The Final Stand Part 1: Ludwig's Reign

Prologue

  The night was dark and cold without a star in sight as the Mushroom Kingdom's beloved princess made her way to the Koopa palace in the Darklands. She was unguarded with naught to disguise her but a hooded black cloak, which is unusual for a princess... especially one who gets kidnapped as much as she does. As she appeared before the gates of the palace, the guarding paratroopas exchanged looks of confusion but said nothing and waved her in. She nodded and continued on her way. The guards noticed her carrying something on the way in, but barely caught a glimpse.

The princess continued her walk across the bridge to the palace. The massive lava moat that surrounded the palace and surged beneath the bridge illuminated her path. There was a menacing yet comforting warmth about the setting.

I have no other option. I have to do this.

"State your name and purpose, please? The king is expecting an important visitor. If you're here to waste his time, have fun on your way back and don't let the gates hit ya on the rear end." A goomba stopped her when the doors opened.

"Princess Peach Toadstool of the Mushroom Kingdom. It's a matter of grave importance. I'm assuming he received my letter?" Princess Peach removed her hood. The goomba's eyes widened.

"Y-yes... princess! Sorry for being rude there, uh... you're not gonna tell the boss, right? I have a wife and kids waiting for me at home..." He gulped.

"Of course not. You goombas have a rough enough time on a daily basis... and for this, I will apologise. Funny, isn't it, that the captive now seeks the help of her captor..." She chuckled warmly, but muttered the last part under her breath.

"You really are as merciful as they say. Come on in, princess! The king and queen are waiting." The goomba moved aside and allowed her through.

"Thank you." Peach smiled and nodded politely to him before entering.

King and queen?

The princess followed goomba after goomba, troopa after troopa until she found Bowser's conference room. The first thing she noticed when she entered was not only King Koopa himself, but an unfamiliar koopa standing at his side. She looked entirely his opposite, with soft features, an ocean of wavy blue hair, big turquoise eyes, puffy red lips, dark scaly skin, a diamond-shaped birthmark over her left eye and a puffy dress that nearly matched her hair. One could even say for a koopa, she was gorgeous.

"So this must be the famous Princess Toadstool." The woman, whose voice was high-pitched, yet warm and thick with an accent (which the princess didn't recognise from any neighbouring kingdoms) turned to Bowser. He nodded.

"Yeah, that's her. Hey, Peach." He beckoned her over to them.

"Good evening. You must be...?"

"Oh! Excuse me, where are mein manners? Princess Toadstool, I am Queen Clawdia. Clawdia von Koopa. Mein husband has told me all about you, princess, but we have never met. It is a pleasure to finally meet you." Clawdia smiled warmly and extended her hand out to Peach. She returned the gesture with the one hand that was free.

"The pleasure is all mine, Clawdia." Peach smiled. The three sat down and their meeting began.

"Bowser... you're married now? This must be why you haven't been plundering kingdoms for a few years." She asked. Bowser shrugged.

"We decided that we are happy with what we have, so why take more?" Clawdia explained.

"That's nice to hear. So you're keeping him in line, then?" Peach giggled. Bowser rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, yeah... keep what we have, whatever, anyway, what did you need to talk about?" He changed the subject.

"Oh, right..." Peach cleared her throat and looked around to make sure no one else was listening.