Been awhile, sorry but since it took me so long you all get 3 chapters! They are all kind of set up chapters, unfortunately, but 16 will be good! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: Oh boy, here we go…I don't own any of the characters or the places. They belong to Nintendo and I have no connection to the company.
Chapter 13: New Plans
Mario and Peach sit at the table eating some of Mon T.'s grilled mushroom sandwiches as Toadsworth drones on about official castle business. "What time is it," Mario asks as he downs the last half of his sandwich.
"Quarter to six Master Mario," Toadsworth answers.
"Got about an hour or two then," Mario calculates as Peach looks at him confused. "That's when Luigi will be getting home."
"Oh right," Peach nods almost forgetting about the train delay. "It should be getting dark soon," she remarks remember how late it is in the year.
"Yeah I would say around 8, the sun will be down," Mario notes. "I guess I should be at home waiting for him around then."
"Mario! Mario," a tinny voice exclaims panicked. The three look up to find Twink floating above them.
"Twink? What's the matter," Peach asks concerned.
"It's the Reflectivus Portal!"
"The what," Mario asks confused.
"The Reflectivus Portal," Twink states again. Mario looks to Peach for an explanation; she shrugs her shoulders, not knowing what the little star is talking about. He then turns to Toadsworth.
"I must admit, I have never heard of such a device," Toadsworth states.
"Uh well, it's an important artifact from a long time ago," Twink asserts, "And it's been stolen!"
"Stolen? By who," Mario asks. Peach and Toadsworth look at him skeptically. "What? I was giving old Bowser a break and not assuming!"
"Well he is our only suspect," Twink notes.
"Why would Bowser want this thing anyway," Mario continues to question.
"According to legend if the key and the portal were to merge then one could pass through the portal and travel anywhere that has a mirror."
"A mirror? How strange indeed," Toadsworth exclaims.
"Yes, if he would be able to find the key then he would be able to go anywhere he wishes including…"
"The castle," Peach gasps.
"King Bowsie is getting smarter and slicker isn't he," Mario notes, not expecting this kind of plan from the Koopa King. "So we need to get the mirror back or get the key, which would be easier?"
"Uh see that is the problem, we don't know where the key is," Twink confesses.
"How is that possible," Peach asks.
"Well it is a very old artifact and we all don't know the entirety of the legend. Very few do."
"Great," Mario notes cheerfully, everyone stares at him confused. "If no one can figure out where the key is then there is nothing to worry about right?"
Kammy Koopa smirks as she pours over her book reading up for possible clues of the key's location, but it is not the book that has her smiling. She listens blissfully as the bellowing of King Bowser echoes up the stairs from the throne room. "What was I thinking when I entrusted you to come up with a plan to claim Princess Toadstool? You are useless!"
"But King Bowser, let me explain," the magikoopa pleads.
"NO! I don't want to hear it! I already know what you are going to say! Its all because of that stupid plumber isn't it?!? I HATE THAT PLUMBER!"
"Actually it was both of them sir," Kamek meekly corrects.
"Excuse me? Did you say something," Bowser growls.
"Both of the plumbers had a hand in our defeat sir," Kamek shrinks back.
"You mean to tell me that the other plumber beat you as well?" Kamek nods, "so you are not just useless but TOTALLY USELESS!" Kamek gulps, "GET OUT OF MY SIGHT!" The magikoopa dashes out of the throne room and closes the door behind him leaving the Koopa King to stew. "I HATE PLUMBERS!!!"
Kammy snickers to herself, Who's the better magikoopa now Kamek? I believe that's me. She lets out an evil laugh slip out then turns back to her book; Now back to work. She rereads the same story once again, Where in the world would I find a ruling kingdom that reigns over four individual kingdoms! This is so frustrating! Kammy stares out her window trying to figure out where to go when her musings are interrupted.
"KAMMY GET DOWN HERE!" Kammy cannot help, but smile.
"My, my, someone is in a grouchy mood; maybe because he should have listened to the old windbag instead of the idiot." She slowly makes her way to the throne room, "Yes my nastiness?"
