Foreword: Ahahaha, I did it! Here it is, chapter 17, before July! My 200 reviews present:)

Now I don't have chapter 18 started because I HAD to get this out...and I've been rushing to the computer to revise all day inbetween being worked like a dog. We've got a busy few weeks coming up over here, so I won't have a lot of time.

However! You shouldn't care about that!

This chapter is quite long, actually...a good 14 KB larger than the longest chapter before it. You see, I just had to get this stuff in before Bowser's Birthday, which is starting chapter 18, right away! I'm very excited. :)

This is a pretty fun chapter, full of important scenes, so keep your eyes open, I guess!

Bowser sighed, his claw pushing deeper through his bushy eyebrows. He opened an eye between his fingers and saw his party-planners still bickering about something. Bowser let his arm fall and stared them down, quite tired of it all. "What are you arguing about now?"

A mustachioed goomba replied, "What punch to serve, the same thing we've been discussing for-"

"The last hour?" Bowser seethed.

The koopa next to the goomba raised his eyebrows. "Um, sire, actually, no. We've been discussing the punch for five minutes…we've also settled on the seating arrangements, the dance instructors, the salad bar, and the electric bill in the past hour."

"That's it?"

"Well, it's certainly better than only a punch decision, sire," the goomba teasingly suggested.

Bowser rolled his eyes, letting the goomba's disrespect slide. "I don't really care about the stupid punch. Just put them all out, we can afford it. Let them decide for themselves, I don't think I invited anyone stupid enough not to." Bowser stood up, giving an icy glare to stop anyone from adding anything to the conversation.

Everyone knew that the king hated meetings more than anything else in being king. Even compliments didn't make them anymore bearable, but laws made it clear that his presence was expected. The look he had given them all clearly told them he was done for the day.

Kammy stood up, approaching Bowser. "Sire, if you're done here, we can get started on dance instruction."

"Why do I have to dance again?"

Behind her glasses, Kammy rolled her eyes. "It's a birthday ball, the grand koopa tradition…"

"I've never danced at them before, why should I have to waltz around like a pussy idiot this year?"

"You don't necessarily need to, sire. I wouldn't mind sitting by you the evening, as we have in the past…" Kammy suggested, trying to mask a devious smile.

Watching his higher-up trick the king, Kamek's eye began to twitch. He cleared his throat and stood up, using his staff to support himself. "But this year is different. Remember, you said you wished to dance with her highness?"

Bowser's face lit up as he faced Kamek. "Peach?" Instantly, it was as if he hadn't been in meetings for hours, bored enough to incinerate the whole palace.

Kamek smiled, both at Bowser's reaction and Kammy's, as she glared at him. He was beating her, again. "Yes, Peach. She loves balls for the dancing, and I do believe she's your date, isn't she?"

Kammy stared Kamek down as she spat, "He's her escort." Her purple hat was quivering, but Kamek only shook his head.

"I had heard her highness told his wretchedness that it was a 'date', Kammy."

Bowser straightened his spine in pride, agreeing with Kamek. But before the koopa could say anything, Kammy hissed, "It's a matter of speech, Kamek. His Majesty doesn't need to stay with Peach if he so chooses."

"But I-"

"Well, he's going to choose to stay with the Princess. There's nothing you can do to change that, Kammilia." Kamek retorted.

"Kammilia? What kind of-"

"Oh, don't you call me that, you wretched fool. You don't know what you're talking about; His Mightiness can make any choice he very well wants."

Bowser's eyes fell, along with his shoulders. He realized this spat was more about the two magikoopas and less and less about him and his wonderfulness, and he was therefore getting quite bored. "Hey, who's the important one standing right here? Kammy, take me to dance class. Kamek…go do something else."

Kammy nodded. "You lead, sire." As Bowser led the way out of the room, Kammy shot a bragging glance at Kamek, followed by a quick head-flip and a march out of the room.

