Foreword: Don't you just LOVE when you think you posted a chapter, but you never really hit submit? Yeah...it would have been even MORE on-time/early, but this authoress is a little dumb sometimes. ;)

This chapter's a little sadder than most, but that's kind of necessary. Nothing you should need tissues for, unless you're just sad that it's taken me 34 chapters to get Peach out of the Darklands.

Speaking of which, I still own nothing of Nintendo's. Except my new paragoomba keychain, which, I have to admit, is pretty tight.

Saturday morning, Toadsworth arrived at the castle gates earlier than he had all week…including the frantic days in the week's beginning. He was parked, inside the castle, and ordering toads around before the sun was even up. "Pip pip, buddos. We have a doozy of a workload this morning, and I don't want to hear scruff about it!"

The toads were running every direction they could, mostly trying to look busy. Toadsworth had been driving them like slaves to deal with his own personal stress, but there really wasn't much left to do. Peach's bag for Grand Canal had been packed for three days now, and repacked fourteen times since then. Har T. had prepared the lunches already, and they were simmering in catering vans for the hours left until they left for the airport to greet Princess Peach. Seeing as she wasn't even leaving the airport that day or due to come home for another week, cleaning the castle was pointless. But they had done that, too.

"Toadsworth, we've run out of things to do!" Toadette complained. "You can't keep pushing the toads around. Poor Integree T has mopped the same ballroom three times this morning…and it's not even eight yet!"

"Hullo, poppet, but unlike some blokes here, I actually care about what the castle bloomin' looks like when Peach gets home, wot wot!"

"We're freaking ready, Toadsworth! And has it occurred to you that you may be worrying about the wrong things? We don't know what gate she's arriving at, what gate she's leaving through, and we haven't seen the Mario Brothers for days…they're supposed to pick her up with Daisy, aren't they? She's not even going to see the castle!"

Toadsworth groaned, putting a hand to his temple. "Toadette. M'love. I don't think you've quite gathered how the ole' think-tank works." He put an arm out for her to take and escorted her away from the grand hallway to a quiet corner where the sky-painted walls met.

"This entire bloomin' week I've had to deal with things I can't figure out for myself. It's right blustering and drives me simply off the rocker. Though I'm quite certain you'd gathered that already, smart ole' bean that you are. I already figured those things you mentioned to be difficult to figure, so I did a lovely little process called delegation, marm. It's abso-bally-lutely fantastic. See, some other brilliant toads get the problems that are too big for one Toadsworth to get sorted through; one bloke is contacting the Mario Brothers, one is dealing with the airport to figure out her gates and arrival times, one is over traffic and weather internationally to guesstimate late arrivals and problems that may arise, and one is routinely checking up on those three. That fine fellow contacts me every five or so."

He tapped her shoulders, offering her a smile. "Tha' way, I only have to deal with things I know I have under control, like the general cleanliness and atmosphere of the castle. Stewing around like a lame-duck would render me insane, and I'm too frazzled to be able to handle the other issues."

"But Toadsworth, do you really think you need to have everyone else going insane with menial labor just to keep you sane?"

"Cogswallop," Toadsworth replied, pushing her comment aside with a wave of his hand. "Not everyone is doing menial labor."

With impeccable timing, King Toadstool interrupted their conversation, a frilly apron around his waist and under his fat rolls. "Sorry to intrude, Toadsworth, but where does the dirty water go again?" He raised a bucket of grey water, a few dust mites floating around. "I'd put it in the moat, but they're dredging that right now and I don't want to be a bother."

"Good heavens, sire! What are you doing working with a bloomin' mop?" Toadsworth stuttered, ignoring Toadette's smug Itoldyouso looks.

"Just doing the work your helpers assigned me, Toadsworth. 'Lift where you stand' and all!"

"Isn't there something more productive you could do, sire, considering your regal potential? Maybe taking a li'l siesta or getting a spot of tea?"

