(A/N: Well, the happiest day of Bowser's life quickly turned into the worst day of his life, courtesy of Mario and the Broodals. Speaking of the Broodals, let's rejoin them and see how they're holding up!)
The Broodals had finished cleaning up the big mess Bowser had made in their dining room, and they were very upset. Madame Broode was unhappy because her Chain Chompikins got a bad stomachache from eating the whole rest of the carrot cake, and the Broodals were angry and sad that Bowser had gotten mad at them when the whole thing was his fault to begin with.
"So, what are we going to do now? We can't exactly call dat Princess and ask her to fix us another carrot cake because we don't have her number. Dat reminds me, I need to get rid of dat text session with our former boss, and we also need to block his number." Topper said.
Hariet thought for a moment, and then her face brightened as she said, "Hold on a second! We do have her number!"
"We do?" her brothers asked.
"Yes! My phone records all the numbers that call it, and numbers that have been dialed on it. The Princess called up her castle when we took her home, remember?" Hariet asked as she produced her smartphone.
Topper, Rango, and Spewart's eyes lit up when they heard that. Even Madame Broode looked somewhat pleased to hear that they could get another delicious carrot cake from the Princess. But they'd have to ask her for it first.
"Call that number! Now!" Spewart demanded.
"I will! I'm doing that right now!" Hariet said, making the phone call the number in question.
At Peach's Castle, the phone rang twice before someone picked it up.
"Hello, Mushroom Castle; this is Toadette speaking." a feminine voice answered.
"Is Princess Peach around? I kind of need to speak with her." Hariet said.
"What? Who is this?" Toadette asked, suspicious. She didn't think she'd heard this voice before.
"It's me, Hariet the Broodal. My brothers and I were at the castle earlier, and the princess baked us a carrot cake..." Hariet reminded her.
"Oh yeah, I remember you now." Toadette said, now recognizing the voice so she knew who it was. She then asked, "Why do you need to speak to the Princess?"
"It's a matter of great importance." Hariet replied.
"Okay, hold on. I'll go and look for her." Toadette said.
Meanwhile, Mario and Princess Peach had gone out to the castle courtyard and sat down on the edge of the fountain to watch the sunset and talk while Cappy and Tiara celebrated being together again. They'd had a light dinner and a good dessert (which Peach had prepared), and they were both dressed nicely. Peach was wearing a dress that was fancier than the one she always wore, and Mario wore the Black Top Hat and Black Tuxedo he bought at the Crazy Cap in Bonneton.
At present, they were currently enjoying each other's company, and Peach rested her delicate hand on top of Mario's. He blushed slightly as he realized this. But then he remembered something that he deemed important.
"So, Peach, I know you promised me una ricompensa, a reward, for coming up with this new and creative way to save you from Bowser. But let me explain. I was going to save you myself. That was my plan all along. I really didn't expect the Broodals to do my job for me." Mario said.
"I know, Mario. But because you got the Broodals to listen to me, you earned a reward. The kiss I gave you when you showed up, and the dinner and dessert were just small parts of your reward." Peach told him.
"Having you in my life is enough of a reward for me. What's the main part of my reward, Peach?" Mario asked.
Peach took a deep breath. It was time for her to do it.
"This." Peach said as she got down on one knee and produced a black velvet box from the pocket of her dress. She opened the box to reveal a gold band with a small ruby in it.
Mario was more than a little surprised when he saw what Peach was doing! He hadn't expected anything like this for saving Peach without actually rescuing her from Bowser!
"Mama-mia!" Mario gasped quietly.
"Before you start thinking the wrong thing, Mario, I hope you don't think I'm doing this just to get Bowser out of our lives, because he didn't exactly stop going after me when he found out we were in a relationship. I'm doing what I'm doing because I love you more than I've ever loved any man, and if I have to spend the rest of my life with someone, then I want it to be someone I love with all my heart. And that someone is you, Mario. Will you marry me?" Peach asked.
Mario's eyes welled up, and he nodded his head yes, too stunned to say anything. Peach beamed and took the ring out of the box, slipping it on his gloved finger.
"Oh, good. It fits you perfectly. I was hoping I got the size correct." Peach said.
"I... I-I guess my question has already been answered." Mario replied, finding his voice.
"What question, Mario?" Peach asked as she took her place next to her future husband on the fountain's edge again.
Mario responded by doing the exact same thing Peach had just done. He got down on one knee, produced a black velvet box of his own from his tuxedo pocket, and opened it to show her a ruby ring. The ruby was heart-shaped and set in 14-karat gold.
"Oh my goodness!" Peach gasped.
"I was going to ask you the exact same question. I've been wanting to for some time now, but I was afraid that you might not be ready. After Bowser tried forcing you into marrying him, I got a ring and thought of waiting a few more months before asking you myself. But if you were ready to ask me the question now, does that mean you'll do me the honor of becoming mia moglie, my wife?" Mario asked.
