Part 3- [link]

Story


Mario walked though the city streets as the light slowly began to fade. Holding a small, wrapped box under his arm, he kept a careful eye out, least any people of questionable merit tried to steal it from him. He was willing to protect the box with his life. After all, it was his gift to Peach.

Eventually, and not a moment too soon for him, Mario reached the small house that Peach called home. With an extra spring in his steep, he waltzed up to the front door and gently knocked. His hand was still tightly clutched around his present as he heard the door begin to unlock.

“Greetings, my princess,” Mario began as soon as he heard the door open, “I come bearing... gifts...”

He stumbled as soon as he looked up at Peach and saw that her hair was... gone. Granted, she was now sporting an awfully cute pixie cut, but the long, flowing hair he was used to was no more. As he stood there, mouth agape and attempting to comprehend what was before him, he noticed that she, too, seemed rather uneasy, most likely at his reaction.

“Well...” Peach began, finally breaking the silence, “At least you can see my eyes now...”

Realizing that she was being a terrible host, Peach stepped aside and allowed Mario to enter. The entire time, he could not keep his eyes of her hair... or lack thereof.

“Mario, please...” she began, “don’t look at me that way. I cut my hair and sold it because I couldn’t have lived through Christmas without giving you a present. It’ll grow out again! Besides, you don't know what a beautiful, nice gift I've got for you.”

Mario just continued to stare blankly at her. Not anger, not sadness, not even shock, but some sort of undisclosed stare that seemed to show he wasn’t quite computing the situation.

“You cut your hair...” he finally blurted.

“Mario... You still love me, right? It’s just hair... Right?”

Mentioning his love for her promptly knocked Mario out of his stupor, shaking his head and suddenly remembering what he had under his arm.

“Oh, of course I still love you Peach!” Mario quickly assured, “It looks great on you, and even if it didn’t, that wouldn’t change a thing! It’s just... Well...”

Mario held out his wrapped present to her.

“Let’s just say that when you open your present, you’ll probably understand why I kinda did a double-take there.”

Peach took the present and gently began to open it. Tearing away the wrapping paper, she then opened the box and looked inside. At first, she gave a squeal of delight before reality hit her like a ton of bricks and she went abruptly quiet. Reaching inside, he pulled out her gift: a pair of combs to help pin back her now non-existing hair. They were beautiful combs, gold with small, jade emeralds inside, the perfect match to the hair she no longer had. They were hers, but she couldn’t use them now. She took the combs and held them close to her chest before looking up at Mario with a small, hopeful smile.

“Don’t worry, Mario... My hair grows fast! I’ll have use for these in no time!”

Suddenly, she remembered that she had a gift to give Mario! Running into the adjacent room, she came back with a similarly-wrapped box that she presented to Mario.

“Here Mario, I got a gift for you, too!” she insisted, “Open it! You’ll love it!”

Mario took the box and did what she asked. Soon enough, he was reaching in and pulling out a long, golden chain.

“See?” Peach continued, “It matches your watch! Now you can check the time all you want without having to fumble with the thing by itself! Go on, put it on!”

Mario, instead of obeying, just sat down on the couch and let out a small, cheerful chuckle.

"Peach, let’s put our Christmas presents away and keep ‘em a while. They’re too nice to use just at present. I sold the watch to get the money to buy your combs.”

He reached up and caressed Peach’s face again, this time not brushing any hair away.

“Merry Christmas, Peach.”

She plopped down on the couch beside him and cuddled up against him, gently resting her hand in the pocket where his watch used to be.

“Merry Christmas, Mario.”


Story by Super Hyper Mario 128III
All Characters (C) Nintendo
Original Gift of The Magi Concept (C) O. Henry