Shadow of Doubt: Mafia in the Mushroom Kingdom
Day 6: Culmination
Point of View- Peach
In the foyer of Princess Peach's elaborate castle, four dined on eggs and steak. They were consumed by fear and mistrust of one another, each one darting their eyes quickly around the room as if they were searching for an exit. But there was none, no exit to be found. The people of the Mushroom Kingdom knew as much about the mafia as the rest did, the whole kingdom sealed from top to bottom and there was no way of escape.
Surveying her three dining partners, Princess Peach eyed each one with different doses of suspicion than the last. Mario, her love, the man who had fearlessly rescued her on several occasions, did not waver in her eyes. She trusted him completely, albeit the fact he had carried out all of the lynches. But Mario was a man she could trust, and she knew in her heart of hearts he was a man of stalwart bravery.
Then there was Rosalina, the mystic seer who had on more than one occasion doused herself with a reasonable amount of suspicion. What had she done the first few days, when no one had accompanied her to the observatory? Was she plotting murder from high in the sky, or was she truly watching on her friends from outer space? Those were questions Peach could not answer, she did not know how. But one thing she was certain of was that Rosalina could very well be the godfather they were looking for.
Yoshi, on the other hand, had been a shell of his former self ever since Birdo had taken the plunge into the dark realms of death. Her death was nobler than any thus far, despite Waluigi fessing for his sins, Birdo had been truly penitent. Waluigi, on the other hand, had simply accepted his loss, but hadn't showed any signs of remorse. Yoshi was weak, but kept his spirits high enough to where he could investigate thoroughly.
Peach watched each one, but her mind was not thinking of them too heavily. Her thoughts were scattered, primarily wondering where Luigi and DK were. Toadsworth had insisted, that after the last court, the guests should take different rooms, and guards were stationed in front of each chamber. Peach could not disagree, for it was a sound idea. However, it also meant Mario did not know where his brother was at this exact moment.
"He'll be down soon," Mario nodded, "I know it."
"I'm sure they're both fine," Yoshi murmured, his voice a ghost of its former cheer.
"There's no way anything could've happened to either of them," Rosalina said matter-of-factly, "There are guards now, and we're all safe inside the castle."
"Wario wasn't," Mario couldn't help but blurt out, fearing the worst for his brother. However, Peach had decreed none of them were to leave the table in search of the others, for wandering around the castle alone could make one a victim of a crime, or a plotter of one.
"Please!" Peach slammed her hand on the table, "Please," she said more delicately this time, "Do not bring up Wario. I have…I have had to tell the staff to replace the oven…do not make think about it."
"I'm sorry, Princess," Mario excused himself a bit too formally.
"So, I suppose we just wait here until one of them arrives?" Yoshi asked, his eyes sunken and weary.
"What more can we do?" Rosalina questioned the green dinosaur, "We're all mice. Running on a wheel, trapped in our cages. We've nowhere to go, ever since the princess sealed the kingdom."
"Do not blame Peach!" Mario attacked the cosmic woman, "This is not her fault!"
"Mario, please," Peach held up a gloved hand, "I do not wish for this fighting to continue. If we are to find this final member, we must do so as a team."
"A team!" Yoshi laughed, throwing his napkin on the table, "You think we're a fucking team?"
"Master Yoshi!" Toadsworth waved his cane, barreling down the stairs, "I must ask you to refrain from some language in the presence of the princess!"
"It's fine, Toadsworth," Peach replied, about to say more, but Yoshi cut her off.
"Fine? No, princess, get your head out of your perfect little clouds, because nothing is fine. All of our friends are dead, dying, or plotting to murder us. Nothing is fine! So stop acting like this is something we can escape!"
"I didn't ask for this!" Peach screamed, blood rushing to her face. No one had seen this side of, not even Toadsworth. The steward didn't' say a word, and Yoshi was a bit stunned.
"Peach," Mario made a move to comfort her, while Rosalina took a bite of steak, throughouly entertained.
"Don't touch me, Mario!" Peach spat, swatting his hand away, "None of you, touch me. Don't lay a hand on me, don't come near me! I'll figure this out for myself!" Peach stormed away from the breakfast table, walking towards the stairs. She had made it halfway to the foot of the staircase when a deafening crash roared across the room. The monarch whipped around, gasping at what she saw. Clutching a gloved hand to her mouth, she screamed in horror.
As did Rosalina, whose breakfast of steak and eggs was now occupied by the head of a murdered monkey. Limbs covered the breakfast table, unfurled atop a tan sack. A burlap bag, large enough to hold a body, had been suspended high above the breakfast table, so high up no one had made a point to tilt their neck to observe the ceiling, as no one normally does in a castle of such proportion.
