A/N: Part of this chapter's title is a direct reference to a Star Stamp in "Mario Party 3" that describes Princess Peach.
Chapter 11: Elegance & Love
That evening, the crowd almost reached full capacity of 25,000 people. After a short while of the seats being filled up, Princess Peach and Amorette entered the hard court and went to the opposite sides.
A young woman with a pink polo shirt and a white visor climbed up to the umpire's chair. She introduced herself, saying "My name is Natasha and I will be your umpire today."
"Before we begin," Princess Peach declared, "I would like to thank you, Amorette, for apologizing to the Toad community. It was really ladylike of you."
"Thank you, princess." Amorette replied, "I hope now that they are kind of me in light of my actions. Now... Fancy a match?"
"Oh, yes!" Princess Peach declared, "Let's go!"
Natasha took out a coin. "If the coin reads heads, Princess Peach will serve to start the match. If the coin reads tails, Amorette will serve to start the match." She tossed up the coin. Once it dropped, she cried, "Heads."
She tossed a pair of tennis balls to Princess Peach. "Princess Peach," Natasha said, "You may now begin service."
Peach tossed a ball up and hit it with her racket. The ball bounced in the left service zone. Amorette hit it back to Peach with a hard topspin shot. Peach hit the ball back to Amorette with a hard topspin shot of her own. Amorette chased the ball, but couldn't swing. "15-Love." Natasha called,
Peach tossed a ball up and hit it with her racket. The ball bounced in the right service zone. Amorette hit it back to Peach, but with a hard slice shot this time. Peach hit the ball back to Amorette via a hard topspin shot. They engaged in a baseline rally, in which they traded hard topspin shots and hard slice shots.
"They seem to be quite good from the baseline." Emily commented from the stands,
"Amorette's always been good from the baseline." Bridget pointed out, "Not only that, their placement of shots are pretty much equal to each other's. I'm worried if Princess Peach's placement of shots are higher than Amorette's..."
Finally, Peach hit a hard topspin shot that whizzed by Amorette. "30-Love." Natasha called,
Peach tossed a ball up and hit it with her racket. The ball bounced in the left service zone. Amorette hit it back to Peach with a hard topspin shot. Peach hit the ball back to Amorette via a hard topspin shot of her own. They engaged in another baseline rally, in which they traded hard topspin shots and hard slice shots.
"Oh, boy..." Hugo commented, "No wonder they're focused on the baseline."
"It's like... They can read each other's minds." Colin commented
Finally, Peach hit a hard topspin shot that whizzed by Amorette. "40-Love." Natasha called,
Peach tossed a ball up and hit it with her racket. The ball bounced in the right service zone. Amorette hit it back to Peach, but with a hard slice shot this time. Peach hit the ball back to Amorette via a hard topspin shot. Amorette attempted a quick volley to get the ball back at Peach. Peach then hit it back with a hard topspin shot that sent the ball past Amorette and out of her reach. "Game, Princess Peach." Natasha called,
"Change sides." Natasha politely said as both competitors switched sides.
Amorette tossed her tennis ball up and smashed it with her racket. The ball bounced in the left service zone and it slipped past Peach! "I did it!" Amorette quickly cried,
"15-Love." Natasha called,
Amorette tossed her tennis ball up and smashed it with her racket. The ball bounced in the right service zone. "Not this time!" Peach thought as she hit a hard slice shot that zipped past Amorette.
"15-All." Natasha called,
Amorette tossed her tennis ball up and smashed it with her racket. The ball bounced in the left service zone. Peach hit the ball back to Amorette via a hard topspin shot. Amorette hit the ball back to Peach with a quick volley. They engaged in another baseline rally, in which they traded hard topspin shots and hard slice shots.
"Her volley seems steadily improving." Bridget observed, "When we first saw her match, her volleys would end up prone to being easily hit back by the receiver. Good thing that Amorette has having more control on the volley."
Emily nodded and then added, "She's certainly trying her best to keep Peach from getting to the net."
Finally, Peach hit a hard topspin shot that sent the ball out of Amorette's reach. "15-30." Natasha called,
Amorette tossed her tennis ball up and smashed it with her racket. The ball bounced in the right service zone. Peach returned it with a hard slice shot. "That's Out!" Natasha cried when she saw the ball, just hit outside the left sideline.
"Mamamia!" Peach cried at her error,
"30-All." Natasha called,
Amorette tossed her tennis ball up and smashed it with her racket. The ball bounced in the left service zone. Peach got enough of the ball to hit it high. Amorette rushed to where the ball went and... POW! She delivered a smash shot that made the ball burn by Peach. "How was that?" Amorette cried,
"40-30." Natasha called,
Amorette tossed her tennis ball up and smashed it with her racket. The ball bounced in the right service zone. Peach hit the ball with a hard topspin shot that whizzed by Amorette again. "Deuce." Natasha called,
"I have to say, Amorette..." Peach said, "You're actually giving me quite a good workout."
Amorette giggled and said, "I try... Especially to my servants back home in Victor Mansion."
"Interesting." Peach replied, "I might visit one day... Hopefully if Bowser doesn't kidnap me first."
Amorette giggled and then she prepared to serve. She tossed her tennis ball up and smashed it with her racket. The ball bounced in the left service zone. Peach hit a hard topspin shot to send the ball back to Amorette. Amorette tried a hard slice shot to get the ball back to Peach. "That's Out." Natasha called, upon seeing the ball just get outside the line on the left side.
"Why? Why?" Amorette cried
"Advantage to Princess Peach." Natasha called,
"Win the match, Princess!" A sign read from the crowd
Amorette tossed her tennis ball up and smashed it with her racket. The ball bounced in the right service zone. Peach hit it with a hard slice shot that easily eluded Amorette. The crowd applauded, while the Toads cheered loudly. "That is Game, Set & Match to Princess Peach!" Natasha called
Peach cheered and then cried, "Yes! Peach wins again!"
Amorette whined, "Why must I lose?" She tossed her racket down and kicked it, while looking down.
"I had a really good match with you!" Peach cried, "Let's do it again sometime!" She then left, feeling somewhat sad that Amorette did not respond.
Little did Peach know that Amorette was smiling...