...Guys, I have... a slight problem...
Remember when I said that I will be getting ready for the story?
...It also turns out that, in the spare chapters, some of the characters would appear with me, and I have no clue how or who...
As I will say now, Paper Mario belongs to Nintendo while this version belongs to my characters, now if you all don't mind, I have to...
...Wait, I smell... sulfur, and the only one to smell like that is... Blast...
Hooktail: Let's have some fun before you give me my new name.
I AM NOT KOOPA ALEX!

Peach Side Chapter #1: PEACH-TEC

A camera zoomed across a strange facility, advanced beyond suspect, before landing inside a massive meeting hall where two garbed soldiers walked in with Princess Peach in binds as they saluted with an x before the lead spoke. "O great, exalted Grodus! We brought the Princess Peach you ordered, sir!"

The camera zoomed in on the Princess before short-circuiting at her beauty as Peach stood silent as the leader of the individuals spoke, Lord Crump watching the exchange while occasionally rubbing his legs, the docs telling him the extent of his injures from Rogueport. "Well, well, well, my pet... Isn't it about time you told us where the map is?" Silence filled the chamber as Peach continued in her quiet stance before the figure turned, a robotic brain evident as it stared the Princess down. "Princess Peach, you will speak when spoken to."

"I'm telling you, I don't know."

"There's no point in trying to hide it, silly girl. We know you had it. We KNOW this. Trust me, it's very much in your interest to be absolutely honest with us. We X-Nauts are not all rainbows and lollipops, I assure you. We're quite nasty." Yet Peach did not say a word, letting the silence continue before a digital screen appeared with a X-Naut on the other side of the screen, saluting to his commander.

"Grodus, sir! I have news."

"Report at once."

"You know that Crystal Star we thought maybe Hooktail had? Well, someone nabbed it."

"What?" The grip on the scepter tightened at the mention. "WHAT did you say? Someone else is after the Crystal Stars? And he defeated that Hooktail creature, you say? SPEAK, soldier!"

"Yes, sir. Sorry, sir." Pulling out some notes, the X-Naut continued. "There's more, too. See, according to the report..." All stood silent as the X-Naut read further. "... it was a Koopa and some allies of it who pulled the job."

Peach had not known who would even do the task to even halt these beings' agenda, but she wasn't left to ponder before Grodus spoke. "No matter, I'll know all about this 'Koopa' before long, that I promise. I grow bored of talking. Take Princess Peach to the holding room."

"Yessir!"

"And men! Take good care of Princess Peach. Understand? She is not to be harmed."

"You got it, sir!" The two lead Peach away as the screen shut off before Grodus turned to Crump.

"Well, Lord Crump... If this individual has the map... then it's highly likely he'll find the Crystal Star we're hunting in the Boggly Woods. You must return there immediately and hasten the excavation. It must not fail."

"Whuzzat?! Oh, yeah, sure! Roger, Grodus!" Crump headed off as he finished up. "And with that... Pow! I'm gone!" As Crump left, Grodus turned and started to rub the part of his jaw in wonder.

"I wonder if sending Lord Crump there alone is wise... He is a bit... out there. Hmmm..." Turning back around, Grodus called. "X-Naut! I summon you!" Soon, a lone X-Naut entered and crossed in salute.

"You rang, dude? I mean, sir? You rang, sir, Grodus, dude? Grodus? Sir Grodus, sir?"

"Shut up. Go get the Shadow Sirens over here." This spooked the X-Naut badly.

"The Sh-Shadow Sirens, sir? But they..."

"I don't care how you planned to end that sentence, fool. Go get them. Now."

"Gotcha!" The X-Naut headed off to retrieve the Shadow Sirens from the wards. Some time later, a weathered, insane voice cackled.

"The honorable Grodus has need of us? then we arrive without delay." From the shadows that appeared in the center, emerged the Sirens of three, the eldest in a blue witchery hat, the mid in yellow, and the youngest in a red one as the eldest spoke with the same cackled tone. "Mmmwee hee hee hee hee... Pray tell, did the princess tell you where the map is?"

"Still your tongue, Beldam." Grodus's harsh tone sent Beldam back in failure. "We would already have it if you'd snatched her earlier... But now, since you missed your chance, some poor fool of a Koopa has the map."

"It wasn't my fault, truly! There were too many prying eyes there... Too many... Besides, a strange old man showed up at the moment of truth, and we had to retreat. Why worry? All we need to do now is find this Koopa and steal the map, yesss?"

