Since that past, black day of Bowser's attack on her kingdom, both the lands and herself had remained awfully quiet. No bird sung, no hound barked, no wind blew. It seemed the land itself was turning grey, losing all colour. The snow seemed ash, falling from the dark clouds up above the Mushroom Kingdom. The winter was proving itself to be a threat, perhaps even greater than Bowser's. While the villain had to rest like everyone else, the constant blizzards and storms did not cease at any moment. Maybe, after the battle, even the weather itself had turned against her. Was that a sign? Hell if she knew, and hell if she cared. Like her beloved friend over at Hyrule, she would stand strong against the furious coils of both winter and fire.

As she walked down the streets of Peachville, she could keep up to date with her people. Unlike in lands such as Hyrule or Hellas, governors in the Mushroom Kingdom were much closer to the common people. As far as she knew, barely anyone could get a chance to speak to a member of the Royal Family of Hyrule. As understanding as she was, she did not coincide with Zelda's approach in these matters. Even if Peach was just more loving and affectionate than many other rulers, she wished her people well, and wanted them to feel the same way towards her. A ruler will only be a ruler as long as the people wished it. While she theoretically stood above all the common folk of the land, she knew very well she was below them. The people could quite well live with any other sovereign, but she couldn't be sovereign without the people. She kept walking the white cobblestone paths of the main street of the nation's capital city. After passing through the marketplace in a large square that bore the name of an old governor of the kingdom, she eventually reached another large square, with a star-shaped fountain in the middle of it, where kids played around, old married couples were out for a walk and where everyone seemed content. Even if the winter was cold, she felt warm while she was at home, next to her people. Her guard, the most loyal and most notable Toad soldiers of the kingdom, lead her protected to a big columned marble building. Once it had been a temple, a building where once stood the school of a famed philosopher of the olden days. Now, it was the Palace of Dialectics, a building which held the royal assembly. The royal assembly was put together during times of war or great need to discuss the important matters. While she was princess and lady of the Mushroom Kingdom, her power was fortunately not unlimited. People from all over the kingdom were present at the assembly to come to agreements and recommendation over what to do with the nation. While most of those representants were Toads, there were several races; some that had parted ways with Bowser's tyranny and settled in the Mushroom Kingdom, like the moles and wigglers, several secluded yet open to dialogue Shy Guy communities, the penguins of the Bay and the Kingdom of the Bees, whose queen had swore loyalty to Peach's great-grandfather. That way, everyone could feel part of the Kingdom in a free manner.

The interior of the Palace of Dialectics was filled with paintings, statues and sculptures of all sorts, from writers to warriors to kings. One in particular hang over the main hall, the portrait of her parents. Although it had a great presence, Peach was always drawn to some golden decorations in the corners of that wall: strings and leaves connected to a large tree trunk that held up a nest, where one bird flew away and another fell down, with the father birds apparently absent. It was a well-known saying in the Mushroom Kingdom: "A bird that never dares to fly will stay on the ground. A bird that tries to fly will always remain in the sky." Parents said it so their kids tried something new and weren't afraid of new experiences, but Peach saw it with another light. She felt as if her parents had left the nest too early, without ever teaching her how to fly. For that, she had been left alone, expected to fly into the skies on her own. But she felt she couldn't, she felt she could merely but fall. She had been able to manage the kingdom more or less on her own, but most of the times had been peaceful times, and those infrequent times of war her kingdom had had the aid of many other external factors, so she really didn't deserve any merit at all. She always felt one step away from falling into the abyss.

She sat upon the biggest chair, a throne in some ways, which was in the back of the room, overseeing all the members of the assembly's every action. She waited for everyone to be seated and declare their presence, and so she spoke. Before she began, though, she caught a glimpse of her knight Mario wishing her good luck and blowing her a kiss, which caused a faint blush in her.

'Most noble people of the Mushroom Kingdom. We need not any introductions; we are at war. Whilst this is certainly not something new for us, it may as well be for the rest of the world.

We have discovered, upon the rubble thrown at us from the attack, a betrayal. A plot so dark and entangled in a web of lies that we have not been able to merely scratch its surface. There have been rumours, I know very well, but I am here to speak the truth: the Ylissian Empire has been working alongside Bowser in his efforts to strip us from our lands and liberties which we peacefully enjoy. And furthermore, not only do they plan to march against our integrity, but Hyrule's as well. And so with many other free lands. We do not know the purpose of these actions, but they will not be tolerated in any kind. We gave our answer to the Ylissians: we would not be a part of their ridiculous commonwealth, and we will fight against them if forced to. That's why I call the Grand Assembly on a vote in favour of arming every strip of land we have for what could most likely be our biggest conflict yet.'

She sat down, while murmurs and whispers flew around the room. Some cheered, others rightly seemed concerned. She could only watch the people debate amongst themselves. The Bee Queen then spoke.

'The bees have been loyal to the crown since we were saved from the beetles by your old knights, Queen peach, and we will repay your favour in a true effort of friendship and cordiality. We vote in favour!'

'We vote yay!' shouted a member of the penguins, and soon, many others began confessing their intention of supporting her. She could only hear support for the proposal until she heard a familiar voice shut down every other.

