Meanwhile, in Tostarena, Koopa, his unwilling fiancée and his (sort of) willing wedding party were enjoying all of the sights, tastes and sounds. While the remaining three Broodals were locating the Binding Band, Koopa treated everyone to lunch at one of Tostarena's restaurants, with him and Kamek splitting the bill for the meal. Koopa wasted no time explaining the occasion to the restaurant employees, who set about pampering them as much as they could and offering them free and discounted food items. A Tostarenan Mariachi band occasionally serenaded them, and both Peach and Koopa were given special souvenirs.
Peach appreciated the free meal and the special attention, but she still found it hard to enjoy it. She knew that Koopa wanted something from Tostarena, and that he wasn't the type to ask politely. Her heartbeat quickened at the prospect of investigating with Tiara after their lunch, but how much investigation could she accomplish with her "fiancé" keeping close tabs on her? She resolved to do what she could, and then leave a proverbial breadcrumb trail for Mario and Cappy to follow.
"All right," said Koopa once he and Kamek paid for the food and everyone was gathered in the town square. "Who wants to walk off some of this food?"
"That's a good idea," said Peach.
"I can't say 'no' to my blushing bride," purred Koopa, "and I don't believe in 'all work and no play', either. So, take the time to soak in this lovely little town. Let's meet up here at, say, 2p.m.?"
There were murmurs of assent.
"Okay, then. Have fun, everyone!"
The group scattered, and then Koopa checked in with the Broodals.
"How goes it?" he asked.
"The Binding Band is inside the Inverted Pyramid," said Harriet, "and I know just how we can swindle it from the fellow guarding it."
"Perfect!" chortled the hopeful groom-to-be. "I'll be right there."
He turned and lumbered toward the Inverted Pyramid.
Unbeknownst to him, Peach and Tiara followed.
"Binding Band?" whispered Tiara. "Whatever that is, I don't like the sound of it."
"That makes two of us," Peach added with a small shudder.
They hardly made a sound as they continued to follow Koopa across the desert, Peach using her gliding ability to keep herself a few centimeters off the ground and prevent sand granules from slipping into her sandals. During their silent pursuit, Tiara and Peach came across Tostarenan vendors, making sure to purchase a drink, a cup of ice cream or some shaved ice along the way so they wouldn't get dehydrated. Occasionally, they'd send a text to Cappy or Mario to update them, more often than not getting an encouraging reply.
"How's your throw?" asked Tiara when she and Peach came across a field of Bullet Bills.
"It's pretty sharp," replied Peach. "I play games like baseball and softball, after all."
"Great," said Tiara, "because I need you to throw me onto one of those Bullet Bills."
Peach removed Tiara from her head. "Are you sure?"
"Yup. Just the first Bullet Bill you see."
"Okay." Peach inhaled, curled back her arm and threw Tiara toward the nearest Bullet Bill.
Tiara landed squarely atop the Bullet Bill, and then Peach gasped as she felt herself leave the ground and fly into the large projectile, briefly seeing images of Mario facing off against Bullet Bills in 8-bit, then 16-bit, then 64-bit and finally 3-D. The images blended together into a soft white light, and when it faded, Peach became aware of a floating sensation.
"Oh…!" she cried.
"Peach, you did it!" shouted Tiara. "You've made your first Capture!"
"Capture? What's that?"
"It's a power exclusive to Bonneters like me and Cappy. We can possess all sorts of objects, and even people and animals," Tiara explained. "No doubt, Cappy taught Mario to Capture before they set off to find us. And right now, you're possessing a Bullet Bill."
"So that's why I'm flying," mused Peach.
"You can also steer the Bullet Bill like an aircraft," said Tiara. "Curve to the left."
Peach did, allowing herself to roll a bit like an airplane.
"Now to the right."
Peach obliged.
"Okay, now back."
Peach did so.
"Perfect! You're pretty good at this!" trilled Tiara. "But there's no time to practice. Let's follow that 'fiancé' of yours!"
Peach, in Bullet Bill form, veered off course and resumed tailing Koopa. Many Tostarenans and Moe-Eyes took notice of the peculiar Bullet Bill flying past, sporting blonde hair, a glittering tiara and a pair of kind blue eyes. But some Mushroom Defectors and regular Bullet Bills took notice, as well, quickly radioing their boss.
"We have a bit of a problem," they said.
The Bullet Bill Peach had captured soon ran out of fuel, and she jumped out and landed safely on the ground.
"That was so fun!" she gushed.
"Hey," said a Moe-Eye, tottering up to them. "I took a few photos for you."
"Thanks," said Peach as the Moe-Eye handed her a SD card.
"That dumdum went that way," said the Moe-Eye, jerking their head slightly to the left. "A five-minute walk will take you to a Jaxi, and they'll ride you to wherever you need to go."
"Thanks again," said Tiara.
Peach saw Koopa's lumbering figure up ahead and quietly glided after him, using her Parasol to fend off attacking scores of Mini Mushroom Defectors. Along the way, Tiara taught Peach the same skills her brother taught Mario, from using her as a boomerang to knock attackers away to using her to provide extra jumps across wide chasms. Thanks to these new skills, Peach didn't even have a hair out of place when she hailed the Jaxi the Moe-Eye had mentioned earlier.
"Where to?" asked the Jaxi.
"The Inverted Pyramid," replied Peach, offering the Jaxi a handful of pyramid-shaped coins.
The Jaxi took in Peach's slightly-frazzled state and gently refused the offer. "Hop on," they instructed.
Peach boarded the Jaxi and held on tight as they hurried headlong toward her destination. It was a wild but reliable ride to the Inverted Pyramid, the hot wind whipping through Peach's hair, Tiara practically gripping her scalp as the Jaxi plunged forward.
The Jaxi came to a stop a few feet away from the Inverted Pyramid's base.
"Whatever you do, don't disturb Knucklotec," warned the Jaxi.
"Who?" asked Peach.
"The Keeper of the Binding Band," explained the Jaxi.
Peach blanched. "Oh, my holy God," she said.
"What?" asked the Jaxi.
"We think someone's disturbing this Knucklotec character already," said Tiara. "C'mon, Peach."
The two thanked the Jaxi and then set off for the Inverted Pyramid's entrance.
"I knew that turtle was up to no good!" hissed Peach.
"Odds are, he wants to steal this Binding Band for the 'royal wedding'," added Tiara. "You think we can stop him?"
"It's worth a try," said Peach.
