Chapter Three

Peach had not slept well. She had worried all night about Anna. But what could she do about it, even if it were real? Nothing, really. Just hope the Mushroom Kingdom didn't end up involved.

Peach dressed and fixed her hair, just as princesses were supposed to. Fortunately, her hair was easily manageable and liked being put up in just the right way, so it didn't take much time.

She skipped breakfast, as she wasn't feeling very hungry. Toad would be on to her later over it, but oh well. She decided to take a walk out in the gardens and collect her thoughts.

She walked quietly among the beautiful flowers. Roses, violets, lilies, sunflowers, daisies, and all kinds of flowers filled the garden. She sat under her favorite tree and gradually dozed off in the shade.

She was awakened by a sound. Something was crying. Very quietly, yes, but it was crying all the same.

Peach looked around for the source of the noise. Not until she looked under a nearby bush did she find it.

It was a koopaling. It had a green shell, blue eyes, and hair that was pink, yellow, and blue. It yelped as it saw her.

"Don't cry." Peach said, not knowing what else to say.

"I'm not crying." The koopaling sniffed angrily.

"Oh, sorry." Peach said. "Well, are you okay?"

"Of course I am." Said the koopaling.

"What are you doing here?" Peach asked.

"I'm lost." He said grumpily.

"How did you get here?"

The koopaling shrugged.

"Did you come alone?"

He shrugged again.

"Why don't you come to the castle and we'll try to find your parents?" Peach suggested. Someone was probably very worried about their child.

"I'm supposed to stay here." He said, then looked annoyed. "Oops." He muttered.

Peach sat staring at the koopaling for several minutes, not knowing what to do. He stared back.

His stomach growled. Peach realized she was hungry too. "Well, I'm kind of hungry. Why don't we go up to the castle and get something to eat, and then we can come back here when we're done?"

He thought it over. "I guess that will work." He said.

Peach led the way up to the castle. The koopaling followed her.

"So, what's your name?" Peach asked as they walked.

The koopaling shrugged. "What's yours?" He asked.

"Peach." She wasn't sure it would be a good idea to let the koopaling know she was the Princess right away.

"Peach? Like the food?" He asked with a giggle.

"Yes, like the food." She answered.

"Cool." He said.

As the two made their way up to the castle, Peach wondered if there was more to this koopaling than he let on.