CHAPTER 32

Peach stirs from the tree and gets up, she begins looking up at the sky. Suddenly she hears the sound of a twig snapping. Her heart starts pounding and turns around.

"Link?" she calls out, "Was that you?"

Nothing. She looks around, spotting Link's hat in the distance.

Peach walks over to it and reaches for it. Just before her hand touches it, a giant shadow appears behind her.

" Peach Toadstool...of the Mushroom Kingdom…" the entity whispers.

"Wha... who are you?" Peach asks the voice.

"Do not fear, my dear Peachie, I mean you no harm." The entity replies.

"Who are you?...Answer me!" she demands.

"I was someone who strived for peace among all of Toad kind…just like yourself…" the voice answers. "That is, until your father killed me."

"My father killed you?! Why?!" Peach cries.

"He was a fool, he believed the one way to unify all the Toads was to have ruled under one dominant color." The entity explains in whispers. "He refused to share power with leaders of the other Toad tribes, so he did a cowardly act to go to war with the Green Toads and start the Great Toad War. A poison made from the fruit seeds of Yoshi Island."

"Yoshi Island?" Peach questions.

"Yes, Peachie" The entity answers. "Your father was given the seeds to plant in your garden as a gift, but instead he used them to get rid of the one person who prevented his hateful ambitions."

"Wait...a poison from Yoshi Island seeds...right before the Great Toad War..." Peach thinks hard, remembering these details from a memory in her childhood. It wasn't a happy memory though, it was a dark depressing one. One that had little Peach crying for months, unable to sleep without drowning herself in tears. Adult Peach begins to hold back tears as well.

"...I know who you are," Peach says. "I don't want it to be true, but I know who you are..."

"How can you possibly know who I am, Peachie?" The entity asks. "I have been dead for over twenty years."

"Because, I knew who you were when you were alive." Peach says. "You were a beautiful woman, a kind and loving one. You were someone the Red Toads all looked up to. You were someone I looked up to as well."

"Peach, darling, you finally recognize me for who I am." The entity whispers. "What is my name, Peachie Darling?"

"Your...your name is..." Peach gulps and tears stream down her face like two tiny rivers. "Your name is...Queen Ruby...Queen of the Red Toads...and my mother." Peach weeps.

"My sweet little Peach Blossom..." Queen Ruby whispers.

She wraps her large shadowy arms around Peach, embracing her tightly. Peach cries into what feels like her mother's shoulder.

"I missed you Mom! I miss you every day!" Peach bawls. "Oh, Mother, I never thought I'd see you again..."

"Peachie..." Queen Ruby says.

"Mom..." Peach says, sniffling.

They hug each other for a while. "I don't understand...why did you wait so long to appear to me? Why are you just appearing now? My friends and I are about to go into a dangerous battle!" Peach exclaims.

"Your father's ambition was so great that it consumed him. He nearly destroyed the kingdoms in his quest to unify them under his rule. He was a fool to think that one person could ever achieve that much power." Queen Ruby says pausing, preparing to announce something. "I have also come to tell you...that your father has passed away in his sleep."

"What!?" Peach gasps.

"Yes, I came to you now because I only have a few more moments here to speak with you." Queen Ruby explains. She takes Peach by the shoulders. "When you return home, you will be far more than a Princess. You shall return home a Queen, and I have never seen such a worthy woman for that title. I have observed your adventures since receiving the news of Mario's kidnapping.

"What?" Peach asks.

"Princess Peach, my dear daughter, you have gone above and beyond as a member of the Red Toad Royal Family. You have single handedly defeated a three headed tryclyde. You have traveled to Hyrule, you have led a campaign that saved the Orange and Yellow Toads. You have made peace with our once bitter enemies in the Green Toads. You have survived a Sea Storm, and found the lost location of the Blue Toads. You survived the Sea of Trees, you took on Giga Bowser and won! You have led your army to a near victory against two of the most powerful beings in these lands! You have accomplished more than any heir to the Mushroom throne could even dream of achieving! I'm so proud of my, my little Peach Blossom."

"Thank you, Mother." Peach says tearfully.

"I love you, Peachie." Queen Ruby whispers.

"I love you too, Mother," she replies.

Queen Ruby takes Peach's hands and kisses them gently before slowly fading away with the light of a new day shining over the horizon.

The rest of the Rainbow Alliance begins to wake up as the sun's rays rise over them. Many of them look around, then turn around to see Peach standing at the top of the hill crying to herself. Zelda is the first to break from the crowd and approach her.

"Are you ok, Peach?" Zelda asks.

"Yes, yes I'm fine." Peach says, wiping her tears as best she can. "I mean, um, my mom appeared to me."

"Really?" Zelda says, shocked.

"Yeah" Peach says, sniffling.

After managing to compose herself, Peach explains to the Rainbow Alliance about her mother's visitation.

"Wow! Aunt Ruby?! Seriously?!" Daisy asks. "That is so cool!"

Peach nods her head. "I've never told anyone this before, but I always hoped that Mom would visit me again someday."

"Well, I guess it's time to go and get ready for our big battle, huh?" Naranjo says, carrying Daisy's Bullet Bill launcher.

"Hey, that's mine!" Daisy declares, ripping it from his hands.

"Aw come on!" Naranjo complains! "How come the dainty Princess gets to have all the cool explosive launchers! I'm an actual war veteran here!"

"Please! I got bigger stones than you'll ever get, gramps!" Daisy answers.

Naranjo sighs and walks up to Peach. "So, let's go Princess Peach...I mean Queen Peach...I mean-."

"Just Peach is fine" Peach states, smiling.

"It is good that you finally had the vision" Yashil tells Peach. "I too was visited by the shadow of my father before I was crowned Chief of the Green Toads."

"Shadow of your father?" Peach asks.

"Yes, the night before the crowning ceremony. He spoke to me about the importance of being a leader and how he wanted me to pass on the peaceful lifestyle of the Yoshi onto the Green Toads." Yashil explains. "I believe that you are prepared for your own journey ahead."

"Thank you, Yashil." Peach says. "I feel like I'm ready now."

"Good luck, Peach." Yashil smiles "We're all counting on you."

Finally, Link approaches Peach. She hands him his hat. He puts it on. Giving Peach a silent but very approving nod with his detached head.

"Alright everyone, the day of reckoning is at hand!" Peach says, starting to lead the Rainbow Alliance towards the battlefield. "It is time to fight the greatest battle in the history of the Mushroom Kingdom!"

"The greatest battle in Hyrule's history!" States Zelda, preparing her magic.

"The greatest battle in Yoshi Island's history." Announces Yashil, pulling out his tribal gear.

"The greatest battle in Sarasaland's history!" yells Daisy launching a Bullet Bill into the air.

"The most rewarding raid in this seadog's career" growls Burnscar, pouring lighter fluid on his blade.

"The most action packed battle in all of my years of war!" says Naranjo, taking out a Bob-omb he snuck from Daisy.

"This is going to be the coolest fight EVER!" Maxil cries as he's riding piggyback on Princess Azura.