Chapter 2, Change of Plans: The sun slowly sets, leaving shadows from the setting sun to cover everything in its path. There were a few stars visible in the evening sky but it was covered up by a dark cloud. Inside the castle of the Mushroom kingdom, Peach was watching a movie playing on her TV in the living room. She enjoyed the story of the hero and the heroine who fell in love with each other and started traveling together for fun. When the credits for the movie played, she turned off the tv and decided to sit on her couch thinking about the events that happened that day. She threw a lavish party, then had a kart race afterwards, and now she's alone.
"Phew!" Peach thought to herself as she stood up and stretched her body. After a day of parties and planning for a party, she was glad to be finally alone. It had been hours since Peach finished her last party. Greeting all those guests gets exhausting. She sat back down on the couch pulling her blanket over her lap, her hands holding one of the pillows. In front of her was a little tray containing her favorite chocolate and book. Next to the chocolate was a cup of chamomile tea. She sipped the tea as she began to read.
"What a long day…" She mumbled as she continued reading. Suddenly there was a knock on the door to which Peach replied, "Come in." She put the bookmark in the book.
Toadsworth enters the room.
"Just checking to see how well you're doing after the party, your highness." The elderly toad said.
"Oh yes, I'm alright. Thank you so much for coming. I really appreciate you coming to check up on me." Peach thanked him. Toadsworth waved it off.
"Of course, your highness. Just doing my job." With that, the steward left. Princess Peach went back to her book. While reading, she suddenly felt tired. She sighed and placed the book down then drifted to sleep.
~That next day~
She woke up once she noticed sunlight shining in through her window and her head hurting a bit as she adjusted to the bright light. Looking over at the clock, she saw that it was almost noon. Peach groaned. Today was an uneventful day. No plans. No new tasks. Nothing. She wondered what she could do today. Peach got off of bed and walked towards the washroom to get herself a glass of water. Once she was done with the glass, she made her way to her closet. Picking her usual dress. A pink one with dark pink accents. She placed her dress over her bed then went to take a shower. After the shower she got dressed. Someone knocked on the door.
"Come in." She said, Toadsworth enters.
"Good evening, your highness. Slept well? I was planning on waking you up earlier. But you seemed like you needed the extra sleep from yesterday." He explained.
"Oh, very much thank you." Peach replied.
"Well it's lunchtime, your highness. Your lunch has been served downstairs if you want it."
"Alright, thank you." Toadsworth bowed before leaving. The princess walked to the dining room seeing a plate of chicken wraps and a glass of peach tea. Peach took her seat and began her meal. While eating, she began wondering how she should spend the rest of the day. Go visit Princess Daisy? No. She wanted this day to herself. She spent enough time with Daisy yesterday. She gets quite competitive in go kart races. Watch another movie? Hmm...maybe later on. She ate another mouth full of chicken wrap. Relax out in the courtyard? Yes, that sounds nice. It is a beautiful day after all. She thought to herself. As she chewed on the last bit of chicken wrap. After she ate she drank the last bit of tea that was left in her glass.
The princess headed to the courtyard holding her parasol after she finished her lunch. She sang as the birds sang along with her. The weather was so lovely. It wasn't too hot, occasionally there was a gentle cooling breeze, and their wasn't a single gray cloud in the sky. She took a seat in the grass admiring the patch of pink flowers. She thought about the collection of romance novels she hasn't read yet. Perhaps she'll do that after she enjoys some sun. A bunny hopped towards Peach then began nibbling on the flowers. That's it! She'll make bird feeders for the birds and treats for the bunnies, squirrels, and other animals. The princess gets up and heads back inside the castle.
Meanwhile at the koopa kingdom Berry was coughing non stop. She's been feeling sick since this morning. She wanted her illness to go away fast. Today was the day her father will take her to the Mushroom Kingdom to see her mother. She went into a coughing fit before laying back down on her bed. She felt dizzy and very warm. Her stomach hurt like someone stabbed her. Was this because of the fever? She breathed heavily and began sweating profusely. She felt her eyes getting heavy before everything went dark. She fell back asleep. It was only a few minutes however because she felt a heavy scaly hand on her forehead. Berry fluttered her eyes open.
"Daddy?" She asked.
