Final Chapter: Star-Crossed Toads

Several long hours passed, the two Toads lying side by side. Then an envelope was slipped under the door by an anonymous benefactor, without them knowing. Soon after, the alarm started to go off, familiar as ever. Toadette was the one to get up this time, and turned it off again. Toad followed.

"Good morning!"

"Good morning, Toad!" They did their routine, and went downstairs to head out the door. Something caught Toad's eye, though. He went to the door and picked it up.

"A letter. It's from Peach's Castle. Must be important." He ripped it open and read it. Then he almost dropped it. "Oh, my goodness."

"What?" Toadette looked over his shoulder and read it herself. The letter read:

Toad and Toadette,

I want you both at the castle. It's something very important. Toad, bring your military vest today. The entire militia will be there.

Peach

"I don't know, but I feel like I'm getting promoted today."

"Seems like it. But if you are, then what do they want me for?"

"I guess we'll see. Now, let me get my military vest. I'll be right back." Several minutes passed, and Toadette could hear humming coming from upstairs. Toad came back down. Nothing had changed except that his vest was now different shades of blue, in a camo pattern, and a silver pentagon with a star inside was branded on the right side, the insingia for the Captain rank. Toadette executed a cat-call whistle, and they both started laughing.

"Toadette, did you seriously have to do that?"

"As a matter of fact, yes, I did." They chuckled again. Toad opened the door, armed the house, and they rode off, on their racing bikes this time.

"Sure feels like I'm racing in Mushroom City!" Toad hollered over the wind in their faces. Toadette smirked, and sped up. "Hey, wait!" Toad followed, racing after her. "Stop!"

"You'll have to catch me first!" Toadette sped up again, easily going over seventy miles per hour. Then it turned into a game of who could get to the castle first. They both dodged and darted between oncoming traffic. Toadette, however, slowed down when she did this, while Toad didn't. Eventually, he started to pull ahead. When he got to the castle's walkway, he stopped and waited a full ten seconds. Toadette pulled up and sighed. "I guess you win again. You really are the racing master!"

"Hey, you're getting better." They walked up together, and spoke over the intercom.

"Who is this?" This was Princess Peach.

"Toad and Toadette." They said this in unison.

"Oh, if it isn't our little heroes! Come in, come in!" The royal doors opened, and they stepped inside. Peach led them to a room with a table, a velvet stage, and the ranks of the military branded above it. It was a big room, probably for an assembly of some kind, because almost the entire population was there. Toadette tried to step back, but Toad didn't let her.

"Hey, we're already here. Just... Roll with it." They stepped up to the stage, and Peach walked up to the podium.

"Thank you, thank you! Hello all, and welcome. This assembly has come together to honor our two brave heroes, Toad and Toadette! Give them a round of applause!" The audience erupted into cheers. The Toads just smiled and waved to them, which stirred up even more applause. "And our two heroes will certainly be rewarded. The military has come to give them that reward!" The entire military forces walked out, and the applause became louder. The Field Marshal, who happened to be Mario, stepped up. All was silent again.

"Okay. Let me just say this." He turned to the two Toads. "Congratulations, both of you." The cheering resumed. "I could never have done something quite like this when I first started saving the kingdom. You guys really took the time to let these people know who you really are. And I'm proud of that. Now, for your reward. Toad, come here." He did. An officer, a Captain himself, brought a plastic package. Inside it was another vest. Mario kneeled down.

"By the trust and power invested in me, I hereby promote Toad to the Brigadier General of the Mushroom Kingdom Military, to wear and hold the same. Assah!" At the last word, he ripped the package open, and the audience erupted into applause again. He handed Toad the vest. The changes were striking. There were now the words, 'Brigadier Toad', embroidered on the left side. On the right, there was a new insignia, of a golden star with silver wings. The symbol for the Brigadier General. Toad held his vest high in the air, and the cheering grew. He bowed to the audience, and walked off, putting on his new uniform.

"Of course, there is a reward for the lady, as well." Toadette stepped up. "Since you're not in the military, we didn't know what to give you. But Toad supplied the answer." He gestured to him, and Toad recieved another vest, encased in plastic wrap. The vest was red, instead of blue. Toadette gasped in shock.

"A military uniform? For me?" Toad nodded, and walked towards her. He gave her the vest. It was the same, but there was a different insignia, of a golden diamond surrounded by another diamond outline. Also, there were the words, 'Commander Toadette' branded on the left instead.

"I'll let you do the honors." Toad winked. "Commander Toadette." She ripped it open, and the audience applauded louder than ever. They embraced each other, and the audience reacted with a sign of affection. They pulled away.

"Was that too much to give away?" Toadette asked.

"You know," replied Toad, "I really don't care." They kissed again, and the audience reacted with smiles, applause, and shouts of "Yay, Toad!". He took her hand, and thrust it up into the air. The gesture signified that they were the bravest of all the Toads, that they had just opened the door to new lives, new horizons. But most of all, it showed that their legacy as star-crossed Toads would never be forgotten. They were the ones who mediated a war for their nation. They were soldiers. They were heroes.

End of Part Two

And that's it! Please review, feedback is always appreciated! Check out my profile for other stories like this! Thank you for reading, and I'll see you all next time! (EDIT: Part Three is in order, and should be coming within the following week! Shout out to all my reviewers for inspiring me to continue!)

Matt1251