The Mushroom Kingdom Wars

Chapter 18

The war room of Peach’s castle was cloaked in an oppressive silence, each second ticking by with a tension that none of them could shake. The large monitor dominated the space, projecting the chaotic scene at Ganondorf’s armory. It was difficult to watch. Proto Man’s relentless blasts lit up the battlefield as Link darted through moblins and magical creatures, Zelda shouted commands to rally her troops, and Donkey Kong was a towering force of rage and power. But despite their efforts, it was clear they were losing ground.

Rush, Mega Man’s loyal robot dog, had been tasked with scouting from a distance, transmitting the live feed to the castle. The little robot’s vision shifted and zoomed, capturing the relentless attacks from above as the Magikoopas and their enhanced, egg-shaped machines bombarded Zelda’s forces from the sky.

Peach sat motionless, her knuckles white as her hands gripped the arms of her chair. Her eyes remained glued to the screen, her lips pressed into a thin, tight line as the sounds of the battle filled the room. No one dared speak for the past few minutes, each of them too engrossed in the unfolding disaster to break the silence.

Her stomach twisted with each new blast, each fallen soldier. She had been so sure they had planned every detail perfectly, that their forces were ready for this fight. But as the battle raged on and Zelda’s troops fell back in disarray, the cold reality of their failure sank in. She took a deep breath, trying to suppress the rising sense of dread, but the weight of their defeat was suffocating.

Finally, Peach couldn’t bear to watch any longer. She stood abruptly, turning away from the monitor and crossing her arms over her chest. Her voice trembled as she spoke, though she tried to maintain her composure.

"How did this happen?" she asked, her tone barely concealing the anger bubbling beneath her surface. "We were prepared. We planned everything down to the smallest detail. So why… how did this go so wrong?"

Fox, standing nearby with his arms crossed, glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. His years of experience in battle had hardened him to the unpredictability of war, but he understood the frustration Peach felt. He exhaled slowly through his nose, the movement deliberate and controlled, before shaking his head.

"Plans are just that—plans," Fox said, his voice gruff but not without sympathy. "The enemy adapts, we adapt. You can’t control every variable in a battle, no matter how much you want to. But we’ll regroup, Peach. We’ll get them next time."

Peach looked at him, her lips trembling for a moment as she tried to suppress the emotions threatening to overwhelm her. She nodded quietly, though her expression remained tight.

Fox’s eyes softened slightly before he spoke again. "I’m heading to the Galactic Federation. There are a few friends I can count on there, people who might be able to provide some backup. We’ll need more firepower if we’re going to stop Ganondorf and his new allies."

Peach met his gaze, the worry still lingering in her eyes, but she managed a small nod. "Safe travels, Fox. Please hurry… we don’t have much time left."

As Fox turned to leave, Peach felt a pang of uncertainty. He had always been the practical one, a steady voice of reason in the chaos. "Fox," she called softly. He paused, glancing back with a raised eyebrow. "We’re counting on you," she said, her voice quiet but full of meaning.

He gave a small nod, his expression unreadable. "I won’t let you down," he replied before vanishing into the corridor, his footsteps echoing as he disappeared toward his ship. The room felt even quieter than before.

Meanwhile, Daisy had been pacing back and forth near the table, her movements sharp with agitation. Her hands were balled into fists at her sides, and her brow was furrowed in frustration. The defeat gnawed at her, not just because they had lost the battle, but because it felt like something fundamental had gone wrong.