The Princess' face had a small frown, not one of displeasure, but a confused one. Toadsworth went on with confidence. The usually nervous caretaker looked like he was excited now. And Peach could now only wonder why he was instead of the shocked she imagined he would be. Had he suspected all along? No, she was sure that she had covered her tracks. He was always so worried upon her return from 'capture.'

It seemed that now he had barely realized now that the Princess might be wondering about where he was leading her through the halls to. "My Princess," he began in exhausted excitement, "I do wish you would have told me sooner!"

"W-what?" The Princess sputtered back. "How do you mean? You're the last person I would have expected to be in agreement with my, Bowser's and Mario's . . . arrangement."

"It took me a while to get used to it, at first." Toadsworth admitted, cane thawking against the floors he walked across. Princess Peach recognized this section of the castle now. The light flickered unsteadily from the attacks outside but she could tell they were heading, most likely, to Toadworth's room. "But the more I read into it the more sense it made. It was, in theory, the only way this world could find peace."

"What?" The monarch repeated. "A while? Reading into it? We just announced it!"

Toadsworth chuckled as he stopped in front of his bedroom door. He pushed it open and led the way inside. Peach wondered what on earth he could be talking of and followed him inside. Toadsworth's room was exactly what she imagined it would be. A lot of bookshelves.

The old Toad walked to a wall and lifted his cane up to a sconce. He tapped the base of it, pushing in a hidden button that blended in very well.

Peach didn't even blink as a portion of the wall slid open to reveal a passageway. This castle was chock full of secrets paths and rooms. She jut never had been in here, or expected Toadsworth to partake in such a secret.

They wordlessly entered. It was a short hallway before they entered a room with another bookshelf, a light, and a table with a chair. "Take a seat," Toadsworth hobbled eagerly to the shelf. His hand hovered over one of the books, before choosing a different one. It was an orange one. Peach indeed did sit in the only chair.

Turning around to her, the old Toad was already looking through the book. searching for something?

Peach had. . . some sort of feeling that she couldn't quite describe. She loathed to think that Toadsworth was going to suggest something she didn't like. But, slowly piecing together all the hints, she frowned, upset.

"Toadsworth."

"Hmm?" he asked absently, not looking up.

Peach didn't answer, waiting for him to actually pay attention.

"Princess?" he asked finally, looking up and surprised to see the Princess's pout and glare.

"Don't dig up some old books and label all of this as just another 'prophecy.'" She said seriously.

The mushroom was stunned. It took him a few seconds to sputter out a sentence. "B-but princess! It-It IS! You see this book, and the other one- The Mario Brothers, a-and, well, everything Makes sense! Don't you see? This-!"

"How can that book foretell feelings and events? Of course I, a new princess got kidnapped! Of course, someone was going to eventually rescue me! And. . . No old dusty book could have possibly guessed how I feel about Mario and Bowser, or how they feel about me!"

Toadsworth closed the book and fiddled with it awkwardly. He couldn't really try to argue with the headstrong Princess opinions. But, well the book foretold 'the union of the two kingdoms with three people.' While he was quite skeptical at times with magic and the universe's way of settling star dust, scenarios such as these just worked strongly for arguments like these.

And this was so unlike the usually calm princess too.

"I don't know what to tell you Princess. If proving the book right is too much for a romantic heart like yours, then I shall not read from it to you. But things happen for a reason. And these people from the past know what they're talking about. The fact that Bowser attacked after your so-called peaceful agreement. . .?" He pushed the book towards her deciding not to push it. "Maybe it's worth a shot?"

The Princess considered the fact, and with a cross between a sigh and scoff, she took the book. She stared down at the orange book. The gold trim of the decorations and cover name was striking. Three Stars interlinked with each other above and below the title. Mushroom insignia made up the title. She's always disliked the word prophecy.

After the two emerged from Toadworth's bedroom, the Princess noticed a distinct lack of muffled invasion noises from outside. Was it over? But wait. Was Bowser pulling some cruel joke then? It was brief. And uncalled for.

Princess Peach marched to the nearest window (not far. Large windows were a common accessory to nice castles!) and opened them wide. She took into the consideration the ruined buildings, the smoke and Toad stragglers looking still scared, some confused. If not for the obvious signs of invasion, everything was quiet and the day was nice and the sunshine shone down.

"Bowser just . . .left?" she wondered aloud.

Toadsworth stood several feet behind her. Apparently the adrenaline rush of the prophecy being brought to a point wore off. "T-the Toad Town! My Princess! The town is in ruins!" he panicked, running to and fro, unsure of what to do.

