A/N: YAY!! It's the last chapter!
The Other Prisoner: Chapter 5: I'm in Your Debt
Mario's POV:
Bowser's defeated again. He doesn't say anything weird, he just growls and disappears, leaving another star behind.
Glad he's gone. . .
I rush over to Link, who isn't awake anymore. I check him over, and he's still alive. Poor guy must've collapsed with exhausted and relief. I don't blame him- he did have his strength sucked from him. His body's surprisingly light, and even though he's twice my size, I'm able to lift him up and carry him. I approach the star, touch it, and began to slowly teleport out of here. . .
Peach's POV:
I'm getting anxious. Mario left to fight Bowser a few minutes ago. I saw him enter the window earlier, so I knew he was close to Bowser. I hope he beats Bowser.
I hope Link's okay. . .
Wait. . . What's that?. . . Is it. . .?. . . It is! Mario! And he's holding Link! They appear in front of the window and slowly float down. I run up to Mario, and he hands the unconscious Link to me.
"He's fine," Mario tells me. "He just collapsed from exhaustion."
"Why?" I ask.
"Let me tell you inside. . ."
We go inside and get Link into one of the bedrooms, allowing him to rest. Then Mario catches me up on everything.
"So that's why Bowser captured him. . ." I muse, looking over at the sleeping elf.
Mario nods. "He's okay now. We can send him home when he wakes up."
I sigh. "He's suffered so much at our expense. . . I can't help but feel we owe him something. . ."
Mario doesn't respond. I look at him, and he's looking down in a guilty fashion.
". . . Mario?"
"You're right, Peach," he says softly. "I. . ."
Before he could continue, we hear a groan from the bed. Link had awaken, and he slowly sits up.
"Well, hello, Link ." I greet him.
He looks at me, then at Mario. "Is. . . is Bowser gone?"
Mario nods, and Link smiles.
"Mario, I. . . I can't thank you enough. . . You saved me, Peach, the castle. . . You're a wonderful hero. . ."
Mario slightly smiles. "Thanks, Link. . . And. . . I'm sorry."
Link's face fell. "What do you mean?"
"This is my fault. . . Bowser captured you to try and defeat me. . ."
"Oh, Mario. . ." I say softly. How could Mario feel this way? It wasn't his fault at all! I want to tell him this, but don't know how. Link tells him instead.
"Mario, this isn't your fault at all. Peach told me a lot about Bowser. He could've taken anyone. It didn't have to be me. And you never knew in the first place, so why would it be your fault?"
Mario shrugs his shoulders and slowly pulls his view up to Link. I just sit and listen. Link sure has a way with words.
"There's no reason to feel sorry. You saved my life. I'm in your debt, Mario. . . Thank you."
Mario seems touched by this, and he smiles in return. I'm glad he's okay now.
"Before you go, though," Mario decides to add. "Would you stay for a little while longer, please?"
Both me and Link look at him oddly. He smiles, removes a piece of paper, and hands it to me. It's the letter I sent him earlier.
"Dear Mario, Please come to the castle. I have baked a cake for you. Yours truly, Princess Toadstool, Peach."
Ah, the cake. . . I smile back at Mario, for a got the idea. Link was still hopelessly confused.
"Wait, w-why must I stay?"
"Because," I simply reply, then call out, "Toads! Bring the cake in, please!"
Immediately, I hear wheels creaking. They're bringing the cake in. Link looks at me and laughs nervously.
"Oh, Peach, you. . . you didn't have to. . ."
"I originally baked the cake for me and Mario to share, but I think they'll be enough for you as well."
"Oh, Peach. Please, enjoy it yourselves. . . You don't need to give me any. . ."
As he went on, the cake comes in. He'll change his mind once he sees it. . .
"And besides, I really must be going, and- Oh my goodness gracious, that thing is huge!"
Both me and Mario laugh as Link stares at it in amazement.
"What is this, five layers? Did you really bake this yourself?" he asks me.
I nod. "You must have at least one piece of it before you leave. Consider it as thanks. . . for keeping me company."
"And for forgiving me easily!" Mario adds jokingly. We all laugh. Link looks at the cake, then us, then smiles.
"Well, how could I decline to such a generous offer? Thank you."
