Super Mario Christmas

7. Just a Princess

Peach stared at the spectacular view in front of her.

The blended shades of pastel beneath her feet, and those that spiraled in cotton candy rainbows arching beside and above her, filled her heart. The sight was enough to make her frustrations with Mario feel insignificant. 

Peach stepped lightly along the pathway atop the gate, over to Mario, who studied the lands below. There, the yellow sands of Layer Cake Dessert shone all the way to Candy Corn Pass. Peach was surprised by how far they had traveled.

"Can you see the ship over there?" Mario asked, pointing. He smiled self-assuredly. "I told you we'd find them!"

Peach shook her head. Something felt off.

"I don't know, Mario. It's beside Old Boo House. I can't imagine Bowser hiding in there and there is no way he isn't keeping Santa with him. Trust me, I know how Bowser is with his hostages. He'll only leave them for small amounts of time, and only if he knows they are secure. My gut tells me that a Boo House is not the place."

Mario shook his head, giving a low chuckle.

"Oh, Peach, you just don't see. You're too close to this. Bowser knows that you know his tactics. That's why he's doing something different. Don't worry. You're just the princess, your brain isn't made for dealing with rescue missions. That's why you have more experienced people, like me, to advise you.
"Don't worry. I won't steer you wrong. "

Mario placed his hand on her arm. Peach assumed this was meant to reassure her. 

She felt the anger return. 

Her fingers tingled as Peach resisted the urge to slap her plumber across the face. How could this man ever possibly be her partner when he couldn't even accept that she was a modern princess with sensible ideas? 

Maybe this was why commoners couldn't marry royals. Even once they had won their ruler's heart, they still couldn't turn off their need to prove their worth, even if it meant jeopardizing the relationships they had worked so hard to forge. 

Peach sighed deeply. She could tell there would be no convincing Mario of his folly, even though she knew he was wrong.

"Sorry, Mario. You might be lava bent on letting your pride destroy my kingdom, but I am not. For all of our sakes, I truly hope a miracle occurs and you somehow turn out to be right, but I cannot bet my kingdom upon it."

Peach turned away from her plumber.

She may be 'just a princess' but while Mario was leading their friends on a wild goose chase, Peach would work to actually find Santa and Bowser, and if she couldn't do so, she would at least be present to keep the spirits of her people high.

"Where are you going?" Mario called after her.

Looking over her shoulder, she replied dispassionately. She was over this conversation, and possibly this relationship.

"I'm going back to the castle to regroup and make contingencies. If you fail, then my kingdom needs to be prepared for the worst."

Peach scanned the faces of their companions, all having missed the conversation and therefore looking bemused. 

Her gaze landed on Toadette, Peach's closest companion. Toadette smiled at her innocently.

Peach opened her mouth to command Toadette to attend her. She closed it. Their friends needed both of the two level headed toads to keep them from harm more than Peach did. While Toad had the brains, he wouldn't be brave enough to voice his opinions without Toadette by his side.

She walked towards her friends, kissing Toad, Toadette, Luigi and even Yoshi, each in turn before continuing on her way.

"Stay safe, and please talk some sense into Mario," she whispered.

Then she tip-toed softly across the cloud.

Now she had determined to leave, there was only one more obstacle to face.

How would she get back down?