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Mario stood in front of the mirror, doing final checks on himself.
Today was the day – the day of Mario's picnic date with the Princess. He wasn't sure if picnics were even considered dates, but Luigi had insisted multiple times in the past few days that it was indeed going to be a date.
He had been a nervous wreck the entire day, going around in circles and thinking about all the things that could go wrong. The Princess was the Princess.
Why would a member of the royal family even consider someone like Mario? He was a commoner, a plumber, and not even from the Mushroom Kingdom. Something told him that the Princess definitely didn't see him in a romantic way, and Mario wasn't sure what to think about it. Sure, he adored the Princess and would quite literally die for her, but what if those feelings were doomed to stay one-sided, forever?
All things considered, they probably were.
Luigi had assured him that the Princess really did enjoy their time together. Why else would she invite him to her castle for tea every week? Even so, Mario still refused to listen to his brother about how clear it was that the Princess had taken a liking to him. It wasn't like she liked Mario in that way.
When Mario finally heard soft knocking at the door, he startled so hard that he practically jumped into the air. He stood up, mumbling final encouragements to himself before going over to see the visitor.
Expecting to see Toadsworth, the Princess's steward, Mario opened the door with his gaze cast downwards a few inches below his own eye level.
Instead of seeing a familiar dotted head, his eyes were met with something alarmingly pink. Mario looked up with a puzzled look, and he sputtered.
It was the Princess. It was the Princess!
Peach smiled down at him, waving her hand in an elegant trajectory. She had a brown picnic basket in her other hand.
Mario just stared at her for a minute, looking more confused than ever. He could've sworn that it was supposed to be Toadsworth that was going to take him to the castle and seeing the Princess herself at his door was bewildering. Utmostly, undeniably bewildering.
She was wearing a sunhat with a huge ribbon sitting on the rim, and she had changed her usual gown to a more casual one. It was still very princessy and sported her trademark pink, of course, but it looked more comfortable and appropriate for a warm summer day.
Ruffles covered the almost see-through fabric of her dress, and her neckline went under her collar bones, exposing her neck and leaving her shoulders bare. Mario couldn't tear his eyes away, and he silently cleared his throat in an attempt to compose himself.
He still couldn't believe that the Princess herself had come down to the Mario brothers' puny little cabin.
"Good afternoon, Mario," she greeted with a warm smile. Her hair was down, flooding gracefully down her back. The azure gem on her chest glittered in the sun just like her brilliant sky-blue eyes.
She looked so beautiful.
"Princess," Mario only managed. He couldn't form proper sentences in his trance.
"I apologize for coming by unannounced, but the day was too lovely to wait at the castle for your arrival," she said, glancing down at the basket in her hands. "I brought everything we need for our little picnic today. Are you ready to go?"
Peach could brighten up any place she was in. Her kind, sweet smile made Mario float, and her equally sweet, soft voice carried something so lovely that he couldn't even pinpoint what it exactly was.
After a moment of admiring the Mushroom Princess, Mario finally piped up. "Sì! Yes, I'm ready!" Placing his signature red cap on his head, he closed the door behind him as he joined the Princess outside.
The weather was lovely. There were little to no clouds in the sky, and the sun warmed their backs as they walked on the pathway. It was a small walk to the town and its outskirts, where they had planned to have their picnic.
Mario looked over to Peach, who was walking gracefully while slightly lifting the hem of her skirt. They had been silent for a while, but a silence between them never felt awkward.
"Princess?" Mario started after a bit, looking up at her with nothing but adoration in his blue eyes. Peach looked at him with a smile, urging him to continue.
"Let me carry the basket for you," he said, offering his hand to the Princess. She tilted her head to the side with gratitude and handed the basket to his outstretched hand.
"Thank you, Mario."
"Anytime!" He settled the basket on his arm.
He couldn't get tired of looking at the Princess who walked with nothing but grace and elegance. He didn't know how she did it; how she always looked so composed, peaceful, and elegant no matter what she did. Mario could only admire her.
She turned to Mario. "At first, Toadsworth almost wouldn't let me leave in his place," Peach giggled, covering her mouth with her relaxed hand. "But I'm glad I came. It's a beautiful day, and I've always wanted to see where you live, Mario. Your cabin looks homely."