Kamek watched them leave, shaking his head. As the magic formed around Kamek to teleport him away, he murmured, "things are going to get very interesting around here…"

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Rocco had his radio up on high, listening intently as the electronic bugs he had planted around Peach's castle picked up toad jabber.

He swerved through the streets, trying to blend in as much as he could. Thankfully, he had left Toad Town boundaries and was headed towards Koopaville…a koopa driving a convertible was much more common among his own kind.

On the other end of the radio, the toads seemed to have no clue what they were doing. Clearly, the toads were not used to trying to solve mysteries; that was either Mario's job, or no one's. And it was definitely not the Toadstool Castle security's forte.

The toads quarreled about how to set up the equipment, Rocco learning nothing except that they didn't know where, or how, to begin looking for their princess remotely and discreetly…that was a good sign, but the fact that they realized mischief was afoot was already bad enough.

Finally, Rocco pulled into Koopaville and parked his car near the official "secret" spy headquarters that Bowser's minions always had established. For years, he had loyal koopas live among those who were Mushroom Kingdom citizens, only in times of plotting did he send out extras, such as Rocco. Of course, His Cruelness didn't even realize Rocco was out- the koopalings had hired him.

"Hey Joey, I need to get through to Darklands pronto," Rocco snapped as he entered the one-room house.

Joey, a yellow-shelled koopa who had gotten all too used to living in peace looked up at Rocco. "You talkin' to me?" he asked through a peanut-butter sandwich.

Rocco rolled his eyes and walked past his current roommate. "No, actually, I was talking to the other Joey who knows how to get through to Darklands. Yes, I was talking to you! Imbecile!" He ran his finger along an empty wall, grazing it along a well-photographed picture of Koopa Strikers fighting for a soccershell. "Which one do I press again?"

"Hecom wom omm da reff…ih eff ahm ebow." Joey swallowed his newly-taken bite of sandwich and smiled at Rocco. Rocco wasn't quite as happy as his roomie. Joey sighed, disappointed Rocco couldn't take a peanut-butter filled joke. "Second one on the left, his left arm's elbow…" Joey clarified.

Without a murmur of thanks, Rocco touched the given place of the picture and stood back, letting the wall section swing open, revealing a passageway.

"Say hi to the koopalings for me," Joey asked with a wave of his claw.

Rocco looked back at him disgustedly, but his roommate only gave yet another peanut-butter smeared grin.

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Lemmy's elbows were propped on the stone floor, his good eye staring intently at a small bug crawling a few feet away. "You really think you can hit it from there?" he asked his brother, standing a few feet behind him on a stone table.

"Why wouldn't I?" Larry readjusted his posture, biting his tongue as he focused on the bug. "We Royal Koopas have excellent aim."

"I don't." Lemmy told him, still staring at the bug. It twitched its wings, but remained on the floor in the same spot, ignorant to the plotting behind it.

"Well, you only have half the vision that we all have. So you have a big excuse. Are you ready, Lem?"

Lemmy nodded. "I've got a recorder ready, so we should be good to go, right?"

Larry grinned. "Yup." He inhaled and pushed a claw through his blue Mohawk nervously. Larry had yet to make the full 10-foot jump to land perfectly on a bug, but he felt lucky. "Here goes!" With a roar, Larry leapt off his table, flailing his arms and legs in an almost circular motion.

"Sir!" A young, red magikoopa rushed into the hallway, swinging her staff frantically. "Sir Larry!"

Larry turned his head to the side, impacting his landing horridly. He fell with a crash just a few inches from Lemmy's elbows, landing on his arms and digging his armbands into his scales.

Lemmy frowned. "You missed."

"That didn't count," Larry seethed as he stood up and tried to regain his dignity. "You're lucky I missed you, Lemmy," he added, trying to sound threatening.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, Sir Larry, but you're wanted." The magikoopa drew circles on the ground with her toe as Larry walked over, his head coming up to her chest, his hair surpassing her own.

