The Mushroom Kingdom Wars

Chapter 21

The weight of the decision hung heavily over the war room in Peach's Castle. The air was thick with tension, a palpable dread settling over everyone in the room. Peach stood with her back turned to her allies, staring out the window toward the horizon. The sunlight streaming in felt like a cruel joke—everything outside seemed so peaceful while inside the world felt like it was falling apart.

The silence in the room was deafening. Outside, the sun shone brightly, a cruel contrast to the growing sense of despair within. Peach hadn’t moved from her spot by the window, her hands clenched tightly as she processed Fox’s latest message. The Galactic Federation had abandoned them, deeming their war an “internal matter.” It was another blow, and one she wasn’t sure they could recover from.

Fox’s voice still echoed in her mind, filled with regret but resolute.

"I'm sorry, Princess. We'll be there as soon as we can, but you'll have to hold out a bit longer."

Peach had cut the communication, taking a deep breath before turning back to the others. She was trying to stay composed, to remain the leader they needed, but inside, doubt was creeping in.

Zelda stood by her side, though she looked like a shadow of the person she once was. The fall of Hyrule weighed heavily on her and, despite her regal posture, it was clear she was still processing the loss of her kingdom, her people. Proto Man leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his newly repaired body courtesy of Dr. Light, who had arrived a few days earlier. His visor glowed faintly in the dim light, but his expression was one of deep thought. He had been sifting through the fragments of their battle, analyzing every mistake, every miscalculation.

At the table, Dr. Light studied the strange egg-shaped shards of technology taken from the battlefield at the armory. He was frowning, the confusion clear in his eyes.

“I’ve never seen anything like this,” Dr. Light muttered, turning the pieces over in his hands. “The magical energy… yes, that’s undoubtedly Kamek’s work. But this technology… it's far more advanced than anything Bowser has ever used before. I don't think it originated in this world.”

Zelda looked at the pieces on the table, frustration bubbling up inside her. It felt as though they were fighting shadows—unknown enemies with unknown motivations, and worse, an ally who had become their greatest threat. She clenched her fists.

“It’s like we’re fighting ghosts,” she muttered, her voice tight with frustration. “The Mario I knew would never do this.”

The room fell silent, the weight of her words pressing down on all of them. Even Peach, who had been trying to maintain her composure, felt her heart twist painfully. She shared the sentiment, but knew they couldn’t dwell on it. The war was moving too fast, and every moment spent mourning the loss of Mario’s old self was a moment lost in the battle to stop him. But still, it hurt. The man who had once been their greatest hero had now become their greatest threat.

The room remained tense, the weight of their situation bearing down on everyone. For a moment, no one spoke. Then, from her place at the table, Daisy stood abruptly, her fists clenched tightly. Her usual fiery energy was back, but now it carried a fierce determination that only surfaced in the most dire situations.

“We need magic,” Daisy said, her voice firm and resolute. “We need help. I’ll go to Rosalina. If anyone can fight against Kamek’s magic, it’s her.”

Peach met Daisy’s eyes and nodded. The decision was quick, but she knew it was the right one. Rosalina, the Guardian of the Stars, held power that reached beyond the boundaries of any kingdom, far surpassing any magic they had ever encountered. Her knowledge was ancient, granted by the very cosmos themselves, and her mastery over the universe made even the most formidable sorcerers look like children playing with toys. If anyone could unravel the complexities of Kamek’s dark sorcery, it was Rosalina. But while her cosmic strength was undeniable, Peach couldn’t help but wonder if she would intervene. Rosalina had always been a protector, but her passive nature and the vast distance that separated her from their world made her help uncertain. Would she choose to get involved in their conflict, or would she remain a distant observer, above the chaos?

“Go,” Peach said softly, her gratitude evident in her voice. “And hurry.”

Daisy gave her a quick embrace, then turned and sprinted out of the room, already planning her journey to the far reaches of space. As she disappeared down the corridor, Zelda spoke up again, her frustration still simmering beneath the surface.

“We’re running out of options, Peach,” Zelda said, her voice heavy with exhaustion. “What else can we do? We need someone who can understand Mario’s twisted mindset—someone who thinks like him now.”

Peach froze. The answer was clear, but it filled her with dread. The very thought of it made her stomach churn, but the reality was unavoidable. They needed someone who could think like Mario—like the Mario he had become.

“There is one person,” Peach began, her voice barely above a whisper. She hesitated, the words catching in her throat. The idea alone made her feel sick, but she couldn’t deny the logic behind it. “Someone who thinks like Mario… now.”

Zelda stared at her, her expression shifting from confusion to horror as she realized who Peach was talking about. Her eyes widened, and she shook her head.

“No, Peach. Anyone but him.”

Peach turned toward her, her face pale but resolute. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but we need Wario.”

Proto Man, who had been watching the exchange quietly, raised an eyebrow. He pushed off the wall and stepped forward, his curiosity piqued.

“Wario?” Proto Man asked, his voice neutral but curious. “I’ve never heard of him. Who is he?”

Peach let out a long, weary sigh. Her hands clenched into fists as she spoke, the bitterness clear in her tone.

"Wario is… the most disgusting, self-centered, greedy pig of a man I’ve ever met." Peach’s eyes hardened as she spoke, her words dripping with disdain. "One year, during the Mushroom Kingdom Festival, he flew in uninvited, crashed his ridiculous plane right in the middle of the celebration, and demanded we empty the castle’s vaults for him. He laughed as if it were all a game, not caring that he was ruining everything for everyone else."

Zelda crossed her arms, her frustration bubbling over again. “He’s a criminal,” she spat. “He can’t be trusted.”

Peach nodded, her expression grim. “I know,” she said softly. “But right now we need someone who understands Mario’s darker side… someone who might be able to predict his next move. If there’s even a chance Wario can help us, we have to take it.”

The room fell silent as the gravity of the situation settled over them. They were desperate, and it was that desperation that had led them to Wario. Peach turned to the Toad guards standing by the door, her voice firm.

“Bring Wario,” she ordered. “Tell him… he can name his price.”

The Toads exchanged nervous glances but nodded quickly before rushing out of the room to carry out her command. As they disappeared down the corridor, Proto Man looked at Peach, his visor glowing softly.

“What happened the last time you met him?” Proto Man asked, his voice quieter now, more understanding.

Peach sighed and closed her eyes, her mind flashing back to that chaotic day. “It was during one of our festivals… back when things were simpler,” she began. “Wario crashed the party in his ridiculous plane. He demanded the castle’s vaults be emptied for him, threatened everyone, and laughed like it was all a game. Mario… Mario fought him, convinced him to leave. Wario left, saying it wasn’t worth the trouble.”

Her voice trailed off, and the pain in her eyes deepened. “But now,” she continued, her voice barely above a whisper, “Mario’s the one who’s the threat.”

Zelda placed a hand on Peach’s shoulder, her touch gentle but filled with empathy. “We’ll figure this out, Peach,” she said softly. “We’ll stop him.”

Peach nodded, but the fear in her heart remained. They were running out of time, and the stakes were higher than ever before.

Now all they could do was wait. But as they stood in uneasy silence, a single thought gnawed at the back of Peach’s mind: could they really trust Wario? Or had desperation led them into another trap?