"Toadsworth. . ." Peach soothed, though she mentally calculated the costs it would take for rebuilding. It didn't seem too bad, but still. . . What was the point of Bowser betraying them and then leaving? "We aren't being invaded anymore, at least. . ."

Then her thoughts sprung to Mario.

"Oh! I've to find him." she nodded to herself and began to walk back down the hall.

The old Toad hadn't heard her reasoning and continued to look out the window as he freaked out over the state.

Subconsciously holding the book close to herself, the Princess made her way to the lobby of the castle. "Guards." she caught the attention of the Toads idling about inside. "Check over the Town. Help those you can. Comfort is as essential to the health as helping them up. And, if you see Mario, send him my way." They saluted her, and proceeded to march out the castle doors.

Flanking them, the Princess looked down to the designs of the path. Damage control is also important. What would the gossip-loving Toads just spread around with this fiasco? There was no response she could give them that even she would believe. Bowser was misinformed, or confused? He knew plain and clear about this day. She had TOLD him. He was on board with it. Why. . . the sudden change, if not for planned deceit. . .?

But all this time? He was just a big lump of grumpy turtle, once she had gotten to know him. And it seemed like he had left his truly villainous side behind.

Shaking her head, Princess Peach decided to focus on finding Mario first. They would talk about this, reach out to Bowser, and then. . .

Well, it all just depended on Bowser himself.

When Peach looked up, she was already within the town. The soldiers had scattered to help whoever they can. She looked around. She stared briefly at the spinning purple roof on one of the houses. Prophecies. . . Clairvoyance? No. She wasn't going to let 'fates' decide. This was about her, and Mario's, and Bowser's relationship Not some wild prediction that just so happened to match a detail or two about the current situation. It was ridiculous, Some sham.

Honestly, it's why marriage always seemed to bother her. It was an omen that followed her. Her stare turned to a glare once more, until a familiar friend popped out to her.

"My Lady." the Monty Mole came up, distraught.

He looked around and frowned. "They reached you before I did, huh?"

It was a rhetorical question.

Peach startled. She looked around to make sure no one saw the small ground digger And crouched down to his level. "Mack! Who do you mean by they?"

"King Bowser announced the relationship. He could have. . . used a little bit more tact. Some weren't real happy. They saw it as a waste of time, resources, and chances to actually become a feared nation, rather than dwelling on a Kingdom that got us nowhere for years. For no good reason." Mack coughed awkwardly. "Their words, not mine."

"So the kingdom. And after that?"

"A strange sort of rebellion. Even the Koopalings were torn on what to do. This couldn't be the Bowser they knew. It had to be something sketchy caused by Mario, you, or both! They threw him in a cell. And, well, here we are."

"So, they attacked us because they thought we cast a spell or something. . ." Peach realized the irony in that.

"I heard they weren't going to stop until at least one was captured. So with you here, that must mean. . ."

"They took Mario." Peach rose a hand to her face with a gasp. "What will do to him, Mack?"

"The Koopa Troop respect Bowser greatly. Mario, not so much. If King Bowser was imprisoned." Mack trailed off. "Well, I wouldn't know where to begin or end my imagination.

"My Stars. . ." Peach gripped the book tightly. "Well, then, I have to get going, don't I?"

"On your own?" Mack wondered. "I'd like to join you, but if I'm to keep you updated and see who's on our side, I have to stay with the Koopa Troop."

"I have a few candidates in mind for my adventure." Peach nodded. "Don't feel too bad, Mack. I know your intentions."

The Monty Mole smiled. "There are Koopa Troops rooting for you guys too. I won't let you down!"

And with that, he went underground.

And with him, Peach's faked confidence did too.

A time limit for Mario. A dashed, split crowd reaction to her and her two Special Ones. Who could she trust to help her. . .?

She looked down to the book. For help. . .?

But something about it made her want to throw it away and cry. She will NOT mindlessly follow whatever was written in these passages.

With anger transformed to determination, she knew exactly who her first Companion could be. A sweet Parasol she had adventured with quite some time ago. It's been a while.

Author's Note: If there's one thing I regret it's the horribly written fight scene in the previous chapter LOL. But who cares. Koopa fights are honestly boring. you jump on 'em. That's it.

To Guest! I get ya! I do want a scene of the three. It'll be coming. . . sometime. Lol. Just you wait! And don't worry about it. I'm glad you're interested! This OT3 is a unique position for sure. Bowser WAS genuinely trying to take over at first, Bowser and Mario DID genuinely dislike each other at first, among other things. But, surely things ARE different now, right?