"By whom?"

"Ah, your friend stationed in the Mushroom Kingdom…he sent out a Red Alert."

Larry's blood ran cold. "Rocco? Rocco sent out a Red Alert?"

"I'm sorry if I distressed you, sire, but the message on the screen said to contact you immediately, and-"

"Shut up, I get it. Lemmy! Come with me!"

Lemmy turned to face his brother, elbows still facing the bug. "But you didn't squish the bug yet!"

"Just come on!" Larry seethed, marching over to his brother and grabbing him by the elbow. "Let's go!"

The two brothers ran down the hallway, grabbing Iggy along the crook of the elbow as they passed, not bothering to explain. They raced up stairs and down memorized halls, finally getting into the "Outside Connections" room, a large and spacious room, aisles of electronic screens and desks of papers filling it from wall-to-wall.

Larry pointed a claw towards a machine he had designed, flashing red. "There!" The three of them ran towards it, a Code Red memo flashing in bright colors before them.

Larry dialed a long number and let loud sounds of the machine locating satellites ensue. Soon they were connected, Rocco's shaky voice explaining everything he heard -perfectly coded.

Iggy stepped up to the microphone as Larry ran his hands through his hair. "So does the flock know the eagle is in the eerie with the vulture and fledglings?"

"No, they don't think the vulture could be as smart as you fledglings were. They don't know who nabbed her, just that she's not on a pleasure flight."

Lemmy had lost interest and was inspecting nearby machines, but Larry was soon jabbering nervously with his spy. Iggy seemed to be lost in thought for a few moments before his face lit up.

"I have an idea," he whispered, a smile spreading across his face. He looked up at a clock and put out his claw. "Find me a phone-line connector in here that shows up as a phone number to reach the castle."

Larry's eyes went wide as he stared at his brother. "Are you an idiot? We can't just call them! What are we going to say? 'Hey, toadies, we got your pretty pretty princess, she's just peachy over here in the clutches of your sworn enemy, so don't you worry your pretty little mushrooms, we'll ship here back to safety on time'? I don't think that's going to work!"

Iggy smirked at his brother. "It won't work if we say it, but it will if Peach does."

Larry shook his head, arms crossed across his chest. "Even if we could convince Mama Peach to tell them she's okay, it wouldn't work. Peach would make them nervous, they'd get suspicious, something would go wrong…and Mama Peach wouldn't lie. Besides, we can't find her right now."

Iggy turned his blue shell on his brothers, fishing through a nearby cabinet as he continued to speak. "Who said Peach had to be the one to call?" He came up with a voice modulator and threw it at Larry. "I think you know her vocal quality better than I do."

Larry's face lit up in understanding, his eyebrows slanting in as he caught on. "Well, of course I do."

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A toad had her feet propped lightly on the desk on front of her, gossiping to her friend about everything she knew. She'd been caught a few times, but until she was fired she planned on using the free phone service as long as she could.

Another nearby phone began to ring, caller-id proposing an unfamiliar number. The toad listened to the ringing as she kept talking, eventually sighing and putting a hand over the receptor. "Anyone gonna get that?" she hollered. With no answer, she angrily answered her own question. "Fine, I will." She put her friend on hold and picked up the phone, now almost done ringing.

"Toadstool Castle, how may I help you?"

"Hello?" The voice on the other end of the phone was one that the toad easily recognized- that of her own princess! The toad's chair rolled backwards as she squirmed in surprise, landing the toad firmly on the floor with a bruised rear-end to match her ego.

She fumbled for the phone, finally finding her voice. "P-Princess Peach? Is that you?"

"Um, yes, it is. I just wanted to tell you how I was doing, that's all. I'm doing well, so I'm-"

"Excuse me, highness, but where are you?"

"Uh…on vacation. It's a secret, so…um…I'm not going to tell you. Sorry. Now I really need-"

"Hold on, Peach. There are people that want to talk to you, let me go get Toadsworth."

