#7: Mario Will Come
By Emerson Kluge

"Well, Princess." Bowser waddled into a solitary room on one of his tower's upper floors. "They may not be what you're used to, but I trust you're comfortable enough in your new accommodations."

"Release me at once!" demanded Peach, struggling against the ropes that bound her to a rough, wooden chair. "Or Mario will come for me and kill you!" Fury burned in here eyes.

Bowser approached her, stopping a respectful distance away. He paused to think before speaking. "I'm going to be straightforward, Princess. I came here to try and convince you to cooperate. I know, right now, you don't have any reason to, but I'd like you not to struggle."

"You've committed a crime against me and the Mushroom Kingdom," Peach stated coldly. "You're asking the impossible. Your only hope is to release me, now, before Mario arrives."

The Koopa King half turned from her. "Honestly, I expected this, but there are things I can't tell you. They're important, but they must remain secret for the time being."

Peach listened impassionedly.

"There are things I didn’t see before. Things I've been told. I've had thought to do things and it would be best if you just let me."

"Whatever thoughts you've had," Peach shot back. "I want no part of them."

Bowser turned almost away from her, his jaw flexed as she talked.

Peach finished defiantly. "I will not cooperate,"

With barely contained fury he turned back and lowered himself to her height. "But these thoughts are good! They're not normal for me but they're good!" His jaw flexed again and he stood. "You must think I'm crazy for having these thoughts. I'm not. Please, just come along."

"Mario will come," Peach stated forcefully, her eyes locked on Bowser.

The Koopa King rubbed his face. "This time is different," he replied. His head lulled in silence before he raised it to face the window high on the wall. He stared. His pupils dilated wide. "This time I have a plaaaaaan." His pupils contracted again and he shook his head. "You see, Princess. I'm doing things different this time, but the reason I'm not crazy is that... my thoughts are not my own. I..." He inhaled fully, seeming to grow larger as though empowered. "I feel at unity with the cosmos. I wouldn't normally have these thoughts, but now I do."

"Mario will - kill - you."

"Stop saying that! It's not true!" King Koopa bellowed. He huffed and calmed. "My new thoughts won't let him. They may not be my thoughts but I like them. I will use them." Bowser hurried toward the door. "I'm sorry you won't play along, Princess. So you know: My new thoughts tell me to keep you here as bait. Me and my new thoughts will end him, end Mario, here. Goodbye." With that he waddled from the room, shutting the oaken door behind him.

Princess Peach sat alone in the gloom. Bowser was clearly beyond reason, but it seemed whatever had inspired this latest assault had impaired his other faculties as well. He was different than what they knew but no stronger. His weaknesses had merely shifted. Still, any new tricks would spell danger for Mario.

Princess Peach thought furiously. Sitting here, tied up and helpless - bait - would not do. Mario would be coming. Her heart thrilled at the thought. There must be some way she could help. The smallest act could tip the balance.

The Princess thought of her tiara and at once shook her head, loosening the jeweled ornament. She stretched her hands back behind her until she felt strained tention in her muscles. Palms upturned she tilted her head back.

The tiara slipped, but didn’t fall. She shook her head again in a great wave of soft, blond hair. The crown left her head and bounced off her palm before she closed her hand, catching a single point between her fingers.

She carefully maneuvered the tiara for a more secure grip. It was an ornament, but in the midst of the gold-work were hundreds of sharply cut gemstones. Each could cut glass and most certainly rope.

She maipulated the top edge around and pressed it against her bindings. Her saw strokes were small, but enough to rub four or five of the gems on each pass. The rough cords rent and bit her wrists, but she heard the fibers rustle and crack as the gems worked against them. The robes would yeild. Grimacing at the burning Princess Peach sawed harder.

If Mario was coming, she would be ready.