Princess Peach finished her meal and thanked the staff. Despite her attempts at getting to know the things and people waiting on her, they spoke little. It made her feel a little put out. She had still not seen hide nor hair of her host, and she was beginning to wonder just what the seven princesses had in mind for her. The thought crossed her mind that she had once again been kidnapped… but it certainly did not feel that way. She had chosen to come to this place of her own free will, after all.

She had no choice: She had to simply wait to be summoned by her hosts. Feeling a strange sense of apprehension, she allowed herself to be led back to her room by Lumiere. Now that she was a bit more attuned to the going ons of the castle, she noticed that he did not speak to her at all unless she spoke first. She allowed herself to be guided back to her room in complete silence.

"Thank you very much, Lumiere." She said politely, as they came to a stop outside of her door. "Your guidance has been very illuminating."

Ignoring his shocked expression, she closed the door and turned to her room. Her first order of business was to search the room, and check that nothing was out of place. She was quickly satisfied that everything was as she left it, and she sat down on the edge of her bed, deep in thought.

Perhaps she had been kidnapped, but perhaps not. Her hosts had not made their demands known, and had taken no effort in meeting with her at all. It was concerning. Usually when she was kidnapped, the ones who had captured her made it very clear what they wanted. Whether it was her voice or her hand in marriage, she generally had an idea of what was desired from her. But so far, she knew next to nothing.

All in due time, she thought to herself, as she sat down in her bed. They were trying to rattle her, she was sure. It would best for her to stay calm and focus on her surroundings, and learn as much about the enemy as she possibly could.

She cast a look of the photograph of she and Mario at Disneyland and smiled ruefully at it. It may not have been real, but it brought her comfort all the same. She lay back on the bed and closed her eyes.

…

Princess Alice stood, hands folded in front of her. The creature sitting on her left was eating a massive steak. It took the knife, and tearing into the meat, chomped down the steak with gusto. She bent down and wiped away at the creature's mouth.

"How fares our guest?" The Mouse rumbled, as it chewed. "Does she yet understand the predicament she is in?"

"No." Princess Belle responded, looking bored. "She doesn't seem too bright… I doubt she realizes the danger she is in."

The Mouse chuckled darkly as Alice wiped away the last of his meat and stood up, her back completely straight.

"She is as good as mine." The Mouse rumbled. "And her plumber, too… Have you prepared her an offer?" His voice was greedy. The plate full of streak lay unfinished in front of him.

"Yes." Belle said quietly. "We imagine simple trinkets will be enough to satisfy her."

The mouse leaned back in his chair, a cigar placed in his mouth. Alice quickly leaned forward and lit it.

"I imagine a simple security system will do." He said. "To protect her from being kidnapped."

Alice giggled. "She probably likes it."

A intense puff of smoke hit her face, and she coughed, waving her hand in front of her.

"I did not give you permission to speak." The Mouse said, his voice ice cold. Alice turned white.

"No, sire, I-"

"Strip." The Mouse said, his voice bored. Alice's protests faded away as, without another word, she undid her tight shorts, dropping them to the floor along with her panties. She raised a long slender leg and threw them aside as she raised her shirt up and over her head. She looked forlorn and miserable as she stood there, completely naked. Belle tried not to meet her eyes. To do so would almost guarantee that she would be forced to join her.

The Mouse ignored the naked woman next to him as he considered Belle, tapping the cigar against the chair.

"Considering our recent financial struggles, it is essential that we do not pay more for her than we absolutely have to." He said. "I will be very displeased with you if negotiations fall apart. We cannot afford to bleed more money on useless properties, like we did with LucasFilms and Marvel."

"I understand." Belle said. "Have faith in me, Your Majesty… She will sell."

"She better." Mickey Mouse rasped, as he waved his hand in front of her, dismissing her. Belle was only too happy to go. She had not even reached the door when she heard him command Alice to bend over the table, and by the time she had closed the door behind her screams reverberated around her ears, causing her to shudder.

She knew that if she did not force Princess Peach to sell the entire Mario brand, she would be next. She felt no pity or remorse for Alice… only a strong desire not to end up in her position. She quickly made her way back to quarters, intent on making the best pitch she possibly could.

…

Princess Peach awoke to find several singing birds on her windowsill. She found herself astonished by their intelligence: their singing and movements were beautiful and coordinated, and she found herself amused constantly as she prepared for her day. The birds kept up an endless ocean of songs… a fair few she recognized, and a handful she didn't. Eventually she found herself humming along with them, trying to keep up as a knock came at the door.

Immediately the birds scattered, darting for the window and out of sight. Peach barely had time to register their disappearance when the door opened.

"Princess Peach?"

It was Lumiere again. Peach smiled at him.

"This way please." He said formerly, as he gestured to the door. "My Mistress awaits."

"Ah, Princess Belle." Peach said brightly. "I'm looking forward to meeting her."

Lumiere bent his head, and Peach was led down the hall, up the stairs, and past a door.

Peach gasped. They had entered a library… one of the largest and grandest she had ever seen.

"Ah…"

A wheeled ladder slid across the bookshelf, and Peach raised her head. A young woman with brown hair stared down at her.

