Author's Notes: It's been a while...not compared to some..ahem...but still a while. And I make my triumphant return to the world of fanfiction with this magnificent, poorly written chapter. It's not much, but writer's block and flunking math tests can do strange things to you in the short hours of the afternoon...enjoy.
I'll never leave you…Please don't go…It's only for a while…
Pauline stared out the bus window idly, watching how the rain ran in rivulets along the glass. She wished her tears could do the same to her face, but there was nothing left. Funny how the weather always seemed to match her mood.
The bus dropped her off at work, and once in the bakery she tied on her apron miserably. She didn't feel like working, she didn't feel like laughing, smiling, eating or sleeping. She didn't feel anything.
He said he would never leave her. He had left anyway.
She begged through tears as she read the letter. She didn't know how it reached her without postage and hardly cared. For a week he didn't return her calls, for a week he had gone missing. Finally she received word from him, but it did not rest her heart.
"Pauline," he wrote, "You're never going to believe this, but there was this drain pipe…"
It all seemed so surreal, and she felt nothing but anger. How dare he make up stories to hide whatever he was up to, or whoever he was seeing? She wanted to pitch the muffin tins across the store and into the wall, but she knew she wouldn't feel better.
"There is unrest here…I feel like these people need my help. Don't worry, it's only for a while…" She believed him when she read that. That assurance was enough to stifle her grief…but only for a while…
"Pauline?"
"Hmm?"
"Are you ready?"
"I suppose so," the woman sighed, pulling back her hair and straightening her crown. "Do I look like you?"
"Close enough."
Pauline shot her a glance. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"I didn't mean that…I meant about your hair."
"Oh…" Pauline fingered her dark brown tresses. "They used to be red, ya know…before I colored them."
"Really?" asked Daisy. "My hair is brown for the most part, but it has some red in it once in a while…"
They smiled shyly at this girl talk that somehow came about in spite of their sticky situation. Pauline shrugged. "I guess all we can do now is wait…"
A sonic boom erupted close by and they hit the dirt.
"He's here," Daisy whispered fearfully.
Pauline reached for her hand instinctively, partly for her own benefit, and gave it a squeeze.
"Go. I'll meet you once I find Peach."
Daisy crawled away into the brush and Pauline stood up, trying to remember that she was a Princess now. Dusting off the golden gown she crept quietly towards the bright lights of Tatanga's ship.
She stepped into the clearing and held her breath; it was more enormous than she imagined. It was the size of an 8 floor hotel, and it crushed a few houses and trees upon landing. Pauline could only hope there were no citizens inside.
A gate opened, and just like a sci-fi movie, a platform lowered and hit the ground at an angle. Pauline lowered her head when Tatanga's silhouette appeared.
"I'm surprised you've come so willingly."
She shrugged, stepping forward slowly. "I didn't want to keep you waiting."
He walked closer and she glanced up behind him to see Peach's silhouette as well. She sighed in relief; the Princess was all right and Tatanga was falling for it.
He stepped so close that Pauline doubted for a moment whether or not she could pull it off.
"You have me, now give us back the Princess," she said.
"Us?" he asked, eyes growing wide in disbelief and rage. Pauline realized her mistake and grabbed his arm and threw all her weight to the side, flipping the alien onto his back.
"Run, Peach!"
The Princess didn't move. Pauline was having a hard time with Tatanga. "Peach! Go for it!"
Daisy stepped into the clearing, looking at Peach with surprised eyes. "Well, my job was easy. Come on, let's go-"
She squealed when Peach grabbed her outstretched arm and held it tightly. "Peach! You're hurting me!"
Tatanga and Pauline rolled on the ground, both unarmed and trying to win. "Attack!" Tatanga growled.
The glassy eyed Peach pulled on Daisy's arm and swung her around until she let go and the dizzy girl smacked into the steel landing gear of the ship. She fell, disoriented and groaned. "Peach?"
"Peach, what are you doing?" Pauline screamed. She let down her guard and Tatanga rolled and straddled her.
"Now I have both my Princesses," he leered.
"Sorry, but you're wrong." Pauline threw her legs up over her head, flipping Tatanga and turning the situation backwards. Her dark hair fell loose from her crown and Tatanga stared.
"What the…which one of you is Daisy??"
Peach advanced on the real Daisy, cracking her knuckles. Daisy managed to stand up and backed herself against the metal beam of the ship. "Present!" she called hoarsely.
Pauline took advantage of her position and pulled out a sword a fold in the dress, pointing them at the purple alien. "What did you do to Peach?"
He tisked. "So ungrateful. I would think you'd ask what I didn't do…"
She glared and pulled the sword at a new angle, aiming it straight at his eyes. "I didn't ask that, did I?"
Sneering, Tatanga closed his mouth and refused to speak.
"Pauline! I could use a little help!" Daisy cried, ducking Peach's punches and kicks.
