Donning a pink dress lined with more faux Snowshi fur Peach did her best to hide her chilly discomfort as she prepared for the arrival of her guests. It was an honor to be summoned to the Castle by the Princess herself, even for the Mario Bros., who've had the distinct pleasure of meeting with the ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom on several different occasions in the past. However, when it came to a royal invitation for the Princess of the neighboring Sarassaland; family or not, the day was guaranteed to be adorned with most exquisite of decor, an extravagant menu and the finest of evenings in store.

Refusing to be late to her own gathering Peach took a thick faux Snowshi fur wrap and draped around her shoulders and down her arms before exiting her private chambers. "Brr!" She remarked as she set foot in the spacious, chilly corridor. "It's even colder in the hallway. I sure hope Toadsworth knows to light the hearths in each chamber of the Castle in case the snow strands the guest overnight."

"Ah, there you are my dear!" Toadsworth's cheery greeting echoed warmly down the icy hallway. "I've just received word from Toadston, the wise ward who tends to Princess Daisy, that the young Princess will arrive within the hour."

"Oh, good." Peach struggled to keep her words even as the bone piercing cold that had plagued her since early morning threatened to chatter her teeth. "I look forward to catching up with Daisy. Could you please have tea prepared for four guests?"

"As you wish." Toadsworth obeyed her request with a hearty bow, but his keen eye couldn't help but focus on Peach's attempt to disguise her own personal discomfort. "My dear, are you quite well? You haven't been your usual upbeat self on this day."

"I'm just a little cold, is all." Peach forced a humble smile over across her freezing lips. "I'm sure the tea will be enough to warm me."

"If you insist. I shall have a fresh pot of tea prepared posthaste!"

"What of Mario and Luigi?" Peach pressed as she resisted the urge to tighten her wrap around her shoulders.

"Ah, yes. Toad returned not but a moment ago. He was covered from head to toe in snow and confirmed that both Masters Mario and Luigi will be arriving on schedule."

Peach grinned a little at the thought of sweet little Toad covered in a layer of snow. "Very good. Thank you Toadsworth. I shall be waiting for everyone in the tea room in the East wing."

With one final nod of his head Toadsworth turned slowly and walked back down the hallway from whence he had entered. As soon as the elderly toad was out of sight Peach greedily tightened the wrap around her shoulders and folded her arms together over her chest in a futile attempt to keep herself from growing any colder.

"I wonder why I'm so cold." Peach asked herself as she gracefully walked down the corridor, her mind focused on the warmth of the impending tea that would be arriving in the East tea room. "I do hope I'm not becoming ill..."

The snow continued to fall from the sky in pure white, thick flakes of pure wintry wonder.

Brushing the snow and ice from their clothing Mario and Luigi continued to laugh lightly together as they entered the Green Warp and finally went on their way to Princess Peach's Castle at the heart of Toad Town. The roads of the town were covered in snow and a fine layer of ice that the young Toads were using as a makeshift ice skating rink right in the middle of town.

Surrounded by laughter and fresh snow the two brothers were instantly filled with a sense of home. It wasn't easy for the duo to adjust to living in the Mushroom Kingdom after growing up in Brooklyn, but the kindness of the Toads and especially the princesses made the transition more comfortable.

Luigi kept one hand in his overall pocket, palming the small gift he had planned to give to Daisy later in the evening; relieved to discover that it hadn't been accidentally dropped during their earlier snowball fight. "Think the snow will stay long?" He asked as he and Mario strolled to the Castle together. "It came out of nowhere! But at least the Toads are happy."

"Not sure, Weege." Mario watched with a smirk on his face as two young Toad brothers engaged in a snowball fight of their own just outside the Castle Grounds. "I just hope it doesn't turn into a problem down the road."

"Same."

As the brothers set foot on the stone bridge that connected the Castle Grounds to the front entrance of the Castle itself, an amber colored royal coach being towed by two white horses pulled up alongside the duo. Inside the carriage the heroes spied the smiling face of Princess Daisy smiling back at them. "Hello Luigi! Mario!"

Luigi immediately felt his face warm as he blushed upon seeing her. "Hello Daisy!" Releasing his grip on the gift in his pocket he slipped his cap from his head and tucked it beneath his arm before putting his hand on the handle of the carriage door. He opened the door t for the newly arrived princess, and offered his second hand for her to take. "It's been too long."

"Hello!" Mario greeted politely as he waited for Daisy to join Luigi and himself. "Have you had a snowfall in Sarassaland, too?"

Taking Luigi's offered hand Daisy stepped down and out of the carriage with a graceful motion. "We have." She answered happily. "But it looks like the Mushroom Kingdom received much more snow than we did."

Luigi smiled affectionately as Daisy wrapped her arm around his, after he replaced his cap; allowing him to escort her into the Castle.

Hopping out of the carriage behind Daisy, Toadston landed with a huff in the ankle deep snow and wrapped his tan scarf tightly around his neck. "Goodness, it's chilly today!" The elder Toad lamented as he strode after the princess and two brothers. "My bones can't take the cold like they used to."

Toadston was only a few years younger than Toadsworth, but he spoke with a wisdom that seemed to resonate through the ages. Unlike Toadsworth, Toadston was clean shaven, bore purple spots on his mushroom cap and opted to keep a pipe between his teeth in favor of walking with a gentleman's cane.

