Chapter Text
Peach hadn’t received a letter from the King in three months. The thought of it felt like a dagger through her heart.
On the three-month anniversary of her “freedom”, she found herself thinking of him often. Did he miss her, the way she missed him? Did he ever even like her?
Her thoughts suffocated her, and even as she sat at the dinner table, she found herself spiraling. The princess ate like a wild animal, eyes glazed over and mind racing. Someone tapped her on the shoulder. She didn’t move. Familiar eyes looked over her, but she didn’t acknowledge them.
“Peach?”
He paused for a moment before speaking,
“Are you alright?”
She lifted her eyes, pushing the half-chewed food into her cheek.
“Mm! Mario! Yes,” she exclaimed while chewing as fast as she could, holding her hand up to his face as she desperately tried to swallow.
“Are you sure? You seem out of it” he said quietly, trying to break the silence of her chewing, “Are you feeling okay?”
She simply nodded. With a concerned frown, Mario sat down next to her and started to fill his plate with soup, vegetables, and sweet bread rolls. Anxiety settled into Peach’s stomach, like the heavy pit of an apricot. Did he know? How could Mario know that she still thought about him ?
“Oh, these are good,” Mario mumbled with a full mouth while gesturing to the bread rolls, “you’ll like these.” He leaned over and plopped one down on her plate. She avoided his eyes. When Peach didn’t reach for the bread, Mario’s lips pursed. Inhaling deeply, he reached out to gently massage her shoulder.
“Can I do anything for you? More bread rolls? Carry you to bed? Tell you a bad joke?”
Peach met his gaze and saw her reflection in his eyes. They were blue, and so shiny that she could make out the tiny details of the dinner table in the reflection. Mario seemed at ease, and his small half-smiles soothed her nerves. If she hadn’t met the king, she would’ve thought this was love. She could see herself married to him. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad.
If she had to marry the human anyway, she might as well get to know him.
Besides, she hadn’t met a human in so long. He looked so different, yet so similar. They both had noses – though different shapes – long fingers, and ears! The princess hadn’t realized that other humans also had such intricate patterns in the folds of their ears. She wondered if he had seen other humans before. There was still so much she didn’t know about him.
“I feel like I don’t know you.”
“That’s what’s bothering you?” Mario chuckled. Peach swallowed, her anxiety returning.
“We’re supposed to be together forever, and I hardly know who you are!”
Peach hadn’t meant to raise her voice. Silence fell over the dining room. The human fiddled with his fingers, eyes low. Before the princess could apologize, he looked up,
“Well, what do you want to know?”
Question after question, Mario didn’t tire. He fixed things – pipes, furniture, everything. His ears were typical of human ears. He had been working in Kong Kingdom before his accident. He really loved bread rolls. The accident was allegedly embarrassing, and a princess would be bored with such a story. He hated mushrooms (a fact which she gasped at). He was born in a different world.
With every answer, Peach found herself wanting to know more. And with each question, Mario found himself more and more intrigued by the curious princess of the Mushroom Kingdom.
***
Mario pressed her down into the mattress, lips locked with hers. He was stronger than he looked. His mustache tickled her lip, sending a wave of discomfort over her. Lean muscles embraced her, grabbed her, groped her. Large fingers roughly pressed into her flesh, hiking up her dress and continuing their prying.
The desperation of the human both disgusted and fascinated her. Is this what it would be like? Closing her eyes tightly, the Princess tried to relax at Mario’s touch. Every limb froze under rough hands. Determined to continue, she let her mind wander.
Claws. Teeth. Red eyes.
Wandering fingers slid up her inner thigh, pulling on the fabric of her dress. Carefully, her pink ball gown was removed, leaving her in her chemise. The thin white silk barely covered anything.
The King would be gentle. His claws–
Those same fingers ran over her underwear, inciting a quiet gasp from the Princess. In one motion, she pushed him away and rolled to the other side of her bed. She threw a pink pillow at him.
“Mario!”
The human chuckled and lunged for her.
“No! Only kisses!”
“Oh, but think about it, Peach! You’re so–” a second pink pillow smacked Mario in the face. Grinning, Peach slid off the bed.
“I’ll consider it…if you can catch me!”
She ran.
Peach giggled as she crouched behind the bed in the dark guest room. Her favorite hiding spot since she was a child. As Mario’s footsteps grew louder, she stifled her laugh and crawled under the bed. The dusty floor left a grainy film over her bare palms. Chin resting on her arms, she watched the bottom of the door swing open. Her heart pounded against the hardwood floor. Mario’s shoes paced around the room for a moment, pausing in front of the closet. Then he left.
A small wooden box sat beside her – it looked like new. Curious, Peach reached for the box, only able to slip her hand between the top of the box and the bed. Paper. Lots of paper.
Silently, she tipped the box over, spilling dozens of thick envelopes across the floor. A familiar seal stamped at the front of each letter. Neat, black cursive was carefully printed on the back.
“To Princess Peach”
“To Peaches”
“To my one and only”
Shock seized the Princess, spreading through her limbs like freezing water. Every single envelope was torn open, every paper mishandled and crinkled. Taking a crumpled letter, Peach slid out from under the bed, unfolding the parchment,
My
lover
Dearest Peaches,
I hope you received my last letter, and that you’re well. I miss
y
having you around the castle.
You have the loveliest aura. Not in a creepy way, I just enjoy being around you.
Your presence made me glad to wake up each day. You have that effect on people, Peaches.
I hope everything is going well for you. Perhaps you’ve fallen in love with that human. It’s understandable.
It may be best for your kingdom, Peaches, but is it best for your heart?
He seems nice. I’m sure the toads are happy.
But, are you?
I am very sorry for being dishonest.
Once again, I promise I didn’t lie about anything else. I’d like to gain back your trust somehow, and these letters are my way of doing so, but I understand if you need time.
If you’d like me to stop sending letters, just let me know.
Or let me know that you’re alright. Or just write back, if you want.
With deepest devotion,
Bowser
KAMEK, MAKE SURE TO SEND THE FINAL DRAFT, NOT THIS ONE!
***
Mario knocked on the door as the princess dipped her pen in magenta ink. The doorknob clattered as the human tried to get in. More knocking.
“Peach, can you open the door?”
Carefully, she lowered the tip of her pen to the paper.
Lover,
Her heart swelled. Bowser had been writing to her this whole time. Peach had read every letter, devoured every word, inhaled the smoky scent of each parchment.
She was back in her own bedroom, at her own desk. Mario’s expression had been enough for her to despise him. The way his eyes widened, and he stammered out a lie. Peach was tired of lies.
Not a day has gone by that I don’t think of you.
Mario pounded on the door.
I have come to a decision. I will forgive your lie, only if you agree to forgive my silence.
The doorframe shook.
“Peach, please! It was for your own good!”
Peach dropped her pen, sighed, and calmly stood up. Rage, hotter than white flame, burned through her limbs. She swung the door open, grinding her teeth.
“My own good? Please ,” she scoffed.
“It’s true! You would cry at any hint of Bowser!”
“Because I loved him, you soulless–” she froze. Her grating cry echoed through the halls, catching the attention of several toads. Furious and fearing judgment, she slammed the door. Peach sat back down at her desk.
I need you.
More than a flower needs a honeybee.
More than the moon needs the stars.
More than a princess needs a kingdom.