Mario smiled at the woman, chuckling a little. Poor Toadsworth probably had the biggest shock of his life when Peach suddenly wanted to leave the castle by herself. Although there weren't many threats inside the Kingdom, Toadsworth was still such a worrywart.
"Ahi, it's nothing much, really. It's comfortable, at least," he said. "But thank you. I'm glad I get to walk with you like this."
It was a rare occurrence, for sure. Peach rarely left the castle on more casual days, and most of their weekly dates– meetings were inside the castle's walls or in the garden. It felt nice to spend time with the Princess outside like this, even if they were just walking together.
"Me too. The weather is lovely," Peach said and closed her eyes as the wind gently played with her hair. Mario couldn't help but stare, again. He was so hopelessly smitten for the Mushroom Princess.
They ran into a few Toads on their way to the town, and the sheer adoration in their eyes when they spotted the Princess spoke for itself. She elegantly curtsied for each and every Toad, making sure to make conversation with everyone. She didn't ignore the quieter or shy ones, either. She took everyone under her wing like a mother hen, and Mario could see why she was such a loved ruler. Absolutely everyone adored her and wanted to be in her presence.
The Toads excitedly told her about the newest things among them, and Peach giggled softly. She kneeled on the ground to be on the same level as the Toads, and the children immediately went to give her a hug. It was adorable.
They didn't forget about Mario being there, and some ran straight to him instead of the Princess. He was famous for saving the Kingdom in the past, and although he still felt like he didn't deserve the fame, he appreciated the Toads' unconditional love for him. To them, he was a hero.
The Toads curiously asked where they were headed together, and they aww'ed in a choir when she revealed they were on their way to a picnic. Mario flushed, not having expected the utmost support for their relationship. He lowered his hat's rim onto his eyes to hide his face, and Peach giggled next to him.
"We're going to have a wonderful time together," she added, and the Toads cheered in pure excitement. They didn't often see their Princess, but when they did, they spent every second giving her their love. The Princess tried to visit them as often as possible, but with her responsibilities as the monarch, she understandably didn't always have the chance.
"Yes! Yes! You guys are so cute together!"
Mario's heart almost exploded.
"Why, thank you," Peach said and lifted a small Toad child into her arms. He had been begging to be carried for a good minute, and Peach happily obliged.
It was a little odd to see a child his age out of town, especially alone, and Peach looked determined to keep him safe.
She stood up and looked at Mario, whose eyes were still covered by his signature cap. The child in her arms held onto the Princess and his smile reached up to his hidden ears behind his dotted cap.
"We must be going now, I'm afraid. I'll see you all later, alright?" Peach said, and all the Toads waved at them as they continued walking. The Toad child in her arms buried his face into the Princess's neck, humming happily.
Mario looked at them with a soft expression. Peach was so affectionate, unlike all the other monarchs he had previously met. They treated their subjects as just subjects, as objects they just had to protect. Peach, on the other hand, treated her subjects like her children.
She sang quietly to the child, gently rocking him. It didn't take long until he was sound asleep in her arms, and Peach's smile was so tender, so loving. It made Mario's heart skip a beat. A few, actually.
She allowed the child to have a little nap in her arms, and he snored softly with a content smile. He probably felt like the Princess's arms were the safest place in the whole Kingdom, and Mario could only admire the trust the Toads had for their Princess.
"He's adorable," Peach said, glancing down at the sleeping child. She reached up to gently caress his green-dotted cap, and he reacted by letting out a soft sigh in his sleep.
Mario smiled next to her. "He adores you so much, Princess," he said, his smile big and sweet. Peach giggled quietly, careful not to wake up the sleeping child in her arms.
"Sometimes I wonder what I did to deserve such loving subjects," she mumbled, her eyes on the child as he stirred in his sleep. Mario almost desperately wanted to list all the reasons why people loved her, why he loved her, but he refrained. It wasn't the time.
They made it to the town, the Toad child still sound asleep in Peach's arms. The marketplace was full of life and the Toads there happily greeted them as they walked by, Mario tipping his hat to greet them back.
