This one was a long time coming, so thank you all for waiting.

As of writing, this one comes after the SMO details from Nintendo's presentation, so there's that too.

But enough of my chit-chat. This chapter is a doozy, likely the longest chapter of the story thus far, so set some time aside for this hefty read!

And enjoy the current arc's conclusion! Aka, Peach and friends vs the Koopalings. (Neutral perspective too, ooh!)

...

Stars litter the sky as the Airship's assault progresses with its campaign. Cannon fire still bombards across the sky, bullets sailing to the Mountains and blasting away at the fortress, as parts of it are engulfed in fire or slide from the very cliffs to the abyss below.

Peach watches as Yoshi and Birdo touch down ahead of her, and then lands aboard the Airship herself. She turns to spot her four other friends, also present, before turning towards the ship's forces.

"It's Princess Peach," bellowed a Koopa, barely getting the warning out before an egg slams him across the deck and into a mast.

Two more Koopa Troopas hurry toward the group, but Luigi quickly stomps them into their shells, and kicks one into the other, knocking both across the ship.

Goomba soldiers rush out, but even at the sight of Toadette jumping forward, they turn around and immediately flee from sight. She giggles as she turns to Peach, failing to spot the Magikoopa arrive behind her.

"Get down!"

Toadette ducks as Peach launches a pink fireball, blasting through a hex curse and bursting against the Magikoopa. He yells and rolls out of sight, in an attempt to put out the embers on his robes.

"Huh." Daisy strolls forward and folds her arms. "I was expecting a stronger welcoming committee than that."

"Reinforcements are probably en route to us," notes Peach. "Plus, they wouldn't waste their entire troops on our initial arrival."

"So…where exactly are the Toads on this place?" Pauline walks around, checking the deck of the Airship. "This is…a bit bigger than I imagined. Which, I don't know why, but I didn't quite picture this to such a scale, even from a distance."

"The Koopalings would keep their prisoners close to them, as they usually do with Princess Peach," explains Toadette. "There's no way that we'll find the others until we've made our way through this ship completely."

"That sounds woefully tedious," mutters Birdo.

"Regardless of what it is, we have a job to do." Peach points her Royal Scepter across the Airship's deck. "Let's advance and get to the Koopalings quickly."

"Wouldn't it be easier if we just," Pauline hesitates a moment, bobbing her head back and forth, "I don't know, smash through the entire ship or something?"

"That would simplify matters immensely," agrees Peach. She shakes her head. "If we do that, though, we could end up hurting the Toads or sinking the ship prematurely."

"…Ok, yeah, both sound pretty bad." Pauline shrugs. "But, one of you guys must have an idea of where they keep the prisoners on this Airship, right?"

Everyone mumbles incoherently as they take turns avoiding eye contact with Pauline. She slowly shakes her head at her allies.

"Unbelievable. And, tell me, how many times have you guys boarded this thing?"

"Ships like this, several times over," explains Luigi, as the group advances. "Thing is, Bowser builds and rebuilds Airships each time over. He has a signature one that he sends out, which we're assuming is this one, but we can't be completely certain that this is his main ship. He maintains a fleet of them, at some points."

"A…a whole fleet of…" Pauline shudders. "Ok, points made."

"Glad you're satisfied," jokes Daisy. "Because we've got company."

Ahead, past several crates across the Airship's deck, three small figures march toward the group. Pauline squints, placing her hand over her eyes to identify the tiny figures in the distance. Each had a cross-eyed expression, bobbling back and forth in a mechanical rhythm, as the jaws clapped open and closed with each step.

"Are those…wind-up keys?" She drops her hand and watches as the small creatures bounce back and forth toward them. "Wait, those look like toy Koopas. Or…are they modeled after Koopalings? Or Bowser…mini, uh, Bowsers?"

"Mechakoopas," named Toadette. "They look harmless, but they can clamp down hard on you, as well as spit fireballs out."

"That's, uh, incredibly destructive tooling for toys." Pauline pauses and brushes her hair back. "And that's coming from me, lady wonder that carries around a toy with a hammer attack."

"They also explode upon contact or at random detonations."

"Who comes up with this madness?!"

"You guys are acting like we can't handle this," complains Birdo. "Yoshi, get an egg ready."

"Right behind you."

Both dinosaurs step forward, as Yoshi holds an egg in his hand. He lobs one at the first Mechakoopa, with the shot connecting and detonating it. The other two continue to march forward, as Birdo spits out and launches another egg from her snout. It smacks the second Mechakoopa into the third, and both are set off upon the collision.

"See?" Birdo stretches her arms out. "Easy as that."

"To be fair, they are toys."

"Evil toys, Yoshi." Birdo nudges him. "Don't undermine our victory."

"Either way, good work." Peach continues ahead. "Let's keep moving."

The group follows Peach, as they walk over to the crates. Luigi jumps onto one, and gazes down the ship.

"We've got some cannons ahead," he called out. "Can't tell what kind they are from here."

"What do you mean?" Pauline tilts her head. "So they have multiple things to shoot…ah, who am I kidding? Of course they do."

"Just stick close to the rest of us and you'll be fine," advises Daisy.

"Yes ma'am."

Climbing after Luigi, Yoshi and Birdo follow him across four crates before they jump down and continue across the deck. Peach and the others catch up as the trio comes to a halt, watching the fire that bursts from the cannons as they near them. Above, there are platforms that stick out from the ship's mast, allowing access forward.

"Burners then," notes Toadette. "We'll have to time our movements and go quickly."

"Fire cannons, how wonderful," deadpans Pauline. "Wonders never cease."

"The first one is going out in a moment," analyzes Luigi. "If we jump up at just the right moment…"

He waits as the first Burner's flames retreat and dissipate. Leaping to the first platform, Luigi dashes away as the second Burner rumbles. Then, he vaults past the third cannon, racing across the platform and dropping down on the opposite end.

"Ok, did it."

"Are you serious?" Pauline clasps her hands against her head. "I'm not acrobatic enough for this. My jumps are barely passable as is!"

"Plan B then."

Peach taps on her Royal Scepter and casts a pink barrier around her friends. They blink and turn to her, raising eyebrows.

"Look, I know to cut back more, but I'm not going to torture poor Pauline to move faster than she's able." She shrugs. "This should last long enough to get us across."

With no complaints from her companions, Peach and her allies climb up the first platform, as the Burner's fire blazes against her magic shield. It fizzles under the flames, but holds its form. Scooping Pauline up, Yoshi jumps up to the next platform, and the two wait as the others hop up after them. They turn as the remaining Burners continue to fry the barrier.

"Uh…" Birdo tugs on her bow. "Is it just me, or does that thing look like it's melting?"

"Yeah, I might have maybe lied about its durability," admits Peach.

"You what?!"

"Hate me later, let's run!"

All six dash from the platforms as the bubble bursts and drop down to the other side, landing around Luigi. He folds his arms and sighs.

"Someone could have mentioned you guys were planning on that," he complains. "I would have waited."

"Believe me," assures Daisy between pants, "you had it right to go first."

"Mechakoopas ahead," announced Toadette.

Five more Mechakoopas rattle as they make their way over to the group. Birdo spits an egg at the first one, but before Yoshi could ready his, Peach jabs her wand forward, energy crackling at its heart-shaped head.

"Peach, you just got us through the Burners," cautions Yoshi.

"So?"

"Leave this to us," he reasons. "You'll need to use that again against the Koopalings. Birdo and I can handle this much."

Hesitating, Peach lowers her scepter and nods to Yoshi. He smirks and lobs two eggs forward, smacking two Mechakoopas and triggering their explosives. Birdo launches two more eggs of hers, destroying the remaining pair.

"Ha, easy," touts Birdo. "Yoshi and I are quite the powerhouses against those toys!" She pauses and clears her throat. "Of course, they do present their own dangers, being evil toys. Also, we are quite the power pack regardless, naturally."

"Birdo, no one is questioning our capability."

"It just feels diminishing on our efforts, ok?" Birdo groans. "We took down a slew of Mechakoopas already, and being reminded that they're not very lethal just puts me down."

"Hey, Mario and I are famous for stomping on Goombas," reminds Luigi. "They're a bit above toys, but they're not very strong at all."

"Not always, no," relents Birdo. "Very well. Lead us on, Peach."

"Yes, I shall." Peach strolls forward, but slows to a halt. "Actually. Toadette? Would you happen to know if there are any Warp Pipes ahead?"

"Ah, that's right." Toadette lightly knocks her head. "Some of Bowser's ships use them to ease transport above and below decks."

She scouts ahead, shuffling around crates and peeking around. A Koopatrol walks around one crate, and the others rush over as Toadette jumps away from the armored Koopa. Her friends can only hear a scuffle and a crate smashing before they turn around the corner.

Toadette dusts her hands off and then raises an eyebrow as her friends gawk at the Koopatrol's legs sticking from a broken box.

"What?"

"Uh…Toadette…?"

"Yeah?"

"…Nothing."

"Hey, is that the pipe?"

Everyone continues ahead toward the green Warp Pipe. Daisy gets ready to jump up, but Luigi brings his hand ahead to halt her.

"Huh? What's up?"

"Look, we don't know where that pipe is going to drop us," warns Luigi. "I'll go first. Out of us here, I have the most experience handling these ships."

"Why does that matter?" Daisy folds her arms. "Regardless of who goes first, we all go in blind."

"True, but the first one through is the first to gather his or her bearings and assess the situation." Luigi adjusts his cap. "We can argue about this later, but right now, I'm going."

He jumps up and stands at the edge of the Warp Pipe. Swallowing hard, Luigi jumps in and vanishes down it. The others hesitate for a moment, before Daisy leaps up and follows Luigi's lead. Birdo helps Toadette up, while Yoshi carries Pauline again. Peach waits until all four are up, checking behind her, before jumping up after them. One after another, they all drop through the Warp Pipe and to their next destination.

Dropping from the Warp Pipe, Peach's eyes widen as she lands on a crowded platform hanging from the Airship's bottom.

"Peach!"

Quickly, Luigi snags Peach as the winds blow against her, and he pulls her toward the middle of the plateau. The seven gaze up at the Warp Pipe, a bit too far above to reach in a single jump. They take turns nervously glancing below, with the fortress of the Mountains continues to burn and crumble from its zenith, with little remaining. Directing their attention forward, Peach, Luigi, and their allies watch rotating, wooden gears, barely large enough to jump on. A path across them, however, leads them across to the next, more stable platform, with a Warp Pipe attached to the ship and simple to walk in.

