Chapter 2:
Having the sun be so bright (yet not as angry) was always a pleasant sight. The grass felt warm and inviting, and it was the perfect temperature for a picnic with friends. A beautiful sunny day is a nice break from the horrible rainy days the kingdom has had previously. This week has been rough, and being able to let the princess out of her castle safely, well, it felt like a dream.
"I think here is a good spot," Princess Peach beamed. "Right on top of the hills, overseeing the kingdom."
A bunch of small people with mushroom heads began to circle around, gingerly angling a red and white checkered patterned cloth on the ground. She smiled brightly but her brown mushroom nearby was not nearly as happy.
"My liege, I do believe we are way too far from the kingdom." he retorted bitterly. "We are too far away from the castle's protection."
Peach glared at him.
"Toadsworth, be silent. It has been weeks since I have been allowed to even enter the grocery store. I want to be in the grass, away from my duties as princess."
Toadsworth retreated back to himself, sighing.
"Right princess, I am sorry."
"Thank you."
Immediately a smile adorned her face again. She fell to her knees and rested on her hip before falling onto her back into the grass. She extended her arms outwards and giggled. I love the smell of grass, she thought to herself as she plucked some and held it to her face. She leaned over and drizzled it back to the earth, grinning. Her senses were suddenly overtaken by the hard whiff of berries. Peach cracked open her left eye, and grinned brighter. A couple of red splotted Toads gently rested slices of pie along the blanket. Peach flung herself up into the sitting position, where she took an overflowing slice of blueberry. Toadsworth immediately swiped it away.
"No princess, we have a specially big pie slice for you."
Peach narrowed her eyes.
"But I want that one."
"But this one is special!" Toadsworth butted in. "This one is full of everything!"
He handed the blonde a large, decorative plate. He wasn't kidding, that pie was stuffed. Strawberries, blueberries, peaches, anything you can imagine, along with whipped cream and drizzle. She could feel the heat radiating off of it.
"It's still fresh!" One of the Toads piped up. Peach grinned at him.
"Well, I can never say no to pie."
Peach reached for her utensils, gently wrapped in a napkin, and untangled them onto the picnic blanket. Everyone enjoyed their slices, and gentle chatter began amongst the group. One of the Toads discussed his wife, who recently went on vacation ever since the travel bans lifted. And another Toad discussed his sudden interest in farming, when his sister was the primary farmer of the family. It seemed as if Toadsworth was the only Toad not sitting down and enjoying himself. Peach giggled softly at a comment made by one of the guards then glanced at Toadsworth. She leaned close to him.
"You're not talking much," she whispered to him, as not to draw attention. He shook his head.
"I'm remaining vigilant. Do not worry about me."
"I'm worrying," she snickered.
They both shared a glance.
"Toadsworth," she hummed. "Relax. What's going to happen? If Bowser wants to do anything, he will go the castle. And the brigade will deal with it."
He sighed.
"So," Peach continued. "Let's sit here, enjoy our desserts, and then head to the–"
A loud shriek came from one of the nearby green pipes. Every Toad rose to their feet, quietly retreating to position. They whipped their spears to lock in place and pointed it at the direction of the noise. Toadsworth turned around and put a finger to his lips before quietly approaching the brush. He extended his small hand into the foliage and gently pushed it away. On the ground lay what seemed to be a sopping wet, red and blue blob. Toadsworth raised a hand and the Toads began to step forward. Peach stalked behind them, trying to get a good glance at what was on the ground.
"What is it?" Peach whispered. She was quickly shushed by Toadsworth. Toadsworth swung around when the blob suddenly whipped its head up, followed by a long, "Owwwwww." It opened its eyes gently, before widening them almost completely. All Toads were locked in position. The blob clammered to his feet, revealing a humanoid creature. He put his hands up in the air and began to back away.
"Don't move!" Toadsworth shouted, and the Toads echoed him back. The creature halted, his eyes darting around until he landed on the princess. Peach stared back, and the two of them shared a silent connection. Peach could read the fear, the 'help me' plastered in his bright blue eyes. Peach quickly raised her hand.
"Back down," she commanded, and the Toads glanced at her. Toadsworth looked confused, and then angry.
"Princess, we don't know who this is-"
"Back down."
Toadsworth glanced back at the humanoid, narrowing his eyes at him. The humanoid stared back, more fear than nothing else. Toadsworth lowered his arm, and with it the Toads lowered their spears. Peach gently crossed her way inbetween the Toads.
"You poor thing. You look soaked," Peach murmured, reaching for the humanoid's hand. Toadsworth was about to stop her before she angrily turned around and pointed in the other direction. Toadsworth snarled, but kept his place.
"What is your name?"
The humanoid paused, his eyes trailing around the sea of strange mushroom creatures.
"Mario," he dully noted.
"Mario?"
He nodded.
"Hmm…" she paused. "That's not a very Sarasaland name is it, Toadsworth?"
"No," he muttered bitterly. Peach huffed.
"Well, anyways, my name is Princess Peach."
Mario paused for a second, and then nodded.
"Princess."
The strain in his voice made a couple of the Toads start muttering amongst themselves. Peach nodded.
"Peach is okay too."
