The Mushroom Kingdom Wars

Chaper 3

The atmosphere in Toadstool Castle was tense. It had been several days since the brutal attack on Hateno Village, and Princess Peach felt the weight of responsibility pressing down on her shoulders. She sat at the long council table, surrounded by her advisors—Toads dressed in military uniforms, their faces marked with concern. A large map of the Mushroom Kingdom and Hyrule lay before them, dotted with markers indicating areas of strategic importance and those that needed reinforcement.
“We need to bolster defenses here, by the southern border,” Peach stated, her finger tracing along the map. “If that village was a target, it means the enemy is trying to weaken our outer settlements first. We need to be prepared.”
General Toad, a grizzled veteran with a deep scar running across his face, nodded in agreement. “We’ve already started reinforcing the border, Princess. But if Mario and Bowser really are working together, we’ll need more than just fortifications. Bowser’s forces are relentless, and Mario… well, he knows every inch of this kingdom.”
Peach leaned back in her chair, her brow furrowing at the thought of Mario. He had once been her hero, a steadfast protector. But the fallout from their recent conflict had turned him into something unrecognizable, his behavior was unfamiliar to her. He was never one to be fueled by anger.
“I just wanted to find him,” Peach thought to herself, “Talk this through. What will it take to make him see reason again?”
Suddenly, a younger Toad burst into the room, panting heavily as he tried to catch his breath. “Your Majesty! Something’s appeared in the courtyard!”
Peach stood immediately, her heart racing. She gestured for the young Toad to lead the way and followed him through the grand halls of the castle, her advisors trailing behind. As they stepped out into the courtyard, her breath caught in her throat at the sight before her.
In the center of the courtyard stood an enormous cake, elegantly decorated with pink frosting and delicate sugar flowers. Beside it lay a neatly wrapped gift, a small card perched atop the cake. The whimsical scene would have been delightful if not for the ominous feeling creeping into her chest.
“This doesn’t feel right...” Peach muttered, her instincts screaming at her to be cautious.
She approached slowly, picking up the card with trembling fingers. As she opened it, her breath caught, and anger flooded her system. The message was unmistakably from Mario.
“Dear Peach,
I thought it was about time I baked a cake for you for once. You’re not the only one who can rule a kingdom—or an oven. Since I’ve left, I’ve made some powerful new friends. Friends who know how to be strong. I’m coming for your throne, to show you how wrong you were, and trust me, Princess, there’s nothing you can do to stop me.
See you soon.
—Mario.”
Peach’s hand shook as she lowered the card, her expression shifting from shock to fury.
“Princess? What… what is it?” the young Toad asked, his voice shaking.
Peach crumpled the card in her fist, her voice calm but filled with a simmering rage. “It’s a bad sign.”
As she stepped back, her gaze fell on the neatly wrapped gift beside the cake. A feeling of dread washed over her; she knew it wasn’t just a simple gift. With a quick movement, she yanked the ribbon free and threw the lid open.
“Get back!” she yelled, just as a loud ticking filled the air.
Inside the box was a Bob-omb, its fuse already lit. Peach leapt back just as it exploded, sending a shockwave through the courtyard and obliterating the cake into a shower of pink frosting and sugar debris. The Toads scattered, stunned by the explosion.
“Princess! Are you alright?” General Toad shouted, rushing to her side as she hit the ground but quickly rolled to her feet.
“I’m fine,” Peach replied, brushing dust off her dress, her expression now one of fierce determination. “Mario just declared war!”
The courtyard buzzed with murmurs as the Toads gathered around her, their eyes wide with fear and uncertainty. Peach turned to General Toad, her voice steady and resolute.
“Prepare the kingdom’s defenses. We’ll need every available soldier ready. Mario’s made his move, and we can’t afford to hesitate.”
The General saluted her, his expression hardened by a newfound sense of purpose. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
As the Toads rushed to carry out her orders, Peach returned to her chambers and activated the communication device. The screen flickered to life, revealing both Samus and Zelda on split screens.
“Samus. Zelda. Mario just made an attempt on my life,” Peach stated urgently, her voice filled with urgency.
Zelda’s eyes widened, her face paling with concern. “Oh no, Peach! Are you okay? What happened?!”
“I’m fine,” Peach said, though her voice was still shaking slightly. “He sent a Bob-omb disguised as a gift. I barely avoided the explosion. But this… this means he’s serious, Samus. He’s not just aligning himself with Bowser—he’s really trying to take the throne. I don’t know who else he’s working with, but it feels like something bigger is coming.”
Samus leaned closer to the screen, her gaze steady. “Peach, listen—this wasn’t your fault. I get it—it’s hard seeing him like this. But you’ve faced big threats before, and you didn’t back down. You won’t back down now.” She paused, her tone softening slightly. “We’ve got this.”
Peach nodded, though she was still trying to catch her breath. Samus's words helped, but the weight of the situation still pressed down on her.
Samus straightened, her expression turning serious again. “But I need to follow up on something else. The Space Pirates… they’ve gone quiet, and that’s never a good sign. I’ve been tracking their movements—or lack of them. I need to keep investigating. If they’re up to something, I need to know what.”
Zelda, who had been quiet, suddenly spoke, her voice trembling. “But Mario… working with Bowser.... and Ganondorf? What if he’s building an army we don’t even know about? What if this is just the beginning? How are we supposed to stop him, Peach?”
Peach closed her eyes for a moment, gathering her thoughts before opening them again, her resolve solid. “We’ll be fine. I’ve sent for reinforcements. I’m heading to the Kong Kingdom next. They have a large army, and their leader… let’s just say he would love a chance to best Mario. They’ll be more than happy to help us.”
Samus crossed her arms, a thoughtful expression on her face. “I wish I could be there, Peach. But I need to continue my investigation. I’m heading to the asteroid belt in the Corneria system. If the Space Pirates are hiding anywhere, it’ll be there.”
Zelda gasped, “The Corneria system? But… but that’s Starfox territory! What if you run into them? They’re... well, they’re kind of famous for being suspicious of outsiders.”
Samus smirked confidently. “Don’t worry about that. Fox McCloud and I are good friends. We’ve saved each other’s hides more than once. I’ll be fine. Once I figure out what’s going on, I’ll be back to help with Mario and Bowser.”
Peach nodded, her heart aching at the thought of Samus being so far away, but she knew there was no other choice. “Just be careful. And come back soon, Samus. I’ll need you here.”
Samus gave her a determined look, her confidence unwavering. “I will. You know I always keep my promises.”
With that, the call ended, leaving only Peach and Zelda on the screen. Zelda’s face was still marked with worry, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
“Peach... what are we going to do?”
Peach stood tall, her voice firm and unwavering. “I’m going to the Kong Kingdom. Their army is strong. In the meantime, I need you to stay safe, Zelda. Strengthen Hyrule’s defenses, and keep an eye on anything unusual. We’ll get through this.”
Zelda nodded, her face still pale but her trust in Peach unshaken. “Okay... okay, I’ll do that. Just... be careful, okay? I don’t know what’s happening anymore, but it feels like everything is falling apart.”
Peach gave her a small, reassuring smile. “We’ll put it back together. I promise.”
As the call ended, Peach turned back to the window, her gaze fixed on the horizon. The war was coming, and she knew it wouldn’t be easy. But she wasn’t the same helpless princess she once was. With the Kongs’ help, her kingdom would be ready. And when the time came, she would face Mario, Bowser, and whoever else stood in her way.