Rosalina backed up on the floor, staring at the carnage with wide eyes. Mario and Yoshi were stupefied, and instead of watching and waiting, Toadsworth ran to the princess, making sure she was alright. But on the breakfast table, dismembered and covered in hacks and slashes, was the gored body of Donkey Kong.
Nobody said a word, there was nothing to be said. DK had been killed, and then there were five. Bolting up the stairs, with unprecedented alacrity, Mario called his brother's name, searching for Luigi in the castle.
"Mario!" Yoshi yelled, chasing after his friend. Mario ran up the stairs, wondering where his brother was, panic setting in.
"Miss Rosalina, please," Toadsworth extended a hand, helping Rosalina to her feet. The steward ushered both women into the tea room, making sure someone would arrive to clean the scene and wash the setting free of sin. While Toadsworth comforted the princesses, Mario tore about the halls, quickly being overwhelmed by the faster and younger Yoshi.
"Mario!" Yoshi caught him, "Stop! Let's search for him together, panicking won't do any good!"
"Thank you, Yoshi," Mario nodded, joining his friend in search for his brother.
Peach stared out of the tea room window, wondering how long it would be until she met her demise. Rosalina wept into a handkerchief, having worked with DK previously in the investigations. Despite his awkward profession of love for her, and the manner in which she had been caught in a dastardly love triangle that culminated in the deaths of both Waluigi and DK, Rosalina had treasured him as a friend.
"Wha…what are we going to do!?" Rosalina cried, not being able to keep her composure like normal. Ten of them were dead, fifteen people had begun this game of life and death, and now just five friends remained. One of them was guilty, a mastermind murderer, while four were innocent. But how much more blood would be spilled before they had a chance to catch the criminal.
"I don't know," Peach said flatly, not a hint of emotion in her voice.
"Come on," Rosalina pleaded, "You're the spectacular Princess Peach!" Venomous sarcasm was detected in her tone, and Peach sighed.
"I didn't ask for this," Peach said sadly.
"I think you did," Rosalina spat, "I think you're the one we're looking for. I mean for Christ's sake, Peach, you sealed the kingdom. You have access to all the money in the kingdom, and you called us all here that first night. What if we had said no, what if we had fled the kingdom? Would our friends still be alive if we hadn't listened to you?"
"Please," Peach tried to get Rosalina to stop.
"Or did you set us up?" Rosalina laughed hysterically, "Did you call us to this castle to kill us all one by one? Did you do this!?"
Peach smiled, laughing to herself. Carefully, she removed one of her gloves, white and lacey. Then, she rose from her chair, turned from the window to face Rosalina, and strode over to the woman. Taking her bare hand, she slapped Rosalina across the face.
"Princess!" Toadsworth boomed.
Rosalina looked up at Peach, her jaw having dropped.
"Get the hell out of my castle," Peach spat, literally, on Rosalina's dress.
Rosalina was stunned, she couldn't move.
"I said," Peach got close to her face, "Get the hell out of my castle."
Rosalina rose and swept out of the room, running into the hall. She made it to the foyer, and shoved upon the large gilded doors, sliding out into the sunshine and disappearing from sight.
"Princess Peach! In all of my years…," Toadsworth began, but he was cut off.
"If she so as much comes close to this castle, with the exception of Mushroom Court late this evening, you tell those guards to cut her down," Peach instructed to Toadsworth, malevolence in her gaze. Toadsworth was petrified by this princess, and he hurried out of the room, going to do her bidding.
As Toadsworth exited, three more entered. Mario and Yoshi, carrying Luigi, deposited the man in green on the couch.
"My God, what happened to him?" Peach gasped.
"Where's Rosalina?" Yoshi countered.
Peach steeled herself for the answer, "Rosalina was banished from the castle."
"E-excuse me?" Yoshi knit his eyebrows, not buying it.
"I said," Peach breathed hotly, "Rosalina is gone. She's a traitor to her kingdom, and she has been banished from the castle, and if she survives this grisly ordeal, she will be banished from the kingdom."
"You've got to be kidding," Yoshi slapped his face, "What did she do? Use her salad fork for her steak?"
"Do not test me Yoshi," Peach spoke with an iron tone, something none of them had heard before, "Or I will have to take the same measures against you."
"You've gone insane," Yoshi breathed, "Ever since you sealed this kingdom, I don't know about you."
"He's awake!" Mario interjected, hovering over Luigi.
