The Dryad's Loyalty

Chapter 22: Realization

"Your grouchineeeess!!" the goomba cried, running to the koopa king's room and headbutting the door open, startling Bowser.
"Your grouchiness!!"

"GAH!! What the hell do you want?!" the big koopa growled, "Did NOBODY teach you how to knock, you idiot?!"

"I-I'm sorry, your furiousness, but I bring terrible news!" the poor little mushroom said, hopping restlessly.

"Well what are you waiting for? Out with it!"

"The dryad came back from the woods!" the goomba began, immediately catching the king's attention. 
"They seemed to be unharmed-" the minion quickly added, and Bowser sighed in relief.
"But-- they reported that princess Peach and the green plumber have gone through the warp pipe, they're here in the Darklands!!"

Bowser clenched his fists, flames erupting from the sides of his mouth as he gritted his teeth "Dispatch the Koopa Troops immediately! We need to slow their advancement as much as possible. And tell the Koopalings to deal with Junior, I don't want him getting involved in this! Have I made myself clear?!"

"S-sir yes sir!!" the goomba shouted, before running off again.

The king slumped onto his big armchair, growling. Things were happening way too quickly, and it was soon becoming clear that Peach wasn't to be underestimated either. Mario always picked the long way around, trying to weaken all his troops in every sector as much as possible... but Peach wanted to get there fast, save up energy... for their inevitable fight.
Bowser felt his heart tighten. He'd never fought against the princess before; the mere thought of harming her made him feel terrible... he wished he didn't have to battle- he didn't even WANT to kidnap Mario and Daisy in the first place! He should've just kidnapped Peach like he always did, but not even that felt right anymore, especially now that the lines in his relationship with Hazel had gotten so blurred he couldn't even understand what he was feeling for them. Things had just progressed so naturally, it was unlike anything he'd ever experienced before; it wasn't like the immediate infatuation he had for the princess, he didn't feel like he had to prove anything for Hazel to accept him, he could even allow himself to be vulnerable with them without feeling that oppressive, anxious feeling inside, the fear of being judged-- and he worried for Hazel, he cared about what they had to say...

Was that what loving and being loved actually felt like? Then what had he been feeling for Peach in all those years? The more he thought about it... the worse he felt regarding it all... had he wasted a WHOLE decade of his life... chasing after the wrong person?
How am I going to break THAT to my minions...?

In the meantime, in one of the rooms nearby, hell was breaking loose, as Morton and Larry had received news of the king's orders, and were desperately trying to convince Junior to go with them to the 'Koopa Villa', a smaller castle situated in the spiky mountains of the Darklands, an isolated place, that was sure to be a perfect hiding spot from the conflict.

"Y-young prince, please be reasonable!" Larry pleaded, trying to drag Junior out of the toy chest, where he was hiding. "Your dad is doing this for you, things could get really dangerous in the castle VERY soon!"

"NO!! I don't wanna go, I wanna fight! I'm not a coward!!" he screeched, digging his little claws into the chest's wood.

"MORTON TRY GET JUNIOR!!" the bigger Koopaling announced, shoving Larry out of the way and lifting the prince up... along with the whole wooden chest, until Junior let go of it, causing it to fall on them and trap them inside!

Larry let out a scream as the chest began shaking and quaking, while Morton desperately tried to keep a hold of the young prince who flailed his arms, accidentally scratching the Koopaling and skittering away and out of his room.