The Castle of Thorns

The Castle of Thorns is a level from Princess Peach: Showtime!, being featured as the first level. It is available after a Toad gets his hands on some tickets before getting booted from the theatre when Madame Grape and her troupe invade it. As such, the level has no predecessor, but its successor is Welcome to the Festival of Sweets. Its boss is a flower monster that resembles a Piranha Plant. Princess Peach gets her hands on the Swordfighter transformation here.
== Introduction ==
At the very start of the level, Princess Peach and Stella run across the body of a Theet, who Stella presumes was attacked by Sour Bunch goons as two other Theets mourn him. She then decides to use the power of Sparkle to revive him. The Theet, upon being revived, begins dancing with the Theets that were mourning his presumed death. At Stella's request, Peach leaves to check on the castle in the distance, leaving the three dancing Theets (as the Theet that just got revived explains that "they attacked us out of nowhere").
== Layout ==
=== Town ===
This is an area to the south of the titular castle, which can be seen in the background. The areas to the south are cut off.
==== Starting Area ====
Princess Peach starts in a plaza with two houses.
==== Northern Plaza ====
After she goes a bit to the right, Peach bumps into two Sour Bunch goons, who have to be defeated using Sparkle. After defeating them, she will find three more to the east attempting to mug a Theet.
==== Platforming Zone ====
After the northern plaza area, Princess Peach will come across a wooden structure that she must jump over. Just beyond is a Theet hanging from a balloon.
=== Forest ===
==== Shortcut Entrance ====
This is the southern terminus of the area. When Princess Peach enters this area, four Sour Bunch goons are visible. She must defeat them and light the three flowers in the area to open up a path heading north. Doing this also reveals a sparkle gem.
==== Shortcut Exit ====
A small section just before the Castle Wall. This leads into the castle entrance.
=== Castle Entrance ===
==== Castle Wall ====
This area has a few thorny branches. A Knight Theet is hacking at one with his sword, but his attacks are ineffective. Princess Peach can embue the sword with more power with Sparkle. The wall to the north has the second Sparkle Gem on top.
==== Garden ====
This area has some trees that must be hit with Sparkle, causing them to bloom with flowers popping up on them. Doing so causes the Theet in the area to become happy, leading to him giving a hair bow.
==== Gate ====
To the far east of the wall lies a gate, where two knight Theets are hacking at thorny branches blocking it. Princess Peach can embue their weapons with power via Sparkle.
=== Castle Courtyard ===
To the south lies the gate leading back to the Gate. Princess Peach gets the Swordfighter transformation to become a masterful swordsman here. Now armed with a rapier, she can destroy the thorny branches that are plaguing the area. Sour Bunch Knights will appear to hold the princess at bay, and therefore must be defeated as well. To the northwest are two Theets that Princess Peach can cheer up with the Swordfighter transformation by posing with them. The castle entrance is to the west, although there are bigger thorny branches blocking the staircase leading to it.
=== Inside The Castle ===
==== Entrance Hall ====
Just inside the castle, Princess Peach will run across six Sour Bunch Knights that she will have to face in combat. After she defeats them, she can continue forwards, and a Sparkle Gem appears that she can collect if she wishes. Further into the entrance hall are some boxes that Princess Peach can destroy with her rapier as well as a teleporter that can be activated by posing.
==== Secret Room ====
Princess Peach accesses this room by posing on a raised platform in the Entrance Hall. The room itself is seven-by-four tiles, and she must defeat four Sour Bunch Knights to uncover a Sparkle Gem. After she defeats the Sour Bunch Knights, another teleporter will appear so Peach can escape and continue the level.
==== A Terrifying Vision ====
Past the boxes is a straight hallway where Princess Peach, Stella, and two Knight Theets receive a vision that King Theet is in danger, with his silhouette being approached by that of a Sour Bunch Knight. Just to the right are a few more thorny branches, followed by a staircase. Princess Peach can post under a torch to ignite it and receive some coins.
==== Big Sour Bunch Knight's Room ====
A single big Sour Bunch Knight who acts as a miniboss appears in this area, sending his Sour Bunch Spearman minions out as soon as Princess Peach enters this area. After she defeats them, she must defeat the big knight himself. Doing so uncovers both the exit to the room and a Sparkle Gem.
=== Tower ===
After exiting the Big Sour Bunch Knight's Room, Princess Peach must go up a spiral ramp up one of the castle towers. She can find some Sour Bunch Spearmen and Sour Bunch Knights, and a large thorny vine that must be cut down with her rapier blocks her path.
=== Boss Area ===
At the top of the tower, Princess Peach can see a Sour Bunch Knight celebrating the conquest and usurpation of the castle. When she enters the area proper, she will be forced to take down a purple Piranha Plant-esque monster called Thorn Plant that acts as the level boss. After she defeats him, the princess uncovers the level's last Sparkle Gem and can clear the level. During the level ending animation, King Theet and his knights celebrate nearby.
== Sparkle Gem Locations ==
=== First Sparkle Gem ===
This Sparkle Gem can be found when Princess Peach defeats the four Sour Bunch goons and lights up the three flowers at the south end of the forest.
=== Second Sparkle Gem ===
After the Knight Theet, Peach can find a staircase that leads to a door that leads to a Garden. She must move west past it to find this gem.
=== Third Sparkle Gem ===
The southeastern area of the gate has a raised platform where two bushes must bloom via Sparkle, causing the Sparkle Gem to appear.
=== Fourth Sparkle Gem ===
After she defeats the Sour Bunch Knights and thorny branches at the Castle Entrance, Princess Peach can get this Sparkle Gem.
=== Fifth Sparkle Gem ===
This Sparkle Gem is in plain sight just after the thorny branches blocking the stairs to the entrance to the castle.
=== Sixth Sparkle Gem ===
This Sparkle Gem will appear when Princess Peach defeats the six Sour Bunch Knights in the entrance hall to the castle.
=== Seventh Sparkle Gem ===
This Sparkle Gem will be revealed when Princess Peach defeats the four Sour Bunch Knights in the secret room accessed from the teleporter in the entrance hall.
=== Eighth Sparkle Gem ===
After she defeats the Big Sour Bunch Knight, Princess Peach will be allowed to pick this gem up.
=== Ninth Sparkle Gem ===
Princess Peach will encounter this gem while she climbs the tower on the tower, just before the thorny vine. The gem is on a raised platform that she must access from the right, as she cannot jump high enough to get there from the left.
=== Tenth Sparkle Gem ===
After defeating the purple Piranha Plant-esque monster, Princess Peach can get this Sparkle Gem.