Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"So...weird day, weirder question, what do you do when you want something, do something to get it, and that makes you lose any chance of having what you wanted at the start?"

Bowser had a plan. Bowser had a lot of plans. Sure, not all of them were good but trying them out was always going to be more successful than not trying them. Besides, making them happen left more space for new better plans.

What were the plans for? The Koopa Kingdom, which would one day be the best kingdom in the world. It would have the best military force, the richest of people, and the great architectural renown they deserved.

The latest plan was soon to be unveiled, in 8.5 more seconds of evil laughter in front of a captive audience (aka: Peach, the constant koopa guest of honor). Sitting there, sipping tea from Kammy, completely nonplussed. Of course, Bowser being the “great king”, he suspected nothing, not even in hindsight. The 8.5 seconds passed, and he started coughing, stepping over the doctor-prescribed limits of such potent evil laughter (it was such an evil laugh it even messed up his throat!). After a few more seconds, he went back to business 

“Princess Peach, you are a very beloved princess. Everyone in the Mushroom Kingdom knows, trusts and loves you. And that’s a great thing!”

Peach raised an eyebrow. Bowser buttering her up never lead to anything good, from marriage proposals (why he did it even if they were still somewhat technically legally married, who knows) to making a more dramatic plan. And why was he wearing that huge cloak? 

“I would love to spend a day like you do, with a whole kingdom trusting me with every little secret and detail...and so I have this!” he yelled, pulling out...a Super Crown?

Peach giggled “Silly Bowser, Super Crowns are just for toads! Believe me, Luigi tried.”

Bowser grumbled “Yeah I figured after the fifth unturned koopa...but I’m no fool! Yoshi has transformed with mere caps into Mario, Wario and green stache! And I have used power-ups the Marios have! So what makes a Super Crown different, I wondered...and the only logical conclusion is that you made it! Is that right?”

Peach nodded “Of course. There’s only so many times I can get kidnapped before I get the idea that I need a replacement me in case there’s an important meeting or event and i’m “indisposed” listening to your “brilliant ideas”. Of course, I didn’t do it myself, I had help from Professor E. Gadd.”

Bowser gawked “That madman is still licensed!?”

Peach looked sheepish “Well...err, no, that’s why we call him professor and not doctor...but he really is good at what he does!”

“YES, CHAOS!!”

Peach pouted “Well you don’t have to yell...”

Bowser cleared his throat “Anyhow, I just had to assign Junior and Kamek into the case, and it was easy enough to unlock. After all, if all powerups usually work for everyone, and only ONE doesn’t, it was going to be just a patch.”

Peach raised an eyebrow “You’re unusually logical today.”

Bowser laughed mockingly “You underestimated me, and that’s your downfall today!”

Kammy leaned into Peach, and whispered “He got Ludwig to rewrite his speech.”

Bowsee gawked, then stomped, then grumbled in the floor for the next few minutes, as usual when he was being mocked by his own people.

He stood back up, and dangled the crown.

"Anyways, however, I will turn into you and take your place and there's nothing you can do to stop me!"

Peach sipped her tea...and continued sipping...and continued. She finally put the cup down, and nodded "Okay"

Bowser raised an eyebrow "Okay...what?"

"Go right ahead, take my place today."

"...you serious?"

"Sure."

Bowser glared uncertain, "just so you know, reverse psychology is one of those no-things you can do to stop me"

Peach nodded again "I could figure. So...go on, do it."

Bowser looked down at the crown hesitantly “...ok this is weird PLEASE explain your reaction. Is it confidence I’ll be found out? Confidence I won’t mess anything up? Sadism??”

Peach shrugged “Any of them could be. I did mention that you kidnapping me was posing problems for me being present at important stuff. I’m here now, so I need a replacement. Might as well be you, given you actually want to.”

Bowser looked down at the crown again “I...guess so. Well, here I go...”

The King of Koopas put on the Crown.