"Kammy I was apparently wrong about our associate Kamek; he has failed me."
"So I predicted," Kammy smugly notes.
"Yeah well don't get too cocky, but I need to fall back upon your plan," Bowser unwillingly admits.
"Well, your wicked majesty I have completed half of my plan as I now possess the Reflectivus Portal," Kammy informs.
"Impressive, you were able to achieve that on your own without the help of troops? You are more competent than that failure Kamek," Bowser compliments.
"Yes your highness, the only problem is locating the key and the one who can use it," Kammy admits. "The only other situation to deal with is the pact between those in the portal and ourselves."
"People in the portal," Bowser restates confused.
"Yes your vileness highness, there is a world behind the portal with its own inhabitants. I must make contact before the portal is opened so that we do not suffer any mishaps," Kammy warns.
"Precaution, good thinking," Bowser exclaims. "Continue on with your work," the Koopa King commands as he waves her away.
"Yes your majesty." She heads back up to her study to research how to contact the inhabitants of the portal.
Daisy sits at the table, barely touching her fish fillet marinated in lemon pepper sauce, as she listens to her father talk about the upcoming ball. "I was hoping to have a dinner beforehand, so I think we should have some food that reflects our kingdom Chai. Daisy are you listening?"
"Yes sorry, I think that's a great idea," Daisy agrees in a monotone voice.
"Well any suggestions for dishes," Thorne pushes on.
"I think something like a chicken stir-fry with a light garlic sauce would be delectable," Hyacinth interjects.
"Yes that would be a grand idea," Thorne agrees, "and we could have wontons served for an appetizer." The king furiously writes down the idea on a pad of paper, "now what to serve for the main course, something more substantial like Black Pepper Chicken Curry and for desert White Mooncake."
"What about those who like fish? We are sort of known for our fish dishes," Hyacinth again interjects.
"Well then we will have our snapper drizzled in honey chili sauce; that should take care of the fish. For our sides there will be rice and egg drop soup; that should take care of the menu. Excellent, now we can talk about decorations," Thorne states transitioning to the next order of business. Daisy rolls her eyes and Hyacinth notices giving her a reason to intervene.
"Son, I think we should wait until tomorrow to talk about decorations. Daisy is tired from her long day and I need to run into town," she asserts.
"Run into town at this hour, why?" King Thorne questions.
"To see my friend Madeline, a former queen can have a social life too," she defends.
"Sorry mom, all right I guess we can postpone until tomorrow. See everyone tomorrow," King Thorne says as he leaves with Daisy following him to the stairs. Hyacinth grabs her coat and heads out into town.
Luigi stares out the window of the café watching the sky darken little by little as the sun slowly drifts toward the horizon. "Here's your tea and soup sir," a chibibo server slides the platter onto the table then walks away to service another table. Luigi grabs a sugar packet and pours it into his tea cup. As he stirs to get the sugar to dissolve in the liquid, he inhales deeply enjoying the smell.
Can't find any red tea in the Mushroom Kingdom; better enjoy it while I can. He takes a large gulp and smiles as the tea soothes his throat. His attention then turns to the egg drop soup her ordered which comes with a side of crunchy chow mein noodles. The plumber likes the noodles both in the soup and plain, so he pours half of the plate into his soup bowl and leaves the other half to munch on. His raccoon ears perk when the bell of the door rings, letting the servers know another customer has walked inside.
Hyacinth walks up to the quaint little house with blue trim and white stone then knocks on the wooden door. An elderly nobokon with a blue shell appears at the door, "Hyacinth! I didn't expect to see you tonight, what are you doing out here so late?"
"I need your help with something," Hyacinth responds mysteriously with a grin.
"Oh I know that grin! What kind of mischief are we getting into this time," Madeline asks suspiciously with a hint of intrigue.
"I will explain on the way," Hyacinth says as she waves her friend to follow.
"Where are we going," Madeline asks as she grabs a crème colored shawl and follows the former queen into town.
