One PieceThe Movie
(the following is a nonprofit fan based parody any characters from one piece is owned by Eiichiro Oda, Toei Animation Co., Ltd., any characters from super Mario are owned by Nintendo, any characters from troll hunters, are owned by DreamWorks and universal
Disclaimer
Some of the characters found in this story and / or universe do not belong to me, but are intellectual property of their respective owners. Any original characters in this story are my intellectual property.
Story nonprofit created fan and fan without compromising the original work.)
Chapter 22: Departure
(The Mushroom Kingdom: Peach's Castle)
The golden light of morning poured through the tall stained-glass window, casting rainbow patterns across the polished pink stone floor of the guest chamber. Outside, birds chirped in gentle rhythm, and the Mushroom Kingdom buzzed with the soft sounds of a kingdom awakening.
Inside, however, the only sound was the loud, rhythmic snoring of one Monkey D. Luffy.
He was wrapped in thick, cloud-like blankets that had somehow cocooned around him in the night. One leg hung off the bed, his hat asked, and a snot bubble had formed from his nose, inflating and deflating with each breath.
The bed beneath him was absurdly soft so soft it made him briefly dream of sleeping on cotton candy clouds or Chopper's puffball form during a prank gone wrong.
He was sleeping quite peacefully that was until the snot bubble suddenly popped causing him to jolt awake.
POP!
The snot bubble burst, and Luffy shot upright with a snort, his eyes blinking wildly,"Huh—what?!"
He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes, stretched his arms out wide with a huge yawn that echoed around the elegant chamber As his mouth stretched wide, and then scratched his back with both hands like a bear on a tree trunk.
It took him a solid ten seconds before his eyes landed on the surroundings, —the regal pink walls, the tall crystal vases, the golden-framed mirror, and the silk curtains lazily swaying in the breeze,"This ain't the Sunny…",Once he was done he retracted his arms and began scratching his back.
It took him a moment until it all slowly came back to him and he remembered the situation he was in.
Zoro.
Vanellope.
The warp pipe.
His face dropped slightly,"Right…",For a moment just a moment the usual Luffy joy flickered, buried under something a little more focused and quieter.
But just as quickly as he remembered the situation, he just as quickly as he had forgotten about it because after a moment of struggling to escape the blanket's clutches, he sprang to his feet, threw on his straw hat.
He swung his legs off the side of the bed and scanned the bedroom he was given in the Princess's castle.
And it was, without a doubt, one of the coziest, weirdest, and most colorful rooms he'd ever crashed in.
He then got up off of the bed and walked towards the center of the room, jaw slack, eyes sweeping from one corner to the next with a rare moment of stillness.
The room was hugely spacious, like way bigger than his cabin on the Sunny. High ceilings, crystal chandeliers, and golden trim lined the walls. Velvet drapes, mushroom-themed furniture, and a plush red carpet led toward the double doors at the far end. It smelled faintly of strawberries and fresh bread. The walls were high and arched, coated in soft pastel tones that shimmered with faint enchantment. They were a soft pastel pink with mushroom patterns subtly etched into the trim, like the designers couldn't decide between "fairytale royal" and "kindergarten whimsy." The ceiling arched high above in a dome shape, painted like a soft blue sky with fluffy white clouds, making it feel like he was sleeping outside on a clear day. A chandelier shaped like a giant Star with pearl black eyes hung from the center, glittering with soft golden light that flickers like sunlight on waves. Golden trim bordered everything, from the chandelier above to the dresser drawers across the room. Sunlight poured through a massive stained-glass window depicting Princess Peach holding a star-shaped wand, casting kaleidoscopic colors across the floor.
The floor itself?
Marble and mostly Sparkling like someone waxed it with sugar.The banners hanging along the wall had the Mushroom Kingdom's crest, another yellow star nestled inside a red-crowned mushroom and gently fluttered, even though there was no breeze. There was this constant smell in the air too.
And the bed was huge,a circular mattress big enough for three or five Luffys to sleep starfish-style across without bumping elbows. A massive, circular mattress with pink sheets, puffy pillows stacked like a cloud tower, and a royal canopy draped above it all in flowing golden fabric. The frame was trimmed with gold and little mushroom carvings, and the plush bedding was a vibrant mix of reds, creams, and soft whites. It was all absurdly soft and smelled faintly like strawberries.
Near the foot of the bed was a thick red carpet shaped like a Fiery like Flower, also with eyes, and off to the left, a small round table sat next to a wide window, which opened to a balcony overlooking the Mushroom Kingdom courtyard. The stained-glass windows above it featured depictions of princess Peach in an angelic pose.
Luffy hadn't paid much attention, but Zoro would've definitely made fun of the overly dramatic art.
In the corner sat a mushroom-shaped wardrobe, which looked like it might come alive and talk any second. It had tiny gold handles and squeaky doors that creaked like they were trying to hold in a sneeze every time you opened them.
A little shelf near the bed held an assortment of oddities: a vase of Fiery Flowers, a bomb shaped alarm clock (thankfully It didn't look like it was active), and a framed photo of what looks like a royal picnic With all these little mushroom guys.
Luffy had spent a few nights in tons of different Castles over the years of him being a pirate but this one was definitely the most different of them all.
As he was still checking out the layout of the room, he walked across the pink-marble floor and opened the balcony doors wide. A burst of warm wind hit him in the face as he took in the Mushroom Kingdom in full daylight for the first time. Down below, colorful toads bustled through streets shaped like a candyland daydream, different toads walked by each other hauling mailbags, and faint music played from somewhere that smelled suspiciously like mushrooms, go figure.
As Luffy stood on the balcony, he peered down at the Mushroom Kingdom below.
The kingdom was slowly returning to its usual vibrant self.
Toads bustled about, repairing stalls, sweeping up debris, and chatting animatedly.
The signs of the recent chaos caused by those weird turtle soldiers and that monstrous, chomping ball of teeth were still evident.
The fight with those little turtle guys yesterday really did a number on the city, especially that giant ball with a mouth and a chain.
Though these little mushroom guys did a good job of showing that it didn't bother them much because here they were again going about the regular lives repairing their Kingdom almost as if it was all just some crazy party.
Luffy watched as the Toads worked together, their resilience and spirit shining through.
The streets were lined with colorful market stalls being put back together, and the cheerful, determined chatter of the mushroom folk floated up to him.
A small grin tugged at Luffy's lips.
He admired their tenacity, it reminded him of his own crew and all the people they'd helped over the years.
Though the circumstances of this situation were definitely a lot different than they usually are.
This time well at least from what he was able to gather he was in a whole nother world without the rest of his crew it was only him and well wherever Zoro was.
Sure they've been in bed situations before plenty of times especially when they've all gotten separated but now this time they weren't really going to have any of the well more intelligent members of the crew here with them they were kind of on their own.
He already tried using his transponder snail last night to see if we could try to contact the others.
Though that didn't exactly go well because all he got on the other and was static with no response on the other end.
So not even long distance communication could help him find out where his buddy was.
Well one thing was for sure despite the difference in the situation they could always rely on the old fashioned way.
Which was by long-distance traveling to look for his buddy until he found a hint of him.
And thankfully he would have someone to help him with that.
The princess.
She had been super nice to him after the fight with those turtle guys yesterday.
Even after she threw him at a wall and a few guards knocked out by accident when he Broke into the castle to go and see her, she still helped him fight them, offered him a room, let him have some fun in an outdoor floating training course, and promised to do everything she could to help him find his friends.
Oh.
There it was again, thinking about his old friend from back in the day brought up a reminder of not only his current situation but mostly now about his missing friends as well.
