Chapter 2
It was early morning, Peach had swapped his signature pink dress from some adventuring gear of boots, hat, and a hiking outfit. She and her Toad commandos were heading through the forest. They walk along the road in the direction of Shiver City. They were silent as the sun was shining brightly overhead.
"Where are we going?" One of the Toads asked.
"We're going to the Kingdom of the Orange Toads!" Peach replied.
"Why aren't we taking the sewers there?" Asked another Toad. "It's faster that way."
"There's no time for that!" Peach replied. "I simply wish to avoid any unnecessary conflict. Bowser's not an idiot, he obviously has taken control of the sewers. We need to head through the forest, and up the snowy mountain".
As Peach kept marching, she stopped suddenly. "Stop." She said, "Hear that sound?"
The soldiers stopped and listened, readying their weapons.
"Princess! Wait! I'm coming with you!" Declared Luigi, who was making his presence known by leaving the bushes with his hands high in the air.
"What are you doing here?" She asked.
"If Mario is being held captive, then I'll definitely help you rescue him."
"It's good to have you on our side, Luigi," Peach said, patting him on the shoulder. "Alright boys, let's keep on marching!"
Luigi, Peach, and her toads marched along silently as they made their way to the Kingdom of the Orange Toads. They went through the forest and up a long winding hill until they reached Shiver City. As they entered the city, Peach was shocked by the sight before her.
What usually was a large and beautiful city that was a snowy wonderland, was being destroyed by a rain of fireballs from Bowser's Airships!
Skyscrapers being brought down to mere rubble, the streets cracked and burning! Mountains were melting! The Orange Toads and Penguins fleeing in utter terror!
"What's happening here?!" Peach exclaimed.
"Bowser is attacking the city!" One of the Toads cried.
"Then we should hurry up and get inside the Crystal Palace!"
The crew head into the Crystal Palace gathering as many pedestrians along the way! The giant doors shut as the last of their team enters with a giant "WHOOMPH"! Everyone catches their breath.
They look around the room, where they see the entire Orange Toad army gathered, ready for war. They stood by the wall, looking at the map they had drawn earlier. It had been marked out with arrows showing them the best path to counter attack against Bowser's Forces. An older Toad in a military uniform approaches Peach and Luigi.
"Greetings Princess Peach! Luigi! I am General Naranjo! It seems the dreaded day we have prepared for has finally come! Bowser is attacking our peaceful city! Listen, we can't stay here! We need to get to the mountains in the north! There's a secret tunnel that leads to the top of the mountain."
"That seems easy then!" Say Luigi!
"It's never easy," Naranjo interrupts. "We have to cross the ice fields, and those are overrun with Yeti Koopas! A strange kind of creature that is covered in layers of thick white fur. When they attack, they shoot icicles out of their shells!"
"Can't we just use the sewers?" An Orange Toad asks.
"Negative! Bowser has complete control of them! It's how Mario was captured in the first place!" The General points to Luigi "Consider yourself lucky you didn't take them today, Soldier!"
Peach and the others nod.
Peach thinks back to her history books, thinking about the tactics of the Yeti Koopas.
"We can't go charging into battle like this" She says to the others. "We need to wait for nightfall! In the darkness, we could sneak past the enemy, and make our way to the mountain."
The General observes the Yeti Koopas destroying innocent snowmen in the fields.
"Alright Princess, we'll wait until Nightfall. They'll need to get tired at some point".
Peach nods. The General orders his army to rest and get ready for battle.
Peach is sitting in the bunker, while she waits for the orders. She reads a book on the alliance between the Red, Orange, and Yellow Toads during the Great Toad Wars.
"I remember reading about this part of the war" She exclaims. "When Queen Ruby…was poisoned by the Green Toads…"
Peach takes a moment to wipe a tear from her face, then clears her throat and continues reading.
"...The Red Toads formed an alliance with the Orange Toads, and the Yellow Toads..."
"I was there." General Naranjo said, walking into the room. "You were but a mere child to the Red Toad King, but I was a private on the front lines during The Great Toad War."
"It was a terrible war," Peach commented. "I remember the Green Toads attacked the Orange Toads as well. We fought alongside you, and I swore to myself that if it came down to it, I would help defend the Orange Toads from anyone who tried to hurt them."
"Well it looks like that day has come...Thank you Princess...I knew we could trust your family." Naranjo tips his cap to Peach in a respectful manner.
"Yes, thank you!" Peach said to him. "Now please get some rest. You have a lot of work ahead of you tomorrow."
Naranjo nods and heads back into the war room ...Except Peach sees another Naranjo walking down the corridor. "You're still up?" He says.
Confused, Peach double checks the war room. Only to be attacked by a Duplighost!