A/N: Hello there. I've had this idea dancing around inside my head since Smash Bros. Melee came out (which was how long ago!) and so I wrote some chapters. And now I finally decided to post it. It's pretty much told from Peach's POV, so if you don't like her, I suggest you leave now. And a lot of the beginning chapters will be centered in the "Mario Realm," so you might be a little confused if you haven't played some of the games. I'll try to explain as much as I can when it comes up, though. Okay, happy reading!

Disclaimer: I do not own Peach, Mario, Luigi, or any of the characters mentioned in this chapter. Darn...

Chapter 1

"Take that, you fiend!" Peach screamed furiously as she delivered another crushing blow to Bowser's chest. All he could do was let out a painful moan as his fiery red eyes rolled back into his head. Peach sent one more crack against his face with the back of her gloved hand and his massive body was sent sprawling to the ground. Another excruciating groan escaped from Bowser's muzzle and he rolled himself onto his stomach, his face inches away from the end of the ledge.

Peach smiled a wide grin of triumph and giggled at Bowser's painful predicament. She knew very well that one final kick would sent him tumbling over the edge and into the lake of boiling hot magma. Just one little tap of her tiny foot and she would be rid of him forever.

"Peach," Bowser choked, tiny drops of blood spewing from his cracked lips, "Don't."

Peach continued to giggle, elated by the sight of her most hated enemy's unceasing agony. She began to swing her foot lightly at his lower abdomen, knowing that even though they were small, each tap brought with it a sting of unimaginable pain. All her years of waiting and preparing had all been leading up to this final moment, the one in which she would finally do away with the being who had caused her suffering beyond reason. She was overdue to pay back all he had done to her and her loved ones.

"Well, Bowser," Peach said slyly, a smile playing its way across her delicate lips. "It looks like it's finally time to give you what you deserve."

"No. Please," Bowser pleaded, trying to reach a shred of sympathy or compassion within Peach's usually loving body, but to no avail. He could see the reflection of lava burning in her eyes as the evil smile only further crept across her face and she slowly brought her foot back in preparation for the action she was about to execute in a matter of seconds.

"Goodbye, Bowser," Peach said, her voice carrying its familiar sweetness but embedded in pure hatred.

With one swift movement, she brought her foot forward with all of her strength until it impacted with Bowser's side. A final ear-shattering moan bellowed out of his lungs as he whirled over the edge of the granite ledge and plummeted down towards the lava below. Peach threw her head back and laughed as he tumbled further and further until the burning lava was so close to his scaly skin...

"WOOHOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Peach's head snapped up so quickly from the table that it could have very well detached from her seemingly brittle neck. A very agitated expression was apparent on her face as she scanned the room for whoever had abruptly ended her blissful daydream.

"MARIO!" she shrieked at the top of her lungs. "What in the world are you yelling about!"

Mario instantly stopped his dash across the room and held up two white envelopes, each stamped with and intricate symbol that Peach was unable to see because Mario was no less than twenty feet away. He slowly stepped forward, still keeping the envelopes high in the air.

"They're here," Mario said excitedly, waving the envelopes in Peach's face. She became annoyed and promptly brushed them away.

"What's here?" she asked. "What are you talking about?"

"The invitations to the annual Smash Brothers Tournament," he replied, about to burst with enthusiasm. He held them up again. "One's for me and the other's for Luigi."

Peach smiled sweetly. "Well congratulations. I'm glad you got an invitation."

"Everyone from last year did. I gotta go tell Luigi that they're here!" With that, he ran across the room and out the door, leaving Peach in silence.

"I wish I could fight for myself," she muttered. "But I guess I'll just have to settle for my daydreams." And with a short sigh, she departed to the library, where she could once again lose herself in a captivating realm of enchanting fantasy.

Unfortunately, Peach was unable to focus her attention to her book without it straying every five seconds to thoughts of the tournament. Even when she was watching the tournament last year, she had wished to be a part of the action. How she wanted to fight alongside the noble combatants from so many diverse worlds. And with every passing year, which with it would bring a new tournament, Peach knew that the urge would only grow stronger.

Even though this was the tournament's second year, it was already going to be twice as wonderful as the year before. There had been twelve contestants the previous year, and rumor had it that this year there would be up to twice as many. In fact, to spark a bit of interest in non-fans and to add a little something for this year, the word melee had been added to the name of the tournament. Super Smash Brothers Melee. The mere thought of how exhilarating it would surely be for the contestants was driving Peach insane.

To top it all off, the preparations for the tournament were going to be held in the Mushroom Kingdom. She would be forced to sit there and watch as each competitor went through the tedious, but none the less necessary, tests and interviews it took to become a part of the breathtaking brawls.

"Don't even bother thinking about it," Peach scolded herself. "It's not like you would even make it past the first test. No one takes you seriously."

As much as she hated to say it, no one did seem to take her the least bit seriously. Everyone saw her as the delicate little forbidden flower that mustn't be touched. There was no way that she could even be allowed to practice a little something in the Dojo, let alone participate in an all out fight fest. Heaven forbid that she ruined one of her pretty little dresses!

It wasn't that she really and truly wanted to be involved in raw, hand-to-hand combat that would no doubt be dangerous for her small body, but she did have strong beliefs that she had something to prove. She was sick and tired of being branded with the degrading label of damsel in distress, but it would be exceedingly difficult to liberate herself from that loathsome title. Being captured by Bowser on numerous occasions hadn't exactly helped her reputation. The Smash Bros. tournament might just be the break she needed. She might finally be able to earn a little respect from everyone and be known as someone who could fight for herself.

As she left the library, she smiled to herself as delightful images of herself as a strong, courageous fighter danced across her imagination.

A/N: That's all for now. I do have some more chapters, but it'll be up to the reviewers to decide whether they get posted or not. This was written a while ago and I'm not nearly as in to the Mario fandom as I used to be, but I'd definitely be willing to write if you want me to. So tell me what ya think. You want more? No? Maybe? Let me know! REVIEW!