As he continued staring out into the mushroom kingdom's toad town one thought was the only thing that seemed to be clouding his head at that moment. "Where'd you guys end up?"
He remembered Zoro yelling at him to grab the rail.
Vanellope had tried to glitch over but lost momentum.
The whole world had twisted into a swirl of fire and smoke and sound.
Luffy stared blankly for a moment, the distant memory of his crewmates' fates still replaying in his head.
(Flashback:
It all happened so quickly, the speed that they were going at and the sudden force of the split pipes caused Luffy to accidentally let go of the ship's rail. But instead of going into the same direction as his two friends, he was sent through another.
Luffy looked on in horror as he soon realized that he was going down another pipe and being separated from his friends. He threw and stretched out his hand in a hurry to try and grab hold of the ship, but alas it was too late.
He was already too far down to be able to reach them in time "ZORO, VANELLOPE"!!!!!!!, he cried out to his friends as they went further into the pipes.
Zoro and Vanellope were in too much shock and were moving too fast to be able to respond.
Luffy watched as they both sucked into a much less friendly looking pipe.
The clouds around it were foggy and filled with lava, the pipe at South looked as if it was made from stones that came from magma.
He could do nothing as he saw both of his friends enter into the terrifying pipe. He tries his best to reach out to them, but to no avail.
They were gone and he couldn't do anything about it. But he didn't have time to be sorry, because suddenly he turned to his front, and saw that he himself was about to enter another pipe.
He looked around to see if he could find anything to grab, but there was nothing
What are you got right in front of the pipe he grabbed onto one of the sides of it trying to hold on it's tight as possible.
But the force of the pipe was so strong that he let go quickly and was sucked into this new pipe.
He didn't know where he was going on the other side of that pipe, and he sure as hell didn't know what was waiting for him on the other side.
End of flashback:)
Luffy then blinked, snapping himself out of his thoughts.
Though he mind still lingered on that devastating site
The sight of his friends being sucked into that fiery pipe as they were split apart away from each other.
Zoro, Vanellope, the Thousand Sunny, all of them are gone.
Sucked through that green lava pipe into who knows where.
Then the blinding light.
Then the silence.
Then...nothing.
Just this place.
This colorful, weirdly friendly kingdom of mushroom people…this colorful, fungus looking, sunshine-soaked world that looked like it belonged in one of Usopp's bedtime stories.
He exhaled slowly, eyes drifting to the soft morning sun filtering through the stained glass,"…Hope you guys didn't land somewhere worse," he mumbled, before standing up and cracking his back like it was just another day on the sea, "And you guys better be okay because we still gotta finish our vacation, damn it."
All he could do was hope that his three friends were somewhere safe and weren't hurt.
But before he did that.....
he should probably get something to eat.
He momentarily took his mind off of all of the tragedy to finally take a real look around the room he'd been given.
Up until now, he'd been moving on pure instinct, going through that green pipe, crash-landing into a giant mushroom, making his way through the Mushroom Kingdom, And fighting a bunch of evil Turtles.
But now, with no battles to distract him, no immediate danger to punch, and his stomach only mildly grumbling instead of full-on roaring
Then—
GRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAUUUUULLL.
There it goes…..
His stomach let out a monstrous roar that echoed across the room like a war cry.
Luffy blinked, then placed a hand over his belly,"Oop. Better get me some food."
Another second of silence.
Looks like you need to start fueling up if he was going to get this adventure on the road.
He had to make sure he got his fair share of meat in order to be ready to kick this Bular guy's ass.
But, first things first....FOOD!
Then he grinned ear to ear again, As he turned away from the balcony and went back into the room, closed the doors and stomped toward the grand double doors like he was about to crash a royal wedding.
But before he could go and grab for the handles, there was a knock at the door.
"Master Straw Hat," came Toadsworth's muffled voice. "Breakfast is ready, if you're awake."
Luffy's stomach answered before he loudly screamed,"FOOOOOD!!!"
He shot out of the room in a literal blink of an eye like a cannonball, arms swinging, bare feet slapping loudly against the marble as he tore down the hallway with all the subtlety of an earthquake.
His straw hat bounced slightly with each stride, and his eyes sparkled with anticipation like a kid on the last day of a candy sale. Leaving a trail of Fire right after him, and face planted straight into a mushroom-painted wall with a thud.
The impact made him flatten completely on his front side like a piece of clay.
Well actually in this case rubber....
It scared the dickens right out of Toadsworth who had luckily moved out of the way in time before being hit by any of the doors as he then planted his back to the wall next to the door..
"Oh good heavens!",he exclaimed, clutching his chest and in complete shock as the door that was about to impact him had just stopped coming at him almost centimeters to his face, his mustache and particular.
It took him a long time to grow that seriously especially because he wasn't even sure that toads could grow mustaches.
Not only that but Luffy also ended up startling two nearby Toad guards who jumped about a foot in the air.
After Toadsworth had done a quick sweep of himself to make sure he wasn't injured he then fixed himself up, tidying up his mustache, his bow tie, his vest and the rest of his outfit before carefully using his cane to push the door back into place.
He then turned and saw where Master Straw Hat had ended up.
Right in the wall as he had heard the loud THUD from earlier.
He watched as Luffy then slowly slid down to the floor almost like a sort of slug leaving drool marks on the wall.
That was going to be fun for all the cleaners of the castle to clean up.
He then slowly made his way towards the straw hatred individual almost to check and see if he even still had a pulse.
And just when he was about to poke the young glad with his Cane suddenly heard something from the pirate.
"…I'm okay!" he loudly muffled, thumb raised from the floor.
Oh well that checks.
Luffy then hopped up off the floor and has to be expected his entire front half was completely flattened.
So he placed his hand over his nose and mouth and reinflated himself like a balloon at a Carnival.
Wow and Toadsworth thought he had seen everything this world had to offer.
Once Luffy had finished reinflating himself he quickly scanned the area until his eyes darted right at the old mushroom himself.
He grinned wide, still a little dizzy from the impact but already full of that unshakable Luffy energy. "Oi, old mushroom dude! Did you say breakfast?!"
Toadsworth blinked, dusting a speck off his vest. "Er… yes, Master Straw Hat. The royal kitchen has prepared a rather modest selection this morning. Fresh pastries, mushroom stew, pancakes, eggs, waffles, and, er… , per Her Highness's instructions."
That was all Luffy needed to hear.
"FOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!" he bellowed, his voice echoing down the long, ornate hallway like a war horn.
Before Toadsworth could react, Luffy zoomed past him again in a blur of bare feet and rubber limbs, knocking the poor butlers out from under him in the process and causing the nearby guards to dive out of the way.
Toadsworth spun slightly in place from the gust of air Luffy left behind. "Good heavens… I've never seen anyone so excited about refreshments."
And with that he then chased after him which wasn't exactly easy since he wasn't the age but he used to be, especially since he didn't really have legs so made it quite challenging.
As Luffy darted down the hallway, weaving past startled servants and tripping over a stack of porcelain plates carried by a terrified Toad chef.
Causing him the land face first into the floor.
Though once again there was a moment of silence before he then hopped up, reinflated his face and went about his journey to the food court wherever it was.
The chefs just stood there in place completely silent, he was too startled about what had just happened to speak
The palace halls had known all kinds of chaos, but none of it, none of it, could've prepared them for Monkey D. Luffy tearing through the castle like a meat-seeking missile.
"FOOOOOOOOOOD!!!"His voice shook chandeliers and made paintings tilt on their hooks. One poor Toad servant dropped an entire tray of teacups just from the sheer volume of the shout.
