Chapter 9: The Pact

It was a beautiful day outside of Peach Castle. Gathered on the stone bridge before the castles main doors was Rosalina, Peach, Mario, Luigi, Daisy, and Toadsworth. Princess Peach was slightly ahead of the group, the six of them watching as an unknown man with dirty blonde hair wearing a blue and white tunic walked up the dirt path before them, clearly approaching them. The Toad Brigade was gathered near the stone bridge, but not in front of it. Multiple red class soldiers and a few blue class soldiers stood with weapons ready on either side of the bridge front. The executives Axel T. and Lana T. were in the front of the Brigade, their weapons not drawn. Katan T. had his face partially covered in his scarf as usual, leaning on the stone rail of the bridge with his eyes closed and arms folded. His sword was sheathed at his side.

"That's the one." Rosalina informed, bottom left triangle of the Triforce still glowing brightly on her left hand. She stood cautiously behind Mario and Luigi. "That's who I am sensing."

Mario and Luigi featured cautious expressions, watching intently as the apparently powerful individual marched towards them alone. He eventually set a brown booted foot on the stone bridge. Katan T. revealed his blade and held it to the foreigners neck. Link had stopped in place, his eyes concealed in shadow. His expression was calm.

"If you value your life, you will step no further." Katan T. warned, his arm extended as he held the blade in position.

Link said nothing as he stood in place, digging into his pockets for something. He did not seem to mind at all that there was a blade to his throat. He revealed a corked bottle of white fluid and a fancy sake cup. The bottle had a purple label with white font, and the sake cup was green with Hylian symbolism etched on its sides in gold. He uncorked the bottle and proceeded to pour some sake into the sake cup, standing just a few feet before the gang.

"This here is an old favourite of mine I had come across during my travels many moons ago." Link explained, concluding the pour and extending his arm, offering the drink to Peach. "It's called Chateau Romani. Please! Have some."

"Oh, umm..." Peach started, taking a moment to process his behaviour. "I actually do not drink..."

"I see." Link acknowledged, lifting the cup. "Please consider this a peace offering, umm..."

"Peach." Peach informed, realizing he was fishing for a name.

"Princess, Peach." Toadsworth corrected, being stringent.

"Princess Peach! Cheers!" Link exclaimed.

With that, Link proceeded to drink the cup of sake. He concluded his drink with the swipe of an arm. "Ahh! This drink brings back many memories... What a joyous day this is!"

Nobody said anything, awkwardly exchanging glances between each other before looking back at the man, confused and unsure about the situation. The soldiers were at the ready, cautious.

"Hahaha!" Link happily laughed. His big smile was the contagious type. "Your expressions are priceless! Come on, lighten up a little!"

"You are considered a threat." Katan T. warned, his eyes as sharp as his blade.

"Yes, I understand. You are very diligent, and for that I admire you. But please, I mean you no harm. You may lower your blade." Link assured, looking at Katan T. He then looked up at the roof of the castle. "And you. You will not be needing that cannon that you have prepared."

"Gwah!" Captain Toad cried, peeking from behind the central tower on the roof of Peach Castle. There indeed was a loaded cannon stationed behind it. "He knew I was here! But how?"

"Princess..." Katan T. summoned, seeking permission.

"It is alright." Peach decided, a hand near her sapphire brooch as she stood at center. "Lower your weapon."

"I-I say, Princess!" Toadsworth gasped, stumbling with his words. "Are you certain about this?"

"Yeah Peach, are you sure thats a good idea?" Daisy added, scratching her head.

Luigi was in cautious fighting stance, but Mario was eased up the moment he saw that Peach had decided to trust him.

"I have decided to trust him." Peach declared, her hands together and arms in a V formation. "Please, lower your weapon."

Katan T. lowered his blade slowly. He sheathed the weapon, closing his eyes and folding his arms to conclude the withdraw.

"Ungh…" Rosalina groaned, her head pounding slightly from the powerful presence before her. She placed a hand on her head, her eyes closed and teeth weakly clenched.

"I see you possess similar powers." Link noted, nodding at Rosalina. "Although it would appear that you have not yet mastered them."

"What?" Rosalina acknowledged, unsure of what exactly he meant by that. "Powers?"

"That's right." Link nodded, with a closed eyed smirk. He had poured himself another cup of sake.

"Umm, excuse me… but…" Peach politely intruded, a little shy. "Just who are you?"

Link had his head tilted back, drinking from his fancy sake cup. He concluded his drink with the swipe of an arm. "Ahh..."

"Yes, I suppose I should introduce myself. My name is Link. I am from the Kingdom of Hyrule." Link introduced, a glowing blue bulb of light with white wings flying out of his pocket with a gentle chime. "And this here is my partner, Navi the Fairy."

