Chapter 1

Colored light streamed downwards from the sunlight shining through the stain glass window. Peach set down her parasol as she allowed it to bathe over her pink gown dress. This was the day, the day that the castle's renovation would finally be completed. White shining marble now reflected the sun's light, that the entire Mushroom Kingdom could feel the warm and inviting shine of the castle. Even the emblem on the front, once a mere window, now bore her visage in a myriad of colors. That light now shone down upon her as the toads gathered from various parts of the castles, as if waiting to hear her announcement.

"I'm sure you're all wondering why I've called you here, now that the castle is complete. As you know this day wouldn't have been possible if not for the amazing efforts of the Mario Brothers." The many paintings she had found in the pit of the castle were now being put to use, the foyer was decorated with bright clouds and blue sky. The sun was emblazoned onto the floor where the sun shone through the stain glass window. Years of torment and kidnapping by the horn-shelled Bowser had prevented her from being able to carry out this task. Now, thanks to Mario and Luigi, the castle's generational renovation was complete. "As a thank you for their service, we will hold a royal party in their honor. Of course, this will include a cake!" Peach smiled as her mention of a cake elicited excitement from the various toads that had lined up within the entry hall.

"But... Princess Toadstool! We haven't completely set up the living quarters yet! The castle looks like no one could possibly live here!" One toad spoke out from the front of the crowd. Peach smiled in response as she stepped forward to get a better look at him. Like most of the other toads he wasn't very tall, small stubby body, as well as the mushroom shaped head. His head was covered in a blue spiral, spinning around from the base of the sides onto the top. Toadstool had always wondered what had caused the odd designs on their heads. Each one seemed to be slightly different, either in color or design.

"You're right, Fernil, if we're going to have cake, we need to have some place to eat it. I was thinking of using the courtyard. It would give us a perfect view of the castle." The suggestion seemed to please Fernil, though she chided herself for forgetting about simple living quarters while remodeling. Since she'd already sent out the invitations to both Mario brothers, there simply wasn't time now! Peach moved slowly up the staircase as she imagined Mario's response to the way the castle looked. He might be relieved to see her more often in a situation besides kidnapping!

Just before Peach was able to enter the main gallery a frantic series of footsteps sounded behind her. There was hardly enough time to turn before Elnar, one of her messengers to the kingdom at large, knocked her over. Peach gasped as she hit the ground, taking a moment to collect herself before holding up an hand to stop the guards from moving in onto the equally dazed Elnar.

"Eln..elnar, what is it?" Toadstool brought herself to her feet with the help of the guards who kept an uneasy eye on the small toad with the green circles. Elnar took a few moments to collect his breath before running towards Peach again.

"L...luigi wasn't home!.... But...but I saw them! the Koopa Troopa are coming! More of them than I've ever seen!" Peach found her hands shaking as she heard the words. Was Bowser going to try to attack now? On the day that the castle had finally reached its completion? "I...I haven't heard from Juri, she was supposed to deliver the invitation to Mario!" Elnar added, his speech coming faster and faster as he tried to maintain his wits.

"Elnar, it's ok. You'll be safe here." Peach ran her hand reassuringly over Elnar's cap, trying to keep him from feeling the shaking in her hand. "Guards, bring me the captain." The first words she had spoken in an authoritative tone, Toadstool was surprised, she didn't think herself capable of such force in her voice.

It didn't take long. Less than an hour later she found herself in the tower along with the captain of the guard, Gelior, as well as the toads he considered his top men. For several minutes all was silent, save the ticking of the clock that sat in the center of the room. The bright blue and white colored motif did not bring any ease to the occupants. Captain Gelior himself was an older toad, a long grey moustache pointed outwards from both sides of his head keeping in tone with his mostly silver colored cap. As far as she knew, Gelior had served as the captain for not only her father, but her grandfather's royal guard as well. They didn't have the face Bowser though, she reminded herself.

"Mrhmm... Your Highness Princess Toadstool. As per the reports of the messenger Elnar, and confirmed by our Latuki spies, the Koopa Troopa has been spotted marching towards the castle. Now. As... As far as I know, that foul blaggard Bowser is not among them. If he were, he's not the type to hide himself among his ranks. A trait I admire about the fellow..." Gelior paused to clear his throat. "I expect to intercept the Troopa with my strongest force just as they enter the Castle valley. They won't know what hit them." Gelior pointed to a sparse and low detailed diagram as he spoke, causing Peach to turn cautiously towards Elnar.