A world of difference there was between a Toadette turning into Peach, and a dragon-ox-turtle turning into Peach. For Toadette, the feeling was akin to a loss of balance and feeling taller, at worst. But Bowser wasn’t a Toadstool, or a Toad-human. Bowser was a Koopa.

Every scale shed off, every heartbeat went off, everything got bigger, Bowser felt weaker, smaller, breathing rapidly. A radiant light blinded him and everyone around, surrounding the Koopa “King” with the feeling of sleeping in a cozy bed inside a hot spring. Everytime Mario sank him in the magma, all those times were nothing compared to this, not in pain, but in heat and light.

When Bowser’s eyes opened, everything changed.

Were colors more vibrant? Were smells gentler? Did the heart pump slower?

It was a myriad of experience, different from the norm. Bowser turned to a nearby full-body mirror, and...well, pretty.

It was a widely accepted fact that Princess Peach was cute. It was a statement between citizens, minions, and even other princesses. Bowser, on the other hand, had the widely accepted adjectives of “intimidating”, “dangerous”, “aggressive” and most commonly “hateful”. Bowser knew, citizens and minions knew, and most princesses knew, even if they were mostly nonplussed in his face. Bowser lived with these adjectives, and embraced them. How else would the kingdom’s militia follow any order?

But there in the depths of the castle’s special Peach guest room, with only Bowser’s most trusted nanny/advisor, and the girl of anyone’s dreams, there was no one to command, no one to intimidate, no one to see the shedding of these adjectives...and the embracing of a very different ones.

“Holy crap I look cute! Even with the cloak!!” Bowser yelled in response to the visage in the mirror, that looked so strongly alike Peach.

“You look positively lovely.” said Peach, calmly sipping tea.

Bowser blushed and grinned, scratching the back of his neck in embarrassment (something, Bowser noted, that very likely looked much more endearing like this), “Aw, thanks Princes-wait I look like you.”

Peach shrugged, “I’m not at the point of dying of narcissism stuck gawking at a mirror, and I’m definitely not dying from embarrassment shying away from one.”

"I do agree, sire, you look lovely." said Kammy. 

"Bah, I'm not a sire right now Kammy. Any feminine royal terms will do right now." grumbled Bowser. 

"...I see. Very well, as you wish, Lady Bowser."

LADY Bowser gave a grin unfamiliar in Peach's face, while the real Peach put on a mild face of shock. 

"Uh, princess, you okay?" asked Lady Bowser

Peach nodded and smiled simply, "I am, don't worry. I must say, you took to being female quite easily."

Lady Bowser shrugged "Better get a headstart, else I won't recognize when I get called up in the castle."

Peach nodded, "I see, that's all." But it wasn't. She was positive, but better let Lady Bowser figure it out or make it clearer later (though already, she was forming a plan).

Lady Bowser then blushed, and stuttered out.

"Uh-err, princess, I need something, pleasedontbemadatme i um kinda... need your dress"

Peach giggled "My, Dame Bowser, I'd say that's quite a forward request and to ask for lone tea time at first, but I think we already skipped those steps given our ‘marriage’."

Lady Bowser blushed, and stuttered out “H-how forward of YOU to make such crass teasing!!”

Peach’s friendly smile surprisingly turned to a frustrated grimace “When you’re friends with Daisy and Samus you learn by fire how to bounce back the teases with more teasing. It’s a survival skill.”

Lady Bowser nodded understandingly, and then told Kammy, “Bring the Shadow Queen’s clothes.”

Peach gawks at Lady Bowsers' petition "You have those??"

As it was becoming frequent of this meeting, Lady Bowser blushed.

"Ah well I, ah, thought you looked kinda... pretty... um yes, pretty in that. If you ever wanted to rule the Koopa Kingdom I would've encouraged you to...wear that...please don't hate me."

Peach giggled at her.

"Oh, Lady Bowser, it's okay. You're not the only one who thought I looked "pretty" in that. I'll gladly wear it, since it so flatters my "prettiness" such."

