Hello there, my name´s Mai also known as Pokemonfan111 and I´m a hobbyist selftaught artist and I love drawing Mario and Mlp (and sometimes other stuff) I do also occasionally post adult content on my nsfw account -
@lewd_mario69
if you want something spicy
Commissions are open
Link to comms prices - https://www.deviantart.com/pokemonfan111/shop/commissions
So... here's my latest fic in a long stream of others that have yet to be completed lol. This one's a bit different than my usual works since it's heavily based on my own mental health and the struggles that come with that (you know the drill). Initially, I planned to scrap this one altogether, but I gave it some time (and had a few friends read through it)... which brings us to now.
I will be including the trigger warnings at the beginning as usual... and if I sound a lot more chatty than normal, I'm trying to be more open about this. And... branch out a bit more. That all being said, onto the trigger warnings:
(TW: masking, referenced past trauma and injury, mild sexual content, migraines, graphic imagery of scars, and mild mentions of top surgery and gender dysphoria (this isn't relevant to the plot, but I feel I should still point it out)
AO3 Link / Chapter 2: In progress
~~~
There was a great deal of things Peach loved about her kingdom.
For as long as she could remember, her heart held each of her toads near and dear, regardless of strife or grievances. All of them were deserving of her love, whether they watered the flowers or tended the castle gates. Not one was more important than another, as far as she was concerned.
From a single small grassblade to the tallest trees, she looked upon them fondly. Rain or shine, either was more than welcome. Even the smallest insects, she found the beauty in them.
The Mushroom Kingdom had been her home for years, ever since that fateful day the toads found her wandering aimlessly amidst the Mushroom Woods; had it not been for them, she knew she wouldn't have been given the lavish life she'd come to adore and cherish: fancy dinners, loving subjects, gifts of any kinds, and so much more! Such things were a luxury, and she never allowed it to come between those she cared for; all she asked was for them to allow her to show them the same kindness in return.
As far as most of her subjects were concerned, she was the happiest and most loving girl in all of the Mushroom Peninsula!
A strange hyperbole, if one were to ask Peach. She was merely content, comfortable, even. She simply wanted a life where she was allowed to love those who shared the same sentiment, and nothing more. To say otherwise would be ludicrous!
After all, no one was truly the happiest in the world.
It was that very reason alone that she found herself stifling her laughter into her pillow when a similar sentiment left Mario's lips as he examined his reflection in the mirror, paying special attention to the dual pink scars lining his chest, outlining them with his thumb as he flexed.
The absolute buffoon…
Still, she supposed she couldn't quite blame him. He'd waited a while to do such a thing without hesitating or repulsion at his own figure, no matter how many times she reassured him she found him exceedingly handsome. She remembered the many nights where they lie in bed together, the sheets drawn up to his chest as he gazed at her sadly, wishing he could be himself around her more, only for the dreaded shadows of despair to claw their way into his consciousness, sending him retreating for a presumed, but isolated, safety.
However, three months prior, he'd undergone the transformation he'd sought, thanks to her. She still recalled the moment he smiled up at her one final time before the anesthesia took him under… the sheer relief in his eyes was something she could never forget for as long as she lived.
And in the end, she would say it was all worth it.
If anything, it gave her quite the show afterward.
She couldn't help smiling as she watched him spin before the mirror, running his fingers through the hair on his chest with both hands, his hips leaning to the right as he stared at himself with an expression she could only describe as utterly ridiculous.
"I take it you're enjoying this?" Peach asked, standing up from the bed as she smoothed the front of her silk nightgown. "I certainly hope so. I could get used to this, you know."
Mario shot her a cocky smirk. "Not my fault I look so damn good, Peachy," he replied. He then made it a point to stroke his pecs sensually, biting his lower lip as his gaze met hers. "If I remember right… you're the one who made me like this, yeah?"
"Oh, hush," Peach rolled her eyes. "You had the looks already. I merely helped… mm… accentuate your best features."
"Think ya did more than that. These bad boys are all nice, but you helped me get a weight off my chest."
