.
For the next while, Bowser Jr. gave a grand tour of every nook and cranny of the ship. Puffina marveled at everything.
But whenever Junior wasnât looking, she would pause to lovingly caress a chair Bowser had probably sat in⌠sniff a curtain Bowser had probably brushed past⌠or secretly pocket a strand of hair, scale, or anything else that may have belonged to her beloved king.
Finally, they arrived before a pair of massive mahogany double doors, engraved with intricate carvings and lined with golden spikes.
Puffinaâs heart skipped a beat.
She could practically feel Bowserâs presence radiating from the other side.
âOhâŚâ she whispered dreamily. âThis must be your dear daddyâs office.â
Bowser Jr. nodded proudly.
âYup! Papaâs office!â
He shoved the doors open.
Inside stood Bowser and Kamek, deep in discussion over maps and plans spread across a large desk.
But none of that mattered to Puffina.
âOh, Bowser!â she cried.
Giggling wildly, she rushed forward and threw herself onto his arm.
âP-peach!â Bowser straightened quickly, trying to regain composure. âJunior! What are you doing dragging her around the ship?!â
Bowser Jr. puffed his chest proudly.
âI was giving Mama Peach the grand tour!â
Puffina clung tighter to Bowserâs arm.
âAnd it was marvelous! Your son is such a gifted guide~â
Kamek slowly lowered his glasses.
âYour⌠Highness,â Kamek said carefully, staring at Peach. âYou seem rather⌠energetic today.â
Puffina smiled far too hard.
âOh, do I? Perhaps I am simply overwhelmed by Bowserâs magnificence.â
âSee? I told you Mama Peach would like us now!â
Bowser glanced down at his son and, for a brief moment, softened. Junior had always wanted Peach to accept them, wanted some version of a family. Seeing him this happy stirred something unexpectedly gentle in Bowserâs chest.
Looking down again, he found âPeachâ staring up at him with a flushed smile.
âOh, Junior and I had a delightful day,â Puffina said, trying to sound airy and graceful. Unfortunately, she was vibrating with excitement.
Bowser, against his better judgment, smiled.
âOh yeah? Whatâd you show her, son?â
Bowser Jr. lit up and opened his mouth to answerâ
The doors burst open again.
A terrified Koopa soldier skidded across the floor, helmet crooked.
âY-Your Highness! Those brothers! The red one and the green oneâtheyâre heââ
The soldier was blasted sideways into the wall by a fireball.
Two familiar silhouettes marched through the smoke.
âStop right there, lizard! Weâre here to rescue the damsel!â Mario declared.
âMARIO?!â Bowser roared.
Puffinaâs smile died instantly.
What in the clouds were they doing here?!
Did they really think she was Peach? Didnât they see Peach back at the castle?!
âY-yeah!â Luigi added, trying to look brave. âYou let her go!â
Bowser instinctively stepped in front of Puffina, shielding her with one arm.
âFirst you shrink me down, then you ruin my wedding, now youâre after my Peach again?!â he snarled.
Usually, Puffina would have melted at such a mighty display.
Instead, cold panic crept up her spine.
If those brothers said one wrong thingâ
âPeach? But Peach is back at the castle.â
Every head in the room turned.
Mario pointed past Bowser.
âWhoever that lady is, she ainât Peach.â
âShe does kinda look different now that Iâm close.â
SlowlyâŚvery slowly⌠he turned around.
His eyes locked onto âPeach.â
For the first time since arriving, Puffina was not smiling adoringly. She was smiling nervously.
âW-what?â she laughed weakly. âI-I am Peach! Iâm just⌠in a different mood today!â
Bowser took one heavy step forward.
Mario and Luigi lowered their fighting stances, suddenly unsure if they should be there at all.
âI-Iâm actually Peachâs secret sister! Yes! We switch places sometimes! Royal duties and all that!â
âI love you, Bowser, so thereâs truly no issue here and the brothers may leave nowââ
She tried to wave Mario and Luigi away.
Steam hissed from his nostrils.
âWho,â he said darkly, âare you?â
âW-why⌠Iâm Princess Peaââ
Her concentration shattered.