They reached the entrance, where the sounds of rummaging and ransacking were audible within.
Peach clenched her fists. "That b—d," he said.
She jumped slightly at a low, rumbling chuckle.
"And a magnificent one, at that," said Koopa's voice, blaring over some loudspeakers. "Hey, Peachy—congratulations on making it this far. I had no idea you were so curious!"
Peach brandished her Parasol. "Show yourself!" she cried.
"I'm right here," Koopa replied.
Shielding her eyes, Peach gazed toward the top of the Inverted Pyramid.
"No, higher."
Peach craned her neck and saw Koopa's colossal airship hovering above the Inverted Pyramid. Koopa stood at the railing, a huge grin on his face.
"You couldn't have come at a better time," guffawed Koopa. "Harriet and her brothers are almost finished getting your present!"
"More like stealing it," Peach shot back.
Koopa laughed again. "Come on up," he said. "The view's perfect."
Peach entered the Inverted Pyramid, where the temperature was noticeably cooler. Once her eyes adjusted to the dim light, she made her way to a Warp Pipe, which took her to an 8-bit area.
"Whoa," breathed Peach, gawking at her pixelated form. She even had her natural red hair back!
She cleared the 8-bit course with little-to-moderate difficulty, subduing Mushroom Defectors with her Parasol and whacking Koopa Troopas into each other. Upon exiting the area, Peach needed a few seconds to re-orient herself before using a Bullet Bill to get to a stairway leading to the top.
Koopa had disembarked from his ship, and he greeted Peach as she emerged, sweaty and mildly dinged up but otherwise okay.
"There she is!" Koopa sang out as Peach held her Parasol at the ready. "Relax—I'm not gonna hurt you. I just wanna show you the fruits of my wedding planners' labor."
As if on cue, Harriet, Spewart and Rango appeared, carrying what looked like a large wedding ring with a diamond mounted atop it.
"Behold—the Binding Band!" announced Koopa. "This artifact is said to bind couples together for eternity! It's perfect for this occasion!"
The Broodals placed the Binding Band onto Koopa's palm.
"Thank you," said Koopa.
"I have bad news," said Harriet. "Mario thrashed Topper and defeated our ally in Fossil Falls. He now has an airship of his own, the Odyssey, and he's en route to Tostarena right now. His estimated time of arrival is 6 to 9 minutes."
"69 minutes?!" gasped Peach.
"No, no, no—6 to 9 minutes," corrected Harriet.
"Yikes—I'd better text the rest of my wedding party and have my other airships pick them up at the town square!" said Koopa, beginning to do just that.
"And I'll stay behind," declared Harriet.
"What?" Rango and Spewart gasped as one.
"I think I can hold him off long enough for you to get to the next kingdom," Harriet confidently stated.
"Good luck," Peach said dryly. "He won't hold back on you just because you're a lady."
"I don't expect him to," Harriet saucily replied.
6 to 9 minutes, thought Peach. Maybe I can stall them!
"Must be a real bummer," sighed Peach, "knowing that your brother couldn't stand a chance against Mario. A diminutive plumber kicked his [bleep]. He must be an embarrassment to you now."
"Your hero won that battle," said Harriet, "but he hasn't won the war."
"He will," Peach shot back.
"You think so?" challenged Harriet. "Do you happen to feel the temperature dropping?"
"I do," observed Peach, feeling the air around her becoming cooler and cooler.
"Poor Knucklotec had just realized that we swindled him out of his precious Binding Band," explained Harriet, "and he's none too happy. It won't be long before you see ice appearing in this desert. The wrath of Knucklotec will freeze Tostarena solid, which is a pity because the Tostarenans can make some pretty good food. And if the freeze doesn't get Mario, then I will. And if I don't get him, then Knucklotec himself sure will."
"Wanna bet?" challenged Tiara.
Peach nodded. "Mario's faced godlike beings in the past," she added. "Knucklotec will only slow him down a bit."
Harriet laughed. "Keep dreaming, future Koopa Queen," she crowed. "I'd stay and chat with you longer, but our wedding party needs to get a move-on."
She rested a gentle but firm hand on Peach's shoulder and steered her toward the airship as Koopa boarded, her brothers and the Binding Band in tow. "Enjoy the rest of your trip," she said, a little mockingly.
Just as they reached the gangplank, Peach took a preparatory breath, turned slightly toward Harriet and rammed her Parasol's handle against the wedding planner's gut with all her strength.
Harriet doubled over, gasping, and Peach swung her Parasol again, landing a clean hit on Harriet's jaw. The Broodal staggered, but she stayed on her feet.
"Hey!" shouted Spewart, bolting forward with Rango at his elbow.
But Koopa stopped them with a smirk. "Let them fight," he said calmly.
Harriet whirled on Peach, her eyes flashing dangerously. Peach, for her part, stood her ground, having discarded her sandals a few seconds earlier.
"Okay," she said. "You asked for it!"
On those words, she engaged the Toadstool Princess.
1.1.1
Aboard the Odyssey, Cappy noticed that Mario had drowsed off and gently ruffled his hair, stirring him awake.
"Hmm?" asked Mario, rubbing some sleep from his eyes.
"We're almost there," said Cappy. "I can see Tostarena up ahead."
"Thanks for the heads-up," said Mario.
The man in red splashed some cold water onto his face as the Odyssey made a smooth landing on the coral-colored sands of Tostarena. Cappy and Mario then exited the airship, the latter gasping as a surprising chill struck his body head-on.
"All right!" said Cappy. "I can confidently say that they Odyssey has completed a successful maiden voyage!"
"Thank God for that," said Mario, beginning to shiver. "Say, why is it so cold? I thought deserts were hot this time of year."
"You took the words right out of my mouth," said Cappy. "Deserts shouldn't be freezing cold—unless it was for a reason."
His eye fell on a stone-shaped tower in the distance. "Hey—look over there!" he exclaimed. "The top of the tower appears to be shining!"
Mario followed Cappy's gaze. "That's odder than freezing temperatures in the desert," he observed.
"That must mean a Power Moon is atop that tower," said Cappy. "C'mon, let's check it out!"
"Okeydokey!" said Mario.
The two adventurers set off into Tostarena, collecting pyramid-shaped coins and tagging checkpoint flags as they went. At the town square, they found a local Tostarenan, who waved them over.
"Everything froze all of a sudden," said the local. "Nobody can explain this phenomenon, and the local authorities have advised everyone to shelter in place. Do you need somewhere to stay?"
