Royalty Suite Front Lobby, 8:00 P.M.
"That has to be… There's no way that isn't..." A young man said in disbelief once he got close enough to confirm that the young woman was in fact Princess Peach and the entourage that accompanied her was in fact led by Toadsworth. "Yep, Vituo, that'd be the Princess." The second largest of the Masai Five said. "When it comes to sniffing out noblewomen, Nguvu and Jicho are your men." He chuckled as he signaled to his younger, even larger brother and then to the only non-Noble amongst the Masai Five. Nguvu wore a tropical-themed filter muzzle as opposed to his usual light blue, but the muzzle still very much did it's job, and so he just gave his more outgoing and talkative brother a snarky look.
"Imani, we should probably be concerned that the Delfino Mafia is brazenly assaulting and kidnapping women of high status, especially while they are on vacation." Jicho said in warning. "For once, I'm with Jicho. Mostly because Deltazar has gone insane if he's sanctioning this." The smallest and lightest built of the Masai Five said. Imani just shrugged. "You know, Kasi, if he has then that means that there will finally be action taken against Paetar. I highly doubt the Deltazar Family is going to let him cost them their fortune." Imani explained, as if it were that simple.
"Still, in the process, we shouldn't just let these abductors just do as they please. I just wonder how we'd approach her without alarming her even more." Vituo finally said, unaware that the other four were already looking past him. "Well, I can think of two ways to do so. And rather I like the second way much better…" Peach's voice sounded. Vituo turned around, and there stood the Princess of the Mushroom Kingdom. The beautiful princess giggled at the Masai Prince's flustered response at being surprised.
"You escaped your captor on your own?" Vituo asked rather dumbly, until he realized what he implied. "Wait… I mean… Of course you escaped on your own…" The other implication wasn't entirely right either; Nguvu cringed under his mask at how awkward Vituo was in general around the opposite sex. Peach couldn't help but make the comparison to Azuro; she wondered if she'd also see him and his inner circle during this vacation.
"Actually, Shadow Mario let me go. Of his own volition." Peach informed. Nguvu raised his eyebrows at this. "His own… volition…?" He repeated. Nguvu's voice was already as powerful as his 6'5", 300 pound body suggested, and the filter-mask over his face made it sound as though he were speaking from a bubble full of water. "That's right. He led Mario away from the Plaza, and then just teleported me back to Torrence and his squad." She continued.
"Odd that he'd do that, especially if he just managed to swipe a Princess for the Delfino Mafia. Deltazar could have had his son legitimize his kingpin delusions…" Jicho pondered, to which Imani shrugged. "That or brought hell upon himself when the Mario Bros. found out what Paetar pulled." Imani pointing this out reminded Vituo of a certain very famous figure.
"I'm gonna guess that Luigi is picking up the pieces as it concerns Mario's outburst? And handling the clues this Shadow Mario left all over the Plaza?" Vituo led, and Peach smiled as if Luigi was in fact handling the situation. "Luigi? Oh, he didn't accompany me for my vacation this time. It's just Toadsworth, the Toad Brigade and Mario that tagged along."
Peach in fact did not actually put any more emphasis on Mario's name, but she may as well have said that only Mario had accompanied her to Delfino Isle. Saying Mario's name seemed to cause time to slow down as she said it. Nguvu's blue eyes became saucers, and if he wasn't wearing his fliter-mask his jaw would have likely hit the floor upon hearing this. Meanwhile, Vituo, Jicho and Kasi wore comical expressions of disbelief at Peach's decision.
"By himself?" Imani had to be the one to say it. Peach nodded. "Yes." She said bluntly. "Without Luigi or Wario to talk some sense into him when he goes off the deep end, as he usually does?" Kasi said 'talk', but he in fact actually meant 'beat' as it concerned getting Mario to stop one of his rampages. "Do remember that I am his Princess and he always follows my orders." She reminded. "That's kind of what we're afraid of, Peach." Jicho managed to find his voice.
"Don't worry about Mario. Between investigating the clues Shadow Mario left and handling the Delfino Mafia so that they don't attack another innocent civilian, I can guarantee that he'll be too busy to be too much of a problem. And I can also guarantee he won't be crashing any parties any time soon, either." At that last statement, Peach's tone became much flirtier as she rubbed a languishing, caressing hand across Vituo's washboard abs. Vituo did his best, but his face noticeably gained a pink tint at Peach's touch. Peach giggled at the look on his face.