"Whoa!" Luigi gasped, stepping back in startled surprise with his hands up.

"Haha!" Mario cheered, with a happy smile.

She appeared to be just a blue orb with white wings, but up close Navi was a tiny girl with long wavy white hair and white wings. She had light blue skin and a white dress that stopped just above the knees. Her eyes were a deep purple.

"Hello." She greeted with a wave, her hands together behind her back afterward.

"She can be a bit of a party pooper, but she keeps me on track." Link grinned, hands on his hips.

"You'll have to excuse my master." Navi greeted, fluttering in place by Link's head. "He's a bit of a free spirit."

In the background, Captain Toad was trying to maneuver carefully on the building. He was using his hands and feet to slowly sidestep along the slanted roof so that he could reach a grapple he had prepared.

"A fairy?" Peach inquired, seeming very surprised. "From what I have read, I thought Hylian fairies had gone extinct many years ago."

"Yes, well, that's the common belief. But I suppose that's a story for another time. Hahaha!" Link laughed, with good cheer. "At any rate, we're sorry to have caused alarm."

Captain Toad had lost his grip and fallen, no one paying attention. "WhOoOoOoOoOoOoa-!"

"I say, caused alarm is right! *SPLASH!* Here we all are, troops at the ready and thinking something dangerous was approaching!" Toadsworth huffed, adjusting his vest. "Something terrible indeed!"

"Once again, I apologize, er..." Link once again stumbled for a name. Peach realized that Link and Navi did not know everyones names, and so took a moment to introduce everyone.

"Excellent! We are pleased to make your acquaintances!" Link smiled, in good cheer.

"You said you're from Hyrule, right?" Daisy questioned, casually rubbing her head in thought, her attention directed semi skyward.

"From what I understand, that place is absolutely massive." Peach awed, a bare hand near her slightly opened mouth, sunhat granting her face shade.

"It's absolutely massive and then some!" Navi added, her arms spread wide. Link was pouring himself another cup of sake.

"Hey, I feel better now!" Rosalina cheered, fists against her hips in closed eyed pride. Her face was beaming, happy bold yellow lines around her to animate her glee.

"Excellent." Link noted, raising the sake cup and taking the drink. He concluded with the swipe of an arm. "Ahh. It would appear that you no longer perceive me as a threat."

"Hey, umm, sorry to like, totally intrude but... can we like, be dismissed now?" Lana T. whined, her eyes heavy. "I was on the nightshift last night so I'm like, totally exhausted."

"Keh heh heh." Katan T. laughed, his arms folded. "You are dismissed. Your efforts would not have been necessary anyway."

"Excuse me? I like, don't think it's up to YOU to dismiss ME." Lana T. attacked, getting defensive. "And what do you mean my efforts aren't necessary! They're totally necessary!"

"Here they go again..." Luigi groaned, hand on his forehead. Mario expressed similar disapproval.

"We are both executives, and are therefore officially bounded under the same rank..." Katan T. started, with a closed eyed grin and folded arms. He opened his eyes and heroically pointed at Lana T., a flash of lightning in the background. "But you know very well that I am the superior one! Am I right, Axel?"

"Get this. The brain? Named itself." Axel T. thought, his eyes widened as he apparently blew his own mind.

"Like, you are totally not superior." Lana T. dismissed, running a hand through her hair. "I've got fighting skills, and good looks. You have neither."

Katan T. placed his hand on the hilt of his blade, dropping to a squat. Lana T. was also prepared to fight him. Captain Toad emerged from the cliffside, having climbed up it from the moat below. He plopped onto the dirt path near the stone bridge, soaking wet.

"Gwagh! *Huff, puff*... Made it!" Captain Toad heaved, rolling over onto his back with spread arms.

"I have superior fighting skills, and overwhelming originality!" Katan T. protested. "Meanwhile, you lack character and charisma, like a windless night."

"You're edgy!" Lana T. scolded, stepping closer.

"To use the modern vernacular, you're "basic"!" Katan T. scolded, toe to toe with her now.

The two of them proceeded to attack each other, lance and sword clashing repeatedly at a very quick rate. Almost everyone rolled their eyes, letting them be. Link however, was much more amused.

"Hahaha!" Link laughed, his boisterous laugh full of energy and positivity. "What a fine group of soldiers you have!"

"That's the Toad Brigade." Peach introduced, with a hand. "They are my protectors and my friends. We are like family."

"Wait, so which is it exactly?" Navi shrugged, her expression puzzled.

