A Prince's Peaceful Afternoon
The glow of the television screen cast dancing shadows across Bowser Jr.'s bedroom, illuminating the young Koopa prince's face as his tongue poked out in concentration. His claws danced across the controller with practiced ease, navigating his character through a particularly tricky platforming section. The room itself was a testament to both royal privilege and youthful enthusiasm—posters of airships and go-karts adorned the walls, shelves overflowed with trophies from various karting tournaments, and in the corner sat his prized Junior Clown Car, polished to a shine.
Bowser Jr. himself was nestled comfortably in a massive pile of beanbags that had been arranged into something resembling a throne. The young prince had changed quite a bit over the past several months, ever since his father and Princess Peach had finally stopped their endless cycle of kidnapping and rescue and actually sat down to talk about their feelings. What had emerged from those conversations had shocked the entire Mushroom Kingdom—genuine affection, mutual respect, and eventually, love.
For Bowser Jr., the change had been nothing short of magical. He'd always wanted a mother, and now he had one in the form of the kindest, most loving person in the entire kingdom. Princess Peach had taken to motherhood with the same grace and enthusiasm she brought to everything else, though perhaps with a bit more indulgence than was strictly necessary.
The evidence of that indulgence was readily apparent in the young Koopa's appearance. Where once he'd been lean and energetic, constantly bouncing around the castle causing mischief, he'd become considerably rounder and softer. His shell, once fitting snugly against his back, now sat atop a pleasantly plump body. His cheeks had filled out adorably, giving him an even more youthful appearance, and his little belly had grown into a proper paunch that rested comfortably on his lap when he sat. His arms and legs had thickened as well, though he remained surprisingly agile despite the extra weight.
The door to his room opened with a gentle creak, and Bowser Jr. perked up at the sound. He didn't take his eyes off the screen—he was so close to beating this level—but he called out cheerfully, "Hi, Mama!"
"Hello, my darling prince," came Princess Peach's melodious voice. She glided into the room carrying a tray laden with what could only be described as a feast. There were three different types of sandwiches, each cut into triangles and stacked high. A bowl of fresh fruit glistened beside them—mangoes, starfruit, and the prized fire flowers that Bowser Jr. had developed quite a taste for. A plate of cookies, still warm from the oven, released tendrils of sweet-smelling steam. And to wash it all down, a large glass of chocolate milk with a bendy straw.
To most people, it would have been enough food for an entire day. To Bowser Jr., it was an afternoon snack.
Peach set the tray down on the small table beside her son's beanbag throne, then perched herself delicately on the arm of a nearby chair, smoothing her pink dress as she did so. She'd adapted her wardrobe somewhat since moving to the Dark Lands—her dresses were still elegant and pink, but now featured flame motifs along the hems and were made of more durable materials suitable for castle life with the Koopas.
"How are you doing, sweetie?" she asked, her blue eyes twinkling with maternal affection as she watched him play.
"Great, Mama! This new game is so much fun!" Bowser Jr. exclaimed, his enthusiasm causing him to bounce slightly in his seat, which in turn caused his belly to jiggle. "It's got all these cool power-ups and the levels are super creative and—oh! Oh! Watch this part!"
Peach smiled indulgently as her son executed a particularly impressive series of jumps, collecting a string of coins in the process. "That's wonderful, dear. You're getting very good at that."
"Thanks!" Jr. paused the game and finally turned to look at his mother, his little eyes bright with joy. Then he noticed the tray of food and his expression somehow became even more delighted. "Oh wow, Mama! Thank you so much! This looks amazing!"
"You're very welcome, my little prince. I thought you might be getting hungry." Peach reached over and gently patted his head, her fingers brushing affectionately over the small horns that were just beginning to grow in more prominently.
Bowser Jr. reached for one of the sandwiches, but then paused, remembering his manners. "Really, Mama, thank you. You're the best." He leaned over and gave her a quick hug, which she returned warmly, before turning his attention to the food.
What followed was a display of appetite that would have been alarming if it weren't so endearing. Bowser Jr. unpaused his game with one hand while grabbing a sandwich with the other, taking enormous bites between moments of intense gameplay. The sandwich disappeared in what seemed like seconds, followed quickly by its companions. The fruit bowl was emptied with similar efficiency, fire flowers and all—which caused small wisps of flame to escape from his nostrils as he chewed. The cookies stood no chance whatsoever.
