Since technically it IS the next day, I'm just gonna post CH 5 now.
Chapter 5: Publicly Disgraced
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The Mushroom people were furious. They could take it no longer. They would not be slaves to that malevolent beast. They would not let him hold their beloved princess captive. Rumors spread throughout the Koopa Empire that the slaves were planning to revolt. Bowser took to action immediately.
Mario had been traveling for days. The once beautiful Mushroom Kingdom was a now just a large heap of crumbled ruins. Frequent tremors shook the earth, adding to the demolition. Mario looked around, shuddering that something like this could ever happen. The piping system was down, so it took him much longer than expected to reach his destination.
Then he spotted it; his hopes rose once again. Bowser’s massive castle protruded above the grim skyline like a sore thumb. He was almost there; his heart skipped as he thought about the princess. How frightened she must have been.
As he approached he realized something was astir. It appeared there was a large mob gathered in the courtyard of the castle. They were yelling angrily, and many held vivid torches, contrasting with the gloomy dark-gray sky. Mario came closer, standing far enough away so that he could just catch what was going on without being spotted. The crowd was growing louder and more intense.
A dark figure appeared from behind a large curtain on a balcony above. A deep growl echoed throughout the air, and the crowd immediately silenced in terror. Two guards stood on either side of him as the gruesome Bowser scowled at the spectators below.
“So you think you have the right to rebel against the all-powerful Bowser?! Pathetic fools!” he roared, “Be glad your lowly lives were spared. Unless you want to join your puny friends!” The crowd grew tense.
“Your pitiful lives mean nothing to me! However, since I’m so kind, I’ll give you worms a choice.” His voice became cool and confident. “You can be good little slaves, shut your traps, and do as you’re told, or continue your rebelling and be slaughtered. Either way, I really don’t care. But it’s in your best interest you choose the former.” The people exchanged fearful glances.
“We’ll never surrender to you, you tyrant!” one man shouted, “We’ll never betray Her Highness! Return the Princess!”
The great multitude soon grew out of control, “Yeah! Give us back the Princess!” The crowd continued its shouting; Mario admired their loyalty and determination.
Bowser scowled condescendingly. “So it’s Princess Peach you’re worried about,” he sneered, “Well perhaps you might want to know that she has betrayed *you*.” The people stood aghast. “She has joined my alliance without your petty consent.” The crowd grew into an uproar at this deplorable news.
“That’s a lie!” one of the people shouted, “Of all people, she’d never agree to join your side! She’s pure and just and would do anything to overcome the likes of you!” The crowd shouted in agreement.
“Oh really?” Bowser sneered, “Guards! Bring her here!”
The crowd stiffened as a distraught Peach was led onto the balcony. A crude, dark blanket was wrapped around her, her eyes closed, and her head slumped to her shoulders.
“Tell them, Princess,” Bowser continued softly, “Tell them how you’ve pledged your loyalty to the Koopa Empire.” The crowd gazed at her with deep melancholy. Mario’s heart sank as he saw the sorrow imprinted on his dear, sweet fiancée’s face. *How dare he do this to her!* he thought angrily. The princess lifted her head to the people.
“He’s lying!” she pleaded, “Don’t listen to him! I’d never abandon you! Please…!” Mario fought to keep his composure upon hearing his love’s desperate cries, as his blood boiled with fury toward the evil Koopa king.
Bowser interrupted her. “Why, Princess, you’ve forgotten what you’ve done—how you’ve even broken your moral standards to show your loyalty to me.” Peach’s face grew very pale. The crowd froze.
“Allow me to show you your chaste princess.” As he spoke, Bowser grabbed the blanket draped around her and yanked it off of her. The crowd gasped in disbelief as they saw her protruding abdomen from her crude makeshift dress. Mario’s heart dropped. Peach slumped down and buried her face in her delicate hands.
“There’s no denying it now,” Bowser scoffed.
The princess lifted her head desperately. “Please! It’s not what you think!” she wailed, tears streaming down her face, “I’d never do such a thing! I’d never join his side! Please! He for—”
“Guards! Take her away!” Bowser growled, cutting off the despaired girl’s cries. She screamed as she was carried off behind the balcony curtain.
“Anyone still wanna rebel? I suggest you follow your dear princess’s example and pledge loyalty to the Empire.” The detestable monster laughed menacingly as he exited behind the curtain. The spectators where too shocked to move. And Mario—his fiancée, his one true love, was pregnant—and with the child of his arch-nemesis. His soul was crushed beyond repair as he walked desolately back to the Mushroom Kingdom. And it began to rain.
Edited by - Sapphira on 4/19/2003 12:13:20 AM