"More than that, darling," Peach slipped behind him, running her fingers over his chest as she rested her cheek atop his hair. "I only want what's best for you, and you know that as well as I do. I could never forgive myself if you went on as you had."
"Uh huh," Mario laced his fingers with hers. "You just say that 'cause you like seeing all of me, huh?"
"You hush."
"I'm just sayin' what we're both thinkin' here, Peachy!"
"Must you be so vulgar?"
"Yep!"
The two shared a laugh together, Peach pulling Mario against her breast as he nestled his face against her side, muffling his voice as he gripped her nightgown tightly.
She stole a glance towards the open glass doors revealing the starlit balcony, a soft summer breeze wafting in, carrying the sweet salty breeze of the nearby oceans, alongside the scents of lemons, citrus fruits, and peaches from Toad Town's marketplace. How lucky was she that she'd finally convinced Toadsworth to allow her the night off, free of expectations and duties? All so she had one night alone with the man she adored more than anything in the world…
… roughly speaking, of course.
Though she could spend hours stargazing and daydreaming, she knew the hours grew shorter with each wasteful second… she'd waited over a week for such an occasion, after all! She wasn't about to let it slip away!
"Darling…?" she whispered, cupping one of his cheeks in her palm to look at her. "I… I meant to tell you sooner, but… I actually have a surprise for you. I've been wanting to show it to you for some time…"
Stars… if only he knew how much his eyes lit up the night sky.
He could practically outshine Star Haven, itself.
"Surprise?" he asked, tapping his foot excitedly. "What kind of surprise?!"
"Steady, darling… it wouldn't be a surprise if I told you, now would it?"
"Oh come onnnnnnnn… just one hint? One?"
"Not even that. You'll simply have to be patient."
"Aw…"
Peach could hardly contain her excitement as she led Mario towards the bedroom door, practically bouncing on the balls of her feet. She was almost ready to open it before he stopped her, blushing as he gestured to his bare-chested state ("Don't wanna freak out the castle staff, Peachy…").
A minor inconvenience, sure, but at the very least, Peach got a nice chuckle seeing him swimming in her fluffy pink robe as it pooled around his feet.
Within minutes, she began leading him through the halls, his calloused hand laden in hers, and his gaze fixated on it.
The castle corridors seemed to sleep, themselves; where the salmon-pink walls once teemed with light and life now remained memories. From each room they passed by, they heard one staff member humming to themselves as they prepared for bed; another, still, writing to their family if the scratching of a quill was any indication. Though, much to their amusement, the most they heard were snores, ranging from quiet and serene to near-deafening.
At least it wasn't empty!
The windows shone with a deep indigo hue, the stars shining down upon them like diamonds. The moon, too, seemed to wink as clouds passed by, watching listlessly as the two evaded the strict castle schedule.
Peach chuckled to herself at the thought.
Even as she walked along the corridor, she still couldn't believe she'd managed to convince Toadsworth to manage the kingdom affairs — even less, allowing her the night off! Such a thing was most unbecoming of royalty when there were subjects to tend to, and endless problems to address, both near and far! Yes, she loved it, but she'd longed for a time when she could simply breathe without someone worrying whether it would be her last.
… a rather dramatic hyperbole, but it might as well have been the case!
Every morning, she'd spend hours readying herself for her subjects, being fussed over by her staff for every minute detail, from a stray thread hanging from her bodice to scuffed polish on her heels. Not an hour went by where they weren't checking in and making perfections — at least from what they could see.
Thank the stars for magic…
Of course, that didn't mean Peach couldn't have a little fun. Though the toads touted her as a perfect angel… she couldn't deny she had a bit of fun giving them meaningless tasks just to have some peace. While both enjoyed it, she couldn't deny it was a sorry temporary state.
Though, honestly… that was the life she'd been entrusted: the life of a princess.
"You have a piano?!" Mario exclaimed, breaking free of her grasp as he rushed towards the grand organ, marveling at its sheen and sleekness. "Peachy… why didn't you tell me this?!"
Peach smiled to herself, feeling her cheeks redden. "It never came up," she replied simply, closing the door behind her, the only light now coming from the silver moon gleaming through the large window, shining brightly down upon the piano. "Besides… I hardly get the chance to play these days. If you wanted a real performance, you should have seen me before my coronation!"
