AUTHOR'S NOTE: Sorry for the long wait for this chapter; I'm getting to be really slow! He he he... but I'll be able to write a lot more in the summer, so these stinkin' updates will come a lot faster. But anyway, this is my most well-liked chapter so far (by friends) and I think it's a cool, subtly dark, addition to this story. I don't want to leave the Mushroom Kingdom, however, so all characters will stay in character and we'll continue to meet familiar friends. I'm having a hell of a fun time writing this, and I hope you have a hell of a fun time reading it. Let's go.

Chapter Five

Nasty's New Name

Magik was being completely consumed by the clump of snakes, screeching at the top of her lungs. She couldn't move a muscle underneath the tremendous weight. How was she going to get out of this one? The Magikoopa calmed herself down (miraculously) and began to think, but all that went through her mind was how much she had taken air for granted.

The boy in the dark armor simply walked away, chuckling. How simple it had been to take over her mind and get the Pendants for his mother's master plan. Magik was so corrupt, so messed up, that she didn't even put up a fight. Now all that was left was to return to the burial chamber and... ah, what was the rush? He had all the time in the world. He was only thirteen, why not do something fun?

The "Ushi" boy sat down on Magik's couch and kicked his feet up on the foot rest. Clicker in hand, he pressed POWER.

As he flipped through the channels, Magik was feeling much lighter in her little "bed" of snakes. Woah, was she dying? No. What in Snowman's Land was happening? She squinted with what little light she had and— wait, light? Wasn't she completely covered? Her question was answered as she saw a snake disappear with a "pop!" Her lungs automatically opened, sending her great gasping breaths of air. Soon, all the snakes were popping around her until there were none left. Her buttocks hit the ground and she immediately smiled. It was obvious. Magik's attacker was just a young'un, and he probably didn't have enough magic to keep her there for more than a minute or so.

She got up and peered around the corner. Even though she realized he was weak, looking at him still gave Magik the heebie-jeebies. He had an aura of evil that she couldn't quite put her finger on. He hadn't been sent there by any of the villains she knew. But it didn't matter.

The red-robed witch watched the boy for a while. After a bit of this, she realized that she was making too big a deal of it. For one thing, his magic stunk, and for another, after he had nearly killed someone he stayed in their house to watch Toad Force V! "Ushi" was just a kid, and Magik had this in mind as she walked over to him with a frying pan and smashed him on the head repeatedly.

Magik was satisfied. She had done very well in conking the boy out without killing him. Little brat, all smug because he made a few lousy snakes. It felt so great to suspend him in a cramped cage in midair, and it would feel even better to tell him that she would cook him in her soup. She couldn't wait to see the look on the boy's face!

But before she did any cruel torturing, she 1. Had to call the Yoshi Police and 2. Think about what was going on.

...Because what was going on? The one in the yellow cage seemed like a normal Mushroomian, but since he had easily disguised himself, he could also easily have done the same with the form he was in now. Maybe he was a Magikoopa, but maybe he wasn't. Judging by the way he sat down to watch a little TV, she guessed he wasn't.

And there were more things bothering her. What was the boy talking about, telling her about his "magic pendants?" She now had them laying on her kitchen counter. They certainly were gorgeous, but Magik knew they had been stolen from someone and had to be given back. Oh well.

"Oh, I forgot completely!" Magik spoke aloud. She had failed to remember to get the newspaper that day. Eying the cage before she left, Magik went out to complete her undone task. It might be a wait before the police get here after I call them, so I might as well get something to occupy myself before I call them.

She walked briskly down her driveway to the end. As soon as she opened her crimson mailbox, her stomach lurched. Naturally, she had seen the headline, Princess Peach Robbed, and thought the worst: Did that kid steal those pendants from Princess Peach? She bolted back to her house, dropping the newspaper along the way.

And, also naturally, once she got inside, she was too late. The cage was opened and the pendants were gone. Where the pendants used to be, Creepy-Armor-Boy had left his best friend a quickly scrawled note.

Dear Magik:

Thanks for the good time in the cage, but thanks more for the pendants! I'll be more careful next time when I see an old lady with a frying pan! ;) See ya later!

