Chapter 12:

A Crazy Reality

Author's Notes: Odd for me to be updating so soon; but I finally got a good chapter written! Finally, there's some action in the plot, and a few surprises for you readers!

Disclaimer: I don't own Mario. Duh!

Blue eyes widen as they glanced upon a familiar car, speeding behind the one that they were in. The yellow streak following closely behind; mimicking every move or turn...

Someone was obviously stalking them. Princess Daisy, more shocked then ever, turned towards the driver; a Koopa who had seemed to reduce its constant shaking, as it turned the stirring wheel to make a right turn.

She looked back behind. The yellow blur seemed to take the same turn. Trying to take a closer look, she caught a glimpse of the driver, as the two cars stopped at a red light.

It wasn't...

It was. The mysterious Toad that had driven her to the bad part of the city; disobeyed her orders to go to Princess Peach's castle was sitting at the driving wheel; an sinister look on its face.

She gulped. "Eddy!" she exclaimed, somewhat panicked. Closer the car inched; forgetting the rules of safety; forgetting that when a red light blinked you were supposed to stay still. "EDDY IT'S GOING TO CRASH INTO US!"

Almost immediately, the little Koopa put its foot on the pedal, the car moving at a high velocity forward. They were lucky; extremely lucky. Not a car was in front of them, and even as they crossed the busy intersection, not another car dared to move in front of their own. Edward Koopa had lost control for a brief minute, hearing Daisy's sudden outburst. "Wha-what?" it asked, regaining control and slowing down. They had passed the red light; they would have gotten a ticket if the police had seen the stunt. "Wha-what's following us?"

"That taxi!" exclaimed Daisy. "The taxi that drove me here earlier. It-it's..." she glanced behind. "It's still on our tail!"

And sure enough, it was. The rules of the road never really applied to THAT taxi driver.

"We gotta lose it!" Daisy continued, glancing around nervously. "Eddy, do you know another way to central Mushroom City?"

"Y-y-yeah," said the Koopa, taking a turn. "B-b-but Daisy, it t-t-takes m-m-much longer..."

"Take it!" she said. "Anything to lose that taxi!"

He nodded, taking a sudden turn and completely switching directions. Half-relived to see the taxi had lost their track for a minute, Daisy turned back to the front.

It had been fifteen peaceful minutes ever since. Daisy hadn't dare looked back, as she glanced at Edward, driving slowly and cautionously. She could tell no one took that part of the road anymore. The roads were old and worn-out, just like the walls of the Limerick Hotel. They were bumpy and somewhat dangerous. The only cars that seemed to be on the road were theirs...and...

Daisy took a glance back, her eyes suddenly widening once again. IT was STILL following them!

Panic returned. "It-it's still f-f-following," she said, stuttering on the words. "What do we do now?"

"I-I don't know!" Edward said, suddenly starting to shake violently.

"Calm down!" Daisy exclaimed, glancing at the nervous driver. "Pay attention to the road. There has to be something..."

And as if it was a miracle; a little light in the dark; hope struck.

Castle Grounds: 1st Left Exit; 5 Miles

The sign above the streets never looked so wonderful; the green never seemed so appreciated and golden. "Turn there!" Daisy said, pointing towards the little exit sign.

"Wha?-okay..." the Koopa said, taking the turn. The two crossed onto a narrow road, meant merely for one car to travel; rather then the usual three or four on a lane.

And luckily, the taxi hadn't noticed that sudden change. Daisy looked back, watching the taxi speed forward to where they were before; unsure of where they had gotten away.

"We finally lost him," said Daisy, sinking into her seat. "The taxi's gone..."

The Koopa smiled slightly. "Tha-that was a bit too close..."

The car slowly approached the Castle Grounds; the usual gate that greeted tourists.

"Stop right here!" Daisy snapped, the Koopa putting his foot on the break. "Stay here, alright?" she asked, opening her door. "I-I'll be back in a bit..."

The Koopa nodded, glancing curiously at the line for the Castle Tours ticket booth. There was no line.

Daisy rushed through on the usual secret path she had taken before; she rushed; feeling a sense of worry; something wasn't right; something defiantly wasn't right at all.

She dashed through the Courtyard, over to the front castle doors. She pulled against them, forgetting all about ringing the bell. To her surprise, they sprung open. The princess rushed in, glancing around, calling out her cousin's name. "Peach?" she called out, nervously. "Peachie?"

"Daisy!" As soon as she heard her cousin's high voice, relief came upon her. "Oh Daisy, it's horrible!" her cousin exclaimed, running towards her. Her blonde hair was unusually up in a ponytail; a parasol was in her hand; Princess Peach was panting. "Toads-Toadsworth got kidnapped!" she exclaimed, covering her mouth with her gloved hand in dismay.

"He what!?" Not Mr. Security. Mr. Security could NEVER get kidnapped. It wasn't right; it was all that horoscope's fault!! Daisy's blue eyes had widened three times their usual size.

Peach removed the glove from her mouth, and hastily explained. "I-I was doing my make-up, drying my hair; and suddenly I heard a loud crash. I rushed over to where the sound had come from, only to find a note and broken glass. The note explained Toadsworth was kidnapped; that I would have to pay a high sum for his life to go unharmed!" she looked a bit pale, glancing around. "I-I at first didn't believe it. Perhaps it was a joke; jokes do appear occasionally. I looked all over the castle to find that not only had Toadsworth disappeared, but all the Toads that worked here did too!" She bit her lip. "I was the only one left; I-I haven't the slightest clue why, usually I'm the first one kidnapped. My first intention was to call the dear Mario Brothers...but...but..."