"Elnar, I want you to deliver the message to Mario again, just in case. We don't know what Bowser could be trying this time, but just in case." Elnar was shaking, Peach tries smiling reassuringly. "I know you're scared, but in case we're overrun, he's the best hope we have." She spoke softly, low enough that she hoped Gelior's older ears would miss her words as she reassured Elnar.

"That's an interesting plan Captain, but besides what you may think of him, Bowser is more cunning than you give him credit for. We must be vigilant." Peach responded, worried that the Captain would take the Koopa King too lightly. If Bowser were merely a villain of war, he would not have succeeded in kidnapping her this many times. If Bowser were planning something, it would not be something simple. Gelior ran one of his hands over his mustache as he pondered over the princess' words.

"Your highness, if it were to ease your worries, I shall assign four of my strongest men to guard you personally. However, I assure you that this castle will not be breached. In my tenure as Captain of the Guard I've yet to fail once!" Just as the elderly toad's voice run through the spacious room, a laugh fell. It started as a low, unforced sound that rose into a thunderous volume. Before the group could ponder the origin of the laugh, the doors leading upstairs into the tower behind the captain burst open. The clattering of splintered wood echoed for a moment before an enormous shade came over the group of toads surrounding the Captain. Peach, as well as some of the other toads were thrown onto the ground as the source of the shadow came into contact with the ground with a quake that could have fractured the castle in two.

Choking, Peach felt herself choking as the cloud of dust that had emanated from the landing reached her. As she finally brought herself to her feet, she could hear the sounds of the toad guards trying to strike at the Turtoid King. It wasn't any use. All she could hear were screams of toads being flung out of the fray. Even with their combined number they were no match. The clearing cloud of dust only gave way to the horrid visage of Bowser.

"I guess... his record's been broken." The poisonous words were followed by a laugh, a horrid laugh that tore at Peach. It was more a roar than laughter, a triumphant roar as the shelled beast's wake revealed only felled toads.

"King Koopa...Bowser..." Peach took a step backwards as the horned reptile brought its attention back towards her. "Was four times not enough?" The only visible response given was a smile, or as best a smile as Bowser could muster.

"Well... Four times... five times... they're just numbers. ...Not important! But today... today is an important day is it not, my dear Princess? Funny title for a Queen to bear, aren't you the rule-" A deafening roar of pain reverberated off of the walls as Bowser found Peach's parasol lodged in his nostril. Even in his panicked, reflexive struggle to remove the painful object, the fluttering of the pink dress was caught in the corner of his eye as Toadstool made a dash for the exit.

Panting... deep breaths was all Peach could focus on as she made her way down the staircase and through the art gallery. The deeper into the art gallery she ran, the greater the number of toads lay routed on the floor. Paintings of water-bugs, snowmen blurred past as Peach ran, holding her gown to prevent a fall. The foyer was just beyond there and she could flee to Mario's domain. Sounds, some sort of clattering... or clambering sounded on the other side of the door.

"Feisty this time, eh Princess?" Peach couldn't fight the momentum she had built up as it carried her straight into the outstretched scaled palm that had materialized from nothingness. Within an instant Bowser had grasped her by the hair pulling her along with him as he dragged her out into the Foyer. The sounds she'd heard, Peach hadn't had time to sort out what it could have been, but now it was obvious. Almost the entire Koopa Troopa stood inside the Foyer, with many more pouring in through the gates.

"Mario won't let you get away with this." Even Peach felt her threat waver as Bowser pulled her closer into the center of the mass of Goombas and Koopas. She had been right all along, he'd planned the attack!. In the middle of the Koopas lay a painting, bland in any sense but the surface. Unlike a normal painting, ripples emanated from the center in an effect that made it seem like water. "You...you wouldn't..."

"It seems our little Princess is onto our plan!" Bowser's laugh was met with a symphony from the Troopa. "You've made it too easy, little Toadstool. I don't suppose you have any idea as to why these paintings were sealed below the castle? Neither do I! Supposedly they harbor great power in the form of Power Stars... but there's one problem. As long as the ruler is within the castle, the paintings are sealed." Bowser lifted the struggling Princess over the rippling painting. "It would be a shame to kill you... So I learned of a way to keep you fresh enough to be my bride once I rule the kingdom... Have fun, dear Princess!" The horrid laughter began to fade away, along with Bowser's grasp as Peach fell, nothingness surrounding her.