-
Peach sat at the end of the table with her head in her hands and her elbows on the surface as she watched Mario eat. She and the others were also hungry once they had returned to the castle, but several minutes had passed since everyone else, including Yoshi, had eaten their fill.
“I should stop,” Mario wiped the end of his snout with a napkin. “Do I usually eat this much?”
“It is a little more than usual,” Peach said. “We did eat a lot when we were at Gadd’s, remember?”
“Yeah,” he paused to take a long drink from his glass of cola. “I think Luigi mentioned something about Koopa appetites.”
“Eat until your full,” Peach sat back. “I’m just glad you are not hurt.”
“Thanks,” he picked up another chicken leg and sank his sharp teeth into the flesh.
“Princess, your father and I would like a word with you,” Toadsworth was standing at the entrance. “Alone.”
“I’ll be right back,” Peach gave Mario a kiss before she followed after Toadsworth. “What is it?”
Both Toadsworth and her father stared at each other before the elderly toad cleared his throat. “Your father and I are a bit concerned.”
“Is it about Sugar Land?” Peach had delivered the message to both Toadsworth and her father when she and the others had returned.
“I have tried to contact King Nougat,” her father ran his fingers through his graying goatee. “But I cannot reach him. It seems like all communication has been blocked off.”
“That is what concerns me,” Peach said. “We have to speak with the rulers of the other lands.”
“We will, but we want to speak with you about Mario,” Toadsworth leaned on his cane.
“What about Mario?” She had a feeling they want to talk about Mario’s latest metamorphosis. “I am aware that he is a Koopa now.”
Both men looked at each other again and her father sighed. “We don’t think it is in the best interest of the kingdom if you married him.”
“What?”
“Peach, I know that you love him and both Toadsworth and I are very fond of him,” her father continued, sadness twinkled in his dark eyes. “But after I pass on you will be Queen and the man that you marry will be king and I feel our people will not want, or accept a Koopa as their king.”
“I can’t believe you are saying this,” Peach felt her own blood starting to boil. “There are good Koopas out there, not all of them are bad, and not all of them are evil. Bowser may have given them a bad reputation, but they are not all bad and what had happened to Mario is temporary.”
“I know you think you may cure the lad,” Toadsworth said. “But you tried the same with Luigi, and that brings up another point. We want to keep Mario under watch, in case he does end up betraying the kingdom and tries to kidnap you, like his brother.”
“Did you not hear a single word that I said?” Peach clenched her hands. “Not all Koopas are evil. Do you know where I got the information about Sugar Land? Luigi told me. The kidnapping was a set up. You can ask the others and they will tell you. Bowser thinks Luigi is on his side and Luigi had to keep up the pretense, not too mention there are magical wards that is limiting communication between us.”
“Are you telling me he is working on the inside as a spy for us?” Toadsworth adjusted his glasses.
“Yes,” Peach closed her eyes. “And for the people of Sugar Land. I had to destroy the note, Luigi wrote, but it sounds like King Nougat is preparing for a war. He is forcing young boys into his army.”
“This sounds serious,” her father laced his fingers together. “Toadsworth, you and I need to start contacting the other rulers. I’ll start with Hugo, Windbag and the Sultan of Desert Land.”
“I’ll contact the rulers of Pipe Land, Sky Land, and Water Land,” Toadsworth tapped his cane.
“I’ll call Daisy,” once she relayed the information to her, then Daisy would contact her father. “And then I’ll call Peasely, Nimbus Land, and King Fret.”
-
Luigi stared at his coffee cup as a Shyguy filled it with the dark bubbling liquid. He dared not bring up last night’s adventure and it seemed no one else wanted to talk about it either.
Bowser had a thick pad of gauze on his arm from where Mario bit him, held secure by a roll on bandage. He also had smaller bandages from where the small Koopa had scratched him.
“What is everyone’s plans for today?” Tethys asked after several minutes of silence and chewing.
“I need to improve my skills,” Lemmy bit into a donut. He had a noticeable bruise and knot on his forehead.
“Go over some numbers,” Morton poured some hot sauce onto his eggs. “I need to think on how to squeeze some money out of my site.” He passed the bottle down to Ludwig.
“Money?” the eldest Koopaling asked. “You are trying to become a bit of entrepreneur?”
“Yeah,” Morton nodded. “You can make money off of almost anything and everything on the Internet these days.”
“I need to let my parents know about the good news,” Tethys held out her hand. There was a silver band with a small crystal in the center. “They may not be pleased about me eloping with Roy, but I think they will understand the circumstance. Besides, we can always have a nice wedding on a later date.” She kissed Roy.
“Easy babe,” Roy smiled from the kiss. “I’m kinda still sore from where that big dumb lizard left bruises on me.”
Silence followed and everyone resumed their chewing.
“Luigi,” Junior broke the silence. “How come you are human again?”
“I’m not certain,” Luigi stared at the few scaly patches on his arms. He was almost human again. His shell had shrunk down to a thin layer that was more like leather on his back. His horns were as small as Junior’s and his canines were the only teeth that were still a little long.
