Hey everybody...Guess what? I finished the changes to the rest of Part 1!!! So now...here's the much-awaited Chapter 11!!
Chapter 11: Relentless Tears
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Bower had entered the princess’s room and found the young, beautiful mother of his child as a fragile, lifeless body. He had dreaded this fearful day, and never in all his life had he felt so alone and disheartened. He made a dreadful cry—a terrible, mourning roar heard all throughout the entire kingdom, putting a deep fear and pity into the hearts of those still alive.
Tears streamed down Bowser’s hideous face as he gently rested it against the princess’s soft, rosy cheek, stoking her golden hair with his scaly claw. A light tapping came from the door, and slowly the head Magikoopa entered the room.
“…Y…Your Majesty…?” he asked gently, “Is there anything…..?”
“Please, just leave me alone…” the monarch murmured desolately.
“I am so sorry, Your Highness… Please tell me if I can do anything…”
“Just go away…” Bowser sighed dejectedly, “Tell the land…today is a day of mourning.”
Kamek sadly glanced at the lifeless Peach. “…W…what should we do…with the body…?”
A fierce, burning anger arose from within the depths of his soul. “You will *not* refer to my love that way!” he roared in desperation.
“…I…I’m sorry…” Kamek cowered apologetically.
Bowser lifted the princess’s head, carefully propping her neck and back with his claw. “We…must preserve her…” he slowly stated.
“How…?”
His hardened heart grew desperate. “I don’t know!” he shouted vehemently, “Find a way! Just…put her in stasis or something…!”
“W…why…do you want to do that, Sir…? Kamek asked timidly.
Bowser closed his eyes and shook his head in agony. “Maybe…we can find a cure for her…and can bring her back…”
“But, Sir…!” he cried, “We’ve been working on that for four years now… We can’t…”
“Find a way!” he interrupted frantically, “We have to get her back…!”
“…Sir…there’s nothing we can do…”
“That was an order, Kamek!”
He sighed vainly. “Yes, Sir… In the meantime we’ll put her in stasis…”
“Good… Now, go!” Kamek hopelessly left the room, wondering how he would possibly be able to do as his king had asked. Bowser gave a forlorn sigh, and holding the lifeless Peach close to him, he caressed her limp hand and softly kissed her angelic face.
“Don’t worry, baby; we’ll get you back…”
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The rain poured ceaselessly to the demolished ground. Slaves of Bowser’s terrible Empire toiled on the land, filled with hopelessness and despair, as the minor tremors continued sporadically. It was as if the whole earth was crying out.
Yoshi was able to rescue Luigi and Daisy, and they continued to hide in the cave, creating a solid hidden entrance. Luckily Yoshi had brought plenty of supplies and rations to last them quite a while.
Mario had silently exited the princess’s room, too numb and despondent to do anything more. Meeting up with Toad, the heartbroken plumber had told the small Mushroom Retainer the devastating news.
Sorrowfully the two turned around and began walking home, wet tears stained on their faces and eyes, creating a surreal, bleary line of vision. Amidst the gloomy scene, a loud screech sounded from the castle’s intercom system. Immediately everyone looked for the source of the noise. A Hammer Brother stood on an alcove above and spoke into a megaphone connected to the system.
“Attention to all in the land!” the voice crackled, “His Highness has just declared today as a day of mourning, in the loving memory of Princess Peach Toadstool, who has just passed away. Everyone is to return to their homes or quarters to mourn for the rest of the day. You will be informed later of when to return …”
An expression of agony spread across each individual’s face. Thunder raged throughout the dreary sky as everyone glumly walked back to the slave encampment.
The terrible reminder forced a second dagger in the heroes’ already-plunging hearts. Reality sank in, and Toad began to shudder uncontrollably, his eyes welling terribly so that everything became a massive blur of monotonous gray. Mario closed his eyes tightly, remembering his love’s final breath in his arms. The plumber collapsed, trembling, the bitter tears running endlessly down his face. “…Peach…! …Oh, Peach…”
The land was now completely deserted, as the heroes lay on the cold, wet cement, hidden, weeping bitterly for the dear princess. She was gone… Loved by all, she was actually gone… The rain poured relentlessly down upon their heads.
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From the underground cave, the dire message resonated throughout the kingdom-wide intercom and poured into the hearts of the three friends in hiding. Luigi, Daisy and Yoshi huddled together, dismayed from the deplorable news.
“Oh no…! Did you guys hear that…?” Yoshi sadly cried.
“…Oh…Peach…!” Daisy grieved, “…This cannot be happening…” She buried her saddened face miserably in her hands. Luigi held her close in his arms and kissed her head, gently rocking her.
“…This is the end…” he quavered, “The Mushroom Kingdom is gone… There’s now no hope…”
Edited by - Sapphira on 4/30/2003 11:03:04 AM