Wahoo, another chapter! And this is the chapter I have been looking forward to writing ever since I began the story! Yes, much mushiness! Enjoy reading it as much as I have writing it!
Disclaimer: Do I really have to say it again?
Chapter 12: Tanookis and Tickling
Luigi flies overhead, glad his feet no longer are doing the work, still following the tracks in the sand. I'll catch up with Popple in no time at this rate, Luigi smugly smiles; his smile fades however when fifteen minutes later the sand disappears and bamboo forests appear. Dang it! Now what? Luigi stays his current course for a couple of minutes then notices a patch of bamboo that has fallen over. He flies lower and finds the jeep at the base of the plants, its front tires off the ground as its front end rests on the fallen bamboo. The raccoon powered plumber also notices the keys still in the ignition and pulls them out. So he's abandoned his vehicle and stuck on foot again. A grin appears on Luigi's face as he again takes to the sky and flies straight east.
Mario wipes the sweat off his brow as he and Peach step off the green. "I win," Peach exclaims excitedly as she tallies up her final score. "-5 to -3, good try sweetie," she pecks Mario on the cheek.
"I'll get you next time," Mario states smiling, "if it wasn't for the piranha plant at Hole 16, I would have had it."
"Yeah, yeah, excuses, excuses," Peach teases.
Mario puts his hands on his sides defiantly, "Hey now, its true!"
"Sure it is," Peach continues to tease.
"Well then, be that way," Mario jokes. "I might not be able to beat you in golf, but I know a game I always win."
"Really now and that would be what?"
"This one!" Mario steps up beside her and begins to tickle her sides; she begins to laugh uncontrollably as she swats at Mario's hands.
"Mario! That's not fair (giggle) you know I'm extremely ticklish." The tickling and giggling continues until Peach falls to the ground in fits of laughter then Mario stops. He extends his hand and helps her up. "Fine you win that one," she admits and they both laugh. "I guess we should head back before Toadsworth begins to worry." Mario rolls his eyes, but agrees and they head to the castle.
Daisy walks up to the castle gates with the group of suitors in tow and smiles, Can't wait to get back and relax. She leads them all into the foyer where her father and grandmother are talking politics; both of them smile as the group enters.
"Have fun," Hyacinth asks.
"Yes, a couple of bumps in the road, but nothing major," Daisy responds with a smile.
"Well now that you're back, you can show them around the castle," Thorne encourages.
"Actually I'm kind of tired, if it is all right I would like to talk with grandma about dresses for the ball then relax until dinner," Daisy asks her father sweetly, hoping that she will get an approval.
"I understand; I'll have Chizer give them a tour," the king declares as the chibibo sighs not wanting another task. "Go ahead mom, see you at dinner," he addresses Hyacinth.
"Thanks Dad," Daisy smiles appreciatively then follows Hyacinth back outside to the courtyard. Thank goodness I got out of doing another tour, Daisy gratefully thinks. Now I can get this dress situation ironed out and then relax. The two ladies head over to the edge of the long pond and sit down on the grass. "So the dress, where shall we start the color, cut, or price?"
The scenery changes from the bamboo forest into green fields when he spots a purple man running, I gotcha now! Luigi swoops lower then notices where the thief is headed, a village full of nooks and crannies to hide, people to steal from, and possibly a shop to pawn the crystal he had stolen. Luigi swoops lower just behind and above Popple so he can hear him.
"Just a couple more yards and I can get my money," the shadow thief excitedly states. The plumber squints at him irritably then smirks as he reaches out his arms to end the chase. Two hands fall onto Popple's shoulder, "Hey what the Hell?" Popple looks down nervously as he feels his feet lift off the ground then watches as the ground becomes farther and farther away. He shakes nervously then looks up to figure out how he is flying. "Green?!?"
"That's right I'm back, now if you want a soft landing you better fork over the crystal," Luigi threatens.
"Never," Popple responds defiantly, grasping the crystal tighter.
"You asked for it!" Luigi pulls up and goes higher into the air causing Popple to sweat as he hates heights then the flying plumber dives down heading straight toward the pavement. Popple begins to squirm as the gray concrete comes closer and closer; those on the street move to the side as they see the pair coming toward the ground.
"Pull up! Pull up," Popple yells as they become too close for comfort. Luigi pulls up just before Popple's feet would touch the ground and heads back above the rooftops.
"Now, will you hand over the crystal," Luigi presses.