Mario glanced at Luigi and smirked to himself as he saw how much brighter Luigi's eyes had become just moments after seeing Daisy in person. "So what are your plans during your stay in the Mushroom Kingdom, Daisy?"

"Oh, well..." Daisy blushed as she tightened her grip around Luigi's arm. "I was planning on spending time with friends and family, maybe going for a stroll around the Garden..."

Luigi reciprocated Daisy's gesture by putting his hand over top hers as they made their way to the front of the Castle. "Sounds perfect to me."

Sitting at the round table in the East tea room Peach held a cup of steaming tea between her hands, coveting the warmth that seeped through the porcelain and into her chilly hands. The smell of the tea took her mind away from how cold she felt, reminding her of the evenings she used to spend with Toadsworth as a child when he'd join her for a small tea party.

A gentle knocking on the closed door brought Peach away from her childhood memories and back to reality. The door opened slowly and in walked Mario, Luigi and Daisy.

"Hello!" Peach beamed as the sight of her guests filled her with energy. Standing with renewed vigor she greeted her friends with a warmth envious of the tea. "I'm so glad you could make it!"

Mario and Luigi politely took off their caps as they entered the room, showing the same courtesy toward Peach as they did for Daisy.

"Hello Princess," Mario replied with a smile on his face and in his voice. "it's so nice to spend some time together."

The three guests gathered around the table and joined Peach for tea. The snow continued to fall at a steady pace, covering all of the streets and houses beneath a fine white sheet of icy wonderment. A gentle breeze began blowing across the Mushroom Kingdom and with it a drop in the temperature.

After a few hours of conversing and bonding with one another Mario couldn't help but notice that Peach seemed to be slightly distracted. "Princess, is there something on your mind?" He asked curiously, but gently not wanting to put her on the spot.

"Oh, I'm fine." Her attempted denial fooled no one. "I'm just a little cold, that's all."

The group looked out through the large window of the tea room that overlooked a balcony over the Eastern hills. The snow was piling up quickly and a layer of ice was building over the glass window.

"I can understand that," Mario accepted her answer. "but with that nice fire burning in the fireplace and this warm tea you should be plenty warm."

Peach could tell from the look in Mario's eyes that he knew she wasn't feeling quite like herself and was becoming worried. "I'll be okay, I promise. I guess I just need to get used to the cold weather."

"You're sure?" He asked as he placed his hand on the table and slipped toward hers.

"I'm sure." She took his hand and squeezed reassuringly. "Now, Daisy," Peach seamlessly changed the subject. "didn't you want to take a walk through the Garden this evening?"

"Oh, yes!" Daisy was very excited about seeing the flowers and Garden statues covered in the snow and ice. "I can only imagine how beautiful it is right now."

Luigi picked up on Peach's cue. Patting the gift in his overall pocket confidently Luigi stood up from the table and turned to Daisy. "Then, shall we?" He asked as he offered his hand once more.

"Oh yes," Daisy took his hand and stood in front of him, looking up slightly to look him in the eyes. "watching the sunset across the icy Garden would be wonderful!"

Taking Daisy's arm in his own Luigi turned to Mario and Peach with a smile. "We'll be in the Garden if you need us. See you later tonight."

"Keep warm!" Mario teased as he watched his little brother and Princess Daisy walk from the tea room and into the corridor.

Unable to hide her discomfort any longer Peach began shuddering noticeably and wrapping her arms tightly around her chest. The shuddering came about so quickly and unexpectedly Peach accidentally knocked her teacup from the table, shattering it on the floor in a frightening crash.

"Peach!" Mario had never seen her act so strange before. "Please, tell me what's wrong!"

"N-nothing!" Peach lied through chattering teeth, unable to open her eyes and look at Mario as she struggled to speak. "I'm j-just so c-c-cold!"

"Come with me." Mario wrapped his arm around her shoulders as he guided her away from the table and toward the glowing hearth in the corner of the room. "Sit down. I'll get you a blanket."

Peach rubbed her hands together profusely in an attempt to warm her icy fingers but it wasn't enough. Extending her palms toward the fire she felt her entire body trembling violently as the bone piercing cold plagued every fiber of her being. Even as Mario draped a thick, wool blanket around her shoulders Peach could feel only the cold.

Mario kneeled beside her on the floor and wrapped his strong arms around her in a comforting hug. "You're freezing! Did something happen to you this morning?" He began rubbing his hands up and down her back in an attempt to keep her warm.

Pressing her chin on top of his shoulder Peach spoke in a low, whispered tone. "N-no." She answered in quick breaths as the coldness threaten to choke her words from her throat. "I-I've been c-cold all d-day. I'm not s-sure why. I... I think..."

"Peach?" Mario's heart began racing as he felt her cold body become heavy as she passed out in his arms. "Peach!"

Carefully Mario leaned back on his heels and sat down, allowing her to fall against his chest and lay over him as she fell into a deep unconsciousness. Turning her body onto her back while she rested against his chest, Mario wrapped the blanket tightly around her shivering form, and held her in his arms even tighter.

"No, Peach..." Softly Mario brushed a lock of her long blonde hair from her icy face. "Don't worry, I'll help you! I'll find a way! I promise."

...to be continued...