Author's Notes: ::peeks out from behind shield covering:: Uh... hi? ::waves meekly:: How long has it been since I've actually updated? ::ducks random piece of rotten fruit chucked in her general direction:: Eep! Yeah, I agree. Too damn long. Well, you know how it is, things come up, this happens, that happens... Okay, okay, I have no excuse whatsoever except for my own laziness and I guess that's no excuse at all, is it? Forgive me? ::bats eyelashes, then ducks toaster aimed for her head:: I'll take that as a no... I'll just be getting on with the story, shall I? ::scuttles off::
Warnings: Gets slightly gory near the end, but not too bad, and I think all cuss words are my own.
Large half-lidded eyes, azure orbs clouded with the residue of fatigue, stared unseeingly out the large bay windows, basking in the morning light filtering through the trees, turning all that it fell upon a speckled mix of bright yellow and shades of green. Her mind was still in a languid state, taking everything in, but not exactly processing it, with a body to match her mental condition. Elegant hands were loosely clasped in her lap, thin fingers picking at the cotton pinkness of her over robe, and most movement was brought to a halt, with only the most necessary of actions allowed. Even then, those were done in a slow, thoughtless manner.
"Princess?" The cheerful voice spoke up, breaking the calm stillness that had settled over the room.
Peach blink, then turned her head with a start. "Oh, Clara! Come in, please."
The little mushroom lady stepped fully into the sitting room, carefully closing the heavy wooden door behind her. "Miss, how is your morning going?"
Peach's gaze sharpened, a tiny frown marring her brow as she seemed to intently study the woman before her. Clara stilled under the concentrated stare, suddenly worried, but mostly confused. "Miss?" she repeated again, politely.
A long pause, then a small, sad smile worked its way onto the Princess' pale face. "You're so kind to me, Clara."
The servant girl took another step forward. "Yes, my Princess?"
Toadstool sighed, eyes flicking back towards the merrily lit windows. "You... and the Mario brothers... are so nice to me."
Hesitantly, Clara spoke up, hand going up to clutch the cloth over her breast as she swallowed convulsively. "Miss, I..." Words failed her, and her pleasant, mellow voice trailed off in the face of the Princess strange humor.
A knock on the door interrupted the awkward silence, and Clara breathed a mental sigh of relief, fearing she would have had to confront some bizarre wrath if she could not have thought up an adequate response. Bowing quickly to release herself, she hurried over to the door, flinging it open and rushing out as swiftly as she possibly could while still looking slightly dignified.
Zhar gave Clara only a momentary glance; after all, her status was far too below him for his consideration, her being a lowly peasant and all. He walked in slowly, poise noble and long robes softly brushing the floor, and stopped beside the Princess' chair, hands grasped freely behind his back as he waited for Peach to acknowledge his presence.
Peach closed her eyes, hands tightening to hold back the automatic irritation she felt whenever in the man's company. "Yes, Zhar?"
"I felt the Princess should know that the Mario Brothers and company arrived late last night and wish to have a private audience with her royal Highness."
"What?!" The force of her bewilderment practically drove her out of her seat, eyes wide with astonishment and happiness. "Why wasn't I informed of this earlier? Like, when they first arrived?!"
Zhar voice was perfectly bland as he reported back, staring straight ahead and never flinching, even during Peach's outburst. "It was rather late and I felt her Highness needed the sleep."
"Yeah, well, you were awake." She began to pace about , steps full of energy. "I'll have to get dressed before I meet them. Zhar! What are you still doing in here? Get out, you're dismissed." After saying so, she completely ignored the man.
Zhar arched an eyebrow, but left as commanded, sauntering out with the same measured pace he had walked in with.
"Luigi! Mario!"
The ecstatic voice echoed through the large, marble hall, catching the attention of the two whose names were called. Mario whipped about, large smile forming as he caught the speeding, elfin figure in his arms, hugging the Princess tightly.
Luigi hung back to watch the scene with Captain Sol, grinning as he elbowing the man in the shoulder. "Touching, no? Brings a tear to the eye..." He sniffled an obviously fake sniffle and wiped an imaginary tear away with one, slender index finger.
Stephen glared through lowered eyelids, contempt lacing his voice. "Could you possible be serious for once?"
"I see somebody got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning." Luigi scowled back, mutually disgusted and fed up with the cop as he was with the plumber.
"This is the Princess. She deserves respect."
