Chapter 10: Past and Future
"Excellent that would be fifty coins... from each of you" The fortune teller said.
"Lat time it was just fifty" Peach said looking at the fortune teller suspiciously.
"Oh but this prediction will be special, more precise and specific" The fortune teller said.
Peach didn't really believe in magical predictions. She believed in wishes but wishes were a special help, everyone had to shape their own future. Even so she found fortunes to be amusing. Most of the time just laughed about how wrong they turned out or about how amazingly accurate they were. Either way she was amused. "Ok you can tell our fortunes"
"Very well then" With a poof of white smoke the fortune teller disappeared taking the hundred coins by magic rather than waiting until they were given. A scroll written in elegant calligraphy was left in the place of the fortune teller.
Peach picked up the scroll and opened it. "One of you hides a secret" She read. This was too general to be wrong, everyone had secrets but for the sake of playing along she thought of her most recent secret, she had taken Bowser's wish from Star Hill and couldn't get it out of her mind.
Bowser also thought of a secret, his love for Peach then again that wasn't really a secret he was pretty sure that by the end of their adventure everyone but Peach knew. "Love is in the future" Bowser read the next part. It was a nice prediction he sure wished that by some miracle it came true. Then again it wasn't as specific as the fortune teller had said. I could be Peach's love for Mario that was to come even if she said they were only friends they could become more. Hey wait a minute why couldn't that be the case with him? The way things were going it was safe to say they were at least friends. Maybe they were already become more or maybe it was only wishful thinking.
"You will have many friends in the future" Peach read, this one was familiar. I was one of the predictions the fortune teller had given when Peach first came to Belome's temple with Mario, Mallow, Geno and Bowser.
"Something unexpected that you knew all along will happen" Bowser read. "How can it be unexpected if we already know?" He asked.
"I'm not sure..." Peach said. "Maybe it's a metaphor" She paused then read the last sentence in the scroll. "Let the stars be your guide and you will find happiness" This part reminded her of the wish star she still kept hidden in her dress and made her blush again.
Bowser wondered what was the cause of the red color in Peach's face? What was she thinking about? He wished he knew yet at the same time he didn't want to know. What if it was something he wouldn't like? He decided not to ask then they continued on their way.
It turned out Belome was taking a nap so getting past him was no problem. After leaving Belome's temple, Peach and Bowser arrived at Monstro Town. Peach smiled as she walked around the town located near the edge of a cliff. Behind the town was a tall mountain atop which was Bean Valley. She had been trying to make sense of the thoughts that have been floating in her head ever since she found the wish star and heard Bowser's wish. His words wouldn't stop echoing in her mind every time he looked at him. As she remembered the events that occurred in Monstro Town when they were still traveling to find the star pieces and defeat Smithy those words stated to feel more true.
Flashback
Jagger, a koopa troopa had left Bowser's army when he needed him the most because he knew he couldn't stand up against Smithy. He started to train in a dojo under the sensei Jinx. Jinx was a small cricket like being, tiny but very strong.
Bowser forgave Jagger and told him he should continue his training. It was surprising to hear because she thought he would be angry. Then there was a training match and after that sensei Jinx was ready to show his abilities. He had been watching hiding in a bonsai tree all along. He agreed to fight against three at the same time because according to him it was the only way to make it fair since he was far more experienced. Mario as usual took the challenge. Bowser was a bit curious about Jagger's sensei and how could something so tiny be as strong as Jagger said so he was in. Mario then looked towards Mallow and Geno. "Who else wants to participate?" The plumber asked. Too bad his brother Luigi was away at the moment, he was missing a big adventure. But he must be having fun visiting his girlfriend princess Daisy.
Mallow looked at Geno then at Jinx. He secretly feared he would start crying if he battle became too intense. "Geno if you want to go I don't mind" The fluffy cloud like boy said.
"I supposed I could give it a try" Geno said confident that he had chosen a good body to stay in while he was in this world. He was actually a star spirit from the Star Road. He chose an action figure of a character named Geno and turned it life sized to serve as his body while he was there.
"What about me?" Peach suddenly asked. If she was asked she wouldn't have mind letting the others participate and stay on the sidelines but she wasn't asked. They thought they had to protect her in this trip and she was there to help save the world not to find a babysitter.
"Peach, this might be dangerous" Mario said. He knew appearances could be deceiving and if Jagger was that strong his sensei must be a lot stronger. He didn't want to put her in danger when he spent so much time getting her out of it.