"Anyway, the reason why I asked about Hyrule is because we've always had trouble with that Kingdom when it came to... How should I put this?" Daisy paused, looking for the correct words. She had found it and spoke with confidence. "Communications."

"My apologies, but who exactly are you, Daisy?" Link questioned, unsure of her identity. She was dressed rather sporty, and had no crown, so Link was surprised by her sudden mention of politics.

Daisy hesitated, breaking eye contact with Link. "I am the Princess of Sarasaland. Well, at least I was."

"Wait, was?" Navi questioned, flying forward with a chime. Lana T. and Katan T. were still fighting in the background, Captain Toad trying to break it up but to no avail. "What happened?"

"Exiled." Daisy answered, her expression somber. She did her best to stay strong. "My kingdom has been overtaken by a... despicable, reprehensible, villain by the name of Grodus."

"Grodus is evil." Mario added, with a clenched fist. "But don't worry. Soon enough, I'm gonna beat him up and win back Sarasaland for you. That's a promise."

"Huh?" Rosalina softly barked, finger on her chin in dopey eyed thought. Her speech was lacking pace. "This is the first time I've heard about this..."

"Well, it's not exactly any of your business, now is it?" Daisy silenced with an angry grin, a hand on her hip.

Rosalina's eyebrows narrowed, her cheeks puffed up and a little pink. Her arms were folded as she stood there with a silent pout. She did not enjoy being scolded.

"Daisy..." Peach eased. Daisy didn't break, looking off to the right angrily. Peach sighed.

"Sarasaland is our neighbouring desert kingdom that lies to the east." Peach informed. "The Mushroom Kingdom and the Kingdom of Sarasaland have a long history. We have been strong allies for many years. Then, Grodus took over."

"I see." Link acknowledged, his expression serious. "Your country has been overruled by this Grodus, and you have been forced to take refuge in this sister kingdom."

"I don't have a choice." Daisy sobbed, looking downward with teary eyes. "I know I should be there, fighting and suffering with my people. I feel terrible that I am safe while they suffer under his rule."

"You can't beat yourself up forever over that, Daisy." Luigi sighed, rubbing the back of his head.

"We already told you, we won't let that maniac capture you." Mario reminded, with a fist of hope. "Just sit tight until we can finally take him down!"

"I know, I just..." Daisy started, doing her best to keep her composure. She had managed to. "I just feel so guilty."

"The people do not wish for you to be in pointless harm. I am sure they believe that you will come back and save them." Peach reminded, her voice of reason soft and comforting. "And what a joyous day that will be!"

"Damn right!" Mario agreed, fists clenched as he held an energized stance. "Can't wait to knock that dome headed bastard off of your throne!"

"Yeah." Daisy gave a toothless smile, her hands together and eyes closed. "Me too."

"I had no idea this was happening." Link thought to himself, rubbing his chin. He gave a smirk, pouring himself a cup of sake as well as another in an ordinary brown cup. "If that's the case, let me help too."

Exclamation marks appeared over everyones heads, all of them turning to Link in surprise.

"Really? You would really help me?" Daisy gawked, her blue eyes widened in surprise.

"You'd really help us?" Mario gawked, eyebrows raised in surprise.

"Hahaha!" Link laughed, holding two cups of sake. "Of course! I love a great adventure!"

"We live for this type of thing." Navi added, with a confident smirk.

"If you're really as powerful as Rosalina sensed, you'd be a great addition to our team!" Luigi added, with excitement.

"We would be happy to have the both of you." Peach smiled, her head slightly tilted.

"Then it's settled!" Link smiled. "Now! Someone please accept this cup of sake."

"I will." Daisy agreed, stepping forward and accepting the brown cup.

"Wrap your arm around mine like this..." Link guided, him and Daisy locking elbows while holding their cups. They stood in that stance on the stone bridge, everyone watching.

"A historical moment! This marks the beginning of our friendship!" Link announced, with a smile. "Cheers!"

"Cheers!" Everyone replied, some raising a clenched fist. Daisy and Link went for a drink with locked arms, Daisy not hesitating to drink it. She quickly gave an expression of disgust, seeming to have regret swallowing the alcoholic beverage.

"Oh, gross! BLEH! Man, that's strong!" Daisy complained, fanning herself with her hands. "I mean, I'm sorry to be rude, but that's so gross, how do you drink that all the time?"

"I happen to like it." Link calmly replied, putting the cups away.

"Ugh, nuh-uh. Never again." Daisy whined, her body shivering once from head to toe.

"At any rate, it looks like you're one of us now." Luigi grinned, hands behind his back.

"Don't forget about me!" Navi huffed, her fists clenched and cheeks puffy.

