Disclaimer: I do not own any of the material appearing in this story.

"Hmm… a seven letter word for a small dog…"

"Sir!" An X-Naut came walking in while saluting. "The package has arrived."

"Excellent. Bring it to me."

"Right away, sir!" The X-Naut went walking out, and then two other X-Nauts came walking in with two prisoners… the prisoners being none other than Peach and Kairi.

"The prisoners are here!" One of the X-Nauts said as they escorted the two to Grodus.

"Now, Princess Peach… and your friend, Kai-something. Tell us where the map is. We know you had it."

"Map? What map? I don't see a map anywhere!" Kairi said, playing dumb.

"Yeah, we don't even know what you're talking about."

"Do not play dumb with me!" Grodus warned. "We know you have the information about the map and the Crystal Stars. Now spill it… or else."

"Or else what? Bore us to death with that crossword puzzle?" Kairi snarked. "Or better yet, if you're so keen on the Crystal Stars, why don't you just look up where to find them? You're so technologically smart, why not just look it up? Or is that machine on your head just for show and you're nothing but a fraud?"

Oooh, fiery! Peach thought.

"Welp, she had a good run…" Crump whispered.

"GACK ACK ACK ACK! You will do well to hold your tongue, lest I pull it out."

"Buddy, you see this knee? It's gonna do a whole lot of damage to you if you even think about touching me." Kairi said.

"Defiant one, are we?"

"I've chomped down on a guy's hand and knee'd him in the crotch. I can do the same to you."

…Does Daisy have a mini me that she's not aware about? Peach wondered.

"You're bluffing." Grodus said.

"Am I?"

"As I said, you will give me information on the map and the Crystal Stars."

"No." Kairi folded her arms.

"Nope, I refuse."

"Ugh, why did you kidnap defiant women?" Grodus mumbled. "Very well, I will make you tell me one way or the other!"

"Torture us all you like, we're not telling you anything." Kairi smirked.

"GACK ACK ACK ACK! Torture! We're not animals!"

"But you're slower than the internet." Kairi said.

"Rrrgh… why you-"

A screen popped up in front of them. "Lord Grodus! I have urgent news! …You look angry, did I come at a bad time?"

"No, speak X-Naut."

"Well… we were going to collect the Crystal Star from Hooktail, but uh… there's been a snag."

"And that "snag" is?"

"Weeeeeell, Hooktail was turned into crystal and exploded… and these people took the Diamond Star."

"WHAT?!" Grodus yelled. "What do you mean? Who was responsible for this!"

"Well, apparently… there was some dude with "M" on his cap and he had red all over… there was another guy with "L", which I am firmly believing stands for "loser", which would explain his green clothing and the eyesore that is his mustache. There was another dude with spiky hair…"

Peach gasped. "The Mario Bros!" She said excitedly.

"Sora's with them?" Kairi asked in surprise.

"Hmmm? The Mario Bros and this… Sora, you say?"

Uh oh… The duo thought.

"Take them to their rooms. I must study these Mario Bros and… Sora." Grodus said as the X-Nauts escorted them away. "Hmm… Crump!"

"Yes sir?"

"Your men are stationed at the Boggly Woods, correct?"

"Yes sir, they are! They're trying to locate the Emerald Star as we speak!"

"And who is accompanying them?"

"I am!"

"…Ahem."

Crump sweatdropped. "Oh… uh… riiiiight."

"Take Thunderbolt with you. He's a better minion than you'd ever be."

"Oh yeah, sure… pick the guy off the streets and suddenly he's way better than me! Pfft, good one." Crump rolled his eyes. "And with that… POW! I'm gone!" He said as he took off running.

"Mmm… I wonder if sending Lord Crump there was wise. Sure, Thunderbolt is with him, but he's not really an X-Naut. Just someone we brainwashed off the streets… and he's not really a… mmmph. X-Naut!" He called up as another X-Naut came running in.

"You rang, dude? I mean, sir."

"Bring me the Shadow Sirens."

"The Sh-Shadow Sirens?! R-Right away!" The X-Naut saluted and took off running.

"Oh? Grodus wants an audience with us? Then we shall be there momentarily!"

Immediately, the Shadow Sirens popped up in front of them. "To what do we owe this pleasure, Lord Grodus?"

"Beldam, I want you and your sisters to go to Boggly Woods and ambush these heroes. Take the Crystal Star from them and dispose of them shortly after. They might even have the map."

"As you wish, Lord Grodus." Beldam smirked. "Marilyn, Vivian… let's go, my lovelies!" She said and then sunk underground.

"Guuuuuh."

"Right…"

The two sunk underground as Grodus turned around… and then the door opened up, revealing an X-Naut with a package. "Sorry about the wait, some bonehead decided to push all the buttons on the elevator. It wasn't me, I swear!"