"Highly unproductive," King Toadstool grunted. "My daughter's plane is arriving today, and if everyone else is in such a tizzy about it, I ought to help."

"Well…you could order everyone else around as I am, I suppose," Toadsworth muttered, biting his lip as he looked around for Toads to be ordered around.

"Now, as King, I can't stand for that. We do not give orders where completely unnecessary, Toadsworth. If you wouldn't like me to finish with this mopping, I suppose I could find some delegate work to handle. There are a lot of people asking questions about Peach and her whereabouts and schedule, and we've been putting them off, but that's no reason to not give a polite 'get back to you soon' postcard…"

"Yes, yes, do that…" Toadsworth replied, bowing low to the king, but still seeming brash.

The king rolled his eyes before he walked away, politely handing a bored-looking toad his bucket and ordering him to dump it as far from the castle as he chose to go. The toad looked absolutely delighted.

"Do you see what I mean, Toadsworth?" Toadette began. "You're being completely-"

She was cut off when a lanky toad ran up to the two of them, his blue-and-green cap barely fitting. "Sir! Status report!" he chirped.

"Jolly good! Rattle 'em off, ole' chap!" Toadsworth sang, turning to ignore Toadette completely.

The lanky toad yanked out a clipboard from his messenger bag, fiddling with the three walky-talkies that were rattling around inside it as well. "Mario Brothers determined to be at the Sarasaland Castle, attended by the Sarasaland servants and royalty. Brothers not yet contacted directly; deemed to be asleep. Peach's flight to the airport is still undetermined, and the air patrol has yet to receive any out of the ordinary flights scheduled to land. Current flights scheduled to land within an hour of noon from nine locations; will be given if requested. Flight from Toad Town Airport to Grand Canal still on schedule. Traffic in Toad Town is at a normal procession. Traffic at each of the nine airports is at a normal procession, except at Dry Dry Desert, where there seems to be a power-outage and Leaky Cauldrip, where the traffickers have gone on strike. Weather as expected at all nine locations except Yoshi's Island (thunderstorm), Gusty Gulch (sandstorm), and Gorilla Glacier (blizzard). Any other requests, sir?"

"That'll do. Good show, guv'nah. In five, then?" Toadsworth shook the toad's hand and turned back to the sighing Toadette. "What seems to be the tiff now, love?"

"You're ridiculous. That's the 'tiff', Toadsworth. How much of that update has changed in the last five minutes, eh? And you have the king working? Did you even realize you were ordering him around?"

Toadsworth stuttered, unable to find a word, just listened to Toadette continue her tirade about his insanity. "Alright, alright, shut it!" he bellowed, getting the attention of everyone scrubbing down the grout of the main hall. "I'm just a bit…frazzled!" He held onto his cane as he shook, and took a deep breath. "Perhaps I ought to just wait Peach out at the aeroport…read a good book or summat."

"That would be wise."

"Dane T, dearie! Can you get help preparing the vans?"

The tiny toad spun around, flustered by the attention from her idol. "They're all packed already, sir."

"With everything?"

"All of Peach's bags, including her extras are in the main van. The catering van is prepared. And the security guards are in the armored truck already. All that's missing is you, sir."

"Well then…ehem…Toadette, you and the King are in charge until I get back. Good show, mates…"

xxxx0o0o0o0o0o0o0xxxx

With a hiss, the blinds streaked open and hot, Sarasaland sun poured into Luigi and Mario's room. Daisy raced from the windows and onto their beds, each one in turn, screaming at them to wake up. "We gotta go! We gotta go!"

"Go where?" Luigi asked, groggily. Mario was trying his best to grab the bouncing princess's leg and throw her off the bed, but he was still too disoriented.

Daisy leapt to straddle Luigi's body, not minding that if he was coherent enough he could probably look straight up her skirt. "To Toad Town! Peach's flight arrives in three hours and we still have to drive there…and you two aren't even dressed!" She grabbed Luigi's bare hands and yanked him upright, kissing his cheeks to stimulate him to wake up. It certainly worked, and soon, Luigi was helping Daisy stimulate Mario to life.

