No, I didn't forget about this fan fiction. Not at all, actually. If anything, I was constantly thinking about it. But I seemed to have a hard time putting it into words. Although, I do think the finished product is really nice, and it's one of my favorite chapters.
So, there's only one more chapter after this. But take note, that I will add a bonus chapter after the last one that will include a bunch of trivia and other fun stuff about this fan fiction.
So, prepare yourself, for the final confrontation...
Chapter 25-The Chase
"Get her..." Mario whispered to Peach. The duo began to walk quickly to towards the other end of the parking lot, watching every move of the unaware Toadette. But Toadiko didn't stay unaware for long, as she turned her head and almost screamed to see the ever-so-persistent Mario and his girlfriend charging towards her. For a few brief seconds, all she could do was stare in amazement at the thought that she had actually been beaten. After all that...she would lose? After thinking she could never be caught? It would all end? No, she decided, it would not be the end...
And she ran...suddenly and spontaneously, she ran. This immediately caught both Mario and Peach off guard, and they, too, began a mad dash toward the panicking Toadette.
Toadiko was running in the complete opposite direction of the airport, knowing that she would obviously have a hard time successfully getting on her plane and leaving all of her troubles behind. And to make it even worse, she was stupidly carrying her suitcase with her, for fear that...she would lose what was inside...
Mario and Peach were gaining quickly, due to Toadiko's heavy suitcase. Obviously, there was something very important in that hefty piece of luggage she was practically dragging with her. By then, Mario and Peach were at the end of the parking lot, turning right, up a small, grassy hill. Where on Earth was this crazy girl leading them?!
RRRRRINNNG! Peach's phone suddenly went off in her pocket. She glanced down and grabbed it, trying to steadily hold it to her ear while talking, "Hello?"
"Hey, Peach..." Luigi said into the phone, "Are you okay? Why are you breathing like that?"
"Not...now, Luigi!" Peach said as she and Mario followed Toadiko into another parking lot as soon as they were over the tiresome hill. Except this time, Toadiko was running much faster...without her suitcase, "We're...chasing Toadiko! We...found her! Get over here!"
"Okay princess, we'll be right over. And the police can't do anything because they want some kind of proof! I mean, us just calling and telling them that we knew who it was, without any pr-,"
"Whatever!" Peach yelled into the phone, "Just...uh...talk to Mario!" And with that, she thrust the phone in Mario's direction. He glanced at her awkwardly, but when she then insisted for him to talk to his brother, he couldn't do anything but comply.
"This is Mario...Luigi?"
"Mario, what's going on over there?! Give me details!" His brother blurted into the phone. Mario could hear Daisy's concerned voice on the other line, and he began to wonder the two really had any idea what was going on.
"Luigi...come...to the airport! Fast!" Mario gasped into the phone as he pulled it away from his mouth for a brief second so he could run more properly. Trying to talk and run wasn't exactly the easiest of tasks, especially since they had to worry about chasing a murderer...
"But...the police..." Luigi moaned, "They want some kind of proof!"
Peach listened as Mario briefly explained some of the key facts involved in the case. Luigi was most likely shaking his head in confusion and stupidly saying 'I understand' when he obviously didn't. That's Luigi for you...
Not long after, Mario hung up and handed the phone to Peach as they watched the Toadette sprint ahead, showing no signs of exhaust, whatsoever. Apparently when the situation was truly serious, you never found the time to be tired...
And then Toadiko did something that was quite random and unexpected; she ran into one of the most popular places in the Mushroom Kingdom, the Mushroom Mall. But why? To try and shield herself by hiding within the expansive place?
"How are we going to find her in here?!" Peach whined as they burst through the main doors, immediately finding themselves encompassed by dozens of frantic shoppers. Now this wasn't going to be easy...
"Come on!" Mario called to the princess, despite the fact that, he too, had no idea where Toadiko might have run off to. But they might as well start looking, rather than just stand there stupidly...
"Let's split up!" Peach suggested as they maneuvered randomly throughout the crowd of people, "We can cover more ground that way..."
"Might as well..." Mario said, with a sense of hopelessness in his voice. At this rate, Toadiko would be able to easily waltz right out of there without having to worry one bit.
A few seconds later, the two mumbled their words of departure as they went their separate ways. Peach was to search the second of many floors, while Mario simply stayed on the ground level in hopes that Toadiko was too lazy to go up the stairs...
RRRRRINNNG! Mario's cell phone went off this time, which he promptly answered while trying to escape from a maze of clothing aisles in which he had gotten himself unsuspectingly stuck in, "Luigi? What's the news?"
"Alright, the police believed the story. Although I'm not sure how you managed to come up with that. I told them that she was going to take a plane and stuff, so their notifying the airport to look out for her name..."
"Oh, good..." Mario suddenly felt much more relieved, and actually stopped searching for the moment. By the sound of it, Toadiko was trapped and had no way out of this mess..., "Thanks for the update, Luigi. Where are you now?"
"Uh...I'm just getting on the highway..."