"This phone is…uh… on a timer, so I really gotta…"

Ignoring her 'princess', the toad secretary promptly put on hold music, a strikingly familiar tune, while she hurriedly picked up her phone with her friend. "!" Quickly, the toad hung up and used the phone to contact Toadsworth.

"'Ello?"

"Sir! Princess Peach is on the phone!"

"What? Hold on just a moment, old gel, did you say the bally Princess called?"

"Yes! Hurry fast!"

"Blimey…I'm coming, old gel!"

Within seconds Toadsworth, a long with a few of his security force members, had arrived in the secretary's office. Toadsworth picked up the phone, still on hold, and ordered the security to begin tracking her location immediately.

"Peach?" No response. Faintly, Toadsworth could hear the hold theme playing. His glasses quivering, Toadsworth hollered, "Why the bloomin' Underwhere is Peach on hold?" Without waiting for an answer, Toadsworth took the 'princess' off hold and shouted her name yet again.

"Um…who is this?"

"Who do you think? It's Toadsworth, poppet! Where are you? Are you okay? What happened?"

"Slow down…um…please. I'm on vacation, I already told you that…I'm perfectly fine and perfectly happy…uh…nothing exciting's going on at all."

"Tell me what's happened to you, starting when you got in that infernal cab!"

There was an audible sigh on the other end as Peach's voice grew impatient. "I'm okay, Toadswa…Toads…um…you people over there. I'm fine! I just got in the cab, it took me to the airport, and I got to my vacation."

"Then why did your taxi cab end up in a river? And why did you cancel your reservations only to get back in the car with no records what so ever? Hmm?"

Peach's end of the phone conversation was silent for a moment. There was audible whispering, followed by a whispered argument until finally a scratchy-voiced Peach got back on the phone. "I don't know what you're talking about. I never cancelled my cab; they must have made a silly little mistake. And the cab was in the river? Oh dear lemon pops! I hope the cabbie was okay, she was such a sweetie-pie."

Toadsworth looked questioningly at the security who all shrugged. One pointed at a voice recognizer, clearly stating it was a perfect match with their beloved Princess.

"Um, I really have to go…this is on a timer…or something…so I don't have much time. I'll see you silly-billies on Saturday, just like we planned! Tell everyone I said hi!"

"Princess Peach, you simply must tell us your location…for security reasons!"

"I told you…it's a secret! I'm not telling you until…later…um…maybe. Okay?" All of a sudden there was more whispering on Peach's end, more arguments, and a new, though muffled, voice came through. It sounded strikingly similar to Peach, but much slower, duller, and slurred.

"Hey, guys look at this! I found a button that can connect us with all of King Dad's allies! There's even an open spot for-"

The voice was followed by a rather loud thud, followed by another thud and a muffled, angry voice. Peach's voice picked up shakily. "Um, I think I'm going to go…um…a drunk guy just wandered in…I…uh…its getting crowded so I'm going to go back. I'm…uh…tanning today so I don't want to miss my appointment! Bye bye!"

"Wait! Peach! I-" Toadsworth was cut off as the phone was hung up. He sighed and looked at his security.

"All we could figure out is that she used a satellite phone…and that that really was Peach. The voice at the end wasn't, according to this thing, but…"

Toadsworth sighed and rubbed his eyes, saying, "I don't know about this. It still seems suspicious…"

"But what are we going to do? You said yourself…if Peach told us she was okay we'd lay off. She did that. Can't we…lay off?"

Toadsworth kept rubbing his eyes in distress. "I feel like we're walking into a well-laid trap…but fine. If she doesn't show up in perfect health in three days, then by gum, we're sending out the calvary!"

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Valkoopy was exasperated from looking for the Princess. After searching all the expected places she had resorted to asking directions and was pleasantly surprised. Almost every worker she ran into had recently seen the Princess and all of them pointed her towards the same place.