"No—my new friend and I are just passing through," said Mario. "Our loved ones are in trouble, and we need to save them from a forced marriage."
"His girlfriend was grabbed by a tyrannical reptile who wants my sister to be her wedding headdress," added Cappy.
"My! That's terrible!" cried the local. "Come to think of it, I saw a fleet of airships pass by earlier. The lead airship was helmed by a turtle-dragon hybrid, and a beautiful blonde woman was with him."
"Do you think he's responsible for this cold snap?" asked Mario.
"He could be," replied the local, "because after he and what I presumed to be his wedding party explored the town, they headed off for the ruins, where our Binding Band is located. This ancient artifact is guarded by the ancient deity called Knucklotec, you see."
"He wants that Binding Band for his 'royal wedding'," said Mario. "My God—he must've taken it."
"If you're lucky, then you might catch him before he takes off," said the local. "Good luck to you."
"Thanks," said Mario.
"Perhaps you can stop at our Crazy Cap store to change into something warmer," offered the local, "and then grab a hearty meal at one of our restaurants."
But Mario's attention was arrested by familiar footprints in the sand. "Maybe later," he said distractedly. "Cappy…"
"I see them, too," said Cappy. "Let's go."
They followed Koopa's footprints into Tostarena Ruins, negotiating complicated terrain and battling enemies as they went. Power Moons, which now bore a green hue, waited in the niftiest of hiding spots, and there were lots of selfie-worthy areas. Mario made sure to text Peach, reassuring her that he was on his way, and Peach's replies sent bursts of energy through him as ominously gaping chasms, Bullet Bills and spiny cacti confronted him.
In order to scale the tower, Mario and Cappy had to work their way through several 8-bit areas and possess a few Bullet Bills, making sure to tag as many checkpoints and collect as many Power Moons as they could. Reaching the top and collecting that Power Moon, however, made it all worth it.
Laughing, Mario spun Cappy around a few times. "Where've you been all my life?" he playfully asked.
"Good question," said Cappy, "but we're not done yet. We still have the Moe-Eye Habitat to explore."
Mario hopped his way down several moving platforms to get to the Moe-Eye Habitat, where he noticed some dainty footprints mixing with the large ones.
"It looks like Peachy was doing some exploring of her own," Mario proudly noted.
"She's not completely helpless," said Cappy.
"No," said Mario. "She helped out during the fight on the airship."
He stopped when he came upon a small, flat, crescent-moon shaped object.
"What's this?" breathed Cappy. "A piece of a Power Moon! We call them Moon Shards in Bonneton. If we collect enough, then maybe we can earn another Power Moon!"
"That's a strong possibility," said Mario, gazing out at the Moon Shards scattered in the sand.
More Moon Shards seemingly floated over a lake of purple poison, and Mario had no idea how he could reach them until a Moe-Eye nudged him.
"Yes?" he asked.
"There are invisible bridges on that poison lake," said the Moe-Eye. "These shades I'm currently wearing allow me to see them. Oh, and those nearby towers have bridges connecting them, as well."
"Invisible bridges?" asked Mario. "Thanks for the info. Nothing personal, but I really need to borrow you for a second…"
He threw Cappy onto the Moe-Eye, possessing them and allowing him to see the invisible bridges. After memorizing the location of each bridge, he jumped out of the Moe-Eye, gave them a nod and collected the rest of the Moon Shards.
"How did that Power Moon shatter in the first place?" asked Mario once the Moon Shards reassembled into a Power Moon.
"Maybe Koopa threw a little hissy fit," shrugged Cappy.
"Hm. Plausible," said Mario.
He jumped at the sound of a feminine grunt.
"Over there!" shouted Cappy.
Mario whirled around to see Koopa's airship hovering atop an inverted Pyramid. His heart raced as more sounds of a heated battle became discernible.
"She's not becoming his bride without a fight!" exclaimed Cappy.
"Nope!" replied Mario. "Let's help her!"
On the double, the two raced toward the Inverted Pyramid, briefly chatting up some Tostarenans and helping one of them locate their lost sheep. They also found time to help a tourist whose car had crashed into one of the ice formations. While he was unscathed, his luggage was scattered everywhere.
"Do you need me to call anyone?" asked Mario.
"No, but you can have this," replied the tourist, handing Mario a Power Moon. "I don't know what it does."
"Thank you, sir," Cappy said brightly.
"May I take a picture with you?" asked the tourist.
"Sure," said Mario.
After Mario and Cappy posed for a few photos, they wished the tourist well and proceeded to a Sphinx, easily solving their riddle and gaining access to their treasure vault, where another Power Moon was hidden.
They exited the treasure vault and answered five more of the Sphinx's riddles, granting them yet another Power Moon, before continuing on their way.
Setting his jaw, Mario marched inside the Inverted Pyramid, exploring more 8-bit areas, collecting even more Power Moons and contending with enemies big and small. There were areas with inverted gravity, bonus rooms galore and even a few healing items. But as he approached the exit, he noticed that the sounds of an altercation had died down. That wasn't good—at all.
Finally, Mario and Cappy reached the top of the Inverted Pyramid, the airship's whirring propellers kicking up a brisk wind. They saw Peach and Tiara on the ship's railing, waving down to them.
"Peachy!" Mario cried.
His fists clenched when he saw Peach's condition. She was clad in a mildly smudged, strapless knee-length dress, which was currently soaked with sweat. Her hair was lightly disheveled, a light film of perspiration was on her skin, and she was quite bruised up. Clipped to her dress was her visibly-battered Parasol.
Peach smiled at the sight of her hero, still in one piece despite his similar battered state. Her heart soared at the fire in his eyes and the way he stood straight, sending a clear message to his archnemesis. Atop her head, Tiara trilled happily when she saw Cappy on Mario's head, his own eyes narrowed at the fearsome Koopa King.
"They made it!" Tiara sang out.
"I knew they would," said Peach. "There was never a doubt in my mind."
Koopa slid an arm around her waist. "Don't get too comfortable," he said. "It's still early in the game."
Mario's breath came fast as he studied the bruises marring Peach's skin.
"You f—ing brute," he said, calmly and tersely. "You just couldn't take 'no' for an answer, could you?"
"Oh, that wasn't me," Koopa assured his rival. "My beautiful bride just got into a little scrap with one of my wedding planners. I guess she wanted to let off a little steam."
