Chapter Text
Princess Peach stepped out on her balcony and looked up at the stars. She had always admired them, shining brightly in the heavens, dancing across the skies. In her youth, she often walked to Star Hill with her mother. The queen always looked so pretty as she laughed and played with her, stars shimmering all around them.
Now, the stars were so big, so close. Peach felt like she could reach out her hand, and swirl the bright lights around with her finger. Any joy she felt at the thought, however, was short lived when she remembered why the stars were so close to begin with. She exhaled, letting go of some small part of the girl she used to be. That girl would not be able to help her in this situation.
“Princess?” A small voice called from behind Peach. She turned to see a small, sparkling star floating nervously in her chambers. “Are you alright?”
“Oh, I’m ok, Twink. I just wish I could find a way out of here. Mario must be so worried about me.” Thinking of Mario used to bring her comfort, even hope. But lately she’d started to wonder what she meant to the super plumber. He was her hero, and had rescued her on countless occasions, but what did he think of her? He was so quiet, she sometimes wondered if he hated her.
“If you’d like, I can bring him a message for you!” Twink twirled through the air, circling Peach excitedly. “I’ll tell him you’re ok, and that you miss him. And that the evil King Bowser hasn’t hurt you, and you’ll be waiting for him to save you like always!”
Peach smiled, concealing the complicated emotions that stirred in response to Twink’s message. “Thank you, Twink. That would be wonderful.”
Twink giggled as he twirled through the air, out the open door to the balcony. “I’ll be back, Princess!” He cried as he plunged to the earth below, en route to the Mushroom Kingdom and to Mario.
Peach watched him go until his light was too far to see. She then turned and began pacing around the room. Maybe I just need some room to breathe. I’ve been stuck in here with no freedom for days now, it’s no wonder I’m feeling so oddly.
She was about to head to the door to see if the guards would permit her a walk around the castle in her captivity, when she heard a knock.
Bang Bang Bang!
She sighed. “What is it, King Bowser?”
Bowser slammed open the door, though in fairness it was hard to tell if that was deliberate or just a result of his strength. He winced slightly as the door slammed into the wall, but otherwise made no comment on it. “Princess! I am so sorry I did not come to see you sooner. Tell me, how do you like the view?”
“Oh, the stars are just lovely!” Peach said, doing her best to sound as happy as she could. “They’re so big, and close! I only wish there were more people here to share it with. Maybe we can invite some friends up with us? Mario perhaps?”
Bowser nodded, a smile pulling at the edges of his mouth. “Ah, good. Yes it would be a wonderful view to share with some friends. In fact I’m sure I can send Kamek here down to get Mario and he’ll be - WAIT!!!” He stomped closer, standing only a few feet away from the Princess. “ANYONE but Mario. You KNOW he is my sworn enemy and would do everything in his power to rob us of this view.”
Peach dropped her charade, glaring at Bowser. “I don’t care if he’s your sworn enemy. This view is tainted by my captivity. You’ve ruined something that was precious to me.”
Bowser stepped back. “Princess, I.. That was not… Let me -”
“Your Grunginess!” Kammy Koopa ran into the room, slightly out of breath. “We have sighted a falling star! It appears to have fallen near the castle, then changed course and is headed toward Toad Town. It’s possible the stars are sending aid to Mario!”
Bowser looked between Kammy and Peach. Peach must have been more affected by this captivity than she had realized, because she almost thought she saw remorse in Bowser’s gaze. She blinked, and it was gone. “Bah! Come along, Kammy. We’ll make plans to deal with Mario once and for all.”
As he stormed out the door, Bowser paused and looked back at Peach. Then, without another word, he left. Two koopatrol guards stood outside the door. Peach approached cautiously.
“Hello?” She peaked through the doorway, which had been left open in Bowser’s retreat. “Would it be possible to take a walk around the castle? My quarters feel awfully stuffy.”
“Sorry, your highness.” The guard on her left bowed his head slightly. “We’re under strict orders not to let you leave this room. I might be able to get away with letting you walk around this floor, but with the way Lord Bowser was acting when he left that’s a risk I can’t take right now. If you need anything brought to you, please let us know and we will be happy to assist.” The other guard nodded silently, then they returned to their stance, dutifully holding their spear points up toward the ceiling.