Hoping her run through the palace wasn't in vain, Valkoopy pressed through the Laundromat's door, not even bothering to wonder what the princess would be doing there.

She stepped through the aisles of washing machines and basins, finding a maid, hunched over at a basin, whistling whilst scrubbing a uniform clean. Her blonde hair was just barely getting in the soapy water, but she evidently didn't care. Breathlessly, Valkoopy asked, "Have you seen Princess Peach?" as she had been doing for almost an hour.

The maid replied, "Why yes, I have." She stood up, revealing how tall she really was and how much of a maid she wasn't. Standing in front of Valkoopy was a very-soaked-through Princess Peach. "She's right here."

Valkoopy sighed in relief, "You have no clue how long I've been looking for you."

Peach raised an eyebrow before returning to her scrubbing. "Why? Didn't you know I'd be in the laundry room?" She giggled, but slowly stopped as Valkoopy didn't seem amused. After a quick cough, Peach smiled again. "What were you looking for me for?"

"I was assigned to tell you about tomorrow's schedule…with his horridness." Valkoopy looked up at Peach nervously, almost expecting her to lash out at the koopa maid. Instead, her eyes lit up and her smile spread wider.

"Splendid! So, do you want to tell me here or what?" She wrung out the uniform she was scrubbing and laid it over the basin's edge, eagerly watching Valkoopy's expressions.

"Uh…well, we'll…in your room, but…Peach, are you sure you're okay spending Bowser's birthday with him?"

Peach laughed, wringing her hair out and waving a worker over to her half-finished pile of uniforms. "Of course I'm okay! I was so lonely today; he's been at meetings far too long. I've been planning on spending tomorrow with him anyway, just need to find time to make breakfast with his kids."

Valkoopy raised her eyebrows. "How'd you know about breakfast?"

"Bowser Junior told me all about it…let's go, before it gets too late."

"Al…alright." Valkoopy led the way out of the laundry room, a smile forming as she realized the rumors were true. As pessimistic as Valkoopy was, she hadn't believed 'Peach is enjoying herself', 'Peach is getting along with the royal children', and especially not 'Peach is starting to like the king'. All Valkoopy knew of Peach was the foul moods she'd been in…this perky and happy-to-be-here attitude was pleasant, no doubt, but…not what she had expected.

Turning to Peach as they walked, she ventured, "So you're enjoying yourself then?"

"Very much so. I had no idea how much fun I could have with your royal family, I'm just ecstatic to spend the day tomorrow…I'm so excited to hear what we're doing!"

Valkoopy smirked. "I told you so."

"Told me what?"

"That you'd enjoy yourself if you let yourself." She laughed and kept walking. "His Majesty isn't that bad, is he?"

Peach smiled, shaking her head. "Not at all." At a loss for words, Peach almost lost her concentration, a smile unwillingly forming as she walked. "I enjoy his company." She bit back her grin, eyes twinkling.

Valkoopy smiled at the princess, lost in her own world and visibly struggling to get back to earth. A wicked grin spread across her face as she watched Peach struggle.

Like almost every koopa in the kingdom, Valkoopy was eager to get her king with the woman of his dreams. It didn't take Valkoopy long to realize that Peach clearly liked him, and, like most women, talking about him reminded herself about all the things she liked about him, liking him even more.

She cleared her throat, jerking Peach to attention. "So…I haven't really talked to you since the first night you got here, and you seem to have had a major turn in attitude. Care to explain while we get to your room?"

Peach's thoughts flashed to her first night, feeling foolish that she had once hated Bowser simply because he was Bowser. And yet, she also remembered how much of a traitor she had been for enjoying herself so much. But as she silently thought about her heart's change through the week, she remembered how happy Bowser made her. She remembered how she had only hated him before she got to know him, and instantly felt better.

