Peach hugged her pink sweater closer to her body as another cool breeze whipped up, dark leaves flying past her, some catching in her blond hair. She watched as her friends get out of the car, everyone's faces lit up in excitement. Peach shared a smile with her best friend Daisy and wished she could feel the way she felt.

` She was not excited, rather Peach was yearning to return to the castle-to the thick pink sheets of her canopy bed and a large mug of hot tea on her nightstand. The Princess preferred the warmth of spring and summer to the chilling touch of autumn and winter. The change of seasons rarely gave pleasure to her, unless of course it was a lovely snowy day, snow falling like soft crystal, but even then she dreamed of sunshine and warm earth beneath her feet.

"I'm so excited, aren't you Peachy?" Daisy laughed, "This is going to be awesome!" Daisy's eyes flashed with anticipation, her short brunette hair fluffing up around her shoulders in the wind.

Peach gave her friend a small smile and watched as Luigi, the last one to leave the car, shuts the door and tighten his green scarf around his neck, "Okay lets head out guys."

The group of friends started through the gates and down a hill towards the lights below. The attraction was new and was a celebration of autumn. There were many things that one could do here, Peach had read the brochure after Daisy had brought it over the night before, talking loudly in excitement, her face aglow. Daisy was very outgoing and loved having fun, so of course a new attraction always lured in the brunette.

Mario seemed to notice Peach's detachment and gave her a curious look, "How are you feeling Princess? Are you cold?"

Peach blushed slightly, feeling everyone's eyes on her now, "Oh! No, but thank you Mario for asking, I'm fine." She gave everyone a smile and they continued down the hill onto even ground.

A goomba child ran by screaming happily, a few others in pursuit. Peach looked around with wide eyes. There were many people here, all of them seeming to enjoy themselves. To their far left was a towering barn where lots of autumn colored lights were strung up around it like Christmas decorations, people rushing in and out of it, some with candied apples in their hands. She also noticed a few games set up far off. What really caught her attention was the huge corn maze to her right.

"Wow." Daisy stepped up to the sign, her friends close behind. The sign was a dull white, an old looking wood, but the paint was bright in colors of black and orange, Halloween colors. It read: The Maze of Screams.

Peach came up behind her friend and read the sign, a frown on her face. Another thing that the princess did not like was being scared. This was one attraction that she didn't want to take part in. Peach began to step away from the sign and towards the light of the barn, when Daisy grabbed her arm.

"Where are you going? Don't you want to try it out?" Daisy grinned at Peach, who just shook her head in return.

"No Daisy, I would much rather sit down somewhere. I…I don't like mazes."

Daisy raised an eyebrow, "Have you ever even been in one Peachy?"

Peach sighed, "No, but…"

"No!" Daisy said, "You are going in with me." The girl's eyes brightened and Peach felt uncomfortable. The last time Daisy's eyes lit up like that, she had been pulled onto a roller coaster. The girl was very stubborn and in the end, always seemed to get what she wanted.

But I don't want to go, Peach thought, frowning at the large sign, a jack-o-lantern sitting on the ground under it giving her a mocking smile.

"Lets go get some hot cocoa first." Luigi suggested. "I'm getting the chills over here."

Daisy made a pouty face and the group followed the green clad plumber, Peach feeling a little relieved. She walked with Daisy, the other girl glancing at her for only a second, no words were spoken, but Peach could tell by the look in her eyes and that grin, that this was not over yet.

Why didn't I stay at home? Peach wondered, biting her lip softly. She thought about that question for a second then felt a blush warm her face. Of course she knew why…she had came because, well, he was here.

Peach looked up ahead at Mario, his back to her, some short strands of his soft brown hair showing under his cap, moving slightly in the wind. Yes, it was the thought of him that had persuaded her to go, though Daisy's insistence had also helped.

The princess broke out of her musing when Daisy grabbed her hand, surprising her. "I smell something yummy! Let's go Peach!"

The food was very good. Everyone sat at one of the long tables within the barn, the whole place alive with chatter. There were many people here, but luckily the lines had moved fast.