After just a few minutes, they were up and pulling on their overalls. Daisy was downstairs, helping her servants load her luggage into the Mario Brother's truck. There was quite a bit, especially since her father had enlisted the help of the royal dressers in packing. Daisy didn't have the heart to tell them that she'd probably buy half her outfits there (so she could wear what she wanted without the royal shopping consultant's permission) and just wear one or two packed outfits for the other days. He seemed so happy to watch them pile dress after sundress into the suitcases.

Soon, everyone could hear the familiar ba-thunk, ba-thunk of luggage coming down stairs. Mario and Luigi pulled their considerably lesser number of bags around to put in the back of the truck, and the attendants rushed around them, trying to help best they could. But there seemed nothing they needed help with.

Daisy walked right through their busy, nervous running paths and put her arms around the Mario brothers. "Are you guys ready?" she cheered. They affirmed their answers, and she squealed with delight. "I can't wait to see what Grand Canal's like! And I can't wait to see Peach and hear about her mystery vacation!"

"It should-a be good," Mario agreed, his moustache raised in a slight smile. "We should get-a in the truck," he added. "Think how mad Toadsworth would-a be if we were-a late."

Luigi shuddered at the thought. "I would-a thought he had called-a by now."

Daisy laughed. "Have you guys not checked your phones? He's had toads calling quite constantly since five this morning!"

Mario felt his over-all pocket, pulling out a phone with a black screen. "I guess-a I left it off."

Luigi tried turning his on, but it died immediately. "Mamma mia, I don't-a think so, brah. I think Toadsworth and-a his calling killed our batteries."

Daisy took their phones and couldn't help but laugh. "We'll charge them on the way. He shouldn't have anything to worry about anyway…it's just a vacation."

xxxx0o0o0o0o0o0o0xxxx

Peach was smiling and giggling as she shared small-talk with her assistants. Valkoopy had requested to help her pack, as had a few more of Bowser's servants who had grown especially fond of the princess. Her suitcases were packed, the floors were vacuumed, the bathroom was scrubbed, and everything was in even better condition than it was before Peach arrived. But nobody in the room seemed all too desperate to leave.

An older-looking Boo faded into view in the doorframe. He cleared his throat and looked at the room full of attendants. "King Bowser and the royal children would like to see Princess Peach before she leaves, if it's not too much to ask."

"But she's leaving and we might never see her again!" one insistent mouser squeaked.

"Which is precisely why she needs to leave, miss," the Boo reminded.

"I would like to see them. But if you guys wanna bring my bags and stuff to the airplane, I can give you goodbyes there…no need to say goodbye too early!" Peach chirped. She followed the Boo out the doorway, hearing all the muttering behind her. She peeped into the doorway and waved. "I'm serious, guys! I'll see you soon…promise."

The Boo floated ahead, making sure Peach was behind him. "That was very genial of you, Princess."

"I'm going to miss them, so…"

"Madam, you don't even know them. You're just going to miss the palace itself, and you connect them with the experience you've had this week," he determined flatly.

Peach was taken aback just slightly, surprised by his straight tone in determining the situation. Before the Boo mentioned it, she hadn't even supposed that it was strange she was going to miss complete strangers so much. "How long did it take you to figure that out?"

"I've been working in the Palace since they hollowed it out for habitation. I pick up on things quickly."

"Why have you stayed? Couldn't you choose a more…exciting after-life? Or maybe one with other Boos around?"

The Boo chuckled. "Madam, there is nothing more exciting than living in the Volcano Palace. And frankly, I like it better among the living. Trying to exist among other Boos for my eternities would be very boring…at least this way, there's a complete change in cast every eighty years or so."

"But don't you miss your friends when they die?"

