As they walked around town, inhabitants could not hold their surprise upon gazing at the unexpected duo.
Shock was expressed due to Bowsette's presence, but incomprehension as well seeing her with Mario. This one did his best to convince the people that she was no threat and that the talk of a truce stood at the moment. They were not thrilled with the idea of the Koopa monarch walking among them. Luckily, Mario's reputation was known throughout many lands in a heroic way. They decided to trust him at the end.
"So freaking annoying!" Bowsette said. "The one time I'm actually sincere and I don't come invading, I get trust issues from them?"
Mario rose an eyebrow to her. "Can you really blame them?"
Bowsette was irritated; partly because of his reply, but also because of the truth behind it.
"Whatever!" she said. "How long do we have to keep walking anyway?"
"I think-a this hill would be a good spot." Mario pointed up.
At the town's edge, a hill rose and gave a beautiful view to the horizon. While Mario walked to its top, Bowsette jumped impressively high to it. Mario was surprised of her jumping capabilities. He leaped as well to join her side.
"I have to say, I'm impressed!" Mario genuinely said.
"Well, you and Luigi aren't the only experts in jumping high!" There was a victorious tone to her voice.
"I guess-a so," he smiled to her as they both sat on the hilltop.
Behind them was a gorgeous view of the city. In the distance, Bowsette's ship was still anchored in the air next to the royal castle. A large white flag governed gracefully the ship. In front of them was a large view of a sparkling lake. The sunlight was captured in the water and made it seemed that gold was swimming. Master Mario and Princess Bowsette looked peacefully at the wonderful horizon. It was truthfully a spectacle of nature worthy of the word "divine."
The princess sighed, breaking the silence.
"I know you've already told me, but..." she said. "Of all people in the world... I still can't believe and don't get why you saved me."
"You're still hung on that?"
"If your life-long enemy saved your life, how would you react?"
"I'd be grateful and say my thanks."
She grunted. "It's not the same for me. Considering our history, you know damn well how hard it is to accept."
"So what do you want to do about it?"
She sighed in exasperation. "I owe you one, remember? So therefore; what do you want?"
"I didn't save you for something—"
"JUST SAY WHAT YOU WANT, DAMN IT!!" She shouted. "TREASURE? LEAVING THE PRINCESS ALONE FOREVER? WASHING YOUR DISHES FOR A MONTH? YOUR OWN BATTLE SHIP? JUST SAY IT AND BE DONE WITH IT, DAMN IT!!"
Her face found the cover of her right hand, hiding her frustration. It was not easy for her to owe someone. Never in her life that something as such happened. She just wanted for this business to be done with.
"Just... just tell me what you want, okay?"
Despite her small outburst, Mario could not help feeling saddened for her. Since her death and return to life, his perspective towards her changed. She was still the Koopa princess, sworn enemy of the Mushroom kingdom. But in the cruel and indomitable devil that she had been all those years, a crack in that armor of hers was present. And inside was a little glimpse of a lonely light.
"You don't-a have a lot of friends, do you?" He said.
She looked at Mario with a blunt expression as she pointed her face with a long black nail.
"Princess of evil and daughter of Bowser right here," she said stating the obvious. "I'm not exactly BFF-material, am I?"
"That's because no one ever gave you a chance!" Mario said positively. "And I think-a it's time somebody does so!"
"Wait, what?" She rose an eyebrow in confusion, and in a bit of dread. "Where exactly are you getting at?"
"Since you insisted on owing me," he said, "here's what I want: let's be roommates!"
People are known to be shocked, surprised and taken aback for many things. The kind of awe plastered on her face was genuinely appalling. As amusing as her expression was to see, I would never have thought that I would live long enough to see Master Mario and Princess Bowsette as... roommates.
To that demand, she could reply the only word at the moment.
"WHAAAT?!"
**
"WHAAAT?!" Master Luigi shouted in total surprise to Mario at their shared home.
When Master Mario and Bowsette had returned to us, he seemed enthusiastic while she looked embarrassed and uneasy. After her departure from our kingdom, our little group had pestered our hero with so many questions regarding the nature of their relationship. The only thing he had told us was that he had saved her life and she had wanted to repay her debt. Those vague words had left our curiosity on its hunger. Despite insistence—even from the princess—Mario's lips had remained sealed.
"You're really serious?!" Luigi continued with a panicking tone.
"Yeah, definitely sure!" Mario replied with excited interest in his voice. "And who knows? She could turn good and be friends with-a all of us afterwards."
Mario, who had just returned from a long voyage, finished preparing another luggage. This time, his destination was not as charming and welcoming as the ones that he shared with Princess Peach. The Koopa kingdom; realm of Princess Bowsette.
Luigi was speechless in his words, but his gesture was trembling and panicking for his brother's sake.
"We're talking about Bowsette!" he said. "Princess of evil, the leader of the Koopa, our sworn enemy, Mario! What makes you think-a she can turn good? And what in the world happened between the two of you?"
As brave as Luigi could be, his bravery was not as renown as his brother's. He was rather known to express worry and anxiety on trivial matters occasionally. Luckily for the green-cladded hero, he had come a long way to gather his inner courage and self-confidence, but even I could tell that he was still far away from Mario's level.
Mario sat on his bed and looked at his brother. He looked thoughtful, fixed on an idea that he kept on questioning with the simple question of What if?
"W-what is it?" Luigi asked, finally stopping his nervous self.