"Whatever. Just bring the package to me." He ordered as the X-Naut brought the package to him as Grodus opened it up. "Ah, at long last… my neck cushion has arrived! Now I can rest my weary neck…"

You have a neck? The X-Naut wondered to himself.

Meanwhile…

BGM: Peach's Theme (Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door)

"Well, this is just wonderful…" Kairi sighed. "I get out of being a damsel in distress from Xehanort and I come back to being a damsel in distress by some weirdo. That's just wonderful…"

She lay down on the bed, looking at the ceiling before raising her hand up and summoning her Destiy's Embrace. "I wonder if I can find a way to bust out of here…"

The door behind her opened up, causing Kairi to dismiss the Keyblade as she looked over to see Peach walking out. "Ah, the shower here is lovely~!" Peach smiled.

"How are you so chipper? We've been locked up to… who knows where."

"Oh, me being kidnapped is a common thing with me." Peach waved it off. "You get used to it… though I would prefer being kidnapped by my usual kidnapper… he's a lot less rough."

"I… see." Kairi sweatdropped.

"No need to worry. The Mario Bros always comes around and rescues me, so all we gotta do is be patient." She said. "Plus, your Sora friend is with them, so I'm imagining he'll come and rescue you too."

Kairi blushed a bit. "Yeah, you're right." She said, and right on cue, the door opened up. "Huh?"

"Did the door just open up on its own?" Peach wondered as they approached the door cautiously and peeked through, seeing no one was there. "Odd…"

"Think this could be a trap?"

"Maybe… but I'm curious!" Peach said as she walked through the hallway, causing Kairi to follow her as they walked through together… and then Kairi noticed the elevator as she would try to open it up, but to no avail.

Worth a try. Kairi thought as they walked to the end of the hallway where the door opened up for them. The two looked at each other before they walked into the next room.

End BGM

As they walked in, they would notice the room in question had a large computer-like setting. "Okay… just a dead end, I suppose." Kairi said.

"I wouldn't count on it."

"Wah!" Peach yelped in surprise. "Who said that?!"

The lights automatically turned on. "I did."

"Where are you? Show yourself!" Kairi ordered.

"I'm the monitor."

The two turned toward the monitor in question as they walked over to it, then saw some sort of camera on top of the monitor.

"Hello Princess Peach. Hello Kairi."

"Uh… hello? Who are you?" Kairi asked.

"I am TEC-XX, but you may call me TEC. I have been monitoring you ever since you came into the X-Naut Fortress. Something about you two… intrigues me. Especially you, Kairi."

"Why's that?"

"Not only did you defy Lord Grodus, my creator… but you also have a weapon that intrigues me. It looked otherwordly."

"Otherworldly?" Kairi started sweating a bit. "Whatever do you-"

"Oh, everyone has different weapons that are otherworldly, like the Master Sword or the Star Rod." Peach explained. "I'm sure whatever weapon she has wouldn't be too out of the ordinary."

"Hmm, perhaps you are right." TEC agreed.

"So, why do we intrigue you so much?" Peach asked.

"I am not certain… I am a perfect computer, and yet here I am, uncertain why draws me to you two. It is a mystery I cannot comprehend."

"Well, you are a computer. Computers don't even really know the definition of feelings such as happiness, love, sadness, joy-"

"Love? Happiness? What are the meaning of these words?"

"Can't you look it up yourself, Mr. Computer?" Kairi raised an eyebrow.

"Well… love is… complicated, to be blunt." Peach said. "Then again, all feelings are rather complicated."

"I see… I wish to know more about these… emotions."

"You sure about that? Emotions are rather complex." Kairi said.

"Complex problems are my specialty."

"Uh-huh…" Kairi rolled her eyes.

"Hmm…" Peach looked at TEC's keyboard. "Saaaay, you wouldn't happen to have an email on you, would ya?"

"Of course. The internet is spectacular from where we are at. You wish to send an email?"

"Yes. I want to let Mario know that I'm alright."

"Whoa whoa whoa, HOLD UP!" Kairi said. "You said the internet here is spectacular? What about something like… phone service?"

"Phone service is spectacular as well. Why?"

Kairi smirked, pulling out her Gummi Phone. "Peach, forgo the email. I have a better idea."

Meanwhile… at Bowser's Castle…

BGM: Meanwhile, at Bowser's Castle (Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door)

"BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Bowser opened the doors to his throne room, where the Koopatrols, Hammer Bros and his minions all bowed before him. "Make way for the King of Awesome!" He said as he walked through. "Kamek, status report!"

"The castle is top notch, your nastiness. All the minions are present and accounted for. The Elite Trio came back from a mission with the Koopa Bros, and above all else, Kammy Koopa has returned from vacation."

"Excellent!" Bowser said as he sat down on the throne. "And Junior?"