Your friend,

Ushi

"Oh, no." Magik clenched the note in her hand, crumpling it up. Why did she have to get caught in the middle of this and why was she stupid enough to go out to get the paper? She flopped over into her chair. Everything was so weird. They were just pendants! What could be so special about those? All she knew was that she had been fooled once by Ushi, or whoever he was, and he might have some more tricks up his sleeve.

"Lord Bowser, can we please take a break?" Kammy had simply had enough of shifting through the Koopa vault. It was a total craphole. The old witch had begun to think that her master saved every single stupid old thing in here which held even the slightest memory. For cripes' sake, she had found the remains of an egg salad sandwich laying around, mold eating away at the former eggs (which were now grey lumps of bubbling fat). It was pure torture.

"Kammy, we're not stopping until I find something missing."

Kammy was incredulous. "Well, we still should rest! I mean, there's not going to be a sign that says 'HEY BOWSER! THIS HAS GONE MISSING!' It's going to be a matter of time before we remember having something we don't anymore."

"Well, fine," Bowser said, shrugging, "if you want to, that's fine with me. But I'm staying down here."

"All right, I'll come back later." Kammy began to climb the stairs to the first floor. What possibly could have diappeared? she thought. What old piece of useless junk did the thieves want? I don't think Bowser has ever had anything particularly valuable.

The seemingly infinite stairs ended. A Koopa guard moved out of Kammy's way when she reached the door, proudly saying, "All Hail the Koopa King!" and saluting her.

"Shut up, already," Kammy grunted under her breath. Rookies. Feh. They won't be so thrilled when they find out just how obnoxious King Bowser really is.

She had reached the relaxation room, the only room that could be considered even a tad comforting to most people. It was still dark, cold, and made of stone like the other rooms, but it seemed more like an actual home here than any of those. There was a television and a couch, which Kammy used to rest her aching back.

As she went through the door, she heard noises at her left. Oh, wonderful. Cartoony noises. B-Junior must be watching something on TV. I really wanted to watch Skinny Up Yo' Belly for Old but Sexy Gals, but I guess I can't now. Aww, crud. That Kooparmie really is a hunk-

"You cannot stop me, for I am Jack, owner of TOAD FORCE V!"

Kammy's thoughts were interrupted by a badly voice-acted boy. Bowser Jr. was reclining on the orange rug, watching a Toadlike robot go into a cool pose and then start shooting at another Goomba-shaped one. He was playing with his action figure (a replica of the Toad robot) and making his own cartoon noises.

"How's it going, B-Junior?"

Bowser's son gave a little yelp and then turned around with a jolt. "Oh, h-hi, Aunt Kammy..."

Kammy crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. "Something wrong, little guy? You almost jumped a foot in the air."

"No... I'm all right." His eyes were shifty, but Kammy suspected it was not simply because he wanted to get back to Toad Force V.

"Sure everything's all right?" She was sure that everything was most definitely NOT right. Bowser Jr. was still biting his lip and poking his index fingers together anxiously. He was hiding something.

"Wuh... erm, well, I just... um... had a scary dream last night... little jumpy today, ya know..."

Yep, he was undeniably hiding something.

"Scary dream? What kind?"

"Uhhh... that... well... Hookbill came back and ate me! I thought you were him just now... and now I'm all relieved... and all..." He made terribly done panting noises as if he was reasurred that Kammy wasn't the gigantic monster Koopa.

"Oh. Okay... I'm going to go order some lunch." Though Kammy knew he was lying through his teeth, it had dealt a blow to her self esteem that Bowser's son had said he had mistaken her for the drooling beast, Hookbill. Am I really THAT ugly? Naaaaw. I came in from the back, he must have meant he mistook the sounds I made for Hookbill, not me myself. Phew, that's a relief.

The cartoon noises continued in the background as Kammy dia;ed the number for Super Speedy Salvo Slime's Pizza: 1-8-0-0-E-A-T-S-L-I-M-E.

Booooooop. Boooooooop. As the dial tone rang, Kammy noticed that Bowser Jr. had begun to pace, now twiddling his thumbs. At the fifth ring, he saw that she was watching and flung her a nervous smile. And then:

"Thuper Thpeedy Thalvo Thime'th Pitha, thith ith Hermie." Kammy could almost feel the spit on her ear from the lisp of the guy on the other line. She cringed.

"Uh, yeah. I'll have three mega-slime size pizzas with the works, please."