"Mamma Mia," Luigi said, rubbing his forehead, "Where am I?"
"In the tea room," Peach explained, "What happened to him?"
"He couldn't come down for breakfast, because someone had locked his door," Mario explained.
"Those doors can't lock from the outside," Peach responded.
"I know," Mario sighed, "The door had been tampered with. Someone locked it, I don't know how, but Luigi couldn't escape his room. It wouldn't have mattered anyway, he had been knocked out with a candlestick."
"What?" Peach was surprised, "What purpose would knocking out Luigi serve?"
"Because I knew DK was dead," Luigi remembered, his eyes widening, "I remember it all so clearly know."
"Go on," Peach said, and Yoshi and Mario sat down, not having heard this part of the story.
"I awoke in the middle of the night, thirsty as ever," Luigi recalled, "I knocked on my door, asking the guards for a glass of water. But, no one answered. I undid the lock, opened my door, and saw the guards had gone. I didn't think going downstairs would do much harm, I was very thirsty, you know. So, as I crept down the halls, I saw someone stuffing something in a large burlap bag."
"That's what…that's what DK was in," Yoshi recalled, his eyes watering.
"The person didn't see me, at least I thought they didn't. I crept back to my room, settled myself in bed, and had trouble falling asleep. In the morning, I got out of bed, and then everything went black," Luigi remembered.
"Someone must've been hiding in your room," Mario pointed out, "They crept in while you were sleeping, and hid in the room, striking you when you woke up."
"That's plausible," Peach nodded, "But what doesn't make sense is how the guards disappeared. Where could they have gone?"
"Ring for Toadsworth," Peach nodded to Mario, who obeyed. He pressed a button on the wall, which chimed across the castle. Soon, Toadsworth entered the room.
"Yes, my lady," Toadsworth nodded.
"Who was scheduled to guard Luigi last night," Peach asked of her steward.
"Let's see," Toadsworth tapped his brown-speckled cap, "Russ T. and Loff T. were tasked to guard Luigi from dusk until dawn."
"And where are they now?" Peach asked.
"They haven't shown for detail, yet, madam," Toadsworth replied, "Did they do something wrong?"
"Luigi requested a glass of water in the middle of the night, and his guards had disappeared. Someone had attacked him in his room this morning," Peach explained.
"Good gracious," Toadsworth gasped, "Master Luigi, are you alright?"
"I'm fine, Toadsworth, just a bit confused," Luigi answered the old man, "But, DK is dead, really?"
"Yes," Peach nodded, "I'm afraid so."
"Oy vey," Luigi cried, "When will this stop!?"
"Luigi," Peach got close to him, "Did you see who was stuffing the bag last night," Peach asked the man.
Luigi gulped, nodding slightly. He looked back and forth between Yoshi and Mario, and then barely above a whisper said, "Rosalina."
Location- Comet Observatory
High above the clouds, in the black reaches of outer space, Rosalina switched the dials and cranks in the engine room for escape. It didn't matter if Mushroom City had been sealed, she could still access the portal to the Comet Observatory, and she could escape to the far reaches of space.
She had had enough, she didn't buy the mafia's threats. She was going to escape, for what did it matter anyway. If she died trying, at least she had tried. The course was set, and the engines on the comet observatory roared to life.
Location- Mushroom Court
Running outside of the castle, the group of four looked up in the sky as the Comet Observatory slowly made its way across the sea of blue.
"She's trying to escape, that murderer!" Peach cried, looking up in the sky.
"We can't stop her," Yoshi bawled, "She's getting away!"
"This is terrible," Mario sighed, "After all of this, the murderer will escape!?"
"I knew I should've stopped her then," Luigi sighed, "But I was so scared!"
Each of them stated their grievances, each of them cursing the cosmic beauty as the Comet Observatory sailed across the sky, picking up momentum before it blasted off. Rosalina had been a friend, a true wondrous beauty, always assisting them. Little had they known she would pick off their friends one by one, in an act of vengeance.
Or so they thought, before the Comet Observatory exploded.
It was sudden, unprecedented. They had discovered their murderer, each one knowing who was responsible for the diabolical acts. But as piece after piece of metal rained down from the sky and crashed all over Mushroom City, landing on rooftops, crushing stalls, showering the streets in pieces of rainbow metal. The brilliant feat of engineering, the Comet Observatory, was no more. And with that, neither was Rosalina.
Mario was the first to react, whipping on the other three with contempt in his eyes.
"It's one of you!" He cried, pointing at the three who stood in front of him, tears streaming down his face, "It's my brother, my lover, or my best friend! One of you is a murderer!"