Peach watched with a mixture of amusement and maternal pride. She'd been worried at first about how much she was feeding him, but Bowser had assured her that young Koopas needed lots of food to grow strong, and Jr. certainly seemed happy and healthy. If anything, the extra weight had made him even more adorable, softening his features and giving him a cuddly appearance that made her want to hug him constantly.
"You know," Peach said with a gentle giggle as Jr. drained half the glass of chocolate milk in one long pull, "you're really starting to fill out like your daddy."
Bowser Jr. paused mid-sip, then lowered the glass with a huge grin spreading across his face. "Really? You think so?"
"Absolutely," Peach confirmed, reaching over to pat his rounded belly affectionately. "You're getting to be such a big, strong prince. Your father is going to be so proud."
The young Koopa practically glowed with happiness at the comparison. His father was his hero, and the idea that he was becoming more like him was the highest compliment he could imagine. "That's so cool! I wanna be just like Papa when I grow up!"
"I'm sure you will be, sweetheart. Though hopefully with slightly better kidnapping etiquette," Peach added with a wink.
Jr. laughed at that, "Mama, you know Papa only did that because he didn't know how to tell you he liked you!"
"I know, I know. Your father has many wonderful qualities. Communication just isn't always one of them." She stood up and smoothed her dress again. "Oh, before I forget—Morton, Lemmy, and Iggy wanted to come visit after they finish their lunch. They got distracted during mealtime and are eating late today. They have a new game that's multiplayer and wanted to know if you'd like to play with them."
"That sounds awesome!" Bowser Jr. said enthusiastically. "I love playing games with them!"
"I thought you might say that. I'll send them up when they're ready." Peach moved closer and cupped her son's chubby cheek in her hand. "I'll be in the garden if you need me, alright?"
Bowser Jr. looked up at his mother, his expression softening into something tender and vulnerable. "Mama? I love you."
Peach's heart melted, as it did every single time he said those words. She leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on his snout, right between his eyes. "I love you too, my precious little prince. More than all the stars in the sky."
She gathered up the empty dishes—and they were all empty, she noted with amusement—and headed toward the door. Just before she left, she glanced back to see Bowser Jr. already re-absorbed in his game, his tail swishing contentedly behind him.
As the door clicked shut, Bowser Jr. leaned back into his pile of beanbags with a satisfied sigh. The beanbags compressed under his weight, forming a perfect nest around his rounded form. He felt wonderfully full and content, surrounded by soft cushions in his favorite room, playing his favorite games, with the knowledge that his mother loved him and his siblings would be visiting soon.
A burp suddenly erupted from him, catching him by surprise. A small wisp of fire floated out of his muzzle, dancing in the air for a moment before dissipating. He giggled at himself and patted his belly, which was now pleasantly distended from his snack. "Excuse me," he said to no one in particular, then returned his full attention to his game.
The next half hour passed in peaceful contentment. Bowser Jr. made significant progress in his game, defeating a particularly tough boss and unlocking a new world. He was just starting the first level of this new area when he heard a commotion in the hallway—voices raised in laughter and the sound of heavy footsteps.
The door burst open and three figures tumbled in, each calling out greetings.
"Jr.! We're here!" announced Lemmy, the smallest of the group, though "smallest" was becoming a relative term. The rainbow-haired Koopaling had always been the most acrobatic of the siblings, but even he had been putting on weight. His bright orange shell sat atop a body that was considerably rounder than it used to be, and his cheeks had filled out to match his perpetually cheerful expression.
"Hope you're ready for some multiplayer action!" added Iggy, pushing his glasses up his snout. The green-haired inventor had always been lanky, but recent months had added considerable padding to his frame. His shell seemed almost comically large compared to his body, but the extra weight suited him, making him look less like a mad scientist and more like a cuddly nerd.
Morton brought up the rear, and he was by far the most transformed of the group. The dark-skinned Koopaling had always been the biggest and strongest of the siblings, but now he was approaching spherical. His shell was barely visible beneath the rolls of his body, and his limbs had thickened to the point where they looked almost stubby in proportion to his massive torso. He had to turn slightly sideways to fit through the doorway, and when he walked, his entire body jiggled with each step. Despite—or perhaps because of—his size, he wore a huge smile on his face.
