A/N: The beginning conversation between the Love Tennis Club & all the major Mario characters is a nod to the Game Boy Color version of "Mario Tennis".

Also, keep an eye out for two characters from both game universes in this chapter.

Chapter 3: To the Mushroom Kingdom

Everyone gathered around near the airplane at the Love Tennis Club Headquarters. Even the umpires have gathered round from the ever-upbeat Natasha to the TV robot named Robo T.

Zeta began to speak, "Well... This is it! We are heading into the Mushroom Kingdom! I trust that each of you have been well-prepared. Once we get there, we'll split off into separate dorms as the tournaments' co-sponsor, the Dubno Company, booked us a hotel to stay in."

Everyone cheered. Troy looked at both Hugo and Toshi. He then said, "Let's be roommates. If I want to have a good time, I want to make sure I hang with the best."

Hugo put his arms over his head and said, "Well... I'm all for it. I'm, after all, flexible."

"I suppose I'll share my meditation space." Toshi said, "Provided that you two keep quiet."

"Relax." Troy bragged, "You can cut your opponent in two and win a cup!"

"Maybe..." Toshi replied, "But it's too soon to tell."

"You know, Toshi's right." Hugo admitted, "Whoever each of us will face may be a tough opponent. As much as I am eager to face him or her, I wouldn't underestimate them."

"Pfft." Troy replied, "Whatever. I'll pull out all the stops to win the title!"

Emily looked over at Hugo. She thought, "Oh, Hugo. You have done so much for this club, since we both came in. I'm glad that you matured."

"Hey, Emily!" Someone called, breaking her daze.

She turned to see who spoke. "Oh, Bridget." She said, half-surprised

"Why don't you room with us?" Bridget cried, with Lani standing next to her.

"Oh, sure." Emily replied, without giving it a second thought

"Yaaaaay!" Lani cheered, "I always wanted to have two big sisters to stand by side!"

Emily laughs and then remarked, "You're always so full of energy, Lani!"

"I know." Lani replied, "I can't wait to win a Mushroom Kingdom trophy and become queen of Laguna Island!"

"You have to go through ANOTHER trial?" Bridget cried, somewhat shocked

"Yeah..." Lani replied, somewhat disappointed, "But I'll do my best!"

"That's the spirit, Lani!" Emily complimented,

Hugo looked back at Emily. He thought, "Thanks for sticking by my side the whole time. This club has grown popular since we changed Zeta's mindset."

"Any questions before we board?" Zeta asked

After a brief moment of silence, she said, "OK. Time to board! Let's head off to the Mushroom Kingdom!" Everyone soon boarded the plane.

After final checks on the plane, it took off from the runway. The airplane flew right into the rainbow...

At a castle in the Mushroom Kingdom, sixteen people were gathering around. A little kid with a mushroom-type hat gasped when the door opened. Walking through the door were all 15 members of the Love Tennis Club.

"Princess Peach!" He cried, "The Love Tennis Club has arrived!"

A beautiful princess with long, flowing blonde hair and wore a short pink dress approached the group and said, "Welcome to the Mushroom Kingdom, members of the Love Tennis Club."

The group bowed, curtsied and walked forward towards the center of the room. "It is a pleasure for having us, Princess Peach." Zeta replied and curtsied

"It's no problem." Peach replied, "We all offer our heartfelt greetings."

Another princess, that wore a short orange dress and has shorter, but flowing brown hair, named Daisy, said, "You all are really good at playing tennis for the Love Tennis Club."

Peach and Daisy both nodded to each other. Peach then said, "That is why we decided to invite you to the Mushroom Kingdom to compete in our tournaments."

She and a plump plumber with the unmistakeable red hat, red shirt and blue overalls with a round mustache nodded. Peach then said, "I hope you'll enjoy your time with us for these next 3 weeks."

Just then, a fatter man with a yellow hat, a yellow shirt and purple overalls with a mustache that resembles the shape of a lightning bolt cried, "What are you-a saying? Me no come-a here for a good time!"

A taller and skinnier man with a purple hat, a purple shirt and black overalls with a angled mustache agreed, saying "Yesss! Thasss-a riiight!"

Peach, Daisy and the red short man were a bit nervous. A giant spiked turtle with horns on his head and lots of spiked bracelets on his arm yelled, "We started playing tennis so we could win a trophy and defeat Mario! But we haven't even come close to beating him... So didn't these Love Tennis Chumps come to beat Mario for us!"

"Who are you calling, Chumps?" Troy fired back

The giant turtle roared at Troy. He roared so loud that Troy cowered. He and the two men got closer to Peach and Mario. A tall man with a green hat, green shirt and blue overalls with a simple mustache interrupted, saying "Hey! That's-a too much-a, Bowser!"