"Three mega-thlime thithe pithas with the workth? To what rethidenthie ith thith pitha going to?"

Kammy's right eye twitched. "That- AHEM- residency would be Thirteen Bowser Lane."

"Thirteen Bowther Lane? All right. Thank you, your pithas will be thare in a flath. Remember, Thpeedy Thalvo'th ith the-"

Kammy slammed the phone down. Twitch. Twitchity twitch. She took a tissue and wiped her ear in spite of her good common sense. She could have SWORN she felt the spit flying at her through the phone line. What moron hired him to be in charge of the phone? Sheesh!

Through with her neurotic duties, Kammy saw the couch in front of the TV. Empty. Oh yes, she could watch her show now. She strode towards the television, stopped by a tapping on her leg. It was Bowser Jr.

"Yes?"

"Um, Aunt Kammy? I need to, er, tell ya something."

"What's that? Are you still scared after your- ahem- dream?"

"N-no," Bowser Jr. said, shuddering. "A-actually, I was lying about that to c-c-cover up what I want to tell you."

Kammy crossed her arms. "Oh, really?" No kidding, kid. You couldn't fool me if your life depended on it.

"Yeah. I... well, I think I know what Papa's missing."

"You do?" Kammy was much less sarcastic now. This was interesting. "What is it? What is it?" She practically hopped about like a bunny, she was so eager to know.

"Woah, hold on, I don't know how to say this... I need Papa up here..."

Nodding, Kammy called her master. "Hey, Bowser! get up here!"

Silence. He was so rude.

"KOOPA KING!"

Zero replies.

"YOUR MASSIVENESS?"

When the amount of answers she received was the same as the last two times, Kammy thought, Does he need a hearing aid? But then she had an idea.

Hiding behind the door and using her best "burly guy" voice, she yelled, "HEY, YOU! YEAH, YOU, WITH THE BIG FAT ORANGE BUTT!"

Her idea worked. Stomping noises exploded up the stairway and the gigantic Koopa King came roaring up. "WHAT DID YOU CALL ME?" cried the King, his head whirling from side to side to find who insulted him.

Kammy smirked, walking out from her area of safety. "Hey, if it got you up here, then what does it matter?"

"Got me up...? What are you talking about, woman?"

Bowser Jr. grabbed his father's leg (he wasn't tall enough to reach any higher) and said, "Woah, calm down, Papa! I was just about to tell you and Aunt Kammy... ummmmm... something important."

"Something important? About what?"

Kammy was in a horrid and impatient mood. "He knows what's gone missing from the downstairs vault! Now, out with it, kid, so I don't have to smell that disgusting egg-salad sandwich anymore! Enough with your slow stalling!"

"You- you know what the thieves took? What, what?" Bowser shook his son's tiny shoulders. "WHAT?"

"Well, okay. I'll tell you... er... You- you know that... pendant you wear around your neck every day that is a family heirloom? The one you put in the vault 'cause Grandma told you to keep it safe before she died?"

"Yes... what about it?"

"That's not exactly... around your neck anymore. Or in the vault."

Bowser, not even looking down, slapped his hands randomly around his chubby neck to find the necklace. It wasn't there. "OH NO! THE THIEVES TOOK MY PENDANT!"

He ran back and forth crazily, crying out in bursting roars. "THIS IS TERRIBLE! THAT'S THE WORST POSSIBLE THING THAT COULD HAVE BEEN STOLEN!"

"Wait, stop, Your Craziness! Please just calm down!" Kammy held up her wand when Bowser was about to pass her. The wand was just high enough to reach into Bowser's mouth: so the Magikoopa wand was jerked between his open lips and partially down his throat. Well, Kammy had managed to stop the King, but not in the way that she had hoped.

"KAAAWKWKWKW!" Bowser choked, grabbing the handle and tugging with all his might. He was unable to pull hard enough, so Kammy and Bowser Jr. pitched in to help. Eventually, the witch's saliva-covered wand came sliding out.

Bowser instantaneously collapsed on the ground, gasping for air. "Whoa... I thought I was a goner... thanks, guys."

Kammy was thinking, but she didn't show it; her face was disgusted thanks to the partially green spit dripping off of her magical wand. She spoke her mind.

