Shout out to the readers who reviewed III: You know who you are. ;)
IV.
Rating: K.
"By chance, do you ever criticize your height?"
"Huh?" The red clad plumber stopped in his tracks and spun around, shifting his attention to the one who asked such question.
"If you wish for me to repeat the question I shall," said Rosalina, who stood behind him.
"No I heard it," replied Mario, scratching his head. He did not expect his space friend to ever ask such a question regarding body image. "Um, my height never really has bothered me, why do you ask?"
"I was just curious."
"Or maybe you just wanted to start another conversation after our last one just ended," Mario smiled.
"Well there was nothing left to say in that one, and we have been silent for the past minute or so," explained Rosalina.
"And so the next theme was decided to be about my height? Since when are you in charge of creating the topics here?"
"Is that a problem?" asked the space princess.
"No, it's just that topic is so random. Irrelevant to our previous conversation, it doesn't even correspond."
"Well, I rather see some diversity in our chats."
"I see, but once again, my height isn't a big deal to me," Mario said, walking off with Rosalina following suit. The Mushroom Kingdom's hero invited his galactic friend for a stroll around the streets of Toad Town and chat. Due to being immersed in their conversations, it lead them to walk in a path out side of the town, filled with trees, hills, and shrubs. "I can't help but be short."
"Your power ups can help you out," suggested Rosalina.
"They are temporary you know," Mario reminded her.
"True."
"Yeah, but my height is just part of who I am. It's not everyday that we see a short red plumber as a savior for a princess and her kingdom against a giant mutant turtle, or in proper terms, a big koopa, haha."
"Not your ordinary hero, that's for sure," Rosalina added.
Mario smirked and nodded, feeling good about himself, feeling slightly proud of his so called 'different persona' for a hero. "That's right. And what about you?"
"Me?" Rosalina inquired.
"You're pretty tall, almost tall as Waluigi I say."
Rosalina made a small blush, looking down at the ground, she toyed her aqua dress with her hands. "I am, aren't I?"
"Yeah, well nothing wrong with that Rose. It's part of you."
"I suppose."
"But I wonder if you got the strength," Mario said, not that he considered her weak, he knew she held great power, mentally that is. Yet he wondered if she can perform any physical strength. Feeling challenged at his words, Rosalina created a smirk of her own. Playfully, she walked a little closer behind him, willing to respond to his pressuring comment.
Mario inhaled the cool air from the area and breathed out. "Ah, this air is so nice—" His sentence abruptly ended as his friend scooped him up in her arms. "Wha!"
"Well it looks like that I can carry you," Rosalina laughed lightly, while holding Mario. "So maybe I do have some strength in me."
The plumber's face became pink as Princess Peach's dress, stunned at what his friend just did. "Mama Mia! R—Rose! Why are you—!"
"Now you know the answer to your statement," Rosalina explained, smiling, showing off her strength.
"You didn't have to do this to prove it!" Mario cried, still blushing and even quivering. "Oh..."
It was funny to see her friend at such a vulnerable state, Rosalina could not help but giggle at Mario's actions. He was a strong, resistant person who would always get into the most dangerous situations to protect the people he cared for. Yet he shrunk into a child like state in her arms.
"You never have been carried, haven't you?" She asked.
"Not really..." Mario mumbled, feeling slightly embarrassed and turned his head away from her. "I...never expected you to pull something like this Rosalina."
"Well you are my friend," she answered. "And who says we can't have some fun?"
"This just doesn't click into someone of your nature."
"Perhaps, but I am not completely stoic as you think I am."
"You're right," Mario stated, recalling Rosalina's highly emotional responses whenever she would compete in his racing tournaments, as she actually enjoyed them. "Maybe with me as your friend has caused you to open more a little," He remarked. "You have become more friendly than before. I guess I rubbed off some of my joyful spirit onto you."
"Perhaps so."
"And there's nothing wrong with that...it's nice to see you smile," The plumber said, he looked down at the floor. "But can you put me down? This...is getting awkward."
"Alright."
Once she did, Mario quickly fixed his outfit to rid of any wrinkles, and he lifted his head to see her. He quickly looked away as he was still a little flustered from her carrying him. Rosalina on the other hand made a feeble smile at his gesture. She decided to move on from what just happened to a remark about his appearance. "Yet, despite your height, and even weight, Mario, you happen to have such amazing strength and stamina. That's pretty impressive."
"Hah. Never underestimate short people," Mario said. Suddenly an idea, just an idea invaded his mind and consisted on getting revenge on what she just did to him.
Two can play at that game, Rose.
He smirked and turned to her. "I can lift a lot of things. In fact do you want to see a sample of it?"
Rosalina had a perplexed look on her face, questioning his last sentence, but also alert on a possible surprise from him. "If you wish—"
"Payback!" Mario cried with glee, and picked her up in his arms.
"Oh!"
"Now who is the one being carried?" Mario teased while Rosalina blushed.
"Mario!"
"The color of pink, how it flushes through your face," He chuckled.
"Ah!"
"A normal reaction when a woman is being held unexpectedly by a man who cares about her," Mario laughed.
Such words made her face more red, as if the line came from a cheesy romantic flick. Obviously, he was teasing her. "What!"
"Just stating the obvious Rose, and there is no need to hide your face from me." Mario could view the space princess protecting her face with her hands while she trembled in his arms. The hero in red could tell the embarrassment she emitted and he smirked in delight. Now she was in an uneasy position.
Gotcha.
"Is...this your revenge on what I did to you?" Rosalina asked.
"Maybe."
She removed her hands from her face and frowned at his get back, while Mario took note of her weight. "Hunh, you're actually not that heavy."
"Really?" She asked, crossing her arms.
"Yeah, you seem to be a light heavyweight to me. You're a little heavier than Peach, but still light."
"So how long are you going to keep me in this position?" murmured Rosalina, while she did listen to his commentary on her weight, she wanted to know if she would be released from his grasp anytime soon.
"Already wanting to jump off the Mario express?"
She rolled his eyes at his trivial remark while he laughed again.
"You're not tired?" She asked.
Mario shook his head confidently, it seemed that he was not going to release her anytime soon. "Nah, I've picked up much more heavier things."
"I see," Rosalina mumbled. "But I am sure that eventually your hands will get weak."
"What's this? Do I sense a challenge? You wanna bet how long I can keep you like this?" Mario slyly grinned.
"What? No! Ack, that not what I meant!" cried Rosalina in discomfort, seeing an impish nature arise in him. "Please do not get any crazy ideas!"
"Too late," Mario announced, slightly pleased at her reaction, he was enjoying this. "I will now carry you back to my house until my hands could no longer support you, which I doubt that will happen." He winked. "Thanks for the idea Rose."
"No, you don't have to!" Rosalina protested, hoping Mario would listen. "Please put me down—" It was too late, he ignored her protests, turned back and started to carry her away.
"You're going to pay for this," Rosalina sheepishly warned, while blushing madly.
"As if threats ever stop me Rose," Mario chortled, tightening his grip of her, walking her down the path, with the sun setting down upon the area.
"Oh wait, they never do."
Ay, I haven't uploaded a one shot in about a week or so, right? Never fret, this compilation fanfic is still alive. Fanart actually inspired me to create this piece. I saw a picture on deviantART of Rosalina carrying Mario, and one on Pixiv with Mario carrying Rosalina. Thus I received inspiration from those pieces, and this one shot was the result. Stay tuned for more. ;) And if you can, leave a review.