Heavy Is the Crown- Chapter 7

On the morning of Bowser's ninth birthday, a little over seven years after his father passed away, skirmishers from the Gora Empire and Mushroom Kingdom clashed in the unclaimed territory along the northeastern corner of the Empire, drawing fearful reactions from much of the castle staff. It was among the first things Bowser heard about as he made his way groggily down to the dining hall for breakfast.

Trim came hustling down the hall until he caught up to the oversized koopa. "Hey, Bowser! Did you hear? Fighting in Tagal Swamps."

"I heard one of the chambermaids discussing it with Ms. Laypa," Bowser said. He now towered over all his long-time friends, standing an even five-foot-nine-inches in height, three inches taller than his mother and one taller than Meechum, who was the Prince's Captain o' the Guard.

"I heard the fight broke out over a new kind of magic plant," said Trim. "They grow almost all over the swamp, these bushes, and contact with a leaf plucked from the bush gives you a tail and raccoon ears, and the tail lets you fly short distances, almost like a P-wing."

"Tagal Swamps will never be claimed, though. It's too close to the three major nations' corner terrain," said Bowser. "It would take Hyrule all of a minute to put troops there and end the whole discussion."

"What makes you say that?"

"Governance class. You're in the same class as me," Bowser said with a wry grin at his friend. "Don't you pay any attention?" Trim just shrugged and giggled.

"No, I just use it as art practice time," said Trim. "Hey, how's your mom doing?"

"Still not well, but better," Bowser said with a sigh. "She sees the Prince's physician today, hopefully to find out what's made her so sick. She was able to walk herself down to the first floor study this morning, so that's a good sign." Cassandra had fallen ill quite suddenly one evening a week earlier, collapsing on the dining hall floor after dessert. The kitchens had been thoroughly inspected by Meechum for any sign of poison or foul play, but nothing turned up. Willow and Rompus, Nurik's newest paratroopa transfers, scoured the grounds and found no suspicious persons.

"I hope it's nothing serious. Your mom's good people," said Trim.

"What does that even mean," Bowser asked. "I don't recall hearing such diction in our verbal classes." He shook his head, leading Trim into the dining hall. The long table was already filling with various platters and bowls for breakfast, and two of the scullery maids, humans trying to make a living in the Gora Empire, scurried in with plates and cutlery. "I miss the lessons we were taking on the old speech."

"No, you miss the essays of King Tanakatis," Moxy said, coming around the doorway corner to join them as they sat down. "The Prince won't be joining us this morning. Just heard it from Douard," he said, hooking a thumb bck at the doorway.

"Why not," Bowser asked.

"An envoy from Mushroom Kingdom is coming in a couple of hours, and he's got to make preparations. The skirmishers from our side are technically under the Prince's command." Moxy looked down at the table as he took his seat, tapping his foot nervously. "Prince Tangarine will be heading the group from Mushroom Kingdom."

Bowser flinched involuntarily. The boys had all heard of Prince Tangarine, heir to the Musroom Kingdom's throne. He had a reputation among koopas as a bloodthirsty, warmongering brute. His only soft spot, it was said, was his little sister, Princess Peach. Whatever she wanted, he'd get it or do it for her.

"Wait a minute," said Bowser, recalling a conversation he'd overheard days earlier. "I thought Prince Tangarine was north in Hyrule on a diplomatic excursion."

"He was," said Douard, a wizened old red tribe koopa with a long white beard and matching robes. He served as the tutor for several of the boys' classes, a venerable old man who had once taught the Emperor's own sons, including Nurik. He joined the boys, signaling for the scullery maids to clear Nurik's place out of respect for his absence. "I am in charge of you boys until the meeting begins. At that point, Ms. Laypa will take over the duties of seeing to you boys." He nodded his head at one of the bowls of eggs. "Moxy, pass the eggs please?" He scooped some onto his plate, then handed the bowl to Moxy. "During that time, you boys are expected to be on your very best behavior. Princess Peach is with her brother, and as she is a child of your age, she may not be in the audience chambers. She will be with you."

Moxy, Doko and Trim all groaned as one, rolling their eyes. Bowser showed no reaction whatsoever, though, instead watching Douard closely. He noticed an extra tremor in the elderly koopa's hands as he sipped coffee, heard the slightly accelerated breathing brought on by nervousness. Serious business was afoot, and Douard didn't expect things to turn out well for the eastern region of the Gora Empire.

Bowser made no comment, however, instead focusing his mental efforts on how best to take advantage of the time when Ms. Laypa would be in charge of the gang. She couldn't keep up with all of them, especially if there were another child to mind after.

He mentally formulated, eating with the precise amount of fatigue outwardly shown to avoid his thoughts being interrupted.

**

Bowser could hear the hustle and bustle echoing through the hallways shortly after Douard left the boys in the music room in the east wing. Two sets of heavy boot steps approached, and Ms. Laypa slipped in through a door attaching the music room to a restroom. Two heavily armored guards, toadstool men with their mushroom cap-shaped heads covered with chain coiffs, stepped into the chamber. Toadstools often struck Bowser as curious folk in koopa lore, described as soft, pudgy, and lazy people with a real knack for growing magical plants.

These men looked neither soft nor lazy. Stout, yes, but the six inches of height Bowser had on them each could be quickly negated by cutting him off at the knees with the battle axes on their hips.

The one on the left cleared his throat. "Announcing the princess of Mushroom Kingdom, Peach!" And so around the doorway stepped primly a little girl, slender and waifish, in a flowing, frilly pink dress and gem-studded tiara, looking wide-eyed and terrified at the koopas before her.