"Ok, I know that I've complained a few times already," calls Pauline. "But, honestly: WHO COMES UP WITH THESE BARBARIC DESIGNS AND IDEAS?! AND JUST WHO THINKS IT'S FINE AND ALLOWS IT?!"

"Only Bowser's army," murmurs Daisy, just above the wind.

"And only one way forward," calls Luigi. "We have to reach the other side."

"With this wind? Are you crazy?" Pauline shakes her head. "We'll just get blown from the sky!"

Whispering to her Royal Scepter, Peach lifts it and creates a pink screen on both sides of her group. They gaze at the pair, which only extends the length of the platform, but easily blocks the wind from gusting through.

"I can maintain this while we cross," announces Peach. "But it won't last long, and we have to stay close. I'll need to be between everyone."

"But, Pauline and I won't do well with these kinds of jumps," notes Toadette.

"It'll be fine," soothes Yoshi. "Pauline can ride on my back, and I'll carry you."

"That's too much for just you," argues Birdo. "Toadette, just hop on with me, and I'll carry you instead."

"Are you sure?" Yoshi rubs his cheek. "You're back isn't saddled like mine."

"It's only Toadette, she's light."

"True." Yoshi nods as Toadette giggles. "Ok, then, that should work, right?"

"If you two can handle it," checks Peach. Both nod to her. "Very well. Luigi, you should probably lead us."

"Wait, I should go last. What if something goes wrong?"

"There's not a lot you can do." Daisy shrugs. "That's game over for the one that falls."

"Just lead us, Luigi." Peach smiles. "We can follow your path and example."

"…Right, ok."

Controlling his breathing, Luigi steps back as the others walk behind him. He dashes forward and vaults across, landing on the first gear. Steadying himself, he turns back to his friends, but stumbles a bit. Walking back, he moves against the gear's cycle, but toward the end of Peach's barrier.

"Uh…whenever you guys are ready?"

"Birdo, go."

"On it."

Scooping up Toadette, Birdo leaps forward, and kicks her feet to hover a slight space. She reaches out and grabs Luigi's hands, as he pulls the two onto the gear with him. Toadette tilts backward, but grasps Birdo's neck and pulls herself up.

"Peach, you have to stay between us," directs Daisy. "You're next."

"But—"

"They're on a spinning gear, Peach, we'll be fine," affirms Daisy. "Go."

"Ok."

Jumping from the platform, Peach snaps her dress, and floats in the air. With a glance back to Daisy, Yoshi, and Pauline, she floats ahead. Her barrier follows her, and she touches down by the others, tripping as she does. Luigi helps Peach up, as they continue to walk in the opposite direction of the gear's rotation.

"Yoshi, go," instructs Daisy.

"But I can cover distances better in the air," disputes Yoshi. "You should go."

"Pauline will end up getting the back draft," assesses Daisy. "We don't need her getting knocked off. Go."

Reluctantly, Yoshi leaps forward, and kicks his feet, propelling himself and Pauline forward. They land on the gear, with little space left on it.

"Daisy, we need to keep moving," calls Peach. "You need to jump while I stay at the middle, and Luigi needs to go ahead."

"Yeah, I've got it. Just go!"

Daisy steps back as Peach centers herself on the wooden gear, with the barrier barely covering the first platform. Luigi waits as Daisy throws herself across, and then rushes forward, jumping to the second, smaller gear. The wind knocks him back, and he struggles to grab onto his plank.

"Luigi!"

Grunting, Luigi hoists himself up and onto the gear, the wind blowing past him. He grabs his hat and the pole keeping the gear in place, stuck walking on its center.

Raising her wand, Peach moves to the end of the gear, but stumbles and falters back. Her barriers shift with her direction, but she manages to balance herself.

"Uh…ok, this isn't working," realizes Peach. "My barriers won't last long enough."

"Shouldn't we have figured that out before attempting this?!" Birdo grasps at her head. "We're going to die now!"

"No, I'm not allowing that," determines Peach. "And we solve that…like this!"

Thrusting her staff forward, Peach shoots a pink ray of ice, blasting each gear until an icy bridge is created between them. She fires it until it reaches the Warp Pipe's platform, and releases her spell.

"That doesn't solve the wind," points out Pauline. "How long do we have before this barrier fades?"

"Another several seconds." Peach pulls Yoshi along. "Let's hurry."

They scurry ahead, reaching Luigi's gear as he runs ahead. Peach centers herself between Yoshi and Birdo, while Luigi leads and Daisy brings up the rear. Her eyes widen as the barriers begin to fade.

"Run! Right now, go!"

Passing the third gear and slipping on the icy bridges, Luigi slides from the barrier's reach, but crashes onto the opposite platform. He grabs it and drags himself to the middle, and charges to the Warp Pipe, large enough to block most of the wind.

Yoshi crosses next, as Pauline tightens her grip on him. Moving within Peach's barrier, he makes it across easily, as Peach herself follows. Birdo trails her, keeping very little distance between her and Peach. The two make it over, and Daisy hurries after them.

"Come on!"

Peach gasps as the barriers fade from both sides, and the wind knocks Daisy around. She stumbles from the third gear, slides on the ice, and falls from the bridge.

"DAISY!"

Before Peach can run forward, Yoshi leaps ahead and fires his tongue out. It whips out around Daisy and snags her, as Peach casts another wall around her, cushioning the whiplash. The new barrier shatters faster, and Yoshi struggles to keep himself in place.

"Hang on!"

Pauline jumps off and pulls Yoshi back, but the two continue to slide. Peach helps, and Birdo latches on next, as the four drag Daisy back up to the platform.

Luigi help Daisy up, as Yoshi retracts his tongue. She shudders and shakes her head, as they walk over to the Warp Pipe.

"Are you ok?"

"Uh…I-I think, after this part of the adventure, I'll officially have developed a case of acrophobia."

"We'll cure that later."

They laugh as Peach and Pauline help Daisy, allowing Luigi to continue through the pipe. Birdo and Toadette follow him, while Peach heavily exhales and hugs Daisy.

"I…I thought—"

"Me too." Daisy laughs and tugs Pauline into the hug. "Some trip, huh Pauline?"

"Mario does this on a regular basis," Pauline takes in. "…How?"

"All the fun of the Mushroom Kingdom," jokes Daisy.

Yoshi waits as the three release their embrace and take turns entering through the pipe. They rocket through it and launch out, crashing down below onto Luigi and Birdo. Toadette shuffles over to them, twirling her braid.

"Uh…head's up?"

"Nice warning," complains Birdo.

"Sorry, couldn't really time it."

Yoshi fires out after them, crashes on top of the group, and knocks the whole pile over. Everyone groans as Toadette giggles, ambling ahead to check the area.

"Clear," she announces. "Just some crates around, no soldiers. We can take a minute to gather our bearings."

"There's no time," insists Peach. "We wasted enough time trying to cross that insanity." She pushes herself up and starts onward. "The Koopalings must be aware of our intrusion by now. Come. My Toads are depending on us."

Toadette nods and joins Peach as they venture ahead. Daisy stumbles as she rises with the others, and Pauline helps her up. They both falter, and Birdo joins in, as the three walk on. Luigi falls back behind the group, scratching behind his head. Yoshi notices and lags back to stay with him.

"So, uh." They make eye contact briefly, but Luigi shifts his attention ahead again. "I've been thinking about what you told me earlier. You know, before all of that."

"My crush on you?"

"Ah, yeah, that."

"Do you have a 'yes or no' answer to it?"

"No…not yet."

"Then it's best left for later discussion."

"Later…?" Luigi shakes his head. "You're being uncharacteristically candid."

"Yes, I have to be." Yoshi sighs. "If I start thinking too much about it, then my emotions are going to get the better of me. I'd just…rather not put myself through that right now."

"Right." Luigi scratched beneath his nose. "Now is certainly not the time, I just, while we had a quiet moment…I didn't want you to think that I had forgotten about it."

"If we're still together, it's not exactly something that goes away, is it?"

"Is this you or Birdo talking?"

"Birdo's blunt, but you should give her more credit," defends Yoshi. "She agreed to helping you when you asked, after all, and she never had to."

"Hey, I'm not trying to offend her," protests Luigi. "I was just…you're acting a little more like her than yourself."

"We're close friends. Personality quirks tend to spread between companions like that."

"That's true, between friends, family, and lovers." Luigi blinks and shudders. "Oh, I wish we hadn't brought that up. I don't want to think about what Mario can adopt from Bowser."

"What, tyrant tendencies or something? Mario's better than that."

"Of course he is. I'm talking about Bowser's boisterous mannerisms. Can you imagine Mario letting out that gruff and obnoxious laugh that Bowser does?"

Yoshi snorts and stifles his laughter. Luigi elbows him as Birdo glowers back, but returns her attention forward.

"Birdo's going to kill me, thinking that you're choking or something!"

"Ha…sorry." Yoshi clears his throat. "It's just…oh, I want to hear Mario laugh like Bowser, or…or roar even! And then, Bowser should try to do that accent!"

Luigi and Yoshi chuckle over the idea, but slowly stop as they gaze at one another. With a shiver, Luigi pulls Yoshi on, and they close the distance between themselves and the group.

"Huh. The crates stack up nicely at the end here," notes Toadette. "Very high up, too."

"That's kind of a weird set-up," decides Pauline. "Unbalanced."

Peach leads her group ahead, and they falter in their footsteps, as Koopas, Mechakoopa, Hammer Bros., and Fire Bros. swarm the deck. Some also roll out Bill Blasters, Cannons, and Burners. Peach pinches her brow and sighs.

"Unless, of course, it was a trap. The crates were to lull us."

"Surrender, Princess!" A red-shelled Koopa steps forward and points at her. "You and your friends are hopelessly outnumbered."

"Somehow, I don't really think so," assesses Peach. She scans the deck, with glares and glowers of her enemies meeting her at every turn. "Hm. Nope, we're not really hopeless at all. You lot, on the other hand—"

"Annihilate them!"

Slamming her hands together, Daisy runs ahead, as eggs from Yoshi and Birdo whiz past her. Several smash against Koopas that raced forward, while Daisy's hands are encased in crystals. She quickly uppercuts the first Fire Bro. that reaches her, and then smacks away another.

With a back flip, Luigi bounces off of a Koopa that advanced on the group. He spirals in the air and kicks down a cannonball, spinning back down to the deck. Another Koopa approachs, as Toadette vaults from his back, forcing him back into his shell.

