Shards of Love

Revelations

Shards of Love: REDUX!

NOTES: Okay, it's officially time to thank my beta readers for the crap I put them through with this chapter. Consider this my special message. I'll explain at the bottom. But please feel free to read, offer critiques/reviews, and all that fine stuff!

By the way, this was one of the most fun chapters of this story that I've written. Not sure why, but I love writing prophesies like what will be shown.

Shard II: Revelations

Chapter XI

Reality Check

Peach sighs as she opens the book to the first page. She can't understand why everyone seems to isolate her. What happened during the last two days that transitioned her reputation from that of a mystical princess to that of an unwanted outcast? How come even Daisy's involved in this bashing? Did she say anything? Do anything? Do they blame her on the disappearance of her parents? Peach didn't do anything to her parents. She wasn't even home!

She attempts to shut down her negative thoughts as she skims over the table of contents. Many prophecies concerning leadership positions, astrological predictions and wars manifest their titles and summaries on the pages. Not interested in the Third Koopan War of the 1600's nor the replacement of the sage Varney by Venapect, she skims down the list until she spots the heading "The Koopa Kingdom's Last Days", followed by the subheadings "The Usurper", "The Chosen Ones", and "The Reconstruction".

"Well, I guess this is it," Peach accepted as she turns to the first page of the prophecy. Inside, a few paragraphs of an ancient text greet her, which she promptly reads.

~x~

I am not whole. I don't stand for one thing, for one set of philosophy, for any sort of prophecy. At my point of existence, being referred to as two-faced is very much a compliment. I came into this world a low being; if I stay as my true self, I'll only stay low. I couldn't gain popularity. Not honestly. However, I am manipulative; two-faced; a cheater, a liar, and an actor. I can't keep the charade much longer.

I started low, but I've gotten high up, and I can only get higher. I'm tired of pretending to be loyal; dependable. The wolf inside me demands to destroy the outer sheep surrounding it; everyone will see the true me. The hunger for the status I most desire grew at a gradual pace throughout the years, and the now-insatiable craving must be satisfied before my inner wolf breaks free from its flowery confines. It must happen now, even if it takes breaking everything else I have. Friends. Family. Peace. Immortality. Love. I will tear anything to shreds in return for my desire, and I'll cast the now-useless shards into the dark, eternal sea of hopelessness.

The time will come. It'll come soon. I can't have my desire fulfilled during peace. There must be a war. I must support violence; I'll guarantee all's distracted while I finally seize the power I craved for life.

~x~

"That's... Morbid," Peach commented, unable to think of anything else to mention, "If this describes someone, it doesn't sound like Mario. Well, to me, anyway."

'Then again, this is koopa prophecies. They could be very biased against the Mushroom Kingdom,'the princess thought.

She's well-versed in fake prophesies used by villains and her kidnapping suspects, ever since her supposed 'prophesied' marriage to Bowser which only proved to be a hoax. Peach shudders at the thought; marriage to Bowser. She couldn't imagine such a condition. However, he did show himself as a family man, so perhaps he wouldn't be half bad. And he... Cared about her. At her last thought, Peach blushes.