Toadsworth wheezed behind him, one hand holding his hat and the other gripping his cane with mortal desperation. "S-Slow down, Master Straw Hat! The dining hall is this way! No, that—oh heavens, now he's on the ceiling!"
Indeed, Luffy had ricocheted off a bannister, launched himself off the wall, bounced onto a passing trolley of newly carved royal statues, and was now sprinting along the ceiling like gravity was a suggestion.
Meanwhile, a terrified line of Toad servants spotted the young pirate coming right their way in a dangerously fast fashion.
"He's coming back this way!"
"Brace for impact!"
"Why is he foaming at the mouth!"
One poor Toad chef, carrying a delicate tower of fruit tarts, turned a corner just in time to see the Straw Hat bullet barreling his way,"Oh My Go—!"
CRASH.
The cart exploded into a sugary burst of cherries, cream, and horror as Luffy bounced off it like a trampoline, his momentum only increasing.
Toadsworth finally caught up just in time to see Luffy flatten like a Looney Tune into the floor again. He lay there, motionless, face embedded in the marble, a single cherry perched delicately on top of his hat.
The hallway went dead silent.
Toadsworth, panting like he'd just outrun a herd of angry Yoshis, leaned on his cane and stared at the human-shaped imprint in the floor,"Oh dear heavens above, he's broken the—"
Luffy suddenly popped up with a massive SPROING, face reinflating like a balloon animal and voice chipper as ever.
"Still good!", He then looked around checking out his surroundings before frowning, "Where's the food court again?!"
Toadsworth, blinking slowly as he finally started to catch up to him, took a moment to straighten his vest and pat down his mustache, which was now comically frazzled.
"…Right this way, Master Straw Hat," he said with the patience of a war-weary general, "If you'll kindly follow me at a slightly more survivable pace?"
"Oh it looks like it's over there !" Luffy pumped his fist and then took off at that same breakneck speed.
"OH FOR GOODNESS SAKES!" Toadsworth shrieked, stomping his tiny foot once before he started waddling after him again. "I am far too old for this…!"
Behind them, the hallway was a disaster zone, flattened carts, broken statues, frightened toads clinging to the walls like cats in a thunderstorm.
As they vanished around the corner, a pair of Toad guards just watched in stunned silence.
"Should… should we do something?"
The other guard shook his head, eyes wide. "Nope. I like my job. I like my life. I like my spine unbroken."
And somewhere in the chaos, Luffy's laughter rang out like a battle cry of pure joy,"BREAKFASTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!"
He continued his wild, hyper-charged rampage through the castle halls, his sandaled feet slapping against the polished floors with cartoonish speed. Curtains flapped in his wake. Chandeliers trembled on their chains. A passing Toad butler yelped and dove into a potted plant to avoid getting flattened.
Then, suddenly, he skidded to a stop, nearly spinning a full 360 degrees, when he spotted a couple of Mushroom Kingdom staff members huddled near a tapestry.
"Oi! Mushroom dudes!" he bellowed, arms thrown wide, voice echoing through the castle halls as he then ran towards them. "You guys know where I can find the food in this place?! I'm starving!"
The Toads stared at him like he was a living hurricane. One of them, wearing a red vest and little glasses, fumbled with a clipboard. "Uh—uh—yes, sir, Mr. Straw Hat, sir! If you follow us we can escort you to the royal dining room, or lunch—wait, what time is it? Uh—Chef Toadsamsey is preparing the kitchen now—"
"I WANNA SEE IT!" Luffy shouted loudly to his face, completely interrupting him, as he grabbed the poor Toad by the shoulders, nose twitching wildly. "TAKE ME TO FOOD!"
The Toad squeaked, Before passing out, the poor little guy's face turning almost completely white and shock
The young pirate simply stares at him blankly before shrugging his shoulders carefully placing him on the floor and continuing his search for the dining hall.
He used his nose which was what he could consider one of his greatest tools as a means of looking for this said food and he knew he was getting closer based on the smell of freshly made pancakes.
Luffy grinned, bouncing behind them like a kid who just got told there was a candy buffet waiting.
Without needing to be told twice, Luffy dropped the poor Toad, who wobbled unsteadily before scurrying ahead like his life depended on it. Luffy practically bounced along behind him like an overexcited rubber ball, arms swinging, feet barely touching the floor.
Luffy skidded around a corner, arms flailing for balance as he slipped a bit on the polished floor. "Woooah—! Whoa-ho-ho! Slippery!" he laughed, recovering just before he collided with a very startled Toad maid carrying a stack of folded towels.
"Oh! M-Master Straw Hat!" he gasped, nearly dropping the towels.
"WAAHH—FOOD!" Luffy shouted, zeroing in on the tray like a hawk. His nose twitched, catching the unmistakable scent of butter and syrup. "Hey, do you know where I can find some food?!"
"U-Um, well, no—Wait yes I do if you head down this hall and take a left I mean no right then you'll make it to ther—!"
As soon as the words left the Toad's mouth Luffy immediately bolted in the direction that he had suggested.
Leaving the toad maid completely speechless after this extremely strange interaction.
The maid stood frozen, mouth agape, unsure whether to scream or bow.
Luffy ran down the hall with lightning speed almost causing things to be knocked over and broken if not for Toadsworth who was luckily there in time with a few other toes to catch all of the vases, paintings and artwork pieces that were almost shattered on the floor..
"Sorry!" he said between huffs, waving at them as he kept moving. "I'll get my own breakfast, don't worry! Thanks, Mushroomheads!"
He turned the next corner and continued tearing through the castle like a storm made of rubber and hunger Following the exact instructions that the tow made had given him. His stomach let out another loud growl, reminding him what this mission was all about.
"Man, this place is huge," he muttered, slowing for a moment to peer down a side hall. "Hope I don't get lost before breakfast…"
He paused in front of a massive set of double doors carved with mushroom insignias and lined with shimmering gold leaf. From behind them came the unmistakable scent of sizzling eggs, toast, and something fruity. He sniffed the air like a bloodhound. "Bingo."
He shoved the doors open with both hands, revealing a bright light on the end of it that temporarily blinded him until his eyes finally adjusted only to be greeted by a mostly empty dining hall… mostly.
The royal dining hall of Peach's Castle was nothing short of breathtaking. Though the outside of the castle gave off a whimsical, pastel fairytale charm, the interior of the breakfast hall held a warm regality that blended elegance with the Mushroom Kingdom's quirky flair.
The room itself was massive, shaped like a rotunda, with high vaulted ceilings painted to resemble a morning sky soft blues brushed with streaks of peach-pink clouds, as if the dawn itself had been frozen in time overhead. Sunlight beamed through wide arched windows adorned with golden trim and little flower boxes that bloomed with fire flowers and smiling sunflowers, swaying gently despite the still air.
The long breakfast table, a polished oaken marvel with curved legs carved into toadstool patterns stretched nearly from one end of the room to the other, but was decorated with such abundance it looked like a banquet was about to begin. Plates of stacked pancakes drizzled in syrup, colorful fruit arrangements cut into star shapes, bowls of hot porridge with cinnamon steam curling from them, and platters of fluffy scrambled eggs and mushroom omelets (he politely ignored those) were arranged with cartoonish perfection. At the center was a gigantic silver dome tray, currently covered, but if the smell wafting from it was any clue, it was likely filled with a dessert of some kind, something Luffy's nose would surely zero in on immediately.
