(A/N: So now Mario is on his way to Peach's Castle. What will happen when he gets there? You'll have to read this chapter if you want the answer!)
Mario arrived at Peach's Castle as the sun was setting. He didn't see Peach out on her balcony, and he figured if that was the case, then she probably wasn't in her room at the moment. Rather than triple-jumping his way up to the balcony to see if he was right, Mario decided to just enter the castle through the front doors. He opened them and made his way in.
"Mario, why is it that you don't knock when you enter Peach's Castle? With your brother's mansion, I can understand; you live there. But you don't live here." Cappy said.
"I'm so well-liked by everyone here that I don't have to knock anymore. Peach told me this a long time ago." Mario explained as he entered the Great Hall. It was pretty much empty.
"Where do you think everybody went?" Cappy asked.
"They're probably in the dining hall. I think they're having dinner right about now. Only I can't join them because I just ate." Mario said.
"What if they're having dessert?" Cappy said.
"Oh, now there's something I haven't eaten yet. Then again, Luigi didn't think to fix any." Mario said. He made his way to the castle's dining hall, and the doors were open enough for him to see that that's where everyone was. But it looked like they were just finishing up their evening meal and would be getting ready to leave the room.
"Farei meglio a muovermi. I'd better move." Mario said, and it was a good thing, too, because everyone got up right then and left the dining hall, opening the doors a little wider. If he hadn't moved, the doors would've hit him in the face, and he didn't need that.
Peach was the last one to leave the dining hall, and she was more than a little surprised to see that Mario had returned.
"Mario! I was wondering if you would be coming back today!" Peach said.
"I was planning to. I just had a lot of explaining to do to Luigi." Mario explained.
"Yeah, I think he might have been wondering about you since my capture." Peach said.
"He was. After receiving just that simple text about me having to rescue you, he had a lot of questions for me." Mario said.
"If all he knew was that I was in trouble, I'm not surprised." Peach replied.
"That's all he knew. Now he knows everything." Mario said.
"He knows what you and Cappy did to save me?" Peach asked.
"Yes, and he was more than furious when I told him who took your place." Mario replied.
"I can't say I'm surprised. He loves Daisy to no end, and we all know just how bad Bowser is now, considering what he did to me and Tiara." Peach said.
Cappy got mad at the thought of Bowser hurting his little sister, but he held back from grumbling about it. He couldn't let Peach know he was here. He promised Mario he wouldn't do that, and he intended to stay true to his word.
"But I reminded him that Daisy's a big girl, and very good at holding her own in front of villains like Bowser. Remember what she did to him?" Mario asked.
"Who could forget?" Peach replied with a giggle, thinking about how Bowser was afraid to get near Daisy after he returned from wherever it was he landed when he got punched by her.
"Now that we've discussed that, I was hoping that maybe we could go somewhere a little quieter and... talk. Just the two of us." Mario said.
Cappy knew why Mario said that. He didn't say a word.
"How about we go out to my balcony and talk there? Does that work?" Peach suggested.
That was exactly what Mario wanted to hear her say, but he didn't tell her.
"Suona bene. Sounds good." said Mario.
"Wait! Before we go, I have something for you." Peach said.
"What are you up to?" Mario asked.
"That's for me to know, and you to find out." Peach replied as she went back into the dining hall and disappeared into the kitchen.
A minute later, Peach emerged with a tray holding a half-dozen chocolate cupcakes on it.
"I made these for you." Peach smiled, holding the tray out to Mario.
"For me? Oh, Peach, you didn't have to do that." Mario smiled.
"But I wanted to. You more than earned them, Mario." Peach said.
"Okie-dokie. I don't suppose I can argue with royal logic." said Mario. He took a cupcake off of the tray and bit into it. His smile grew when he realized what kind of cupcake it was.
"What happened? Did it explode?" Peach asked as he swallowed.
"Yeah, it exploded, all right! With scrumptious chocolatey filling!" Mario said, feeling good.
(A/N: Mario's line came from an episode of "T.U.F.F. Puppy". One of the characters said the exact same thing about a cupcake offered to him by a friendly-looking killer robot.)