"So, for now at least, this can in fact be a vacation?" Vituo said, his voice clearly faltering as he tried to keep his body from betraying his urges. Peach's smile as she continued to run her hand across Vituo's abs just tested him further. "You and Azuro both really are much alike. You both could do with a little loosening up. But, that's what we're here for, isn't it?" And just like Azuro, Vituo's better judgment began to slowly crumble. "It is, isn't it?" He said, a lot more sultrily than he intended.
Imani and Kasi both seemed to pout jealously at the way Peach flirted with Vituo. "It's only because he's a prince." Imani grumbled in half-serious jealousy. "And better looking than you…" Nguvu said, his eyes betraying the humor with which he said this. Jicho and Kasi couldn't help but laugh at Imani's embarrassment and Vituo's awkwardness.
"That's like saying you're the shortest Titan or the lowest quality champagne." Peach thought, but did not say so as to not ruin the humorous atmosphere. "Vituo, we've got some catching up to do." She said, as she led Vituo to her suite. And closed the door behind them.
Noki Bay Waterfall, 11:00 P.M.
"Ahh… So beautiful…" An unseen voice sounded as a young woman concluded her impromptu training."Where're your hands, Hajitar?" She asked in a stern, if sweet voice; most would have just assumed she was talking to the massive, immaculate looking scimitar that she had lodged into one of the crags near the waterfall she was training. But those who knew her would know that she was in fact talking to the Troll sealed within the pink jewel embedded within the hilt, and that made them inherently fear her more than if she was just talking to an inanimate weapon.
"You do this on purpose. One day, I'm gonna get out. And when I do, you'll regret frustrating me like this!" He projected. "Right up until I get my hands on you and make you pay for every single victim you claim." She informed. She didn't even need to see Hajitar's face when she reintroduced reality to him. "I… You…" Hajitar stammered. "What's the matter, can't keep it up? Your nerve, that is?" She said with a seductive, yet taunting tone. As soon as she felt Hajitar mentally disconnect, she knew she had won yet another argument with the Troll.
"I really wish you wouldn't ask for trouble like that…" A corporeal voice sounded aloud. It was none other than the crown prince of the Elven Territories. "Azuro, you worry too much, you know that?" Imara said playfully, as she turned and gave him a better view of her bikini clad body and especially her curvy side profile. "We're here on vacation; learn to loosen up a bit." She said, her chest and butt bouncing as she made even the slightest movements. The inheritor of the Elven Crown found his lower body practically demanding him to sire his heirs with the Grand Priestess dancing under the waterfall in front of him.
"I think you're relaxed enough for the both of us." He said in a tiny voice; a dead man could hear how much his self-control was faltering at the sight of Imara's shining olive skin and jet black, waist-length hair. The pink bikini she was wearing, which matched the aura of the Troll she had sealed in her favored weapon, was perhaps an afterthought as she looked at something below Azuro's waist. "I can see what is not relaxed right now." She said in a seductive, yet matter-of-fact way. Azuro's face turned bright red at this, as he proceeded to cover himself.
"You should really cover up, given the recent activities of the Delfino Mafia." He warned, as much sincerely as he was just trying to change the subject. At this, Imara's seductive smile widened, her pillowy pink lips making her all the more enticing. "If they want this, they'll just have to come and get it." Imara said, bouncing her behind rhythmically at Azuro as she said this. Azuro looked away. "Given they'd attack Princess Peach whilst she is here with Mario, Paetar might just be that stupid and crazy." Azuro said.
Imara immediately froze in place for a moment, and the image of her behind turned upwards as what Azuro said started to sink in was certainly an interesting one. "They tried to kidnap Princess Peach? With no assistance from Bowser or any of the Koopa Troop? Whilst the Mario Bros. were with her?" Imara led incredulously. Azuro shook his head. "No, Imara. Just Mario is here. With the Princess. With no one but Toadsworth and the Toad Brigade to potentially reign him in should he go off the deep end." Azuro said.
Imara's stare of shock as he said this said it all. "Does… Does someone in the Mushroom Kingdom just want this island nation to blow up?" Imara asked in disbelief. Azuro shook his head. "I don't think that's quite what Peach wants, to the very least. If that were the case, then the two attempts to kidnap her would have been more than enough excuse to just have Mario nuke these islands. For now, we just have to…" Azuro's face went white when Imara placed as soft finger on his lips, shutting him up. "- Enjoy our vacation, unless and until Mario directly affects our stay. Besides, Bianco Hills awaits us tomorrow morning." She said, placing a gentle hand on his waistband.
"We should get to bed, and rest up." She said. This time, Azuro made no argument.