"Well, we're all done with the thanks, so let's dig in!" Mario laughs, rubbing his hands together hungrily. We all agree and serve ourselves.
Link's POV:
That was probably the best cake I've ever had. That Peach is a wizard cook.
I can't help but take a few pieces home in a box. You don't come across good cake that often. Before leaving, the two stood with me outside the castle to say goodbye.
"You sure you can make it home?" asks Mario.
"Yeah, I know the way."
"Alright, then, take care of yourself." We shake hands.
"Yeah, and watch out for Bowser."
We both laugh. Peach comes up and gives me a big hug. "Thank you, Link. . . Let us hope our path cross again."
"The feeling is mutual, Peach."
She slowly draws away. They wave to me as I depart. As I walks a ways, I can't help but open the box and smell the delicious aroma of the cake. I laugh to myself, because just a few hours ago, I thought I'd never live to see the light of day, let alone smell delectable pastries. As I open the box, I realize there's a note of some sort inside. I take it out and read it.
"Dear Link, We deeply apologize for everything that's happened. I know you forgive us, and we greatly appreciate it. I can't help but feel our paths shall cross again, for Hyrule and Mushroom Kingdom are considerably close. Perhaps you and Mario will have an adventure together! And I'd love to meet this Zelda friend of yours. And whoever Ganondorf is, I hope you don't encounter him anytime soon. We'll keep a watch on Bowser. So, I guess this is farewell. Goodbye, my dear friend. Don't forget to visit! ^-^ your truly, Peach. PS: I know how much you liked the song, so here are the lyrics."
I read the letter several times before putting it back in the box and departing again.
Goodbye, Peach and Mario. This won't be the last time we meet!
THE END
A/N: Hee hee! Cute ending!
Link, Mario, and Peach: Mmm. . . cake. . .
Well, that's it! It's done! (does a happy dance)
Link: (happy dancing) YAY!! Happy ending!
Oh, and my next story is going to be so cute! If you like cats, you'll love my next one! ^-^
Link: You're gonna make me the victim, aren't you?
Maybe. . .
Link: (sigh). . . Of course she is. . .
Well, review!
The Other Prisoner: Chapter 5: I'm in Your Debt
Mario's POV:
Bowser's defeated again. He doesn't say anything weird, he just growls and disappears, leaving another star behind.
Glad he's gone. . .
I rush over to Link, who isn't awake anymore. I check him over, and he's still alive. Poor guy must've collapsed with exhausted and relief. I don't blame him- he did have his strength sucked from him. His body's surprisingly light, and even though he's twice my size, I'm able to lift him up and carry him. I approach the star, touch it, and began to slowly teleport out of here. . .
Peach's POV:
I'm getting anxious. Mario left to fight Bowser a few minutes ago. I saw him enter the window earlier, so I knew he was close to Bowser. I hope he beats Bowser.
I hope Link's okay. . .
Wait. . . What's that?. . . Is it. . .?. . . It is! Mario! And he's holding Link! They appear in front of the window and slowly float down. I run up to Mario, and he hands the unconscious Link to me.
"He's fine," Mario tells me. "He just collapsed from exhaustion."
"Why?" I ask.
"Let me tell you inside. . ."
We go inside and get Link into one of the bedrooms, allowing him to rest. Then Mario catches me up on everything.
"So that's why Bowser captured him. . ." I muse, looking over at the sleeping elf.
Mario nods. "He's okay now. We can send him home when he wakes up."
I sigh. "He's suffered so much at our expense. . . I can't help but feel we owe him something. . ."
Mario doesn't respond. I look at him, and he's looking down in a guilty fashion.
". . . Mario?"
"You're right, Peach," he says softly. "I. . ."
Before he could continue, we hear a groan from the bed. Link had awaken, and he slowly sits up.
"Well, hello, Link ." I greet him.
He looks at me, then at Mario. "Is. . . is Bowser gone?"
Mario nods, and Link smiles.
"Mario, I. . . I can't thank you enough. . . You saved me, Peach, the castle. . . You're a wonderful hero. . ."
Mario slightly smiles. "Thanks, Link. . . And. . . I'm sorry."
Link's face fell. "What do you mean?"
