Hello all. Once again thank you for those kind reviews. You all rock! This chapter is probably my longest ever! It's probably not that good so forgive me. For some odd reason it never took me as long to write as other chapters. However I have been less distracted recently. Any way, sadly I still don't own any of the characters. Oh well. I should also state that Plum lives in Wario's castle (for the moment) because he won her in a card game with Bowser. When I started writing this fic I didn't realise that she was indeed a Princess. I had an ending all worked out but I have since changed it to coincide with her being a Princess. Any way on with the fic…
Chapter 7: Problems.
The night of the ball had finally arrived and Plum was all ready to go. Peach had dropped by a few hours before and had somehow managed to tame Plums scruffy locks. Her hair was now luxuriously shiny and straight. In two hours Plum transformed into a stunning young lady from a scruffy no body. Plum felt amazing. Her reflection in the mirror was so unrecognisable, she looked so different and she liked it.
Plum stood in front of the mirror for a good ten minutes admiring Peach's handy work. Peach giggled at Plums expression. Peach picked up her bag and made towards the door. As she went to open it she heard a sharp knock. Peach opened the door and Waluigi walked in looking most uncomfortable. For once he looked smart. Peach gave him the once over and more or less approved.
"You'll pass for a human I suppose," Peach said smiling. Waluigi grunted a reply.
"Any way I best be on my way. Take care of her tonight or you'll have Daisy to deal with," Peach said to Waluigi after she had waved at Plum.
Peach said her final goodbyes and then left Plum in her room with Waluigi. Plum looked at Waluigi and couldn't resist a giggle.
"What's funny?"
"Nothing. It's just odd to see you in a suit," She said happily.
"Don't get used to it," He told her.
"Any way, Wario wanted to see us downstairs," He said bluntly. Plum nodded and followed him out of the door. She kept staring at Waluigi; she just couldn't believe how different he looked in a suit. She coughed out loud trying to get his attention.
"Nasty cough," He said sarcastically. Plum smiled.
"Well?" She said quietly.
"Well what?" He said, stopping to turn round to look at Plum. She seemed to be waiting for something.
"You still haven't said how I look?" She said with a grin playing on her lips. Waluigi wasn't expecting that question. He glanced at her and then shrugged. He hadn't really given it a second thought. He looked at her. It was indeed a nice dress and it did fit her well. She looked more feminine then usual. Waluigi shook his head and turned round. This was not a smart move.
"Come on, Wario's waiting," He said dryly. Plum grinned to herself. That was funny. Now she had this dress on she felt she had a bit of power.
When they found Wario in his usual place at the dinner table, he looked slightly agitated. Plum wondered if his date for the night was going to show. Wario seemed ready to go to the ball, in his suit and everything but something seemed wrong.
"You wanted to see us?" Waluigi said.
"That's right, I have a proposition for you," Wario said. Plum didn't like the sound of this.
"Go on," Waluigi said, not sounding too interested.
"Well Mona is coming back tonight and I don't think she'll like the idea of me having a slave..." Wario started. Plum wondered about what he was actually getting at. Apparently Waluigi didn't have a clue either.
"And? What do you expect me to do about it?" He said in a bored tone. Plum wondered if it was wise to ask that second question.
"Well I want you to pretend that Plums your erm..." Wario said trying to keep a straight face. Plum went cold, was he suggesting what she thought he was suggesting?
"Don't even say it," Waluigi said sternly. Plum silently thanked him.
"I'll give you ten thousand red coins," Wario said. Plum didn't believe him, what she also couldn't believe was that Waluigi seemed to be actually thinking about this.
"Twenty," Waluigi said. Plum gasped. He was actually considering this and hadn't even thought about her in all of this.
"Twenty five and I expect you to share your room," Wario concluded. Plum closed her eyes, silently wishing that this were just some horrible dream.
"Done," Plum screamed inside her head. This was total madness. Feeling a bit faint she sat down on the nearest chair. Wario said something about going to the ball in his own car as he was meant to be picking up Mona. With in a few minutes he had left the castle and gone to pick up Mona.
As soon as she heard the front door shut she fixed Waluigi with her most angry stare. She wasn't happy with the situation that he'd put her in.
"Look I could do with the money," He said, trying to justify his self. She humphed and tapped her fingers on the table.
