Foreword: This isn't really one of my favorite chapters. I have a few "squee" bits ( bits I get really happy to write/read) in this, but really not that many. So I hope its not total crap. I hope its not too sped through, I couldn't figure out how to make the original content longer and more detailed without sounding too forced, y'know? So the Mario and Luigi bit is new. Kind of repetetive with previous bits, sorry.

Anyway! I hope you enjoy it regardless. You guys have got to be the best reviewers a girl could ask for. :)

Toadsworth hummed along as one of his favorite songs drew to a close in his car radio. A voice eased its way out as the song hit its last note, saying, "And that was Mushroom Medly by Swee T. and the Girls. Be sure to buy their hit album, "It's Raining Goombas", a tribute to the oppressed Goombas in our very own Mushroom Kingdom. Now over to Koorpa for the weather." His voice ended and another began as Toadsworth turned down to his home street, small cottages in mushroom shape popping up around the street.

Toadsworth grabbed a dried chip out of the bag of fast-food he had picked up from "Fasty's Fish n' Chips". He sipped a bit of his tea and continued down the road, turning left onto his own street.

"Weather's looking great for the week, sunny skies until a bit of cloud coverage on Friday, leading up to a wet weekend. Temps in the 70's for the rest of today, getting down to high 60's in the evening. In other news, sky watchers saw a remarkable event today; a strange, rounded airship was seen leaving the area behind the mountains once owned by the great Marbini, now just a train of vacant lots. Some suspect it was Marbini's soul, flying out from his burial spot to gain revenge on Oscarduvelt, his last employer and suspected murderer, explaining the maniacal grin some sky watchers reported. Others say it was simply a UFO, or a confused shooting star. Whatever it was, I'm sure tha-"

The radio silenced as Toadsworth pulled the car into park and removed the ignition. He climbed out and walked towards his house, modeled after his own mushroomcap, humming the chorus to Mushroom Medly that wouldn't leave his head. He hit his answering machine's blinking "new messages" button and put his dinner on the table, grabbing another chip from the bag first.

He listened patiently through a telephone receipt of the beige paint he had ordered and his sister announcing that her son broke his finger and wouldn't be able to play violin at his sister's birthday party that Toadsworth wasn't even going to.

Toadworth pushed up his glasses as he heard Peach's voice sound. He leaned in closer to the machine in half denial of the message's contents.

Her message ended and Toadsworth stared at the machine as a new message about his grass growing a half centimeter over requirements. However, poor Toadsworth was still trying to comprehend Peach's message. He raced over and hit repeat, his face falling. She didn't…she couldn't have…Peach...she's going to be the death of me, I just know it!

The message repeated, Toadsworth praying it was just a joke. As it ended, he shook his head. No cryptic message, no sound of laughter, no tone or any hints that she could be joking. He picked up his phone and dialed Peach's cell phone. After one ring, it switched to the message. Toadsworth sighed as Peach's prerecorded voice told him she wasn't available. The tone sounded and he launched into his message, far too nervous to lecture.

"Peach? Peach? When you hear this you need to call me RIGHT AWAY. Peach, this isn't funny, old gel, get home right now! You could get seriously hurt, I'm sure this is illegal anyway…Peach Toadstool, I order you to get home as soon as you can! If your father was here….. You call me RIGHT NOW, or there'll be serious trouble, miss!" Toadsworth hung up and dialed the code to the GPS. Nothing happened. "Drat, she turned that off too."

Toadsworth hit a few buttons on the phone and the entire phone (and desk panel under it) flipped itself over to reveal a bright red phone where the bland beige one had been. Toadsworth picked it up and hit "begin". As he spoke into it, his message was sent thorough the entire palace, just under a mile away. "Code Red, I repeat, we have a Code Red, version 4.4. Prepare a council." Toadsworth hit more buttons and the phone reverted back to the normal home phone. Dropping his chips and grabbing his keys again, Toadsworth left the house and climbed into the car. He grabbed the roof lights and strapping them to the roof of the car, allowing him to speed and bypass any car as well as any red light. Not normally one for speed, Toadsworth's foot was practically grinding the pedal to dust as he soared through the streets. Peach, what were you thinking?

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Kammy was furiously trying to convince King Bowser about something she had been arguing so long over, she had forgotten what it was when her wand vibrated. "Excuse me, sire."

"Just pick up the wand, hag." Bowser mumbled gruffly. Rolling her eyes, Kammy did just that, holding it out in front of her and flicking the tip.