A smaller airship flew by, containing Harriet, Spewart and Rango.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" asked Spewart.
"Yeah," said Harriet. "I'll be fine. Peach provided a warm-up, after all."
Harriet executed a graceful leap onto the top of the Inverted Pyramid, greeting Mario with a big smile. Mario smiled coldly in return, taking in Harriet's tattered dress, the noticeable bruising and swelling on her face and the smears of blood on her snout and lips. Peach had definitely given as good as she'd gotten.
"You must be Harriet," Mario said finally.
"That's me," Harriet responded. "You're Mario?"
"The one and only," Mario coolly told her, "and this is my friend, Cappy. I'm sure you already met his sister, Tiara."
The two began circling each other as they spoke.
"If you're looking for the Binding Band, then I'm sorry," Harriet said politely. "It's safely aboard our client's ship."
"By 'client', I assume you mean him?" asked Mario, indicating Koopa.
"Indeed," smiled Harriet. "He's spent two years planning it, and you're not gonna ruin it for him. Not on our watch."
"Wow—he must've paid you a cool mil for you to put on this 'wedding'," Mario said, still in a calm voice.
"He paid us handsomely, but it's not about the money," Harriet retorted. "It's about making his dream come true. My brothers and I have created the ultimate storybook wedding for him and his fiancée. And you're not invited."
"That's too bad," Mario said evenly, "because Peachy doesn't want to marry your client, and I'm stopping that from happening."
Harriet giggled. "Then," she said, "I defy you to do your best."
She revealed a long hair extension, to which a sky blue spiked ball was attached. "Let's party," she said.
In response, Mario rolled up his sleeves. "Come on, Harriet," he said. "Let's dance."
"[Bleep] him up, Harriet!" cheered Rango.
"Kick her [bleep], Mario!" shouted Peach.
"I'm rooting for you, big brother!" added Tiara.
"It wouldn't be proper to expose you two to such violence," said Koopa. "Let's be on our way. Harriet will deal with Mario."
Peach's eyes flashed. "She won't even last two minutes!" she said fiercely.
"We shall see," chuckled Koopa.
He picked her up and carried her toward the cabin she shared with Tiara as the airship sailed forward, leaving the Sand Kingdom in their wake.
1.1.1
"All right, Peach," said Koopa as he gently set his "fiancée" onto the floor of her cabin. "You're still tightly wound, so I'll tell you what. I'll give you some time to freshen up and relax, and then we'll have a nice dinner and maybe chat some more."
He placed another gift basket next to Peach, kissed her on the cheek and lumbered off, chuckling quietly.
"Creep," muttered Peach as she opened the gift basket, which contained all sorts of offerings from Tostarena's many gift shops.
"Say that again," said Tiara. "I'll put on some music for us, shall I?"
"Okay," said Peach, extracting a shower pouf, a bottle of body wash, a bottle of shampoo and a bottle of conditioner from the gift basket.
Seconds later, soft rock wafted through the cabin, and Peach took a deep breath, feeling the calm already approaching. She peeled off her dress, took the items she'd selected into the shower, turned on the water and stepped into the pour. As she lathered herself up, the aches and tension abated, and all of her emotions simmered down. The room was soon filled with the sounds of rushing water, deep sighs, soft moans, and the shower pouf gently rubbing away.
This particular body wash smelled of dulce-de-leche, as did the shampoo, and this heavenly scent further soothed Peach's roiling emotions. She inhaled deeply, taking in as much of that scent as she could, further lathering her body and her hair to feel the suds' soft caresses. And all of a sudden, she longed for Mario's embrace, for his touch, for his voice to tell her that everything would be okay. She could only imagine what Harriet was doing to him right now.
But she couldn't think such selfish thoughts anymore. There was a young Bonneter sharing her cabin, someone just as frazzled as her. Tiara wanted to be assured that her brother was coming for her, and until then, it was up to Peach to keep her calm. A maternal feeling welled up deep within her, and all she wanted to do was to take Tiara in her arms and keep her warm and safe from their captor's wretched claws. She didn't need Mario holding her hand, anyway. She'd get through this. She'd get Tiara through this. She'd gouge out Koopa's eyes herself should the need arise.
But still, she was so wound up, and she needed to unwind…
Elsewhere inside the cabin, Tiara relaxed on the bed, listening to the music and reflecting on what she and Peach had managed to accomplish. They'd traversed obstacle courses to find out what Koopa was up to. They'd ridden a Jaxi and explored a pyramid, and they'd tussled with one of the Broodals. The throwdown had ended in defeat, but they'd landed many smarting blows on Harriet, demonstrating that they could hold their own in battle. And the cherry on the cake was that their adventure had allowed Tiara to further discover her powers.
I just wish Cappy was there to see it. He would've been so proud.
Tiara gave a soft whine and sank deeper into the pillow, fighting against the tears threatening to spill. She wouldn't let that fiend see any weakness. He'd never see her cry or hear her scream. She'd be the Bonneter she knew she could be—strong and confident. She'd show that rascally reptile and his Broodals that not all damsels in distress were screaming and hysterical!
She heard the shower door open and smelled dulce-de-leche as Peach emerged. There was the towel rustling as she dried herself off, the sound of a comb, and then a brush, moving through Peach's hair. Then, there was the whirr of a hairdryer, and finally a jar of lotion unscrewing.
"Tiara," Peach said softly.
"Hm?"
"When I'm by myself, I like to walk around in the nude," Peach explained. "I hope you won't mind."
"It's fine," replied Tiara. "It's just us girls in here, anyway."
Peach hummed something in agreement, and Tiara turned slightly to see her new friend standing before a mirror, rubbing the lotion onto her skin. The bruises she'd sustained during her—their—fight with Harriet hadn't tarnished her beauty, and they were even starting to fade. The more persistent bruises seemed to melt into the slight muscles along her shoulders, arms and belly, and Peach didn't seem to feel them, either. Her eyes were closed, and her head was tilted slightly back as she continued applying the lotion.
"You're still a little tense," Tiara observed.
"Yeah—I'm just—thinking about stuff," said Peach.
"Hey," said Tiara. "Harriet may have defeated us, but we went down swinging."
"It's not just the fact that we lost to her," Peach said quietly. "It's—the way she looked at Mario before she pulled out that hair extension. I think she went easy on us because—she was saving her energy for him."
"Well, if she intends to go all-out, then so will he," said Tiara.