"There's nothing you can do about it so it's a waste of time sulking. Any way we best get going to the ball," Waluigi said warningly to her. Plum frowned and got up from the table and stalked off out the castle and towards Waluigi's car.
The journey to Peach's castle was a silent one. No words were spoken between them. But inside Plums head it was a different story. She was seething. How was she supposed to play the doting girlfriend of the ever-insufferable Waluigi? What made it worse was that he was getting paid. That's if Wario actually stuck to his word. This would make her suffer.
She glanced over to look at Waluigi. Then a thought crossed her mind. If she was to suffer this indignity then so would he. She was going to make him pay for this. She was going to make him uncomfortable in every way possible. She was going to embarrass him at every given moment and make him wish he hadn't accepted that deal with Wario.
By time she realised they were already at Peach's castle. A small Toad attendant opened her car door and politely helped her out of the car. Waluigi threw his keys and another Toad and told him to park his car. The Toad caught the keys and mumbled something about manners. Plum smiled apologetically at the Toad and then followed Waluigi up to the doors of Peach's castle.
When they entered the castle and found the dance floor Plum immediately looked around for Wario and Mona. She hoped that they had gotten here earlier. She looked at Waluigi who, in record time, had started to scowl at everyone in sight. Plum tried to see what had made him scowl but then she had to look no further.
"Ah," She murmured as she spotted Daisy with her partner. Her partner was in a black tuxedo and had a green bow. Quite the dish Plum thought to herself. Waluigi heard her soft exclamation and growled quietly. Plum wanted to go over and greet Daisy but Waluigi seemed to be making the effort in keeping her away.
Eventually Wario did turn up, with who she guessed was Mona in tow. Plum had secretly hoped that Mona had changed her mind. She saw Wario lead them over. Thinking it wise she prodded Waluigi on the arm gently and nodded over in Wario's direction.
Seeing her opportunity come about nicely Plum grinned and slipped her arm around Waluigi's. This unexpected gesture made him jump and tense up under her arm. Plum smirked to herself. He gave her a sharp stare and then turned to greet his brother.
"Waluigi, Plum, this is Mona and Mona, Waluigi my brother and his erm girlfriend Plum," Wario said straight faced. Plum wondered how he slept at night. Everyone greeted each other in acknowledgement.
Plum looked at Mona and wondered if her sanity was in tact. She was very pretty with light brown hair and dressed in a beautiful red dress. What did she see in Wario? Plum shook her head. She looked at Waluigi and decided she'd give him a playful nudge. He didn't seem to take too kindly to being nudged by her and gave her yet another a glare. She gave him an innocent looking smile.
After a few moments of small talk between Wario, Mona and Waluigi had ended the happy couple left Plum and Waluigi alone. He turned to face her directly and looked furious. He grabbed her by the arm and dragged her off into a quiet corner. He spun round and glared at her.
"What are you playing at?" He hissed at her. She simply smiled.
"If I'm going to suffer then you are too!" She said cheerfully.
"I'm warning you, do-not-play-games-with-me," he said, his voice dangerously low. But Plum was not finished yet.
"You're getting paid to have me as your girlfriend. I think it's fair that I should get some enjoyment out of this too don't you think?" She said sweetly. Winding him up was fun.
Waluigi took a sharp deep breath in and looked around. Daisy and her partner were headed in their direction. Before they reached him he said one last thing.
"Don't talk to me about fairness," He hissed. Plum looked over at Daisy and her partner and raised her eyebrows.
The couple came over to where Plum and Waluigi were standing and greeted them both.
"Hey Plum, Waluigi," Daisy said happily.
"Hey Daisy," Plum said, Waluigi didn't say anything at all, he just scowled instead.
"I don't think you've met my partner Luigi, have you?" Daisy said and Plum shook her head.
"Hi Plum," Luigi said and Plum returned the greeting.
"I'll be with Wario when you're ready," Waluigi said bitterly, casting Luigi one last glare before stalking off moodily.
"Taking it like a man I see," Luigi said shaking his head. Plum and Daisy smiled.
They started to have a conversation filled with all kinds of pleasantries when the whole entire ball came to a stop.
A few screams and a big crashing sound came from in the middle of the dance floor. The three some turned round to see what was going on but they couldn't through all the guests standing in their way.