"To the Gira's Grill of course," the woman in light purple states as she fixes her matching hat. "They have the best plum wine around, come on." The two ladies walk down Main Street and turn into the restaurant.
As they enter a bell rings and a waiter comes to their aid, "Would you ladies like a both or a table?"
"Booth please," Madeline answers, preferring the softer padding of the benches compared to the chairs.
"If you would follow me, I will show you to your table," the waiter instructs then leads them toward the back and sits them at a more secluded table away from the rowdy customers at the bar. Each of the women sits down facing each other then Madeline places her hands on the table.
"Alright Hyacinth, what is this venture you need my help with," Madeline asks eagerly, the curiosity getting the best of her.
"Well it has to do with my granddaughter Daisy," Hyacinth begins.
"Whoa whoa, I hope you are not planning to trick her into doing something," Madeline wishes worried about Hyacinth's intentions. "She a strong headed girl, like someone I know, and I don't think she would be very happy if you did something like that."
"No Madeline, I am merely going to present another option," the former queen assures vaguely; "an option that I am pretty sure she will like."
"Oh boy why don't I like the sound of this? Another option to what if you don't mind me asking?"
"Well another option to her father's grand plan," Hyacinth answers.
"You mean the prince thing that she is so upset about," Madeline asks.
"Exactly that, remember how I told you that ever since Thorne mentioned his grand plan she has been acting differently?"
"Yes I remember; you were very worried about her," the nobokon recalls.
"Today I saw that Daisy spark," Madeline gives her friend a confused look, "that energetic joyful spirit that she has."
"Really," the nobokon notes shocked, "and what exactly triggered this reemergence of spirit?"
"Not a what, a who," Hyacinth states smirking.
"Ooo did one of those princes finally woo our little Daisy," Madeline asks giddy.
"No."
"What?"
"Let me explain," Hyacinth backtracks, "today after she got back from taking the courtiers on a tour of the villa we went and talked in the backyard about her dress for the upcoming ball, which we are picking out on Monday I expect you to be there." Madeline nods and Hyacinth continues. "Anyway of course I asked if she had narrowed down the field any in regards to the princes and she was hesitant, but said that she liked Prince Peasley."
"Of the Beanbean Kingdom? That's not a bad match, even if he is a bean."
"Yes she noted that the species difference disturbed her, but she seemed depressed when she talked to me about it, so I let her go into her garden to relax while I headed back inside. A couple of minutes later, my son comes up to me and asks me where Daisy is and I told him she was in the garden. He tells me that he wished to discuss the menu for the ball as he likes to plan everything five years in advance, so I head back out to get Daisy and when I walk into the garden I find the oddest thing I have ever seen."
"May I take your orders madams," the waiter interrupts.
"Oh uh just some plum wine and wontons," Madeline orders for them and sends the waiter away. "Go on, you have me on edge here."
"Well I find Daisy tickling this guy dressed in green," Hyacinth recalls.
"What some strange person in her garden?!? Why in the world would she do something like that with a stranger," Madeline questions befuddled.
"Oh no, they know each other. The odd part is he had a tanooki tail and ears, very strange…"
"Wait she knows him, how?"
"I don't know; all she told me was his name is Luigi and they are 'friends'," Hyacinth air quotes.
"Right because you dally with 'friends'," Madeline responds and they both laugh.
"You want to know what is really funny," Hyacinth continues, "my son followed me into the garden and chased the poor guy away with a shovel!"
"A shovel! Ha, that's hilarious! Geez reminds me of something your dad would do if he caught you and Walt together."
"Yeah," Hyacinth agrees recalling the many times her father chased off her husband while they were courting one another. "Ah, the old days, good times."
"Yes, they were," Madeline agrees. "She reminds me a lot of you when we were younger, your granddaughter." Hyacinth nods then the food comes to the table, a large bowl of wontons with two small bowls of duck sauce and a bottle of plum wine accompanied with two small glasses.
"Enjoy ladies," the waiter says before he again disappears. Madeline opens the bottle and pours the wine as the women continue to reminisce about the days pass.