Mario made a face. "What, being a princess excludes you from having fun?"
"It's not that," Peach bit her lip, swishing her skirt as she gathered her thoughts. "… I have duties, Mario. I'm meant to look after so much as a princess… I can't exactly sit down and play just any time, you know…"
"Ah… work gettin' ya down, huh…? I know the feeling…"
Peach shook her head.
"Enough about that," she concluded, smoothing the front of her nightgown as she came up to the piano. "It's time I show you why I really brought you here."
"Ooooh, mi amorè is an artist now, hm? You're full of surprises, you know that?"
"Oh, stop it, you… as if you're one to talk. I didn't even know you could do woodwork!"
"Ehehe, but you liked that little gatto I made ya!"
"It sits on my vanity every night, darling. Now, are you going to listen, or are we going to keep talking, hm?"
"Yeah yeah yeah…"
With a playful huff, Mario hopped up on the windowsill, swinging his legs as he leaned forward with his knees. Peach had to refrain from laughing as her robe nearly swallowed him whole; if anything, he resembled a fluffy, pink monster… one with the prettiest eyes, of course.
Alright, focus, princess.
She drew in a deep breath as she gingerly stroked one of the ivory keys. Even from a single touch, she could feel the melody coming to her, prickling under her skin as the notes swam through her veins. She had the sheets prepared, but even they were meaningless; what was the use when one could simply recognize each passage in their mind?
Still… Peach was one for routine.
She exhaled slowly, brushing a bit of dust away from the piano as she flexed her fingers. She shut her eyes tight, imagining the song she'd heard so many times before in her dreams. She knew every note like an old friend… the love, sorrow, and emptiness of it all.
It would be perfect.
Almost automatically, her fingers gently danced along the keys, similar to a waltz. The melody that once stayed dormant in her veins now flowed freely, bleeding into the still night air. She could see the keys in her mind, guiding her hands to where they belonged.
She remembered all the late nights she'd spent at the piano in her youth, so carefree and innocent. She was never a master at it, of course; the most she could do was slam down on the keys from sheer frustration. Many times, she'd scream to Toadsworth that it made no sense… she could hear the music, but translating it was a much lengthier undertaking. Why couldn't she simply conjure them up?!
Though it made sense at the time, she could now bring herself to laugh at such a notion.
Foolish…
Magic wasn't simply something one ought to do for their own benefit, she believed. It was a beautiful, yet dangerous thing; when used correctly… one could create worlds of their own, all for others to revel in alongside you.
… at least that was always what Toadsworth had urged her to do.
She saw nothing wrong with it, however… not when her beloved Mario existed.
Once, she quickly glanced towards him, a small smile perking up the corners of her lips. Like a child, he sat there in a starstruck trance, his eyes sparkling with adoration as he focused on her fingers. For a moment, she was quite sure he'd even forgotten to breathe, until he allowed himself to cough.
Typical.
However, her attention remained on her task. The soft sorrowness of the melody had begun to collapse, crescendoing into something larger… more brilliant. In her eyes, it was the culmination of everything she'd felt for him: a love so spellbinding, the mere thought of it ached and lit the flames in her heart.
All she needed was to show him.
"Stellae, caelum, maria... omnia ad me adducunt…" she whispered under her breath, feeling her heart begin to flutter with a newfound warmth. "Imaginatio mea teneat... somnia mea audaces fiunt…"
Slowly, she built up the notes, imagining her feet stepping upon them like steps leading to the heavens. She closed her eyes, feeling warmth gather in her hands as the galaxies swelled in her palms. She held on for as long as she could until she exhaled slowly.
Yes… yes…
As if releasing a pressure valve, the warmth seeped from her fingers, blending into the room. She smiled, feeling it begin to melt around her. Where there once stood an empty hall now came a rainbow of swirling galaxies. She could practically feel the stardust wafting over her skin from the stars as they lazily drifted past, comets causing her skirt to sway as they shot through the skies. For a moment, she convinced herself that she was even walking atop the stars… to the heavens…
Stars, it was glorious…
She finally allowed herself to open her eyes, smiling as she saw her vision had become reality. No longer was she sitting in that dark room… but in a boat.
