"The Good Cry"

Mario and Luigi approached the throne room of Bowser's castle. Their adventure this time around didn't take nearly as long as it normally did, for Bowser didn't seem motivated at all about throwing obstacles in their way. In fact, the brothers barely had to do much more than locate Bowser's castle, dispatch a few Koopas, and reach his throne room. No puzzles, no collection of seemingly-unrelated items, nothing, just a simple, straightforward walk.

"Well, Bowser's really slipping isn't he?" Luigi commented as Mario slowly pushed open one of the large double doors.

"Can't complain about that," Mario said as he opened the door far enough for himself and Luigi to enter.

Surprisingly, or not-so-surprisingly considering the lack of motivation Bowser put into his plans this time around, the brothers weren't met with any kind of resistance upon entering the throne room. They would have been kept alert, but Bowser and Kammy Koopa made themselves openly visible, simply located at the throne at the end of the room.

In anticipation of the brothers' arrival, Bowser went through the normal ritual of locking Peach away in a steel cage behind his throne. She looked upset as usual to be in such a position, but Bowser looked completely uninterested in keeping her for himself.

"So...Mario," Bowser said, standing up from his throne slowly and approaching the brothers sluggishly. He seemed to only just realize Luigi was there too and soon added, "Oh and uh...you. Mario's...butler or something."

"Brother," Luigi corrected.

"Really?" Bowser said, stopping suddenly. He turned to Kammy with an eyebrow raised. "Did you know Mario had a brother?"

"I had no idea," Kammy answered. "I don't think I've ever seen that guy before actually."

"Huh..." Bowser muttered. He soon shrugged it off and continued his approach. "Anyway, I assume you're here for the princess."

"We're certainly not here to have a grilled cheese sandwich themed picnic with you," Mario answered, folding his arms.

"Mmm, grilled cheese, that sounds good right now," Luigi mentioned, whispering to Mario.

"Actually, it kinda does," Mario agreed. Kammy scoffed.

"Humph, too bad, because I'm planning a grilled cheese themed picnic for tomorrow afternoon," she said with an evil smile.

"Oh, can we come?" Luigi asked excitedly.

"No," Kammy answered flatly. Luigi adopted a disappointed look on his face. Peach piped up, interjecting into the conversation.

"Guys, remember I'm trapped back here, just so you know," she called. "So, like...you know, whenever..."

"Right, right," Mario muttered, stepping forward towards Bowser, who stepped forward as well. "So, ready to do this?"

"Ready as ever," Bowser responded, though he sounded as if he were about to let out a sigh as he spoke. Without noticing, Bowser let out a small sniffle and a tear began to escape his eye. Once he realized this, he quickly turned away and wiped the tear furiously.

"Whoa, was that...were you about to cry?" Mario asked, trying to see around Bowser to catch a glimpse of his face.

"No," Bowser responded, but with a shaky voice that indicated he was about to break down at any moment. "I'm King Bowser, the Lord of Evil, why would I ever cry?"

Bowser continued wiping his face, and let another sniffle escape. It was now obvious he was trying to keep himself from breaking down, but Mario soon came around to Bowser's front. Bowser lifted his watery eyes to look down at him. Mario seemed to be giving him a look of understand. Soon, Mario whispered to him quietly.

"Hey, look, Bowser," he began quietly. "If you uh...you know, if you need to cry, it's...it's completely fine." Bowser sniffled a bit before responded.

"Really?" he said with a small voice, despite his massive, deep tone. Mario could begin to feel himself welling up with tears as well.

"Yeah man," he said, putting a hand under his nose to keep from sniffling. At the same time however, his eyes were watering up as well. "I'd uh...I'd completely understand."

"The heck are they doing over there?" Luigi asked, scratching his hair underneath his cap. Kammy simply shrugged and shook her head.

Soon, Bowser could be seen doubling over and falling to the side, crying openly and loudly, and Mario was joining him nearby, but he remained standing, hunched over and wiping his face again and again as he cried. All three of the others in the room simply watched them, rather astounded at the sight.

"They're...crying?" Peach said, unable to believe her eyes. "Are you serious?"

"Yes, we're crying!" Mario yelled dramatically as he dropped to his knees. "We're crying and it feels so goo-oo-oood!"

"I can't believe...how much...this is helpiiiiiing!" Bowser cried out as he curled up into a fetal position on his side.

