The final meeting had only been five minutes in, and they had been on the topic of power-ups. Something about what type and what quantity they needed to bring on the journey. Someone mentioned that they should bring some along as an offering for Cranky Kong in order to win over more of his troops for their cause.
But then Captain Toad burst in and ran, huffing and puffing, to Peach's side, and the princess forgot everything else the instant his spine-chilling words were urgently whispered into her ear:
A Toad has been found along our border… cursed into stone!
She couldn't stop her eyes from widening in shock; she stood silently before her council, which still included Mario. She looked around at all their concerned expressions and struggled to come up with a reply that wouldn't send them all into a state of panic. A curse was no minor issue, and if it was cast along their border, it most likely meant someone from outside the Mushroom Kingdom harbored ill-will against them.
"An urgent matter had been brought to my attention," she began slowly, keeping the information vague enough to soften the news. "I must go with the Captain, but please continue your discussion without me."
"Your Highness?" Toadsworth questioned. "Is everything alright?"
Peach wrung her fingers together until her knuckles turned white. "It will be, but you must stay here, please."
"It's not something dangerous, is it, princess?" her steward pressed, rising from his own seat in an attempt to go after her.
Peach raised a hand to stop him. "You mustn't follow me, Toadsworth. Please lead the council in my stead. This is something I must handle myself. I… will return shortly."
Toadsworth studied her face for a moment, then at once something seemed to click and a look of recognition passed over him. "Of course, Your Highness," he said with a bow. "I will do as you ask."
Peach nodded. Toadsworth was one of the small handful who knew why she alone would be needed for an "urgent matter"— he had undoubtedly pieced together that the Captain's bit of news was one related to magic. Mario, and even most on her council, did not, and it was better to keep it that way. She peered behind her as she was departing, and saw the plumber's brows were drawn together in confusion, borderline suspicion. Peach turned away; she would come up with a better excuse after this was dealt with.
The princess let her captain lead her to the kingdom's border. They took a more discreet backroad, and made sure to avoid any straggling pedestrians who happened to still be out at the late hour. She couldn't risk any of them seeing her and questioning why she was out, and she was a very easy target to spot among the small-statured Toads.
Progress, therefore, was slower, and with every second that passed Peach grew more anxious. Her thoughts raced, and she could only imagine who or what had broken into her home and dared to use black magic against one of her people. A small pit of hot anger settled in her chest, and she resolved that she would see the perpetrator behind bars, if she had anything to say about it.
Eventually, they arrived at the scene where the tragedy had occurred. Peach hadn't wanted to believe it, but when they came to a small clearing, there was the undeniable proof. A poor Toad was frozen stock-still in place, and every bit of his flesh had been replaced by hard, petrified stone.
"No…" she gasped and covered her mouth with a hand. Her anger was temporarily overcome by a sharp pang of grief.
"I'm sorry, Princess," Toad murmured, eyes downcast. "I didn't want you to see this, but there was no choice. There's no doubt this is a curse cast by a black magic user."
Peach knelt on the grass next to the statue-like Toad, mindless of the green stains rubbing into her skirt, and touched his cap. It was cold and rough, with no signs of life whatsoever, yet every detail remained, down to the terrified expression he must have made in his final moments.
"Who would do this?" she asked, voice wavering and sounding very small in the vast darkness. "Why?"
"We don't know, Princess," Toad replied somberly. "I sent a small squadron out to try and find the magic wielder as soon as I got the report. We haven't found him yet, but thankfully, this appears to be an isolated incident."
That was good, at least. Peach sighed, and Toad placed a stubby hand on her shoulder in an attempt to comfort her.
"Are you able to undo it?" he prodded gently.
Peach bit her lip. In theory, she should be able to use her white magic to undo any effects of black magic, but she'd never heard of a curse that could turn living beings to stone.
"Stand back, captain," she ordered, rising to her feet and taking a deep breath.
Toad backpedaled a few paces and watched her with veiled anticipation. To see the princess's magic in action was an incredibly rare feat to witness, and he was secretly curious to know what gifts he had been protecting all these years.
Please let this work, she begged silently. Closing her eyes, the princess concentrated on the rhythm of her heart. Every beat sent a rush of life throughout her body. Every drop of blood carried the power she was born with. All she needed to do was find the will to believe it.
Folding her hands over her chest, Peach focused every feeling of compassion she could muster into a single thought: heal. There was a distinct surge of warmth, accompanied by a tickling sensation that felt like the flit of butterfly wings in her stomach. Then, it left her body like a dramatic exhale as she willed the magic to undo the curse.
"Wow!" Captain Toad exclaimed breathlessly.
Peach's eyes fluttered open, and to her great elation, a bewildered, magenta-spotted Toad looked back at her with his jaw dropped to the ground.
"P-Princess?!" the resuscitated Toad cried. He stumbled forward a step and Peach dropped to her knee and opened her arms to catch him. The Toad fell into her embrace and shook like a leaf in a storm.
"Oh, you poor dear," Peach cooed. She gave the Toad a little hug and patted his cap. "You're alright now. Everything is okay."
