As you may have guessed, I wanted to try something different with this story, focusing more on the Mushroom Kingdom. Therefore, the only "main" character who's appeared so far is Quincy. Finally, here are the others!

Over at the campus's pool, a different tune was playing. It was that part of the day where all the kids from camp went swimming. Although their time in the pool was limited to an hour (sometimes even less), they still managed to squeeze an adventure in on most days.

Today was a little bit calmer. There were no threats of villainy or wars, just kids playing in the pool. For once, it was truly a normal day at camp.

(To the tune of "Heigh Ho" from Snow White and the Seven Dwarves)

Kids: We play, play, play, play, play, play, play

Ev'ry day here in the pool

We swim and splash and sometimes crash

And try to dodge Ed's drool

Calvin: That's not say we only play

Hobbes: We both do our best to keep villains away

Jason: But at least

Marcus: But at least

Ed: But at least

Double D: But at least

Kids: Right now we have got some peace

It isn't normal to have peace

Why, it really throws us off

We aren't used to a real truce

At that idea, most kids scoff

Calvin: We don't quite know what did the trick

We have had a day with no conflict

Hobbes: Aside from that one falling brick

Kids: It's a normal day in the pool

Calvin paddled over to Jason and Marcus, who were splashing each other. "Can you believe it?" he asked his friends. "For once, a day started normally and might end normally, too!"

"It's so weird," mused Jason. "Everyone's been really mellow."

"You realize," said Marcus, "that now that you've talked about how calm things are, something is really gonna heat up."

Calvin smiled devilishly. "I don't mind that. Things are getting kinda boring, after all."

Hobbes rolled his eyes. "Some people are never happy with things the way they are..."

A whistle blew. It was time for the kids to get out of the pool. Everyone headed into the locker rooms to get changed. A few minutes later, they were all heading back to the rec center, with the "main" kids (and tiger) singing their own little marching song.

Calvin, Hobbes, Ed, Double D, Eddy, Jason, and Marcus: And so, and so

It's back to camp we go

And so, and so, and so

And so, and so

It's back to camp we go...etc.

...

Peach sat at one of the main room's tables, drinking Kool-Aid and talking to Quincy, who simply stared at her. The little reptile wasn't much for conversations, but he didn't appear to be judging Peach, which was good enough for her after all she'd been through.

"I just don't get it," she said. "The forest was so safe, but then it was full of these huge monsters that would even give Mario and Luigi a run for their money! I fainted, and I woke up here. Honestly, I don't know what the heck is going on."

Quincy's eyes followed a fly on the wall.

"I suppose I should go out and see where everyone is," Peach continued, "but I really don't know my way around this place. Besides, it's not awful here. It's no castle, but the bland atmosphere really calms my nerves. And this weird red stuff isn't terrible, either."

Quincy chewed on his tail.

Suddenly, Peach heard loud singing from the hallway. Quincy perked up (a little bit) as well, as if he recognized the voices.

And so, and so

It's back to camp we go

A voice suddenly rang out, above the singing. "Shut up, you dorks! You've been singing that stupid song since we left the pool! Give it a rest!"

Sounds of a scuffle came next, followed by seven kids (and tiger) being thrust into the room by someone behind them.

Calvin sat up and was about to yell into the hall at Kevin when he noticed Peach. The others did as well. With a scream, they grabbed her and thrust her into a closet as the other kids were coming in.

"What are you guys doing now?" Sarah asked them suspiciously.

"We're having, uh, a secret meeting!" stammered Jason.

"Yeah," added Calvin frantically, "it's secret enough to be cool, but boring enough so that none of you would care about it!"

"We never cared in the first place," muttered Lucy.

Quickly, the seven kids (and tiger) dashed into the closet and slammed the door behind them. Lucy rolled her eyes and walked over to the cooler. "Hey, who drank all the Kool-Aid?"

...

Inside the closet, the boys (and tiger) stared at Peach in silent shock. She stared back at them, with more of a skeptical, confused look on her face.

"So..." she finally began, breaking the silence.

Calvin, Ed, Jason, and Marcus screamed in response.

"Please excuse them," said Double D politely. "They are a bit awkward with the opposite gender."

"Oh, and you aren't?" scoffed Eddy. "I've seen how you get around Nazz!"

"As do you!" Double D shot back.

Hobbes rolled his eyes. With Calvin, Ed, Jason, and Marcus cowering in fear, and the other two Eds arguing, it looked like it was up to him. "Can we help you, Princess?" he asked.

Peach sighed. "Yes. Apparently I can't take care of myself and Mario has sent me here while he's off adventuring with his brother."

"Why'd he have to send you?" moaned Calvin, slapping his forehead. "Doesn't he know about my overwhelming hatred of girls? I have a whole club devoted to it!"

"This isn't my cup of tea, either," grumbled Peach. "But you wouldn't refuse royalty, would you?"