“I see. Thank you.” Peach was disappointed as she closed the door and returned to her chambers, but she did at least appreciate the guards stationed to her. Though they were Bowser’s henchmen, they had shown her high respect upon her capture, and had apparently volunteered for the responsibility of guarding her room. She didn’t exactly trust them, but she knew they would not be any harsher than necessary.
That didn’t solve her current problem, however. She knew there must be another way out of her room. She had never used it, but Toadsworth had told her when she was young that when times were dark, she could always find an escape and come to him. She looked around at the photos, pulled at the tomes on their shelves around the room. Nothing stood out. She sighed in frustration, and stared up at the picture of her parents that hung over the fireplace.
“Mom… Dad… I miss you. You made everything look so easy - hosting balls, passing judgment and laws. Ever since I lost you, nothing makes sense. Please, tell me what to do?” Tears welled up in her eyes, spilling down her cheeks. She reached her hand up to touch the picture.
Then she paused. She had looked at this picture a thousand times over the years, but now she noticed something she’d failed to see before. Her father, very purposefully, was pointing at something. She had always thought it was just something in the room when the picture was taken, and dismissed it. But now, she realized he was looking at something in this room. The room she was standing in. She followed his gaze, and found that he was pointing at the candle mounted on the wall by the brick fireplace. She slowly reached out until her hand rested on the cool metal. Then, before she could lose her nerve, she pulled gently on the candle.
It moved easily, until it clicked into place. Then, the fireplace went out. The grate fell back and a clean section of floor slid over the ashes, as the wall inside the fireplace opened up to reveal a small, dimly lit passageway.
When times are dark, Toadsworth? The princess smiled. You always had to be so clever. If that’s the case, then this passageway must lead to your study?
Peach carefully made her way down the passage, taking extra caution not to let her heels make too much noise on the tile floor. The last thing she needed was for sound to travel outside the passageway and for guards to be waiting at the other end.
When she finally arrived at the end of the hall, she found another fireplace, with a big red button to the side. She paused for several seconds, listening intently. When she was confident there was no one on the other side of this hidden door, she pressed the button. The fireplace began to rotate, and she was slowly moved from the hallway to the interior of Toadsworth’s study, just as she suspected.
When the fireplace stopped moving, Peach crouched behind a plant for a moment, waiting to see if any guards entered the room. While she waited, she looked around for anything useful. She saw many books, some plants, and several portraits on the wall. Eventually her eyes rested on Toadsworth’s writing desk. On top, she saw a small journal, as well as a quill and an ink jar.
You clever old Toad, have you left me a note?
Peach crept over to the desk and took a seat in the chair, then opened the diary. She flipped through the early passages only making out bits and pieces. She saw many mentions of herself. She paused briefly when she saw one dated the same date as her parents were pronounced deceased. The entry was short. She knew it would not contain the clues she was looking for, but she read anyway.
“Date: XXO - Dear Diary. Princess Peach looked so sad today. I wanted to approach her, after I heard of her parent’s passing. To tell her I am here for her. But I know that any attempt I might make to approach would only be misunderstood as an attempt to get closer to her for my own purposes. Still, I found myself taking a step forward in spite of myself, until the Royal Guard ushered her inside. I know I could not do anything today, but I know how strong she is. She will recover. And someday, I will get to speak with her and tell her how sorry I am for all that she has been made to go through.”
Peach stared at the entry until she noticed small watermarks appearing on the paper. She realized that she was crying once again. She quickly wiped her eyes and turned the page. The next entry was several days later. It was only three sentences.
“Date: XOX - Dear Diary. I have not seen the Princess at Star Summit since her parents’ passing. I hope she will come soon. I know it will lift her spirits to see the stars, as it always has before.
Peach frowned. Had she really stopped going to Star Summit? She still looked at the stars from the castle, she still found some joy in the night sky, didn’t she? She had shown Mario the view of the stars from the castle the night she was abducted. But when was the last time she truly felt at peace looking at the stars? When was the last time she had made the journey to Star Summit?
I haven’t been back since my mother died. She realized. She had never thought anything of it, telling herself she was too busy, she couldn’t run off unprotected. Then, Bowser had started taking her away.