Pauline steps back as Peach slides ahead of her, her Royal Scepter sparking.

"Don't worry, I'll protect you."

Covering her face with her left hand, Pauline points away from them, as a Hammer Bro. throws two hammers forward. Peach shoots them from the sky, and they slam down to the deck.

The Hammer Bro. grabs another set, but Birdo tackles him down. She spits an egg into his face, knocking him out.

"You're welcome, Princess," shouts Birdo, dodging a fireball.

Thrusting her rod forward, Peach shoots a ball of ice to freeze the Fire Bro. attacking Birdo. She smirks, while Birdo rolls her eyes.

"Hey, Birdo."

"What?"

"Thank you."

"Yeah, yeah."

Mechakoopas surround Yoshi, who backs to a crate stack as he pelts the approaching toys with eggs. He bumps into the box, and holds up his last egg.

"Hang on!"

Luigi drops from above, slamming down onto one Mechakoopa. He jumps away as it explodes, and kicks down another.

Grabbing it, Luigi throws the Mechakoopa at two others, triggering a chain explosion. Three more advance on him as he backs to Yoshi.

An egg crashes into one Mechakoopa, firing it into the others before detonating. Luigi blinks and turns back to Yoshi, still holding his egg.

"Had a second to free you," calls Birdo. She walks over, and rests a hand on Yoshi's shoulder. "Are you ok?"

"Ah, yeah, thank you."

"My pleasure!"

"How about me?" Luigi raises an eyebrow to Birdo.

"Eh, you're Luigi." She laughs. "If you're not fine, we're doomed."

She darts off and spits another egg into a Koopa, slamming it from Toadette, who throws a Koopa shell toward another crowd. Luigi scratches his head and glances back at Yoshi.

"Was that a compliment?"

"Yep." He chuckles. "I thought you knew Birdo by now."

They dash forward as Hammer Bros. approach them. Yoshi throws his egg, and Luigi dodges a hammer before jumping on the troops.

A Burner fires its flames past Daisy, who races past it. She punches an incoming Bullet Bill, turning it from her and sending it flying into the Burner cannon behind her. The explosion engulfs them both, as Daisy runs to the Bill Blaster.

"These things aren't so indestructible now," she taunts.

Punching her fist into the blaster, Daisy pulls her hand from the crystal glove, and jogs backward. She shields herself as the Bill Blaster explodes from its back-up.

She freezes as she hears another Bullet Bill whizzing toward her. Turning, she barely readies her other hand as the bullet explodes before her.

Daisy blinks and turns back as Peach lowers her scepter, dropping her shoulders.

"Sorry. I didn't—"

"You saved me!" Daisy laughs. "That's what counts."

"Delicate princesses like you two always need rescuing," yells a Fire Bro., as fire channels into his mouth.

"…Two?"

As he pulls his head back, a hammer slams against the back of his head. The Fire Bro. falls forward and crashes into the deck, smoke fuming from his buried face. Peach freezes it, while Daisy grins to Pauline, putting the hammer back into her Mini Mario's hands.

"Nice moves, Pauline!"

"That was complete luck, honest." Pauline winds up Mini Mario's key, and sends him against Mechakoopas. "Luck and timing."

"I don't know," continues Daisy. "I think we've got a new powerhouse here!"

"Don't go that far," pleads Pauline.

"She does have a point," chimes in Peach. "All the same, though, thank you."

"You're welcome, Peach."

A cannonball slams down behind Pauline, and she flies forward. Daisy quickly catches her, as Peach casts two fireballs out at the cannon. They bounce off, and Peach falters, as a Koopa rushes her.

"Princess!"

Toadette kicks another Koopa shell, knocking the attacker away. She slides over to Peach and the others, panting, as Daisy places Pauline back down.

"Are…are you ok?"

"Fine, Toadette." Peach smiles. "Thank you, too."

"G-glad to help."

Another cannonball crashes down, and Toadette flops forward from the nearby impact. Peach scowls and points her scepter to the cannon.

"I'm on it!"

Daisy runs forward and slams her fist into the cannon. Its back-up triggers another explosion, but throws Daisy off her feet, having barely pulled her hand back fast enough.

She flies into Luigi, and they both slam and roll against the ground. Another pair of Hammer Bros. toss their hammers, all of which are smacked from the sky by eggs.

Birdo and Yoshi run to their friends, helping them up, as the seven gather back together. They glance around, seeing mostly downed enemies, as Mini Mario slams his hammers down on another Mechakoopa, and flies back from the explosion.

"Oh, poor little guy." Pauline taps Mini Mario's wind-up key, as the toy collapses. "That'll do for now, then."

Opening her bag, Pauline puts Mini Mario and the mallets away. She zips it closed and stands up, as her friends slowly lower their guard.

"That's the end of it, then." Daisy twists her Regal Rings on her fingers. "We definitely could have done without that, I'd wager."

"Honestly, I'm surprised the ship hasn't gone crashing down yet." Pauline studies the broken deck, pointing out several holes, burns, and debris. "I guess it helps that it's an Airship, but come on, we took out the whole crew after they destroyed a lot of this boat themselves."

"Analyze that later." Peach walks across the deck to the stern. "We need to get to the Koopalings already."

"She's really focused on that, huh?"

"Those are her subjects."

Everyone follows after Peach, stepping around broken boards and unconscious crewmates. Passing the damaged deck, everyone reaches another Warp Pipe ahead.

"If we end up getting launched from the sky again," grumbles Daisy, "so help me, I will personally make it a goal to end the Koopalings for that alone."

"Sometimes we have to deal with going outside of the ship multiple times," cautions Luigi. "Though, considering that we just fought off so much of the crew, I think we're reaching our goal."

"Then enough chatter. Let's go."

First up is Peach, jumping up on the pipe's rim, and dropping down right after. Birdo gives Toadette a boost, and then climbs up after her. She pauses as Toadette hops down, and turns back, gazing at Yoshi. He smiles and waves to her, and she winks to him, before turning back and following Toadette.

"Are you sure you're not interested in her?" Luigi scratches behind his head.

"We're friends," affirms Yoshi. "Just…good friends."

He carries Pauline up to the Warp Pipe, and allows her to drop down it first. Yoshi turns back to Luigi and nods, before jumping down after Pauline.

"Hey, are you ready?" Daisy rests her hand on Luigi's shoulder.

"Yeah, I think so. How about you?"

"Definitely."

Together, they jump up onto the pipe's rim. Nodding to one another, Daisy hops down the Warp Pipe first. Luigi hesitates once more, glancing behind him at the ravaged Airship. Exhaling, he jumps down the Warp Pipe, traveling after his friends.

After a moment, Luigi drops from the Warp Pipe, and lands on the ground. He picks his head up after steadying himself, and glances around. His friends are spread out and a little distance from him. The room is below the ship, fairly barren, but with wide windows on both sides, allowing the group to gaze at the night sky outside. Five circles are on the ground around the room, giving a bit of shape to the area.

"Somehow, I think we're in for a fight soon," murmurs Toadette.

"Are you kidding me?" Pauline gazes around the wooden room. "How is this ship still big enough for a whole arena? Seriously, how and why do they prioritize that?"

"To be honest, I stopped questioning it years ago," admits Luigi. "They've actually built bigger ships when they went to space."

"When they what?"

"Bravo, bravo."

Ludwig walks out from the edge of the room, as his slow applause dies down. He smirks as Peach slides her scepter from her hand, and points it at Ludwig. Her friends ready themselves behind her.

"Where are your siblings?"

"Waiting." Ludwig chuckles. "Couldn't have made this easy, huh? It would have been nice to know that you were buried in the rubble of that fortress."

"That was a sacred temple for Toads!" Toadette stomps forward. "You completely demolished it, and for no reason!"

"Funny." Ludwig's grin fades into a scowl. "If history taught me correctly, that's similar to how Koopas have been treated by Toads in the past. We've had our safe havens toppled and permanently disrupted several times over."

"If you're going to try making me carry the sins of my ancestors and people," advises Peach, "you're a little late to the party. I'm not torturing myself over that."

"Why not?" Ludwig's grin returns. "That's exactly what you'll be doing tonight."

"What are you talking about?!" Toadette raises her fist and shakes it. "Where are the other Toads? What have you done with my friends?"

"Silly Toad girl," taunts Wendy's voice. "Why not just ask them yourself?"

Blinking, Luigi jumps as the five circular markings around the room snap open. From below, five of the Koopalings ride up…on top of cages. Peach and Toadette's eyes widen as they spot the Toads in each cage, slumped over. Red Toad manages to lift his head, and opens his eyes a bit.

"Prin…Princess?"

"My Toads!" Peach returns her attention to Ludwig. "What have you done to them?!"

"Yes, 'your Toads,' how precious," mocks Wendy, sliding from the roof of Red Toad's cage. "Well, the obvious is that we've kept them as bait, just for you. Wasn't that nice of us?"

"You're sick," spits Daisy. "All of you."

"Like you wouldn't have done the same," fires back Larry, hopping from Blue Toad's cage. "We've seen you losers. When your precious citizens are around, you act sweet, but when the coast is clear, open season on the Koopas."

"That's not it at all," protests Yoshi.

"No?" Roy jumps from Purple Toad's cage. "You tell me, did you or did you not completely pulverize the rest of our crew?"

"They attacked us, it was self defense," argues Birdo.

"Sure, but you still could've tried to avoid the confrontation," contests Lemmy, bouncing from Yellow Toad's cage. "But you couldn't resist."

"Is there meant to be a point to all these accusations?" Pauline brushes her hair back. "As I recall, it was Bowser's army that took over the fortress. And it was your group that instigated these fights."

"Who are you supposed to be, anyway?" Morton drops from Puple Toad's cage. "Anyway, our point is that you're all willing to sink to our level."

"You've forced us there!" Luigi steps forward. "Quit acting so self-righteous. You're trying to justify your actions, but you're failing miserably."

"Oho, is that so?" Iggy appears from behind Ludwig, holding a small remote controller. "Seems like we're doing a good job of provoking that aggression right from your group here."

"Meanwhile, let's just ignore your hostility at kidnapping my innocent Toads," reminds Peach. "Brilliant."

"Ah, yes, how did they end up in this position?" Ludwig rubs his chin. "As I recall, we caught them sneaking around our king's castle. Innocent, you claim?"

"We were trying to rescue our friend, who your king kidnapped!" Toadette pounds her fist into her palm. "Enough with your stupid slander! If you're looking for a fight, then let's get this over with!"