Above her head, the star-shaped sail billowed in the winds as stars rained down in a rainbow of colors, dissolving like sugar in the dark waters beyond the boat. The sky was now painted hues ranging from deep blue to light purple, glimmering with a thousand galaxies swirling to bring it to life.
But the most beautiful sight was sitting just behind her.
"Peachy… you made all this?" Mario gasped, his eyes growing to the size of saucers as he took in the sight before him. "This… this is amazing…!"
Peach could only smile as she continued playing. "Thank you… I learned it just for the occasion…!"
"Spells?"
"Reality-bending," Peach giggled, tossing a star bit towards him. "It's a complicated one… but with the right concentration, you can make almost anything… so long as they all feel real to you."
Mario looked down at his hands in shock. "Peachy… I…" he stammered, his face growing red as he glanced between her and the boat. "… I… I didn't even know you could do that… this is incredible…!"
Peach felt her cheeks redden.
"I… thank you, darling…" she whispered.
She kept playing for a while longer, the serene sounds of the falling stars and waves drifting past the boat accompanying her melody… a rather welcome addition, in her eyes. The sail billowed behind her as the winds picked up, pushing her and Mario further into the sea of stars, bumping him into her side with a rather awkward yelp.
He peered up at her, his cheek nestled against her hip. With his eyes sparkling and his hand meeting between her shoulderblades, Peach couldn't help herself…
Briefly, she tore her concentration away from the keys, her hand caressing his cheek lovingly. He chuckled, nuzzling into her palm, his mustache tickling her fingers. For all she cared, he could have stayed like that until time stood still.
Though as her hands met the piano—
"Ah—!"
A white-hot pain shot through her hands, forcing her to pound upon the keys. She squeezed her eyes shut as tears began to bead at the corners. Her head throbbed, nearly blocking out her hearing, though it remained just enough for her to hear Mario's panicked tone.
"Peachy?! Peachy, what's wrong?! Are you okay?!"
With a groan, Peach shakily supported herself against her knees, feeling her breaths quicken as her hands throbbed. Once she finally opened her eyes, she nearly had to stifle a curse.
The magic was gone.
Of all the foolish things that had to break the spell… after so many days spent recanting and practicing in the dead of night.
All for what?
Though as she inspected her hands, her eyes widened as she saw why.
No… no… it was too early!
It couldn't be midnight yet!
She—
"Peachy?!"
Peach nearly jumped out of her skin as she turned to Mario, her heart sinking as her gaze met his terrified eyes. His teeth gritted as he pulled himself upright, his chest heaving as he stroked her hair gently, as if calming down a scared child. She was fairly certain he was whispering something, though she was too terrified to decipher it.
All she knew was that she couldn't let him see her hands.
"I… I'm okay… darling…" she nodded weakly, flashing him a small small. "I… I just… m-my head hurts… that's all…"
Not a complete lie, though not entirely the truth.
Mario's breath halted for a moment. "Y-You sure?!" he asked, looking around as if he expected the stars to reappear. "Th-Th-That spell… did… it didn't hurt you, did it?!"
"Oh, that," Peach laughed painfully. "… i-it's alright… I just… I strained myself too hard… m-my apologies…"
Mario shook his head as he helped her to her feet. "No no, Peachy… don't talk like that…" he crooned, brushing a strand of hair from her face. Immediately, she could feel her stomach fluttering from his touch, alone. "C'mon… let's get you to bed… you've done enough for one night, yeah…?"
Peach sighed… that did sound nice.
Eventually.
"Th-Thank you… darling…" she whispered, feeling as though she were about to melt. "I… did… did you enjoy it, though…?"
To that, Mario merely kissed her forehead.
"More than enjoyed it."
~~~
"Pugare."
A wave of relief swept over Peach as her skin breathed in for the first time in hours. Through half-lidded eyes, she watched as her disguise dissolved, revealing the glistening light blue marks painting her hands and forearms. She winced, seeing the pink scars reappear on her face, neck, and arms, all in lurid, unwelcome detail.
