Destination Destiny

Destination Destiny

Chapter 1: Unfortunately

Just like every other day in the Mushroom Kingdom, today was a beautiful day. Although it was, indeed, a beautiful day, Toad had an eerie feeling. He, Toadsworth, and Princess Peach were out in Mushroom Village Central enjoying the bright sun. It had been a long shopping day for the three, so they were tired. The highlighted day of Luigi and Princess Daisy's marriage was drawing nearer, and Peach wanted everything perfect for her best friend.

"Good golly, Princess!" Toadsworth jumped to his feet.

The princess looked over to the troubled Toadsworth, "Toadsworth? What's the matter?"

"I knew something had been missing. It seems you've let your parasol by the fruit stand," he said, "Please allow me to fetch it for you, Miss."

"Oh. Right," said Peach, "I had the odd feeling I had forgotten something..."

Through all of this on going commotion, Toad was daydreaming. He was all lied back and not hearing a word coming from either Princess Peach or Toadworth's mouths.

"I'm sure Master-Toad will watch over you while I'm gone," Toadsworth waited for the slightest reply from Toad, "Ahem."

Toad snapped out of his daydream, looking a bit dazzled, "Yeah, sure," he assured him.

"Jolly good, then. Tallyho!" Toadsworth spun around, and with that, strolled off out of sight.

It had seemed quiet for a while. This was making Toad very drowsy. Eventually, he had dozed off, until he was rudely awoken by a tap on the shoulder. It was a woman Toad. Her mushroom-like head was red, with white spots. She had two neatly done bun of purple hair, a red kimono, and an over-sized tray of fortune cookies, "Fortune cookie? They're the finest around these parts." the woman said in an Asian accent. She seemed very polite.

Toad blinked curiously, and noticed his stomach was grumbling. He had not eaten since breakfast. With that, he smiled, "Mm-Hm!" Toad happily took the fortune cookie, "Thank you, er--"

"Kyoko. Kyoko Hatashi." she replied.

"Ah. Thank you, Kyoko-san." Toad bowed his head, and took himself a fortune cookie.

Kyoko giggled, and bowed as well. She turned and walked off in the same way Toadsworth had gone before her.

Toad turned his attention to the fortune cookie in his hand. He slowly cracked it opened it to reveal a neatly folded piece of paper, but before he could catch even a glance at what it said, a gust of wind took it away. Toad stumbled to his feet and took off running toward his fortune. He had then completely forgotten about Princess Peach, who was sleeping under an oak tree, next to a garden of newly blooming fire flowers.

As Toad continued to chase the fortune, he had the strangest feeling that the wind would follow him at every turn he would take.

He was too busy looking up at the soaring fortune, he did not notice the fruit stand directly in front of him. Crash! Toad ran directly into the fruit stand. Dozens of Toads and Koopas all turned to see a fallen Toad covered in smashed fruit. After Toad noticed all of the Mushroom Kingdom citizens staring at him, he also noticed the wind had stopped. Of the residents, Toadette ran out of the crowd to Toad, "Toad! Are you alright?"

Sort of embarrassed of Toadette seeing him in this condition, Toad blushed and replied, "Wow, that fruit stand just jumped out in front of me!"

"Sure it did." Toadette replied sarcastically, "Are you sure you didn't gain a concussion along with that fall of yours?"

"Er-- of course not," said Toad. When he gestured his hand with the statement, the fortune fell right into it. He unfolded the tiny slip of paper, and read it aloud, "Unfortunately, today will not be your day. You will lose someone dear, and you will have an accident involving a fruit stand, "he finished, "Gee... Kind of late, don't you think?"

"Hey, there's something written on the back, too." Toadette pointed out, flipping the paper in his hands.

"But the road ahead is looking bright," he read the rest.

"Bonjour! Master-Toad! Miss Toadette!" Toadsworth jumped out of the princess's royal helicopter, which was parked on the landing pad on the other side of the street, "I chased you all of the way here! You seemed urgent to get somewhere."

"That explains the wind..." Toad mumbled to himself.

"Anyway, this is really uncunning, Master-Toad. I am very disappointed in you." Toadsworth continued.

"Wha- What did I do?" Toad asked, clearly confused.

"The Princess has vanished! Master-Toad, I specifically told you to keep an eye on her!" Toadsworth seemed panicked.

"Now, now, calm down, Toadsworth. I'm sure she is okay!" Toadette assured him, "Maybe she went to the castle to look for the two of you."

"Yes, she's right. And I'm sorry, Toadsworth. I just got carried away with this fortune." Toad ripped the fortune in half and let it fall to the ground.

"I'm sorry as well, my dear boy, but this time sorry is just not going to cut it!" Toadsworth yelled so loudly that a few Toads and Koopas turned to see what was going on, "Now. Let us make haste and get back to the castle."

Toadsworth, Toad, and Toadette all hopped into the helicopter. Its engine started, as the propellers started to spin rapidly in circles, lifting the helicopter into the air.

Meanwhile, at the Mushroom Kingdom Royal Castle...

The courtyard was beautiful. The flowers were finally blooming, indicating that the long, cold winter was now behind them and melting into spring. All thanks to Toadette, who kept the garden up very well.

A warp pipe appeared at the doorway. Out hopped an Italian plumber dressed in overalls with a red shirt and a red cap with an "M" in the center. Why, it was none other than our hero Mario himself. Mario looked around at the flowers, and picked a beautiful purple one, which seemed to stand out of them all. He then turned back around, and knocked on the door a few times. No answer.

"Eh?" Mario scratched his head, "No one seems to be home."

He shrugged as the helicopter carrying the three Toads landed behind him. Toadsworth was the first to jump out. He scurried across the flowerbed, ruining many of the flowers. Toadette sighed, "All that hard work..."

"Master-Mario! It has never been more of a pleasure to see you!" Toadsworth shouted frantically.

"Er-- Nice to see you, too" Mario replied.

"Listen. There has great misfortune, Master-Mario!" Toadsworth continued to shout, "The Princess has gone missing!"

"That was oddly expected..." Mario mumbled, "Well, she isn't home, either. I can tell you that now."

"Aw!" Toadsworth shouted in frustraition, "Bloody hell! I must inform the residents! Master-Mario, I would like you to set a search party! You, Master-Toad, and Miss Toadette need to set sail and search for her!"

"Set sail? Is that even necessary?" Toadette asked.

"Indeed it is, Miss Toadette! And I expect you to go with Masters Mario and Toad!" Toadsworth shot back at her, "I can assure you the Princess isn't in the Mushroom Kingdom! I searched in the helicopter while Master-Toad, here, carelessly left the princess alone!"

"Let's do it," Toad said, "I got you two into this mess, and I plan to get you out of it."

Mario and Toadette nodded.