"And you too, of course." Luigi laughed.

"Does this mean I don't have a room anymore?" Rosalina innocently questioned, looking downward with a hint of sadness.

"Of course not." Peach assured with comforting hands. "We can provide lodging for all of you."

"L-Lodging?" Link gasped, his hands up in protest. "No, that's not necessary."

SMACK!

Navi had smashed Link in the head with a clenched fist, a bump having formed on his head. He was lying down with comedic tears raining down his face.

"Are you kidding me? I haven't slept in a bed for ages! I'm not letting us miss out on this!" Navi scolded, her teeth sharp. She flew towards Peach so that she was a mere inch before her face. Peach was leaning back slightly with her eyes widened mildly.

"We humbly and gratefully accept your offer, Princess Peach." Navi politely accepted, her hands behind her back and face innocent.

"G-Glad to hear it." Peach replied with a toothless smile, eyes closed and a single comedic sweat behind her head.

"I say, this has really all gotten quite out of hand..." Toadsworth quietly thought aloud, hand on his head in worry.

"Did you have something to say, Toadsworth?" Peach sniped, her hands together and arms in a V formation as she looked down at her steward.

"O-Oh? N-No, nothing." Toadsworth declined, looking the other way. "Nothing at all."

"Man, this rocks! Let's go to Sarasaland straight away and beat up Grodus!" Mario encouraged, beaming with energy.

"Wait, I thought we were going to the mall..." Rosalina protested, looking semi skyward in confused thought.

"Would you two sit tight for just a minute? I still have something to ask!" Daisy scolded, giving the usual sass with a hand on her hip.

"What is it, Daisy?" Peach inquired, granting her room to speak.

"It's about Hyrule. Remember what I said about communications?" Daisy reminded, her expression serious as she looked at Link, who was back on his feet. "Neither Peach nor I have ever been able to communicate with Princess Zelda."

"Princess Zelda?" Mario inquired, rubbing his chin in thought.

"She's the Princess of Hyrule." Peach answered, with an informative finger.

"Wow, there are a lot of princesses..." Rosalina thought aloud, looking off into the distance. She faced forward with an innocent smile, fists clenched in excitement. "I bet together we would make a pretty cool video game!"

"You sure like video games..." Luigi laughed, rubbing the back of his head with closed eyes.

"Unable to communicate with Princess Zelda, yes, that sounds about right." Link nodded, eyes closed and arms folded in thought.

"Why?" Daisy asked with a raised hand, other hand on her hip.

"She has been using all of her strength to maintain power on a barrier." Link explained. "A barrier that has been keeping a certain evil sealed for the last one hundred years."

"Wait, what?" Daisy gawked, her expression puzzled.

"This is my first time hearing about this as well." Peach awed, equally puzzled.

"A malevolent force threatens the Kingdom of Hyrule, and likely the whole world." Link explained, his expression serious. "That force... is called Ganon."

"Ganon?" Mario inquired, head tilted in interest.

"Princess Zelda has been doing everything she can to keep the seal on him strong. But he is growing more and more powerful by the day." Link explained. "With the time Princess Zelda is buying, I need to find a way to stop him for when the seal finally breaks. Otherwise, we're all doomed."

"Holy crap! That's terrifying!" Luigi awed, his eyes open in fear.

"That's really serious!" Mario added, stepping forward with an equally serious expression on his face.

"Really though! No offence, but what the hell are you doing here helping us? You have your own kingdom to save!" Daisy scolded, growing heated.

"That's precisely why I am here, as a matter of fact." Link countered, remaining calm. "Like Rosalina, I can also sense a powerful presence. I sensed it here, at this very castle. So I came here, figuring that I might stumble upon someone who might help my cause. However, now it looks as though I am a little bit early..."

"What do you mean, early?" Mario asked, head tilted while tapping a brown booted foot.

"I sense an enormous potential within each of you. While you are strong, not one of you has yet manifested that potential in such a way that would stand a significant chance in a fight against Ganon." Link explained, concise in his speech.

"So basically, you're saying that we're not strong enough yet to fight this "Ganon"." Mario summarized, making sure he had it all straight.

"That's right. Not yet, maybe not ever." Link realized, looking downward with a somber expression. "But I will do my best to help each and every one of you manifest that potential which lies deep within you!"

"We all have this potential?" Peach questioned, a pink question mark above her tilted head.

"E-Even me?" Luigi awed, brimming with hope.

"That's right. You are quite a remarkable group of individuals." Link noted. He then faced Mario and Rosalina. "Especially you two."

"Eh? Me?" Rosalina inquired, pointing to herself in surprise.