“I’ll tell you why,” Kammy shook her fork and pointed it at Kamek. “It was because we were not in proper sync.”
“And whose fault is that?” Kamek glared back at her. “Don’t go putting all the blame on me. It was your fault just as mine.”
“We could try again,” Kammy said. “Once he has changed back. The spell won’t go right if he is still part Koopa.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Wendy grabbed onto Luigi’s hand. “We love each other no matter what.”
“Maybe once I return,” Luigi took another sip from his cup. “I’m going to seek out other kingdoms for us.”
“I like the way that you think,” Bowser smiled. “How many troops do you need?”
“None,” Luigi shook his head. “I don’t want to rouse any suspicion.”
Bowser nodded. “Someone should still go with you. Kammy, I want you to go with Luigi.”
“Yes sire,” Kammy nodded.
“After breakfast we will pack,” of all the people Bowser could have sent, Ludwig and Kammy were the ones he wouldn’t have minded at all. He was almost glad to have the Koopa Witch on the journey with him, and hoped she would find someone to take care of her buds while she was gone.
-
Mario stretched under the covers when he felt the sun across his face. It was time he woke up, and he and Peach had to prepare for their trip to Sugar Land. He sat up and wondered what they were going to have for breakfast, and was a bit surprised he was already hungry considering how much he scared down the night before.
“It’s going to take a while to get used to this.” He wondered how Luigi was able to adjust so well to the Koopa form. He scratched his head and was surprised he did not come across any horns. “I wonder,” he held up his hand stared at the five slender, peach colored fingers. “I’m human again.” He sat still for a few seconds longer. “I am human.” He shouted and jumped out of the bed.
“What’s going on?” Toad knocked on the door. “I heard you cheering down the hall.”
“Come on in,” Mario breathed in deeply. “I’m human again.”
“That’s great,” Toad opened the door. “We still don’t know—why you are naked.”
Mario stared at Toad’s shocked expression and stared down at his body. He had nearly forgotten he had decided to sleep in the nude again. “Sorry about that.” He was Thankful that it wasn’t Toadette who had checked up on him.
The door closed. “I’m the one who is sorry.”
“Don’t worry, I will not make a habit of this.” That is unless he turns into a Koopa again.
-
Toad and Toadette were finishing up their breakfast when Mario entered the dining hall after he had showered and dressed. He tried to avoid Toad’s beady little eyes and smiled at Toadette. “So what is for breakfast?”
“Eggs benedict, “ Toadsworth placed a plate with the breakfast down at the place that was set for Mario. “I take it you slept well, Master Mario?” The elderly Toad stared at him for a few seconds. Cleaned his glasses and stared again. “I see that you have returned to your natural form.”
“All I needed was a good night’s rest,” Mario inhaled. “Where is Peach?”
“She is in her bedroom, pouting.” Toadsworth answered. “She wanted to join you on your mission to Sugar Land, but I have forbidden it. She will help out by keeping in contact with the other kings, Queens, and Presidents.”
“I see,” Mario sat down and removed the lid. “I should say good bye to her I eat.”
“She has the door locked,” Toadette said. “She isn’t going to unlock her door for anyone. I’m going to try and cheer her up.”
“How?” Mario asked before he took a bite of his breakfast.
“I’m going to bring up all my pretty polishes and we are going to give her a manicure. Once her fingernails are all nice and pretty she is going to feel much better.”
“Well enough to discuss our communication strategy,” Toad said. “Sorry Mario, but you are on your own.” He winked at Toadette.
“What about Yoshi?” Mario asked. He could use the dinosaur’s help.
“He is waiting for you outside,” Toad said.
“You can try and say goodbye right next to her window,” Toadette winked back at Toad. “She might wave to you, if she is in a good mood.”
“I will even blow her a kiss.” He hoped she would be in a good mood to accept it. That was the last thing he needed before going on another adventure, to have his fiancé angry at everything including him.
-
Mario found Yoshi, standing outside Peach’s window. He was also prepared with two saddlebags flanking his sides.
“You’re human again,” Yoshi smiled. “When did this happen?”
“When I woke up,” Mario explained. He was carrying a small knapsack with a few bare essentials. He had money for food, and Yoshi could help him catch fish and find fruit if they camped out in the woods. “I think it happened while I was sleeping, but I noticed when I woke up.”
“Do you know what caused you to change?” Yoshi asked. “Or if it will happen again.”
“I have no idea. All I know was that I was angry,” Mario said. He was more than angry; he was infuriated at the idea that Luigi was willing to side with Bowser. The anger alone couldn’t have triggered it. He did feel like something inside was trying to claw its way out into the open.
Yoshi nodded. “Oh look up.”
Mario looked up at his vision of the sky was obstructed by the bright pink hem of Peach’s dress, a pair of beautiful long legs and a pair of pink, lace trimmed panties. Mario felt his face heat up and he turned his head. “Yoshi.”
“Sorry,” Yoshi gasped. “I had no idea you would get that kind of view.
Mario could still feel the flush in his face as he stepped aside for Peach to land. “Sorry, Peach.”
“Sorry about what?” Peach said once her feet touched the ground.