She's never dealt directly with our kind, Bowser thought. This must be frightening for her. The large koopa boy tried to offer a soft smile, keeping his lips pressed together to hide his sharp teeth. The princess curtsied like a proper lady and inclined her head. "How do you all do," she asked, her voice high, reedy.

Bowser took a step forward and bowed slightly. "I am Bowser Entem, son of Cassandra and Luther Entem." He stepped back and nodded to Moxy, who picked up his cue.

"I am Moxy Drote, son of Jin and Kinsa Drote." He turned and nodded to Trim.

"I am Trim Drote, also son of Jin and Kinsa Drote." Last came Doko, the only goomba of their gang.

"I am Doko Pekia, goomba. We do not name our parents in greetings," he said awkwardly. Peach seemed hesitant to approach, but the guards made no move to comfort or reassure her, instead stepping out into the hallway. Bowser quickly sidestepped over to Ms. Laypa.

"Could we maybe all go down to the game room? She might like it better there." Ms. Laypa smiled but shook her head.

"She's a princess, dearie. Royalty doesn't indulge so," she said.

"She's a child no older than us," Bowser reasoned in a half-whisper. Ms. Laypa quirked one eyebrow at him.

"I sometimes forget how smart you are, lad. Very well." Louder, addressing everyone, she said, "Come along, then. Let's go to the games room and show our guest some fun! Now, you boys," she said, stepping into the hallway and crossing her arms. "May I assure you Princess Peach is in good hands for the few minutes it'll take you to fetch biscuits and tea for these youngsters?" The toadstools looked to each other, shrugged, and marched off to find the kitchens, or at least directions. Ms. Laypa guided the boys and Peach out into the corridor, Bowser hanging back a little to walk alongside the human girl.

"Are you scared to be here," he asked quietly.

"Um, a little, yes," she confessed, running one hand nervously through her long blonde hair. "Bowser, you said?" He nodded. "You look different than the others. The other koopas, I mean."

"I'm a mutant," he replied. "Do'ee ken mutant?"

"I ken it, aye," she said with a giggle, which she covered with one white-gloved hand. "You know the old speech?"

"Yes, though it grows out of favor quickly as time passes."

"'Time is a face on the water'," said Peach. Bowser blinked rapidly, looked down at her with a bright grin.

"That's a lovely phrase. Is it your own?"

"No, it's some bit of doggerel one of my instructors taught me," Peach replied. The group ahead was ducking into the games room. They followed suit, and Ms. Laypa played a couple of games with them until the princess's guards arrived with a tray laden with cookies and one with tea pot and cups with saucers.

Bowser took one of the larger treats and his cup of tea over to a reading bench recessed on one wall, windows showing the inner castle courtyard and village just beyond the walls. He sat there quietly looking out until Peach scooted up onto the bench near him.

"It's a lovely view," she said after a minute.

"Hmm. It is." Bowser looked at her, curiosity writ plain on his brutish features. "You come to speak with me on your own. Are you not afraid of me?"

"No, I am not," said Peach. She sipped her tea quietly. "There is no reason to be." She watched people moving about in the courtyard below. "Do you worry about war between our countries?" Bowser just nodded. "I do too. My history tutor says there have been periodic conflicts between our nations for centuries. This would just be another one."

"A notch in the belt of the man-whore known as Strife," Bowser commented. "Wedded to Sorrow, father of graveyards. 'Ware that poxy reaper of life, for his shadow stretches long, and his touch poisons everything." Princess Peach reached out one hand and patted his foot gently.

"You are very poetic. I had not expected such for a koopa, much less one so young."

"I am told my mind as well as my body are aged beyond their meager count of years," said Bowser. "Master Douard is to thank for much of my command of speech and written word. He is my favorite instructor." Bowser looked away from the window, met Peach's eyes. "Unfortunately, he also knows how bad my temper can get."

"I saw your frustration during 'Chariots'," said Peach, referring to one of the games they'd played. "You seemed to cover well enough."

"Moxy is one of my closest friends," said Bowser. "For them, I am able to keep my rage contained far better than for outsiders." Bowser noted the quick flash of concern in Peach's eyes. "You needn't worry. You have been unexpectedly pleasant company, Peach."

"Thank you," she said with a smile. "You have been as well." The pair soon returned to the others and began a game of Monopoly, a game said to have been brought from a strange land beyond the realms of Famicom. Elsewhere in the castle, another game was being played, one with far higher stakes.

And it was not going well for any of the players involved.

**

Bowser watched the wagons leaving the courtyard later that day, as the orange-streaked sky faded toward true evening. He stood next to Douard in the inner barbican archway, waving farewell to Princess Peach as the tail coach passed out through the tunnel leading out of the castle grounds.

"Ms. Laypa tells me your mother would be proud of how well you handled the company of the princess," said Douard side-mouth.

"Really? I didn't notice her paying that much attention to us," Bowser replied.

"You're a bright lad, Bowser, but you are still but a boy. That reading bench in the games room opens up, you know."

"Yes, I know that. That's where the young pirana plants are kept until they are mature enough to plant in the outer perimeter, before they need sunlight."

"And you may recall that Ms. Layps can speak with pirana plants," said Douard. Bowser realized after a few seconds what his instructor was implying, gasped and looked down at the stone of the steps he stood upon. "Don't fret, my boy. You did a marvelous thing, being friendly as you were. That alone may have helped our situation with Prince Tangarine."

Bowser found himself sincerely hoping so. He would hate to imagine that Peach and he would have to not speak again because of an aggressive brother.