"Bonjour." She said softly.

"Bonjour." Peach returned politely. "You are Princess Belle, I take it?"

"Indeed." She said, as she stepped down the ladder. "Leave us, Lumiere."

The candlestick bowed, leaving the two alone.

"Let me have a look at you." Belle said softly, as she gripped Peach's hand and leaned in closer to her face. Peach recoiled, surprised at the close contact.

"Yes…" Belle whispered softly. "You are exactly what we have been looking for."

She pulled away somewhat, but did not relinquish her grip on Peach's hand. Their hands were still clasped together, as they stared at each other.

"What, exactly, do you want with me?" Peach asked.

"Hm." Belle said. "That is a difficult question. In fact, quite a bit of that depends on you."

"How do you mean?"

Belle did not answer her: Instead she turned around, pulling Peach by the hand to the desk behind her. Peach's eye was on the other woman: so much so that she did not notice what was sitting before her until they came to a stop.

Spread out on the table in front of them was a highly detailed map of the Mushroom Kingdom. Her castle stood at the absolute center. Bowser's territory, the Flower Kingdom, and Sarasaland were clearly marked as well on the edges of the map. Her breath hitched in her throat.

"What is this?" She asked quietly.

"Our kingdom." Belle said.

"My Kingdom." Peach corrected her, her voice hardening somewhat.

"My apologies." Belle said. "I do not mean to be presumptuous… but as you have accepted our invitation, I suppose you must know what is going to happen next."

"And what is that?"

Belle smiled at her.

"In order to secure your future, you will surrender all of Nintendo to the Disney corporation."

Peach felt her heart sink in her chest.

"How do you know that name?" She whispered, her voice dark. "Only those chosen by the hand know-"

"Oh, our power surpasses your own." Belle said dryly, waving her hand back and forth. "Believe me, Princess… the only reason you are not already ours is because so many others that were so much greater than yourself needed to be acquired first."

"Who are you?" Peach demanded. "What is Disney really?"

"The happiest place on Earth." Belle answered. Peach stared at her.

"You see, Peach." Belle said gently. "Under our umbrella, I promise you… you will never have to be kidnapped again. You can enjoy your fortune and fame, enjoy all of the pleasures that being a princess has to offer… while leaving all of that hard work and difficult thinking to others. We'll take care of you Peach. If you only sign on the dotted line."

She lay a pen and paper on the table and tapped it: It was a contract. Peach stared at it.

"You speak of my well being." She said coldly. "But what of the others? What of my toads, and fellow rulers?"

"Do not worry about them." Bella repeated. "And eternal happiness is yours."

Peach glanced at her. "You didn't answer my question."

"What happens to them is no concern of yours." Belle said quietly. "Once you sign, they will be part of Our Kingdom regardless."

Peach raised her hand to the contract. Belle smiled to herself as Peach grabbed hold of the pen. She raised it, and then brought it back down again on the back of Belle's hand. She cried out in pain as she reeled backward, clutching her hand. Princess Peach reached for one of her emergency power-up, and used a Fire Flower.

Peach grabbed the contract with her fist, and it exploded into flame: Belle stared at her as Princess Peach, surrounded by fire, burnt the contract into flames.

"How dare you." Peach said quietly, as Belle cowered before her. "Assume I would be so selfish to sell out my friends for personal gain?"

Belle was shaking her head wildly as she took several steps back.

"No, no!" She squeaked, in fear. "You have it all wrong! They'll be taken care of, I swear! You have nothing to worry about!"

Peach threw a fire ball. Belle screamed in fear as the ball of flame exploded onto the bookshelf, setting the entire thing on fire. Belle whirled around, aghast, as her entire vast collection began to be consumed by flames.

"No!" Belle moaned, her eyes darting all over the place. "My things!"

The beat of padded feet hit her ears and she relaxed. Her eight foot tall husband, the Beast, leapt into the fray, his cape whirling around him as he glowered at Peach.

"You!" He roared, as he unleashed a vicious swipe. Peach cried out as she was slapped to the floor, the power of the Fire flower disappearing outright. Beast advanced on her, his teeth bared, as Peach looked up at him without fear.

"Is this the true face of Disney?" She asked contemptuously, as the Beast advanced upon her.

"Do you not fear me, girl?" The beast rasped. Peach looked at him and laughed. She faced far worse every day.

"You look like a stuffed animal." She told him. Enraged, the Beast reached for her, but she nimbly rolled over, got onto her feet, and leapt onto the windowsill behind them.

The beautiful image of Belle herself looked down at her as she turned, glancing once more at the angry looking faces of Princess Belle and her beast.

"I bid you all adieu." She said. She kicked the window into pieces and leapt out of the tower. She fell hundreds of feet, before the folds of her dress opened and caught her fall just before she hit the ground.

She turned around and stared up at the flaming tower, which seemed to be getting worse. She smoothed at the crease in her dress and turned to the park, her mind set.

Belle had made her intentions clear: Disney intended to destroy all those she cared about. And only she, Princess Peach, could stop them. She smoothed out the creases in her dress and stepped down the path into the park.

There was much work to be done.