Mario was complete shock that Fawful - of all people - wanted peace.

Toadsworth saw this and asked, "Can't believe it either?"

"No, not really," Mario answered.

Toadsworth looked around and whispered, "Can you all check this out? I don't think that Fawful really wants peace but I can't investigate it without bringing up suspicion."

Mario smiled as he replied, "Count us in."

Toadsworth smiled and added, "Remember, keep this quiet."

Mario responded, "You got it."

Toadsworth said, "Thank you, Mario. I appreciate that."

"How long do we have before this all happens," Mario questioned.

Toadsworth explained, "Well, I told Fawful to give us sometime to see if we can have talks with Bowser before we even consider the peace treaty. He gave us two months, tops."

Mario thought about this and said aloud, "Two months is a long time. It shouldn't be a problem for us to figure things out by then." Toadsworth nodded.


Back with Luigi and Peach, the princess was still tickling the green hated ghost hunter. Luigi was so ticklish that he was crying as he was laughing. Peach was enjoying this.

She stated, "Daisy is right, you are really ticklish!"

"D-Daisy said that," asked Luigi. He was blushing, laughing, and crying all at the same time.

Peach giggled as she answered, "Yep, she said that. She also said that you are a good friend."

Upon hearing this, Luigi lowered his head sadly. 'So that's what she thinks of me, just a friend,' Luigi thought sadly. Peach saw this as she thought, 'Darn it, now he'll never know that Daisy likes him more than just a friend. Why did I have to go and say that? Now she'll kill me.' Luigi and Peach stood there in the hallway, quietly. They forgot about the book, they forgot about Polterpup, and they forgot about the peace treaty.


With Polterpup, the ghost pup took out the book and started to read what the princess was reading. Toad came into the library were Polterpup was and saw the ghost pup.

"Polterpup," Toad said, surprised.

Polterpup looked up and saw Toad there. He panted, in wonder.

Toad saw the book and asked, "Is that the princess' book?"

Polterpup, being a ghost pup, couldn't answer the question but looked at the book again. The pages weren't wet, surprisingly. It was as if Polterpup knew that the book was important.

Toad stated, "I better find Mario or Luigi, one of them can corral you."

With that, Toad ran out of the library to look for either of the Manfredi brothers. Alone now, Polterpup continued to look at the book, not really understanding the letters in it. Polterpup looked up and saw something in the distance, something purple. Polterpup blinked, shaking his head and the next thing he knew, it was gone.


Mario stated, "Then Luigi, Polterpup, and I are on the case."

"Where is Polterpup anyways," Toadsworth questioned.

Mario answered, "I know Weegie went after him but that's all I know."

"Mario, Mario, Mario," Toad called, running over to him.

"Yes," Mario asked, spinning around.

"Come quick, Polterpup is in the library and he has the princess' book," Toad answered, breathless.

"What," the red hated plumber blurted out as he ran to the library.

Toadsworth turned to Toad and stated, "You better find Luigi and let him know. I'll find the princess."

"Right away, sir," Toad replied, as he ran off to find Luigi.

Toadsworth took his time, quite frankly, he needed a break from the peace treaty business. In the shadows, the same purple object that Polterpup saw witnessed everything.

"So Fawful is trying to create 'peace', eh," said the shadow in a female voice, "Wonder what his real plan is."


Back in the library, Mario saw Polterpup with the book.

"There you are, fantasma cucciolo," Mario stated.

Polterpup barked, as if to tell Mario to come over. Mario did just that as he saw the page that Peach was on. It was the main rules and policies of Mushroom Kingdom but one section was highlighted.

"What's this," Mario asked. He read aloud, "If anything should happen to either Mushroom or Koppa Kingdom, BeanBean Kingdom will..."

But the sentence mysteriously ended there and it wasn't because of Polterpup, it had been torn out by someone else.

"That's odd," Mario said aloud.

"What's weird," Peach asked, as she and Luigi came in with Toad and Toadsworth.

"This statement has been torn out but not by Polterpup," the red hated plumber explained.

The princess nodded sadly and replied, "Yes, I know. I think someone stole my book before all of this happened."

"Bet any money that it was Fawful," Luigi stated, sounding a bit mistrusting.

Toadsworth responded, "It is possible but we would've known about someone being in the castle."

"Not if it was Bowser," Mario pointed out.

Toad said, "Yeah, he could've gotten it before he announced the peace treaty idea two weeks ago."

Peach added, "You have to find out what's going on."

"Don't worry, we will," Mario promised, kissing her hand.

Peach blushed as Luigi knelt down to Polterpup's eye level.

He said, sadly, "Looks like this is your first mission, Polterpup."

Polterpup tilted his head, sensing Luigi's sadness.

The green hated ghost plumber mumbled, in Italian, "Forse andare a lavorare presso Evershade Valley era per il meglio..."

Mario perked up as he asked, "What do you mean that maybe going to work at Evershade Valley was for the best...?"


AK1028: I enjoyed writing this second chapter today - mainly because I defeated Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon today! Polterpup is SO cute! Luigi finally got a pet! I am really glad that I got the game, it was awesome. Can't wait for Mario and Luigi's Dream Team. Hopefully we will see Polterpup again and Luigi can finally get out of Mario's shadow. Used Google Translate for the Italian in this. Anyways, please read and review! And always think outside of the box!