After a looooong journey through the mushroom kingdom, stomping goombas, kicking koopas, burning alive fake Bowsers, you eventually you reach 8-4, once you got the real Bowser lut of the way, you approach the Princess, only to find she has become a dragon that towers over you over a few feet n' inches.

"ooh, thank you, hero!"

she praises, kneeling down to give a fiery kiss on the cheek.