Peach opened her eyes to find herself encompassed in silk sheets and a comforting warmth, the calming weight of heavy furs on top of her and the sound of a slowly crackling fire in the hearth at the foot of the bed. She sighed softly to herself, her body feeling weightless beneath her. Slowly, she rolled over and smiled when she saw Bowser sleeping peacefully beside her. She reached out a hand and gently brushed a finger down his sharp jawline, causing him to stir and open his eyes, smiling when he looked at her.
"Hello, my love," Bowser mumbled, reaching out and resting his hand on Peach's hip. Bowser smiled and slowly leaned forward. She felt his warm breath brush past her cheek, but just before their lips could touch, everything turned cold. Bowser was ripped from her grasp and suddenly Peach found herself lying on a stone floor, somewhere else entirely.
"Bowser?" she called out into the darkness around her, staggering to her feet. But the only reply she got was the distant echo of her own voice. Frantically, Peach turned in a circle, desperate to discern anything from the endless dark. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a hooded figure watching her.
"Who are you?" Peach demanded, turning to face them. But the only reply she got was a quiet, cold, humourless laugh...
Peach gasped as she awoke, sitting bolt upright in bed, sweat collecting on her brow. A cry echoed off the stone walls of the room and it took Peach a moment to realise the sound had come from her own lips. She sat in the heavy silence, her chest heaving with ragged breaths. Tears filled her eyes, blurring her vision as she stared down at her shaking hands.
"My lady?" Toadette's voice whispered next to her. In her panic, Peach hadn't even noticed them enter the room. As soon as she looked up at her handmaid stood beside the bed, their face etched with worry, all Peach's emotions came rushing forwards. A loud sob burst from her lips and at once Toadette's arms were wrapped around her.
"It will be okay, Peach," Toadette soothed, gently rocking backwards and forwards with Peach held tightly against them. Peach curled in on herself and clutched the back of Toadette's night gown as though it were a lifeline, her sobs only growing louder. Toadette ran a gentle hand through Peach's hair, instinctively reaching out to gently untangle the knots that had formed during their mistress' fitful sleep.
"Where is he, Toadette?" Peach sniffed, lifting her head slightly to look at her handmaid, "where have they taken him? Why have they taken him? Will I ever even see him again?"
"I don't know where he is, my lady, or why he has been taken from you. But what I can tell you is this: you will see him again, alive and well, and you will bring him home," Toadette spoke with a determination that could only come from one with as loyal a heart as theirs. Peach nodded softly, her cries quietening and her body growing heavy once more with sleep, although it was more from exhaustion than any kind of comfort or relief. Gently, Toadette lowered Peach's head until she rested comfortably on the pillow. They pulled the covers and furs on the bed back over their mistress' chest and shoulders. Affectionately, they reached out a hand and tucked a lock of hair behind Peach's ear, their hand hovering for a moment next to Peach's cold cheek before they collected themself and pulled away. They tiptoed over to the fireplace opposite the bed and added a few more logs to try and keep the winter cold at bay. Then, as swiftly and quietly as they could, Toadette left the room and returned to their own chambers next door.
Boo leaned back against the back of the desk in his chambers as he stared blankly out of the large window, the darkness of the room surrounding him like a cloak. Sleep had eluded him thus far, and he had the feeling it would continue to do so until either his brother was found, or sheer fatigue forced him into an unwilling unconsciousness. He had to put on a front of determination and power in front of Peach, the knights, and his entire kingdom. But inside, Boo shook with dread and suspicion. Not only did he fear for Bowser's safety in the hands of whoever it was who had captured him, but he feared for why any of this had happened in the first place. What did these people want? What did they hope to gain from kidnapping the Koopa Kingdom's Crowned Prince and named heir to the throne? And now with the news that Princess Daisy had brought about the raid of her home and the disappearance of her husband too. Boo couldn't help but feel the two were connected- surely it wasn't mere chance that both princess', who had been close friends since childhood, had lost their husbands within hours of each other. But how? And why?
Suddenly, his mind flickered back to a time he felt much like he did now, a couple of years ago. Only, it was Peach who was missing and his brother pacing frantically with unrest. Despite himself, Boo smiled; those two truly would go to the ends of the world for each other, for better or for worse. But then his smile turned to a frown. How was it that nothing like this had happened his entire life then suddenly, in the span of less than three years, both his sister-in-law and his brother are kidnapped from the roadside and held hostage? And it all started just after Bowser and Peach had gotten married. Boo wondered if the events were connected somehow- maybe that even the same people were behind both kidnappings. Surely, they must be. Either that, or a seriously bizarre set of coincidences was occurring.
Boo sighed, closing his eyes and holding his aching head in his hands. He really should get some sleep...