A/N: I'm trying to avoid using the same characters too much, so even though this prompt was practically begging to be LuigiXDaisy, I did something different. Hoping to get a nice variety of characters into the challenge by the end!

Enjoy, and keep sending in any suggestions you have - I can't guarantee that I'll do them, but do I read and consider everything. :)

Day 3

Prompt: The Mistletoe Cliche

Characters: Mario and Peach

Summary: They'd kissed many times, but never like this. Peach wants this to be their first.

The castle was awash with coloured lights - so many lights that it was almost dizzying to look at. Mario walked down the softly-carpeted corridor, feeling his eyes darting everywhere and unable to stop himself. By the Stars, there were two large Christmas trees just in this corridor alone! And there had to be at least thirty in the whole castle!

'Magnificent, isn't it?' said a friendly Toad guard, upon seeing him gazing around like a child in a toy store.

He nodded enthusiastically. 'Yes, the Princess has really outdone herself this year.'

'Aww, you know she loves this kind of thing.'

They shared a fond smile as they thought of the Princess. So many people loved her; that much was obvious. The Toads hardly even stayed here for the paychecks these days. They just wanted to be near Peach, guard her beautiful castle, bask in her radiance, her joy, her kindness. She was so incredibly sweet to everyone - treating those who, in another kingdom, would have been mere lowly servants, as if they were her friends. And maybe she really considered them such.

'Anyway, if you want to see her, just go on ahead,' said the Toad guard, nodding down the corridor. 'She just retired to her private quarters for a much-deserved rest after helping to set up all the decorations. But I'm quite sure she'll be glad to see you.'

Mario gave him a thumbs-up in thanks, then continued on his way down the corridor, his gait a steady trot as he passed the luxurious decorations. Being rather... short in the leg, he was used to having to run everywhere just to keep pace with others, or to get from A to B in a timely manner. And so, when he reached the staircase outside Peach's quarters, he hopped up them, jumping each step without conscious thought. It was like climbing a mountainside. If he hadn't been so concerned about inconveniencing her, then he might have asked the Princess to invest in some more shallow stairs.

Then he crested the top of the mountain, slightly out of breath, and froze when he saw a figure standing in front of the door he'd been intending to enter. The stiff surprise quickly melted into a joyful warmth and a shy smile as he let himself approach her.

'Oh, Mario,' she murmured sweetly, bending to take his face between her hands and plant a quick kiss on his nose. 'You really are adorable.'

He blinked, more than once, and felt a warmth creeping into his face as well. 'I - ah - did I do something?' he managed, eyes widening.

A delicate bout of laughter escaped her. 'No, it was just the way you always run up the stairs like that. The way you run everywhere - it just makes you look so cheerful and lively.'

'Oh...' He wasn't sure how to respond to that, but he appreciated the compliment - if indeed it was one. He supposed so. She was always saying nice things to him - from casual, almost shy remarks to whispered confessions that only came out when they were alone together - when she told him that his company made her the happiest she'd ever been, or that his eyes reminded her of a deep blue sky on a summer's day. A vision of joy and peace; things she believed he represented.

Before he could think of a way to continue the conversation, Peach tugged on his arm. 'Look, Mario,' she said. 'There are Christmas decorations on the ceilings, too.'

He instinctively lifted his gaze and saw a sprig of soft green leaves and white berries hanging above his head. 'Ah... d-did you...?' he stuttered.

She smiled. 'No, I didn't put that there. One of the Toads must have done it while I wasn't looking. Mario, do you know what being underneath mistletoe means at Christmas time?'

'I... yes, I think so...' By the Stars, why did he suddenly feel the way Luigi described feeling whenever Daisy teased him? That nervous, jittery, yet excited feeling that started in his chest and spread through his limbs like pins and needles?

He didn't have time to linger too long on the feeling. Before he could so much as attempt another stuttering string of words, Peach bent down, clearly intending to kiss him. He expected another gentle push of her lips against his nose, but she was moving too low. One of her hands shifted to touch the side of his face. A sharp shock of something indiscernible assaulted his senses. He could smell her, the sweet smell of her floral shampoo and the fabric of her clothes as she paused in front of him.

Then she decisively dropped down to kiss his mouth. He drew in a sharp breath, almost flinching, but not to get away from her. As the surprise slowly wore off, he felt himself instinctively reciprocating. The warmth in his face doubled as he wrapped an arm around her, gently pulling her closer. Nothing mattered except this, their first true kiss. The reality of the castle melted away and nothing existed besides Peach's presence, her scent, the comforting feeling of her embrace.

Then a shout echoed from elsewhere in the castle, and Peach broke away with a start. It wasn't directed at them - it was just the Toads yelling to each other about the decorations - but Mario saw her eyes dart around worriedly for a moment. Once she was satisfied that nobody was going to disturb them, she pulled him closer and simply hugged him.

'Merry Christmas, Mario,' she whispered happily. 'Thank you for everything you've done, and for just being here.'

He hugged her back with gratitude, murmuring something in Italian that she failed to catch. She didn't ask him to speak up, or request a translation. She just held him, enjoying his presence as they stood together beneath the mistletoe.