In the Shadows.
Summery: As Peach's living soul deteriorates Mario has to find a way to bring back the happy Princess he knows and loves. Bowser knows more then he's letting on – What's he up to?
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters, I am just merely making them do what I want them to do at my ever whim. Also I am not making any money out of this I am merely doing it for my own entertainment.
Chapter 1In the darkest corner of the Mushroom Kingdom, a place so untouched by happiness that even the bravest of Mushroom folk dared not pass, a shadow of a being sat in their tower. For in the darkest corner of the Kingdom stood a magnificent castle with a strong tower. It is often said in Mushroom folklore that a shadow lives there. A sad solemn shadow that strives to break out into the sunlight. The shadow was once a part of a living creature but was stolen by an evil tyrant.
It is said that and evil tyrant watched over the living soul, who was a mere child at the time. Watching her as she tried to hide her jealousy in front of those who counted as friends. The more the jealously developed inside of that child the more the tyrant could see the bitterness in her eyes. The tyrant its self knew what jealousy could do. He too had been jealous once. The tyrant saw how the jealous anger would become powerful one day and decided it was a power he could use to his advantage.
The tyrant consulted his servant, who was well trained in dark magic. The servant told him of a spell which could take the anger and the jealousy and turn it into a raging force of terror. The tyrant's attention was quickly engaged. If he had this Childs powerful anger and used it, he could have enough power to engulf the whole Mushroom Kingdom into darkness.
The servant drew up some plans in order to take the anger from within the child. It was only a matter of days before the Tyrant would possess the ability to make the Mushroom Kingdom a dark and tragic place.
The child was easily located. She was on a small white bridge in a quiet part of the Kingdom. She was crying. Her long blonde hair covering her face which was soaked with tears. She didn't want to be ugly inside any more. She wanted to be a nice girl but it was hard. Her friend Daisy gave her no credit and she wished she could be like Daisy. She was terribly jealous of Daisy and it drove her mad inside. She was too busy wallowing in self-pity that she failed to notice a small turtle creature descend upon her.
"Oh you poor, poor child..." Came a whisper from behind her. The blonde girl turned round in surprise. The turtle like creature had a crooked spine and long grey hair. The little girl had never seen anything so peculiar in all her life.
"Why so sad?" Asked the turtle creature curiously. The little girl knew better then to talk to strangers and said nothing. The turtle smiled a crooked smile.
"Eats you away inside doesn't it my dear? That feeling inside you wont go away," The turtle said in an understanding voice.
"I don't know what you mean," The girl sniffed. Her bright blue eyes dazzling in the sunlight.
"I can take it away you know. Peach I can help," The turtle simpered. Peach was taken a back. How did this turtle know her name?
"How do you know my-" She started to ask.
"My sweet poor child. Everyone knows your name and everyone knows your problem with Daisy... It's so obvious," He replied in a faint whisper. Peach felt sick. Everyone knew she was jealous. What would her father think?
"I can take it away and it will all be over," He said. Peach looked at him. Her tears dried up.
"Who are you?" She asked.
"My dear I am known as Raven, I help unfortunate people like you," He told her, eyeing her sharply.
"How can you help?" She asked timidly.
"One touch of this orb here my poor child and your troubles will be gone," He said brandishing an orb from out of no-where. Peach gasped in amazement. The orb was beautiful. It was like a crystal ball but with a purple wispy substance inside it. It had Peach mesmerized.
"What do you want in return?" She asked as she kept her eye on the orb.
"Oh my child! Think nothing of it, my princess. I don't want anything in return," The turtle waved his hand. Peach nodded and then agreed.
"Oh and one more thing...once you touch it that part of you belongs to me and you will forget this ever happened," He told her with a small smile on his face. Peach still stared at the orb and remained sure that she was going to do it.
"Touch the orb then my sweet," The turtle said as she held out the orb. The small girl, known as Peach placed both her dainty hands on to the orb. The orb shone brightly as soon as she made contact with it. She closed her eyes in fright and felt all the horrid feelings vanish from her body. As soon as it ended Peach felt exhausted and fell to the ground with a small feeble gasp. The turtle clicked his fingers and his appearance changed. He now had no hair and black glassed, wearing a purple outfit. He gave one almighty cackle and disappeared into thin air, taking the orb with him.
A kindly passer by found the unconscious child and returned her to her father, the King. No one was any the wiser of what had taken place and Peach never had any recollection of her jealousy for Daisy. They both grew up good friends and became well loved in their respective kingdoms. Peach never had a horrid thought again.
As for the tyrant, you might wonder. Well he did indeed get Peach's anger in a different form. But not all went according to plant. He did receive the orb from his servant. However he didn't expect the power of the orb to be overwhelming. The anger became a magic force, to strong for him to handle. The anger inside broke out and became a shadow of Peach. Just a blank black shape full of her utmost bitterness and spite. The shadow reach out and touched the tyrant. The magic of the shadow was so powerful to touch that the tyrant transformed into a hideous creature. He took the form of a reptile and became known as Bowser King of the Koopa's. In touching the shadow it wasn't only his appearance that was affected. A little bit of the bitterness transferred over to him and over the years that grew until he had no love for anyone or anything, except Peach. They now had a connection that she was not aware of.