Chapter 7: The Secret Behind the Secret
Peach's PoV:
Junior reads me a story, called The Three Goddesses. I'm surprised, for a child as young as he is, he's able to read a story like this. I'm actually kind of impressed. Junior reads slowly, as a child would, "The. three. Goddesses. cre-ated. the. land. of . Hy-rule. One. was. Din. Goddess. of. Power. One. was. Nayru. Goddess. of. Wisdom. And. the. Other. was. Far… Far… Farrow. Goddess. of. Cor… Core-rage. Courage,"
"Very good. Though, I think 'Farrow's' name is supposed to be pronounced 'Far-ore'. It's a bit tricky, I know,"
"Papa believes in my ejudation, so I read,"
"That's good," I nod. I'm also kind of impressed with Bowser, for allowing his child to learn. "Though, I believe the word you're looking for is 'education'."
"Right. Edu-cation,"
"Listen, Junior," I calmly begin. "I've been meaning to ask something…" I've been wanting to ask Junior this for a while, and I feel like this is the perfect opportunity to do so.
"Sure, Mama,"
"What is a Secret? You were talking about placing Piantas in a Secret, and I couldn't help but wonder what that is,"
"Sorry, Mama. Papa says I can't tell you…"
"He won't know," I speak, urgently. "It can just be a little secret (ha, secret) between us. Surely, you and your Father share secrets with each other."
"It's only been Papa and I for as long as ever…" he says, solemnly. "I'm not sure if I can trust a secret with someone else,"
"Well, I'm trying to be your Mother, aren't I? Mothers and their children tell each other secrets. Won't you tell me? Please? It's about someone I care for very much,"
"Why do you care about that Mario so much?" He finally looks at me. He's been looking down at his open book this entire time.
"Well, Junior, considering how Mario and I spend a lot of time together, and how he's done so much for me, he's become a very good… friend of mine," I feel my cheeks becoming hot at these words.
"Mama, you're all pink," Junior notices and comments. "Are you sure you're just friends?" Smart kid…
"It's complicated, dear," I lower my head, hoping my regular colour returns. I continue speaking, "Your Father has told you things about me that aren't true. It's unfortunate you believe them."
"Papa never lies, though,"
"Junior," I look up, while my cheeks are still burning. "Papa… I mean, your Papa, has lied to you, and you may be too young to hear that."
"But… But…"
"Junior, I'll stay as long as I'm here for. When Mario comes for me, I can no longer stay. You have to understand and realize this," Am I being too blunt with him? I need to say something, while Bowser isn't around.
Junior lowers his head, and I fear he'll start crying. "You love that Mario, don't you?"
My cheeks start burning again. "Umm…" I lower my head again.
"It's OK. My Papa will understand,"
"No!" I shoot my head up. "You mustn't tell your Father this, OK? I don't want to cause any more trouble for Mario,"
"I'll tell Papa your feelings for that Mario. I'll tell him that, but I'll tell you what a Secret is first,"
"You don't have to tell your Father anything," I feel like I'm borderline pleading. "Just tell me what a Secret is."
"I'll only tell you, if you allow me to tell Papa," He crosses his arms.
"Junior, that's not right," I place my hand on his scaly arm. "If I'm going to be your Mother, you don't blackmail me."
"What's 'blackmail'? I'm not mailing you anything…"
"It's just a saying, Junior. In simple terms, it means the act of forcing someone to do or pay something by threatening to reveal a secret,"
"Oh. Well, I don't wanna threaten you, Mama…"
"Exactly," I start feeling slightly relieved.
"... But, I don't know. Are you sure Papa doesn't have to know?"
"I'm positive he doesn't have to know,"
"Alright," Junior breathes out, before finally admitting, "I create these Secrets with my Magic Brush. I don't really know how to explain it, but I create what I see in my head."
"And, what are you creating?"
