Unknown

It's quiet.

The breeze is light and the grass is prickly.

The sound of the wind and birds is so peaceful, especially after the chaos that is escaping from Bowser's castle.

Grunting, Mario wakes up from the ground as he finds himself in a forest all alone.

But what flashes in his mind is an explosion that Kamek used on Pauline, making Mario feel sick as he covers his mouth with his eyes widened.

"Why… Pauline, you can't be dead yet." Mario knows it's all a lie, knowing that Pauline isn't foolish enough to put her life at risk right in front of a koopa.

Before Mario lowered his head in guilt, he heard a shuffling noise through the bush which led him to stand up and follow the sound.

Moving the bush, Mario stops as he witnesses Luigi getting wrapped up on his leg by Peach as Luigi squeaks out in pain.

"Calm down, Luigi. Hm? Shortstack?" Peach stops, surprised to see Mario waking up from his slumber.

"Mario! Thank goodness you're okay!" Luigi rejoices as he leaps and hugs his older twin with joy.

"I know, I know! I'm okay, little bro!" Mario laughed as he and Luigi put their foreheads together like brothers.

"So, where are we?" Luigi asks.

"Hm… I don't know, but we seemed to have fallen into this forest." Peach had no idea what to say as this location seemed new to her.

"Wait, where's Toad?" Luigi asks another question.

"I'm over here!" A voice called under a pile of broken wood and stones, leading Mario and Luigi to move the stones.

Coughing, Toad has also survived the blast as he can feel the pain all over his body.

"Toad! Are you okay!?" Peach hastily went down and pulled out a first-aid kit for Toad to take.

"Yeah. Man, that was crazy. To think Bowser was crazy enough to get you like that." Said Toad.

"Yeah. We need to make our way to the Mushroom Kingdom. We have to warn everyone that Bowser is coming to get us." Peach finally wraps Toad's arm like she did with Mario's arm and Luigi's leg, making sure that their injuries won't get any worse.

"So now what, princess? The airship is totaled and we need to get there as quickly as possible." Said Mario, knowing how long it's going to take for the four to go back.

"We have to get there on foot, unfortunately." Peach concludes as she picks herself up and leads the group by walking through this forest.

Mario, Luigi and Toad follow, knowing that there isn't a map or sign in sight, but at least Bowser's army are nowhere to be seen.

The forest is greener as it's like there's wildlife in there, surprising the four as they can see the river and butterflies.

"Ah, watch out for the bramball." Peach warned.

"What?" Mario and Luigi are confused until a long green thorny legged creature with an orange ball that has its soulless white eyes and a permanent frown arrives which had Mario and Luigi jumping back out of shock.

"A bramble bug, that's what a bramball is. It resides in the forest along with its own kind." Toad explains.

"I see." Mario sighs as he picks up Luigi.

As a bramball leaves by releasing its suction cup feet and flip step 180 degrees, Mario and his group are sighing with relief and continue on searching for a way out of the forest.

Still nothing.

Until they find a light at the end of the forest.

"I think this is it." Peach said, thinking it could be a way out.

"I think so. Mario, Luigi, let's go!" Toad cheers as he goes rushing in head on.

"Toad! Wait!" Peach calls and then scoffs as she can tell that the people she knows are far more stubborn than she thinks.

"Let's-a-follow him." Mario agrees with Toad and pats Luigi's back while running.

"Okay." Luigi nods and follows Mario and Toad.

This leaves Peach to sigh and then follow the boys that are getting ahead of themselves.

But…

The breeze is fresher as the group gasps with surprise.

They're at the beach as Mario, Luigi, Peach and Toad are seeing the big blue itself, meaning they can finally relax.

"I didn't know there's a beach in your world." Luigi turns, relieved to see a place like this in another world.

"Yeah. It's a shame… I could've brought my swimsuit." Peach sighs out of disappointment.

"Hm!?" Mario and Luigi quickly look at Peach as their faces blush red.

"I was kidnapped like you guys, remember?"

"Oh." The Mario bros got what Peach meant.

"I can see our castle over there!" Toad points in the direction under a yellow sky which is in fact Peach's castle.

"That means we're near!" Luigi cheers.

"But it could take us a few days to get there." Mario said as he can tell by the distance.

"You're right, shortstack. Maybe we can have a bit of fun on the beach." Peach suggested, only to cheer them all up.

"Sweet! I got sandcastles to build!" Toad laughs, hyped up to play around.

"I'll try to surf. There's some wood that is nearby." Luigi points at the airship remains, knowing how to make a surfboard and will give surfing a try.

Finally, Mario and Peach are looking into each other's eyes as they're about to say something to each other.