'With what authority do you say these barbarities, milady?' an elder purple Toad spoke up. Peach knew him very well. Lord Boletus was a Toad from the northern mountainous regions, and he was always contrary to Peach's rule. Having been chief advisor to his father, he felt as if Peach was untrustworthy and unworthy of the power she had over the kingdom, as was not afraid to say so. Peach respected the man, he was wise and had his head in the right place, but she felt overwhelmed by his constant attacks, even if they were nothing but words. Thankfully, another Toad spoke up, a one Lord Rubescee.

'She has the authority of being the ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom!'

'I asked not for that authority…' Boletus replied calmly. 'When I served your father, Queen, I always saw one flaw in him. He was too stubborn! He only saw war and violence in the way to resolving the conflict with Bowser. Now, I am certainly not defending Bowser, milords, so tone down what you say. All I'm daring to say is that, since your administration took hold of the nation Bowser's attack have increased exponentially. You never saw any path other than to fight, like your father. No dialogue. No conversation has arisen with the firelands. Ironic you seat at a Palace of Dialectics when there have been none.' Boletus sat down, leaving many people angered. Peach proceeded to answer him.

'Lord Boletus, I understand your position, as I'm sure many others do, but dialogue was never an option. Bowser has always unilaterally decided to attack our great nation, without us ever initiating the conflict whatsoever. So please, leave your pleas of dialogues to another table, because this one won't listen to such proposals.'

The room erupted with applause. Even the most cynic of her people knew Bowser was the problem, and that there was no real solution to his problem other than something that went over the nation's motto: Peace and Righteousness. Whether Boletus was aware of that or not, that was a whole other matter. The moderator of the assembly, a female wiggler, spoke up amidst the chaos.

'We will now proceed to the voting.' They all waited until the members each stated their vote, with a clear majority of yays, with the only nays coming from Boletus and people who saw him as somewhat of an opposition. She felt as if the nest she would fall off was being caressed and taken care of by the sturdiest of branches and softest of leaves, her people. 'Tis now declared the state of war in the nation and the effective and complete arming of every province and Kingdom, by the word of her Majesty Peach Toadstool the First. Doth her Majesty hath any other requests to the Grand Assembly?'

'Yes.' Peach said. She had been thinking of a plan that would help not only her people, but the rest of the free kingdoms. 'I wish to send ambassadors to the nations opposed to Ylisse to warn them of the danger. Especially to Hyrule, which is most likely already being spied upon and being destroyed from the inside. I propose to send individual ambassadors in person as to not call any suspicions through mail and letter, for we know not who might read them. Mario, loyal knight of the Mushroom Kingdom.' She looked to Mario, begging him. She knew he'd help her instantly, but she sometimes wished he didn't, and that he stayed home with her. But war didn't allow such trivial matters. 'Will you go to Hyrule on your own and warn our good neighbours to the north in secrecy?'

Mario stood and then bowed. 'I will.' And with that, the assembly was over. Peach's nest was once again trembling.

Luigi looked over at his brother. He was nervous, but the red knight seemed calmer than him.

'We rely on you. Hyrule relies on you, brother.'

'Nothing new.' He said unamused.

Luigi went up to him. They were in a tent, on the outskirts of Peachville. Mario was fiddling with a collar that the Princess had given him when saying her goodbyes. He was looking longingly at it.

'Come back alive, will you?' Luigi said, hugging his dear brother.

Mario laughed. 'Sure thing.' He rested his hands on his taller brother's shoulders. 'But you better win the war.'

Deep, somewhere in the middle of an unknown jungle, at the base of a great and fiery peak, a young man slashed at the heavy flora of the place. Speaking curses better left unheard, he made his way agonizingly late to a big tent in the middle of an outpost. He approached the entrance, smoke coming out of it. A deep growl spoke. The air instantly got hotter.

'Yes, Lord Marth?' the voice asked inquisitively.

'We're read to go. Our armies will win this. The only variable is the number of heads on our spikes. Those tribes need our help, and we will get them to help us in return. If they don't… Well. We'll need more spikes.'

'Those are great news, commander.'

'I'm not a commander.' Marth replied angrily.

'Ah, sorry, sometimes I forget. Excuse me, Lord Marth.' The blue haired man stayed silent, looking defiantly at the tent's interior. 'Do you know the saying of the birds?'

'I do not.' Marth answered annoyed. He had had enough of his eloquent but empty way of speaking. Marth didn't understand how he had become ruler of the Koopas. As big as he was, he severely lacked the words to move his people. Then again, perhaps fear alone was enough.

'You see. There are two kind of birds. Those who learn how to fly, and those who stay on the nest. Strong and weak.' The voice trailed.

'Makes sense.'

'Ah… But the weak are still in the nest, protected by the tree's branches… If you were to get one, Lord Marth, what would you do?'

'Climb up the tree and get it.' He had to be joking. 'It seems rather easy.'

'Yes, that's one way of looking at it… However…' the voice came closer, as footsteps echoed inside of the tent. Soon, a large reptilian figure, grotesque and horrifying, that would induce fear to some gods themselves, came out, a trail of smoke and fire following him. His red raging eyes looked straight at Math and pierced his very soul. Bowser spoke.

'I'd rather cut the whole tree down.'