Love and War chapter 2
Authors note: So I got to the fluff at the end of this chapter which is what you probably were waiting for. I'd like to thank you all for reading so far and I hope you continue to read on. Sorry this chapter is kind of short but I had some writers block. I knew what I wanted to say but I didn't know how to say it. Like any fanfiction this is the part where I say I don't own some of the characters but the ones I do feel free to use. Please give me reviews on what you liked and what you didn't like so I can become a better writer. Thanks and enjoy!
It wasn't pleasant but it was at least convenient that Peach knew of her kidnapping ahead of time. It gave her the opportunity to create something she called her "Princess Emergency Kit". She packed everything she could think of that could possibly aid her.
First she put in three pieces of candy. They could be a possible snack or used for a small bribe. Next came a parasol. She was careful not to take her favorite for fear it may be ruined but it was classy enough and practical. Some makeup and lipstick was a must, as she wanted to be looking pristine for Mario when he came to save her. She finished the small purse sized pack with a small pouch of coins just in case. She sighed and flopped down on her bed. A small smile crept up on her face. Things were about to pick up.
Bowser was alone by himself yet again but this time he was not depressed. He could almost be described as the polar opposite. " …and then I'll go through the roof with a clown copter and land right in front of her. She'll be so impressed! No! If I land in front of her she might be hit with debris… I have it! I'll land right in front of the castle and charge in bursting through the doors! YES!". It was only a matter of time now before he could see her. 3 hours 26 minutes and 13 seconds…
"I bring this senate into session!" said Tight T. Toad. His voice lacked all luster or any sense of excitement. "I expect that today we will be free of any radical ideas". It was obvious who that last part was targeted at but Lock just smiled. He had taken matters into his own hands and as long as the rest of the senate was in the dark for the next 2 hours and 18 minutes he was in the clear. The only people aware of the dark scheme at hand were Krank E. Koopa and himself. Peach was told that it was a matter of national importance and there was no doubt she would keep her mouth shut. All he had to take care of now was the Mario brothers. He needed a way to keep them oblivious to the fact that Peach was gone and he knew just how.
A knock was heard that the Mario brothers door. Mario rushed to the door. He had been on his toes ready for something exciting to happen. Upon opening the door he discovered that nobody was there. He looked down to see a sheet of paper. Upon picking it up he read the words "World's Largest Pasta Festival!"
His mouth began to water just at seeing the tantalizing images printed on the paper. "Luigi come here! You won't believe this!"
After looking over the flier he frowned a little. "What's the matter?" asked Mario a little peeved at his brother.
"Mario this flier says that the festival is at 626 Dark Dark Alley. Haven't you heard about that end of town?"
Any Kingdom had an area or two that was known for being a little sketchy and Mushroom Kingdom was no different. The name of the area in the Mushroom Kingdom was Dark Dark Alley. Of course there was never any proof of anything it was common knowledge that if one needed anything, ranging from harmless flowers to perhaps a vicious chain chomp, it could be found there. Mario was so excited that he tended to overlook small things like this when he had a prize in mind.
"Oh come on" said Mario "I'm sure it's not as bad as people make it out to be". Mario jumped up onto the pipe outside their house that led to the famous Mushroom Kingdom pipe zone, an intersection of pipes that could take you almost anywhere in the kingdom. "Come on letsa go!"
Watching Mario vanish down the pipe Luigi muttered, " I hope you're right about this place". He followed his brother to their unexpected capture.
Bowser was on his way to the mushroom kingdom on his clown copter. It was rather strange that he was going alone with no troops whatsoever but Krank E. had convinced him that it was the best idea. Of course it didn't take too much convincing as Bowser was eagerly anticipating alone time with his love. He thought of her hair blowing in the clown copter as she sat gazing down at the kingdom that diminished as they drew closer and closer to the Darklands. Yes, she did often look sad but she was soo beautiful at the same time; like a porcelain figure too good to be true.
"Losing altitude," warned the controls on the copter. Bowser quickly grabbed the wheel a little embarrassed at his daydreaming.
"Soon" he thought as a devilish grin spread on his face
The Mario brothers arrived at the building. It wasn't much of a sight. In fact it was kind of an eyesore. The bricks that composed the wall were a nasty purple and green and it looked as though nobody had washed them in years. The door did bear a small posted sign that said "Pasta Festival Here!" however so the two walked inside.
"H-Hello?" said Luigi. The building was empty and Luigi had already encountered one too many ghosts as a result of a fake invitation.
"Welcome there!" said a cheerful voice. From the far side of the building two figures were seen encompassed in shadow.