Over the years, she'd found many ways to hide all of them: layers, concealer, makeup, and so on. Sometimes they worked well enough, despite the toll it took on her, even to the point of exhaustion.
Though the magic disguise? It had never failed, and was even less taxing.
To that, she was grateful, though it could never hide everything for too long.
She felt tears prick at her eyes as her hair became less thick and glossy, revealing the massive bald patch plaguing the back of her head. She couldn't believe how awful it all looked… how imperfect. Even as she looked in the mirror, she felt as though she were staring at a complete stranger before her. She looked nothing like the princess the Mushroom Kingdom — and Mario, for that matter — knew and loved.
If anything… she might as well have—
No!
Peach massaged her temples, a ringing resounding in her ears as she desperately tried to scrub the name from her tongue. For all her flaws, she was nothing like that monster…
She loved her kingdom.
She loved her subjects.
She loved… everything…!
She wasn't Bowser… she never could be!
But as she peeked through the gap in the bathroom door towards the bed, she began to think otherwise.
Though Mario cared for her deeply, he often failed to realize his own needs. As soon as he had led her to the bedroom, he fell prone the second he laid in bed, snoring loudly into the pillows. The sight was far too endearing, and Peach hadn't had the heart to wake him… though now, she figured it was a relief.
At least then he couldn't see…
…
Peach looked down at her hands, sighing as she took in the horrid sight. The marks swirled up her forearms like vines, gnarled and imperfect. Her palms glimmered like one of the thousands of stars in the night sky, whispering of magic she'd long-since retired from… at least for a time. Her fingers, too, shone white like ice caps atop a mountain.
She despised it…
What had she been thinking… how could she forget how taxing spellbooks could be? How could she forget that combining two spells could end so horribly? She was lucky she'd realized it in time!
But it was no matter… as soon as it left her system, she could restart the spell. Thankfully, it was a rather simple incantation; no need to worry about memorization when one only had to say a single word.
Minutes felt like hours as she sat on the floor, breathing deeply as she recalled all that she had done… she hadn't done too bad, at least. She'd always loved stars, and seeing Mario's expression made it all worth it.
Stars, she loved him…
She loved him more than anything…
She wanted to dwell more on it, but after a while she felt the heaviness lingering in her chest begin to lessen.
At last, it was time.
She exhaled one final time as she shut her eyes, steadying her hands as she placed them over her heart. Immediately, the warmth began emanating from her palms until they were near to bursting.
Time to do more incorrect Mario quotes! Idk I'm bored.
I've even got one that perfectly fits my Wacky Dream Team AU❤️
__
Luigi: What are you up to today?
Mario: Nothing.
Luigi: But you did that yesterday!
Mario: I wasn’t finished.
__
Peach: We should be partners.
Mario: You mean like, partners in crime?
Peach: Yeah... that’s precisely what I meant.
__
Mario: I don't need to go to bed. I'm not tired, I'll be fine.
Peach: But, darling, I'll be so lonely without you. Come curl up in my arms so I can feel whole again🥺
Mario: O-oh. Well. Are you trying to seduce me into healthy sleeping patterns??
Peach: Is it working?
__
Daisy: What do you guys do when you're stressed?
Peach: Try and calm myself down.
Luigi: Sleep.
Mario: Get myself into even more stress, so that the first reason for my stress gets cancelled out.
Toad: I don't.
__
(Aaaand this is the perfect one for my Wacky Dream Team AU. This fits them all so well🥰)
(Wacky Dream Team AU incorrect quote)
Peach: *is hugging Mario*
Daisy: Hey! It's my turn to hug Mario!
Daisy: *grabs Mario*
Luigi: *kicking down the door* What do you mean, "yOuR tUrN"? We agreed now is my time slot!
Peach: No, it's still my turn!
Mario: *suffocating* Guys, I love you, but just because I'm the smallest doesn't mean you can be hugging me constantly!
Daisy: But we need the moral support!
Peach: And you're small! Which is cute!