The little Toad's worried parents approached them, telling them that the little one had been playing outside and wandered too far from the town. The parents had been searching for him everywhere and the moment Peach and Mario appeared with their son asleep in Peach's arms, the mother had burst into happy tears.
The Princess gently gave the child from her arms to his mother's and told her that he had been peacefully asleep the whole journey back. The mother thanked her continuously and even bowed much to Peach's astonishment.
"It's okay, no need to bow your head! It's only natural that I do everything I can to keep my lovely Toads happy and safe," she explained with a smile decorating her beautiful features.
She was so kind.
After talking to the Toad parents for a while longer, the two continued their trip to the outskirts. The marketplace was huge, full of life and happy Toads, and soon Peach tugged at Mario's sleeve to get his attention. He turned to see the Princess looking at a small stall full of different accessories.
She wanted to try a rose-coloured ribbon on, one that looked like it was meant to be on her sundress. It matched with the one on her hat, and as she tied the ribbon to her waist, the outfit was complete.
Mario gave her an immediate thumbs-up. Peach giggled and softly pressed her hands together, making conversation with the sales Toad as she bought the ribbon.
The Toad wanted her to have the ribbon free of charge, but Peach insisted on buying it instead. She often expressed that she didn't want to be treated as their superior, their ruler, but as their friend. It wasn't in her nature to take advantage of their kindness.
She was so kind.
The sea of fire flowers heaved before them, bathing them in their beautiful crimson light. They were in the outskirts of the town just like they had planned, and the heavenly sight made Mario speechless every single time.
There wasn't anything like this back in Brooklyn. Although Mario sometimes felt homesick, moments like this made him feel thankful for having landed in the Mushroom Kingdom. And, he got to spend time with the most lovable princess of them all.
They walked through the sea of fiery flowers and Mario kept glancing at her hand, wanting nothing else but to hold it, but he didn't have the guts. So close, yet so far.
Among the fire flowers stood a lone peach tree, most likely planted by the townsfolk to honour their beloved Princess. It was the biggest, most prominent tree of the meadow, and Mario knew he had found the perfect spot for their picnic.
Peach seemed to notice how his eyes lit up, and she looked at him. "Where do you wish to have our picnic, Mario?"
"Look over there," Mario said and pointed at the tree in the distance. Peach raised a hand to her upturned lips, surprised. "How about that peach tree over there? The peaches are in full bloom, just like you." The monumental peach tree stood proud, its branches full of pink, plump peaches.
Peach giggled, her laughter the most beautiful thing one could hear. "A picnic under a peach tree sounds lovely."
Mario gazed at the Princess with nothing but awe in his eyes.
"Then it's settled!" Mario said, and gently took Peach's hand in his. He wasn't sure if it was okay to touch a princess so casually like this, but when he saw Peach beaming at him, he knew it was the right call.
She giggled as Mario led her to the peach tree surrounded by the fiery sea. Mario was on cloud nine, Peach's hand in his, and he made sure that when they stopped, she didn't stumble or wobble.
The tree looked quite old and its branches unnaturally long, but it only added to the atmosphere. The tree would protect them, and the out-stretching branches formed a beautiful little burrow for them.
The red glow from the fire flowers below made such a beautiful lighting, and Peach joined her hands together as she admired the scenery before them.
"It's perfect," she breathed and her eyes glowed. You're perfect, Mario almost said before pressing both of his hands in front of his mouth. He was hopeless.
He needed to do something for her, so he reached up to pluck a flower of an unbloomed peach. He held it in his hands and glanced at Peach, nervousness bubbling in his chest. She was still admiring the scenery, and turned around when Mario cleared his throat. He hid the flower behind his back for now.
"Let's sit down, sì?"
After Mario put down the furry blanket for them to sit on, he held Peach's hand atop his own as he helped her down. It probably wasn't too easy to sit down with such a big dress, and Mario was happy to help. She soothed down her skirt a little and gestured for him to sit down as well.
"Wait a moment, Principessa," he said and presented her the flower he had previously plucked. Peach placed a hand on her cheek, surprised at the sweet gesture.