Daisy took a sip from a plastic cup, steam flowing steadily out of it, warmth combating the still existent chill in the air. Peach took a small drink of her tea, glancing around her at the bustling crowds of people, a table of toads laughing heartily at a nearby table. She was starting to feel a bit more relaxed and felt a smile on her face. Everyone's happiness was very addicting to her, she could feel their emotions wrap around her like a soft blanket, warm and enticing.

"We are so heading into that maze soon! I'm so excited, it will be a blast!"

"I don't know Daisy, it looked sort of…well, scary?" Luigi said.

Daisy made a face at him, "Oh come one Lou! It will be fun, don't be a baby." She smiled at him, "I'll protect you."

Mario gave his brother a humorous glance and Luigi rolled his eyes, "I'm not scared! It's just…well…."

There was a moment of silence, and then everyone began laughing. Luigi gave them an annoyed look but couldn't help smiling himself.

"Hey! Mario, guys!" Everyone looked in surprise, and Mario smiled.

"Hey Yoshi!"

A light green Yoshi walked towards their table, a dark green scarf patterned with small Yoshi eggs around his neck. He took a seat by Mario, "Hey everyone, enjoying Fall Fest?"

Daisy nodded, "Yup, we're going to head into the maze after we're finished up eating."

Peach nibbled on an apple feeling a prickle of discomfort at her friend's words. She didn't know why she was so against going into the maze, was she just scared? It was a Halloween themed maze after all, not just a regular maze. And Peach disliked frightening things; she had never once viewed a scary movie.

"The maze? I'm heading in their with a friend later." Yoshi said.

"How about we head in together?" Daisy suggested, "We can face the horrors of the maze as a team." She laughed.

Peach glanced at Mario, trying to read his expression. After all Mario went through to keep her and the Mushroom Kingdom safe he was probably not scared at the prospect of heading into the maze at all, but she was hoping to see some sort of reaction from him that said: no, lets do something else.

"Sounds like a plan." Mario shared a smile with Luigi and Peach felt her heart sink. Of course he wasn't a mind reader, he couldn't feel how against going into the maze she was. Maybe she was just being childish about the whole thing. After all it was only a maze, just a few people dressed up to scare others for entertainment. There wasn't any real danger, right?

Peach finished up her drink and noticed that everyone was watching her. She then realized everyone else had already finished up and were waiting for her.

The group stood up, Peach last to do so. Daisy buttoned up her sweater and started for the door, everyone following after, Peach at the end of the line.

Outside out of the warm building everyone felt chills as the cold air touched them again, Peach immediately wishing they could just go back inside to stay.

The line was found immediately, stretching far before one would reach the gates into the maze. The group took their place at the end of the line, everyone talking excitedly about what awaited them once inside.

Suddenly Yoshi stepped out of the line, "I'll be right back, I have to find my friend." He ran off after everyone promised to save his spot in line.

Daisy began chatting with Luigi about something and Peach looked at Mario who smiled. She was unsure of what to say at first but soon Mario started a conversation and Peach began talking as well. Soon she felt a smile on her face and felt her uneasiness go away.

"I'm back." Yoshi stepped back into line. A silvery blue Yoshi held his hand; she wore a soft blue green scarf around her neck and had some darker blue spots on her face, which Peach found cute, appearing to look like freckles on a human face.

"This is Linea." Yoshi introduced his friend.

The Yoshi smiled, "It is nice to meet all of you."

"Hey Linea, I'm Daisy." Daisy smiled.

"Mario."

"Luigi."

"Hello, I'm Peach."

Linea said hello to everyone then looked ahead at the line, "Wow we have quite a ways to go before we're there, huh."

Daisy sighed, "Yes sadly. This is going to take forever."

"The line has moved." Mario pointed out, "We're half way to the gates now."

Peach looked ahead and noticed Mario was right, the line was definitely moving. She heard screams suddenly up ahead and flinched.

"You alright Peach?" Mario asked her, looking concerned.

Everyone else gave Peach a questioning gaze as well.

"I, I'm just fine." Peach forced a smile though inside she was full of dread. The idea of going into this maze terrified her. And soon they would be at the gates and heading into the corn.

Time passed quickly after everyone began talking again and soon they had reached the gates. Peach gazed up at the metal spires atop the gate and felt her heart flutter in her chest. They had arrived, it was time.