Chairs of all sizes were placed along the table, clearly designed to accommodate guests from various kingdoms; some were tall and sleek for humanoid guests like Peach, while others were small, rounded, and cushioned, with gaps for stubby mushroom feet. The high-backed seat at the head of the table bore Peach's royal crest, an engraved golden crown with a soft pink heart beneath it.
The walls were decorated with hanging tapestries depicting scenes of the Mushroom Kingdom's victories and celebrations: Princess Peach holding a golden star above his head, Toads waving flags, and Peach standing at the balcony of her castle with a soft smile. Crystal chandeliers hung overhead, but instead of candles or electric lights, they sparkled with glowing power stars that floated lazily within the crystal cages, giving off a soft, magical light that shimmered like sunlight on water.
In the corner of the hall, a quartet of Toads in polished white uniforms played soft classical music on whimsical instruments one played a cello carved from a warp pipe, another strummed a lyre that looked suspiciously like a stretched-out Koopa shell. It was a sound of gentle cheer, nothing too loud, perfect for easing into the day.
The air was rich with the aroma of warm maple, buttered toast, sweet fruits, roasted meats, and something… strange but tempting, maybe those new "1-Up muffins" the Toad chefs were always trying out.
And at the far end, standing beside The main chair, was a toad chef, adjusting his chef's hat and nodding approvingly as breakfast was set. He About his head in motion for Luffy to have a seat."Ah you must be Master straw hat please have a seat breakfast is served", he said politely..
"WOOOOOOAH!" Luffy's jaw, practically unhinged, "I GET ALL THIS?!" He charged the table like it was a battlefield and he was leading the cavalry.
The chef nods his head as he once again motions for the young straw hat to take a seat and enjoy the meal.
Oh he didn't have to tell Luffy a third time.
He didn't even use a chair.
He just dove straight into the nearest platter of sunny side up eggs, stuffing four into his mouth at once, eyes closed in pure, blissful ecstasy, "MMMMMMM!"
He chewed, swallowed, grabbed a waffle, folded it like a taco, and crammed that down next.
Toads peered from behind the kitchen doors, watching in horror and awe as the Straw Hat pirate devoured enough food for ten people in under two minutes.
Toadsworth, who had finally been able to catch up to the young straw hat as he burst into the room, dabbed his forehead with a handkerchief as he started catching his breath from all the running. "Good heavens…"
Luffy sat cross-legged on the table, his cheeks bulging like a squirrel. "Sho gooood," he mumbled. "This place is amazin'!"
After a few more minutes of pure chaos and grease, he finally leaned back, arms still holding a pancake and a waffle covered in syrup , a blissful expression on his face, "Maaaaan. This is hittin the spot."
Toadsworth adjusted his monocle as he finally caught up to the Straw Hat boy, wheezing just a little and placing a hand on his rounded mushroom cap as he tried to catch his breath.
"Gracious me," he muttered under his breath. "How does one human move like that before breakfast?"
Toadsworth frowned, straightening his jacket and clutching his cane just a little tighter.
He had been the Princess's loyal steward for decades.
He'd seen war, diplomacy, parades, and invasions.
He had endured Koopas, Kremlings, and cosmic horrors.
But this?
Watching a young man-child who had just the night before sprinted across the ceiling using only his feet and enthusiasm?
This was new.
And in all honesty…..he just couldn't understand what in the Star Spirits' name the Princess saw in this boy.
Yes, he seemed kind.
Yes, he had helped during that brief Koopa ambush at the outskirts of the kingdom.
Yes, the Toad soldiers said he "moved like a blur" and "punched through an entire troop carrier like it was a bubble."
But still...
Toadsworth just didn't know what to make of him.
This Monkey D. Luffy fellow was less of a hero and more of a… culinary hurricane. A walking appetite powered by rubber and recklessness.
And yet, as the boy polished off the last of the syrup with his fingers (at least on one of his many plates) and let out a satisfied "Ahhh!", smiling as if the world was exactly the way it should be,Toadsworth realized something he hadn't expected would take this long for him to realize
He didn't understand him, not one bit.
Toadsworth watched Luffy as he somehow managed to Scarf down a whole plate full of Pancakes that were topped with another plate full of sunny side up eggs making a giant therapy yellow yolk mess, which he used his extremely large mouth and tongue to lick up clean as he then shoved his entire hand in his mouth licking that clean as well. "IT'S DELICIOUS!"
The old steward blinked. "Y-You barely even chewed any of it you just shoved it down your air hole…"
"YUP AND IT WAS DELICIOUS!" Luffy shouted, already digging into another mountain of food before him.
Toadsworth sighed, rubbing his temples.
This was the boy who was supposed to protect the Princess?
Princess Peach had made it very clear, this trip to Kong Island was important.
Bular's war machine was growing, and the kingdoms were running out of time.
But now they were bringing along a man whose biggest concern seemed to be how many sausages he could fit in his mouth at once?
Toadsworth muttered under his breath, "He's a clear case of mental disability mixed with a bottomless stomach in a straw hat, not a bodyguard…"
He didn't show a single sign of even understanding the severity of the situation or just how much danger they all were in.
Maybe there was a tiny percentage more to him than the sloppy eating and wild shouting.
Maybe, just maybe, Princess Peach saw something Toadsworth couldn't.
Still, as he watched Luffy somehow swallow an entire roast ham bone and all, he couldn't help but seriously have doubts about that.
There was no way he could just allow this boy to go on this important Mission with the princess without giving him a serious talking to.
Toadsworth is going to have to try his best to keep up that conversation with the young man, though it was proving to be a challenge… a very messy one.
Especially when he was seated at the royal breakfast table literally creating food War 3 there for all of the Toads to have a front row seat to see.
But sometimes in life they are forced to play with the cards they are giving.
Toadsworth, standing prim and proper at Luffy's side with a folded scroll of daily updates, cleared his throat politely. "So, Master Straw Hat, the Princess wanted me to inquire—"
"MMMGH?!" Luffy didn't even look up.
His cheeks were stuffed like a chipmunk, hands busy dual-wielding a Crunchy waffle and a fork overloaded with scrambled eggs.
Bits of food flung into the air with every word he attempted to say through it.
Toadsworth flinched as a stray piece of sticky pancake landed on his monocle. He removed it calmly, wiped it clean, and tried again, "Ahem. Yes. As I was attempting to say… the Princess wishes to know if you recall anything unusual about the portal you were pulled through. Any clues that might aid us in locating your friends. She would have asked you this question yesterday after training but due to everything you informed us you had been through up until this point she figured it would be best for you to gain some rest before answering some questions"
Luffy paused, not because he was thinking, but because he needed to burp.
Which he did.
Loudly.
To the point where it shakes the entire room, startling all the Toads around them.
"Uhhh… the water turned weird," he said after swallowing, slapping another pancake on top of his meat mountain. "And this creepy guy in a white suit showed up on the Sunny. Said he wanted to take me somewhere. Zoro didn't like him, so we tried to kick his ass."
"Ah," Toadsworth muttered, adjusting his mustache. "Violent first impressions. Lovely."
Luffy continued without a care in the world. "Then the ocean turned into a toilet swirl—WHOOSH!—and I got sucked through some glowy pink cloudy tunnel thing! Next thing I know, bam, I'm shot outta that glowy tunnel and I land right on one of those big mushrooms."
Toadsworth nodded, jotting down notes on a tiny clipboard. "Fascinating. Highly irregular. Highly."
As Luffy reaches for another plate, mind you, just straight picking it up and shoving it down his throat, Toadsworth Slightly turns away and disgust before turning back towards the pirate again, gently, "And… you are absolutely certain that you and your crew came through the same portal?"