Mario leaned into the sitting Princess, nervous to be so close to his secret beloved. He gently brushed her blond hair out of the way and slipped the flower behind her ear before stepping back. The pink flower looked incredibly pretty on her, and he smiled. "Sei così bella…"
Peach's cheeks flushed red and she momentarily buried her face in her hands. She reached up to gently touch the flower behind her ear, her smile the sweetest honey. Mario blushed as well, his smile just as awkward as he was.
"Oh, thank you, Mario," she said and looked at him with eyes so vibrant Mario couldn't look away. The fire flowers' orange glow made her eyes look like the most beautiful rubies, and he could feel himself melting at the sight. Yep, he was in love. It was a no-brainer at this point. He knew he had to tell her about his feelings sooner or later, but how in the world could he? She was a princess, for god's sake. And he was just… Mario. The plain, old Mario.
He sat down on the blanket across from her, his eyes on Peach's. After he took his cap off and laid it on the blanket next to him, he wrung his hands together, unsure what to do. He wasn't usually brave enough to do such big gestures, and he was eternally grateful that the Princess was delighted. He just wanted to make her happy.
She gently played with the flower behind her ear for a moment, an almost dreamy expression on her features. Then, she reached for the picnic basket and took something out.
Whatever it was, it smelled delicious.
"I know that you often forget to eat, so I cooked some pasta for you to start our picnic with," Peach explained and placed the plate in front of Mario. "It's important to eat well-balanced meals regularly, everyday! I hope this dish is to your liking."
Mario's fingers weren't enough to count the times when Peach made sure that he was eating enough. It was her way of showing him that she cared about him, through tasty food and beautiful cakes, and he adored her for it. She was so thoughtful.
"Thank you so much, Princess! It looks delicious."
Peach hummed in delight, and took out a salad for herself. She often preferred to eat something light, and Mario noticed that the pieces of apple in her salad were cut in the shape of Toads. It was adorable.
Even the way she used a fork was elegant, so princess-like. Mario, on the other hand, nearly dropped his own fork on the ground as he tasted the pasta she had prepared for him. It was out of this world, fit for a king. Everything that Peach made was, without a single exception. She was a spectacular cook.
"Mmmhm!" He mumbled with his mouth full, his eyes pressed closed as he savored the incredible taste. The sauce was amazing, just unbelievably amazing, and Mario let out a content sigh.
Peach giggled softly. "I'm glad you're enjoying the meal."
"Mmm-mmh! I'm not enjoying the meal, lo adoro!" Mario was more or less wolfing the meal down, it was just that good.
"I also baked a few pastries for us, too. I hope they're just as good as your pasta, but I'm afraid they're nothing to praise."
She was so humble. Never arrogant, never praising herself, never full of herself. If you asked Mario, she absolutely should praise herself more. She was so hardworking and efficient in absolutely everything she did.
"Oh, I'm sure they are, Princess. I don't doubt it even for a second. You're a wonderful cook!" With that, he took the last mouthful of his appetizing pasta. "Really, I can't even describe how good this pasta was. There's not enough words!"
The Princess placed a hand on her cheek, a familiar gesture of hers. Her flustered little giggle was everything to Mario. "You shouldn't flatter me this much, Mario. Really! I'm already blushing."
"It's only the truth," Mario said and propped his hand onto his knee while he was seated crisscross. Seeing Peach so flustered because of him was something he never thought he'd see.
Peach remained silent, her shy smile telling more than words ever could. She went through the picnic basket again, and this time, she placed a really, really fancy cake onto the blanket. It was decorated with such detail that Mario blinked in disbelief.
"I got a little carried away with this cake," the Princess admitted and took smaller plates and spoons from the basket. "I wanted to make something special for us, and as it turns out, I have a weak spot for decorating!"
"Sì, I can see that." Mario almost felt bad that they had to cut into the cake in order to eat it. It looked phenomenal.
Gently, Peach started to slice the cake and plopped the portions onto the plates. She slid one of the plates to Mario and held hers in her hand. Elegantly, no less. She soothed out her skirt as she sat back down properly.
"So, how have you been, Mario? It's been a week since we last saw each other." Peach carefully lifted her spoon up to her mouth, tasting the enchanting cake.
