A/N: I didn't plan on updating so soon, but I wanted to because it's my birthday! Yay! So anyway, I hope you enjoy the next chappie of A Fighting Chance. There's not a lot of action here, but it sets up for a lot of good stuff. So here it is!

Disclaimer: Not mine.

Chapter 7

Over the next couple of days, Peach spent many restless hours training at the dojo. The remaining time was solely for the purpose of eating a quick meal or sleeping for the absolute minimal amount and still being able to attain a rejuvenated state by the sun's breaking over the horizon. Jinx had frequently offered her time to rest and cool down at times when hot beads of sweat were dripping from her burning cheeks and her breathing had become a strained wheezing.

"But sensei, I have to continue training if I hope to be in peak physical condition for the tournament try-outs," she would say with a smile before returning to pummeling a punching bag or whatever other activity she had been absorbed with.

"Very well," Jinx would reply, knowing that not even his wise words could dampen her unshakeable determination.

Although Jinx would never be able to convince her, Peach did not need to completely rebuild her skills from the ground up. She simply needed to hone her techniques and possibly build up a bit of extra strength. But then again, Jinx had repeatedly preached that size, as well as brute strength, meant absolutely nothing unless you knew how to use it. And the goal of his teachings for the fair princess were to do just that.

On her final day in Monstro Town, Peach didn't think twice about taking the opportunity to practice a few last moves in the dojo. She knew that parting from such a friendly town with such a welcoming atmosphere would prove to be more difficult than any of her training sessions. But still, her true life lied in the Mushroom Kingdom and not in her secret training spot. And if she wished to have a chance to participate in the tournament, she needed to leave as soon as possible.

"Thank you, sensei," Peach said gratefully with a bow, a gesture that was much more orthodox for showing respects in a dojo rather than her usual graceful curtsy. "I will never forget how you have helped me."

"It was no trouble at all," Jinx said and bowed as well to show his respects to the girl standing before him. "If you should ever require assistance in fighting some time in the future, I would be honored if you should decide to return to my dojo."

Peach smiled sweetly and restrained the urge to ruffle Jinx's hair with her thin fingers, almost an instinct because it would have been quite like the way she often rubbed her hand across Toad's spotted mushroom cap.

"Thank you, sensei," Peach said again, keeping her bright smile. "I promise that I shall return if I should ever need your guidance."

There was an instant of silence, and then on the face of the tiny fighter who seldom showed even the tiniest of smiles in place of the usual pensive expressions, there appeared a wide grin. The other pupils in the dojo who saw this exchanged shocked looks at each other, their faces asking each of the others if their sensei had suddenly been replaced by a twin or some other creature that resembled Jinx to the very smallest detail. But their queries and awkward gawking were soon halted when Jinx whirled around on his mysterious senses and the grin quickly faded.

"I trust that you will all return to your training at once," Jinx said tonelessly. The students could do nothing but resume the tasks they had been doing a moment ago.

Peach said one last goodbye and turned to leave the dojo. A small tear escaped against her will as she made her way down the stone steps to her carriage. She brushed it away, but reminded herself that even though she was now a fighter, she was still allowed to cry.

"Princess!" Toad exclaimed and ran to Peach the second she had opened the door. He had been sitting as still as a statue for the past three days at the top of the staircase in the main hallway, awaiting Peach's return. Peach instinctively dropped to her knees to allow Toad to wrap his tiny arms as far as he could around her waist.

"It's good to see you, Toad," Peach said as she fell into his embrace and hugged him back, loving the familiar feel of his cheek against hers.

"Where did you go?" Toad asked breathlessly, never wanting to let go of her as a few small tears slid down his cheeks. "I was so worried."

"I know, Toady," Peach said, using her pet name for him like she always did when she was about to apologize. "I really am sorry. But I had to go."

"But why?" Toad asked into her soft hair. "I just wanted to know where you were."

"I know."

Toad hugged her tighter and Peach showed no indication of ripping herself away from his weakening grip. "I wanted to tell you. But if I did, then you would have told and then I would have been brought back before I wanted to."

"I wouldn't have told." He was only a few years younger than Peach but his compassion would always make him seem so like a child. Peach had always thought this was rather cute.

Peach quietly laughed. "Yes you would have," she said with a smile, although Toad couldn't see it with his face buried in her shoulder. "I know you would have told Mario and Luigi and they would have gone and gotten me without any hesitation."

Toad didn't answer.

"But that's okay, because I'm glad you care about me that much."

Finally, Toad's arms released their grip on Peach and fell to his sides as he slowly took a step back. Peach continued to kneel on the floor so she could look Toad straight in his dark beady eyes.

"But where did you go?" he asked again, wiping the last few tears away from his cheeks.

Peach paused for a minute to contemplate. Should she reveal her location to Toad? If she didn't tell the Mario brothers where she was for the last few days, Toad surely would. And what if she needed to return to the dojo? Would she be able to go and not be followed? These questions along with many others flashed through her mind, making her decision harder and harder. But when Toad's face began to scrunch up and he looked at her with his adorable brown eyes, she knew she could not deceive him anymore.

