Hey guys. Sorry for any sort of delay. With school and all this other crap I'm writing here, it's just been a bit of a drag. Oh my god, writer's block sucks. I'm glad to see the praise I'm getting in only the first chapter. By the way, since I rushed with getting this chapter up, I couldn't get Luigi in this yet. Just an OC you're bound to hate. *Shudders* I am surprised that most of you guys like the writing style I implement in this, though if you spend time in a genre that has very high standards, you might write like this too. I suppose that the Mario section generally has lower standards (I am in no way trying to downplay any of the authors' works in this great section). Anyway, I hope you enjoy this next chapter. I actually had to RESEARCH stuff on the dances. It might not be as good as the last, but I'll let you be the judge of that...

~Mr. Wang

Daisy was going through old phone books in cabinets she literally hadn't opened in months. Going through numbers, she looked upon the several yellow pages, looking for some point to start off with. At first, she didn't exactly know what she was looking for. A dance partner? A friend? Daisy had no idea, as she looked at pages upon pages, until she saw the number of the Sarasaland castle. Daisy immediately felt somewhat ashamed that she knew the numbers of all her friends, yet she didn't know the number of her own residence. The need to call her family never really showed itself. Daisy sighed. As much as she didn't feel like it, perhaps her father might be able to help. She picked up the nearby phone and dialed the sequence of numbers that seemed so familiar, yet so strange. As the ring tones resonated on the receiver, the cultured voice of the King responded.

"Hello...?"

"Oh, uh... Hi Dad..." Daisy said rather anxious to get out with it.

"Daisy! So good to see hear from you. I can't even remember the last time you have called. Anyway, how goes it? Is there something you need?"

"Hey. Um, listen... I was thinking about what you said, and I guess I've tried to consider it."

"Really? Well, I appreciate your openness. I knew you'd come out of your box sooner or later. So tell me: what endeavor have you chosen, my daughter?"

"Well, I guess I'm getting into ballroom dancing."

"So ballroom dance, is it? Well... not exactly what I had in mind, but it's a start. So what is it that you require of me, Daisy?"

"Well that's the thing. I sort of need a dance partner. I'm trying to win this competition in the Mushroom Kingdom to beat Peach..."

"Ah, yes... always making a competition out of things... well, I suppose we'll show the Mushroom Kingdom who's boss! I speak for all thy Kingdom, when I wish you good luck! I will seek out the best dance tutor in all my land to aid you."

"Thanks Dad. I really appreciate it. I suppose I gotta go now. I guess I really need to get ready. Maybe need some dance shoes or something."

"Oh, of course. Well I'll make sure someone arrives at your residence right away. Oh, and don't you lose to those Toadstool types. I won't have my own daughter lose to those lesser competiters, even if the Mushroom Crown's own princess is there..." said the King rather confidently.

"Thank you. Don't worry about it, dad. I won't lose. I never do!" Daisy said, a smile creasing around her lips.

"That's my girl! Run along now, Daisy. You have much to accomplish!"

Daisy hung up her phone, completely invigorated by her father's encouragement. Most people might think that Daisy and her father have nothing in common, that they were as different as night and day. But if there was one thing, it was actually Daisy's trademark competitiveness she inherited from him, of all things. And that, was one reason why Daisy was proud to be of the Sarasa family. Daisy, with a newfound vigor and momentum not even the entire Koopa military could halt, she darted out the door to get some things and prepare for her partner.

Daisy got a couple of basic things to get started, all of which came from the various shops around Toad Town. Man, those guys had everything. A pair of dancing shoes, and some videos (instructional and entertainment ones that happened to have dancing in them), just to name a few. She got dressed in some casual clothes, another pair of shorts and a simple plain t-shirt; good enough if she wanted to move around easier. Daisy popped a video into her VCR on her TV in the living room. As she put the video in, Daisy contemplated why in the world she still had a VCR and bought cassette tapes. She'd have to buy a DVD player sooner or later... She saw an instructor with a partner taking various steps and movements in some dance. Mimicking the movements with her own, Daisy pretended having an imaginary partner with her, and started moving. As she started moving about her living space, Daisy surprisingly seemed to be enjoying herself. She wasn't exactly paying attention to the more subtle movements in the dance, such as posture and footing, but Daisy thought herself to be a real natural at this. Maybe this was going to be easier than she thought. As she continued prancing about, Daisy heard a succession of loud knock in her house. Daisy snapped out of it and came to her senses. Another sequence of knocking persisted, and Daisy realized that the disturbance was coming from her front door. She quickly darted out toward the door and opened it.

As soon as she saw the person waiting for her, Daisy was unsure if she was supposed to be glad, or disgusted. A stereotypical pretty-boy Romeo dancer type was standing there. Tuxedo pants, a poofy black button-up dress shirt with the first few buttons left undone, just enough to expose his chest and a few hairs, and a red rose resting atop his ear.

This was, without a doubt, the man Daisy's father had sent for.

"Um, can I help you?" Daisy asked. She knew the answer, but she merely prayed for some alternative.

"Hello... you wouldn't happen to be Princess Daisy, would you?" The guy spoke with a deep voice and a thick accent from some faraway land Daisy didn't know, and she didn't care to know.

"Uh, yeah. That'd be me... I guess..." Daisy said, more as a sigh than a statement. She immediately regretted her decision to call her dad.

"The King himself sent me. I've been told of your predicament. It is a privilege, no, an honor, to meet you, Your Highness..." the man knelt down on one knee and took Daisy's hand in his own, and lightly kissed it. Daisy almost puked on the spot. "You may call me, Gary..."