The Toad sniffled. "I t-thought I was dead! All I saw was that ugly, crusty face, then a bright b-blast of magic hit me before I could even scream!"
Peach was going to ask him more, but just then the sound of someone approaching caught their attention. Her blood ran ice cold and she was afraid the black magic user was returning, so she leapt to her feet and stood in front of the Toad, arms spread wide in defense.
"Who goes there?" Captain Toad demanded, procuring a deadly frying pan from his belt.
"It's-a me— it's just me!" the snooper stepped out of the striped bush he'd been hiding in with his arms raised in surrender.
"Mario?" Peach narrowed her eyes in the faint moonlight. Though she could barely see, she noticed the plumber had a sheepish grin and hunched his shoulders in shame as he approached them. "Mario?!"
"How long were you watching?" the Captain demanded, stalking forward and brandishing his weapon like an angry elder scolding a youth off his lawn.
"I-I wasn't trying to spy, I swear!" Mario answered quickly. "I didn't see anything important! Only the part where you used some sorta magic to turn that Toad back from stone!"
He knows. Peach thought with a spine-shivering chill. He knows I have white magic. He's not supposed to know– he can't know. What am I–
"You have magic, Princess?" the magenta Toad gawked.
No no no! This can't be happening!
"I told you I had to do this alone!" she scolded him. "Why didn't you stay with Toadsworth and the others like I asked?"
Mario flushed red. "I didn't know it was so important! What's the big deal, anyway? I've seen way weirder stuff since coming here!"
Peach buried her face in her hands. "You can't know. You're not supposed to know," she whimpered.
Mario was taken aback by her reaction. "Hey, uh… I'm really sorry. I don't think having magic makes you weird or anything like that. I actually think your magic was… beautiful."
Peach shook her head. "You don't understand! It's supposed to be a secret. There are only a handful of my Toads who even know."
"But… why?"
Mario's genuine confusion only served to make Peach more frustrated. "If the whole kingdom– the whole eight worlds– knew I had the power to heal and undo black magic, could you imagine what would happen?" she fumed at him. "I'd never be safe, and neither would anyone close to me! There are too many twisted minds out there who would do anything, even kill, to have access to my abilities. There could even be war!
"That's why I only use my magic for emergencies and special circumstances. The less people know, the safer it is for them." Peach crossed her arms and stood rigid. "So what am I going to do about you?"
Mario was stunned silent by her declaration. All he could do was blanche in realization of what the consequences of his actions actually were.
Seeing his reaction, Peach realized something and decided to voice a nagging thought she'd had since Mario's outburst previously in the evening. "You don't entirely trust me, do you? That's why you snuck out of the castle and followed us here. That's why you stormed out of that meeting earlier."
The red-clad plumber looked away, and that was all the answer she needed.
"I… I'm sorry, Princess," he admitted softly. "It's not that I don't trust you, honest! I just… I didn't understand. Where I'm from, you have to look out for yourself. My family was the only one I could count on to have my back, especially Luigi." He looked back to Peach, and there was a hurt in his eyes that she could feel even in the dim night, one that convinced her to let him finish his piece.
"Since I fell through that warp pipe," he continued, "nothing has made sense. I mean, I can learn how to use power-ups and I can deal with everything having eyes for some reason… but I just couldn't figure out you.
"You agreed to help me and Luigi so– so easily, and I was so eager to accept it. But then later on I couldn't help but let some doubts creep in. I just knew there had to be a catch, some ulterior motive I just couldn't see."
"You got a point to this, buddy? Besides spitting my princess's kindness back into her face, I mean. We're kind of on a tight schedule here, and now I have a couple of arrests to make!" Captain Toad snarked, shooting daggers at Mario. Even the magenta Toad looked disgusted as he folded his stubby arms and shook his head slowly, apparently unaware that he was the second liability.
"No, please! I was wrong. You've been nothing but kind to me and I was wrong to suspect you, Princess." Mario came to Peach's feet and bowed on one knee, surprising her with his sudden act of chivalry. "Look, I know I messed up big time. I don't deserve your forgiveness, but I am asking– no, begging– for it. I'll do anything to make up for what I've done, so things can go back to the way they were." He removed his hat and cast his eyes to the ground.
Peach found herself at a loss for words. "I am sorry you felt you could not trust me," she started, voice tinged with disappointment. "But I cannot simply erase the knowledge you've gained here tonight, nor can I ignore the fact that you snuck away and spied on me against my wishes."
Mario bowed deeper. "I know. I swear on my brother's life that I won't tell anyone about your abilities. I'll accept any punishment you want to give me. Please."
The princess mulled over his words. She was still vexed at him for his little act of espionage, but she also wanted to believe his heartfelt apology. Punishing Mario would feel… almost wrong. He had acted in order to protect himself in a strange land full of strange people, and he came from a place that was unkind and untrustworthy, much like her own past.
What am I even thinking? Maybe Toadsworth was right about me having a bias towards Mario, afterall.
Her internal conflict must have been written all over her face, because the captain tugged on the edge of Peach's skirt and beckoned her so that she might hear him whisper in her ear.
