Author's Note: I know that some readers may be offended with Mario's treatment in this story. I do not hate Mario. Mario is the best character out there (besides the Fantastic Four). I just felt that I would write a different Mario story. So the way that I write Mario is in THIS STORY ONLY! I DO NOT HATE MARIO! Also, Peach cannot be a goody-two-shoes all the time, can she? Now on with the story…

Hidden Secrets

Ch. 2

Peach woke up around 8:30. Peach showered and threw on some khaki capris, a pair of shoes and a light blue tank top that read 'Tough Gal'. Peach applied some make up. Peach checked her watch. It was 10:30.

"Shit!" Peach muttered. "Where the hell is Bowser? He was supposed to be here an hour ago!" Some one knocked at the door. Toad slipped in quietly. Then a rope ladder tapped gently on the balcony doors.

"'Bout friggin' time!" Peach said. "I'm off, Toad. See you in the morning." Peach kissed Toad on the forehead. She climbed up the rope ladder and was gone.

Toad stared after Peach a long time afterward. Then he sighed. Almost every night after Peach had fallen in love with Bowser, she had sneaked off. Toad had been there for Peach. How couldn't Peach tell that Toad loved her? Why did she always go for bad guys? First, it was Wort. Then it was Andross. Now Bowser. Except this time, Peach actually married Bowser. Toad helped Peach lie to her father just to date those…those villains!

Toad grew frustrated and threw his mushroom cap to the floor. Toad sat down on Peach's bed. Her scent of peaches and cream was still in the air. Then Toad had an idea. It would be painful, but he had to do it. First, he needed some help. Toad would worry about that tomorrow. Tonight, he just wanted to sleep in peaches and cream.

***

Meanwhile, at Bowser's Castle…

Bowser, the notorious King of the Koopas was sitting on a leather couch in his private den with Peach. Bowser's castle was 10 times larger than Peach's. Bowser's Keep had 500,000 rooms and 7,000 servants. The halls were gothic-like with stone gargoyles and Bowser statues everywhere. Bowser's throne room was extremely large. His throne was made of skulls and bones held together by melted gold and precious gems.

"I'm so glad we're together." Peach said as she snuggled closer together. They were watching Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

"Yeah," Bowser agreed. "A few years ago, we had to be very careful." Bowser was eight feet tall with green skin and an orange underside. Bowser had reddish orange hair and a huge Koopa shell with several gigantic spikes on the back.

"I know," Peach said. "Too bad Father had to die. But he wouldn't let me be with you, and if he found out, I would be disinherited." Peach's mind went back a week before her father's murder.

~flashback~

"Bowser," Peach said when she had seen Bowser that night. "We can't keep staging kidnappings like this. It's getting too risky. Father's becoming suspicious. Plus it's boring, always being kidnapped."

"This means we have to come with a new plan." Bowser said. Bowser and Peach came up with many plans over the course of the night. Finally at 5 am, Bowser had the perfect plan.

"Why don't we just knock off your old man?" Bowser suggested.

"Kill my father?!" Peach shrieked.

"Why yes," Bowser replied. "Then you wouldn't have to worry about anyone telling you what to do."

"That's true," Peach slumped her shoulders. "No one I've dated ever suggested that, Bowser."

"You mean, Wizpig, Andross and my brother Wort?" Bowser asked. "You sure have been around the block a few times. Are you sure you don't have a disease?"
"Shut up, Bowser!" Peach yelled. "I don't really want to kill Father, but anyone who comes in my way, they'll have to die!"

"That's my Peach talking!" Bowser clapped his hands. "Then we'll do it."

"'We' can't do it." Peach said. "Send someone else to do it. It has to look like an attack by the enemy."

"Ok." Bowser said.

A week later, Bowser sent in Boom Boom, a really strong Koopa, to kill the Mushroom King. Peach went through the usual processes of mourning. Now Peach could see Bowser, but they both forgot about one factor: Mario. He would surely kill Bowser if he ever found out.

~End Flashback~

"It doesn't matter," Peach finally said. "We're together now, but we have to find some way to kill Mario. Then we'll be married in front of everyone and our two kingdoms will be united."

"Yeah," Bowser grumbled in his sleep.

"Bowser, you lughead!" Peach yelled. "I guess he's trying to send a message." Peach laid back and fell asleep

***

Toad woke up. The sun had begun to rise over the mountains that surrounded Mushroom Castle. Toad glanced at the clock. It was 6:45. Toad made up Peach's bed, walked to the door and opened it slowly. Toad looked around to make sure no one was coming. He crept out of Peach's room and shut the door. Peach decided he would go talk with Luigi today. He wasn't sure whether Luigi would help or not, but Toad would give it a try. Toad walked to a nearby alcove and sat down. When Toad heard someone in Peach's room, he ran back to check on it.

"Good morning," Peach cheerfully said as he hung her parka on the back of the chair.

"Hi Peach," Toad's face turned a pale shade of red. "How was your, ah, evening?"

"It was okay." Peach said. "I'm starved. Let's go to the dining room and eat breakfast."

"That's fine with me." Toad smiled as he and Peach walked to the dining room.