Luigi: If I don't hug you right now I think the depression will kick in and my body will stop functioning!
Mario: *close to tears* Well- I, I guess.
--
(Mario's the emotional support teddy bear, lol. Ok, his friends aren't this desperate for a Mario hug, but they all agree he gives the best hugs. And he is the littlest of guys, I actually made Mario smaller in this AU😊)
The question was preceded by a sudden stillness, the cessation of metal against wood, which had given Peach enough notice to open her eyes and look towards the chair across from her. “Hm?”
“You know,” Mario continued, “can’t you use your magic, stop the, uh—” he gestured to his abdomen with the flat side of his knife, stuttering briefly “—the cramping, and the bleeding, and all that?”
It took a moment longer for the question to sink in, and Peach pulled herself upright as it processed. Analgesics always made her mind slower, so she tried to avoid them where she could, but this month’s cramps had given her no choice. “I’m afraid not. Not in this case, anyway.”
Mario hummed. The block of basswood in his right hand had taken shape since Peach first laid down, vaguely round but still devoid of fine details; he stroked it with his thumb as he considered her response. “Why not?”
“Well… I suppose I can only heal injuries,” Peach said. “Cuts, bruises, things like that. And as painful as this can be…” As if on cue, the unpleasant tightness in her lower belly flared up again, and she winced through the remainder of her reply. “It’s a natural process. There’s nothing to heal.”
She heard the soft clunk of Mario setting his whittling project on the tea table, and once she was able to look again, he extended his left hand to her, glancing between her lap and her face in an unspoken offer. Had he noticed her pain, deduced from it that her heating pad had gone cold? Or was it just good timing? Either way, she took him up on his offer, carefully tossing the rice-filled sack across the space between them.
He caught it easily, setting it across his knees. “Makes sense, I guess. Just gotta let nature run its course, yeah?”
Peach tried not to stare as he pulled his gloves off, tucking them into one pocket. His hands were beautiful, she often thought, a patchwork of healed burns and calluses. She also knew that he didn’t share her sentiment. Their ragged appearance was a sore spot for him, he’d once confessed. That he’d even become comfortable baring his hands in her presence, rare an occurrence as it remained, was a blessing.
He laid his palms over the length of the heating pad. The glow of magic, invisible to all but the most perceptive, began to radiate from his skin.
“But what about the pain?” he asked. “Can’t do anything about that, either?”
“Th-the pain—?” Peach blinked, quickly tearing her gaze away. Right. She should spend less time staring and more time answering his questions. “No, I can’t do much about that, either.”
“Ooh, wait, lemme guess: you can only heal pain if you can heal the source? So no boo-boo, no feel-better?” Mario’s eyes sparkled in the evening lamplight, his smile playful but sincere. “Did I get it right?”
Another cramp set itself upon Peach, but she barely paid it any mind. Mario’s delight was contagious. “Sort of. I can help ease the pain of others, regardless of that pain’s source, but…” She eased back into her chaise. Sitting upright wasn’t helping. “It’s a more involved process.”
“Oh?”
“I can’t heal pain, since pain itself is a response rather than an inflictor, but I can lay a fog over the afflicted’s mind that helps block pain receptors. Again, since there’s nothing to be healed, nothing is changed except for the afflicted’s perception.”
“So…” Mario drummed his fingertips against the heating pad. “You basically… make them think they’re not in pain?”
“More or less. Think of it as an induced trance state of sorts.” Peach sighed. “For obvious reasons, if I try the same tactic on myself, it won’t work.”
“I getcha, I getcha,” Mario said. “Sorta like how it’s impossible to tickle yourself, yeah?”
Peach almost affirmed this, but she stopped short. “…Is that impossible?”
“Yeah, you know! Because you see it coming, so you can’t get caught off-guard.”
Peach hummed. She’d never considered that. Her hand hesitated over her thigh, but curiosity quickly got the better of her. She began to rapidly tap against herself, skittering deft fingertips up and down her side, mimicking the sort of touch that would have her writhing and squealing should it come from anyone else. Sure enough, nothing.
Mario sputtered.
