Sorry this one took so long (more than twenty-four hours, I think. OMG!). I've been trying to write a few chapters ahead, and the next ones are pretty... well, I won't spoil, so never mind. On with the story!


Princess Peach was sitting in her bedroom when it happened.

She was doing more than sitting, actually. She was talking on the phone with a frantic Daisy.

"You don't understand! He's gone mad!"

"Who has?" Peach's brow furrowed.

"I just told you!" screamed the phone.

A quiet knock on the door. "Oh, that might be my breakfast. Can I call you back?"

"What? No! This is-" But Peach didn't hear her. She'd already hung up to open the door.

A Toad stepped into the room, bowing as soon as there was enough space. "Message for you, Your Highness. Someone is calling for you."

"Really?" This early in the morning? "Who is it?"

As if on cue, the door was slammed open further, knocking the unfortunate Toad against the wall. In the doorway stood Luigi, looking like he was ready to kill. "Peach!" he bellowed. "I've got a question for you!"

She tilted her head, eyes wide and innocent. "Sure, Luigi. What is it?"

"I..." He trailed off. He tried again. "What did you... Why did... You're such... Uh..." Each time Luigi started a new sentence, he lost his train of thought just as quickly.

As the anger left Luigi prematurely, Peach simply waited. He moved his mouth a few times, but no words came out. Finally, he shook his head.

"Okay," said Peach, as calmly as if this happened every week. "While you're working on that, I have a question for you."

Luigi blinked a few times in confusion. "Sure," he said slowly. "What is it?"

"Why did you come here, unannounced, in your pajamas?"

He looked down, realizing too late that he hadn't thought this through. Whatever anger left in his system was replaced by shame. There were some moments of awkward silence.

Mario raced into the room, followed closely by Daisy.

"Peach! Are you okay!"

"Snap out of it, Weege!"

But Luigi was standing there, docile and embarrassed, and Peach was completely unfazed.

No one stirred, and no one talked. Mario and Daisy were watching Luigi and Peach; Peach was looking at Luigi; Luigi was staring at his shoes.

The Toad stood, rubbing his head. "Ow..."

"Sorry," Luigi mumbled.

As the Toad opened his mouth to yell at Luigi, he noticed all four of them standing there. "Hey," he said, "What gives? Why are you all here?"

"Actually," said Peach, "I was just wondering that..."

Mario turned slowly to Luigi. "Yeah, Weege. Tell them why we're here," he said in a tone of amusement.

All eyes were on the man in the pajamas. The fact that he was wearing green only served to highlight the redness of his face. After two seconds, he cleared his throat.

"Just wanted to say hi," he lied. "And- Oh my, look at the time! I haven't even eaten breakfast yet. Good day, Princess."

On that note, he bowed and reached up to tip his hat, only to discover that he wasn't wearing his hat, and turned on his heel and bolted out the door.