"True," whispered Peach. "I have faith that Mario will win, but, there's still the slim chance that he won't. And I'm not worried about what'll happen to me. I'm worried about what they'll try to do to you."
"What more can they do to me?" asked Tiara.
"That's what I'm not willing to risk," said Peach, "and I just want you to know, Tiara, that I'll always be there. I'll comfort you from your nightmares. I'll protect you. I'll never let anything happen to you."
She strode over to the bed and slipped under the covers. "Everything's gonna be okay," she said.
Tiara smiled and allowed herself to curl up against Peach as the Mushroom Princess slid her arms around the Bonneter.
"Don't be afraid," Peach whispered. "Don't be afraid."
The two lay together in silence, allowing the music on the stereo to slowly send them off to sleep.
1.1.1
Back in Tostarena, Harriet was crumpled on the ground like Topper before her, futilely reaching out as Mario claimed a Multi-Moon. Her victorious opponent was bruised and slashed from her attacks, and his clothes were lightly singed, and she took comfort in the fact that she'd made him work for his win. She was in likewise condition, her hair extension lying a few feet away, the spiked ball attached to it split cleanly open like a walnut.
"You were lucky," grumbled Harriet, "but while you were busy beating up a girl, my client has already taken off for the next kingdom, where my brothers will help him check off the next item from his list!"
"I'll catch up to him," Mario said softly, "and when I do, I'll take no pity on him or your brothers. That turtle will marry Peach over my dead body."
Harriet smirked. "That's the plan," she said. "Good luck on the rest of your odyssey—you'll need it."
Mario turned away from her and focused his attention on the Multi-Moon, which carried him and Cappy back to the Odyssey.
"Whew! Harriet slowed us down, but look at all the Power Moons we're racking up!" trilled Cappy as they fueled up their ship. "Looks like we'll need a few more, but…"
He trailed off once as he sneaked a closer look at Mario's current state. "Holy mother of God! You're hurt!" he exclaimed.
"It doesn't matter," said Mario.
"You're bleeding!"
"It doesn't matter," repeated Mario.
"Harriet really nailed you with that deadly hair extension of hers!" Cappy was beside himself. "D—mit! I'm sorry I didn't help more!"
"You did your best," Mario reassured him. "I'd be dead if I hadn't met you."
"Okay, that does it," said Cappy. "We're taking a break."
"Break?! But…"
"No 'buts'. You can't rescue anyone in this state, so I'm patching you up. We can even watch the sunset together."
Mario glanced westward and saw the sun dipping toward the skyline. "It's that late?"
"Please—you need to rest up," said Cappy. "Even if it's just for a short while. If not for yourself, then for Peach and Tiara."
Mario heaved a sigh, and then he followed Cappy inside the ship.
Cappy opened the shades and put on some music while Mario kicked off his shoes and hopped onto the bed. The Bonneter grabbed a first-aid kit and floated over.
"All right—I'll need you to unbuckle your overalls and take off your shirt."
Mario obliged, and Cappy sucked in his breath at the sight of the dark bruises and weeping lacerations scoring his new friend's body.
"Okay—okay. Let me just…" Cappy set the first-aid kit beside Mario on the bed, opened it and took out some rubbing alcohol, cotton balls and bandages. "This is gonna sting a little."
"It's never bothered me," murmured Mario.
He settled back as Cappy set to work, reflexively wincing and grimacing as the antiseptic-saturated cotton balls made contact with his wounds. However, it only lasted for a minute, and once the alcohol dried, Cappy applied the bandages, followed by an ice pack for the bruises.
"And—there we are," said Cappy once he finished. "Good as new."
"Thank you, Cappy," said Mario.
"You're welcome," said Cappy. "Wow—it's gotten even colder! The windows are fogging up! I'd better turn on the thermostat."
Once the thermostat was running, Mario shimmied out of his overalls and tossed them aside before snuggling under the covers, rolling onto his side and staring out the window as dusk fell.
Cappy settled in beside Mario, his eye also on the picturesque scene. "Look at the Inverted Pyramid," he breathed. "It's floating."
"Yeah," said Mario. "It's pretty strange."
"And there's a beam of light coming from that hole beneath the pyramid," Cappy went on. "Maybe it's our mutual foe's doing?"
"Maybe," said Mario.
"He's a real troublemaker, isn't he?"
"You've no idea."
"You sound exhausted," said Cappy. "Perhaps a quick siesta is in order."
Indeed, Mario was fighting to keep his eyes open, but the desperate need to stop this forced marriage kept a constant supply of adrenaline pumping through his veins.
"They'll be fine," Cappy told him, as if reading his thoughts. "They're doing a great job holding out. But how can you rescue them if you're exhausted and hurt?"
Mario silently conceded Cappy's point, allowing his body to try and relax.
"Just rest awhile," said Cappy. "I'll watch over you."
Mario's eyes closed, and his breathing evened out. It wasn't long before he was murmuring about pasta.
Cappy remained wide awake, however, taking out his phone and calling Tiara.
She answered with a breathy, "Hey."
"We defeated Harriet," said Cappy, "but not before she managed to whale on Mario."
"Is he okay?" asked Tiara.
"Yeah. I tended to his injuries, and he's asleep," said Cappy. "The Inverted Pyramid's floating, and it's opened up a hole ripe for exploration."
"Maybe it's that Knucklotec guy Harriet was talking about," said Tiara. "You and Mario need to be careful."
"Where are you headed?" asked Cappy.
"To 'pick up' Peach's wedding dress," said Tiara. "Peach and I will try to gather more information later on. We were sleeping when you called."
"I'm sorry I woke you," said Cappy.
"I'm glad you did," said Tiara. "You told me some good news."
"After Mario wakes up, we'll gather some more Power Moons, and then we'll be on our way," said Cappy.
"Great," said Tiara.
"All right, rest up, Sis," said Cappy. "I'll talk to you later."
"I love you," said Tiara.
"I love you more." Cappy ended the call on those tender words.
The Bonneter lay on the pillow beside Mario, staring at the ceiling, a million thoughts racing in his head. He understood why Mario didn't want to rest—it would mean more time their loved ones had to endure in that villain's clutches. But if Mario walked in Koopa's lair half-asleep, then it would be his bloody end. Cappy knew that his newest pal would thank him later.
His eyes fell on Mario's phone, and he gently floated over and picked it up. He remembered his phone conversation with Luigi, the concern in the young man's voice as he inquired about his brother. Now was a good a time as ever to give him another call.
