Foreword: I have to say, we're lucky I wasn't so completely lazy as to wait another week before posting and call it a Valentine's Day update. Because January was surprisingly busy, and I haven't had much time to work on 43 OR 44 at all.

And I have another favor to ask. Do you remember back in chapter 29 when I had the words line up with a song? Bowser sings again in this chapter, but it doesn't line up because I couldn't get it to work. However, the section he sings in is a LOT more fun if you know the song he's singing. So if you would please look up "Hooked on a Feeling" and get a feel for its silliness (you don't need the whole song), I think you'll enjoy his singing more. I know I enjoyed writing it and laughed a few times at the images in my head. I used the Blue Swede cover in my writing, fyi.

Disclaimer: I still don't own anything. Sorry, Nintendo and BJ Thomas, for using your stuff so weirdly.

Toadsworth's incessant mutterings and pen-tapping was starting to drive even Mario up the wall. With every tap-tap-taptap and scritch-scritch, he was somehow managing to transfer his pool of nerves into everyone else in the room, including the koopa manning the terminal desk. From across the hallway, she too had begun tapping on her plane schedules.

"Toadsworth, would-a you mind…" Mario began, through his teeth, "calming down a bit? Maybe with a bit-a less…tapping?"

"I don't know what you're talking about, sah," Toadsworth replied, now fidgeting with the clickable pen-cap.

Mario's wrists were itching. If he had a fire-flower handy, there was no doubt the entire room would be in flames. He wasn't so much nervous about Peach; if there was anything wrong, she wasn't difficult to rescue. However, everyone in the room was in the worst sort of panic Mario knew- passive-aggressive terror. He could handle a castle full of toads, running around like chickens with their heads cut off. And he could handle his brother's teeth-chattering fright. But this quiet, toe-tapping, eye-twitching impatience wasn't something the man of action was used to.

A "plane arriving" light flickered on over the Gorilla Glacier terminal, and immediately the entire party got to their feet. They watched, some forgetting to breathe, as passengers started to file off. Gorilla, gorilla, shy guy, a family of boos (why ever they needed to fly was unknown), and more gorillas. Then, between an elderly koopa couple and a walking alligator, they spotted a tall blonde human, wrapped in a fluffly, white fur, her pink dress peeking out below.

Daisy fell into Luigi as Toadsworth barreled through the group, leading a mangled stampede of their greeting party, including Har T. and his team of caterers. The koopas screeched in shock, ducking into their shells just in time. Unfortunately for the blonde woman, she didn't see the stampede in time and had just flicked her hair out of her face when she was nearly tackled.

"Princess Peach! You've arrived!" Toadsworth bellowed, making to latch onto the lady's leg.

She screeched, lifting her leg away with perfect timing. Her high-heel pointed at Toadsworth, collapsed into a lump of brown toad on the floor. She looked at the group, grabbing at her fur with obvious terror. "Vat's going on?" She asked, an mountaineer accent in her still delicate voice. "Who are you people? Vhy did ze little one call me 'Princess Peech?'"

They looked from Toadsworth to the woman, embarrassment and disappointment dripping on their faces. "I'm sorry, miss," Luigi answered for them. "We mistook you for our-a friend. It is a good thing; you and she are-a both quite pretty." Daisy shortly smacked Luigi on the back of the head. "Well, they are!" He replied, ducking as she swiped at him again. "I thought it would-a be in poor manners to-a say 'you and she are-a both pretty, but not-a ever as pretty as-a this woman here', Daisy!"

She bit her lip, considering Luigi's excuse. "Fine," she decided with a bit of a satisfied smile.

"Zat is…very nice," the woman muttered, mussing with her rather Peach-like hair, "But I haf one more connection before I get home. I really must be on my vay."

"What's your connection?" Toadsworth grunted from the floor. "I apologize for our lack of propriety, ma'am. I'd like to make up for it by paying for your connecting flight."

"Oh, zat is not necessary," she sweetly replied, trying to break through the group. "My Nonna agreed to pay already…"

"No, on behalf of the Mushroom Kingdom, I insist-"

"Toadsworth, you-"

"Daisy, for pipping heaven's sake! Don't get into this battle of authority again, when this poor young wo-"

"Not that," she snarled, "That!" She pointed dramatically at the blinking "plane arriving" light three terminals down. "Another plane's here!"