"No," Popple stubbornly squeaks. "You don't have the guts to do something like that Green. You're a do-gooder and do-gooders can't harm someone like that." Luigi again plunges toward the ground until he reaches is about five feet above ground then he steadies at that altitude. He glides through the street until he sees a wall in front of him, a couple feet in front of that Luigi lets go of Popple. The shadow thief lands face first on the ground and rolls until he slams into the wall. Luigi turns around and lands in front of the crumpled thief. Popple stumbles to his feet, a little dizzy and sore, but amazingly still pretty much intact. "See Green, I knew you couldn't hurt me that bad. You could have dropped me from fifty feet up and you didn't. I'm fine and I still have the crystal," the thief gloats as he holds out the gem with a grin on his face. The green clad man lunges forward, punches Popple in the face then jumps up, and slaps him with his tail, sending the crystal up and over the wall. "Well now look at what you did," Popple exclaims as he wipes the blood from the corner of his mouth. Luigi angrily squints at him, "You know what? You're not worth my time," Popple pompously notes and walks away. Luigi rolls his eyes and sighs frustrated.
Daisy and Hyacinth chuckle at the expense of the princes as Daisy regales her grandmother with the story of her outing in town. "Oh boy, men these days," Hyacinth notes, "crazier than ever." Daisy nods in agreement then Hyacinth becomes serious, "So speaking of the suitors, have you narrowed down the field any?" Daisy rolls her eyes, not wanting to answer the question. "Daisy you should be thinking about this you know," Hyacinth scolds.
"I know and I've got a little bit of an idea," Daisy states hesitantly.
"Well," Hyacinth pushes, "go on."
"Sadly enough, the guy who's looking like the best candidate is Prince Peasley…"
"Really! Why is that," Hyacinth asks trying to divulge more information about Daisy's decision.
"Well, out of all them he's the most normal one," Hyacinth chuckles, "and he's not arrogant, well maybe a little overconfident, but not too terrible like Cashmire. Plus he shares my passion for plants."
"See this good," Hyacinth encourages.
"But he's a bean, isn't that kind of weird," Daisy questions.
"Nonsense, its fine! Just think of the unity between kingdoms; it would be fantastic!"
"You're sounding like Dad, please stop," Daisy pleads dismayed.
"I'm sorry dear, its just I know you were so against this arrangement and now it looks like its going to work out for the best," Hyacinth explains.
"I guess," Daisy notes unsure.
"Why don't you go relax in your garden? It's been a long day," Hyacinth suggests, knowing that Daisy needs sometime alone. Daisy nods as they both get up and head their separate ways. Hyacinth stops at the top of the stairs and turns back to her granddaughter. "Don't feel pressured to do anything you don't want, even if everyone else thinks you should."
Daisy smiles, "Thanks grandma." Hyacinth steps inside while Daisy lingers in the courtyard staring at the pond.
"Stupid Popple and his vengeance, causing me to come all the way out here in the middle of nowhere and lose the crystal," Luigi grumbles as he stares at the tall wall. "At least I have the Super Leaf power-up," he jumps into the air and flies to the top of the wall. Standing on the ledge he looks down into what looks like a small courtyard, around the bottom of the wall are flower beds full of various plants from what he could tell there were tulips, roses, and lilies. He carefully jumps down, avoiding the beds and looks around. Come on where are you, he looks around trying to find the star crystal. It has to be up here somewhere! He searches through the flowerbeds again then he looks up at the only tree around, a cherry blossom tree and spots a glimmer of light. "Ah ha, there you are," Luigi exclaims, rubbing his hands together. "I knew you were up here somewhere," he jumps up and grabs a branch then starts climbing to the top of the tree where the crystal sets.
Daisy shakes her head, breaking her gaze at the pond. "I hate being a princess sometimes, maybe 90 percent of the time," she grumbles, the concerns of her courtship being at the front of her mind. She brushes past the white forsythia bushes and opens up the gate door. Entering the garden, she shuts the gate and immediately heads for the base of her cherry blossom tree. She sits down and leans against the tree trunk, "Why me?" She lets out a sigh then notices pedals falling from the tree, faster than normal. She stands back up and looks up, from underneath the tree branches a tail sticks out.
Luigi finally grabs the crystal and sticks it in his side pocket, Yes!!! Not going to let you slip out like you did last time! He begins to climb back down, cautiously using his feet to feel for foot holes until he reaches half way down the tree. His right foot feels for a branch, but cannot find one. Oh shoot where is it?