Out of the wand hovered visible "sound waves", peaking as the inflection in Kamek's voice raised.

"Kammy? Kammy is that you?"

"Of course it is, dimwad. What do you want?"

"I found something His Majesty might want to know about. In the CC53 hanger."

Bowser stepped up to the wand. "What'd you find? A stain?"

"No sire, something much more…interesting, let's say. You'll want to come right away!"

Bowser seated himself in a chair covered in tight, black leather. "I'm busy discussing something," he answered with a wave of his claw.

"Exactly what are you discussing? Because I think this is much bigger."

Bowser strained his mind for an answer. Coming up blank, he replied, "None of your business, mudmouth."

Silence reigned on the other side for a few seconds before Kamek spoke again, his voice pumped with thrill. "Sir, do you know where your children are?"

"How am I supposed to know?" Bowser snarled.

"Well, you might want to see this sire. Immediately."

Kammy glanced at her king who looked almost hopeful at the prospect of something exciting to do. This is my moment with him, Kamek. Leave us be, she thought. Speaking aloud she told Kamek, "He already said he's busy, Kamek. We-"

"Bowser, you need to see this."

Kammy glared at the wand and turned to the king, pointing angrily at the small wooden stick. "He interrupted me!"

Bowser gave Kammy an amused look. "And your point? Kamek, where are you?"

Kammy could almost hear the pride in defeating his better in Kamek's voice. "Hanger CC53, sire. Near the bathrooms on the left."

Bowser stood up and walked towards the door, his tail swinging from left to right. "Come on, Kammy. Let's go see what he wants."

Disappointed, Kammy flicked her wand again and shut off the connection between hers and Kamek's. Hurriedly, she followed the giant king's shape down the hallway and through the tomato-stained passageway to the CC53 hanger.

Bowser met up with Kamek, rubbing his glasses on his robe in excitement. "What is it?" Kamek pointed further down the hall towards the hanger. Bowser and Kammy followed him as the light grew stronger and Bowser could hear the tick-tick-ticking of a cooling clown-car engine.

The koopaking stepped up to the top of the garage's stairs and peered around. Looking down to the floor, he saw all eight of his children, huddling around something to hide it. He glared down at them. "What did you do?" Bowser smacked his claw around and smothered Kamek's mouth when he opened it to answer. Through snarling teeth, Bowser repeated his question. "What…did…you…do?"

Bowser saw his son Iggy, situated in the center of the group, wring his claws and stare at his feet. Staring up at his father, Iggy spoke. "Sir…?"

Bowser glowered and squeezed his eyes shut. He knew when Iggy started with 'sir', it was something bad. He snapped his eyes back open and glared at his koopalings. "Well?"

The koopalings looked at each other and exchanged expressions. As if on cue, they all stepped away from the shape and Bowser saw it- situated behind them all, sleeping as if under a spell- was his beautiful Princess Peach.

A stunned silence followed and Kamek opened his mouth to say something again. As Bowser was too stunned to do it, Kammy took the liberty of covering his mouth again.

Bowser blinked. "What did you…do?"

Junior piped up. "We took Mama Peach for you, Daddy."

Bowser stared down at Peach, flanked by the koopalings. The koopalings looked nervously around as they wondered what their father's reaction would be. Peach was so calm, so sweet, even from so far and so unconscious, Bowser could see in her the beauty of body and beauty of soul he loved her for. Its been so long…so long since I've seen her in person…Staring for almost a minute, a light tap from Kammy lifted him from the trance-like gaze.

"Um, your mightiness?"

Bowser answered without turning around. "Get the princess the nicest of guest rooms we have. I want to talk to my children."

"Yes, sire." With a bow, Kammy rushed away to find a few koopa-troopas to help her.

Bowser stared down at his koopalings. "All of you- interview room 17. Now." The king swished around and headed towards the hallway again, the chosen room just a few hallways down.

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In the Mario Brother's Headquarters, Mario and Luigi were almost done packing their plumbing equipment. Luigi picked up a strange-looking tool that reminded him of a wrench with a bad hair-day. He picked it up and showed his older brother. "What-a 'bout this?"

Mario stared at it. "What-a is it?"

Luigi shrugged and put it in their tool case anyway. "I was-a hoping you'da know." He looked for more tools and, seeing nothing, shut his case tightly. Mario followed suit and the two placed the cases in the back of a rented truck.

The Mario Bros. Plumbing Company usually traveled by pipe, but because the convention was solely for plumbers everywhere, going by pipe would actually by more cumbersome and slow-moving than driving. After all, it was only an hour drive from Toad Town city limits anyway.