"Luigi," he said, "do you-a remember the movie Heart of Dark Dragon?"
"Oh, Mamma Mia! That wasn't just from yesterday! How old were we? 14 or 15?"
"And remember when you cried at the end of the movie when the dark dragon died?"
"Okay... please tell me you're not-a going to keep making fun of me about this after all this time?"
"Just bear with-a me on this," Mario reassured him. "The dark dragon was cruel and merciless all of his life because he only knew that, but when the angel of light gave him a chance instead of fighting him, he changed for the better, right?"
"Yeah, but... that still doesn't explain what happened between you and Bowsette."
Mario sighed. "Okay, I'll tell you, because you're my brother and I trust you. But no one else must know what I'm about of tell you, okay? At least for now."
"Of course."
And so, he told his younger twin brother the tale of yesterday's event of the night: his midnight walk, his talk with Toad who had been Bowsette in disguise, his abduction, and the craziness that had happened at her castle. As Mario told Luigi the story, this one's eyes crossed different emotions by listening to his unreal story; he felt guilty that he was asleep when this occurred. But his eyes showed mercy and pity for the Koopa princess when learning of her temporary death and the mysterious, yet pleading words for help in her nightmare.
As Mario concluded the story, Luigi folded his arms and looked at the floor aimlessly, many thoughts traversing his mind. With the truth now his, he finally understood his brother's actions and perspective.
"Ok, now everything makes sense." Luigi said.
"All of those-a years we've spent fighting her," Mario said, "and this happened, and it really changed my point of view about her. What if I gave her a chance, you know? What if I could connect to her and make her realize that she doesn't have to be evil like her father was? What if I could show her a different path?"
"It's a long shot," Luigi said with uncertainty.
"Tell me something I don't know..."
He took a deep breath as if inhaling new thoughts and perspective through this mind. While a silence reigned for a few seconds, Mario seemed anxious to wait for his brother's next words.
"What the heck!" he finally said shrugging his shoulders. "If you think this is the right thing to do, go for it."
"Really?" Mario said, relieved. "You're not-a mad?"
"Of course not, bro! Why would I be? What you did for her was priceless and even Bowsette recognizes that. And who knows? Maybe this might change her evil ways."
"Thanks bro! It means a lot!"
"And if all goes well," Luigi wore a mischievous look, "you might just hook up with her."
"Hey!" Mario shouted with a flustered face.
"She may be evil, but admit it, she is drop-a dead gorgeous."
"If only Daisy could hear you now..."
A thought of it stroke Master Luigi with fear. "H-How about you keep that to yourself?"
Mario couldn't help laughing, and his brother followed. He thanked his brother for the faith bestowed by him. Lastly, the brothers agreed to hide Mario's whereabouts for the next several weeks to come. Mario did not know how long he would spend his time at Bowsette's castle, but he knew that his friends would oppose an idea as such.
He had to, as he thought. Saving her life was just the beginning for him. From what he saw, Bowsette was a victim of fate. Her father King Bowser was the Mushroom Kingdom's sworn enemy and she followed in her father's footsteps by legacy. And unlike previous encounters, Mario wanted to save her from this dark inheritance. He was convinced that he could show her another path to take in life.
After all, saving princesses was something he was good at.
At the Koopa Kingdom, Kamek, Bowsette's most trusted and closest advisor, was struck with anger to no end. Learning from his mistress that their sworn enemy would be living in the castle was unacceptable. It was beyond preposterous. It was a shame that would stain the Koopa history forever if such thing would come to happen from his perspective. Despite his fierce opposition at the idea, Bowsette reminded him with a threatening gaze that she did as she saw fit and as she pleased. Kamek swallowed his pride and knelt to her apologetically, yet I was certain this was not the last time his rant would be heard regarding this matter.
**
The beginning of the evening fell its curtain. While the sunset glowed and the advent of stars blessed the Mushroom Kingdom's skies, the Koopa counterpart was darkened by an endless sea of volcanic dark clouds where sunlight could not penetrate. Unless a watch or a clock was present, it was hard to determine night from day.
Bowsette walked around her throne seat in circle. She was nervous. It was her idea to pay her debt to Mario, even though she was not entitled to do so. Among all of the things that she thought that he would have asked in return, she had no idea that the plumber would ask her to be... her roommate.
She took a large breath to then expel it as she sat back on her royal chair.
"Was this really a good idea?" she asked herself as she kept poking the side of her head. "Why the hell couldn't he just ask for something simpler? And why the hell did I agree?"
But despite that, she was not angry; at least not completely. The Mario brothers's name always lit a raging and hateful fire in heart; the simple name of Mario was enough to do so. But ever since her brush with death, she seemed changed. Though she was fearful of such change, her heart did not evade it. Deep inside her, even though it would take an enormous amount of courage to admit, perhaps she wanted change. Perhaps she wanted to break the future of her legacy.
Someone knocked on the doors. "Your Highness." It was one of the guards, one among the Hammer brothers.
"What is this?" she sounded annoyed.
He opened the door as he expressed uneasiness. "Your guest... has arrived."
"He sure didn't loose time..." she sighed loudly as she held her forehead. "Did everyone got my orders clear?"
"Yes, your Highness!" he said. "No one must harm Mario under any circumstances during this period of truce!
"All right, send him in."
"Right away, your Highness!" he left immediately.
"Okay..." she straightened herself. "I can do this. It shouldn't be too bad. I hope..."