Arguing with herself had darkened her bubbly mood, and Peach much preferred cloud nine to reality. So, with a grin, she nodded to Valkoopy. "Alright, but this might take awhile."

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Conspich U. Toad had to be the fattest toad Mario had ever seen. Luigi claimed to have seen a fatter one, but his older brother didn't believe such a creature could exist without bursting.

The obese toad's quadruple chins were jiggling and he laughed at something the plumber next to him had said. Conspich blinked, his attempt at a nod, and cleared his throat. The large room, about the size of Peach's front hall, was dotted with tables. Seated were all the participants of the week's convention, cleaned up and washed for the formal dinner. As their benefactor drew their attention, the room went quiet.

Conspich smiled as he began his speech. "I believe you all know why we're here- there are two main reasons. The first reason is a grand and noble cause, the union of all plumbers through the mushroom kingdom. Plumbers, who once knew each other as only competition, can now see a greater kinship in each other. We have learned our strengths, our weaknesses, and our hearts and desires. We have discovered the best of all plunger jokes, heard the most frightening of the 'on the job' stories, and learned to be grateful for what we have."

Conspich wiped his brow and took a deep breath. Although he wasn't frightened by public speaking, such a long speech was a hard and tiresome effort for the toad. He wiped just under his mushroom cap before starting again. "I think you all know that plumbing is a greater job than clearing a pipe. Plumbers are what keep households in motion, what keep the inhabitants of this fair kingdom clean and happy, and, in some cases, who keep them safe from tyrannical turtles."

The room chuckled at Conspich U. T's joke, looking fondly at their famous role-models. Conspich smiled just as fondly before clearing his throat and returning to his speech. "We have come together for this wonderful week of learning, laughing, and more learning. I would like for the teachers of the courses to please be recognized…" on his cue, the many teachers stood in their places, acknowledging the applause, sitting as Conspich cleared his throat and wiped his brow. "And my second reason we are all gathered here is just as grand a cause. The cause of that wonderful thing so elusive this whole week- food!"

The convention-wide dinner attendants clapped and cheered. A thin and tall koopa stood and directed the attendants towards the buffet tables, Mario leaping out of his chair at the direction.

"Muma mia, Mario! If you-a get at-a the food like that, you'll-a be the next Conspich U. T!" Luigi told him as he caught up.

Mario raised an eyebrow at Luigi as they got their place in line. "I-a don't think I could-a fit that shape. My-a mustache would not-a match." He winked once before growing extremely serious, close to the food. His head spun as the hot, steaming entrees and luscious side-dishes called to him. Mario spooned platefuls of pasta onto his large tray of plates, dotting them with breadsticks, steaks, and all sorts of fine foods. Luigi followed suit, although his plate was a bit less heaping.

After the large meal was finished, the plumbers headed towards their apartments, all walking a little slower than usual. Mario noticed Merideth was helping escort Conspich U. T to his car, along with a few other convention teachers. She caught his gaze as the benefactor was fit into his seat. Merideth smiled and waved towards her student, who smiled and waved back, ignoring the lump in his throat.

Luigi rolled his eyes at his brother, but regardless leaned over to tell him something. "You know," he began, "there's a-going to be another-a party at that-a nightclub where we went a few-a days ago. The teachers are-a going too."

Mario shook his head. "I don't-a need to complicate things. We need to-a pack for our drive tomorrow-a morning, and I am-a too full to go to a party."

Luigi shrugged. "Are you-a going to call-a Peach before we leave-a?" Mario shook his head again, not explaining why. Luigi remembered she was unreachable, but regardless didn't appreciate not being able to read his brother's face.

"Are you excited to-a go home?"

Mario nodded, remaining silent for the rest of the walk. Luigi frowned slightly, looking off towards the convention's campus. He knew the trip would be good for their business, he knew they had enjoyed themselves, but what he didn't know was how it had affected Mario. Peach had spent a week alone on vacation, and Luigi knew it was because she needed a break, but if Mario was this quiet and difficult next week, she wouldn't be happy.