Luigi answered on the first ring. "Bro?"
"It's Cappy again," said Cappy. "Do you remember me?"
"Yeah, I remember you! How's it going?"
"It's going well," replied Cappy.
"Last I heard from Mario, he was exploring some Inverted Pyramid," said Luigi. "How is he?"
"Fast asleep. He fought one of that turtle's wedding planners, and it was a tough battle, so I made him rest."
"Good for you. He can be pretty stubborn. When he wakes, up, could you tell him I said hello?"
"I will."
"Thanks, Cappy. Let me give you my cell phone number."
Luigi did so, allowing Cappy to enter it into his phone.
"Got it," said Cappy.
"Great. I'll have my phone on at all times," said Luigi. "Send me a voicemail or a text, and I'll reply as soon as I can."
"Okay. Talk to you later," said Cappy.
"Ditto."
Cappy hung up and placed the phone back where he'd found it before settling back next to Mario. He needed to rest, as well.
1.1.1
"No! Oh, Dio, no!"
Cappy jerked awake at Mario's cry and saw him, sitting upright in the bed, sweat dripping off his face and body, breathing heavily. It was nighttime now, a crescent moon beaming down from the night sky, its light mixing with the starlight pouring through the ship's window.
"Hey," said Cappy. "Are you okay?"
Mario turned toward Cappy, tears in his eyes. "Yeah—I'm fine. I just—I just had a horrible nightmare." He covered his mouth, stifling his sobs.
"That you were too late to save…?" Cappy started.
"No, it wasn't about Peach, though she was a part of the dream." Mario drew a shaky breath. "It was about—my bro."
"Luigi?" asked Cappy.
"Lately, I've had this recurring dream," Mario explained. "Luigi and I would arrive at that tyrant's castle and battle him to save Peach, but somehow, he'd get the better of us." He swallowed. "And then he'd make me choose—between Luigi and Peach. At this point, I usually wake up, but this time, it was worse."
Mario sobbed and then continued. "The castle was decorated for the wedding, and you and I burst in during the ceremony to save Peach and Tiara. But then Koopa gave this awful smirk and had the Broodals come out, and they were holding—Luigi."
"God Almighty," gasped Cappy.
"He was in very bad shape. His clothing was in tatters, his cap was gone, and he was covered in bruises. There were cuts, slashes and burns all over his upper body, his eye was swollen shut, and there was a shock collar around his neck. Harriet was nice enough to 'demonstrate' how the shock collar worked, and after a few 'demonstrations', Koopa gave his ultimatum—let the wedding go forward or watch my bro…"
Mario gave another pained sob. "And what's worse was that he'd done that in real life! Two years ago, during a normal rescue mission, he tried to use Luigi to get me to surrender! We managed to regain the upper hand, but the memory's still vivid." Taking several deep breaths, he went on, "In the dream, Luigi was so strong. He told me not to worry about him, but then Peach told me the same thing. She knew I loved Luigi more than her, and she was willing to give herself to that monster in exchange for his safety. But I knew that both would rather die than be used as leverage. And deep down, Koopa knew that, too. So, after a while, he stomped over to Luigi, bared his claws, and…" He squeezed his eyes shut, as if to clear away the memory. "Thank God, I woke up before…" His voice broke, and that was when Cappy flew over, pulling him into a hug.
Mario held his new friend tightly, deep sobs heaving his body.
"I'm right here, Mario," said Cappy. "I'm right here."
"That's why I didn't want to bring him along," said Mario once his sobs died down. "I've always preferred it if he stayed behind in the MK or the Smash Mansion, just in case of a follow-up attack."
"Smash Mansion? What's that?" asked Cappy.
Mario told Cappy about the Smash Bros tournaments, which led to him talking about the nerf drama two years ago. How Luigi was bullied, harassed and even physically assaulted because of his down-throw combos, and how almost everyone whined to Master Hand, rather than buckle down and practice.
"Wow—he's been through a lot," gasped Cappy.
"And through it all, he's put me, Peach and the rest of his loved ones before himself," sighed Mario. "I keep asking myself, 'Who's gonna do the same for him?'"
"Mario, I feel the same way about Tiara," Cappy said quietly. "I want to shield her from whatever pain she's bound to feel, but at the same time, I want her to live her life. She's about to start college. I need to let her go. We all need to let our siblings go someday."
"I'll still want to protect him," said Mario, "even when I'm old and withered."
"Ditto with me and Tiara," said Cappy.
The pair locked eyes, beginning to understand one another more than ever.
They separated from their embrace, and then Mario jumped into a quick shower before dressing in clean clothes.
"Ready?" he asked.
"Ready," replied Cappy.
They exited the Odyssey and set off for the town square, which now had a creepier appearance. The locals looked more apprehensive, and skeleton-like creatures roamed about.
A Jaxi greeted them. "You must be Mario," they said.
"I am," replied Mario.
"Would you like a ride to the Inverted Pyramid?" asked the Jaxi. "I usually charge 30 coins, but this ride's on the house."
"Sure, Jaxi," said Mario. "Let's ride."
He hopped onto the Jaxi and strapped himself into the safety harness.
"Hold on," said the Jaxi before taking off.
The Jaxi barreled through the dark desert, Mario whooping and hollering like he was on a roller coaster and Cappy laughing heartily. They bowled over the skeleton creatures and easily scaled dunes. Ascending one particular dune led to a steep decline, allowing the Jaxi to simply coast downhill.
At the end of the decline was the hole in the Inverted Pyramid. Mario dismounted and thanked the Jaxi before hopping in.
Inside the hole was an underground temple with ice and cobblestone walkways. Mario wasted no time exploring it, searching for treasure and more Power Moons. Just minutes into the exploration, he came across a stack of Mushroom Defectors, and since he knew he couldn't jump high enough to defeat them all, he elected to possess the stack, discovering that a Mushroom Defector's feet had greater purchase on the icy ground.
"This is cool!" laughed Mario. "I'm possessing a tower of Mushroom Defectors!"
Several treasure chests and Power Moons later, Mario and Cappy found themselves in the Deepest Underground, where they found themselves face-to-face with Knucklotec himself!
Knucklotec was a giant stone face with two disembodied stone hands. He crashed down onto the sandy arena, the shockwave nearly sending Mario off his feet.
"Where did my ring go?" Knucklotec boomed.
Before Mario could explain, Knucklotec glowered at him and slammed his hands down on the ground.
"It was you!" he cried. "You took it!"
