My life as an Italian plumber was over after first meeting her. Her hair was a yellow-blonde and her dress, a bubblegum pink. She had a very kind personality with eyes among the most delicate.
When born in Brooklyn, New York, you don't expect to meet many like her. After arriving to the parallel Mushroom Kingdom those years ago, I felt it a dream that hasn't ended – yes, a terrible dream.
Time moved toward the seventh hour of night and I was a bit early to my final job of the day. The piping in the princess' castle had gone awry. I was called to see the problem, but found nothing hard for me to handle.
Quickly, I finished the job, when I met with a small midget-like boy handing an envelope to me.
"This is your cash for today." He said.
His beady eyes gleamed with an adolescent sparkle as he extended his undefined arm toward me. "Only the princess can pay you directly like this, and I get to be her attendant."
Content with the weight of the envelope, I responded with a closed end statement to hasten the end of the conversation.
"You must be excited."
After receiving my payment, I walked to the main hall where my footsteps were halted by the sound of a benevolent voice.
"Oh, kind stranger?" The princess began. "I thank you. My fixtures seems to be in order for now."
Tucking the brim between my fingers, I tipped my red hardhat at her "No need, I am only doing my job."
Straightaway from descending, she tripped down a few stairs. Without thinking, I moved. Aided by the impulse, I was able to catch her just before her bottom touched the floor.
"...my savior." She swooned, fanning herself.
Closer, I examined her fine silk covered hand and skin color that gave way to her unique name...Peach.
"Tell me." She started, looking up at my hat.
The curiosity in her expression was nearly tangible. I could tell that in some way, she was intrigued.
"What does the 'M' stand for?"
I stood her up with all the strength that I could. I was fairly certain that had she not been weighted with the slew of evident emotion, her feather-light body would surely have floated away.
I wasn't even near her height. In fact, I was only somewhere around 4" 3'. One would say that I was a midget.
"Mario" I responded.
Her shined lips reflected importance as she silently mouthed my name as if to remember it.
Her lips were beautiful indeed and for a second, I thought how ironic it was that for something that spoke so many words, they could just as easily steal them from others.
"Mario, is it?" She affirmed.
"Yes, Mario."
She pulled the white glove from her right hand and extended a parting to me. The fact that she felt the need to remove her glove was something of epic significance. In ways, to be graced with the princess' true touch, was to have gained the ultimate approval.
"Well, thank you again; you have...been much help today." She said. "You are welcome to stay a while longer. Some friends and I are about to play tennis...maybe a little golf. You can play as well, commoner...I mean, Mario."
Commoner...how that word would always snap a person to reality. It reminded those of us in the kingdom just how insignificant we were. That for not having been born with power, we were doomed to cushion the soles of those who were. That
word…that word.
"It's okay, Princess. I know my place. I need rest, so good-bye."
I turned my back and headed from the castle. I felt her stare me down as I walked. It was the easiest way to exit without displaying how foolish I had been.
How dare she ask me something like that? How would I look, prancing around the castle like nobility? Even she said it herself. I was just a commoner. Of course, I wanted to say, "Yes" but I knew that a person like me could never be a true friend to her. I'd probably end up using her in the end.
I arrived home, tired as possible. The 8pm moon brought peace to the night as it cast a twilight sparkle. I felt like it would be a restful night.
After parking my kart in the garage, I went into my room and plopped on the bed nearly clothed fully. It was a day to remember. So much so, that I fell asleep and dreamt of Princess Peach herself.
A few days later, I woke to a beautiful morning. The birds serenaded me from bed and the heat from Dry Dry Desert seemed to have swept its way in, but nothing too scorching. I stepped outside to collect the morning paper, when Parakarry, the mail currier, came rushing my way.
"Howdy, Mario." he said. "Looks like you've got an admirer."
I remember Parakarry. He'd often wear aviation attire to effectively distinguish himself from the others of his Koopa race.
"Hey, hey, Parakarry, looks like you got the job!" I exclaimed.
Rubbing the back of his head, he put my assumption to silence.
"No, this is just field training. I'm not actually an employee until I've finished one week in this part of town, but someday I want to travel the entire kingdom, delivering letters."
"I'd say you're halfway there. Now then, about this admirer…?"
He grabbed an envelope from his brown bag.
"Just check it out. I gotta finish my route. We'll talk later if I have the chance."
He flew off, leaving me with the chance to read the letter.
The envelope was astonishing. It had golden crusted ink, written with a frame of flowers. My name was centered in bold cursive. I removed the letter, careful not to destroy the envelope. It even smelled nice. It read,
Dear Mario,
Please come to the castle. I've
baked a cake for you. Yours truly
– –Princess Toadstool
PEACH
"Yahoo!" I shouted, jumping high into the air. "I've gotta get ready!"
I swiftly ran inside and showered. I figured that I would put on another of my red and blue work uniform so that after I left the castle, I could go straight to my job.
When taking my shower, I made sure to scrub only the essentials so that I could speed my time. With my shower complete, I dripped dry, tossed my clothes on, and finished the remainder of my hygienic duties. I was ready to go.
Typically, I'd take my kart everywhere I went, but being a plumber, I knew of an underground route that lead from my place directly to the princess' castle.
