Chapter 13

"I wonder what was wrong with Toadette..." Mario thought while walking

towards his house.

"She was right about the dance, but something else seemed off..."

As he was about to reach his house, Luigi saw Mario from his Green P-Wing car and waved.

"Hey Bro! I going to leave right away to Rosalina's house just in case." he informed.

"That way, we'll both be early for the dance!"

"Ok, sounds good." Mario said with a smile.

"I'll pick up Peach right away as well, so maybe we'll all meet up."

"Great!" Luigi smiled while starting up his car.

"Anyway, I can't waste time! Bye!" he shouted while driving off.

Mario waved to him as he drove off into the distance.

"Hopefully the dance will brighten her mood..." Mario said to himself while dressing.

"Tonight will be Peachy!" Peach smiled to herself while twirling around in her beautiful dress.

"But, I wish Toadette wasn't going to be there." she sighed.

"Everything about her seems to be "cute". Especially her hair, and her sparkly eyes..."

"She almost seems as pretty as me... Some actual competition..."

"Also, Mario and her seem to get along... So maybe..."

Peach's eyes widened slightly.

"He'll dump me for her?!"

Peach nervously looked at herself in the mirror, while adjusting her hair slightly.

"He'd never do that... he's too kind and loyal to me." she thought as she put on her fancy earrings.

"Besides, I'm too perfect! He'd never want to leave me, especially for her."

"Tonight, Mario and I will rule the dance!" she said proudly while stepping out of her room.

Toadette was fully dressed, and was pondering about how she could get to the dance.

She was slightly worried that she'll miss the introduction.

She constantly checked her clock,

7:40, 7:41, 7:42...

Her phone suddenly vibrated in her purse, and she frantically dug

to quickly answer her text.

Toad: Hey Toadette! Apparently, Mario's taking me to the dance along with Peach!

You should go with us!

"I probably should've mentioned my dilemma to him..." Toadette sighed.

"So there's no one who can..."

She thought for a second, "I don't think I have another choice..."

Then she quickly unlocked her phone, scrolled through her contacts and instantly dialed Mario's phone number.

"Please pick up! Please pick up!" she silently pleaded.

"Toadette?"

"Yes, its me..." she said while slightly embarrassed.

"Could you please give me a ride to the dance? Toad said that you would.

"Of course! I'm right by here."

"Thank you so much!"

Toadette breathed a sigh of relief as Mario's Wild Wing pulled up beside her driveway.

She rushed outside with a smile on her face, as Mario and Toad waved to her.

However, she also saw a slightly annoyed Peach in the front seat which made

her duck her head slightly.

The car ride was mostly silent as they drove to their school, which was

slightly awkward.

So Toadette was slightly happy once they got out, and walked towards the building.

Toad followed right behind her, while catching a few glimpses of Peach too.

"Aww, Toadette! You look beautiful! Christine commented.

"But, not as pretty as me!" she said while smiling.

"Yeah, she's very pretty!" Lindsey chimed in.

Toadette shook her head, but smiled as well.

"Nah, she looks way more prettier than you." Sophie countered.

Christine glared at Sophie as she giggled.

Meanwhile, Luigi and Rosalina arrived shortly afterwards and Mario and Peach

were there to greet them.

"What took you so long bro?" Mario asked with a smile.

"Well, we decided to drive these guys here..." Luigi replied while thumbing to the car.

Mario turned his head and was surprised to see Wario and Mona step out alongside, Daisy and...

"Waluigi?!" he gasped.

"He asked you, and you... accepted?" Mario asked Daisy.

"Why not?" Daisy responded.

"Everybody deserves a chance to go to the dance with someone."

"Even him." she smiled while lightly nudging Waluigi.

"But, don't even THINK that we're dating!" she said sharply.

"Ok! ok!" Mario smiled with a hand gesture.

"Great! Now, let's dance!" she cheered while running inside the building.

Mario walked beside Waluigi and whispered,

"How were you able to convince her?"

"Like she said, she gave me chance at least for the dance. Afterwards,

I doubt she'll even look at me!" he replied while laughing.

Mario laughed as well, as they both walked inside.

"Attention students, we hope you have a fabulous time at tonight's dance

and remember to have fun!"

"Food and Drinks are open to everyone, and a special table for Punch is available.

The dance ends at 11:00, so enjoy yourselves"

So, everybody was chatting amongst their friends, dancing in groups, and having fun.

Luigi saw Daisy alone at the Punch table and shyly walked over, pretending not to notice her.

Daisy smiled at his appearance and asked,

"Well?"

Luigi looked over at her, then suddenly looked at his feet ashamed.

"I'm sorry... for kissing Peach, and asking Rosalina to the dance instead of you..."

"And?"

"I'll be a better boyfriend if you forgive me..." he said while looking at her with hopeful eyes.

Daisy leaned in and gave Luigi a sweet kiss on the lips and hugged him.

"You are forgiven." she said with a smile.

Luigi's face brightened as he smiled back.

"Care to dance for a little while?" he asked her.

"I'd love to." she responded as he escorted her to the dance floor.

Waluigi and Rosalina saw this and smiled, with a single tear running down their cheeks.

"So beautiful..." they both sighed.

Then they turned to each other and blushed slightly.

"I..uh...well..." Waluigi stammered.