Lady Bowser flushed, and stuttered out, "...who... else has..", interrupted then by Kammy bringing the clothes.  She quickly swapped the Shadow Queen clothes with Peach's worn princess dress through magic, and Lady Bowser's cloak for the dress. 

Lady Bowser pointedly did NOT squee in delight looking at herself in the mirror wearing the legendary peachy pink dress of dreams. 

"Alright, I'm heading out... and you better not have taken the Kingdom over with your feminine wiles by the time I return!" yelled out Lady Bowser as she left.

Chapter Text

Despite how droll Princess Peach's meetings could be, the stress of acting like her, and the frequent kidnapping and clothing switches, Peach and Lady Bowser (who more and more often started to wear the crown in private) kept at it for a month and a half. Finally, Lady Bowser got asked the one question behind it all. 

"Surely by now you should've had all the info and trust needed to successfully take over, maybe twice that info even, so why haven't we done that? Do you just like being Peach? Why do you keep doing this?", asked Kammy. And Lady Bowser, out of excuses, fell silent. Asking herself (and also asking why even now, in her thoughts, always herself instead of himself) the same questions, at a loss for answers too.

Did sh-he prefer to be seen as a kind and understanding ruler than a powerful militia leader? 

That never worked out.. at least according to dear old dad. 

~~~

"Dad? Why you hurt that Koopa?"

Little Bowser stood shyly, looking up at his Papa.

“Well, son, seems like a good time for a lesson. He had failed me. By hurting him, others will see and think “Well then, I better not fail so I don’t get hurt.”. And he will also think “hoo boy if i don’t try a bit harder i might fail...but if i fail i will be very hurt.”. This is war, son, and sadly, you need to be tough on everyone so they’re at the toughest on what they do. It’s a cycle of strength!”

“O..kay papa!” he said hesitantly, the wounded Koopa still weeping quietly on the floor. Bowser’s dad sighed. “I worry son. I have seen you play in your spare time, and you’re not tough enough for the crown that comes. I just hope you’ll see when the time comes, like I had to become strong like my father, you have to be strong like me.”