"Hey princess, how are you feeling?" Bowser asked.
"My head hurts." Berry answered her father.
"Hmm...you might have caught a bug." Bowser informed his daughter.
"A bug?" The young princess questioned, sitting up slightly.
"Yes, it's nothing serious. Don't worry. Just try and get some rest. I can try to find some medicine or maybe even some honey and lemon. Do you think that would help?" Berry nodded.
"Yes." Bowser pulled the blankets over her before leaving the room.
"Honey? Lemon?" He muttered while searching the castle for the things to bring into her bedroom. As always, he couldn't find them; he came up with only some bandages. He sighed and decided to search around more. He found a bottle that contains medicine called 'Honey Lemon and Lemon Drops'. He filled a spoon with it and brought it with him.
"I have your medicine princess." He said. Berry slowly sits up. Bowser gave her a spoonful of medicine. Berry thought it wasn't too bad as she swallowed it. Even though it tasted mostly bitter, there was still a bit of sweetness. She laid back down.
Bowser placed the glass of water by the bedside table.
"Are you thirsty, princess?" He asked.
"Yes. Please give me some water." Berry said. Bowser poured her some water into the glass. Berry took the glass of water and quickly gulped down the whole thing.
"Feel better princess?" Bowser asked.
"Yea...thank you Daddy." Berry responded.
"No problem princess. I'll leave you to rest now, okay?"
"Okay." Berry responded. Bowser exited the room and closed the door behind him.
~Hours Later~
Bowser decided to go check on Berry again to see how she was feeling. He knocked on her door, and after waiting for a second he entered her room. Berry was sitting on the edge of her bed looking down at her feet.
"Princess?" Bowser inquired worriedly.
"I'm fine." Berry spoke as she looked up at her father.
"You still look pretty sick." Bowser said.
"I do feel a little weak." She responded softly.
"Then go back to sleep. Don't strain yourself."
Berry laid back in the bed as Bowser tucked her in. Then he kissed the top of her hair.
"Sleep tight princess."
Berry smiled and went to sleep. Bowser exits her room and met with Kammy in the throne room.
"Nothing is working! She can't go to Mushroom Kingdom in her current condition!" Bowser said.
"It's only a stomach flu. She'll be better soon."
"Soon. But not on time."
"I got it, your majesty! Instead of bringing her to Peach, how about you bring Peach to her?" She suggested.
"Hmm. You're right. Peach might know what to do, and she'll bond with her, then want to marry me! Such a brilliant idea! Let's go!" Bowser said.
"Wait! Before we go, let us prepare the royal airship."
"Fine, but remember what I told you." Bowser warned.
"Yes sir, I will keep our plan hidden until the moment is right," Kammy replied.
"Good! Now go on ahead." Bowser commanded. Kammy bowed and left. Larry; whom has been hiding behind the king's throne chair was listening in to their conversation the entire time. King dad was going to bring Princess Peach to Berry. Great. Now he really didn't have a chance to prove himself to his siblings. Larry made his way out of the throne room in fear that King Dad will notice and question him. But unfortunately, Bowser did notice him heading out.
"Larry? What have you been up to?" Bowser questioned. Larry stopped.
"Nothing." He said.
"You heard everything, did you?" Bowser questioned, though it sounded more like a statement.
"No..." Larry lied. Bowser looked at Larry like he knew he wasn't telling him the truth.
"Well since you have been listening in, you're coming with me." He said.
"For what?" Asked Larry.
"To kidnap Princess Peach."
The two made their way towards the airship bay where the king's knights were standing nearby. Magikoopas were on their brooms floating in the air. Larry saw that there were several different airships. One that belonged to the king, and a few smaller ones beside it.
"Ready when you are m'lord." A koopatrol saluted.
"Right then! This may be difficult but you mustn't fail me, understand?"
"Of course your majesty. We won't fail you." They answered.
"Let's go." Bowser ordered; the king of koopas boards on the ship that belonged to him. Larry followed after his dad. Some of Bower's knights boarded on to his ship. Others boarded on the smaller ships.
"Start the engine Larry." Bowser commanded, Larry nodded and did what he was instructed to do. The ship began to move off of the ground and flew to the sky heading towards the Mushroom kingdom.