"A level for Mario to beat!" he says, proudly. "I create the picture in my head, and the Brush does what I want it to. It's quite cool, really," I'm not feeling as distressed about these "Secrets", considering how these levels are coming from a five-year-old. "Here, I'll go get my Brush, and I'll show you!"
I'm slightly alarmed at the fact that, not only is Junior suddenly willing to show me everything, after not wanting to say anything, at all, but I'm also curious how this Brush is going to show us what he's done. He tosses his book aside and scurries off of the bed. He opens his wardrobe, revealing many different neck bandanas, and pulls out the Brush he showed Mario and I at the amusement park. The Brush is much bigger than he is, and he looks ridiculous, but almost cute, carrying it lengthways, back over to me. He was rough with his book, but he knows to be gentle with this thing.
"I showed you this at the park. Like I said, all my wishes come true with this thing. The only time it works to make Secrets, is when I go into secret areas of the different areas of the island. I mean, if I want to give an example, there are these two caves in Beyonce Hills that lead to a spring of water, and…"
"Wait… Beyonce Hills? Bianco Hills, do you mean?" "Beyonce", for some reason, sounds like a fancy name for someone. Maybe, in another universe, "Beyonce" is a singer, of some sort.
"Yeah, anyway… This can only work, when I go into these places. I just picture what I want, and I wave the Brush around. Here, touch the Brush and close your eyes," I feel hesitant at Junior's instructions. He must know this, because he urges, "Go on. Trust me, it's OK, Mama," I take a deep breath and hesitantly place my hand on the Brush. Junior follows suit. "Brush, take me to the Hillside Cave Secret." All of a sudden, I feel as though my World is being turned around and around, as though I'm spinning in circles. I let out a squeal, out of fear, before my stomach feels a jerk, and I hurdle forward, to a sudden stop. I feel unbalanced, as if I'm about to fall over, at any time. I'm also afraid to open my eyes. "It's OK, Mama. You can open them now!" Junior announces. I slightly open my one eyes, followed by the other, and I realize that Junior wasn't kidding! I don't know if I'm looking at an illusion or if we've been teleported, but there is, indeed, a big difference in our surroundings.
"Junior, what…? Where…?"
"This is the Hillside Cave Secret, Mama. I look down and around. I see that we're surrounded by a nighttime sky (even though it's currently daytime) and train tracks that look drawn, but with a train, that also looks drawn, chugging along it. What's even more unbelievable, is the small level in front of us, which has large orange blocks, spinning colourful stars, giant rainbow blocks, among a few other things. I look around, stunned. It isn't until I look down, that I realize we're floating in midair… I let out another squeal. "It's OK, Mama. We're not actually here. This is only a vision of what I created."
"You… You did this?" I'm feeling a mixture of shock, amazement, and fear.
"Yes!" Junior replies, proudly. "Remember, Papa and I live in a castle that's full of nice obstacles and traps, and stuff. And, I draw a lot. I like to imagine different Worlds, and what they're like. I used some of my drawings to make these Secrets. This is just one of many examples!"
"Oh my… Gosh, Junior, I don't know how to think of this. This is magnificent, but…"
"'Magnificent'? Is that good?"
"Yes, Junior, it's very good. Though, I was about to say, as magnificent as this is, it's also troubling, on behalf of Mario," I then look down to Junior. "Where did you come up with these? This is more than just drawings."
Junior scrunches his face, as if thinking too hard. "Let's just say, I've got a great imagination! Yeah, imagination. That's what Papa called it, when I first told him about this idea. I don't know… This kinda just comes to me. I don't know why…"
I continue looking down at Junior, unsure of how to feel. For some reason, I feel like I should admire him. This kid is more brilliant than I thought he was. Why in the World has the universe stuck him with Bowser, the creature, who Mario—yes, Mario—and I fear most. Does Bowser realize how brilliant his child is? He could do so much with his life, yet he's unfortunately the Koopa Prince.