"There would've been more, but Toad and Toadette wanted some, too, and you know how it is. I didn't have the heart to deny them." Peach said.
"That's okay, Peach. You want them to be happy, and I don't blame you for that." Mario replied.
Peach had to smile at that. Mario was just so sweet and understanding.
"Shall we go to my balcony now?" Peach asked, setting down the tray.
"Oh yeah! Let's-a go! said Mario as he continued to eat his cupcake.
As they walked upstairs to Peach's room, Mario noticed something different about his lady love.
"Oh! I see you got your crown back!" Mario pointed out.
"Yes, the Toads said they found it lying on my balcony, and they even polished it up for me. It's not even damaged after being flicked off of my head by Bowser, and that's a relief." said Peach.
"If being flicked off of your lovely head by that jerk-wad didn't hurt your crown, it must be made of strong stuff." Mario replied, finishing his cupcake.
"It must be." Peach said.
By then, they were in Peach's room, and they went through the French doors that led to the balcony. Mario and Peach were leaning over the balustrade as they started to speak about Bowser again.
"I still can't believe that Bowser went ahead and tried to marry me again. You think he would've given up by now." Peach said.
"I think that now would be the best time for him to stop it, Peach. The 4th time 'round is the last time 'round." Mario told her.
"I'm just afraid that he won't stop until he's dead. Or unless someone else proposes to me." Peach said.
"The latter might just have him wondering who asked you the question, and if you really did say yes. For all he knows, it was someone just as bad as him, forcing you into marriage like he tried to do." Mario said.
"You know as well as I do that I'm not going to marry anyone who forces me. I want to marry for love, and I have no love for Bowser. And he doesn't love me. Forcing me to marry him isn't love." Peach said.
"What if you were already betrothed to someone else this whole time?" Mario suggested.
"That would've been interesting, Mario, but if I was, Toadsworth would have informed me of that long ago. And since he didn't, that may be why the two of us are in a relationship." Peach replied.
"Oh, right..." Mario said, feeling dumb.
"It's okay, Mario. I'm not going to think bad of you over a little thing like that." Peach said, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. Her touch always made him feel better.
"Grazie. Thank you, Peach." Mario said.
"You're welcome." Peach smiled.
Mario and Peach continued talking about their relationship, and their adventure. Cappy began to wonder if and when Mario was going to propose. He thought for sure Mario was going to come right out and do it as soon as he saw the Princess.
"Maybe he's nervous? I can't blame him for that; Peach is royalty, after all." Cappy thought as he continued to listen to the conversation the two were having as the sun set and the stars came out.
"Wow, I didn't realize that it's getting late." Peach said when she saw the stars in the sky.
"It's-a not that late; we have time to enjoy this bella notte." Mario said.
"I don't even need to ask what that means, Mario. You just said 'beautiful night' in Italian." Peach said.
Mario was amazed! He said, "Wow, Peach! How did you guess what that means?!"
"Mario, you have seen a Disney movie called "Lady and the Tramp", haven't you?" Peach asked.
"Sì. Luigi and I watched that movie quite a few times when we were growing up in Brooklyn." Mario replied.
"Do you remember the scene where the titular characters were having spaghetti, and if you do, then you might also recall the song that played during that scene?" Peach quizzed.
Mario put two and two together.
"Oh yeah, they said that right in the song..." Mario said, blushing, before adding, "But this night is more bellissima because you're out here in it, making it that way." Mario said.
"Did you just say that I'm making it more beautiful?" Peach asked.
"Sì, because it's true, Peach. And because you are bellissima. And you're right. Bellissima means 'beautiful' in Italian." Mario said, looking into her eyes.
"Oh, Mario..." Peach said, turning pink.
"Well, it's true. You are. But that's not the main reason why I love you so much." Mario said.
"There's more to it than that?" Peach asked.
"Yes. Not only are you una bella principessa, a beautiful princess, you're a good friend to me and Luigi; you're sweet, kind, loving, brutally honest, and you know how to fight if you have to. You're everything I looked for in a woman." Mario explained.
