The Empress is Born

When Princess Peach returned to the castle, Toadsworth wasted no time confronting her about her announcement.

"Um, Princess," he started carefully, "about that announcement this afternoon.."

"What about it?" she asked still walking. Toadsworth was both relieved and worried when he heard how calm she was.

"Are you sure you're alright?" he asked still worried.

"God, I'm fine," she said turning to him, "Why do people keep asking me that today?"

"Well, you did make a proclamation of war." he said, hoping that her change in mood meant that she was back to normal.

"And I meant that," she said sharply.

"Wh, what?!" Toadsworth almost had a heart attack when he heard that. Where was the sweet, innocent Peach he knew and loved?

"It's time we showed the other nations of the world who we are, and what better way than the biggest war in the world?" she stated.

Toadsworth hated being hard on Peach, but this was going too far. She looked serious, and if she was then he couldn't let this continue.

"Princess, I cannot condone this!" he demanded.

"Excuse me?" she said in disbelief.

"I cannot allow you to go through this!"

"You can't 'allow' me to go through this? I'm the princess, I'm superior!" she demanded, her voice edged with rage. Toadsworth didn't even recognize her now.

"What has gotten into you?" he asked her, "Why are you acting this way?"

"I've evolved!" she proclaimed. As she walked forward, Toadsworth backed away in fear realizing that this wasn't the Peach he knew, "I've decided that it's time for the Mushroom Kingdom to expand, and I won't let anyone stop me, not Mario, not Bowser, and especially not you! Now, you shall obey ME!" at that instant her eyes started to glow bright red and shot this strange wave at Toadsworth, who's eyes suddenly had an orange glow around the pupils.

"What is your order, my lady?" he asked surprisingly obedient. Peach looked at this, and realized what happened. She hypnotized him. So she could force the people to think how she desired? She wondered how far she could go with this. She then called another public announcement.

"People, there has been a change of plans. Our enemy isn't just Bowser's army, but all other nations! I have decided to extend this fight to the other three kingdoms of the world, and prove how powerful we truly are. Now, who's with me?" as she said that she shot her hypnotizing beam out at everyone, and was pleased with the results. The entire Kingdom was cheering for her, and she felt like she was on top of the world. "We shall show them that no nation is greater than ours, for we are the Mushroom Kingdom! The greatest kingdom in the world!" as she finished, there was another barrage of cheers. Peach smiled looking at this, an entire army right in front of her.

Luigi was late to the announcement. He was always late to these announcements. He had just left the house and was running to the castle. He almost didn't go, but he felt that he really should go.

"I hope Mario's not too mad!" he said as he ran, expecting Mario to already be there. When he got there he saw people cheering, which made him think that Peach was back to her normal self, until...

"Princess Peach will lead us to victory!" one villager said.

"What?" Luigi asked in confusion.

"Yeah! I'm going to join Princess Peach's army!" a woman said.

"What's going on here?"

"Luigi," Princess Peach said behind him, "I'm so glad you could join us."

"Um, Peach?" he asked in confusion, "Are you...?"

Princess Peach looked nothing like herself. She was now wearing a black and gray version of the dress she normally wore that had a raised collar in the back and a long gray cape. She was wearing black six inch stiletto high heels, and dark, almost blood red lip stick. She was also holding a black scepter in her right hand. Her hair was still long, wavy, and blond, but her crown was black now, and had a red jewel in the center. This was not the Peach Luigi knew.

"Do you like it?" she said referring to her dress, "To think I never wore this. I think this is a better look for me."

"What is this?" Luigi asked afraid of the answer.

"This is the beginning of a new era for the Mushroom Kingdom," as she spoke, the people rallied behind her, raising her intimidation factor, "We're going to war, with the whole world."

"What?!" he asked in shock. She wasn't serious, right?

"For the longest time the Mushroom Kingdom has been seen as the smallest, and the weakest of the five major kingdoms. We're going to show them that while we may be small, we're just as strong, if not, stronger than the other kingdoms. In the end, I shall rule over all five kingdoms and therefore shall create a new world, under my rule." as she told Luigi of her plan, he was shaking his head. What was she saying?

"Princess, this isn't anything like you," Luigi asked backing away, "who are you?" more of a rhetorical question, but Peach actually thought on it.

"You know, your right. The name Princess Peach doesn't do me justice. Got it. From this day forward, I shall be known as Empress Peach Mary-Ann Toadstool!" Peach stated to Luigi, "A title, fitting for the future ruler of the world, wouldn't you say?"

Luigi was horrified by this. What was happening to her? There was no way this was just due to the koopa attack a month ago. Mario was right, this was something else.

"Now you, Luigi, have a choice," Peach continued "You're either with us, or against us. Which one is it?" Luigi was silent, he was afraid to answer. He didn't want to think this was Princess Peach, but she didn't seem possessed. "No answer, then I'll decide for you," she snapped her fingers and three heavily armored soldiers came to her side. "He's chosen to appose us. Kill him."

Luigi realized he was in serious trouble now, so he ran into the forest. The three soldiers ran after him. Peach just turned to the crowd, "He's nothing but a coward, leave him. We must prepare for our first stop," she said as she went into the castle, all of the villagers behind her.

Luigi was happy that he always wore green, this meant that he blended in with the rest of the forest. The soldiers following him gave up and returned to Peach's castle a while ago. Luigi couldn't believe it, she was really going to kill him! Luigi had to find Mario and warn him about what happened.

Mario was sitting under the tree where Peach had left him. She didn't even sound like herself. What was it that possessed her? Was Peach even still in there? Mario was at a lost as to what to do.

"Mario! Mario!" Luigi called as he ran to his brother. He knew he would be here since he wasn't at the house.

"Luigi," he said, sort of dazed.

"Mario, Princess Peach, she's-"

"I know," Mario interrupted, "She's out of control," he said still dazed.

"Trust me Mario, you don't know the half of it!" Luigi said catching Mario's attention.

"What?"

"She called World War!"

"Luigi," he said as he got up and stood in front of his brother, "Please tell me your joking."

"I wish I were. She said that all the other kingdoms are her enemies and she wants to rule over them along with Bowser's Kingdom," he then looked behind Mario and pointed, "There she is!"

"Huh?" Mario saw her army and was horrified, "Is that...?"

"I'm afraid so..."

"This is..." Mario took a real good look at the direction they were going, and got worried. "Luigi, where are they going?"

"West, that would take her..." he then got really worried. "Oh no! No!" he then ran off.

"Luigi! Wait up!" he called after his brother, running after him. He understood why Luigi was scared, because she was on her way to Sarassa Kingdom.

And Daisy...