They hopped in the truck and chugged off, Luigi trying to find a decent radio station. Unfortunately, nothing caught their ears. Luigi turned it off to hold his own conversation.

"Didn't you-a have plans with Peach before we-a heard about this?"

Mario was impressed. "Si. How did you remember?"

Luigi shrugged. "Daisy said she was-a very excited. What's she gonna be-a doing instead?"

Mario stared at Luigi. "Daisy?"

Luigi rolled his eyes. "No, Peach."

Mario shrugged. "I don't-a know. We're going to-a Grand Canal next week, though."

"But Peach shouldn't-a have any plans for this-a week, so what's she gonna do instead?"

Mario shrugged again. "I dunno. Probably whatever she'd-a do next week. Or make-a cakes. She makes really-a good cake, y'know?"

"Daisy said-a Peach was-a really excited. She-a was thinking this would-a be the best week she'd have for-a long time."

Mario frowned slightly. He dug into their cooler and grabbed a ham sandwich. He bit into it and felt Luigi's eyes on him. Through the sandwich, he said. "Maybe she'll-a bake a lot-a cakes."

Luigi looked back at the empty road. "Muma Mia. I don't think-a cakes will help this-a, Mario."

"Help what-a?"

Luigi sighed. "Daisy said…Daisy said Peach was worried about you and your love. For her." His love for Daisy was so strong; it went far beyond simply saving her. But sometimes, it seemed that the only reason Mario and Peach had interest in each other was because Mario was her never-failing savior. Luigi decided Mario just wasn't a romantic.

Mario glanced at Luigi. "Why would-a she do that? She's like-a my best friend. We're as close as-a ever." Luigi glanced at Mario, trying to get mustard out of his mustache and apparently not at all affected by their conversation. Luigi hoped with all his heart Mario just wasn't a romantic.

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As he walked to the interview room, Bowser thought about what had happened. He had come into the hanger and found his koopalings, his Princess, her luggage, and knew nothing else. Cracking his knuckles and growling to himself, Bowser promised himself he'd find out the rest. Those koopalings…they're going to be the death of me, I just know it.

He passed a stone embedded in the wall that was a great deal dirtier than the ones around it. Glaring at it, Bowser was about to decide to fire whoever was janitor of the hallway when he remembered- that was Peach's stone. During one of her 'visits', they were still re-stoning the very hallway he was in, and she had tripped over it and cut herself. Bowser had decreed that it continued to be used in the wall; in fear keeping the stone would look obsessive and absurd. Instead, he ordered the stone simply not be cleaned.

Bowser grinned at his own genius ways of keeping 'her presence' there. Completely normal, of course. Not at all the actions of a stalker. Flicking his head in pride, he continued the walk.

Bowser wished there were other ways of keeping 'her presence' there. Feeling her flesh, touching her hair, seeing her face, peering into her eyes, everything kept him at a balance. After the initial buzz and shock that he always got from her, that is. The feeling was one he longed for. One he had never felt anywhere but with her. She was sweet, kind, powerful, wise, young, and beautiful. He couldn't forget beautiful. Bowser chortled. Ask a koopa anywhere but the Darklands and possibly the Mushroom Kingdom, and they would call humans ugly. Bowser agreed, most were. But Peach…she was an exception.

More than he could say, Bowser had dreamed of the day he would rule side-by-side with the Princess. By day and the public eye, she would use her brilliance and benevolence to help control the lands. Bowser would show her what power, discipline, intimidation, and all his other strengths could do for a kingdom. By night and in private, she would show him her sweetness, her laughter, he smiles, her touch, her beauty…everything he always thought was too good to be possible until she reminded him-it was real. It was real because of her.

Oh, how Bowser needed her. He felt like he was missing a part of himself when she was far. They call me obsessed! They just don't understand…if they understood, then…then they'd understand. Bowser glowered as he continued down the hallway, kicking stones and shouting at anyone who passed him.

This was going to be terrible. If she was here, in his palace, where he could see her everyday but not get near her, it would be far worse than the time he spent wishing she was there. She would be miserable, he would be miserable. She wouldn't be easily pleased, he wouldn't ever be pleased. When she was here, he was happy, but she wasn't. And when she wasn't happy, neither was he. But when she left…he was worse. His days were empty, her pictures were dull, life was cruel and Peach was far.