"Mario!" Yoshi cried, reaching for his friend, but Mario recoiled, backing up.
"Don't come near me," Mario shrieked, "None of you come near me!"
"Bro," Luigi pleaded, reaching out for Mario, but his brother Mario tore off down the street, running away. Yoshi made a move to chase him, but Peach stopped him.
"Let him go," Peach murmured softly, "I think we all could use some alone time."
"This is it then?" Yoshi looked between Luigi and Peach, "It's one of us? It really is."
"I'm afraid so," Luigi kicked the ground, "I don't believe it. I would've never guessed it was any of you."
"It might not be any of us," Yoshi pointed out, "It could be Mario."
"Don't," Peach eyed the dinosaur, "Do not accuse him. He is a hero."
"He was a hero," Yoshi pointed out, "He could be a villain now. He could've gotten sick of always saving your behind. So he lashed out, he gathered our friends who thought they had something to repay and struck us down!"
"Stop!" Peach cried, turning around and walking away, into the heart of the city.
"Do not follow me," Peach instructed, "I am off to investigate. If there is any clue left in this wretched city, I am going to find it."
Location- Mario's House
Peach knew if there was any evidence pointing to Mario or Luigi, she would find it in their house. These two men, the brothers, were her closest friends in the entire kingdom, they had done so much for her, but she was certain it was one of them. She had ruled out the green dinosaur, Yoshi.
It makes little sense, she thought, for Yoshi to be a member of the mafia. If that were true, Yoshi would've been in complicity with Birdo, and he would've known she would die. Perhaps he could've acted for a day or two, but the raw emotion and display of bitter regret he showed now was enough to convince her of his innocence. Whereas Luigi had been shocked by Daisy's death, Peach didn't see as much sadness in him as she had seen in Yoshi in the beginning stages of their deaths. She was sure Yoshi was innocent.
So, Peach had made up her mind, trespassing or no, that she would investigate the wooden cottage Mario and Luigi lived in north of Toad Town. Located in the heart of Mushroom City, Peach entered the pipe the shot her into the reclusive forest where the brothers lived, and as she emerged on the other side, she saw the door to the place was busted open.
"Oh my," the princess raised a gloved hand to her mouth, peering into the cottage. Someone had broken in, but who? As she crept inside, she couldn't help but feel as if the perpetrator was long gone, so she was careful, but her guard was lowered.
Nothing had been touched, whoever broke into this place hadn't taken anything, or not anything she could see at the moment. The fine oak table, the dishes, the cutlery, anything of value was still where it should be. Pictures hung on the wall, from tennis tournaments, kart races, parties, all of it made Peach cry. She sat down at the oak table, clutching a photo of Mario toting a tennis trophy, flanked by his supportive friends cheering for him.
Her tears hit the picture, and if it hadn't been covered in a glass frame, the picture would've been ruined. Hanging the photo back up, Peach made her way deeper into the tiny cottage, crossing from the dining room into the back bedroom, the only other room of the house. For being such an acclaimed hero, Mario and Luigi lived modestly.
Peach didn't notice anything out of the ordinary, and almost left until the noticed how the carpet was raised on one corner. It was a very acute observation, you'd have to be looking for it, but Peach's eyes caught in by chance. Kneeling down, she pulled back the carpet, viewing a line in the floor. She continued to rip up the carpet, working quickly. In a matter of moments, she had discovered a cut out in the floor, a secret passage that led to a basement. Gasping, the princess opened the trap door, and saw a ladder.
She steeled herself. If any evidence were to be found in this cottage, it would be in here. Lowering herself onto the ladder, she wrapped her dress in her first and tried to not trip on it. Once she made it all the way down the ladder, she scrutinized the basement, it was dark.
Peach fumbled for a light switch, but found none. She stumbled in the dark, looking for some source of light. Luckily, her hand found a lantern, and she switched the gas on, causing light to flood into the room.
There wasn't much, save a table and a chair. It looked like someone just came down to here to sit. Peach wondered what this room was for, until her eyes landed on the green leather-bound journal resting on the table. She crossed over to it, and opened the first page.
Luigi's Diary
Peach felt ashamed, she shouldn't read Luigi's diary, but she couldn't help herself. What if there were a clue to be found in this book? She wanted to read, she knew she might find something. Skimming over the book, she read yearnings to join Mario on his adventures, to be a better cook, to woo Daisy, until her eyes settled on something shocking.