In a flash of sparkles and smoke, the Peach disguise dissolved.
Golden hair darkened into cascading rosy-brown curls. The pink royal gown shifted into ribbons, pastel layers, and glittering cloud-kingdom finery. Bright green eyes stared up at Bowser in horror.
Princess Puffina stood revealed.
Bowserâs expression twisted.
Bowser Jr. blinked in disbelief. ââŚWhat?â
Mario scratched his head.
âSo⌠we came all this way for⌠whatever this is?â
âI donât understand anything anymore.â
Puffina immediately brightened, trying to recover.
âO-oh, Bowser! Iâm sorry you had to find out like this! But I did it for us! For our love!â She pointed accusingly at Mario and Luigi. âThose moustached pests ruined everything!â
Then she turned back to Bowser with clasped hands.
âWho needs Peach when you have me?â
She reached up, trying to cup his face.
He slapped her hands away.
âPapaââ Bowser Jr. whispered.
Kamek moved quickly to the childâs side.
âCome, young master,â he said gently. Then, to Mario and Luigi âAnd you two as well. There is no princess to rescue here.â
Luigi was already halfway out the door.
Soon, the room was empty.
Only Bowser and Puffina remained.
âB-Bowser⌠dearest⌠whatâs with all this aggression? Itâs only me, Iââ
His roar rattled the windows.
He loomed over her, eyes blazing.
âYou sneak into my castle. You trick me and my son⌠and take advantage of my love.â
The words struck the room like thunder.
For once, there was no giggle. No dramatic sigh. No dreamy smile.
Bowserâs chest rose and fell with heavy breaths, smoke curling from his nostrils. His fists clenched at his sides so tightly the floor beneath his claws cracked.
âYou made a fool out of me,â he growled.
âI-I didnât mean it like thatââ Puffina began, taking a step forward.
Bowserâs glare was molten.
âAll I wanted was Peach.â He sneered the name now, bitterly. âAnd somehow you managed to turn even that into your own twisted game.â
Puffinaâs face trembled.
âA game?â she whispered. âYou think this is a game to me?â Her voice cracked higher
She pressed a hand to her chest.
âI crossed kingdoms for you. I studied her for you. I humiliated myself for you. I did everything because I love you!â
Bowser barked a harsh laugh.
He leaned down until his face was inches from hers.
âYou donât love me.â
âYou love the idea of me.â
Puffinaâs eyes widened.
âYou love the king. The monster. The power. The story you made up in your head.â
Each word hit harder than the last.
âYou donât know a thing about me.â
For the first time in a long time, Princess Puffina had nothing to say.
Bowser straightened, folding his arms.
âI said youâre leaving.â He pointed toward the doors. âNow.â
âNo.â Her voice came out small at first.
Bowser narrowed his eyes.
Puffinaâs chin slowly lifted.
Wind stirred around her ankles.
The ribbons of her dress began to flutter as clouds seeped in through the cracks of the windows.
âI did not come all this way,â she said shakily, âto be dismissed like some silly fangirl!â
Lightning flickered behind her eyes.
âIâve loved you far longer than Peach ever has!â She thundered. Her face turning red hot
âYou just said I know nothing about you,â she replied, voice rising, âyou donât know anything about peach!â
âAnd I know that annoying princess never chooses you!â
âAnd I know,â Puffina said, tears gathering her now angry red face âI know enough about you! I know your probably lonely in this kingdom by yourself!â
Bowser stared at her for a long moment.
Then he walked to the doors and threw them open.
Which somehow made them crueler.
Puffinaâs lip quivered.
She stood there, pride and heartbreak battling across her face.
She then went beet red in anger âno I wont leave!â
âGET OUT! Your not peach, you donât know me, and I donât know you and I want nothing to do with some crazed princess!â
Then with a sharp whimpering hiccup she made a sharp turn and marched right past him.
She looked back as if wanting to say something, her lips quivering open and then snapped shut again.
With that, she leapt from the airship balcony.
A storm cloud caught her below, and she vanished into the night sky.
The room fell silent except for Bowserâs breathing.
Kamek slowly peeked back through the cracked doorway.