"No shit. But she's also my friend." Luigi turned away and started to make his way to the couple, growling softly in his throat. "Not like you have any."
Sol's narrowed dark blue eyes followed Luigi's rapid progress across the great foyer, lip curling up in detestation. "Don't be making assumptions about things you can't back up with facts, young Mario. It's just might get you in trouble."
Luigi bounded up to the pair, throwing one last cautious glance back at Sol before flinging his arms about both their shoulders. "Hiya Peach! How you been doing?"
The Princess laughed, grasping Luigi's dangling hand with both of her own. "Oh, Luigi, I've missed you so much. I'm so glad you're both okay."
The taller brother pitched a cocky grin. "Come on, Peach. What could possibly happen to the great Mario Brothers?"
Mario rolled his eyes, shook his head, and detangled himself from his sibling's grip. "You see what I had to put up with this past week? I swear, sometimes I think he could wear out a four year old."
Luigi beamed brighter, bouncing up and down on his toes. Suddenly, he lifted his arm from Peach's shoulder and did a quick twist with his wrist, spinning Toadstool around once before letting go of her hand. Bowing deeply to the flustered princess, he flashed another self-satisfied smirk through the long bangs of dark hair.
Peach giggled breathlessly, clutching Mario's hand once more. "Without you, the Castle is so quiet."
"Hey Mario. Notice she didn't say that was a bad thing."
"Yeah, I noticed. But-"
"Princess Toadstool."
The three turned to the intruding voice, gazing back at the formally stooped mushroom Captain. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Princess. I'm sorry if I seem rude, I do not know how to properly address a member of royalty."
"Oh! Well, uh... That's quite all right, mister..." Peach glanced over Mario for support.
Mario understood and immediately took up the task of introductions. "Princess, may I present Captain Sol Stephen, a member of the police force who has been quite helpful in our investigation."
"Please to meet you, Captain." she said politely, and held out her hand.
To her surprise, the mushroom got down on one knee and lightly grasped her hand, brushing his lips across her knuckles. Peach giggled again, delighted, and beamed at Sol as he rose back to his feet. Luigi just glared.
"What a charming fellow you are, Captain!"
Stephen smiled slightly. "I aim to please, Princess."
"Kiss ass..." Luigi whispered, earning himself a glare from his brother.
"Yes, well, I shall take me leave of you. You clearly need time alone with the Brothers." He bowed once more, before strolling off with his hands stuffed in his pockets.
Luigi back away, cutting off the Princess before she could talk. "Peach, you and Mario go ahead and have fun. I'll catch up later, kay?" He spun about and stalked out the same exit Sol had used.
Peach blink at Luigi's slim, retreating back. "Well..."
"Don't mind him, Peach. He's been acting a little screwy. More then usual, I mean."
Dryly, she replied, "I noticed."
"Hey, Peach..."
"Yes, Mario?"
Mario faltered, but plowed ahead anyway, digging into his pocket and pulling out something securely enclosed in his fist. "I, uh, got you something while we were gone... It's nothing big, mind you! I would even understand if you just threw it away..."
Peach smiled kindly, gently grabbing hold of the Hero's clenched hand as Mario continued to babbling on nervously. "Oh, Mario, how sweet! Can I see it?"
Mario bit his lip, mustache trembling, and hesitantly opened his hand to revel the simple little bracelet he had bought at the market. Shyly presenting it to the Princess, Mario waited apprehensively for Peach's response.
Mario was pleasantly surprised as she breathed out, "Mario, it's beautiful..." and reverently lifted the chain of metal from his palm. "Thank you..." She threw her arms about his neck and buried her head into his shoulder.
Mario sighed, breathing in the scent of her golden curls. "It's was nothing, Princess. I'd do anything for you."
Horses were once again saddled up, new ones this time and only two instead of three. Mario gazed down at his brother from his mounted position on his assigned white speckled brown steed , voice stern. "Now, Luigi, you take good care of her for me, will you?"
"Sure, Mario. Whatever you say." He mock saluted. "Never let you down yet."
"You know I trust you, just..." Mario sighed, glancing up at the midday sun high in the clear sky. "Be extra careful."
"Will do. And, Mario?"
"Hum?"
"Will you keep an eye on our Cappy for me? I don't trust that twofaced bitch cop."
"Weegee," Mario groaned in a parental tone, pulling the reigns tighter as his horse jittered about impatiently. "Just because you don't like a guy doesn't mean he's automatically bad."