"MORTON IS EXCITED TO PLAY GAMES WITH BOWSER JR.!" he announced in his characteristically loud voice. "MORTON HAD A VERY GOOD LUNCH AND NOW MORTON IS READY FOR FUN!"
Bowser Jr. saved his game and hopped up from his beanbags—or rather, rolled forward and used the momentum to get to his feet. He waddled over to greet his siblings, his own considerable bulk swaying with each step. "Hey guys! I'm so glad you're here!"
The four Koopas came together in a group hug, their soft bodies squishing together comfortably. There was no self-consciousness among them about their weight—if anything, they seemed to take pride in it, each one having embraced their new, rounder forms with enthusiasm.
"Dude, you're looking good," Iggy said with a cackle, poking Jr.'s belly playfully. "Mama Peach is really spoiling you, huh?"
Jr. grinned and returned the poke, his claw sinking into Iggy's own soft middle. "Look who's talking! You're getting pretty round yourself!"
"We all are," Lemmy chimed in, patting his own stomach. "And I think we all look adorable!"
"MORTON AGREES! MORTON THINKS EVERYONE LOOKS VERY NICE AND COMFORTABLE!" Morton added, his booming voice filled with genuine affection.
They settled into the beanbag area, which was large enough to accommodate all four of them, though it was definitely a snug fit. Iggy pulled out the new game he'd brought—a four-player adventure that required teamwork and coordination. Soon the room was filled with the sounds of gameplay, laughter, and friendly trash talk.
The four Koopas played for over an hour, their bodies pressed close together in the beanbag nest. There was something wonderfully comfortable about it—the warmth of their shells, the softness of their bodies, the easy affection they showed each other. They'd always been close as siblings, but the past few months had brought them even closer together. They'd bonded over their shared experience of being spoiled by their mama, father, and even Kamek, over their mutual appreciation for good food, and over their complete lack of shame about their changing bodies.
Between rounds, they chatted about everything and nothing—upcoming kart races, new inventions Iggy was working on, Lemmy's latest circus tricks (modified for his new body type), and Morton's passionate monologues about his favorite foods.
Eventually, during a loading screen, Iggy turned to Bowser Jr. with a mischievous glint in his eye. "Hey, Jr., you wanna come with us tomorrow? We're going to one of the Yoshi Islands."
"Really? What for?" Jr. asked, his interest piqued.
"There's this Yoshi chief who's throwing a big celebration for the union of the Mushroom Kingdom and the Dark Lands," Lemmy explained, bouncing slightly with excitement, which caused a ripple effect through all their connected bodies. "It's supposed to be this huge party with games and music and—"
"And food," Iggy interrupted with a knowing grin. "Lots and lots of food."
Jr.'s eyes lit up. "Oh man, Yoshi parties always have the best food! Remember that one we went to last year? They had those fruit cakes that were like three feet tall!"
"MORTON REMEMBERS!" Morton bellowed enthusiastically. "MORTON ATE SEVEN PIECES! MORTON WOULD LIKE TO EAT MORE THIS TIME! YOSHI FOOD IS VERY DELICIOUS AND MORTON ENJOYS IT VERY MUCH!"
The other three burst into good-natured laughter at Morton's enthusiasm, which only made the large Koopaling smile even wider.
"So you'll come?" Iggy pressed.
"Definitely!" Jr. agreed. "That sounds awesome! I'll ask Mama and Papa, but I'm sure they'll say yes. They've been really happy about the whole kingdom unity thing."
"Cool! We're leaving in the morning, so don't stay up too late gaming," Lemmy advised, though the irony of giving that advice while they were currently gaming wasn't lost on any of them.
They played for another hour before Morton announced that he was getting hungry again, which prompted a round of agreement from the others. Peach appeared as if summoned—she had an almost supernatural ability to know when any of the children needed something—with a cart laden with snacks for all four of them.
As the sun began to set outside Jr.'s window, casting orange and pink light across the room, the four Koopas sat together in their beanbag nest, controllers in hand, snacks within easy reach, and smiles on their faces. They were happy, comfortable, loved, and surrounded by family.
And really, what more could any prince ask for?