December 19th, 2013- The Plan
It is with greatest regret that I write this, for I have come to a standstill in my life. It has lost meaning, it has lost purpose. I am nothing in comparison to my brother. I never will be. He outshines me in every aspect, sure I can jump higher, but only when I'm actually allowed to tag along. Mario has saved Peach countless times, but I've never saved Daisy. When Daisy was kidnapped, it was Mario who saved her, not me. I could've beat Tatanga, but I was too scared, I'm always too scared.
I always need help. I would've never rescued Mario from that mansion if E. Gadd hadn't helped me. Mario never needs help. What am I compared to my brother? A measly nothing. Nothing but a scared, helpless little baby brother who needs protection.
No more.
I can't take it anymore, I can't take this living horror. Waking up every day, knowing you're always going to be second fiddle. I can't live like this! So I have decided, with great regret, to go out with a bang. If I'm going to do it, I'm going to take everyone with me. I'm going to exact my revenge on those who have treated me miserably over the years. I'm going to show them how wrong they were to scorn me.
But I can't do it alone, and not everyone deserves to die, do they?
December 22nd, 2013- The Mafia
I have recruited four others, four friends of mine whom no one shall suspect as working with me. We have dubbed ourselves the mafia, a clever little name. A name that will be remembered.
I asked Waluigi first, he seemed like someone who would be up to it. He told me he was on board immediately. He's always hated this group of people it seems. Wario always picks on him, I stole Daisy from him, he's got nothing to live for. Excellent. With Waluigi by my side, I can do more, I can be more.
Then, Waluigi thought we should recruit Boo. Boo's a shifty one, and he wouldn't have any problem murdering the others. He was so excited, he claimed that this would get him back in line with King Boo. He even told the spectral king himself! King Boo was so pleased with us, he said Boo would become his right-hand man once the operation was over! Now Boo has something to live for, something to spill the blood of the others for. It's wonderful.
Toad was easy to recruit as well, he said he had always hated the princess. She paid them little, and always made them do her dirty work, never breaking a sweat he said. He wanted more in his life, he had aspired for dreams, but coming into Peach's service ruined him. Now he'll come into my service, and he'll always be remembered!
The final member of our group, the only woman. I thought if it were all guys, they might catch on, but Birdo was yet another easy sell. She's hated her life for some time. She's always wanted to be like Peach, Rosalina, and Daisy, but everyone's made fun of her looks. She's been scorned by her friends, heck, she's the only who isn't a princess out of them. She told me she's had enough of being under their caliber. She's ready to put her life to use.
December 23rd, 2013- The Plan
We'll wait until after Christmas, then, we'll take the hostages.
December 26th, 2013- The Kidnappings
We've done it! God, people trust others so openly! When we took audience of each of these fools, they welcomed us into their homes since we're such well-known do-gooders! It was such a piece of cake. We've got twelve hostages now! It's perfect! If those "friends" of ours don't commit to our game, then we'll just kill all the hostages! I've thought everything through!
December 28th, 2013- The Rules
Tonight, the invitations are being sent in the mail. I wonder who everyone will receive them. I think they'll pass them off as junk mail, don't you? Who am I even talking to? Am I going insane…maybe! Who cares? We'll all be dead soon anyway. But once we gather everyone together, we'll make them play our little game. Butchering them won't be any fun! We'll give them hope, make them think they have a chance! We'll allow them to catch us, one by one, because we want to die. Who doesn't? Who am I even talking to? Am I going insane…
December 29th, 2013- The Beginning
Mario locked the door! What an ass! I can't believe him! I had thought of everything but a spare key…how stupid am I? Well, that's why I'm doing this, isn't it? Because I'm stupid. Because I'm worthless. I had to break down my own front door to return to you, my sweet diary, my confession. For what's a murder without a great confession! Yes, they'll put this diary in museums! It'll be my magnum opus!
Peach brought everyone to the castle after we sent her the second letter, falling right into our trap. It was perfect! So perfect! Now they're all scared, all shaken up! It's perfect! Who will I kill first? Who won't give me the love and attention I deserve? Whose love do I deserve?
Daisy…
December 30th, 2013- The First Murder
I committed the first murder, I told the others that if this were my show, I'd be the opening act. Daisy was so pretty, so beautiful, like the flower she was named for. Too bad she had to die! She was nasty, obnoxious, she didn't return the love I heaped upon her! She deserved a guy like me, sweet and kind! But of course, she fell for Mario! Ugh! Why does Mario take everything from me! I HATE HIM.