"No, wait…!" Mario exclaimed.
But Knucklotec went on the attack immediately, slamming at Mario with his stone fists, sending ice chunks raining onto the arena and shooting ice chunks from his palms. Mario took a great pounding before noticing the gem atop each of Knucklotec's hands. He figured out how to use Cappy to take control of one of the hands and then launch it into Knucklotec, causing the powerful god to literally beat himself up.
"That'll show you!" cheered Cappy.
Then, Knucklotec introduced a nasty clapping attack similar to MH and CH's team attack, except that the stone hands dealt more hurt. But the additional attack didn't stop Mario, and neither did the other attacks which were similar to MH's arsenal. He simply shook off the pain and kept racking up damage on his opponent with his own fists.
After a long, grueling battle, Mario and Cappy subdued Knucklotec, who reeled in the air, dazed.
"As I was saying—I didn't steal the Binding Band!" snapped Mario.
"You didn't?" panted Knucklotec. "Well, why didn't you say so?"
Mario stared incredulously at Knucklotec. "I would've, if you'd given me the chance!" he retorted.
"All right—if you didn't steal it, then who did?" asked Knucklotec.
"His name is King Koopa," said Mario. "He wants to use the Binding Band for his 'royal wedding'."
"Oh," said Knucklotec. "My bad."
"After nearly beating the Inferno out of me, all you have to say is, 'My bad'." Mario was beside himself.
One of Knucklotec's palms opened, revealing a Multi-Moon. "I don't know what this does," he said, "but you can have it."
Mario hopped onto the palm and grabbed the Multi-Moon.
"Apologies for meeting this way," said Knucklotec before he faded away.
"A—hole," huffed Mario.
"C'mon," said Cappy. "He apologized."
"I know, I know," sighed Mario. "Maybe that nightmare put me in a bad mood."
Mario and Cappy rode the Multi-Moon back to the Odyssey. By the time they got there, dawn was already breaking, and the temperature started warming significantly.
"Now it's starting to feel like a desert," said Cappy, "but isn't that what we accomplished?"
"Looks that way," said Mario. "We pacified Knucklotec, sort of, breaking his curse."
"And I bet that now all of the ice has melted, more Power Moons have been uncovered," Cappy went on.
"You're right," said Mario.
"We'll catch up to our loved ones in no time," laughed Cappy, "but right now, my stomach's growling. Wanna get something to eat?"
"Sure," said Mario. "I'm buying."
"No," said Cappy. "I'm buying."
First, however, Mario tossed Cappy onto the Odyssey's globe, fueling her with the Power Moons they'd collected. To their delight, there were enough Power Moons to get them to the next kingdom.
The locals emerged from their homes, ecstatic over everything returning to normal. Festive music began to play, shops and restaurants began to open and the air filled with chatter. As the sun rose, the air warmed even further, causing several mist showers to turn on.
Mario strode into the now-vibrant town square, where some locals quickly surrounded him.
"Good morning!" greeted one of them. "Was it you who appeased Knucklotec and restored peace to our town?"
"Well—you could say that," replied Mario.
The Tostarenans cheered.
"Thank you, Mario! After that awful reptile took the Binding Band, we feared we'd have to fear Knucklotec's wrath for eternity!" they cried. "How can we ever repay you?"
"No repayment is necessary," said Mario, "but my friend and I are hungry, and…"
"Say no more! I know a good restaurant that's open for breakfast," said another local, leading Mario and Cappy to the restaurant in question.
"And," said a third local, "it looks like you need a place to stay."
"Oh, I'm not staying," said Mario. "I have a wedding to crash."
"Not with all those bruises, you're not," said a server, walking over with two menus. "It appears that your encounter with Knucklotec was far from pleasant. You helped us, Mario. Now, let us help you."
"Okeydokey," said Mario, "if you insist."
"Just say the word, and we'll have a nice little villa waiting for you," said a Tostarenan. "In the meantime, here's a suggested itinerary for you."
The Tostarenan gave Mario a brochure before departing.
"Guess I'd better tell Peach the bad news," sighed Mario.
"She's probably sleeping," said Cappy. "Just send her a text. And the Tostarenans are right. You need ice and salve for those bruises, and we both need food in our bellies. Besides, aren't you interested in Tostarena, now that it's back to normal?"
"Yeah," acknowledged Mario.
"Peach will surely understand if you want to take care of yourself," said Cappy.
Mario took out his phone and sent a few texts to Peach, explaining the situation. Then, he and Cappy took their food and drink orders when the server walked by. In no time flat, they were chowing down on a hearty breakfast of huevos rancheros, tamales, rice and pancakes, washing it all down with horchata and mimosas.
"Don't whip out your wallet," said the server. "This meal's on us."
"Thanks," Cappy and Mario said in unison.
When the server left, Cappy heaved a sigh.
"He's got my sister for a headdress, and now he has the Binding Band for a wedding ring," he said. "Is he gonna steal a whole wedding?"
"I wouldn't put that past him," said Mario.
"I've done some reading, and it looks like the next kingdom over is the Lake Kingdom," said Cappy, "and after we're done exploring a hot desert, we could use some cool water on our skin. Anyway, the Lake Kingdom is famous for its fashion, and their pride and joy is a wedding gown called the Lochlady Dress."
"Boy," said Mario. "He's probably got his hands on it already."
"Yup," said Cappy.
After their meal, Mario and Cappy spent the rest of the day exploring Tostarena, locating all of the key landmarks, riding the Jaxi and of course, collecting more Power Moons. They perused through gift shops, played mini-games, and stopped at a clothing store called the Crazy Cap. Using the coins they'd uncovered, the duo purchased more travel-worthy outfits. Later in the afternoon, they spent some time in the desert oasis, briefly possessing a fishing Lakitu and going for a quick swim in the shallow lake. When night fell, they went to the local nightclub, where they earned a Power Moon simply for dancing with some Tostarenans!
Mario carefully documented his adventures on all of his social media accounts, and when it was time to head to the villa where he'd spend the night, he sent Peach and Luigi a good-night text before placing his phone on the nightstand. He stripped to his briefs, and Cappy helped him tend to the bruises from his fight with Knucklotec. Finally, he turned on the TV, put it on mute, and slid into the bed, Cappy making himself comfortable next to him.
Within seconds, they were asleep.