Luigi knew that Peach liked to talk. He also knew his brother…didn't. He knew that Peach had needed a week away from life and, hopefully, she had gotten that. But at Grand Canal, she would be refreshed and ready to reevaluate life, and Luigi didn't know if Mario would make the cut. Hopefully nothing had happened on the princess's vacation to make her realize that what she wanted in a man wasn't Mario, hopefully she would still love his little flaws.

Hopefully.

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Roy grinned as he looked over his notes. He just knew he'd have no problem creaming his brothers in this competition…after all, he hadn't lost a bet since he was five. True, he had to cheat once…or twice…or two-hundred and seventy-three times…but still, he hadn't ever lost.

As confident as ever, if not more, he rapped on Peach's door. She swung it open and smiled down at Roy. Roy grinned toothily back. "Hey Peachy. You ready foh dinner?"

"My goodness, is it dinnertime already? I hadn't finished my show yet."

Roy leaned in to see what was on Peach's television, catching sight of a rather dramatic confession on Shy Guys of our Lives. "Don't sweat it, Mama Peach. This episode is lame, Clarice just finds out that Jeremy is really in love with some other chick, then he realizes that chick was actually a dude, but by then Clarice is sailing away to Turtle Island."

"Does Jodi get rescued from that mountain she got stuck on last episode?"

Roy shook his head. "Not foh another three episodes. She 'as to be abducted by the snow-aliens first, doi."

"We don't get these day-time dramas in the Mushroom Kingdom. It's all cooking shows and stuff like that. If we did, I'd have never learned to bake cakes in a matter of minutes, I guess."

"Yeah, whatevah. Let's kick it, Cookie's makin' something nice." Peach began to make a comment on Cookoopa's cooking when Roy interrupted her, obviously remembering his duties as he escorted her. "So, Peachy! Did Pops show you da royal gardens yet?"

"No, I didn't even know you had them. Are they inside the palace?"

"Naw, the best one's outside. I kin arrange foh him to take ya tomorrow."

Peach raised an eyebrow, catching Roy's eager eye. "I think we're going to be really busy tomorrow."

Roy smirked as he replied, "well yeah, but Pops'll do anyting fo'you, Peachy. It ain't gonna be no problem. He's da most powerful koopa ever, and he's got the hots foh you. Donchu worry 'bout nothin'."

"Roy, I have no doubt Bowser would do anything for me. I just think we're too busy tom-"

"Pops kin arrange anyting you want, Princess, an'I can help him do all da dirty work, y'know? I got connections."

Peach rolled her eyes with a smile still on her face. Although it was painfully obvious what Roy, as well as all his siblings, intended to do for her, it was cute. But regardless, she didn't necessarily appreciate the 'help'. Craftily, she asked, "So, Roy, what kind of connections do you have?"

Pride swelling in his chest, Roy began to rattle off his most impressive 'connections' and his bravest stories relating…and he continued to do so for the entire walk.

The two appeared at the large oaken doors with Bowser and the cheep-cheep, Peach hiding her smirk, fully-knowing she had outsmarted the witty koopaling and gotten him to stop trying to make her fall for his father. Roy knew too.

He looked up at Peach, his voice dripping with disdain as he said "Oh, you're good." Roy shook his head, biting back an almost proud smile as they pushed into the dining room. Although Peach had stifled his chance at making serious headway in the competition, she was clever and knew how to find weaknesses. He respected that in a woman.

Bowser stood up eagerly as Peach stepped in the room, grinning foolishly as he saw her for the first time since Pickleball that day. Roy nonchalantly moved to his seat between Lemmy and Iggy. Like his siblings, Roy's seat had his face carved into the back of the chair.

"Peach, you can sit in Ludwig's seat…next to me," Bowser eagerly suggested, pulling out the seat with his eldest son's mug on it.