"Remind me to pay you, got it, love?" Toadsworth hollered, spinning before they received an answer from the unfortunate Peach-like girl, and tearing down the hallway. The Mario Brothers, Daisy, and his fleet of toads trailed Toadsworth. He held his clipboard in front of his face; a poor choice that ended up with him falling flat on the floor and having half the group trip over him.

"Toadsworth!" Mario shrieked, sandwiched under his brother and the elderly toad. Daisy was the only one who had seemed to avoid the collision, and was about to help her friends out when she saw a flash of pink cloth peeking out from the jetway's doorway.

She dropped Luigi's hand and ran down the remainder of the hall, getting close enough to actually see her…Peach! Her cousin! Home at last and safe and sound! "Peach!" Daisy hollered, waving frantically. "Peach, Peach, you're back!"

Princess Peach slowly turned her head over her shoulder, and she smiled wide at Daisy, but stayed where she was, leaning against the wall. "Hi, Daisy," she cooed, a huge smile plastered on her face. She started to giggle and said. "Look! I'm here!"

"I can see that," Daisy agreed with a stiff laugh, "But are you really here? All here?" She got closer and waved her hand in front of Peach, noticing her eyes follow the white glove at a considerably slower speed than they should. Daisy rocked back onto her heels and looked cross-eyed at her favorite cousin. "Okay, Peachy, this is a problem."

"I don't see any problem at all, Daisy," she replied, her smile going wide. Dramatically, she threw her arms around Daisy in a hug. "The world is a wonderful place! There aren't any problems, never ever!" Peach began to giggle, squeezing a very concerned Daisy until she saw the rest of the group coming up. "Toadsworth! Look at you!"

"Princess Peach, look at you!" He replied, a look of horror on his face. "You're…you're not wearing your crown!"

"What crown?" She asked, her eyes wide. "Oh!" Peach laughed, miming taking her tiara off her head. "I forgot I didn't have it. You didn't care when I left!"

"I didn't realize…you haven't had it all week? Your highness, what would Athorih T. say?"

"He'd probably say 'Welcome Home, Peach!' because you haven't yet!" Her nonsequitor answer was full of as much glee as she'd expressed since getting off the plane, and was followed by more of her giggles as lifted Toadsworth right off his feet and spun him around. "Hello, Toadsworth!"

She put him down and ran to Mario and Luigi, hugging them both simultaneously with one arm around each. "It's so fun to see you guys again!" She let go and grabbed their hands with equal affection, an act that set Daisy on the tip of her toes even more, and confused all the toads around them. "You haven't changed a bit."

"Um, Peach?" Daisy interrupted, tapping her shoulder. She spun around, her golden hair even more beautiful than normal. This glee had overcome her entire essence, it seemed. "Can I talk to you for a bit? In private?" Peach didn't answer; instead, she stared past Daisy and down the empty jetway she had just left. With a whirr, the plane out the window jumped to life.

Startled, Peach ran to the window and completely ignored Daisy's question. She smashed her face up against it to the point where it was completely impossible for anyone to read her expression. Daisy groaned, stomping over to Peach and wrenching her away from the window. "Peach. We need to talk."

"Okay," she replied, sneaking a peek out at the plane flying away. Daisy put her hands around Peach's eyes like blinders.

"No, Peach. We need to talk. And if you can't have a proper conversation, you need to snap out of whatever…this…is. Because either you're drunk or you've gone off the deep end, and neither of those things are going to make Toadsworth very willing to let you get on the plane to Grand Canal with Mario, Luigi, and me."

"Are you and Luigi going now, too? Oh, that's nice!" she squeaked. "That should be way fun. And I'm not drunk, Dayz." She shook her head in an ironically unconvincing manner. "I only had strawberry water on the plane. You can even smell my breath!" She went to breathe at Daisy, but quickly clamped her mouth shut. "On second thought, you shouldn't smell my breath." She giggled. "But why would I be drunk? I hate alcohol and stuff like that. And you know I'm not crazy!"

"Then why are you acting like it?"

She opened and shut her mouth like a koi fish, clearly at a loss for words. She settled on giggling and shrugging. "Can we go see Mario now? I just remembered I need to hug him."

xxxx0o0o0o0o0o0o0xxxx

Mario had forgotten how honestly beautiful Peach was. He forgot how when he saved her, she would be so happy to be away from Bowser and back with people she loved, she would almost literally shine. How her facial features met up with perfect, dainty symmetry, and how her smile radiated warmth to everyone around. She seemed happier than she ever did right now. Clearly, she had missed them, and that made the little Italian plumber just blossom with pride.