Daisy glares at the tail hanging there like a piece of fruit while pedals continue to fall. "My tree," Daisy grumbles, "it only blooms once a year and it never seems to last long before all the pedals fall off." She reaches her hands out ready to grab the tail, It looks like a tanooki tail. Her face reddens with anger, "Always messing around in my garden and ruining things, well not this time." She grabs a hold of the tail and yells "If there is anything I hate more than choosing princes, its tanookis!"
Luigi feels something grab onto him, "What the?" Suddenly he is falling and lands on his back at the bottom of the tree. "Ow," Luigi whines as he closes his eyes and tears drip out.
"Luigi?" The plumber opens his eyes to find a brunette woman with cerulean eyes looking down at him. Quickly he jumps to his feet as his face flushes with embarrassment.
"Daisy?! What are you doing here? Oh wait," he notices the castle now, "you live here, so of course you're going to be here…I'm sorry I didn't mean to intrude," he begins to ramble uncontrollably another sign of nerves getting to him. She brings her hand to her mouth trying not to giggle at his nervous rambling. "Um well, I guess I should go then."
"You know, I really don't like tanookis," Daisy states. Luigi looks at her confused then remembers hearing a woman something about hating tanookis before said woman pulled him out of the tree. "But for some reason this one is just too adorable to not like." She grabs a hold of his left ear and begins to play with it as it she is petting a puppy. Luigi again blushes and his tail begins to wag.
"Oh stop, you're embarrassing me," Luigi says embarrassed as he begins to kick nervously at the grass.
Daisy giggles then she begins playing with the other ear, "Ah, but why, its true!" The squeal of the garden's gate is faint in the background, inaudible to the couple by the tree. Hyacinth steps into the garden and passes by the yellow forsythia bushes heading toward the tree where she knew Daisy would be sitting.
"Daisy sweetie, your dad and I," she begins, but stops as she finds an unusual scene in front of her. A man in green with a tanooki tail and ears being tickled by her granddaughter, both of whom are laughing hysterically.
"Stop it Daisy! How did you know I was ticklish," Luigi asks between fits of laughter. Daisy laughs evilly in response and continues to tickle him. Hyacinth can only smile, it is an odd scene, but she has never seen Daisy so happy before. Her thoughts are interrupted when the gate squeals again.
"Daisy your grandmother and I…What in the world?!?" King Thorne steps in through the gate to find the same odd scene that Hyacinth had found. "Daisy," Thorne yells. Daisy stops and her eyes widen as she spots her father standing there. She begins to blush in embarrassment and steps back which confuses Luigi then he turns around to find an older woman and man standing there. The man has a crown on, which leads the plumber to only one conclusion.
Uh oh, he immediately begins to sweat this does not look good…
King Thorne picks up a shovel that Daisy was using the other day and holds it up menacingly in the air. "You! Get away from my daughter and out of my castle!" Luigi jumps back as the king swings the shovel down in front of him.
"Aahh!" Luigi exclaims as the king chases him to the wall; Luigi jumps up and flies onto the top of the wall ledge.
"Get and stay out," Thorne warns as he shakes his fist. Luigi jumps down the other side and disappears.
"Dad," Daisy begins to scorn, but is stopped when he turns around with a fierce glare.
"Who precisely was that?"
"My friend…"
"Friend huh, well young lady do not forget that you are in the middle of choosing your next husband! That means no dilly dallying with strange men! Now as your grandmother and I were coming to say we need your help picking out decorations and food for the upcoming ball. Come inside," Thorne orders crossly then leads the way to the back door of the castle. Daisy drops her head and follows with her grandmother walking beside her.
"Who was that," Hyacinth asks quietly so her son could not hear her.
"My friend Luigi," Daisy sighs disappointed, "he's a really sweet guy I met in the Mushroom Kingdom."
"I see," Hyacinth responds as she mentally notes the name in her head. The three head inside to further discuss the royal ball coming up in a couple of weeks.
"Good way to make a first impression," Luigi notes sarcastically to himself. He sighs depressed feeling like a fool when his stomach grumbles. "All that running around and excitement has worn me out," he looks up to find a street clock that reads 5:00. "Its dinnertime, I better find some food." He heads back into town looking for a place to eat on a low budget.
Ah the fluffiness! So cute! Please Read and Review!