"Of course not," he answered straightly. "The way this palace works, every corner I turn I see the past. The engravings on the wall don't just cover the royalty. If you look close enough, there are stories of daily lives of everyone. I'm engraved in the walls 3,976 times. My friends are never really gone. Not to mention, they influence those who continue after them. As long as the memories are there, having a loved one missing from you can be a lot better than having them around you."

Peach pondered that, deciding that these words of advice could get her through leaving the Palace. But the Boo interrupted her, apparently aware of what she was thinking. "It's not as easy for you living folk. You haven't lived through hundreds of generations of practice with death and departure. For you, leaving here is going to be, pardon my language, absolutely sucky."

"Glad to have your encouragement," she muttered sarcastically.

As they rounded the corner and ended up in an unfamiliar corridor, the Boo faded away and Peach was rushed by all sides by the eight koopalings. "Mama Peach!" Bowser Junior screamed, loud enough to be heard over all his siblings' shouts. "Mama Peach, pick me up!"

She didn't have much of a choice, as Junior had been scrambling into her arms, pushing off of Morton's face to get more height. "Junior, I can't only pay attention to you!" She laughed, hugging him tightly before setting him back down. "I have no idea how I'm going to live without you guys!"

"You should, like, take us with you on vay-cay. It'd be totally better than, like, drooling around this, like, pit of boring."

"YEAH, Mama Peach! Bring us with! Or at least bring me, Mama Peach! I wanna go I wanna go I wanna go!" Junior squealed, bouncing up and down.

"Wendy, don't be ridiculous! Peach can't take us with her," Iggy groaned. He completely ignored Junior's whining. "Not unless she brings Dad too!" He turned to Peach, grinning as if his idea was the best in the world.

Peach opened her mouth to answer, but Morton beat her to it. "You clobbering clod-head, that was my idea, idea-stealing clod-head! You and your stupid stupidness should go sit in a corner and eat your clod-head smelly face off."

"Morton, you continue to astound me with your unintelligible vituperations. Though they be thunderous, it matters much more that they actually have panache and purpose."

"I'll panash your purpose!" Morton roared back at Ludwig, but Roy stepped in front.

"'Ey, whatchu doin', bub? Dis is Mama Peach's last day. We ain't about teh screw it up for her, aight?"

"Hey Roy, did you see King Dad yet?" Larry asked. He had scooted himself next to Peach during the commotion and was gripping her tightly as possible. "I thought he wanted to see Mama with us!"

"King Dad said he wanted to get Mama Peach flowers," Lemmy replied. "He told me to tell you guys to wait for him."

"And you're, like, telling us now, dunderhead?" Wendy asked, her hands on her hips.

Lemmy shrugged. "I fergot."

The koopalings were in uproar again, quickly fighting with each other as well as against Lemmy. "Hey! Guys!" Peach shouted, silencing them all almost immediately. "One of you find your Dad. The rest of you, stay here and make up. I don't want to leave with you all mad at each other for something so silly."

"Sorry, Mama Peach," Larry muttered, sweeping his foot along the ground. "We're just…really upset you gotta go."

"I'm upset, too," she agreed quietly. "But this isn't goodbye forever, I'm sure." She tipped Larry's head up and smiled at him, then looked around the group. "Knowing your father, I'll be back here before I even have a chance to unpack."

They laughed, agreeing and happily on a subject that was a lot more pleasant and amusing. They hadn't even delegated someone to find Bowser when he showed up, huffing and puffing with a koopa tearing down the halls after him, crumpled flowers in his hand.

"Peach!" He roared with joy. "Out of the way, buggers," he muttered as he parted the sea of his children, lifting Peach up and spinning her around. She laughed and pleasantly hugged him back. Bowser set her down and grinned at her. "You look so beautiful. I didn't think you could get any more beautiful than you already looked today…but you somehow did it. You're probably just more awake." He chuckled and added, "I sure am."

"Bowser," Peach said, hoping to sound like she was chastising him, but very much aware that her smile was winning through in her voice. "You can't talk like that. Everyone will be confused!"