~~~

But Bowser hadn’t. It took the divorce for the idea that his father was right to become the KING of Koopas.

~~~

“Keep the kid, since your wimpiness is so soothing to the crybaby!” 

She yelled out at the flinching Bowser, who tried to soothe the baby in his arms crying.

“Honey, the kid’s freaking out! Why are you leaving us? Why are you doing this??”

“Hah, wimp takes after wimp. I don’t know what daddy dearest did wrong for you but I hope you don’t mess up your kid the same way. Else his wife too will leave him for a stronger guy!”

A breaking sound cut after her statement. Whether it was a vase or a heart, none know.

“...a...stronger guy?”

“YES! His name is Kami. And he can actually raise his voice! And not cry at cute puppies! Or write dull poems! I don’t care about those, and I don’t care about you!”

“Why were you interested in the first place?” Bowser asked, voice so low a fly couldn’t hear it.

“Duh, you’re the prince king! I thought mad money would be good for me, but turns out, I just needed to find someone who actually has some horns! So long, Baby Bowser...and Junior!!”

“Wait! I can’t raise a kid alone, he needs at least to know his mother.” He yelled out, still in desperation. “And...I’m willing to take you going out with Kami...please just...don’t leave me...”

She closed her eyes, deep in thought, and opened again. She walked up slowly to the crying Koopa royals, and leaned down “If you don’t want me to leave...make me.”

“W-what?”

“Make me. Take me, lock me up, scream at me in anger, at least TAKE MY HAND AS I LEAVE!”

Bowser looked down, emotionally and physically “It’s...wrong to do that.”

“It’s STRONG to do that. And if you can’t give me that, I’ll go get someone who can.”

She shut the door harshly after leaving, baby still crying, and Bowser still downtrodden. 

It would be known as the day of the Dragon Roar, as the yell “SHUT UP” would be heard through every settlement in the kingdom. None know if it was directed at the loudly crying baby, at the harsh words of the abandoning woman...or at Bowser’s own bleeding heart.

~~

Bowser hadn’t thought about either stuff for a while. They still stung at the heart. Every morning waking up, the possibility of wanting to be a nicer king came up, but the heart ached along and reminded him of what being open and vulnerable ended up in...for him.

For him...for...her?? But...not for Peach. Not for the heroes, just for “the villains”. If that was so, if being open about what he wanted was a path to hurting him, but that only happened to “bad people”...no, there was a time Bowser was not a bad people. The old wife hurt him at a time when even Peach might’ve respected her-him. But...would Peach hurt Bowser? For opening up now?

...not according to that time she beat hi-her at the Vibe Island. And Bowser definitely had more fun doing those crazy emotion attacks than the normal attacks of just rage.

Maybe Peach had an idea, cause Bowser sure didn’t. Was Bowser a man or a girl? And should they stay a tyrant or try something new, yet something old at the same time?

Should Bowser dare be that young one who believed in love and emotion again?

“So, um, Princess.”

This time their meeting wasn’t through kidnapping (if Bowser was going to be better, kidnapping was a no-no anymore). Instead, as per rulings, they met at Peach’s castle balcony for tea.

“Yes, King Koopa?”

“...Peach.”

“...yes Bowser?” she said with a much looser expression

“I have acted as you for month and a half.”

Peach put a hand to her face and smiled “Indeed, and such a good month and a half! Your servants treat me very nicely, Junior is shaping up to be a remarkable kid, and I will admit the Shadow Queen’s outfit is giving me a nice body confidence boost.”

“Good for you! Now, um, by now, I think I’d have enough information to completely decimate the Mushroom Kin-” aaand she closed off her body language. “Damn it.” he thought “-gdom. But...I don’t want to.”

Peach relaxed. “OK, body opened up again”, Bowser mused in relief. The princess, with a hint of an amused smirk, replied.

“Do go on.”

“Being you has brought a lot of doubts on me. Things that still hurt...things that still tell me what to do...but being you is a nice dabbling into something that....look, long ago, I was a real nice person, I promise. I wrote poems, I was incredibly polite, etc etc, and then something happened.”

Peach leaned forward “Oh, what happened, dear?” she asked Bowser, calling them “dear” with no irony whatsoever.

