*Another long interval between updates. sorry, but I wasn't feeling up to fic writing, and I wanted to make my update first rate, I've grown a lot over this summer too, so I'm thinking of editing some stuff. some parts feel a little rushed.. this is gonna be some pretty emotional stuff. so no laughing! (*

Mario had been worrying More and More about Luigi, it seemed unbearable to imagine shooting his brother. and without Peach there to comfort him he was flustered and envisioning the worst.

It was hard grappling with his emotions during such a time; usually he worked so well solo, but his life up to this point hadn't been easy to deal with. maybe what it all boiled down to was. he was only good at being the hero.

As long as the public saw him in a good way and taking these little adventures didn't cost him any of the things he loved. it was hard not to trudge along happily.

He was so confused he thought he was only imagining it when he heard a sniffle and the sound of a young women crying in the distance.

When he identified the sobbing noises as Daisy, he assumed he was growing delusional with very step he took.

However, even after he shook that idea off, oddly feeling more comfortable going back to feeling guilty. his sorrow, nor his footfall, could block out the crying.

As he walked onward, it grew nearer, until eventually, he felt as if he were sitting right next to whoever was so broken up.

That's when.. He saw it..

It was daisy, curled up in a ball so tight you could have thrown her through a hoop and she would have bounced when she hit the ground.

Mario stood still, looking very much like the typical soldier, he tried to be as quiet as possible and not startle her as he watched her wipe her eyes on the hem of her dress and continue to whimper and moan.

He didn't know what to say. he had a feeling she was sobbing over something he had done. and he felt nerves pile up within when he realized that perhaps he had been right about murdering his little brother.

HE turned around, and thought maybe he had a chance of escaping silently, yet quickly, when at last Daisy spoke, in a brisk and chilling voice.

"I know that's you standing there, Mario, Mario!"

Mario turned back around and took a step toward her. He merely rested his feet in the ground and remained in the same position without uttering a word.

"Since WHEN did I deserve this?" she cried, her voice growing hoarse.

Mario gulped what had to have been the biggest lump anybody ever got in their throat. If there were ever a time that he wished he could vanish. this was it.

"I've been living in HELL. Damn this war! I already lost you both, why did she have to make it official!"

Mario furrowed his brow. What did she mean by that?

"excuse me?" he asked, his voice cracking slightly.

"Don't play dumb with me.. This whole time I've had a hole in my heart. wishing somebody would just surrender the entire war all together! You don't know how much I've missed you two.. And now she'll never know."

"What are you saying Daisy?" Mario asked, feeling a bit more on edge.

Daisy got up, brushing herself off slightly and started to walk off. Before she left however, she made one final statement.. "take the spot I was sitting at.. You'll see."

The tone in her voice was harsh, and Mario felt as if he was in a horror movie as soon as she let the words spill off her tongue.

He walked closer.. And closer. afraid the ground would sink from underneath of him the further he moved, and then he caught a glimpse of...

Peach?

He froze. there she was.. Just lying there looking as peaceful as if she were napping underneath the shade of a tree.

He closed his eyes, the veins bulging in his neck. "she's just napping... it's okay." he muttered as he tried to calm the rapid rushes of air moving in and out of his lungs.

HE opened his eyes once more. almost convinced that she really was sleeping.. Until he saw Toad's dagger.

Blood..all over her dress..

He could only think in fragments.. Dagger...blood...why?

He knelt down and held Peach in his arms, cradling her as if she were an infant.

"Please. don't be gone." He chanted over and over, closing his eyes and laying his head against hers.

"It would have been okay. it still can be okay. there's still a spirit in there. right?"

The lifeless body of his love spoke no words, and kept her eyelids tightly shut over her beautiful cobalt eyes. her flesh cold and prickling every hair on Mario's body.

"Please. just open your eyes... please..." he said once more, stroking her hair and kissing her cheeks as if it would do any good.

He heard no melodious ring of that gentle voice he loved tickling his ears. he felt no eye lashes sliding up his cheek to kiss him.. He felt no Peach within that body.

He closed his eyes tightly. "No tears.. Please.. No tears.. Hold yourself together."

His pep talk did no good.. Once he took the princess's tiny, delicate little hand, slid the satin white glove off of it, and laced his fingers with hers. the clear liquid within his eyes poked out and dripped down his face.

Never had any moment in his life been so heart shattering, never had he wished for death more than that moment.

First it was just another tear, out of the other eye, than a couple more swooped down to attack what was left of the dry skin on his face.. Then eventually he caught himself sobbing, wailing so loud people miles away could probably hear.

"Why Peach, Why?" he said in as still a voice he could manage. "I. I.. I still love you."

he took a moment to pull her closer and embrace her, feeling as if she were actually there, listening to every word.

"It hurts more than an attack in battle. how can my heart take being madly in love with someone I'll never see again? I'll never kiss you again, never see your eyes lit up when you feel secure and happy, your voice will never caress my ears."

He broke down into more rapid sobbing, clutching the princess tighter still. He couldn't bear to let her go. it was as if the second he dropped her back onto the earth. she would deteriorate.

He couldn't live without the scent of her perfume, the glance of her innocent face.

Once he let her go, she would be buried, into the cold ground. A dark, mysterious place unworthy of her beauty! After that. he would no longer look upon her.

Each glance he took from her made his heart beat even faster than the last, and now as he imagined never again feeling that scuttle within, he lost all composure.

He lie his head down on her chest and cried even harder than he had moments before. even harder than when he had lost his mother...

He lied peach down on the ground and lied down next to her, his arms around her, lying his head on her shoulder and letting the tears fall.

"Everyone I love I lose.. everyone I care about is RIPPED FROM ME!!! Why can't I find happiness and let it just last! I've got a lot of living left to do, and already I've turned my brother against me, lost my true love to suicide. and witnessed my mother grasping her final breath before I was old enough to even handle it.why me? WHY ME! TAKE SOMEONE ELSE'S TRUE LOVE, FIND ANOTHER SET OF BROTHERS TO KILL EACHOTHER. TAKE SOMEONE ELSE'S SOCCER MOM!!!!!!!!!"

He removed himself from peach and huddled over in a corner, screaming and crying, venting all this concealed anger.

"IF LOVE IS SO IMPORTANT... WHY IS FATE DECIDING TO KEEP ME FROM EXPERIENCING IT!!!!!!!!!!"

He felt a hand on his shoulder and whipped around to see Daisy standing there. teary eyed.

"I heard everything you said." She replied.

"What good does it do?" Mario asked.

"It changed my opinion about you." Daisy said with a smile. "you loved Peach so much, and I know her. she must have had a reason for needing to escape."

"SO SUICIDE IS RIGHT?"

Daisy looked down. "No, but look what all this nonsense has done."

Mario sniffled and scrunched Peach's glove up in his hand. He then pocketed the little cloth and looked Daisy in the eye. "The best thing that ever happened to me is gone. I can't cope.. I need my brother back!"

~

*okay. really teary and wishy washy.. I know. r+r and maybe next update won't be so far away ;)!*