Bowser looked around, realizing what he had said around his children and gasped. Hoping to cover his flub that his children were only giggling about, he shoved the crumpled flowers at Peach. "Sorry they look so cruddy. I had to run here once this koopa said you all were already here."

"Where is here, anyway?" Peach asked, looking around the unfamiliar corridor.

"It's another gift I got for you," Bowser answered with glee. He walked over to a door, cloth hanging over a placard. Dramatically, Bowser opened the door to reveal a large, open room, much like a courtyard. The late-morning sunlight was pouring in from the wide windows on the back walls, making the fake grass shimmer. It was lined with stone seating and colorful banners. In the center of the room, 22 feet by 20 feet, a painted court sported a 36-inch net.

Peach laughed, grabbing Bowser's hand as she looked at the court. Not only was it the perfect dimensions for pickleball, it had a pink mushroom painted on either side of the court. In the corner there was a crate filled with hard paddles and wiffle balls, marked with another pink mushroom. It was very, very obviously built for her.

"Now," Bowser started with blatant pride, "you have another reason to come back. We need you to teach us how to play this 'pickleball' game so we can use our new court."

The koopalings began chattering excitedly; Bowser hadn't told them about this project, and while a few of them were preoccupied with deciding who got the "points" this had accrued in the matchmaking bet, most were just excited about a new room for the new game.

"Come on," Bowser urged, taking Peach's hand and leading her in. "I want you to be first to use the court."

"I don't think I have time, Bowser," Peach replied. She looked longingly at the court, but then up at the clock situated in Bowser's stone jaws, set above the door. They only had a few hours until noon, when Peach was supposed to be at the Mushroom Town Airport.

"Just one volley," he whined. Bowser pouted his lips and stared his dark eyes into Peach's, winning her over finally when he ran his hand down her arm.

"Okay, okay," she hurriedly agreed, hoping to suppress the shivers that she didn't need before her flight. "Grab two paddles and a ball; quick!"

"You mongrels get on the stands and watch your mother break in the room!" Bowser barked. Without another word, the koopalings raced to seats, shouting and screaming over who got where. Roy immediately burnt his insignia onto the top-row middle seat, declaring it was his and anyone who sat there ever would get that same insignia on their tail, "permanently, via yo favorite burnmister, Roy."

By the time they were settled, Peach was standing in her correct stance, Bowser across the court also ready. She bounced the ball once, threw it up and served it. The ball whizzed through the air, and Bowser returned it with nothing but a bunt. Though Peach's dress was impeding her running, Bowser had no desire to win and end the volley. That just meant she'd go home.

They played back-and-forth for almost five minutes when Peach dropped her paddle and caught the slow-flying ball in her hand. "Bowser," she said, "if I can catch it in my hand, you're not trying. Where are your fireballs?"

He shrugged. "Guess we'll just have to play again!"

Her return smile was weak. "We will…but I really have to get on that plane…" After a melodramatic sigh, Bowser nodded. He barked orders at his kids to get to the 18C hangar, and after they put away their paddles and the ball, Bowser and Peach followed.

He closed the door behind them, and whipped off the cloth from the placard. Thus, they left the officially broken-in "Peach's Pickleball Preserve" alone and empty.

xxxx0o0o0o0o0o0o0xxxx

Bowser looked over the plane. It was just as he had asked; plain grey with a vague company name stamped across it. No royal colors, no telling pictures, not one Bowserish marking at all. He couldn't stand to watch Peach as she gathered the koopalings, but he couldn't stand to ignore them, either. Bowser compromised by standing in front of the plane's stairs, watching from a distance where he could watch without having to hear them.

For all her worries about being late, Peach didn't seem to have anything more important to do than give the koopalings parting words of wisdom. She hugged Ludwig first, then mussed with his hair. They chatted about ideas for his future songs, he mentioned regrets for things she hadn't heard yet, and Peach made promises to share his released pieces with her friends in the Mushroom Kingdom and give him more world renown. Most of their conversation went over Bowser's head, especially on his son's half.