"Absolutely." Link assured, with a nod. "You're the Princess of the Galaxies, after all. The role you'll play in this story with be an important one. I'm sure of it."

Rosalina found herself to be speechless. Luigi eventually broke the silence.

"Man... We have all this fun and stuff, but there's all kinds of danger happening all around us, constantly. Both Sarasaland and Hyrule are in trouble, and the Mushroom Kingdom is bombarded by Bowsers and the Koopa Troops antics every other day." Luigi explained, his expression somber.

"We need to get our act together!" Peach ordered, with a noble hand.

"Oh yeah! And if anyone is gonna combat the evil of this world, it's going to be us!" Mario agreed, with a clenched fist. He was brimming with energy, as usual.

"I agree." Link nodded. "Fighting the problems of our Kingdom alone is a difficult task. But if we team up and tackle each problem together, I think we may stand a chance."

"I couldn't agree more!" Daisy added, pointing a finger of confidence.

"Then let us form a pact." Peach proposed, extending her gloved hand out, palm down. "Together, we will help each others kingdoms during their time of need."

"I'm in!" Mario agreed, placing his hand on top of Peachs.

"Count me in!" Luigi added, placing his hand on top of Mario's.

"Of course!" Daisy happily agreed, adding her hand.

"Mm." Rosalina nodded, quietly consenting as well.

"Hahaha! Count me in, too!" Link added, slapping his hand onto the pile.

"Don't forget about me!" Navi chimed, placing her tiny hand on top.

"Then it's settled!" Peach smiled. "We are officially allies!"

And with a big hurrah, the group of them raised their hands happily. They were already becoming fast friends. Toadsworth couldn't help but chime in.

"Perhaps, yes, but I will not accept the Princess putting herself in any danger!" Toadsworth intervened. "On this, I will not budge!"

"Oh, Toadsworth." Peach smiled, dismissing him with a hand. "You're always so worrisome."

"We need a group name!" Navi suggested, flying forward with glee.

"Hold that thought." Rosalina commanded, with a serious tone.

Exclamation marks appeared over everyones heads. They faced the galactic Princess, who was standing on the stone bridge near the middle of everyone.

"What is it, Rosalina?" Peach inquired, her head tilted in interest and hands together.

Memories of last night rushed back to Rosalina.

{The focal point of the room was a round wooden table which just so happened to have a booked haphazardly sprawled on its surface. Curious, Rosalina approached it. She gasped as she noticed it was not written in English, but instead in strange characters and symbols. Her eyes widened as she discovered that she actually knew how to read this.

"I-I can read this?" Rosalina gawked, her mouth remaining open in surprise. She hesitated, but eventually proceeded to read the book:

Regarding the Legend:

"One thousand years after she is born, the Princess of the Galaxies will crash into their world, releasing the energy of the Goddess upon impact. This energy will awaken the demon that sleeps below. Their world will soon after be thrust into chaos.

It is then only a matter of time before their world is annihilated by shadow, destroyed in a great cataclysm. The day the cosmic Princess awakens, marks the beginning of a swift and cruel end for their world."}

"There is something that I haven't told you guys yet." Rosalina confessed, her expression somber. "But now is a better time than any to mention it... I think."

"What is this you speak of?" Peach persisted, her interest piqued.

"Spill the beans, already!" Daisy encouraged, her interest highly piqued to a point of irritability.

"Well..."

Then, suddenly something very strange had happened, which caused Rosalina to stop short. Exclamation marks had appeared over the heads of everyone as pitch black darkness had formed beneath the feet of Link, Mario, and Rosalina. A blue swirling vortex then appeared within the darkness, and suddenly the three of them began to glimmer with mystic blue light. Everyone was watching the event unfold with dumbstruck awe.

"Oh!" Link barked, examining his hands, which were proceeding to disappear.

"Master Link!" Navi cried, unsure of what was happening.

"What's happening?" Rosalina cried, her voice containing panic. She saw that she was proceeding to disappear.

"Mario!" Peach cried, running towards the disappearing Mario with a hand stretched out. "Rosalina! Link!"

"Peach!" Mario cried, trying to reciprocate but unable to move off of the vortex below him.

Luigi, Daisy, and Toadsworth all ran towards Mario as well with their respective cries.

"Mario!"

"Big bro!"

"Master Mario!"

Then, they had disappeared completely. They were nothing but balls of light, which were sucked into the vortex that was located beneath their now vanished feet. Each vortex absorbed the light of their respective targets, and after doing so, proceeded to vanish themselves by shrinking into a singular focal point before disappearing completely. Mario, Link, and Rosalina were now gone. No one had any idea what had happened to them, or where they went. Everyone was absolutely speechless.