"Aw, but don't you want to hear about our surprise?" Iggy grins wickedly. "After all, I worked hard on getting it ready, just for all of you."

"Save it," snaps Peach. "Toadette's right, if you want to fight, let's fight already."

"Very well." Ludwig folds his hands behind his back and steps forward. "Please, Princess, do take your best shot. I'll make it easy for you."

"Peach, don't." Pauline grabs the scepter and tugs it back as Peach raises it. "He's goading you."

"He could be bluffing," offers Luigi.

"When they have an upper hand by holding the Toads?" Pauline shakes her head. "What are you little monsters up to?"

"Rude, especially for a complete no one." Wendy rolls her eyes. "We just want to enjoy our surprise."

"Shut up," thunders Peach. "What is it?"

"Care for a demonstration instead?" Ludwig nods to Lemmy. "Hit me."

"Sure thing!"

The smallest Koopaling pulls out one of his signature bouncing balls, and roughly throws it at Ludwig. He takes the hit in the face, and jerks back as it collides.

Sparks flicker in both Red Toad and Blue Toad's cages, which then light up. Electricity courses through them, and both Toads scream as they're electrocuted.

"Stop it! STOP!" Peach thrusts her wand out and fires at the cages, but her attack bounces off and fades in the air around the cage. "What?!"

"Come now, we couldn't make it easy for you." Ludwig chuckles. "What fun would that be?"

"Explain what the hell this is!" Luigi clenches his fists. "What did you just do?"

"Each of us will be wearing wired cuffs that measure the influx of pain we receive, as will our wands," divulges Iggy. "With every blow registered, it transmits the data to sensors that are calculated into the cages, and amplified with deposited voltage that provides a negative feedback on your precious little bugs."

"…Ok, what?"

"Here's how this works so that even you imbeciles can understand." Iggy points the remote to the cages. "Hit any of us, and your Toads will feel more than a jolt of pain."

"You sick dastards!"

"Hate us as much as you like," taunts Ludwig. "You brought this upon yourselves."

Peach scowls and grips her Royal Scepter, her arm shaking. Yoshi and Birdo lean back, narrowing their eyes. Luigi adjusts his cap and sighs.

"W-we have to do something!" Toadette's hands go right over her mouth.

"Your surrender will do just fine," cheerfully suggests Lemmy.

"If you give up here, you'll spare yourselves a lot of pain later," offers Morton.

"Uh…yeah, no, not likely," cuts in Ludwig. "But good effort."

"Ludwig…!"

"There's no sense in lying to them." Ludwig smirks. "Princess Peach will likely be executed once Bowser gets what he needs from her. Princess Daisy shares her fate. The girl in red there has no use. Nor do the dinosaurs or the remaining Toad. Luigi is the only one that would likely have a chance, because of his brother."

"Oh! Oh oh!" Wendy excitedly claps her hands together, facing Luigi. "Do you know—?"

"Bowser and Mario are dating, yeah, everyone here knows," mumbles Luigi.

"Aw, why aren't you happy?" Wendy places her hands on her hips. "It's really cute, and you're his brother."

"Did he approve of this little assault?"

"Uh…" Wendy adjusts her cuffs beneath her bracelets. "…They're still really cute."

"Wendy, gush later," hisses Iggy. "Princess! Your surrender! Now!"

"If that's what it takes, I'll do it." Peach lowers her wand. "But that's not happening unless you guarantee the safety of everyone else with me."

"Sure, we can drop off the Toads." Larry snickers.

"No. Everyone with me, not just the Toads." Peach rubs her thumb against her scepter. "I won't resist, and you can take me to Bowser's Castle, so long as you release everyone else. The Toads, my friends, all of them go free."

"Seriously?" Wendy shakes her head. "You expect us to take a deal like that?"

"Why wouldn't you?"

"Because we have two princesses here," reminds Wendy. "Daisy might be worth less, but she's still got some value to her name."

"Hey!"

"She's not required for Bowser's conquest," disagrees Peach. "You get me, or you'll have nothing."

"You're in no position to make demands," reminds Ludwig. "Iggy?"

Grinning, Iggy pushes a button on his remote. All five of the cages light up and electrocute the Toads.

"Stop it!"

"Princess, Princess." Iggy chuckles. "You're nowhere near in control of this."

Waving her wand, Peach swipes it down, sending the remote to the ground. She thrusts forward and causes it to self-destruct. Iggy yelps and covers himself, as the cages for Green Toad and Yellow Toad flash and shock the pair.

"That was fantastically foolish," taunts Ludwig. "All you did was ensure that we have the Toads in our trap. Without that remote, there's no way to turn it off."

"Let's be real," interrupts Daisy, "you wouldn't have turned it off either way."

"Mm. True."

"This is fun, Ludwig, but I think we're all bored already," voices Wendy. "Can we just get on with beating them?"

"Yes, now would be good."

"Then what're we waiting for?" Roy pounds his fists together. "Let's just hurry this up and go."

Each of the Koopalings step forward, brandishing their wands and facing off each of Peach and her friends, who huddle close together in the middle. Yoshi, Daisy, and Birdo position themselves against Wendy, Larry, and Ludwig.

"We still have to stop those cages somehow," mumbles Toadette.

"Leave it to me," insists Pauline. "I'll get these cages open as soon as possible."

Peach nods and steps forward, joining the others in taking positions against the Koopalings. Luigi stands beside Pauline and hesitates.

"Since when did you become skilled enough to deal with foreign technologies?"

"Um, I didn't," whispers Pauline.

"Then—"

"My plan right now is to hit random buttons until the cages break or open."

"Pauline…"

"What?! We have to do something, and it's the best that I've got!" She shakes her head. "Luigi, I understand the risks. But you guys are stronger than I am, and can handle going up against the Koopalings in a fair fight." Brushing some hair from her face, Pauline glances to the cages. "This might not be familiar to me, but I've tooled around with tech before, and I'm going to figure this out one way or another. If I can only do so much, I'm going to at least get that done."

"…Ok."

Luigi walks in front of Pauline, blocking her from Lemmy and Morton. He nods to his friends, as they rush forward.

"Just what are any of you hoping to accomplish?"

Ludwig leaps back as Wendy fires out a golden ring from her wand. Yoshi and Birdo toss eggs to collide with it, but it shatters both, only weakening in size.

The pair jumps away from the attack as it flies across the room. Pauline ducks and shouts for Luigi, who jumps as the ring floats beneath him.

Morton casts his wand next, and a dark pink fireball bursts from his wand. Peach whips out her rod to counter it with a fireball of her own.

Toadette scurries toward Larry and Lemmy, but twists around as they point their wands at her.

Lemmy laughs as she darts aside, and throws a bouncing ball at her. Larry rolls his eyes and waves his wand, casting a light blue fireball and tossing it forward at Toadette. She ducks and rushes at them once again.

Luigi lunges at Iggy, who pulls back with his wand. He growls as he tries to throw Luigi off, but fails to do so.

Pauline watches as Daisy gets in front of Ludwig, sidestepping his trio of dark blue fireballs. Nodding, she sprints to Purple Toad's cage.

"Ok, let's see here…"

Staring at the buttons at the cage's base, Pauline scratches her head. Pushing a green one, she flinches and winces as sparks emit from the cage's bars.

"Not that, huh?"

"Pr…Princess?"

"Sorry, wrong lady." Pauline shrugs. "A common mistake, I'd wager. I could pull blonde well enough." She brushes back her hair. "Nothing like brunette though!"

"Ugh…"

"Right, not the time, sorry."

Pressing another button, Pauline waits, but nothing happens. Blinking, she traces over a red button, and hesitates.

"Hmm…they always claim that red is bad, but…Mario and I make it look good."

Gently tapping it, Pauline watches as the cage vibrates. She sighs and shakes her head.

"Yeah, I don't know what that was even for." She grabs the sides of her head and groans. "Come on, Pauline…you've got to do this."

"Hey! Get away from those cages!"

Twisting her head back, Pauline's eyes widen as Iggy casts a green fireball at her. She gasps as Birdo's egg connects with it, exploding and canceling the magic fireball.

"Whatever you're doing, hurry!" Birdo spat an egg at Iggy, only to have it burst next to him. "We can't keep a stalemate forever!"

"Right, right…"

Pauline shakes her head again, pushes her hair back, and glosses over the cage's control console again.

A bouncing ball sounds beside her, and Pauline presses a button as she turns to watch the ball connect with Toadette, smacking her away from the cages. Birdo runs over to spit eggs at Lemmy, who cackles at the pair.

Turning back, Pauline blinks at the cage, which seals before her eyes. Panicking, she types at multiple buttons, triggering the electricity again.

"Ah, damn!"

Purple Toad wails from inside of his cage. Pauline hammers the console, punching a yellow button. The whole thing pops open, and she yelps as Purple Toad slumps over.

"Oh my gosh!"

Quickly pulling mallets from her bag, Pauline uses them to lift Purple Toad from his cage. She places him aside and waits as he groans.

"Hey." She crouches by him and reaches forward. "I'm sorry. Are you…?"

"Thank…thank you."

Clasping her hands over her mouth, Pauline's shoulders drop. She quickly forces herself up from the ground and pumps her fist.

"Ha! One free, four to go!" She grins and places her hands on her hips. "Problem solving at its finest! I wasn't elected mayor for nothing!"

"Wait, what?" Birdo backs away from Roy's purple fireball, and blinks at Pauline. "You're a mayor?"

"Uh…yeah!" Pauline stares back at Birdo. "…Did I not mention that?"

"No."

"Oh. Um, story for another day, cover me!"

Birdo throws another egg at Roy, who takes the hit and falls back. Electricity sparks from both the empty cage and Red Toad's cage.

"Ah, sorry Toad!" Birdo winces. "The poor thing."

Running to Red Toad's cage, Pauline stops and backpedals, as Wendy taps her wand on her palm.

"Darling, you didn't really think we'd make it easy, did you?"

"Um…I was kind of hoping that you would?"

"Sorry, but no."

Wendy whips her wand forward, casting another ring from it. Pauline fidgets and falters, watching as the ring sails at her. Watching it float down, she backs away.

The ring bounces from the ground, and Pauline ducks as it flies up, darting off just over her head.

Daisy runs in, slamming her rings together, crystallizing them. She turns back to Pauline.

"Keep going, you can get Red later!"

"Yep, figured that. Thanks though!"

