Chapter Thirty Eight: New Body Part Seven: The Second Time

"So" Serena said, discussing her plan with Vivian and Luvbi. "Are we all set?"

"Yeah." Vivian said, nodding.

"I'm ready." Luvbi said cheerily.

"Good.' Serena said, grinning. "Now, remember Luvbi, we can't tell either of them that we're doing this."

"Got it." Luvbi said, smiling. "I'll keep a secret."

"Great." Serena said. "Let's go."

The three of them went to find their targets, Luvbi going with Serena.

With Lucinda—the next day

The Koopa Princess woke up, stretching her limbs. She looked beside her to notice Serena wasn't sleeping next to her.

"Odd." Lucinda thought. "Serena usually sleeps like a rock until noon. I wonder where she could be."

Lucinda shrugged, getting out of bed. She put on her typical Luigi outfit and exited her room.

At the breakfast table

Lucinda sat down at the breakfast table, getting some of her food. Coco came in and sat next to her, Luvbi tagging along. The little girl waved at Lucinda, who waved back.

"Hi, Lucinda!" she said, cheerily. "Where's Aunty Serena?"

"I don't know." Lucinda said. "I haven't seen her. It's odd though. She usually sleeps until noon unless her favorite cartoon's on."

"Which one?" Coco asked.

"Dragon Shroom Z." Lucinda said, thinking.

"Oh, I love that one." Coco said.

"Yeah!" Luvbi said, nodding. "It's awesome!"

"I know." Lucinda said. "It's all she'll get up for in the morning other than food."

"Same with you." Coco said, laughing.

Lucinda stuck her tongue out at Coco, the older princess laughing.

"Well, whatever." Lucinda said, shrugging as she ate her cereal. "I've got a movie to see with Grey today so, I can't chat much."

"Okay.' Coco said. "I'll see you later then.'

"Yeah.' Lucinda said, nodding as she finished her cereal and left. Coco and Luvbi watched her go.

"So" Coco said, looking at the little girl. "Are you helping Serena?"

"Yeah." Luvbi said, nodding. "I'm gonna help Aunty Serena get Lucinda and Grey to kiss each other."

"I heard." Coco said, laughing. "Well, do you know where you're supposed to meet Aunty Serena?"

"She said to meet her at that big tree at the park." Luvbi said.

"Okay.' Coco said. "I'll take you there in a bit."

"Okay." Luvbi said, smiling. "I'm gonna go get some milk, okay, Coco?"

"Okay.' Coco said. Luvbi left the room to get the milk.

"You know it's funny." Rosalina said, entering the room. "Serena's the only one she's given a title to. Everyone else she calls by name, even you. But, she calls Serena "Aunty Serena". I wonder what makes her so attached to her."

"Maybe the same thing that caused Lucinda to want to save her." Coco suggested.

"Maybe." Rosalina said. "But, whatever it is, that girl really loves her and Serena's definitely showing great affection for her. She's almost like a mother to her."

"Yeah.' Coco said. "She's also got Luvbi helping her set up my sister and Grey."

"Oh" Rosalina said, laughing. "Is she gonna get her to kiss Grey for the second time?"

"Maybe." Coco said. "I think that's what they were planning."

"Well" Rosalina said. "Let's hope it all goes well."

Later

The three schemers (well, two schemers and a seven year old) gathered together under the tree, spying on Lucinda and Grey. The two of them (Grey and Lucinda) were walking together, heading into the theater.

"Okay go." Serena told Vivian and Luvbi. Vivian and Luvbi walked over to the theater, Serena walking near it. She then turned to go grab a few things and bumped into someone. She and the other person fell down, landing on their butts.

"Hey!" Serena shouted, standing up. "What's the big idea?"

"I'm sorry.' The other person said, standing up as well. "I didn't mean to run into you like that."

It was at this point the two looked at each other. Serena and the other person simply stared at each other, stunned.

