First, I'd like to apologize for being absent for so long. I had a few challenging classes I had to defeat before coming back here.

Secondly, this fanfiction will contain spoilers to the upcoming game, but they will not be released until I have personally played through the levels, so don't worry about being told too much before you play the game.

Lastly, this game contains an alternate opening and an alternate ending to the story. I'm just getting that out of the way.

Oh, I almost forgot. This story is in no way related to "Mario and Peach: Dawn of True Love." That story was a edited version of another fanfiction I read, and this one is all on me.

DISCLAIMER: Characters and plot belong to Nintendo.

Now, on with the show.

Prologue

The Star Festival had come to the Mushroom Kingdom. This was a grand celebration of the birth of the Power Stars that made the land prosper. A flurry of Star Bits fell over the land, painting the ground and rooftops a brilliant array of color. Throughout the land, the residence were celebrating, either by collecting the Star Bits, enjoying the feast, or dancing in the village square.

Mario and Princess Peach, two star-crossed lovers, were slow-dancing together, but the former was a tad half-hearted in his movements. The princess had noticed he seemed preoccupied of late. "Mario, is everything okay?" she asked.

"Of course," he smiled. "How could anything not be okay, when I've got a girlfriend like you?"

The answer briefly mollified her, though she was getting the sense that Mario was waiting for something. He kept glancing down to his pocket.

The two had known each other since he and his brother, Luigi, moved to the kingdom many years ago. When they did, The Mario brothers were plumbers looking to make a living when they moved out of New Donk City. When they arrived, however, the were quickly informed that the kingdom's princess was being held hostage by the evil Koopa King, Bowser. He had longed to conquer the Mushroom Kingdom for many years.

It was ultimately the Mario Brothers who had defeated the Koopa King and saved the princess, which in turn made them heroes and defenders of the Mushroom Kingdom. In the many years to come: the two brothers had found love in Peach and her best friend, Daisy, and found friends in Yoshi, Donkey Kong, Toadsworth, Professor Gadd, and more.

As the party progressed, Mario had decided to make the biggest jump he had made in his life. He and the princess has quietly left the party and made their way to Star Hill, which which overlooked the village and castle. He said he wanted to give her something for once, unlike all the times he was rewarded for rescuing her, but he didn't say what exactly. He wanted it to be a surprise.

"Mario, what's going on?" she asked, even more concerned.

After being asked this, the red-capped man took the princess' hands into his own. "Peach, when I first rescued you, and you rewarded me with that kiss, I knew it was love," Mario began. "You are my light, you're my best friend second only to Luigi, and I want to be your partner in all things. And I can see no better way of us doing so than this…" Mario then kneeled down before the princess and pulled something out of his pocket.

She gasped, cupping her hands over her mouth. Ever since that day she met him, she wanted nothing more than this moment, and now it was finally happening.

"I hope this will show you how much I love you… Peach, will you make me the happiest man in the galaxy and be my wife?"

"Oh, M-Mario..." she stuttered, emotionally overwhelmed. "Y-Yes! Of course, I will!"

He smiled widely and slid the ring on her finger. Then he got up to her and the two shared a warm, passionate kiss.

Little did they realize what was happening around them... Something was watching from behind a nearby bush. Upon seeing the proposal and the engagement kiss, the figure clenched its fists and silently slid away.

Nine months later, the Mushroom Kingdom's "marriage of the millennium" had finally arrived. Guests came from all across the land and beyond. Even Rosalina herself had arrived, but not as a guest. The wedded-to-be wanted her to be the keeper of the peace, to which she gladly accepted.

Mario and Luigi stood side by side, watching as the guests spoke amongst themselves. The green capped one placed a hand on his brother's shoulder. "You ready for the biggest adventure yet, bro?"

Mario nodded. "More than ready. Let's-a go." He stated in a somewhat goofily matter. When he turned back, he saw his bride, looking more radiant in her wedding dress than ever before.

As the music echoed through the hall, she made her way down the aisle, with Toadsworth by her side in place of where her father would normally be. She looked up at Mario and she knew this would the happiest day of her life. When they reached the end, Toadsworth lifted the veil that covered her face. She noticed a few tears in his eyes.

"I always knew this day would come. But now, I'm afraid that it has come all too soon."

"Oh, Toadsworth…" she hugged her trusted advisor in a loving manner. Since her parents passed away, he really did become the father she never had growing up. Once they released, Toadsworth handed her hand over to that of Mario.

The two walked up the small flight of stairs to the altar, where Rosalina waited. The ceremony seemed to move slowly, which both Mario and Peach considered a blessing. They wanted to live in the moment for as long as they could. Soon, after the exchange of the rings, Rosalina began to make the official proclamation. "By the power granted to me by the stars, I now pronounce you-!"

But before she could finish her sentence, the roof above them was stripped off of the church by a large metallic claw. Several people screamed as dust and rubble fell around outside sky, from where they stood, was filled with airships of all sizes. However, unlike most other times, they were painted white, with purple banners and carpeted decks.

From atop the largest and closest of them all, Bowser stood triumphant, dressed in white wedding attire, and donning a white, spiked top hat. He glared down at the scene before him, focusing at the two at the altar. "Princess Toadstool," he began, "the Koopa and Mushroom Kingdoms unite through our union as husband and wife." A sinister laugh arose from the king. "This wedding's over!" From overhead, another claw emerged, and returned to its source, taking a screaming bride with it.

"PEACH!" Mario super-jumped out after her, and the rest of his friends follow. However, the Koopa King was prepared. He then pointed toward the mass and roared. From the other ships, cannons fired and large glowing projectiles were shot out. One by one, the heroes of the kingdom were struck and encased in a crystal, which the other airships caught and pulled in. Only Mario remained.

He landed on the ship and charged at her love, but Bowser jumped between, narrowly missing Mario as he leaped back. Then the Koopa King spat a large ball of fire at his enemy, who narrowly dodged it as it soared into the clouds. Mario straightened his cap as he stared at his enemy, who stood opposite of him. "This is the end… for you!"

Bowser stomped the deck hard, and a trapdoor opened beneath Mario. The Mushroom hero fell into the hull of the ship... immediately finding out it was filled to the rim with Bob-Ombs and other explosives!

As Mario tried to escape, Bowser took Peach and boarded another airship. Said ship hovered away, and Bowser pointed to the one Mario was trapped within. "All cannons, FIRE!" All the other ships bombarded the trap with Bullet Bills from all sides. Within seconds of the bombardment, the ship exploded, a shockwave pushing the other airships away from point zero.

"MARIO!" shouted Peach as he disappeared.

His signature cap slowly fell to the floor in front of Bowser, who then stomped over it with his large, steel-toed shoe. "Finally, my ambitions will be achieved, and this time, no one's gonna stop me!" He laughed as he then picked up the cap and tossed it into one of the airship's propellor. The propellor shredded the cap into several tiny pieces, which were scattered to the winds. The wedding of the millennium was no more...

As the airship flew into the distance, a small creature watched it. It held a shred of Mario's cap in its grasp. "Mario… maybe he can help me…"

Super Mario Odyssey
The Novelization