Peach sighted. She had given everyone the helpless princess impression one that she could not easily erase. She understood Mallow very well for she too wished she wasn't such a cry baby. At least Mallow was slowly growing braver but what about her? She had to start somewhere. "You'll need a healer" Mallow was able to heal as well as attack he was the only one besides Peach that could heal in their team. Peach didn't have any real attacks at that time other than blocking magic and sending enemies to seep. Mallow on the other hand had no only healing powers but powerful weather related attacks. He controlled lightning, snow and even had a connection with the stars. He had a nice balance of different spells.
Geno had the strongest connection with the stars. He could no only attack but also make himself and his allies stronger in defense and offence which would certainly come in handy. It didn't look like neither Mario nor Bowser wanted to miss out. At least she could say she had the strongest healing magic.
A plan was quickly formed in Bowser's mind. He imagined the princess joining in the battle then when she needed to be rescued he would beat Mario to it and save her. That would most likely get her attention in a good way. "I think we should let Peach join in" Everyone looked at Bowser as if he had grown a second head. Peach smiled nodding a silent thank you. So it was decided. In the end Jinx's attacks were so strong they either knocked them out in one hit or weaken them considerably so it took all of Peach's healing magic to keep Mario and Bowser in the fight.
Jinx had decided to eliminate the healer. Peach held up her arms defensibly knowing it was too late to dodge. The attack appeared to connect with its target knocking Peach sever feet back but she was still standing, the ring on her finger glowing. It was a legendary ring that guarded the one who wore it against mortal blows. Wasting no time Peach sent a sleeping spell at Jinx.
The sensei did not fall asleep but was distracted enough for Bowser to pick up Mario and throw him at Jinx. Mario crashed into Jinx with tremendous force sending them both into a wall. Jinx managed to push the knocked out Mario off himself only to come face to face with Bowser's chain chop that wanted a new chew toy. Jinx amazingly came out with only a few scratches but he was forced to stop the fight and admit defeat.
The dojo was renamed the Mario dojo in honor of the one he thought was the leader. He had given his word and that could not be changed even if it was Bowser who delivered the final blow and Peach who helped, not that Mario didn't do his part. The plumber had fought well but the team work by the princess and the koopa at the end was what really won the match. The letter J on the sign in front of the dojo was changed to an M as promised. However it was Bowser who got to keep the Jinx belt, his emblem of power as if the sensei was acknowledged his importance in that fight. For Jagger's sake Bowser accepted it and left in good terms.
Peach was happy. Se participated in the battle and proved she wasn't the defenseless little princess they thought she was. Perhaps she once really was that princess but not anymore. When Bowser saw her so happy it no longer matter to him that it was Mario's name in the dojo. If he hasn't said something they wouldn't have let her fight. They were only trying to protect her but she needed to feel trusted. True that Bowser was planning to rescue her but it turned out Peach had learned to take care of herself and rescued Mario and Bowser with her healing magic.
End of Flashback
As they stopped at the dojo and saw their old friends both Peach and Bowser remembered those times. Then they visited Goomba's store. The little goomba triplets were happy to see their uncle Bowser. He had been nice about letting Goomba manage the store and not getting angry about leaving the Koopa Troop. It was a different side to Bowser that Peach had never seen before that time. She actually found it cute when the little goomba triplets started calling her auntie Peach. Time flew by while they were in Monstro Town, they ended up staying there the entire day.
The old mushroom lady who lived there with the koopas, goombas, piranha plants and all the others made a delicious dinner. They all called her Monster Mama because she was like a mother to them all.
After a fun filled day, Peach and Bowser headed to the home of the three ghosts known as the three musty fears. They were very nice ghosts who loved to play games and tell stories. Their house was like an inn in which people could sleep in for free. Peach sighted happily as she placed the sword beside her bed and cuddled the egg Bowser gave her. Today had been great it was almost unbelievable. In their journey from before she thought Bowser was only nice because he needed help recovering his castle but what if he could be like this wall the time. What if they could stay friends? She would certainly like that.
Then there was that wish... but she would go one step at a time, she was still having mixed emotions about that. For now she would try to stay friends and keep her promise to go visit. In fact she would invite him to the Mushroom Kingdom and show Toad and the others that there was nothing to be afraid of, that Bowser could actually be nice. Then again as he had said before he had an image to keep up. Maybe she could give him a reason not to worry about that.
To be Continued
Disclaimer, I do not own the Super Mario games or any Nintendo characters.