The other person was a human that was almost Serena's height and size. He wore a pair of black pants. He also wore a black shirt with a Star Point on it. He wore a grey jacket. His mop of black hair covered his left eye. His visible eye was cobalt, but hid his emotion.

"N-no" Serena said. "It's fine. I-it was my fault for not looking where I was going."

"I-I'm Ace." The boy said, chuckling nervously.

"I-I'm Serena." Serena said.

"Aunty Serena!" Luvbi shouted, running over to the Shadow human. "Are you ready? Wait, who's this?"

"My name is Ace." Ace said.

"Hi!" Luvbi said, smiling. "I'm Luvbi! Are you two friends? Or are you two going to kiss?"

"We just met." Ace said, both him and Serena blushing slightly.

"Oh" Luvbi said. "Okay then! Aunty Serena, come on. WE've got to get them to kiss each other."

"Right.' Serena said, nodding. "Coming."

"D-do you wanna see each other later?" Ace asked.

"S-sure." Serena said. "Where?"

"Can I come?" Serena asked.

"Maybe." Serena said, picking the little girl up and putting her on her hip.

"Yay!" Luvbi cheered, wrapping her arms around Serena in a hug. Serena laughed, wrapping her own around the girl.

"Well" Ace said, chuckling himself. "I'll see you later then."

"Okay." Serena said. Ace walked off, leaving the two to themselves.

"Well" Serena said, carrying Luvbi towards the theater. Suddenly, Vivian came bursting out.

"It happened." She said.

"How?" Serena and Luvbi asked, knowing exactly what she meant.

"Well" Vivian said.

Flashback

"This movie's pretty good." Lucinda said, finishing her tenth jumbo bowl of popcorn.

"Yeah." Grey said, not even a tenth of the way through his first. "You want some of my popcorn?"

"Sure." Lucinda said, reaching into Grey's bowl, taking something. But, she found out it wasn't popcorn.

"Th-that's my hand." Grey said.

"O-oh." Lucinda said, releasing it. "Oops."

"I-it's fine." Grey said, both of them blushing slightly.

"S-so Grey." Lucinda said after a bit of silence. "R-remember that time…when Serena made us…"

"Y-yeah." Grey said. "Wh-why?"

"D-do" Lucinda asked, blushing. "Do you wanna do it again?"

"Wh-what?" Grey asked, blushing.

"D-do you?" Lucinda asked.

"U-uh…" Grey said, Lucinda wrapping her arms around him in a hug.

"Sure.' He said, smiling at his best friend. "But, let's make it better."

"O-okay." Lucinda said as Grey closed the distance between their lips.

They held for about thirty seconds, breaking it after that.

"Was that better?" Grey asked, a sly smile on his face.

"I don't know." Lucinda said, the same smile on her face. "I think I need a second opinion."

"Okay then.' Grey said, kissing Lucinda once again.

Present time

"Nice!" Serena said, grinning.

"Yay!" Luvbi cheered.

"Well" Serena said, looking at her watch. "It's time for me to get something to eat. I'm starving."

"Okay." Vivian said. "Don't clean out the diner this time."

"Whatever.' Serena said, grinning. "I'll see you later."

"Okay.' Vivian said.

"Can I come?" Luvbi asked.

"Sure, kid.' Serena said.

"Yay!" Luvbi cheered.

The two of them left to get some food, Vivian returning back to her home.

That night

"Lucinda! Serena!" Coco shouted, bursting through the door. "Wake up!"

"Wh-what?" the two girls said, sitting up in their bed.

"It's Luvbi!" Coco said, her eyes full of worry and panic. "I can't find her anywhere. She's gone! But, I could sense a trace of Shadows in her room!"

"What are you saying?" Lucinda asked, not quite picking up on it.

"I think she's been kidnapped." Coco said, clenching a fist.

Oh no! Luvbi's been kidnapped?! Who could have done that?! Find out soon.

On another note, Lucinda and Grey have finally gotten together.