“Wh—” Peach’s face grew hot as she looked to him once more. One glance into her eyes, and it was over; he guffawed loudly, slapping his knee and doubling over in his chair, tears pooling at the corners of his eyes.
“Mario!” Peach looked around for something, anything to throw at him (that wouldn’t actually hurt him or get damaged in the process), but came up empty. Instead, she leaned her head back into the chaise cushion and clutched her belly, laughing every bit as wildly. “Mario, how could you? I trusted you!”
“No no, I meant it, Princess! I really meant it!” Mario coughed, gasping in air as he got control of himself again. “I mean, make no mistake, I was absolutely gonna bait you into trying it, but you beat me to the punch!”
“Stars above, Mario,” Peach groaned. Try though she might, she couldn’t even sound annoyed, or frustrated, or anything other than happy… if a little embarrassed.
“Heads up!”
She didn’t respond in time. She jumped at the sudden weight that plopped onto her chest, though mercifully, Mario’s return toss was gentle, gentle enough that the weight quickly registered as a comfort. And that was before the heat began to soak into her lounging dress. It wasn’t enough that her heating pad was heated once more; Mario’s Firebrand had reactivated the oils the rice had been soaked in, filling the air around her with the deep, soothing scent of lavender.
Draping it over her abdomen once more, Peach inhaled deeply. Somewhere beneath the lavender, she could smell something far sweeter: the scent of skin and the remnants of basswood shavings. It was almost as if Mario was laying his hands directly on her. The mere thought sent her pulse racing.
She looked back to the chair across from her to ground herself in reality. Mario had already pulled his gloves back on, and he gathered his wood block and knife, settling in to return to his project, though not before giving her one more smile, his mustache curling up at the tips. Something in his gaze was so affectionate, so unbearably soft, that Peach felt the urge to cry. Were these tears of happiness, or tears of sorrow?
The tears never came. They were quelled by the warmth of the heating pad, the familiar hum of a song she didn’t recognize, and the scape of metal against wood. It was in this comfortable silence that she dozed off once more.
Peach had done all that she could. She’d spent every waking moment in prayer, petitioning the Star Spirits to protect her kingdom, her people, her loved ones. She’d sent a steady flow of wish power into the heavens to accompany those prayers, in the off-chance even the smallest bit might reach the Mushroom Kingdom. She’d never been one to lay down and die. But what more could she do?
Her life had become little more than waking prayer and tortured sleep and rationing out the single meal she was given each day. At some point, she began to push her untouched food tray back through the feeding slot, as if this act of defiance granted her any real victory, as if denying herself would somehow let her regain agency; by the time hunger forced her to abandon this tactic, she’d already lost too much strength to regain on her own. She had no further trouble rationing, because she couldn’t stomach more than a few nibbles of stale bread and a few sips of water a day. She certainly had no trouble sleeping, because her mind was too exhausted to come up with new nightmares; she began to dream the same beautiful dream, night after night after night. And she prayed more constantly than ever, because her aimless petitions calmed her mind and led her back to the sanctity of sleep.
She'd never been one to lay down and die. How easily that was changing.
Today, she’d said her final prayers. She prayed for a suitable heir to the throne. She prayed that whoever it was would lead the Mushroom Kingdom with love and compassion. She prayed that the next one in line could pick up where she left off, right before her point of failure. All this, she prayed to occur for Toadsworth's sake. He deserved to retire and spend the rest of his life in peace.
Then she turned her intentions to her loved ones. One by one, she called them by name, until she circled back to the very first name she’d uttered.
“Please… let Mario be alive.”
There was more between the lines of her request: that he be loved, that he’d live a long and happy life, that he could one day forgive her for her weakness, her cowardice. That somehow, he'd know her very last wish had been for him.
Her prayers were said. Her power was spent. Whatever tears she had left were shed silently, muddied by the grime that coated her cheeks. All that was left to do now was the very thing she'd come to excel at: lie down, close her eyes, and die.
And yet, suddenly, she couldn’t. For once, sleep eluded her. She’d been laying on her cot for what felt like weeks, staring at the cold stone encasing her, with neither the reprieve of darkness nor the company of dreams. She’d never felt so powerless in all her life.
