Starting from Point A:
Toadette can't deny she holds certain prejudices against Koopas. They attack her peaceful home almost weekly, but she doesn't outwardly show it unless prompted to. Proper etiquette dictates her actions—well, more like Toadsworth's nagging tone, reprimanding her rash behavior whenever she thinks of acting out. His scolding tone is so deeply engraved inside her head she wonders if she's going a tad crazy.
So when she's forced to play sports or judge events with her enemies as possible teammates or players; she can't display her bias freely or show her disdain. Luckily, it's easier to achieve and maintain peace when she's surrounded by allies and friends.
All of them are feigning their comradery. It's calming to know they share her unvoiced opinions. (Except Princess Daisy; she is extremely vocal about her thoughts when it comes to Waluigi or Bowser.)
This time around; the event is racing. The roster of characters is usually higher and more diverse when it comes to kart racing. Truthfully, it's Toadette's favorite event to partake in. It's nice to see friends she can't see regularly. She maintains cordial relationships with the other, less than desirable, racers since it's a rule even Bowser follows.
Toadette offers pleasant greetings even if her enemies don't necessarily return them with the same enthusiasm. She exchanges brisk, fleeting chats to sedate the Princess' attempts of peace.
Still, there's a group of Koopas who Toadette cannot stand even on her best behavior: the Koopalings.
Sure, Bowser and his son are grating to listen to even on the good days when she happens to catch them in a decent mood. Although, all those two seem to talk about is themselves—she's convinced it must be hereditary at this point.
Then there's Bowser's loyal advisor; Kamek's scratchy voice can be like claws scraping slowly down a chalkboard while a child squeezes the life out of a squeaky toy, but nothing compares to those rambunctious and uncontrollable seven Koopas.
From their voices to their personalities; Toadette holds an unspecified amount of contempt for them. Some more than others. She's glad racing is the only time she must see them. Unless they're attached loyally to Bowser's hip from his latest schemes.
She can't decide who she despises less; Morton, Wendy, or Lemmy. Especially Wendy; they've shared common interests in passing and she carries a maturity only women can when they're surrounded by nothing but stubborn boys.
None of those Koopalings warrant any huge dislike from Toadette, but since they're part of the group; she feels it's necessary to share a bit of animosity towards them. It's only fair.
The worst one, she decides after being crushed in a race at the last second by the spectacled Koopaling with hideous green hair, is Ignatius Koopa. To him, life is full of jokes or punchlines yet to be told. He laughs at nearly anything to get a rise out of his opponents. In fact, everything about him is impossibly aggravating to her.
It's like the stars above chose every negative trait available, carelessly combining them to create the biggest annoyance hatched. His hair is obnoxious and ridiculous, his bug eyes are terrifyingly wide and whenever he directs his hectic gaze towards her; her blood boils.
And his personality? It's one of the worst out of all the Koopas she's personally had the displeasure of speaking with.
Toadette wonders why Bowser even allows Iggy out of the castle without a leash wrapped around his bony neck and a muzzle snapped onto his snout. It's the only humane solution Toadette can think of to keep Iggy in check.
It'll save Bowser the trouble of having to clean up the mayhem the Koopaling leaves behind with either his destructive tendencies or his desperate need to have the last word or, in most cases, laugh. Iggy enjoys pestering Waluigi and Wario as a hobby and those two aren't above taking a swing at a kid to teach him manners that they lack themselves.
Toadette recalls their most recent fight just a week ago. Roy chose to heroically defend his little brother despite Ludwig's exasperated shouts not to get involved. The four of them have scrapped a few times already and Toadette doesn't recall a time when Wario or Waluigi have ever won a fight.
As the fists started to fly and sharp Dragonic Koopa teeth sank into soft flesh, Mario and Luigi jumped in to try and break it up before it got uglier.
The brothers ripped Waluigi and Wario away from the two Koopalings while they continued to toss out insults which Roy retaliated with using vulgarity. Bowser had barreled through the crowd of cheering spectators, eyes burning with rage and shaking the ground with each pounding footstep.
The Koopa King scooped both his brats up without much trouble as Roy snarled and struggled to get free and Iggy laughed hysterically, glasses falling off his face. Toadette is still baffled by the lack of maturity displayed between the four of them. Especially since Waluigi and Wario are actual adults.