December 31st, 2013- Boo
They killed Boo. Mario killed Boo. That son of a bitch. That stupid son of a bitch! All he does is ruin my fun! Whenever I try to do anything, he buts in! But that Dry Bones, Dry Bones did it. He cracked the case wide open! He's smarter than he lets on..
January 1st, 2014- The Second Murder
Dry Bones had it coming, he was such a hard worker! Well look what hard work gets you! It gets you dead! Hah! I'm hysterical!
January 1st, 2014- Derailment
Nothing is going as planned. Hammer Bro snapped. He played judge, jury, and executioner today. He killed Toad in broad daylight, in front of everyone! The Toadette basically committed suicide. I mean what a lousy bunch! Toadette's ruined our planed! But it doesn't matter…Toad wanted to die…yes, he asked to die…It's so beautiful….I can't wait to die…
January 2nd, 2014- Revenge
Waluigi killed Hammer Bro, Birdo couldn't bring herself to do it. She wasn't committed, she couldn't come through. So we laid a trail of crumbs, Waluigi and I, we made sure they would discover Birdo tonight. Sure enough, they got her! Sweet death…O Mother Death…I'll be there soon…mama…your baby is coming…mama
January 3rd, 2014- Fate
Waluigi was killed tonight. They murdered him. MARIO MURDERED HIM. He was committed, he was so resourceful. Waluigi killed Wario this morning, it was so…artistic. Wario got what he deserved, we put that glutton in the oven! Hah! How ironic is that, he loved food so much, we made him into some!
I wonder how he tasted….
January 4th, 2013- Peach
I expect the princess to find my diary today. I'm the only one left. In the morning, I shall tamper with door, locking it from the outside. I paid the guards 1,000 coins a piece to leave town. Who is Peach kidding, Mushroom City is not sealed! There are ways out of town…secret ways. After tampering with the door, in the morning I shall bludgeon myself with a candle stick. I'll get a taste of death, how the empty black void shall feel.
Once DK is dead, I'm sure Rosalina will have had enough. Her little observatory is rigged with explosives. Even the greatest scientific feat of all time shall fall to the mafia! We shall go down in history! Then, I suspect Peach will come here. It's down to Mario and I, Yoshi is obviously not a threat. Peach will narrow it down to the two of us…and come crawling home.
I'm so close Mother…I can feel Death…it's warmth is so close…
Peach gasped. She couldn't contained her fright. She slammed the journal shut, crying silently. Tears flooded down her face. Luigi predicted she would come here, she had to leave. She turned about, but the lantern clicked off, sinking her into darkness.
"Hello princess," a voice cackled.
Peach screamed.
Location- Mushroom Court
"So, you're telling me the princess walked off into the city, and no one bothered to check where she went?" Toadsworth demanded, shamefully staring at Yoshi and Mario.
"I wasn't there, Toadsworth," Mario reminded him for the tenth time, "Yoshi and Luigi were, according to Yoshi. Luigi departed soon afterwards, and Yoshi hung back here."
"Is that true, Master Yoshi?" Toadsworth asked the dinosaur.
"Of course it's true!" Yoshi sighed, "I've already said it a million times! I don't know where Peach and Luigi are!"
"It's been hours," Mario said, "The sun is setting soon."
"I've never lost the princess!" Toadsworth cried.
"Well, there was Delfino, and Rogueport, and…," Mario began to list instances, but Toadsworth cut him off.
"What shall we do?"
"I-," Mario began, but a voice cut him off. Dragging himself into the castle courtyard, Luigi collapsed on the cobbled stone pavement, battered and bleeding.
"Master Luigi!" Toadsworth bellowed, summoning a doctor.
"Luigi, bro?" Mario pleaded, "What happened?"
"P-p-peach," Luigi breathed, only being able to spit out the one word. His arms were sliced, bleeding freely. Abrasions covered his arms and face, and he was weak beyond words. Mario helped him sit on the fountain's edge, while Yoshi wiped the blood with a towel Toadsworth had fetched.
"I won't have it!" Toadsworth wept, "You're saying the princess was behind all of this?"
"Y…y-y….yes," Luigi choked out, barely able to talk.
"You can't be serious," Mario choked, a tear falling from his eye, "It was Peach?"
"S…s-sh-she confronted me, I…I was…I was…was going to our house, y-y-you know? She was…there, she attacked me," Luigi managed to report.
"Where'd she go?" Yoshi asked.
"Away," was all Luigi could say.
Peach was missing, and no one could find her. Search parties rounded the kingdom into the night, Toadsworth getting reports every minute from each one on the minute. Mario and Yoshi scoured the kingdom while Luigi lay in the castle with Dr. Toadley.