"Mario," Luigi lend in, hands laying on the fur covered flank of the horse. "I have a feeling about him. You get me, Mario? A feeling. A nasty little feeling whenever he's around that he's not exactly what he's showing us. It's a nasty little feeling and I don't like it at all."
The brawny plumber scrutinized his brother's intense, completely solemn expression with a frown, and finally looked away, eyes settling on the slightly distant form of the also mounted Sol. "Okay Luigi, I'll do it."
"And watch out for yourself, too."
Mario's lip twitched up into a minuscule smile. "Thanks for the concern, brother."
"Well, hey, you're the one who needs it anyway, riding with Mr. Creepy-Ass Cappy over there."
"You just won't get over him, will you?"
"Nope. Never will. Hey, it's the Princess!" Spotting Toadstool across the grassy courtyard, he waved her over.
"Ready to go, Mario?" she inquired, grinning vibrantly.
Sol answered for him, riding over enlarge the crowd. "Yes. All supplies and pack and ready. We can leave at any time."
Peach nodded her thanks towards Stephen, but kept her eyes on Mario the whole time. "Be careful, okay? Riding to Junon isn't the safest thing in the Mushroom Kingdom to do, and with that mad man on the loose..." She shuddered, hands rubbing along her slender forearms.
"Caution seems to be the word around here," Luigi quipped. When no one else seemed to think it was funny, he scratched the back of his head, laughing nervously. "Yeah, well, uh... I'll leave you two to say your goodbyes. Come on, Cappy. See you later Mario!" Grabbing the reigns before Sol had time to react, he led the policeman's horse away to give the two some vague notion of privacy.
"You'll be okay, right?" Peach asked once they were alone, concern darkening her usual bright tone.
"I'll be fine. Nothing could happen." When she didn't look reassured in the least, he reached down lightly tapped one cheek. "I promise to be careful. I already made this promise to Luigi so it's twice over."
Peach laughed quietly, glance down at the grassy dirt. "I should have known Luigi would get to you first. Come back to me in one piece."
Mario smiled, trying to once more erase the doubt from her mind. "What's the worst that could happen?" Peach's only answer was a sigh, so Mario gave her nose a quick tweak before turning his horse to the large, castle wall gates, and riding off at a slow canter.
"Goodbye Mario," Peach murmured, looking down at the pretty armlet around her wrist and biting her lip in a desperate attempt to stop her tears.
Nights in the Mushroom Kingdom were just as stunning as the days, maybe more so. Stars twinkled brilliantly in clear skies, the air crisp, cool and fresh, with the quiet tune of the crickets a gentle hum in the background. And with the coming of nighttime at the Castle, there was dinner. And dinner at the mushroom Castle was a big affair.
There was always - always - a royal guest or two to show off and feed. Mushroom subjects, servant or not, got to eat if they wished, and any bum off the street could waltz in whenever it pleased them and gather some grub. The difference tonight, though, was that the Princess wasn't at the long table in the Grand Hall, and she never missed dinner. This caused quite an uproar, but the Main Chef, who become rather grumpy around this time, easily settled things down.
Fact was, Peach had already eaten back in the kitchen with the servants and Luigi, and had a magnificent time. Then she had sneaked off, bypassing all the guests by taking the back hallways, and was snuggled in front of a blazing fire in her favorite sitting room, having a wonderful conversation with her plumber friend about absolutely nothing. Both had kicked their shoes off, both had grabbed a blanket off of a chair, and an occasional giggle could be heard coming from the quilt pile heaped in front of the hearth. So both hadn't a clue when Bowser arrived.
Crashing through the large bay windows in his helicopter, Bowser swooped low over the impressive supper setting, sending mushrooms running for cover in a panicked frenzy. Koopa cackled to himself as he leaped from his aircraft, landing on, and completely crushing, the sturdy oak table under his enormous weight. He strode to the head on the recently smashed table, heady with the chaos surrounding him, chaos that he caused, and bowed before a large, throne-like chair.
"My Princess, the time has come for our join to finally... What the Hell?! You're not Peach!"
Zhar gazed coolly at the raging dragon before him, sharp green eyes staring with his most pompous expression down his long nose. "One would expect so, King Koopa."
Bowser bellowed, practically spitting fire. The High Chancellor just sighed quietly and shook his head.
