Forward: This section is the first with both perspectives, a little from VolcanoPalace and a little from Peach's Castle. In all honesty, this and most of next chapter used to be one, simply titled "Plans", but it was way too long, so I broke it up. Hopefully that doesn't take anything out of it besides length.

Thanks again for the reviews you gave last chapter and I'm looking forward to a bit more for this one.

Chapter 3: New Descisions

"Daddy?"

"Yes, Larry?"

"What do you want for your Birthday?"

Bowser squeezed his son tightly. He was glad such a tiring day was over. "I don't need anything; I've got an entire kingdom and eight wonderful kids."

Larry frowned. He had been told by his older siblings to see what they could get their father for his birthday, and he didn't intend on failing. "You must want something."

Bowser gazed longingly at his pictures lined against the wall. His deceased mother and father, his ancestors and the other great Kings of Darkland, and a picture of his children climbing all over him at a reunion he had with his siblings. Even Wendy was enjoying it, and, Bowser remembered, that was all to do with her beloved aunt Magarie.

Underneath the memorial picture was a large snapshot of Princess Peach, holding out her hand to feed little birds.

"There are things I want, Larry." Bowser replied slowly. "But you can't get me any of them."

Larry glared where his father had been looking. Grand Mama and Popop are dead, so are all them other dead people. Auntie Mag is too far away, but Mama Peach…she's alive. Larry grinned and leapt off his father's lap. "Tuck me in, Dad?"

"Sure. You'd better get in your bed soon, you've got school tomorrow."

Larry looked up at his father, still glancing at the photograph wall. Obviously he was out of it. Tucking his son in and thinking there was school on a Saturday. Larry decided not to tell his father the day and ran up his staircase. With thudding steps, his father followed. Larry smiled and pushed open the door on his right, the one with his face, including signature spiked hair, etched in the door. He scampered into the room and blew on a single candle, thus lighting the whole line of flame around his room. He pushed himself out of his shell and into his pajamas then dived onto his steel plank bed, fluffed with dozens of parakoopa feathers.

"Daddy!" He outstretched his hands as his father lumbered over and slipped the blanket over his body.

"G'night, Larry Berry." Bowser ruffled his son's hair affectionately. "You want the lights on?"

"Yeah."

"M'kay." Bowser turned and walked out, pulling the door behind him. As the heavy slab slowly turned to a close, Larry could see his father glancing at several framed pieces of almost identical long, golden strands of silky hair. To anyone but the KoopaKing, the pieces were the same. But to Bowser, each told a story of Princess's Peach's stays under his claw. Finally, the door sealed with a clang.

After a few minutes, Larry leapt out of his bed and rushed to a small Yoshi Egg replica on his shelf. He pressed the center spot and a low buzz emitted. "Larry to Ludwig, come in!"

"Pshhh….Larry…all clear…Pshhhh…?" The egg with Ludwig von Koopa's voice questioned.

Larry pushed the egg's spot again. "Yeah, Dad left a while ago. Should be safe."

"Pshhh…we'll come then…pshhh….your designs work….?...pshh…"

Larry bit a claw. "Er, I haven't tested them yet but…"

"Psh….never mind that….pshhh…we'll come….pshhh…"

Larry stared at his stone walls. I hope my calculations work…As planned, the stones began to slide out. Larry rushed to help pull them out and a nice tunnel was suddenly in view, Ludwig climbing out. The oldest of the kooplings grinned. "Great job with the tunnel. Sent an eggram to the others, they should be here soon."

As expected, their siblings started climbing out, some congratulation Larry on his work, others, mainly Wendy, complaining of the dirt.

"Whens we gonna get this over with?" Roy aked hotly.

"Soon as possible, I hope. Beauty sleep is precious, you know!" Wendy complained.

"Alright, let's get started then! Larry, what did you find out?" Lemmy asked.

Larry smiled. "Dad wants nothing but Mama Peach!"

Morton grunted, "We knew that, spike-brain!"

Ludwig glared at his brother. "No, Morton, we might be able to use that. Sure, its old news, but wouldn't Dad be thrilled…"

Iggy was catching on. "…if Princess Peach was in his claws on his birthday! Credit to us, of course."

Ludwig showed his teeth in a grin. "Exactly!" He reached into the back of his pajamas and pulled out a bunch of parchment, some scribbled on with random musical notes and remarks to himself. He flattened them and brandished an ink pen. The kooplings huddled around him as he bit off the end and ink started to run. "Planning starts…now."

xxxx0o0o0o0o0o0o0xxxx

Peach flipped through her diary carelessly. One would think being princess wouldn't give any free time, but Peach often had nothing but. Her father ruled behind the scenes, but rule he did. As long as he lived, King Toadstool took care of every single legal thing brought to the monarchy's attention. Besides that, the Mushroom Kingdom was practically a democratic monarchy and that made Peach and her father almost nothing but names. Big names, yes, but except for banquets, legal announcements,and other trivial affairs, they had nothing to do.

That didn't mean Peach's diary was empty. On the contrary, her diary was more filled, intense, and emotional then a soap opera. Her pages lingered on her experiences under the capture of Lord Grodus and his X-Nauts. A specific passage caught her eye, one of many times pondering the peculiar situation TEC-XX gave her.