He stepped forward and said, "This group went through a tough time and decided to come a-here to relax!"

"Couldn't agree more." Fong added,

"I'm with ya there." Colin replied,

Bowser got angry and yelled, "WHHHHAAAAT!"

The three evil characters got close to the green man. He started to cower. Hugo and Emily placed their palms on their heads.

Peach stepped forward and cried, "Oh, stop it, everyone! We don't want to impose on this club!"

The yellow fat man cried, "We-a won't be a-happy until de Love a-Tennis Club a-plays a-Mario!"

The purple tall and skinny man agreed, saying "Yesss! Thasss-a riiight!"

Peach and Mario were nervous, but nodded. Peach said, "I see... We shall ask them. If they say it's OK, then we can begin the tournaments."

The yellow fat man cried, "Okey-dokey! Then let's-a ask-a this-a group!"

Peach then asked, "Love Tennis Club, shall we commence the tournaments immediately?"

Hugo and Emily both said, "Huddle!" The group went into a huddle and whispered their concerns and potential agreements.

Hugo and Emily then stepped forward. "Mario, Princess Peach..." Emily began,

"Everyone at the Mushroom Kingdom." Hugo added,

"We thank you graciously for your hospitality." Emily continued,

"But we want to wait an extra day to begin the tournaments." Hugo said, "We're a bit tired and we just got off the plane..."

"All right..." Peach replied, "I understand. You can rest in the Tennis Village today. We shall begin the Mushroom Cup tournament tomorrow. Feel free to see the tournament board in the courtyard."

"Thank you very much, Princess Peach." Zeta bowed and the group left the castle.

As soon as they left, Bowser said, "Hmph. Well... Soon enough, Mario will be flattened by them. Bwah, hah, hah, hah!"

The Love Tennis Club crowded around the tournament board in the Tennis Village courtyard. Soon, the tournament board turned on like a TV. There were gasps, cheers and groans.

Colin, Amorette, Toshi and Lani stepped forward to find their names as contenders in Singles play for the Mushroom Cup.

Colin was the first to speak. "Wow... I get to take on the princess. I just hope she doesn't get too distracted by me!" He joked, referring to Princess Peach

"Toad, huh?" Amorette remarked at who her opponent is, "We'll see how good this kid with the mushroom head is..."

"Of all the warriors I start to face," Toshi said, "I start with a green dinosaur?"

"Apparently, this green dinosaur is actually cute." Gloria told Toshi, and pulled up her guidebook showing a picture of the dinosaur. "His name is Yoshi. He looks like a brachiosaurus, but much smaller. He has quite a bit of tongue to grab and eat things."

"Hmmm..." Toshi said, "Either way, he will be no challenge to me."

Lani looked at her opponent. It is a red-shelled turtle with wings. "What is that?" Lani asked

Emily looked in her guide book. "Apparently, that is a Paratroopa. He is one of King Bowser's underlings." She said, "But he seems like he wants to play tennis."

"Awesome!" Lani cried, "This'll be fun!"

Gloria looked at the Doubles tournament board. She groaned at who her partner is... Suzuki. "Why did I team up with this buffoon?" She angrily thought,

Suzuki looked up and saw his team's first opponent. He and Gloria will face Yoshi and a baby with the unmistakeable red hat. "That baby is so cute!" Suzuki cried,

"That's because it's Mario as a baby." Gloria retorted

"Oh..." Suzuki said, "I didn't see the hat..."

"Well, then..." Zeta said, "Those who will not take part on the Mushroom Cup, don't fret. The Flower Cup and the Star Cup will unfold and many of us will take part in these. In the meantime, why don't you have fun while you're here in the Tennis Village?"

Everyone cheered.

Toshi kneeled near a cherry blossom tree. He seemed to be meditating for a bit. Just then, he unsheathed his tennis racket. He practiced his swinging motions from his chops to his full-on smash strikes.

The wind started to blow where he is. A cherry blossom began to fall. Toshi, did a full-on smash strike, when he quickly noticed something. He sliced a cherry blossom in half. He then sheathed his racket.

"Hmm..." Toshi said out loud, "Do I feel like this cherry blossom that I've sliced? Frail... and unable to defend myself?"

He then looked at the cherry blossom tree. "Or do I feel like the cherry blossom tree which it came from? Standing tall and... Able to overcome adversity?" He continued,

He then said, "If this Yoshi is as fast as I am, I better steel myself for a good match."

Colin walked around the Tennis Village Resort, making waves. He was also saying hellos, and shooting finger pistols. But, it seems that every mushroom person did not seem to notice him. It was the same with the smaller turtles and the bombs with feet.

Colin scratched his head and turned to Fong, "Why doesn't anyone recognize me?"