"Your Wickedness, I'm glad we saved you, but what were you so riled up about? It was only a family heirloom, and people usually HATE things like that. I for one thought it was kind of an ugly old thing."

Bowser was much more calm this time, and he gazed off into space. "Grrrrr... I'm sorry for panicking. But... that pendant was very important in the royal Koopa family. My mother gave it to me on her deathbed, saying it would eventually bring me luck in defeating the Mushroom Empire."

"Some job that piece of crap did."

Bowser wasn't angry about what Kammy had said. He mumbled, "That pendant has been in my family for over a thousand years. I've always been searching for a way to use it, and I guess I'll never get to find out what it was."

"A way to use it?"

"Nevermind. Forget I said anything. Just leave me alone for a while, okay?" Bowser walked away, his shoulders slumping.

Kammy watched him go. "He really is depressed about one little object, isn't he?"

Bowser's son shook his head. "No, that's not the entire story... I think he's sadder 'bout his mommy and daddy dying than the pendant, Aunt Kammy. Don't you miss your parents, too?"

Kammy couldn't say a thing. By the time she thought of a reply, her young friend had already gone.

I hate blue skies. Why couldn't it have rained like before?

Kamek was grumpily driving his car back from work, his briefcase thumping around in the back. What a horrible day it had been. He was worrying about Magik all the time now because she hadn't called him in a few days, and now his boss was telling him he wasn't doing a satisfactory job at scheduling appointments. If only he had been assigned to guard Bowser's Castle instead of having to get a desk job to earn coins. What a bunch of bologna this was, being a secretary for a guy who made Tanooki and Frog Suits. He was practically giving his worst enemy the powerups he needed.

Suddenly, he heard ugly popping from his exhaust system. He was out of Mushroom Oil. The car came to a slow stop, right in the middle of a busy street.

"Oh, COME ON!" exploded Kamek, kicking the gas pedal over and over in vain.

"Hey, move the car, little boy blue! I don't have time for your dawdling! I need to get to a gas station!" cried a voice from a car behind to Kamek.

"Yes, move the idiotic car which obstructs the only stupid path that we may take!" came another.

Kamek threw his head out the window. What IDIOTS were talking to him like that? He was going to give them a piece of his mind. Or, he would have, if the IDIOTS hadn't been Cackletta and Fawful. He got out of the car.

"Oh, Cackletta! Fawful! How are you?" Kamek tried to suck up to them as best he could so that they might help.

Cackletta and Fawful crossed their arms and grimaced. They knew Kamek, as he had been hired to help them in their first attempt to kill Mario and Luigi, but they were not in the mood for "friendly" greetings.

"Want the truth? Horrible," Cackletta said. "I DESPISE traffic, we are in casts from nearly being killed by Mario and Luigi, and our car is running out of gas. So how's that for an answer?"

Kamek replied, "Not as bad as me. I could give you the details here—"

"MOVE IT, UGLY GREEN WITCH WOMAN!"

"—But that wouldn't be a good idea. Could you give me a quick lift over to the nearest Mushroom Oil station so they could tow my car?"

"Sure," snapped Cackletta. "Just move your stinkin' car and get in this hunk of junk."

Kamek pushed his car to the sidewalk and got into the villains' hunk of junk. The traffic broke up after a while, and they were able to drive again. As they did so, they saw something run right in front of them. What was—

"IT IS A CHILD, CACKLETTA! WE MUST HAVE STOPPING!" Fawful grabbed the steering wheel and twirled it around. The vehicle took a sharp turn to the right, a tire exploding on the sidewalk when it collided.

The kid, who didn't even look remotely upset, walked over to the driver's window and poked his head in. He opened his mouth... and hawked up a disgusting wad of spit onto Cackletta's lap. He grinned stupidly.

"NYAH NYAH! SEE YOU AROUND!"

He jumped up, his bare feet landed on the windshield, and he started flying down the sidewalk.

Cackletta shoved her head out the passenger window across from an uncomfortable Fawful. "YOU LITTLE PUNK! COME BACK HERE! I OUGHTA KICK YOUR BUTT INTO SHAPE! YOU LITTLE IDIOOOOOOT!"

Kamek said nothing and simply watched the boy run, looking mostly at his clothes. Those aren't normal human clothes, he thought. That looks like some sort of ancient armor.

The boy didn't stop, and afterward, both Cackletta's AND Kamek's cars were being towed to be fixed.