"Yep!" Luffy wiped his mouth with the back of his sleeve, leaving a lovely smear of syrup across his cheek. "We were all hanging on the Sunny! Me, Zoro, and Vanellope!"
"Zoro and Vanellope," Toadsworth repeated, scribbling the name down. "Those are the comrades you've been talking about right, yes?"
Luffy with a mouthful of food not at his head before swallowing, "YEAH! That's them. Those are my friends."
Toadsworth blinked. "… really?"
Luffy smiled and nodded before grabbing another piece of waffle.
Luffy slapped the syrup-dripping waffle into his mouth like it owed him money, chewed twice (if that), and began talking mid-bite, because of course he did.
"Zoro's my first mate!" he grinned proudly, cheeks bulging. "Green hair, Grumpy face, and carries, like, way too many swords. He's always yelling at me for getting lost, but he's got the worst sense of direction outta anyone I know! Seriously, the guy could get lost in a hallway with only one door!"
Toadsworth stared at him in disbelief as Luffy laughed heartily at his own story, nearly choking on a mouthful of ham before punching his own chest to clear it.
"Sounds… reassuring," Toadsworth muttered, scribbling reluctantly on his clipboard.
Luffy nodded enthusiastically. "He's super strong, though! Can cut through anything! One time, he sliced a building in half just 'cause it was in his way. That's why I know he's okay. There ain't no way a dumb portal's gonna stop him."
Toadsworth hesitated. "And the… other one?"
"Vanellope?" Luffy lit up again. "She's the best! She's small, like Toad small, but super fast and she can glitch through stuff! Like ZIP—VWOOM—gone! She ate a devil fruit too like me, giving her the power to glitch herself anywhere".
"I see," Toadsworth said, looking like he almost regretted asking. "So, we are attempting to locate a swordsman with no sense of direction and a small, glitching… child?"
Luffy's smile grew brighter as he still was in the middle of chewing,"Yep".
Toadsworth sighed deeply, setting the clipboard aside as he glanced at the destruction zone that used to be a breakfast table. "And you are all part of… a naval fleet?"
"Nope we're pirates!" Luffy declared with pride, pumping a syrup-covered fist into the air. "Straw Hat Pirates! The best crew on the seas! Well, at least me and my friend Zoro are. And once we find our ship, we're getting back out there!"
There were a few moments of silence from Toadsworth as he stared blankly at Luffy.
He just stood silently beside the syrup-soaked table, on the outside, he remained composed, chin high, mustache neatly curled, monocle polished to a shine.
But internally?
Internally, he was screaming.
He had listened, oh, patiently listened to the young pirate's account of how he and his friends arrived here.
A mysterious man in a white suit?
A swirling whirlpool?
A glowing pink tunnel in the ocean?
They were all sucked through a warp pipe, mind you, and landed in entirely separate locations across dimensions.
Obviously that's what the young pirate was trying to say, but he didn't know how to word it correctly.
Toadsworth's right eye twitched faintly.
Simply watching Luffy, still seated cross-legged on the table like a sugar-fueled deity of chaos, as he gave another triumphant "MMM!" before licking whipped cream off his own elbow, "This pancake's amazin'! You sure your chef ain't part of my crew?"
Toadsworth did not respond. Not immediately, anyway. He was too busy trying to calculate the probability of success when their primary source of information couldn't tell them which way he fell through a dimensional portal.
He pressed a hand over his brow and exhaled silently through his nose.
This was ridiculous this was absolutely ridiculous
This boy expected them to look for individuals with that kind of Lazy description.
Not only that, he gave them a passport description of the man who put him in the situation in the first place.
Which didn't help because they didn't know anyone with a white suit.
And the cherry on top was that this boy didn't have the slightest idea where his friends currently were so in short they had no idea where to look.
How were they supposed to go chasing their tails on two individuals that may or may not be dead?
Individuals of which sound as if they were made of the imagination of the Mind and not of actual reality.
Why, what sort of person would risk their sanity to go and put that sort of task on their shoulders willingly?
And this boy expected them to do that and save their own Kingdom at the same time.
He had to have been out of his mushroomsaken mind if he really thought that was going to be possible.
Toadsworth didn't say any of this aloud, of course.
But oh boy did he want to.
Because he had to be honest with this boy before they made him any more false promises like this.
There just wasn't enough time for them to go on for them to start an entire search party so no he wouldn't exactly give the young boy the honest answer.
At least not yet.
He still had to keep the facade.
He gave the Princess his word that he would see this mission out to the end.
Her voice in matters of diplomacy, protection, and now, apparently, babysitting an interdimensional pirate with the attention span of a bouncy ball.
He was still mustering the mental strength to translate this absurd recounting into something useful for Peach's diplomatic council.
Instead, he adjusted his tie with a trembling composure and gave a tight-lipped nod. "Ah yes, Master Straw Hat. That was… very enlightening."
Luffy beamed, holding up a fork with three different breakfast items impaled on it like a kebab. "Glad I could help!"
Toadsworth gave a slight bow of his head, concealing the deep, bone-weariness in his soul while Luffy sat cross-legged at the grand breakfast table, constructing what might've been the most structurally unsound "burrito" in history, an egg, pancake, syrup, and jam roll-up that sagged under its own weight as he tried to fold it.
His tongue poked out the side of his mouth in concentration, his fingers sticky with syrup and yolk.
Then, without looking up, he asked through a full mouth, "So when's the princess gonna be ready? I'm almost all fueled up an' ready for adventure!"
Toadsworth, who had just been handed a fresh pot of tea by the palace staff, adjusted the monocle on his right eye, glanced at the mess of breakfast carnage before him, and exhaled softly.
He set the tea down on the polished sideboard and approached the table, cane tapping lightly against the floor.
"Ahem. well Master Straw Hat," he said with deliberate care, folding his hands over the handle of his cane. "Her Highness is currently within the Royal Throne Room, finalizing the last of the preparations for the diplomatic journey ahead. She has tasked me with ensuring you are properly fed, briefed, and, well… in a condition suitable for travel."
Luffy swallowed his latest monstrous bite and grinned. "I'm good to go! Got food in my belly, hat on my head, and I'm ready to go punch some bad guys if they try anything funny."
Toadsworth didn't smile.
He didn't laugh frown or even so much as moving eyebrow he just stared at the pirate blankly
He closed his eyes as he took a deep breath before he then set his cane down with a definitive thunk against the marble floor."Master Straw Hat," he said sharply, voice firmer than it had been all morning. "I'm going to need to speak to you about something important. Now."
Luffy, who was in the middle of still chewing on what was left of his food, blinked,"Huh?"
Toadsworth stepped closer, his shadow falling across the table.
"Master Straw Hat… forgive my candor, but I fear you may be misunderstanding the nature of this journey," he said slowly, enunciating each word like it was a nail being hammered into the table.
Luffy blinked, simply staring at the old mushroom, both his lips tight and puckered and head tilted to his right side, completely confused as to what he was talking about.
Toadsworth then palmed his face in a bit of frustration if we're taking a deep breath and continuing.
"I believe we have failed to make this clear to you," Toadsworth said, voice crisp as a pressed napkin. " You and the princess are not traveling for the sake of leisure or wonder."
He slowly and casually places the teacup beside the table, as if to try to make this more physically clear to him as well,"The Princess is to travel to Kong Island to speak with King Crankus and the Council of Barrels along with other Royal members of each of the other kingdoms. A war council, mind you, one that may decide the very future of this realm. If The princess does not secure this alliance, the Mushroom Kingdom will fall before we can mount a defense."