That is, until she gained a visitor.
“How are you feeling?”
She almost didn't hear him. The gentle caress he laid against her cheek was nearly intangible, demanding she concentrate just to feel it. Peach didn't move, fearing he'd go as quickly as he'd arrived.
Still, she found her words, just for him.
"Tired," she sighed wearily."Very, very tired."
Mario chuckled. “I can tell. You’ve really been through the wringer, yeah?”
Leave it to him to make light of the darkness. She lay perfectly still as his laugh echoed in her ears.
"What am I supposed to do now?"
His answer came all too easily.
"Rest," he said. "You've done all you can, Peach. Just rest."
She let his words sit with her a moment, waiting for them to ease the weight in her chest. This was when she was supposed to feel okay, wasn't it?
"Rest… rest… rest."
The more she heard him say it, the less she recognized it as Mario, until she couldn't remember what he sounded like to start with. His words, his presence, failed to comfort her, because she knew deep down that it wasn’t truly his. Deep down, she knew none of this was real.
Had her father done the same in his final hours? As he lay dying, a husk that was once a beloved king, had he imagined Peach’s mother lying beside him, urging him to move on— to forget his uselessness, the tarnish left on his legacy, to join her and rest?
For the first time, Peach felt like she understood him. Their legacies would be one and the same: lead a promising life, watch it spiral, and then succumb to their circumstances. A legacy of failure.
"I'm really nothing more than my father's daughter.” She sniffed, her smile bitter. “Aren’t I?"
"Of course not!" Mario's outburst felt so certain, so resolute, that Peach couldn't tell if he was still speaking, or if she was merely remembering something he’d already said. "Princess, look at you. Even here, stuck in some dingy old prison, you've kept fighting for all of us. And you’re still trying! Even now, when it’s already over!”
A pause, and then:
“It’s okay to let go. No one can fight forever, Princess.”
That wasn’t his voice. Not even a facsimile or misremembrence of it. Mario would never say that.
Peach’s eyes almost opened, and she squeezed them shut before her brain could process the empty space beside her. Mario, her kingdom’s hero, a man who never knew when to quit, would never let her give up. What she'd heard had been her own thoughts, her own voice, threatening to shatter the last line of comfort the Stars had seen fit to give her.
Then again, it wasn't impossible. Maybe it was something he'd say if the situation was hopeless enough. Surely he could recognize when a battle couldn’t be won, that there’s no need to die in agony if you’re going to die anyway.
“No one can fight forever.” He said it in the correct voice this time.
Peach sighed, relaxing once more. Better. That was much better."Will you stay with me, then? Until… until I—"
She didn't dare finish that thought. Instead, she curled in on herself, convinced herself that she was curling into him instead. And as she finally began to doze, she was even able to feel the kiss he pressed to her forehead. It was scratchy and soft, everything she could’ve possibly wanted, and backed with a gentle, reassuring smile.
Mario & Peach: Power Couple (34788 words) by friendlybatteringram
Chapters: 5/?
Fandom: Super Mario & Related Fandoms
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Mario/Princess Peach (Nintendo)
Characters: Mario (Nintendo), Princess Peach (Nintendo), Bowser (Nintendo), Original Characters
Summary:
Yet another problem presents itself, this time in the form of a longstanding feud between the Yoshis and their classic rivals. Can Mario and Peach work together to solve this environmental dispute?
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Another chapter taken care of! See what kind of adventure and slowburn romance Mario and Peach have gotten themselves into this time!
Do you love Mario and Peach but wish there was more content for them? Would you like to learn more about the Mario world or are looking to enjoy a trip down memory lane? Check out this fic!
Brooch the Subject by Chelstorm
- Princess Peach receives an amulet from the Flower Kingdom that has the potential to make her kingdom's defenses impenetrable—or at least according to legend. The potential is too great to pass up, so Peach sets out to travel the galaxy and fulfill the magical enchantment. She's chiefly accompanied by Mario, but there's plenty of moments with Luigi, Daisy, and other old friends.