She hugged Lemmy much tighter than she had with Ludwig, now talking to him too softly for Bowser to hear. He seemed to have tears in his eyes and didn't have anything to answer. Peach backed up a bit, and Bowser watched as his son flushed up his face and blew a controlled flame. Peach shrieked with laughter, hugging Lemmy again and wiping away his tear with her glove. As he watched, Bowser didn't even mind that his son was showing such weakness. It was taking the mighty koopa king everything he had to not cry as well.

Peach turned to Roy next, putting her hands on his shoulders. She laughed at something he said, then shook her finger. She told him things that made Roy shuffle his feet and wring his hands, and he noticeably sniffled. Then, with his face down, Bowser could just barely tell he was giving her an honest reply. Peach gave Roy a quick hug, and afterwards his position quickly changed. He was probably warning her to never do it again.

Her words of advice to Iggy seemed to be very detailed…he almost seemed like he was taking notes. Then again, almost everything Iggy thought about was like he was taking notes. After awhile, he began fussing with his glasses, talking fast to her. He then grabbed his hair and mussed with it until it looked like a fountain on top of his head. Then he pointed eagerly at his shell. Peach laughed and nodded, then shook her head. From what he could tell, Bowser figured they were discussing Iggy's Mohawk, a concept that eluded the king completely. But from their expressions, the conversation had meaning beyond Iggy's appearance. He smiled genuinely at Peach, then gave her a hug of his own.

Wendy pushed Morton ahead of her, who immediately began mouthing his sister off. Peach put a hand on Morton to quickly shut him up, and started to hold his attention. Whatever words Peach was saying meant a lot; Morton was doing more listening than he usually ever did. He didn't even have anything to answer with, and just grinned up at Peach; a motion that meant more than any words he could have said.

Larry was on an emotional verge before he ever got to Peach, and began spilling out his soul as soon as he got there. She held on to him in a hug as he continued to blabber, and Peach comfortingly ran her hand through his hair. Once he was finished, she pulled away and held onto his shoulders at arms length. Larry's eyes were glued to Peach's as she spoke to him. He nodded multiple times, hanging onto her words for dear life. Finally, she gave him one last tight hug and Larry ran off.

Now that she was the only one left, Wendy ran over to Peach and threw her arms around her. She sobbed and whined and cried, not afraid of letting go of her tough attitude and much more afraid of letting go of Peach. The princesses cried together, and Peach whispered things into Wendy's ear. She pulled apart and Wendy wiped her eyes. Then she gave one last hug to Peach, complete with a dramatic sob, and went off to join her brothers seated on the floor.

Junior was nowhere to be found.

Peach walked over to Bowser, and he looked into the plane. "She's coming; we can probably get going now," he told the pilot.

On his command, the engine roared to life. Peach joined Bowser and she waved frantically at all the koopalings and all the servants who had come to wish her goodbye. Peach turned to Bowser and desperately asked, "This isn't goodbye for you, right? You're coming on the plane, right?"

"Of course I am, Peach," he answered. "I don't want to spend a single moment without you that I don't have to."

She smiled at him, glad he felt the same. Her smile fell as she looked at the waving crowd. "Where did Junior run off to?"

"I don't think he wanted his goodbye yet…I think he thought that this way, he wouldn't have to deal with it. I'm sure you'll see him again."

She sighed and nodded, looking out one last time at the crowd of people she'd grown to love. "Let's go. I can't leave Toadsworth waiting." She stepped into the airplane with Bowser, and the stairs automatically closed behind them, forming another part of the plane's wall.

If Peach wasn't so depressed, she'd probably be thrilled out of her mind with the airplane. It was the very definition of a private jet, completely unlike the plain outside. A wrap-around couch lined the walls, and a round table sat in the middle with more chairs. There were three televisions at different angles coming from the ceiling, as well as a full-service buffet in the front. But the thing that caught her eye the most were the windows.