"I don't know, Colin." Fong replied, "My guess is that everyone doesn't know you."

Colin sighed, "But I'm a former movie star! I am recognized everywhere! Why doesn't a citizen from the Mushroom Kingdom see that?"

"Hey, Colin!" Someone cried

Colin gasped and looked around. He noticed a little girl with a pink mushroom hat and its matching vest running towards him. "Colin!" The girl cried, excitedly "I'm so glad you came to the Mushroom Kingdom! You were so awesome in "Midnight Rescue 3"! Can I have your autograph?"

"Sure, no problem." Colin replied and took out his marker. The mushroom girl took out her tennis ball. "What's your name, little girl?"

"Toadette." The girl replied, as Colin wrote on the tennis ball "I wish you well in your match against Princess Peach tomorrow!"

"Thanks." Colin replied as he finished signing,

"Yippeee!" Toadette cheered as she ran off, "Whoooo!"

Fong placed his palm on his head, and said, "I stand corrected."

Then, he put on his serious expression and said, "Shouldn't you prepare for your match tomorrow?"

"I'll be all right." Colin replied, "Now that I have a fan on my side, everything will OK."

Meanwhile, Amorette was at one of the restaurants in the resort. She clapped her hands and said, "Is there a waiter here? Please come here!"

One of the mushroom people, wearing a tuxedo, asked Amorette, "Would you like something to drink, ma'am?"

"Yes..." Amorette replied, "I would like a glass of water, please."

"Coming right up!" The mushroom waiter replied

"And what kind of food do you serve here?" Amorette asked,

"We've got everything the human world has." The mushroom waiter replied, "Plus, we've got our own Mushroom Kingdom cuisine. Why don't you check out the buffet tables?"

"I'd rather be served." Amorette replied, still in the mood that she was while in her Victor Mansion home "Please bring me your best meal this place has to offer."

"Er..." The mushroom person hesitated, "Are you sure? I mean... You can get it yourself."

"NOW!" Amorette screamed at the top of her lungs, making the mushroom waiter topple over and getting attention from all the other diners

"Fine..." The mushroom waiter muttered,

As he left, he whispered under his breath, "I can't wait to see how she'll handle Toad, our kind's best player..."

Amorette sighed happily. Just then, she got a poke from someone. She turned to see an African-American boy with tiny jeans, a grey sweater and a red baseball cap worn backwards with matching headphones. "Whassup, little lady!" He cried, "Name's JJ. Nice to meet you."

Amorette replied, "My name is Amorette. How wonderful to meet you."

"I saw yo' match at the Laguna Island resort." JJ said as he started to breakdance, "And I gotta say..."

He made beatboxing sounds and then said, "You are fly for a rich gal."

Amorette giggles and replied, "Thank you."

"But, I do want to say one thing." JJ said as he stood up, "Show the mushroom kids... The Toads, they're called here... a bit of R-E-S-P-E-C-T. They may be little, but they work a big part in keepin' this Kingdom in line."

Amorette thought, "Hm... I was being a bit harsh to that Toad waiter... He only wanted to be nice to me, yet I treated him like a servant back home. I want to apologize to him later."

She then said, "OK, JJ. I understand you. Thank you for your advice."

"Yo' welcome, Lil' Miss Amorette!" JJ replied, "I wish ya luck on yo' match tomorrow!"

"Thank you very much." Amorette replied,

"Catch 'ya later!" JJ cried as he walked back to his table, making beatboxing noises

Amorette sighed and then said, "I'm hungry. I might as well dig in." She got up and got her food from the buffet.

Lani walked towards a beach near the resort. She felt wind, blowing through her tiny dress as she kneeled down, closed her eyes and clasped her hands in prayer. She thought, "Grandpa... Please watch over me as I compete in the Mushroom Cup. I want to come out a winner... For the sake of Laguna Island and for the sake of becoming a true queen. Please give me a sign that you're watching over me."

Soon, fishes that are the weight of balloons flew out from the water. She opened them to see them. They flew out of the water like a dolphin jumping out every second and flopped in the water. Lani laughed and jumped up and down. She cried, "Thanks, grandpa! I'll do my best! I'll win the Mushroom Cup for the sake of Love Tennis Club! I'll win it for the sake of Laguna Island! I'll win it for the sake of becoming a true queen!"

She then said, "I need to prepare for my match against Paratroopa." Then, she yelled, "Bridget! Emily! Where are you guys?"

Bridget and Emily rushed to Lani. "What's wrong, Lani?" Bridget cried

"Are you all right?" Emily asked

"I'm fine." Lani replied, "I just need to prepare to face Paratroopa. Would you please help me out?"

"Sure!" Emily replied, with a smile on her face "Let's do it!"

"You got it!" Bridget cried, "Let's do a practice match now!"