This "Gary" was exactly the type of guy Daisy despised the most. Back when she was younger, and still to this day, Daisy broke many hearts because most of the guys she's ever met were just a bunch of pretty-boy nobles who have a lot of money, and try to win her heart by showering her with expensive dates and gifts. Them, and people pretending to be people they're not. Like this loser... Daisy always preferred the normal people, because they were honest and showed their true colors. Besides, get a pompous rich guy and take all that wealth away from him. What's left after that?

"May I come in?"

Daisy's train of thought was broken as she heard that sentence. She was tempted to shut the door on him, but that seemed a bit rude, even for Daisy. However, she knew that she would need this guy to help her train in dancing. The knowledge this person had was probably what she'd need to beat Peach, and win the competition. If it meant hanging around a complete Gary Stu, then it was but a small sacrifice for something greater.

"Yeah, come on in..." Daisy said, reluctantly welcoming Gary into her home.

As the dancer walked in, Daisy noticed a strange aroma in the air. Was that... cologne? It took a lot of willpower for Daisy not to plug her nose. Gary took a quick look around the house, until he noticed the television in the living room with the two people dancing; the video Daisy was practicing on. Gary observed it for a few seconds before turning his attention to Daisy.

"Ah, learning the Foxtrot, are we?" he asked with a smile.

"Huh? Fox-what?" Daisy said, scratching her head.

"The Foxtrot; a very slow and smooth-flowing dance with a much subtle grace and divine elegance..." The way he was describing it was the way one would recite some kind of award-winning poem. "It's rather easy to learn and helps set a base up for all other dances. A perfect choice for a novice such as yourself..."

"Novice? Heh, I haven't been dancing much, but I think I'm at least a step up from that..." Daisy remarked, a slightly cocky smirk gracing her features.

Gary raised a brow. "Really? Well then, Your Highness. Show me."

With that, Gary strode over toward Daisy and put an arm around her. She quickly tried backing away, being caught off guard, but Gary already had his right arm tightly around Daisy's waist, bringing her closer to him and trapping her. With a sigh, Daisy decided to comply and get into position to dance. With his free hand, Gary clasped Daisy's right hand and raised it up to about eye level to the side of them. Daisy could've sworn that she'd seen this pose a hundred million times in the movies.

"Shall we begin?"

"Just get on with it already..." Daisy mumbled.

"Very good. Let's get started. Follow my lead."

With that, she started dancing. Majestic orchestrated music was playing in the background, but for some reason, Daisy couldn't tell if the music came from her TV, or if it was just playing inside her head to try and set some kind of mood. Nonetheless, it helped set some kind of tempo and rythm she could use to focus her movements on. She carefully looked down trying to match her foot movements with Gary's, and while it was a tad awkward, Daisy hoped that moving fluidly and looking pretty would be enough to win over the judges, at least for the tryouts next week. As Gary took one stride forward with his left foot, Daisy strode backward with her right foot. Heel then toe. Heel then toe. When Gary moved left, she moved with him, and so on. When she saw him move his left foot to the left, and slid his right beside it, Daisy tried her best to mimic without tangling each others legs. He steps back one, she moves forward one. One, two... three, four... One, two... three, four...

Over time, Daisy found herself being lost in the movements, even if she was dancing with a complete loser. She felt so... so... Well, light, for lack of a better word. For the brief period, she felt like she could be walking on clouds. What was it about this Fox-thingy? Until Gary actually stopped moving did Daisy snap out of her daydreaming. She was still moving along as if he was still, but instead, she was given an odd look from him. At that, Daisy started to blush a bit out of embarrassment and looking like a fool. Now some people were blessed, such as Peach, that when they blush, a small portion of their cheeks are pink, and they can still look elegant and charming. Not Daisy. When she blushed, her entire face went as red as beets. Gary gave a sly and triumphant smile at this reaction, possibly thinking something suggestive, and whatever bliss she was feeling before quickly disappeared.

"Well, My Lady. You move quite well. I believe teaching you the foxtrot will be relatively easy. Though I have to say, your footing was a bit off. Trouble keeping up with me? Also, your posture could use a little work. Not to worry. There's nothing I can't do..."

Daisy almost felt insulted at Gary's comment on her. Maybe it was just because it was coming from him, but Daisy never took her faults lightly when it came to physical skill and prowess. However, she tried reminding herself that this man was here to help solve that.

"I'll teach you everything I can in the next week. You'll be the talk of all the Kingdoms, Princess..."

Daisy's brows furrowed. She hated being called "Princess." She had a real name. What was she? A pet?

"Yeah. I uh, guess we'll be seeing a lot of each other... Well, I guess you can stop by tomorrow?"

"With pleasure, Your Highness... I look forward to working with to towards victory in the name of Sarasaland..."

Daisy nervously smiled as she showed Gary out the door. This was going to be a long week indeed.

Okay... Some of you might be upset because I promised Luigi in this chapter. Don't worry. I basically made a character everybody's bound to hate, right? No way this loser's gonna be with Daisy for long. For REAL next time Luigi makes an appearance. The only reason I posted this up without him was because I rushed to get chapter two up and running. And I supposed that this part was a decent cutoff. Once again, I know it's not perfect and I may get flamed for getting this complete... *loser* (because I can't say ******** on K+ stories) up on this chapter instead. Hope you'll forgive and bear with me... Or maybe I'm too hard on myself. I don't know.

~Mr. Wang