She sat down on the couch, turned around to see the Darklands. Bowser sat next to her, putting a hand on hers and staring at the floor. They were silent as the plane grew louder and louder, rumbling down the runway and taking off just before the hangar's dropoff. Peach craned her neck as she watched the giant Volcano where she'd lived for the past week disappear. The city wasn't there to see, even though it was broad daylight. The pollution was especially thick, almost daring Peach to miss it.

Eventually they were above the clouds and the view completely. Not even the occasional grinning nimbus could give Peach her smile back. She leaned against Bowser searched for her voice. "I shouldn't be this upset, Bowser. I'm going back to see my friends, family, and country. I'm going back to my life. I didn't even ask to go on this…adventure."

"I wish I could make you happier," he replied.

She laughed. "I think that's the problem. You have made me happier. It's going to be hard for me to be as happy as you and your family has made me this week."

Bowser didn't have an answer, so he just squeezed her hand tighter. Maybe if he squeezed hard enough, she wouldn't be able to leave his side. Maybe she wouldn't be willing.

xxxx0o0o0o0o0o0o0xxxx

Kamek grumbled as he looked through the day's itinerary. Bowser had moved everything to the next day again, as he wanted to fly home with Peach. This was supposed to be their day to catch up on what they missed with meetings since Peach had arrived- they were several days behind! And knowing the King, he'd probably push everything yet another day on account of his need to "get over Peach's absence".

There were delegates who had to fly back to their families, decisions that were now costing millions in tax-coins to keep public leaders pacified, and construction problems that now kept the kingdom in disarray.

He was just contemplating the selfishness of the King and how they could handle things without him if possible when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Kamek turned and saw Kammy had shown up next to him. She looked from him to the itinerary and sighed. "His love-sickness is screwing the kingdom over again, isn't he?"

Kamek raised an eyebrow. "You're not standing up for him then?"

Kammy looked as if she was considering it. "I figure he doesn't need me for his PR anymore." She moved her hand from Kamek's shoulder to his hand and squeezed it way harder than necessary. "I have a new idiot to keep in line."

"Don't forget you have eight other ones to keep in line, too," he reminded her. Kamek was spinning in his head. He'd lost all circulation in his hand and the pain she was purposely inflicting was probably helping make his head spin, it was mostly just the fact she was holding his hand.

"I should probably find those koopalings, shouldn't I?" she groaned.

"It'd be helpful for everyone," he agreed.

"I'd ask you to help, but your bones might break just trying to chase after one of them."

"Naw, I should go. Someone needs to be around to call the ambulance when you die of old age."

"Fine then. Just don't slow me down with your thirty bathroom breaks along the way, grandpa." She took out her wand and he followed suit, and with symmetrical movements, they disappeared in one dark blue poof.

When they reappeared instantaneously, and after the sandy, itchy teleportation feeling subsided, they were not prepared for what they met. Both magikoopas had their wands wielded, eyes darting to count which koopalings were missing. At first, they didn't see anyone. Then Roy's even-toned, "hey, hag and mr. hag," got their attention.

The koopalings, all eight of them, were sitting on the floor silently. Morton was picking at his feet, Lemmy and Wendy were leaning on each other, and Larry kept wiping his eyes. Bowser Junior had his handkerchief tied around his mouth and hands in one of Iggy's genius engineer knots, but besides him, they all seemed silent of their own will.

"What's…what's going on?" Kammy asked suspiciously.

"Nothing, obviously," Iggy answered without a characteristic sarcastic snarl at all.

"You're not…plotting, or fighting, or whining, or hiding, or destroying anything. There's obviously something wrong," she asserted.

"Kammy," Kamek interrupted, grabbing her hand and attention. "They're just sad about Peach leaving. They literally don't know what to do without her."

In response, the koopalings all nodded. Even Junior, in his odd containment contraption.

"Then why does Bowser Junior look like he lost a fight with his bandana?"

Larry answered, "he was crying too loud. It was annoying us." Again, all the koopalings nodded.