"Alright, and Peach and I are in the mall..." Luigi couldn't help but to wonder why in the world they were at the mall? Really though, a criminal was at the verge of escaping, and they found time to go shopping? Either they suddenly didn't care about the mystery, or Peach's line of vision fell upon a purse in a display window..., "Toadiko managed to hide herself from us in here..."
"Oh..." Luigi finally understood, "I'll be over as soon as I can. Bye..." When he hung up, Mario sighed a reassured sigh. It was all over...Toadiko would eventually be caught, and then everyone could just go back to their normal, murder-less lives...
But Peach was unaware of this news...and she was determined to find and catch Toadiko, to finally end the pain they had been going through the past few days. Little did she know, however, Toadiko was determined, too...
Peach found herself roaming around a large store that appeared to have a vast selection of assorted, miscellaneous items. It was right then, that she realized that they had a slim to none chance of finding Toadiko. They would fail...a criminal would escape...she would never forget that. All that, because she had never wanted take track when she was in school...
But then she appeared. Yes, the Mushroom Kingdom's most wanted criminal was inside that store...approaching the exit carefully, as though she expected both Mario and Peach to be lurking around the corner. And she was...actually there...along with a very angry princess. And this specific princess had had enough...she would win. No...Peach would dominate, annihilate, destroy the sad excuse for a living being that walked before her...
And like a roaring fire, Peach became angrier...and angrier. Angrier until she entirely lost it. With her arms outstretched as though she were going to hug someone, Peach dashed forward an prepared herself for the final confrontation...
Toadiko couldn't help but to notice the infuriated princess running towards her, screaming her full head off about how Peach had trusted Toadiko, or something...
CRASH! Peach tackled the surprised Toadette, and they landed with a sickening thud, knocking over several items that enhanced the loudness of the fall. This also attracted a huge commotion in the crowd surrounding them, causing most curious people to stand by and watch the scene.
Toadiko managed to push herself away from the deadly beast that had just tackled her. And before she stumbled up onto her feet, she saw two hefty security guards huffing and puffing their way into the action. They would only pose as a mere distraction to the two girls.
"Hold it right there, you two!" One of them shouted, pointing an accusing finger in their direction. But neither of them obeyed the security guard, as they both continued to harshly fight with each other.
Toadiko was more determined than ever, and she wasn't going to let Peach off the hook, even though it was clear that there would be no way of escaping the situation now. If she was going to have to suffer, then Peach would, as well. In pain...
And so unsuspectedly, Toadiko reached to her right to grab one of the many baseball bats that were laying in a large box. She swung furiously, inches away from striking Peach and knocking the senses out of her.
The princess stayed on the ground, too surprised to move. She watched as it was the security guards' turn to take on Toadiko. But as she did to Peach, she showed no signs of mercy or submission. Again she swung, once hitting one of the security guards, who crumbled to the ground in pain.
"Drop the bat!" The remaining security guard yelled, pulling a hidden gun from one of his pockets. He pointed it steadily at Toadiko, hoping he wouldn't have to pull the trigger. But the Toadette hardly showed any signs of fright, as she, yet again, raised her baseball bat in preparations to swing fiercely at the security guard, "Now! Drop the bat!"
Still, Toadiko showed no change in expressions. If anything, she was tightening her grip on the bat more. But she didn't plan to swing...no, she planned to throw.
And in a quick moment, she flung the bat at the security guard, catching him entirely off guard. He, too, stumbled to the ground, though unharmed. With the two security guards out, Toadiko began to turn around, remembering that the princess, her next victim, was sitting behind her...
WHACK! Peach smashed a baseball bat of her own directly at Toadiko, who flew backwards and landed, unconscious. It was over...they had won...no, Peach had won. She had dominated, annihilated, destroyed.
The useful security guard was already up, "What was all that about?! Explain!"
Before Peach could answer, she saw Mario burst into the store, "I heard some people outside talking about a fight! Peach...what happened?!" He couldn't help but to smile at the thought that Toadiko was finally caught...it was definitely over...
"Oh, Mario..." Peach said, rushing over to him and embracing him tightly. For once, they both felt a very relieved sensation. This was such a new and great feeling, it seemed like it was the first time they had ever felt it...
A half hour later, everything was cleared up. Luigi and Daisy had finally managed to find them, and Peach was excused for any disturbances she had caused in the store. If anything, she should have received rewards...
The four began walking, preparing to leave. Not only were they just leaving the store, or the mall, but they were leaving the unforgettable pain they were exposed to the past couple of days...
Mario and Luigi were the first out of the store. Peach, however, couldn't help but to turn around for just a few seconds, and watch as Toadiko was being escorted by the police. For a split second, they made eye contact. And the look on Toadiko's face - with a tired complexion and bruised eye - was one Peach would never forget...
To tell you the truth, I was think about ending the fan fiction there, after I reread it. But there's another specific thing that I want to include in the last chapter, which is the reason why this isn't the last chapter. Thank you for reading this chapter, and please leave a review! :D