The next morning, Peach stood on the stone steps to the castle, surrounded by the knights just like she had been the morning before. Sir Toad was once again stood proudly by her side. But this time, Boo was standing on her other side, ready to see her and the knights off on their second day of the search. Peach chose not to mention it, but she noticed how tired he looked- even more so than usual. She could feel how much of a toll this was having on him and silently vowed to herself, as well as to her brother-in-law, that she would not return until Bowser was in her arms. After bidding Boo and Toadette goodbye, she mounted her horse and led her knights out of the black gates and into the forest once more.
After several hours of riding, they reached the area they had abandoned the search the night before, the sun now high in the sky. Luckily, the tracks they had been following were still mostly visible in the now frozen mud. The knights fanned out like before, the formation now well practiced and well known; Sir Toad at the furthest left edge, Dame Wendy at the furthest right edge, and Peach in the middle. They continued to follow the tracks southwards. After nearly two hours, the tracks seemed to slow in pace- the footsteps closer together, the drag marks set deeper in the soil- until they disappeared altogether, right at the rocky entrance to a cave. The group stopped in front of the cave opening, all staring into the darkness in front of them. Silently, Peach drew her sword from its sheath, the metal making a low scraping sound in the otherwise quiet forest. Behind her, she heard the knights following suit and also drawing their weapons, as well as a few striking flints to light the torches that some of them carried. Together as one, Peach and the knights of the Koopa Kingdom entered the cave. It took Peach's eyes a moment to adjust to the sudden darkness, the flames of the torches casting dancing shadows along the naturally rough-hewn walls. The cave appeared to go deep underground so, after one quick glance towards Sir Toad, Peach made her way forwards and into the cave system with the knights all following closely behind her. They walked almost silently for what felt like hours in the dim light, never once letting their guard down. Eventually, the narrow passageway opened up into what seemed like a central chamber. Cautiously, they all filtered into it, looking in all directions for any sign of anyone or anything.
"My princess, I see you have returned to me after all these years," a voice suddenly echoed across the cave walls, making it impossible to hear where it was coming from. Instantly, Peach recognised the voice; the condescending tone, the sleezy note on the word 'princess', the slight twinge of a disguised accent. It was the man who had kidnapped her two and a half years ago, held her hostage, then placed her under a curse he had been certain she would never wake from. Instinctively, Peach shivered.
"Where's my husband?" Peach called into the darkness, turning in a circle to try and pinpoint where the man was.
"I'm right here, princess," the voice said behind her. Peach quickly whipped around and saw the man she recognised standing on a makeshift platform of rock and stone, a few feet away from her, dressed in the same dirt covered overalls as before- although, they appeared to be more ripped and worn with age. Behind her, she could hear the knights falling into formation, their weapons ready to attack on her command. Peach felt the rage boiling inside of her at having to look her kidnapper in the face again after all these years. Without thinking, she raised her sword and started towards him.
"Ooooh, I wouldn't do that, princess. Not if you value the life of this meek little creature," the man laughed coldly, reaching out a hand and pulling someone out from the darkness beside him. Peach stopped in her tracks as soon as she saw who it was; bound and beaten, the terrified face of Daisy's husband Luigi stared back at her.
"Brother please, you don't have to do this," Luigi's voice shook as he spoke, looking up at his captor with pleading eyes. For a moment, Peach froze in confusion. Brother? Then, like a lightning bolt, it hit her as everything fell into place. This man was Mario, Luigi's long lost estranged brother.
"What do you want?" Peach asked, trying to compose herself, glaring at him as he smirked down at her.
"I just want the world to function as it's supposed to; the beautiful princess is imprisoned by the terrible cursed monster and his ghostly looking brother. I, the righteous hero, swoop in and save her from her awful fate and she falls in love with her wonderful saviour," the man gestured wildly, and Peach felt sick to her stomach at his words.
"What does he have to do with any of it?" Peach asked, pointing to Luigi. A few moments ago, out of the corner of her eye, she had noticed Sir Toad subtly hand over his torch to another knight and slip through the back of the crowd, further into the cave. Peach knew exactly what he was planning to do, so now all she needed to do was keep Mario distracted. The sure-fire way to do that? Give him the chance to monologue.
"I told him of my plans, of course. He's my brother, and I wanted him to have the chance to live a life as heroic as mine," Mario smiled almost sincerely at Luigi before suddenly scowling, "but instead of joining me in my glory, he was going to tell his pathetic mouse of a wife, who would have obviously warned you. Why he ever agreed to marry her I don't know. There are far better, prettier, richer, nicer prospects out there for him. But instead, he chooses to marry that tom-boyish little wretch. They even have children together! Brats, the lot of them, I'm sure. Anyway, I couldn't have you finding out the surprise I had planned before it had even started, could I? So, I decided to go it alone and make sure no one would stand in my way. After all, if I can't take you from the monster, then I will take the monster from you until you see clearly again. And then, you will be mine, and all will be right with the world once more, "
"So, what? You want me to just drop my weapon and surrender to you?" Peach scoffed, rolling her eyes at him.
"Yes, preferably while proclaiming your love and utter adoration to me for rescuing you," Mario smiled with a sickening sweetness and Peach could tell that he was completely serious.
"Not a chance," Peach couldn't help but laugh; this was all too insane.
"Fine, have it your way," Mario almost growled, his sweetness suddenly turning sour. Before Peach even had a chance to breathe, she heard the thundering of footsteps from the shadows. As if formed from the darkness itself, dozens of men came running towards them from all directions- likely the bandits Bowser had been sent to dispatch, recruited to Mario's cause with some promise of reward. In a flash, the knights changed formation and formed a circle, facing out towards their attackers.
"Knights of the Koopa Kingdom," Peach called out as she raised her sword, her voice so loud it seemed not to come from her at all, "with me!"