Hidden Secrets

Hidden Secrets

Chapter One

It was another beautiful day in the Mushroom Kingdom. The sun was climbing in the sky; there were no clouds. The songbirds were out chirping among the trees. Toad, faithful companion of Peach and Mushroom Retainer, went into Peach's room to wake her up.

Peach's room was large, gracious, and warm. A red velvet canopy bed sat upon a dais. A night table was standing next to the bed. A fire was burning low in the fireplace. Large red velvet drapes were covering the balcony.

Toad walked over to the balcony and pulled the drapes apart. Warm sunlight spilled gently into the room. Toad crept by Peach's bed.

'She looks so beautiful, sleeping there.' Toad thought. Toad was in love with Peach, ever since she had become a grown woman. Toad had taken care of Peach since she was seven.

"Wake up Peach," Toad shook Peach gently.

"Unggggghhhh," Peach groaned as she slowly opened her eyes. "Oh, good morning, Toad."

"Good morning Peach," Toad smiled. "I told the cooks to make your favorite breakfast: jellied toast, scrambled eggs, and apple juice." Toad rolled the food cart next to the bed.

"Thank you, Toad." Peach said. Toad blushed and immediately left the room.

Peach sat up and ate her breakfast. Peach put on the pink dress with the golden brooch. Next, Peach brushed and braided her hair. Peach then rang for Toad.

"Toad," Peach said. "We have to get the pasta ready for the Marios. They're coming over in a few hours. There was a hint of annoyance in Peach's voice.

"OK," Toad answered.

*****

A couple of hours later, Mario and Luigi arrived at Mushroom Castle.

"Hiya Peach!" Mario said. Mario' was wearing a red jumpsuit with a blue shirt and a hat with 'M' on top. Mario was short and fat with a long mustache.

"Hi Mario." Peach sighed and rolled her eyes. A few minutes later, Luigi came in the castle.

"Hi Peach," Luigi said. He was the youngest of the Mario brothers. Luigi wore a Hawaiian shirt, khaki shorts and sandals. Luigi cut his hair and shaved his mustache over the summer so now Luigi's hair was shorter.

"Hi Luigi," Peach said cheerfully. Peach liked Luigi a lot better than Mario. He never interfered in her life unlike his brother.

Peach, Mario, Luigi, and Toad walked to the inner courtyard where there was an entire meal spread out on the picnic table.

"Mmmm," Mario licked his chops as he scanned the table. "Spaghetti!" Mario yelled. Mario ran to the spaghetti, dug in with both hands and put spaghetti in his mouth.

"Fat, disgusting pig!" Peach thought scornfully. A frown of disapproval appeared on Peach's face.

"He didn't save the rest of us any!" Luigi complained to Peach and Toad.

"I know," Toad sighed. "Quick! Let's move and grab the rest before Mario gets to it!" Peach, Toad, and Luigi ran to the picnic table, grabbed the food and brought it into the castle. Mario was so into the food, he didn't see anyone leave him by himself. When Mario was finished, his beard, face and hands had spaghetti everywhere.

"Mmmm, mmmm!" Mario exclaimed. "That was great! Hey! Where is everybody?" Mario said in his Italian voice. Mario went to the castle. He looked in the dining room where Peach, Luigi, and Toad were enjoying the picnic food.

"Hey," Mario shouted angrily. "Why'd you all abandon me outside? You can't eat without me!"

"Because uh," Peach began.

"Because we wanted you to eat in peace." Toad said quickly. He winked at Peach. Peach breathed a sigh of relief.

"Oh," Mario said. "The spaghetti was great!" Mario leaned over Peach and tried to kiss her. Peach shrank back in disgust.

"Hey, let's play a game." Luigi suggested suddenly. Everyone stood up and left the dining room. Peach pulled Luigi aside.

"You're a lifesaver." Peach whispered.

"Uh…thanks." Luigi said as he paced a bit faster.

Luigi saw how annoyed Peach seemed to be with his brother Mario. Luigi disliked Mario himself. Mario always got the better stuff. The heroics, the fame, the money.

"Let's play Monopoly," Toad suggested when everyone arrived in the Den.

"Sure," Mario agreed. "I'm the car."

"You're always the car!" Luigi complained. "Let someone else be the car for a change!"

"No!" Mario said smugly. "You're just mad because you're not the car!"

"You damn skippy!" Luigi snapped. "Hand over the car!"

"No!" Mario screeched.

"Yes" Luigi shouted back. Mario and Luigi shouted back and forth until…

"QUIET!" Peach roared loudly. "I will be the car. Those are MY orders and if anyone wants to challenge that, they can leave this castle!"

"Mario, Luigi, and Toad looked at each other for a moment. No one said a word.

"Good," Peach said sweetly. "We can play Monopoly now. I'll go first."

The group set everything up and played. Mario was the first person to go bankrupt, then Toad. After Mario and Toad lost, Peach decided to call it quits.

"We better get going," Luigi said to Peach after 15 minutes. "I have my side of the house to clean and laundry to do. Hopefully Mario will get a CLUE and do the same to his side."

"Shut up, Luigi!" Mario pouted.

"Well it's true. You're side of the house is messy!" Luigi said. "I'm leaving Peach." Mario and Luigi left and went back to the Pad.

"Phew." Peach sighed deeply. "I'm glad they're gone." Peach mentioned to Toad.

"Oh, I don't know." Toad said. "I don't see anything wrong with Luigi."

"I have nothing against Luigi." Peach said in her most earnest voice. "It's Mario. He thinks I'm his girlfriend. Everyone thinks that. Even if I were single, which I'm not, I wouldn't date Mario. He's a fat slob. Look at the way he ate that spaghetti! The sauce was smeared all over his face. Then he tried to KISS me! Ugh! I'm glad Luigi came to my rescue when he did."

Peach went on as Toad listened quietly. He was Peach's greatest confidante. There were things Peach told Toad that she hadn't told Bowser, and he was her husband! Toad smiled to himself. At least if Peach didn't know how he felt about her, he could…

"Toad, are you listening to me?!" Peach asked loudly.

"I didn't quite hear you." Toad answered.

"I was talking about DINNER," Peach said. "I'm tired. I'm not eating dinner. Just bring some Cheetos and Mountain Dew to my room. Mario ruined my appetite for dinner. I'm going to wait for Bowser.

"Ok." Toad said.

Peach stomped up the stairs to her room and plopped down on her bed. Peach grabbed the remote and turned on the television. She flipped through the channels and came to the news. Mario was on the news as always. Peach groaned, turned of the TV and went to sleep.