Chapter 4 Seeds of Doubt

Over the course of the next few days, Peach spoke very little. She kept her head titled toward the ground, she refused to make eye contact with anyone (least of all Lady Lima). She kept to herself, meaning that she was completely alone when it came to battling the thoughts rushing around in her head.

She didn't even bother talking to Peasley, which was a true detriment. Peasley, while not very attentive when it came to his lessons, was very attentive when it came to his sister. And throughout most of the time where Peach was consumed by fear and doubt, Peasley had been there to see it. He would ask "what's wrong?" every single time without fail. But Peach was never honest with him. She never opened her heart and told her brother about the issues plaguing her mind. Instead, she gave him the answer that one would expect from a stranger or an acquaintance.

"Nothing. Everything's fine."

Every time she told him that, he would give her a raised eyebrow. Regardless, she didn't talk to him any further. She didn't even know if this was a situation where he could help, where anyone could help. As such, she continued keeping to herself. She continued shutting herself in and shutting others out, a practice that she wasn't familiar with, but a practice that she felt was necessary regardless.

Right now, she sat on her bed in a purple nightgown. She read from a fantasy book, a fantasy book about a warrior princess who volunteered to fight a mighty dragon for the sake of keeping her subjects safe. *Sigh.* Why couldn't she be that brave? This was the kind of ruler that people in the Beanbean Kingdom needed, someone who was willing to put their well being and even their life on the line for the sake of keeping everybody safe. Peach had been absolutely certain that she could provide that for the Beanish people. Now, she wasn't so sure…

She shook her head and turned the page. She delved right into reading, keeping her eyes glued to the page and refusing to look up for anyone or everything. The itch on the back of her neck? Ignored. The feeling in her bladder that told her that she needed to relieve herself? Ignored. The opening of the door as Peasley came into her room with a furrowed brow?

Well, okay, she couldn't exactly ignore that last one. When her brother came into the room, she realized that she had no choice but to put the book down. She smiled at him, using the type of grace and poise one would expect from any girl who held the position of Princess.

"Hello, Peasley."

Peasley didn't respond. He didn't even take the furrowed brow off of his face. He just stared at Peach, the strength of his gaze causing the young princess to feel uncomfortable. She felt like she was being stared down by God Himself on Judgement Day.

"How's your packing going?" Peasley had been preparing to leave Beanbean Castle. Even if he wasn't, Peach wanted to talk about anything that ignored the crux of her very personal issue.

"It's fine." Peasley stepped forward, his gaze now feeling even more intense. "But that's not why I'm here." He came over, taking a seat on her bed as his eyes shined with an emotion that only an older brother could feel. "Peach, something has been bothering you over the past few days."

Peach covered up her fear with a snicker. "No it hasn't."

"Yes it has! And I'm pretty sure I know what it is!" He leaned forward. "You've been thinking about what Lima said, right?"

Peach's heart sank. "I…" she didn't know whether she should confirm or deny it. "I…" Oh man, she was shaking. She never shook; Princesses weren't supposed to shake.

"Peach," Peasley said, his tone firm. "Stop. It's okay." He looked right at her, the whole world seeming to freeze in time as he did. "You can tell me. You know you can tell me anything."

Peach hesitated again. She really didn't want to talk about this. But Peasley's eyes were so full of compassion…

Before she knew it, the young princess was crying. "I'm sorry!" She shook her head and wiped her face, hoping that her display of calmness and strength was at least somewhat salvageable. "I'm really sorry. I know I shouldn't, but…"

"Hey." Peasley wrapped his arms around her, a familiar display that actually helped Peach's heart hurt significantly less. "It's okay, Peach." He patted her on the back. "I'm your brother. You can tell me anything."

Peach swallowed another round of tears, trying to get her emotions back in check so that she could actually speak. "I… I…" she wiped her eyes again before looking directly into Peasley's. "I am. I am worried about what Lima said." She shuddered. "What if… what if she's right, Peasley? What if I would make a terrible queen? What if I would be incapable of ruling properly? I would let everybody down if that's the case." She sniffled. "I don't… want to let everybody down…"

She sat there, crying once again. All her thoughts and fears came rushing to the surface of her mind, overwhelming and suffocating her. She thought about what would happen five years from this day, with Lima reluctantly placing the Beanbean crown on her head. She could already see her judging gaze, already shiver under the weight of her disappointed, angry stare. It made Peach's stomach hurt. It made her feel like this wasn't a good idea after all. And if it wasn't a good idea… what would that mean for the future of the Kingdom? Peasley had already made his abdication of the throne official, so there was no going back. Peach was guaranteed to take the throne now. So… what would a Beanbean Kingdom ruled by her reluctant self look like? What would it be like ten years from now? Twenty? Thirty?