I will not stop. Not for anyone. I cannot stop... I'll drink my own piss before I let him get away with what he did to my mother! THAT MURDERER! I'LL KILL THAT STUPID PLUMBER!

"No! This is NOT POSSIBLE! How could you be doing this much damage to me?" The Shadow Queen wailed in agony as Mario pounced on her body, crushing her heart.

A boy watched from above on a high balcony, trying to shout but unable to.

Kill him, Mama! I want to rule the world with you and rid it of goody-two-shoes like this guy! Mama, don't give up!

Alas, Mario depleted the bitter dregs of the Queen's strength, making her scream in pain. She flew backwards, dying...

But while Mario and his partners left to celebrate, the Shadow Queen floated up to her son with her last words...

"Scy... Scyade... I love you, son. I could not win with Mario's incredible strength. It's DISGUSTING... I'm leaving it... leaving it..." She coughed, barely able to speak. "I'm leaving it to you to destroy him and rule the world with your own Shadow Empire..."

Scyade cannot yell, so he quietly whispers, "Mama, how can I do that? I'm only eleven... I'm not strong at all... I can't run an empire! Not without you!"

"Get... the symbols... from the makings of the first ever empires in this world... Then, take them to my tomb and you... will... be able to..." Her words came to a close. She let out a few final, small coughs, then began to melt as if she were wax. Her skin dripped into the tomb she had rested in for one thousand years. Her face rolled down with it, that dripping into black and blue liquid as well. The tomb lid automatically slammed back on.

"Ma... ma... MAAAMAAA!"

Mario and Luigi were still at Princess Peach's Castle, but they weren't searching anymore. In fact, they had just finished doing said activity with Toad and the Yoshi Police and were opening the door to Peach's kitchen. Inside, Peach was crying quietly at the table, looking away from the incoming people. Toadsworth stopped them as they began to run towards her, wondering what was wrong.

"Um, if you would please stop... the Princess is having a stressful time right now, so she asked me to send you all downstairs. Follow through with her orders, as good citizens should do."

"Wait." The Princess sniffled. "Not everyone. I want to talk to Mario."

Mario waited for everyone to leave, closed the door, and looked from side to side. "Peach... me? Is there something serious going on?"

She turned around. Fresh tears glistening on her face, she nodded and said, "Yeah. I just want to tell you about it. You always help me."

Toadsworth, with his fatherlike instinct on its highest setting, started to follow them as they walked, but Peach told him with her back turned, "Toadsworth, please don't take offense to this, but may I... be alone... with Mario?"

Toadsworth nodded. "Yes, of course you may. I have no right to barge in on your personal business." And with that, Peach with Mario and Toadsworth went in opposite directions.

The Princess and Mario were in the clock room. Peach had just finished her story about the pendant getting lost; Mario, a little confused, asked a question.

"So... you said it was your father who gave you that pendant?"

"Yeah... he told me it was an important part of the history of our world," Peach said. Her face was red from crying. "He said it's been in our family since the Mushroom Empire was created."

"Then it must-a be over one thousand years old... wow."

"Yes, it is. Daddy used to tell me stories about my Mushroomian ancestors and all they had done to create the Mushroom Kingdom. They were always fun ones, like how Toadicius IV beat up the Koopa Master in a wrestling match to save his wife and regain control of the land which had been turned evil."

"Did all of it really happen? Or, should-a I say... ANY of it?"

Peach smiled for once in a few hours. "No, I think he made half of it up to amuse me. But I still loved all of those tales nonetheless. There... was one story I believed even as I got older and still do now."

"Um... what-a was that one about?"

Peach's hands found her neck temporarily, as if the item she lost was still there. "That story was about the Mushroom Pendant..."

Mario looked deeply into Peach's eyes. "Can you remember any of-a it?"

"Sure I can. I remember that whole night like it was yesterday." Peach put her hand on Mario's shoulder, leaned closer to him, and began to tell her rememberances of her father, mother, and the pendant of Mushroomia...

Princess Peach, barely five years old, was lying in her bed. The Mushroom King, a man with thick blonde hair and a red crown, sat back in his daughter's bedside chair and said, "What story would you like to hear tonight, my Princess?"