"Want to dance as well?" Rosalina asked while giggling slightly.

"Sure!" Waluigi said reluctantly as he followed her.

Mario and Peach were slow-dancing with other couples surrounding them.

Mario held her around the waist, while she placed her hands on his shoulders.

Both of their eyes were closed, as they took in the soothing moment.

"Mario?" Peach began while looking up at him.

"Hmm?"

"Do you love me?"

"Of course! Why wouldn't I?"

"But, would you leave me for someone prettier, or nicer than me?"

"No, because I would have no reason to."

"So, no matter what happens, you'll still love me?"

"Yes, because you're my Peachy." he replied with a smile.

Peach stared at him lovingly, and he stared back into her eyes.

"So... is it official?" she asked him.

She let out a slight gasp, as Mario suddenly dipped her and kissed her passionately for a

few seconds before saying,

"Yes."

Watching from a distance, Toadette couldn't help but feel envious of the new couple.

"Toadette? Earth to Toadette!" Sophie called out to her.

"Huh?" Toadette turned her head to Sophie.

"You suddenly stopped talking, and you're always looking in that direction.

Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm... just... Peachy..." she said with a sigh while thinking of Mario.

"Ok... Well, the dance is almost over. Did you get to dance with Toad yet?" Sophie asked.

"Not yet, he said he wanted to do something first." Toadette replied.

Sophie looked over Toadette's shoulder and giggled,

"It seems like he didn't want to embarrass his date!"

Toadette turned around and saw Toad nervously rehearsing the dance steps on his own.

She giggled and walked cutely up to him, which got his attention.

"I was just practicing..." Toad said as a blush formed on his face.

"Well, I hope you practiced long enough!" she smirked as she pulled him away.

As they blended in with the crowd, the music started to change to a soothing, jazzy tune.

"So you were practicing? Hmm?" Toadette asked as she was impressed by Toad's slow-dancing.

Toad blushed slightly as Toadette smiled at him.

For a moment as Toadette stared into Toad's eyes, it almost seemed like a fantasy.

Like they were the only ones in the world, embracing each other, while slowly dancing.

True love can spark in unexpected places... and people.

Although she couldn't tell if it was a part of her fantasy or not, she felt Toad's lips

brush against hers as they shared a sweet kiss.

Her eyes closed as an abundance of emotions overwhelmed her.

Happiness, Sadness, Passion, Lust...

After a few more moments, their lips finally parted.

They blushed as they looked away from each other for a moment.

She looked around to see if anyone watched them, but people were too busy chatting amongst themselves.

"Definitely not a fantasy..." Toadette thought to herself, as her face grew more red.

"Alright everyone, I hope all of you had a great time tonight!"

"Remember, there's no school on Monday so enjoy yourselves! See you all Tuesday!"

At that point, many students started to leave the gym, but some stayed behind to chat a bit more.

All of Toadette's friends went home as well, which left her practically alone, as she resorted to

playing with the Punch Bowl spoon at the table. She even occasionally served

people their last drinks, since she didn't have anything better to do.

She didn't even notice Mario until she gave him his requested drink.

"Oh...Hi..." she said looking away slightly, while trying to hide her incoming tears.

Mario also looked down slightly before asking,

"About earlier today... why were you so upset?" he asked.

"I... actually thought you were... almost in love with me...

That you liked me more than a friend... and that you wanted

to date... or something." she replied.

"But, I knew Peach liked you, and I don't think she appreciates me

spending time with you."

"Well, she probably thought the same things that you were thinking about me

towards you. She probably didn't want to lose me, because she loved me so much.

So, she was afraid you'd do just that." Mario explained.

"Toadette, I always thought of you as a friend and I'll continue to feel that way towards you.

Those things I said earlier just explained why you're such a great friend."

"What about when we almost kissed near the gym?" Toadette asked.

"I think we both got carried away in our conversation." Mario responded.

Toadette didn't know if she should feel happy, sad, or angered at the situation.

She loved Mario, but tried to prevent him from loving her despite that

it probably wasn't even love in the first place.

After the dance was officially over, Toad asked Toadette if she needed a ride home.

She greatly accepted, as she didn't feel like asking Mario again.

She sighed as she looked up at the night sky though the window of the moving car.

The supposed man of her dreams was lost, but...

Toadette then thought back to her first kiss with Toad and wondered,

"Could we..."

She glanced at him, but he was too busy driving to notice.

Although, a tiny smile appeared on his face which caught her eye.

He then drove the car off the road, and onto a secret trail which Toadette hadn't noticed before.

When they reached a clearing a bit later, they were nearing a cliff which had a spectacular view

of the bustling, but beautiful Mushroom City.

Toadette was a bit puzzled on why they were there, but she liked the view.

She turned to Toad, "Why did you bring me here?"

Toad stared at the night sky for a bit before responding, " I found this place not to long ago,

and I saw a shooting star..." he began while stepping off of the gas pedal, and turning off the ignition.

"Do you want to know what I wished for?"

Toadette slowly nodded.

Toad then turned to her and smiled.

"I wished for true love... and to finally meet my special someone..." he said while staring at her.

"Now, I finally think I've found both."

It's a mystery as to what's going to happen next, but you can expect some unexpected things!

Thank you for everyone who has been giving their support by reading and reviewing, and

I hope you enjoyed this chapter.