**Chapter 7 Part 3** Lucy broke her gaze. Something in The Empress broke. “You thought I was her.” Margaret’s words were so quiet that Lucy looked back wondering if she heard anything. "Peach! That perfect pink prize! You looked at me as a discount princess!" The dam has broken. She's ranting. Years of being in someone else's shadow come forth. She doesn't cry. It's just verbal rage. “For my entire life I was compared to her. We first met as small children. I remember how my parents prepped me. They gave me a list of rules of things I could and couldn’t do with her, how I should act. I was prepared weeks in advance. Peach wasn’t even told I was coming until I was at the castle. She doesn’t even remember what we did. Which was going through her dresses picking the best one for her. That was our childhood “friendship”. Did you know that I wanted to be called Peggy as a girl? My parents said that “severely unattractive” and I would match better with Peach if I was called 'Daisy'. People always assumed we were cousins.” Margaret stomped her feet so hard Lucy thought something broke. “ ‘What’s it like being cousins with THE Princess?’ ” she sneered. “Screw the goddess. Screw her fans. Screw myself for just accepting that as the way things are. For allowing my personality and kingdom to fade to the background. Why did Mario wash his hands of my country after he was done here? Why did it take me until now to get an invite to Smash? “The only thing I ever took pride in was how one plumber loved me. I believed ‘him’ when ‘he’ praised my courage, athleticism, wit and beauty. Nobody had ever said those things to me after all. “He” made me feel conventionally beautiful rather than ‘being pretty for a tomboy’. My dearest Luigi made me feel worthy. But one day, he's revealed to be a farce. Then the one I never measured up to tells her about this woman. A heterosexual woman so desperate to be her brother she takes a female love interest. The discount version of her brother's love.” Empress Margaret approached Lucy, her fury evaporated. Only grief was left. "I'm an individual, not a copy. You have no need for me." "You were always your own woman. That's why I care about you. I just... I owe you so much. We had similar issues and I never thought of that." A tear rolled down Margaret’s cheek. “How could you never have thought of that?” Tears streamed down like rain. Lucy’s dam busted at the sight of Margaret’s grief. “I’m sorry,” the green plumber blubbered. She fell towards a hug. Margaret only returned it tenderly. Her tears poured in sentimentality. Lucy really was Luigi. She smiled. It was just like the old days when Daisy had to comfort Luigi from whatever episode he was having. “It’s okay Lucy, I’m here.” Lucy looked up at her reluctantly. She detangled herself from the Empress. “I’m sorry for that. I’ll go. You will never see me again.” “What if I want to see you again?” “Really,” Lucy broke a wide smile. “Yes, I truthfully don’t want you to just leave forever. Those months were enough. However,” she trailed off. Lucy braced herself for what she knew was next. "I cannot forgive you now. Perhaps in time. Friendship is an interesting prospect and I will pursue it upon consideration. I thank you for your time." “Thank you, Empress Margaret,” Lucy doffed. “Call me Peggy,” she smiled. It disappeared as quickly as it had come but Lucy could swear a trace remained. “Guards, please come out now and show Lucy out please,” the guards moved quickly hoping their obedience would redeem them for eavesdropping. The Empress was back. Lucy wasn’t worried. It would be okay. Peggy was still under there. Peggy and Lucy would inherit the friendship Daisy and Luigi had, one day. She just had to wait.