Peach desperately wanted to scream for help but the gag stifled her efforts. All she could do was watch and wait as the tall figure approached her, his face concealed behind a mask. She bowed her head and turned away from him in fear, a single tear rolling down her cheek.
L put his hand under Peach's and gently tilted her face so she was looking directly into his blue eyes. "Don't be afraid." L coaxed as he used his thumb to wipe away her tear. "I promise I will not harm you."
Peach looked into his eyes and felt an unexpected sense of comfort.
"You two." L focused on his two Koopa cohorts. "Create a distraction. I need to get her out of here without being seen."
The two Koopas obeyed L and kicked down the door. The sound echoed loudly throughout the castle corridor and sent guards charging down the hall. The Koopas ran into the hall and initiated an elaborate chase through the castle's interior.
L gently picked Peach up from the floor and held her in his arms. He carried her to the window and looked down at the giant leap he'd have to take. "You may want to hold on."
Peach, unable to move her arms used her hands to grip the folds of his black shirt.
Standing on the window ledge L took one giant step and jumped high into the air, even higher than Mario and easily landed on his feet on the soft grass below. Running through the garden L easily evaded the sight of all the guards and warriors who were focused on the swarming squadron of Koopas outside the castle gates and trying to locate the two Koopas inside the castle itself.
Mario himself was leading the guards against the Koopa squadrons. He directed the loyal Toads to keep a perimeter around the castle grounds while he easily jumped onto the backs of the Koopas and sent them flying.
As L crossed the border of the castle grounds he let out a loud whistle to signal the squadron to fall back.
Mario also heard the whistle and realized that the Koopa invasion was a distraction. And it worked. "Where's Toadsworth?"
The royal ward cautiously approached the heroic red plumber. "I am here Master Mario!"
"Where's the Princess?!"
"The Princess?! She should be locked safely away in the guest room, where we last left here."
Mario looked back at the castle as the two Koopas ran through the doors and past the guards. "What were they doing in the castle?"
Without another word Mario dashed into the castle.
L carried Peach across the fields and pathways that lay between the Mushroom Kingdom and Bowser's dominion. Peach was afraid of the events that were sure to unfold, but she was strangely unafraid of her abductor. There was something about him that she felt was all too familiar.
"We'll be at Bowser's Castle soon, Princess." L informed her casually. "It's not as elegant as your own castle, but it is home."
L carried her up a steep rock hill and on the other side stood Bowser's Castle. The structure's ominous design emanated a sense of foreboding and dread. The molten lava moat that encircled the castle created an intense heat and stench of the escaping sulfur from the nearby volcanoes was almost too much to bear.
"Home." L remarked dryly.
Mario was on his knees in the center of the guest room. There was no sign of Peach. Small jagged splinters from the broken door surrounded the depressed hero.
"Master Mario." Toadsworth quietly approached. "Please do not blame yourself. We are all responsible for the well being of the Princess. We are all to blame."
"I should've stayed with her. I should've been here to protect her."
"You had no reason to believe that she was going to be targeted. How could you know of such a dire plot?"
"She was counting on me, Toadsworth. And I failed."
"You are but one man Master Mario. You cannot possibly be everywhere at once."
"No, but I should be able to protect the person dearest to me." Mario picked up the small splinters of wood and tossed them across the room. "How am I supposed to protect an entire kingdom?"
"Well done my boy!" Kamek praised L as he entered the castle, Peach still in his arms. "You brought the Princess and she is without damage."
Peach tightened her grip on L's shirt as Kamek hovered close.
"Take her to the dungeon. She'll be of no nuisance if she's in chains."
"Very well." L agreed. "When does the invasion begin?"
"Soon." Kamek answered with a somewhat angry tone.
"What is Bowser waiting for?" L knew Bowser didn't like his involvement in the war.
"He's being stubborn. But the invasion will destroy the Mushroom Kingdom before sunrise."
Peach turned away from Kamek and buried her face in L's shoulder to conceal her fear and tears.
L wasn't expecting this kind of reaction. He looked at the trembling Princess in his arms with confusion. "I will take her to the dungeon. It appears she is already tired of your company, Kamek."
Mario was leaning on the window balcony that had been the escape route used by Peach's abductor. He stared blankly at the sun as it slowly began to set in the distance. Below the balcony, sprawled across the castle grounds stood the numerous Toad troops and guards. Each Toad carried a shield and a spear, ready for the inevitable battle.
"Master Mario?" Toadsworth joined Mario at the balcony, the map of the Mushroom Kingdom in his hand. "The troops have been rallied. We need you, sir. Are you ready?"
Mario took the map and pulled his cap down over his eyes. "As ready as I'll ever be. Let's go."
...to be continued...