The toads were all busy, security guards hounding on the princesses' conversation and the catering team preparing their elaborate lunch. Luigi was saying something to his older brother, and from his expression, he was clearly worried. But Mario wasn't listening- instead, he was watching Peach. She was just like a little girl, giggling and chattering with Daisy. The vacation was good for her. The last time he'd seen Peach, she had been such a downer. Talking about the future and worrying about schematics…this was the Peach he preferred to see. Happy, in the moment, and not worrying about anything except the people who made her happy.

With a smile, Mario remembered that this was the Peach he loved to rescue.

She daintily carried her dress as she ran towards him. It was amazing how, even without her tiara, Peach was just like a princess. Mario supposed that no matter where they went, with her glowing countenance and regal air, everyone would know they were Mario and His Princess. She finally reached him and joyously cheered, "Mario! You're here!" With just the slightest robotic feeling, she bent down and hugged him, holding him for exactly two seconds. She let go and smiled down at him. "Isn't it a lovely day for flying?"

Mario nodded and smiled back at her. Peach continued, prompted by Mario's silence, "Did you have a good week at the plumbing convention?" He nodded again. Peach's smile that hadn't left her face all week began to waver and seemed to return by force, but she was certainly still smiling. "Do you want to tell me about it?"

With just a few moments hesitation, Mario opened his mouth to speak, but Toadsworth cut him off. "I certainly think you have more important stories to tell us, poppet. Let's prattle over Har T's lovely bought of snappers, eh?"

"Lunch!" Peach cheered, pulling away from Mario and running back over to Daisy, who had now reached her own boyfriend. "Don't you love lunch, Daisy?"

"Peach…" Daisy muttered, cautiously, "you need to calm down. I don't know what's got-"

"Oh, look," she muttered, her eyes frozen on Daisy's and Luigi's intertwined fingers. "You and Luigi are holding hands."

"…we do that a lot," Daisy replied slowly.

Peach slowly looked back up at them, smiling with more pain in her eyes than she'd shown for months. "That's nice. I think I need to use the restroom."

Mario watched her leave, making sure that the security guards tailed her to the restrooms. He was completely oblivious to the downward spiral she had just stepped into, and simply smiled at what he believed was honest cheeriness. Once she was out of sight, he turned to the catering toads. "So," he asked, "What's-a for lunch?"

xxxx0o0o0o0o0o0o0xxxx

Bowser looked down at his lap, the seatbelt he didn't remember putting on securing him to the seat he didn't remember sitting in. He couldn't remember anything that happened after the moment Peach left his view, and he just kept replaying over and over again everything that had happened before.

Nervously, his pilot occasionally looked into the cabin, making sure the love-struck, silent king was okay. He was far from okay, galaxies away from okay. Bowser was almost comatose with glee, literally incapable of jumping and laughing for joy. He had every movement of their first kiss perfectly memorized.

The way her hands felt on his face, keeping it close to hers.

The way his hands felt on her body as it pulled into his.

The scent of perfume in her hair, the taste of strawberries on her lips.

And their kiss…oh, their kiss. There was nothing more perfect in the history of Bowser's lifetime than that kiss. She had initiated it, she had answered his prayers; tenderly, sweetly, and even lovingly. Like kissing him meant everything to her and answered her prayers as well.

Bowser made a few more happy noises and squirmed in his seat. The pilot rolled his eyes. Once Bowser snapped out of his stupor, he'd be glad that he was 30,000 feet in the air for the hours after that kiss. Just a few seconds of this behavior among the press would be enough for Bowser to lay siege on the media on a global scale. And should he even hint of these feelings to his family, it'd probably be worse.

Time passed. Apparently, the pilot had asked Bowser what he wanted to drink and he had replied a strawberry water, because that was what was in Bowser's hand and, consequently, his mouth. So much for needing extra-strength koopale…all Bowser could think about was Peach, Peach, Peach- and the strawberry water tasted closest to her. Besides, he was already completely smashed with being love-drunk. He didn't need the extra help.

