Hey! Sweet! I've gotten more readers! :) Sorry I didn't post the next chapter today. Parents took away electronics from me. (I won't say WHY...) Anyway, I was gonna wait 'til Monday besides the fact, in respect for Easter. But since it IS Monday now (my time), here's CH 6:
Chapter 6: Grim Truth
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Twink had been searching long and hard to find Mario, but his hopes were growing thin. He was racking his brain out, trying to think of where he could be. As he flew over the ruins of Toad Town, it finally occurred to him that Mario could be in the Princess’s Castle. Twink shuddered at how such a once lovely palace had transformed into a crumbling landmark.
It was easy to get in; the beautiful doors were now just a heap of rubble, and much of the exterior had disintegrated. Twink tried searching all the castle’s rooms, but most were blocked with wreckage, including the princess’s bedroom. All seemed hopeless, until he remembered the secret passage Peach had showed him when he first met her. Trying to figure out his whereabouts, Twink discovered that the room with the passage was not blocked.
Slowly, he flew through the dark, silent passageway and emerged at the princess’s unlit fireplace in her bedroom. The lights were off, but there was enough light in order to see, since it was the middle of the grim day. But then Twink heard a noise—it was very faint, yet it was a distinguishable rustling sound.
“Hello…?” the young Star asked timidly, “Is anyone there?” He sensed the presence of another life as the rustling noise grew louder.
“Someone please help me!” It was the cry of a desperate voice. Twink looked around the dim room frantically, trying to find where the voice was coming from.
“Where are you?”
“Over by the closet…” the voice coughed weakly.
Twink found the light switch and flipped it on. Now able to see better, he flew over and saw the image of Toad lying on the floor with a fallen bookcase crushing his short legs.
“Oh my gosh! Are you all right?!” Twink gasped.
“I…I don’t know…” Toad spoke weakly, “I can hardly feel my legs…”
“I’ll try to help…” He feebly attempted to lift the bookcase, but it was no use. “Uhhhgh! It won’t budge!” Twink sighed helplessly.
“Wait! Go find Mario!” he realized.
Twink’s heart skipped, “Mario! Where is he?”
“Last time I heard, he was heading for the basement.”
“Hang on, I’ll go look…”
Going through the secret passage again, Twink eventually made his way to the castle’s basement floor. He stopped as he saw the red-clad hero slumped in a corner, sobbing while looking at a photograph of the princess and him together. Slowly, Twink approached.
“Mario! I’ve been looking everywhere for you!” he said excitedly, “C’mon! Let’s go!”
“Oh… How could this happen…?!” Mario lamented, still engulfed in his thoughts.
“Mario, are you okay?” Twink asked concernedly, “What’s the matter?”
Mario glanced up at him glumly. “Hello, Twink. I’m sorry, but I can’t help you…”
“Mario, right now Toad needs your help. Please, can you tell me what’s wrong later?” He really wanted to know what could cause him to be so upset—he had never seen Mario this way before. “Come on, follow me.”
Slowly, Mario got up and followed the Star Kid back through the way to the princess’s bedroom. He had never known that she had a secret passage to her room before. Toad heard them enter.
“Mario!” he cried happily, “I knew you’d come! Hurry, get this thing off me!” With ease, the plumber lifted the heavy bookcase off the head Mushroom Retainer.
“Are you okay?” Mario asked, helping him up.
“Oww…” Toad winced as he rubbed his injured leg, “I think my leg is broken…” He looked back up to his friend, “Thank you, Mario…” He then turned to Twink, “And thanks for getting help…uh…who are you again?”
“Oh! I’m Twink. I’m the Princess’s Star Guardian.”
“Oh yeah, she told me about you! You helped her and Mario, here, when that stupid Bowser…” Toad’s voice trailed off. “You’re a hero, buddy! And thanks for saving me.”
“Of course!”
“So…why are you here?” Toad asked, “And…the princess… How is…?” but he trailed off once more.
“Well,” Twink started, “Peach sent me to find Mario—and her friends—to see if they were okay…” Mario stared at the ground; something was whirling about in his mind.
Twink continued, “She also sent me to tell you, Mario, that she’s all right…”
“Oh, thank goodness!” Toad sighed in relief, “Everyone’s been so worried about her.”
“She…she also wanted to tell you…” he stammered, “that her…her daughter is fine, too…” Mario closed his eyes and winced as the painful memory resurfaced. Toad was completely shocked at these words.
“W…wha…what did you say?” He knew he couldn’t have heard that right.
“Please don’t be alarmed, but the princess…she is with child,” Twink struggled, “She said it’s due next month…”
Mario still stared silently at the ground, agitated. Toad turned to him. “Mario, did you hear this? This can’t be!” Suddenly he thought of something, but before he could suppress it, the words were already out, “Mario…? You didn’t!?”
The plumber could hold it in no longer. “Of course I didn’t! I would never…!” His voice began to quaver. “…It was Bowser! I saw her, I saw her…! I heard everything! Oh…how could she do this to me…?!” He could no longer fight back the anger and tears, as all his emotions poured out as one.
Toad gasped, “No, no…! It can’t be true…”
“Please, Mario, you must rescue her…!” Twink pleaded, “She’s losing hope! You’re her only reason she’s holding on…! Mario, she loves you!”
“If that were true, then why has she been sleeping with the enemy?!” he retorted, “Literally *and* figuratively! I heard them! She’s formed an alliance with him…!”
“Is that what you think…?” Twink was taken aback. “Mario, you know she, of all people, would never do such a thing!”
“I saw her myself…”
“When?” Twink asked.
“I had set off to rescue her, but when I finally got to the castle… Bowser was speaking to a crowd. It was terrible! My love…she betrayed everything…! Me, her people, everything she believes in, and of all things…herself! How could she…? With…with *him*, of all people…?” Mario shook his head in incredulity.
“Mario…she would never do that,” Twink stated, “You, and you too, Toad, know her heart better than anyone else in this world…” Mario stared back at the floor.
“Look, I was afraid to tell you this… But Mario, it wasn’t her fault…” Twink paused, “Yes, I know Bowser is the father of this child, and she’s engaged to you…but she isn’t the one who broke her vows…” Mario snorted skeptically. Apparently he just wasn’t getting it.
“Listen! Bowser raped her!” Twink cried. Mario stared at him. “Look, she never wanted anything like this to ever happen! Please, don’t condemn her for something that wasn’t her fault!”
A wave of anguished relief washed over Mario’s face. Then a new anger arose in him.
“How could he…?! Why…?!! He’ll pay for this, I swear by the Stars he will!!” Just as he felt he would burst with fury, sorrow enveloped his heart. “Ohhh…my beautiful princess…!”
“Mario,” Twink spoke softly, “She told me that she would like you to be the father…” The plumber stared at the Star Kid in dismay.
“How can I…? The child is of my nemesis…”
“But also of your love!” Twink shook his head. “I know this is very painful for you, but please, don’t just abandon her like that…”
“…But she’s been sleeping with the enemy…”
“She was forced against her will!” Twink cried. Mario shook his head. “Mario, she still loves you. She laments every day for you. Your love for her is the only thing driving her to live. She has faith in you. She *needs* you! Please…you must save her…!” Twink was distraught.
Mario closed his eyes in deep anguish.
“Oh please, Mario… Do the right thing…” Twink sighed as he slowly flew away, away from the crumbling castle, leaving the plumber alone in his torn emotions.
Edited by - Sapphira on 5/16/2003 9:12:11 PM