"Well, I guess we should get back home. I don't want Papa walking into my room, wondering why our eyes are closed, while touching this Brush," I snap out of my thoughts, once Junior says that. "Take my hand, Mama." Still feeling the discomfort of touching him, I know there isn't any other way back, unless I do so. I breathe out again and touch Junior's hand. "Brush, take us back to the Corona Mountain cottage!" My whole World feels as if it's being turned around again, and the same feeling I had before happens again. The next thing I know, once I open my eyes, we're back on Junior's bed. I look around, seeing that we're back, for sure. "Well, wasn't that cool, Mama?!" Junior asks, excitedly.
"Yes…" I still feel as if I'll fall over. "Yes, very cool," I don't know how he's handling it so well… I guess it's because he's a child.
"I guess I should put this away, before Papa…"
"Before I what, Junior?" I've been feeling so dazed, I didn't even realize Bowser was here. I look at the doorway, surprised. I believe Junior feels the same way, with the way he stays frozen on his bed.
Junior finally answers after a long moment, "Before you come back, Papa,"
"What are you doing with that Brush, Junior?"
"Nothing, Papa. I was just showing it to Mama,"
"Then, why were you both touching it, with your eyes closed, as if you were in some sorta trance?"
"Because… Because…"
"You were showing Peach one of your Secrets, weren't you?"
I'm starting to feel nervous. It sounds like Bowser's starting to get upset with his son. I also feel that Junior is also slightly nervous. I don't know what happens, when these two get into a disagreement…
"Papa, I just wanted to show her my imagination!" he protests.
"No, Junior. You know better than to show her anything like that,"
"Bowser, really, what's the big deal?" I find the courage to ask.
"The big deal is, you don't need to know these things! Nobody on Mario's team needs to know what he's doing! He has to do this himself, and himself only!"
"But, it was only a vision! We weren't actually…"
"I don't care!" Bowser roars, startling me. "If you do that again, Junior, I'll be breaking that Brush!"
"But, Papa, you can't…"
"Oh, yes, I can!"
"No, you can't, 'cause everything I did would be ruined!" Junior starts crying. He's invested himself very strongly in this. Why do I feel sorry for him? After all, these Secrets, among the other things he's done, are meant to hurt Mario.
There's silence, as Bowser thinks through what Junior said. "Alright. Fine, but don't do it again, alright?" I see Junior slightly nod. "Alright. I've caught some fish for us, for dinner," He then speaks directly to me, "Peach, I want you in that outfit I got you, so that you don't mess up your dress."
"But…"
"No 'buts'," he calmly says. "You either do it, or you'll have to deal with me."
Bowser slams the door behind him, and Junior and I are left here, shaken. Junior tries to stifle his cries, while I'm left trembling. What in the World was that about? It now occurs to me that Junior must be a victim in this every bit as Mario and I are. The only difference is, Junior's forced to go along with this kidnapping. What can I do to help him? There has to be some way…
To be Continued…
…
A/N: Well, hello there! Holy crap, you guys… After not updating for almost a month, I didn't expect this chapter to go this direction! I knew I wanted Junior to talk to Peach about the Secrets, but wow! Where stories lead you, without you even trying… At least we get info on where these "Secrets" come from. We also get Peach's true feelings for Mario. But, what's even deeper than that, is Junior's relationship with his Father… Is the ending of this chapter what it's truly like? Who the hell knows?! XD I'm honestly quite impressed with how this chapter turned out, especially since I wasn't planning it this way! What do you think will happen next? Well, stayed tuned! :D I think I'm going to be gone for awhile again, so that I can read Order of the Phoenix (I just finished Goblet of Fire, and I'm obsessed with everything about it; especially that climax). Though, don't lose interest, as I promise I'll update again (as long as I'm still alive during this pandemic)! Anyway, take care! Stay safe, and I'll see you guys next time! :)
PS: Lol at the book Junior was reading.
- Majora's Mask Freak184