Around the second hour of flight, Bowser had ceased his silence and began…singing. "I can't stop this feeeeling," he roared, "deep insiiiide of me!" His deep, gravely and off-key voice was almost comedically wrong for his song choice, but he continued to croon, "Girl, you just don't re-a-lize," He took a swig of strawberry water and continued, gurgling, "what you do to me…" Bowser finally swallowed. "when you hold me in your arms so tight, you let me knooooow," his low note rumbled through the cabin. "Everything's alright!"

Suddenly, Bowser's singing voice got so loud the pilot could hardly hear his radio. "AAAAAAIIII'M!" With a snap, Bowser released himself from the seatbelt and stomped twice, making the small plane shake and lights flash on the pilot's screen. "Hooked on a feelin'!" He stomped around the plane in a big circle, unaware of the pilot's shrieks for him to stop. The poor koopa frantically began pulling levers and flipping switches, ultimately setting the plane in autopilot storm mode, designed for trying times when the pilot couldn't control the plane or the atmosphere and would rather make it out of the storm alive than get going the right direction.

"I'm high on believing'!" Bowser continued bellowing, waving happily as the pilot ran out to the cabin, waving his arms in a much less friendly manner. The koopa king bent down and plucked his pilot of the ground, spinning him around as he rang out, "That you're in love with meeeeeeeeee!"

"SIRE, I demand you put me down!" The pilot shrieked, "And I demand you stop this nonsense! This is a no-dancing plane!"

As if on command, but in reality much more to keep the beat of the song (which he was also shouting out), Bowser chucked the pilot onto a bench along the plane's edge. Dramatically, he threw himself to the ground on one knee, looking at the pilot as if he was Princess Peach. "Lips as sweet as candy," he cooed, grabbing at his heart as he continued, "it's taaaste is on my miiiind."

"King Bowser, this is absolutely ridic-"

"Girl, you've got me thirsty for anaathuuur," Bowser dramatically grabbed his glass of strawberry water and stood, raising it high to the plane's ceiling, "Cup of wiiihiiine!" He danced around, punching the air on the supposed beats, with slightly more accuracy than he had at hitting the notes. "Got a bug from you, girl, but I don't neeeeed no cure." He pointed at the koopa, completely ignoring his shrieks, "I just stay afflicted if I can for suuuuuure!" When Bowser turned around to dance some more, shaking his shell and tail inadvertently in the koopa's face, the pilot took his chance. While Bowser sang, "all the good love when we're all aloooone," he prepared to leap at the king. Bowser continued, "keep it up girl. Yeah, you turn me onnnn!"

The pilot yelled as he leapt, even his yell unnoticed as Bowser drowned it out, repeating his deafening "AAAAAAIIII'M!" from earlier. He apparently couldn't even tell the pilot was hanging off his neck, cursing as he eased his scales out of Bowser's spikes. He just continued to roar, "Hooked on a feelin'".

Working as quick as he could, the pilot tore a drape off the closest wall and stuffed it in Bowser's mouth, muffling his singing instantly. The pilot dropped to the ground and kicked Bowser hard in the shin. The king quit singing and looked down at his interrupter, murder in his eyes.

"I'm happy for you, sire, but you've got to stop shaking the plane with your dancing! Sit down and you can do whatever you very well please from a seated position!"

Bowser looked hard at the koopa, quickly lightening up. He plucked the drapery from his mouth and seated himself down on top of the ripped seatbelt. Bowser grinned wide and he continued, "I'm high on believing,".

The koopa groaned all while returning to his cockpit. He could still hear Bowser roar out, "That you're in love with meeee," when he seated himself down and took the plane out of auto-pilot. He looked back once, pleased to see Bowser was now dancing calmly in his seat, choosing to head-bang and sway over stomping the plane's floor.

For once, the pilot wished nothing but misery on King Koopa. At least while they were flying together.

xxxx0o0o0o0o0o0o0xxxx

Princess Peach fiddled with the toilet paper in her hand, now as soft as tissue and shredded to bits. She was hunched over on a toilet in the rest-room, desperately trying to sort herself out. Daisy was right…she was acting over the top. And what for? Because I kissed Bowser? That was just because he needed a better birthday gift, after everything he'd…

Her train of thought left the station once she started thinking about that kiss again. It replayed in her mind in all its detailed glory, leaving her with a daft smile and absolutely no better than she was earlier.