“Oh nothing,” Mario stared at the ground and pressed his fingers together. “How many times are you going to do that?”
“As many times as I like,” Peach folded her umbrella. She was also wearing a knapsack. “I have Toadette to cover me.”
“Is she standing on Toad’s shoulders?” Mario was impressed with how Peach’s grandmother was able to cover for her when they went after the pieces of the star road. The elderly toad was as tall as Mario and he found out she stood on a footstool to reach Peach’s exact height.
“No,” Peach frowned. “She is standing on a stepstool. Toad said he was going to pose as both himself and dress up as Toadette, hopefully to throw off some suspicion.”
“Poor Toad,” Yoshi said. “Are we ready to go?”
Mario nodded. “Where is our first stop?”
“Gadd’s mansion,” Peach said. “Daisy wants to come along with us. She also said she has something to provide transportation.”
-
Luigi shuffled his way through the woods, armed with nothing except for the small pack that he carried. He kept his eye out for question boxes that might have contained a fire flower, super leaf, a cape feather, or any possible power mushroom. Now that he was human again he could use such abilities.
“You haven’t quite explained why we are in Boo Woods,” Kammy asked. She only had her broom, wand, and a small mirror with her. “Is this the first leg of the trip, or are we looking for a Warp Pipe?”
“I need to see someone first,” Luigi was going to tell Gadd and Daisy about his journey, plus he had to see if the professor had any gadgets that would help them along the way. He also needed to borrow the phone and contact Mario and find out if he had started his journey, also apologize for all the hurtful things he had said the day before.
“There is only one person who lives out here,” Kammy retrieved her hat that was snagged on a low hanging branch. “The scientist, professor Gadd.”
“He might have something we can use,” Luigi said. “Plus I think you would want to see Iggy.” He clamped a hand over his mouth. Neither she, nor Kamek knew that Iggy had been with Gadd for over the past month.
Kammy clucked her tongue. “Keeping secrets have we?” She folded her arms. “I had a feeling he was here. He kept calling me about a field research, but I had no exact idea. That was why I set up the wards, along with keeping a certain bad Koopa from using the Internet when he was grounded.”
“You were the one who set up the wards?” He had thought it was Bowser’s idea. If he knew it was Kammy then he might not have gone with the kidnapping of Peach.
“I set them up and both Kamek and Bowser watched them, Bowser wanted to know what his children were doing and wanted to see where Iggy and Larry were, but he never thought of intercepting the letters from Larry.”
“I had no idea it was you.”
“Would you have kidnapped Peach if you had?” Kammy raised her brows.
“How did you know?”
“I am an old woman, I know how to read people and I could see the regret on your face when you brought Peach into the throne room and I could see that she was also acting.”
“Gig is up,” Luigi sighed.
“What makes you think I am going to tell Bowser? I haven’t told him about Iggy’s field research, about where Larry had gone, nor did I tell him about Lemmy’s lover.”
“Why?” Luigi paused at the outside gate.
“Bowser has never ordered me to spill everyone’s secrets,” Kammy opened the gate for them. “He has never asked me to reveal the secrets. I know Ludwig does not wish to assist his father in the capture of Peach, nor does anyone, save for Junior. Roy and Morton want to take over the Mushroom kingdom, but Roy would rather have Sky Land and Morton wants to do his show. Iggy just wants to work on his inventions. Ludwig is content with Dark Land. Wendy wouldn’t mind ruling over Chocolate Island again and I am not certain what Larry and Lemmy want.”
“So many possibilities with eight kids,” Luigi ran ahead of her and up the path to the Helicopter where Iggy was working on it. “Hey Iggy, I brought someone who hasn’t seen you in a while.”
Iggy looked up from the engine of the copter. “Kammy?”
“I can see you have been hard at work,” Kammy smiled at the helicopter.
“You don’t know the half of it,” Iggy exhaled. “Professor Gadd and I built a machine that was supposed to turn Luigi back into a human, but instead it turned Mario, Daisy and Peach into Koopas, but they turned back into a human the next day, and Luigi is now a human again.”
“So that is what happened,” Kammy folded her arms. “Mario turned into a Koopa again, last night when he was battling your father?”
“Dad needs to get a new hobby,” Iggy rolled his eyes.
“Don’t you go sassing your father like that,” Kammy grabbed him by the snout. “Mario left a nasty bite on your father.”
“Luigi is here?” Daisy stepped out of the house. She was wearing a pretty yellow blouse that resembled the top half of her gown, along with the blue jeans and her crown. “When Peach and Mario arrive we can leave.” She set the two small suitcases down. “You are human again.”
“Yeah,” Luigi shrugged. “And Mario is a Koopa.”
“You are kidding, right?” Daisy blinked. “Peach hadn’t mentioned that when she called me last night.”
“It’s true,” Luigi nodded. “I don’t think anyone can explain it.”
“Except for Professor Gadd,” Iggy said.
“We can let the professor know,” Daisy waved towards the direction of the gate. “Because they are here.”
Luigi steeled his nerves. He had no idea what he and Mario are going to say to each other. He held his breath, closed his eyes and turned to the gate.
-