The Warning

Why would Bowser single Peach out? Captain Toad turns to Peach shaking his head, begging her not to open the door. But Peach stands up and swings the door open. Standing before her is a blue-shelled paratroopa.

"Good evening, Miss Peach. I'm the General of Lord Bowser's forces. It's a pleasure to finally meet you." He bows before her with a gentle smile.

"What's the message?"

The Koopa General stands erect, unfolding his arms at his side. "It's rather blunt. His Wrathfulness demands the surrender of the mushroom people. Your pathetic land and your fields now belong to him. Should you surrender peacefully, he will give you all a merciful death."

Mayor Goomba peeks from under his desk, his face full of horror. "Now wait just a minute…!"

"Should you refuse, you will face unimaginable torture! And then death."

The goomba begins to plead with the general - to be reasonable but he ignores him. Instead, the Koopa General studies Peach's face.

"That is all. Should I give His Mercifulness word of your surrender?"

Peach clasps her shaking hands to her chest, her eyes fierce as she tries to control her temper.

"You tell him to choke on a poison shroom."

The gentle smile of the Koopa General turns into a wicked grin.

"King Bowser will be most pleased with your reply, Miss Peach." The general bows to her again and flies away. Once they are alone, Peach turns to help the mayor to his chair. None of the three speak for a time.

What were they going to do?

That night, Peach and Toad broke the news to the other toads. They wanted to panic as usual, and it took over an hour to get them to stop running in circles.

After they settle, Peach suggested an evacuation but asked for volunteers to battle the invading army. To her surprise about hundreds of Toads came forward. The number included her old playmates Gold, a yellow-spotted toad, and Berry the blue-spotted toad. To Peach's dismay Vert wanted to help. He was the first toad to comfort her as a baby when she wandered into their world.

"Vert, I appreciate the offer. But the answer is no."

Vert looks up with a frown.

"There is no way I'm leaving you!"

"We're going to war. With the intent of buying everyone time to flee. You are up in age. There is no way I'm letting you fight."

Peach kneels to comfort Vert seeing his clear distress, laying a hand on the side of his face. "The best way you can help is by leading the others."

Vert leans into her hand and closes his eyes. "Alright."

With that, Vert hugs Peach and leaves to help with the evacuation. Peach turns to her army as Captain Toad approaches. As always, he was up for the challenge.

The next few days, Peach and the volunteers trained for combat. It didn't go well, but the toads were determined. Death was the option Bowser gave. They had no choice but to fight.

Soon the town was quiet with only the 'army' remaining. While they rested to prepare for the battle, Peach was planning several back up plans. Eventually, tiredness and stress overcome her. She nods off to sleep and the nightmare starts again. It was the same as always. Peach is unable to move but there is no sea this time. Now she sees Mushroom Kingdom in flames. All her beloved toads lay on the ground scattered throughout the ruins. The koopas mock their fate. Peach screams and tries to run in vain to them. Suddenly, everything turns white, and she is standing in a grassy field.

A deep accented voice catches her attention. "Is this better?"

It's the voice again. But this time Peach responds to it. "Who are you?"

Silence.

Peach continues. "Why did you warn us?"

"To save you from my fate."

"Save?"

"But thinking about it now, it was a waste. They will steamroll over you." The voice then broke into a wicked laugh. Peach initially curious over the being's pronunciation, becomes angry. She fights to free herself as the voice continues to mock her. A purple form appears to her right. She couldn't discern its form. Somehow her arms loosened up and she immediately swings them. The form moves quickly out of the way.

"My toads are peaceful! They don't want to fight, but they're trying their best despite it! How dare you mock them! And the goombas …"

"Will betray you."

Peach stops and stares ahead, stunned.

"I…"

"The mayor has already gone to Bowser to cut a deal."

"Liar!"

Long purple arms reached out and enclosed Peach. She gasped as it slowly dragged her back against the purple form. The distorted form started to take shape, displaying bat-like features. His yellow eyes silted and he leaned in chuckling in her ear. Peach cringed and attempted to pull away.

"The toads are doomed. However, you can escape and out run the enemy. I'm sure you can find and access a wrap pipe."

"I'm not leaving them!"

The creature tightens his grip on her delicate form. "How about we work together, then?"

"And how do I know you are not working with King Bowser?" Peach snarls.

"I do work for him."

The answer catches Peach off guard.

"I serve him as a vassal king. Many have survived serving him in this matter if he finds you useful. Mushroom Kingdom is a poor country compared to his. And the koopas hate the toads. However, I have reason to believe the king secretly fancies you."

Fancies me? Peach stops struggling, earning a chuckle from the being in response.

"Go on with your rebellion! Fight! But when all is lost, remember to beg him for mercy. There is a chance he may spare you - alone."

Peach breaks out of the creature's embrace and glares at him. He chuckles again.

"My name is Antasma. When all I have told you came to pass, know I was only trying to help. Hopefully, our next meeting will be in the real world."

Antasma vanishes and the grassy fields fade. Peach reaches out.

"Wait!"

Peach wakes up in a panic. She looks around frantically for Antasma and realizes she is awake. The voice was indeed a real person. But how was he able to enter her dreams? And the goombas would betray them on the battlefield? The nerve of that bat! He admits to being a lackey of Bowser and he expects her to believe Mayor Goomba would betray her?

And yet Antasma claims to not serve Bowser willingly. And for a being like Antasma to serve Bowser, indicated that he had gotten stronger since the last time she saw him. Would the mayor do the same to survive? And Bowser may spare her alone? Was it because she saved his life?

But the toads' fate are sealed. The Koopa General was clear. Even if Peach surrendered to Bowser, only death awaited her family.

Surrendering was not an option. Peach briefly thought back to the sad expression Bowser wore the last time she saw him. A part of her hopes he is not a complete monster.