10: Breathe Again
Princess Peach, or, the woman that was a princess in another universe sat on the edge of the river, casting a line into it. A light breeze rustled her hair, as a lovely monarch butterfly fluttered past as she engaged in one of her newest hobbies. Gazing into her reflection in the water, she thought about herself. In the past, she wouldn't be doing something like this. Her aides would get feisty about her sitting in the dirt, catching fish. Toadsworth would probably shoo her back into the castle, assuring her that better, non-raw fish would be bought from a marketplace for her.
However, the act of fishing itself and simply getting fish from a market are two different things. As she discovered, there was something fulfilling about fishing. Casting a lure into the water felt like casting aside her troubles. She felt independent, herself. It gave her the same feeling of agency she gets when she goes on her own adventures or when she fought in Smash. However, there was a different tint to this feeling compared to those other times.
Peace. Peach liked being independent, yes, but she also liked to be at peace. And the Animal Crossing world offered both to her. Having her own house and being in control of it without retainers or servants deciding what's best for her, doing things in the great outdoors, having responsibility over her own finances, this life was great. It was peaceful, she was herself, and it couldn't get much better than this.
Author's Note: Something short and simple. If you're having Spring Break, be like Peach and take it easy.