Semi-Optional Music Suggestion: "Jump up, Super Star" (Official Itunes Release)

I'll let you know when to play it :)

Chapter Eighteen

Two days later

Peach had to admit the Koopa King Kart was starting to grow on her. Something about the deep roar of the engine made her feel good. She almost wished she didn't have to give it back to its rightful owner - not that she would tell him that…

The only downfall of having the Koop King Kart was the attention it brought to her. Though she had stayed in the hotel for two days straight, the Sarasaland News was on the first floor of the Hotel waiting to get a glimpse of the Mushroom Kingdom Princess herself. It is safe to say that she had been ordering room service since she had gotten there.

The only time Peach ventured out of her room was for a disguise. Luckily for her, the hotel was massive and held a few shops on the first floor. With the help of the hotel staff, the first floor was cleared for the princess's use. The only people that were allowed to stay were the employees and a handful of security Goombas. Even then, she had to be wary. Reporters did everything they could to take pictures of her through the front doors and windows.

Finally, Friday night was here and she had bought a whole new outfit just for tonight's event. She wore a black strapless dress with a slit all the way up to her thigh. Her makeup was bold, hair straightened, and she used temporary hair spray to color her bright blonde hair to platinum with a hint of pink.

"Alright! I think that will do very nicely," Peach said, as she looked at herself in the full-length mirror. She had never intentionally changed her look to fool anyone. She always wore something pink and never died her signature blonde hair. As long as she left the hotel from the back where there were fewer photographers and news reporters, she would most likely slip by without any issues. Or at least that is what she told herself while she made her way down the stairs at the back of the hotel. In reality, if anyone found out that THE Princess Peach had disguised herself and attempted to leave the Sarasaland Hotel in secret, it would be a worldwide scandal.

Peach walked out the back doors as casually as she could. She could feel the adrenaline coursing through her veins as she placed her hand on the handle of the EXIT and opened it.

There was absolutely no one there!

Little did the princess know, an attention seeking Goomba with a Peach wig and pink dress had hopped down to the first floor of the hotel where the main group of news reporters had been camping out for days. It was the perfect distraction. Even the reporters and photographers at the back of the building went running to the front of the Hotel to see what all of the commotion was about.

With a shrug, the real Princess Peach continued to walk down the street on her own. She would have taken the Koopa King Kart but it would have drawn too much attention and her destination was only a five-minute walk down the street. She could already hear music coming from the massive block party that was being held outside of Sarasaland's Jazz Club.

A whole intersection had been blocked off and completely filled with people. Lights were flashing, food could be smelled from all of the surrounding shops, and the ground almost seemed to vibrate as the audience danced to the music being performed. In the very middle of it was a large stage where a band and a beautiful woman wearing a red dress sung their hearts out.

*Music*

As Peach pushed through the crowd to get a little closer, she watched Pauline eagerly. Peach had always seen posters of the singer and small news articles about how she came from New York (an island in some world called 'America'?) where she was a mayor. Pauline had been abducted and brought here by Donkey Kong. Mario, of course, saved her and put a stop to Donkey Kong's plots to keep her as his wife.

"So this is the girl Mario used to save," Peach mused. "She is a lot prettier than Mario had described..." She had to admit, the woman had an awesome figure and a strong confidence about her. Pauline had a very mature and slender face. Peach touched her own face and frowned.

The princess bit her lip and cursed herself quietly. "Mario is gone and I'm jealous of some girl he hardly ever talked about? Pull yourself together, Peach…" Shaking her head, she made her way to a nearby ice cream stand and ate while she tried to enjoy the performance.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

By midnight, the last song ended and Pauline thanked the crowd before walking to the back of the stage.

"This is my chance," Peach thought excitedly. Getting up from her seat, she pushed her way past the crowd until she came to a chain-linked fence with a Koopa guard standing in front of it.

"Sorry, Lady. The show's over and we are fresh out of signed posters," one of the Koopas stated.

"I am here to see Pauline on behalf of Princess Peach," Peach answered.

"Yeah? Well, that's a new one. Tell me, what does good ole Princess Peach have to say to Pauline?" the Koopa laughed.

Peach looked behind him and locked eyes with Pauline as she passed by. "Super Star. Princess Peach wants a personal performance of it at the Mushroom Castle."

Pauline's eyes widened and Pauline's step faltered as she looked at Peach. After a moment, the woman gathered herself back up and tapped on the Koopa guard's shoulder.

"Let her in. It is not every day that you get to meet with the Princess' officials," she said jokingly with a wink.

The Koopa snickered, "If you say so, Miss Pauline." He stepped aside and opened the linked fence. As Peach walked in, Pauline walked towards her personal limo parked behind the stage and motioned for Peach to get inside. Once they were both in, Pauline knocked a rhythm on the tinted window near the driver's seat and the limo took off down the road.

"Pauline, I am…" Peach started.

"I know who you are," Pauline cut her off with a knowing smile. "Luigi called me days ago about our mutual friend. I have also been keeping up with the news." Taking a newspaper from the seat beside her, she handed it to Peach.

The headline read:

Princess Peach Sighted with King Bowser near Sarasaland Hotel! Secret Fling After Mario's Brutal Breakup?!

"Bowser was nowhere near the Sarasaland Hotel when I went there..." Peach stated incredulously. "Then again, I guess I was driving his personal Kart," she thought.

"Peach, I don't know what is going on, but I know what happened to Mario. I'll even prove it when we arrive at my home," Pauline whispered eagerly. "We should be there in a few minutes but I want you to promise me something." Peach leaned forward to listen closer. "Promise me that you won't freak out. I promise I didn't do anything to conspire against you. Really, the whole thing was quite a shock and everything kind of happened by mistake."

"I can't quite promise that but I can promise that I will do my best to keep a level head," Peach agreed.

"That's good enough," Pauline said as she bit her lip. The limo stopped in front of a beautiful white Ranch style house that was surrounded by flowers and trees. Both of the girls got out, thanked the driver with hefty tip, and made their way to the front door.

"As I said, I had nothing to do with this and it is not what it looks like. Everything was an accident and we will explain everything," Pauline said, trying to sound reassuring.

Peach nodded and Pauline opened the door.

Peach gasped in shock,

"What. The. Hell."