Rose Maria Toadstool was born with not a care in the world. And what else was there to be expected? After all, she was none other than the daughter of Mario and Peach Toadstool! When her parents married each other many years ago, they became King and Queen of the Mushroom Kingdom, making Rose a Princess.

But then again, I say "many years ago" like Mario and Peach had said their vows eighty or a hundred years ago. In reality, it had only been a little more than twenty- five years ago, when Peach was twenty-three years old and Mario was twenty- one. Peach discovered that she was expecting shortly thereafter, and that was when Rose's story began.

The whole kingdom was abuzz about the "new Princess" and it seemed as if it was the only thing they were able to talk about during the nine months of Peach's pregnancy. One question was often wondered; would Rose follow in her father's footsteps, protecting the kingdom and fighting off enemies in his place, or would she fit into the more traditional role and become a beautiful Princess, just like Peach was, and had always been?

"She'll be like her Dad, for sure," some would say. "It'll be inevitable, with the great influence he will definitely have on her. She'll probably rebel against her mother's 'proper princess' rules and go out to fight as soon as she can. She'll probably resent being a princess with all her heart."

"No, she's going to be the next Princess Peach," others would argue. "I bet she'll be twice as beautiful, if that is even possible, and she will be raised as a royal extraordinaire from a very young age, to the point where she doesn't know another life. She'll rule the Mushroom Kingdom well as a regal Queen one day."

All these questions and ponderings continued even after Rose was born.

"Look at her with her old man!" people would say, pointing at released or leaked photographs of her with her father. "See, I told you, he's already influencing her. Looks like we'll be having a new protector for the Kingdom very soon. ... Are those overalls she's wearing?"

And once again, others would respond, "What a lovely, beautiful young Princess we have been given! In those lacy dresses her mother's bringing her out in, she looks like true Mushroom Kingdom royalty."

Mario and Peach cherished their daughter with the most intense intensity they could manage, muster or imagine. After all, she had all of their best qualities. From a very young age it was visible that the young girl had Mario's adventurous spirit and nearly uncrackable bravery, and yet also Peach's royal put- togetherness, beauty, intelligence, and elegance.

Another reason for which Rose was so important to the Kingdom was because her parents had basically retired their old roles. Mario never resigned, but it seemed that Bowser had, and no other enemy threatened the Kingdom, for some reason. With Peach no longer getting kidnapped, Mario no longer needed to save her, and so they lived happily and peacefully in the castle, raising their young daughter as a true royal descendant for reasons they couldn't deny.
There were rumors - likely rumors - that Bowser was training and raising his children, specifically Bowser Jr., in a similar fashion - to take on his old role later in life. In fact, his other children had flocked around different parts of his Kingdom, living a somewhat more independent life while Junior's life was focused on being the next Bowser.

Had Junior been opposed to being the next Bowser, his life would surely had been an unspeakable misery thanks to his father's training - but that was not the case. Junior was eager, nearly prepared, and full of youthful zest. He was very young, but when he would reach the age of sixteen or seventeen, Bowser had decided, he would probably be ready. Be ready to be the next big threat that his father once had been.

But that was not all. Luigi and Daisy had also married, and, as a newlywed couple, resolved to move to Sarasaland and be King and Queen in the castle there. Since they had married somewhat later than Mario and Peach, they did not have any children yet, but were planning to, and this new and promising expansion of the family would also, no doubt, play a large role in everyone's lives.

But I digress. I will bring the reader back to Princess Rose, who, as years passed, eventually came upon fourteen years of age. Her birthday was in the month of May, just as the excitement for summer was starting to slowly but surely blossom. At this time, her parents were amazed. They could not have been more proud of her; she was exceeding all of their expectations.

First of all, Rose was stunningly beautiful. She had clear, expressive, and mesmerizing blue eyes that looked like pools of silky and cooling water on a hot day. These eyes were framed with long, thick eyelashes and arched eyebrows. Her cheeks were the perfect rosy color, and her skin was light, soft, and smooth. Her lips were like a spring rosebud, of a slightly brighter pink. She was, indeed, her mother's daughter in that department. Her face was sweet and innocent- looking, yet packed with charisma and lovely emotion. Her hair was long, reaching practically to her waist, and it was a rich dark-chocolate brown color, silky, thick, shiny, and smooth. It fell in elegant bouncy curls, and felt almost unreal to the touch - that was just how perfect it was.