“I’d...rather not say now. I can say that it hurt me so bad it made me feel like being big, bad and mean, to hurt the world back, would make me a better king. A King respected and obeyed like my dad was. But I didn’t like what my dad did. And I certainly didn’t like that thing that hurt me so.”

Bowser set down the tea.

“Being you has been freeing in many ways. Because, when I’m you? I’m not chained by those bad memories. I’m not pushed and hurt by them, and I feel...invincible. Being different, being what those memories told me I couldn’t be, makes me feel more powerful than my fire and armies did. Because I can’t choose fire if I fight underwater, and I can't act however I like if I want a successful militia, but spitting on those memories by being open, and kind? I feel...amazing.”

Bowser’s hand felt heavier, raising their head, to see Peach having taken their hands, tears in her eyes.

“Oh, Bowser...I’m so happy you can feel like that. I guess it makes sense you were hurt like that. Zelda has...talked a lot. About how throughout history there’s chains of pain and hurt, and even when something like wanting to be better comes up, the hopeful people get pulled down into despair. I’m glad I gave you consent to do this, and I’m even gladder it’s given you such strength.”

Peach nodded, eyes focused and determined. “You can take my place anytime, anywhere, no matter what. I want to help you be you more and more.”

Bowser smiled sweetly, but rubbed their arm still.

“Well...I don’t want to impose by taking your place...but...maybe being...a human lady could help enough?”

Peach gasped, and smiled widely “Of course! Though, the crown IS made to just make you look sort of like me...alright, maybe some dye and dressing can avoid people from thinking you’re my twin. Now, got a name, sweetie?”

Bowser laid deep in thought, but sighed. “Nope, nothing comes to mind, maybe for now just...Bowser...Toadette..Peachette...Bowsette?”

Peach shrugged “It’ll do. I’m not judging it, but it’s not...very different from Bowser. It could bring bad memories, or incite dea-calling you by your old name. We can brainstorm looks and names further at tomorrow’s girl’s night!”

Bowser-er, Bowsette, gawked at Peach. 

“I’m already invited!?”

“Yes!”

“But I’ve been a girl girl for like, less than two minutes.”

“Still invited!”

“But...will the others be fine with me there?”

“Yes!”

Bowser was running out of excuses, “B-but I like girls! Wouldn’t it make it awkward to see them...in pajamas?”

Peach gave a sly grin and a wink.

“Bold of you to assume you’re the only girl in that night, nay, in this table, to like girls!”

And with that Bowser was out of excuses (and full of renewed hope in dating Peachy one day).

“Girl’s night?” she said shyly raising a fist

“Girl’s night!” confirmed her wife/crush/new best friend.

Chapter Text

Once more, Peach and Bowser (currently wearing the crown and going by “Bowsette”) sat around the tea table at Peach’s “dungeon” in Bowsette’s Castle. As princesses, they were to discuss the nuances of their respective kingdoms, what they could offer each other, and the bad blood history.

“So what can I expect from this...Girl’s night event?” Bowsette asked Peach, as princesses are actually to do.

“Well, for starters, it’s more of a sleepover combined with a girl’s night out. For security reasons, and for emotional comfort, we don’t go out. We do have karaoke, a pool, a debate hall and such for fun events, and we also do the movie stuff, like pillow fights, talk about cuties, and prank call people.”

“I thought the movies were stereotypes.”, pointed out Bowsette.

“Maybe, but they ARE fun activities for most of us, especially if we consider everyone’s needs and likes to change the rules a bit.”, shrugged Peach. 

Bowsette conceded, and moved on into the reconnaissance.

“Who’s going to be there?”

“Well on the princess side we have Daisy of Sarasaland, Zelda of Hyrule, Pauline of New Donk City, Rosalina of the Observatory, Naborisa of the Gerudo, Ribbon of Ripple Star, Midna of the Twilight Realm, Hilda of Lorule, and on the not official princess side we have Ribbon’s girlfriend Adeleine, Zelda’s friends Malon and Fi, my friend Samus, and Rosalina’s new friend Palutena, who is a goddess but not a princess. And now also you!”

Bowsette, as it was becoming more common with every day of real friendship with Peach, gawked.

“That’s...wow, that’s a lot of people...and a goddess? You have very interesting friends. Hell, some of the princesses have kingdoms I’ve never heard of!”

Peach scratched her cheek nervously 

“Yeah, um, about that....those you haven’t heard...are from another planet.”

The gawking remained on Bowsette’s face.

 “I...well I knew there was life on other planets, we know Rosalina, but wow you are popular on an intergalactic level.”