ââŚShould I cancel the wedding, sire?â
Bowser rubbed his temples.
âAnd double security.â
ââŚEspecially the windows.â
Princess Puffina did not enter her castle with fanfare.
No dramatic announcement. No laughter. No cloud tricks.
She stormed through the front doors in complete silence, dress wrinkled, hair wild, eyes burning red.
She marched straight through the halls, heels striking the crystal marble floors like thunder, and threw open the doors to her balcony chambers so hard they slammed against the walls.
Outside, the night sky stretched wide and dark.
Puffina stood there for one trembling second.
âIDIOTS!â she screamed to the heavens.
Lightning cracked above the castle.
âThose STUPID brothers! That horrid Peach! That nosy old wizard!â
She kicked over a flower pot. It shattered below.
She pointed a shaking finger into the sky.
âCurse you for neverââ
âNoâŚâ she whispered weakly.
The anger broke all at once.
She fell to her knees on the balcony floor, clutching the railing.
âI canât curse himâŚâ
Tears spilled hot and fast down her cheeks.
âHe looked at me like I was nothingâŚâ
Behind her, hurried footsteps approached.
Nepheli rushed into the room in her night robe, candle in hand, only to freeze at the sight before her.
Puffina, usually loud, vain, sparkling Puffina, was collapsed on the floor, mascara streaked, hands trembling, trying and failing to wipe away tears.
âOh, my sweet girlâŚâ
Nepheli quickly set the candle down and hurried to her side.
Puffina sniffled violently.
âI made everything perfectâŚâ she hiccuped. âI was beautiful⌠I was clever⌠I was PeachâŚâ
âAnd he still threw me away!â
She burst into fresh tears and buried her face into the maidâs lap.
Nepheli slowly stroked her hair.
Then under her breath she sighs
âIt will be alright princess..â
For a long moment after Puffina vanished into the stormy sky, Bowser stood frozen in the doorway.
Smoke curled from his nostrils in sharp bursts.
His claws twitched at his sides.
Thunder struck in the sky as if to show his inner turmoil. The clouds black in anguish and another lightning cracked through the sky.
The roar shook the entire airship.
Windows rattled. Koopas screamed somewhere down the hall. A Goomba fainted on the lower deck.
Bowser stormed around in his office and looked down at the grand table.
The giant banner reading: BOWSER & PEACH FOREVER
With one violent sweep of his arm, he sent everything crashing to the floor.
He grabbed the wedding board and snapped it over one knee.
Kamek, wisely standing near the wall, said nothing.
Bowser stomped back and forth, knocking over chairs and breathing fire at random decorations.
âI canât BELIEVE I was tricked!â
Fire burst from his mouth, setting a bouquet ablaze.
âShe touched my face!â
âShe tricked junior!â
âShe was in my OFFICE!â
Kamek quietly put out a curtain with magic.
Bowser grabbed the banner from the floor and snarled at it.
âAnd I almost married her!â
Bowser slowly looked down.
Then he hurled the banner through the window.
âWE ARE GOING HOME!â Bowser thundered, storming out onto the top deck.
All the minions scrambled into lines instantly.
âTurn this ship around! Full speed to the castle! Weddingâs off!â
A Koopa timidly raised a hand.
âDo⌠do we still keep the cake, sire?â
The Koopa fled screaming.
Bowser gripped the railing of the ship, staring into the night clouds where Puffina had disappeared but were now full of rumbling dark storms. In an instant the peaceful night had turned into a hurricane.
Why was his heart still pounding?
Why did her words keep repeating in his skull?
âI know youâre lonely.â
âRidiculous,â he muttered.
Behind him, soft sniffling could be heard.
Bowser Jr. stood behind a wooden beam, rubbing his eyes.
His little shell slumped.
âKamek said⌠she wasnât really Mama Peach.â
Bowserâs expression shifted.
Bowserâs anger faltered.
For once, he didnât know what to say.
Kamek stepped beside the child.
âCome now, Prince Junior. Things are⌠complicated.â
âBut she said Iâd be bigger than Papa one day,â Junior mumbled.