Running across the room, Pauline ducks as two blue fireballs zip over her. Peach knocks Ludwig's scepter with her own, while Yoshi's tongue wraps around Larry's and pulls it from him.

"Give that back!"

Sliding to Yellow Toad's cage, Pauline scans the buttons and presses the yellow one. It opens and the Toad falls from it, flopping onto the ground.

"Are you ok?"

"I'll…live."

Yellow Toad forces himself from the ground, and turns to Purple Toad, who remains on the ground as Toadette runs around Morton, who stomps the ground as she drags her friend away.

"She…needs help."

"Yeah, no, don't exert yourself." Pauline brushes her hair back. "Wait for someone to get you away from this, and I'll go help your friends."

He opens his mouth to argue, but Pauline dashes away before he can argue, running to the nearest cage.

Quickly, she taps the button and releases Blue Toad, who crashes from his cage. He balls his hands into fists, but coughs.

"You…you won't…"

"Hey, hey, it's a friend," insists Pauline. "You're safe, for a second." She smiles as Blue Toad picks up his head. "Trust me, I'm with Peach. Uh, working with her, that is. Wow, um, know what? I've got two more of you to save, excuse me." She turns, but stops and looks back to the other cage. "Yellow, come help Blue!"

Waiting as Yellow Toad staggers over, she gasps at another green fireball flying their way.

Luigi jumps up and gets hit, falling from the fire's blast. He clutches his chest, as it sizzles from the spell.

"No, Luigi!"

"It's fine," he shouts. "Go, go!"

Hesitating only a moment, Pauline runs across the room, toward Green Toad's cage. Morton steps in front of it, blocking her path.

Another egg sails over and smashes against him. Empty cages for Blue Toad and Purple Toad light up with electricity. Morton shakes his head and watches as the empty cages finish sparking.

"Uh-oh."

"Uh-oh is right," mocks Birdo, and fires another egg at the Koopaling, knocking him back again. She winks at Pauline. "You're in the clear, Miss Mayor."

"Ha, ah, thanks."

Pauline hurries over to the cage as Birdo chases after Morton, and she smacks the button to release Green Toad. He tumbles out and shakes his head.

"How'd I—when did—who are—?"

"Just know that you're safe, and stay clear of the fight." Pauline points over to Toadette and Purple Toad. "Stay by them, and she'll keep you guys safe."

Spiraling back after the Toad nods, Pauline smirks as Yoshi punches Iggy. She then races to Red Toad's cage once more, but slows as Wendy steps in front of it.

"Hm, I think we've been through this before, huh?" Wendy rests her wand in her palm once again. "Too bad your pals are held up, huh?"

Glancing aside, Pauline winces as Daisy jumps from Larry's fireball, wand back in his hand. She turns and spots each of the Koopalings holding off her friends.

"Let's try this one again," calls Wendy, and she flicks her wand.

Pauline narrows her eyes as the next ring launches from Wendy's wand. She sprints toward it, as it bounces from the floor, and ricochets from the ceiling after.

Sidestepping as it floats to her, Pauline pauses as the ring sails away and runs at Wendy. The Koopaling growls and raises her wand, as Pauline digs out her mallet.

"You think you can beat me?" Wendy scoffs. "You're doomed, lady."

"My name is Pauline," she snaps. "Remember it."

Throwing her hammer, Wendy raises her wand to block it. As she does so, Pauline dives past her, and hammers the button to release Red Toad.

"No!"

Wendy swipes her claws at Pauline, who rolls along the ground away from the enraged Koopaling. Grumbling, Wendy pivots back to Red Toad, who rests halfway out of the cage.

"Time to take care of this," she hisses.

As Pauline forces herself from the floor, Peach darts between Wendy and the cage. She waves her scepter and knocks Wendy from her feet.

"Hang on."

Daisy throws Larry against the wall, as the vacant cages for Blue Toad and Green Toad flash with voltage.

She then pulls Red Toad from his cage, and Peach smiles as Toadette hurries over to help. Turning to Pauline, she nods and lets her shoulders drop.

"Thank you."

"My pleasure, Peach!"

"How shocking, you saved the Toads," deadpans Ludwig, as he flips his hair back from over his face. "We completely didn't plan for this."

"It doesn't matter what you planned for," announces Peach. "We're no longer holding back against any of you."

Ludwig charges at Peach, as she lifts her wand to fend off his. Pauline rolls from the two, runs to the middle, and meets Luigi and Yoshi there.

"What now?" She pants as she looks to Luigi, who exchanges a nod to Yoshi.

"We fight."

Both run at Roy, who turns as they rush to him. He stomps down and a shockwave flies forward, throwing Luigi across the arena.

"You miserable little whelp!" Pauline jumps and turns as Iggy raises his wand. "My entire plan, foiled in such sort time, in such…idiotic handling?! I won't stand for this!"

He thrusts his wand forward, and a green fireball rockets at Pauline. She yelps as it flies across the room at her.

[Toadette versus Lemmy]

Dodging a bouncing ball, Toadette ducks as another sails over her. She quickly jumps as the third rolls across the ground, and slows as it explodes.

"Hold still already!"

Dropping down, Toadette pivots to Lemmy, as he aims another bouncing ball at her. She glances behind her, as the Toads gather together.

"Just give in already! You can't keep them safe."

"You're wrong." Toadette turns back to Lemmy. "I had to run from you guys the last time, but that's not happening anymore."

She runs at Lemmy, who bowls another ball at her. Leaping aside as it nears her and blows up, she zips toward the Koopaling, who back-flips and points his wand to the ground.

Lemmy laughs as the spell completes, and lands onto a bigger ball, forcing Toadette to a halt.

"Nice try, puny girl!"

He lobs another bouncing ball at her, and she hops aside as it whizzes by. Groaning, Lemmy throws one against the ceiling and it bursts before Toadette, forcing her to the ground.

"Why don't you just give up, anyway?" Lemmy sits on his ball and folds his arms. "You've got to be exhausted. I can play these games all day, but you Toads are so fragile."

Toadette forces herself back up, holding in her heavy breathing. She squints at Lemmy, who tilts his head at her.

"We're not the bad guys here, you know."

"Are…are you serious?!" Toadette shakes her head. "You locked my friends in cages! You tried to fry them!"

"Technically, we did set it up and threatened it, but actually didn't carry that out ourselves." Lemmy pauses and blinks. "Ok, Iggy did, but he's a little edgy and excitable about that stuff. Honest, I wouldn't—"

"Seriously, you went along with this!" Toadette stomps the ground. "How can you possibly not think you're all evil?!"

"Sometimes good people do bad things." He raised an eyebrow. "Or do you really think yourselves above that?"

"We are!"

"Tell that to the melted snowman."

Jerking back, Toadette falters as Lemmy rises again. He rolls his ball forward, rushing toward her and throwing another bomb ball.

Spotting a stopped ball near her, Toadette jumps onto it and springs into the air, flying over Lemmy's bombs.

"Whoa, cool!" Lemmy blinks. "I-I mean, hey!"

Sailing toward him, Toadette slams down on the Koopaling's head, and launches off of him, knocking him from his perch on the bigger ball.

Lemmy slams against the ground, skidding as he crashes. He clutches his wand and lifts his head as Toadette runs at him.

"N-no way…not like this…!"

He forces himself up as she leaps up, spinning inside of his shell as she stomps down where he was.

Twisting back, Toadette watches as Lemmy spirals back toward her, and she vaults over him. Twirling back again, she watches as Lemmy emerges from his shell.

"Not bad," he admits. "But I'm not letting you end me here."

"You're not allowing anything anymore," snaps Toadette. "You're finished!"

Running at him again, she dodges another bouncing ball, and kicks from the ground. Stomping over Lemmy's head, Toadette launches off of the Koopaling and lands once more.

"Ugh…you're not right either, you know!" Lemmy shakes his head. "Peach's family, and your people…they've messed with mine one too many times!"

"There are better ways to go about restitution than this!"

Jumping up again, Toadette falls toward Lemmy, who jumps onto one of his balls. He bounces up at her, but only merits feet in his face.

Kicking off from the Koopaling, Toadette vaults from him as he crashes down, and lands opposite to him. She twists back around, and watches as Lemmy groans, turning from her before releasing his wand.

Toadette exhales and drops to the ground panting. She looks at her fellow Toads, with Yellow Toad and Green Toad clapping for her. Grinning to them, she jogs over to the five.

[Birdo versus Morton]

A shockwave zips across the floor as Birdo kicks her feet and flutters over the attack. She lands back down and sidesteps a pink fireball, before locking eyes with Morton.

"Just wait, I'll keep you grounded," Morton threatens. He stomps down and another shockwave rockets to Birdo, who leaps and flutters over it again. "Stay down!"

"Why are you even doing this?" Birdo touches back down to the ground. "Out of each one of these Koopalings, you seem…I don't know, sort of with it?"

"Huh?"

"Not a complete jerk. How's that?"

"None of my siblings are jerks!"

"Ok, hang on, I didn't mean—"

"This is the exact reason that I am doing this!" Morton stomps down, and Birdo jumps away from another shockwave. "I'm looking out for them, because they need me!"

"Big old bodyguard gimmick, huh?"

"More like big brother!"

Morton whips his wand, and waves it in the air. Birdo spits an egg at him as he casts his fireball, and the two attacks burst into each other, canceling out.

"You so-called heroes don't even understand familial bonds," lectures Morton. "It's something that we developed together, and something that strengthens Bowser's army! We actually care about one another!"

"Yeah, I've heard, that's neat." Birdo rolls her wrist around. "Doesn't make anything you're doing right."

"So what makes you right?!" Morton points his wand at Birdo. "Because the greater kingdom claims that you are?!"

"Well, yeah, for starters—"

"That's a load of crap!" Morton growls and whips his wand around again. "You're no heroes."

"To be fair, I've never really been a hero type," decides Birdo, and she spits an egg at Morton before he sends out a fireball, knocking him down. "Out of everyone here, I'm probably the odd one out with the whole, uh, 'bonding' experience that you're going on about." She lowers her arms. "I'm used to depending on myself foremost."

"Then what…what are you doing with Peach and the rest?" Morton pushes himself from the ground, wincing at the dent he left.

"Following an opportunity." Birdo shrugs. "I'm in this to better myself, not anyone else. Working with Peach will help me get that done."

"You'd work with that kind of a monster for monetary gain?"

"Uh, no, not that kind of reward." Birdo pauses. "Well, maybe I can add that in." She shakes her head. "Doesn't matter. I'm seeking the renown itself."