Their last date? meeting? was in the castle's garden, surrounded by the many butterflies and bushes full of flowers in the open air. They had drunk tea together and talked about their lives in the Mushroom Kingdom.
Peach had even shared that she sometimes felt overwhelmed because of her many responsibilities, but their weekly meetings had been putting her mind at ease. They were her way of relaxing and having fun. It was baffling to think that the Princess actually trusted him enough to tell such delicate things to him, and that his company was actually making her feel better.
It meant a lot to hear that from the Princess, especially when Mario was so hopelessly in love with her. It felt a little childish to have such a big crush on the Princess, but Mario couldn't help it. She was a lovely person, through and through.
He often wondered what the Princess thought about him. Was he someone she cherished, or someone she only spent time with out of obligation because he had helped save her kingdom in the past? He really hoped that it was the former, but most likely, it was the latter.
"I've been alright. Nothing new, just the same old with my brother. How about you, Princess? I know you have a lot of responsibilities as the ruler, and I hope they haven't been too much."
Peach smiled, seemingly touched at his thoughtfulness. It probably wasn't often that someone asked how she had been. "Yes, I have been feeling well. Certainly, some days are tough, but nothing I couldn't handle. Toadsworth has been a huge help."
Mario nodded in understanding. Toadsworth had always been a huge help as he was her steward, being there for her for everything. A gift sent from heaven, as Peach would say. Wherever she went, Toadsworth followed.
"That's really good to hear," Mario said and tasted the cake. His eyes widened. He put his spoon back down, his eyes on Peach as she examined his reaction to her baking.
"Princess, I wholeheartedly disagree with your statement that your pastries do not deserve any praise. This is fantastic!" With that, Mario began to wolf down the dessert, too.
"Whoa, slow down! You're going to get sick if you eat that fast!"
Soon enough, the plate was empty, and Mario sighed happily. His face was full of cream from the cake, and he sat back with a content smile. He honestly did not deserve all these treats from Peach.
He jumped when he felt something touch his face. Peach was holding a napkin and she was suddenly extremely close, making Mario's breath hitch in his throat. She wiped at his face in an attempt to clean the cream off and she hummed.
"There. You're such a messy eater, Mario." Her voice was soft, laced with lenience as she gently booped Mario's nose. The contact made Mario flush. Peach sat back and looked at him with a smile, searching his face for something.
Mario mumbled a shy thank you, and Peach returned to her original position on the blanket. She tucked the napkin into the picnic basket and took out a bottle of wine alongside two glasses. She knew Mario loved wine, and it wasn't a surprise that she had taken a bottle with her.
"I don't know much about wine, but I hope this one is suitable for our picnic," she said and settled the glasses on the blanket.
"Let me." Mario reached to take the bottle from the Princess. She shouldn't be the one to open the wine, since it could ruin her beautiful dress. Mario was wearing his regular overalls, and he wouldn't mind if they got dirty. And, to be honest, he just wanted to pour the drink for her.
He gently poured wine into both glasses, and Peach watched him with a soft smile. "Thank you," she said as Mario handed her her glass. She held the glass in her fingers gracefully, lifting her pinky.
Mario took a sip, and Peach did the same.
All the incredible food made Mario a little tired, and he yawned. "Thank you so much for the meal, Princess. I'm as full as I can get," he laughed and twirled the wine around in his glass.
A mischievous smile flashed across Peach's features when their eyes met, and she set her glass down onto the blanket. Then, she patted her lap. She was sitting on her knees, her dress spread all around her. Mario was pretty sure he turned into a tomato after witnessing the gesture.
"I'm sure you're tired after eating that much. Come here!"
Mario just stared at the Princess. This was the first time she had suggested something like this, and he had no idea how to react. Sure, her lap was tempting, but was that really okay? Laying on a princess's lap? His head was spinning.
"A-are you sure?" Mario stammered. Peach smiled reassuringly, patting her lap again.
"I am. I wouldn't ask you otherwise. Rest is also important, and I think my lap would make an excellent pillow for your nap."
Well, she wasn't wrong.