"This is my fault. . . Bowser captured you to try and defeat me. . ."
"Oh, Mario. . ." I say softly. How could Mario feel this way? It wasn't his fault at all! I want to tell him this, but don't know how. Link tells him instead.
"Mario, this isn't your fault at all. Peach told me a lot about Bowser. He could've taken anyone. It didn't have to be me. And you never knew in the first place, so why would it be your fault?"
Mario shrugs his shoulders and slowly pulls his view up to Link. I just sit and listen. Link sure has a way with words.
"There's no reason to feel sorry. You saved my life. I'm in your debt, Mario. . . Thank you."
Mario seems touched by this, and he smiles in return. I'm glad he's okay now.
"Before you go, though," Mario decides to add. "Would you stay for a little while longer, please?"
Both me and Link look at him oddly. He smiles, removes a piece of paper, and hands it to me. It's the letter I sent him earlier.
"Dear Mario, Please come to the castle. I have baked a cake for you. Yours truly, Princess Toadstool, Peach."
Ah, the cake. . . I smile back at Mario, for a got the idea. Link was still hopelessly confused.
"Wait, w-why must I stay?"
"Because," I simply reply, then call out, "Toads! Bring the cake in, please!"
Immediately, I hear wheels creaking. They're bringing the cake in. Link looks at me and laughs nervously.
"Oh, Peach, you. . . you didn't have to. . ."
"I originally baked the cake for me and Mario to share, but I think they'll be enough for you as well."
"Oh, Peach. Please, enjoy it yourselves. . . You don't need to give me any. . ."
As he went on, the cake comes in. He'll change his mind once he sees it. . .
"And besides, I really must be going, and- Oh my goodness gracious, that thing is huge!"
Both me and Mario laugh as Link stares at it in amazement.
"What is this, five layers? Did you really bake this yourself?" he asks me.
I nod. "You must have at least one piece of it before you leave. Consider it as thanks. . . for keeping me company."
"And for forgiving me easily!" Mario adds jokingly. We all laugh. Link looks at the cake, then us, then smiles.
"Well, how could I decline to such a generous offer? Thank you."
"Well, we're all done with the thanks, so let's dig in!" Mario laughs, rubbing his hands together hungrily. We all agree and serve ourselves.
Link's POV:
That was probably the best cake I've ever had. That Peach is a wizard cook.
I can't help but take a few pieces home in a box. You don't come across good cake that often. Before leaving, the two stood with me outside the castle to say goodbye.
"You sure you can make it home?" asks Mario.
"Yeah, I know the way."
"Alright, then, take care of yourself." We shake hands.
"Yeah, and watch out for Bowser."
We both laugh. Peach comes up and gives me a big hug. "Thank you, Link. . . Let us hope our path cross again."
"The feeling is mutual, Peach."
She slowly draws away. They wave to me as I depart. As I walks a ways, I can't help but open the box and smell the delicious aroma of the cake. I laugh to myself, because just a few hours ago, I thought I'd never live to see the light of day, let alone smell delectable pastries. As I open the box, I realize there's a note of some sort inside. I take it out and read it.
"Dear Link, We deeply apologize for everything that's happened. I know you forgive us, and we greatly appreciate it. I can't help but feel our paths shall cross again, for Hyrule and Mushroom Kingdom are considerably close. Perhaps you and Mario will have an adventure together! And I'd love to meet this Zelda friend of yours. And whoever Ganondorf is, I hope you don't encounter him anytime soon. We'll keep a watch on Bowser. So, I guess this is farewell. Goodbye, my dear friend. Don't forget to visit! ^-^ your truly, Peach. PS: I know how much you liked the song, so here are the lyrics."
I read the letter several times before putting it back in the box and departing again.
Goodbye, Peach and Mario. This won't be the last time we meet!
THE END
A/N: Hee hee! Cute ending!
Link, Mario, and Peach: Mmm. . . cake. . .
Well, that's it! It's done! (does a happy dance)
Link: (happy dancing) YAY!! Happy ending!
Oh, and my next story is going to be so cute! If you like cats, you'll love my next one! ^-^
Link: You're gonna make me the victim, aren't you?
Maybe. . .
Link: (sigh). . . Of course she is. . .
Well, review!