"That's it? Infamy?"

"No, infamy is what I already have."

"You'll only gain more working with Peach." Morton shakes his head. "She's only using you to her own ends. However terrible your reputation is now, it'll get worse."

"Yeah, big deal. News flash: the Koopa Kingdom has been on the losing side too many times." Birdo adjusts her bow and brings her hands back down. "I've sided with Bowser before, just as I've sided against the Mushroom Kingdom's heroes before. Guess what? Doesn't work out. Surprising, I know."

"So you're just doing this because you're gaining fame from what you think is the winning side?!"

"They are the winners," corrects Birdo. "Try as you might, you'll never beat them, beat us, darling."

"Yes, I will! We will!"

Once more, Morton stomps the ground, sending another shockwave forward. He jumps up and slams down right after, sending a larger one rushing after it.

Birdo jumps up to avoid the first, but blasts off flying from the second. She spits an egg behind her, slowing her knockback, and another down, slowing her descent.

Crashing to the floor, she forces herself back up, as Morton's giant pink fireball sails across the arena at her. Rolling forward, Birdo evades it and runs back to Morton, who raises his wand again.

Leaping over the fireball first, and then jumping again to dodge his shockwaves, Birdo flutters over and stomps down on Morton's head. She kicks away from him and touches back to the ground.

"See? Losing side. You're on it."

"Not…it's not over…not yet!" Morton stomps down, but no shockwave flies out. "Huh?"

"Out of power? Huh, shocking." Birdo chuckles. "Performance issues are known to happen to those with losing streaks—"

"They also get a little desperate," admits Morton. He then points his wand across the room, aiming at Toadette. "So tell me, you really don't care about your teammates like I do my siblings?" Birdo narrows her glare as Morton laughs, sucking in air. "That's it? You really think you don't care about the others?" He shakes his head. "Whether you want to believe it or not, we all form attachments." Morton turns and redirects his wand to Yoshi. "Some stronger than others, but to the same ends."

Inhaling faster, sharply, Birdo holds her breath for a moment. Morton pulls his wand back and rotates it around the air again.

Jumping up and forward, Birdo spits out a massive egg. Morton's eyes widen as throws his wand out, stuck as the fireball launches.

Birdo's egg rips through the magic spell and smashes into Morton, throwing him back across the room. Folding her arms, Birdo watches as Morton falls to the floor, and fails to rise against her again.

[Luigi versus Larry]

With his wand in hand, Larry approaches Luigi, as the plumber rises from the ground and shakes his head.

"Not so fast!"

The Koopaling's fireball rockets from his wand and into Luigi, who flies back as the magic attack connects. He gasps and clutches at his gut, writhing on the ground.

"Ha! Look at that!" Larry grins and runs over to Luigi. "The great hero of the Mushroom Kingdom, felled by the youngest Koopaling!"

Grunting, Luigi pushes himself from the floor, as Larry casts out another fireball. This time, Luigi ducks down to evade it.

"Pesky plumber…I will incinerate you!"

As Luigi rises, Larry whips his wand around. He flicks it back and forth, casting out two fireballs that bounce from the walls.

Luigi slides beneath them and swipes at Larry's feet, knocking him off-balance. Shoving off the ground, Luigi forces himself airborne, and stomps down over Larry's head.

"Ow!"

"Just let it end here," calls Luigi as he kicks from the Koopaling's head. "I don't want to fight you."

"Yeah?! W-well, I want to fight you!"

"For what?" Luigi folds his arms and tilts his head at Larry.

"Because my siblings are doing it too, ok?!"

"That doesn't make it right."

"Shut up!"

Again, Larry casts a fireball, but Luigi merely jumps over it and slams down over Larry once again.

Angry, the Koopaling tucks himself into his shell and rapidly spins it around. He launches forward and slides at Luigi, who jumps over Larry's shell. The shell spins around and makes two more attempts at Luigi, both missing.

Popping out of his shell again, Larry pants and collapses against the floor. Luigi sighs and adjusts his cap.

"Honestly, Larry, you can't win this." He shakes his head. "Come on, my brother is dating your king. We can come to some kind of peaceful resolution over this, can't we?"

"No! If…if we could, we…we wouldn't be fighting."

"Then let's stop." Luigi walks over and offers his hand to Larry, who gazes up at him. "Come on. Let's be the first to stop here."

"Would you…really just stop?"

"Yes." Luigi smiles. "I don't understand everything, but I'd rather avoid fighting if it's possible."

"…Too bad I wouldn't!"

Rolling his eyes, Luigi jerks his hand back as Larry lifts his wand. Deftly, Luigi kicks it from the Koopaling's hand.

"Ugh! You think you're tougher than me?!"

"More experienced, but—"

"But nothing!" Larry swipes a claw at Luigi, who backs away. "You don't know what it's like! Being the youngest of seven, struggling to come up with an identity against the rest of them, trying to stand out while still pleasing everyone…you wouldn't get it at all!"

"…Actually, I understand that perfectly." Luigi shrugs. "I'm not the youngest of seven, but my brother is Super Mario, the hero of the Mushroom Kingdom." He smirks. "Believe me, I know what it's like to be in a sibling's shadow, and yet still trying to please him and everyone else."

"I don't care!" Larry scratches up at Luigi again, only nicking his overall straps. "I don't care that you relate, you're only taking more from me! You're belittling all of my issues!"

"That's not what I'm trying to do," insists Luigi. "I want to help you—"

"No, you don't! You're helping Peach!" Larry tightens his fists and grits his teeth. "And if you're helping her, then you're against all of us, including me."

"Please, it's not that simple—"

"Yes it is!" Larry growls. "Just fight me!"

Frowning, Luigi dodges Larry's attacks until a punch connects with his shoulder. Larry pants and drops back to the floor.

"Just…just fight…"

"Isn't there any other way?"

"None!"

"Then…this is for your own good."

Leaping up, Luigi stomps onto Larry's head, and forces the Koopaling crashing to the floor. He moans, but then rolls away and becomes still. Luigi pauses and observes the Koopaling until he notices Larry's body rise and fall. Shaking his head, Luigi turns away from the young Koopaling.

[Daisy versus Wendy]

Casting a ring from her wand, Wendy fires it at Daisy, who ducks from it. The ring bounces from the wall behind them, and Daisy pivots away as it flies back at her.

"Oh, I've been waiting for this rematch." Wendy grins as she spins her wand above her, and casts another ring forward.

Both rings bounce around, knocking against the walls, the floor, the ceiling, and each other. Daisy sidesteps and dives away each time a ring soars near her.

"Do these things get faster?"

"Perhaps." Wendy giggles. "Or maybe you're just getting slower! Pack on any weight lately?"

"Really?"

"What? It's not my fault you princesses gain and lose weight at the drop of a hat."

"Sure."

Touching the ground, Daisy's Regal Rings glow as flowers burst from the wooden floorboards, a trail leading up to Wendy. Leaning over, Daisy sinks into her flowers as the rings collide with where she stood.

"Huh?!"

Wendy takes a step back, but falters as Daisy emerges from the flowers before her, and uppercuts the Koopaling. She shrieks as she stumbles back, and Wendy clutches her face.

"How the…what kind of twisted magic do you princesses even use?!" Wendy stomps her foot. "First Peach with her overpowered wand, and now you can just warp through flowers from your rings?!"

"Uh…yeah?"

"So repulsive!" Wendy shakes her fist. "Ugh, I had to actually put on those stupid cuffs like my brothers just to come up with something that would inconvenience Peach, but you two just add accessories to literally cheat at life!"

"You use your wands for the same ends," points out Daisy. "Ours are just better."

"Exactly my point!" Wendy stomps her foot again. "You princesses are so spoiled!"

"Us?"

"Yes, you!" Wendy folds her arms. "It's not like either of you have ever had to struggle to get what you wanted. And because I'm sure that you've forgotten, no, I'm not a princess myself!" Wendy huffs and twirls her necklace around a finger. "Neither of you have probably ever had to struggle in life, not like us Koopas have."

"Even if you're not royalty, you're practically close to it," intervenes Daisy. "Quit acting like Peach and I have had our lives on silver platters."

"Ha! I wouldn't be surprised if that was the literal case!"

"See, this is where you don't understand." Daisy places her hands on her hips. "Peach and I have had our own issues to deal with growing up. We were neglected at times, with busy parents as kingdom rulers. And we were tutored to have to use magic at young ages. Even now, we have public expectations to meet, people that we weren't even allowed to see when we were younger, but who know more about us than we've ever told them."

"Oh, you poor thing." Wendy scoffs. "Please! You call that a hard life? Try being the only girl with six brothers! Let me know when you've struggled with standing out in front of your parents, yet always being a disappointment to one simply because you couldn't keep up with the others. Tell me how much you were picked on if you weren't feminine enough as a child, but then picked on anyway if you came off too masculine! And—"

"You know, my friend Birdo might actually be able to help—"

"Uh, excuse you? I wasn't finished!" Wendy growls and pulls her wand up again. "Exactly proving my point, as to how spoiled you are! Not even patient enough to wait until someone else finishes speaking!"

"Sorry if I can't be polite to a huffy monster," mocks Daisy.

"Ooh! That tears it!"

Wendy twirls her wand and casts out a ring, which bounces from the floor. She sends out another, ricocheting it from the ceiling. Rapidly after, Wendy launches a third one as well, straight ahead.

Eyes darting to each attack, Daisy watches each and carefully dodges them. The rings bounce off after connecting, and consecutively fly back to Daisy, but she dives aside from them completely.

One ring sails back and bops Wendy, bursting and launching her into the wall behind her. She groans and shakes her head, bouncing up from the ground.

"No! No, I won't be defeated like this! Not again!" She grumbles and stomps her feet. "Bowser and Mario are counting on me. Rotten princess, I won't let it end here!"

"That's not up to you at all."

Blinking, Wendy glances up as Daisy stomps down over her head. Wendy wails and stumbles back, slumping over against the wall. Daisy proudly places a hand on her hip and smirks.

"Mario certainly needs help, but definitely not from the likes of you."

She waits a moment, as Wendy slides further down against the floor. Chuckling, Daisy ambles away from the fallen Koopaling.

[Pauline versus Iggy]

Fireball after fireball whizzes across the room, as Pauline ducks and runs from each one. She dives behind a cage as another green flame bursts against it.