It was this bellow that first alerted deeply engrossed pair that something was amiss. Two heads snapped up simultaneously, eyes drawn to the massive, closed doors. After a long paused, Luigi climbed to his feet, unsettling the coverlet cocoon they had made, and instructed the Princess to wait there. He opened the just barely enough to see through, gave Peach an encouraging smile, then slipped out the tiny slit he had made on socked feet, carefully closing the doors behind him.
Of course, the Princess didn't wait as instructed. She also raised, mindfully of her skirts, and stopped long enough to put on her shoes before venturing out into the hall as well.
She wandered about for a bit, trying to find the source of all the disturbances, but the sounds seemed almost untraceable in the reverberating corridors. She must have been having some luck, because she found what she was looking for; ran right into it.
Bowser reacted too slow, Peach was already halfway down the hall by the time he made a swipe for her neck. With a roar, he took up the chase.
Peach scarcely stayed ahead of the stampeding Koopa King, and was finally feed up with it. The Princess reeled around, large skirts swirling about her dainty feet in the cloud of pink cloth, and set her teeth, shaking a finger up at her pursuer's nose. "Listen here, you disgusting reptile. I don't have time to deal with your pathetic excuses of terrorism or your manly need for attention or whatever the Hell it is you're doing this for! I have a mad killer on the loose knocking off my subjects left and right and here you are, with your stupid little helicopter expecting me to just waltz off with you. No fuss, no muss! Well, you're dead wrong mister. I don't have time to play!"
Bowser stared down at her finger, eyes crossed and mouth gaping open. "But, but..." he grumbled, fishing about desperately for a reasonable comeback. When none was readily forthcoming, the giant turtle settled for a wailed, "But that's how it always works!"
Peach glowered crossly and lowered her offending finger, rolling her sapphire eyes skyward. "Oh, please don't actually try and use your brain on my account. Why'd don't you leave and come back when you have an actual plan that just might work!"
Now, as much as Koopa liked to see his Princess in a huff, he was getting just a bit annoyed at her superior attitude. "No, you listen here, Peachy-poo. You're coming with me, weather you like it or not!" With that said, he reached out forcibly and grabbed her forearm, large hand easily wrapping all the way around her slender bicep.
Surprised into stillness at the sudden action, the slight royalty craned her neck to meet the narrowed eyes of the Koopa King and, for once in her life, was actually somewhat frightened of him.
He growled deep in his throat; a threat, a warning. "You may have no time, Princess, but I have no patience and I'm afraid my needs come before yours." When Toadstool tried to pull away, he just tightened his grip, claws biting lightly into pale skin.
Silence prevailed in the long corridor as the two struggled in a contest of will, each trying to stare the other down into submission. But that silence and competition of self-importance came crashing upon them as a rather breathless cry of "Princess!" echoed through the halls.
Luigi came skidding around a far corner at the end of the passage, socked feet scrambling for purchase on the slick marble floor at a speed only the young Mario Brother could achieve. His dark eyes brightened when he saw he finally found what he had been searching for, and he let out a triumphant whoop. Which soon transformed into a startled cry of "Oh shit!" as he kept on sliding down the intersection. Thinking fast, Luigi's hand shot out to anchor himself securely on the bend as he flew past, and used it to drag himself to a heaving stop. The lanky plumber collapsed against the wall, panting, and once again called down at the two. "Damn Princess, you don't know how hard it is to find you!" He stopped, finally took in the presence of the hulking, very-hard-to-miss turtle, and continued deadpan. "Oh. I guess Bowser didn't have any problems, did he? Need any help, Princess?"
Peach didn't answer, but instead used the distraction Luigi's appearance had caused to slam the rather pointy end of her high heel deep into Bowser's foot. As the turtle screamed and loosened his hold, the Princess aimed another sharp kick for his kneecap, causing Koopa's leg to give way. The King crumpled to the floor, one hand going for his knee and the other cradling his foot.
The Princess breathed in deeply as she back away, then winked down at the withering Bowser. "No thank you Luigi. I think I've got it covered."
Bowser was kicked out of the Castle, along with his helicopter, in much more worse condition from when they came in.
"C is for Clara who wasted away..."
The darkened stonework halls' silent acoustics magnified the softly caroled words from an almost nonexistent whisper to a replicating, everlasting echo, twisting and bending the tones to a queer parody of the actual phrase sung. An amazingly tall mushroom man causally rounded the corner, completely soundless footsteps casting an uncanny air about his lanky frame as he wandered down the corridor.