Under the yellow sky that is about to turn amber, Mario and Peach are sitting on a sand near sea water as they're now barefooted and barehanded, watching Luigi struggling to surf.

Both of them are quiet as they're seeing the beauty mixed with humour which gives Mario the impression that Peach is in need of company.

But there's something he needs to say.

"Hey." Peach was able to catch Mario's attention as he raised his head and looked at Peach herself.

"Yeah? What is it, princess?"

"Just who exactly are you? I know we have something in common." Peach asked.

Mario can see why Peach wanted to see him as he can see what's going on with Peach herself.

He then looks at the sea as Luigi falls into the water.

"Let's just say, I'm just a normal human being who does plumbing with his younger twin." Mario answers the question.

"Really? When we first met, you're actually kind of rude and disrespectful."

"Because I don't want to be nice…" Mario admitted with a moody tone.

"Huh?" Peach turns towards Mario with surprise. "Why don't you?"

"Because my old man. I never wanted to call him papa. He's one of the reasons why I refused to be nice. People took advantage of my kindness because I stopped them from bullying Luigi and my old man screamed at me for being too nice. I mean, I can't help it. It's my nature." Mario exposed himself, causing Peach to gasp. "It all started when we were kids. Remember Spike? The guy I called Blackie?"

"You mean that hunk who berated you and Luigi?" Peach asks.

"Yeah. He was one of the bullies who hurt my little bro, even a girl who was being called 'mushroom princess,' alien, monster, even a dummy." Mario explains.

Peach holds her heart as her memories flashes in her head.

Mario continues on. "It got to the point where I protected those bullied kids in the name of justice. Luigi looked up to me and I had to burden myself to not disappoint my little brother. My mother was kind enough to let me be who I am, but my old man? He wasn't a good person and used his public image to show he's a hero that defeated a monkey that kidnapped a woman. He goes on a rant about my kindness being taken advantage of and I shouldn't help everybody. He almost hurt Luigi and mama, so I had to intervene and take the hit for them."

Peach can see what hits Mario's heart as Mario himself lowers his head.

"After my old man left, Luigi and I were in high school and that's where I stopped helping those who're bullied. I never wanted to see my childhood self again, so I am the new me. Until Luigi and I decided to work as plumbers and our bonds are coming back. Then I ended up a mess. Blackie, the bullies and my old man are the reason why I never wanted to help other people. You're the reason why my nature of helping others has made me think, who are you really?"

What stops Mario is seeing Peach weeping as tears are coming out of her eyes.

"Princess?"

Peach then hugs Mario which surprises him to the point of being confused.

"I'm sorry… I'm sorry about what happened to you. What they did to you is psychological abuse. Not only your kindness, but you were taken advantage of by those horrible horrible people." Peach pities Mario and Luigi for all the trauma they went through.

"H- Hey, you don't have to feel sorry. It's okay, I'll walk it off like always." Mario laughs until he gets squeezed.

"No. It's not okay. What they did to you is absolutely despicable. They should be held accountable for the horrible things they did to you." Peach's tone is bitter after knowing what happened to make Mario like this.

Peach then laughs softly while letting Mario go and sits back to her position as Mario himself did the same.

"Alright, I'll tell you mine. I never knew my parents." Peach starts her side of the story.

"Wait, you don't!?" Mario gasps with surprise.

"I don't know… I was raised by the toads of this kingdom when I was a baby and I wasn't doing well at school in this world."

"Let me guess, because you're human?" Mario got the obvious point.

"Yeah. I was then transferred to your world to that school and guess what happened?"

"Nothing's changed?" Mario answered.

"Exactly. Apparently this is worse than the toads as humans are capable of throwing fists at others. Then, I met him. The boy who stops anyone who bullies other people, all in the name of justice. Sounds cheesy, am I right." Peach giggles as Mario chuckles.

"Huh. This kid reminded me of myself. But you're right." Mario then turns towards Peach as he's curious about the connections to their past. "Do I know you?"

"Well, he appears in a red hat, has a big nose and is always around with his shy twin brother." Peach answered.

This caught Mario off guard as he remembers who that girl was in his elementary school days.

"That means you're…"

"It's been a decade since we last met, Mario." Peach finally said his name as Mario himself was left agape.

"Peach…" Mario also said her name for the first time which led him to witness the face from an innocent, yet crying girl to a beautiful and calm woman.

"So Spike is a bully who's been hurting us. I guess we've been hanging out for a long time as childhood friends." Peach sighs as she's glad to reminisce about her past.

Mario can finally picture him, Luigi and Peach as kids and Pauline as a teenager playing at the beach together, hearing their youthful laughs which makes him smile.