"Get back out here you pest! You wretched woman!" Iggy jumps up and down, waving his wand wildly. "My careful planning so quickly undone…you make me out as a fool like this!"

"Hey, I had to save the Toads, ok?" Pauline digs in her backpack, pulling out Mini Mario. "You're the one that caged them, and I'm the one that saved them. Get over it."

"No, I refuse!"

Winding up the key, Pauline quickly turns it as she listens to the floorboards near her creaking. She holds the toy back as Iggy approaches.

"My siblings depend on my genius, my inventions, to get them out of tight situations!" Iggy roars, firing out another spell, which bursts against the ship's wall. "If they see me fail so easily and constantly, they'll never think of relying on me again!"

"Um. They're your brothers…and sister." Pauline shrugs. "They're kind of stuck with you for life. And you guys seem to have this 'hive mind' connection that has you travel in a collective pack, so, I doubt they want to mess with that."

"Haven't you ever disappointed anyone before?! It's not that simple!"

Rushing around the cage, Iggy leaps at Pauline, while her Mini Mario jumps at him and hammers him to the ground. Grabbing her toy, Pauline runs as the Koopaling pushes himself up from the floor, chasing her again.

"Your little toy won't save you forever!"

"No, but that's what buys me time!"

"Nothing, and no one, can save you, understand?!" Iggy slides his wand out. "I will end you here and now! You've driven me crazy for the last time!"

Again, Iggy wildly casts his spells around, flinging fireballs all around the room. Pauline sprints from the ones that soar near her, and skids to a halt at another cage.

Iggy slows his approach, and wickedly grins at his prey. Pauline backs up, bumping the cage and jumping from hitting it.

"Hold still, if you want it to end quicker," threatens Iggy.

"Couldn't we, I don't know, talk this out somehow?" Pauline shudders at the Koopaling's approach, and places Mini Mario back down, hands on the mallets. "There are lots of ways to handle anger issues rather than lashing out at what you mistake as the source of them."

"There is absolutely no mistake here!" Iggy adjusts his glasses and narrows his eyes on Pauline. "It's you, you've ruined me, and now I can make you pay!"

Lunging at her while casting another speedy fireball, Pauline has her Mini Mario jump up and take the blast. It crashes back down, scorched from the blow.

"Fool! What were you expecting?" Iggy cackles, and then erupts into a maniacal laugh. "That toy was your best weapon, and now it's out of commission! You might as well surrender with some kind of dignity!"

"Yeah, you might think that this gives you the advantage," relents Pauline. "But, you haven't been watching closely, have you?"

"Huh?"

"Maybe you should clean your glasses and take in the view again."

A pause fills the air as Iggy glowers at Pauline. He takes off his glasses and quickly rubs them off, before placing them back on.

"Am I supposed to be intimidated by…what, such a basic, pathetic creature like you?"

"Eh, I guess not. I'm not really intimidating, that much is true." Pauline shrugs and advances toward Iggy. "But…you're still not paying attention."

"To what?" Iggy steps around as Pauline does, rotating around the room. "What are you plotting, you…you vermin?!"

"Check my precious toy again."

Slowing their pacing, Pauline clicks her feet together as Iggy stares ahead at her fallen Mini Mario. He spots only one hammer in the toy's hand.

Sharply picking his head back up, Iggy is too late as Pauline smashes her mallet into the Koopaling's gut, and knocks him back. Running to him, she shoves him into the cage behind him.

Rapidly mashing the buttons, Pauline dives away as Iggy swipes his claws at her, but the cage snaps shut, and promptly proceeds to electrocute him. Iggy screams as the sparks flick from the cage, and Pauline punches the yellow button to release him.

With a weak gasp, Iggy pops back from the cage, flopping out from the tight fit. He collapses against the ground, and Pauline picks up her Mini Mario, while Iggy remains defeated on the floor.

[Yoshi versus Roy]

Splinters of wood fly up as Yoshi leaps away from Roy's fist smashing the ship's floor, missing his attack. He growls as Yoshi flutters away from him.

"So, you can create shockwaves like your brother, right?" Yoshi touches down and folds his arms. "Go ahead."

"Like you're not ready to hover over them," complains Roy. "You must not think I'm very smart, huh?"

"Well, I had hopes."

Roaring, Roy pulls his wand back, and waves it down, casting out a purple fireball. Yoshi spirals around and evades the attack.

"Twerp."

"That's your best, really?"

"Oh, like you're a bucket of kingdom's greatest insults, huh?"

"No, but—"

"Then shut it and fight!"

Again, Roy lifts his wand and lobs out a fireball. Yoshi ducks beneath it and whips his tongue out, latching onto Roy's wand.

"What the…hey!"

Roy quickly grasps at the wand with both hands, dragging it and Yoshi toward him. Yoshi, however, plants his feet and pulls back. Yanking back and forth, the two struggle against one another, neither conceding an inch.

"Just let go, you stupid little—"

"Nwo, uou wet gwo!"

"Huh?"

"Uou wet gwo oph et!"

"Ha. Didn't anyone…teach you not to…talk with your mouth full?"

"Oh, fawgeb et."

Releasing his grip, Yoshi withdraws his tongue, as Roy stumbles back. Charging, he rushes at the Koopaling, who rebounds and rushes with his shoulder.

Both connect against one another, growling and grunting as they shove against each other. Once more, neither gains ground from the standoff.

"Just what are you hoping to prove?" Yoshi shakes his head. "Both sides have people to fight for. You have your family, and I have my friends and people." He staggers back as Roy pushes, slipping on a loose floorboard, but Yoshi regains his footing. "There are better ways to resolve this!"

"Yeah, then what are they?" Roy grunts as Yoshi forces him skidding back, but spreads his legs to better balance himself. "Because I don't see you guys coming up with better alternatives than reclaiming what we took."

"If I had all of the answers, we wouldn't be fighting!" Yoshi twitches and thrashes harder. "I don't know why you guys always insist on violence!"

"Like Peach's people are any more innocent? As if!" Sliding again, Roy stomps the ground to dig his feet in, before shoving back harder. "You're not blind, and you've seen the damages she causes. She's no different from us, and we're just defending ourselves first!"

"That's…ok, you have a point," relents Yoshi. "But we're not solving anything here, especially not by taking those Toads!"

"They infiltrated our castle!"

"You've done the same countless times to Peach's!"

"And you've done it repeatedly back!"

"Not unprovoked!"

"Not that you would know of!"

"You're right, I don't!"

Both Yoshi and Roy pause, blinking at the former's sudden confession. Yoshi sighs.

"I…I don't think that anyone fighting at this point has all of the facts that we need to resolve this easily. What I know is that I can't stop because so many are depending upon me. There isn't any time to question this."

"…Yeah, same." Roy shrugs. "I know what we're doing isn't…it's not right, not even Bowser asked us to do this."

"What?"

"Uh, you didn't hear that from me."

"Then…then this is all completely…that only makes things worse!" Yoshi stomps his foot hard. "Have any of you even realized—?"

"Look, not all of us wanted to jump right into this!" Roy adjusts his sunglasses. "It's just…we have to find ways to meet a middle ground with one another. And we have to make calls on what's important. Bowser can't decide everything, just like Peach shouldn't get to." He stares at Yoshi straight through his sunglasses, lowering his arms. "Don't you get that yet?"

"…Yes." Yoshi drops his head. "I…I've gone through with things that I don't entirely agree with either. That's…that's my point too."

"So, what we've got here is an impasse, huh?" Roy scratches behind his head. "And that goes on a whole lot of levels."

"It keeps coming to that." Yoshi frowns. "How does anything get resolved? Mario and Bowser are dating from this, but I can't…and this is a blood feud between Bowser and Peach. So…and yet we're not even all of a sound mind—"

"You're thinking way too hard." Roy shrugs. "We all are."

"Then what?"

"I don't know." Roy turns and watches the others for a moment.

"…What's wrong?"

"…Did you guys kill any of the crew?" Roy folds his arms. "Be honest."

"As far as I know, I don't think so." Yoshi lifts his head again. "But what does that—?"

"Hit me."

"Wait, what?"

"Hard. Over the head."

"Why?"

"Really, I don't know." Roy shakes his head. "I don't feel…my siblings and I aren't functioning well together at all. That's what we run on." He sighs. "We're not gaining any ground from this at all. Those Toads are useless to begin with, but Peach came to save them. And the whole fortress fell, so no one claims it now." Roy drops his arms. "I don't see a point here. I know that we need to defend our people, but this is…I don't know, it feels like a waste."

"So you're giving up?"

"A battle, not the war." Roy smirks. "Maybe you're on the right path, maybe we are. But I'm letting it go to you for this one." He chuckles. "But, uh, I've got to make it look good, you know?"

"Yeah, that…yeah."

"Then what're you waiting for? An invite?" He scoffs. "You got one, come on."

Nodding, Yoshi jumps up as Roy swings his wand. Stumbling back, Roy aims for Yoshi, who kicks the Koopaling's head, knocking him back. He waits a moment as Roy flops out, and walks away after a moment.

[Peach versus Ludwig]

Magic sparks flash out as Peach and Ludwig fire spells at one another, twisting and flicking their wands; each takes turns launching fireballs into barriers.

Crafting a bright pink ball of ice, Peach launches it at Ludwig, who slides from it and spins into his shell. She creates another, but he dives forward and launches three blue fireballs at her. Jumping between two of the three, Peach thrusts her staff forward and fires out lightning, which Ludwig evades, knocking up only the boards from the ship.

"What happened to that big contingency plan of yours?" Peach laughs. "This isn't it, is it?"

"You'll see it, once my siblings make short work of your friends," threatens Ludwig. "But that's only if you actually survive against me!"

With a grin, Ludwig spins his wand around, and thrusts it forward. A larger blue fireball erupts from it, rocketing forward at surprising speed. Peach barely raises a barrier as it blasts her back and through the Airship's walls.

Flying out into the night air, Peach spirals around and whips her Royal Scepter about, before quickly jerking it back. A clear yellow platform materializes beneath her, and she slams down on it.

Slowly, she rises up on it, and touches it gently. The light flickers as the platform fades before returning to form.

Jumping up from it and back onto the Airship, Peach pulls herself back on board. Ludwig waves his wand around, quickly sealing the ship.

"Hmm, don't know how you survived that," notes Ludwig. "But that hardly matters, so long as I try it again."

Raising his staff, he forces Peach from the ground with his magic, blue bindings keeping her up. Whipping his wand around, he throws Peach from a window on the ship, and releases her into the open air again.