The small Peach thought for a bit and replies, "Oh, Daddy, you know I never like to hear old stories over and over again. I want to hear one of the new adventures of the Mushroomians!"

"Oh, all right. This is another tale from the history of our land... and this one is about the Mushroom Pendant." A clink came from the back of the Mushroom King's neck as he took off the pendant and held it out in his hands. The orb on the end captivated the little girl. Its lights shimmered and twisted like crystal rose petals.

"It's so... pretty. Daddy, how come you never told me about this before? I've never noticed you wearing it 'till tonight."

The King sighed. "Well, I wanted to wait... until the time was right."

"Time was right? What do you mean by that?"

The Mushroom King held one finger to his lips. "Shush, my darling," he cooed. "I promise you'll understand in time. But for now... why don't you just listen to the story of this beautiful object?"

"Okay, tell me, tell me." The young Princess snuggled up with her teddy bear and pillow.

"This is the story of the Mushroom Pendant, a story passed down from generation to generation just like the pendant itself. It is the oldest story in this world's existence. It star—"

"Daddy, whaddas 'exeeistence' mean?"

"Pah!" The King slapped himself upside the head. "Oh, sorry. I forgot that I'm talking to a five-year-old. I tend to use big words like that all the time; never be a politician like your daddy."

Peach, a rather smart one for her age, said, "I don't think I have a choice since I'm a princess."

The King laughed. "Ho, ho, ho ho! You're right, my dear! You have a silly old king for a father. I'm sorry. But anyway, I'll tell you what 'existence' is."

"And will you stop using big words after that? I get really confused."

Peach's father beamed. "Sure I will, Peachie. But getting back to that word, existence is... how long something's been around for."

The miniature Peach thought. "So you were talkin' about the world's exeeistance. Wow! If that story's the oldest one ever, it must be like a million bajillion years old!"

"Yup," said the King. "It's that old. Not as old as me, though."

"Really?"

"HO! Of course not! How old do you think your father is?"

The door creaked open a tad and the Queen's voice rose out: "Do you really want her to answer that, Gusfung? I don't want to know how old my daughter thinks the man I love is. That'll make me feel ancient."

The king turned to the door. "Ah, look who's here!"

Peach jumped up and ran barefoot across the rug to the door. "Mommy! You're home!"

The Queen scooped up her little bundle of joy, and spinning her around, said, "How's my widdle Pwinceeeessss?"

"Moooom! I told you I was too old for that! Stooop!" She giggled and kicked as her mother tickled her.

"So, how was the... meeting...?" King Gusfung winked as his daughter looked away.

The Mushroom Queen put one hand on her hips and clucked, "Oh, come on, can't we talk about that later? Just keep telling her the story she's been waiting for!"

"Fine. Though it would help, Rose, if you actually put her in bed first for a bedtime story."

"Sorry, your Highness." And so the Queen put Peach in bed. "Now tell the story."

Peach sat up again. "Mommy, how come you never tell me stories?"

Queen Rose coughed. "Because I'm terrible at it," she admitted. "Your father has always been a skilled storyteller, but me? Ha! You'd have projectile vomited if I had tried to tell you a story. And, let me tell you, baby puke dripping off you does not make a queenly impression on people."

The Princess giggled. "You don't sound like much of a queen using words like 'puke!'"

"Hey, I can use whatever words I want. I think those stiff, totally polite royal families are a borefest."

"Ladies, ladies, I hate to barge in on your lovely conversation," said Gusfung, "but I think it's time I told Peachie her story, eh?"

"Very well, then. Proceed," said the Queen.

"Anyway, yeah, the story's old. But it began back when the kingdom of Mushroomia was created, when King Moldus and Queen Dandel were the rulers."

"King Moldus was the guy that saved his daughter from being eaten by the Commando Dragon, right?" As Peach asked this, Rose raised one eyebrow and shook her head, mouthing "What on earth are you teaching her?"

"Errr... yeah, that's him. He and Queen Dandel started to form the beautiful kingdom of Mushroomia. Many people came to live there and had children; therefore, it grew and became prosperous. Oh, sorry! Prosperous means 'big and successful.' Mushroomia was a large and peaceful place. Until..."

"Until what?"

"Until the evil Koopa Empire moved in. King Koopa the First and his army of bad Koopas moved in and started to bombard the Queen and King's castle—"

"With Bob-ombs, Daddy?"