“Yeah, it was especially difficult with Zelda. Her kingdom has had vague connections to our own for millenia, and it was only until this Zelda came up that she asked for EVERYTHING, and discovered technology is in fact advanced enough for space travel, and that there’s kingdoms in space.”

Bowsette put a hand to her head, “Geez, that must’ve been such a whiplash.”

Peach leaned in, closing on Bowsette’s ear (igniting her blush).

“I think she wants to run away from the pressures of princessing and explore space.”

“Well that’s relatable.” muttered Bowsette.

“So, why are you so nervous? Is it that you are a newfound woman and you’re unsure if you belong there?” asked Peach.

Bowsette put a hand to her forehead, tired.

“Honestly, it’s a bit of that, and a bit more that I’ve done some pretty bad stuff to you and your kingdom for a lot of years. I mean, won’t it be bad that you’re inviting the person who was your greatest enemy?” 

Peach closed her eyes deep in thought. 

“I’d say...you’re not my greatest enemy. My greatest enemy would be to ignore someone in need over mistakes they’ve made in the past.”

She opened and grinned at Bowsette.

“Besides...out of all possible reasons to kidnap a lady, to make arguments as to why you’d be a good spouse isn’t all that bad. And now that we’re technically married, it’d be pretty rude of me to ignore my wife!”

Bowsette blushed, hiding her face behind her hands. “Stoooop”

“I hope after that sham brainwash wedding you understand the importance of consent much more. And also for it to calm you down, given you did it, you married the girl you like, now what?”

Bowsette sighed.

“Well, even if our marriage is a apocalyptic-plot sham, and that any form of relationship between us is tenous...right now I just want to be a good friend to you.”

Peach put her hands together, eyes glittering.

“Aw, sweetie!”

Peach hugged Bowsette, clinging on to her.

“I’m sure you’ll be a good friend...which you can prove in our girls’ night, of course.”

Bowsette sighed, “Sure, I’ll go. Can I...stay close to you during the whole night, though? The others would get me nervous.”

Peach’s eyes glinted mischievously.

“Oh, so your crush doesn’t get you nervous? Should I feel insulted?”

Bowsette blushed and groaned, dreading, if this was what Peach was like with an old enemy turned new friend, how she’d act around good old caring friends. Pros: she’d be very happy. Cons: TOO MUCH TEASING. The one question she thought she’d never ask herself came, could Bowsette survive Peach’s friendship?

Nighttime came, Bowsette and Peach in Peach’s biggest bedroom. It was an explosion of pink and cute, much like the Princess herself. Bowsette was shaking and blushing, nervous about new girls and blushy over being in the room of her one girl friend (whom she loved in more ways than one). 

Expecting a knock on the door, Bowsette somersaulted in shock when a tall blonde woman entered through the balcony. 

"Hope you don't mind we use the scenic entrance" she teasingly told Peach, who jumped in to hug her. 

"Sammy! I'm super glad you came!"

The statuesque woman blushed deeply, reminding Bowsette much of herself. 

"Ah, a fellow member of the Peach crush community"

Peach pushed "Sammy" to Bowsette.

"Bowsette, this is Samus. Samus, Bowsette. I believe you two have much more in common than you'd think"

Samus and Bowsette shook hands in a ridiculously formal manner. 

"Bowsette. Sounds familiar. Any relation to the giant jerk who kidnapped her often?", asked Samus. 

Bowsette winced, shyly answering. 

"That... was me. And it was a giantly jerky thing to do. Sorry. Bad things in my past told me those were the best moves, but it just hurt both of us. I'm trying to be a better me..." at that, turning to Peach, "in part thanks to her."

Samus gawked. 

"Hold on...did you discover you were a woman held back in emotional state over a bad world, and overcame due to this lady's interference, and are currently crushing on her and she teases you nonstop?"

Bowser gawked as well.

"Yes! You too!?"

"I can't believe there's two of us!"

Bowsette grinned "You've met her, I can't believe there isn't more!"

Samus gave a loud laugh and put an arm around Bowsette's shoulders

"Oh, we are going to get along famously!"

Peach raised a hand at Samus. 

"Um, sweetie, when you asked for taking the scenic entrance, you said ‘we’?''

Samus looked around.

"Huh, they were behind me."

"So we are again."

Samus jumped out and squeaked as two even taller women stood behind her, a green haired glowing goddess, and someone else Bowser had hurt in the past. Said someone, Rosalina, princess of the universe, was chuckling at Samus' reaction.