Still a little hesitant, Mario scooted over to the Princess and carefully laid his head on her thighs. He tried his best not to lay on her dress, and soon he was comfortably settled in her lap. He crossed his ankles and placed his hands on his midsection, unsure what to do with them.
"Are you comfortable?" Peach asked and leaned over to see him better. In Mario's point of view, he saw a beautiful face surrounded by shiny, golden locks as she watched him.
"Sì. I… still feel a little out of place. Is it really okay for me to use a princess's lap as a pillow?"
Peach giggled, and started playing with his hair. The sensation was soothing, and it sent shivers down Mario's spine. He was beginning to relax.
"Yes, it is. I want you to get proper rest, and I like having you close," she said and ran her fingers through the brown strands of his hair. "Oh, your hair is so very soft."
Mario just laughed as a response, and he closed his eyes. He felt the Princess breathe above him, her hands in his hair, and the warmth radiating from her body. It was perfect.
It didn't take long for Mario to start drifting off to sleep, and Peach's fingers never left his hair. She was so gentle, so loving, and the smile on Mario's lips stayed.
The fingers in his hair slowed and eventually stilled. "The Kingdom has been so peaceful ever since your arrival," Peach whispered, careful not to disturb Mario's sleep. She sounded pensive. "I've never felt so safe as I do now. I've never thanked you enough for that, but no words are enough to fully convey my gratitude. I appreciate everything you do for my Kingdom."
Although Mario appeared to be sleeping, he was very much awake and listening to the Princess's words. A blush made its way onto his cheeks, and he hummed. The Princess shouldn't worry about things like that. He'd save the Kingdom again, even if he didn't receive a single thank you. He cared about the Princess and her Toads.
The plumber was fully relaxed in the Princess's lap, and her fingers continued traversing his scalp. What had he done to deserve such an angel?
Mario was almost asleep when he felt something press against his forehead. It took a while for him to realize that Peach had planted a soft kiss on his forehead, and his head began to spin like a whirlpool. A kiss, from the Princess? It couldn't be true. Maybe it was just her hand, it couldn't be her lips. No way.
After a while of panicking internally, he sat up and faced the Princess. She looked a little surprised at the sudden movement, but she smiled nonetheless. "Did you sleep well?"
Their faces were so close. He scooted back a little, careful not to disturb the Princess's personal space too much.
Mario stretched, bringing his hands over his head with a big yawn. "That was the best nap I've had in my life," he said and chuckled.
Peach's smile was full of sunshine, and her eyes were incredibly soft. He could swear he spotted a blush somewhere on her cheeks.
"I'm glad."
After they put everything, including the wine, back into the basket to wrap up their picnic, the Princess perked up. "Shall we go see the flowers next? It would be a shame not to appreciate their beauty a little bit closer." She turned to gaze at the never-ending sea of fire flowers, awe in her eyes.
At that, Mario jumped up and offered his hand to Peach to help her up. She happily took it, and Mario held her hands for a moment after she stood. They were so delicate. "Let's a-go," he said and held onto one of her hands to guide her down the small hillock.
They walked, hand in hand, until they stopped in the middle of the fiery sea. The flowers made way for them, and their unexpected sentience amazed Mario everytime.
Holding the Princess's hand was nerve-wracking, but somehow, it felt so natural at the same time. He looked up at her, her height easily surpassing his own, and he couldn't help but smile. She was so beautiful.
The Princess let go of Mario's hand, and knelt down a little to gently touch the flowers' warm petals. The flowers gravitated towards her like cats that wanted to be pet. Even the flowers adored the Princess, and something about it made Mario love her even more, if that was even possible. Everything about her was just so… perfect.
"Do you like fire flowers, Princess?" he asked. The orange-red light from the flowers looked gorgeous on her features, and Mario was glad she wasn't looking at him at that moment – if she did, she'd see a very pining Mario with a blush on his chubby cheeks.
"Yes," she began, "I adore them. They represent so many strong emotions and ambitions, and the power they can give you is wonderful." She tilted her head to the side, softly touching the flower. "But there's always the flipside to every coin. As beautiful as these flowers are, they are just as dangerous in the wrong hands."