"Still as rambunctious as ever."

"Ha, good enough for me!" Bowser chuckled. "Now then, minions! We will storm the Mushroom Kingdom, snag Princess Peach and above all else, crush Mario and Green 'Stache once and for all!" He declared as they all cheered.

"ALL HAIL KING BOWSER! ALL HAIL KING BOWSER!"

"Now then, get the airships ready! We are about to-"

"Your nastiness!" A voice called out as Kammy came flying through the throne room. "We have terrible news!"

"Oh, this should be good. What is it?"

"We have a situation! Princess Peach is not in her castle!"

"Eh? She's probably visiting Sarasaland or is probably taking a vacation in New Donk City, what of it? We'll find her."

"And the Mario Bros aren't at Toad Town either."

"Who cares! We'll just roast 'em and snag Peach. Easy as that!"

End BGM

"Oh, I'm afraid it won't be as simple as that, turtle boy!"

"Hmm? Who said that? Show yourself!" Bowser demanded… when suddenly a dark portal opened up as someone walked out.

BGM: Organization XIII (Kingdom Hearts II)

"Sup?"

"Who are you! Why did you waltz into my castle just like that!"

"I go by many names… Luxu, Xigbar, whatever you're comfortable with, I'm cool with it." He shrugged. "I got bored waiting for my friends to show up, so I thought I'd take a look around the different worlds… see what an old acquantance of mine is doing, all that fun stuff."

"Okay, so why did you say it wouldn't be so simple?" Kamek asked.

Xigbar smirked. "Oh, your little Peachy friend? She wandered off to some place called Rogueport… and wouldn't you know it, little blondie got herself kidnapped."

"SHE WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?!" Bowser roared. "You mean to tell me Peach has been kidnapped without my say so!"

"Yup, and on top of that, your adversaries are going around collecting ancient treasure while searching for Peachy. Crystal Stars, if I'm not mistaken… I think they hold the key to this Thousand Year Door."

"T-treasure, you say? The Mario Bros are looking for this… treasure along with Peach?"

"Bingo."

Bowser snarled. "Kamek!"

"Yes?"

"Get Junior, General Guy, the Elite Trio, Koopa Bros, yourself and Kammy ready… we're going on a little field trip."

"As you wish." Kamek nodded.

"As for you!" Bowser glared at Xigbar. "I don't trust you… but I am willing to cooperate with you. You seem to hold vital information."

Xigbar smirked. "Indeed I do, Bowser boy… indeed I do."

End BGM

With Riku and Namine…

"Is this the spot?" Namine asked.

"Seems like it." Riku nodded as they entered the Waffle Kingdom.

"Oh, you two!" A voice called out as they saw a man approaching them. "Welcome to the Waffle Kingdom, what can I do for you two?"

"Yeah, we're looking for someone named Sora and Kairi… have you seen them?" Riku asked.

"Hmm, don't recall their names…" He mused.

"Well, we found a flier in the Mushroom Kingdom… something about a missing Princess Eclair."

"Ah! So you two took that trouble. Excellent!" He smiled. "My name is Minister Crepe, and I'm the one who sent for help."

"Oh! Nice to meet you." Namine smiled.

"Indeed. Let me bring you up to speed. The evil Chestnut King has come by and kidnapped Princess Eclair… and on top of that, the Chestnut King destroyed this Marvelous Compass which holds great power. One of the pieces is on Eclair's tiara."

"So, if we're to collect the Marvelous Compass's pieces, then it'll be back at full power." Riku deduced.

"Exactly. The Marvelous Compass has the power to see into the future. Without it, our kingdom cannot function properly. So we need it in full repair and bring Eclair back to us while destroying the Chestnut King."

"Sounds like a plan!" Namine smiled.

"Indeed." The minister handed over the compass to the duo. "Here is what remains of the Marvelous Compass." He said… and then it started glowing and showed the two where to go.

"The first piece to collect… is in a volcano?" Riku asked in surprise.

"On a continent called… the Pudding Continent? Mmm… now I'm hungry for pudding." Namine said.

"Well, we know where to go." Riku said and then looked at the minister. "Thank you."

"You are welcome! Now go and save Eclair for the goodness of the kingdom!" He ordered as the two nodded and walked off.

"Ya know… I'm starting to think Sora and Kairi didn't come here." Namine said.

"Yeah, me too." Riku said and then let out a low growl, which Namine easily noticed.

"Something up?"

"Something about that man rubs me the wrong way… I could smell intense darkness from him." He said. "I don't think that man is as nice as he looks."

"Hmm… something to watch out for, perhaps?"

"Yeah… for now, we need to head out for the Pudding Continent." He said with Namine nodding as the two took off… while deep in his mind, Riku wanted answers.

The plot thickens!