Luffy's brows furrowed slightly. He tilted his head. "Bular… the bad guy whose ass I'm going to kick, he's the one who guys are worried about, right?"
Toadsworth felt an urge to hit the boy upside the head as it seemed as if he hadn't listened to a thing he had said though thankfully he resisted,"Indeed," Toadsworth said, pausing to look Luffy squarely in the eye. "And while I have no doubt of your strength, yes, I must remind you: strength alone is not enough to safeguard Her Highness."
He leaned closer, his tone grave,"This is not merely about fending off attackers. You will be accompanying our Princess on a mission that demands strategy, diplomacy, and above all else responsibility. You must understand what is at stake, Master Straw Hat. If she is harmed, if we fail to reach the Kong Kingdom and unite our forces, it will not just be your friends who will be harmed. There will be slaughter on a much larger scale, involving the entire alliance of the Mushroom Kingdom and all the other kingdoms along with it. "
Luffy sat there, quiet for a moment.
The grin faded, he glanced down at the table, chewing on what Toadsworth had said, and maybe also still chewing a bit of leftover food.
The royal advisor continued,"This is not a game, boy. Bular plans to end the world as we know it."
Wow not even Nami lectured him this hard.
Though this would usually also be the time where she'd hit him really hard as she was lecturing him or before or after .
His voice cracked, just barely,"Everything you saw yesterday with the Koopa ambush was nothing but a taste of the Carnage that was to come if we fail."
He stepped back now, giving Luffy room to process the weight of those words."And yes. The Princess, our Princess, is placing her life in your hands."
Toadsworth's eyes bore into him like steel. His voice quieted again, but it carried just as much force."She believes in you. I for the love of me don't know why. But she does. And that belief is not something to be taken lightly. So then let me make myself perfectly clear… Master Straw Hat.If you fail in this task, if you allow the Princess to fall under your watch… if you let that monster Bular succeed in his warpath… not only will you lose your chance to find your friends… you'll lose everything. Entire realms will burn. Entire species will be wiped from history. This kingdom, and every peaceful land it is tied to, will be dragged into the abyss of fire. And you, Monkey D. Luffy… you'll be the one who has to live with that. I for one, will make certain that the last face you see before the flames take you… is mine"
The room went still.
Toadsworth's final words hung in the air like a heavy fog.
The morning light filtering through the grand dining hall's stained-glass windows cast shimmering rainbow shadows across the syrup-slick table, but not even the cheeriest sunbeam could pierce the silence between the old steward and the Straw Hat pirate.
Luffy hadn't touched his food in over a minute, a new record, probably.
The floppy pancake-egg roll-up sagged in his loose grip, a sugary casualty of the atmosphere.
He wasn't frowning, but the usual infectious grin was gone.
Toadsworth remained standing, arms behind his back, posture military-straight.
His gaze never left the boy.
He was just waiting for any sort of response, almost unsure if he would even get one from this fairly slow individual
But then—
"Alright," Luffy said.
There it was.
The young Pirates' response.
He followed up by stuffing what little of the soggy breakfast abomination that was left into his mouth in one bite, crunch, squish, chewed it three times, then swallowed like a cannon shot.
He patted his stomach, stood up, stretched his arms behind his head with a yawn, then looked back at Toadsworth with a grin that was just as bright as usual.
Then he gave Toadsworth a goofy thumbs-upWith his usual goofy smile,"Don't worry old mushroom , If someone's trying to hurt her, they're gonna have to go through me and then I'll kick their ass. I promise."
Toadsworth blinked.
He opened his mouth to respond, but no words came.
Because somehow… impossibly… those words and that stupid hand gesture made something settle in his gut.
Not assurance, no, far from that, he 100% wasn't sure if this boy had any means of actually protecting the princess.
Not calm no no definitely not that he was almost freaking out about this whole situation.
But something that would tell him that the situation was going to be fine for the most part and that he shouldn't worry as much as he was.
Sure he had almost complete doubts in the boy's ability to remember to keep the princess safe but part of him also was saying that maybe things wouldn't turn out so badly and maybe the princess will be able to pull this off.
And it's not like the princess will listen to his pleas and advice on not bringing this boy along so he might as well not even try to prevent it any longer than he already has.
At the end of the day you might as well just accept the fact that this was happening whether he liked it or not and this boy was about to play a bigger role in a kingdom than anyone else currently residing in the same said Kingdom.
It was probably for the best that he tried not to distort that by any means at least for his princesses sake.
So after finally getting that understanding between the two of them, the old mushroom cleared his throat and adjusted his monocle as he then stepped up from his seat. "…Very well, Master Straw Hat. I shall inform the Princess," he said, turning toward the door. "Get yourself cleaned up, Master Straw Hat. We depart within the hour. "
He turned on his heel and grabbed the door handle but not before turning back one last time,"And please… for the love of all that grows in the Flower Kingdom try not to touch anything that might be breakable."
With that, the old steward turned and walked out, his cane tapping, his mind still heavy, but now perhaps carrying a sliver of hope. Just enough to keep going
As Toadsworth exited with his usual stiff dignity, Luffy flopped back into the chair and let out a satisfied burp that echoed off the gold-trimmed walls.
"Man," he muttered to himself with a lazy smile, "This kingdom's got some intense Mushroom people."
He then hopped out of his seat, placed his hands behind his head and whistled as he made his way out of the room.
(Throne Room)
The soft golden light of morning filtered through the high arched windows of the throne room, casting a warm glow across the polished marble floors and pale pink drapery.
Dust motes drifted lazily in the air, dancing through sunbeams like falling stars.
The atmosphere felt serene, almost peaceful as well as completely at odds with the storm brewing inside her.
Princess Peach Toadstool stood at the center of the room, not seated on her throne, but pacing slowly in front of it, her heels clicking softly against the polished tiles rhythm matched only by the subtle crinkle of parchment.
Her elegant pink gown shifted with every motion, swaying slightly at the hem, her white gloves fidgeting restlessly as her lips moved in barely audible rehearsal.
Her crown tilted ever so slightly from her constant movement, the delicate ring of gold shifting with every agitated motion of her head.
Clutched tightly in her white-gloved hands were a bunch of flash cards that were creased, smudged, and wrinkled at the edges from how many times she'd scanned, flipped and re-written them.
Her brows were furrowed in tight concentration, lips pursed in a line of quiet frustration as she took a deep breath and tried once again to deliver the speech she'd been preparing for days.
"(Ahem) We… We must stand united," she said aloud to no one, other than one of the mushroom toads named Toadminister, her voice echoing softly across the empty room. "If we don't act now, Bular's army will continue to spread… destroying kingdoms one by one, until nothing remains. We cannot allow fear to divide us…"
She stopped mid-step, exhaled through her nose, and groaned,"Ugh. That sounded flat."
This was frustrating.
She's been at this for hours but still she couldn't make it sound right no matter how hard she tried.
She turned on her heel and looked to the only other figure in the room, Toadminster, a nervous, spectacled Toad with a tall stack of notes balanced precariously in his arms.
He blinked behind his oversized glasses, ears twitching as he tried to offer a helpful smile. "Well, um… it was a full sentence this time, Your Highness," he said. "So that's progress! Now all we have to do is try to have this message in paragraphs"
Peach stared at him blankly as a response to that obvious suggestion as she began to speak to him, deadpanned, "Toadminster, I'm not asking you to grade my grammar. I'm trying to make sure that this message sounds right and inspirational"
The toad Minister began to panic as he realized that what he had said may have upset his princess and so he quickly stuttered and stammered trying to fix up his miscommunication, "R-Right! Sorry! Just trying to keep things positive!"