Mario nodded, agreeing silently, and the Princess stood up. She kept her eyes on the endless meadow of fire flowers, a wistful sigh escaping her lips. "Even so, they are so irredeemably beautiful. The tragedy of these flowers is enthralling."
For Mario, the most beautiful part of the sea of fire wasn't the flowers; it was the Princess. Her pink dress reflected the crimson light in such a way that made her glow.
Something about the Princess's words made Mario think. Everything had its flipside, the other side of the coin, and Mario wondered if their relationship had its flipside. Would Mario ruin what they had if he told her about his feelings? Would she become repulsed by him? He couldn't afford to lose her like that, but it had been increasingly difficult to bottle his feelings up. He had never felt quite like this about someone.
Mario feared that the Princess didn't feel the same way. A quick kiss on the forehead didn't necessarily mean anything, and he didn't want to jump to conclusions. She was a princess, royalty, someone who didn't fall in love with a plumber just like that. They were just friends.
Maybe they should stay that way.
"Sì, they are."
Maybe they shouldn't.
"...But I think the most beautiful flower in the whole galaxy is you."
Peach turned her head to face Mario, her eyes wide and bewildered. There was no turning back now.
"Princess, I… I've…" he tried, but couldn't get the words out. He reached to grab both of her hands and gently held them in his. The Princess was watching him curiously and the flowers all around them bounced, making the lights dance. Mario had never been so nervous in his entire life.
"What are you trying to say, Mario?"
Peach looked so dazzling in the orange-red light. She must've already guessed what he was doing, but she still looked so kind, so soft. She wasn't pushing him away.
Mario tightly shut his eyes, trying to gather his thoughts. This was it. Say it! She's right there! This is your chance!
His mind kept screaming at him, and finally, he opened his eyes and looked at the Princess with all the confidence he could muster. The atmosphere was perfect, but was he truly ready to confess his love? He just had to be.
"I…"
The Princess hummed, encouraging him to continue. Mario's eyes wandered everywhere, avoiding the Princess's sweet gaze.
"Uhm… Ahi…"
Peach was still encouraging him by nodding. She looked impatient, ready to hear whatever Mario had in mind. Her hands in his, she waited for Mario to talk.
Mario finally looked Peach in the eyes, feeling the evident flush on his cheeks. Her blue eyes sparkled so magically.
"I think I'm in love with you, Princess." A pause. "Peach."
There. He actually did it! A terror settled in his gut as he watched the Princess's reaction. It wasn't proper to refer to her with her first name, but Mario hoped it intensified the meaning of his sudden confession.
The Princess's face showed no repulsion, disappointment, nor disgust. She actually looked happy.
So happy that she let go of Mario's hands and reached to embrace him in the form of a hug. She wrapped her hands around his shoulders, burying her face into the crook of his neck. Mario was taken aback, but he wrapped his arms around her waist to return the hug.
Was she… crying?
"Oh, Mario," she mumbled and squeezed him. Her other hand found its way to the back of Mario's head, and she held him close. Closer than they had ever been before.
Mario took that as a good sign. He settled his head against Peach's chest, gently holding her. "Princess," he began, "Are you okay?"
Above him, Peach sniffled. "More than okay, my dear Mario."
The nickname made Mario flush even harder, and he stuttered out his response. "Really?"
She sniffled a few times before speaking. She sounded so happy, which was something Mario never would've thought. He was almost expecting her to break down and snap at him, chasing him far away from her.
He focused on her flowery scent, holding her by the waist. He wasn't sure how he was even standing at this point – just her calling him dear swept the ground from beneath his two feet.
"Thank you for confessing your feelings. I'm…" The Princess took a breath. "I'm in love with you, too. I fell for you such a long time ago."
Wait.
Waitwaitwaitwaitwait. What?
The Princess didn't only feel the same, but she'd liked him for a while, too. What? Mario was puzzled, unable to form any clear thoughts inside his head. Had he been stressing out for no reason this whole time? It was unbelievable.
"You're… in love with me? How? When?"
The Princess just giggled and stepped back from the hug, taking his hands back into hers. She leaned down a little to properly see Mario's tomato-coloured face.