"When I first became the princes of the Mushroom Kingdom, I was making a proposal to all the toads. I wanted to reshape the Mushroom Kingdom society, make peace with every kingdom and inspire the world. But my actions and my behaviour contradicts what a princess acts and does." Peach stands up as Mario looks up out of confusion.

"What do you mean, Peach?"

"I had Toadsworth speaking for me and doing what a princess should do. Even Toadsworth is one of the major councils that raised me to be the princess every toad needs. Toadsworth feels like the ruler. But me…" Peach walks on the sea while raising her dress skirt, causing Mario to look away quickly and then back to her.

Peach the smiles, but not in a positive expression, but a depressing one.

"Maybe I'm never a princess to begin with. Never have, and never will be. I chose to be one, but I never wanted to be a princess. This dress and crown is a sign that I'm a ghost to others." Peach expressed her truth, leading Mario to close his mouth as he refuses to believe what Peach has gone through.

"You're not a ghost."

"Huh?" Peach stops smiling as Mario stands up and folds his overall legs by walking onto the sea near Peach.

"If you never wanted to be a princess, then don't be. Just say no. If you're a princess, don't let others tell you what to do. I mean it's okay to listen to others, but letting them control you is just wrong." Mario vents without shouting, but telling the princess what she should've done. "I'll help you, princess. If anything, why don't you live at my place with Luigi and Pauline? Mama's alright with more people living with us as long as they're nice and caring."

Peach can see the looks on a man who can do anything to help anyone in need, realising that her ignorance and Mario's arrogance are what puts them in this mess.

Then tears are dropping as Peach weeps again, but this time it's about herself.

"Mario… I…"

"I'll find a way to fix the mistakes Luigi and I made and then we'll not only help the toads and the world, but we can get out together. Me, Luigi, Pauline, you and Toad. If Toad wants to come with us." Mario moves his eyes towards Toad, who was watching, leading him to jump a little.

"Thank you, Mario! Thank you!" Peach then hugs Mario again as she wails, finally getting to understand someone as well as being understood.

"Hey. I'm sorry for talking bad about you, princess." Mario apologised for things he did for a while.

"No. Thank you, this is the first time I was treated like a commoner by a commoner." Peach is glad that she's being treated like a normal human being.

"Wow… It's like they're made to be together. How romantic." Toad sighs with joy after watching Mario and Peach's reconciliation.

Afterwards, Mario is looking into Peach's tired eyes and then rubs them for Peach to blink better.

"I'll make you a deal, Mario."

"A deal?" Mario halts as he is confused.

"Yeah. Once we stop Bowser and save every kingdom, I'll promise you a date."

"A- whuh!?" Mario exclaimed about what Peach just promised him for.

"A date!?" Toad cheered.

"A date!? B- But I'm just a commoner! I can't be dating a royal princess!" Mario exclaimed.

"That's what makes things even better. You'll be my first romantic partner as I was your first." Peach rubs Mario's nose and places her finger on his lips, happier that she had found genuine love.

Mario couldn't help but smile as he blushes, realising that Peach is showing genuine love towards him.

"Come on, Mario! You know you want it!" Toad teases as Mario jumps and turns around.

"W- Well… I um… I don't know what to say…" Mario is at a loss for words.

Then he sighs and turns back to Peach.

"Alright, you win. It's a promise." Mario concludes, leading Peach to glee with joy.

Mario smiles back after finally proving everyone wrong that he will never let go of his kindhearted nature.

Then a splash hits both Mario and Peach as they both shriek.

"Hey! You lovebirds are standing around!?" Luigi laughs while splashing water on Mario and Peach.

"Alright, that's it! Come here, little bro!" Mario shouts as he chases Luigi while splashing water back on him.

Even Peach and Toad join in on the fun which brings nostalgia to their childhood.

After that, Mario, Luigi, Peach and Toad are drenched as the four are laughing together.

Peach stops as she forgot about something.

"Oh, Mario, you did say Pauline was your sister, right?"

"Oh yeah. She's adopted." Mario answered.

"Really?"

"Yeah. She raised me and Luigi when she was nine and we were like four or five. She was like a big sister to us, even though she's a part of the Mario family." Mario explains positively and then sits forward as he thinks. "I still want to know about the immortal people that Luigi knows of." Mario said while pulling Luigi's medallion out of his pocket.

"Hm. Keep hold of it. Once you and Luigi find a certain someone, maybe you'll thank one of them." Peach said as she put it back in Mario's pocket.

In the end, Mario is promised a date with Princess Peach and he, Luigi, Peach and Toad are about to rest and make their way back to the Mushroom Kingdom.

This morning and afternoon was hectic, but the evening is surprisingly peaceful.

The beginning of their journey starts now.