The automatic flusher went off again, luckily never splashing up on Peach's dress, but loud enough to shake her from her day-dream. She blinked, realizing how poorly this "sorting-out" was going, and groaned. Why was it that she couldn't focus?

Considering it carefully, Peach decided that kissing anyone on the lips…especially with that awesome of a kiss…would render her useless. She'd never kissed Mario on the lips. At least, not that she could remember. Peach strained to think of a time, her mind constantly returning to the feeling of having her arms around Bowser's neck and her feet in the air. It was, again, a fruitless effort.

Daisy pushed her way into the bathroom, singing, "Hello-o? Peach-y?" as she entered.

Nearly frustrated from being woken from her daydream again, Peach replied, "over here," and kicked the door open.

Daisy came over and leaned against the wall facing the seated Peach. The automatic toilet flushed again before she started talking. "Honestly, I'm glad you're not in here crying."

"Why would I be crying?"

"I don't know- why were you running around hugging everyone when you got off that plane?"

Instead of answering, Peach asked, "Have I ever kissed Mario?"

Daisy opened her mouth, but couldn't immediately think of a time. Surely Peach had, but Princess Toadstool was, by far, the shyer of the two, so it was probably away from Daisy's view. "Is that what this is about?" Daisy looked obviously relieved. "Are you acting like this because…you're in love?"

"With Mario?" Peach asked, frightened. Her mind started flying, not necessarily at the concept of loving Mario, but more at the possibility of being in love. Did that feel as crazy as this post-kiss high? Constantly? "Why, do you feel like a million miles an hour all the time because you're in love?"

"Every once in a while," Daisy answered, shrugging. "Not every second…but when I first realized it, when we were first in love, when Luigi does something to make me realize how awesome he is and that he loves me, too…I get a little crazy." She smirked. "The first time he was the one to kiss me, the castle guards asked my father for permission to tie me down."

"So…it is connected to kissing, then?"

"What, insanity?" Daisy asked. Peach laughed and nodded. "Sometimes, yeah. Considering these questions you have, I think you're just really excited for our trip…and really ready for a week with Mario."

Peach sighed, "I guess that makes sense." She thought about Grand Canal as romantically as she could. There would be rod-iron banister balconies, overlooking canals and glittering floating trees. The sunsets would paint everything in gold, and it would be there that they would kiss, serenely-singing shy-guys as their only audience.

The only problem was that in Peach's daydream, she wasn't kissing Mario. She was completely entangled in the arms of Bowser.

Daisy was unaware, and grinned at Peach's ridiculously wide grin as she was lost in her own world. She laughed and grabbed her cousin's hand, letting all the torn-up toilet paper fall on the floor from Peach's lap. "Come on, Juliet. Let's go get our Romeos and get some lunch.

She stumbled as she followed Daisy out of the bathroom, laughing a bit to herself and still feeling far giddier than she should. It was only when she saw Mario, eager to have Peach sit by him, that she felt at all guilty. Bowser wasn't going to be at Grand Canal, so she ought to stop daydreaming about him. Get her head out of the clouds and use the vacation for the effective purposes she had intended.

Lunch was delicious, and Har T's pink paradise was just as fresh and succulent as he had hoped. It even took Peach's mind out of the Darklands for awhile, except for those moments when she started to compare it to Cookoopa's cooking…and the food at the Birthday Ball…and the family picnic…and her lunch with Bowser at McGoomba's.

Toadsworth chuckled. "Why, Princess Peach, old gel! Just a few moments ago, you couldn't get your jab to stop up. Now, we can't get a bally word out! Do us all who must stay home and guard the old fort a favor and give us a proper goodbye."

"Sorry, Toadsworth," Peach muttered. "Lost in my own world again, I guess."

"And where would that be?" Har T. asked, grinning. "You haven't told us one little thing about where you've been all week."

"That's cause it's still a secret," she replied, smiling. "A secret of National Security!"

"Nonesense," Har T chuckled. "We're all friends here. Spill the beans!"

Peach shook her head, frantically searching for an answer. How was she going to explain this whole…thing? They could never know she was kidnapped, but she didn't want to make up some ridiculous lie before she knew what was going on. But she didn't want to ruin the chance of utilizing her visit politically, either. Stumbling over her words, she answered, "I…I can't just yet. I was dealing with some highly political matters of…politics and…debauseries and the like. Issues that have yet to be…confirmed ah-and re…conciled with the…board of directors of…politics and debauseries."