"For the Queen of Gravy," Ed said dramatically, "I would refuse naught."

The boys thought about this and fell into a huddle.

"Really, can't you put aside your irrational gynophobia for a moment?" whispered Double D. "She needs our help! Lord knows that the fair princess is accident-prone."

"I say we let her get kidnaped if Bowser shows up," said Jason. "Mario can rescue her when he gets back. It's not like Bowser ever does anything to her."

"Does he?" wondered Eddy, with a disturbed look.

"Wait a second," said Marcus. "I've technically saved her a ton of times. I mean, I've beaten a lot of Mario games, so..."

"So have I," sighed Jason. "I guess Peach is an exception."

"Well, having her in person is different!" Calvin pointed out. "What do we do?"

The boys all looked up at Peach, who was watching them impatiently.

"Well?" Peach asked them.

Ed stepped forward. "I shall protect you, princess," he said. "I believe in drivelry."

"That's 'chivalry,'" corrected Double D. "And I agree!"

"Me too!" cried an amorous Eddy, jumping next to his friends.

"You have a tiger's vow," added Hobbes.

Jason, Marcus, and Calvin grumbled and reluctantly stepped forward as well.

Peach smiled. "Well, I'm happy to hear that. I'm sorry if I've been in a bad mood, but I really want to prove to Mario that I'm capable of doing something for myself."

The kids (and tiger) looked at each other dubiously.

Peach sighed and sat down on a huge exercise ball. "Look, I don't want to talk about it. Why don't we do something fun?"

The kids (and tiger) looked at each other again. Giving Peach a "just a minute" signal, they dashed out of the closet.

"What do girls like to do?" wondered Ed.

Jason shuddered. "If my sister's any indication, it's listen to bad music and gossip about stuff that doesn't matter."

"We're doomed," moaned Calvin.

"You're the one who didn't want a normal day," Hobbes reminded him.

"Perhaps we had better talk to an expert," suggested Double D.

Eddy pushed Double D out into the hall. "I know who you're thinkin' about, and since it was your idea, you go!"

With a nervous look back at the main room, Double D headed down the hall to a booth across the way. There sat Lucy. The psychiatrist was in.

"Ah, Double D," she said kindly. "Are you here about your women problems? Because I have three lovely clients who..."

"NO," Double D said firmly. "I'm here with a question about a woman, though. It's, uh, my cousin. Yes, my female cousin is coming over and I would like to know how one goes about entertaining a women...girl."

Lucy glared at him. "Oh, so you assume that we're all alike, huh? Well, different girls like different things, you sexist pig! If you want to know what she likes, then ASK HER!"

Double D fell over backwards as Lucy screamed in his face, incredibly taken aback.

Lucy calmed down and held out her hand. "My fee is a dollar, thank you very much."

...

Double D ran back to his friends to tell them the news. "Apparently, we'll just have to ask the princess what she would like. I'm a little ashamed that I didn't think of that."

"I figured that would be the answer," said Calvin, "but I really hoped that it wouldn't be. What if she wants to do boring stuff like Jason said?"

"We'll do it for her, then," replied Hobbes. "She's a princess and she deserves the best! Besides, it's for Mario, too!"

(To the tune of "Bluddle-Uddle-Um-Dum" from Snow White and the Seven Dwarves)

Hobbes: We've come face to face

With something that's new

To most folks it's not

But it is to you

When dealing with a girl

What you gotta do

Is compromise with doing

What you both want to

Double D: This logic to girls

Does not just apply

It could work on practic'ly

Any other guy

As long as the to the idea

You both comply

Then you'll have a lot of fun

And no one comes out dry

Hobbes and Double D: There are lots of things

That most people like

Like a nice, long swim

Or a ride on a bike

Calvin: Well, I personally

Hate both those

But this could work...I suppose

Hobbes and Double D: So buck up a bit

And don't spazz a ton

If we really try hard

We might just have fun

Calvin: Even at though the idea

Makes me wanna run

I guess that I'll try

To help along with everyone

Hobbes and Double D: So brace yourselves, quick

When we go to ask

What she wants to do

What is our next task

All Seven: Though we're young

And we're fearless

In our pride we all bask

At a moment like this

We could really use a flask!

With a nod to each other, the boys (and tiger) opened the closet door to find...Peach standing in front of them with a huge jug of Kool-Aid.

"Have you tried this stuff?" squealed Peach. "I found some more packets back here, so I made some! I'm on such a sugar rush!"

"This might be pretty fun, after all," grinned Calvin.

The kids (and tiger) cheered and crammed inside, slamming the door behind them.

The parody of "Buddle-Uddle-Um-Dum" may be a little hard to read, since I replaced the part where they all go "brr, brr, brr" with actual words. Just listen to the tune and it will all hook up, I think.