Of course, as soon as the lanky Koopaling got a whiff of her own hatred wafting through the tense air as he held the gold trophy in his hands while she stood on the measly third place block because Yoshi managed to pass her too; Iggy decided his personal mission was to bug her every chance they happened to be in the same vicinity.
Her tolerance and patience—both something she prides herself in because Toadsworth taught her how to remain poise and calm in critical situations—disappear from existence when she sees him waving teasingly at her every time they're in the same general area.
She's tried to avoid him these past few days since she'll be seeing the Koopalings more frequently around the garages, but he always manages to squeeze in one brief knowingly glance and wryly smile before the day ends, dropping kicking her into a bad mood the instant she spots it.
Toadette half-believes he's stuck a tracking device on her somewhere. Though, her futile pat downs warrant no such technological discoveries. But are they really just simple coincidences? How often can you run into someone until you can legally file a restraining order?
Iggy knows she's still fuming over his victory. That self-satisfaction which grows more and more on his face whenever he manages to rile her up causes her to nearly snap her composure in half like a pencil. She's not the violent type, with every forced encounter; she's slowly getting there.
Iggy won't beat her this time. She finally scrapped up enough coins running errands and selling her measly inventions to snatch up a new kart instead of the standard karts handed out to new racers she's been stuck with for a while. The clunky tires and heavier weight isn't to her tastes; she hopes to rectify this problem with her newest kart.
Toadette tweeks mindlessly at her go-kart; a rundown pipe kart in desperate need of new wheels and a paint job. The two things she's good at is building things from scratch and treasure hunting. So purchasing a vintage hand-me-down after digging through the scrap yard wasn't a difficult decision to make. She'll simply rebuild and replace the parts she needs with something newer and shinier without forking over her savings.
She's so absorbed in her work, she doesn't notice the looming presence of another until she turns, reaching for the rag to wipe off the perspiration drenching her face and the grease coating her fingers and dying them black.
At first, she expects it to be Toad or one of the pit crew members back with the tires she requested over twenty minutes ago. Her stomach sinks and her veins chill over when she spots the familiar spectator in the corner, eying her handiwork almost eerily.
It's Iggy; a twisted smile sculpted on his stupid face, stretched out so much it crosses into the territory of being condescending, and arms folded confidently over his chest like he belongs here. The malice she felt while confetti rained down on her as Iggy lifted her trophy over his head, taunting her and cackling madly while roaring applause tore the stadium apart returns in full force.
"What do you want?" she quips bitterly, rubbing her hands free of grease and sweat onto her rag. It conceals the fact her hands are already shaking from unbridled rage. "Don't you have something better to do?"
Iggy still wears that irritatingly bright grin on his face as he takes a step forward. "I see you're as cold-hearted as always towards me today." He adjusts his glasses, sounding triumphant, like he enjoys causing her so much distress. "Still upset over getting third place? Cheer up, you were in the top three! That's an amazing feat to achieve."
He laughs loudly, shattering her eardrums. She hates him. He's gloating without exactly gloating. Buried underneath all his saccharine pep-talk, he's mocking her loss.
How can Mario and Princess Peach claim the Koopalings aren't all that bad and allow them to join their races when Iggy is involved?
At least Ludwig and Lemmy can win graciously and the younger children have their excuses of immaturity to use while they raise the trophy above their heads and gleefully laugh. She may be around some of their ages; but she holds herself to a higher standard than that.
"I am not mad about it," she replies dismissively. He finds her poor attempts at lying hilarious. She can see the spark of elation light up his face when he detects the sourness dampening her peppy tone.
"Ehehe, sure, sure. It doesn't bother you at all." His words sway, alternating between sweet pitches like a planned dance, stomping down on her resolve and patience. How is Iggy so good at picking the best places to jab at someone's psyche?
Of course it bothers her! Sniped by a measly green shell at the last second and allowing not just Iggy to pass her, but Yoshi too! The poor Dino had rushed up to congratulate her for getting third which she blatantly ignored, glaring the sharpest of daggers at the Koopaling thanking all his fans for cheering him on.