"Don't tell me they were kidnapped too!?" exclaimed Daisy, pretty surprised as it was.

"N-n-n-no...I-I was unable to send a letter to alert them. The...mail service is oddly...off on holiday today." She shook her head.

"Well, I-umm...Peach, I was almost kidnapped too..."

"You were what!?" Peach exclaimed, shocked. "Daisy! I-I-why didn't you have a guard with you? I thought Toadsworth talked to you about security!"

"No, it was...this taxi driver. Remember how I told you Waluigi was driving taxis now?"

"Of course I do," said Peach, blinking twice. "But I-I..."

"This Toad drove me off to the bad side of Mushroom City when I ASKED to be driven here..." Daisy explained. "I met up with a girl named Toadette there, and she gave me the address of one of her friends. Her friend, Eddy, drove me here...but the same taxi was following us. We lost him...but I'm not sure how long it will last..."

Peach's eyes widen. "T-there has been many rumors spreading about the kidnappings of celebrities on city taxis. I...err...well; I didn't really believe them at first. But...if your story's true Daisy...then...we could be prime targets; along with Mario, Luigi; anyone who is in the tennis tournament!"

"But who would be responsible for-"

Daisy's sentence was cut off. Suddenly, a high-pitched 'Eck!' came from Princess Peach Toadstool as a huge shadow grabbed her from behind.

"Daisy!" she cried. "Help!"

"Daisy?" the deep voice growled. "Well, hello there, Princess Peach," the figure stepped out of the shadows, revealing the ultimate villain of all the Mushroom Kingdom: King Bowser!

"Bowser!?" Peach exclaimed, shocked. "Y-you must be responsible for all this! Tell me where Toadsworth is!"

He laughed. "What?" he exclaimed, shaking his head. "That 'ol hag; what would I want with him? It's that time of the month, princess. Sorry I missed last month though; every villain deserves a vacation."

"Look, this is a really bad time to be kidnapping Peach," Daisy said, her hands turning into fists.

"Ha, and what are you going to do about it, you silly girl!" the huge Koopa asked, laughing.

"Daisy!" Peach snapped. "Run! I-It'd be horrible if we were both kidnapped at the same time!"

"What would I want with her?" Bowser asked, laughing. "Sure, she's a princess, but I'd rather have the Mushroom Kingdom then Sarasaland!"

"Hey!" exclaimed Daisy, enraged and insulted. "There's nothing wrong with Sarasaland!"

"Why don't you just leave and go call your little Mario Brothers to come save Peach?" he asked. "I don't need a little pest like you around."

"I'm not a pest!" Daisy exclaimed, crossing her arms.

"Ha ha, what a good joke!" Bowser shook his head. "No pest! Ha! Unbelievable! You're just like that annoying green-capped Luigi..."

"I am not!" Daisy snapped.

Peach frowned. "Daisy is NO pest. The only pest in here is YOU, Bowser!" she exclaimed, turning her head away.

"I think you'll disagree as soon as I take you to my castle," the Koopa King said with a smirk. "Your little Mario stands no chance this time!"

"Grrr..." Daisy growled. "I've had enough of you! Just who do you think you are? Just...just SHUT UP, Bowser!"

"Shut up!?" Bowser exclaimed. "NO ONE DARE TELLS ME TO SHUT UP!"

"Wanna bet?" Daisy said, glancing around. The chandler on top of the hallway ceiling directly and ironically above Bowser caught her eye.

"It's quite a shame," Peach had told her when she had first visited the castle a long time ago. "Daddy told me that even the slightest shaking on the ground could cause the lovely chandler to fall out of its place..."

Shaking on the ground...what Daisy needed was a mini earthquake. And suddenly, the answer struck her. King Bowser was huge; if he was to jump he could cause an earthquake and the chandler would fall right on top of him. But what would make him jump? Daisy thought for a minute; her eyes wandering around the room; suddenly they caught site on the lit candle right near the doorway. She grabbed it, and narrowed her eyes.

"Just WHAT are you going to do with that candle?" the Koopa King laughed. "Cause a fire? You stupid, stupid girl..."

"No," she exclaimed, shutting her right eye and aiming for his foot. C'mon aim..., she thought to herself, carefully tossing the candle. Don't fail me now!

The candle flew across the room, bouncing and stopping; the flame touching King Bowser's left foot, setting it on fire.

"OUCH!" he yelled, jumping up and down, causing rocks that built the castle wall to fall down with it, causing the chandler to twist; turn; and then eventually fall.

He glanced upwards, but by then it was too late. "Uh oh..." he exclaimed, immediately dropping Peach.

The princess ran over towards Daisy, watching the sight in front of them. The lovely chandler; a gift from one of the king's close friends, fell down; landing on top of Bowser's head.

It smushed him; his body in a puddle on the ground. Or at least it seemed to look like that.

"Look whose stupid now!" Daisy said to him, winking.

Peach's mouth was wide open, as she stared, speechless. "My father's chandler!" she cried, gasping. "D-d-daisy...wh-why did you-"

Peach's blue eyes suddenly widen as well, realizing something else. "You...s-s-s-saved me..." she said, in a meek little whisper, still in complete shock.

Daisy didn't have to time to explain to Peach; she didn't have time to clean up the mess or call the police. She grabbed Princess Peach's gloved hand and ran out of the castle, towards Edward Koopa's beat-up car.

Final Notes: I hope you enjoyed that! More Peach for the Peach fans; but I'm sorry to say no Luigi (at least not yet!). I'm sorry for grammar mistakes or anything like that. Please review! I love hearing what you have to say!