R: Our Queen is in a Different Castle
It had been a long time since that day. Luke was now 3 years old and Rosie just turned 7. Mario and Daisy had their hands full with Diana and Marcus. Diana was helping her younger brother take the crown of Sarasaland. (Though he had plenty of time.) Mario told me that Diana was a stubborn kid, just like her mother. I couldn't help but laugh.
Times were peaceful. Bowser hadn't been seen since I saved Peach all of those years ago. Even the kids learning magic proved to be for nothing. But recently, Peach seemed rather distant.
"What's wrong?" I asked her one night.
She looked up at me, seeming weaker than usual.
"I just had a check up," she finally told me. "I am dying."
Those three words brought my galaxy crashing down. Granted, the Toadstool blood line had a long life line but when it came to something deadly... I hugged her gently, trying not to fall apart.
"No, please no..." I begged. I guess I started to cry as she weakly wiped away one of my tears. "Peach, what am I going to do without you? What about the kids?"
"Oh honey," she said softly. "I don't want to die either. But my time is coming to an end."
I couldn't hold back the tears anymore. I just started to cry. She held me in her arms, fragile as she was. How the tables had turned. I felt selfish...so selfish... Please Grambi, let me die instead...
Peach told me not to tell the kids. She didn't want them to worry or change. I had to agree. I didn't want the kids getting worried. But it didn't take long for them to find out. After that discussion I had with Peach, she died three days later. Rosie was heartbroken like I was. We both cried for hours. Luke, however, didn't understand.
He tugged on my pant leg as he asked, "Daddy, where is mommy?"
I picked him up, very gently. We had just layed Peach underneath the hill that she and I had one of many stargazing nights. We were just headed home with a tear stricken Daisy. Mario was carrying Diana and Marcus.
I finally answered, my voice low and sad, "M-mom is gone, son."
He looked very confused as he repeated, "...gone? How can she be gone? We just saw her, daddy! Tell him sis!" Rosie was silent at first, obviously tear stricken like her aunt. Luke jumped out of my arms and stood next to his sister. He asked, quietly, "...sis?"
Rosalina finally answered, her face wet with tears, "Mommy is now sleeping under the tree on the hill, bro..."
Luke took several steps back in shock as he shouted, "...no! You lie! You lie!"
Rosie stepped towards him and started to say, "Brother..."
Luke raised his wand as he yelled, "No stay away from me liar!"
That's when he did something I did not expect. He hit her with his wand, knocking her out cold. I rushed over to her, checking her quickly. Mario joined me, as Daisy kept Diana and Marcus behind her.
I blurted out, "Son! What have you done?!"
He started to say, "Daddy, I..."
I shouted, "...you just hurt your sister! You know better! She was only telling you the truth!"
He pointed his wand at me and hissed, "...shut up! I don't believe it!"
I warned sternly, "Son, don't you dare point that wand at your father!"
He shouted, "You are not my father! From this day forward, you will be the man I loathe forever! I hate the man in green!"
Mario got in between us as he stated, "Luke, put down the wand. Your father speaks the truth. Your mother is gone."
Luke got even angrier and replied, "Now you lie to me too?! Fine, you will all regret doing this to me!" He waved his wand, high to the sky. There was a sudden hush over us as I gripped Rosie close. Luke looked puzzled, shaking his wand. "What the...?"
Mario grabbed the wand quickly as he stated, "I'll be taking that!"
Luke started to protest, "Hey!"
"Go to the castle right now!" I huffed. "You are grounded!"
Luke hissed, "You aren't my dad anymore! I hate you!"
With that, he kicked me in the leg and ran. It didn't hurt but his words and actions did. Not only did I lose my wife but I had also lost my son.
Mario came up to me and stated, "I'm sorry Luigi."
I sadly replied, "This galaxy is starting to fall apart. Peach was the glue of it. I don't doubt that it will all become unglued soon..."
Daisy looked alarmed as she asked, "What are we going to do?"
I answered, "I don't know, Dase. I don't know."
That evening, Rosalina was asleep and alright. Whatever Luke did to her wasn't very effective and only lasted 45 minutes. I hadn't seen Luke since he kicked me in the leg but the search party was still out there. A Toad came in, looking sad.
"I know bad news when I see it," I told the Toad.
"We haven't found Luke yet but we did find a man outside of the border," the Toad replied. "Says his name is Timothy?"
I perked up as I responded, "See him in then leave us."
The Toad nodded as he ushered Timothy in then ran. Timothy looked at me as I took a breath.
"I am sorry that your queen is in another castle now," he stated.
I asked, "Came to gloat?"
Timothy shook his head as he answered, "Haven't gone back in time yet, your majesty. I wanted to have your permission."
"Clearly, you have it now," I stated, turning my back on him, feeling the tears rolling down my cheeks.
"You know I am not the gloating type, your majesty." He replied, obviously right behind me now. "Luigi...I didn't want this to happen. I never wanted Luke to curse you."
"Is that what he did?" I asked, not turning around to him.
"He wants you to suffer through every restart of the galaxy," Timothy explained. "Until you either learn how to fly with the Thunderhand or when you fall in love with someone else that is not his mom."
"I wish I could go with you to erase this galaxy," I told him.
"I know," Timothy responded. "But a part of this galaxy will survive. And when the time is right, I will see you in the next galaxy."
"I won't remember this galaxy, will I?" I asked, feeling him starting to leave.
"No, Weegie," he finally answered, apparently not looking at me.
"Thank you, Tim-Tim," I stated, knowing that he had already left.
AK1028: One more chapter of the R galaxy and then we go into the H galaxy! Please read and review. And always think outside of the box!