An Awakening

Peach was ready to go through the next area, predicting some sort of cave or tunnel system. Maybe a set of hidden ruins or underwater passage. It's the Mushroom Kingdom, expecting logical transition paths isn't something one does here.

Instead she was met with nothing but darkness. And a loud, "BRRRRRRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINGGGGGGGGGGGGG"

Princess Peach jolted from her spot with enough **** she bounced off the bedding. She flung out an arm to try and shut off the clock but given how she was just adventuring without them, overestimated and sent the clock flying. It clattered in a broken heap down to the floor.

"I..., what I ..., HUH?" Peach muttered as she quickly looked around, her head snapping from one side to the other. Peach's eyes started to adjust to the bright light coming through the window. It wasn't a cave anymore, Peach was back in her room and sitting on her bed. She had to rub her eyes a few times before she fully processed what had happened.

"Just a dream? But..., it felt so real..., mmmm..., " Peach stood up and stretched out, giving her body a little wiggle. There was just a bit of feed back, nothing like what she had just been experiencing. "What am I doing?" the princess muttered as she stopped trying to shake her body. It was unbecoming of a Princess to do that, even when alone and just in her PJs.

She still couldn't get over how real it felt. Her arms felt like they were a mix of heavy lead and sleepy tingling, with her legs not being much better. It felt like she was on stilts with maybe the floor being akin to ice. This just made her movements just coming off as more **** and having the noble princess looking like an automaton with her careful movements. Her seemingly dulled senses also didn't help her move about.

"That was ... just so strange." Peach muttered, cupping her chin to think, "No that was... just a dream. Nothing to worry about." She decided as she slowly made her way to the royal bath. "I'll feel better after I get washed, dressed and fed."

"On the bright side, I don't feel tired at all. Mmm that might have been the best sleep ever..., save for the weird dream." Peach noted as she closed the bathroom door behind her.

The princess started to hum to herself as she undressed and turned on the bath, enjoying herself as the warm water caressed her skin. Back in the room while she started to forget the strange dream, her new pillow started to glow. The wavy lines on the corners of the pillow started to wiggle and twin lights appeared on parts of the lines. If someone was there to look, the lines looked like they were animated snakes before they split into two halves, forming into two smaller 'snake' like decals.