Daisy, Luigi and Plum pushed their way past the crowd to see what was going on. They found Wario, Mona and a grumpy Waluigi standing near the front of the raucous.
"What's going on?" Daisy asked Mona, who looked confused. Plum looked round and instantly recognised what was in the middle of the dance floor. The Clown Copter. Plum stepped forward past Waluigi and stared at the Copter. He put his hand on her arm, keeping her from going any further. If the Copter was here then so must..
"Bowser!" A few people shrieked. Plum gasped and recoiled back behind Waluigi. She didn't notice that she was clinging onto him. He noticed however but let it slide. Peach and what seemed to be Luigi's brother came over to Plum and the rest and looked furious.
Bowser jumped from out of the Copter that had not so long ago crashed through the ceiling of the ballroom. He had a manic grin that seemed complete with his booming laugh that echoed through the room.
No one said anything as the giant reptile went close to Peach and the rest. Wario wasn't to impressed to see the giant reptile. The last time he saw Bowser he had swiped Plum off him.
"Hello Wario. Long time no see," He boomed. Then Bowser let out another laugh as he spotted Plum hiding behind Waluigi.
"Ah Plum. We meet again. But my, haven't you changed," He said as Plum shook with fear. What was he after?
"What do you want Bowser? You weren't invited!" Peach said angrily.
"My dear Peach. For once I'm not after you. Don't worry I will be one day soon. No. I want what's rightfully mine. Plum I'd watch yourself," Bowser said warningly. Plum felt faint at his words. He scared her.
Bowser turned to leave but before he did he had one more message to give out.
"Oh and Wario, I trust know one knows about your little secret," Bowser asked of Wario who had no idea what he was talking about.
"Oh come on Wario. Think man. Something you nearly lost in our card game. I trust know one knows what that would be? We both know it could have devastating effects on certain people," Bowser cackled before clambering into his Clown Copter and flying off into the night.
Everyone left in the ballroom seemed shaken but unhurt.
"What did he mean by your 'little secret'?" Waluigi asked Wario.
"Erm, he meant I nearly lost our castle in a card game," Wario said feeling a little hot under the collar. Plum knew this to be a lie. She knew that he nearly lost Waluigi in that card game.
"Is that it? Jeese. That Bowser's loosing his marbles!" Waluigi said shaking his head.
Peach came over to Plum and took her aside.
"Are you okay?" Peach asked and Plum nodded. She didn't want Peach to worry. Peach looked worried for a moment but then turned round to Waluigi and advised that he take her home.
"She has a point," Wario said " See you home bro, Plum,"
Wario took Mona off in his car and Waluigi took Plum home in his. Plum was still shaking with fear on the way home.
"He's all mouth, don't worry," Waluigi said, after he saw her shaking out of the corner of his eye. Plum nodded and felt slightly calmer after that.
Back at Wario's castle the four people were sat in the rarely ever-used study. Plum decided to keep to her mission of winding up Waluigi and sat next to him, much to Wario's delight. She was seated so close to Waluigi that she was practically on top of him. He tried to shift over but eventually he came to the edge of the sofa.
She lifted her right arm and put it round his neck. She felt him tense up again under her body. She found it fun to see how much she could make Waluigi squirm. Moving one step further she ran her fingers through his hair, his breathing became slightly heavier. She smirked at his obvious uncomfort.
Her next step went one to far. She felt she needed to push her mission further and placed her hand on his knee and she gave it a little squeeze. This caused Waluigi to yelp and jump up. In a rushed voice he announced he was going to bed. Plum had to refrain from laughing.
Ten minute later Plum felt it best to go to bed to and waved goodnight at Mona and Wario who were to busy wrapped up in themselves to notice her.
As she left the study she felt a hand grab her.
"Right missy. This game stops now!" Waluigi hissed at her. Plum grinned at him and walked off. He followed her. Despite Wario telling them to share a room, Plum didn't think it wise to take that risk. She had riled Waluigi up enough for one night. She reached her room and was about to enter when Waluigi grabbed her arm once again.
"Goodnight Waluigi. I enjoyed tonight," She said with a cheeky grin on her face before shutting the door on him.
He couldn't be bothered to argue with her so he didn't knock on her door or walk in.
"Goodnight" He muttered to no one in particular before heading off to his own room.