"She's gone," Mario threw up his hands, kicking the ground.
"We'll find her," Yoshi persisted, "She's got to be in the kingdom somewhere! It's sealed, remember?"
"I know," Mario furrowed his eyebrows, "But where could she be?"
"Has anyone checked your house?" Yoshi offered, "Isn't that where Luigi said he found Peach?"
"Let's go," Mario nodded, racing for Toad Town. Yoshi stopped him.
"Hop on my back," Yoshi smiled for the first time in days, "Like old times."
"Old times…," Mario said softly, "Yeah."
Mario hopped on Yoshi's back, and the hero and the dinosaur raced for Toad Town, soon sighting the green warp pipe.
"In there!" Mario yelled, pointing at the pipe as he and Yoshi neared it. They entered the pipe, whooshing through the black space and emerging on Mario's front lawn.
"What happened?" Yoshi pointed to the busted in door, and Mario's eyes lighted with flames.
"Someone broke into my house?" Mario asked the world, looking up at the night stars, "I mean, really? After all that's been going on, someone broke into my house?"
"Come on," Yoshi soldiered on, "Let's go."
Mario nodded, accompanying Yoshi into the house. The dining room was pristine, but that's not what had caught Mario's eye. The carpet in the bedroom was torn up, and Mario walked closer.
"There's a door here," Mario pointed, looking at the carved out lines in the floor.
"And a deadbolt, look," Yoshi pointed. Mario knelt down, unlocking the trap door.
"How did I never know about this?" Mario asked aloud.
"You mean you didn't know this was here?" Yoshi gulped, not liking the sound of that.
"No," Mario answered, "I didn't."
The hero in red undid the deadbolt, and they journeyed deep into the basement. They fumbled around in the dark, searching for a source of light. Mario's hands found the gaslight, and he turned it on. As soon as light flooded into the dank room, Yoshi let out a yelp.
Tied to chair, bound and gagged, was Princess Peach.
Location- Luigi's Basement
The pair of friends worked quickly, removing Princess Peach's ropes and burdens. As soon as she was free, she collapsed onto the floor, gasping for air.
"M-Mario," Peach sobbed into her arm, "He did this! It was him! It was him all along!"
"Who? It was who?" Mario demanded, frightening the princess.
"Luigi, Mario," Peach said sadly, "He did this, he did all of this."
Too stunned for words, Mario could barely breathe.
"It's in the diary," Peach murmured, nodding to the book on the table Yoshi was flipping through. Eyes widening, the green dinosaur poured over the information, barely able to come to terms with what he read.
"B-birdo…she was, unhappy?" Yoshi asked to no one, "She could've told me. She could've said something."
Yoshi backed away from the book, and Mario inspected it, he stood there for a while, reading everything Peach had. As he read, tears fell from his face, staining the pages of the diary, but he didn't even notice. He was too upset, upset with himself. He had poisoned his brother, and made him go insane.
"We have to get back to the castle," was all Mario could say.
"Why?" Peach asked, confused.
"Because Luigi's there," Yoshi answered with a hint of fear, "And he's all alone."
Peach understood, a madman was running her kingdom, left in charge while the search parties looked for Peach. The godfather was in control.
Location- Peach's Castle: Luigi's Guestroom
Luigi lay in bed, tending to his self-afflicted wounds. Dr. Toadley had left him with some liquid restoratives and some salves, saying time would heal the wounds the best. He left Luigi alone, but Luigi had requested he leave the door open. Finding it a strange request, Dr. Toadley obliged to his patient, and the door to Luigi's room was wide open.
Then, the final pieces of his plan coming together, Luigi rang for Toadsworth.
Location- Mushroom Court
Yoshi moved slower with Peach and Mario on his back, but the spry dinosaur was able to manage. They reached Mushroom Court in seven minutes, and when they arrived, they saw the search parties were still out.
Striding into the castle, Peach stunned everyone present.
"Princess!" The guards and castle staff flocked her, guard ready.
"What are you all doing?" Peach cried.
"Toadsworth said you were behind the murders!" A cook cried, waving his galley pot.
"Stand down!" Mario shouted, "We were mistaken!"
"M-mistaken?" The same cook asked.
"The real culprit is upstairs," Peach told everyone, "Having his wounds licked by Dr. Toadley."
"The doctor left moments ago," a toad answered, "Toadsworth just went upstairs to check on Luigi."
"T-Toadsworth?" Yoshi stammered.