Rose's personality was also quite enviable. She was brave, but full of rationality. She would never jump into a strange situation unprepared. She was passionate, but not overly emotional. In fact, she was rather calm and she let logic play a role in her moods as well, which was very admirable. She was humorous and very entertaining, but not to the extent where she became some kind of a circus animal. She was popular, but she was always modest and kind. Rose really had a heart of gold as well; she would never look away from someone in need.

She was also very successful. It seemed that whatever she did, she would succeed at it. She was fit, and a fast runner; she had nearly perfect grades; she was quick to respond properly in emergencies. She read thick books and finished them quickly; she had a strong memory and was full of useful knowledge. She was respectful, and yet she was admired. She seemed to be able to instantly professionally play any instrument she lay her hands on, and had the voice of a nightingale. She was practically a prodigy ...

All in all, Princess Rose dazzled the entire kingdom. The townsfolk knew that Mario and Peach's daughter would be quite the gem, but they didn't expect such a shining star of a diamond. Rose knew she was respected, so she carried herself with pride, but never self-centeredness.

"I always have room to improve," she would say. "I always have more things that I can do to make my parents, and my Kingdom, proud. I know my future is bright and active, and I want to be prepared for the things to come."

When such wise things passed Rose's lips, it was hard to believe that she was simply a fourteen-year-old Princess. Mario and Peach were extremely confident that Rose would make both a successful protector of the kingdom and an ideal Princess or Queen.

"What future do you want, Rosie?" They would sometimes ask her. "Your father's, or your mother's?"

"We shall see what my destiny holds," she would respond. "Fate will help me decide."

In the meantime, however, with no great threat to the Kingdom currently present, Rose would be Princess Rose Maria by day, executing royal duties practically flawlessly and leaving crowds in awe, but when her "work day" was over, and she had finished her lessons with her tutors, daily responsibilites, and more, she would come to spend time with her parents in the relaxed atmosphere of the twilight castle.

It was then, with her parents, that she was their Rosie, when they praised her and loved her, or gently suggested things that she could do better at - which she always listened to attentively. It was during one of those evenings that Mario asked her, "Rosie, have you heard the rumors about Bowser and Bowser Junior?"
A worried expression quickly overcame Rose's face, yet in the most delicate manner. "I believe I have," she said. "Is this about Bowser training Junior to become the next big threat?"

"Yes," her mother nodded, with a strikingly similar expression and voice. "We're worried about you, dear. Because I no longer am what I was so many years ago, and neither is your father, you are the new Princess. We're worried that Bowser Junior would kidnap you and there would be no one to help."

Rose looked onto her parents' faces. They both still had their charisma and old personalities about them, but their hair was greying, and wrinkles creased their faces - some slight, some deeper. And, after all, she had just turned fourteen years old last month, for it was the gleeful month of June. Summer was beginning. And yet, what did this mean for Bowser's dark kingdom? This meant opportunity, as much as it meant a good rest to Rose. She looked downwards. She seemed to be full of thought, then looked up with a look of determination on her face.

"Mom, Dad, I won't fail you, you know that. If I cannot save myself, someone else will come around to do it, but I doubt that I am so undertrained. Dad, you've been coaching me since I was a very young girl. Am I not on my path to becoming some kind of, well, you?" she asked.

Mario nodded slowly, realizing and taking in what his daughter was saying.

"And Mom. Pardon me, but I have learned from your mistakes, as you have asked me to, and I will not repeat them. Our Kingdom has taken many more preucations that will help if Bowser's old power and reign returns. Is it not the new generation's task to continue their parents' destinies?"

Peach smiled. "I can see that we have raised you well," she said. "You are truly fit to be both of us until a more convenient situation comes along. And no matter what happens, you're always fit to be royalty."

"I just hope it isn't gonna be Bowser's royalty," Mario muttered. "We must remember why Bowser even wanted to kidnap your mother in the first place, Rosie."

Rose shivered. Her, married to Bowser Junior? That would be horrid! She would be devastated, to say the least. What if she would suffer the fate her mother had managed to avoid, what if - No, no, no. It was not going to happen. She would not be married to Bowser Junior, it simply could not be.

All she managed was a quiet nod.

"Life will test me soon," she said. "and so, I must study for it."

Then she stood and walked in the direction of her rooms.