Luigi brings the bowl up to his lips, sipping the last of the soup from the bowl then sets it back down. Man that was good, not exactly enough to fill my stomach, but I don't have much more money. At least I still have these noodles still and tea refills are free, thank goodness! Luigi looks around for the waiter, but does not see him so he turns back to the window and watches the people on the street pass by.
Twenty minutes later, Madeline and Hyacinth are laughing uncontrollably; to the point where Madeline is crying. "So now that we've traveled down memory lane once again," Madeline redirects; "What exactly did you have planned for Daisy?"
"What? Oh yeah, I just need you to keep an eye out for this guy; I need to talk to him," Hyacinth answers still giggling.
"Okay, so a guy in green with a tanooki tail and ears, shouldn't be too hard to find," Madeline notes and both of them giggle. "Alright well, I got to find the ladies' room before I burst!"
"Plum wine always goes through you like water," Hyacinth observes. "I never understood why that is…"
"Eh, who knows? Anyway, stay here until I get back; don't want you stumbling off and making a fool of yourself," Madeline notes and again the former queen and nobokon laugh, obviously a little tipsy. Madeline makes her way through the restaurant trying to avoid bumping into people, but is not very successful. She manages to not fall over until a small chibibo waiter walks out in front of her; she bumps into him and falls toward a booth where she grabs onto the edge of the bench and pushes herself up.
"Are you alright," a man asks her. She brings her head up to see a man in blue overhauls sitting at the booth she had landed on.
"Oh yes, sorry to disturb you," she apologizes then moves on toward the bathroom. Before entering she turns back around and looks at the man again, his back is to her and she notices a pair of small black ears. Uh strange, why would a man have two sets of ears, she ponders as she enters the restroom. Five minutes later, the blue shelled nobokon emerges from the bathroom and walks back the way she came. Again she looks at the man in the booth, noticing this time he is wearing a green shirt and hat. She looks away as she gets closer and as she walks up beside him almost trips once more.
"Oh I'm so sorry," the man apologizes as he pulls her back up, "don't know how to keep my tail in my own booth."
"That's all right," Madeline shrugs off the fall and continues back to her table. As she approaches the table and Hyacinth, the nobokon begins to wonder about the odd man. Now wait, wait! Oh! She quickly sits down and grabs Hyacinth's hand trying to get her attention.
"What's wrong Madeline," Hyacinth asks still a little bubbly, but slowly calming down.
"The guy Hyacinth," the blue shelled nobokon states vaguely.
"What guy?"
"The weird guy you saw today, he's here!"
"Oh Madeline, stop pulling my leg," Hyacinth waves her hand in disbelief.
"I'm serious, he's right over there," Madeline nods her head back. "If you don't believe me, look for yourself!" Hyacinth leans over the table as Madeline leans back until Hyacinth spots Luigi sitting at the window booth sipping on a cup of tea.
"Oh my," Hyacinth exclaims. "This is excellent! Now we just have to get his attention…"
"And how exactly are we going to do that?"
"How else does a pair of women get a guy's attention," an evil smile spreads across Hyacinth's face.
I should probably get going, it's getting late and I have a long journey back. Stupid train, Luigi thinks irked as he searches for a clock to figure out the time. As he looks around his waiter comes up to the table with a glass full of wine.
"Sir this is for you," the chibibo informs the green clad plumber.
"But I didn't order any wine," Luigi states confused.
"It is complements of the ladies in the back," the waiter replies and Luigi looks toward the back of the restaurant to see two elderly woman giggling. "I hope you are not desperate sir, because frankly at this point I would run." The waiter walks away as Luigi shakes his head in disbelief.
Am I really getting hit on by old ladies? Dear lord I've got to get back home! He again glances to the back of the restaurant, at the ladies who paid for the drink wanting a closer look. One of them appears to be some sort of koopa with a blue bomb on its back while the other one looks human dressed in light purple. She looks familiar for some reason… As he spots her, the woman in purple points to him then curls her finger back signaling him to come back to their table. Luigi gulps unsure what to do; as he hesitates the woman becomes impatient and waves him back frenetically. The green clad plumber gets up from his booth and walks guardedly up to the table. "Do I know you?"