"Indeed?" Toadsworth asked, his eyes wide with interest. "I had no idea! And what exactly would 'debauseries' entail, marm? Give us the gen."

"Eh, you know…" she waved her hand, hoping she wasn't sweating through her lie and made-up word. "Politics. Between enemy states that we…are hoping to…not be enemies with. Stuff like that. Very fragile; can't say anything about it." She took a bite and swallowed, buying as much time as possible. "Don't want to disturb the decisions of the board. Especially with…bad publicity."

"So would you mind ever too much if we settled on that description for the newshoppers? They've been bloomin' persistent and curious regarding your absence."

"Uh…yeah. I was…creating friendships with leaders of enemy countries in order to ease the possible future transition to alliance. But the relationship is still fragile and most likely largely unsupported by certain government officials, and as such the country is to remain anonymous." Peach nodded, altogether satisfied with her honesty, as vague as it was.

Toadsworth nodded, jotting notes down on a pad of paper. "I say, quite a shame that 'government officials' need to be getting their potty ideas in the way of progress, don't you gather?"

"It's always that way," Daisy added, shaking her fork, loaded with peach. Watermelon juice flicked off and nearly hit Luigi with her emphasis. "They think they know best for everyone's happiness, but really they just can't get over their stupid pride and realize that friendship and hospitality is more important than ancient prejudices. It's why there's no world peace!"

"Oh, is that why?" one of the quieter toads asked, sarcastically.

"Now, now," Toadsworth spoke up, "Let's not get in a row about politics just now." Indeed, the group chose to talk about the plumbing convention instead. Luigi did most of the talking, as was normally the case with these brothers, and Peach found herself completely incapable of paying attention yet again.

Once lunch was over and the "Now Boarding: Grand Canal" lights flickered on, the group prepared for their final goodbyes.

"Princess Peach," Toadsworth called her over. He motioned for her to bend down, keeping their conversation private. "I…I hope you know what you're doing."

"Toadsworth, it's just a vacation with Mario, Luigi, and Daisy. You were completely on board with this last week; I'll be perfectly fine. I even just spent a week without royally sanctioned protection. There shouldn't be any problems."

"I understand that, Highness, but that's not quite what I meant." He polished the top of his staff, trying to avoid her eyes. "You're…finally growing up." When Toadsworth met her eyes at last, his were almost moist. "You did it; you stayed by yourself, unprotected, for a week without sustaining any harm or even bad publicity. And if I'm to believe you, which I am, you also improved our own country's relations. Not only that, but this holiday…I think you realize how important it is. As you told me just a few weeks ago, this isn't a business trip, or even completely for pleasure. Other road, you two wouldn't have picked his parent's home town. Princess, two weeks ago you were still under our thumbs, incapable of growing one way or another, and Bob's your uncle. But now…when you return, no one will have any reasons to prevent you from any choice you make. For the most part."

Peach gave him a reassuring smile and a hug. "I know, Toadsworth." She put her glove on his wrinkled cheek. "Thank you for letting me grow up."

"And you know, if you ever need to contact me, your right should. Every night."

"Would every other night work? You did just survive a week without a word from me."

"Hardly," he muttered. Toadsworth dramatically sighed, hearing the muffled voices over the airport intercoms. He had to let her onto the plane sooner, rather than later. "Every other night is just brilliant, love. Enjoy your holiday."

"And you to yours!" She stood up and waved goodbye, rushing to grab Daisy's free arm. "Goodbye, Toadsworth! Tell Dad I'm gonna miss him!"

"Right-O, Your Highness. Cheerio."

Daisy gripped Peach's arm, flashing her a grin pulsing with excitement. "I can't wait to get out there. Sunshine, canals, no responsibilities…just us four and our futures! There isn't one person who I'd rather have come."

Peach smiled at Daisy, not completely agreeing. "I'm excited, too." But excitement isn't always full of hope.

Author's Note: So this chapter wasn't quite as perfect as I'd like it, especially since I had to rush through my revisions, but I still think it's a good way to start the next sections. I've been doing research on Vienna and Grand Canal and I am very excited to write there...but the most exciting thing is that the next portion of the story is mostly mental.

Thanks again for being so patient and reading this epic-length of a story. It's lovely to hear from all of you and makes writing it even more enjoyable. C:

-Razzi