"Yes, darling, they used Bob-ombs. The King and Queen attacked the Koopa Empire back, with Goombas and other Mushroomians. A gigantic war went on, and many people died."

Peach gasped. "That's terrible! Did little kids like me die too?"

"Yes, they did. Sometimes by mistake... and sometimes on purpose."

"How awful! How could anyone fight so stupidly?"

"That's exactly what Princess Lumina thought."

"There was a princess back then? Named Lumina?"

"Yup, and she thought the same as you: there shouldn't be any more fighting."

"So what did she do?"
"Well, she suggested that the Mushroom Empire and the Koopa Empire rule the land together. And she said it to everyone up on the balcony of the Mushroom Castle amidst the battling."

"Did it work?"

"It sure did. King Koopa, Queen Dandel, King Moldus, and Princess Lumina eventually all became great friends. To show their hopes for happiness and love for each other, and the hopes for a greater empire of one, they created the Pendants— magical objects that hold pieces of the spirits of those who rule the kingdoms in our world every generation."

"But, Daddy... how come the Koopa Empire an' King Malev an' his son Bowser all hate us?"

"Well, over time, the Koopa Empire got greedy and it decided it wanted to conquer the world. That's all... it just got power-hungry."

"How dumb! They prob'ly did better when they were with us!"

"They really did. But they say they won't stop until they destroy us and the world is theirs."

"Hmmm... were there ever any empires besides us and the Koopas?" Peach looked curious.

"...Maybe. And that's what I plan to find out."

"What are you—"

"Nevermind. It's time for bed."

"That story didn't have a good ending."

"What do you mean? They all became friends!" King Gusfung exclaimed.

"But now we're all broken up and angry at each other. I wish that we could all just get along and build one big great empire. That's what I want to do when I get older!"

The King and Queen stared into their daughter's eyes. Hope and determination radiated from them, and they said almost nothing more, simply, "Good night, Princess. We love you."

The next day, King Gusfung and Queen Rose were gone, never to be seen again. The Mushroom Pendant lay abandoned on Peach's dresser.

The Princess burst into heavy sobbing again. "That was the last time I ever saw them!" she screamed. "After that, they went to work on their stupid project and they died doing it!" She let the tears stream down onto Mario's shoulder. Her chest heaved in and out as she gasped for air.

"That's-a terrible," Mario said, a tear of his own sliding down. "I didn't know your—" He stopped, at a dead end.

Peach, still coughing and crying, asked, "What? What's wrong, Mario?"

"No. I'm not-a going to talk about it. I'm better than that."

"Mario, just tell me. I'm... going to be okay."

"I said, no! I don't-a want to upset you."

"Mario, it's okay. I... I trust you."

"You do?"

"Yes... because... because... I have to say this... because..."

Silence, and then those magical words, overused, but some of the most powerful: "Because I love you, Mario." She hugged him tightly.

Mario blinked, a smile expanding on his face. "Princess, I love-a you too. After all we've-a been through... I have really strong-a feelings about this." He put his arms around her, as well, and they kissed.

A long, beautiful held-in attraction for each other was released. Mario, after all they had been through, had never known a woman so pure and longing for peace. And Peach, the one that constantly had to be saved, knew that Mario would always fight for what was good, no matter what. Their connection was nothing but pure heroic power, two people who would fight down evil wherever it sprung up.

After what seemed like an eternity, they stopped.

"M-Mario... I want to find that pendant." Peach shivered a little, though she was warmer and fuzzier than she thought she would ever be.

Mario gave her a thumbs-up. "Hee hee! That's-a no problemo! I'll-a gladly help you track this-a jerk down."

"Thank you, Mario. Now, uh... what were you going to ask me?"

"Peach... I'll ask-a you when I think the time is right."

"Okay. Thanks for being here for me, Mario."

"That's what love-a is all about, Princess Peach."

"Tee hee! Daddy would be so happy! Wouldn't you be, King Gusfung...?"

NASTY'S NEW NAME/END

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Wasn't that just so cute at the end? I think so; I got wonderful responses from my friends about it. But I think I need more practice at romance scenes... so you'll see a lot more. (Yeah, just for, um... practice. Yeah.) Continue to read Hopes for an Empire! Peace ouuuuuut!

-SesshouMario