1.1.1
The sound of a rolling drumbeat awoke Tiara from her slumber. She opened her eyes and saw that Peach was wide awake, watching the television without really paying attention to the images on the screen. A distracted look was in her eyes, and she lightly bit her lip intermittently. Tiara quickly realized that the rolling drumbeat was Peach's heartbeat, and that her skin was noticeably—taut.
Peach glanced down when she felt Tiara stir against her.
"Hey," she greeted.
"Hey," replied Tiara.
"We're almost at the Lake Kingdom," said Peach. "Mario texted me and told me that he needed to stay in Tostarena overnight. He survived his fight with Knucklotec, but…" She trailed off. "My generous 'fiancé' is off to steal another 'gift' for me. What does he want from the Lake Kingdom?"
"Maybe a 'something blue'?" suggested Tiara. "He already has the 'something new'. All that remains is the 'something old', the 'something borrowed' and the 'something blue'."
"They're all 'borrowed'," said Peach. "Borrowed without permission, that is."
"Right you are," said Tiara.
"I'm gonna have to ask you to scoot for a while, okay?" asked Peach. "I—need a moment."
"Say no more," Tiara said cheerily. "Take all of the 'me' time you need."
Tiara floated out of the cabin and onto the airship's main deck, where the air had cooled considerably. The airship continued sailing forward, floating just above the clouds, and the sky was a rich, blue color. Red-shelled and green-shelled Koopa Troopas worked diligently at their stations, and they seemed to pay Tiara no mind.
Floating just outside the cabin, Tiara heard quiet sighs and moans, causing her to blush slightly. Hoping to give Peach some extra privacy, she headed over to the railing and gazed out at the scenery, allowing her mind to drift.
"Nice view, huh?"
Tiara snapped out of her reverie and saw her "host" standing next to her.
"Oh. Hey," she said.
"Fancy seeing you on deck," said Koopa.
"Peach needs some alone time," Tiara said briskly, "so I'm accommodating her."
"Pre-wedding jitters?" smirked Koopa.
"I suppose so."
"Every bride has them," Koopa said genially, "but don't worry. By the time the big day arrives, she'll warm up to me."
"I doubt that," said Tiara.
"Of course—she's still holding out hope that he'll stop it," grumbled Koopa, "but my Broodals will be ready for him, and so will I."
"Mario's already 2-0 with the Broodals," said Tiara.
"It's only halftime," said Koopa. "Besides, I hired the Broodals because I know they're no pushovers. Trust me, they'll get Mario eventually."
"Wanna bet?" challenged Tiara.
"When you gamble with the King, it's winner-takes-all," boasted Koopa. "I don't need to bet anything, but Mario—he should start placing his bets while he's ahead."
He threw back his head and guffawed.
"That goes double for your brother," he went on. "He's just a pipsqueak wearing a hat. What's he got to prove?"
"A lot," said Tiara. "He'll go through Hell for me."
"And Mario has a brother who'd go through multiple levels of Hell for him, so those two are a pair," mused Koopa. "Has Peach told you about Green 'St—Luigi?"
"A little," replied Tiara. "She said that he fought ghosts to save Mario. That's pretty neat."
"It also appears that he loves Luigi more than Peach," Koopa said, a little darkly. "I see it in his eyes. Yet somehow, I can never use that against him. Those two are just too loyal to each other, and that hinders my plans. Perhaps after I marry Peach and as a bit of—foreplay—before the honeymoon…" He trailed off, excitement alight in his eyes. "Yes, that's exactly what I'll do after the wedding. Re-conquest of the Mushroom Kingdom and sweet revenge against those pesky plumbers will be the perfect wedding present!"
Tiara felt sick.
"But—it's best not to get ahead of ourselves," said Koopa. "Our landing in the Lake Kingdom is moments away. I'll have a nice outfit sent to Peach before long."
He smiled at Tiara before lumbering off, leaving the Bonneter shaken.
Once she composed herself, Tiara left a voicemail for Cappy and headed back to the cabin to check on Peach.
A quiet humming sound joined the moans and slackening breaths, Peach uttering Mario's name every so often. Now, Tiara was really blushing. She hoped she'd have a dorm room all to herself once she started college. That way, she wouldn't have to put anything on the doorknob if she needed a little private time.
Tiara decided to explore the rest of the airship, quickly locating the gym, the dining room and the lounge. There was even a conference room and a "war room".
"This ship has everything," mused Tiara.
"Yes, she does," said Koopa, surprising her once more, "and allow me to warn you in advance—the war room is off limits to passengers."
He held up a dry cleaner's bag with a hanger. "Here's her outfit," he said. "I'll leave it outside her door till she's finished with her 'me' time."
"You sneaked up on me just to tell me that?" asked Tiara.
"Yes, and to also tell you that just like in Tostarena, you two will get a chance to stretch your legs and get some fresh air at Lake Lamode," said Koopa. "I'm sure you'll want to see their underwater plaza."
He winked and then ambled toward Peach and Tiara's cabin, a Hammer Bro following with a gift basket.
Tiara zipped ahead of them and rapped on the door.
"Peach, he's coming!" she warned.
"Okay, thanks," Peach's voice breathily replied.
"It's okay, I just have your new outfit and a few more gifts," said Koopa as he arrived. "I'll have them right outside."
He and the Hammer Bro placed the gift basket on the ground and hung the outfit on a hook built into the door, nodded at Tiara and left.
"Okay, Tiara, you can come in," said Peach.
Taking the items, Tiara floated back inside the cabin, where Peach lay on the bed, partially covered by a sheet, breathing heavily, flushed with exertion and lightly lathered in sweat.
"Are you feeling better?" asked Tiara.
"A little," replied Peach. "Guess I'll have to spend the last of my 'me' time in the shower."
Tiara placed the outfit in the closet and set the gift basket on the bed. Once again, a receipt was stapled to it. Both she and Peach took a second to examine the goodies within, and then Peach slipped out of bed and headed for the shower, closing the door after her.
Five minutes of lathering, gasping and sighing later, Peach emerged, looking visibly relaxed, albeit there was still a bit of tension about her. She dried herself off, styled her hair and changed into the new outfit, a blue-and-aqua dress with a midriff-baring cutout and a fishtail skirt. The skirt was easily detachable, turning the outfit into a two-piece swimsuit with boy shorts as bottoms.
"I admire his fashion sense," demurred Peach as she studied herself in the mirror.
They felt the airship descend and touch down with barely a bump. Then, Koopa arrived to escort his "guests" off the ship and into the Lake Kingdom.
Please R&R.