"I'll help as soon as this bozo tells me what I want to know!" She yelped, a bright beam of neon green streaking by her an inch away. She looked up at Tatanga's loyal guards, aiming their spacey guns at her. She licked her lips nervously but didn't let up.
"Drop your guns or I'll kill him!"
To her surprise they obeyed. They even threw them at her feet and ran back into the mother ship.
"Idiots…" Tatanga muttered.
"Tell me what you did to Peach!"
"She's under my control now."
Pauline looked up at the floundering Daisy. "He hypnotized her!"
"No kidding!" Daisy squeaked breathlessly, trying to free herself from a headlock.
"Un-do it!" Pauline ordered.
"Look here, young lady. This isn't some kind of computer application. It's a very advanced, psychic ability-"
"I didn't ask for a lecture! Just fix it!"
He sighed. "I can't."
Pauline deflated, still holding the small sword. "You're on your own, Daisy!"
The poor girl landed not far from her, rolling in the dust and lying unconscious. "Daisy! Daisy, get up!"
"Slave! Drag her to my ship!"
Peach followed her master's orders, her dull eyes staring at the fall Princess. Pauline snatched Daisy's leg as it passed, still sitting on Tatanga. "Peach, let go!"
Peach pulled on Daisy's arms wordlessly.
Pauline grunted with effort, she didn't know Peach was so strong. "Think about…what you're…doing!"
"I'm serving my master Tatanga."
Pauline had had enough of tug-of-war. She let go of Daisy's leg and stood up, grabbing a gun and firing it into the air. "Peach!"
The hypnotized Princess stopped and glared.
"Peach stop it! Don't listen to him anymore!"
Tatanga stared at the sky. "Uh oh…"
"What?" snapped Pauline.
"That laser beam you just shot will fall back to earth with a much faster trajectory and much larger-"
"In English, bozo!"
He scrambled up, drawing an X in the ground with his foot. "Stand here…and you're going to die. So long!" He ran to his ship, but his stupid, loyal subjects had already initiated take-off. He roared in rage as it lifted off the ground, flying up and skimming the tree tops of the forest nearby. "Hey! You forgot something!" He growled, "…You will all pay for that!"
"How much ground will the explosion cover?"
Tatanga sighed nervously and raised his eyes to the sky, calculating in his head. "…A lot."
Pauline made a face then ducked as Peach's foot whisked by her head. "Peach, we have to go!"
"Not until master says so," she answered monotonously.
Pauline looked at Tatanga, searching for help. "Well?"
He frowned in thought. "…meh. I'd rather be rid of you all anyways."
Pauline collared him. "Then at least tell us where the Marios are!"
"How should I know?" he asked incredulously.
"You really don't have them?"
"If I did, you would have been invited to their execution."
Pauline frowned. "What is it with evil minds killing off their nemesis? Whoa!"
Pauline felt herself flip over, and she gasped for air. Peach stood over her, holding the almost forgotten sword.
"Whoa, Peach! I thought you hated me but is this really necessary??"
"Kill her," Tatanga growled, grinning wickedly. Peach spoke not a word as she raised the sword in both hands over her head. Pauline shut her eyes, her brain working in overdrive at the last moment.
"M-Mario doesn't love you!" she blurted.
Nothing happened, and she opened one eyes tentatively. Now Peach really glared, but the dullness had left her eyes. "Why you little…"
"Mmm…pretty." Daisy had barely wakened and was staring at a bright green comet streaking through the sky.
"We're gonna be pretty ugly if we stay here any longer!" Pauline screamed. She stood up and grabbed Peach's hand, Daisy's too and dragged them up. "What's happening?" asked Peach, terribly confused.
"One of Tatanga's weapons backfired…literally! Come on, we gotta go!"
"Slave! Kill them!" cried Tatanga, losing control. Peach snatched up a sword and pushed him against a tree. She thrust the blade towards him then smiled, satisfied at how the point had pinned the sleeve of his shirt to the wood.
"Hey! I order you to release me!"
Peach grinned and ran off. "Adios!"
"Wait!" Tatanga wailed.
They ran into the dusky forest as fast as their feet would carry them, occasionally glancing up at the death star that came ever closer.
"Shouldn't we save him, too?"
"No way!" panted Daisy. "Not after what he did to us."
"But what if he knows anything about the Marios?"
"Trust me, he doesn't!" Peach said breathlessly.
Daisy tripped and fell to the forest floor, shouting something as the green mass of laser screamed in for a landing. Pauline and Daisy ran back to help, their eyes glued on the comet. They exchanged fearful glances and without a thought, shielded Daisy on the ground. It hit the earth with a sonic force that sent them flying, even from their distance, and after the fireworks everything was dark.
I know, I know, I KNOW!!! Nothing about the Marios. Just stick with me, all right?