"Tec is, indeed, the weirdest beau I ever hope to have. At least he's not bald, bumbling, or evil like some I've had. And at least it's not Grodus. But still, I have to give him credit. It's nice to see that…oh, It's just nice to be loved. And really know that I'm loved. It's gross and disturbing, especially since he's a computer, and its kind of frustrating that 'his perfectness' will probably admit his feelings before Mario gets around to it.

"The way he describes his…attraction…to me is both scary and enlightening. There have been others…more realistic men…who I expect have these feelings. I know I sometimes have them towards others…one specific plumber comes to mind…but does this plumber have them back to me? Mario's so hard to read, sometimes it seems like he never talks at all. Honestly, other people will talk their mouths off and all he'll do is nod. Oh, he'll talk about his plans for us a lot. Asking my toads what the legalizations for marrying a princess are, how one becomes prince, etcetera. He's even hinted that I should meet his parents face to face, especially since they moved into the realm.

"Mr. and Mrs. Mario now live in Grand Canal City instead of Brooklyn. I've only been to Grand Canal a few times, but it is always so gorgeous. Mario and Luigi may have been the best plumbers in Brooklyn, but I think Grand Canal would put them out of business. The streets are literally rivers with gondolas sliding through them. I can't wait to go; maybe it'll be there, in the romantic atmosphere, that Mario will admit his feelings. I certainly hope so. While we're there I'll…"

Peach closed her diary. If it had taken so long for Mario to accomplish that thing he planned way back before they went to Rougeport, she could only imagine when they'd get married. And, of course, he had postponed it- again.

Peach fell back onto her bed and stared at her ceiling. I told all my toads I was going this week, leaving tomorrow. They won't be ready to keep me. They'll be willing, of course, but I don't want to spring something like my staying here on them last minute. It would be nice to get out and about this week though, just for me. But…I couldn't possibly…Well, I suppose looking couldn't hurt. Peach stood up and grabbed her atlas. She flipped through the pages thoughtfully, admiring each location before finally tossing the book aside.

A knock sounded at her door. "Miss Princess?" the high voice asked. Peach walked over and opened her door, looking down at an especially short toad maid, her mushroom cap pink and red with a classic maid outfit on.

"Oh, hi Ty T. What is it?"

"I was wondering if you need help packing."

"Well I…sure."

Ty T. smiled and pulled a bin out from behind her. "I chose some clothing that would be fantastic for Grand Canal. They're in the warm season, so I made sure to pack your summer clothes!"

Peach shuffled through a few of the clothing items. "Thanks, Ty T. This'll speed things up a lot, I'm sure."

"Aren't you excited? The Gardens of Gold should be open this time of year. And you've worked so hard lately, you could use a vacation." Ty T. smiled and instinctively straightened the blankets that Peach's lie-down had wrinkled.

Peach ignored her maid's actions. "Yes…yes I certainly could."

Ty T. gave a smile that looked almost pained, as if every second she wasted fraternizing with the princess was a needle to her skin. But she continued. "Make sure Mario doesn't overload you with activities. Make some time to yourself, that's what Grand Canal is second-best for, spending time with yourself."

Peach smiled. I don't have to worry about that this week. "What's it first-best for?"

"Spending time with others." Ty T. giggled. She then shook herself out of the sociable mood she had been in. Ty T. bowed and excused herself, leaving Peach and her suitcases.

Staring at them, piled against each other, Peach realized she had to go. There was no better time to slip out, unnoticed. It was as if fate had planned it for her.

Peach pressed her fingers against her forehead. It sure would help if I knew where I was going…I'll decide tomorrow at the airport. Peach considered asking Bah T., the castle's buff garage expert, for transportation, but instead turned her way towards the phone book perched on her shelf. Peach slid a long fingernail through the "T"s and found the many expansive pages with 'Taxi' written on them. Since Mario obviously wouldn't be picking her up, she needed to find her own ride.

Her fingers danced over the listings and stopped at one that remarked it was the 'most reliable and best kept secret in Toad Town Transportation'. Peach tapped her chin as she glanced at the price. Only 20 coins for a ride to the airport was a great deal, and the excellent price would be able to slip by on her bills without second thought by the toads. She picked up the hefty book and carried it over to the phone, quickly and quietly dialing the number on a nearby phone.

After a single ring, a calm female voice answered, "You've reached Toad Town Taxi Emporium, and how may I help you?"

Peach fiddled with the phone cord as she answered. "Yes, I'd like to request a pick up from my home to the airport tomorrow morning."

"What time would you like?"

"Er, how about…9 o'clock in the morning?"

"How many will be riding?"

"Just one. And I've got just a few bags….six or seven."

"Just a few?" the voice sounded amused, but continued her questions, unaware the conversation was being listened to and analyzed...countless miles away.

Author's Note: I hope you enjoyed this chapter, but you know all those promises I made about how grand it was? Well it turns out when you seperate a chapter into 2...the grandness kind of goes to the next one. (Which is very short, so I'll be updating soon, given I get some reviews. Because, you know the deal, no reviews, no posting.)

Thanks to Casiana1 and BlastosX4 for reviewing both chapters so far, and I hope for more from you all. Glad to see you guys like it so far, and I hope for many chapters to come. :)

Razzi