Apparently, Iggy has fans she's never heard of. Delusional, he's delusional; he doesn't have adoring fans like her! She's the definition of cute and she's made it a goal to maintain her positive image.
Anytime she's addressed, she ensures she speaks in a dulcet, but proper tone. She smiles sweetly at everyone she crosses paths with and she's pink! That attracts attention! It works wonders for the princess and, with how revered Toadette is by the Toads; it works for her too.
Toadette puffs her cheeks out, burning with shame and anger. "I would have won first!" she pouts, further disproving her original point. "You took it all away from me, you—" she searches her vocabulary for something to call him without dropping any obscenities because she'd never stoop that low.
Her searching eyes catch his strange green hair in the shape of a pineapple? Carrot? Whatever. She decides then she despises the color green.
"You Carrot-Headed Jerk!"
Iggy glances upward, brushing the palm of his hand against his hair almost fondly. He grins, baring his shiny fangs. It's slightly intimidating, especially since he towers over her by over two feet, but Toadette's fear doesn't disrupt her tangent. She firmly stands her ground, waiting for the inevitable response.
"Nice one."
His compliment is patronizing and drier than the fiery Kingdom he calls home. Irritatingly, he sounds bored of the insult he's clearly heard thousands of times before.
She narrows her eyes, placing her tiny hands on her hips. "What are you even doing here?"
The shifting look on his face makes it seem like she's just made a grave mistake or fell unknowingly into a trap. She braces herself, gritting her teeth.
He languidly flits his sharp gaze around her garage, settling his eyes on her gutted kart. "I came to scope out the competition this time around, but it looks like I have nothing to worry about."
"What's that supposed to mean?" she growls at the insult. Iggy shrugs innocently.
Toadette debates whether to throw her wrench at him or not. She really doesn't want to lose her favorite wrench, but the satisfying plunk as it nails him in the snout would be worth it. The scolding from Toadsworth after the fact would not.
She hesitantly decides against it, reminding herself to remain civil. Toadsworth and the Princess raised her better than this…this… jerkface? She can't decide on a proper insult with her face burning red and her veins pumping unnecessary amounts of adrenaline into her system like Iggy's activated her fight-or-flight response.
"Aren't you a self-proclaimed genius?" Iggy asks tauntingly instead, a finger tapping against his chin like he's trying to recall. She burns impossibly brighter, scorchingly hot to the touch. Surprisingly, her wrench in her clenched fists doesn't melt into a puddle of metal from the heat radiating off her skin. She turns her back to Iggy to hide her shame.
"Aren't you an idiot? I'm trying to work in peace," Toadette rebuffs with a huge huff that nearly rattles the tools off their shelves. She returns to her neglected kart, pieces strewn about like a smorgasbord of food at the holiday table. "The race is in less than three months and I have a lot to do."
"I'll say, that's quite the piece of junk you got there," he criticizes harshly but oh-so sweetly like he's helping her out somehow by voicing his blunt observation. He chases the contradictions in his tone away with a grating laugh as he clutches his stomach.
It's a critical hit, nailing straight into her composure, shattering it into a million pieces. Toadette whirls around, stomping her foot, and raises her wrench as she prepares to throw it.
"I don't recall asking for your opinions. Now get out of here before I call Mario to give you a good stomping!"
"You're right. I should probably go be an idiot somewhere else." He giggles into the palm of his hand like he's a timid child being complimented by her. He tosses her a fleeting wave, waggling his fingers like he's casting a spell—or in this case, a curse—as he exits the garage.
She sighs out all her frustrations. Once again alone and enjoying the silence until Iggy pokes his head in.
"Oh, by the way, your air intake is severely lacking. I suggest maybe focusing on that for now to increase your speed. Though, from the looks of it, you may have to get a new engine all together, but don't listen to me: I'm just an idiot."
So I never cared for Toadette because she was just a Pink Toad, but then I learned she's an inventor in one game and a self-proclaimer genius and I just had this idea. At first, I thought the idea was very much out there until I wrote some dialogue for fun. Their personalities clicked pretty well. I couldn't stop writing for this story.
Also, the opposite of pink is green so I had to listen to color theory on this one.
This is actually a very lengthy one-shot I split into parts to make it easier to read. It's at almost 20,000 words and counting.