"I was in Monstro Town," she replied.

Toad raised his eyebrow and gave her a very confused look. "Monstro Town?" he asked in surprise. He had only heard her mention that place once before awhile ago, when she and the Marios had been telling him of their adventure to retrieve the seven legendary stars of the Star Road. She had never talked about it again. "Why would you go there?"

"It's a long story," she replied simply. "I'll explain it to you when I explain it to Mario and Luigi."

Peach's reunion with the Mario brothers had also been filled with plenty of hugs, but was not quite as emotional as the one with Toad. When the brothers asked the inevitable question of where she had been all this time, she began her long explanation of how badly she wanted to fight in the tournament, how no one believed in her, how because of them, she was not allowed to practice at the Mushroom Kingdom's dojo, and finally, how she had to travel all the way to Monstro Town to seek guidance from Jinx. When she was finished, she was completely out of breath and everyone else was speechless.

After a moment of silence, Mario was the first to speak.

"So you really want to be in the tournament that badly?"

"Uh-huh. And I would greatly appreciate it if you would support me in my decision this time."

At first there was silence as the two brothers exchanged almost expressionless glances. Luigi realized that his brother wasn't going to give an answer, so he decided he might as well give his input.

"Well, she has worked really hard," he said hopefully, giving Peach a quick smile, which she gratefully returned. The only one left to convince now was Mario.

Mario looked at Peach for a brief moment before he restlessly jammed his hands into the pockets of his overalls and shifted his gaze out towards the window. "I don't know," he said softly.

Peach stood motionless and Luigi slightly twitched, anticipating another outburst from the determined princess. But instead, Peach quietly sighed and looked down at the floor.

The expression she had seen on Mario's face right before he turned away was that of concern, she was sure of it. He just didn't want her to be injured. But how could she possibly blame him? Since that fateful day he and Luigi happened to tumble into the Mushroom Kingdom, they had been working to the best of their abilities to make certain that she would never be hurt. And now she was practically throwing herself in harms way. Just about anything could happen to her as soon as she stepped foot into the arena. Had she allowed Mario to spend so many years protecting her when she was just going to march into a fighting tournament and possibly get smashed to a bloody pulp?

Her last thought caused her to slightly shudder and she realized that she had never fully analyzed every outcome of her ambition. Previously, the only visions that had passed through her mind were the cheers of a crowd as she pummeled every opponent and receiving the kinds of adoration and respect that she truly wanted. But now, she began to realize that some of the consequences of her entering the tournament could prove to be truly hazardous. Her thoughts instantly became invaded with nightmares of an adversary mercilessly beating her until she was nothing more than a heap of flesh and fabric lying in a pool of her own crimson blood, her body lying lifeless in a hospital bed with only the shrill and steady beeping of her heart monitor to reassure everyone that she was still alive, or worse...

Peach was now slightly trembling at her horrific thoughts, but no one seemed to notice. But she couldn't give up now, she had come way too far. And she had known all along about the inevitable dangers that came with entering the tournament, she had just never pondered them very carefully. If nothing else, her determination would prevent her from surrendering.

After taking a deep breath, Peach had once again regained her composure and she slowly walked up to Mario. Without a second thought, she slowly slid her hand around his hand, gently wrapping her slender fingers around his muscular ones.

"Mario," she said quietly and he brought his eyes up to meet hers. The way she looked at him, it was as if Toad and Luigi were no longer standing in the room. As far as she was concerned, for this moment, neither of them even existed.

"Yes, Peach?"

"I..I know you're worried about me," she began, her voice a bit louder, but never losing its gentleness. "And I'm grateful for your concern. But this is something that I need to do. I know that you want to protect me, but eventually the time will come when I'm in trouble and you won't be there. And how am I supposed to defend myself if I don't know how?"

"But, Peach, I didn't say you couldn't-"

"I know," she interrupted quickly. "But that's not the only reason. All my life, I've been admired and respected not because of anything I've done, but because I was the princess. You and Luigi have earned all the reverence and recognition you have. The admiration eveyone has for me almost seems stolen. I don't deserve it."

"But, Peach-"

"Let me finish. All I want is to show that I'm worth something. I feel that's it's my duty to prove to my people that their ruler isn't a weak and defenseless child. I'm certain that the Smash Brothers tournament will do that for me. But I can't do my best if you don't believe in me. Please?"

The room was completely silent for a few moments as Mario carefully contemplated Peach's sincere and heartfelt words. Finally, the atmosphere in the room seemed to brighten and a supportive smile slowly made it's way across Mario's face.

"Alright, Peach. If it means that much to you, I wish you the best of luck."

A/N: Peach finally has the support of the Mario brothers! Hurrah! Next stop is the try-outs. Will she make it? Find out next time!

If there's any questions or comments, I'd love to hear 'em! So go on! REVIEW!