Peach sat there for several minutes, lost in thought. Then, she shook her head. I need to focus. No more distractions. She turned to the back of the diary, where there were several blank pages, then turned back through it until she found the most recent entry. It was dated to the night of the party. The night of her abduction.
“Date: OOX - Dear Diary. I’ve finally done it! I defeated Mario! Sure, it was with the help of the Star Rod that I stole from Star Haven. But I did it! I WON!!! YEAH BABY!!!!! Now that he’s out of the way, I can finally enact my plan. The Princess has continually been taken from me before I can explain myself thanks to that plumber, but this time I will get my chance. I know she has been struggling. I saw the pain in her eyes when she was showing Mario the stars. She used to love them, but now they must only remind her of what she has lost. The only way to reclaim that is to face it head on and find joy again! So, I have raised her castle. Raised it into the very heavens, so that she can face the stars, and face her pain. Once she’s ready, I will tell her of my plans, the pain I have felt since failing to go to her that day. And I will ask her to stay with me, and we can work through our pains together and find a new joy. If she does not choose me forever, I will understand. All I need is the chance, and I know she will accept my offer.”
“Wait…” Peach read the entry again. And again. “This isn’t Toadsworth’s diary… This is…!!”
The door behind her slammed open. Bowser walked in with his head back and his eyes closed. “Finally! They’ve been nagging me all day. I may be the king but I don’t have to make all the decisions, that’s why you’re in a position of authority!”
He closed the door behind him, then leaned against it. “Soon, it will be over. I can rest. I just need Mario out of the way long enough to explain myself.” He turned toward the room and froze when he saw the Princess.
“Um.. Hello, King Bowser.” Peach slouched in her seat, trying to hide behind the chair’s back as much as possible. “Funny running into you here.”
Bowser stood there looking between Peach and the diary for several seconds. “You… You read my diary.” It was not an accusation, a question, even an observation. It was just a fact.
Peach nodded.
“And you saw… the latest entry?” Bowser said quietly.
Peach could not read the expression in his eyes. Pain? Fear? She nodded again.
“I see.” Bowser sat down on the floor. His gaze fell to the carpet, and he was silent for several minutes. Peach couldn’t bring herself to speak.
Finally, Bowser collected himself. “I’m sorry, Princess.”
“You’re… Sorry?” Peach felt something stirring inside her. A rage so hot that she could not contain it. “You’re SORRY?”
Bowser stood quickly. “Yes! I-”
“No!” Peach stood, knocking the chair over. “No, you’re not sorry. You took me from my home. My home Bowser. You threw out my guests, my friends, for some fantasy that you could save me from some make believe sorrow and steal my heart? Is that it?”
“No! Peach, if you would just let me -”
“Enough! Call your guards, send me back to my room. I want nothing to do with you.”
Bowser flinched. Peach almost apologized, she knew the words must have cut deep, but he deserved it. He was a villain. He was selfish, evil. He could never care for someone else. All he wanted her for was a claim to the throne and a grab at more power.
“Very well.” Bowser opened the door. “Guards!” He snapped at them, but his usual venom was gone. “Take her to her room, see that she doesn’t get out again or you’ll soon find yourselves on a long trip back to the Mushroom Kingdom!”
“Yes, sir!” The koopatrols that were stationed at Peach’s room came rushing in and picked her up. "Sorry, your highness. We'll try to be gentle." The guards carefully picked her up and carried her back to her room. Peach watched, as Bowser’s rage melted. She could have sworn she saw tears coming to his eyes just before he closed the door.
The guards made a show of tossing Peach into her room, but she landed softly and without injury. Imagine. Bowser, wanting to save me! Peach scoffed, then stepped out onto her balcony. She looked up to the stars for comfort, but she found none. She knelt, and finally allowed herself to sob without holding back. She kept thinking of one line from Bowser’s last entry.
She used to love them, but now they must only remind her of what she has lost. The only way to reclaim that is to face it head on and find joy again!
Peach worried that maybe Bowser had a point. Maybe he was right. That thought scared her most of all. Because if Bowser was right, then Peach feared she would never find joy in the stars for the rest of her life.