Both Luigi and Kammy felt guilty for this, as they'd both mentioned that crying was a great way to let out emotions. Neither of them expected the crying to begin at such a pivotal moment however. Peach simply couldn't believe her eyes.

"All these years of saving the priiiiinceeeeessss!" Mario exclaimed as he hunched over on the ground. "Jumping and hammering and solving puuuuuuzzlllllles! I'm so sick of it!"

"All these years of setting up traps, planning tricky worlds, and getting beaten up by Mario over a girl that doesn't even like meeeeeee!" Bowser joined. "I can't stand it anymore!"

"And Luigi, who may as well be my butler, because he's great at household stuff, but utterly useless in adventuu-u-uuuures!" Mario spoke up once more.

"Hey, I resent that...and thank you," Luigi stated quietly, though he knew he wasn't the greatest adventuring companion in the world, but he agreed he was a great home keeper.

"And all my lackeys are useless, and all my kids, that are apparently mine though I have no idea who the mother is, are bratty, and the only woman in my life that can tolerate me is an old haaaaaag!" Bowser yelled, pounding on the floor softly after each point.

"Well that's not very nice..." Kammy commented, folding her arms in a huff.

"And why do I always have to save Peach anyway?" Mario questioned, sitting up, but tears still flowing freely. "I don't even like her. What happened to Pauline?"

"I don't even know why I keep kidnapping her," Bowser responded, sitting up as well. "She's always harsh to me and, now that I look at her, I don't even know what I found so appealing about her."

"Well..." Peach muttered, placing her hands on her hips.

Mario and Bowser continued to freely cry for a little while longer before they started to gather themselves together. Faces drenched, eyes red, and all others in the room equally offended by what they said during the session, the two turned to each other.

"Bowser, why do we keep doing this if we both hate it so much?" Mario asked, sniffling and wiping his eyes.

"I don't know Mario, I just don't know," Bowser replied, wiping his nose. "I do know one thing though."

"And what's that?" Mario asked, his eyes finally becoming dry.

"That cry was fantastic, and I feel so much better now," Bowser admitting, letting a smile occupy his lips. Mario smiled as well and nodded.

"It sure was, and I'm feeling a lot better too," Mario agreed.

"Well, I'm glad some people are," Luigi muttered audibly, hunched over on the ground, poking at his boots.

"So what shall we do now Your Lordliness?" Kammy asked. "Shall we release the princess?" Peach's face brightened instantly at the mention of being set free. But Bowser shook his head.

"What are you, nuts, you old hag?" Bowser growled. "I can't let Mario have Peach. She's the whole reason behind my aspirations in life." Peach's face dimmed.

"But...you just put her down like crazy," Kammy said, feeling confused.

"And?" Bowser responded. "I just had the greatest cry ever, I'm feeling good as new. And that means I'm willing to fight for her if I have to."

"What about you Mario?" Luigi asked, standing up once more. "Still wanna rescue her?"

"You better!" Peach threatened, despite her compromising situation. Mario simply shrugged.

"I dunno Luigi, I'm starting to feel more inclined to Pauline now that I remember her," Mario admitted. "She's only gotten kidnapped, what, twice? That's a lot better than Peach's record."

"Mario, I swear, if you leave me here-" Peach began, but Mario soon cut her off.

"But, Peach is the princess of the land we live in, and everyone knows this place would be a wreck if we actually let the king run the place," Mario said. "So, yeah, let's do this!"

"Bring it on!" Bowser challenged. The two set themselves into battle positions, stared each other down for a short while, then commenced their battle for the princess of the Mushroom Kingdom. Meanwhile, Luigi and Kammy stood by, wondering what exactly they just experienced.

"So...I guess that was completely pointless," Luigi said, taking a seat to watch the fight before him.

"Well, we have learned a few things about them," Kammy said.

"Yeah...and at least they feel better," Luigi added.

The battle raged on in the middle of the throne room, to determine whether or not Princess Peach would be able to return to her throne in the castle of the Mushroom Kingdom. The result of the battle was expected, but at least the battling parties let themselves pour out their thoughts and feelings, allowing them to have a fresh outlook on life, and with that, a fresh continuation of adventures to be held in the future.

Cascore's Note: And that, as they say, is that. I hope you enjoyed the story!