"You're so silly," she said and booped his nose again. "There's a reason why I have invited you to my castle every week for months. Didn't you realize?"
Oh.
Oh.
He had never thought of it like that. Luigi had been right all along when he said that the weekly dates were proof enough that the Princess liked him. Was he really this dense that he wasn't able to make such a simple connection?
"Mamma mia."
This time, he wobbled. All those years of admiring the Princess from afar were changed in an instant. She had probably thought the same, admiring him from afar. It honestly made no sense. Peach, in love with someone like Mario? No way. Absolutely no way.
"Whoa!" Peach exclaimed and took a hold of Mario's hands to prevent him from falling over. "Are you okay, Mario?" She gingerly brushed a strand of brown hair out of his eyes, placing a hand on his forehead. "Do you feel sick?"
Mario regained his balance and slapped a hand on his forehead after Peach removed hers. He was chuckling.
"Oh, Principessa, you gave me a heart attack!"
Peach looked confused, and Mario just continued chuckling. "All those years I thought you never saw me that way. For years, I thought I wasn't anyone worth your time. Hearing that you feel the same way is just so utterly unfathomable in the best sense of the word. Mamma mia, mamma mia…"
The Princess giggled and cupped his cheeks with her hands. Their eyes met, and Mario's gaze wandered down to Peach's lips.
"If only we had confessed a little earlier," she whispered, and with newly found confidence, Mario pulled her closer. Their lips brushed against each other, and Mario shuddered. He reached up to brush her hair back behind her ear, making sure that the pink flower stayed in place. He held onto the brim of Peach's sunhat as he leaned closer.
Her hands were cupping his cheeks when their lips finally met. The kiss was soft, a little shy, but full of love. Mario could hear a choir of soft singing, and he realized that the flowers were singing to them. They were cheering them on and celebrating as they kissed and twirled around, the scene straight out of a romantic movie. The song didn't include words, but the notes were just as impactful.
It felt incredibly silly to think that the fire flowers all around them had watched them, supported them and were now joining in the tender moment by singing the breathtaking melody.
The Princess's lips were soft, gentle, and sweet. He could taste the peach-flavoured lip balm she used.
As the couple's lips parted, Peach tittered.
"Do you hear that?"
"Sì. The flowers are singing to us."
They looked into each other's eyes. She looked at him like he was the most important person in the whole world to her, and Mario could feel the tears pooling in his eyes. It was perfect. She was perfect.
For a while, they just held each other silently, listening to the faint choir of countless fire flowers.
"Does this mean…?" Mario asked, unsureness in his voice.
"Yes, it does. I'll be your forever, my beloved plumber." She gave him another kiss, this time to the side of his lips. It was the confirmation he needed.
Mario felt like he was dreaming. They were in love, had been for countless days without the other knowing, and now they were finally the couple he had dreamed of for so long. He wanted to hold Peach and never let go.
Then, a familiar thought popped into his head and he pulled back slightly. He held her from the shoulders, meeting her surprised eyes.
"But you're a princess," Mario said and lowered his gaze. "You could do so much better. You could get a prince, not a commoner like me. There's not a single drop of loyal blood in me. Are you sure about this?"
Peach just giggled at his words. She tilted her head, an amused smile on her face. "Yes, I'm sure. Don't be silly! I don't fall in love as a pastime."
When she put it like that, it made sense. Mario scratched at the back of his neck, a nervous tic of his. "Ahi, I guess you're right. I love you, Principessa."
Peach grabbed the collar of his shirt and just about crashed her lips onto his. This time, the kiss was more passionate, showing the equal feelings they had for each other. The flowers quieted down to a soft, warm hum as they slowly pulled away from the deep kiss.
The Princess sounded love-struck from the embrace, which made the plumber smile. "I love you too, Mario." She averted her gaze, as if embarrassed as she said the next words. "I love when you call me 'princess' in Italian."
Mario chuckled, the happy tears now rolling onto his cheeks. "I should speak more Italian to you then, amore mio."
"Yes, you should," the Princess giggled and gave him another, enchanting kiss. Mario smiled into the kiss, holding her and mumbling sweet words of endearment in Italian against her lips.
"I love you to the moon and back, la mia pesca."