"Oh, Mario... Of course I will... I'd be honored to become your wife..." Peach replied, feeling her eyes sting with happy tears.
Mario placed his ring for Peach on her finger, and she smiled at him.
"It's a perfect fit." Peach smiled.
"I asked Toadsworth for your ring size a while back." Mario replied as he rejoined her on the fountain.
"Come here, you..." Peach said, pulling him close for a kiss. Mario wasted no time responding to the kiss.
When they broke apart, Peach smiled at Mario and said, "I love you, Mario."
"Anch'io ti amo, mia dolce e adorabile principessa. I love you, too, my sweet, lovely princess." Mario replied, feeling happier than he'd ever been in his life.
The two gazed at each other like star-crossed lovers before holding each other close, not wanting to let go. But they had to a minute later when Toadette found them. They hadn't known she was there until she cleared her throat, causing the two to jump apart in surprise.
"Aww, Toadette, what did you do that for? Peach and I were lost in love." Mario said.
"With no intention of being found." Peach added.
"I know, and I'm sorry to interrupt your fun, but someone needs to talk to you, Peach." Toadette said, handing the phone to the princess.
Peach sighed as she took the phone. Then she said, "Hello?"
"Peach, it's Hariet." the voice on the other end replied.
"Oh, hi. What's up? Did Madame Broode like the cake? She wasn't too mad at you for what you did, was she?" Peach asked.
"Well, she was mad at first, but when we explained why we did it, she changed her mind. Also, she liked the cake, but we kind of need another one." Hariet said.
"Why? Did you finish it off already?" Peach asked.
"No... Bowser showed up and scolded us for helping you escape, and then he knocked our cake to the floor." Hariet said.
"He did what?! I should've known he would do something cruel like that, even though he could have at least tried a slice of cake I made." Peach muttered.
"Hariet! Tell her what Madame Broode did!" Rango's voice was heard saying in the background.
"Well, he still got comeuppance. You should've seen what Madame Broode did to him." said Hariet.
"What did she do?" Peach asked.
"She swatted him so hard that I think he got knocked out of Rabbit Ridge." Hariet replied.
"Oh wow! Really?" Peach asked.
"What is it?" Mario asked.
Peach whispered to him who was on the phone and what they had said.
"I'll be happy if he winds up in either the Lost Kingdom, where Cappy and I ended up after the battle in the Cloud Kingdom, or in the Deep Woods of the Wooded Kingdom, with perdita di memoria, memory loss." Mario said.
Then Peach promised to bake another carrot cake for the Broodals, but they'd have to come get it themselves because while she would have sent the Toad Brigade to deliver it, they were currently on some mission, and there was no telling when they would be coming back.
Also, Peach told them about her and Mario getting engaged.
"Hey, guys. Remember that man the boss said wasn't invited? The one the Princess told us she loved? Turns out he wasn't invited because that guy is the Princess's true love!" Hariet said to her brothers.
"Dat explains why he was so angry when we taunted him." Topper realized.
"Not only that, they just got engaged to each other!" Hariet said.
"Well, isn't that nice!" said Madame Broode with a smile.
"In fact, why don't you tell him what you asked me to tell him? It would mean more coming from you." Peach said, handing the phone to Mario.
"Hello?" Mario warily asked.
"Mario... you were right about the princess. When we helped her, she made us carrot cake, and it was the best we ever had." Hariet began.
"Te l'avevo detto. I told you she baked good cakes." Mario replied, feeling good about that.
"Also, my brothers, Madame Broode, and I have something we need to say to you." Hariet replied.
"Okay..." Mario replied.
"On the count of three, everyone. One... Two... Three..." Hariet said to her brother and mother figure.
"We're sorry, Mario!" the Broodals (even Madame Broode) said in unison over the phone, and they meant it, too. Mario could tell by the way they said it, and that made him feel happier.
"Mille grazie. Thank you very much." Mario replied.
After that apology, Mario and Peach quickly agreed to invite the Broodals and even Madame Broode to the wedding. But they didn't get to help plan it like they initially thought. Their assignment was to keep a sharp eye out for Bowser, so he couldn't ruin the happiest day of Mario and Peach's lives.
Even though Bowser didn't show up at the wedding, or even the reception, Peach paid the Broodals with coins and a 4-layer cake, with each layer being carrot cake!
"All right!" the Broodals cheered.
"Sorry it's not as big as the Frost-Frosted Cake, but I can't bake cakes that size." Peach apologized.
"Who's complaining?" asked Spewart as he and the other Broodals looked at their cake with admiration.
It was a great day for everyone, and even though Mario and Peach still had to put up with Bowser, the Broodals never heard from the rotten Koopa King ever again.
The End
Okay, so that's how the story goes! The Broodals learn the truth and save the Princess, much to Bowser's extreme dismay. And Mario and Peach still get a happily ever after! I hope you liked it!