She sighed, turning away again to look at the massive stained-glass window depicting her standing elegantly for all the Toads below to see and admire freely.
She needed to remind herself that she was the inspiration for all of the Toads, that the same princess on that stained glass was the same one standing right there about to deliver the most important speech of all time.
With that tiny bit of motivation she turned again to the scroll and started once more,"Leaders of the Unified Realms… I come to you not as a ruler, but as a voice for those who cannot fight. We are facing a new age of darkness, a threat unlike anything our worlds have faced before. Bular The Butcher, The King of the Trolls, A king that does not want peace. He does not want negotiation. He seeks conquest. Subjugation. Annihilation."
She paused, realizing that that message sounded a little too over the top.
She then frowned before turning to the Toadminister to ask his opinion on it. "Too dramatic?"
"No, no, the drama's good!" Toadminster piped in quickly, shuffling his notes. "But… perhaps you could soften the phrasing at the start? 'Not as a ruler' makes it sound like you're abdicating your position. And you're not. You're asking for allegiance as a ruler, right?"
Peach groaned again and ran a hand through her bangs. "Exactly! I don't want to sound weak, but I don't want to come off like I'm demanding, either. We need them to believe in this alliance, not a hostile royal takeover. We need them to believe in me in order to do that."
Toadminster fidgeted. "Maybe we should go back to the part about mutual interest? The uh shared threat portion? Or maybe what they receive and have to gain by helping in this alliance?"
She thought about it for a moment before she held up a finger, eyes lighting for a brief second as another phrase came to her.
Princess Peach exhaled slowly through her nose, unfurling the scroll again with trembling fingers. She cleared her throat, stood tall, and tried once more,"We must—" she began, voice cracking slightly. "We must unite under—under the common cause of—of… defeating the… the darkness that—"
She faltered with unsureness before just stopping all together,"Ugh! What am I doing?!"
Her shoulders then dropped. Her lips pressed into a line as her hand curled the parchment into a frustrated pile of cards again.
None of this was working.
None of it sounded right.
She was supposed to be the one who would bring all of the kingdoms together.
But how could she do that against a force like Bular when she couldn't even string together a good speech?
And just to add to the mountain of stress already toppling over her, now she was expected to escort some strange, impossibly loud stranger this Straw-headed individual on a journey to find two friends who were likely… she winced, gone. Missing. Possibly worse.
Either way the odds of finding them in one piece were extremely small and unlikely.
And here she was, trying to save entire kingdoms, and she was being roped into a side quest for someone who treated danger like a freaking picnic game.
Yes, he had saved her people yesterday.
Yes, he fought bravely.
Yes, he had skills that were beyond what she expected.
And yes bringing him along could help her complete her journey to the council meeting.
But It was still just as much of an inconvenience to her current situation now she would have to make sure to babysit him along with trying to save the world from the clutches of the trolls.
It didn't matter how you looked at it, it was a bad situation for not just her kingdom but whole other kingdoms that were relying on this meeting going the way it needed to.
Not to mention the fact that the other kingdoms were as stubborn as this war was.
There's a reason why there hadn't been an alliance in years.
And it was because all of the rulers of the other kingdoms were too prideful to listen the reason especially when it came to suggesting the fact that they would need to work together in order to survive
"Toadminster, I'm wasting my time," she muttered bitterly. "They're not going to listenTo this speech. They wish to converse with each other without someone having to micromanage them."
The Toad advisor adjusted his glasses nervously. "Your Highness, that's not necessaril—"
"Don't coddle me," she cut in, not unkindly but definitely straight to the point. In an extremely tired manner. "You've seen how they treat us. Half of them don't even show up to the Unity Councils unless there's trade routes or coins on the table. The other half treat me like a figurehead in a candy kingdom rather than a fellow ruler."
She turned back, expression steeled with anger and doubt battling for dominance,"To them, the Mushroom Kingdom is this cute little fungus land that nobody takes seriously, they don't see a nation or a fellow kingdom. They don't take us seriously half the time, especially not at the meetings when it comes to something important."
Her voice dipped low, matching the depressing nature of the situation,"And now I'm supposed to convince them that a literal warlord troll king is about to scorch the ground under all of us? When some of them still don't even think this threat directly involves them."
Toadminster opened his mouth to say something but simply turned and looked away.
There wasn't much he could say that could actually prove that what she was saying wasn't the case.
Because let's be honest she was far from wrong.
The other kingdoms were selfish, proud, dismissive.
Peach had spent years trying to keep diplomacy alive, only for her kingdom to be treated like a childlike flower-scented afterthought of the real world's politics.
They were belittled in every way by the other kingdoms for no apparent reason other than the fact that the Toads were seen as weak and inferior.
It was a miracle that they managed to even have any relationships with any of the other kingdoms most days when there wasn't a looming threat coming for them.
"And it doesn't help that they all have different reasons for not wanting to participate in this war." She said with frustration as she circled the room. "The Dwarf Kingdom refuses to even acknowledge Bular's rise because they claim it's outside their borders. The Fairy Royals think they're untouchable because they float 'above such primitive matters.' As if Bular can't grow wings or reach a floating castle when he commands trolls the size of fortresses! The Elf Kingdom hasn't responded to a single communique since last month. As if ignoring the rest of the world will make the war pass them by."
Her fists clenched tightly at her sides, fingers crinkling the worn edges of her flashcards,"I've written to them, I've sent gifts to ambassadors. I've sent countless pleas. I practically begged for unity the last time we held a summit. And what do they do in return?"
Peach almost immediately lifted both arms dramatically, her voice shifting into a series of mocking tones of the Elf King, dripping with sarcasm and false refinement,"'Oh, Princess Peach, your kingdom is so delightful! But alas, we simply cannot afford to get involved in affairs so far from our own lands.'"
Toadminster adjusted his glasses again, throat bobbing nervously. "Your Highness, I understand how disheartening this is, but perhaps if we just—"
"—Toadminster, stop," Peach said, turning to him sharply. "I know what you're about to say, but I am tired of pretending this entire situation isn't the tiniest bit infuriating as much as it is terrifying."
She stopped, arms still held outward, face darkening with pure frustration," Stupid little Mushroom people kingdom, that's what they see when they glance at our kingdom."
Peach's voice dropped back into her own as her arms slowly lowered, her whole body sagging with exasperation. "Instead of helping to stop this war from spreading they'll simply argue amongst themselves about Bureaucracy."
Toadminster looked like he wanted to crawl into his own hat.
She walked slowly toward the nearest window again, staring out past the castle gardens to the horizon where the skies turned faintly violet from distant fire smoke residue from yesterday's attack,"It doesn't help that a room full of kings and queens are laughing at you the second your back is turned because we choose to live in colorful mushrooms?"
She turned her back again, facing the window. Her reflection stared back at her in the glass, tired eyes, furrowed brow, slumped shoulders beneath a crown that felt heavier by the second," They don't see a leader when they look at me, they see a mascot of a cutesy kingdom."
She then stopped and faced the tall window again.
The light that streamed through it now cast long shadows across the floor.
"We can't afford to not be all on one page and work together at this point. If Bular brings the bridge here and activates it—" her voice hitched for a moment "—Not only will this whole kingdom fall. They'll have the power to travel to any world they want without the fear of the sun to slow them down and wipe out any enemies in their way. And anyone too scared or too desperate to say no, will join him. Once they become practically Invincible no one will be able to stop them."
Peach stepped away from the window, her skirts whispering against the polished pink stone as she crossed the great hall.
The hem of her gown caught faint glints of sunlight as she approached the centerpiece of the room, a massive circular table inlaid with a topographical map of their world.