Deftly twisting it as she did before, Peach creates another platform, this one smaller than the first. She lands on it and quickly leaps off, creating another platform closer to the ship.

Hurrying to the window, Ludwig casts another fireball, as Peach jumps from her light platform and back into the Airship. She kicks Ludwig upon her return, and he slams back down.

"Gosh, I could almost do this for all night," taunts Peach. "Though, it gets old quickly. So, let's finish this."

"We're just getting started," persists Ludwig as he rises.

His wand sparks with a blue charge of lightning. Peach, however, brings her Royal Scepter behind her, securing it down the back of her shirt.

"Just what do you think you're doing?"

"Not meeting to any of your demands," reveals Peach. "You had a chance to settle for just me, and you would have had my cooperation. By refusing, I'm officially going against everything you want." She smiles, just slightly. "That includes beating you not as an equal with magic, but by doing it the old-fashioned way."

"You would dare—?!"

"Yes, just as you would dare to kidnap my Toads and destroy the Mountains fortress."

Growling into a roar, Ludwig forces his wand forward, casting a quartet of fireballs at Peach. She runs forward, ducks beneath one, and jumps over a second.

Stumbling back, Ludwig casts another trio of fireballs, as Peach dives between two of them, and steps closer to Ludwig.

"Y-you can't win this," Ludwig snaps. "I…I will stop you!"

"Somehow, I find that hard to believe." Peach shrugs. "Maybe it's because you've failed at every turn so far, but—"

"Silence!"

Ludwig raises his wand before jabbing it forward, and a bolt of lightning fires from it. Peach sidesteps it as it cracks down and smashes parts of ship.

Charging on, Peach jumps into the air, as Ludwig struggles to wave his wand at her. Throwing her feet forward, Peach stomps on Ludwig's head, and harshly kicks from his head, flipping away from him.

She lands as he crashes to the floor, but Ludwig is quick to scoop up his wand and aims at Peach again. He fires another bolt of lightning, but Peach dodges it and advances on him again.

"This…I won't allow it!" Ludwig pants as he aims his wand again, peering past some hair that fell in front of his eyes. "You're…you're evil."

"There's some tired expression of pots and kettles that works now."

"We're stopping you here," continues Ludwig. "You…you threaten Koopa kind…yet again. All you'll do…is see us…go extinct…and laugh."

"That's certainly not my objective," insists Peach. "It doesn't seem like you'd care to listen, though."

"No point," contends Ludwig. "You…you shouldn't…be winning."

"Now that's ridiculous." Peach folds her arms. "We both knew that I had more experience coming into this fight. What made you even think that any of this was going to help you succeed?"

"You're…not even…using magic."

"That's because you wanted it." Peach drums her fingers on her elbow. "What, were you hoping that I exhausted myself using spells before? Somewhat, I'll grant you that. But not completely, not even close."

"Yet, your team…they're not…united…"

"Haven't you taken a look?" Peach tilts her head. "You divided your Koopalings to fight us off, after having us scale the Airship and working together to reach you. Even without the trials of surviving the Mountains, we're probably in a better position of synchronization and cooperation than your family right now."

"That's…that can't be true…"

"No? Then why didn't you gather your siblings to fight together?" Peach shakes her head. "Though you all agreed on this plan, you didn't quite come to terms accepting one another's ideas, did you?" She pauses, while Ludwig remains silent. "I explained to my friends that I wasn't completely sure of myself, but that I wanted to free my Toads, that I needed them. And, in spite of everything, they assisted me to even now, and persevered throughout."

Quietly, Ludwig stares at Peach, his hands trembling. She glances behind her, as her friends all gather, watching and waiting. Ludwig staggers and raises his wand, but fumbles it as attempts to aim.

"Oh, and so you know: the more abilities you use with your magic, the stronger it is, but the harsher the toll is on you while using it." Peach nods. "I suppose it's a good thing that I'm challenging you without using my spells for a little bit."

"This isn't over…"

"Yes, it is."

Dashing to the Koopaling, Peach leaps into the air and quickly falls from it. Ludwig pulls his wand back to cast a fireball, but he misses Peach completely. She stomps down over his head, and slams Ludwig to the ground.

"Good work, Princess!"

Toadette is quick in returning to Peach's side, beaming to her princess. She turns as her Toad friends totter over as well. Luigi rubs his finger beneath his nose, while Daisy adjusts the rings on her fingers. Yoshi, Birdo, and Pauline line up behind them.

"Thank you. All of you." Peach nods. "This is…we did well." She leans down and smiles to her Toads. "You've been braver and done far more than I could have asked for. Thanks to each of you as well."

"It's our duty, Princess," maintains Yellow Toad. "Thank you for rescuing us."

"So, what happens now?" Pauline folds her arms behind her head. "We saved the day, and now…we're in a giant boat in the sky. Do we…I don't know, commandeer it?"

"And here I thought the next step was the big, ever cliché group hug," mocks Birdo.

"Are we doing anything else with the Koopalings?" Daisy studies Ludwig, and turns back to gaze at his fallen siblings around the arena. "Maybe we should kidnap them, give them a taste of their own medicine."

"That thought did cross my mind," admits Peach. "But—"

"Not…a chance."

Everyone's eyes widen as Ludwig pushes himself back up to his knees. Peach pulls out her Royal Scepter and aims it at him.

"This…isn't over."

He taps his wand, and the head of it flickers. An explosion bursts from below, and the floor crumbles beneath Peach and her friends. They fall quickly from the Airship, dropping through the sky. Pauline and Toadette shriek as everyone fumbles through their rapid descent.

"PEACH!" Daisy flails around as she turns to her friend. "PEACH, WHAT DO WE DO?!"

"I'LL TRY TO CAST A SPELL TO SLOW THIS," Peach calls over the wind.

"SLOW?! HOW ABOUT SAVING US ENTIRELY?!" Birdo covers her eyes. "OH, THIS CAN'T BE HOW WE DIE, PLEASE NO!"

Tightly gripping her scepter, Peach drags it forward and aims it. As she squints from the whipping air around her, it abruptly halts. Peach blinks and shakes her head, spotting a cyan bubble around her group.

"Wow, quick rescue, Peach!" Luigi smiles, as he floats around the bubble's space. "This is actually pretty cool."

"It would be, but…I didn't cast this."

Everyone stares at her, each shooting an inquisitive expression. Peach glances behind her, as a small, yellow, star-shaped creature with eyes pops up behind her.

"Huh? Is that…a Luma?"

"Indeed it is."

A gentle giggle rings out around them. Jumping and directing their attention upward, Peach and her allies gaze in awe at a light blonde haired woman in a turquoise blue dress floats above them, carried by a crowd of multi-colored Lumas. She smiles as she waves her wand, its star-shaped head glowing.

"It's…Rosalina," manages Luigi.

"Hello again," echoes Rosalina's voice. "You seem to have quite an ordeal going on. Shall we return to your castle, Princess Peach?"

"Ah, yes. Please."

Rosalina nods to the Lumas nearest to her, and they lead a cheer that rings out among the whole group. They sail from the sky, floating downward, as Rosalina carries Peach and the others in her magic bubble. They look back to the Airship, as it looms in the sky, and gaze upon the barren Mountains as they depart.

...

Ah, I've been waiting for Rosalina to grace this story for so long…! Oh, and to conclude this segment of the story too.

Yes, it probably could have been split into two chapters, so I do apologize for that now. But, I billed this repeatedly as the closing arc, and I wanted to stick to that, so there, I did. (Plus, it's been a while, and I'm due on words.)

Capturing the Airship's moments in just a battle between Peach and the Koopalings seemed too small, and I didn't want that to be the only part of the chapter. So, I had the moments of actually scaling the vessel leading up to that. It's hard to contain the different challenges from the games and condense it for just one chapter! Plus, I got to utilize some new enemies, including the Bill Blasters, Burners, and Mechakoopas! And perilous heights for fun moments! Poor Daisy, ha.

Anyway, it was nice utilizing Pauline here some more, and I couldn't resist giving her the chance to free the Toads. The Koopalings could anticipate Peach, Luigi, and the rest down to Toadette…but certainly not someone as plain as Pauline. Oh, and yes, I absolutely had to include that bit on her being a Mayor, because Odyssey will be featuring her as such. I wager Birdo would be the one more out of the loop on Pauline's role, hence the interaction.

Having the Koopalings square off against Peach and the others after twenty chapters seemed like a good way to callback the last format that they used. It was between that and having them cooperate, but as it's explained in the story, both sides aren't completely together, with the Koopalings more fractured than usual, leading to their loss. Still, it's fun to give them some moral high ground, even in spite of their kidnapping of the Toads; they did think they were doing the right thing, or at least, tried to convince themselves that they had! It was also good to not have Peach use magic to win her fight, as it truly proves that she can go toe-to-toe with the tougher baddies and still prevail.

Anyway, this chapter has certainly been long enough, so that's about all from me, besides the usual closing remarks. Oh, oh, while I've been away, this chapter has now cleared 100 Favorites and Follows each, even over 110 each, so that's super wonderful! Though the Followers still rank in the Top 10 (Rank 6), the Favorites are now competing for Top 20 (tied for Rank 20 itself)! Even the Review total ranked up in the archive searches, now nearing the Top 30 (Rank 31). Being higher on these selected filters for searches helps the story to be found with less difficulty, which is always a good thing. So, once again, a very big thank you to all of my readers and supporters!

Nevertheless, feedback is very greatly appreciated still, as it helps me improve and lets me know that folks are still enjoying the story. So, I hope to hear back from you guys again! Comments, criticisms, and questions are appreciated and welcomed, so if you can, please do.

Hmm, let's see…very notable boyfriends have been missing in action for quite some time. Next chapter, though? They'll be back! But, I wonder how that'll work out now, considering all that's happened. Once more, thank you for your continued patience, all your support, and for reading this story so far! More is under development, so look forward to that.

And until then? Super Mario Odyssey has some very distinguished amiibo of Bowser and Mario in wedding tuxedos, if you haven't seen those already, so check those out! As well as the lovely fan art and posts that followed with their reveal…Bowsario shipping is still at large and finally taking some charge! Oh, and don't forget: Pauline's very exciting return to the Mario series canon, a first since Donkey Kong days! (She's been stuck in spin-offs until now.) So, do enjoy the latest on that as well! We'll see if I can continue seeping some elements of it into the fanfic, but that's a big maybe. Certainly seems fun though! Anyway, enjoy the rest of your day, take care!