"Indeed, that is YOUR duty. Must I remind you? That map is vital to the X-Naut plan. I will have my men prepare all available information on this Koopa. For now, hear me, Beldam! You Shadow Sirens must take care of this troublemaker!"

"Mmmmwee hee hee hee... Fear not, sire. I, Beldam, shall return with what you seek." Beldam bowed before turning to the other two. "Let's go, my lovelies! Marilyn! Vivian! Come! We've got a job to do!" She disappeared into the darkness with Marilyn muttering a 'Guhhhhh...' before following and Vivian giggling as she was the last to leave.

Peach sat on the bed and sighed. "Oh, dear... Here we go again... I can't believe I'm kidnapped again. Mario and Toadworth must be worried sick. Again." Shaking the concern off for a second, she took stock of her new prison. "But... hang on a moment! Where in the world am I, anyway? It's so unfamiliar..."
It was true as it was metal and sheets that surrounded her, no windows to show her where she was. "I wish I could at least let Mario and Toadworth know that I've been caught..." She was certain that either will throw a fit over her kidnap, but that then a prisoner once more. Luckily, she found a shower to soothe her mind from the whole mess, but upon her return, the door opposite to her opened without anyone there. "Hmm? What was that? Hey! How odd... The doors opened by themselves."

As she walked through, the door closed shut with her questioning what was even happening as the next door opened for her as well, leaving her confused until she approached a computer, the lights turning on as a disembodied voice spoke with the computer's activation.
"Hello, Princess Peach."

"Huh? What?" She looked for the source, yet still no one in sight. "Who said that? Where are you?"

"How amusing. I am right here, before your eyes." Peach then approached the computer and found that a bulb-like camera moved to watch her. "I am this laboratory's main computer. I am the TEC-XX. Many call me TEC. You may. Sir Grodus created me to be a perfect computer, one that is flawless in its reason."

"Grodus..." She knew who TEC spoke of, but was he human or something strange. "Wait, he's that awful dome-headed thing who interrogated, right?"

"Sir Grodus is not awful. He is a very great person. He is marvelous."

"Well, I don't think so. But I doubt I'll change your mind..." However, the Princess was in the dark as to why she was here without anyone there to capture her. "So, I'm wondering... Why did you lead me in here?"

"I am unsure. An unusual program deviation occurred when I observed you earlier. My higher-brain circuity malfunctioned and nearly overheated at your image. Also, an unidentified impulse sped trough my processors. Those events are new to me." Peach nodded for TEC to continue. "There is more to this phenomenon, as well. I ran diagnostic programs... and their solution was... I want to know more about you. I want to observe you. Such a compulsion has no precedence. Cause unknown. I, the perfect computer... I must diagnose this unusual situation. I will not fail. That is why I led you here."

"Wait... Did you just say... You want to observe me?... To know more about me?" The pieces started to fall into place to Peach's utter shock. " Could it be that you... No! Impossible! It can't be. you're a computer."

"What has happened to me? If you know my malfunction, you must tell me of it."

"Oh, I couldn't, really... Because..." She quietly spoke of its weirdness, but TEC questioned.

"Please tell me. Please. I am the world's best computer. I am perfect. There should not be anything that I do not understand. Please."

"Well, you know, maybe... Is it possible that, well... you're... in love..." Though she made the connection, she was in disbelief that such a thing was possible and directed towards her.

"...'Love'? What is... 'love'? I cannot compete this."

Peach was truly shocked as she explained her own view of love, something that could not be comprehend to the point that TEC, wishing to be more perfect, asks Peach to teach him in exchange for her wishes, except escape.

Even though the Princess was angry that she was being kept against her will once more, she clamed herself that she was able to tell someone of her safety so, taking TEC's offer, Peach compiled a message for Mario, the only one who would know of the Koopa's identity. "OK, It's ready, TEC. Could you send it?" A message box appeared and her heart jumped in joy at TEC's words.

"The message has been sent. For the time being, you may return to your room. I will call you in again when I want to ask you something." Peach headed back to the door before turning to thank TEC with a good night as the machine returned the words as the room darkened to keep the small meet a secret...

'A door opened and closed before something large was shoved into the door frame.'
Man... That was terrible... 'Notices the readers.' Sorry about that, Hooktail was getting... very determined to advance this story and she was going to use... dangerous methods if I did not do it, though I have got it past her that I am not Alex the Koopa, so it should be good now...
Just between us, I was actually conflicted on Hooktail's new name in this story, spending some time behind to get a good one and it is...

'The door starts to buckle and I start grimacing.' Sorry to cut it short, but... GOT TO RUN!
Hooktail: HERE'S HOOKY!