He totally ignored the finery surrounding him, but headed for his goal with an unerring sense of direction, navigating through the innumerable passageways and cross paths that made up the Mushroom Castle in a manner that would suggest he had been there and taken that course many times before. The only miniscule sign of doubt would be the slight pause in his stride whenever passing a doorway. But each step was filled with a purpose, though one could not have heard them even when trying.
This man's destination was finally reached after climbing a long flight of grand stairs, and fleeting by many a guards without any detection. Even though it was the Royal Wing he was walking through, he passed by the Princess' large chamber entrance without a single glance, but instead heading to a much smaller, almost unnoticeable door hidden in a corner. The lock was laughably easy to pick, even in the flickering half-light cast by the few and far between torches on the walls, oil was placed on the hinges just in case the Castle maintenance crew weren't doing their job, and in no time the door was swinging open just as quietly as the man's footsteps had been.
He ghosted into the quaint little room revealed, stopping in the middle of the small living area and cocking his head to the side, long, stringy hair falling in a tangled mass over one gaunt shoulder. A twitch of one eye, and he was moving again, tossing open a door at the far side, bounding in with no care of caution now and leaping onto the bed in a low crouch.
Clara woke with a start, green eyes wide and starting straight into a pair of shadowy black ones. The little servant squeaked softly, throat clenched shut, but didn't freeze as many would. She rolled off the bed, dashing out of her room without a glance back. Though she reacted quickly, it did little to help her, as the man caught up with her without trouble, grabbing her up by the waist and whisking her away in the direction he had come from.
They had, miraculously, made it as far as the main foyer with no resistance, when from out of nowhere, a figure burst from the shadows, flinging himself into the man's side. The two lanky bodies skidded along the stone, sending Clara flying out of the mushroom's grasp with a whimpering cry. A short struggle ensued, before a startled yelp sent them flying apart, one swiftly flipping backwards, while the other slinked off to the farthest side with loose-limbered grace.
Luigi grimaced, ignoring the way it pulled against the three slashes running along his face in all the wrong places. The other man studied the claws attached to his wrist, catching the little droplets of crimson liquid in his palm, then glancing up with a smile.
"Shit," Luigi hissed, wiping away blood with a thumb before searching out Clara. Finding her cowering behind a pillar, he edged over to her, making sure to keep at least one eye on the stranger, and carefully knelt down beside her trembling form.
"Listen carefully, Clara," he whispered urgently, laying a comforting hand on her shoulder. "You trust me, don't you?" The mushroom girl lifted her large, watery eyes to meet his, and nodded slowly. "Good. Listen to me. I want you to run to the nearest door." Clara whimpered, shaking her head violently. "No, no, it's okay! I won't let him get you. I promise."
Clara spoke up, her voice a horse, faint wisp of it's normal self. "You... you promise?"
Luigi nodded solemnly. "On my life. So you'll do this for me?"
"Yes, Mr. Luigi..." She cautiously peeked around the pole, then turned back around, small hands tightly gripping Luigi's bony wrist and thumb. "I trust you."
The plumber smiled slowly, gratefully at her, ignoring the bitter metallic taste leaking in from the corners of his mouth. "Okay. Good Clara, very good. Now, when I say 'go', you run as fast as you can. Leave that creep up to me." Giving the lethargically relaxing mushroom man a short look, he waited a few seconds before barking out a loud, "Go!"
Clara shot out of their hiding place, little legs pumping. The man's delay was momentary, then he was off too, long bounding strides eating up the distance with ease, effortlessly gaining on the fleeing servant.
Luigi narrowed his eyes, calculating the man's swift progress, then took two giant steps before leaping high into the air. The graceful arc transformed into a roll, which brought him to his feet right in-between Clara, who stalled frozen in fright, and the pursuing man.
"Go Clara! Go!" he yelled, whipping back around in time to catch the man's ramming shoulder in the chest.
Clara screamed as Luigi collapsed to the ground, frightened and uncertain if she should help or continue with her escape. The gangly mushroom used her confusion to his advantage, jumping over Luigi's withering form to grab and lift her up by the neck. Clara choked, but struggled against his grip with all her might.
The man started for the door, then stopped abruptly, looking down to see Luigi's hand wrapped around his ankle. With an extra twist, a sweep kick not only sent the man tumbling to the floor, it's momentum was also used to carry Luigi back to his feet.