"There's one thing I want to make sure of, Mario. You don't look at me as a vulnerable princess with an even more vulnerable kingdom, do you?" Peach asked, with a serious tone in her voice.
"Peach, I mentioned that you know how to fight. You're far from vulnerable." Mario said.
"Oh, right." Peach said, feeling a little dumb.
"You're okay, Peach." Mario assured her.
"I'm glad I have you in my life, Mario. You're so sweet and wonderful. If you were the one I had to marry, you wouldn't have heard me complaining." Peach said as she gave him a hug.
"You really mean that?" Mario asked, making sure.
"Yes." Peach said.
"Well, then..." Mario said.
"OMG! This is it! Here we go!" Cappy thought, doing his best to hold back his excitement.
"Princess Peach, would you know what to say if..." Mario started as he got down on one knee, reached into his pocket, produced the box, and opened it, showing Peach the ring inside.
"Oh my gosh!" Peach gasped as her hands flew to cover her mouth.
"I asked you to be my wife?" Mario finished.
Peach was speechless. This was something she had hoped would happen for a long time, but she had no idea if and when Mario was going to do so. She always knew that if ever he asked her, she was going to answer him positively, and after all the trouble Bowser had put her through, she wanted more than anything to marry the right man. This man.
"Yes, Mario, I do know what to say." Peach replied.
"And that is...?" Mario asked, gazing up at her with hope in his blue eyes.
"I'd love to marry you!" Peach replied, tears of joy streaming down her cheeks.
"YAHOO!" Mario cheered as he took the ring out of the box and carefully slipped it onto the 4th finger of Peach's left hand.
"It fits perfectly!" Peach said, admiring the ring.
"Do you like it?" Mario asked.
"I love it! But more importantly... ti amo! I love you, Mario!" Peach said, pulling Mario close and giving him a big, smacking kiss on the lips.
Mario was glad that Peach loved her engagement ring, but he was mostly impressed to hear her say 'I love you' in Italian to him. Well, he'd said it to her time and again, and since he usually translated the Italian into English for her, it should come as no surprise to him that she learned how the words were said and what they meant.
"Ti amo anch'io. I love you too, Peach." Mario replied in a lovestruck daze.
"I'm blessed to have you in my life, Mario. You always know how to make me feel happy and loved. No other guy has been able to do that." Peach said.
"Well, I've never loved any woman the way I love you. And as I said earlier, it's because of a lot of things, not because your beautiful, or a princess, but one reason stands out above the rest." Mario said, noticing that Peach was blushing at his words.
"Oh? And what was that instance, may I ask?" Peach asked.
"The way you fought Bowser to save Toad, Luigi, and me when we were in your position said it all. You are the most wonderful woman I've ever known, and I'm just as blessed to have you in my life, Peach." Mario replied.
With that, Mario and Peach were making out. Cappy was doing his best to keep quiet, but it wasn't easy. He wanted to congratulate the two of them right away, but no. He'd have to save it for another time, like maybe tomorrow morning. Or maybe he could even congratulate Mario tonight, as long as he wasn't sleeping in Peach's room.
Eventually, Mario and Peach had to stop kissing so they could breathe.
"I... I don't know if I'll be able to walk back to the mansion tonight. Sono così perso nell'amore. I'm so lost in love. And I don't want to be found." Mario said.
"Perhaps you should stay here at my castle tonight. Do you want to call Luigi and tell him what's up?" Peach asked.
"I should. And I made sure to bring along my cell phone and its charger so I can do so. You never know when you're going to need it." Mario said, pulling his red cell phone and the charger for it out of his pocket.
"That's another thing I love about you, Mario: you plan ahead." Peach smiled.
Mario called Luigi to tell him he wasn't coming home that night, and it wasn't because Peach had been kidnapped again, thank goodness.
"Let me guess: when you asked Peach to marry you, she not only said yes, she also said that she doesn't want you to leave the castle tonight. Is that right?" Luigi guessed.
"You're half-right. She said yes, but while we were kissing, I got lost in love. I don't wanna be found yet." Mario said.