âAnd stronger,â Bowser added roughly.
Bowser cleared his throat and looked away.
âNow get some sleep.â
Junior ran forward and hugged Bowserâs leg before hurrying back inside.
Bowser stood silently at the railing once more.
The wind lashed across the deck, sharp and cold.
Why did that make him feel worse?
And second of all⌠what was wrong with that princess?
His thoughts drifted unwillingly back to the beginning. How she had rescued him out of nowhere. How she had clung to him so shamelessly. How she had looked at him like he was the greatest thing in the world.
He had been grateful, of course. Briefly amused.
Now she had sabotaged everything. His plans. His dignity. His pursuit of the ever-delicate, graceful Princess Peach.
Because who in the world would love him at first sight?
He imagined Peach often, how she would reject him now, only to later realize how handsome, powerful, and romantic he truly was.
But that crazed princess wanting him immediately?
Bowser snapped from his thoughts and turned sharply.
âWhat princess is she? From what kingdom?â he demanded.
Kamek jolted upright, not expecting to be addressed so suddenly.
âAhem⌠if my knowledge is correct, sire⌠I believe she is from the Cloud Kingdom.â
âYou mean to tell me the most prestigious, elegant, heavily-guarded kingdom in all the lands⌠belongs to that girl?!â
His claw tightened around the metal railing.
The bar bent clean in half.
âYes⌠I believe so,â Kamek said carefully.
Bowserâs chest rose and fell.
âGreat,â he muttered.
Thunder rumbled overhead.
Lightning flashed in the distance.
ââŚIâll be in my quarters. Donât interrupt me.â
He stormed off. Kamek hurried after him, preferring not to be stranded in whatever emotional storm was brewing outside of the deck.
On the way, Bowser passed Juniorâs room.
The door was cracked open.
Inside, Bowser Jr. had fallen asleep on the floor beside scattered papers and crayons.
Quietly, he stepped inside, lifted his son into bed, and tucked the blanket over him.
Then he glanced down at the papers.
All three of them together like a family.
Most had been crumpled. Torn. Scribbled over.
Bowserâs jaw tightened.
Was that Puffinaâs plan?
A princess from a wealthy kingdom trying to charm her way into his throne?
Trying to win over Junior to fool them both?
She couldnât have cared.
It had all been manipulation.
Peach would love them someday. Peach would understand them.
Not that insufferable Puffina.
Bowser crushed one paper in his fist. he threw the sketches away and marched towards his sleeping quarters.
Arriving at his room, he dropped heavily onto his bed.
should he still pursue Peach?
Should he focus on ruling his kingdom instead?
That was probably smarter.
Yet something inside him still burned to prove. Prove to Peach, to Mario, to everyone, that Peach belonged with him.
He dragged a hand down his face and stared at the ceiling.
He just needed to forget about it.
âI know youâre lonely.â
He turned sharply onto his side.
âAnd I know that annoying princess never chooses you!â
âPeach is not annoying,â he grumbled.
âIâve loved you far longer than Peach ever has!â
Bowser groaned into his pillow.
Far away in the Cloud Kingdom, Princess Puffina sat upon her bed in a silk nightgown, eyes swollen red.
Her cheeks blotchy from crying.
Nepheli sat beside her, gently pouring hot chocolate into a cup while setting a plate of cookies nearby.
Puffina took one small bite.
âYouâre not Peach.â
âYou donât know me. I donât know you. I want nothing to do with some crazed princess!â
Then she broke all over again.
She covered her face and sobbed.
Nepheli quickly set the tray aside and rushed to hold her.
âOh dear⌠what is it now?â
Puffina looked up through tears.
Then her kind old face softened deeply.
She stroked Puffinaâs hair.
âYou are many things.â
âBut you are not crazy.â
âYou are passionate.â
âAnd cursed with far too much heart.â
Puffina collapsed into her embrace.
âOh⌠what am I going to do now?â
Usually, Princess Puffina would already be plotting another grand scheme.
Nephelli held her close. And the night went on.
Thanks for reading! I hope this chapter was satisfying enough. Really trying to have the slow in the slow burn. Tell me what you think!