The man growled, finally showing just a bit of anger. He secured his hold on the thrashing girl in his hand, and brought the butt of his weapon down on her temple hard, instantly knocking her unconscious.
Letting her body bonelessly flop to the floor, the man leapt towards the Mushroom Kingdom hero, claws extended. Luigi dodged to the side, slamming his elbow down in-between the man's shoulder blades. But the man just used his new position on the floor to lash out with a claw, trying to tear deep enough into Luigi's calf to slash the hamstring in two. At the first prick of cold metal though, the wiry plumber danced backwards out of range, one hand reaching down to lightly explore the wound and coming back covering in blood.
Heavily favoring the right leg now, Luigi readied himself as the mushroom was already up and attacking. Blocking one punch, sending a palm to the Adam's apple only to be also blocked and simultaneously grab. The man used his hold to twirl Luigi about, wrapping an arm around his neck and holding him securely against his chest, the clawed hand pointing threateningly at the captured man's jugular.
The man tsked at Luigi's growl, intensifying his hold. "What is your name again? L... L... L something..." His voice wavered from cracking to low chuckles, confident again in his superior position. "Luigi! Yes, that's it... One of those Marios... I've heard of you!" The mushroom craned his neck to look at his captive's face and Luigi, who couldn't turn his head without slitting his own throat, could only glare out of the corner of his eyes. "But you, dear Luigi, are an L." He poked playfully at Luigi's collarbone with a tip of his weapon, drawing a thin line in the pale skin. "And I'm not ready for Ls yet. Just wait your turn."
"I'd rather not, if you don't mind." Luigi breathed almost inaudibly, kicking his left leg up directly in front of him to smash it into the man's face. The mushroom stumbled back, clutching his now bleeding nose, as Luigi's damaged leg crumbled under his full weight.
Shrieking in rage, the murderer lashed out blindly, trying to hit the Mario out of sheer luck. But Luigi had already crawled out of the way, pushing himself off the floor and regaining his shaky sense of balance. Scuttling backwards, Luigi dodged the thrashing metal claws as best he could, trying but failing to find an opening for a counterattack. The plumber still might have had a chance, if he could have kept the mushroom from killing him long enough for the Royal Guards to show up, but he made a fatal mistake. Not noticing where he has being pushed back to, he didn't see Clara's prone form until he was right on top of it, tripping over it, arms pin wheeling as he plunged to the marble floor.
The mushroom screeched in delight, pouncing on top of the fallen Mario and pinning him with a hand around his throat. Dark eyes twinkling, the man chuckled to himself as he reared back his free hand and thrust it down deep into the trapped hero's stomach, attached claws tearing into soft flesh and ripping out strips of bloody sinew and tissue. Luigi let out a strangled cry, tensing up at the sudden pain, and struggled weakly, breathing harsh. The man twisted his hand, slashing deeper into Luigi's gut, giving a satisfied smirk as the younger Mario's eyes rolled back into his head and his body finally went limp, head banging against the hard floor and long, dark hair settling fanning about in sharp contrast next to white, pristine stone.
The slayer extracted his hand from the deep wound, viscous liquid and gore dripping freely. Whipping it methodically on the only clean piece of material handy, Luigi's left pant leg, he rose and gave his opponent's body a strangely affectionate smile. "Sorry, Mario Brother, it just wasn't your time." Wandering over and picking up Clara, who was still laying in the heap she had been left in, the man drifted out of the Castle just as easily as he had came in.
Peach: ::rushing in crying and flinging herself at the nearest person: Bowser:: She doesn't LOVE US ANYMORE!
Bowser: ::leering down at the Princess::
Mario: ::shoots a disgusted look at Bowser, but focuses his attention on Peach:: Who doesn't love us?
Luigi: ::rubbing his ear, trying to getting hear back in it. He had been standing right beside the wailing Princess:: Who loved us in the first place?
Peach: ::sniffling:: PISCES! ::breaks down again::
::everyone deflates::
Mario: Oh. Her. ::flops back on the couch, still broken::
Luigi: ::joining his brother:: She never loved us. Looking what she's done to us. Look what she did to me! ::grimaces at thought of the ending of the chapter and picks his Dreamcast control back up again::
Bowser: ::hugs the Princess close:: I love ya Peach.
Peach: ::realizes who she ran into:: Ew! ::knees Bowser in the groan and calmly walks over to the Brothers as Bowser falls to the ground, withering in pain::
Mario and Luigi: O_o ::sweatdrop::
