((Artwork and concept by MattCarberry.))

[Princess Peach had gone missing (and no, it wasn't Bowser this time). Last anyone heard, she had found a strange unknown power-up in an underground cave. No one knew what happened to her after that. Toadworth had assumed her royal duties while Mario, Luigi, and even Bowser had gone searching for her.]

You had traveled deep into "Swooping Shadows", a large forest located in a massive valley filled with creepy towering trees, deep caves, and small abandoned villages. It was made all the more treacherous by the variety of territorial creatures who lurked in the darkness, but none as abundant as the numerous swarms of relentless swoops.

In the very center of it all was a large castle on top of a hill, and that's where you had just arrived. You walked into the lobby of the castle. It was all illuminated by candlelight and look nicely upkept, so it was clear that someone still lived here.

You looked up and saw numerous swoops hanging upside down from the ceiling. While it was alarming amount of them, these had yet to fly down and attack like the rest you encountered… When you resumed looking straight ahead, a strange woman had spontaneously appeared from seemingly nowhere and stood directly before you.

She looked suspiciously like the missing princess... While she looked identical at first, the more you looked at her the more apparent differences you noticed. She was taller, her blonde hair was a lighter more whitish tone, and her eyes were pink opposed to blue.

Her ensemble consisted of a magenta and purple dress that reached the floor, big round red earrings, and a necklace with three pink gems embedded into it. Her makeup consisted of magenta eye shadow and thick eyeliner and pinkish-purple lipstick.

"Ah, I hope I didn't startle you. Allow me to introduce myself. Good evening, I am Countess Peach. A pleasure to make your acquaintance."

She spoke with sultry persuasive voice as she curtsied. You can swear you saw her fangs when she smiled...