A candle was lit and the two figures were identified as toads. "You're here for the pasta festival right?" said the first toad pleasantly. He was dressed in expensive looking clothes while the second looked like a butler or a waiter. The brothers guessed the latter. "Sorry about the lights, we had a electric failure"
"So where's the pasta?" asked Luigi a little more confident he had misjudged the place"
"Right this way sir" said the waiter. He led the two to a door that had a faint light coming through the cracks. The Mario brothers opened the door to see something completely different than they expected. There were two cribs and baby toys. Mario began to turn around when suddenly there was a flash of light.
At the floor sat two babies crying. "Perfect!" exclaimed Lock N. Toad. "Now all you have to do is watch them and make sure they don't get out"
"Yes sir" said Tie D. He was less than pleased about what he was doing but he did owe it to his master. Besides, it wasn't like they were hurting the Mario brothers. "I'm sure they are more of a threat to me," he muttered to himself as his master excused himself from the room. He didn't know how right he was.
Peach stood upon her balcony. It was almost impossible for her to sit still. In 20 minutes Bowser would be here. She was mentally debating taking her picture of Mario. She had the room but she just wasn't sure she wanted to take it. She didn't know why it just didn't seem right. She justified it by thinking "I wouldn't want anything to happen to it. Besides, I'll see him soon again.
She placed the picture back in her room next to one of herself. She looked at the two and felt horrible. She almost felt like she didn't love Mario. She loved the red plumber who rescued her but she wasn't sure that after the battle was won that the plain old Mario held any excitement, any adventure. What was she saying! She was confusing love and excitement. At least she hoped she was…
She sat out on the balcony waiting for Bowser. 13 more minutes until the koopa's arrival. She saw a blip in the night sky approaching at a rapid speed. He was a little early but reflecting on the past she should have anticipated it.
The clown copter was headed at a high speed towards the castle. "Wait!" yelled Peach hoping to prevent one of Bowser's dramatic entrances that ended up costing 100 or more. "I'm over here"
Bowser's copter changed directions and came up to the side of the balcony. "I've come to rescue you," said the koopa king. He held out a hand over the balcony.
"I can get in myself," said Peach sounding more annoyed than she was "It's not like I'm helpless". She hiked up her dress and got one foot on the balcony. Nevertheless Bowser offered out his hand.
While lifting the other foot to the balcony she tripped falling forward. She screamed loud attracting the attention of the guards and people passing by. She felt a jolt as Bowser grabbed her hand. "Don't let go!" said Peach instinctively.
He helped her up into the copter and stood there for a moment gazing into her eyes as she gazed back. There was no fear this time but simple curiosity and innocence that looked back at him. Snapping out of it Peach turned away "You can let go of my hand now"
Bowser laughed, "Sorry princess you told me never to let go so I'm granting your wish". Peach yanked her hand out of his and gave him an upset look more out of tradition than anger. Bowser only gave her a toothy grin in response.
A shout came from below "It's Bowser and he's kidnapped the princess!"
"That's our cue to leave," said Bowser as he took the copter up, up, and up. They were soaring in the sky above the clouds. It was a beautiful sight to see and it brought a stomach full of butterflies to Peach every time. Fortunately she wasn't bound of being held on to so she was able to fully appreciate the view.
"So Peach are you excited to once again be liberated from the dreadfully dull life of a princess?" asked Bowser. "You could always be a queen if you wanted, fortunately for you the spot is still open but I would hurry cause koopas as sexy as me don't stay bachelors for long"
"I wish you would be quiet sometimes. I wouldn't marry you in a thousand years"
"Well of course not" said Bowser with his toothy grin "That's much too long to wait"
Peach sighed. Saying anything at all only encouraged Bowser. She refused to give him ammunition. She turned away from him and her eye caught on to a duffel bag sitting at Bowser's feet.
Curiosity got the better of her and she decided to ask. "What's in the duffel bag? Bombombs?"
Bowser bent down and opened it with one hand keeping the other on the steering wheel. After lurching the copter a few times he opened it and to Peach's surprise there was a bouquet of flowers inside. "Eh? How did that get in there?" asked Bowser to himself. "Well I certainly don't want these… do you want them?"
Peach felt strange. It was a warm feeling on the inside. She took the bouquet and smelt it. It was definitely fresh. She was debating on saying thank you or not with herself. She came to a compromise, "Whoever picked these flowers has good taste". She looked at Bowser and saw him light up. She smiled without even realizing it. Bowser watched her and the two simply gazed into each other's eyes.
"Losing altitude", warned the navigations system. Bowser broke off to focus on driving again. He reminded himself to destroy the navigations system when he got home.