"No, you will address her as Princess Peach only," Toadsworth quickly snapped back. Mario jumped, and glanced at him in confusion. Peach turned back, wide eyed with disgust.
"Toadsworth, knock it off!" she snapped. "Leave him alone."
"I will not, your highness," Toadsworth retorted. "This random man just so happened to collapse and fall through a warp pipe, close near Bowser's kingdom, and I am supposed to believe he is nothing more than a lost, wary traveler? I shall not! This is a ploy, a disguise. He is a monster, a Koopa if you will! Bowser's many minions."
"Toadsworth!" Peach shrieked. "Silence, now."
Mario stared at them blankly. What on Earth were these two talking about? He could barely understand a word Toadsworth spewed, and despite being an old mushroom thing, he sure knows how to talk fast. If only Mario knew the words to please, please, please slow down so he could understand him. He seemed rude, mean, but Mario couldn't even begin to figure out why. Surely he was explaining it but he could not comprehend the issue. The woman seemed nice and inviting. She seems like a familiar face, but he's never met her before. Princess Peach, what an odd combination of names. Mario's met people named Princess before, but most of their last names were a little more interesting than a fruit. But who is he to judge? His last name is the exact same as his first. Oh! How funny that was in court. The legal documents were such a muddle mess, he had to have Luigi read them for him! Oh, what a funny time. Oh, Luigi… Luigi. Mario's eyes quickly widened and he spun his head around frantically. Luigi! Luigi! Where on Earth was he? Peach spun around back to Mario.
"Mario," she cooed. "Are you okay?"
"Luigi!" Mario shouted, causing the Toads to get back into position.
"Luigi?" Peach asked genuinely. Mario glanced at the Toads, now pointing their weapons back at him. Fear overtook his face.
"Men, stand down," Peach threatened. She turned back to him. "Luigi?"
Ugh! He couldn't think of the word. Luigi. Yes, Luigi. He knows him. He could point him out in a crowd. He could point out his iconic green hat with the slightly crooked L in the middle because Luigi sewed his hat before he made Mario's to make sure its super duper perfect for his big bro. He could remember his face, being longer than his, and how mother used to joke about how Luigi was growing in the wrong spots. He could remember everything about Luigi, but he can't just think of the right word to describe who Luigi was. His shoulders sunk and he groaned. Peach approached him and put a hand on his shoulder.
"Hey, hey, it's okay. Hey– Let's bring you back to the castle, yes? And we can clean you up and take care of your clothes."
Mario paused, considering her words.
"Absolutely not!" Toadsworth erupted, pushing his way through next to the princess. He shoved his spear in Mario's face. Mario shrieked and Peach grabbed the spear.
"What is your problem?" Peach roared, shoving him away. He recoiled back, and continued to point his spear at the man in red.
"You are going to invite a stranger into our home? That we just got Bowser out of? That we just cleared out of spies? Princess, I hate to turn into your father, but we are not allowing this man into our home."
"Our home, Toadsworth. That includes me," Peach snapped back. "This is my home too, and I want to host him."
The two of them began to snap back and forth. Mario stared at them blankly. Why are these two hanging out with each other if they despise each other? Mario picked up a couple things; clothes. Mario knows clothes. Mario has clothes. And no. Mario knows the word not. No. Father. Mario knows that word too. But none of that really correlates to each other. His eyes settled on the sea of Toads, some staring at him and some staring at the pair. Eventually Toadsworth groaned and folded his arms, and Peach smiled. She lowered down to Mario's level.
"Hello," Peach greeted. Mario waved back awkwardly. "Would you like to come back to my castle?"
Mario paused. A castle… A castle? No way this woman has a castle. Well, it could explain her name. Princess. Princess Peach. Maybe it is a title? He glanced at her, and awkwardly did a bow. Her eyes widened slightly and she chuckled.
"You don't have to do that."
Peach took his hand and gently held it with both of hers. He glanced up nervously, and she grinned warmly. She glanced back at Toadsworth and nudged her chin out and he rolled his eyes and beckoned some other Toads over. Toads began to surround the group, which Mario would be lying if he didn't quite understand what they were doing. His eyes trailed up the woman, staring at the side of her face. She's human, he thinks. But she has a huge mushroom head, like the little mushroom people that protect her. There's no way this person is entirely human. He would also be lying if he didn't admit she was absolutely gorgeous. Everything about her was amazing. Her round face radiated beautiful light, her freckles barely visible in the sunlight. Her smile fluttered his heart, but a lot of his admiration was completely shut down with the agonizing and angry glare the older mushroom gave him every couple of seconds. He tried to stay as close as her could to Peach. His mind wandered, pondering about the world. This place would be his dream, if the mushrooms weren't alive. Or poisonous. Are they poisonous? Or would they just be like any other brown mushroom in Brooklyn? He remembers taking Luigi to the Henry's Diner in east Main Street, and arguing in the van with him about whether mushrooms belong on pizza. They do, of course. But Luigi swears they don't and they were gross. But he's also the same guy who likes pineapple on pizza, so Mario can't say he's a very good person to discuss pizza with. His eyes trailed around every little area they passed, trying to get some green tint in the trees. Oh, Luigi, he thought to himself. I hope you get a better welcome than I did.