She shook her head. There was just too much weight placed on her back now. So many expectation, so many problems. Could she actually do this? She wanted to believe she could, but she was having trouble doing so.

"Peach."

Peach looked up into Peasley's face. The prince looked at her with a firm expression, but there was also another facet. He didn't just look stern. He looked… understanding.

"I know it's a tall order," he said. "And nobody is asking you to take the throne tomorrow. You have five years to prepare. Despite what Lima says, that is more than enough times."

Peach tripped over her words as she tried to form a response. "Yeah, but… but, but…"

"Peach, stop." Peasley smiled at her, an expression that Peach admittedly found to be really sweet. "When I said that you would be a good queen, I meant it. I meant every word, and none of the nonsense that Lima lays in our laps could possibly change my mind about that." He placed his hand on her shoulder. "It's going to be okay. I believe in you."

Peach lowered her gaze, staring at a corner of the blanket on her bed as opposed to into the eyes of her caring brother. "But… but I don't believe in me…"

Peasley nodded. "I know." The smile returned to his face. "So, I have something that I think could help you."

Peach's heart skipped a beat. She watched, curiosity taking hold of her, as Peasley made his way over to the door. He gestured for her to get up and follow him, which she did after a minimum amount of thought. They weaved through the corridors of the Beanbean Castle until they got to Peasley's room. As they stood outside the door, Peasley turned back toward Peach.

"Wait here." He winked at her before ducking back into the room. As she waited for his return, the silence and suspense weighed down on the princess. She kept looking to the left and the right, feeling as if she was breaking the rules. Part of her feared that a servant would stop by and reprimand her (even though she logically knew they wouldn't, as technically she wasn't committing any crime). She even sweat a little bit, the stress-filled liquid causing her green skin to look extra shiny.

By all accounts, it was a miracle that she hadn't passed out or run away by the time Peasley came back out. Peach looked at him, noticing a little gift box in his hands. This made her blink.

"What's that?"

"Well, it was intended to be a goodbye gift from me to you; something to remember me by, you know." He chuckled. "But then again, how could anybody forget about someone like me?" He flipped his luscious golden locks, a practice that Peach so befitting of her brother. She actually laughed at this display despite seeing countless similar ones over the years.

"But…" Peasley said after taking some time to get his own emotions back under control. "I want to give this to you now. I feel like… well, I feel like it could help you." He extended the gift toward her.

Peach blinked. Help her? How could something inside such a small box help her? How could something so little prevent the seeds of doubt planted in her mind from blooming into the most poisonous of poison oaks? With her curiosity doubling with each passing second, Peach took the box. She took a deep breath before opening it, on some level recognizing that there was a heavy amount of significance attached to her brother's gift. She lifted the lid, letting out a gasp when she saw a glimmering, beautiful, mesmerizing sapphire broach inside.

"Peasley!" She exclaimed. She picked up the necklace, staring at the sapphire. It was so shiny that she could see her reflection in it, as if it was some sort of mystical, blue tinted mirror. She smiled at it, admiring the sparkle and beauty of such a jewel. "I… I love it! Thank you!"

"I knew you'd like it," Peasley said with a cheeky grin. "And I think that it could serve as a confidence booster from here on out."

Peach blinked as she put the necklace around her neck. "How so?"

"Well, since I'm no longer going to be living in the castle, I won't exactly be around to knock some sense back into you whenever you start to doubt your potential." He giggled, sounding like a high school girl. "So, the broach will remind you of me. It'll remind you that you have someone who believes in you, even if that someone is very far away."

That last worst, the word that capped off such an amazing and beautiful sentence, brought Peach to tears again. She sniffled, chuckling as she did. Before she knew it, she had her arms wrapped around her older brother once again.

"Thank you Peasley," she said. She squeezed extra hard, recognizing that this would probably be the last time she would ever hug her brother before he left.

Peasley hugged her back. "You're welcome, sis." He rubbed his hands up and down her back, a gesture so familiar and worry-easing. He held onto her, showering her with the type of affection that only a brother could display.

"You'll do great," he whispered. "You're going to knock the socks off of everybody in this kingdom when you take the throne. I just know it."

Peach chuckled. "Thanks, Peasley." She let go of him, wiping her eyes so that they were free of any more tears. Standing here now, she felt a renewed sense of vigor. She felt a new sort of strength welling up inside her, a strength that she never even knew she needed. She smiled at her brother one last time.

"I will bear the Beanbean crown with pride." With one last breath, she turned around. She waved toward her brother as she made her way back to her room. She had acquired many different memories with herself and her brother over the years. But this one? This one was her favorite. It was not only sweet and comforting, but now she felt like she could tackle any Goliath that stood in her way.

She would make a great queen. Peasley knew that. And now, as she held onto her new sapphire necklace, she did too.