A/N: This story is slightly based upon the "Bad End NighT" Vocaloid series. No, this is not a Mario/Vocaloid crossover fic, but it does have some inspirations from that series. I've had a theory about the Mario games for a while and I'm going to try to materialize it through this story.
Disclaimer: I do not own Mario. All content and characters belong to Shigeru Miyamoto, Nintendo, and company.
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A trip to Mushroom Castle's library would have been an uneventful occasion for anyone who lived within the castle walls. For Princess Peach, it was anything but.
The story began with a book. One of many like it.
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"It's such a perfect day today! I haven't been to the library in a while. I need to see if everything is in order. Maybe I can get some new books added to it!"
Princess Peach idled through the hallways greeting the many Toads who worked in the castle.
Opening the doors to the expansive room, the pink princess marveled at how many books were amassed on the vast shelves.
"Hmm, I don't remember the library having this many books? I wonder if the Toads added some of their own literature to the collection? The library seems to get bigger every week!"
Making her way to a desk with a pile of books, the princess selected the first book on the top of the pile. It was somewhat musty, but still in great condition.
The blonde princess grew absorbed in the stories that flowed from the pages. The story seemed to tell itself. Making quick work of the previous story, Peach reached for the next in line.
After completed three of her selected books, it was as if a spark of eerie realization came over the Mushroom Princess.
'They all tell the same story, but with different variations.' Princess Peach grabbed more books off of the shelves which only deepened her confusion.
A monster king raids a castle. The princess is stolen. She is rescued after the hero's long, harrowing journey. In some cases, the princess invites the hero over for cake. Yet another instance, the princess was on vacation with the hero and his brother on an island when the attack occurs. Yet still: the princess, the hero and his brother are in a movie telling the same occurrences. There were even times where the kidnappings were perpetrated by villains other than the monster king. A mournful count, an evil alien princess, to name a couple. There were even nonsensical variations where all of the characters played sports together. But what was most unsettling, the princess in those stories looked like her.
"What could it mean? The princess in those stories clearly looks like me. What's more is that the layout of the Mushroom Kingdom and my very castle changes with each reiteration." Princess Peach's confusion began to become laced with fear.
"If what I've read is true, why don't I remember any of those attacks? Is this simply a method of documenting all of the previous attacks on myself and the castle? But that still doesn't explain why I have no memory of them. Nor why the castle and very kingdom have changed appearances. I would say that it's an elaborate attempt to protect me, but something that drastic must've been noticed by a lot of people."
"If the others in this castle know of these attacks, they aren't being very vigilant about anything. These attacks have happened often. If the books I've read already are any indication, the rest of the books in this room are variations of the same story."
With that, the princess left the library quite shaken. She needed to get her mind off of these bizarre revelations. She'd go for a walk. That would surely settle her mind...
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It should've been a simple task. Taking a walk was the most basic forms of relaxation and enjoyment.
"Gwa ha ha ha! My sweetest Peach girl! How nice of you to come to me for once! Awesome!" a cheerful Bowser snatched the hapless Princess before she could get far from the castle. A panicked Toad ran off towards the home of the Mushroom Kingdom's hero.
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The Mushroom Kingdom monarch sighed as Boomerang Bros. and Koopa Patrols escorted her to a room deep within Bowser's Castle. 'Wow. Bowser's Castle sure has changed.'
Princess Peach froze. "How would I know that? I've never witnessed the other times he's kidnapped me!"
"What are you talking about lady? This is the first time that the great Repugnant Lord Bowser has abducted you." a Koopa Patrol snapped.
'The first time? They don't remember either? It's almost as if this world is caught in a never-ending loop. But why? Is this a dream? Or is this world the product of a curse?'
The slamming of her prison doors signified a different type of capture. She was imprisoned in a whirlpool of unsettling thoughts.
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A/N: Well, should I continue? I'm anxious to see how this goes. I haven't written a multi-chapter saga in years. I don't intend for this to be too long though. Leave a review if you'd like! Thanks for reading! :-)