"What if he swore fealty to you, Princess?" he suggested.
Peach tapped her chin in thought. It… wasn't a bad idea, actually. Mario was a decent warrior, and they were already working together with him. To have him swear his loyalty would only be a confirmation of their purpose and alliance. With a nod of agreement at Toad, she touched Mario's shoulder and he slowly raised his head.
"What say you? Would you swear fealty to me?" she inquired.
Mario furrowed his brows. "I– what does that mean?"
"Would you swear yourself to my service? Would you agree to be my knight and protect the crown at any cost? Obviously, that would include keeping my secret under the risk of severe penalty." Peach propped up her hands on her hips in an attempt to look more intimidating. "I would hold you to your oath for as long as you are here in the eight worlds; and as long as you keep your word, I will consider all that happened here forgiven and forgotten."
Mario blinked. "…That's it?"
The princess arched an eyebrow at him. "If you think this oath is taken lightly, it's not. Many would consider it to be a great honor, or perhaps even a great burden. The choice is yours."
"O-oh, it's not that I misunderstood! I just was kinda expecting and planning to do all that stuff already," the plumber replied with a nervous chuckle. "I mean, that's kind of a given, isn't it?"
Peach had to hide her smile. Ah, he's just too dear– I can't stay mad at him.
"What is your decision, then?"
Mario stood with what could only be described as a heroic pose, with his shoulders squared and a steeliness in his gaze. "You'll have my word, on my honor!"
"Then Toad can conduct the ceremony right here and now," Peach replied with a pleased nod.
"Yep!" Toad piped in. "I know the oath by heart– I performed it once myself, you know. And it would be an honor to swear in my best friend."
"Your best–?" Mario started, then stopped himself with a shake of his head. "Nevermind. What do I have to do?"
"Just get back onto one knee and remove your hat again and repeat after me," Toad instructed. When Mario was in position, looking every bit a knight even while wearing overalls, the captain began:
I solemnly swear by the lights of all the great Stars in the sky
That I shall do everything in my power
To protect the Mushroom Kingdom, its people, and its ruler.
I hereby commit myself to the betterment of the Kingdom,
Offering my skills and support in both times of peace and peril.
This I swear before the crown, and may my oath hold forever true.
When Mario finished the simple, six-lined vow, Toad concluded by saying, "It is done."
"Arise, Mario," Peach addressed him. "You are now an official vassal of the Mushroom Kingdom. I know you'll do us proud."
The plumber shot her a lopsided grin. "Even after I accidentally learned about your greatest secret?"
Peach hummed with an air of playful mischief. "Well, the fact that you were able to sneak up on us undetected was rather impressive, I must admit. Besides, once you and Luigi have been safely returned to your world, no one would believe your story anyways, am I correct?"
"…Good point."
"Let's make that scenario a reality, then. We don't have much time to rest before dawn." Not that Peach herself would get to rest, not with this black magic incident being piled on top of this quest with Mario, but she'd figure it out… somehow.
"Thank you again for saving me, Princess!" the magenta Toad chirped.
"Oh! You're most welcome. What is your name, dear?" Peach inquired, having almost forgotten about him in the Mario-related commotion.
"It's Marr T., your Highness!" he replied with an enthusiasm that– after a near-death experience– could only belong to a Toad.
"Well, Marr T., would you please go with the Captain? He's going to have some questions for you."
Toad linked his arm with Marr T's. "You bet! We have lots to talk about." The captain practically drug the poor Toad away, already chatting and getting to work on his investigation.
As the duo hurried ahead of her and Mario, Peach reached up and massaged her forehead, a wave of exhaustion finally catching up and washing over her after a night of such emotional highs.
"You alright?" Mario questioned as they began the walk back to her castle. "I probably gave you an aneurysm back there, huh?"
Peach laughed softly. "Maybe a little one. But… may I be honest?"
"Of course."
"I'm… glad you know about my powers. I mean, I don't want you to be in danger or anything like that!" Peach hurried to assure him. "I just… I've been carrying this secret my whole life. Only Toadsworth, the captain, and my handmaiden Toadette knew about it before tonight."
"That must be pretty lonely," Mario sympathized.
"It can be, but it's what I have to do to keep everyone safe. So, it feels nice to have a friend who understands, even if it's only for the little while you're here."
"A friend, huh?" A smile tugged at his mustache.
Peach felt her cheeks grow warm. "Sure, if that's what you want to call it."
"I think I would, actually," he replied, his smile growing bigger. "I'd feel a lot better going on this journey as friends. They've got each other's backs, y'know? So I promise, Princess, that as your vassal and friend, that your secret is safe with me."
Peach felt an invisible weight lift from her shoulders. "Thank you, Mario. Having a human friend like you means… more than you know."
Mario's own cheeks turned red and he quickly cleared his throat and turned his face away. "W-we'd better hurry up. At this rate, Toad will beat us back to the castle and send your guards into a panic when he shows up without you."
The duo's walk back to the castle was a silent one, but not uncomfortably so. Peach had quite a bit on her mind, but now it didn't feel quite so daunting. She had a new ally at her side, and they would be ready for whatever came their way.