"Jesus," Mario cursed, "Let's go!" The three of them, hero, princess, and dinosaur, rushed up the stairs. They were racing against the clock, trying to put an end to the horrors Luigi had dealt them. They reached the entrance to his bedroom, but the door was shut.
Mario tried the handle,
"It's locked!"
"Don't make a move!" Luigi shouted from inside, startling the three outside.
"Luigi!" Mario cursed, "Luigi, come out!"
"I've got Toadsworth!" Luigi cried, "You bust down that door and I'll cut his neck so quick you won't even have a chance to stop me!"
"Luigi?" Mario cried, "Why are you doing this?"
"Why?" Luigi spat, "Why? Because I'm in your shadow Mario! All my life has been is a big, huge, shadow of doubt! Doubting myself to live up to expectations! Doubting myself to be as good as the magnificent Mario! Well how about this? You're not so magnificent anymore, and we're all so close…so close to death!"
"Luigi, stop this at once!" Peach commanded.
"Princess!" Toadsworth bellowed from inside, and Peach was relieved to hear his voice.
"One more word from any of you, and I cut his neck!" Luigi screamed.
They all stopped, all three of them. Mario, Peach, and Yoshi looked at one another.
Mario went downstairs, retrieving a piece of paper and a pen. Peach and Yoshi were stunned, they didn't know what he was doing. Mario scribbled a message on the paper, folded it up, and slid it under the door.
"What's this?" Luigi demanded.
The three of them didn't say a word.
"What is this!?"
They were all silent, Mario giving Yoshi and Peach serious glares, knowing they couldn't know his whole plan. Mario counted to three.
One…
Two…
Three…
He charged the door, busting it open.
Location- Peach's Castle: Luigi's Guestroom
As Luigi bent down to retrieve the paper, Mario crashed through the door. He splintered through the oaken smithereens, crashing down onto the floor. Startled, Toadsworth bolted for the front of the room, hoping to reach the outside. Luigi had been tricked, and he fumbled to regain his balance while Mario rose to his feet.
"You…you always do this!" Luigi screamed, lashing out with his knife.
Mario jumped back, "Luigi, think about what you're doing!"
"No!" Luigi screamed, "You won't get me, you won't! I'm fulfilling my destiny, I'm so close, I can taste it. After all of these years, I will succeed!"
Mario lunged for his brother, but Luigi did what Mario thought he wouldn't do. He inserted the knife into Mario's stomach, a clean stab. Mario clutched the wound, gasping for air.
Peach screamed something.
Yoshi cried out.
Mario clutched the wound, and Luigi ripped out the knife.
Glass shattered, something had broken.
The last thing Mario saw was the ceiling, a beautiful painted scene of people having lunch on the river. It was such a beautiful ceiling, Mario wondered how much it had cost.
Everything went black.
Three days later…
"So you're leaving for Yoshi's Island then?" Peach asked, "The ferry leaves in thirty minutes, you'd better get going."
"I know," Yoshi nodded, "I'll catch it."
"Will you write?" Peach asked Yoshi, "Call? Will you visit from time to time?"
"I can't come back here," Yoshi admitted, "But there'll always be a bed for you on the island."
"Thank you," Peach nodded, "I understand."
Yoshi turned to leave, but he lingered, grabbing Peach's hand, kissing it softly.
"I'm sorry Peach," Yoshi nodded, "We took our friends for granted."
"Who would've thought we had driven them to such a point?" Peach asked quietly, staring out the window of the tea room.
"I have to go," Yoshi said brusquely.
"Yes, you have to go," Peach nodded. Toadsworth retrieved Yoshi's suitcase, putting it in the back of the taxi that waited for Yoshi in front of the castle.
"Safe travels, Yoshi, and may you find peace," Peach told him, dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief.
"May you as well," Yoshi bid her goodbye, stepping to the taxi. They stared at one another, Yoshi from within the cab and Peach from without.
The taxi peeled away, taking Yoshi with it.
Peach turned to face the castle, looking up at its monolithic size.
"Toadsworth," Peach turned to her steward, who looked up at her dutifully.
"Yes, princess?"
"Tear it down."
"With pleasure, my lady," the steward replied.
Peach turned to face the sky, looking at the drifting clouds. She imagined them bumping into each other, exchanging helloes and how-do-you-does. She imagined them becoming friends, she imagined them knowing love.
Princess Peach walked away from the castle.
That was the hardest thing I have ever written. I lost direction with this fic, but decided to sit down and finish it today. It came out more beautifully than I had hoped. I wonder if you think the same thing. I'll leave it to you, my readers, to determine what happened at the end of the story.
-AdmiralBobbery