Kammy sighed, rubbing her temples. "You guys are so stupid. This isn't the end of the world. Peach is going to come back again eventually. And what is she going to think if she shows up and all anyone has managed to accomplish is figuring out a new way to keep Junior quiet? Impressive as that is, you idiots can't spend your life moaning about a visitor leaving."

"Mama Peach wasn't just a visitor to us, Kammy," Larry explained. "She's our Mama. For some of us, the only Mama we've ever known…"

"…and for some of us," Wendy picked up, "totally the best Mama we've ever known. Not to mention Dad's, like, a lot more tolerable when she's around."

"And he likes us more, too," Lemmy added sadly.

"Our increasingly plaintive state is no accident, Kammy," Ludwig began. "Peach's adoration for us is not only amendable, but a picture of honest camaraderie. Without her, we seem destined to revert to our state of malcontent."

"Not necessarily, Ludwig," Kamek answered. "You don't need Peach to be present to honor what you've learned from her week here. And if you kids feel down, imagine how your father's going to feel when he returns. We do not need the palace's atmosphere to turn into a funeral parlor's. If you keep your smiles plastered on and focus on the fact that Peach actually likes you now and will mostly come back on her own accord, there shant be a reason for the royal family to set an example of depression. And maybe you can help lift your father's spirits, as well."

They sat quietly, pondering Kamek's words. Larry sniffled. "And get that ridiculous handkerchief off your brother," Kamek added. They quickly obliged, and Junior took a deep breath of fresh air.

"Hey Kamek," Junior queried, "who won the Mama-Peach-and-King-Dad contest?"

A chorus of excitement bubbled from the koopalings and all eyes, including Kammy's, turned to him.

"I don't think the contest is over, guys," Kamek replied.

"But it's been a full week!" Roy shouted.

"That wasn't the conditions you gave me. You asked me to…" Kamek dramatically magicked up a scroll and read from it. "'Determine who of us Koopas makes Peach and Pops fall in love the most.' No other limitations. She has yet to fall in love."

"That's goomba crap!" Morton roared. "You're a goomba crap-headed, goomba crapper!"

He poofed the scroll away and shook his head. "As I see it, we're not finished yet. I'll pay you your dues, once she admits to having fallen in love."

The koopalings continued to complain, surprisingly staying seated and not rushing to hurt the loophole-loving magikoopa.

"Kamek, didn't you say you invested the pot in the koopa bank?" Kammy offered. The koopalings were only more outraged at hearing that the judge didn't even have the money on hand. "Which MEANS," she added, raising her voice over the boisterous crowd, "by the time Peach admits her love it will have almost doubled in funds and the winner gets even more prize."

They immediately shut up.

Roy bowed his head and threw up a hand sign. "We guess that's aight."

"You know, that, like, totally means the race is still on," Wendy commented. "Just cause she's, like, somewhere else doesn't mean we gotta stop our cupiding." She took Junior's hands and squealed with glee. The others exchanged more interested glances and started talking.

It seemed the koopalings were back. Kammy forced a smile as she congratulated Kamek on his good job. But she wasn't sure she was so pleased to have the eight miniature Bowsers just as annoying as they were before. Depression was so much quieter!

Author's Note: Did you recognize that pickleball room? It's the same room that they were building in chapter 22! Huzzah for continuacy! Speaking of which...if there's a character, a situation, or something else that you feel like I need to pick up again, I may have forgotten about it. I had horrible organization for writing most of this, and I would like to make sure I wrap up any loose ends I might have lying around, so go ahead and mention it. Thats one of the many, many things you readers are so good at, so keep it up. :D

Also...42 is really exciting me. It's probably going to be a shorter chapter than normal, because I feel like it's more important that I say what I want to when I want to than I stretch a bunch of meaningless fluff. Besides! If it's shorter, I can get it out in time to be a holiday present, like I intend. It will be VERY EXCITING. After all, 42 is the answer to life, the universe, and everything.

-Razzi