"Sit," the woman commands and Luigi immediately plops down onto the bench, warily looking at the two sitting on the other side of the table.
"This isn't some cruel joke you two are playing on me is it?"
"No Luigi, we are just here to offer some help," the woman in purple assures. The younger Mario Brother's eyes widen in shock as she says his name. "Yes I know who you are, somewhat," she replies to his look of shock. "We have a mutual friend young lad."
"We do," Luigi asks confused.
"My granddaughter, Daisy Floral," she explains. Beads of sweat form on his head as he recalls where he had seen her.
"I'm so sorry about today; I didn't mean to trespass or anything," he apologizes figuring that is what she wanted to discuss.
"Don't be sorry," she notes nonchalantly causing him to become more confused. "I haven't heard her laugh that hard for the past week! That's why I'm giving you this," she pulls out a small yellow envelope and hands it to him. He carefully opens it, trying not to rip the envelope too badly, and pulls out a folded white card. As he opens the card the words 'You are cordially invited' pop out at him and looks back up to the woman. "This is a personal invitation from me to a formal ball that the castle is hosting at the end of the month. All the information you need is on the card." He reads further down to find the date and location, like she said. 'August 29th, 8:00PM at Floral Castle,' Luigi scratches his head contemplating if he had anything to do that day, other than pay the water bill. At the bottom was the woman's signature in gold script.
"Lady Hyacinth," Luigi reads aloud then looks up at the former queen.
"Correct, oh where are my manners? This is my friend Madeline," she waves her hand toward the nobokon.
Luigi shakes her hand, "Nice to meet you."
"Pleasure is all mine young man," Madeline replies then turns to Hyacinth. "What about the other things? When should we have him meet us?"
"What others things," Luigi asks curiously.
"Well we are going to have to do some prep work before the ball," Hyacinth explains. "For example as for attire, we are going to have to get you fitted for a tux."
"But I have a suit," Luigi contests.
"No man wears a normal suit to a royal ball, trust us this will be better," Madeline interjects.
"But I can't afford to buy a tuxedo," Luigi discloses and the two ladies laugh.
"Don't worry about money honey; I've got it covered," Hyacinth assures.
"Okay…."
"Now the problem will be that tail and those ears," Madeline observes.
"Yes that will be a concern, maybe he could wear a top hat or something," Hyacinth deliberates.
Luigi chuckles, "This is just a power-up." The women look at him skeptically, "I can get rid of this anytime I want." Luigi concentrates and a bright light flashes, blinding the elderly women when the light fades a normal Luigi sits in front of them. The super leaf powers transfer back in their original form as the red leaf flitters down onto the table.
"Full of surprises aren't you," the nobokon observes and Luigi smiles. "Solves that problem, what next?"
"Well then there is the dancing," Hyacinth continues down the list. Luigi grimaces as he is somewhat clumsy. "What? What is that face for?"
"Uh, I'm just not a good dancer," Luigi admits as he looks at the table.
"That is why you are going to take lessons," Hyacinth orders.
"Lessons? From who," Luigi asks not liking the sound of this plan.
"There is a bumpty called Dippen that lives near Shiver City, visit him and mention that I sent you, he'll know what to do." Luigi nods as he tries to commit that to memory. "Also back to wardrobe, you will need to come back and visit two nights before the ball so that we can take you to my personal tailor. That's all that needs to be taken care of," Hyacinth finishes.
"Okay I think I can handle that," Luigi notes uneasily; "I just have question." The former queen nods encouraging to him to go on. "Why are you doing this? I mean, why would you help me get into this ball and why would you want to? "
"You'll see in due time," Hyacinth answers vaguely. "Now we must be going," she notes as she and her friend stand. "We will see you in a couple of weeks, have a good night." The ladies disappear out the door, leaving Luigi sitting in the booth more confused than before.