"Just as adorable as the first twenty seven times, dear."

Samus pouted. 

"I can't believe I looked up to you, Rosie"

Rosalina petted her head. 

"You still do, dear."

Samus' pout got poutier.

Palutena chuckled, “Is it always like this with you two?”

Nods came from everyone around.

Rosalina approached Bowsette, took a look at her up and down, and stated.

“I hope your new softer appearance comes with a more sensible heart that is less liable to damage my Observatory.”

Bowsette winced, then nodded.

“Good. That is all. If Peach trusts you here so do I.”

“Are you part of the Peach Crush Community too?” asked Bowsette teasingly.

Rosalina coughed into her hand, “Perhaps.”

Bowsette turned to Peach.

“Out of four ladies who are present here, three of them are crushing on you, two of which you’ve changed their lives. You have too much power, and I think it’s completely unrelated to you being a princess.”

Peach giggled, and winked.

“Who, me? I’m just an innocent woman! I am shaken!”

The room filled with laughter, ceasing when Zelda asked, “So, what’s so funny?”

The princesses turned to the suddenly appearing woman, Bowsette flipping out.

“Where did you even come from?!” she screamed.

“According to my studies, my mother’s womb.” said Zelda with utmost confidence.

Samus patted Zelda's head. 

"You're a dork."

Zelda nodded.

"I am. Now, following from the last time, could you continue explaining oxygen to me?"

Bowsette was now 110% sure Zelda wanted out of her kingdom. 

A knock on the door lead to Daisy coming in, sighing. 

"Dammit you all got earlier. I wanted to be first this time."

Samus smirked. 

"We know, that's why we got here even earlier."

Daisy , pouting, walked and sat on her usual girls' night seat, being it Peach's lap. 

Blushes ran around the room, and a tinge of envy, as Daisy had such amazing seating arrangement.

Once more from the balcony, a tall woman jumped in, this one tan and redheaded.

Zelda gasped, and ran to hug her. 

"Nabi! You're here!"

Naborisa, nicknamed Nabi, nodded and patted Zelda's head. 

"Good to see you here too darling, and as usual, very enthusiastic about me anytime I show up. I love that about you."

Zelda blushed, as Nabi used the words "darling" and "love" for her, and in her professional objective opinion, "Nabi is great and pretty and every person who knew her was lucky with just her being around". 

"Now," said Naborisa, "let us continue learning of the secret world of outer space."

Zelda nodded and the two went to sit aside Samus, learning about the stars beyond. 

Soon came the others, Ribbon and Adeleine by the window, Midna and Hilda popped from the shadows (to the delight of others, holding hands and blushing), Fi, Malon and Pauline by the front door.

The 15 girls were now all in position for the legendary Peach Girls' Night.

"You're not forgetting me, are you?"

Three quarters of the ladies shared the same thought.

"Oh no"

"Well I was quite wounded when I heard such a large group of delightful darlings would have a sleepover and I wasn't invited. I just had to come here either way then."

Bayonetta was...too much, for the princesses. Too much raw sensuality, too much teasing, too much of that charming accent, and just too much chaos. 

Peach sighed.

"Oh well. I thought you'd make the night too chaotic for our new friends, but you're our friend too."

Bayonetta approached Bowsette. 

"You look a lot like Peach here...even with the tomboyish underwear, you are just adorable. You're a newfound woman, aren't you? Don't worry, I can show you the ropes..in a manner of speaking."

Bowsette blushed, Bayonetta chuckling at her. She moved to Palutena.

"Well well well! A goddess of light at a sleepover! Now I've seen everything!" 

"a what of what" muttered Zelda confused. 

"You know, as an Umbran witch, I don't have the best experience with light deities, but a pretty thing like you? I'd be de lighted to get together and make some shades of-."

"My, such a comment when we've just met? The de light is mine to meet such a flirty woman, and much prettier than I in all the right places. Perhaps I can lampshade such places?." said Palutena, winking at her. 

Smirking, Bayo replied, “Ah, I see you’re a woman of culture as well.”, she nodded, and winked right back, “Makes sense given you’re a masterpiece.”

"Girls, girls, not that seeing flirting between you two isn’t fun, but save it for the flirtathon later.”

Nodding, Bayonetta and Palutena sat in a circle along with the others. With that, all players now in the room, Girls' Night could finally begin.