"Congratulations on your engagement, bro!" Luigi said.
"Grazie. Thank you, Luigi. Since Peach and I will be getting married, do you want to be my best man?" Mario asked.
"I'd be honored." Luigi smiled.
"Great! I'll see you tomorrow after breakfast, okay?" Mario said.
"Okay." said Luigi.
Then the brothers said good night and ended the call. And Mario and Peach talked for 20 more minutes before deciding to call it a night.
"I wish you could sleep with me tonight, Mario. But Toadsworth will never allow us to do that. Not until we're married. But just wait until he hears the news." Peach said as they walked through the French doors that led back into her room.
"I know, Peach. If Toadsworth catches us under the sheets together, we'll never hear the end of it. But I'll be okay as long as I'm here, because my room isn't that far from yours." Mario said.
"Okay, then. I'll see you in the morning, Mario." Peach said.
"Buona notte, Peach. Good night." Mario said, and he and the Princess shared a good-night kiss.
"Wait a second! Perhaps we should tell everyone in the castle now." Peach said.
"You sure that's a good idea, Peach? What if everyone gets too excited to sleep?" Mario asked.
"Mario, the Toads get just that excited on Christmas Eve, yet they still manage to get up early on Christmas Day." Peach said, taking his hand and leading him into the Great Hall, where everyone had gathered to talk for a bit.
Peach smiled and called out, "Attention, please!"
The Toads all looked in the direction of Peach's voice, and they saw their princess standing at the top of the stairs, right outside her room, with Mario at her side.
"Thank you." Peach smiled, before continuing, "As I told you all earlier, Bowser kidnapped me and attempted to force me to marry him."
"Don't remind us!" one of the purple-spotted Toads said.
"I know you don't like to think about it, but now you won't have to. I will be getting married soon, but not to him." Peach said, turning her lovely gaze to Mario, who began to blush.
"That's because I asked Peach to marry me, and do you know what happened? She said yes!" Mario announced.
When the news sank into the heads of all the Toads, their eyes got very big, and their mouths dropped open. They were so excited that Peach was going to be marrying Mario.
"ALL RIGHT!" the Toads cheered, and they began dancing all over the Great Hall in extreme happiness.
As for Toadsworth, he ambled up the stairs and made his way over to where Peach and Mario were standing.
"Princess, I couldn't be any happier for you." Toadsworth said, looking as proud as he sounded. Then he turned to Mario, and he shook the plumber's hand as he said, "And as for you, Master Mario, I couldn't have picked a better man for the Princess. I know that she'll be in good hands if you're her husband."
"Grazie. Thank you, Toadsworth." Mario said.
"Both of you have my blessing. The blessing I know the King and Queen would've given the two of you long before now." Toadsworth said.
"Thank you so much, Toadsworth. That means a lot." Peach smiled.
After sharing another good-night kiss, Peach went back into her room, and Mario went to his room. Once inside, Cappy reverted to his Bonneter form and congratulated Mario on his engagement.
"Thanks, Cappy. I haven't felt this way since I found out that Peach loved me as much as I do her!" Mario replied.
"I'm so glad she accepted your proposal. Mario. You earned some happiness for saving her from a marriage devoid of love and happiness!" Cappy said.
"That's right. I'm going to make sure she feels happy and loved 'til our games be over!" Mario replied as he stripped down to his boxers and got under the covers.
"You're already thinking like an engaged man." Cappy said as he allowed himself to fall onto the bed, next to Mario.
"Oh, and don't worry, Cappy. You and Tiara will be at the wedding. In fact, maybe you two wouldn't mind being our wedding head gear." Mario said.
"I'd like that, and I know Tiara won't complain, either. She'll love that!" Cappy said.
"I know. Now let's-a get some sleep." Mario said as he closed his eyes and waited for sleep to claim him.
But I hope you weren't thinking that the side story ends here, because it doesn't. The next (and final) chapter will show us one little detail the final chapter of "Bowser's Been Had!" didn't show, so if you want to see that, then I suggest you stay tuned!