So down the tunnel I went and into the grime and filth. The putrid smells were not to make my traveling easy.
"Goodness! I just took a bath. Now what?" I thought to myself how stupid it was for me to take a tunnel, knowing where I was going. Still, I had to hurry. I didn't know how long she had been waiting for me.
After minutes of crawling through the crud, I could see light. "Finally" As I inched closer, something red and white caught my eye in the periphery.
"Is that..." I thought "a mushroom!" Regardless of the smell, I needed to eat it. Being taller would only help smooth things along. "Yes!" I shouted after eating it. "It was a rare one! With this, I can stand at 5"4' for days...no...months!"
That said, I exited from the other side of the tunnel. On the other side, I was greeted by a Lakitu, who began to film me aloft his cloud.
"Um...hello?" I tentatively said to him.
"Ciao! You've reached Princess Toadstool's castle using a pipe. Just to let you know, jumping and attacking might be something useful here."
Confounded at the cloud-wearing Koopa's words, I stepped closer and tilted my head upward at his camera.
"Attacking? Why would I need to do a thing like that?"
"Just keep it moving, you'll see. I'm gonna film you along the way. I hope you don't mind."
"That's a bit creepy. Why?"
"It's for a journalism project…official castle business."
I looked in his camera lens, imagining the idea of being filmed.
"I don't mind. In fact, I like the idea! Just no embarrassing stuff."
The Lakitu agreed and we both continued on to the castle bridge. As I approached, the Lakitu cut off my movements, circling around me.
"Good afternoon." he said, holding the camcorder in front my face. "Lakitu Brother here, reporting live from just outside the princess' castle. Mario has just arrived on the scene and, and we'll be filming the action live as he enters the castle and pursues the missing Power Stars."
I looked up at the floating Lakitu in dumbness.
"What do you mean, 'missing'? What is this? You better be telling me everything."
"Oh?" The Lakitu said sarcastically. "Did I not say?"
"Those power of those stars keep this land in good condition." He ignored me and I continued walking into the castle.
Upon entrance, chills ran through my bones as a random and creepy voice said,
"Welcome, no one's home, now scram! And don't come back."
Afterward, a sinister laugh drifted into the shadows. I had my reservations about even continuing. Something felt different than when I was there a few days before.
"Lakitu!" I shouted "What's going on. Tell me everything now!"
He began to shake in apprehension. "Well, um...the princess has gone missing and the sta-."
"Missing!" I interrupted.
"We need to move fast."
I turned a cold back to the Lakitu as he continued filming. The waxed and checkered floor reflected the footsteps that began echoes throughout the grand hall.
I didn't want to believe that it could've happened so soon. I thought that I'd have heard about something so awful. I had to find her. I went to every door I could in the grand hall, but none would open.
"Damn! What is this?" I glanced over and saw a mushroom-headed boy and he came cowering to me.
"Am I glad to see you! The princess...and I...well, everybody! We're all trapped in the castle."
"Trapped?" I asked. "Can't you just leave?"
Looking into the boy's eyes. I realized that he was the same boy that paid me when I last visited the castle. They had the same child-like glow.
"Bowser stole the power stars." He said. "He's using their power to create worlds inside of the walls and paintings. We are afraid to move anywhere." I pat him on the head.
"Please...slow down." I requested. The child began to weep. "I remember you. You're that attendant" I said.
"Please recover the power stars. As you find them, you can use them to open doors Bowser has sealed. There are four rooms on the first floor. Start in the room with the painting of the Bob-omb. It's the only room he has yet to seal on this floor."
I began walking toward the mentioned door.
"Thanks, kid! You've been a lot of help."
"Wait!" He shouted. "Once you've collected eight power stars, you should be able to enter the door with the big star on it. The princess has to be in there!" Again, I thanked him and continued in the castle.
"So whaddaya think, Lakitu?"
"I trust him. I just didn't think that things had gotten this bad. Anyway, we should move fast. The quicker we solve this, the higher my ratings."
I punched him for his lack of empathy for the situation.
"Damn Lakitu! Get up and let's go." He mercifully followed as I entered the room with the mentioned painting.
I felt like the longer I stayed there, the more sinister my heart was becoming. I was changing.
So into the room we came, and a gigantic picture of a Bob-omb hung. I walked up to the painting and tried to climb the wall into it.
"Well that's just great!" I shouted. "How am I supposed to get in the painting? It's too high up."
"Well," the Lakitu began, "perhaps you need a running start."
I snapped my glove-covered fingers and said, "Genius!" I jogged to the furthermost opposite of the painting and began panting in fear.
"If I can manage this, Lakitu," I said, "keep that camera on. If I happen to die as the only person who tried saving the princess, you just might be recording a legend."
I was still afraid that I wouldn't really be able to enter the painting, but I had no time to consider that possibility. Pushing my uneasiness aside, I ran toward the painting and at the last second, I sprang into it.
Remembering the day, I had only gone there to drink tea and have cake with the princess. Maybe I would have stayed for an hour or two, but no one could have known how long I would really be there - the horrors that took my life when I sat foot beyond the castle door.