Miniature mountains rose in jagged clusters across the northern regions.
The yellow expanse of the Sand Kingdom glimmered faintly beneath the chandelier's light, each dune rendered in textured gold.
Emerald-green forests sprawled across the east, dotted with tiny crystal rivers that caught the light like spun glass.
The central lands, her lands, were a patchwork of soft meadows, giant mushroom hills, and the rose-colored spires of the Mushroom Kingdom Castle itself.
Peach leaned over the table, planting both hands on its edge, her eyes locked on the jagged black scar across the land.
And yet while she was staring down at that table her mind went to a familiar person,"And let's not forget about the stretchy cherry on top".
The toad Minister didn't really need much elaboration who she was referring to.
Obviously it was the same person that had helped save her kingdom yesterday.
Monkey D Luffy.
"Ah Yes princess the young straw-headed boy, I take it that you're finally forcing your concerns when it comes to his situation", He asked curiously of what the princess had to say about the whole situation.
Didn't hesitate to answer the question,"Well there's not really much to say about it. I just now have to find time to also help him find his friends."
Yep the toadminister remembered this quite well considering she announced it to the entire Kingdom.
"Oh...well, my dear princess, 'you' were the one who made that agreement with him in exchange for his services on your journey", he knowingly pointed it out .
"He did go out of his own way to aid us yesterday in stopping the chain chomp mid-rampage and neutralized a whole Koopa troop without breaking a sweat," she reminded her subject. "And with how impressive he was on the training grounds. It would be foolish for me not to obviously bring him along with me."
However that's when her hand came up to rub at her temple, trying to ease the tension forming there like a stormcloud.
"The problem is that he has the mind of a 10 year old boy. I'll practically have to babysit the whole journey. And on the way taking a few detours to look for his friends, who are likely…" she hesitated, looking around before In towards the toadminister's direction and whispering, "…lost."
She then continued to her point,"All while going to beg other kingdoms to start preparing for war. Let's not forget it might have to happen in the opposite of the direction of where I'm going to look for his friends".
The Toad Minister took a step back as he started to see where she was getting at and he could feel her frustration begin to boil outside her royal persona as her voice began to rise.
"Oh and yes how could I not remember that I have to do this within the very limited handful of days I have to assemble this Royal Alliance before the enemy comes to evade my kingdom", she took a deep breath as she realized she had said an earful before looking back again towards her subject," Am I missing anything else"?
The minister quickly shook his head,"No of course not your highness. That seems to be a great summary of our current situation".
Peach let out a sigh of frustration as she continued to lean on the war table,"It's not that I don't want to help him. I do. I truly do. But this isn't a "help me find my possibly dead friends" sort of journey."
Though it wasn't her problem, not really, Peach knew she wasn't the kind of person who could turn a blind eye to someone in need.
That wasn't who she was.
From childhood, she had been taught that compassion was a strength, not a weakness, and that leadership meant extending a hand even when it cost you dearly.
But where would she even start?
The most obvious path, from what the boy had described to them, was the Dark Lands… and that was the worst choice for every reason.
It lay in the opposite direction of her mission.
Opposite of the rapidly closing window before Bular made his next move.
And the Dark Lands weren't just dangerous, they were the very heart of enemy territory.
Troll strongholds, goblin warrens, ogre hunting grounds, and other nightmares that had pledged themselves to Bular's banner.
And that was just the Troll Army she still hadn't even mentioned the Koopas and the kremlings which had stars knows how many forces backing them up.
She could almost see them in her mind's eye, moving through a haze of volcanic fog: hulking silhouettes with cruel, gleaming eyes, armor still wet with the blood of the last battle, chanting in low, guttural voices that echoed through jagged valleys.
A gentle throat-clearing cut through her thoughts.
Peach blinked and turned.
Toadminster stood just beyond the edge of the map table, his small hands clasped behind his back in that ever-proper, ever-measured stance he always adopted before challenging her decisions.
His spectacles caught the rainbowed light from the stained glass above, turning them into two pale coins that briefly hid his expression,"Well, with all due respect, Your Highness…" he began carefully, "If you were feeling this way then why did you decide to invite that young, straw-hatted boy to accompany you yesterday. In the plaza. Right after the Koopa attack."
Peach didn't answer immediately. She let the silence linger, her gaze drifting back to the miniature expanse of the Mushroom Kingdom carved into the center of the war table.
She then said finally, her tone matter-of-fact. "You weren't there, Toadminster. You didn't see him defeat that Chain Chomp and tear through that Koopa troop like they were made of paper streamers."
Her voice had a note of begrudging admiration, though it was tempered by something heavier.
"I'd be an idiot not to bring him along. The only drawback is…" she hesitated, a corner of her mouth twitching in frustration, "…he's a literal man-child with the strength of a hundred Sledge Bros and the attention span of a Fire Flower in the rain."
She stepped around the table, her gloved fingers brushing over the edges of the wooden continents, tracing the lines between her kingdom and the far-off Kong territories.
"Bringing that kind of protection along? Who in their right mind would turn that down for the chance of success. And with those strange… stretchy powers of his, and that immunity to blunt force. ." She glanced at Toadminster then, the corner of her brow lifting slightly. " I'd rather have some muscle like that with me on this journey rather than to try to walk into this unprepared."
Toadminster adjusted his glasses again, clearly unconvinced. "We could always send a few of the royal guard with you—"
"No,"The refusal came quickly, sharper than she'd intended, however it looked as if she was able to get her point across. She softened her tone, but not her stance. "The last thing I want to do is belittle the Toads, but let's be honest, none of them are fighters. Bringing any of you to this event with me would be putting you in danger and could possibly end up slowing me down as a result of that."
She began pacing slowly around the table, her heels clicking against the marble floor as she continued, "We both know that I'd be the one protecting them, not the other way around like it's supposed to be."
Her eyes landed on the miniature model of her own castle in the center of the map, its pink turrets shining under the glass dome. "Besides, we need the royal guard here. If another attack happens while I'm gone, someone has to protect the kingdom. This trip needs to be as discreet as we can make it."
From the look of his facial expressions the toad administer seems as if he was starting to understand where she was coming from.
She stopped pacing and looked directly at him, her expression steeled. "We need to get to the Kong Kingdom as quickly, quietly, and efficiently as possible. The more commotion we cause, the higher the chance we get intercepted. Or worse…" She tapped the miniature model of the Dark Lands with her finger, her voice lowering. "…ambushed."
Toadminster's throat bobbed as he swallowed. "I see."
Peach folded her arms, her gaze drifting once more to the northwest quadrant of the map where the charred terrain of the Dark Lands bled into the edges of Troll territory,"Right now I just can't afford to slow myself down especially when times are as important as these".
Toadminster adjusted his spectacles and drew in a slow breath, clearly weighing his words before speaking.
"If I may, Your Highness," he began carefully, "it isn't that I doubt your judgment. But relying on… such a uniquely educated young man in a matter this dire?"
His brow furrowed as he glanced toward the stained-glass light pooling over the map table. "It was clear from his behavior in the castle yesterday, he hasn't the faintest grasp of the stakes we face. Our kingdom, the lives of our people, the balance of this world and other worlds, should Bular's plan succeed… all of it hangs in the balance."
Peach tilted her head slightly, raising her eyebrow curious as to what he meant, but she didn't interrupt.
"I mean no offense," Toadminster continued, his voice softening, "But we cannot simply turn a blind eye to the fact that we are entrusting the safety of the crown and indeed the fate of every citizen to… him."
(Continue to part 2)