"Hey Pops, where is Ludo?" Roy asked loudly as he elbowed the brothers on either side.

"Yeah, like how come he doesn't have teh be here? That's like totally not fair," Wendy drawled.

As Bowser pushed her chair in, Peach suggested, "He's probably working on his composition still."

"So stupid blue-hair monster-freak gets to ditch lame dinner to compose his stupid composing junk? He's such a stupid blue-hair monster-freak!"

Bowser raised his eyebrows at Morton. "If you want to ditch dinner to make my present even better, fine. But you have to make the present worthy of me."

Morton grumbled an answer, but no one could hear him over the servers.

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Larry poked Bowser Jr, waking his younger brother from dozing off. "What is it?" Junior hissed. Larry proudly pointed at his GameKoopa, showing off his 'You Win!' to Junior. Better situating himself in his seat, he turned his shell towards his father and Peach, still engaged in conversation. "What game is that?"

"Super Paper Bowser. I got it from the store this afternoon."

Junior snatched the GameKoopa out of his brother's claws, glaring at the screen. "But I haven't even gotten past the first level!"

Larry pulled the handheld out of Junior's grasp, seething, "that's because it's a puzzle game. You suck at those."

Wendy looked up from over her claw-filing, noticing that Morton next to her was starting to wake. She knew the moment he saw his brothers bickering he'd want to join, then the fight would get way too loud and immature for her tastes.

She looked around and saw Bowser and Peach…still talking. Lemmy was arm-wrestling with Roy, seemingly losing all his allowance for the next three years as he made bet after bet. Iggy was building something out of his napkins and various eating utensils, and the other three boys were about to make a huge fight. Everyone had been done eating for hours and were practically getting hungry again…Peach and Bowser seemed oblivious to the whole thing as they chattered.

Wendy slammed her claws on the table, snapping Peach to attention and earning a scowl from her father. Morton's head surged up, crumbs dotting his face, and Lemmy used the chance of Roy's distraction to slam their fists into the table.

"Wendy, what is it?"

"May we be excused? Like, ever?"

Peach gasped as she looked up at the clock, ticking towards the witching hour. "My goodness, I had no idea how late it had gotten! Everyone should really get to bed…we've got a full day tomorrow."

Bowser looked a bit disappointed, but soon let himself grin. "Yup, best birthday ever tomorrow." He stood up, his children eagerly following suit, Peach wishing them all good nights as they ran up their staircases.

Bowser led Peach up to her own bedroom, happily continuing their discussion. When they arrived at the Princess's chambers, she quieted. "Well, I need to get to sleep now…" Bowser nodded, lingering in her doorway just a bit longer. Peach bit her lip, then awkwardly put her hand on her door. "Sleep well, 'majesty." She smiled sincerely at the koopa king, her tired eyes glistening.

"Good night, Peach." He smiled and her door began to close. "Wait!" Bowser called out, swinging the door open again. "I forgot to tell you something!"

Peach closed her eyes as she smiled, opening them again with the face of a patient mother. "Yes?"

"I love you."

Peach's heart flopped, although the words were practically commonplace by now. "I know," she whispered. They stood silent for a few seconds longer, before Peach wished Bowser goodnight and shut her door.

Bowser traced a circle on the closed door, his heart swelling as he headed to his own bed.

What a good birthday he would have tomorrow.

Author's Note: Alright! I'm so excited for next chapter...the start of Bowser's Birthday! My -favorite- part of his birthday probably won't be in next chapter...hopefully by 19, we'll see how it goes. That's the ball, of course. I drew up a design for Peach's dress, by the time THAT chapter gets done it should be at -plugplug- the ebtwisty website as seen in our profile -plugplug-!

I had fun reading the reviews from last chapter...those were fun ones! I miss a lot of my readers that have left, I just so appreciate the ones that have stuck with this story, and I'm honored to have new readers too. I'm glad you guys enjoy this as much as I do!

-Razzi