They shouldn't have brought her here. We'll all be miserable. Bowser stared at the ceiling. There's nothing to distract me now. We're not taking anything over, no one's chasing after her- as far as I know. It'll just be her…taunting me. And nothing I can do about it. Bowser pulled his eyes to the wall, glancing upon a window, one of the few in the palace. He was almost at the interview room. Staring out, he saw a bird perched in a tree, staring back. Free. Happy. Nothing keeping it prisoner. Not like Peach, Peach kept him prisoner every day of his life that he could see her face. Koopalings, what were you thinking?

The interview room was a large, oval room with a bunch of chairs set up almost like a conference room. Lemmy swung his stout legs under his chair, waiting, like all his siblings, for whatever fate their father had prepared for them. He felt Larry's eyes on him and looked up at his brother. Larry was obviously more concerned than Lemmy. He whispered harshly, "What do you think Daddy's gonna do?"

Morton, seated behind them, leaned between the two and growled, "pound us. Like I can pound you to a pulp and you'll be a squished up little pulp. Except Dad would pound you better."

Roy looked over at the nearby three over his sunglasses. Poking Morton on his birthmark, he said, "Larryboy wants to know what Pops'll say, Morty. We know 'e could pound us already, wichout yoh' help."

The door of the interview room slammed open as Bowser stormed in. He stared at the eight koopalings seated in the chairs and growled, "What are you all doing here? I only wanted one of you here."

The koopalings looked around at each other. Iggy raised a claw. "Er, dad? You asked for all of us."

Bowser frowned. "I think I know what I said, Iggy. I was the one that said it. I was the one that said it, and I'm right!"

Bowser Junior looked on the brink of tears. "…Dad?"

Bowser rolled his eyes at his youngest son. "WHAT?"

"Are you mad at us?"

Bowser almost laughed at the question, but he was too furious. Embers flew out of his mouth as he bellowed, "YES, JUNIOR, I AM!" He paced around the room, his steps echoing against the stone walls. Slamming his claws down on the table, he glared at his koopalings. "What were you thinking?" Larry shakily raised a claw. "What, Larry?" Bowser grunted.

Larry gulped. "Well see…we wanted to get you a good present…and we know you like Mama Peach and we wanted her here for your birthday."

Bowser growled in anger, ignoring the gracious gesture. "Do you realize everything that could have gone wrong?"

Iggy furrowed his brow and thrust his claw into the air. Not waiting to be called on, he spoke out. "Dad, we took every precaution. We spent hours making sure nothing could go wrong. Peach is here. She came to us on her way to a private vacation."

Bowser glared at his son. "She'll be missed!"

Lemmy spoke up. "No, dad. She left with the kingdom thinking she was with Mario. Then she called the castle AND Mario to say she was leaving, by herself, for a private vacation."

Bowser growled- a sign he still didn't approve, but couldn't think of a reason not to. For the first time since her arrival in the room, Wendy stopped filing her claws and said to her dad, "He's right. I was in the car and heard her. No one knows where she is, but, like, they all think it's a vacation."

Bowser looked at his children without snarling. Almost curiously, he asked, "Does she have any way of contacting them?" All the koopalings shook their heads 'no'.

Bowser brightened. It was a fool-proof plan, his koopalings had come up with a fool-proof plan! Even Kammy wouldn't have been able to do that. Fool-proof…But then again…Just because no one else knew she was kidnapped didn't mean she wouldn't.

He turned to face the wall, his spiked shell facing the koopalings. "You know she'll be miserable," Bowser grumbled.

Bowser Junior laughed, tears drying on his warm skin. "Just make it so she's not, daddy."

Iggy grinned. "Yeah. She's supposed to be on vacation. Make it like she is."

Bowser turned to his koopalings. "You know…I could try that."

Bowser started out the door with a quicker pace. There were so many things he had to do! Before leaving, he stuck his head back in. With an almost accusing claw, he growled, "The whole fool-proof plan thing? My idea."

The door started to close when Bowser stuck his head in again. "Only the fool-proof part. The whole stupid idea of kidnapping is your idea still, but I made it fool-proof. Got it? Good."

The koopalings watched the door clatter shut as they were left in the interview room alone. Larry spoke in surprise. "That was it?"

Lemmy shook his head with a bit of a smile. "No. That's not it. We've got a lot more to do…"

Author's Note: Like I said, you guys are seriuosly kick-awesome reviewers. Thanks for the humongous responce from last chapter, I was really flattered. Nice to come home to after a vacation. :) I'll be thrilled if this gets a responce anything like that.

Oh, and next chapter's really fun, quite light-hearted compared to this one and even has a bit with Daisy's POV. So review so I can update it soon :P